Predicted no-effect concentrations for mercury species and ecological risk assessment for mercury pollution in aquatic environment

Mercury(Hg) exists in different chemical forms presenting varied toxic potentials. It is necessary to explore an ecological risk assessment method for different mercury species in aquatic environment. The predicted no-effect concentrations(PNECs) for Hg(Ⅱ) and methyl mercury(Me Hg) in the aqueous phase, calculated using the species sensitivity distribution method and the assessment factor method, were 0.39 and 6.5 × 10-3μg/L, respectively. The partition theory of Hg between sediment and aqueous phases was considered, along with PNECs for the aqueous phase to conduct an ecological risk assessment for Hg in the sediment phase. Two case studies, one in China and one in the Western Black Sea, were conducted using these PNECs. The toxicity of mercury is heavily dependent on their forms,and their potential ecological risk should be respectively evaluated on the basis of mercury species.     

Ozone concentrations, flux and potential effect on yield during wheat growth in the Northwest-Shandong Plain of China

Ozone (O₃) concentration and flux (F_o) were measured using the eddy covariance technique over a wheat field in the Northwest-Shandong Plain of China. The O₃-induced wheat yield loss was estimated by utilizing O₃ exposure-response models. The results showed that: (1) During the growing season (7 March to 7 June, 2012), the minimum (16.1 ppbV) and maximum (53.3 ppbV) mean O₃ concentrations occurred at approximately 6:30 and 16:00, respectively. The mean and maximum of all measured O₃ concentrations were 31.3 and 128.4 ppbV, respectively. The variation of O₃ concentration was mainly affected by solar radiation and temperature. (2) The mean diurnal variation of deposition velocity (V_d) can be divided into four phases, and the maximum occurred at noon (12:00). Averaged V_d during daytime (6:00–18:00) and nighttime (18:00–6:00) were 0.42 and 0.14 cm/sec, respectively. The maximum of measured V_d was about 1.5 cm/sec. The magnitude of V_d was influenced by the wheat growing stage, and its variation was significantly correlated with both global radiation and friction velocity. (3) The maximum mean F_o appeared at 14:00, and the maximum measured F_o was − 33.5 nmol/(m²·sec). Averaged F_o during daytime and nighttime were − 6.9 and − 1.5 nmol/(m²·sec), respectively. (4) Using O₃ exposure-response functions obtained from the USA, Europe, and China, the O₃-induced wheat yield reduction in the district was estimated as 12.9% on average (5.5%–23.3%). Large uncertainties were related to the statistical methods and environmental conditions involved in deriving the exposure-response functions.     

Effect of AlCl3 concentration on nanoparticle removal by coagulation

In recent years, engineered nanoparticles, as a new group of contaminants emerging in natural water, have been given more attention. In order to understand the behavior of nanoparticles in the conventional water treatment process, three kinds of nanoparticle suspensions, namely multi-walled carbon nanotube-humic acid (MWCNT-HA), multi-walled carbon nanotube-N,N-dimethylformamide (MWCNT-DMF) and nanoTiO₂-humic acid (TiO₂-HA) were employed to investigate their coagulation removal efficiencies with varying aluminum chloride (AlCl₃) concentrations. Results showed that nanoparticle removal rate curves had a reverse “U” shape with increasing concentration of aluminum ion (Al^3 +). More than 90% of nanoparticles could be effectively removed by an appropriate Al^3 + concentration. At higher Al^3 + concentration, nanoparticles would be restabilized. The hydrodynamic particle size of nanoparticles was found to be the crucial factor influencing the effective concentration range (ECR) of Al^3 + for nanoparticle removal. The ECR of Al^3 + followed the order MWCNT-DMF > MWCNT-HA > TiO₂-HA, which is the reverse of the nanoparticle size trend. At a given concentration, smaller nanoparticles carry more surface charges, and thus consume more coagulants for neutralization. Therefore, over-saturation occurred at relatively higher Al^3 + concentration and a wider ECR was obtained. The ECR became broader with increasing pH because of the smaller hydrodynamic particle size of nanoparticles at higher pH values. A high ionic strength of NaCl can also widen the ECR due to its strong potential to compress the electric double layer. It was concluded that it is important to adjust the dose of Al^3 + in the ECR for nanoparticle removal in water treatment.     

Effect of aeration rate on composting of penicillin mycelial dreg

Pilot scale experiments with forced aeration were conducted to estimate effects of aeration rates on the performance of composting penicillin mycelial dreg using sewage sludge as inoculation. Three aeration rates of 0.15, 0.50 and 0.90 L/(min·kg) organic matter(OM) were examined. The principal physicochemical parameters were monitored during the 32 day composting period. Results showed that the higher aeration rate of 0.90 L/(min·kg) did not corresponded to a longer thermophilic duration and higher rates of OM degradation;but the lower aeration rate of 0.15 L/(min·kg) did induce an accumulation of NH+4-N contents due to the inhibition of nitrification. On the other hand, aeration rate has little effect on degradation of penicillin. The results show that the longest phase of thermophilic temperatures ≥ 55°C, the maximum NO-3-N content and seed germination, and the minimum C/N ratio were obtained with 0.50 L/(min·kg) OM. Therefore, aeration rates of0.50 L/(min·kg) OM can be recommended for composting penicillin mycelial dreg.     

聚合硫酸铁对污泥脱水性能研究

采用聚合硫酸铁作为化学调理剂,对浓缩池污泥进行调理.以污泥比阻为主要指标考察了投药量、调理剂浓度、pH值和搅拌强度对污泥过滤脱水性能的影响;同时,考察了污泥经过沉降后上清液的浊度变化.调理实验结果表明,PFS的适宜调理参数为:投加量1mL,浓度6％,pH为7(未调节),快速搅拌速度120 rpm,慢速搅拌速度50 rpm.污泥经PFS调理后,比阻降低到1.56×10-14 m/kg,显然,调理剂影响污泥调理脱水效果和它们的种类、浓度和投加量等条件相关.     

河流氧化亚氮产生和排放研究综述

氧化亚氮(N2O)是仅次于二氧化碳(CO2)和甲烷(CH4)的重要温室气体.由于人类活动对土地的影响导致河流系统中氮的可利用性增加,河流生态系统的N2O排放量正日益增长.本文对国内外河流水体N2O溶存浓度和饱和度、水-气界面排放通量及沉积物-水界面交换通量等数据进行了收集,并总结和分析了河流生态系统中N2O的产生机制及主要影响因子.     

多级A／O膜生物反应器污泥活性研究

采用一种新型的多级A／O膜生物反应器处理污水,对该工艺的污泥活性进行了研究。结果表明,VSS／SS在实验过程中呈较弱的下降趋势,多级A／O池曝气室污泥比硝化速率逐室下降,但各缺氧室污泥比反硝化速率基本一致;污泥释磷、聚磷过程在30 min和1 h内基本完成,反硝化聚磷试验表明污泥中存在DPB的富集,反硝化作用是反硝化细菌与DPB共同作用的结果。     

城市污泥发酵物土地利用重金属迁移变化研究

文章针对污泥发酵物开展替代草坪基质的规模化应用,对其重金属迁移风险进行了分析,通过对重金属在纵向和横向水平上的迁移量变化进行比较的结果表明,与常规对照相比,随污泥发酵物施用量(45~75 t/hm2)提高,重金属(As、Cd、Ni、Pb、Cu、Zn)在地下纵向和地表横向水平上的迁移量无显著性增加.结果表明污泥发酵物应用于草坪基质,在短期(两年)内,由地下渗流和地表径流引起的重金属迁移量甚微,施用区域内地下水和周边土壤的环境安全性较高.     

上海市降水过程中汞的浓度变化研究

为了研究降水过程中汞浓度变化规律,采集了上海市区2009年7月6日一次连续降水过程中的分时段12个雨水样品,利用冷原子荧光测汞仪测定了总汞、溶解态汞和颗粒态汞浓度.分析结果显示,降水过程各时段雨水样品的总汞浓度变化范围为0.26～0.53 μg·L-1之间,其中溶解态汞占总汞的比例为67.9％～96.8％;总汞浓度和颗粒态汞浓度的总体变化规律较一致,降水事件的前30分钟内浓度较高,之后逐渐降低,最终趋于稳定;溶解态汞浓度从降水事件开始由高到低逐渐变化,最终也趋于稳定.通过清除比计算云下冲刷过程对雨水中总汞浓度的贡献,发现云下冲刷的贡献大于40.9％.     

乌鲁木齐市民用住宅室内氡浓度水平调查研究

对乌鲁木齐市具有代表性的民用住宅室内氡浓度进行了连续一年的监测调查,调查结果显示室内氡浓度平均值55.4 Bq／m3,低于国标的“200 Bq／m3”,并据此估算出其所致居民的年均有效剂量为1.400 mSv,以及所致居民支气管上皮组织、肺、性腺、骨髓及骨表面细胞等关键组织的年吸收剂量分别为1886．49,378.96,2.80,3.20,3.20μGy／a,大于UNSCEAR2000年报告的世界平均值1.008 mSv,结合室内氡的主要来源,提出了对建筑材料进行放射性监测、控制装修、工程竣工后开展室内环境监测、加强室内通风以及开展室内氡污染治理等措施控制室内氡浓度水平。