Influence of clay minerals on the reduction of Cr6+ by citric acid

The influence of clay minerals on the reduction of Cr6+ by citric acid was investigated at pH values 4.0, 4.5 and 5.0 at 25 degrees C. The results indicate that montmorillonite and illite greatly accelerate the reduction reactions at pH 4.0 and 4.5, but their effects are dramatically reduced at pH 5.0. The role of clay minerals in accelerating the reactions is in the order: illite>montmorillonite>kaolinite, which has a positive correlation with the amount of Mn2+ adsorbed on the surfaces of these minerals. With light, Fe(3+) also significantly increases reaction rates. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) greatly suppresses the acceleration of the reduction reactions by these minerals, indicating that EDTA competes with citric acid for Mn2+. Thus, the formation of complexes between Mn(2+) and citric acid could be a prerequisite for the acceleration of the reductions of Cr6+ by clay minerals. In addition, there is no relationship between the specific surface area of clay minerals and the reduction rate of Cr6+ by citric acid.     

Assessment of population exposure to particulate matter pollution in Chongqing, China

To determine the population exposure to PM(10) in Chongqing, China, we developed an indirect model by combining information on the time activity patterns of various demographic subgroups with estimates of the PM(10) concentrations in different microenvironments (MEs). The spatial and temporal variations of the exposure to PM(10) were illustrated in a geographical information system (GIS). The population weighted exposure (PWE) for the entire population was 229, 155 and 211 microg/m(3), respectively, in winter, summer and as the annual average. Indoor PM(10) level at home was the largest contributor to the PWE, especially for the rural areas where high pollution levels were found due to solid fuels burning. Elder people had higher PM(10) exposure than adults and youth, due to more time spent in indoor MEs. The highest health risk due to particulate was found in the city zone and northeast regions, suggesting that pollution abatement should be prioritized in these areas.     

Fate of anilide and aniline herbicides in plant-materials-amended soils

The fate of herbicides trifluralin, pendimethalin, alachlor and metolachlor in paddy field soils amended with plant materials was investigated. The plant materials were purple sesbania, vegetable soybean and rice straw. The investigation was performed at two temperatures (25 and 40 degrees C) and two soil water moistures (60 and 90% water-holding capacity). The results showed linear and Freudlich equations described the adsorption of amide compound to soil. Adsorption coefficient (K(d)) fit to linear equation were in general greater in plant material-amended soils than in non-amended soil, especially in soil amending with rice straw. Increasing temperature and soil water moisture content shortened the half-lives of compounds in various treated soils. The movement of compounds in the soil columns showed the maximum distribution of aniline type compound, trifluralin and pendimethalin, appeared at the upper top of 0 to 5 and 0 to 10 cm of soil column, respectively, and of anilide type, alachlor and metolachlor, were distributed at 0 to 25 cm of the soil column. The mobility of chemicals in the different treated soils was simulated by the behavior assessment model (BAM). There was no significant difference among different plant material incubated soils on dissipation and mobility of compounds in soils.     

Enhancement of solubilization and acidification of waste activated sludge by pretreatment

The effects of various pretreatment methods, including thermo-acid, thermo-alkaline, ultrasonic-alkaline and ultrasonic-acid, on solubilization and subsequent acidification efficiency of waste activated sludge (WAS) were investigated. The results showed that both thermo-alkaline and ultrasonic-alkaline significantly improved the solubilization of WAS at a high concentration (7.4% of total solids). Solubilization of volatile solids (VS) and crude protein was 60.2-61.6% and 66.8-67.5%, respectively. Thermo-alkaline or ultrasonic-alkaline pretreatment also enhanced the efficiency of subsequent WAS acidification. Experimental results showed that they had similar effects on the acidification of WAS. The conversion ratio from VS to total volatile fatty acids (TVFAs) was 0.230 in the case of the ultrasonic-alkaline pretreatment. Through this pretreatment, the level of TVFAs was 68% more than the untreated WAS after 252 h of fermentation. The mechanism of TVFAs production under different pretreatment methods was further investigated and the results indicated that soluble protein was the main substrate for TVFAs production from the WAS after the thermo-alkaline or ultrasonic-alkaline pretreatment.     

Comparison of China’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Law with the European Union (EU) EIA Directive

In this paper, we first review the development of China’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system in the past 30 years. Then we compare the framework and operational procedures of China’s new EIA law with those of the EU EIA Directive. We also compare public participation, as well as sanctions and control in the two EIA systems. In addition, we identify where the processes in both EIA systems are similar or different from one another. By comparison, we noted that there are at least three obvious weaknesses in China’s EIA system: (1) the application of new models for EIA legislation; (2) the improvement of EIA guidance and education; and (3) the enhancement of public participation in EIA process. Our study indicates that these three major shortcomings should be overcome and improved in China’s EIA system, when compared with the EU EIA system.     

广东省杨村华侨柑桔场土壤微量元素含量与分布的研究

采集并分析全场不同母质形成的有代表性的土壤样本142个.研究结果表明,各类土壤全B、Mo、Zn和Mn含量的平均值均低于全国平均值,全量Cu平均值高于全国平均值.有效B、Mo、Zn和Mn含量的平均值均低于临界值,有效Cu的平均值稍高于临界值;但66.7％的土样有效Cu含量低于临界值.硼、钼、锌和锰严重缺乏,铜多数缺乏.全场各类土壤的微量元素含量差异较大,各类土壤微量元素的垂直和水平分布特征不尽相同,尤其是垂直分布差异明显.从土壤微量元素的全量与母质的关系来看,以玄武岩、紫色砂页岩母质形成的土壤全量较高,砂砾岩母质形成的土壤全量中等,砂页岩和冲积物母质形成的土壤全量较低.     

PH3液相催化氧化净化研究

以Mn2 和Pd2 为催化剂的吸收液对含低浓度PH3的混合气进行了液相催化氧化净化研究.考察了催化剂配比、混合气中O2浓度、PH3初始浓度、反应温度、气体流量和吸收液pH与PH3净化效率的关系.结果表明,催化剂中Pd2 与Mn2 的质量比为1:4时可获得较佳的净化效果;随着混合气中O2浓度的增加,吸收液对PH3的净化效率有所提高;在20～75℃内,低温对PH3净化有利,较适宜的反应温度为20℃;较低的PH3初始浓度和低气体流量均有利于PH3的净化;较高的pH有利于吸收液中催化剂催化效能的发挥.吸收液对PH3的净化效率可达100%,但因吸收液中的金属离子易与催化氧化PH3产生的PO3-4形成沉淀,使金属离子脱离液相催化氧化系统,吸收液失效较快.     

石灰石／石膏湿法烟气脱硫的水平衡问题探讨

通过对石灰石/石膏湿法烟气脱硫系统的水平衡原理分析,讨论了脱硫系统中的水平衡问题,并针对该脱硫系统如何在低负荷下维持水平衡以保证稳定运行的问题,结合工程实际提出了一些措施.     

黄铁矿焙烧过程中铊析出影响因素及其烧渣中重金属的相态分布研究

通过模拟硫酸厂的沸腾焙烧炉,考察了黄铁矿焙烧过程中铊(T1)析出的影响因素.并通过分级提取法考察了黄铁矿烧渣中重金属的相态分布.结果表明,T1释放率随焙烧温度的升高而增加,随停留时间的增长而增加;当O2流量在20～300 mL/mi.范围变化时,T1释放率先增后减.环境中备受关注的重金属(如Pb、Cd、Cr等)在黄铁矿烧渣中以Pb为主,各相态Pb的总量达到1 429.20 μg/g,且黄铁矿烧渣中的重金属(除Cu和Sr外)主要是以分布于硅酸盐矿物相中的残余态形式存在,因此在环境中不易迁移释放.尽管黄铁矿烧渣中的重金属(除Cu和Sr外)不是以非残余态分布为主,但非残余态重金属的总量也不少,因此黄铁矿烧渣在环境中的潜在污染风险应当引起重视.