Distributed generation by energy from waste technology: A life cycle perspective

Municipal Solid Waste in general and its organic fraction in particular is a potential renewable and non-seasonal resource. In this work, a life cycle assessment has been performed to evaluate the environmental impacts of two future scenarios using biogas produced from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) to supply energy to a group of dwellings, respectively comprising distributed generation using solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) micro-CHP systems and condensing boilers. The London Borough of Greenwich is taken as the reference case study. The system is designed to assess how much energy demand can be met and what is the best way to use the digestible waste for distributed energy purposes.The system is compared with two alternative scenarios fuelled by natural gas: a reference scenario, where the electricity is supplied by the grid and the heat is supplied from condensing boilers, and a fuel cell micro-CHP system. The results show that, although OFMSW alone can only supply between 1% and 4% of the total energy demand of the Borough, a saving of ∼130 tonnes of CO₂ eq per year per dwelling equipped with micro-CHP is still achievable compared with the reference scenario. This is primarily due to the surplus electricity produced by the fuel cell when the micro-CHP unit is operated to meet the heat demand. Use of biogas to produce heat only is therefore a less desirable option compared with combined heat and power production. Further investigation is required to identify locally available feedstock other than OFMSW in order to increase the proportion of energy demand that can be met in this way.     

Implications of oxidative stress in occupational exposure to lead on a cellular level

The aim of this study was to determine oxidative alterations leading to cellular dysfunctions in Pb-exposed subjects by evaluating damage to all major classes of biomolecules in the cell, lipid peroxidation, protein and DNA damage and determine relationships between parameters of Pb toxicity and specific biomarkers of oxidative damage.

Analysis was conducted of smelter workers with high blood Pb and urine aminolevulinic acid levels and slightly elevated values of coproporphyrin and erythrocyte protoporphyrin IX. Significant decreases of thiol groups and increases in carbonyl groups as protein degradation end products, and of nitrite were detected. Elevated rates of lipid peroxidation and rises in the activities of the antioxidant enzymes Cu–Zn superoxide dismutase and catalase were also observed. Both enzymes showed positive correlations with the blood lead levels and urine coproporphyrin, while thiol groups correlated negatively with the same indices. The genotoxic potential of lead was manifested through an increased number of DNA-damaged cells. Increased activities of serum lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes indicated cellular damage in the lungs, kidneys, and liver. These lead-induced impairments should be taken into consideration in the assessment of Pb-related health hazards.     

Total cobalt determination in human blood and synovial fluid using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry: method validation and evaluation of performance variables affecting metal hip implant patient samples

Inductively coupled plasma with mass spectrometric detection (ICP-MS) has been used for clinical analysis of cobalt (Co) due to its sensitivity and specificity; however, media-specific validation studies are lacking. This study provides data on performance variables affecting differences between selected analytical platforms (Perkin Elmer and Agilent), tissue sample preparation, storage, and interferences affecting measurements in whole blood, serum, and synovial fluid. The limits of detection (LOD) range from 0.2–0.5 µg/L in serum and synovial fluid, and 0.6–1.7 µg Co/L in whole blood. The Agilent platform with collision reaction cell is more sensitive, while the Perkin Elmer platform with dynamic reaction cell demonstrates more polyatomic interferences near the LOD for serum and whole blood. Split sample analysis showed good accuracy, precision, and reproducibility between serum Co measurements using acid digestion or detergent dilution preparations for persons with metal hip implants or following supplement intake. The results demonstrated reliability of the ICP-MS methodology across the two analytical platforms and between two commercial laboratories for Co concentrations above 5 µg Co/L, but digestion procedures and polyatomic interferences may affect measurements in some media at lower concentrations. These studies validate the described ICP-MS methodology for clinical purposes with precautions at low cobalt concentrations (<5 µg Co/L).     

微生物燃料电池浸取废旧锂电池的影响因素分析

将MFC的阴极还原能力应用于废旧锂电池正极材料LiCoO_2的还原浸取.构建了以弱酸中LiCoO_2作为化学阴极电子受体的双室MFC,探讨了MFC阴极浸取还原LiCoO_2的可行性,并研究了浸取还原过程中阴极液pH、离子强度、固液比等因素对MFC的产电性能与LiCoO_2浸取效果的影响.实验结果表明:MFC阴极还原LiCoO_2使得固相中Co(III)被还原为液相中Co(II)是可行的,MFC能够持续地输出电压,且MFC优于弱酸浸取效果.阴极液pH值越低,MFC的产电性能和LiCoO_2的浸取效果越明显,阴极液pH为1.0时,MFC的最大输出电压为600 m V,60 h时浸取率达到86.5%;随着阴极液中KCl浓度和固液比(S/L)的增加,MFC输出电压和浸取效率也越高;对影响MFC的影响因素分析讨论得出,阴极液pH值是LiCoO_2还原过程中重要影响因素,因此,在后续的实验设计中要重点考虑pH的影响.     

湿地型微生物燃料电池运行实验研究

为了探究湿地植物、电极间距对湿地型生物燃料产电及污水净化效能的影响,本文选用鸢尾、绿萝、富贵竹和观音竹4种湿地植物构建湿地型生物燃料电池与相同结构无种植湿地植物的燃料电池进行对照.结果表明,有植物的微生物燃料电池的产电性能优于无植物的微生物燃料电池;4种植物微生物燃料电池功率密度由高到低的顺序依次为:鸢尾绿萝富贵竹观音竹.相同绿萝植物的湿地型微生物燃料电池在不同的电极间距下的产电性能不同,间距越小输出电压和功率密度越大.当电极距离为10 cm时,最大功率密度达2.55 W·m~(-3),比20 cm和30 cm分别高约30%和50%.4种湿地植物的湿地型微生物燃料电池对COD的去除率均达80%以上,COD去除效率由高到低的顺序依次为:鸢尾富贵竹观音竹绿萝.     

硫酸根自由基降解二级出水中有机物的研究

高级氧化技术作为二级出水的净化工艺,是满足再生水水质要求的途径之一。基于硫酸根自由基在高级氧化技术中的应用,探讨过硫酸盐(PS)和过一硫酸盐(PMS)经能量激发(加热、紫外照射)和过渡金属催化(Fe~0、Fe~(2+)、Ag~+、Co~(2+))产生SO_4~-·来降解二级出水中难降解有机物的效果。实验结果表明:基于SO-4·的高级氧化技术可有效降解二级出水中溶解性有机碳;其中,以PS为氧化剂、Ag(I)为催化剂的体系对DOC去除率最高(93%);在能量激发体系中,80℃条件下,以PS为氧化剂的体系对DOC去除率次之(88%);但从催化剂的使用浓度及整体的降解效果来看,能量激发体系优于过渡金属催化体系。     

Temperature dependence of the heterogeneous uptake of acrylic acid on Arizona test dust

In this study, the temperature dependence of the heterogeneous uptake of acrylic acid on Arizona test dust(ATD) has been investigated within a temperature range of 255–315 K using a Knudsen cell reactor. Combined with diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy(DRIFTS) experiment, it was found that acrylic acid could adsorb on ATD via surface OH groups and convert to carboxylate on the particle surface. The kinetics study suggests that the initial true uptake coefficient(γt) of acrylic acid on ATD decreases from(4.02 ± 0.12) × 10~(-5) to(1.73 ± 0.05) × 10~/(-5)with a temperature increase from 255 to315 K. According to the temperature dependence of uptake coefficients, the enthalpy(ΔH obs)and entropy(ΔS obs) of uptake processes were determined to be-(9.60 ± 0.38) KJ/mol and-(121.55 ± 1.33) J·K/mol, respectively. The activation energy for desorption(E des) was calculated to be(14.57 ± 0.60) KJ/mol. These results indicated that the heterogeneous uptake of acrylic acid on ATD surface was sensitive to temperature. The heterogeneous uptake on ATD could affect the concentration of acrylic acid in the atmosphere, especially at low temperature.     

不锈钢毡电极MEC甲烷原位纯化及原理

为实现有机废弃物能源化利用,采用不锈钢毡电极微生物电解池(MEC)处理含乙酸的模拟废水,系统地研究了外加电压对乙酸去除、甲烷(CH4)生成、微生物种群和活性等方面的影响.结果表明,MEC(0.4 V)中乙酸去除速度最快,可以达到(167.30±0.71)mg·L~(-1)·h-1;MEC(1.0V)中CH4浓度、CH4产生速度和乙酸去除率达最大值,分别为96.98%±1.19%、(1.18±0.04)LMet·d-1·LR-1和100%±0.05%.另外,外加电压可提高阴极微生物代谢活性和嗜氢产甲烷菌的相对丰度.外加电压为1.0 V时,嗜氢产甲烷菌相对丰度达78.87%,其中Methanospirillum最为丰富,其含量占到全部微生物的68.38%.研究证明MEC可以实现乙酸的快速去除、甲烷高效制备和甲烷原位纯化.