Prediction of metal-adsorption behaviour in the remediation of water contamination using indigenous microorganisms

In recent years, the adsorption of heavy metal cations onto bacterial surfaces has been studied extensively. This paper reports the findings of a study conducted on the heavy metal ions found in mine effluents from a mining plant where Co²⁺ and Ni²⁺ bearing minerals are processed. Heavy metal ions are reported to be occasionally present in these mine effluents, and the proposed microbial sorption technique offers an acceptable solution for the removal of these heavy metals. The sorption affinity of microorganisms for metal ions can be used to select a suitable microbial sorbent for any particular bioremediation process. Interactions of heavy metal ions (Co²⁺ and Ni²⁺) and light metal ions (Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺) with indigenous microbial cells (Brevundimonas spp., Bacillaceae bacteria and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were investigated using the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, pseudo second-order reaction kinetics model and a binary-metal system. Equilibrium constants and adsorption capacities derived from these models allowed delineation of the effect of binding affinity and metal concentration ratios on the overall adsorption behaviour of microbial sorbents, as well as prediction of performance in bioremediation systems. Although microbial sorbents used in this study preferentially bind to heavy metal ions, it was observed that higher concentrations (>90 mg/?) of light metal ions in multi-metal solutions inhibit the adsorption of heavy metal ions to the bacterial cell wall. However, the microbial sorbents reduced Ni²⁺ levels in the mine-water used (93–100% Ni²⁺ removal) to below the maximum acceptable limit of 350 μg/?, established by the South African Bureau of Standards. Competition among metal ions for binding sites on the biomaterial surface can occur during the bioremediation process, but microbial sorption affinity for heavy metal ions can enhance their remediation in dilute (<5 mg/? heavy metal) wastewaters.     

Sprawl,Smart Growth and Sustainability

This paper examines the role of community-based management (CBM) in dealing with the problem of mine water pollution (MWP) in four ex-pit sites in northeast England. The outcomes of CBM can be divided into two categories: ecological (environmental improvement) and social (community improvement). The ecological outcomes range from problem recognition to investigation and remediation; the social outcomes range from community awareness to participation and enhanced cooperation. Both kinds of outcome were completely achieved in only one site (Quaking Houses). In the other three sites, varying degrees of success were achieved in each category. The main lessons learned are two-fold: first, even if CBM does not achieve its ecological aims, it may nonetheless be valuable in achieving social outcomes; second, its chances of achieving either ecological or social outcomes are linked to the resources (human, technical, financial, experiential, structural, legitimacy and network) that the community possesses.     

Factors affecting the concentration of bisphenol A in leachates from solid waste disposal sites and its fate in treatment processes

 The concentrations of bisphenol A (BPA) contained in landfill leachates from solid waste disposal sites were measured. The concentrations of BPA contained in leachates from industrial waste sites were in the range below the detection limit to 2800 μg/l, while those from municipal sites were in the range 26–8400 μg/l. The leachates from ash-rich sites contained relatively lower concentrations of BPA compared with organic-rich leachates. It is suggested that BPA concentration increases with time after the completion of reclamation in the case of ash-rich sites, whereas the concentration of BPA decreases with time in the case of organic-rich sites. A 7-year survey on a site in Japan showed neither a decrease nor an increase in the concentration of BPA during on-going reclamation. A leachate from a site in the Philippines contained high concentrations of BPA. A slight positive correlation was found between BPA concentrations and total organic carbon (TOC). A major portion of the BPA in leachates was found in dissolved and organic unassociated fractions, which cannot be precipitated by coagulation. More than 99.9% of the BPA contained in raw leachates was removed by a conventional series of treatment processes consisting of biological treatment, coagulation, sedimentation, sand filtration, and activated carbon adsorption. Received: May 29, 2002 / Accepted: October 17, 2002     

Monitoring total suspended solids by using nephelometry

Correlation curves were developed relating nephelometric turbidity units (NTU) with total suspended solids (TSS) for diked upland dredged material placement site effluents of three US Army Corps of Engineers (COE) maintenance dredging projects in the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland. The procedure was developed in an effort to ensure compliance with Maryland's 400 milligrams per liter (mg/l) TSS standard for COE dredging projects. Samples of the sediments to be dredged were collected and analyzed, correlating turbidity readings with TSS determined by standard gravimetric techniques. The correlation curves were provided to the COE inspectors to measure the effluent with a turbidity meter and to extract a TSS concentration from the correlation curve. Samples collected and analyzed after initiation of the dredging indicated that the correlation curves were an overestimate of the actual TSS concentrations of the effluent discharges. The procedure, endorsed by the State of Maryland, provided immediate on-site TSS analysis eliminating the previously encountered delays in obtaining gravimetric analysis of effluent discharges and potential contract management problems.     

不同化学氧化剂对焦化污染场地多环芳烃的修复效果

采用模拟装置研究了不同化学氧化制剂对于焦化工业污染场地中多环芳烃(PAHs)的去除效果以及处理过程中污染物的去向.应用高锰酸钾处理土壤,总PAHs的去除效率最高,达96%,且大部分PAHs都被氧化,以气体形式挥发或转移到溶液中的比例很小,低于总PAHs的1%;其次是活化过硫酸钠,对总PAHs的去除率可达92%,类Fen...     

西方国家工业污染场地管理经验及其对中国的借鉴

近年来,随着＂退二进三＂、＂退城进园＂和＂产业转移＂等政策的实施,中国几乎所有的大中城市正面临着重污染工业企业关闭和搬迁问题,城市出现大量工业遗留和遗弃场地。这些受污染的工业场地多存在较为严重的土壤、地表水和地下水污染;另外,工业污染场地的延迟再开发,会产生生活环境变差、就业机会减少、甚至社会不稳定因素增加等社会影响。所以,城市工业污染场地严重威胁着城市人居环境安全和公众健康,阻碍着城市建设和经济发展。面对工业污染场地目前存在的问题,国家及部分地方政府已针对污染场地的管理、修复及其再开发颁布了诸多文件和技术规范标准。然而,由于工业场地类型的多样性和环境管理学科的交叉性,中国城市工业污染场地的环境管理工作仍处于起步阶段,亟需完善。美国、英国和加拿大经过20~30年的发展已经在工业污染场地管理方面积累了丰富的经验,他们不仅在环境管理中体现了人体健康风险评估的理念,而且还立足本国实际出台了相关的法律法规,明确了污染场地的责任主体,实现了＂污染者付费＂的原则,同时还建立了各自的污染场地治理优先名录,实现了污染场地管理的信息化和网络化。本文鉴于对这些经验的比较分析,结合我国实际,就城市工业污染场地的环境管理提出了现阶段亟须解决的两大问题。首先,制定工业污染场地管理的专门法律,明确污染场地的责任主体。我国现有的与污染场地有关的国家法律法规,都比较笼统地提出了污染场地的利益相关方,缺乏具有可操作性的细则和威慑力的责任追究条款。对于我国这样地域辽阔、自然地理条件差异大、经济水平不均衡的国家来说,通过地方法律法规的建立明确污染场地的责任主体是一个重要的尝试。其次,构建污染场地健康风险评估系统。我国城市工业污染场地涉及诸多工业行业、污染类型繁多复杂。因此,在全国范围内对城市工业污染场地进行排查、建立优先污染场地名录是构建污染场地风险评估系统的重要内容。此外,我国现有的土壤质量标准和场地评估规范仍存在诸多缺陷,无法满足当前国家城市工业污染场地的管理需要。所以,完善场地评估的技术规范和相关标准将为污染场地风险评估系统的构建提供基础性保障。本文的论述和观点可为我国工业企业关停或搬迁遗留地的决策管理和污染场地管理体系的建立提供有意义的参考和借鉴。     

Characteristics of Important Stopover Locations for Migrating Birds: Remote Sensing with Radar in the Great Lakes Basin

Abstract:  A preliminary stage in developing comprehensive conservation plans involves identifying areas used by the organisms of interest. The areas used by migratory land birds during temporal breaks in migration (stopover periods) have received relatively little research and conservation attention. Methodologies for identifying stopover sites across large geographic areas have been, until recently, unavailable. Advances in weather-radar technology now allow for evaluation of bird migration patterns at large spatial scales. We analyzed radar data (WSR-88D) recorded during spring migration in 2000 and 2001 at 6 sites in the Great Lakes basin (U.S.A.). Our goal was to link areas of high migrant activity with the land-cover types and landscape contexts corresponding to those areas. To characterize the landscapes surrounding stopover locations, we integrated radar and land-cover data within a geographic information system. We compared landscape metrics within 5 km of areas that consistently hosted large numbers of migrants with landscapes surrounding randomly selected areas that were used by relatively few birds during migration. Concentration areas were characterized by 1.2 times more forest cover and 9.3 times more water cover than areas with little migrant activity. We detected a strong negative relationship between activity of migratory birds and agricultural land uses. Examination of individual migration events confirmed the importance of fragments of forested habitat in highly altered landscapes and highlighted large concentrations of birds departing from near-shore terrestrial areas in the Great Lakes basin. We conclude that conservation efforts can be more effectively targeted through intensive analysis of radar imagery.     

挖掘扰动对污染场地空气中六六六、滴滴涕分布的影响

以某废弃有机氯农药厂污染场地的修复过程为对象,应用被动空气采样技术研究了挖掘扰动对污染场地及周边区域空气中ρ(HCHs)(HCHs为六六六)、ρ(DDTs)(DDTs为滴滴涕)分布的影响. 结果表明:在挖掘扰动过程中污染场地及周边空气中ρ(HCHs)和ρ(DDTs)显著增加,其中污染场地挖掘区空气中ρ(HCHs)和ρ(DDTs)抬升最大, ρ(HCHs)为23.36~494.39 ng/m3,平均值为(141.54±114.54)ng/m3;ρ(DDTs)为14.78~539.09ng/m3,平均值为(201.69±143.88)ng/m3. 居民区空气中ρ(HCHs)和ρ(DDTs)抬升最小, ρ(HCHs)为(4.36~29.00 ng/m3),平均值为(13.59±7.75)ng/m3;ρ(DDTs)为3.03~42.88 ng/m3,平均值为(13.37±11.53)ng/m3. 挖掘扰动增强了空气流动,使空气中扬尘增加,从而改变了空气中污染物单体的组成比例,其中β-HCH、δ-HCH、o,p′-DDT、p,p′-DDT所占比例升高,而其余单体所占比例降低. 空气中污染物ρ(HCHs)和ρ(DDTs)与温度呈正相关,与风速呈负相关. 因此,在对该类污染场地修复过程中,应该尽量避免在高温或强对流气候条件下挖掘施工,施工时应减少扬尘,以降低二次污染风险.      

环境监测优化布点的投影寻踪回归分析法

应用投影寻踪回归（ＰＰＲ） 建模技术,分析环境测点的污染物监测数据之间的关系。通过建模过程中的数据生成,获得各测点的数据对环境质量总体状况的权重贡献率。根据权重贡献大小,进行环境测点的优选。用ＰＰＲ 分析法从成都市３ 项大气污染物的１２ 个环境测点中,优选出５ 个测点,其保留信息量约占全部测点信息量的９０ ％ 。     

应用统计分析方法优化布点监测区域环境噪声

应用统计分析方法,对湖南省湘潭市2001年城区环境噪声网格布点及其监测结果总体进行了区域环境噪声监测点的最优集合,并通过网格布点法与优化布点法对该市2002年和2003年环境噪声监测结果进行了对比检验,结果表明,两种方法监测的等效声级和标准差平均值均<1dB(A),监测结果之间无显著性差异。