Development of pretreatment protocol for DNA extraction from biofilm attached to biologic activated carbon (BAC) granules

The biologic activated carbon (BAC) process is widely used in drinking water treatments. A comprehensive molecular analysis of the microbial community structure provides very helpful data to improve the reactor performance. However, the bottleneck of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extraction from BAC attached biofilm has to be solved since the conventional procedure was unsuccessful due to firm biomass attachment and adsorption capacity of the BAC granules. In this study, five pretreatments were compared, and adding skim milk followed by ultrasonic vibration was proven to be the optimal choice. This protocol was further tested using the vertical BAC samples from the full-scale biofilter of Pinghu Water Plant. The results showed the DNA yielded a range of 40 μg·g^-1 BAC (dry weight) to over 100 μg·g^-1 BAC (dry weight), which were consistent with the biomass distribution. All results suggested that the final protocol could produce qualified genomic DNA as a template from the BAC filter for downstream molecular biology researches.     

The in situ treatment of TCE and PFAS in groundwater within a silty sand aquifer

Chlorinated ethenes such as trichloroethene (TCE), cis‐1,2‐dichloroethene (cis‐1,2‐DCE), and vinyl chloride along with per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been identified as chemicals of concern in groundwater; with many of the compounds being confirmed as being carcinogens or suspected carcinogens. While there are a variety of demonstrated in‐situ technologies for the treatment of chlorinated ethenes, there are limited technologies available to treat PFAS in groundwater. At a former industrial site shallow groundwater was impacted with TCE, cis‐1,2‐DCE, and vinyl chloride at concentrations up to 985, 258, and 54 µg/L, respectively. The groundwater also contained maximum concentrations of the following PFAS: 12,800 ng/L of perfluoropentanoic acid, 3,240 ng/L of perfluorohexanoic acid, 795 ng/L of perfluorobutanoic acid, 950 ng/L of perfluorooctanoic acid, and 2,140 ng/L of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid. Using a combination of adsorption, biotic, and abiotic degradation in situ remedial approaches, the chemicals of concern were targeted for removal from the groundwater with adsorption being utilized for PFAS whereas adsorption, chemical reduction, and anaerobic biodegradation were used for the chlorinated ethenes. Sampling of the groundwater over a 24‐month period indicated that the detected PFAS were treated to either their detection, or below the analytical detection limit over the monitoring period. Postinjection results for TCE, cis‐1,2‐DCE, and vinyl chloride indicated that the concentrations of the three compounds decreased by an order of magnitude within 4 months of injection, with TCE decreasing to below the analytical detection limit over the 24‐month monitoring period. Cis‐1,2‐DCE, and vinyl chloride concentrations decreased by over 99% within 8 months of injections, remaining at or below these concentrations during the 24‐month monitoring period. Analyses of Dehalococcoides, ethene, and acetylene over time suggest that microbiological and reductive dechlorination were occurring in conjunction with adsorption to attenuate the chlorinated ethenes and PFAS within the aquifer. Analysis of soil cores collected pre‐ and post‐injection, indicated that the distribution of the colloidal activated carbon was influenced by small scale heterogeneities within the aquifer. However, all aquifer samples collected within the targeted injection zone contained total organic carbon at concentrations at least one order of magnitude greater than the preinjection total organic carbon concentrations.     

分子筛孔结构对CO_2吸附性能的影响

采用巨正则蒙特卡罗方法模拟了CO_2在FAU分子筛上的吸附情况,比较了不同CO_2逸度下,CO_2在分子筛模型上的吸附位、吸附量的变化,拟合了其吸附等温线。结果表明:在吸附饱和状态下,分子筛的孔结构越大,对CO_2的吸附量越大,对于比CO_2分子更小的微孔结构,吸附几乎不发生;在低逸度下,CO_2的吸附主要发生在小孔内,随着逸度的提高,CO_2的吸附量迅速上升;在高逸度下,吸附量的提高主要发生在大孔内;FAU分子筛吸附CO_2的过程符合Ⅰ型Langmuir吸附等温线,在高压下对CO_2的吸附能力远大于低压下的吸附能力。     

基于碳排放的秦皇岛市工业产业结构优化研究

根据联合国政府间气候变化专门委员会推荐的方法,计算了秦皇岛市工业行业2005-2010年的能源消费碳排放。秦皇岛市工业效益偏低,重工业比例偏大和以煤炭为主的能源结构是碳排总量和碳排放强度的主要驱动力。改造提升传统主导产业,做强装备制造业,加快工业园区建设,完善产业链,改善能源结构等是秦皇岛市工业产业结构优化的主要途径。     

How “open” are open spaces: evaluating transformation of open space at residential level in Adelaide – a case study

This paper examines the transformation of open space and how it compares to older residential development. A study has been conducted at the residential level because neighbourhoods have been a basic unit of city design throughout the recent history of urban settlements. Furthermore, the neighbourhood is a more humanly relevant scale of urban development. The method adopted for this research was a comparative urbanism by comparing old and new residential areas. This study found that incremental redevelopment of old residential areas through both re-subdivision and intensification of development on existing allotments has resulted in a progressive loss of open space. However, the study also confirmed that the current supplies of open space across all the study areas (old and new residential areas) are relatively similar. The main difference between the open space supply in older and newer residential areas comes down to the ownership of land (i.e. the proportion of public versus private open space). The study demonstrated that older residential areas with large allotments have experienced a significant loss of private open space – originally from 50%, to current levels of 23–30%. The paper concludes that there is a need for a holistic approach to the provision of public and private open spaces to improve the quality of life at a residential level.     

Examining municipal response to a provincial climate action planning mandate in British Columbia,Canada

The engagement of UK local authorities is vital if national government is to meet its climate change commitments. However, with no mandatory targets at local government level, other drivers must explain engagement. Using a Geographic Information System, this study compares the spatial distribution of action on climate change based on past actions and stated intentions to a suite of relevant independent variables. The Action Index created is among the first to quantify climate change engagement beyond a simple binary measure and provides a useful comparative study to recent work in the USA. The Index enables investigation of both mitigation and adaptation, which show different trends in relation to some variables. The study shows that action is strongest where the voting habits of the local population suggest environmental concern and where neighbouring local authorities are also engaging in action on climate change. Physical vulnerability to the effects of climate change is a motivator for action only where the dangers are obvious. Action is less likely where other resource-intensive issues such as crime and housing exist within a local authority area.     

浅析低碳技术的评价方法

低碳技术可分为3类:减碳技术、无碳技术、去碳技术,选择最优低碳技术是一个项目能否成功的关键。低碳技术评价的内容通常从能源使用率、经济效益、生命周期方面进行评价,对技术的综合性评价的基本方法大致有层次分析法、综合评分法、德尔菲法、熵值法、模糊综合评判法等,这些方法渗透于指标权重分析、模型建立评价当中。通过研究对这些技术的评价方法,确定最优的技术项目,以促进循环经济及可持续发展战略的实施和进行。     

Energy balances,greenhouse gas emissions and economics of biochar production from palm oil empty fruit bunches

This paper presents results from a gate-to-gate analysis of the energy balance, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and economic efficiency of biochar production from palm oil empty fruit bunches (EFB). The analysis is based on data obtained from EFB combustion in a slow pyrolysis plant in Selangor, Malaysia. The outputs of the slow pyrolysis plant are biochar, syngas, bio-oil and water vapor. The net energy yield of the biochar produced in the Selangor plant is 11.47 MJ kg⁻¹ EFB. The energy content of the biochar produced is higher than the energy required for producing the biochar, i.e. the energy balance of biochar production is positive. The combustion of EFB using diesel fuel has the largest energy demand of 2.31 MJ kg⁻¹ EFB in the pyrolysis process. Comparatively smaller amounts of energy are required as electricity (0.39 MJ kg⁻¹ EFB) and for transportation of biochar to the warehouse and the field (0.13 MJ kg⁻¹ EFB). The net greenhouse gas emissions of the studied biochar production account for 0.046 kg CO₂-equiv. kg⁻¹ EFB yr⁻¹ without considering fertilizer substitution effects and carbon accumulation from biochar in the soil. The studied biochar production is profitable where biochar can be sold for at least 533 US-$ t⁻¹. Potential measures for improvement are discussed, including higher productivity of biochar production, reduced energy consumption and efficient use of the byproducts from the slow pyrolysis.     

活性炭纤维在油田采出废水处理中的应用

针对油田采出废水的特点,以粘胶基活性炭纤维为原料,经二次炭化和二次活化方式处理制得ACF样品。以ACF为过滤材料,对延长某采油厂经过沉降、分离处理后的采油废水进行动态吸附实验,实验结果表明:经水蒸汽二次活化得到的ACF样品对选用的油田废水处理效果最佳,其悬浮物颗粒粒径中值0.496μm(<1.0μm)、悬浮物含量为0.77mg/L(<1.0mg/L)。     

中国工业园区低碳发展路径研究

中国政府承诺CO₂排放力争于2030年前达到峰值,努力争取2060年前实现碳中和。在工业部门深化应对气候变化和全面推进绿色转型的背景下,数量庞大的工业园区已然成为"十四五"乃至今后一个时期工业领域实现科学、精准碳减排的关键靶点。本研究首先剖析了中国工业园区低碳发展面临的挑战与机遇;进而以2015年为基准年,面向2035和2050年美丽中国建设两阶段战略目标,研究提出了工业园区碳减排的目标、路径和潜力,以期为园区深化低碳发展提供决策参考。研究显示,2015年中国工业园区CO₂排放总量约为28亿吨,占全国总排放量的31%。通过产业结构调整、能效提升、能源结构优化、碳捕集等低碳路径,2015-2050年全国园区预期可减排CO₂ 18亿吨,在2015年基础上减排60%以上;其中,2015-2035年减排8亿吨,2035-2050年减排10亿吨。