Application of interface material and effects of oxygen gradient on the performance of single-chamber sediment microbial fuel cells (SSMFCs)

Single-chamber sediment microbial fuel cells(SSMFCs) have received considerable attention nowadays because of their unique dual-functionality of power generation and enhancement of wastewater treatment performance. Thus, scaling up or upgrading SSMFCs for enhanced and efficient performance is a highly crucial task. Therefore, in order to achieve this goal, an innovative physical technique of using interface layers with four different pore sizes embedded in the middle of SSMFCs was utilized in this study.Experimental results showed that the performance of SSMFCs employing an interface layer was improved regardless of the pore size of the interface material, compared to those without such layers. The use of an interface layer resulted in a positive and significant effect on the performance of SSMFCs because of the effective prevention of oxygen diffusion from the cathode to the anode. Nevertheless, when a smaller pore size interface was utilized, better power performance and COD degradation were observed. A maximum power density of 0.032 mW/m~2 and COD degradation of 47.3% were obtained in the case of an interface pore size of 0.28 μm. The findings in this study are of significance to promote the future practical application of SSMFCs in wastewater treatment plants.     

南京近郊农田大气颗粒物及金属干沉降输入特征

大气颗粒物中重金属干沉降输入是农业区域重金属的重要来源之一,但当前对农业区大气重金属沉降的观测研究较少.通过对南京近郊典型稻麦轮作区定点连续1 a采样,分析了不同粒径大气颗粒物和其中10种金属元素的浓度,并利用大叶模型估算其干沉降通量.结果表明,颗粒物浓度和干沉降通量均呈现冬春高、夏秋低的变化趋势;冬春季颗粒物污染为粗粒子(2.1～9.0μm)和细粒子(<2.1μm)的双重作用,而夏秋季则主要为细粒子的作用;金属元素浓度在巨粒子(>9.0μm)中占比最低,在粗粒子和细粒子中相当,而Pb、 Mn、 As和Cd在细粒子中占比较高;10种金属元素的年均干沉降通量[mg·(m²·a)^-1]大小为：Ca(2 096.4)>Al(1 710.4)>Zn(855.0)>Fe(256.1)>Pb(40.35)>Cu(31.93)>V(26.21)>Mn(9.10)>As(2.48)>Cd(0.28).研究结果为更加全面地认识人类活动对农产品质量安全和土壤生态环境的影响提供参考依据.     

The Upper and Lower Ecological Limits of Specific Metabolic Power of Different Organisms

It has been demonstrated that bioenergetic properties of plants (independence of productivity from size, proportionality between radial growth of woody plants and plant mass, etc.) and animals are not related to the presumed universal linear relationship between metabolic power and body mass to the power of 3/4. This relationship is not true for plants and endothermic animals. The observed bioenergetic characteristics of these organisms are explained by simple biological and physical laws, including the existence of the lower and upper limits of the specific metabolic power of living matter.     

我国自然保护区建设中的环境剥夺问题

近年来我国各地大量增长的自然保护区实质上是一种环境剥夺现象。受环境考核体系与推行可持续发展战略需要．加大自然保护区建设力度是地方政府能够采取的比较成熟的环境保护手段。但是．通过博弈模型，可以推导出．受地方财政刚性预算约束．政府在地方自然保护区建设与管理中不能对环境区原有居民落实各项补偿．也难以投入必需的保护性管理费用。于是．在自然保护区管理中．保护区居民与管理机构之间博弈形成的纳什均衡是：居民违反有关规定，尽可能延续以往开发利用环境资源的经济活动。以抗衡自然保护区建设对他们“靠山吃山、靠水吃水”经济模式的压制；管理机构则实施开发性管理，以求自身努力。增加经济收入以保障自然保护区各项基础研究和管理活动。由于经营活动迎合了增加地方财政收入的地方政府经济发展目标。因此。在目前的自然保护区建设中普遍存在各种形式的开发性经营管理活动。但是．由于一些制度缺陷．在这种开发性管理战略中，一些环境区变相为政府权力支配下的环境资源．并借用可持续开发管理名义进一步转变成为某些地方机构与组织的私有环境资产。其后果是使自然保护区制度偏离了政策目标，也使环境区居民丧失了传统的环境支撑作用。对此论点．研究通过对近十年地方自然保护区建设数量的情况分析予以了经验验证。     

The role of humic substances in chromium sorption onto natural organic matter (peat)

To elucidate mechanisms of Cr³⁺ sorption onto the unaltered solid natural organic matter, the comparative studies of this ion binding from a solution at pH 4.0 onto three selected particle size fractions: 2000–1000 μm, 630–200 μm and 63–20 μm of markedly different HS content and structure, separated by a wet sieving from an overall sample of peat (Brushwood Peat Humus) were carried out. Comparable patterns of COOH groups and CEC_t confirmed that for cation exchange capacity were responsible mainly cations connected with COO⁻ functional groups. It was though found that aliphatic acids in the solid state did not take part in Cr³⁺ binding, thus the finest studied fraction 63–20 μm of the highest contents of functional groups showed the lowest sorption capacity for Cr³⁺, while similar patterns of sorbed Cr³⁺, soluble HS content and base CEC₀ indicated that these parameters were directly interrelated. The base ion exchange processes determined by CEC₀ (with Ca²⁺ as a predominant exchangeable cation) appeared to be not the major mechanisms responsible for Cr³⁺ sorption. For this metal, strong binding to insoluble large molecular weight organic pool two- to threefold prevailed over the ion exchange processes. Very low acid desorption indicated generally low mobility of Cr³⁺-organic compounds.     

深圳大气有机硝酸酯粒径分布特征和来源研究

于2021年3月30日至2021年4月17日利用超高分辨率气溶胶飞行时间质谱(Long-ToF-AMS),对深圳城市大气中的颗粒态有机硝酸酯(pON)开展高精度分析.基于两种估算pON的方法,计算得出pON对有机气溶胶(OA)的贡献占比为5.08％～11.00％.pON的日变化特征显示,其高值主要出现在夜间时段(19:...     

Usage of polystyrene disposable food dishes in the lightweight concrete making

The increasing use and subsequent accumulation of polystyrene containers has triggered a substantial environmental problem. This study investigated using varied percentages of solid waste polystyrene disposable food dishes in the production of lightweight concrete samples with 350 kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³) of cement and a density of 1,300 kg/m³. The polystyrene disposable dishes were ground into beads of 0–3 millimeters (mm) and 3–6 mm in size. First, the characteristics of Type II Portland cement, polystyrene, and aggregates were examined. The following characteristics of concrete using ASTM International and British Standards Institution standards were tested: slump, compressive strength, ability to resist chloride ion penetration, and resistance of concrete to rapid freezing and thawing cycles. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy analytical techniques were also used. The slump of samples varied between 40 and 70 mm and was not dependent on either the polystyrene percentage or the size of the polystyrene beads in the concrete samples (p‐value > .05). The compressive strength of the concrete samples after 90 days of curing, and using different percentages of polystyrene, varied between 96 and 113 kilograms per square centimeter (kg/cm²). The resistance of the samples to the freezing and thawing cycle and chloride ion penetration were affected unfavorably by the presence of the polystyrene. The SEM technique indicated that concrete samples containing 15% and 25% polystyrene had denser crystals and less void than concrete samples with 40% and 55% polystyrene.     

Evaluation of the spontaneous combustion characteristics of coal of different metamorphic degrees based on a temperature-programmed oil bath experimental system

Research on the micro- and macrocharacteristics of different metamorphic degrees of coal helps improve the control and protection techniques used during spontaneous combustion. Nine coals with different properties were thoroughly investigated in this study. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and a self-designed temperature-programmed oil bath experimental system were adopted to analyze the molecular structure and macrocharacteristic parameters of the spontaneous combustion of coal. Additionally, the influence of particle size on spontaneous combustion was considered. Various functional groups were employed as microcharacteristic parameters to capture the principal active groups in oxidation. The gas production rate, oxygen consumption rate, gas concentration, heat energy release rate, and characteristic temperatures were evaluated as macrocharacteristic parameters to investigate the changes in coal during oxidation. The results establish that the microcharacteristics of coal molecules determine the degree of spontaneous combustion based on intrinsic properties and that changes in the macrocharacteristics of the spontaneous combustion of coal reflect the microstructural changes. The contents of the hydroxyl groups, carbonyl groups, alkyl ether and aryl ether in the coal molecules gradually decrease with the metamorphic increase. Oxygen-containing functional groups have higher reactivities and easily react with oxygen, causing the macroparameters, such as the oxygen consumption rate, the gas generation rate and the heat energy release rate, to consistently decrease with the increase of the metamorphic degree. Small-particle-size coal molecules have more active aliphatic hydrocarbons, oxygen-containing functional groups and a larger specific surface area, increasing the chances of adsorbing the oxygen of active groups and promoting the reaction between coal and oxygen. The experimental results indicate that coal samples with higher metamorphic degrees or larger sizes exhibit lower tendencies toward spontaneous combustion. Evaluation of the spontaneous combustion of coal based on a temperature-programmed oil bath experimental system is of great practical importance for preventing the spontaneous combustion of coal during storage, processing and utilization and can serve as a convenient reference for production safety in mining applications.     

Impact of conservation areas on trophic interactions between apex predators and herbivores on coral reefs

Apex predators are declining at alarming rates due to exploitation by humans, but we have yet to fully discern the impacts of apex predator loss on ecosystem function. In a management context, it is critically important to clarify the role apex predators play in structuring populations of lower trophic levels. Thus, we examined the top‐down influence of reef sharks (an apex predator on coral reefs) and mesopredators on large‐bodied herbivores. We measured the abundance, size structure, and biomass of apex predators, mesopredators, and herbivores across fished, no‐take, and no‐entry management zones in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Australia. Shark abundance and mesopredator size and biomass were higher in no‐entry zones than in fished and no‐take zones, which indicates the viability of strictly enforced human exclusion areas as tools for the conservation of predator communities. Changes in predator populations due to protection in no‐entry zones did not have a discernible influence on the density, size, or biomass of different functional groups of herbivorous fishes. The lack of a relationship between predators and herbivores suggests that top‐down forces may not play a strong role in regulating large‐bodied herbivorous coral reef fish populations. Given this inconsistency with traditional ecological theories of trophic cascades, trophic structures on coral reefs may need to be reassessed to enable the establishment of appropriate and effective management regimes. El Impacto de las Áreas de Conservación sobre las Interacciones Tróficas entre los Depredadores Dominantes y los Herbívoros en los Arrecifes de Coral