Electrochemical removal of ammonium nitrogen in high efficiency and N2 selectivity using non-noble single-atomic iron catalyst

Ammonia nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N) is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant, especially in offshore aquaculture systems. Electrochemical oxidation is very promising to remove NH₄⁺-N, but suffers from the use of precious metals anodes. In this work, a robust and cheap electrocatalyst, iron single-atoms distributed in nitrogen-doped carbon (Fe-SAs/N-C), was developed for electrochemical removal of NH₄⁺-N from in wastewater containing chloride. The Fe-SAs/N-C catalyst exhibited superior activity than that of iron nanoparticles loaded carbon (Fe-NPs/N-C), unmodified carbon and conventional Ti/IrO₂-TiO₂-RuO₂ electrodes. And high removal efficiency (> 99%) could be achieved as well as high N₂ selectivity (99.5%) at low current density. Further experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrated the indispensable role of single-atom iron in the promoted generation of chloride derived species for efficient removal of NH₄⁺-N. This study provides promising inexpensive catalysts for NH₄⁺-N removal in aquaculture wastewater.     

Biological elimination of H2S and NH3 from wastegases by biofilter packed with immobilized heterotrophic bacteria

Biotreatment of various ratios of H₂S and NH₃ gas mixtures was studied using the biofilters, packed with co-immobilized cells (Arthrobacter oxydans CH8 for NH₃ and Pseudomonas putida CH11 for H₂S). Extensive tests to determine removal characteristics, removal efficiency, removal kinetics, and pressure drops of the biofilters were performed. To estimate the largest allowable inlet concentration, a prediction model was also employed. Greater than 95% and 90% removal efficiencies were observed for NH₃ and H₂S, respectively, irrespective of the ratios of H₂S and NH₃ gas mixtures. The results showed that H₂S removal of the biofilter was significantly affected by high inlet concentrations of H₂S and NH₃. As high H₂S concentration was an inhibitory substrate for the growth of heterotrophic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, the activity of H₂S oxidation was thus inhibited. In the case of high NH₃ concentration, the poor H₂S removal efficiency might be attributed to the acidification of the biofilter. The phenomenon was caused by acidic metabolite accumulation of NH₃. Through kinetic analysis, the presence of NH₃ did not hinder the NH₃ removal, but a high H₂S concentration would result in low removal efficiency. Conversely, H₂S of adequate concentrations would favor the removal of incoming NH₃. The results also indicated that maximum inlet concentrations (model-estimated) agreed well with the experimental values for space velocities of 50–150 h⁻¹. Hence, the results would be used as the guideline for the design and operation of biofilters.     

AMMONIA REMOVAL FROM COMPOST LACHATE USING ZEOLITE. II. A STUDY USING CONTINUOUS FLOW PACKED COLUMNS

Bench-scale packed zeolite columns were set up and operated to investigate the continuous removal of ammonium ions from compost leachate. The effects of hydraulic retention time (HRT), and particle size of the zeolite on the ammonia adsorption capacity were studied. For both the coarse particle and the powdered zeolite columns, higher ammonia removal efficiencies were achieved with longer HRT (i.e., lower influent flow rate) tests. At the same HRT, ammonia removal efficiencies from tests with powdered zeolite were generally 20% higher than tests with the coarse particle zeolite. A HRT of 6 hours was found appropriate for efficient ammonia removal, and an operating capacity of 1.31 mg N/g zeolite was obtained. Over 98% of the ammonia input from the influent was consistently removed for over 5 bed volumes (BV) of compost leachate flowing through the zeolite column. Zeolite proved to have a great potential as a medium for ammonia removal in treating composting leachate.     

Environmental sub models for a macroeconomic model: agricultural contribution to climate change and acidification in Denmark

Integrated modelling of the interaction between environmental pressure and economic development is a useful tool to evaluate environmental consequences of policy initiatives. However, the usefulness of such models is often restricted by the fact that these models only include a limited set of environmental impacts, which are often energy-related emissions. In order to evaluate the development in the overall environmental pressure correctly, these model systems must be extended. In this article an integrated macroeconomic model system of the Danish economy with environmental modules of energy related emissions is extended to include the agricultural contribution to climate change and acidification. Next to the energy sector, the agricultural sector is the most important contributor to these environmental themes and subsequently the extended model complex calculates more than 99% of the contribution to both climate change and acidification. Environmental sub-models are developed for agriculture-related emissions of CH(4), N(2)O and NH(3). Agricultural emission sources related to the production specific activity variables are mapped and emission dependent parameters are identified in order to calculate emission coefficients. The emission coefficients are linked to the economic activity variables of the Danish agricultural production. The model system is demonstrated by projections of agriculture-related emissions in Denmark under two alternative sets of assumptions: a baseline projection of the general economic development and a policy scenario for changes in the husbandry sector within the agricultural sector.     

农地外部效益内在化与农地城市流转控制

农地比较效益低下，但具有显著的外部效益，不考虑外部效益的农地城市流转个体决策与考虑外部效益的社会决策不一致是实行农地保护的重要依据，其政策失灵部分在于保护区农民无偿提供外部效益而缺乏保护诱因，改进思路是在运用强制性管理手段的同时，农地外部效益经济内在化。提高农地效益．具体运作包括保证农民事有较大决策权、全面评价农地效益、增设农地外部效益财产权、赋予保护区农民并支付农地保护补偿专项基金以及使保护区获得更多的公平发展等。     

影响退耕还林农户返耕决策的因素识别与分析

可持续收入能力是西部贫困地区退耕还林农户返耕决策的关键。而可持续收入能力又可以表征为收入水平、途径和结构。以及决定其实现的各种条件。理论分析与调研结果发现．农户可持续收入能力受制于自身资本积累。当地自然条件和经济条件三方面。其中．人力和物资等资本存量不足限制了农户在可能的收入途径问的选择；自然条件影响农户依靠自然资源所获得的收入；基础设施落后、产业结构单一、就业机会缺乏等经济条件制约了退耕还林后短期内农户形成较稳定的收入途径和结构。本文提出政策调整的方向应该是消除这些限制因素的影响。为退耕还林农户可持续收入能力的提高创造条件。以确保退耕还林的长期生态效果的巩固和实现。     

农户农地城市流转意愿及其影响因素分析——以武汉市城乡交错区农户为例

研究农户农地城市流转意愿对实现合理的农地城市流转、促进城乡协调发展具有现实意义。依据武汉市远城区和近城区33村143户农户实地随机抽样样本，采用Logistic 模型对影响农户农地城市流转意愿的因子进行定量分析，结果表明基础设施与服务的改善、社会保障制度的建立是影响远、近城区农户农地意愿的主要影响因素，近城区农户的意愿还受农地补偿收益的影响。针对影响力最大的因子采取措施，可以最大程度符合农户意愿，保障农户利益，在满足建设用地需求与农户保有农地之间寻找均衡。     

苏中地区农村就业结构转换态势与机制分析

伴随着农村经济社会的巨大变迁，农村劳动力就业结构也发生了深刻变化。江苏苏中地区作为乡镇企业带动型发展的典型地区，其农村就业结构转换的态势在东部沿海地区具有代表性。该地区农村就业结构转换的总体态势是：第一产业就业比重不断降低，第二、三产业就业比重明显上升；农业剩余劳动力转移的主要渠道是第二产业就业；农村就业结构转换，是工业化、区域经济发展及其结构变动综合作用的结果。市场经济环境为农村剩余劳动力转移提供了基础平台，工业化是农村就业结构转换的原动力，城市与农村经济结构调整是农村就业结构转换的直接推动力。产业收入比较利益是促使农业剩余劳动力流动的根本动力。而与之相适应的政策措施是其顺利实现的重要保障。     

自然环境谱转化为加速试验环境谱的方法

目的研究将自然环境监测数据转化为加速试验环境谱的方法。方法提出了自然环境谱向加速试验环境谱转化的方法,举例将某地域的自然环境谱转化为加速试验环境谱,并以天然橡胶1142为试验对象,验证环境谱的转化方法。结果加速试验结果与户外暴露结果一致。样品的硬度随试验时间的延长逐渐增大,拉断伸长率不断下降,表明样品出现老化,交联程度增加,柔韧性降低。结论获得了包括环境应力水平的确定,环境应力作用时间的确定,环境谱的转化、组合和综合以及环境应力施加顺序的环境谱转化方法。     

测量不确定度在水质自动监测仪器中的应用

不确定度是反映某一测量方法,在一定置信概率条件下测量所产生的不确定度量。文章对水质自动监测仪器中氨氮全自动分析仪在测量过程中影响结果的各不确定度分量进行了分析,并计算出仪器示值误差的扩展不确定度。