Melting and stone production using MSW incinerated ash

Most of the municipal solid waste (MSW) in Japan is incinerated and the generated ash is landfilled. However, environmental pollution problems have increased and Japan has decreased final disposal sites for landfills. With the application of a melting system, the volume of incinerated ash can be reduced and the effective use of melted slag is being developed for use in civil engineering works. However, the low strength of melted slag as a vitreous structure has limited its effective use. As a solution for this deficiency, a technology to crystallize melted slag into higher strength produced stones was developed. With the joint cooperation of Chiba Prefecture and Kamagaya City, a demonstration plant for melting and stone production with a capacity of 4.8 tons of incinerator ash per day was constructed. The demonstration test was conducted from May 1998 to June 1999 with satisfactory results stated below. Long-term stable operation and performance of the plant have been confirmed and effective applications of produced stones have been demonstrated on a commercial scale. The results are as follows. 1. A stable, continuous operation and good quality produced stones have been confirmed by treating more than 750 tons of MSW incinerated ash. 2. More than 99.9% of dioxins contained in the incinerated ash were decomposed, and the concentration of dioxins in produced stones were less than the detection limit set by Japanese environmental standards. 3. Leaching values of hazardous heavy metals of produced stones sufficiently met the environmental standard on soil pollution of the Environment Agency with superior leaching behavior for the vitreous slag, thus confirming their safe applications. 4. The effective application of produced stones for aggregate was tested based on Japanese Industrial Standards and every figure of test results met the Japanese standard values. The use of produced stones as raw materials for permeable pavement blocks has been confirmed in commercial construction for a park in Chiba Prefecture. Asphalt use was also demonstrated by paving a commercial roadway in Kamagaya City.     

Acid Orange 7 degradation using methane as the sole carbon source and electron donor

• AO7 degradation was coupled with anaerobic methane oxidation. • Higher concentration of AO7 inhibited the degradation. • The maximum removal rate of AO7 reached 280 mg/(L·d) in HfMBR. • ANME-2d dominated the microbial community in both batch reactor and HfMBR. • ANME-2d alone or synergistic with the partner bacteria played a significant role. Azo dyes are widely applied in the textile industry but are not entirely consumed during the dyeing process and can thus be discharged to the environment in wastewater. However, azo dyes can be degraded using various electron donors, and in this paper, Acid Orange 7 (AO7) degradation performance is investigated using methane (CH₄) as the sole electron donor. Methane has multiple sources and is readily available and inexpensive. Experiments using ¹³C-labeled isotopes showed that AO7 degradation was coupled with anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) and, subsequently, affected by the initial concentrations of AO7. Higher concentrations of AO7 could inhibit the activity of microorganisms, which was confirmed by the long-term performance of AO7 degradation, with maximum removal rates of 8.94 mg/(L·d) in a batch reactor and 280 mg/(L·d) in a hollow fiber membrane bioreactor (HfMBR). High-throughput sequencing using 16S rRNA genes showed that Candidatus Methanoperedens, affiliated to ANME-2d, dominated the microbial community in the batch reactor and HfMBR. Additionally, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria bacteria (Phenylobacterium, Pseudomonas, and Geothermobacter) improved after AO7 degradation. This outcome suggested that ANME-2d alone, or acting synergistically with partner bacteria, played a key role in the process of AO7 degradation coupled with AOM.     

Species diversity and leaf functional traits of understory vegetation one year after severe burning北大核心CSCD

以北京油松(Pinus tabuliformis)人工林为研究对象,采用独立样本T检验、冗余分析等方法,分析重度火烧1年后林下植被(灌木层和草本层)的物种多样性、叶功能性状及其与土壤因子的关系.结果显示:(1)与对照样地相比,重度火烧后灌木层物种丰富度指数极显著降低(P <0.01),但Shannon指数、Simpson指数以及Pielou指数虽呈下降趋势但未达显著水平(P> 0.05);草本层除Pielou指数外,各物种多样性指数均显著增加(P <0.05).(2)重度火烧样地灌木层和草本层的叶厚度(LT)、叶干物质含量(LDMC)、叶碳含量(LCC)、叶磷含量(LPC)均高于对照样地,而比叶面积(SLA)、叶氮含量(LNC)、叶片氮磷比(N:P)、叶绿素含量(CHL)低于对照样地,除灌木层LPC和N:P及草本层SLA、LCC和LPC外,其他各叶功能性状在火烧与对照间差异均达显著水平.对于不同生活型而言,对照样地的LDMC、LNC、LCC、CHL存在显著差异,而在重度火烧后差异不显著;LT、SLA在重度火烧和对照样地上均呈现显著差异;而LPC、N:P在重度火烧与对照样地上均无显著差异.(3)重度火烧后1年,灌木层和草本层的叶功能性状均仅与土壤含水率、容重和非毛管孔隙度密切相关.本研究表明在油松人工林重度火烧后1年,灌木层物种多样性降低,而草本层物种多样性增加,灌草层的各叶功能性状主要受土壤物理性质的影响呈现不同的变化规律.(图4参45)     

Chemometrics in assessment of seasonal variation of water quality in fresh water systems

The spatial and temporal distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was investigated in Gomti River, a major tributary of the Ganga river (India). A total of 96 samples (water and sediments) were collected from eight different sites over a period of 2 years and analysed for 16 PAHs. The total concentrations of 16 PAHs in water and bed sediments ranged between 0.06 and 84.21 ??g/L (average (n?=?48), 10.33 ± 19.94 ??g/L) and 5.24?C3,722.87 ng/g dw [average (n?=?48): 697.25 ± 1,005.23 ng/g dw], respectively. In water, two- and three-ring PAHs and, in sediments, the three- and four-ring PAHs were the dominant species. The ratios of anthracene (An)/An + phenenthrene and fluoranthene (Fla)/Fla + pyrene were calculated to evaluate the possible sources of PAHs. These ratios reflected a pattern of pyrolytic input as a major source of PAHs in the river. Principal component analysis, further, separated the PAHs sources in the river sediments, suggesting that both the pyrolytic and petrogenic sources are contributing to the PAHs burden. The threat to biota of the river due to PAHs contamination was assessed using effect range low and effect range median values, and the results suggested that sediment at some occasions may pose biological impairment.     

Long-term variation of PM2.5 levels and composition at rural, urban, and roadside sites in Hong Kong: Increasing impact of regional air pollution

Long-term study of air pollution plays a decisive role in formulating and refining pollution control strategies. In this study, two 12-month measurements of PM_2.5 mass and speciation were conducted in 00/01 and 04/05 to determine long-term trend and spatial variations of PM_2.5 mass and chemical composition in Hong Kong. This study covered three sites with different land-use characteristics, namely roadside, urban, and rural environments. The highest annual average PM_2.5 concentration was observed at the roadside site (58.0±2.0 μg m⁻³ (average±2σ) in 00/01 and 53.0±2.7 μg m⁻³ in 04/05), followed by the urban site (33.9±2.5 μg m⁻³ in 00/01 and 39.0±2.0 μg m⁻³ in 04/05), and the rural site (23.7±1.9 μg m⁻³ in 00/01 and 28.4±2.4 μg m⁻³ in 04/05). The lowest PM_2.5 level measured at the rural site was still higher than the United States’ annual average National Ambient Air Quality Standard of 15 μg m⁻³. As expected, seasonal variations of PM_2.5 mass concentration at the three sites were similar: higher in autumn/winter and lower in summer. Comparing PM_2.5 data in 04/05 with those collected in 00/01, a reduction in PM_2.5 mass concentration at the roadside (8.7%) but an increase at the urban (15%) and rural (20%) sites were observed. The reduction of PM_2.5 at the roadside was attributed to the decrease of carbonaceous aerosols (organic carbon and elemental carbon) (>30%), indicating the effective control of motor vehicle emissions over the period. On the other hand, the sulfate concentration at the three sites was consistent regardless of different land-use characteristics in both studies. The lack of spatial variation of sulfate concentrations in PM_2.5 implied its origin of regional contribution. Moreover, over 36% growth in sulfate concentration was found from 00/01 to 04/05, suggesting a significant increase in regional sulfate pollution over the years. More quantitative techniques such as receptor models and chemical transport models are required to assess the temporal variations of source contributions to ambient PM_2.5 mass and chemical speciation in Hong Kong.     

湖泊富营养化模型的研究进展

湖泊的富营养化是全球普遍关注的环境问题之一.湖泊的富营养化模型是防治、修复和治理湖泊富营养化的重要决策工具.按研究的侧重点不同,将湖泊富营养化模型分为简单回归模型、水质模型、生态模型和生态-水动力水质模型,并分别回顾了四类模型的研究进展.最后指出湖泊富营养化模型的发展趋势,强调不确定理论、3S技术、耦合模型是今后湖泊富营养化模型研究的重点,应在此基础上建立通用的模拟、预测、评价和优化模型,为湖泊富营养化管理提供科学依据.     

PAH and soot emissions from burning components of medical waste: examination/surgical gloves and cotton pads

This is a laboratory investigation on the emissions from batch combustion of representative infectious ("red bag") medical waste components, such as medical examination latex gloves and sterile cotton pads. Plastics and cloth account for the majority of the red bag wastes by mass and, certainly, by volume. An electrically heated, horizontal muffle furnace was used for batch combustion of small quantities of shredded fuels (0.5-1.5 g) at a gas temperature of approximately 1000 degrees C. The residence time of the post-combustion gases in the furnace was approximately 1 s. At the exit of the furnace, the following emissions were measured: CO, CO2, NOx, particulates and polynuclear aromatic compounds (PACs). The first three gaseous emissions were measured with continuous gas analyzers. Soot and PAC emissions were simultaneously measured by passing the furnace effluent through a filter (to collect condensed-phase PACs) and a bed of XAD-4 adsorbent (to capture gaseous-phase PACs). Analysis involved soxhlet extraction, followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results were contrasted with previously measured emissions from batch combustion of pulverized coal and tire-derived fuel (TDF) under similar conditions. Results showed that the particulate soot) and cumulative PAC emissions from batch combustion of latex gloves were more than an order of magnitude higher than those from cotton pads. The following values are indicative of the relative trends (but not necessarily absolute values) in emission yields: 26% of the mass of the latex was converted to soot, 11% of which was condensed PAC. Only 2% of the mass of cotton pads was converted to soot, and only 3% of the weight of that soot was condensed PAC. The PAC yields from latex were comparable to those from TDF. The PAC yields from cotton were higher than those from coal. A notable exception to this trend was that the three-ring gas-phase PAC yields from cotton were more significant than those from latex. Emission yields of CO and CO2 from batch combustion of cotton were, respectively, comparable and higher than those from latex, despite the fact that the carbon content of cotton was half that of latex. This is indicative of the more effective combustion of cotton. Nearly all of the mass of carbon of cotton gasified to CO and CO2 while only small fractions of the carbon in latex were converted to CO2 and CO (20% and 10%, respectively). Yields of NOx from batch combustions of latex and cotton accounted for 15% and 12%, respectively, of the mass of fuel nitrogen indicating that more fuel nitrogen was converted to NOx in the former case, possibly due to higher flame temperatures. No SO2 emissions were detected, indicating that during the fuel-rich combustion of latex, its sulfur content was converted to other compounds (such as H2S) or remained in the soot.     

Kinetic modeling of microbially-driven redox chemistry of radionuclides in subsurface environments: coupling transport, microbial metabolism and geochemistry

Microbial reactions play an important role in regulating pore water chemistry as well as secondary mineral distribution in many subsurface systems and, therefore, may directly impact radionuclide migration in those systems. This paper presents a general modeling approach to couple microbial metabolism, redox chemistry, and radionuclide transport in a subsurface environment. To account for the likely achievement of quasi-steady state biomass accumulations in subsurface environments, a modification to the traditional microbial growth kinetic equation is proposed. The conditions for using biogeochemical models with or without an explicit representation of biomass growth are clarified. Based on the general approach proposed in this paper, the couplings of uranium reactions with biogeochemical processes are incorporated into computer code BIORXNTRN Version 2.0. The code is then used to simulate a subsurface contaminant migration scenario, in which a water flow containing both uranium and a complexing organic ligand is recharged into an oxic carbonate aquifer. The model simulation shows that Mn and Fe oxyhydroxides may vary significantly along a flow path. The simulation also shows that uranium(VI) can be reduced and therefore immobilized in the anoxic zone created by microbial degradation.     

Development of Hybrid Film Based on Carboxymethyl Chitosan-Gum Arabic Incorporated Citric Acid and Polyphenols from Cinnamomum camphora Seeds for Active Food Packaging

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - In this study, carboxymethyl chitosan with gum Arabic (CG) based novel functional films containing Cinnamomum camphora seeds extract (CCSE) at varying...     

Predicting future invasion risk of three widespread malignant weeds on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,using multi-algorithm ensemble models北大核心CSCD

农田恶性杂草相比普通杂草的传播更为迅速且难以有效防治,对农业生产危害严重.明确典型恶性杂草当前潜在分布面积及未来气候变化下对耕地的潜在入侵风险对农业生产管理具有重要意义.以广泛分布于青藏高原农田中的3种常见恶性杂草,即野燕麦(Avena fatua L.)、一年生早熟禾(Poa annua L.)和狗尾草[Setaria viridis(L.)P.Beauv.]为研究对象,利用广义增强模型(GBM)、广义线性模型(GLM)、人工神经网络(ANN)、最大熵(MaxEnt)、随机森林(RF)及多元自适应回归样条(MARS)算法集合预测上述3种杂草在青藏高原的潜在地理分布以及驱动其变化的关键因子,以评估其对耕地的入侵风险.未来气候场景采用最新的第六次国际耦合模式比较计划(CMIP6)框架下2050年的4种共享经济路线(SSP1-2.6、2-4.5、3-7.0、5-8.5).结果显示:野燕麦适宜分布区面积约为3.5912×10^(5) km^(2),主要分布于四川西南部及青海东部,零星分布于甘肃、西藏和新疆;一年生早熟禾和狗尾草的适宜分布区面积约为4.3046×10^(5) km^(2)和2.0036×10^(5) km^(2),均主要分布于四川西南部和西藏东南部,零星分布于青海东部和甘肃南部.年均温是3种杂草分布的最主要驱动因子.此外,人类足迹和土壤有效氮是影响野燕麦分布的相对重要因子;土壤酸碱度、最暖季降水量是影响一年生早熟禾分布的重要因子;温度季节性、最暖季降水量是影响狗尾草分布的重要因子.预计至2050年,3种杂草在4种情境下均会出现不同程度的扩张,狗尾草的扩张面积表现出随辐射强迫的增强呈先升高后趋于稳定的趋势,而另两种杂草则呈先升后降的趋势.预计3种杂草的潜在分布面积在耕地中的占比与扩张面积的变化趋势一致,且在主产区的占比高于非主产区.模拟结果表明,未来气候变化下,随着3种恶性杂草的适宜分布区面积的扩张,其对青藏高原耕地的入侵风险将增加,尤其是粮食主产区所面临威胁更为严峻,建议应重点关注青藏高原粮食主产区恶性杂草的生理生态、迁移扩散和防治技术研究.(图6表2参61)