Life cycle assessment analysis of active and passive acid mine drainage treatment technologies

Acid mine drainage (AMD), resulting from open-cast coal mining, is currently one of the largest environmental challenges facing the mining industry. In this study, a life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with the construction, operation and maintenance of different AMD treatment options typically employed. LCA is a well-reported tool but is not documented for AMD treatment systems despite their ubiquitous implementation worldwide. This study conducted detailed LCA analysis for various passive and active AMD treatment approaches implemented or considered at a major coal mine in New Zealand using a comparative functional unit of kg acidity removed per day for each treatment option. Eight treatment scenarios were assessed including active limestone and hydrated lime treatments, and compared to passive treatments using limestone and waste materials such as mussel shells. Both midpoint and endpoint LCA impact categories were assessed. Generally, the active treatment scenarios demonstrated greater LCA impacts compared to an equivalent level of treatment for the passive treatment approaches. Lime slaking had the greatest LCA impacts, while passive treatment approaches incurred consistently less impacts except for one passive treatment with a purchased energy scenario. A 50% reduction in transportation distances resulted in the lowest LCA impacts for all scenarios. This study highlights the importance of evaluating the environmental and social impacts of AMD treatment for the mining industry.     

上海新城区构建湿地处理污水的经济技术分析

根据上海市郊新城区发展规模以及绿地规划，从构建湿地处理污水的效果、投资和运行费用以及与市郊新城区绿地景观系统规划相容性方面进行了经济技术分析。分析结果表明：上海市郊新城区利用构建湿地建设生活污水处理系统，基本可以满足污水综合排放标准的要求，不但技术上可行，经济上更节省，而且能够与新城区绿地系统、亲水景观的规划建设有机结合。     

Differences in Evaporation Between a Floating Pan and Class A Pan on Land1

Abstract: Research was conducted to develop a method for obtaining floating pan evaporation rates in a small (less than 10,000 m²) wetland, lagoon, or pond. Floating pan and land pan evaporation data were collected from March 1 to August 31, 2005, at a small natural wetland located in the alluvium of the Canadian River near Norman, Oklahoma, at the U.S. Geological Survey Norman Landfill Toxic Substances Hydrology Research Site. Floating pan evaporation rates were compared with evaporation rates from a nearby standard Class A evaporation pan on land. Floating pan evaporation rates were significantly less than land pan evaporation rates for the entire period and on a monthly basis. Results indicated that the use of a floating evaporation pan in a small free‐water surface better simulates actual physical conditions on the water surface that control evaporation. Floating pan to land pan ratios were 0.82 for March, 0.87 for April, 0.85 for May, 0.85 for June, 0.79 for July, and 0.69 for August.     

诱导喷嘴改进滤筒脉冲清灰效果的实验研究

改善清灰效果是提高滤筒除尘效率的关键和难点问题。运用自制脉冲喷吹实验台,采用诱导喷嘴(超音速引流喷嘴和气流散射器)对325 mm×660 mm滤筒进行脉冲喷吹清灰实验研究,并与采用普通喷吹孔的实验结果进行比较分析,得出采用诱导喷嘴时侧壁正压力峰值平均值是普通喷吹孔的1.465倍;且采用诱导喷嘴时各测点的不均衡系数为0.768～1.336,普通喷口为0.270～2.251,而不均衡系数越接近于1,其清灰效果越好;同时,采用诱导喷嘴时各测点基本在同一时刻达到正峰值。实验充分表明采用诱导喷嘴确保了滤筒长度方向上内壁清灰压力的均匀性,且对滤筒清灰效果有明显的改善作用。     

安徽铜陵铜尾矿硫形态及硫同位素分布特征

分析讨论了安徽铜陵水木冲S和SP剖面尾矿砂的理化指标、硫形态变化和硫酸根硫同位素组成与分布特征.结果显示：S和SP剖面整体呈酸性,pH值为2.59~6.12和3.50~6.27,由下而上有明显的降低趋势;Eh随剖面由下至上明显升高,范围为66~457和-37~307mV;酸可挥发性硫（AVS）含量为0~62.36和0~3.44mg/g,黄铁矿硫（CRS）含量为0.70~32.30mg/g和0.17~5.39mg/g;AVS与CRS的变化趋势基本一致,随剖面自下而上减少,且AVS先于CRS被氧化.2个剖面元素硫（ES）含量为0~8.83和0~3.62mg/g,随深度变化无明显规律.硫酸根硫（SO₄^2--S）含量为8.44~66.34和8.48~29.87mg/g,自下而上呈降低趋势,且分别在剖面的氢氧化物薄膜层（11.5~16.5cm和18~54cm）出现高值区.2个剖面总硫（TS）含量为9.18~109.69和12.38~37.72mg/g,表层由于淋滤含量较低,底层变化则不大.位于斜坡上的SP剖面TS及各形态硫含量均低于S剖面,表明淋滤对硫含量影响更明显.硫酸根硫同位素δ³⁴S为-3.32‰~13.43‰和-3.08‰~1.80‰,S-9硫酸根δ³⁴S为13.43‰,指示其来自于伴生硬石膏,其余层位δ³⁴S偏负且变幅较小,指示其硫酸根主要来源于硫化物的氧化.     

Development of a model to simulate soil heavy metals lateral migration quantity based on SWAT in Huanjiang watershed, China

Lateral transportation of soil heavy metals in rainfall events could significantly increase the scope of pollution. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a model with high accuracy to simulate the migration quantity of heavy metals. A model for heavy metal migration simulation was developed based on the SWAT(Soil and Water Assessment Tool) model. This model took into consideration the influence of soil p H value, soil particle size, runoff volume, sediment amount,concentration of water-soluble heavy metals dissolved in runoff and insoluble absorbed to the soil particles. This model was reasonable in Huanjiang watershed, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, south China, covering an area of 273 km~2. The optimal drainage area threshold was determined by analyzing the effects of watershed subdivision on the simulation results to ensure the simulation accuracy. The main conclusions of this paper were:(1) watershed subdivision could affect simulation migration quantity of heavy metals;(2) the quantity of heavy metals transported by sediment accounted for 97%–99% of the total migration quantity in the study watershed. Therefore, sediment played the most important role in heavy metal migration;(3) the optimal drainage area threshold percentage to ensure high simulation accuracy was determined to be 2.01% of the total watershed;(4) with the optimal threshold percentage, this model could simulate the migration quantity of As, Pb and Cd accurately at the total watershed and subwatershed level. The results of this paper were useful for identifying the key regions with heavy metal migration.     

城郊排水沟渠溶质传输的暂态存储影响及参数灵敏性

选择Na Cl为示踪剂,于2013年9~10月在合肥城郊的关镇河支渠开展5次瞬时投加示踪实验.从暂态存储、侧向补给和对流-扩散等作用机制层面,设置4种模拟情景,解析暂态存储作用对于排水沟渠溶质传输规律的影响,并对OTIS模型参数进行灵敏性分析.结果表明,暂态存储对于主流区Cl-模拟浓度穿透曲线(BTCs)峰值大小影响很大,相对偏差高达24.23%~117.26%,显著高于对峰值出现时间的影响,且暂态存储影响显著超过了侧向补给作用;由相关性分析,主流区Cl-模拟浓度BTCs峰值大小和出现时间的相对偏差与As/A具有极显著相关性;4个主要参数的灵敏度排序为AAsαD.     

稻田灌溉河流CH4和N2O排放特征及影响因素

随着农业氮肥大量施用,大量碳氮营养物质以淋溶或径流形式进入周边灌溉水体,使其成为甲烷(CH4)和氧化亚氮(N2O)的重要排放源.以我国东南部地区典型稻田灌溉河流为研究对象,于2014年9月至2016年9月连续两年原位观测表层水体CH4和N2O溶存浓度及其排放通量,旨在明确稻田灌溉河流CH4和N2O的排放特征、排放强度及其主要驱动因子.结果表明,观测期内c(CH4溶存)的年平均值为(390.57±43.95)nmol·L-1(92.80～1 577.54 nmol·L-1),c(N2O溶存)的年平均值为(40.23±3.20)nmol·L-1(10.05～75.40 nmol·L-1).CH4和N2O的排放通量(年平均)分别为(20.73±6.08)mg·(m2·h)-1和(34.30±7.12)μg·(m2·h)-1.CH4和N2O溶存浓度和排放通量整体上均呈现出春夏排放高,秋冬排放低的季节变化趋势.两年CH4累计排放总量为(3 876.30±1 153.96)kg·hm-2,N2O累计排放总量为(5.74±0.98)kg·hm-2.两者持续性全球增温潜势(SGWP,以CO2-eq计)平均为(87.99±15.73)t·(hm2·a)-1.CH4排放通量与水温、底泥可溶性有机碳(DOC)显著正相关,而与水体溶解氧(DO)显著负相关;N2O排放通量与水温、水中铵态氮(NH4+-N)和硝态氮(NO3--N)显著正相关,而与水体DO显著负相关.该研究可为科学估算我国农业灌溉流域CH4和N2O排放总量提供数据支撑和重要参考.     

Treatment of metal-chloride-enriched wastewater by simulated constructed wetlands

The ability of surface flow and subsurface flow simulated wetlands to remove heavy metals from a NaCI-enriched wastewater was examined, employing bulrush (Scirpus validus) and cattail (Typha angustifolia) plants, and two organically amended substrates (mixtures of mushroom compost and leaf litter,with topsoil) with a limestone liner. A simulated wastewater solution containing Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn as chloride salts was added to the wetlands at a rate of 0.3 l h^–1. During 12 weeks of surface flow, Fe was retained most efficiently (74%), and Mn the least (24%). Most metal retention occurred in residual forms, primarily in the upper 5 cm of the substrate. A subsequent 10 week subsurface flow treatment exhibited greater removal efficiencies for all metals, probably due to increased contact with the highly buffered lower substrate. During both treatments, bioaccumulation occurred in plants, but accounted for a very small portion of the total metal removal. Plant species did not significantly influence wetland performance with respect to metal retention. Substrate type did not affect removal efficiency for most metals, but did influence the forms of the metals retained in the wetland.To whom correspondence should be addressed.     

In-situ electrochemical measurements of total concentration and speciation of heavy metals in acid mine drainage (AMD): assessment of the use of anodic stripping voltammetry

We assessed the use of anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) for in-situ determinations of both total concentration and speciation of dissolved heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) in acid mine drainage (AMD). In the Kwangyang Au–Ag mine area of South Korea, different sites with varying water chemistry within an AMD were studied with a field portable anodic stripping voltammeter. Anodic stripping voltammetry after wet oxidation (acidification) was very sensitive enough to determine total concentration of dissolved Cd because Cd was dominantly present as ‘labile’ species, whilst the technique was not so effective for determining total Cu especially in the downstream sites from the retention pond, due to its complexation with organic matter. For dissolved Pb, the concentrations determined by ASV after wet oxidation generally agreed with those by ICP-AES. In the downstream samples (pH>5), however, ASV data after wet oxidation were lower than ICP-AES data because a significant fraction of dissolved Pb was present in those samples as ‘inert’ species associated with colloidal iron oxide particles. The determination of total dissolved Zn by ASV after wet oxidation appeared to be unsatisfactory for the samples with high Cu content, possibly due to the interference by the formation of Zn–Cu intermetallic compounds on the mercury coated electrode. In AMD samples with high dissolved iron, use of ultraviolet irradiation was not effective for determining total concentrations because humate destruction by UV irradiation possibly resulted in the removal of a part of dissolved heavy metals from waters through the precipitation of iron hydroxides.