Enhancement of simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorus removal using intermittent aeration mechanism

Biological nutrient removal grows into complicated scenario due to the microbial consortium shift and kinetic competition between phosphorus (P)-accumulating and nitrogen (N)-removing microorganisms. In this study, three sequential batch reactors with constant operational conditions except aeration patterns at 6 h cycle periods were tested. Intermittent aeration was applied to develop a robust nutrient removal system aimed to achieve high energy saving and removal efficiency. The results showed higher correspondence of P-uptake, polymeric substance synthesis and glycogen degradation in intermittent-aeration with longer interval periods compared to continuous-aeration. Increasing the intermittent-aeration duration from 25 to 50 min, resulted in higher process performance where the system exhibited approximately 30% higher nutrient removal. This study indicated that nutrient removal strongly depends on reaction phase configuration representing the importance of aeration pattern. The microbial community examined the variation in abundance of bacterial groups in suspended sludge, where the 50 min intermittent aeration, favored the growth of P-accumulating organisms and nitrogen removal microbial groups, indicating the complications related to nutrient removal systems. Successful intermittently aerated process with high capability of simple implementation to conventional systems by elemental retrofitting, is applicable for upgrading wastewater treatment plants. With aeration as a major operational cost, this process is a promising approach to potentially remove nutrients in high competence, in distinction to optimizing cost-efficacy of the system.     

Significant contribution of spring northwest transport to volatile organic compounds in Beijing

High values of ozone (O₃) occur frequently in the dry spring season; thus, understanding the evolution characteristics of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in spring is of great significance for preventing O₃ pollution. In this study, a total of 101 VOCs from April 16 to May 21, 2019, were quantified using an online gas chromatography mass spectrometer/flame ionization detector (GCMS/FID). The results indicated that the observed concentration of total VOCs (TVOCs) was 30.4 ± 17.0 ppbv, and it was dominated by alkanes (44.3%), followed by oxygenated VOCs (OVOCs) (17.4%), halocarbons (12.7%), aromatics (9.5%), alkenes (8.2%), acetylene (5.3%) and carbon disulfide (2.5%). The average mixing ratio of VOCs showed obvious diurnal variation (high at night, low during daytime). We conducted a source apportionment study based on 32 major VOCs using positive matrix factorization (PMF), and coal + biomass burning (25.2%), diesel exhaust (16.0%), gasoline exhaust + evaporation (17.4%), secondary + long-lived species (16.7%), biogenic sources (4.3%), industrial emissions (9.3%) and solvent use (11.2%) were identified as major sources of VOCs. In addition to local emissions, most of the atmospheric VOCs were derived from long-distance air masses (65.7%), and the average mixing ratio of VOCs in the northwest direction was 29.4 ppbv. Combined with the results of the potential source contribution function (PSCF) indicate that research should focus on the local emissions of combustion, transportation sources and solvents usage to control atmospheric VOCs. Additionally, transmission of the northwest air mass is an important component that cannot be ignored during spring in Beijing.     

User Perceptions and Attitudes on Sustainable Urban Transport among Young Adults: Findings from Copenhagen,Budapest and Karlsruhe

Abstract

This paper addresses the relevance of the demand side for the achievement of sustainable transport in urban areas. The underlying thesis is that a better understanding of user habits, perceptions and attitudes with its specific dynamics is essential for a successful design of targeted transport policies. In line with this, the paper at hand is based on research that aims at improving the knowledge of urban-transport-related habits and attitudes of young adults. The results of three interview meetings that were held in Karlsruhe, Budapest, and Copenhagen with participants aged between 20 and 30 are presented. Background of the interviews is a range of studies that indicate that young people in urban areas seem to be less interested in cars than the generation before. And indeed, the interview meetings reveal that participants had a rather pragmatic attitude towards transport modes. They wished a transport system that is flexible, convenient and cheap. Despite many differences, most participants showed rather positive attitudes towards policies supporting alternatives to car-based transport. However, it will be crucial for policy shaping to what extent the observed behaviour patterns and attitudes will persist over time.     

Modeling Biochemical Oxygen Demand Through the Middle and Lower Savannah River1

Abstract: In order to improve modeling accuracy and general understanding of lotic biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), this study characterized river metabolism with the current Georgia Environmental Protection Division method for the middle and lower Savannah River basin (MLSRB) and several alternative methods developed with 120‐day, long‐term biochemical oxygen demand (LTBOD) data from the MLSRB. The data were a subset of a larger two‐year LTBOD study to characterize and understand BOD in the MLSRB, located approximately between Augusta, Georgia, and Savannah, Georgia, along the border of Georgia and South Carolina. The LTBOD data included total oxygen loss and nitrogen speciation for separately quantifying nitrification. Results support the following insights and opportunities for modeling methods: (1) it is important to modeling accuracy that residuals be checked for even dispersion to avoid areas of over‐ and underprediction; (2) modeling with bounded, yet unfixed, rates is a sufficiently simple alternative to fixed‐rate modeling that can eliminate the need for manual adjustments and provide additional system understanding to inform regulation; (3) if fixed rates modeling is desired, model quality for this system might be improved through revising the current low rate (along with the associated f‐ratio updates) from 0.02/day rate to 0.006/day and potentially adding a new rate at 1.0/day in some cases; and (4) the current 57/43 ratio of slow/fast BOD is reasonable based on the 52/45/3 slow/fast/faster BOD proportions of this study.     

Lattice Boltzmann model for agrochemical transport in soils

Agrochemical transport in soils is complicated and involves physical, chemical and biochemical reactions; its mathematical modelling remains a challenging task. This paper presents a lattice Boltzmann model to simulate the agrochemical movement. The lattice Boltzmann model is a microscopic and process-based model, simulating the transport process by tracking chemical particles. The model presented in this paper is for one-dimensional vertical leaching and assumes that the chemical particles at the microscopic level move in five directions: one stagnant, two in vertical direction and two in an internal horizontal direction bounded by two reactive walls. Reactions at the walls are assumed to take place at two different rates, one in fast rate where the chemicals in the solution and on the wall are in an instant equilibrium, and the other in slow rate where the mass exchange rate between the chemicals in the solution and on the wall is a first-order kinetic. The reactions on both walls are assumed to occur instantly when the chemical particles moving in the internal direction hit the walls. To test the model, we measured the leaching of atrazine through soil columns in the laboratory. The results simulated with the lattice Boltzmann model are compared with the measured breakthrough curves and the non-equilibrium two-site convection-dispersion model; they all show close agreement. The transport parameters needed in the models are obtained from the measurement of adsorption isotherm of atrazine, bromide leaching in the same soil columns and calibration.     

EVALUATING THE INFLUENCE OF SOURCE BASINS ON DOWNSTREAM WATER QUALITY IN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER1

ABSTRACT: Chemical variability in the Mississippi River during water years 1989 to 1998 was evaluated using stream discharge and water‐quality data in conjunction with the DAFLOW/BLTM hydraulic model. Model simulations were used to identify subbasin contributions of water and chemical constituents to the Mississippi River upstream from its confluence with the Ohio and the Mississippi River and at the Atchafalaya Diversion in Louisiana. Concentrations of dissolved solids, sodium, and sulfate at the Thebes site showed a general decreasing trend, and concentrations of silica and nitrate showed a general increasing trend as the percentage of discharge from the Mississippi River upstream from Grafton increased. Concentrations of most chemical constituents in the Mississippi River at the Atchafalaya Diversion exhibited a decreasing trend as the percentage of water from the Ohio River increased. Regression models were used to evaluate the importance of the source of water to the water chemistry in the Mississippi River at Thebes and the Atchafalaya Diversion. The addition of terms in regression equations to account for the percent of water from sub‐basins improved coefficients of determination for predicting chemical concentrations by as much as nine percent at the Thebes site and by as much as 48 percent at the Atchafalaya Diversion site. The addition of source‐water terms to regression equations increased the estimated annual loads of nitrate and silica delivered from the Mississippi River Basin to the Gulf of Mexico by as much as 14 and 13 percent, respectively.     

长江水能资源开发中水库泥沙问题的探讨

长江水能资源规划开发段,从虎跳峡至葛洲坝诸梯级泥沙周转量5740×10~8t·km/a,水能蕴藏量5940×10~8kw·h/a,其中发电用水能约占2/3。长江各水库的库容,无论是与年径流量还是与年输沙量相比,大都不大。水库泥沙淤积问题,可通过多种途径解决。99%的悬移质泥沙可利用长江动力输送。合理利用水库,输沙单位能耗约为0.48-0.10kW·h/t·km,从上往下减少。卵石和部分粗沙由机械采运和水库拦截。要重视水土保持。     

Probabilistic indicators of atmospheric transport for regional monitoring and emergency preparedness systems

In this paper, following a methodology developed within the "Arctic Risk" Project of the Nordic Arctic Research Programme, several probabilistic indicators to evaluate the risk site possible impact on the geographical regions, territories, countries, counties, cities, etc., due to atmospheric transport from the risk site region were suggested. These indicators-maximum possible impact zone, maximum reaching distance, and typical transport time-were constructed by applying statistical methods and using a dataset of isentropic trajectories originated over the selected nuclear risk site (Ignalina nuclear power plant, Lithuania) during 1991-1996. For this site, the areas enclosed by isolines of the maximum possible impact zone and maximum reaching distance indicators are equal to 42 x 10(4) and 703 x 10(4) km(2), respectively. The maximum possible impact zone's boundaries are more extended in the southeast sector from the site and include, in particular, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, and several western regions of Russia. The maximum reaching distance's boundaries are twice more extended in the eastern direction from the site (reaching the Caspian Sea) compared with the western direction. The typical transport time to reach the southern territories of Sweden and Finland, northern regions of Ukraine, and northeast of Poland is 1 day. During this time, the atmospheric transport could typically occur over the Baltic States, Belarus, and western border regions of Russia, and central aquatoria of the Baltic Sea. Detailed analysis of temporal patterns for these indicators showed importance of the seasonal variability.     

危险化学品运输风险分析研究综述

危险化学品运输风险分析是安全运输决策的依据和事故预警和应急救援的关键。笔者对国内外近20年来的危险化学品运输风险分析的理论和方法进行了系统的回顾和评述。以时间为主线,归纳总结出4阶段5个方面的研究内容,即核燃料或核废料的运输风险分析研究;危险化学品运输的事故率和伤亡数分布研究;危险化学品运输风险度量模型研究;应用现代信息技术更精确、更全面地分析危险化学品运输风险分析研究和危险化学品运输风险分析框架研究,并对其进行评述,指出在风险定义、风险的不确定性和风险的影响因素等方面的研究不足。最后针对国内的研究现状,提出了进一步研究的方向。