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.     

活性污泥法对松香废水的二级处理试验

采用活性污泥对经炉渣吸附后的松香废水进行二级生化处理。试验过程中对污泥进行驯化培菌;试验结果表明,经驯化的污泥对松香废水进行二级处理,COD_(Cr)、BOD_5的去除率分别达到65.5％和82.3％,色度由724倍降低到135倍,为开发松香废水治理的实用技术提供了途径。     

多拉纳萨依金矿次生晕中金的信号分析

本文对多拉纳萨依金矿次生晕中金含量空间变化性进行自相关分析,并用对自相关系数进行最小二乘法拟合。通过计算方差与假设样长的关系,考核了一阶马尔科夫模型。利用最佳双边指数滤波器,输入信号(记录)进行滤被面得出各测线上金的信号输出模塑。     

Integrating mitigation and adaptation as responses to climate change: a synthesis

Integrating mitigation and adaptation (M&A) is a practical reality for climate change response policy, despite a range of conceptual and methodological challenges. Based on the papers in this special issue, some preliminary findings about appropriate integrated portfolios are offered, along with several implications for climate policy.     

城市垃圾焚烧处理中重金属和有机氯化物的二次污染与防治

概述城市垃圾焚烧法处理的二次污染问题，着重分析重金属和有机氯化物二次污染物的形成和排放机制，结合我国实际，提出我国垃圾焚烧处理中重金属和有机氯化物二次污染的防治措施。     

Modeling secondary organic aerosol formation from oxidation of α-pinene, β-pinene, and d-limonene

The biogenic species α-pinene, β-pinene, and d-limonene are among the most abundant monoterpenes emitted globally. They are also important precursors to secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation in the atmosphere. This study involves the development of proposed oxidation mechanisms for these three species. Semi- and non-volatile oxidation products with the potential to lead to SOA formation are predicted explicitly. Simulation code that describes the gas-phase oxidation mechanisms including reactions that lead to ozone (O₃) formation is coupled to an equilibrium absorptive partitioning code. The coupled model is used to simulate both gas-phase chemistry and SOA formation associated with oxidation of these three species in chamber experiments involving single as well as multiple oxidants. For the partitioning model, required molecular properties of the oxidation products are taken from the literature or estimated based on structural characteristics. The predicted O₃ and SOA concentrations are typically within ±50% of measured values for most of the experiments except for the experiments with low initial hydrocarbon concentrations and the nitrate radical experiments with α-pinene. The developed model will be used to update a gas-phase chemical mechanism and a SOA formation module used in a three-dimensional air quality model.     

Bird song and parasites

Bird song is a typical sexual trait that may have evolved at least partly to reflect health and vigor. However, the role of pathogens in modulating acoustic communication systems in birds is still less than clear as studies testing the relationship between parasites and song have provided inconsistent results both within and among species. It is often neglected that avian song is complex trait consisting of numerous and variable features with potentially different biological backgrounds. By using meta-analytic approaches to the available intraspecific evidence I demonstrate that different roles are applicable to song traits with different signal design, which could explain, to some extent, the inconsistency of results. I found that condition-dependent, performance-related traits are more closely related to immediate health status, whereas condition-independent features are more likely to be associated with intrinsically determined parasite resistance. Hence, parasitism may mediate the evolution of different acoustic features. Considering the signal function of songs, a communication system depends on the reaction of the receivers, but little is known about how mate choice and male–male competition are affected by parasite-mediated song production. This review of the literature thus suggests that receivers of songs may benefit by responding to these acoustic signals of health through the acquisition of resistance genes, paternal care of superior assistance, success in territory disputes, and the avoidance of directly transmitted parasites.