Dialdehyde starch and zein plastic: Mechanical properties and biodegradability

Dialdehyde starch (DAS) and zein, a hydrophobic corn protein, were investigated to produce biodegradable plastics with improved water resistance and mechanical properties. In the study, dialdehyde starch and zein ratio, plasticizers, and degree of starch oxidation were examined. Increased molding temperature and level of starch oxidation decreased water absorption of the plastic. Tensile strength and Young's modulus increased with starch oxidation. The biodegradation of starting materials and ground plastic specimens was studied in aerobic soil reactors maintained at 25°C for 180 days. Biodegradation of corn starch, zein, and dialdehyde starch for 180 days produced CO₂ equivalent to 64, 63, and 10% of theoretical carbon, respectively. Specimens of molded DAS and zein (3 : 1) plastic showed accelerated CO₂ evolution compared to DAS and other raw materials alone. By 180 days, specimens made with starch of low oxidation (1 and 5% oxidized) demonstrated a 60% biodegradation, and specimens with highly oxidized starch (90% oxidized) achieved 37% biodegradation.Paper presented at the Bio/Environmentally Degradable Polymer Society—Third National Meeting, June 6–8, 1994, Boston, Massachusetts.Journal Paper J-15927 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames, Project No. 3258.     

Integration of Case Studies on Global Change by Means of Qualitative Differential Equations

We present a novel methodology to integrate qualitative knowledge from different case studies on Global Change related issues into a single framework. The method is based on the concept of qualitative differential equations (QDEs) which represents a mathematically well-defined approach to investigate classes of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) used in conventional modeling exercises. These classes are defined by common qualitative features, e.g., monotonicity, signs, etc. Using the QSIM-algorithm it is possible to derive the set of possible solutions of all ODEs in the class. By this one can formulate a common, qualitatively specified cause–effect scheme valid for all case studies. The scheme is validated by testing it against the actually observed histories in the study regions with respect to their reconstruction by the corresponding QDE. The method is outlined theoretically and exemplary applied to the problem of land-use changes due to smallholder agriculture in developing countries. It is shown that the seven case-studies used can be described by a single cause–effect scheme which thus constitutes a pattern of Global Change. As a generally valid prerequisite for sustainability of this kind of land-use the presence of wage labor is shown to represent a decisive factor. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Perceiving Land-Degrading Activities from the Lay Perspective in Northern China

Investigation into local peoples’ perceptions can produce useful information that could be incorporated into the decision-making process to help resolve environmental problems. Within the arena of land degradation, a number of studies have also been conducted to explore local peoples’ views of the problem. However, the perceptions of land-degrading practices of the general public have so far not been actively solicited. This study aimed to contribute to this area of research by adopting the psychometric scaling technique to empirically explore the lay public’s ecological risk perceptions of land-degrading activities in Minqin County in Gansu Province, northern China. The primary data were collected via a questionnaire survey (n = 1,138) administered between 14 and 31 December 2002. The major findings of the survey were: (1) Respondents perceived the ecological risks posed by different land-degrading activities to be different. (2) There was a considerable incongruence in the way in which mining of groundwater was conceived by experts and laymen, respectively. (3) Respondents were pretty unsure of expert knowledge. (4) Respondents’ ecological risk perceptions were significantly affected by their personal attributes. As far as the policy implications of these findings are concerned, this study accentuates that we must be aware of, and involved in, the environmental perceptions of the lay public in order to succeed in guiding any human-environment tensions along more sustainable trajectories and navigating the transition to sustainability.     

承德市环境空气质量现状及对策

2003承德市空气主要污染物与2002的相比,只有SO2年均值有所增大.运用Spearman-rs秩相关系数法预测该市空气质量有好转趋势,并从城市的地理位置、卫生、交通等几方面分析其污染特征及原因,建议以行政力量为指导,提高公民环保意识,实施合理的环境规划,利用最佳实用的环保技术改善该市环境空气质量.     

降酚微生物的分离

为了获得高效降酚优势菌种，以燕化集团公司污水厂的活性污泥为菌源、驯化、筛选和分离出3种以苯酚为惟一碳源和能源的高效降酚微生物。驯化采用好氧条件下一次性加入大剂量苯酚和定时逐渐中量的方法，3种优势菌初步鉴定为假单胞菌属（Pseudomonas)。通过温度、pH和NaCl浓度的三因素三水平的正交试验，3种优势菌在温度为30℃，NaCl浓度为0.3-0.9mol/L,pH为5－9的条件下生长良好。这些菌株的好氧生物降解研究结果表明，它们对酚具有良好的生物降解能力。     

旅游信息管理现状及其发展趋势

随着国民经济的迅速发展，旅游业和信息业的发展也日新月异，旅游信息化成为研究和应用的一个热点话题。文章概述了信息管理内涵，浅析了旅游信息的现状和不足，并就其发展前景和趋势进行了预测分析，以期为旅游规划和管理决策提供一定的宏观指导和理论支持。     

Removal of Cinnamic Acid Derivatives from Aqueous Effluents by Fenton and Fenton-like Processes as an Alternative to Direct Biological Treatment

The removal of various phenolic acids (p-coumaric, caffeic and ferulic acids), typically found in wastewaters of agricultural origin, from model effluents by chemical and biological means has been investigated. Chemical oxidation processes comprising hydrogen peroxide and a homogeneous or heterogeneous copper or iron catalyst were employed over a wide range of experimental conditions. Chemical oxidation is capable of removing most of the total organic carbon initially present in the effluent at relatively mild treatment conditions (i.e. reaction times up to 120 min and temperatures up to 80°C), while removal rates generally increase with increasing temperature, H₂O₂ and catalyst concentrations. The anaerobic degradability and toxicity of p-coumaric acid has been assessed using the biochemical methane potential and anaerobic toxicity assay respectively. p-Coumaric acid, at concentrations below about 1 g/L, is not toxic against methanogens and slowly degrades over a period of about 35 days at 35°C. In light of this, chemical oxidation may provide a promising alternative to direct biological treatment for either the partial or complete removal of phenolic acids at reasonable treatment times; the implications for wastewater treatment are discussed.     

紫外光活化亚硫酸盐降解水中卡马西平

研究了紫外光活化亚硫酸盐高级氧化工艺降解水中典型新污染物——卡马西平（CBZ）的效能和降解机制.探究了不同溶解氧浓度[ρ（DO）]对紫外光活化亚硫酸盐降解CBZ的影响,并在模拟自然水体环境控制初始ρ（DO）为（8.0±0.2） mg·L^-1条件下,考察了不同工艺参数（亚硫酸盐投加量、反应pH）与水环境要素（碳酸氢根离子、氯离子、腐殖酸）对CBZ降解效能的影响.结果表明,紫外光活化亚硫酸盐工艺可在30 min内降解85.3%的CBZ,降解过程遵循拟一级动力学,动力学常数为0.055 7 min^-1.并采用电子顺磁共振波谱技术、活性物质淬灭实验和竞争反应动力学实验发现,CBZ的降解主要来自紫外光活化亚硫酸盐工艺中硫酸根自由基（SO₄^-·）与羟基自由基（·OH）等活性物质,且降解贡献率分别为43.9%和56.1%.而且CBZ降解率随HCO₃^-浓度升高而降低,但Cl^-浓度变化对CBZ降解率影响不大,水中存在的腐殖酸可显著抑制CBZ的降解.反应过程中硫酸盐的积累量显著低于《生活饮用水卫生标准》（GB 5749-2022）限值,且亚硫酸盐消耗速率（0.004 4 min^-1）显著低于CBZ的降解速率,说明亚硫酸盐可被紫外光高效活化用于降解水中存在的CBZ.     

SBR生物技术处理竹浆造纸黑液的研究

通过循环序间歇式活性污泥法（ＳＢＲ）处理可使经酸析木质素后所得黑液中的ＢＯＤ５和ＣＯＤ显著减少,当进水中ＣＯＤ浓度为１０９０－１１７０ｍｇ／Ｌ时,ＢＯＤ５去除率为７０％－８３％,ＣＯＤ去除率为５４．５％－６３％,出水中ＢＯＤ５和ＣＯＤ的浓度分别为７６－１０１ｍｇ／Ｌ和４１９－５００ｍｇ／Ｌ,内电解与ＳＢＲ联合对黑液的处理更为有效,当进水ＣＯＤ浓度为１０４６－１１００ｍｇ／Ｌ,ＢＯＤ５和ＣＯＤ去除率     

微波紫外协同降解染料活性艳红X-3B研究

将微波激发的无极紫外灯应用于染料废水的处理研究,考察了反应过程中染料废水脱色率、TOC去除率、溶液pH以及反应前后染料废水高效液相色谱图的变化情况。染料活性艳红X-3B经无极紫外光处理110min后,脱色率达96％,TOC去除率达66％,降解效果明显好于单独使用微波或普通紫外灯的降解效果总和,溶液pH先降低后缓慢升高。