Wastewater-nitrogen removal using polylactic acid/starch as carbon source: Optimization of operating parameters using response surface methodology

The use of PLA/starch blends for nitrogen removal was achieved. The influence of different operating parameters on responses was verified using RSM. The conditions for desired responses were successfully optimized simultaneously. Blends material may have a promising application prospect in the future. Nitrogen removal from ammonium-containing wastewater was conducted using polylactic acid (PLA)/starch blends as carbon source and carrier for functional bacteria. The exclusive and interactive influences of operating parameters (i.e., temperature, pH, stirring rate, and PLA-to-starch ratio (PLA proportion)) on nitrification (Y₁), denitrification (Y₂), and COD release rates (Y₃) were investigated through response surface methodology. Experimental results indicated that nitrogen removal could be successfully achieved in the PLA/starch blends through simultaneous nitrification and denitrification. The carbon release rate of the blends was controllable. The sensitivity of Y₁, Y₂, and Y₃ to different operating parameters also differed. The sequence for each response was as follows: for Y₁, pH>stirring rate>PLA proportion>temperature; for Y₂, pH>PLA proportion>temperature>stirring rate; and for Y₃, stirring rate>pH>PLA proportion>temperature. In this study, the following optimum conditions were observed: temperature, 32.0°C; pH 7.7; stirring rate, 200.0 r·min^-1; and PLA proportion, 0.4. Under these conditions, Y₁, Y₂, and Y₃ were 134.0 μg-N·g-blend^-1·h^-1, 160.9 μg-N·g-blend^-1·h^-1, and 7.6 × 10³ μg-O·g-blend^-1·h^-1, respectively. These results suggested that the PLA/starch blends may be an ideal packing material for nitrogen removal.     

一株苯酚降解菌的分离鉴定及响应面法优化其固定化

从太原市焦化厂废水活性污泥中分离、筛选出一株苯酚降解细菌,经生理生化反应和16S rRNA鉴定,该菌株为Diaphorobacter属细菌,命名为PD-07.代谢机制研究表明,苯酚可诱导该菌合成邻苯二酚2,3-加氧酶降解苯酚.为了提高该菌株对苯酚的降解率,以海藻酸钙为材料,对该菌株进行包埋固定化研究.首先采用Plackett–Burman实验设计筛选出影响固定化菌株苯酚降解率的关键因素,然后采用最陡爬坡实验逼近最大苯酚降解率响应区域.最后用Box–Behnken实验设计及响应面回归分析,应用二次方程对实验数据进行拟合得,拟合曲线与实验实测值相关性良好,最佳条件为海藻酸钠浓度3.83%(m/V)、CaCl2 0.3mol/L、菌胶比1:26.73、固定化时间2h、摇床转速180r/min、培养温度30℃、初始pH值7.2、液固比4.86:1,在此条件下苯酚降解率可达96.89%.     

脱硫石膏基羟基磷灰石对Cu2+吸附性能的研究

以燃煤电厂废弃物脱硫石膏(FGD)为主要原料,利用水热合成法制备羟基磷灰石(FGD-HA),利用XRD和SEM对FGD-HA的物相组成和微观形貌进行了分析和观察.通过静态吸附实验研究了吸附动力学、吸附等温线以及吸附热力学.结果表明,伪二级动力学模型相关系数为0.9998,是描述FGD-HA吸附Cu2+的最佳动力学模型,Cu2+在FGD-HA上的吸附平衡符合Langmuir等温线模型(R2=0.9846),热力学表明此吸附是自发吸热的过程.利用响应面分析法对Cu2+的吸附条件进行优化,得出投加量3.11g/L、pH值4.96、温度22.09℃、Cu2+初始浓度24.75mg/L为最佳吸附条件,此条件下Cu2+去除率预测值为100%,相同条件下开展的验证实验结果为97.4%,与预测值相接近说明模型的选择是实际可行的.     

稀酸预处理铜藻制备生物乙醇工艺

选取暖温带海洋生态环境生物修复的首选物种——铜藻(Sargassum horneri)为原料进行生物乙醇的制备,以稀硫酸水解后的还原糖收率为响应值,考察水解温度、液固比、水解时间和w(H₂SO₄)等参数对水解效率的影响. 为优化稀酸水解铜藻预处理的工艺条件,在单因素试验的基础上,利用Box-Benhnken中心组合设计法和响应面分析法,建立稀酸预处理工艺参数的回归模型,并与酶水解及发酵相结合验证了铜藻稀酸预处理效果. 结果表明:①稀酸水解铜藻的最优工艺参数. 水解温度为120 ℃,液固比为20∶1,水解时间为2.00 h,w(H₂SO₄)为4.50%. ②稀酸水解铜藻过程中各影响因素之间存在交互作用,水解时间和w(H₂SO₄)的非线性作用显著. ③对经最佳稀酸预处理工艺处理后的铜藻粉进行酶水解,其还原糖收率为44.05%,是未预处理下的8.14倍,并且后续进行发酵后,乙醇产率达7.80%,是未预处理下的2.00倍. 表明铜藻是一种潜在的生物乙醇原料,稀酸预处理方法对铜藻生物乙醇的制备行之有效.      

Restrictions and options: A heuristic tool to integrate knowledge for strategies towards a sustainable development

SUMMARY

This article presents the heuristic ‘Restrictions and Options’ that was created in an interdisciplinary research team to identify restricting and supporting factors regarding sustainable ways of actions for different institutional and individual actors in the need-field of nutrition. The heuristic format is first presented on a general level. Then it is combined with two different approaches: first, with a systemic constructivist approach to organization theory, and second, with the ipsative theory of action (psychology). Its abilities are illustrated by examples from two research projects.

The heuristic tool was developed to help identify relevant factors that restrict or support sustainable development in two empirical settings and also could be used to compare the findings. Combining the two approaches remains for future research.     

Human perspectives and conservation of grizzly bears in Banff National Park, Canada

Some conservation initiatives provoke intense conflict among stakeholders. The need for action, the nature of the conservation measures, and the effects of these measures on human interests may be disputed. Tools are needed to depolarize such situations, foster understanding of the perspectives of people involved, and find common ground. We used Q methodology to explore stakeholders' perspectives on conservation and management of grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) in Banff National Park and the Bow River watershed of Alberta, Canada. Twenty-nine stakeholders participated in the study, including local residents, scientists, agency employees, and representatives of nongovernmental conservation organizations and other interest groups. Participants rank ordered a set of statements to express their opinions on the problems of grizzly bear management (I-IV) and a second set of statements on possible solutions to the problems (A-C). Factor analysis revealed that participants held 4 distinct views of the problems: individuals associated with factor I emphasized deficiencies in goals and plans; those associated with factor II believed that problems had been exaggerated; those associated with factor III blamed institutional flaws such as disjointed management and inadequate resources; and individuals associated with factor IV blamed politicized decision making. There were 3 distinct views about the best solutions to the problems: individuals associated with factor A called for increased conservation efforts; those associated with factor B wanted reforms in decision-making processes; and individuals associated with factor C supported active landscape management. We connected people's definitions of the problem with their preferred solutions to form 5 overall problem narratives espoused by groups in the study: the problem is deficient goals and plans, the solution is to prioritize conservation efforts (planning-oriented conservation advocates); the problem is flawed institutions, the solution is to prioritize conservation efforts (institutionally-oriented conservation advocates); the problems have been exaggerated, but there is a need to improve decision-making processes (optimistic decision-process reformers); the problems have been exaggerated, but managers should more actively manage the landscape (optimistic landscape managers); and the problem is politicized decision making, solutions vary (democratizers). Although these 5 groups differed on many issues, they agreed that the population of grizzly bears is vulnerable to extirpation, human use of the area should be designed around ecological constraints, and more inclusive decision-making processes are needed. We used our results to inform a series of workshops in which stakeholders developed and agreed on new management strategies that were implemented by Parks Canada. Our research demonstrates the usefulness of Q method to illuminate people's perspectives and identify common ground in settings where conservation is contested.     

湖泊生态安全及其评估方法框架

针对目前我国湖泊存在的主要生态安全问题,同时考虑流域人类活动对湖泊的影响,阐述了对湖泊生态系统及湖泊生态安全的深层认识和理解,并在此基础上建立了“4+1”湖泊生态安全评估方法框架. 该方法框架包括湖泊水生态系统健康评估、流域社会经济活动对湖泊生态影响评估、湖泊生态服务功能评估和湖泊生态灾变评估,以及在这4项评估的基础上建立的湖泊生态安全综合评估. “4+1”湖泊生态安全评估方法框架既可作为对湖泊生态安全进行整体综合评估的方法,又反映了湖泊水生态健康、流域人类活动对湖泊的影响、湖泊生态服务功能以及湖泊生态灾变4个过程对湖泊生态安全的影响关系,识别影响湖泊生态安全的限制性因子. 湖泊生态安全评估启示我国湖泊管理应由水质管理向流域生态系统管理转变,其实质是解决好“人湖”关系,实现“人湖”和谐发展.      

3种氨基糖苷类抗生素对水生生物的时间依赖联合毒性作用比较

以3种氨基糖苷类(AG)抗生素:硫酸安普霉素(APR)、双氢链霉素(DIH)和硫酸链霉素(STS)为研究对象,以生态系统中2类重要的水生生物分解者如青海弧菌(Vibrio qinghaiensis sp.-Q67,Q67)和生产者蛋白核小球藻(Chlorella pyrenoidosa,CP)为受试生物,运用均匀设计射线法设计抗生素三元混合物体系,共5条具有不同浓度配比的射线,应用已建立的分别基于Q67和CP的时间毒性微板分析法系统测试抗生素及其三元混合物射线对Q67和CP在不同暴露时间的毒性。对于Q67和CP,暴露时间分别为0.25、2、4、8、12 h和12、24、48、72、96 h。应用浓度加和(CA)模型分析混合物在不同暴露时间的毒性相互作用。结果表明:APR、DIH和STS及其5条混合物射线对2种指示生物的毒性均具有明显的时间依赖性,且Q67对AG抗生素及其混合物射线的响应比CP的灵敏;以半数效应浓度的负对数p EC50值为毒性大小指标,3种抗生素对2种指示生物的毒性大小顺序随暴露时间的变化而变化,3种AG抗生素对Q67和CP分别在12 h和96 h的毒性大小顺序均为STSDIHAPR;5条具有不同浓度配比的混合物射线对Q67在不同暴露时间的毒性均呈加和作用,但对CP的毒性既有加和作用也有拮抗作用,且拮抗作用随暴露时间和组分浓度配比的变化而变化,表明AG抗生素毒性的联合毒性作用与暴露生物、暴露时间以及混合物组分的浓度配比等有关。     

基于Box Behnken设计的煤导热系数分析与预测

为研究分析水分、固定碳及密度3个因素对煤导热系数的影响,选取多个矿井不同煤质的煤作为实验煤样,使用NETZSCH LFA457型激光导热系数测试仪进行测定,并引入二次响应曲面试验设计思想,采用Design Expert软件进行煤质指标的Box Behnken试验设计,按设计表筛选实验数据,构建了导热系数多因素、多水平影响下二次回归响应曲面模型,并对不同采样地点的煤导热系数进行了分析与预测。结果表明:二次回归方程P值小于0.000 1,极显著,失拟项为0.072 4,不显著,回归方程具有统计学意义;当水分在0.9%~10.9%,固定碳在49.3%~83.6%,密度在1.2~1.92 g·cm³之间,对煤的导热系数一次项影响程度为密度>固定碳>水分;二次项影响程度为固定碳和密度>水分和密度>水分和固定碳,且固定碳和密度之间存在交互作用,水分和密度、水分和固定碳之间无交互作用;应用响应曲面模型预测的煤导热系数误差为4.3%,满足精度要求。     

Human Performance Cognitive-Behavioral Modeling: A Benefit for Occupational Safety

Human Performance Modeling (HPM) is a computer-aided job analysis software methodology used to generate predictions of complex humanautomation integration and system flow patterns with the goal of improving operator and system safety. The use of HPM tools has recently been increasing due to reductions in computational cost, augmentations in the tool’s fidelity, and usefulness in the generated output. An examination of an Air Man-machine Integration Design and Analysis System (Air MIDAS) model evaluating complex human-automation integration currently underway at NASA Ames Research Center will highlight the importance to occupational safety of considering both cognitive and physical aspects of performance when researching human error.