Biogenic volatile organic compound emission patterns and secondary pollutant formation potentials of dominant greening trees in Chengdu, southwest China

Integral to the urban ecosystem, greening trees provide many ecological benefits, but the active biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) they release contribute to the production of ozone and secondary organic aerosols, which harm ambient air quality. It is, therefore, necessary to understand the BVOC emission characteristics of dominant greening tree species and their relative contribution to secondary pollutants in various urban contexts. Consequently, this study utilized a dynamic enclosure system to collect BVOC samples of seven dominant greening tree species in urban Chengdu, Southwest China. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was used to analyze the BVOC components and standardized BVOC emission rates of each tree species were then calculated to assess their relative potential to form secondary pollutants. We found obvious differences in the composition of BVOCs emitted by each species. Ficus virens displayed a high isoprene emission rate at 31.472 μgC/(gdw (g dry weight)•hr), while Cinnamomum camphora emitted high volumes of D-Limonene at 93.574 μgC/(gdw•hr). In terms of the BVOC emission rates by leaf area, C. camphora had the highest emission rate of total BVOCs at 13,782.59 μgC/(m²•hr), followed by Cedrus deodara with 5466.86 μgC/(m²•hr). Ginkgo biloba and Osmanthus fragrans mainly emitted oxygenated VOCs with lower overall emission rates. The high BVOC emitters like F. virens, C. camphora, and Magnolia grandiflora have high potential for significantly contributing to environmental secondary pollutants, so should be cautiously considered for future planting. This study provides important implications for improving urban greening efforts for subtropical Chinese urban contexts, like Chengdu.     

Assessing the influence of environmental conditions on secondary organic aerosol formation from a typical biomass burning compound

The atmospheric chemistry in complex air pollution remains poorly understood. In order to probe how environmental conditions can impact the secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation from biomass burning emissions, we investigated the photooxidation of 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) under different environmental conditions in a smog chamber. It was found that SO₂ could promote the formation of SOA and increase the amounts of inorganic salts produced during the photooxidation. The formation rate of SOA and the corresponding SOA mass concentration increased gradually with the increasing DMF/OH ratio. The addition of (NH₄)₂SO₄ seed aerosol accelerated the SOA formation rate and significantly shortened the time for the reaction to reach equilibrium. Additionally, a relatively high illumination intensity promoted the formation of OH radicals and, correspondingly, enhanced the photooxidation of DMF. However, the enhancement of light intensity accelerated the aging of SOA, which led to a gradual decrease of the SOA mass concentration. This work shows that by having varying influence on atmospheric chemical reactions, the same environmental factor can affect SOA formation in different ways. The present study is helpful for us to better understand atmospheric complex pollution.     

Machine learning and theoretical analysis release the non-linear relationship among ozone, secondary organic aerosol and volatile organic compounds

Fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) and ozone (O₃) pollutions are prevalent air quality issues in China. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have significant impact on the formation of O₃ and secondary organic aerosols (SOA) contributing PM_2.5. Herein, we investigated 54 VOCs, O₃ and SOA in Tianjin from June 2017 to May 2019 to explore the non-linear relationship among O₃, SOA and VOCs. The monthly patterns of VOCs and SOA concentrations were characterized by peak values during October to March and reached a minimum from April to September, but the observed O₃ was exactly the opposite. Machine learning methods resolved the importance of individual VOCs on O₃ and SOA that alkenes (mainly ethylene, propylene, and isoprene) have the highest importance to O₃ formation; alkanes (C_n, n ≥ 6) and aromatics were the main source of SOA formation. Machine learning methods revealed and emphasized the importance of photochemical consumptions of VOCs to O₃ and SOA formation. Ozone formation potential (OFP) and secondary organic aerosol formation potential (SOAFP) calculated by consumed VOCs quantitatively indicated that more than 80% of the consumed VOCs were alkenes which dominated the O₃ formation, and the importance of consumed aromatics and alkenes to SOAFP were 40.84% and 56.65%, respectively. Therein, isoprene contributed the most to OFP at 41.45% regardless of the season, while aromatics (58.27%) contributed the most to SOAFP in winter. Collectively, our findings can provide scientific evidence on policymaking for VOCs controls on seasonal scales to achieve effective reduction in both SOA and O₃.     

兰州市排污权交易制度研究

作为市场手段和环境治理结合所产生排污权交易制度,被越来越多的国家和地区证明其对缓解环境问题有着独特的、重要的作用。随着我国市场经济的深入发展、市场条件的日趋成熟,排污权交易也在国内许多省市进行深入试点,并产生了一定的效益。本文从排污权交易理论出发,结合兰州的污染现状,论证兰州市实行排污权交易的必要性和可行性。最后,在借鉴国内外排污权交易成功经验的基础上,对兰州市排污权交易制度的构建提出建议。     

Effect of shock strength on dust entrainment behind a moving shock wave

Secondary dust explosion is a serious industrial issue because it occurs under conditions corresponding to an increased quantity and concentration of dispersed, combustible dust when compared with the primary explosion. The problems of lifting and dispersion of a dust layer behind a propagating shock wave must therefore be understood to ensure safety regarding secondary dust explosion hazards. Using a new shock-tube facility for studying shock propagation over dust layers, limestone dust was subjected to Mach numbers ranging from 1.10 to 1.60. A shadowgraph technique was applied by using a high-speed camera (15,000 fps) for visualization of the dust-layer height change behind the moving shock wave. Also, the effect of dust-layer thickness on the entrainment process was observed by performing tests with two different layer depths, namely 3.2- and 12.7-mm thicknesses. New correlations were developed between the shock strength and the dust entrainment height as a function of time for each layer depth. In general, the results herein are in agreement with trends found in previous work, where there is a linear relationship between dust growth rate and shock Mach number at early times after shock passage. Also, new data were collected for image analyses over longer periods, where the longer observation time and higher camera framing rates led to the discovery of trends not previously observed by earlier studies, namely a clear transition time between the early, linear growth regime and a much-slower average growth regime. This second regime is however accompanied by surface instabilities that can lead to a much larger variation in the edge of the dust layer than seen in the early growth regime. In addition, for the linear growth regime, there was no significant difference in the dust-layer height growth between the two layer thicknesses; however, the larger thickness led to higher growth rates and much larger surface instabilities at later times.     

四角切圆燃烧锅炉冷态空气动力场试验研究

通过对330MW四角切圆锅炉燃烧器进行了炉内冷态空气动力场试验的研究，分析了B层燃烧器区域空气速度分布和衰减情况，研究了一次风速，一、二次风动量比和周界风风量等因素对四角切圆燃烧方式的炉内空气动力场的影响规律。试验结果表明，四角的一次风射流衰减特性基本一致，射流刚性良好。在改变二次凤与一次风动量比后，对炉内实际切圆直径影响较小。周界风可以增强一次风射流的刚性，燃烧器上下摆动只改变了炉膛火焰中心的位置，并未改变切圆大小。这为燃烧器安全稳定运行提供技术依据和运行参考。     

Long-term global availability of steel scrap

Primary steelmaking involves CO₂-intensive processes, but the expansion of secondary steel production is limited by the global availability of steel scrap. The present work examines global scrap consumption in the past (1870–2012) and future scrap availability (2013–2050) based on the historical trend. The results reveal that (i) historically, the consumption of old scrap has been insufficient compared with the amounts of discarded steel, and (ii) based on historical scrap consumption, the future availability of scrap will not be sufficient to satisfy the two assumed cases of steel demand. Primary steelmaking is expected to remain the dominant process, at least up until 2050. Under the reference-demand case of 2.19 billion tons in crude steel production by 2050, the total production of pig iron and direct reduced iron could reach 1.35 billion tons. Consumption of old scrap could reach 0.76 billion tons. Because the availability of scrap will be limited in the context of the global total, it is important to research and develop innovative low-carbon technologies for primary steelmaking and to explore their economic viability if we are to aim for achieving large reductions in CO₂ emissions from the iron and steel industry.     

Emission factors, ozone and secondary organic aerosol formation potential of volatile organic compounds emitted from industrial biomass boilers

To evaluate the potential benefits of biomass use for air pollution control, this paper identified and quantified the emissions of major reactive organic compounds anticipated from biomass-fired industrial boilers. Wood pellets(WP) and straw pellets(SP) were burned to determine the volatile organic compound emission profiles for each biomass-boiler combination. More than 100 types of volatile organic compounds(VOCs) were measured from the two biomass boilers. The measured VOC species included alkanes, alkenes and acetylenes, aromatics, halocarbons and carbonyls. A single coal-fired boiler(CB) was also studied to provide a basis for comparison. Biomass boiler 1(BB1) emitted relatively high proportions of alkanes(28.9%–38.1% by mass) and alkenes and acetylenes(23.4%–40.8%),while biomass boiler 2(BB2) emitted relatively high proportions of aromatics(27.9%–29.2%)and oxygenated VOCs(33.0%–44.8%). The total VOC(TVOC) emission factors from BB1(128.59–146.16 mg/kg) were higher than those from BB2(41.26–85.29 mg/kg). The total ozone formation potential(OFP) ranged from 6.26 to 81.75 mg/m~3 with an average of 33.66 mg/m~3 for the two biomass boilers. The total secondary organic aerosol potential(SOAP) ranged from 61.56 to 211.67 mg/m~3 with an average of 142.27 mg/m~3 for the two biomass boilers.The emission factors(EFs) of TVOCs from biomass boilers in this study were similar to those for industrial coal-fired boilers with the same thermal power. These data can supplement existing VOC emission factors for biomass combustion and thus enrich the VOC emission inventory.     

Effects of relative humidity and PM2.5 chemical compositions on visibility impairment in Chengdu, China

To better understand the potential causes of visibility impairment in autumn and winter in Chengdu, relative humidity(RH), visibility, the concentrations of PM_(2.5) and its chemical components were on-line measured continuously in Chengdu from Nov. 2016 to Jan. 2017.Six obvious haze episodes occurred in Chengdu, with the total time of haze episodes accounted for more than 90% of the total observation period, and higher NO_2 concentrations and RH were related to the high particle concentrations in haze episodes. The visibility decreased in a non-linear tendency under different RH conditions with the increase of PM_(2.5) concentrations, which was more sensitive to RH under lower PM_(2.5) concentrations. The threshold concentration of PM_(2.5) got more smaller with the increase of RH. During the entire observation period, organic matter(OM) was the largest contributor(31.12% to extinction coefficient(bext)), followed by NH_4NO_3 and(NH_4)_2SO_4 with 28.03% and 23.01%, respectively.However, with the visibility impairment from Type I(visibility 10 km) to Type IV(visibility ≤ 2 km), the contribution of OM to bextdecreased from 38.12% to 26.77%, while the contribution of NH_4NO_3 and(NH_4)_2SO_4 to bextincreased from 19.09% and 20.20% to 34.29% and 24.35%, respectively, and NH_4NO_3 became the largest contributor to bextat Type IV. The results showed that OM and NH_4NO_3 were the key components of PM_(2.5) for visibility impairment in Chengdu, indicating that the control of precursors emissions of carbonaceous species and NH_4NO_3 could effectively improve the visibility in Chengdu.     

Effects of effluent organic matters on endocrine disrupting chemical removal by ultrafiltration and ozonation in synthetic secondary effluent

Endocrine disrupting chemicals(EDCs) in the secondary effluent discharged from wastewater treatment plants are of great concern when water reuse is intended. Ozonation and ultrafiltration(UF) are powerful technologies reported to eliminate EDCs. Due to the importance of effluent organic matters(EfOMs) in secondary effluent, the effects of three kinds of EfOM on the treatment of five EDCs using ozonation and UF were investigated. The three kinds of EfOM studied were humic acid sodium salt(NaAH), bovine serum albumin(BSA)and sodium alginate(NaAg); and the five EDCs were estrone, 17β-estradiol, estriol, 17α-ethynyl estradiol and bisphenol A. The results showed that EfOM accelerated the decay rate of ozone and inhibited the degradation efficiency of EDCs by ozonation in the order NaAH BSA NaAg.The ultraviolet absorbance at 280 nm(UVA_(280)) has potential for use as a surrogate indicator to assess EDC removal via ozonation without conducting difficult EDC analyses. When the decline in UVA_(280) exceeded 18%, the five EDCs had been completely removed. The UF behavior of NaAH,BSA and NaAg was found to follow the cake filtration law. The fouling potential of EfOM followed the order NaAg NaAH BSA; while EfOM on the membrane surface enhanced EDC removal in the order NaAH BSA NaAg. The mean retention rate of the membrane was increased by 24%, 10% and 8%, respectively. The properties of EDCs and EfOM cakes both influenced the EDC removal rates due to adsorption, size exclusion and charge attraction.