Locating the gas leakage source in the atmosphere using the dispersion wave method

A new and simple method for locating emission source was proposed in this work based on gas dynamic dispersion information. The simulation of the unsteady state dispersion of leakage gas emission from the geosequestration project showed that the transportation process of emission gases in the atmosphere is similar to wave propagation, and the time parameter of the dispersion wave is linearly related to the downwind distance. Therefore, monitoring the dispersion wave at different downwind positions can be used to estimate the leakage source position. An estimation formula for locating emission sources was derived. First, an estimation formula for locating emission sources was derived under some initial assumptions. Then, the deviation of the location formula was investigated using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model and analytic solution to get the offset distance under different conditions. The results showed that the average distance is stable for a certain atmosphere and terrestrial conditions. This method needs no more than 3 sensors’ dynamic information to locate the emission source, and hence it is highly useful for conditions with limited sensors. A numerical test demonstrated that the absolute error of the source estimation is within the range of 1–30 m. Finally, experimental tests were conducted to verify the feasibility of the source location with dispersion waves. Therefore, the dispersion wave monitor is a potentially simple and feasible way to estimate the source location for gas emission event management with limited sensors in the process industries.     

A holistic life cycle analysis of waste management scenarios at increasing source segregation intensity: The case of an Italian urban area

Life cycle analysis of several waste management scenarios for an Italian urban area was performed on the basis of different source segregation collection (SS) intensities from 0% up to 52%. Source segregated waste was recycled and or/recovered by composting. Residual waste management options were by landfilling, incineration with energy recovery or solid recovered fuel (SRF) production to substitute for coal. The increase in fuel and materials consumption due to increase in SS had negligible influence on the environmental impact of the system. Recycling operations such as incineration and SRF were always advantageous for impact reduction. There was lower impact for an SS of 52% even though the difference with the SS intensity of 35% was quite limited, about 15%. In all the configurations analyzed, the best environmental performance was achieved for the management system producing SRF by the biodrying process.     

Significant contribution of spring northwest transport to volatile organic compounds in Beijing

High values of ozone (O₃) occur frequently in the dry spring season; thus, understanding the evolution characteristics of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in spring is of great significance for preventing O₃ pollution. In this study, a total of 101 VOCs from April 16 to May 21, 2019, were quantified using an online gas chromatography mass spectrometer/flame ionization detector (GCMS/FID). The results indicated that the observed concentration of total VOCs (TVOCs) was 30.4 ± 17.0 ppbv, and it was dominated by alkanes (44.3%), followed by oxygenated VOCs (OVOCs) (17.4%), halocarbons (12.7%), aromatics (9.5%), alkenes (8.2%), acetylene (5.3%) and carbon disulfide (2.5%). The average mixing ratio of VOCs showed obvious diurnal variation (high at night, low during daytime). We conducted a source apportionment study based on 32 major VOCs using positive matrix factorization (PMF), and coal + biomass burning (25.2%), diesel exhaust (16.0%), gasoline exhaust + evaporation (17.4%), secondary + long-lived species (16.7%), biogenic sources (4.3%), industrial emissions (9.3%) and solvent use (11.2%) were identified as major sources of VOCs. In addition to local emissions, most of the atmospheric VOCs were derived from long-distance air masses (65.7%), and the average mixing ratio of VOCs in the northwest direction was 29.4 ppbv. Combined with the results of the potential source contribution function (PSCF) indicate that research should focus on the local emissions of combustion, transportation sources and solvents usage to control atmospheric VOCs. Additionally, transmission of the northwest air mass is an important component that cannot be ignored during spring in Beijing.     

Modeling iron release from cast iron pipes in an urban water distribution system caused by source water switch

Significant iron release from cast iron pipes in water distribution systems (WDSs), which usually occurs during the source water switch period, is a great concern of water utilities because of the potential occurrence of “red water” and customer complaints. This study developed a new method which combined in-situ water stagnation experiments with mathematical models and numerical simulations to predict the iron release caused by source water switch. In-situ water stagnation experiments were conducted to determine the total iron accumulation in nine cast iron pipes in-service in Beijing when switching the local water to treated Danjiangkou Reservior water. Results showed that the difference in the concentration increment of total iron in 24 hr (ΔCI_TI,24), i.e. short-term iron release, caused by source water switch was mainly dependent on the difference in the key quality parameters (pH, hardness, nitrate, Larson Ratio and dissolved oxygen (DO)) between the two source waters. The iron release rate (R_Fe) after switch, i.e. long-term iron release, was closely related to the pipe properties as well as the DO and total residual chlorine (TRC) concentrations. Mathematical models of ΔCI_TI,24 and R_Fe were developed to quantitatively reveal the relationship between iron release and the key quality parameters. The R_Fe model could successfully combine with EPANET-MSX, a numerical simulator of water quality for WDSs to extend the iron release modeling from pipe level to network level. The new method is applicable to predicting iron release during source water switch, thus facilitating water utilities to take preventive actions to avoid “red water”.     

Particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in typical urban of Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau: Characterization,sources and risk assessment

• The sampling was conducted in city on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau for one year. • The groups of PAHs revealed their different environmental fates and migration paths. • Seasonal biomass burning could affect the concentration by long-distance transport. • Industrial sources and traffic emissions were the main contributor of PAHs. • Living in industrial areas or winter had higher health risk by exposure PAHs in PM_2.5. Monthly particle-phase ambient samples collected at six sampling locations in Yuxi, a high-altitude city on the edge of Southeast Asia, were measured for particle-associated PAHs. As trace substances, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are susceptible to the influences of meteorological conditions, emissions, and gas-particulate partitioning and it is challenging job to precise quantify the source and define the transmission path. The daily concentrations of total PM_2.5-bound PAHs ranged from 0.65 to 80.76 ng/m³, with an annual mean of 11.94 ng/m³. Here, we found that the concentration of PM_2.5-bound PAHs in winter was significantly higher than that in summer, which was mainly due to source and meteorology influence. The increase of fossil combustion and biomass burning in cold season became the main contributors of PAHs, while precipitation and low temperature exacerbated this difference. According to the concentration variation trend of PM_2.5-bound PAHs and their relationship with meteorological conditions, a new grouping of PAHs is applied, which suggested that PAHs have different environmental fates and migration paths. A combination of source analysis and trajectory model supported local sources from combustion of fossil fuel and vehicle exhaust contributed to the major portion on PAHs in particle, but on the Indochina Peninsula the large number of pollutants emitted by biomass burning during the fire season would affect the composition of PAHs through long-range transporting. Risk assessment in spatial and temporal variability suggested that citizens living in industrial areas were higher health risk caused by exposure the PM_2.5-bound PAHs than that in other regions, and the risk in winter was three times than in summer.     

大气甲烷的源和汇

本文通过总结国内外大气甲烷源汇研究的最新进展，论述了全球大气甲烷的源汇平衡预算及其不确定性，给出了全球及中国大气甲烷源汇预算的最新成果，并指出了今后的研究方向和重点．     

Total Organic Carbon,an Important Tool in an Holistic Approach to Hydrocarbon Source Fingerprinting

The identification and allocation of multiple hydrocarbon sources in marine sediments is best achieved using an holistic approach. Total organic carbon (TOC) is one important tool that can constrain the contributions of specific sources and rule out incorrect source allocations in cases where inputs are dominated by fossil organic carbon. In a study of the benthic sediments from Prince William Sound (PWS) and the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), we find excellent agreement between measured TOC and TOC calculated from hydrocarbon fingerprint matches of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and chemical biomarkers. Confirmation by two such independent source indicators (TOC and fingerprint matches) provides evidence that source allocations determined by the fingerprint matches are robust and that the major TOC sources have been correctly identified. Fingerprint matches quantify the hydrocarbon contributions of various sources to the benthic sediments and the degree of hydrocarbon winnowing by waves and currents. TOC contents are then calculated using source allocation results from fingerprint matches and the TOCs of contributing sources. Comparisons of the actual sediment TOC values and those calculated from source allocation support our earlier published findings (Boehm et al ., 2001) that the natural petrogenic hydrocarbon background in sediments in this area comes from eroding Tertiary shales and associated oil seeps along the northern GOA coast and exclude thermally mature area coals from being important contributors to the PWS background due to their high TOC content.     

The Power of Bioenergy‐Related Standards to Protect Biodiversity

Abstract: The sustainable production of bioenergy is vital to avoiding negative impacts on environmental goods such as climate, soil, water, and especially biodiversity. We propose three key issues that should be addressed in any biodiversity risk‐mitigation strategy: conservation of areas of significant biodiversity value; mitigation of negative effects related to indirect land‐use change; and promotion of agricultural practices with few negative impacts on biodiversity. Focusing on biodiversity concerns, we compared principles and criteria set to address biodiversity and other environmental and social issues in seven standards (defined here as commodity‐based standards or roundtables, or relevant European legislation): five voluntary initiatives related to bioenergy feedstocks, the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (United Kingdom), and the European Renewable Energy Source Directive. Conservation of areas of significant biodiversity value was fairly well covered by these standards. Nevertheless, mitigation of negative impacts related to indirect land‐use change was underrepresented. Although the EU directive, with its bonus system for the use of degraded land and a subquota system for noncrop biofuels, offered the most robust standards to mitigate potential negative effects, all of the standards fell short in promoting agricultural practices with low negative impacts on biodiversity. We strongly recommend that each standard be benchmarked against related standards, as we have done here, and that efforts should be made to strengthen the elements that are weak or missing. This would be a significant step toward achieving a bioenergy industry that safeguards Earth's living heritage.     

Investigation of carbonyl compound sources at a rural site in the Yangtze River Delta region of China

Carbonyl compounds are important intermediates in atmospheric photochemistry, but their primary sources are still not understood well. In this work, carbonyls, hydrocarbons,and alkyl nitrates were continuously measured during November 2011 at a rural site in the Yangtze River Delta region of China. Mixing ratios of carbonyls and hydrocarbons showed large fluctuations during the entire measurement. The average level for total measured volatile organic compounds during the pollution episode from 25 th to 27 th November, 2011 was 91.6 ppb, about 7 times the value for the clean period of 7th–8th, November, 2011. To preliminarily identify toluene sources at this site, the emission ratio of toluene to benzene(T/B) during the pollution episode was determined based on photochemical ages derived from the relationship of alkyl nitrates to their parent alkanes. The calculated T/B was5.8 ppb/ppb, significantly higher than the values of 0.2–1.7 ppb/ppb for vehicular exhaust and other combustion sources, indicating the dominant influence of industrial emissions on ambient toluene. The contributions of industrial sources to ambient carbonyls were then calculated using a multiple linear regression fit model that used toluene and alkyl nitrates as respective tracers for industrial emission and secondary production. During the pollution episode, 18.5%, 69.0%, and 52.9% of measured formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acetone were considered to be attributable to industrial emissions. The emission ratios relative to toluene for formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acetone were determined to be 0.10, 0.20 and0.40 ppb/ppb, respectively. More research on industrial carbonyl emission characteristics is needed to understand carbonyl sources better.     

昆明市清水海水源保护区生态补偿机制探讨

就昆明市清水海水源区生态补偿机制进行探讨,以期为生态补偿机制的建立提供借鉴。生态补偿理论结合清水海水源区实际分析。补偿主体是国家、受水区的企业和居民,客体是水资源和生态环境的保护者,以及牺牲发展机会的企业和居民;补偿标准以费用分析法计算,包括水资源保护、水源林建设和管理等方面的投入;补偿方式近期以输血型和造血型补偿结合,远期逐步向生态造血型补偿转变;优先补偿效率高的污染防治措施、退耕还林和测土配方,其次为产业结构调整和水资源管理;补偿时限结合补偿取得的成效、水源区生态产业发展和生态质量状况来确定;补偿资金以政府财政为主、市场为辅。结果表明:应结合清水海的实际,确定生态补偿的主客体、方式、标准和时限,建立生态补偿的保障机制,加强对补偿资金的监管。进一步开展定量化研究,完善清水海水源区生态补偿基础研究,促进生态补偿机制的建立。