Recovery of different waste vegetable oils for biodiesel production: A pilot experience in Bahia State,Brazil

In Brazil, and mainly in the State of Bahia, crude vegetable oils are widely used in the preparation of food. Street stalls, restaurants and canteens make a great use of palm oil and soybean oil. There is also some use of castor oil, which is widely cultivated in the Sertão Region (within the State of Bahia), and widely applied in industry. This massive use in food preparation leads to a huge amount of waste oil of different types, which needs either to be properly disposed of, or recovered. At the Laboratorio Energia e Gas-LEN (Energy & Gas lab.) of the Universidade Federal da Bahia, a cycle of experiments were carried out to evaluate the recovery of waste oils for biodiesel production. The experiences were carried out on a laboratory scale and, in a semi-industrial pilot plant using waste oils of different qualities. In the transesterification process, applied waste vegetable oils were reacted with methanol with the support of a basic catalyst, such as NaOH or KOH. The conversion rate settled at between 81% and 85% (in weight). The most suitable molar ratio of waste oils to alcohol was 1:6, and the amount of catalyst required was 0.5% (of the weight of the incoming oil), in the case of NaOH, and 1%, in case of KOH.The quality of the biodiesel produced was tested to determine the final product quality. The parameters analyzed were the acid value, kinematic viscosity, monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides, free glycerine, total glycerine, clearness; the conversion yield of the process was also evaluated.     

Traditional Plant Harvesting in Contemporary Fragmented and Urban Landscapes

Abstract: Ecosystem fragmentation and destruction can lead to restrictive administration policies on traditional harvesting by indigenous peoples from remaining ecosystem tracts. In New Zealand, concerns about endangered species and governmental policies that focus on species and ecosystem preservation have resulted in severely curtailed traditional harvesting rights. Although provision has been made for limited gathering of traditional plants from government‐administered conservation lands, it is unclear how much harvesting is undertaken on these lands and elsewhere and what this harvest might consist of. We interviewed seven expert Maori elders from the Waikato, New Zealand, to identify plant species they currently harvested and from where. We compared these data with the data we collected on permits issued for plant collecting on conservation lands in the same region. We sought to gain information on indigenous plant harvesting to determine the extent of permitted harvesting from conservation lands in the Waikato and to identify issues that might affect plant harvesting and management. Elders identified 58 species they harvest regularly or consider culturally important; over 50% of these species are harvested for medicinal use. Permit data from 1996 to 2006 indicated no apparent relationship between species of reported cultural significance and the number of permits issued for each of these species. Currently, few plant species are harvested from conservation lands, although some unofficial harvesting occurs. Elders instead reported that medicinal plants are frequently collected from urban and other public areas. They reported that plant species used for dyeing, carving, and weaving are difficult to access. Elders also discussed concerns such as spraying of roadsides, which resulted in the death of medicinal species, and use of commercial hybrids in urban planning. Local government may have an increasingly important role in supporting native traditions through urban planning, which takes account of cultural harvesting needs while potentially reducing future harvesting pressure on conservation lands. We suggest that active participation by the Māori community in the development and management of urban harvesting resources will result in positive outcomes.     

几种植物根亚细胞中菲的分配

以菲为多环芳烃(PAHs)代表物,采用温室水培试验方法,研究了黑麦草、苏丹草、墨西哥玉米、高羊茅、三叶草等5种植物根亚细胞中菲的分配作用.结果表明,经144h培养,随着培养液中菲平衡浓度由0.056mg·L-1增至0.39mg·L-1,黑麦草根、细胞壁、细胞器中菲的含量分别从26.85、20.01和36.19mg·kg-1增大到56.91、49.54和59.77mg·kg-1,富集系数则分别由357.14、479.49和649.25L·kg-1降低到145.92、127.04和153.26L·kg-1.黑麦草根及亚细胞组分中菲的含量大小为细胞器根细胞壁,其中细胞器中菲含量要比细胞壁高21%～163%.水中菲的起始浓度均为1mg·L-1时,144h后,供试5种植物根细胞器中菲的含量(48.64～145.2mg·kg-1)均大于细胞壁(15.86～74.49mg·L-1).5种植物根亚细胞中菲分配的比例大小顺序为细胞器细胞壁可溶部分;其中,根内46%～53%和31%～40%的菲分别分布在细胞器和细胞壁中.     

凤眼莲、稻草和污泥制备生物炭的特性表征与环境影响解析

有机废弃物限氧热解制备生物炭可在减缓温室气体排放的同时改善土壤和水体环境质量,但同时生物炭在环境中的应用具有潜在生态毒理风险.因此,在将生物炭大规模应用于各类环境介质前,对其关键物理-化学性质进行系统分析与评价是极为必要的.本文选择对我国水生生态环境危害最大的入侵植物凤眼莲(Eichhornia crassipes)和我国产量最高的农业废弃物稻草,以及市政污水处理厂剩余污泥3种生物质前体,于250~550℃进行低温慢热解,对所制备生物炭的表面形貌、元素组成、矿物形态和一系列关键化学特性进行了全面表征与比较分析.在此基础上,深入探讨了此3类生物炭应用于土壤改良、重金属污染修复和水体富营养化控制的潜力与风险.结果表明,凤眼莲生物炭中K、Ca、Na、Mg含量最为丰富,指示其对于缓解土壤酸化具有重要应用价值,而其中P主要以AlPO_4晶体态存在,水溶性较低,这有利于降低此类生物炭引起水体富营养化的风险;水稻秸秆生物炭阳离子交换量(CEC)相对较高,达到33.7 cmol·kg~(-1),表明其在提高土壤保肥能力和降低重金属生物有效性方面具有较大潜力;SEM-EDX显示,凤眼莲生物炭和稻草秸秆生物炭均具有发达的束筒结构,可优先考虑用于改善土壤通气性;但是,部分生物炭中水溶性Cd、As含量超出安全阈值,表明对有机质前体和热解产物进行严格检测和筛选是实现生物炭在环境与农业中安全利用的必要环节.     

好氧生化污水处理厂化学品暴露预测模型构建

污水处理厂是化学品进入环境的重要中转站,污水处理厂中的暴露预测是化学品环境风险评估的重要内容.以污水处理厂中最简单的传统活性污泥法为基础工艺,基于我国新化学物质登记要求的基础数据(分子量、吸附/解吸附系数、蒸气压、水溶解度、快速或固有生物降解性)、我国的环境条件(温度=283K、风速=2 m·s~(-1))和污水处理厂典型场景参数(日处理量=3.5万m~3·d~(-1)、进水BOD_5=0.15 g·L~(-1)、进水SS=0.2 kg·m~(-3)、出水SS=0.02 kg·m~(-3)、曝气池BOD_5去除率=90%、污泥密度(dw)=1.6 kg·L~(-3)、污泥有机碳含量为0.18~0.19),根据化学品的线性吸附、一级动力学降解、Whitman双阻力挥发机制以及逸度理论,建立了包含空气、水、悬浮颗粒和沉积污泥9箱质量守恒方程的污水处理厂化学品暴露预测模型CSTP(O),同时确定了快速或固有生物降解性结果外推获得STP降解速率的标准.模型验证结果表明,C-STP(O)模型对已有研究中26种化学品预测准确率为81%,对5种酚类化学品,模型预测与实测去除率绝对差值为2.5%~6.3%,C-STP(O)能准确预测具有快速或固有生物降解性的有机化学品在污水处理厂中挥发、吸附、降解、二级出水的分布比例.所建模型可为研究化学品在STP中的归趋及化学品暴露评估提供技术工具.     

Identification of managerial shaping factors in a petrochemical plant by resilience engineering and data envelopment analysis

Resilience engineering (RE) is a novel approach that is capable of controlling and limiting incidents and accidents. This study identifies managerial shaping factors in a petrochemical plant by RE and data envelopment analysis (DEA). To do this, a standard questionnaire containing resilient factors is completed by managers of a petrochemical plant. Then, the best DEA model is selected based on average efficiency and statistical test. In addition, sensitivity analysis are performed to identify the most important shaping factors. Reporting culture, management commitment, and preparedness are identified as the most important factors in this paper, respectively. Finally, the proposed model is validated and verified through statistical experiment. The proposed approach would help managers to have a comprehensive understanding of the plant with respect to the RE. To the best of our knowledge this is the first paper that examines resilient shaping factors in a petrochemical plant with respect to management and organization by DEA.     

北京市污水处理厂出水中雌二醇的概率生态风险评价

随着北京市再生水补给河湖规模扩大,污水处理厂出水中雌激素活性物质引起的受纳水体生态风险日益受到关注。以雌二醇为例,利用物种敏感度分布(species sensitivity distribution,SSD)模型和联合概率曲线(joint probability curve,JPC)方法开展北京市污水处理厂出水的概率生态风险评价研究。通过文献调研整理了北京市约430个物种,利用美国环境保护署ECOTOX数据库获取了其中7个物种的雌二醇毒性数据,构建了正态分布、对数正态分布、Logistic分布、对数Logistic分布、Weibull分布、Burr III型分布和Gumbel分布等7个SSD模型,评价了北京市污水处理厂二沉池出水以及"混凝-沉淀-过滤-臭氧"、"超滤-臭氧"和"超滤-活性炭-臭氧"3种深度处理工艺组合出水的生态风险。结果表明,利用北京市7个物种雌二醇毒性数据构建的SSD模型具有合理性,SSD模型选择对生态风险评价结果的影响较大,对数正态分布、对数Logistic分布、Weibull分布和Burr III型均是可接受的SSD模型,其中拟合效果最佳的Burr III型分布模型给出了最保守的风险估计。Burr III型分布模型的模拟结果显示,北京市污水处理厂二沉池出水以及3种深度处理工艺组合出水的总体风险期望值分别为0.070、0.040、0.036和0.026,该结果可以为北京市未来水生态保护目标的设定以及污水处理工艺的升级改造提供决策参考。     

Cadna/A噪声预测软件在火电厂工程环评中的应用

火电厂较一般的工业项目源强较多,以某35万千瓦超临界间接空冷火电厂为例,采用Cadna/A噪声预测软件预测了投产后产生的噪声影响,预测结果表明火电厂企业采取相应的降噪措施后,厂界噪声能够满足《工业企业厂界环境噪声排放标准》(GB12348-2008)中的3类标准要求,对环境敏感点昼夜噪声预测值能满足《声环境质量标准》(GB3096-2008)的2类标准要求,说明该项目的降噪设计可行。     

铝在红沿河核电厂地区的初期大气腐蚀表征

目的研究铝在辽宁红沿河核电厂地区的初期大气腐蚀行为。方法按GB/T 6464—1997,将制备好的试样在红沿河核电厂进行大气暴露试验,利用XRD,FTIR,SEM分析技术,对试验6个月和10个月的试样进行腐蚀产物观察与分析。结果铝在红沿河大气暴露腐蚀6个月和10个月样品表面均布满了点蚀坑、腐蚀产物及沉积物,腐蚀产物主要为Al2O3,Al OOH以及一些含氯和含硫的铝盐。腐蚀产物都较疏松,上下表面均有龟裂纹,相邻较近的点蚀坑已相互连接。随腐蚀时间延长,点蚀坑变深变大,朝地面点蚀坑深度已达上百微米。结论铝在红沿河核电厂大气环境中腐蚀以点蚀为主要特征,其腐蚀比普通大气环境中的严重,朝地面的腐蚀比朝天面严重,大气中氯离子及SO2参与铝的腐蚀过程并起促进作用。     

东辽河流域人工湿地处理技术应用研究

人工湿地技术由于低成本的特点,被广泛的应用于污水处理以及河道整治等方面。不同湿地植物筛选及配比、不同填料的添加以及不同湿地流经方式,对湿地的处理效果都会产生一定的影响。以东辽河流域生态湿地为例,文章分别对植物筛选、生态湿地污水处理效果等方面进行了探讨。而对于北方地区来说,秋冬季节水温较低,容易产生冻结,而当前人工湿地处理技术冬季运行成本又相对较高且效果不稳定。因此水温的控制将成为东辽河流域人工湿地处理技术研究的关键;降低运行成本,保持持续稳定的处理效果将成为后续研究的重点内容。