Removal of Se(IV) from aqueous solution using sulphuric acid-treated peanut shell

A carbonaceous sorbent was prepared from peanut shell via sulphuric acid treatment. Se(IV) removal from aqueous solution on the sorbent was studied varying time, pH, Se(IV) concentration, temperature and sorbent status (wet and dry). Se(IV) removal was faster using the wet sorbent than the dry sorbent following a pseudo-first-order model. Se(IV) removal increases at low pH values, and decreases as pH increases until pH 7. Sorption was found to fit the Langmuir equation and sorption capacity for the wet sorbent was higher than that for the dry one. Both sorbents showed an increased selenium sorption by rising the temperature. Redox processes between Se(IV) and the carbon sorbent are involved. Analysis by scanning electron microscope and X-ray powder diffraction for the sorbent after the reaction with acidified Se(IV) confirmed the availability of elemental selenium as particles on the sorbent surface as a result of Se(IV) reduction. Physicochemical tests showed an increase in sorbent acidity, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and surface functionality after the reaction with acidified Se(IV), indicating the oxidation processes occurring on the sorbent surface. Due to its reduction properties, the sorbent seems efficient for Se(IV) removal from aqueous solution.     

Wood carbon content of tree species in Eastern China: interspecific variability and the importance of the volatile fraction

Data on the mass density and carbon content of tree organs, and in particular stem wood, are essential for accurate assessments of forest carbon sequestration. However most available data, including that for East Asia, has neglected the volatile C fraction. Wood samples were collected and assayed for C content from 14 native tree species in Jilin Province, NE China. C content showed statistically significant variation among species, ranging from 48.4% to 51.0%. The volatile C fraction was non-negligible, averaging 2.2%, and showed high variation among species. As found in prior studies, wood C content was appreciably higher in conifer than hardwood (angiosperm) species (50.8+/-0.1% vs. 49.5+/-0.2%, respectively). Wood carbon density (gC/cm(3)) showed very high inter-specific variation, due mainly to differences in wood specific gravity. Our analyses, in conjunction with recently published data from North America, indicate a global mean value of 47.5+/-0.5% wood C content exclusive of volatile C; the widely used 50% figure corresponds more closely to total wood C inclusive of the volatile fraction. Failure to include volatile C or to use species- or higher-taxon-specific C content values in forest C assessments is likely to introduce biases on the order approximately 4-6%. In addition, the stocks and flows of the volatile C fraction in wood are in themselves an important and sorely neglected aspect of forest C processes likely to be strongly impacted by harvests and other management practices.     

Hyperautomobility and Governmentality in Auckland

Abstract

A number of cities around the world are associated with very high levels of private motor car usage, and Auckland provides an example of one of these ‘hyperautomobile’ cities. There are many problems with this system of transportation and dependence on the private car, including environmental, social and city design dimensions. Though there is a clear aspiration to move towards reduced levels of car usage in the city's transport and spatial planning strategies, there are major difficulties in implementation terms. We develop and consider future scenarios to 2041 to reduce these levels of motorization, and subsequent transport CO₂ emissions, with a much greater use of public transport, walking and cycling, urban planning, and low emission vehicles. The current implementability of such a ‘sustainable mobility’ future is however questioned in the current political and social context, and critically debated in terms of the available governance mechanisms and the limited attempts to shape the behaviour of the public. We conclude by calling for a reconsideration of the policy measures being considered, including the range and levels of application and investment; with a much wider framing of the transport planning remit, and carried out within a much stronger participatory framework for decision-making.     

乡村旅游生态足迹结构与特征研究——以北京市延庆县柳沟村为例

通过对北京市郊县柳沟村的实证研究,得到乡村旅游生态足迹的特点和构成.研究发现,各类生态系统服务多功能性节约了部分生态足迹,该村60万游客2011年生态足迹为2266.724chm2,平均0.003778chm2/人,是一种生态足迹较小的旅游方式;占用土地类型比例依次是化石能源地45.37％、可耕地44.79％、水域9.69％、建成地0.15％.从旅游环节来看,食宿、交通、游购娱、废弃物处理比例分别为46.06％、27.25％、22.54％、4.15％.由于本地不具备生产条件或生产优势,食物贸易转移了部分生态足迹,目的地发展旅游业可提高生态效率和社会效益.     

近十年来大理州旅游业碳足迹演变分析（2000-2011年）

应用以生命周期为原理的碳足迹评价方法,以云南省大理白族自治州旅游业发展为研究对象,计算得出游客在2000-2011年交通、住宿、饮食、游览、娱乐、购物六个方面所留下的碳足迹.研究结果表明,交通和游购娱的碳足迹总量占比重较大,说明大理州旅游业依然停留在传统观光旅游阶段.通过分析大理州旅游业发展面临的问题,在些基础上提出了促进大理州低碳旅游发展的策略.     

基于生物质能的芒属（Miscanthus）植物碳动态和收支研究进展

生物质能（Biomass energy）是最为广泛的可再生能源，其中多年生芒属C4植物（Miscanthus）由于具有巨大碳固定能力而成为潜力巨大的生物质能植物。中国是芒属植物芒草起源中心，但相对于欧洲国家应对能源危机和温室效应而采取的芒草研究与应用来说，仍处于起步阶段。我国长期以来传统的草地利用模式，决定了在南方草地的研究显著少于北方，近年来芒草在华南地区的运用研究集中于生态修复，对草本植物群落基于生态系统水平的 CO2气体交换能力的研究仍然相当缺乏，在二氧化碳浓度持续增长及全球变暖背景下，生物质能植物及其碳汇功能的相关研究尤显重要。我国南方近6700万hm2退化丘陵草坡急待恢复或处于恢复中，草坡地芒属植物符合生物质能植物标准，施肥少，害虫少，农药输入少，能够有效地利用光、水等自然资源。考虑到C4植物具有比C3植物更强的光合作用能力，高光能利用率C4芒属植物的碳固定能力及能源潜力值得重视，但缺乏科学的碳动态和碳收支评估。综述了国内外芒草生物量特征与生物质能潜力研究现状，重点论述芒属植物生态系统水平的碳动态和收支能力研究，探讨了系统水平更客观评估芒属碳源汇（Carbon sequestration）功能的方法，基于生物量过程的研究结果及华南地区草坡研究历史和现状，为草坡地生物质能的合理开发利用提出了相关对策，强调在我国南方开发和利用芒属植物资源具有重要能源价值和经济、环境效益。     

Carbon partitioning among the first trophic levels in the North Western Adriatic Basin

In the frame of PRISMA II Project samples for plankton analyses were carried out during four cruises (June, 1996; February and June, 1997; February, 1998) in order to assess the relative importance in term of biomasses of the three main size fractions (pico- <2 r µm, nano- 2-20 r µm and micro-plankton >20 r µm). Spatial and temporal distribution of the three plankton fractions were described as abundance and contribution to the total carbon content in an area between Po River mouth and Rimini. The relative contribution of picoplankton resulted higher in the offshore zone, while that of nanoplankton in the inshore waters. In February 1998 microphytoplankton, mainly constituted by diatoms, was very abundant in the inshore waters. Micro-zooplankton was always very scarce. Cluster analyses performed on these data grouped the stations on the basis of their community structure, and agreed with the hydrological features. Small size classes contributed more significantly to the total plankton carbon content in most of the situations. Microplankton fraction contribution was relevant only during spring diatom bloom of February 1998 and with a less extent in the confined coastal summer blooms.     

张家口地区生态可持续性评价研究

张家口市生态环境比较脆弱。经济上属于河北省落后地区，且近邻首都北京，因此它的发展不断引起人们的关注。本文选用了由加拿大生态学家Rees和Wackenagel等提出的生态足迹模型，对张家口地区进行可持续发展的定量测算。结果表明：张家口市自1990年到2000年一直处于不可持续状态，且人均生态赤字呈逐年增大的趋势。针对这种情况，本文提出全面发展精细农业、促进工业升级以及以“人”为本的区域发展对策。     

Uncovering the Connections Among Sustainability, Governance and GDP

This paper examines the connections among sustainability, governance and GDP, using the data from 123 countries. Sustainability is found to be related with GDP in two contradictory ways. On the one hand, growth in GDP strengthens a nation＇s ability to maintain favorable environmental conditions into the future. On the other hand, GDP growth is built on more consumption of natural resources, and therefore generates a larger ＂foot-print＂ on the Earth. Governance plays a key role in sustainable development. However, it is not helping to reduce our footprint on the Earth. In fact, good governance is linked to a larger footprint. This reflects our materialist value and human impulse. When a society prefers the comfort and wellbeing of human beings to the welfare of its environment, democratic governance might be used as an effective tool against nature.     

灞卞湴鏅尯鐢熸€佽冻杩瑰垎鏋愨€斺€斾互搴愬北涓轰緥

鏍规嵁鍖哄煙鏈簳鐢熸€佽冻杩瑰拰鏃呮父鐢熸€佽冻杩圭殑璁＄畻妯″瀷,瀵瑰簮灞辩殑鐢熸€佽冻杩硅繘琛屼簡鍒嗘瀽璁＄畻,缁撴灉琛ㄦ槑(1)搴愬北鐢熸€佽冻杩归渶姹備负0.354 603 hm2,鍏朵腑鍖哄煙鏈簳鐢熸€佽冻杩逛负0.343 510 hm2,鏃呮父鐢熸€佽冻杩逛负0.011 093 hm2.(2)搴愬北鍙埄鐢ㄧ殑浜哄潎鐢熸€佹壙杞藉姏涓?.219 805 hm2,浜哄潎鐢熸€佽丹瀛楄揪O.123 543 hm2,鍏朵腑鏃呮父鐢熸€佽冻杩瑰崰鎬昏丹瀛楃殑3.13%.(3)鍦ㄩ渶姹傝冻杩圭粨鏋勪腑鍗?8.31%鐨勫寲鐭宠兘婧愬湴,澶уぇ瓒呰繃浜嗗簮灞辩殑鎵胯浇鍔涢潰绉?鑷翠娇搴愬北鐨勭敓鎬佺幆澧冧繚鎶ょ殑鍘嬪姏涓嶆柇鍔犻噸.(4)搴愬北鍗曚綅鏃呮父鐢熸€佽冻杩逛骇鍊间负33缇庡厓/hm2,鍏朵腑鍗曚綅鏃呮父娓歌銆佹梾娓镐綇瀹垮拰鏃呮父璐墿鐨勪骇鍊艰緝楂?鏃呮父浜ら€氬拰鏃呮父椁愰ギ鐨勫崟浣嶄骇鍊肩浉瀵硅緝浣?鏃呮父浜у€艰繕鏈夎緝澶х殑鍙戝睍绌洪棿.(5)鏀垮簻閮ㄩ棬鍜岀ぞ浼氬悇鐣屽繀椤绘帹杩涙洿涓虹郴缁熷寲鐨勬棤闅滅鏃呮父涓?杞彉楂樿兘鑰楃殑缁忔祹鍙戝睍閬撹矾,浠庤€岄檷浣庡崟浣嶇粡娴庢晥鐩婄殑鐢熸€佽冻杩?瀹炵幇搴愬北鐨勫彲鎸佺画鍙戝睍.