Desorption of arsenic from drinking water distribution system solids

Previous work has shown that arsenic can accumulate in drinking water distribution system (DWDS) solids (Lytle et~al., 2004) when arsenic is present in the water. The release of arsenic back into the water through particulate transport and/or chemical release (e.g. desorption, dissolution) could result in elevated arsenic levels at the consumers' tap. The primary objective of this work was to examine the impact of pH and orthophosphate on the chemical release (i.e. desorption) of arsenic from nine DWDS solids collected from utilities located in the Midwest. Arsenic release comparisons were based on the examination of arsenic and other water quality parameters in leach water after contact with the solids over the course of 168~hours. Results showed that arsenic was released from solids and suggested that arsenic release was a result of desorption rather than dissolution. Arsenic release generally increased with increasing initial arsenic concentration in the solid and increasing pH levels (in the test range of 7 to 9). Finally, orthophosphate (3 and 5 mg PO₄/L) increased arsenic release at all pH values examined. Based on the study results, utilities with measurable levels of arsenic present in their water should be aware that some water quality changes can cause arsenic release in the DWDS potentially resulting in elevated levels at the consumer's tap.     

湿式除尘脱硫装置的循环喷淋洗涤液PH值的控制

介绍湿工脱硫使用的几种硫剂的净化原理及脱硫剂制备和吸收液的ＰＨ值控制值,采用ＮａＯＨ－Ｃａ（ＯＨ）２作为脱硫吸收液在研制高效导旋除尘脱硫净化的实际运行情况,对湿式脱硫吸收液ＰＨ值控制具有借鉴作用。     

资源和环境的存在价值的经济学基础

资源与环境的存在价值为独立与人们对资源的现期使用的价值。在资源,环境的代际问题中,存在价值会成为重要的决策参数。本文对存在价值的同予以分陈、归纳,并以反映其特点的结构进行表述;其次对存在价值与其它类别的价值尤其是期权价值,准期作出区分。     

Carbon emission reduction and cost–benefit of methane digester systems on hog farms in China

Three different sizes of hog farms were selected to analyze the carbon emissions reduction and the cost–benefit of three methane digester systems. The sizes of the digesters are 2,200, 2,200 and 800 m³, respectively. The sales of slaughter hogs from them are 50,000, 35,000 and 10,000 head, respectively. The carbon emissions reductions were 5,237, 4,017, and 1,334 tons, respectively. The results show that while the methane digester systems have a significant effect on carbon emissions reduction, it is difficult to operate the systems sustainably. If the carbon emissions reduction can be traded at high enough prices in the carbon offset markets, then the systems will be profitable and sustainable. Newly established China's domestic carbon offset market could provide this possibility, but more government support is needed. In addition, this study shows that scale economies make the digester adoption relatively more profitable for larger farms than smaller ones.     

Eco-efficiency in Portuguese companies of marble sector

The activities developed within an eco-efficiency project in mineral industries located in the largest area for marble extraction in Portugal, in Alentejo region, in the Estremoz – Borba and Vila Viçosa anticline are presented in this paper. The project was designed to apply the sustainability concept in seven companies of marble extraction and transformation. The adopted strategy used new cleaner production models together with sustainable value (SV) improvement, leading to the rationalization of the industrial process, the involvement of economic agents and the orientation of the management of production processes towards eco-efficiency. The challenge was to have the mineral industry managing efficiently the resources on which the business depends, according to sustainability principles. Different opportunities for improvement, related to the minimization of materials, water and energy use, were identified in the companies. Some proposals mainly related to social improvement and small and medium-sized enterprise competitiveness benefits were also selected and discussed. This approach allows the integration of sustainability at company's and region's levels by combining in the entrepreneurial activity the creation of wealth together with the environment protection and the achieving of social benefits. Highlights: The involvement of different stakeholders in the project (Eco-efficiency in Portuguese companies of marble sector) was positive in the discussion and search of solutions for companies. It is possible to involve marble extraction and processing companies in eco-efficiency improvement towards sustainability. Companies from the marble sector improved environmental and social performance and reduced the costs of their production processes by applying SV methodology.     

Suitable error evaluation criteria selection in the wind energy assessment via the K-means clustering algorithm

In this paper, wind energy potential of four locations in Xinjiang region is assessed. The Weibull distribution as well as the Logistic and the Lognormal distributions are applied to describe the distributions of the wind speed at different heights. In determining the parameters in the Weibull distribution, four intelligent parameter optimization approaches including the differential evolutionary, the particle swarm optimization, and two other approaches derived from these two algorithms and combined advantages of these two approaches are employed. Then the optimal distribution is chosen through the Chi-square error (CSE), the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test error (KSE), and the root mean square error (RMSE) criteria. However, it is found that the variation range of some criteria is quite large, thus these criteria are analyzed and evaluated both from the anomalous values and by the K-means clustering method. Anomaly observation results have shown that the CSE is the first one should be considered to be eliminated from the consequent optimal distribution function selection. This idea is further confirmed by the K-means clustering algorithm, by which the CSE is clustered into a different group with KSE and RMSE. Therefore, only the reserved two error evaluation criteria are utilized to evaluate the wind power potential.     

煤炭资源耗减价值及其“利益共享、风险共担”补偿机制研究

煤炭行业清费建税,资源税从价计征引起了社会各界对资源税费制度改革的热议,而资源耗减价值是资源税费制度改革的重要依据之一。将资源回采率纳入使用者成本模型,科学计量了我国2000-2011年间煤炭资源的耗减价值。分析表明:2000-2011年间,4%折现率下煤炭资源耗减价值增加了22倍之多,而资源税费却仅仅增长了7倍,煤炭资源耗减价值与资源税费实际征收额之间存在有巨大缺口得不到补偿;国家资源所有者权益的实现度与煤炭经济形势呈逆向分布,煤炭工业利润率的上升并没有带来国家资源所有者权益的增加,导致这种错位的原因与我国不合理的资源税收机制有很大关系;资源税税率的理论区间为1.11%-8.85%,与国家规定的2%-10%高度重合,从而说明国家决策的合理性。为使资源所有者权益的实现度与煤炭工业经济形势相"挂钩",以资源税收入等于资源耗减价值为切入点,对资源所有者权益的实现度进行数理分析,求得了资源税税率与当期资源价格的关系,发现固定税率的资源税难以适应市场波动,于是提出"资源税+利润税"的组合税收工具,确定了利润税的起征点,计算得出了资源税和利润税的税率组合。该组合税制在一定程度上能够平抑经济周期对煤炭工业造成的影响,同时又维护国家资源所有者权益,从而实现国家与煤炭工业"利益共享、风险共担"。     

三峡库区典型土壤酸碱缓冲性能及其影响因素研究

受酸沉降和化肥施用等外源性酸输入的影响,三峡库区土壤面临着严重的酸化威胁。通过选取三峡库区两种典型土壤(紫色土和黄壤)作为研究对象,采用酸碱滴定法对土壤酸碱缓冲性能及其影响因素进行了研究。结果表明:在一定的p H范围内,紫色土(p H 6.5~2.5、6.2~11.5)和黄壤(p H 5.6~2.8、5.5~10.7)的p H变化与外源性酸、碱加入量均呈线性相关关系。通过分段拟合获取的缓冲容量结果显示,紫色土酸、碱缓冲容量分别为101.3、34.6 mmol/kg;而黄壤酸、碱缓冲容量分别为105.3、38.0 mmol/kg。黄壤和紫色土主要受碳酸钙与阳离子交换的缓冲作用;缓冲体系及初始p H、机械组成等土壤理化性质的不同是导致库区典型土壤酸碱缓冲容量差异的主要原因,总体表现为黄壤酸、碱缓冲性能略优于紫色土。此外,由于近年来酸沉降和氮肥用量的增加,使得库区土壤面临的酸化威胁呈上升趋势。该结果对库区土壤环境容量和典型土壤酸化潜势等研究具有参考价值,还可为区域外源性酸临界值评估以及应对策略制定提供理论依据。     

基于GEV干旱指数和DFA方法的苏北地区季节性干旱研究

为分析近年来江苏省苏北地区季节性干旱灾害特征,利用苏北五市1989~2013年的逐月降水量资料,建立月降水量的广义极值分布函数,通过分析广义极值干旱指数(GEVI),研究苏北五市近25a的季节性干旱分布和干旱等级的时空变化特点。在此基础上,利用去趋势波动分析方法(DFA)对苏北五市月平均降水量的周期性规律进行研究。结果表明,苏北五市的月降水量均服从广义极值Fréchet概率分布,且具有从西北(徐州)地区向东南沿海(盐城)地区递增的空间分布特征,整体上属于干旱灾害频发的地区,且以轻旱为主且季节性特征明显。苏北五市的月降水量存在幂律相关性,即降水量具有较强的正长程相关性,因此,未来苏北地区干旱的总体趋势将与过去特征正相关。     

土地利用生态服务价值指标体系评估结果比较研究

生态系统服务价值评估越来越受到学术界关注。针对当前生态服务价值评估方法、指标体系和评估效果较多的实践,通过文献归纳,对国内外土地利用生态服务价值评价方法、指标体系及其系数进行了梳理、分类和评价,将指标体系分为Costanza和谢高地两大类,并将谢高地指标体系分为价值当量、价值系数和区域修正。以辽宁省2005、2010年土地利用数据为案例,运用Costanza价值系数、谢高地两个版本价值当量、两个版本价值系数的区域修正,分别核算了案例区生态系统服务价值及变化,并比较评价结果。研究得出Costanza价值系数应用于中国实践时评估结果显得偏低,谢高地2002版的价值当量和2002版的价值系数区域修正结果最接近平均值,相对较为可取,2007版的价值系数区域修正评估结果也较为接近均值但略低,2007版的价值当量评估结果总体偏高。研究结果有利于指导土地利用生态服务价值评估指标体系选取。