Differences in nitrous oxide fluxes from red soil under different land uses in mid-subtropical China

Red soil may play an important role in nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions due to its recent land use change pattern. To predict the land use change effect on N₂O emissions, we examined the relationship between soil N₂O flux and environmental determinants in four different types of land uses in subtropical red soil. During two years of study (January 2005-January 2007), biweekly N₂O fluxes were measured from 09:00 to 11:00 a.m. using static closed chamber method. Objectives were to estimate the seasonal and annual N₂O flux differences from land use change and, reveal the controlling factors of soil N₂O emission by studying the relationship of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), water filled pore space (WFPS) and soil temperature with soil N₂O flux. Nitrous oxide fluxes were significantly higher in hot-humid season than in the cool-dry season. Significant differences in soil N₂O fluxes were observed among four land uses; 2.9, 1.9 and 1.7 times increased N₂O emissions were observed after conventional land use conversion from woodland to paddy, orchard and upland, respectively. The mean annual budgets of N₂O emission were 0.71-2.21 kg N₂O-N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ from four land use types. The differences were partly attributed to increased fertilizer use in agriculture land uses. In all land uses, N₂O fluxes were positively related to soil temperature and DOC accounting for 22-48% and 30-46% of the seasonal N₂O flux variability, respectively. Nitrous oxide fluxes did significantly correlate with WFPS in orchard and upland only. Nitrous oxide fluxes responded positively to MBC in all land use types except orchard which had the lowest WFPS. We conclude that (1) land use conversion from woodland to agriculture land uses leads to increased soil N₂O fluxes, partly due increased fertilizer use, and (2) irrespective of land use, soil N₂O fluxes are under environmental controls, the main variables being soil temperature and DOC, both of which control the supply of nitrification and denitrification substrates.     

碳纳米管径向尺寸对碳纳米管自支撑膜孔隙结构及通量的影响

为了探索碳纳米材料膜在水处理中应用的可能性,本实验选取4种径向尺寸的碳纳米管(Carbon Nanotubes, CNTs),采用压力辅助过滤技术制备CNTs自支撑膜.通过对CNTs自支撑膜的平均孔径、孔径分布及截留分子量(Molecular weight Cut-Off,MWCO)等进行分析,研究了CNTs径向尺寸变化对CNTs自支撑膜孔隙结构的影响.结果表明,CNTs的径向尺寸越小,制备得到的CNTs自支撑膜越趋向于形成小孔径的膜孔,且孔径分布更加均匀,孔隙面积比越高,膜的MWCO越小.单壁碳纳米管(Single-walled carbon nanotube, SWNT)与多壁碳纳米管(Multi-walled carbon nanotube, MWNT)相比,前者更容易形成膜平均孔径更小且孔径分布更均匀的CNTs自支撑膜.膜通量测定结果表明,研究制备的CNTs自支撑膜的通量属于低压膜范围,通量在230～347 L·m~(-2)·h~(-1)·bar~(-1)之间.其中,虽然由径向尺寸较小的CNTs所制备的CNTs自支撑膜的平均孔径更小,但由于其具有更高的孔隙面积比和更小的膜厚度,其纯水通量相对高于由大径向尺寸CNTs制备的CNTs自支撑膜.     

Application of interface material and effects of oxygen gradient on the performance of single-chamber sediment microbial fuel cells (SSMFCs)

Single-chamber sediment microbial fuel cells(SSMFCs) have received considerable attention nowadays because of their unique dual-functionality of power generation and enhancement of wastewater treatment performance. Thus, scaling up or upgrading SSMFCs for enhanced and efficient performance is a highly crucial task. Therefore, in order to achieve this goal, an innovative physical technique of using interface layers with four different pore sizes embedded in the middle of SSMFCs was utilized in this study.Experimental results showed that the performance of SSMFCs employing an interface layer was improved regardless of the pore size of the interface material, compared to those without such layers. The use of an interface layer resulted in a positive and significant effect on the performance of SSMFCs because of the effective prevention of oxygen diffusion from the cathode to the anode. Nevertheless, when a smaller pore size interface was utilized, better power performance and COD degradation were observed. A maximum power density of 0.032 mW/m~2 and COD degradation of 47.3% were obtained in the case of an interface pore size of 0.28 μm. The findings in this study are of significance to promote the future practical application of SSMFCs in wastewater treatment plants.     

物理和摇蚊幼虫组合扰动对内源磷再生和形态转化的协同作用

为探讨物理和摇蚊幼虫组合扰动对内源磷再生和形态转化的协同作用,选取了苏州某富营养化河道为研究对象.利用室内静态培养试验和Rhizon间隙水采样技术,着重对比了单纯的摇蚊幼虫扰动和组合扰动下,上覆水、间隙水、沉积物中磷形态数量分布的变化规律.结果表明,组合扰动下,上覆水中不同形态磷含量(TP、PP、DTP、DIP)均处于较高水平,明显高于摇蚊幼虫扰动.这可归因于微生物活性的显著增加.与摇蚊幼虫扰动相比,组合扰动下,间隙水中DIP和Fe2+浓度的降低幅度和降低范围明显更大.这主要是由于物理扰动和底栖生物扰动产生的叠加效应,导致溶解氧渗透深度增加.另外,0~2 cm沉积物中,NH4Cl-P含量明显降低,Fe/Al-P明显增加,并且,NH4Cl-P和Fe/Al-P的变化幅度均在组合扰动下最大.这暗示了物理扰动和底栖生物扰动对磷再生和迁移产生的叠加效应.     

南京近郊农田大气颗粒物及金属干沉降输入特征

大气颗粒物中重金属干沉降输入是农业区域重金属的重要来源之一,但当前对农业区大气重金属沉降的观测研究较少.通过对南京近郊典型稻麦轮作区定点连续1 a采样,分析了不同粒径大气颗粒物和其中10种金属元素的浓度,并利用大叶模型估算其干沉降通量.结果表明,颗粒物浓度和干沉降通量均呈现冬春高、夏秋低的变化趋势;冬春季颗粒物污染为粗粒子(2.1～9.0μm)和细粒子(<2.1μm)的双重作用,而夏秋季则主要为细粒子的作用;金属元素浓度在巨粒子(>9.0μm)中占比最低,在粗粒子和细粒子中相当,而Pb、 Mn、 As和Cd在细粒子中占比较高;10种金属元素的年均干沉降通量[mg·(m²·a)^-1]大小为：Ca(2 096.4)>Al(1 710.4)>Zn(855.0)>Fe(256.1)>Pb(40.35)>Cu(31.93)>V(26.21)>Mn(9.10)>As(2.48)>Cd(0.28).研究结果为更加全面地认识人类活动对农产品质量安全和土壤生态环境的影响提供参考依据.     

The Upper and Lower Ecological Limits of Specific Metabolic Power of Different Organisms

It has been demonstrated that bioenergetic properties of plants (independence of productivity from size, proportionality between radial growth of woody plants and plant mass, etc.) and animals are not related to the presumed universal linear relationship between metabolic power and body mass to the power of 3/4. This relationship is not true for plants and endothermic animals. The observed bioenergetic characteristics of these organisms are explained by simple biological and physical laws, including the existence of the lower and upper limits of the specific metabolic power of living matter.     

The role of humic substances in chromium sorption onto natural organic matter (peat)

To elucidate mechanisms of Cr³⁺ sorption onto the unaltered solid natural organic matter, the comparative studies of this ion binding from a solution at pH 4.0 onto three selected particle size fractions: 2000–1000 μm, 630–200 μm and 63–20 μm of markedly different HS content and structure, separated by a wet sieving from an overall sample of peat (Brushwood Peat Humus) were carried out. Comparable patterns of COOH groups and CEC_t confirmed that for cation exchange capacity were responsible mainly cations connected with COO⁻ functional groups. It was though found that aliphatic acids in the solid state did not take part in Cr³⁺ binding, thus the finest studied fraction 63–20 μm of the highest contents of functional groups showed the lowest sorption capacity for Cr³⁺, while similar patterns of sorbed Cr³⁺, soluble HS content and base CEC₀ indicated that these parameters were directly interrelated. The base ion exchange processes determined by CEC₀ (with Ca²⁺ as a predominant exchangeable cation) appeared to be not the major mechanisms responsible for Cr³⁺ sorption. For this metal, strong binding to insoluble large molecular weight organic pool two- to threefold prevailed over the ion exchange processes. Very low acid desorption indicated generally low mobility of Cr³⁺-organic compounds.     

深圳大气有机硝酸酯粒径分布特征和来源研究

于2021年3月30日至2021年4月17日利用超高分辨率气溶胶飞行时间质谱(Long-ToF-AMS),对深圳城市大气中的颗粒态有机硝酸酯(pON)开展高精度分析.基于两种估算pON的方法,计算得出pON对有机气溶胶(OA)的贡献占比为5.08％～11.00％.pON的日变化特征显示,其高值主要出现在夜间时段(19:...     

Usage of polystyrene disposable food dishes in the lightweight concrete making

The increasing use and subsequent accumulation of polystyrene containers has triggered a substantial environmental problem. This study investigated using varied percentages of solid waste polystyrene disposable food dishes in the production of lightweight concrete samples with 350 kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³) of cement and a density of 1,300 kg/m³. The polystyrene disposable dishes were ground into beads of 0–3 millimeters (mm) and 3–6 mm in size. First, the characteristics of Type II Portland cement, polystyrene, and aggregates were examined. The following characteristics of concrete using ASTM International and British Standards Institution standards were tested: slump, compressive strength, ability to resist chloride ion penetration, and resistance of concrete to rapid freezing and thawing cycles. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy analytical techniques were also used. The slump of samples varied between 40 and 70 mm and was not dependent on either the polystyrene percentage or the size of the polystyrene beads in the concrete samples (p‐value > .05). The compressive strength of the concrete samples after 90 days of curing, and using different percentages of polystyrene, varied between 96 and 113 kilograms per square centimeter (kg/cm²). The resistance of the samples to the freezing and thawing cycle and chloride ion penetration were affected unfavorably by the presence of the polystyrene. The SEM technique indicated that concrete samples containing 15% and 25% polystyrene had denser crystals and less void than concrete samples with 40% and 55% polystyrene.     

Evaluation of the spontaneous combustion characteristics of coal of different metamorphic degrees based on a temperature-programmed oil bath experimental system

Research on the micro- and macrocharacteristics of different metamorphic degrees of coal helps improve the control and protection techniques used during spontaneous combustion. Nine coals with different properties were thoroughly investigated in this study. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and a self-designed temperature-programmed oil bath experimental system were adopted to analyze the molecular structure and macrocharacteristic parameters of the spontaneous combustion of coal. Additionally, the influence of particle size on spontaneous combustion was considered. Various functional groups were employed as microcharacteristic parameters to capture the principal active groups in oxidation. The gas production rate, oxygen consumption rate, gas concentration, heat energy release rate, and characteristic temperatures were evaluated as macrocharacteristic parameters to investigate the changes in coal during oxidation. The results establish that the microcharacteristics of coal molecules determine the degree of spontaneous combustion based on intrinsic properties and that changes in the macrocharacteristics of the spontaneous combustion of coal reflect the microstructural changes. The contents of the hydroxyl groups, carbonyl groups, alkyl ether and aryl ether in the coal molecules gradually decrease with the metamorphic increase. Oxygen-containing functional groups have higher reactivities and easily react with oxygen, causing the macroparameters, such as the oxygen consumption rate, the gas generation rate and the heat energy release rate, to consistently decrease with the increase of the metamorphic degree. Small-particle-size coal molecules have more active aliphatic hydrocarbons, oxygen-containing functional groups and a larger specific surface area, increasing the chances of adsorbing the oxygen of active groups and promoting the reaction between coal and oxygen. The experimental results indicate that coal samples with higher metamorphic degrees or larger sizes exhibit lower tendencies toward spontaneous combustion. Evaluation of the spontaneous combustion of coal based on a temperature-programmed oil bath experimental system is of great practical importance for preventing the spontaneous combustion of coal during storage, processing and utilization and can serve as a convenient reference for production safety in mining applications.