Ultrafine particles near a major roadway in Raleigh,North Carolina: Downwind attenuation and correlation with traffic-related pollutants

Ultrafine particles (UFPs, diameter < 100 nm) and co-emitted pollutants from traffic are a potential health threat to nearby populations. During summertime in Raleigh, North Carolina, UFPs were simultaneously measured upwind and downwind of a major roadway using a spatial matrix of five portable industrial hygiene samplers (measuring total counts of 20–1000 nm particles). While the upper sampling range of the portable samplers extends past the defined “ultrafine” upper limit (100 nm), the 20–1000 nm number counts had high correlation (Pearson R = 0.7–0.9) with UFPs (10–70 nm) measured by a co-located research-grade analyzer and thus appear to be driven by the ultrafine range. Highest UFP concentrations were observed during weekday morning work commutes, with levels at 20 m downwind from the road nearly fivefold higher than at an upwind station. A strong downwind spatial gradient was observed, linearly approximated over the first 100 m as an 8% drop in UFP counts per 10 m distance. This result agreed well with UFP spatial gradients estimated from past studies (ranging 5–12% drop per 10 m). Linear regression of other vehicle-related air pollutants measured in near real-time (10-min averages) against UFPs yielded moderate to high correlation with benzene (R² = 0.76), toluene (R² = 0.49), carbon monoxide (R² = 0.74), nitric oxide (R² = 0.80), and black carbon (R² = 0.65). Overall, these results support the notion that near-road levels of UFPs are heavily influenced by traffic emissions and correlate with other vehicle-produced pollutants, including certain air toxics.     

Tethered balloon-based soundings of ozone,aerosols, and solar radiation near Mexico City during MIRAGE-MEX

A tethered balloon sampling system was used to measure vertical profiles of ozone, particles, and solar radiation in the atmospheric boundary layer on the northern edge of Mexico City, in March 2006 as part of the Megacity Impact on Regional and Global Environment-Mexico experiment. Several commercial sensors, designed for surface applications, were deployed on a tethered balloon platform.Profiles indicate that for these 3 scalars the boundary layer (surface up to 700 m) was well mixed in the period 10:00–16:00 LST. Good agreement was observed for median surface and balloon ozone and particle number concentrations. For most profiles, the surface deposition of ozone was not significant compared to median profile concentrations. Particle number concentration (0.3, 0.5, 1.0 and 5.0 μm) also showed little variation with attitude. Radiatprofiles showed a monotonic increase in diffuse radiation from the maximum altitude of profiles to the surface. Consequently, it was inferred that surface measurements of these likely were representative of lower boundary layer values during this time period.     

Evaluation and application of biomagnetic monitoring of traffic-derived particulate pollution

Inhalation of particulate pollutants below 10 μm in size (PM₁₀) is associated with adverse health effects. Here we use magnetic remanence measurements of roadside tree leaves to examine levels of vehicle-derived PM around Lancaster, UK. Leaf saturation remanence (SIRM) values exhibit strong correlation with both the SIRM and particulate mass of co-located, pumped-air samples, indicating that these leaf magnetic values are an effective proxy for ambient PM₁₀ concentrations. Biomagnetic monitoring using tree leaves can thus provide high spatial resolution data sets for assessment of particulate pollution levels at pedestrian-relevant heights. Leaf SIRM values not only increase with proximity to roads with higher traffic volumes, but are also ～100% higher at 0.3 m than at ～1.5–2 m height. Magnetic and SEM data indicate that the particle populations are dominated by spherical, iron-rich particles ～0.1–1 μm in diameter, with fewer larger, more angular, silica-rich particles. Comparison of the roadside leaf-calculated PM₁₀ concentrations with PM₁₀ concentrations predicted by a widely-used atmospheric dispersion model indicates some agreement between them. However, the model under-predicts PM₁₀ concentrations at ‘urban hotspots’ such as major–minor road junctions and traffic lights. Conversely, the model over-predicts PM₁₀ concentrations with distance from the road wherever one tree is screened by another, indicating the filtering/protective effect of roadside trees in leaf.     

An observational study of the HONO–NO2 coupling at an urban site in Guangzhou City,South China

The temporal behavior of HONO and NO₂ was investigated at an urban site in Guangzhou city, China, by means of a DOAS system during the Pearl River Delta 2006 intensive campaign from 10 to 24 July 2006. Within the whole measurement period, unexpected high HONO mixing ratios up to 2 ppb were observed even during the day. A nocturnal maximum concentration of about 8.43 ± 0.4 ppb was detected on the night of 24 July 2006. Combining the data simultaneously observed by different instruments, the coupling of HONO–NO₂ and the possible formation sources of HONO are discussed. During the measurement period, concentration ratios of HONO to NO₂ ranged from (0.03 ± 0.1) to (0.37 ± 0.09), which is significantly higher than previously reported values (0.01–0.1). Surprisingly, in most cases a strong daytime correlation between HONO and NO₂ was found, contrary to previous observations in China. Aerosol was found to have a minor impact on HONO formation during the whole measurement period. Using a pseudo steady state approach for interpreting the nocturnal conversion of NO₂ to HONO suggests a non-negligible role of the relative humidity for the heterogeneous HONO formation from NO₂.     

生物反应器填埋的沉降加速效应

通过实验室填埋柱模拟实验,研究了生物反应器填埋操作方式对填埋层沉降的影响。结果表明：与传统卫生填埋方式相比,回灌经厌氧生物处理后渗滤液的生物反应器填埋方式能够加速填埋层的沉降,140 d内沉降提高比例达10%以上。我国填埋垃圾高含水率、高易腐有机物含量的特性,使得其填埋层的次沉降系数高于文献值。填埋垃圾有机物降解量及其引起的垃圾水分排出量与填埋层沉降有显著相关性,表明有机物降解是引起填埋层沉降的重要因素,也是造成生物反应器填埋与传统卫生填埋方式初期沉降差异的主要原因。     

复合沸石滤床修复北方景观水体的实验研究

以天然矿物质沸石、细砂及煤渣取代传统滤料构建复合基质生态床,表面种植景观植物,采用下向流-上向流运行方式修复北方景观水体。分别进行静态实验及不同循环速率下的动态实验,考察对水体污染物去除过程。结果表明,2种运行方式下对水体NH⁺₄-N去除率都在85%以上,其中以1 h为循环周期的运行方式去除率达97%,较静态提高12.8%;TN去除率最高为84%;TP去除不稳定,过程缓慢。煤渣层对NH⁺₄-N的去除效果差,硝化作用不彻底与反硝化作用的加强使下层出水NH⁺₄-N 、NO^-₂-N及NO^-₃-N浓度均高于上层。提高循环速率有利于对氮的去除。     

氮掺杂氧化钛的简易制备及可见光催化活性的研究

为开发对可见光响应的催化剂,以尿素为氮掺杂剂,采用简易溶胶-凝胶法制备氮掺杂氧化钛,并以2,4-DCP的降解检验其光催化活性。XRD、BET、XPS和UV-Vis漫反射光谱分析表明,随着氮/钛原子比（N/Ti)的增大,各催化剂晶粒尺寸减小,比表面积增大,锐钛矿相向金红石相的转变得到抑制,除0#样品出现金红石相外,其他催化剂均只出现锐钛矿相;掺入催化剂的N位于晶格O位点和晶格间隙,替代N和间隙N掺杂使催化剂的光吸收发生明显的红移。荧光光谱分析表明,当N/Ti在0～6范围内增加时,反应体系中·OH自由基的产生速率增加,当N/Ti增大至8时,速率则下降。相似的规律也表现在氮掺杂量对光催化活性的影响。适量氮掺杂能增强氧化钛的可见光催化活性,该改性催化剂可用于有机污染物的太阳光激催化降解。     

Utilization of waste product (tamarind seeds) for the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions: Equilibrium, kinetics, and regeneration studies

In the present study, an adsorbent was prepared from tamarind seeds and used after activation for the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions. The tamarind seeds were activated by treating them with concentrated sulfuric acid (98% w/w) at a temperature of 150 °C. The adsorption of Cr(VI) was found to be maximum at low values of initial pH in the range of 1–3. The adsorption process of Cr(VI) was tested with Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich–Peterson, Koble–Corrigan, Tempkin, Dubinin–Radushkevich and Generalized isotherm models. Application of the Langmuir isotherm to the system yielded a maximum adsorption capacity of 29.7 mg/g at an equilibrium pH value ranging from 1.12 to 1.46. The adsorption process followed second-order kinetics and the corresponding rate constants obtained were 2.605 × 10⁻³, 0.818 × 10⁻³, 0.557 × 10⁻³ and 0.811 × 10⁻³ g/mg min⁻¹ for 50, 200, 300 and 400 mg/L of initial Cr(VI) concentration, respectively. The regenerated activated tamarind seeds showed more than 95% Cr(VI) removal of that obtained using the fresh activated tamarind seeds. A feasible solution is proposed for the disposal of the contaminants (acid and base solutions) containing high concentrations of Cr(VI) obtained during the regeneration (desorption) process.     

Long-term evaluation of coal fly ash and mine tailings co-placement: A site-specific study

This study presents the results of a laboratory investigation conducted to evaluate the efficiency of coal fly ash to control the formation of acid mine drainage (AMD) from mine waste. Site-specific materials, coal fly ash from Atikokan Thermal Generating Station and mine tailings from Musselwhite mine, were mixed at different proportions for the investigation of the drainage chemistry and the optimal mix using static testing (acid–base accounting) and kinetic (column) testing. The acid–base accounting (ABA) results indicated that the fly ash possessed strong alkaline (neutralization) potential (NP) and could be used in the management of reactive mine tailings, thus ensuring prevention of AMD in the long-term. Column tests conducted in the laboratory to further investigate long-term performance of fly ash in the neutralization and prevention of acid mine drainage from tailings similarly showed that mixing fly ash with mine tailings reduces dissolution of many heavy metals from tailings by providing alkalinity to the system. It was found that a fly ash to tailings mass ratio equal to or greater than 15% can effectively prevent AMD generation from Musselwhite mine tailings in the co-placement approach.