External gamma-ray dose rate and radon concentration in indoor environments covered with Brazilian granites

Health hazard from natural radioactivity in Brazilian granites, covering the walls and floor in a typical dwelling room, was assessed by indirect methods to predict external gamma-ray dose rates and radon concentrations. The gamma-ray dose rate was estimated by a Monte Carlo simulation method and validated by in-situ measurements with a NaI spectrometer. Activity concentrations of ²³²Th, ²²⁶Ra, and ⁴⁰K in an extensive selection of Brazilian commercial granite samples measured by using gamma-ray spectrometry were found to be 4.5-450 Bq kg⁻¹, 4.9-160 Bq kg⁻¹ and 190-2029 Bq kg⁻¹, respectively. The maximum external gamma-ray dose rate from floor and walls covered with the Brazilian granites in the typical dwelling room (5.0 m × 4.0 m area, 2.8 m height) was found to be 120 nGy h⁻¹, which is comparable with the average worldwide exposure to external terrestrial radiation of 80 nGy h⁻¹ due to natural sources, proposed by United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. Radon concentrations in the room were also estimated by a simple mass balance equation and exhalation rates calculated from the measured values of ²²⁶Ra concentrations and the material properties. The results showed that the radon concentration in the room ventilated adequately (0.5 h⁻¹) will be lower than 100 Bq m⁻³, value recommended as a reference level by the World Health Organization.     

Field-scale operation of methane biofiltration systems to mitigate point source methane emissions

Methane biofiltration (MBF) is a novel low-cost technique for reducing low volume point source emissions of methane (CH₄). MBF uses a granular medium, such as soil or compost, to support the growth of methanotrophic bacteria responsible for converting CH₄ to carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O). A field research program was undertaken to evaluate the potential to treat low volume point source engineered CH₄ emissions using an MBF at a natural gas monitoring station. A new comprehensive three-dimensional numerical model was developed incorporating advection-diffusive flow of gas, biological reactions and heat and moisture flow. The one-dimensional version of this model was used as a guiding tool for designing and operating the MBF. The long-term monitoring results of the field MBF are also presented. The field MBF operated with no control of precipitation, evaporation, and temperature, provided more than 80% of CH₄ oxidation throughout spring, summer, and fall seasons. The numerical model was able to predict the CH₄ oxidation behavior of the field MBF with high accuracy. The numerical model simulations are presented for estimating CH₄ oxidation efficiencies under various operating conditions, including different filter bed depths and CH₄ flux rates. The field observations as well as numerical model simulations indicated that the long-term performance of MBFs is strongly dependent on environmental factors, such as ambient temperature and precipitation.     

浮选处理＜0.25mm粒级废弃印刷电路板的试验研究

从废弃印刷电路板微细颗粒中富集有用金属是目前环境污染防治领域中的前沿课题,采用浮选方法对废弃印刷电路板破碎后的微细物料进行探索性浮选试验研究.借助Design-Expert7.0软件进行了废弃印刷电路板金属回收的4因素3水平浮选试验设计和结果分析,讨论了搅拌速度、充气量、矿浆温度及矿浆质量浓度对浮选效果的影响,给出了金...     

粗MnSO4溶液中MnS2O6的去除条件研究

用软锰矿吸收SO₂生成MnSO₄时会伴随有副产物MnS₂O₆生成。产品中MnS₂O₆的存在会降低硫酸锰产品质量,同时会缓慢释放出SO₂气体污染环境。本文用单因素实验方法研究了粗MnSO₄溶液中MnS₂O₆的最优去除条件。研究结果显示,软锰矿用量为12.2 g,硫酸加入量为20 mL、反应温度100℃、反应时间3 h、搅拌速度500 r/min,MnS₂O₆的去除率可达91%以上。其最终产品能达到GB1622-1986一级品标准。     

新型改性聚丙烯酰胺的合成及对污泥调理效果的研究

采用原位聚合法,在聚丙烯酰胺的聚合过程中引入金属离子进行改性,合成了一种新型改性聚丙烯酰胺.通过正交实验确定了改性聚丙烯酰胺的最佳合成条件.红外图谱显示,该聚丙烯酰胺是一种具有特殊结构的有机高分子化合物.以污泥脱水率和污泥比阻为考察指标,研究了改性聚丙烯酰胺对污水处理厂剩余活性污泥脱水性能的影响,结果表明,在每1000...     

草甘膦母液膜分离的电渗析预处理

研究了用电渗析法去除草甘膦母液中影响膜通量的亚磷酸根,主要考察了pH值、工作电压、反应时间和温度等因素对亚磷酸根去除率的影响,并对电渗析预处理后母液纳滤膜分离的膜通量进行实验验证。实验表明：淡化液、浓缩液流量为30 L/h,pH值约为8.1,工作电压为20 V,反应时间为2 h左右,温度〈30℃时,电渗析对母液中亚磷酸...     

广东河源电厂循环水高浓缩倍率试验研究及工程应用

循环冷却系统浓缩排污水是电厂最大的排污水,是节水减排和废水零排放的关键问题之一。以河源电厂为例,分析了电厂进水水质条件;选用了5种水稳剂,采取极限碳酸盐硬度计算浓缩倍率的方法,通过静动态阻垢、防腐与杀菌试验,探明了各种药剂的极限浓缩倍率,论证了河源电厂循环冷却系统10倍以上的浓缩倍率运行方式的可行性。按试验所确定的原则,河源电厂循环冷却水系统按10倍的浓缩倍率运行,一年来未出现腐蚀与结垢现象。分析了实际运行期间的运行数据,对我国循环冷却水处理、节约用水、减少排污具有一定的示范意义。     

VFA generation from waste activated sludge: effect of temperature and mixing

The success of enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) depends on the constant availability of volatile fatty acids (VFAs). To reduce costs, waste streams would be a preferred source. Since VFAs were shown to vary in the incoming sewage and fermentate from primary sludge the next available source is waste activated sludge (WAS). The opportunity is particularly good in plants where WAS is stored before shipment. Little information is however available on the rate of VFA release from such sludge, especially at the lower temperatures and under the storage conditions typically found in colder climates. Bench-scale batch tests were performed to investigate the effect of temperature and requirement for mixing on VFA generation from WAS generated in full scale non-EBPR wastewater treatment plant. WAS fermentation was found highly temperature-dependent. Hydrolysis rate constant (k_h) values of 0.17, 0.08 and 0.04 d⁻¹ at 24.6, 14 and 4 °C were obtained, respectively. Arrhenius temperature coefficient was calculated to be 1.07. It took 5 d to complete hydrolysis at 24.6 °C, 7 d at 14 °C, and 9 d at 4 °C. The fermentation lasted for 20 d. At 24.6 °C the mixed reactor reached 84% of the overall VFA production only in 5 d. When temperature dropped to 14 and 4 °C, the ratio of VFA production at day 10 to overall VFA production in the mixed reactor were 62% and 48%, respectively. The overall VFA-COD concentration in the non-mixed reactors was much lower than the mixed reactors. The information is important for the designer as there was uncertainty with the effect of temperature and mixing on sludge fermentation.     

基于RS/GIS的伊犁河谷生态环境模糊综合评价

土地利用/土地覆盖是生态环境系统的组成部分,它的变化是区域生态环境演变的直接反映和结果,它是区域生态环境演变的一个重要因素。运用RS/GIS技术,采用土地利用类型覆盖率作为评价因子,参考国际和国内各省的土地利用类型覆盖率制定评价标准,对伊犁河谷生态环境进行模糊综合评价。得出伊犁河谷生态环境质量属"优"的面积覆盖率占伊犁河谷总面积的73.2%;生态环境质量为"良"的县市面积覆盖率占伊犁河谷的26.3%。伊犁河谷生态环境总体较好,局部较差。伊犁河谷各县市的耕地面积覆盖率、建设用地覆盖率和草地面积覆盖率是各县市生态环境状况差异的主要原因。该方法与其他方法比较,所得的评价结果比较一致,结论符合实际状况,且有计算简便快捷等优点,方法可行,具有一定的可靠性和理论价值。     

Effect of stocking density and food quality on the growth and fecundity of an epigeic earthworm (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Eisenia fetida</Emphasis>) during vermicomposting

Physico-chemical characteristics of the feed and optimum worm density are important parameters for the efficient working of a vermicomposting system. Overcrowding of worms can affect the efficiency of a vermicomposting system even if all other parameters have been optimized. This article reports the effect of stocking density and feed quality on the growth and fecundity of Eisenia fetida under laboratory conditions. The feed mixtures contained cow dung and textile mill wastewater sludge in different ratios. Three feed mixtures and five stocking rates (1, 2, 4, 8, and 12) were tested for 12 weeks. The results showed that E. fetida growth rate was faster at higher stocking densities; however, biomass gain per worm was faster at lower stocking densities. Sexual maturity was attained earlier at higher stocking densities. Growth rate was highest in 100% cow dung at all the stocking densities when compared to textile mill wastewater sludge containing feed mixtures. A worm population of 27–53 worms per kg of feed was found to be the most favorable stocking density.