Critical environmental indicators: performance indices and assessment models for sustainable rural development planning

Sustainable development planning must be based on environmental and biophysical baseline indices that effectively define comparative development potential and environmental constraints. As such, indices must define the comparative advantage of the natural resource base and measure the fundamental capacity to sustain production rates of natural resource goods and services used to create societal well being. Complex biophysical and socioeconomic characteristics affect the identification and selection of sustainable development strategies. When derived from effective baseline indicators, indices may be used to define the spatial and temporal distribution of economically viable production opportunities and may be expressed in derived indices that realistically describe basic production opportunities and guide the selection of feasible, long-term development strategies. Specifically, representative indices are critical in the identification of development goals and realistic objectives and can be used to evaluate, select and implement sustainable development strategies and plans. It is stressed that the relevancy and effectiveness of public policies depend on the identification of representative evaluation models and baseline indices to define development strategies that are both environmentally sustainable and economically viable. In this context, the role of baseline indicators that define natural resource production capacities is discussed. This includes potential resource uses, derived benefits and their economic and environmental impacts. Key thematic indicators are suggested that may be especially useful in identifying development alternatives and impacts. This suggested that clearly defined environmental pollution limits or impact standards be used to define public risk tolerance limits and carrying capacity constraints. It is argued that these measures may be more effective in directing policy choices than economic valuation of non market goods and services that represent environmental externalities associated with resource exploitation options and economic development strategies. To this end, examples of thematic indicators and derived indices are introduced that may prove effective in resource assessment, economic evaluation and strategic development planning.     

草原退化与恢复过程中土壤有机矿质复合体分组研究

对采自处于不同发展方向和阶段的草原土壤分组提取有机矿质复合体,并对它的质量分数、腐殖质质量分数和组成、Ｃ／Ｎ比值等的变化做了分析,试图从土壤复合体变化的角度去认识草原的退化和恢复过程。研究发现土壤腐殖质绝大部分集中于粘粒和粉粒级复合体;退化草原恢复时,复合体腐殖质质量分数增加,并且组成也发生变化;而草原轻度退化时,复合体腐殖质质量分数会减少,但组成不会变化。     

微生物-光-电化学耦合技术降解污染物和回收能源的研究进展

微生物电化学技术能同时实现污染物去除和能量回收,但存在污染物去除种类有限及产能效率低的局限,近几年将可再生的太阳能引入微生物电化学技术的微生物-光-电化学耦合技术应运而生。本文简要介绍了微生物-光-电化学耦合技术的发展背景和研究现状,对该技术现有的耦合形式进行分类,并对各种形式的耦合机理进行详细的阐释,最后对其未来的发展进行了展望。     

The determination and matching analysis of pinch point temperature difference in evaporator and condenser of organic rankine cycle for mixed working fluid

Exergo-economic analysis of the pinch point temperature difference (PPTD) in both evaporator and condenser of sub-critical organic Rankine cycle system (ORCs) are performed based on the first and second laws of thermodynamics. Taking mixture R13I1/R601a as a working fluid and the annual total cost per net output power Z as exergo-economic performance evaluation criterion, the effects of PPTD in evaporator ΔT_e, and the PPTD ratio of condenser to evaporator y, on the exergo-economic performance of ORCs are analyzed. Moreover, how some other parameters influence the optimal PPTD in evaporator ΔT_e,opt and the optimal PPTD ratio of condenser to evaporator y_opt are also discussed. It has been found that the exergo-economic performance of ORCs is remarkably influenced by ΔT_e and y, and there exists ΔT_e,opt and y_opt. In addition, ΔT_e,opt and y_opt are affected by heat transfer coefficient ratio of condenser to evaporator ß, the temperature of working fluid at dew point in condenser T_1a, and composition of R13I1/R601a: larger ß and T_1a lead to lower ΔT_e,opt and y_opt; by contraries, larger mass fraction of R13I1 makes ΔT_e,opt and y_opt increase, and y_opt increases linearly. The effects of the temperature of working fluid at bubble point in evaporator T_3a, mass flow rate of exhaust flue gas m_g, and inlet temperature of exhaust flue gas T_gi on ΔT_e,opt and y_opt are very slight. For comparison, three additional working fluids, namely R601a, R245fa, and 0.32R245fa/0.68R601a, are also taken into account.     

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.     

Beaver-mediated methane emission: The effects of population growth in Eurasia and the Americas

Globally, greenhouse gas budgets are dominated by natural sources, and aquatic ecosystems are a prominent source of methane (CH₄) to the atmosphere. Beaver (Castor canadensis and Castor fiber) populations have experienced human-driven change, and CH₄ emissions associated with their habitat remain uncertain. This study reports the effect of near extinction and recovery of beavers globally on aquatic CH₄ emissions and habitat. Resurgence of native beaver populations and their introduction in other regions accounts for emission of 0.18–0.80 Tg CH₄ year⁻¹ (year 2000). This flux is approximately 200 times larger than emissions from the same systems (ponds and flowing waters that became ponds) circa 1900. Beaver population recovery was estimated to have led to the creation of 9500–42 000 km² of ponded water, and increased riparian interface length of >200 000 km. Continued range expansion and population growth in South America and Europe could further increase CH₄ emissions.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13280-014-0575-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

火电灰渣场自然恢复下灰渣养分及重金属含量研究

对自然恢复下4类不同年代样地的灰渣养分含量及重金属含量进行研究,通过对比分析发现,有机质、全氮、全钾、全磷含量随着自然恢复时间的增加呈现递增的趋势,全磷含量在各恢复阶段与对照样地之间并不存在显著差异(P0.05)。pH随着恢复时间的增加呈现递减的趋势。对灰渣综合质量指数进行研究发现,自然恢复长期、中期、短期与自然恢复初期对比均有显著提高(P0.05),且随着自然恢复时间的增加灰渣综合质量指数逐渐提高。对灰渣场锌、铅、铜3种重金属研究后发现,在自然恢复下随着时间的增加,灰渣中重金属含量均呈现递减的趋势。     

盐效萃取法从电子产品清洗废液中回收异丙醇

用盐效萃取法从电子产品清洗废液中回收片丙醇,考察了碳酸钾水溶液与该清洗废液的质量比对脱水率的影响,测定了异丙醇-水-碳酸钾体系存40℃时的液液相平衡数据,用Pitzer理论和NRTL方程对液液相平衡数据进行了理论计算。结果表明：当质量分数为60．00％的碳酸钾水溶液与该废液的质晕比为2．00时,脱水率高达90．00％;将有机相进行精馏可得到质量分数为99．50％的异丙醇;计算值与实测值接近,水相和有机相的绝对平均偏差分别为0．62％和0．46％。     

从6-APA和7-ADCA生产废液中回收苯乙酸

采用溶剂萃取、水法提取等方法从6-氨基青霉烷酸和7-氨基-3-去乙酰氧基头孢烷酸生产废液（简称废液）中回收苯乙酸（PAA）,考察了各种因素对回收效果的影响。实验结果表明：以甲苯为萃取剂,在萃取温度30℃、萃取时间15m in、500mL废液中萃取剂加入量130mL的最佳条件下,萃取率为96.5%;在提取温度为65℃左右、结晶温度低于10℃的条件下,PAA收率大于89%,纯度大于99%;所得PAA产品质量好,可用于青霉素G等医药产品的生产。     

洗相废水中银回收技术研究

采用电解法和离子交换法回收洗相废水中的银.结果表明,电解法对高浓度含银洗相废水的银回收处理是一种行之有效的方法.对于中低浓度洗相废水中的银的回收,采用4%硫酸再生IRA-68离子交换树脂,树脂的交换能力可以增加4倍,再生时由于已交换的银被直接固定在树脂上,结果使得再生剂处置和银回收过程更加简单方便.IRA-68离子交换树脂回收中低浓度洗相废水中银的技术具有银回收效率更高、离子交换运行时间更长和操作更为简便等优点,使得传统的离子交换技术得到极大的改进和提高.