The Investigation of the Toughening Mechanism of PHBV/PBAT with a Novel Hyperbranched Ethylenediamine Triazine Polymer Based Modifier: The Formation of the Transition Layer and the Microcrosslinking Structure

A new type of designed hyperbranched ethylenediamine trazine polymer (HBETP) is successfully synthesized and characterized based upon NMR and GPC. The prepared HBETP is used to modify the poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) blends. The effect of HBETP on the microstructure, mechanical properties and thermal properties of the blends is studied. The results indicate that upon addition of 1.0 wt% of HBETP, the impact strength of the PHBV/PBAT blends is increased by 47.1%; ?T_g of the blends decreases from 53.2 to 49.9 °C. These results, together with the morphology analysis of the fractured surface of the blends, conclude the formation of the transition layer between PHBV and PBAT. Also, the XRD result shows that the addition of HBETP can limit the growth of the PHBV crystals and causes the decrease of both the crystallinity and the grain crystalline size. The DSC result demonstrates that the addition of HBETP mainly affects the crystallization of the HB-HV binary eutectic region within PHBV. The mechanism of PHBV/PBAT toughening is due to the formation of the strong physical hydrogen bonding and the chemical micro-crosslinking between HBETP and PHBV/PBAT, which is proposed based on XPS characterization.     

Pathological and toxicological investigations of chronic nitrate poisoning in cattle

In this study, three stillborn and five premature and blind calves from cows suffering from chronic nitrate poisoning were examined pathologically. The live calves were euthanized, due to a poor prognosis. Complete necropsy was performed on all the eight affected calves. Hydroperitoneum and ascites were the most predominant lesions in the stillborn calves. Edema and hemorrhage were observed in the lungs of all the calves. Hemorrhages were seen in the digestive systems of four calves. Blood samples were taken from five live calves and their mothers, and from two cows that had delivered stillborn or blind calves, for biochemical observations and measurement of methemoglobin levels. Blood values of five healthy cattle from a herd with no history of stillborn or blind calves were used as controls. Water and feed samples were taken from five different farms with a history of stillborn or blind calves and examined for nitrates. Nitrate and nitrite levels of feeds ranged from 154 to 480 and 1.5 to 20?ppm respectively; these levels can cause chronic poisoning. Levels of nitrates and nitrites in blood samples from cows and calves were found to be high. While hemoglobin values were found to be low, methemoglobin values were very high. No differences were observed between liver enzyme levels of the affected and control cattle. There were no bacteria or virus isolated from these animals, and histopathological examination revealed no indication of any other diseases.     

Determination of trace amounts of zirconium in real samples after microwave digestion and ternary complex dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction

In this study, a ternary Zr(IV) system with 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol (5-Br-PADAP) and fluoride was chosen on the basis of dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction method. Zirconium was extracted into the fine droplets of dichlorobenzene as extracting solvent. These drops dispersed as a cloud in the aqueous sample with the help of ultrasonic waves, and the procedure was done. Finally, atomic absorption spectrometry was applied for the determination of zirconium. The effects of different factors that influence complex formation and extraction, such as pH, amounts of complexing agents, type and volume of the extracting solvent, as well as sonication and centrifuging time, were optimized. Under optimum conditions, the calibration curve was linear in the range of 150.0–800.0 ng mL^?1 with a limit of detection of 44.0 ng mL^?1. Relative standard deviation was calculated to be 4.1 % (n?=?7, c?=?400.0 ng mL^?1). The enrichment factor was 80. The proposed method was successfully used to determine the zirconium in several water, wastewater, and soil samples.     

Community Perception of Water Quality in a Mining-Affected Area: A Case Study for the Certej Catchment in the Apuseni Mountains in Romania

Mining-contaminated sites and the affected communities at risk are important issues on the agenda of both researchers and policy makers, particularly in the former communist block countries in Eastern Europe. Integrated analyses and expert based assessments concerning mining affected areas are important in providing solid policy guidelines for environmental and social risk management and mitigation. Based on a survey for 103 households conducted in a former mining site in the Certej Catchment of the Apuseni Mountains, western Romania, this study assesses local communities’ perceptions on the quality of water in their living area. Logistic regression was used to examine peoples’ perception on the quality of the main river water and of the drinking water based on several predictors relating to social and economic conditions. The results from the perception analysis were then compared with the measurements of heavy metal contamination of the main river and drinking water undertaken in the same study area. The findings indicate that perception and measurement results for the water quality in the Certej Catchment are convergent, suggesting an obvious risk that mining activities pose on the surface water. However, the perception on drinking water quality was little predicted by the regression model and does not seem to be so much related to mining as to other explanatory factors, such as special mineralogy of rock and soils or improper water treatment infrastructure, facts suggested by the measurements of the contaminants. Discussion about the implications of these joint findings for risk mitigation policies completes this article.     

Devastating earthquakes facilitating civil societies in developing countries: across-national analysis

ABSTRACT

Developing countries, which often have emerging or fledgling civil societies, are vulnerable to disasters, and especially devastating earthquakes. The long-term influence of devastating earthquakes on civil societies in developing countries is a critical research topic while receives relatively little attention. From a comprehensive literature review, this study identified four key areas of the civil society: civic participation, voluntary organizations, social capital, and democratic governance, and then examined four devastating earthquakes in India, Iran, Pakistan and China in the first decade of the twenty-first century as case studies, to identify the effects these earthquakes had on these four areas. It was found that from a long-term perspective, while the earthquakes strengthened the civil society, they had beneficial but limited effects. We argue that by promoting local community participation, facilitating extensive non-government organization (NGO) cooperation, and streamlining state-civil society relationships, an enabling environment can be developed to further sustain the advances made by a civil society after a disaster.     

新型人工湿地污水处理系统复氧效果研究

介绍了新型人工湿地的工艺特点,并对自然跌水复氧和自然沟槽复氧两种复氧方式的复氧效果进行试验研究,结果表明：1．5m高的跌水,其复氧量在2．2mg/L-3．3mg/L之间,且由复氧数学模型得出复氧的预测值与实测值基本一致;沟槽的复氧效果与槽长呈正比关系,且4m沟槽的复氧量可达到3．0mg/L;试验得出跌水复氧的效果要优于沟槽复氧。     

新型人工快速渗滤系统处理村镇污水工艺参数优化

在巢湖双桥河建立了中试规模的人工快速渗滤系统(CRI),系统经过一个月左右启动期后挂膜成功。通过考察不同湿干比条件下CODMn、TP、TN和NH3-N的去除效果,确定系统湿干比为1 d∶2 d,水力负荷周期为3 d。TP、TN和NH3-N在1.0 m/d的水力负荷条件下能够达到最佳的处理效果,特别是TN;而CODMn在1.3 m/d取得最佳的去除效果。综合考虑脱氮除磷和有机污染物的去除,选取水力负荷为1.0 m/d可得到最佳的出水水质。综合4种污染物的去除特点,特别考虑到对TN去除的需要,同时兼顾工程成本,填料厚度确定为1.2～1.5 m之间为最佳。选取生物陶粒、钢渣、活性炭和天然沸石为渗滤介质,研究结果表明,从去除有机污染物和TP角度考虑,选取活性炭和钢渣可达到较好的去除效果,其中钢渣对TP去除效果更佳;而活性炭具有其他4种填料不可替代的脱氮效果。以上工艺组合形式的确定将为巢湖流域CRI系统的推广提供科学依据和数据支持。     

危险废物焚烧飞灰中重金属的稳定化处理

以上海市某危险废物焚烧厂飞灰为研究对象,采用Na2S、FeSO4、Na3PO4、和Na3C3N3S34种不同类型化学稳定药剂对飞灰进行了稳定化处理,并应用XRD、IR、SEM和连续化学提取法等仪器和手段对Na3C3N3S3处理焚烧飞灰的产物进行分析研究。研究结果表明,Na3C3N3S3对飞灰中的重金属Cr、Pb、Zn的稳定效果最好,Na3PO4对Cr无明显稳定效果。稳定后产物表面变得致密化,Na3C3N3S3与重金属离子生成的沉淀物干燥后无明显晶型存在。经稳定处理后飞灰中的重金属形态由弱酸提取态转化为可氧化态,减少了飞灰中重金属的浸出毒性。     

循环式活性污泥工艺协同处理榨菜废水与城镇污水脱氮效果

利用CASS工艺协同处理高盐高氮榨菜有机废水和生活污水,针对协同处理碳源不足问题,提出以榨菜废水和甲醇作为碳源的两种碳源投加方案,对比分析了CASS工艺在运行周期为8 h、排水比为30%、回流比为100%、预处理后的榨菜废水掺入比为20%的条件下,分别以榨菜废水和甲醇补充碳源及不外加碳源3种情况的脱氮效果。实验结果表明,不外加碳源时,协同处理进水C/N小于3∶1,系统脱氮效果差,出水总氮不达标;以榨菜废水和甲醇为碳源提高C/N至4∶1～5∶1时,系统脱氮效果提高,出水总氮满足GB18918-2002一级B标排放标准;盐度的变化对微生物活性产生的抑制作用,当盐度升高0.1%±0.02%时,微生物系统恢复时间为10 d,而当盐度降低0.1%±0.02%时,微生物系统恢复时间为15 d。