Isomeric analysis of PCDD/PCDF in waste incinerator fly ash by GC-MS/MS

The development of an analytical method for the analysis of PCDD/PCDF in flyash using a bench analytical system comprising of a gas chromatograph fitted with an ion trap detector operated in the tandem MS mode is described. The optimum settings for the most important MS/MS parameters are given, including those for the less reported mono- to tri-chlorinated dioxin and furan congener groups. Flyash samples from three waste incineration plants representing a decommissioned 1970s plant design, an upgraded and still operating plant originally designed in the 1970s, and a modern 1990s design operating plant have been analysed for PCDD/PCDF. The flyash samples were analysed for PCDD/PCDF using the methods developed and the total PCDD/PCDF, I-TEQ values and isomeric profiles are reported. The flyash from the older decommissioned incinerator had very significantly higher concentrations of PCDD/PCDF compared to the modern incinerator flyash.     

Negotiating Indigenous knowledge at the science-policy interface: Insights from the Xáxli’p Community Forest

Despite increasing interest in learning from Indigenous communities, efforts to involve Indigenous knowledge in environmental policy-making are often fraught with contestations over knowledge, values, and interests. Using the co-production of knowledge and social order (Jasanoff, 2004), this case study seeks to understand how some Indigenous communities are engaging in science-policy negotiations by linking traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), western science, and other knowledge systems. The analysis follows twenty years of Indigenous forest management negotiations between the Xáxli’p community and the Ministry of Forests in British Columbia (B.C.), Canada, which resulted in the Xáxli’p Community Forest (XCF). The XCF is an eco-cultural restoration initiative that established an exclusive forest tenure for Xáxli’p over the majority of their aboriginal territory—a political shift that was co-produced with new articulations of Xáxli’p knowledge. This research seeks to understand knowledge co-production with Indigenous communities, and suggests that existing knowledge integration concepts are insufficient to address ongoing challenges with power asymmetries and Indigenous knowledge. Rather, this work proposes interpreting XCF knowledge production strategies through the framework of “Indigenous articulations,” where Indigenous peoples self-determine representations of their identities and interests in a contemporary socio-political context. This work has broader implications for considering how Indigenous knowledge is shaping science-policy negotiations, and vice versa.     

ORDER CLASSIFICATION OF URBAN CATCHMENTS1

ABSTRACT: Stream order systems provide useful classification methods according to the number of tributaries collected. In urban catchments, sewer line order is a concepot concept providing for the same type of classification. Horton's stream order system is used to classify sewers beginning with the smallest lines as first order to the largest main sewer which is sixth order for two catchments studied. Average tributary area, average length and number of lines are shown as functions of order. The bifurcation ratios are also presented. They can be used for finding the number of sewer lines in the next order. The number of first order lines depend on lot size and the bifurcation ratios vary widely.     

PROBABILISTIC METHODS IN STREAM QUALITY MANAGEMENT1

ABSTRACT. Recent advances in water quality modelling have pointed out the need for stochastic models to simulate the probabilistic nature of water quality. However, often all that is needed is an estimate of the uncertainty in predicting water quality variables. First order analysis is a simple method of providing an estimate in the uncertainty in a deterministic model due to uncertain parameters. The method is applied to the simplified Streeter-Phelps equations for DO and BOD; a more complete Monte Carlo simulation is used to check the accuracy of the results. The first order analysis is found to give accurate estimates of means and variances of DO and BOD up to travel times exceeding the critical time. Uncertainty in travel time and the BOD decay constant are found to be most important for small travel times; uncertainty in the reaeration coefficient dominates near the critical time. Uncertainty in temperature was found to be a negligible source of uncertainty in DO for all travel times.     

Biosorption of uranium (VI) by immobilized Aspergillus fumigatus beads

Biosorption of uranium (VI) ions by immobilized Aspergillus fumigatus beads was investigated in a batch system. The influences of solution pH, biosorbent dose, U (VI) concentration, and contact time on U (VI) biosorption were studied. The results indicated that the adsorption capacity was strongly affected by the solution pH, the biosorbent dose and initial U (VI) concentration. Optimum biosorption was observed at pH 5.0, biosrobent dose (w/v) 2.5%, initial U (VI) concentration 60 mg L⁻¹. Biosorption equilibrium was established in 120 min. The adsorption process conformed to the Freunlich and Temkin isothermal adsorption models. The dynamic adsorption model conformed to pseudo-second order model.     

锦标机制理论下企业低碳经济发展激励机制研究

按照企业发展与环境相容的原则,低碳经济是应对全球变暖的最佳经济模式,低碳经济以低能耗、低排放、低污染为基本特征,以应对碳基能源对于气候变暖影响为基本要求,以实现经济社会的可持续发展为基本目的.鉴于当前文献关于企业发展低碳经济的激励机制研究还略显不足,文章借鉴激励理论中的委托代理理论,根据Malcomson模型的研究方法,构建了包括1阶段合约和2阶段合约的企业发展低碳经济的激励机制框架,设立基于相对业绩的"锦标机制"模型并对模型进行系统分析,推导出政府在制定企业发展低碳经济激励政策时的注意事项,即中央政府要加大财政转移支付力度,支持地方发展低碳经济;地方政府要设立专门的低碳经济发展激励基金,并纳入财政预算管理;地方政府在激励企业发展低碳经济时,要有层次、有针对的对企业给予政策支持或财政补贴,形成阶梯式的支持结构,使有限财政资金得到合理配置;地方政府应该以区域内企业实施低碳经济活动的努力水平为评判标准对企业进行激励.     

Kinetic of carbonaceous substrate in an upflow anaerobic sludge sludge blanket (UASB) reactor treating 2,4 dichlorophenol (2,4 DCP)

The performance of an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor treating 2,4 dichlorophenol (2,4 DCP) was evaluated at different hydraulic retention times (HRTs) using synthetic wastewater in order to obtain the growth substrate (glucose-COD) and 2,4 DCP removal kinetics. Treatment efficiencies of the UASB reactor were investigated at different hydraulic retention times (2-20 h) corresponding to a food to mass (F/M) ratio of 1.2-1.92 g-COD g(-1) VSS day(-1). A total of 65-83% COD removal efficiencies were obtained at HRTs of 2-20 h. In all, 83% and 99% 2,4 DCP removals were achieved at the same HRTs in the UASB reactor. Conventional Monod, Grau Second-order and Modified Stover-Kincannon models were applied to determine the substrate removal kinetics of the UASB reactor. The experimental data obtained from the kinetic models showed that the Monod kinetic model is more appropriate for correlating the substrate removals compared to the other models for the UASB reactor. The maximum specific substrate utilization rate (k) (mg-COD mg(-1) SS day(-1)), half-velocity concentration (K(s)) (mg COD l(-1)), growth yield coefficient (Y) (mg mg(-1)) and bacterial decay coefficient (b) (day(-1)) were 0.954 mg-COD mg(-1) SS day(-1), 560.29 mg-COD l(-1), 0.78 mg-SS g(-1)-COD, 0.093 day(-1) in the Conventional Monod kinetic model. The second-order kinetic coefficient (k(2)) was calculated as 0.26 day(-1) in the Grau reaction kinetic model. The maximum COD removal rate constant (U(max)) and saturation value (K(B)) were calculated as 7.502 mg CODl(-1)day(-1) and 34.56 mg l(-1)day(-1) in the Modified Stover-Kincannon Model. The (k)(mg-2,4 DCP mg(-1) SS day(-1)), (K(s)) (mg 2,4 DCPl(-1)), (Y) (mg SS mg(-1) 2,4 DCP) and (k(d)) (day(-1)) were 0.0041 mg-2,4 DCP mg(-1) SS day(-1), 2.06 mg-COD l(-1), 0.0017 mg-SS mg(-1) 2,4 DCP and 3.1 x 10(-5) day(-1) in the Conventional Monod kinetic model for 2,4 DCP degradation. The second-order kinetic coefficient (k(2)) was calculated as 0.30 day(-1) in the Grau reaction kinetic model. The maximum 2,4 DCP removal rate constant (U(max)) and saturation value (K(B)) were calculated as 0.01 mg COD l(-1) day(-1) and 9.8 x 10(-3) mg l(-1) day(-1) in the Modified Stover-Kincannon model.     

工伤保险在社保制度中的排序变化及其内涵

目前我国常见的社会保险制度排序是养老保险、医疗保险、失业保险、工伤保险和生育保险,工伤保险制度位列第四位;而在计划经济时期的劳动保险制度系列中,工伤待遇规定曾位居第一位,尔后才是医疗待遇规定、养老待遇规定和生育待遇规定。上述排序变化的出现不会是立法者的偶然随意之为,而是以实行市场经济体制改革后我国劳动者-企业-国家之"三方关系"出现的根本性变化为背景原因的,与制度本身从一种面向牺牲了个人安全和健康的建设功臣们实施的国家慰谢待遇向以分散风险、损失共担为机理的保险制度发生的转化密切相关。针对近年来极端劳资纠纷事件增多的趋势,我国的劳动安全管理及工伤保险立法决策还应更加注重向弱势劳动者的倾斜。     

基于模糊TOPSIS的道路危险货物运输企业安全评价方法

为了评估道路危险货物运输企业安全性水平,降低危险货物运输风险概率,围绕道路危险货物运输企业安全性评价的重要性,提出一种适用于模糊不确定环境的道路危险货物运输企业安全性评价方法。首先,从人-机-组织综合角度建立道路危险货物运输企业安全性评价指标体系;其次,组合运用模糊决策理论、群体决策和TOPSIS方法提出道路危险货物运输企业安全性评价方法框架;最后以南京市5家道路危险货物运输企业的安全性评价为例进行方法验证。     

Mann-Kendall检验及其在河流悬沙浓度时间序列分析中的运用

探讨了Mann-Kendall非参数秩次相关检验在时间序列分析方面的应用,并以云南省文山州盘龙河为例,把它运用到河流悬沙浓度时间序列的趋势分析和突变分析研究中。结果表明：①M-K检验同样适用于河流悬沙浓度的趋势与突变分析;②盘龙河自20世纪60年代初至90年代末河流悬沙浓度一直表现为波动上升趋势,1999年后有下降的迹象;③盘龙河的河流悬沙浓度自20世纪60年代以来存在着两个明显的突变点,其一在1973年,其二在1999年。