Formalising informal solid waste recycling at the Pomona dumpsite in Harare,Zimbabwe

The role of informal recycling in poverty alleviation and solid waste management in cities in developing countries has been receiving increased attention. This study explores the integration of the informal recycling sector with the Harare City Council's solid waste management system, focusing on the Pomona dumpsite. The extent of this integration was compared with interventions proposed in InteRa, a new way of evaluating the integration of informal recyclers with the waste management systems of cities in developing countries. Our results suggest that the Harare City Council, which had the vision of transforming itself into a world‐class city, failed to fully integrate the informal recycling sector. We suggest to policymakers that complete integration of the informal sector will not necessarily prevent cities from achieving such visions. Rather, addressing the neglected interventions may help in achieving their visions.     

Treating solid dairy manure using microwave-enhanced advanced oxidation process

The microwave enhanced advanced oxidation process (MW/H₂O₂-AOP) was used to treat separated solid dairy manure for nutrient release and solids reduction. The MW/H₂O₂-AOP was conducted at a microwave temperature of 120°C for 10 minutes, and at three pH conditions of 3.5, 7.3 and 12. The hydrogen peroxide dosage at approximately 2 mL per 1% TS for a 30 mL sample was used in this study, reflecting a range of 0.53–0.75 g H₂O₂/g dry sludge. The results indicated that substantial quantities of nutrients could be released into the solution at pH of 3.5. However, at neutral and basic conditions only volatile fatty acids and soluble chemical oxygen demand could be released. The analyses on orthophosphate, soluble chemical oxygen demands and volatile fatty acids were re-examined for dairy manure. It was found that the orthophosphate concentration for untreated samples at a higher % total solids (TS) was suppressed and lesser than actual. To overcome this difficulty, the initial orthophosphate concentration had to be measured at 0.5% TS.     

利用废弃物衍生燃料的热化学处理法制富含氢气合成气

为了探讨利用热化学方式从城市垃圾中制取富含氢气合成气过程的要素影响,解析氢气发生特性及其与主要影响要素之间的关系。在分析了城市生活垃圾组分特性的基础上,将其加工成组分均一的废弃物衍生燃料(refuse de-rived fuel,RDF),并在700、800和900℃等3个温度条件下,分别开展了RDF的热解、气化及水蒸汽气化等实验。研究表明,RDF的加工不但可有效降低垃圾含水率,还可将垃圾热值提高近1倍。温度和添加水蒸汽是从RDF中制取富含氢气合成气过程中的关键影响要素。其中,温度对氢气生成起到至关重要的决定作用,温度的提高对促进H2浓度的提高有利,同时,在气化过程中添加水蒸汽,可有效促进CO和H2等有价气体组分生成。在900℃的高温水蒸汽气化处理过程中,可获得H2浓度最高为34.13%的合成气。另外,800℃热解过程所产生的合成气热值最高,达到14 509 kJ/Nm3。     

Ex situ remediation of contaminated sediments using mineral additives: assessment of pollutant bioavailability with the Microtox solid phase test

The aim of this work is to assess the potential ecotoxicological effects of contaminated sediments treated with mineral additives. The Microtox solid phase test was used to evaluate the effect of mineral additives on the toxicity of sediment suspensions. Four Mediterranean port sediments were studied after dredging and bioremediation: Sample A from navy harbor, sample B from commercial port and samples C and D from pleasure ports. Sediment samples were stabilized with three mineral additives: hematite, zero-valent iron and zeolite. Results show that all studied mineral additives can act as stabilizer agent in highly contaminated sediments (A and C) by decreasing dissolved metal concentrations and sediment toxicity level. On the contrary, for the less contaminated samples (B and D) hematite and zeolite can provoke toxic effect towards Vibrio fischeri since additive particles can favor bacteria retention and decrease bioluminescence emission.     

Historical change of mercury pollution in remote Yongle archipelago, South China Sea

We collected three ornithogenic coral sand sedimentary profiles from Jinyin Island, Jinqing Island and Guangjin Island of Yongle archipelago, South China Sea and reconstructed the deposition flux of anthropogenic Hg over the past 700 years in the study area. On the whole, the anthropogenic Hg flux is relatively low; it remained at a low level before the Industrial Revolution with a small peak at about 1450-1550 AD, which may record the enhanced metallurgy activity in Ming Dynasty of China. During the 20th century, the deposition flux of anthropogenic Hg increased rapidly, but two troughs occurred during the periods around 1940s and 1970s, corresponding to the economic depression caused by World War II, Civil War in China (1945-1949), and the Culture Revolution (1966-1976) in China. Since the 1970s the deposition flux of anthropogenic Hg has been persistently increasing, apparently the result of fast economic development in East and Southeast Asia countries around South China Sea.     

Effect of inoculation methods on the composting efficiency of municipal solid wastes

Four types of inoculation methods were studied during the composting of municipal solid wastes and dry grass (MSWG). The methods included a control group as well as initial-stage, two-stage, and multi-stage inoculations. Fulvic acids were extracted from the composting materials and characterized by spectroscopic techniques. The results showed that inoculation of microbes in MSWG enhanced the biodegradation of aliphatics, proteins, and polysaccharides. The inoculation also increased the molecular weight, humic- and fulvic-like compound content, as well as humification degree of the composting products. The inoculation of microbes in MSWG significantly improved composting process and efficiency. The improvement efficiency was in the order of initial-stage < two-stage < multi-stage inoculations. Inoculation of microbes based on composting organic matter composition and temperature enhanced composting efficiency.     

垃圾填埋场甲烷氧化菌及甲烷通量的研究

采用静态箱法、滚管计数法和气相色谱法,对6个不同封场时间填埋区的甲烷通量、覆土层甲烷氧化菌数量和甲烷氧化速率的变化趋势进行了测定,并分析了它们与封场时间、植被覆盖率等因素之间的相关性。结果发现6个填埋区甲烷通量的变化范围在-0.34～5.31 mg/(m2.h)之间;覆土层甲烷氧化菌的数量范围为3.10×107～20.77×107 cfu/g干土,甲烷氧化速率在1.65×10-8～4.34×10-8mol/(h.g)之间。覆土层甲烷氧化菌的数量与甲烷氧化速率呈正相关,但前者并不是后者的决定性因素;甲烷通量高时可刺激甲烷氧化菌数量及氧化速率的提高,且三者均与封场时间呈显著负相关,与植被覆盖率呈负相关;当含水率大于15%时,随着覆土层含水率的增加,甲烷氧化速率呈下降趋势;覆土pH、有机质和铵态氮与甲烷氧化速率等无明显相关性。提高覆土层的甲烷氧化速率可有效减少垃圾填埋场的甲烷排放。     

Evaluation of C18 solid‐phase extraction cartridges for the isolation of select pesticides and metabolites

Abstract

Nine different C₁₈ solid‐phase extraction (SPE) cartridges were evaluated for their efficiency at extracting nine pesticides and two s‐triazine metabolites from spiked deionized water samples. The SPE cartridges were found to contain nitrogen (N) and/or phosphorus (P) contaminants and varied in their extraction efficiency for certain pesticides and metabolites. Four of the nine SPE cartridges gave acceptable (70 to 120%) pesticide and metabolite recovery percentages, while five cartridges had marginal (50 to 70%) to poor (< 50%) recoveries. Statistical analyses showed that the poor to marginal recoveries found for three compounds could not be explained by considering several indigenous chemical and physical traits of the cartridge. It is suggested that proper SPE cartridge selection for pesticide recovery should be evaluated using several different cartridges.     

固体厌氧消化原料流变特性研究综述

厌氧消化原料的流变特性是厌氧消化工艺设计和运行的重要参数。本文从研究对象、实验操作、研究内容和结果、影响因素以及发展方向等方面对固体厌氧消化原料,特别是污泥的流变特性研究现状进行了概述。研究表明,污泥来源广泛,成分复杂,属于非牛顿流体的范畴,其流变特性受多种因素影响,其中污泥的总悬浮固体(TSS)(或混合液悬浮固体(MLSS))和温度是最主要的影响因素。大部分研究采用层流剪切实验对物料的流变特性进行表征,研究对象范围有待于扩大。尚需针对流体本构方程的改进,共消化对于原料流变特性的影响,混合液固、液相指标与流变参数的关系等方面开展研究,为利用流变参数作为工艺控制参数提供理论依据,并解决工程放大等问题。     

季节性城市生活垃圾成分分析及厌氧消化特性研究

城市生活垃圾的成分及特性随着季节和人类在不同季节的生活习惯而变化,针对我国北方城市研究了一年中不同季节的城市生活垃圾成分特点,对影响厌氧发酵过程的相关成分如总有机碳（TOC）、总氮（TN）、蛋白质、脂肪和还原糖等进行了测定分析。通过厌氧消化实验,测得不同季节城市生活垃圾pH值、日产气量、沼气甲烷含量、甲烷累积量、挥发性脂肪酸（VFAs）和氧化还原电位（ORP）等参数的变化规律,分析相应变化的影响因素。结果表明,二、三季度的含水率分别为64．81％和67．50％,高于一、四季度,一季度发酵原料中蛋白质和脂肪含量分别为12．56％和8．86％,明显高于其他3个季度。一季度甲烷累积量最高,达到17616mL,单位发酵原料的产气量为204．8mL／g,也是4个季度中最高的,说明蛋白质、脂肪等有机成分含量对厌氧发酵过程及结果影响比较明显。为进一步的城市生活垃圾厌氧消化制取生物燃气的工艺条件提供依据。