Effects of nitrate concentration on biological hydrogen production by mixed cultures

The effects of nitrate on fermentative hydrogen production and soluble metabolites from mixed cultures were investigated by varying nitrate concentrations from 0 to 10 g N/L at 35°C with an initial pH of 7.0. The results showed that the substrate degradation rate, hydrogen production potential, hydrogen yield, and average hydrogen production rate initially increased with increasing nitrate concentrations from 0 to 0.1 g N/L, while they decreased with increasing nitrate concentrations from 0.1 to 10 g N/L. The maximum hydrogen production potential of 305.0 mL, maximum hydrogen yield of 313.1 mL/g glucose, and maximum average hydrogen production rate of 13.3 mL/h were obtained at a nitrate concentration of 0.1 g N/L. The soluble metabolites produced by the mixed cultures contained only ethanol and acetic acid (HAc) without propionic acid (HPr) and butyric acid (HBu). This study used the Modified Logistic model to describe the progress of cumulative hydrogen production in batch tests. A concise model was proposed to describe the effects of nitrate concentration on average hydrogen production rate.     

基于HPR在线监测控制SBR曝气历时实现短程脱氮

应用新型自动呼吸-滴定测量仪在线测量pH值、HPR等信号,进行了在SBR内实现短程脱氮的研究.采用SBR处理人工合成废水,COD和NH4+-N浓度分别为360,40mg/L,温度稳定在20℃,DO低于2mg/L,基于HPR在线监测控制SBR曝气历时.运行约60d后,亚硝酸盐积累率达到88%,COD和NH4+-N去除率均在90%以上,稳定实现了短程硝化反硝化.应用HPR估计硝化过程的NH4+-N浓度发现,NH4+-N实测值与基于HPR的计算值间存在良好的线性关系,相关系数为0.9722;计算值整体低于实测值,主要是由曝气初期的滴定启动滞后所致.     

Membrane-based treatment of shale oil and gas wastewater: The current state of knowledge

• Shale oil and gas production generates wastewater with complex composition. • Membrane technologies emerged for the treatment of shale oil and gas wastewater. • Membrane technologies should tolerate high TDS and consume low primary energy. • Pretreatment is a key component of integrated wastewater treatment systems. • Full-scale implementation of membrane technologies is highly desirable. Shale oil and gas exploitation not only consumes substantial amounts of freshwater but also generates large quantities of hazardous wastewater. Tremendous research efforts have been invested in developing membrane-based technologies for the treatment of shale oil and gas wastewater. Despite their success at the laboratory scale, membrane processes have not been implemented at full scale in the oil and gas fields. In this article, we analyze the growing demands of wastewater treatment in shale oil and gas production, and then critically review the current stage of membrane technologies applied to the treatment of shale oil and gas wastewater. We focus on the unique niche of those technologies due to their advantages and limitations, and use mechanical vapor compression as the benchmark for comparison. We also highlight the importance of pretreatment as a key component of integrated treatment trains, in order to improve the performance of downstream membrane processes and water product quality. We emphasize the lack of sufficient efforts to scale up existing membrane technologies, and suggest that a stronger collaboration between academia and industry is of paramount importance to translate membrane technologies developed in the laboratory to the practical applications by the shale oil and gas industry.     

清洁生产审核工作职能定位探讨

清洁生产审核工作职能是清洁生产审核工作存在和发展的基础,也是实施清洁生产战略的具体工作指针。在论述对清洁生产审核职能定位必要性的同时,建设性地提出了清洁生产审核职能定位的具体涵义和内容,从而为清洁生产审核工作的深入开展和今后的发展提供理论上的借鉴。     

VR技术实现冶金系统安全生产方法研究

提出用虚拟现实Virtual Reality（简称VR）技术模拟企业工作现场的方法。介绍了VR技术的定义、现状、发展．VR技术应用于安全生产的几种形式,并举例说明VR技术的实现方法。应用VR技术可以有效地促进和实现安全生产。冶金企业现场和施工条件复杂,应用VR技术有更重要的作用。     

High-solid anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge: achievements and perspectives

• High-solid anaerobic digestion (HS-AD) of sewage sludge (SS) is overviewed. • Factors affecting process stability and performance in HS-AD of SS are revealed. • HS effect and knowledge gaps of current research on the HS-AD of SS are identified. • Future efforts on addressing knowledge gaps and improving HS-AD of SS are proposed. High-solid anaerobic digestion (HS-AD) has been applied extensively during the last few decades for treating various organic wastes, such as agricultural wastes, organic fractions of municipal solid wastes, and kitchen wastes. However, the application of HS-AD to the processing of sewage sludge (SS) remains limited, which is largely attributable to its poor process stability and performance. Extensive research has been conducted to attempt to surmount these limitations. In this review, the main factors affecting process stability and performance in the HS-AD of SS are comprehensively reviewed, and the improved methods in current use, such as HS sludge pre-treatment and anaerobic co-digestion with other organic wastes, are summarised. Besides, this paper also discusses the characteristics of substance transformation in the HS-AD of SS with and without thermal pre-treatment. Research has shown that the HS effect is due to the presence of high concentrations of substances that may inhibit the function of anaerobic microorganisms, and that it also results in poor mass transfer, a low diffusion coefficient, and high viscosity. Finally, knowledge gaps in the current research on HS-AD of SS are identified. Based on these, it proposes that future efforts should be devoted to standardising the definition of HS sludge, revealing the law of migration and transformation of pollutants, describing the metabolic pathways by which specific substances are degraded, and establishing accurate mathematical models. Moreover, developing green sludge dewatering agents, obtaining high value-added products, and revealing effects of the above two on HS-AD of SS can also be considered in future.     

Spatiotemporal multimedia emission inventory for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons near petroleum production plants in China based on a 10′ × 10′ grid

A spatiotemporal model was developed to investigate emissions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Daqing, a Chinese city with large petroleum industry plants. The model was based on land-use types determined on a 10′?×?10′ grid. A geographic information system and regression analyses were used to characterise spatial and temporal variations in PAH emissions into multiple environmental media. The simulated results were validated using previously published experimental data, and the model was found to function well. PAH emissions to the atmosphere, soil, and surface water between 1998 and 2013 were estimated. The results indicated that PAH emissions to the atmosphere increased but PAH emissions to the soil and surface water decreased over the study period. PAH emissions to the atmosphere were markedly higher in winter than in summer. PAH emissions were concentrated in urban areas and areas near petroleum production plants, indicating that PAH emissions were closely related to industrial activities. The results will support research into the migration and transformation of PAHs and human health and ecological risk assessments. The results may also be useful for developing policies for controlling PAH pollution and managing risks associated with PAHs.     

Landscape disturbance caused by non-renewable energy production in a semi-arid region: a case study on the Russian steppe

Exploration and development of oil and gas (O&G) energy resources can create large-scale and permanent landscape effects that are best measured and understood via fieldwork and geospatial technologies. In this article, we examine O&G surface disturbance in the Orenburg steppe region of southwestern Russia for the year 2015. Utilizing field surveys, remote-sensing data and geographic information system (GIS) techniques, we apply a two-pronged approach. First, we map and measure the landscape infrastructure footprint (LIF) to determine the pattern and extent of direct surface disturbance created by O&G facilities and access roads. Second, we conduct a site suitability analysis to identify specific O&G production locations that are most vulnerable to environmental degradation. The approach considers both the particular properties of hydrocarbon production and specific natural features of steppe zones. Suitability patterns represent three indicators: two morphometric parameters (slope and aspect) and one spatial (the remoteness of O&G objects from water bodies). Our findings suggest that O&G production disturbs just over 3% of soil-vegetation cover in our study plot, while more than 13% of O&G objects are located in unsuitable zones based on topographic aspect, and about 11% lie in unsuitable zones regarding distance to water.     

Potential sources of unintentionally produced PCB,HCB, and PeCBz in China: A preliminary overview

Under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), China is required not only to reduce polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/PCDF) but also unintentionally produced polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and pentachlorobenzene (PeCBz). A baseline of the sources in China that generate these unintentional POPs is needed for both research and regulation purposes. In this paper, we have compiled production data of potential sources in China and assessed them in five-year intervals from 2000 to 2015. Most of these activities experienced changes from rapid growth to slow growth. Measured data for PCB, HCB and PeCBz in samples collected from potential sources in China were reviewed. Most information was associated to thermal processes with high potential of emission, including waste incineration and ferrous and non-ferrous metal production. In addition, high levels of PCB, HCB and PeCBz were found as impurities in a few chlorinated products or as by-products in solvent production, which suggested organochlorine industry might be important sources. Finally, based on the studies reviewed, recommendations for future actions in research and policy as well as a few regulatory issues in China are discussed.

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基于净初级生产力的生态足迹模型及其与传统模型的对比分析

生态足迹模型因其可以定量度量生态可持续发展、计算简单、结论易懂、全球可比等特点,提出之后得到了大量的关注和应用,同时也面临着一些质疑和争论。文章介绍了一种基于净初级生产力的生态足迹理论和计算方法,并以该方法和传统生态足迹模型分别计算了中国1961—2007年的生态足迹,对计算结果进行了对比分析。结果表明,两种生态足迹模型的计算结果具有较高的相关性,表明基于净初级生产力的生态足迹模型结果可信。该种方法能够克服传统生态足迹模型的部分缺陷,在均衡因子选取、土地生态功能假设、CO2吸收等方面有了较大改进,能够较好地反映不同生态系统在生产力上的差异;在时间序列分析方面也更加合理。但该方法本身同时存在着计算方法不完善、对生态系统变化不敏感等问题,如何更紧密地结合生态足迹和净初级生产力是需要进一步研究的内容。