Application of a chemically modified green macro alga as a biosorbent for phenol removal

Phenol and substituted phenols are toxic organic pollutants present in tannery waste streams. Environmental legislation defines the maximum discharge limit to be 5–50 ppm of total phenols in sewers. Thus the efforts to develop new efficient methods to remove phenolic compounds from wastewater are of primary concern. The present work aims at the use of a modified green macro alga (Caulerpa scalpelliformis) as a biosorbent for the removal of phenolic compounds from the post-tanning sectional stream. The effects of initial phenol concentration, contact time, temperature and initial pH of the solution on the biosorption potential of macro algal biomass have been investigated. Biosorption of phenol by modified green macro algae is best described by the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. Biosorption kinetics of phenol onto modified green macro algal biomass were best described by a pseudo second order model. The maximum uptake capacity was found to be 20 mg of phenol per gram of green macro algae. A Boyd plot confirmed the external mass transfer as the slowest step involved in the biosorption process. The average effective diffusion coefficient was found to be 1.44 × 10⁻⁹ cm²/s. Thermodynamic studies confirmed the biosorption process to be exothermic.     

Green sand reclamation using a fluidized bed with an attrition nozzle

The objective of this study was to determine the technical feasibility of green sand reclamation using attrition in a gas–solid fluidized bed. Reclamation of foundry sand is becoming important as it may help solve concerns related to transportation and dumping of the used sand, and reduce production costs by recycling sand. The crucial step in green sand reclamation is the removal of small clay particles that are bound to the sand particles.For this study two different types of green sand were used and supplied by two different foundries. Tests were performed in a fluidized bed equipped with an attrition nozzle operating at pressures of either 350 or 550 kPa (50 or 80 psig). Attrition experiments for one green sand were performed on either unburned or burned (calcined) green sand, to determine the effect of prior calcination of the green sand on its reclamation potential by attrition. Calcination temperatures of over 700 °C were employed, and the results suggest that calcination facilitates the removal of clay from the green sand.Green sand was analyzed for clay and organic content, acid request, and particle size before and after attrition. Attriting calcined green sand produces the best results. Also experiments conducted at the highest attrition pressure of 550 kPa gave good results. According to the mass balance, the mass lost during the attrition process may be limited to less than 14%, and this could be considered acceptable. The volume of air required for the attrition nozzle is rather high and this may adversely affect the economics of the process.     

Application of recycled paper sludge and biomass materials in manufacture of green composite pallet

Rice straw, rice husk and paper sludge are by-products and industrial waste, and are beneficial resources as raw biomass materials used for manufacturing value-added composite products. We investigated the effect on selected mechanical properties of adding rice straw, rice husk and paper sludge to wood composites to replace wood particles for manufacturing green pallets. Results showed that increasing the contents of rice straw and rice husk dramatically decreased the mechanical strength of the composites. This is because the wax and silicate coating of these materials obstructed the strong bonding with UF resin. When 10 wt.% of wood particle was replaced with 10 wt.% of paper sludge, the wood–paper sludge composites showed similar mechanical properties to those of wood particle. Wood particle can be replaced by 10 wt.% of dried paper sludge in accordance with the minimum requirement recommended by standards in green pallet manufacturing.     

一种新型除尘电源及其节电机理分析

介绍一种新型除尘电源——F系列高频、高压静电除尘电源。通过实际工程应用并与工频电源的耗电进行了比较,得出F系列电源节电的结论,并对这一结论做了节电机理分析。     

An integrated tool to assess the role of new planting in PM10 capture and the human health benefits: A case study in London

The role of vegetation in mitigating the effects of PM₁₀ pollution has been highlighted as one potential benefit of urban greenspace. An integrated modelling approach is presented which utilises air dispersion (ADMS-Urban) and particulate interception (UFORE) to predict the PM₁₀ concentrations both before and after greenspace establishment, using a 10 × 10 km area of East London Green Grid (ELGG) as a case study. The corresponding health benefits, in terms of premature mortality and respiratory hospital admissions, as a result of the reduced exposure of the local population are also modelled. PM₁₀ capture from the scenario comprising 75% grassland, 20% sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) and 5% Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) was estimated to be 90.41 t yr⁻¹, equating to 0.009 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ over the whole study area. The human health modelling estimated that 2 deaths and 2 hospital admissions would be averted per year.     

Controlling groundwater pumping online

Groundwater over-pumping is a major problem in several countries around the globe. Since controlling groundwater pumping through water flow meters is hardly feasible, the surrogate is to control electricity usage. This paper presents a framework to restrict groundwater pumping by implementing an annual individual electricity quota without interfering with the electricity pricing policy. The system could be monitored online through prepaid electricity meters. This provides low transaction costs of individual monitoring of users compared to the prohibitive costs of water flow metering and monitoring. The public groundwater managers' intervention is thus required to determine the water and electricity quota and watch the electricity use online. The proposed framework opens the door to the establishment of formal groundwater markets among users at very low transaction costs. A cost–benefit analysis over a 25-year period is used to evaluate the cost of non-action and compare it to the prepaid electricity quota framework in the Batinah coastal area of Oman. Results show that the damage cost to the community, if no active policy is implemented, amounts to (−$288) million. On the other hand, the implementation of a prepaid electricity quota with an online management system would result in a net present benefit of $199 million.     

电力发展对中国经济增长的影响及其区域差异

1990年以来,随着中国电力体制改革的深入,电力基础设施与经济同步发展。由于电力生产与电力消费存在着显著的空间差异,电力发展对经济增长的影响可能存在空间差异。本文利用1990—2011年省级面板数据,基于增长回归模型,采用动态面板分析方法,以电力投资率和发电装机容量作为衡量电力发展的指标,检验电力发展对经济增长的影响以及这种影响的区域间差异。实证研究的主要发现如下:首先,电力发展对经济增长有显著的正面影响,而且其长期影响明显高于短期影响。其中,电力投资率每增加1个百分点,短期经济增长率提高0.076个百分点,长期经济增长率提高0.493个百分点;发电装机容量每增加1个百分点,短期经济增长率提高0.381个百分点,长期经济增长率提高1.905个百分点。其次,电力发展对经济增长的影响具有显著的地区差异,对东部地区的经济增长影响显著高于西部地区。其中,电力投资率增加1个百分点对东部地区的经济增长率影响高于西部地区达0.913个百分点;电力装机容量增加1个百分点对东部地区的经济增长率影响高于西部地区达0.959个百分点。实证结果表明,电力发展对各地区经济增长影响是不平衡的,这种影响对区域经济协调发展起到了负面作用。基于实证研究,给出如下政策建议:首先,考虑到中国经济在未来20年中仍将保持较高增速,中国应继续促进电力发展投资,以促进经济增长。其次,从政策导向来看,电力发展政策应当充分加强电力发展对区域协调发展的作用,使得西部地区能从电力输出中获得更高收益,提高电力发展对区域经济增长影响的公平性。     

Does quinone or phenol enrichment of humic substances alter the primary compound from a non-algicidal to an algicidal preparation?

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) has been shown to affect phytoplankton species directly. These interactions largely depend on the origin and molecular size of DOM and are different in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. In a preceding study, however, two humic substance preparations did not adversely affect coccal green algae or cyanobacterial growth even at high concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). These results contradicted previous findings, showing a clear, negative response of different phototrophs to much lower DOC concentrations. To test whether or not at least defined building blocks of humic substances (HSs) are effective algicidal structures, we enriched two humic preparations with hydroquinone and p-benzoquinone, respectively, and exposed two different green algae, Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata and Monoraphidium braunii, and two cyanobacterial species, Synechocystis sp. and Microcystis aeruginosa, to the unmodified and enriched HSs. As response variables, growth rates in terms of biomass increase, chlorophyll-a content, and photosynthetic yield were measured. The highest concentration (4.17 mM DOC) of the modified HSs clearly inhibited growth; the cyanobacterial species were much more sensitive than the green algal species. However, realistic ecological concentrations did not adversely affect growth. Aerating the exposure solution for 24 h strongly reduced the inhibitory effect of the modified HSs. The algicidal effect was obviously caused by monomers and not by polymerised high molecular weight HSs themselves. Furthermore, the maximum quantum yield (Φ PSII max) was stimulated in the green algal species by low and medium DOC concentrations, but reduced in the cyanobacterial species upon exposure to higher HS concentrations. The quinone- and phenol-enriched HSs only showed algicidal activity at high concentrations of 4.17 mM DOC and lost their effects over time, presumably by oxidation and subsequent polymerisation. This study confirms that the applied humic substances themselves are not effective algicides even if enriched in effective structures.     

中国电力系统低碳转型的路径探析——基于社会技术转型思路

社会技术转型的多层视角(MLP)是转型理论的最新进展,它认为转型是由三个层面——微观层的技术利基,中观层的社会技术体制和宏观层的大环境——相互作用引起的一个非线性的演化过程。该思路通过分析技术和社会因素之间的互动关系,寻求理解社会技术体制的长期变化。本文以MLP为分析思路,研究我国电力系统现行体制已经发生的动态变化;并从短期,中期和长期三个时间维度,对我国低碳电力系统转型路径提出一个概念性的分析框架。短期的转变路径,延续和发展现有体制结构和治理模式,通过体制内行为主体有意识地调整创新活动和发展的方向,来解决体制内部矛盾和压力,实现政府2020年的减排目标和可再生能源目标。中期的重构路径,基本实现电源结构实质性改变,火力发电比例逐步下降,可再生能源发电对其主导地位形成冲击和挑战,电力系统呈现百花齐放百家争鸣之势态。长期的重置路径通过新的低碳能源技术创新的质的突破和飞跃,实现高煤高碳的电力体系由新的低碳体制取代这一长期目标。本文从理论和方法上丰富了目前我国低碳转型的讨论,对政策制定者和相关的行为主体也可提供一种有益的参考。