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.     

青岛大气气溶胶中氨基化合物的分布特征

氨基化合物是大气气溶胶和雨水中常被检出的一类有机氮化合物,由于其可作为生物生长直接的氮源,因此可能对海洋生态系统产生直接作用.利用2008年1～12月在青岛采集的66个总悬浮颗粒物样品,采用邻苯二甲醛/N-乙酰-L-半胱氨酸柱前衍生高效液相色谱法,分析了其中溶解态(DAC)和颗粒态氨基化合物(PAC)的浓度.气溶胶中DAC浓度为2.4～40.9nmol·m-3,在春季最高,夏季次之,秋季、冬季最低.PAC浓度为0.7～76.1nmol·m-3,呈现春季冬季秋季夏季的变化趋势.不同季节氨基化合物的组成不同.依据气团的后向轨迹,气溶胶样品可分为受北方陆源、南方陆源和海洋源影响,DAC和PAC在受南方陆源影响的气溶胶中浓度最高,北方陆源次之,海洋源气溶胶中最低.不同来源的气溶胶中氨基化合物的组成不同,蛋白质类氨基化合物对总氨基化合物的贡献在海洋源气溶胶中最高,在南方源气溶胶中最低.     

污水地下渗滤系统强化脱氮试验研究

构建了3套以5%炉渣+95%草甸棕壤为基质的地下渗滤系统室内模拟试验装置,在水力负荷为0.1m3/(m2·d)条件下进行了生活污水处理试验.结果表明,当分流位置位于系统内110cm处,分流比为1:1时,可提高地下渗滤对总氮的去除效率,总氮的去除率由59.37%提高至68.41%,且对COD和总磷的去除效果没有影响.     

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.     

Modeling assessment for ammonium nitrogen recovery from wastewater by chemical precipitation

Chemical precipitation to form magnesium ammonium phosphate (MAP) is an effective technology for recovering ammonium nitrogen (NH4 +-N). In the present research, we investigated the thermodynamic modeling of the PHREEQC program for NH4 +-N recovery to evaluate the effect of reaction factors on MAP precipitation. The case study of NH4 +-N recovery from coking wastewater was conducted to provide a comparison. Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to assist in understanding the relative significance of reaction factors and the interactive effects of solution conditions. Thermodynamic modeling indicated that the saturation index (SI) of MAP followed a polynomial function of pH. The SI of MAP increased logarithmically with the Mg2+/NH4 + molar ratio (Mg/N) and the initial NH4 +-N concentration (CN), respectively, while it decreased with an increase in Ca2+/NH4 + and CO3 2??/NH4 + molar ratios (Ca/N and CO3 2??/N), respectively. The trends for NH4 +-N removal at different pH and Mg/N levels were similar to the thermodynamic modeling predictions. The RSM analysis indicated that the factors including pH, Mg/N, CN, Ca/N, (Mg/N) (CO3 2??/N), (pH)2, (Mg/N)2, and (CN)2 were significant. Response surface plots were useful for understanding the interaction effects on NH4 +-N recovery.     

Effect of anaerobic digestion on the high rate of nitritation, treating piggery wastewater

Laboratory reactors were operated by using piggery wastewater and the effluent of anaerobic digester from piggery wastewater plants to study the effect of anaerobic digestion on nitritation rate.     

大型溞母溞暴露于氨氮所产子代对氨氮毒性的耐受性

采用大型溞(Daphnia magna)作为受试生物,在测定了氨氮对大型溞的急慢性毒性效应的基础上,进一步研究了在慢性毒性试验中暴露于氨氮环境下的母溞所产子代对氨氮的毒性响应.急性毒性试验结果表明,氨氮对大型溞的24 h和48 h的LC50分别为165.97和69.54 mg/L.21 d慢性试验结果表明:大型溞的生长指标——脱皮数是对氨氮最为敏感的毒性参数;其慢性毒性下限值(LCL)和慢性毒性上限值(UCL)分别为1.88和3.75 mg/L;据此计算出的慢性毒性值(CHV)为2.66 mg/L,急慢性比(ACR)为26.14.在慢性试验中,暴露于毒物的母体所产的子代幼溞,与对照组相比,其48 h LC50都有所增大(增幅为13.7%～56.2%),说明对毒物的适应性有所增强.     

不同进水条件对SBR工艺脱氮除磷效能的影响

采用人工配水,研究进水在不同pH值,碳源类型,碳氮比条件下,厌氧/好氧/缺氧(A/O/A)sBR工艺对生物法脱氮除磷效能的影响.结果表明:不同的进水条件对反应器的影响较大,当pH值为7.5,乙酸钠为碳源,碳氮比为1.4时,反应器运行效果最佳,系统对PO43--P,NH4+-N的去除率分别达到97.28%,99.5%.N...