Study of chemical supply system of high-tech process using inherently safer design strategies in Taiwan

The photoelectric, semiconductor and other high-tech industries are Taiwan's most important economic activities. High-tech plant incidents are caused by hazardous energy, even when that energy is confined to the inside of the process machine. During daily maintenance procedures, overhauling or troubleshooting, engineers entering the interior of the machines are in direct contact with the source of the energy or hazardous substances, which can cause serious injury. The best method for preventing such incidents is to use inherently safer design strategies (ISDs); this approach can fully eliminate the dangers from the sources of hazardous energy at a facility.This study first conducts a lithography process hazard analysis and compiles a statistical analysis of the causes of the fires and losses at high-tech plants in Taiwan since 1996, the aim being to establish the necessary improvement measures by using the Fire Dynamics Simulation (FDS) to solve relevant problems. The researchers also investigate the lithography process machine in order to explore carriage improvement measures, and analyse the fires' causes and reactive materials hazardous properties, from 1996 to 2012. The effective improvement measures are established based on the accident statistics. The study site is a 300 mm wafer fabrication plant located in Hsinchu Science Park, Taiwan.After the completion of the annual maintenance jobs improvement from September 2011 to December 2012, the number of lithography process accidents was reduced from 6 to 1. The accident rate was significantly reduced and there were no staff time losses for a continuous 6882 h. It is confirmed that the plant safety level has been effectively enhanced. The researchers offer safety design recommendations regarding transport process appliances, chemical storage tanks, fume cupboard devices, chemical rooms, pumping equipment, transportation pipelines, valve manual box (VMB) process machines and liquid waste discharge lines. These recommendations can be applied in these industries to enhance the safety level of high-tech plants, facilities or process systems.     

Trends in Deforestation and Forest Degradation after a Decade of Monitoring in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Mexico

We used aerial photographs, satellite images, and field surveys to monitor forest cover in the core zones of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Mexico from 2001 to 2012. We used our data to assess the effectiveness of conservation actions that involved local, state, and federal authorities and community members (e.g., local landowners and private and civil organizations) in one of the world's most iconic protected areas. From 2001 through 2012, 1254 ha were deforested (i.e., cleared areas had <10% canopy cover), 925 ha were degraded (i.e., areas for which canopy forest decreased), and 122 ha were affected by climatic conditions. Of the total 2179 ha of affected area, 2057 ha were affected by illegal logging: 1503 ha by large‐scale logging and 554 ha by small‐scale logging. Mexican authorities effectively enforced efforts to protect the monarch reserve, particularly from 2007 to 2012. Those efforts, together with the decade‐long financial support from Mexican and international philanthropists and businesses to create local alternative‐income generation and employment, resulted in the decrease of large‐scale illegal logging from 731 ha affected in 2005–2007 to none affected in 2012, although small‐scale logging is of growing concern. However, dire regional social and economic problems remain, and they must be addressed to ensure the reserve's long‐term conservation. The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) overwintering colonies in Mexico—which engage in one of the longest known insect migrations—are threatened by deforestation, and a multistakeholder, regional, sustainable‐development strategy is needed to protect the reserve. Tendencias en la Deforestación y la Degradación de Forestal después de una Década de Monitoreo en la Reserva de la Biósfera de la Mariposa Monarca en México     

Using loose nanofiltration membrane for lake water treatment: A pilot study

• A pilot study was conducted for drinking water treatment using loose NF membranes. • The membranes had very high rejection of NOM and medium rejection of Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺. • Organic fouling was dominant and contribution of inorganic fouling was substantial. • Both organic and inorganic fouling had spatial non-uniformity on membrane surface. • Applying EDTA at basic conditions was effective in removing membrane fouling. Nanofiltration (NF) using loose membranes has a high application potential for advanced treatment of drinking water by selectively removing contaminants from the water, while membrane fouling remains one of the biggest problems of the process. This paper reported a seven-month pilot study of using a loose NF membrane to treat a sand filtration effluent which had a relatively high turbidity (~0.4 NTU) and high concentrations of organic matter (up to 5 mg/L as TOC), hardness and sulfate. Results showed that the membrane demonstrated a high rejection of TOC (by>90%) and a moderately high rejection of two pesticides (54%–82%) while a moderate rejection of both calcium and magnesium (~45%) and a low rejection of total dissolved solids (~27%). The membrane elements suffered from severe membrane fouling, with the membrane permeance decreased by 70% after 85 days operation. The membrane fouling was dominated by organic fouling, while biological fouling was moderate. Inorganic fouling was mainly caused by deposition of aluminum-bearing substances. Though inorganic foulants were minor contents on membrane, their contribution to overall membrane fouling was substantial. Membrane fouling was not uniform on membrane. While contents of organic and inorganic foulants were the highest at the inlet and outlet region, respectively, the severity of membrane fouling increased from the inlet to the outlet region of membrane element with a difference higher than 30%. While alkaline cleaning was not effective in removing the membrane foulants, the use of ethylenediamine tetraacetate (EDTA) at alkaline conditions could effectively restore the membrane permeance.     

Hexachlorobutadiene emissions from typical chemical plants

• Unintentional HCBD production in typical chemical plants was investigated. • The highest HCBD concentrations were found in the bottom residue. • Tri/tetrachloroethylene production processes were important HCBD sources. Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) was classed as a persistent organic pollutant under the Stockholm Convention in 2015. HCBD is mainly an unintentionally produced by-product of chlorinated hydrocarbon (e.g., trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene) synthesis. Few studies of HCBD formation during chemical production processes have been performed, so HCBD emissions from these potentially important sources are not understood. In this study, HCBD concentrations in raw materials, intermediate products, products, and bottom residues from chemical plants producing chlorobenzene, trichloroethylene, and tetrachloroethylene were determined. The results indicated that HCBD is unintentionally produced at much higher concentrations in trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene plants than chlorobenzene plants. The sum of the HCBD concentrations in the samples from all of the trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene production stages in plant PC was 247000 mg/mL, about three orders of magnitude higher than the concentrations in the tetrachloroethylene production samples (plant PB) and about six orders of magnitude higher than the concentrations in the chlorobenzene production samples (plant PA). The HCBD concentrations were highest in bottom residues from all of the plants. The concentrations in the bottom residue samples contributed 24%–99% of the total HCBD formed in the chemical production plants. The bottom residue, being hazardous waste, could be disposed of by incineration. The HCBD concentrations were much higher in intermediate products than raw materials, indicating that HCBD formed during production of the intended chemicals. The results indicate the concentrations of HCBD unintentionally produced in typical chemical plants and will be useful in developing protocols for controlling HCBD emissions to meet the Stockholm Convention requirements.     

大气中PM2.5污染现状、健康效应及其致炎症机制研究进展

空气细颗粒物(PM_(2.5))污染已成为影响人体健康的重要因素,其健康效应及致炎症机制已经受到人们的广泛关注。简述了PM_(2.5)国内外污染现状,从PM_(2.5)的质量浓度和组成成分2个方面系统地阐述了其对人体健康的危害,并重点从介导信号通路和介导细胞自噬2个方面对PM_(2.5)导致机体炎症反应的毒性机制进行了总结和讨论,为后续研究和控制PM_(2.5)对机体健康的危害提供科学参考。     

不同通风条件下柴油池火的实验研究

为了分析不同通风条件对柴油池火燃烧特性及引燃特性的影响,进行205 mm带水垫层柴油池火的引燃实验,通过对池火燃料的质量损失速率、火焰高度、温度及热辐射等的监测,分析通风环境中柴油池火的热传递规律。结果表明:当风速为0.5 m/s时,火灾进入旺盛阶段的时间提前,火焰平均温度最高;当风速为1 m/s时,风速的增加导致油池火的质量损失速率增加,位于主火源下风向的待引燃火源获得的热辐射通量增大,火灾旺盛阶段火焰的平均温度降低,火焰高度降低,下风向相邻油盘引燃的时间提前;1 m/s情况下,205 mm带水垫层柴油池火的安全间距需增加到1D以上;通风环境对池火发展及蔓延的影响是显著的,应适当加大下风向可燃物的安全间距,合理选择通风排烟风速,优化火灾应急救援策略。     

化工企业废气BTEX排放及周边居民区空气暴露健康风险分析

采用气相色谱-质谱法,于2016年9月和12月对江苏省某化工企业与苯系物排放相关的废气排放口和周边居民区环境空气中苯、甲苯、邻二甲苯、间/对二甲苯、乙苯等5种典型苯系物（BTEX）的排放和区域污染特征进行分析,并开展BTEX来源分析及人体健康风险评估研究。结果表明,化工企业有机废气排放口苯质量浓度最高,超过《化学工业挥发性有机物排放标准》（DB32/3151—2016）限值,超标率达26.4%;环境空气中BTEX平均质量浓度为47.31μg/m³,BTEX检出率均超过80%,秋季和冬季BTEX质量浓度分别为72.5和22.2μg/m³,各组分质量浓度大小排序为：苯＞甲苯＞乙苯＞间/对-二甲苯＞邻-二甲苯,与废气排放口浓度大小顺序一致;与其他城市和地区进行比较,BTEX质量浓度处于中等水平。比值分析法研究BTEX来源结果表明,本地排放源是化工企业周边环境空气BTEX主要来源,一定程度上也受交通排放、化石燃料燃烧等污染源的影响。人体健康风险评估结果表明,BTEX单组分非致癌风险值（HQ）在安全范围之内,各监测点位 BTEX的HQ均＜１,非致癌风险可以忽略不计;苯的致癌风险值（R）为7.33×10^-6～7.49×10^-5,均超过10,有一定的致癌风险,且苯是I类致癌物质,应采取源头控制措施避免健康风险。     

平均网损系数法在过网网损分摊中的应用分析

针对多年来一直争论的过网网损分摊公平性问题,从功率平衡角度阐述了过网网损的本质。然后从过网网损本质和电力市场的公平性原则出发,深入分析了现有应用于过网网损计算的平均网损系数法模型,在此基础上提出了一种新的模型,该模型采用转供网送出功率与全网网损率的乘积作为过网网损,在完成过网网损计算的同时自动将过网网损合理分摊至区域内各受电主体。该模型一方面能够反映转供网送出功率与过网网损之间的关系,符合过网网损本质属性;另一方面区域内各主体采取降低自身电网网损的措施,在降低自身电网过网网损分摊量的同时,也降低了过网网损,即该模型对降低过网网损具有明确积极的指导意义。     

反核生化恐怖与大气科学

在组成反恐战略诸要素中 ,科技政策是核心要素。“9·1 1”事件后 ,反恐上升为美国科技领域的头号课题 ,政府加大了对科技反恐的投入 ,我国也面临同样的抉择。恐怖活动除了直接实施核生化恐怖威胁之外 ,还通过破坏核生化设施同样达到核生化恐怖的效果 ,甚至比直接实施核生化恐怖更为严重。据调查 ,各大中城市生产使用有毒、有害、易燃、易爆化学物质的工厂占全部工厂的 80 %以上 ,年用量成千上万吨。在恐怖分子应用最多的爆炸和燃烧事件中 ,人员的主要伤亡不是来自于炸伤、烧伤 ,而是因爆炸和燃烧所产生的毒气中毒。研究表明 ,在各种有毒物质传播途径中 ,空气和水体扩散所占比例最大。笔者针对反恐问题 ,论述了大气科学与核生化恐怖的关系 ,重点突出了大气科学、空气动力学及流体力学在反核生化恐怖科研中的战略地位     

Decomposition reactions of epoxy resin and polyetheretherketone resin in sub- and supercritical water

Epoxy resin and polyetheretherketone (PEEK) resin were decomposed into their monomers such as phenol, cresols, and their analogues by thermal treatment in sub- and supercritical water in a 10-ml tubing bomb reactor. The addition of basic compounds such as Na₂CO₃ was effective in promoting the decomposition reaction of the resins. In the reaction of epoxy resin, the yield of identified products reached 10% for the reaction at 703K over 1h. In the reaction of PEEK resin, the total yield of phenol and dibenzofuran reached 88% for the reaction at 703K over 3h. Chemical participation of water in the decomposition reaction was confirmed by the reaction of dinaphthylether.