Changes of organic acid exudation and rhizosphere pH in rice plants under chromium stress.

The effect of chromium (Cr) stress on the changes of rhizosphere pH, organic acid exudation, and Cr accumulation in plants was studied using two rice genotypes differing in grain Cr accumulation. The results showed that rhizosphere pH increased with increasing level of Cr in the culture solution and with an extended time of Cr exposure. Among the six organic acids examined in this experiment, oxalic and malic acid contents were relatively higher, and had a significant positive correlation with the rhizosphere pH, indicating that they play an important role in changing rhizosphere pH. The Cr content in roots was significantly higher than that in stems and leaves. Cr accumulation in plants was significantly and positively correlated with rhizosphere pH, and the exudation of oxalic, malic and citric acids, suggesting that an increase in rhizosphere pH, and exudation of oxalic, malic and citric acid enhances Cr accumulation in rice plants.     

Relationships between organic matter, black carbon and persistent organic pollutants in European background soils: Implications for sources and environmental fate

Black carbon (BC) and total organic carbon (TOC) contents of UK and Norwegian background soils were determined and their relationships with persistent organic pollutants (HCB, PAHs, PCBs, co-planar PCBs, PBDEs and PCDD/Fs) investigated by correlation and regression analyses, to assess their roles in influencing compound partitioning/retention in soils. The 52 soils used were high in TOC (range 54-460 mg/g (mean 256)), while BC only constituted 0.24-1.8% (0.88%) of the TOC. TOC was strongly correlated (p < 0.001) with HCB, PCBs, co-PCBs and PBDEs, but less so with PCDD/Fs (p < 0.05) and PAHs. TOC explained variability in soil content, as follows: HCB, 80%; PCBs, 44%; co-PCBs, 40%; PBDEs, 27%. BC also gave statistically significant correlations with PBDEs (p < 0.001), co-PCBs (p < 0.01) and PCBs, HCB, PCDD/F (p < 0.05); TOC and BC were correlated with each other (p < 0.01). Inferences are made about possible combustion-derived sources, atmospheric transport and air-surface exchange processes for these compounds.     

Remediation of copper-contaminated topsoils from a wood treatment facility using in situ stabilisation

Five organic matters, three phosphate compounds, zerovalent iron grit (ZVIG, 2% by soil weight), two alkaline compounds, and two commercial formulations were incorporated, singly and some combined with ZVIG, into a highly Cu-contaminated topsoil (Soil P7, 2600 mg Cu kg⁻¹) from a wood treatment facility. Formulations and two composts were also singly incorporated into a slightly Cu-contaminated topsoil (Soil P10, 118 mg Cu kg⁻¹) from the facility surrounding. This aimed to reduce the labile pool of Cu and its accumulation in beans cultivated on potted soils in a climatic chamber. Lowest Cu concentration in soil solution occurred in P7 soils amended with activated carbon (5%) and ZVIG, singly and combined. Basic slag (3.9%) and compost of sewage sludge (5%) combined with ZVIG promoted shoot production and limited foliar Cu accumulation. For amended P10 soils, no changes occurred in soil solution and foliar Cu concentrations, but one compost increased shoot production.     

Effect of selected organic and inorganic snow and cloud components on the photochemical generation of nitrite by nitrate irradiation

The effect of selected organic and inorganic compounds, present in snow and cloudwater was studied. Photolysis of solutions of nitrate to nitrite was carried out in the laboratory using a UVB light source. The photolysis and other reactions were then modelled. It is shown that formate, formaldehyde, methanesulphonate, and chloride to a lesser extent, can increase the initial formation rate of nitrite. The effect, particularly significant for formate and formaldehyde, is unlikely to be caused by scavenging of hydroxyl radicals. The experimental data obtained in this work suggest that possible causes are the reduction of nitrogen dioxide and nitrate by radical species formed on photooxidation of the organic compounds. Hydroxyl scavenging by organic and inorganic compounds would not affect the initial formation rate of nitrite, but would protect it from oxidation, therefore, increasing the concentration values reached at long irradiation times. The described processes can be relevant to cloudwater and the quasi-liquid layer on the surface of ice and snow, considering that in the polar regions irradiated snow layers are important sources of nitrous acid to the atmosphere. Formate and (at a lesser extent) formaldehyde are the compounds that play the major role in the described processes of nitrite/nitrous acid photoformation by initial rate enhancement and hydroxyl scavenging.     

Competition between phenanthrene, chrysene, and 2,5-dichlorobiphenyl for high-energy adsorption sites in a sediment

We determined the maximum amounts of added phenanthrene, chrysene, and 2,5-dichlorobiphenyl sorbed onto high-energy adsorption sites in a sediment on bi-solute experiments. The bi-solute pairs were phenanthrene/chrysene and phenanthrene/2,5-dichlorobiphenyl. On the bi-solute sorption experiments, one solute was introduced and equilibrated with sediment prior to addition of the second solute. The values for the maximum amounts adsorbed onto high-energy sites revealed that, after equilibration of the first solute, still some high-energy sites could be occupied by the second solute. Phenanthrene, chrysene, and 2,5-dichlorobiphenyl seem to share about 30% of the accessible high-energy adsorption sites in the sediment employed.     

Experimental investigation of a 250-kW turbine organic Rankine cycle system for low-grade waste heat recovery

An organic Rankine cycle (ORC) is generally used for converting low-grade heat into electricity. In this study, an extensive literature survey was conducted to identify current research gaps on experimental ORC systems. Specifically, there is limited experimental data and limited details on thermal and expander efficiencies of ORC systems. In order to address these gaps, the objective of this study included developing a turbine ORC with a power output exceeding 50 kW and thermal efficiency exceeding 8% for a heat source temperature < 120°C. The experimental results indicated that the system achieved a net power output of 242.5 kW and a thermal efficiency of 8.3% (the highest value for a turbine ORC system for the heat source temperature below 120°C). Thus, the study addressed the gaps identified in the research area of ORCs.     

一种新型铋基光催化剂的合成及其可见光催化性能

采用水热法合成铋基光催化剂Bi4VO8Br,通过X-射线粉末衍射、扫描电镜等手段对其进行表征.选择甲基橙为目标降解物来评价不同条件下合成的Bi4VO8Br在可见光下的光催化活性,发现pH 3、反应时间15 h、反应温度160℃为材料水热合成的最佳条件.考察了Bi4VO8Br在可见光及紫外光下对几种农药和增塑剂的光催化降解性能,显示了Bi4VO8Br对不易光解的含苯环有机物的可见光高活性.五氯酚的光催化过程影响因素优化结果表明,可见光和紫外光分别照射120 min和20 min,其降解率分别达到97％和99％,Bi4VO8Br表面上活性基团的捕获即空穴的氧化作用是主要反应原理.     

长江口区域水体半挥发性有机污染物健康风险评价

近年来长江口区域水体的有机物污染日渐严重.主要应用美国环境保护局(USEPA)的健康风险评价方法,并对其进行了一定的修改和补充,对长江口区域水体半挥发性有机污染物的健康风险进行了初步评价.结果表明:长江口区域水体半挥发性有机污染物的非致癌风险指数均小于1,其中单环芳香族类的非致癌风险值均在10-3数量级,卤代烃类的风险值在10-4数量级,均偏高于其他类物质;各类物质的致癌风险指数均在10-4数量级以下,其中六氯苯、双(2-氯乙基)醚和咔唑的风险指数相对较高,在10-5数量级.根据USEPA的建议值,初步认为目前长江口区域水体中单一半挥发性有机污染物不会对人体产生明显的健康危害.由于缺少相关的研究资料,因此各种有机污染物的联合健康效应评价尚无法进行.      

土壤有机物污染控制标准制订的方法学研究

指出了中国现行土壤环境质量标准存在的问题.对日本和美国等发达国家的有机物污染土壤质量控制标准进行了分析.从土壤环境质量基准制订的方法学和污染控制标准的确定原则上,提出了制订中国土壤有机物污染控制标准的建议.     

有机固体废弃物的热解处理研究

通过对锯末、稻壳、纸屑、橱芥、塑料和橡胶6种具有代表性的有机固体废弃物原料的热解实验,测量了它们三相产物收率,并分析了它们固体、液体和气体三相产物的组成.特别对液体产物,针对它们的特殊性分别采用了层析、模拟蒸馏和全烃气相色谱分析,详细探讨了热解焦油的具体组分,得到了热解法处理有机固体废弃物的一些有意义的数据.