Critical Loads – Is There A Need For A New Concept?

The concept of critical loads has been an important andsuccessful tool for the development of control strategiesfor transboundary air pollution in Europe. The use of theconcept has led us to a situation where very few areas inEurope will have an exceedance of critical loads foracidification in 2010, indicating that the benefits offurther control acidifying substances will be lessuseful. The critical loads concept does not, however,take into account the large benefits of further controlin damaged systems but where critical loads are nolonger exceeded. In this paper we discuss the importanceof widening the critical loads concept to include thesebenefits and we propose an additional effect-relatedmeasure, Dynamic Impact Analysis, to be included infurther control strategies and assessments. With such aconcept the actual situation and its further developmentwill be included in assessments and control strategies.     

均相/异相催化剂光降解垃圾渗滤液效果的研究

垃圾渗滤液是一种复杂有毒的、生化降解性差的高浓度有机废水,高级氧化技术具有氧化能力强和无二次污染等特点,被认为是处理难降解有机污染物最有应用前景的方法.本研究在500 W汞灯、25℃、2.5 h反应条件下,对比了TiO_2、K2S2O_8、K2S2O_8/Fe2+、施氏矿物、施氏矿物/H2O_2、Fe2+/H2O_26种催化剂组合光化学处理垃圾渗滤液的效果.结果表明,施氏矿物/H2O_2和Fe2+/H2O_2光催化降解垃圾渗滤液中有机污染物的效果优于其它催化剂组合,渗滤液中CO_D去除率分别为41.6%和46.5%,TO_C去除率分别为76.0%和78.1%.然而,Fe2+/H2O_2组合在光催化处理垃圾渗滤液后会产生大量难以沉降的Fe(O_H)3絮状物,且渗滤液色度明显增加,由初始的40倍上升到175倍.而施氏矿物/H2O_2组合则避免了上述问题,色度去除率达100%,被认为是一种具有应用前景的光化学降解垃圾渗滤液的催化剂组合.     

废水高级氧化技术研究现状与发展

高级氧化技术具有无二次污染、独特的技术性及稳定性等优点受到广大研究者的青睐。对Fenton氧化法、臭氧氧化法、光催化氧化法、超声氧化法、超临界水氧化法及催化湿式氧化法等几种高级氧化技术在废水领域的研究现状与发展进行了详细的综述。同时,根据目前高级氧化技术开发、研究及应用的现状,展望了高级氧化技术的研究发展方向:1)寻找新技术使氧化体系产生大量强氧化能力的自由基;2)在分析氧化体系影响因素的基础上,探究新型的催化剂、电极材料及可替代的反应溶液等;3)满足低成本、高效率的前提下,研发高端设备等。     

Synthesis, characterization and application of ZnO-Ag as a nanophotocatalyst for organic compounds degradation, mechanism and economic study

The current work deals with ZnO-Ag nanocomposites (in the wide range of x in the Zn_1 − xO-Ag_x chemical composition) synthesized using microwave assisted solution combustion method. The structural, morphological and optical properties of the samples were characterized by XRD (X-ray diffraction), FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectrometry), SEM (scanning electron microscopy technique), EDX (energy dispersive X-ray spectrum), ICP (inductively coupled plasma technique), TEM (transmission electron microscopy), BET (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method), UV–Vis (ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometer) and photoluminescence spectrophotometer. The photocatalytic activity of the ZnO-Ag was investigated by photo-degradation of Acid Blue 113 (AB 113) under UV illumination in a semi-batch reactor. This experiment showed that ZnO-Ag has much more excellent photocatalytic properties than ZnO synthesized by the same method. The enhanced photocatalytic activity was due to the decrease in recombination of photogenerated electron-holes. The results showed the improvement of ZnO photocatalytic activity and there is an optimum amount of Ag (3.5 mol%) that needs to be doped with ZnO. The effect of operating parameters such as pH, catalyst dose and dye concentration were investigated. The reaction byproducts were identified by LC/MS (liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry) analysis and a pathway was proposed as well. Kinetic studies indicated that the decolorization process follows the first order kinetics. Also, the degradation percentage of AB 113 was determined using a total organic carbon (TOC) analyzer. Additionally, cost analysis of the process, the mechanism and the role of Ag were discussed.     

Modeling Long‐Term Trends of Chlorinated Ethene Contamination at a Public Supply Well

A mass‐balance solute‐transport modeling approach was used to investigate the effects of dense nonaqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) volume, composition, and generation of daughter products on simulated and measured long‐term trends of chlorinated ethene (CE) concentrations at a public supply well. The model was built by telescoping a calibrated regional three‐dimensional MODFLOW model to the capture zone of a public supply well that has a history of CE contamination. The local model was then used to simulate the interactions between naturally occurring organic carbon that acts as an electron donor, and dissolved oxygen (DO), CEs, ferric iron, and sulfate that act as electron acceptors using the Sequential Electron Acceptor Model in three dimensions (SEAM3D) code. The modeling results indicate that asymmetry between rapidly rising and more gradual falling concentration trends over time suggests a DNAPL rather than a dissolved source of CEs. Peak concentrations of CEs are proportional to the volume and composition of the DNAPL source. The persistence of contamination, which can vary from a few years to centuries, is proportional to DNAPL volume, but is unaffected by DNAPL composition. These results show that monitoring CE concentrations in raw water produced by impacted public supply wells over time can provide useful information concerning the nature of contaminant sources and the likely future persistence of contamination.     

Describing Damage to Stream Modification Projects in Constrained Settings

Complex relationships between stream functions and processes make evaluation of stream modification projects difficult. Informed by vague objectives and minimal monitoring data, post‐construction project evaluations can often be a subjective attribution of success or failure. This article provides a simple framework to rapidly describe the degree of damage in stream modification projects performed in constrained settings. Based on widely accepted evaluations of physical habitat quality and stream stability, the damage states framework describes a continuum of damage in multiple categories that relate natural stream functions to the often desired state of static equilibrium. Given that channel form is closely related to stream function, it follows that changes to the channel form result in changes in function. The damage states focus on damage to flow hydraulics, sediment transport and channel equilibrium, hydraulic, and geomorphic parameters that describe basic stream functioning and support higher level functions in the modified channel. The damage states can be used in decision making as a systematic method to determine the need for repair and design adjustments.     

洞庭湖流域分布式水文模型

流域出口径流观测序列是水文模型参数率定重要依据,不受水文站控制区域的模型应用是水文研究关注点之一。首先根据水文站观测资料建立洞庭湖流域四水控制站之上基于水文响应单元的分布式水文模型,在此基础上结合实验、同质移植和虚拟水库等方法,将分布式水文模型拓展到包含无径流站控制区域的丘陵区间和平原圩垸区,最终实现了洞庭湖全流域水文过程模拟。结果表明:在较完备土壤、地形、土地利用等空间数据支持下,通过合理的流域划分和水文响应单元定义,建立的流域分布式水文模型可以较好地在水文响应单元尺度反应降水发生后蒸散、地表径流、土壤和地下水的响应特征。而基于观测实验及基流分割等方法获取的关键水文过程特征对模型参数优化的认识,可以提高模型参数率定效率,在较少优化迭代运算后既可使月径流模拟的效率系数NSE和确定性系数R²值高于0.81(日过程高于0.62)。借助参数同质移植和虚拟水库解决了区间和圩垸区无控制站区域水文过程模拟。在全流域水文过程的模拟中,基流指数和蒸散比例与实际过程具有较好的一致性。说明相关参数较好地反映了其物理机制,具备在相似气候及下垫面条件区域进行同质移植的基础,圩垸区径流交换采用虚拟水库的处理方式也合理可行。     

Mobile fission and activation products in nuclear waste disposal

When disposing nuclear waste in clay formations it is expected that the most radiotoxic elements like Pu, Np or Am move only a few centimetres to meters before they decay. Only a few radionuclides are able to reach the biosphere and contribute to their long-term exposure risks, mainly anionic species like I129, Cl36, Se79 and in some cases C14 and Tc99, whatever the scenario considered. The recent OECD/NEA cosponsored international MOFAP workshop focussed on transport and chemical behaviour of these less toxic radionuclides. New research themes have been addressed, such as how to make use of molecular level information for the understanding of the problem of migration at large distances. Diffusion studies need to face mineralogical heterogeneities over tens to hundreds of meters. Diffusion rates are very low since the clay rock pores are so small (few nm) that electrostatic repulsion limits the space available for anion diffusion (anion exclusion). The large volume of traversed rock will provide so many retention sites that despite weak retention, even certain of these “mobile” nuclides may show significant retardation. However, the question how to measure reliably very low retention parameters has been posed. An important issue is whether redox states or organic/inorganic speciation change from their initial state at the moment of release from the waste during long term contact with surfaces, hydrogen saturated environments, etc.     

Channel Evolution Model of Semiarid Stream Response to Urban‐Induced Hydromodification1

Hawley, Robert J., Brian P. Bledsoe, Eric D. Stein, and Brian E. Haines, 2012. Channel Evolution Model of Semiarid Stream Response to Urban‐Induced Hydromodification. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 48(4): 722‐744. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752‐1688.2012.00645.x Abstract: We present a novel channel evolution model (CEM) that qualitatively describes morphologic responses of semiarid channels to altered hydrologic and sediment regimes associated with urbanization (hydromodification). The CEM is based on southern California data from 83 detailed channel surveys, hundreds of synoptic surveys, and historical analyses of aerial photographs along 14 reaches. Channel evolution sometimes follows the well‐known sequence described by Schumm et al. (Incised Channels: Morphology, Dynamics, and Control, Water Resources Publications, Littleton, Colorado, 1984) for incising, single‐thread channels; however, departures from this sequence are common and include transitions of single thread to braided evolutionary endpoints, as opposed to a return to quasi‐equilibrium single‐thread planform. Thresholds and risk factors associated with observed channel response are also presented. In particular, distance to grade control and network position emerged as key controls on channel response trajectory. The CEM and quantitative extensions provide managers with a framework for understanding channel responses and rehabilitation alternatives, and may be transferable to other semiarid settings. It also offers insights regarding channel susceptibility to hydromodification, highlights key boundary conditions for high‐risk channels, and underscores critical knowledge gaps in predicting the complex, discontinuous response trajectories that are highly prevalent in urbanized watersheds.