Quantification of the interactions between Ca,Hg and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of sludge

The interactions between metals (Ca²⁺ and Hg²⁺) and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) extracted from the aerobic and anaerobic sludge in wastewater treatment reactors were investigated using a combination of zeta potential measurement and 3-dimensional excitation–emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy with parallel factor (PARAFAC) analysis. Results show that Ca²⁺ had no substantial effects on the EEM fluorescence spectra of the EPS, but their zeta potentials increased with the increasing Ca²⁺ dosage. However, Hg²⁺ had a significant effect on the EEM fluorescence spectra of the EPS, while their zeta potentials seemed not to be affected by the dose of Hg²⁺. The interactions between Hg²⁺ and EPS were elucidated using the fluorescence quenching with PARAFAC analysis, while the interactions between Ca²⁺ and EPS were evaluated by the zeta potential technique. The binding constants for Hg²⁺ and EPS were two orders of magnitude higher than those for Ca²⁺ and EPS, suggesting that the binding mechanisms between Ca²⁺ and EPS were different from those between Hg²⁺ and EPS. The results might be useful for understanding the roles of EPS in bacterial self-protection against heavy metals and the aggregate formation mechanisms through ionic bridging interactions.     

Factors influencing on the bioaccessibility of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in size-specific dust from air conditioner filters

Size-specific concentrations and bioaccessibility of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in dust from air conditioner filters were measured, and the factors influencing the PBDE bioaccessibility were determined. Generally, the PBDE concentrations increased with decreasing dust particle size, and BDE209 (deca-BDE) was generally the predominant congener. The bioaccessibility ranged from 20.3% to 50.8% for tri- to hepta-BDEs, and from 5.1% to 13.9% for BDE209 in dust fractions of varied particle size. The bioaccessibility of most PBDE congeners decreased with increasing dust particle size. The way of being of PBDE (adsorbed to dust surface or incorporated into polymers) in dust significantly influenced the bioaccessibility. There was a significant negative correlation between the tri- to hepta-BDE bioaccessibility and organic matter (OM) contents in dust. Furthermore, tri- to hepta-BDE bioaccessibility increased with increasing polarity of OMs, while with decreasing aromaticity of OMs. The tri- to hepta-BDE bioaccessibility significantly positively correlated with the surface areas and pore volumes of dust. Using multiple linear regression analysis, it was found that the OM contents and pore volumes of dust were the most important factors to influence the tri- to hepta-BDE bioaccessibility and they could be used to estimate the bioaccessibility of tri- to hepta-BDEs according to the following equation: bioaccessibility (%) = 45.05 − 0.49 × OM% + 1.79 × pore volume. However, BDE209 bioaccessibility did not correlate to any of these factors.     

Development and application of LC–APCI–MS method for biomonitoring of animal and human exposure to imidacloprid

Imidacloprid (IMI) is a relatively new neuro-active neonicotinoid insecticide and nowadays one of the largest selling insecticides worldwide. In the present study a LC–APCI–MS based method was developed and validated for the quantification of imidacloprid and its main metabolite 6-chloronicotinic acid (6-CINA) in urine and hair specimens. The method was tested in biomonitoring of intentionally exposed animals and subsequently applied for biomonitoring of Cretan urban and rural population.     

Nitrous oxide and methane emission from a flooded rice field as influenced by separate and combined application of herbicides bensulfuron methyl and pretilachlor

Combination of divergent active principles to achieve broad-spectrum control is gaining popularity to manage the weed menace in intensive agriculture. However, such application could have non-target impacts on the soil processes affecting soil ecology and environmental interactions. A field experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of separate and combined applications of herbicides bensulfuron methyl and pretilachlor on the emission of N₂O and CH₄, and related soil and microbial parameters in a flooded alluvial field planted to rice cv Lalat. Single application of the herbicide bensulfuron methyl or pretilachlor resulted in a significant reduction of N₂O and CH₄ emissions while the combination of these two herbicides distinctly increased N₂O and CH₄ emissions. Cumulative N₂O emissions (kg N₂O-N) followed the order of bensulfuron methyl (0.35 kg ha⁻¹) < pretilachlor (0.36 kg ha⁻¹) < control (0.45 kg ha⁻¹) < bensulfuron methyl 0.6% + pretilachlor 6.0% single dose (0.49 kg ha⁻¹) < bensulfuron methyl 0.6% + pretilachlor 6.0% double dose (0.54 kg ha⁻¹). Cumulative CH₄ emissions (kg CH₄), on the other hand, followed the order of bensulfuron methyl (47.89 kg ha⁻¹) < pretilachlor (73.17 kg ha⁻¹) < bensulfuron methyl 0.6% + pretilachlor 6.0% single dose (93.50 kg ha⁻¹) < control (106.54 kg ha⁻¹) < bensulfuron methyl 0.6% + pretilachlor 6.0% double dose (124.67 kg ha⁻¹). The inhibitory effect of separate application of herbicides bensulfuron methyl 0.6% and pretilachlor 6.0% on N₂O emission was linked to lower mineral N, lower denitrifying and nitrifying activity and low denitrifier and nitrifier populations. Inhibitory effect on CH₄ emission, on the contrary, was linked to prevention in the drop of redox potential, lower readily mineralizable carbon (RMC) and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) contents as well as lower methanogenic and higher methanotrophic bacterial population. Admittedly, stimulatory effect of combined application of herbicides bensulfuron methyl 0.6% and pretilachlor 6.0% at double dose on N₂O and CH₄ emission was related to reversal of the identified indicators of inhibition. Results indicate that while individual application of herbicides bensulfuron methyl 0.6% or pretilachlor 6.0% can reduce N₂O and CH₄ emission from flooded soil planted to rice, their combined application at normal dose can keep the emission at a comparatively lower level with significantly higher grain yield as compared to the herbicides applied alone.     

Determination of o-phthalic acid in snow and its photochemical degradation by capillary gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization and mass spectrometric detection

Phthalic acid and its photochemical degradation has been determined in snow and rainwater samples collected during winters (2003-2010) in the Southeast of Massachusetts using capillary gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionization and mass spectrometric detection. Water samples were dried using a rotary evaporator and derivatized with a 14% BF₃/methanol reagent before GC analysis. The developed method proved simple and accurate. Phthalic acid was found in snow samples collected in a concentration range of 7.22-76.5 nM. The photodegradation of phthalate was carried out under 300 nm UV light. The direct photodecomposition of the acid is slow (5% h⁻¹). However, the addition of dissolved Fe(III) species at 2.0 μM accelerated the light-induced degradation of phthalic acid by 3.5 times in the atmospheric water samples. Photodegradation rates of phthalic acid increases with decreasing pH value of water samples in the range of pH 2.8-4.5.     

Integrated analysis of the effects of agricultural management on nitrogen fluxes at landscape scale

The integrated modelling system INITIATOR was applied to a landscape in the northern part of the Netherlands to assess current nitrogen fluxes to air and water and the impact of various agricultural measures on these fluxes, using spatially explicit input data on animal numbers, land use, agricultural management, meteorology and soil. Average model results on NH₃ deposition and N concentrations in surface water appear to be comparable to observations, but the deviation can be large at local scale, despite the use of high resolution data. Evaluated measures include: air scrubbers reducing NH₃ emissions from poultry and pig housing systems, low protein feeding, reduced fertilizer amounts and low-emission stables for cattle. Low protein feeding and restrictive fertilizer application had the largest effect on both N inputs and N losses, resulting in N deposition reductions on Natura 2000 sites of 10% and 12%, respectively.     

曝气强度对同时硝化反硝化（SND）脱氮过程中N2O排放的影响

为了控制污水脱氮中N2O排放,在不同曝气强度下研究了好氧硝化段同时硝化反硝化（SND）系统的N2O排放特性,并采用PCR—DGGE技术分析微生物群落特征。结果发现,随着曝气强度的增强,系统总氮去除率下降,但脱氮中N2O—N所占比例则上升,实验中从低到高3个曝气强度下,总氮去除率分别为80．01％、65．28％和58．62％,脱氮中N2O—N所占的比例为1．89％、7．84％和9．20％。PCR—DGGE分析显示,和低曝气强度下相比中、高曝气强度下系统微生物群落发生明显变化,但中曝气强度和高曝气强度下系统微生物群落表现出较高相似性。这表明,不同曝气强度下系统N2O排放受到氮素转化和微生物群落变化的影响。适宜曝气强度不仅提高总氮去除率,还可有效控制N2O排放。     

服务江苏环保,投身污染减排——论省环科院在江苏省污染减排中的作用

文中从江苏省环科院的职能出发,阐述了省环科院在江苏省污染减排工作中的地位和作用,指出省环科院应在污染减排工作中做出更大贡献。     

我国电力行业CO2减排技术及应用前景分析

阐述了我国燃煤电厂CO2排放现状及趋势,将CO2减排技术分为捕集与封存两个部分进行讨论,介绍了目前主要的CO2捕集与封存技术及其研究进展,并分析了各种技术的特点及其在我国电力行业的应用前景。指出电厂位置、CO2捕集方案及封存方式三者之间是相互影响、相互制约的,其中CO2去向是关键因素,处于不同地理位置的电厂需根据具体情况选择相适应的CO2捕集与封存技术的组合。探讨了各种捕集与封存技术的应用前景,建议由国家相关部门或行业支持,建设国家或行业层面的工业化试验中心或试验台。     

中型污水处理厂中药物和个人护理品的分布与去除

为了解15种药物及个人护理用品(PPCPs)在中小型污水处理厂中的分布及其去除效果,采用液相色谱-串联质谱(LC-MS/MS)技术对3座A2/O工艺的污水处理厂水样进行分析研究。结果显示,除普萘洛尔、吉非罗平和吲哚美辛在3座中小型污水处理厂各个工艺单元中均未被检出外,其余12种目标化合物的检出频率在90%~100%之间。进水水样中PPCPs的平均检出浓度为2 285.4 ng/L,其中咖啡因(CF)的平均检出浓度最高为973.3 ng/L,酮洛芬(KP)的平均检出浓度次之为844.7 ng/L,两者之和占进水水样中PPCPs平均含量的79.5%,表明污水处理厂的主要污染物为CF和KP。3座污水处理厂对CF的去除效果最为显著,平均去除率为95.3%,对15种PPCPs总去除效率在39.3%~82.8%之间。