Spray atomization characteristics as a function of pesticide formulations and atomizer design

Abstract

The use of formulation adjuvants to increase the drop size of pesticide sprays has followed a practice which has evolved through many years of experimentation and development. The earliest materials used were simply designed to make the spray mix viscous on the premise that a mayonnaise‐like fluid would produce larger drops and hence increase the deposit efficiency. These viscomer materials, emulsions and water soluble thickeners such as starch and agars, as well as more complex cellulose materials, produced thick non‐Newtonian fluids which were difficult to mix, pump and spray, and provided questionable results. First, the larger drops reduced target coverage from a given volume of spray; and second, field tests with these definitely showed that a large volume of small drops were still being produced even with the thickest of formulations.

The next step in adjuvant evolution was the introduction of polyvinyl, polyacrylamide and polyamide elastomer materials. These polymers are also non‐Newtonian, but due to their peculiar molecular bonding, they have the capability of forming long string‐like streams which when atomized can retract into a spray of large drops. Pure forms of these polymers are blended by commercial producers to enable compatibility with pesticide chemicals. We have conducted a series of laboratory and wind tunnel tests; first, to try and establish some physical parameters identifying their characteristics and second, to determine how these adjuvants affect atomization and the production of small drift‐prone drops (i.e., those smaller than 120 μm in diameter).

Our results with the laboratory studies of physical properties and of the wind tunnel drop size tests have been inconclusive. The elastomer materials have relatively low viscosity (1.5 to 6 mPa.s) and reduced surface tension (50 to 60 mN/m) but our stream‐flow extension tests were non‐productive. The drop size studies comparing water sprays with polymer‐water mixtures gave us a mixed picture. Generally drop size was increased for all of the fan (deflector and milled orifice) and cone type atomizers. But an increase was also indicated of the volume of spray in drops less than 120 μm showing that the polymer did not fully control the production of these small drops under all of the testing procedures we studied.

It is difficult to evaluate the capability of these additives for controlling or reducing production of the drift‐prone small drops. While the pure solutions of the water soluble polymers would appear to be capable of this desirable effect, it is also evident that in order to make these formulations compatible with pesticide spray solutions, several other solvents, emulsifiers and surface active chemicals are added to the formulation, thus affecting the atomization characteristics and hence their drift‐control capability.     

Ecological Segregation of Bustards (Otididae) in the North of the Lower Volga Region: Evolutionary and Adaptive Aspects

Based on the concept of an ecological niche, the processes of segregation in the Lower Volga populations of great and little bustards (Otis tarda L. and Tetrax tetrax L). have been studied in the evolutionary and adaptive aspects. The results have shown that segregation of the ecological niches of the two species occurs mainly on a trophic basis, when bird specialization in the use of food resources provides the possibility of changing the nesting biotopes. Some trophic adaptations are temporary and do not modify a species-specific stereotype, whereas other adaptations lead to the development of new forms of behavior and their evolutionary stabilization. Spatial characteristics (biotopic preference, nest location, etc.) complement the identified hierarchical series of parameters characterizing the ecological niches of the species studied. In the Transvolga region of Saratov oblast, the total sizes of great and little bustard populations in the breeding season reach approximately 4100 and 5900 birds, respectively.     

Test of the adaptiveness of sex ratio manipulation in a parasitoid wasp

In behavioral ecology it is generally assumed that behavior is adaptive. This assumption is tested here for sex ratio manipulation in response to host size in the parasitoid wasp Spalangia cameroni. Females produce a greater proportion of daughters on larger hosts. If this behavior is adaptive, it is not through a positive effect of host size on the fitness of daughters, as theory suggests and as found for other species. Females that developed on larger hosts were not more successful at drilling into hosts, were not more successful at interspecific competition for hosts, and did not have greater dispersal ability as measured by wing loading (weight/area of wing and thorax). The possibility that S. cameroni's sex ratio manipulation may be adaptive through a negative effect of host size on the fitness of sons cannot be ruled out. Relative to males from larger hosts, males from smaller hosts had lower wing loading and thus potentially greater dispersal ability. The actual effect of wing loading on fitness remains to be tested.     

长三角沙尘中气溶胶粒径分布及化学组分特征

基于PM、10nm~10μm气溶胶数谱、水溶性离子和气象要素数据,分析了2017年5月3日~8日一次沙尘远距离输送过程中长三角地区气溶胶粒径分布及其化学组成的污染特征.结果表明,此次沙尘伴随天气系统由北往南的传输过程中,PM的浓度逐渐降低,但是高浓度PM持续时间逐渐增加.沙尘在呼和浩特市影响时间为38h,而在南京的影响时间超过60h.沙尘期间气溶胶数浓度谱的峰值向大粒径段偏移,沙尘和非沙尘期间峰值分别位于33和26nm.表面积浓度谱在非沙尘期间为三峰型分布,但是在沙尘期间为四峰型分布.在沙尘期间PM_2.5和PM₁₀中水溶性离子的排序为Ca²⁺ > NH₄⁺ > SO₄^2- > NO₃^- > Mg²⁺ > Na⁺ > Cl^- > NO₂^- > K⁺ > F^-,非沙尘期间为NH₄⁺ > SO₄^2- > NO₃^- > Mg²⁺ > Ca²⁺ > Cl^- > NO₂^- > K⁺ > Na⁺ > F^-.沙尘期间不同水溶性离子的浓度变化不同,沙尘天PM_2.5和PM₁₀中Ca²⁺浓度分别是非沙尘天的9.5和13.7倍,Na⁺分别是非沙尘天的4.4倍和4.6倍.沙尘天PM_2.5和PM₁₀中Ca²⁺占总离子的比例分别为24.7%和24.9%,是非沙尘天的4.9和5.7倍.NO₃^-在PM₁₀中的占总离子的比例为18.7%,高于非沙尘天（13.9%）,但是在PM_2.5中占总离子的比例仅为7.9%,低于非沙尘天（13.2%）.沙尘天F^-、Cl^-、SO₄^2-、NH₄⁺和K⁺离子在PM_2.5和PM₁₀中所占总离子的比例均低于非沙尘天.     

珠三角地区利用PM2.5反演气溶胶数浓度谱方法

大气气溶胶数浓度谱分布(PNSD)对于大气辐射和光学计算至关重要,利用目前普遍观测的气溶胶质量浓度(PM_(2.5))来反演计算PNSD,能有效补充PNSD观测的不足,对于需要PNSD信息的研究工作如大气能见度计算等有重要的实用价值.本文利用2014年11月～2015年1月在广州城市站进行同期连续观测的干气溶胶粒子的PM_(2.5)、PNSD数据进行客观分析,建立了一种使用PM_(2.5)反演PNSD的方法,并评估了该方法的适用性.结果表明该反演算法具有较好地适用性和稳定性,对于积聚模态的PNSD反演效果较好,但对于PM_(2.5)高浓度的反演结果差异较大.该反演方法将为珠三角地区的大气能见度计算和应用提供有利的依据和支撑.     

巫山地区三类黄土沉积物的粒度特征及物源启示

长江三峡地区的巫山黄土位于润湿地区,其来源及成因具有重要的古气候意义。黄土的粒度常用于指示其成因及源区,目前关于巫山黄土成因和来源还是存在许多争议,并且过去对巫山黄土粒度的研究主要集中于单一剖面,缺乏空间上的系统对比研究。基于此,对长江三峡巫山地区三个海拔梯度变化明显的黄土剖面进行系统的粒度组成分析,结果表明:顶部望天坪、中部圣泉和底部江东嘴剖面的粒度频率曲线大多表现为不对称的多峰特征。圣泉剖面以粉砂级粒径含量为主的特点说明它的风成成因,物源主要来自近缘河谷;江东嘴剖面呈现出两种完全不一样的峰型,可能由两种不同成因混合而成;位于望天坪剖面沉积物粒径要细得多,推测为远源风成物质。     

The influence of particle size and concentration combined with pH on coagulation mechanisms

In order to evaluate the influence of particle size and particle concentration on the coagulation process, two kinds of particle suspensions, nanoparticles and microparticles,were employed to investigate the effect of particle size on coagulation mechanisms with varying coagulation parameters. Results showed that it is easier for nanoparticles to cause self-aggregation because of Brownian motion, while interception and sedimentation are the mainly physical processes affecting particle transport for microparticles, so they are more stable and disperse more easily. The particle size distribution and particle concentration had distinct influence on the coagulation mechanisms. Under neutral conditions, as the amount of coagulant increased, the coagulation mechanism for nanoparticles changed from charge neutralization to sweep flocculation and the nanoparticles became destabilized, re-stabilized and again destabilized. For microparticles, although the coagulation mechanism was the same as that of nanoparticles, the increased rate of aluminum hydroxide precipitation exceeded the adsorption of incipiently formed soluble alum species, resulting in the disappearance of the re-stabilization zone. Under acidic conditions, Brownian motion dominates for nanoparticles at low particle concentrations, while sweep flocculation is predominant at high particle concentrations. As for microparticles, charge neutralization and sweep flocculation are the mechanisms for low and high particle concentrations respectively.Under alkaline condition, although the mechanisms for both nano-and microparticles are the same, the morphology of flocs and the kinetics of floc formation are different. At low particle concentrations, nanoparticles have larger growth rate and final size of flocs, while at high particle concentrations, nanoparticles have higher fractal dimension and recovery factors.     

青海湖地区不同海拔黄土磁化率环境指示意义

青藏高原黄土蕴含丰富的古气候信息,但青海湖地区黄土中磁化率指示意义尚不明确,鉴于粒度指标意义明晰,对青海湖地区多个黄土剖面进行磁化率?—?粒度相关性研究,探究磁化率的指示意义,结果表明不同海拔磁化率存在差异:(1)低于3300 m时,磁化率和粒度对古环境指示作用较好,即气候暖湿,成壤作用增强,黏粒增加,强磁性矿物增加,磁化率升高,气候冷干时相反;海拔改变导致土壤环境变化,磁化率随海拔上升而增加.(2)高于3400 m时,粒度的古环境指示作用明确但磁化率不敏感,可能因为高海拔地区土壤易处于还原环境,强磁性矿物被溶解导致磁化率异常,磁化率随海拔上升而降低.     

Microbial aerosol particles in four seasons of sanitary landfill site: Molecular approaches, traceability and risk assessment

Landfill sites are regarded as prominent sources of bioaerosols for the surrounding atmosphere. The present study focused on the emission of airborne bacteria and fungi in four seasons of a sanitary landfill site. The main species found in bioaerosols were assayed using high-throughput sequencing. The SourceTracker method was utilized to identify the sources of the bioaerosols present at the boundary of the landfill site. Furthermore, the health consequences of the exposure to bioaerosols were evaluated based on the average daily dose rates. Results showed that the concentrations of airborne bacteria in the operation area (OPA) and the leakage treatment area (LTA) were in the range of (4684 ± 477)–(10883 ± 1395) CFU/m³ and (3179 ± 453)–(9051 ± 738) CFU/m³, respectively. The average emission levels of fungal aerosols were 4026 CFU/m³ for OPA and 1295 CFU/m³ for LTA. The landfill site received the maximum bioaerosol load during summer and the minimum during winter. Approximately 41.39%– 86.24% of the airborne bacteria had a particle size of 1.1 to 4.7 µm, whereas 48.27%– 66.45% of the airborne fungi had a particle size of more than 4.7 µm. Bacillus sp., Brevibacillus sp., and Paenibacillus sp. were abundant in the bacterial population, whereas Penicillium sp. and Aspergillus sp. dominated the fungal population. Bioaerosols released from the working area and treatment of leachate were the two main sources that emerged in the surrounding air of the landfill site boundary. The exposure risks during summer and autumn were higher than those in spring and winter.     

气候变化对长江三角洲海岸带的可能影响

本文利用长江三角洲海岸带的历史资料，讨论了长江三角洲海岸带的历史演变，并对未来海岸的变化作了估计。着重讨论了未来气候变化对长江三角渡海堤、江口通航、江口淡水资源的影响，指出未来全球气候变暖、长江流域降水增加都可能增加对长江三角洲海岸带的影响。最后提出了适应气候变化和减轻影响的措施。