Optimization of thermo-chemical pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis of kitchen wastes

The use of abundant waste materials with high carbohydrate content may contribute substantially to reduction of biofuels production cost. The present study aimed at optimizing the combined effect of thermo-chemical pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis of kitchen wastes (KW) for maximizing the production of fermentable soluble sugars. To this end, acid pretreatment of KW samples was performed with hydrochloric acid (0–3% HCl) at 30–100 °C for 0–120 min treatment time. Alternatively, alkaline pretreatment of KW samples was performed with potassium hydroxide solution (0–11%) at constant temperature and time (0 °C and 20 min, respectively). KOH pretreatment at such conditions targets to degrade the resistant starch of KW samples. Both acid and alkaline pretreatments were followed by addition of variable levels of enzyme dosage (0–3.6% v/v α-amylase and 0–3.2% v/v amyloglucosidase-AMG) at constant pH, temperature and time (pH = 5, T = 50 °C and t = 30 min, respectively). Based on our results, glucose concentration increased by ～300% after pretreatment with either acid or KOH in combination with enzymatic hydrolysis (2% HCl, 85 °C, 80 min, 0.1% α-amylase, AMG, and 1% KOH, 0 °C, 20 min, 1.1% α-amylase, 0.4% AMG) compared to raw (untreated) KW. Estimating the different Y_G yields at KW loading of 5%, an increase of 192% and 121% for total soluble monosugars and total soluble sugars, respectively, was succeeded compared to untreated KW. The effect of solids loading on the obtained sugar yields using the optimum conditions for thermo-chemical pretreatment followed by enzymatic hydrolysis was also tested resulting to 27.5% increase of the soluble glucose yield when half of the solids loading (2.5%) was used. A decrease of total soluble sugars yield by 32.2% was observed when solely acid hydrolysis at optimum conditions from our previous study was applied at 30% solids loading.     

Understanding public perceptions of risk regarding outdoor pet cats to inform conservation action

Free‐ranging domestic cats (Felis catus) incur and impose risks on ecosystems and represent a complex issue of critical importance to biodiversity conservation and cat and human health globally. Prior social science research on this topic is limited and has emphasized feral cats even though owned cats often comprise a large proportion of the outdoor cat population, particularly in urban areas. To address this gap, we examined public risk perceptions and attitudes toward outdoor pet cats across varying levels of urbanization, including along the wildland–urban interface, in Colorado (U.S.A.), through a mail survey of 1397 residents. Residents did not view all types of risks uniformly. They viewed risks of cat predation on wildlife and carnivore predation on cats as more likely than disease‐related risks. Additionally, risk perceptions were related to attitudes, prior experiences with cats and cat–wildlife interactions, and cat‐owner behavior. Our findings suggest that changes in risk perceptions may result in behavior change. Therefore, knowledge of cat‐related risk perceptions and attitudes could be used to develop communication programs aimed at promoting risk‐aversive behaviors among cat owners and cat‐management strategies that are acceptable to the public and that directly advance the conservation of native species.     

What is the acceptable margin of error for the oxygen uptake method in evaluating the reactivity of organic waste?

The acceptable margin of error for the organic waste reactivity measured by the oxygen uptake method was assessed. Oxygen uptake was determined by the Dynamic Respiration Index (DRI) (mgO₂/kgVS h). The composed uncertainty (uC) of the experimental set up used for the DRI test was evaluated and the uncertainty (u) of all the components of the apparatus was evaluated. A procedure for calculating the uC of the apparatus is proposed. The components affecting the uC of the DRI to a more significant extent were the one of the oxygen mass rate and the u of the amount of VS in the sample analyzed. For a confidence level of 99.73%, the extended uC (UC) interval for a DRI = 1024 mgO₂/kgVS h was ±440 mgO₂/kgVS h, whereas for a DRI = 3489 mgO₂/kgVS h, the UC interval was ±1288 mgO₂/kgVS h. When oxygen consumption and VS content become lower than 600 mgO₂/h and 0.9 kg, respectively, the UC interval is similar to the measured DRI.     

Utilization of sepiolite materials as a bottom liner material in solid waste landfills

Landfill bottom liners are generally constructed with natural clay soils due to their high strength and low hydraulic conductivity characteristics. However, in recent years it is increasingly difficult to find locally available clay soils that satisfy the required engineering properties. Fine grained soils such as sepiolite and zeolite may be used as alternative materials in the constructions of landfill bottom liners. A study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of using natural clay rich in kaolinite, sepiolite, zeolite, and their mixtures as a bottom liner material. Unconfined compression tests, swell tests, hydraulic conductivity tests, batch and column adsorption tests were performed on each type of soil and sepiolite–zeolite mixtures. The results of the current study indicate that sepiolite is the dominant material that affects both the geomechanical and geoenvironmental properties of these alternative liners. An increase in sepiolite content in the sepiolite–zeolite mixtures increased the strength, swelling potential and metal adsorption capacities of the soil mixtures. Moreover, hydraulic conductivity of the mixtures decreased significantly with the addition of sepiolite. The utilization of sepiolite–zeolite materials as a bottom liner material allowed for thinner liners with some reduction in construction costs compared to use of a kaolinite-rich clay.     

近5年我国部分城市群生活垃圾特性

城市生活垃圾处理处置日益成为世界范围内一个普遍关注的问题,生活垃圾特性是终端处理方式选择的重要依据.从全国超30个城市共采集400余个生活垃圾样品,分析了垃圾的物理组成、污染物含量和热值等基础物化特性.并以深圳为例分析了采样时间和垃圾分类措施等对生活垃圾物化特性的影响.通过偏最小二乘法建立了垃圾组成与热值间的关联模型,并对模型进行了校验.结果表明,湿基中厨余类仍是垃圾中占比最高的组分,大多数样品的占比在40%～60%之间;可燃组成中橡塑类和纸类占比较高,分别在20%～30%和10%～20%之间;无机物占比通常不超过5%;垃圾含水率在50%～60%之间. 2019年实施垃圾分类后生活垃圾中厨余类占比明显降低,橡塑类占比增加,其他组分变化不大,垃圾热值得到一定的提升.生活垃圾中S、 Cl和N这3种污染元素的含量均在1%以下,其平均值规律为：N>Cl>S;垃圾样品中的Hg、 As、 Cr、 Cd和Pb含量随组分及采样时间没有明显的变化规律,垃圾中Pb、 Cr含量受到环境背景值的影响.模型分析发现橡塑类和垃圾水分是生活垃圾热值的主要影响变量,85.96%的样品实测值与预测值之间的偏...     

Chemically modified silica gel with 1-{4-[(2-hydroxy-benzylidene)amino]phenyl}ethanone: Synthesis, characterization and application as an efficient and reusable solid phase extractant for selective removal of Zn(II) from mycorrhizal treated fly-ash samples

1-{4-[(2-hydroxy-benzylidene)amino]phenyl}ethanone functionalized silica gel was synthesized and used as a highly efficient, selective and reusable solid phase extractant for separation and preconcentration of trace amount of Zn(II) from environmental matrices. The adsorbent was characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), elemental analysis,¹³C CPMAS NMR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and BET surface area analysis. The dependence of zinc extraction on various analytical parameters such as pH, type and amount of eluent, sample flow rate and interfering ions were investigated in detail. The material exhibited superior adsorption efficiency for Zn(II) with high metal loading capacity of 1.0 mmol/g under optimum conditions. After adsorption, the recovery (> 98%) of metal ions was accomplished using 1.0 mol/L HNO₃ as an eluent. The sorbent was also regenerated by microwave treatment in milder acidic environment (0.1 mol/L HNO₃). The lower detection limit and preconcentration factor of the present method were found out to be 0.04 μg/L and 312.5 respectively. The modified silica surface possessed excellent selectivity for the target analytes and the adsorption/desorption process remained effective for at least ten consecutive cycles. The optimized procedure was successfully implemented for the extraction of Zn(II) from mycorrhizal treated fly ash and pharmaceutical samples with reproducible results.     

Influence of SO2 in incineration flue gas on the sequestration of CO2 by municipal solid waste incinerator fly ash

The influence of CO2 content and presence of SO2 on the sequestration of CO2 by municipal solid waste incinerator(MSWI) fly ash was studied by investigating the carbonation reaction of MSWI fly ash with different combinations of simulated flue gas.The reaction between fly ash and 100% CO2 was relatively fast;the uptake of CO2 reached 87g CO2/kg ash,and the sequestered CO2 could be entirely released at high temperatures.When CO2 content was reduced to 12%,the reaction rate decreased;the uptake fell to 41g CO2/kg ash,and 70.7% of the sequestered CO2 could be released.With 12% CO2 in the presence of SO2,the reaction rate significantly decreased;the uptake was just 17g CO2/kg ash,and only 52.9% of the sequestered CO2 could be released.SO2 in the simulated gas restricted the ability of fly ash to sequester CO2 because it blocked the pores of the ash.     

Optimisation of chemical purification conditions for direct application of solid metal salt coagulants: Treatment of peatland-derived diffuse runoff

The drainage of peatland areas for peat extraction,agriculture or bioenergy requires affordable,simple and reliable treatment methods that can purify waters rich in particulates and dissolved organic carbon.This work focused on the optimisation of chemical purification process for the direct dosage of solid metal salt coagulants.It investigated process requirements of solid coagulants and the influence of water quality,temperature and process parameters on their performance.This is the first attempt to provide information on specific process requirements of solid coagulants.Three solid inorganic coagulants were evaluated:aluminium sulphate,ferric sulphate and ferric aluminium sulphate.Pre-dissolved aluminium and ferric sulphate were also tested with the objective of identifying the effects of in-line coagulant dissolution on purification performance.It was determined that the pre-dissolution of the coagulants had a significant effect on coagulant performance and process requirements.Highest purification levels achieved by solid coagulants,even at 30% higher dosages,were generally lower(5%-30%) than those achieved by pre-dissolved coagulants.Furthermore,the mixing requirements of coagulants pre-dissolved prior to addition differed substantially from those of solid coagulants.The pH of the water samples being purified had a major influence on coagulant dosage and purification efficiency.Ferric sulphate(70 mg/L) was found to be the best performing solid coagulant achieving the following load removals:suspended solids(59%-88%),total organic carbon(56%-62%),total phosphorus(87%-90%),phosphate phosphorus(85%-92%) and total nitrogen(33%-44%).The results show that the use of solid coagulants is a viable option for the treatment of peatland-derived runoff water if solid coagulant-specific process requirements,such as mixing and settling time,are considered.     

美人蕉生态护坡对径流污染净化作用的初步研究

2010-04-10月,研究了合肥市南淝河美人蕉生态护坡对河道的水质改善作用。试验用水取自南淝河,TSS、TN、NH4+-N、TP和COD的平均浓度分别是94.1,5.42,2.98,0.202和55.5 mg/L,河水经流生态护坡后,相应的平均去除率分别为:76.4%,45.6%,57.5%,40.1%和29.0%。另外,考察了植物对土壤微生物(细菌、真菌、放线菌)数量的影响,美人蕉护坡微生物的数量显著多于无植物坡岸(p<0.01),微生物总数分别为:3.17×107和0.830×107cfu/g。由此,植物护坡兼具净化和生态景观效应。     

“十一五”期间昆明市工业固体废物现状分析及污染防治对策

对2006～2010年昆明市工业企业固体废弃物的类型、产生量、综合利用率等进行分析,并与"十五"期间情况进行对比,找出目前存在的问题,提出污染防治对策。