An environmental impact assessment of quantum dot photovoltaics (QDPV) from raw material acquisition through use

Some emerging technologies are expected to be pivotal for solving many of the environmental challenges faced today, especially those related to energy. However, many of these technologies may incur significant environmental impacts over their life cycle, while having environmental benefits during their use. This paper presents results of a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of a proposed type of nanophotovoltaic, quantum dot photovoltaic (QDPV) module. The LCA is confined to the stages of raw materials acquisition, manufacturing, and use. The impacts of QDPV are compared with other types of PV modules and energy sources - both renewable and nonrenewable. To provide a comprehensive comparative assessment, QDPV modules were compared with mature as well as emerging PV types for which data are available. Comparative assessment with other types of energy sources includes coal, oil, lignite, natural gas, diesel, nuclear, wind, and hydropower.QDPV modules may have the potential to overcome two current barriers of solar technology: low efficiencies and high manufacturing costs. If higher efficiencies are realized, QDPV modules could pave the way to large scale implementation of solar energy, helping nations move toward greater energy independence. On the other hand, candidate materials as quantum dots for solar cell applications are mostly compound semiconductors such as cadmium selenide, cadmium telluride, and lead sulfide which may be toxic and for which renewable options are limited. Toxic effects of these materials may be exacerbated by their nanoscale features.The LCA was carried out using the software SimaPro, and the Ecoinvent Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) database supplemented with available literature and patent information. Our results indicate that while QDPV modules have shorter Energy PayBack Time (EPBT), lower Global Warming Potential (GWP), SO_x and NO_x emissions than other types of PV modules, they have higher heavy metal emissions, underscoring the need for investigation of emerging technologies, especially nano-based ones, from a life cycle perspective. QDPV modules are better in all impact categories assessed than carbon-based energy sources but they have longer EPBT than wind and hydropower and higher GWP.     

LCA of eucalyptus wood charcoal briquettes

This paper sets out to describe the environmental impact assessment for wood charcoal briquettes produced from eucalyptus wood in Brazil, with specific reference to those impacts associated with Global Warming Potential. To achieve that objective, the work was undertaken in accordance with ISO 14040 "Environmental management - Life cycle assessment - Principles and framework" which describes essential LCA characteristics and good practices. Charcoal briquettes are produced from two basic raw materials, charcoal fines and starch. The fines result from the production of charcoal from sustainably managed eucalyptus plantations. Starch is extracted from babaçu pulp in the Amazon region. Multi-output processes were allocated based on income from the different by-products. The results showed that more than 90% of incoming CO₂ was due to biomass production for charcoal, and the remainder to starch biomass production. Based on Brazilian data, as well as information provided by the GaBi4.3 database, it turned out that supplying the energy content of 1 kg of briquettes resulted in the sequestration of 3.9690 kg of CO₂, i.e. around 4 kg of CO₂ per kg of briquettes produced. CO₂ emissions throughout the briquette production process are totally compensated for by the environmental quality of the raw materials used.     

钢渣处理技术的环境性能比较

随着钢铁工业的快速发展,大量钢渣弃置堆积,不仅成为环境污染源,而且占用大量的土地。目前钢渣处理技术较多,其中主要的处理方法有冷弃法、热闷法、热泼法、浅盘法、水淬法、风淬法等。本研究采用生命周期评价方法,对主要钢渣处理技术进行评估,定义了生命周期评估边界和清单指标,建立了清单计算模型,得到了不同钢渣处理技术的生命周期清单。为了提高结果的可信性,对模型进行了不确定性分析。结果表明滚筒法和风淬法的环境性能较好,是值得推广的钢渣处理技术。     

Nitrogen cycle of a typical Suaeda salsa marsh ecosystem in the Yellow River estuary

The nitrogen (N) biological cycle of the Suaeda salsa marsh ecosystem in the Yellow River estuary was studied during 2008 to 2009. Results showed that soil N had significant seasonal fluctuations and vertical distribution. The N/P ratio (15.73±1.77) of S. salsa was less than 16, indicating that plant growth was limited by both N and P. The N absorption coefficient of S. salsa was very low (0.007), while the N utilization and cycle coefficients were high (0.824 and 0.331, respectively). The N turnover among compartments of S. salsa marsh showed that N uptake from aboveground parts and roots were 2.539 and 0.622 g/m2, respectively. The N translocation from aboveground parts to roots and from roots to soil were 2.042 and 0.076 g/m2, respectively. The N translocation from aboveground living bodies to litter was 0.497 g/m2, the annual N return from litter to soil was far less than 0.368 g/m2, and the net N mineralization in topsoil during the growing season was 0.033 g/m2. N was an important limiting factor in S. salsa marsh, and the ecosystem was classified as unstable and vulnerable. S. salsa was seemingly well adapted to the low-nutrient status and vulnerable habitat, and the nutrient enrichment due to N import from the Yellow River estuary would be a potential threat to the S. salsa marsh. Excessive nutrient loading might favor invasive species and induce severe long-term degradation of the ecosystem if human intervention measures were not taken. The N quantitative relationships determined in our study might provide a scientific basis for the establishment of effective measures.     

生命周期评价应用于温室气体排放的研究进展

致使全球气候变暖的温室气体排放问题已经全面引起了人们的广泛关注。生命周期评价作为一种评价环境负荷的评价工具,用于科学定量地估算产品、服务及工艺流程改造等方面的温室气体排放有其独特的优势。文章介绍了估算温室气体排放简化生命周期的技术框架及生命周期评价方法在第一产业(种植业、畜牧业),第二产业(硬纸板加工、橡胶生产、废塑料燃烧的能源再利用)以及第三产业(交通运输、旅游业)的应用情况,并综述了三个产业中的主要系统边界划分原则以及对温室气体排放影响的主要因素;同时,介绍了我国在节能减排方面利用生命周期评价方法的研究与应用实例。     

钱塘江杭州段沉积物中铁锰的分布特征

针对钱塘江杭州段水污染现状,对钱塘江杭州段12个采样断面的沉积物进行了系统研究。结果表明,沉积物Fe、Mn的平均含量分别为2.05%,449 mg/kg,变异系数分别为16%、27%。主成分分析结果表明,Fe、Mn、K具有一定的同源性,代表沉积物的自然来源,Fe、Al的分布情况反映两者之间可能存在一定的同源性。相关性分析结果表明,Fe、Al、K均与粘粒显著或极显著相关,反映了地球化学作用和水文条件相互作用的结果;Mn与有机污染(OM)呈显著负相关,说明Mn的污染源与OM不存在同源性,相反,有机质污染导致沉积物锰含量有所降低,两者可能存在密切关系。     

Debromination of decabromodiphenyl ether by organo-montmorillonite-supported nanoscale zero-valent iron：Preparation, characterization and influence factors

An organo-montmorillonite-supported nanoscale zero-valent iron material(M-NZVI) was synthesized to degrade decabromodiphenyl ether(BDE-209). The results showed that nanoscale zero-valent iron had good dispersion on organo-montmorillonite and was present as a core-shell structure with a particle size range of nanoscale iron between 30–90 nm, characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, XRF, ICP-AES, and XPS. The results of the degradation of BDE-209 by M-NZVI showed that the efficiency of M-NZVI in removing BDE-209 was much higher than that of NZVI. The efficiency of M-NZVI in removing BDE-209 decreased as the pH and the initial dissolved oxygen content of the reaction solution increased, but increased as the proportion of water in the reaction solution increased.     

地下水中常见离子对纳米零价铁除Se（Ⅳ）动力学的影响

采用间歇实验对纳米零价铁(nZVI)除四价硒(Se(Ⅳ))进行实验性研究,考察了地下水中共存离子对nZVI除Se(Ⅳ)动力学的影响.结果表明,在厌氧条件下,当nZVI投加量为0.1 g·L-1,Se(Ⅳ)浓度为100μmol·L-1,NaCl浓度为0.01 mol·L-1,pH=7.0,T=25℃±1℃时,投加CO2-3或SO2-4浓度为1 mmol·L-1、腐殖酸(humic acid,HA)为5 mg·L-1时,明显抑制了Se(Ⅳ)的去除.投加0.5 mmol·L-1Ca2+或Mg2+时,对除Se(Ⅳ)影响不大;而Ca2+(3 mmol·L-1)、Mg2+(3 mmol·L-1)时,Se(Ⅳ)的去除效率明显下降.未加共存离子时,Se(Ⅳ)在20 min时基本去除完,共存离子存在的情况下,nZVI对Se(Ⅳ)的去除率在30 min时达到100%.反应过程中二价铁(Fe2+)随着Se(Ⅳ)的去除趋于平稳.ORP在反应过程中快速从正值下降至负值,由此说明nZVI除Se(Ⅳ)的过程发生了还原反应.     

自然光照对淹水条件下三峡库区消落带典型土壤磷释放影响

为研究淹水条件下光照对土-水界面磷释放的影响,以三峡库区消落带典型土壤为对象,通过室内自然光照试验,讨论了铁还原及有机质降解对磷释放的影响,分析光照对淹水土壤磷释放的影响机制.结果表明,光照对淹水土壤磷释放存在一定程度的抑制作用,光照作用下淹水紫色潮土上覆水体中TP浓度范围为0.018~0.033 mg·L-1,避光处理为0.02~0.057mg·L-1,灰棕紫泥光照下TP浓度范围为0.028~0.045 mg·L-1,避光处理为0.04~0.084 mg·L-1.光照引起淹水土壤中铁氧化物的变化可能是光照抑制磷释放的重要原因.光照导致土壤中铁氧化物饱和程度降低,铁还原和无定形铁生成受阻进一步加深了光照对磷释放的抑制影响.CO2和CH4反映淹水土壤有机质分解情况,光照降低有机碳的转化效率,加速土壤中无机电子受体的消耗,解释了光照作用下铁氧化物的变化.由此可见,光照对淹水土壤磷释放的抑制与淹水土壤中铁还原和有机质分解密切相关.     

典型岩溶土壤微生物丰度与多样性及其对碳循环的指示意义

探讨土壤微生物指标的变化规律,用于揭示其在岩溶土壤碳循环中的指示意义.以桂林岩溶试验场洼地、坡地和垭口这3种岩溶地貌形态下的剖面(0~10、10~20、20~30cm)土壤为研究对象,采用聚合酶链式反应-变性梯度凝胶电泳(PCRDGGE)和荧光定量PCR相结合的方法,分析这个典型岩溶土壤剖面中的微生物多样性和丰度变化.数据显示,16S rRNA最高丰度出现在洼地,为1.32×1011拷贝·g-1,而18S rRNA最高丰度出现在垭口,为1.12×1010拷贝·g-1;洼地和垭口剖面的16S rRNA丰度随着深度的增加而降低,3种岩溶地貌形态的18S rRNA丰度均随着剖面深度的增加而降低,与土壤有机碳质量分数的变化趋势一致.但是,在3种岩溶地貌形态中,3个16S rRNA和6个18S rRNA的多样性指数均随土壤剖面深度的增加而增大.由于16S rRNA和18S rRNA的多样性与丰度和土壤有机碳之间总体上表现出相反的变化趋势,说明微生物丰度指标在土壤碳循环中的指示意义比微生物多样性指数更重要.