The role of humic substances in chromium sorption onto natural organic matter (peat)

To elucidate mechanisms of Cr³⁺ sorption onto the unaltered solid natural organic matter, the comparative studies of this ion binding from a solution at pH 4.0 onto three selected particle size fractions: 2000–1000 μm, 630–200 μm and 63–20 μm of markedly different HS content and structure, separated by a wet sieving from an overall sample of peat (Brushwood Peat Humus) were carried out. Comparable patterns of COOH groups and CEC_t confirmed that for cation exchange capacity were responsible mainly cations connected with COO⁻ functional groups. It was though found that aliphatic acids in the solid state did not take part in Cr³⁺ binding, thus the finest studied fraction 63–20 μm of the highest contents of functional groups showed the lowest sorption capacity for Cr³⁺, while similar patterns of sorbed Cr³⁺, soluble HS content and base CEC₀ indicated that these parameters were directly interrelated. The base ion exchange processes determined by CEC₀ (with Ca²⁺ as a predominant exchangeable cation) appeared to be not the major mechanisms responsible for Cr³⁺ sorption. For this metal, strong binding to insoluble large molecular weight organic pool two- to threefold prevailed over the ion exchange processes. Very low acid desorption indicated generally low mobility of Cr³⁺-organic compounds.     

上、下悬窗开启角度对排烟效果影响的研究

自然排烟窗有多种开启方式,开启方式的不同影响烟气的流动,进而影响排烟效率。通过数值模拟方法,研究了自然排烟窗的开启方式对排烟效果的影响。主要研究了上悬窗和下悬窗在排烟上的表现。通过对上悬窗开口角度的研究,发现了上悬窗主要排烟区域为两侧,且排烟效率跟开启角度正弦值有关,并在此基础上提出了一种提高建筑中上悬窗排烟效率的方法。而下悬窗的模拟结果则表明,开启大于23°时,排烟效果基本不受影响。     

CSM/EVA复合材料的阻燃与伸缩性能研究

采用机械共混法制备了EVA/CSM复合材料.系统地研究了EVA与CSM的混合比率、CSM交联及不同阻燃体系对复合材料阻燃性质的影响.结果表明,掺杂阻燃剂之后,复合材料都具有很好的阻燃性能,其中使用Sb2O3/氯乙醇混合阻燃体系,阻燃效果最好,且复合材料交联后,阻燃性能会进一步增强.同时研究了各种因素,如交联、混合比率和处理温度对复合材料收缩率的影响.当CSM含量较高或拉伸温度处于室温,收缩率都较好;而交联前,加入阻燃剂会使复合材料收缩性能降低;反之,交联后使之增加.     

二硫化钼基杂化物对聚合物火灾安全性影响

为改善聚合物材料的火灾安全性,利用二硫化钼(MoS2)的独特性能,结合纳米复合、催化成炭等设计思路,采用共沉淀法制备CeMnOx-MoS2和CeFeOx-MoS2双金属氧化物-MoS2纳米杂化物,并将其分别应用到2种典型聚合物(聚氨酯和环氧树脂)中.结果 表明:2种杂化物均匀分散在聚合物基体中,可有效延缓聚合物材料的热...     

Analysis of crater formation in buried NG pipelines: A survey based on past accidents and evaluation of domino effect

The formation of a crater by the abrupt and catastrophic rupture of a high-pressure pipeline can be highly relevant, especially when the crater uncovers other pipelines, which could undergo a domino effect with a significant increase of the consequences on people or on the environment. However, this scenario has been only partially studied in the literature. To assess the influence of the pipeline parameters on the dimensions of the resulting crater, a statistical analysis of accidental ruptures of buried natural gas pipelines that have involved the formation of a crater was carried out. Mathematical expressions are proposed to describe the proportionality relationships found, which can be very useful to support adequate separation distances in the design and construction of parallel corridors of pipelines after appropriate escalating effects are considered. Finally, detailed event trees were developed to calculate the probability of occurrence of the final outcomes, as well as the identified domino sequences, based on a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the data. The study of these accident scenarios, based on actual cases, represents a useful and needed advance in risk analysis of natural gas transportation through pipelines.     

Personae and Natural Capitalism: Negotiating Politics and Constituencies in a Rhetoric of Sustainability

This essay critiques natural capitalism, a concept developed as a strategic response to the antagonism of capitalist production and the ideology of sustainability. I trace and critique the second and third personae of the book Natural Capitalism. The second persona of natural capitalism constitutes already dominant capitalists and technocrats as the constituency best prepared to meet the exigencies of sustainability. Simultaneously, civil society and non-propertied classes constitute a marginalized third persona whose interests can be satisfied only if aligned with those of the second persona. This precarious arrangement is possible due to the non-ideological representation of natural capitalism. I argue that such a representation is misleading. Criticism of the tensions between natural capitalism's personae suggests radical potential for environmental rhetoric.     

Bioaccumulation and biological effects in the earthworm Eisenia fetida exposed to natural and depleted uranium

The accumulations of both natural (U) and depleted (DU) uranium in the earthworms (Eisenia fetida) were studied to evaluate corresponding biological effects. Concentrations of metals in the experimental soil ranged from 1.86 to 600 mg kg⁻¹. Five biological endpoints: mortality, animals’ weight increasing, lysosomal membrane stability by measuring the neutral red retention time (the NRRT), histological changes and genetic effects (Comet assay) were used to evaluate biological effects in the earthworms after 7 and 28 days of exposure. No effects have been observed in terms of mortality or weight reduction. Cytotoxic and genetic effects were identified at quite low U concentrations. For some of these endpoints, in particular for genetic effects, the dose (U concentration)-effect relationships have been found to be non-linear. The results have also shown a statistically significant higher level of impact on the earthworms exposed to natural U compared to depleted U.     

The ecological effects of trichloroacetic acid in the environment

Trichloroacetic acid (TCAA) is a member of the family of compounds known as chloroacetic acids, which includes mono-, di- and trichloroacetic acid. The significant property these compounds share is that they are all phytotoxic. TCAA once was widely used as a potent herbicide. However, long after TCAA's use as a herbicide was discontinued, its presence is still detected in the environment in various compartments. Methods for quantifying TCAA in aqueous and solid samples are summarized. Concentrations in various environmental compartments are presented, with a discussion of the possible formation of TCAA through natural processes. Concentrations of TCAA found to be toxic to aquatic and terrestrial organisms in laboratory and field studies were compiled and used to estimate risk quotients for soil and surface waters. TCAA levels in most water bodies not directly affected by point sources appear to be well below toxicity levels for the most sensitive aquatic organisms. Given the phytotoxicity of TCAA, aquatic plants and phytoplankton would be the aquatic species to monitor for potential effects. Given the concentrations of TCAA measured in various soils, there appears to be a risk to terrestrial organisms. Soil uptake of TCAA by plants has been shown to be rapid. Also, combined uptake of TCAA from soil and directly from the atmosphere has been shown. Therefore, risk quotients derived from soil exposure may underestimate the risk TCAA poses to plants. Moreover, TCE and TCA have been shown to be taken up by plants and converted to TCAA, thus leading to an additional exposure route. Mono- and di-chloroacetic acids can co-occur with TCAA in the atmosphere and soil and are more phytotoxic than TCAA. The cumulative effects of TCAA and compounds with similar toxic effects found in air and soil must be considered in subsequent terrestrial ecosystem risk assessments.     

Effects of reductive inorganics and NOM on the formation of chlorite in the chlorine dioxide disinfection of drinking water

Chlorine dioxide (ClO₂) disinfection usually does not produce halogenated disinfection by-products, but the formation of the inorganic by-product chlorite (ClO₂^–) is a serious consideration. In this study, the ClO₂^– formation rule in the ClO₂ disinfection of drinking water was investigated in the presence of three representative reductive inorganics and four natural organic matters (NOMs), respectively. Fe²⁺ and S^2– mainly reduced ClO₂ to ClO₂^– at low concentrations. When ClO₂ was consumed, the ClO₂^– would be further reduced by Fe²⁺ and S^2–, leading to the decrease of ClO₂^–. The reaction efficiency of Mn²⁺ with ClO₂ was lower than that of Fe²⁺ and S^2–. It might be the case that MnO₂ generated by the reaction between Mn²⁺ and ClO₂ had adsorption and catalytic oxidation on Mn²⁺. However, Mn²⁺ would not reduce ClO₂^–. Among the four NOMs, humic acid and fulvic acid reacted with ClO₂ actively, followed by bovine serum albumin, while sodium alginate had almost no reaction with ClO₂. The maximum ClO₂^– yields of reductive inorganics (70%) was higher than that of NOM (around 60%). The lower the concentration of reductive substances, the more ClO₂^– could be produced by per unit concentration of reductive substances. The results of the actual water samples showed that both reductive inorganics and NOM played an important role in the formation of ClO₂^– in disinfection.     

PVC/PES相容性及对共混超滤膜性能的影响

研究了聚氯乙烯(PVC)与聚醚砜(PES)共混体系相容性及其对共混膜性能的影响。利用溶解度参数原则和混合热焓原则进行理论预测,用铸膜液粘度法进行实验表征,均说明该体系为部分相容体系,且其相容性与组成及共混温度有关。通过对共混膜传质特性的考察,表明铸膜液的相容性会明显影响共混膜的性能;采用共混法可以改善膜性能。