Mechanical Property Characterization of Plasticized Sugar Beet Pulp and Poly(Lactic Acid) Green Composites Using Acoustic Emission and Confocal Microscopy

Sorbitol and glycerol were used to plasticize sugar beet pulp-poly(lactic acid) green composites. The plasticizer was incorporated into sugar beet pulp (SBP) at 0%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% w/w at low temperature and shear and then compounded with poly(lactic acid) (PLA) using twin-screw extrusion and injection molding. The SBP:PLA ratio was maintained at 30:70. As expected, tensile strength decreased by 25% and the elongation increased. Acoustic emission (AE) showed correlated debonding and fracture mechanisms for up to 20% w/w plasticizer and uncorrelated debonding and fracture for 30–40% sorbitol and 30% glycerol content in SBP–PLA composites. All samples had a well dispersed SBP phase with some aggregation in the PLA matrix. However, at 40% glycerol plasticized SBP–PLA composites exhibited unique AE behavior and confocal microscopy revealed the plasticized SBP and PLA formed a co-continuous two phase system.

Relationships between anaerobic consortia and removal efficiencies in an UASB reactor degrading 2,4 dichlorophenol (DCP)

To gain more insight into the interactions between anaerobic bacteria and reactor performances (chemical oxygen demand-COD, 2,4 dichlorophenol-2,4 DCP removals, volatile fatty acid-VFA, and methane gas productions) and how they depended on operational conditions the microbial variations in the anaerobic granular sludge from an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor treating 2,4 DCP was studied. The study was composed of two parts. In the first part, the numbers of methanogens and acedogens in the anaerobic granular sludge were counted at different COD removal efficiencies. The relationships between the numbers of methanogens, the methane gas production and VFA production were investigated. The COD removal efficiencies increased to 74% from 30% while the number of total acedogens decreased to 10 from 30 cfu ml(-1). The number of total methanogens and acedogens varied between 11 x 10(3) and 10 x 10(9)MPN g(-1) and 10 and 30 cfu ml(-1) as the 2,4 DCP removal efficiencies were obtained between 60% and 99%, respectively. It was seen that, as the number of total acedogens decreased, the COD removal efficiencies increased. However, the number of total methanogens increased as the COD removal efficiencies increased. Correlations between the bacterial number and with the removal efficiencies obtained in different operational conditions were investigated. From the results presented in this paper a high correlation between the number of bacteria, COD removals, methane gas percentage, 2,4 DCP removals and VFA was observed. In the second part, methanogen bacteria in the anaerobic granular sludge were identified. Microbial observations and biochemical tests were applied to identify the anaerobic microorganisms from the anaerobic granular sludge. In the reactor treating 2,4 DCP, Methanobacterium bryantii, Methanobacterium formicicum, Methanobrevibacter smithii, Methanococcus voltae, Methanosarcina mazei, Methanosarcina acetivorans, Methanogenium bourgense and Methanospirillum hungatei were identified.     

The greenhouse gas balance of the Province of Siena

There is a profound debate over how to assign greenhouse gas (GHG) responsibilities; therefore, we have decided to follow IPCC guidelines, as they offer the only standardized method. We have identified each type of greenhouse emission and its level of absorption. We have studied the province and its districts and municipalities. We have determined that the energy sector is that with the highest level of emissions, even if the per capita emissions of the Province of Siena are very low. This is caused by a very low level of industrialization and the presence of a local geothermal production of energy. In order to highlight this aspect, we have considered scenarios both with and without geothermal production. Our research was then focused on single districts (groups of homogenous municipalities) and municipalities, where we found great differences among the greenhouse emissions of the areas. We have constructed a map of the greenhouse emissions of the whole province. It has been interesting to note that there are 14 municipalities with net negative emissions, seven with low positive emissions, 12 with medium positive emissions and three with elevated positive emissions. These latter correspond to the main city and to two of the most industrialized municipalities.     

Identification of Odor Causing Compounds in a Commercial Dairy Farm

The odorous air emissions from confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs), such as swine, poultry and dairy farms, are increasingly raising community complaints. Odorous emissions can result in health damages, psychological discomforts and adverse aesthetic effects in the community. However, these emissions are not well characterized up to now due to the lack of legislation, the limitations in sampling and instrumentation techniques, and the complexity of the emissions themselves. This study is aimed at the development of a high volume sampler and sorbent assembly to identify the odor causing compounds from a diary CAFO. The sorbent was custom designed to target the potential compounds that may exist in a dairy farm and was validated in laboratory with a synthetic odor from the swine manure. The actual samples at the diary farm were collected in spring and summer of 2005. The sorbents were solvent extracted and individual odor compounds were identified using GC–MS (gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy). The data obtained indicated that high volume sampling can shorten the sampling time from days to within 4 h. Both volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) have been identified from the dairy farm, such as phenol, methylphenol, 4-ethyl phenol, indole, methyl indole, benzyl alcohol, hexanoic acid, valeric acid and iso-valeric acid, together with some nitrogen containing compounds that have not been reported before.     

城市垃圾预处理改善焚烧特性的探讨

针对目前我国城市垃圾的高水分、低热值的特性,提出了2种改善城市垃圾焚烧特性的有效措施:生物质垃圾源分类和生物干燥.在我国建立生物质垃圾源分类体系,将生物质垃圾源头分类后,剩余垃圾的热值可以提高约50%～120%,已适合直接入炉焚烧,同时分离出来的生物质垃圾也更易于好氧堆肥或厌氧消化.另外一项技术措施是在焚烧前利用生物干燥技术,降低城市垃圾的水分含量,提高入炉垃圾的热值,这种方法主要是利用生物反应热来干燥城市生活垃圾,只需要在垃圾投入焚烧炉前增加一个预处理步骤,不必改变目前的垃圾收运体系,而且进行生物干燥后的垃圾更易于分选其中的可回收物质.     

Co3O4/介孔分子筛催化剂对苯催化完全氧化的研究

分别以介孔分子筛MCM-41、MCM-48、SBA-15为载体,采用等体积浸渍法制备了氧化钴/介孔分子筛催化剂,利用N₂吸附、X射线衍射、程序升温还原等技术对催化剂进行了表征,考察了Co₃O₄的负载量及载体的孔结构对催化剂完全催化氧化苯的性能的影响。结果表明,Co₃O₄的负载量为20%时,催化剂的催化活性最好;载体的孔径和催化剂的可还原性能是影响催化活性的主要因素,催化剂活性顺序为Co₃O₄ /SBA-15> Co₃O₄ /MCM41> Co₃O₄ /MCM-48。     

A2/O工艺中的反硝化除磷

A2/O工艺是一种最简单的同步脱氮除磷工艺,但由于其系统中固有的基质竞争和污泥龄等矛盾,在实际应用中特别是处理低C/N比污水时脱氮除磷效率较低.反硝化除磷工艺作为近年来颇受关注的污水生物处理新技术.由于在脱氮除磷过程中可以在碳源利用上耦合,可从一定程度上缓解A2/O工艺中的基质竞争矛盾,使得其在处理低C/N比污水时也能实现较高的脱氮除磷效率.就反硝化除磷的技术原理,结合其在A2/O工艺中的最新研究成果及其控制策略,对A2/O工艺中的反硝化除磷的实现、维持及影响因素进行了分析和探讨,并对其发展方向进行了展望.     

Enhancing community-based disaster preparedness with information technology

A critical component of community-based disaster preparedness (CBDP) is a local resource database of suppliers providing physical, information and human resources for use in disaster response. Maintenance of such a database can become a collaborative responsibility among community-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and public and private community organisations. In addition to mobilising resources, this process raises awareness within the community and aids in assessing local knowledge and resources. This paper presents the results of a pilot study on implementing a community-based resource database through collaboration with local American Red Cross chapters and public and private community organisations. The design of the resource database is described. The resource database is accessible via the internet and offline using laptops and handheld Personal Digital Assistants. The study concludes that CBDP is strengthened through a combination of appropriate information technology and collaborative relationships between NGOs and community-based organisations.     

The 2004 Madrid train bombings: an analysis of pre-hospital management

The terrorist train bombings in Madrid, Spain, on 11 March 2004 triggered a swift and massive medical response. This paper analyses the pre-hospital response to the attacks to gain insight into current trends in disaster management among Madrid's Emergency Medical Services (EMSs). To this end, the existing emergency planning framework is described, the basic structures of the different EMSs are presented, and the attacks are briefly depicted before consideration is given to pre-hospital management. Finally, an explanation of the main underlying misconceptions in emergency planning and management in Madrid is provided to aid understanding of the origins of some of the problems detected during the response. These are attributable mainly to inappropriate planning rather than to mistakes in field-level decision-making. By contrast, many of the successes are attributable to individual initiatives by frontline medics who compensated for the lack of clear command by senior managers by making adaptive and flexible decisions.     

海洋巨藻(Durvilaea potatorum)生物吸附剂对Hg~(2 )的吸附动力学研究

对经特殊的稳定化预处理所得的海洋巨藻 (Durvillaeapotatorum)生物吸附剂对Hg2 的吸附动力学进行了研究 ,报导了不同Hg2 初始浓度、温度以及生物吸附剂平均粒径下动态吸附量与时间的关系 .结果显示 ,各吸附动力学曲线呈优惠型 ;当生物吸附剂平均粒径为 0 .45mm时 ,Hg2 的半饱和时间tS均不超过 6 0min ;Hg2 初始浓度和生物吸附剂粒径越小 ,吸附温度越大 ,达到吸附平衡所需的时间越短 .在测试范围内 ,生物吸附剂的平衡吸附容量与粒径和温度无关 .同时考察了吸附过程中的传质效应并对液膜传质系数kL进行了关联 ,结果表明 :当吸附时间t≤tS时 ,Hg2 的吸附速率为液膜传质控制 ;在测试范围内 ,kL为 0 .0 40 7～ 0 .112cm/s.本研究结果为利用海洋巨藻 (Durvillaeapotatorum)生物吸附剂处理含汞废水的规模化应用提供了一定的依据 .图 5表 2参 11