Numerical analysis of the anaerobic co-digestion of the organic fraction from municipal solid waste and wastewater: prediction of the possible performances at Olmeto plant in Perugia (Italy).

Anaerobic digestion is mainly used for sewage sludge stabilization and for treatment of waste that has a high organic content. It also represents a powerful method for obtaining energy by means of natural gas production. Co-digestion particularly combines different organic substrates to generate a homogeneous mixture as input to the anaerobic reactor in order to increase process performance. Reactions kinetics and knowledge of process analysis represent the keys for good planning and correct management. In this paper a model to simulate the main reactions involved in anaerobic co-digestion is presented. The model was created to analyse the possible performance of the treatment plant in Olmeto, Marsciano (Perugia) in Italy. The plant is still in an experimental phase with regard to the co-digestion process and numerical simulations represent a useful tool during development of the correct management procedures for the operational phase and a good methodoly for addressing further pilot plant experiments.     

Macroeconomic effects of the recycling of waste derived from imported non-renewable raw materials

The literature on waste recycling neglects the potential effects that this process can have at the aggregate level, although there are positive externalities which have not emerged in the microeconomic analysis of this phenomenon.This paper investigates the macroeconomic effects of the waste recycling process, with particular reference to a country, such as Italy, which uses many foreign non-renewable resources. We use the Keynesian multiplier theory as a theoretical framework to evaluate the potential results of an increase in waste recycling on the gross national product, the balance of payments and employment. In such a way the policy maker can better evaluate whether to promote the process considered here rather than discharging the waste in the environment.     

Effect of modified Fenton treatment on the thermal behavior of contaminated harbor sediments

This study presents the results of experimental Fenton-like treatments conducted on marine sediment slurries (2g sediment vs. 20 ml liquid). The sediment was collected in a harbor situated in a high density industrial area, characterized by a great hydrocarbon C>12 and PAHs contamination. The investigated parameters were: the H(2)O(2) dose, the reagent's pH and the effect of a phosphate salt and ferrous iron addition. To evaluate sediment's characteristics COD, particle size, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses were performed under N(2) and O(2) atmosphere while dissolved organic carbon and COD analyses were performed on the filtrate. Results indicate that the treatment was able to change the organic matter to a less hydrophobic state, to destroy part of the organic carbon (up to 78% decrease of the 200-400 degrees C labile organic matter), to lower the COD of the sediment (60% COD removal maximum) and to increase the cumulated distribution undersize. In addition as the treated sediment showed easier-to-handle characteristics, reduced caking and lower aggregation capacity, the modified Fenton treatment could also be considered a pre-treatment of a successive thermal treatment.     

城郊农业生态系统中茎菜类蔬菜对重金属镉的累积特征及品质表现

为探索城郊区农业土壤重金属镉(Cd)的生态阻控技术,结合田间试验、盆栽试验和室内分析测定等手段,以蔬菜茎叶部分Cd含量、富集系数、转移系数、单株生物量、茎叶维生素C含量、还原糖含量等因子为考察指标,分析13个红菜薹品种、5个莴笋品种和4个芹菜品种的Cd积累特征和品质表现.结果显示,两种Cd水平下(土壤总Cd分别为0.43 mg/kg和3.00 mg/kg),供试蔬菜茎叶部Cd含量不论是种间还是种内均差异显著(P<0.05).三大类供试蔬菜茎叶Cd含量与富集系数的大小均为芹菜>莴笋>菜薹,且在低Cd水平下,菜薹的生产性能及品质指标也为最优.在13个菜薹品种中,低、高Cd水平下茎叶平均Cd含量分别为0.021 0 mg/kg和0.302 1 mg/kg.13个菜薹品种的聚类分析结果显示,金秋红3号、钟声红和二早子属于弱吸收低积累Cd品种.且金秋红3号在低Cd条件下还有较高的品质表现,其可食部位维生素C含量和还原糖含量分别达到77.2 mg/100 g和19.44%.在本研究设置的高、低Cd条件下,供试蔬菜品种的Cd积累特性、品质特征以及生物量指标都具有较强的一致性,集合这些指标应用于筛选弱吸收低积累Cd的茎菜类蔬菜品种是可行的.因此,挖掘作物自身潜力,基于植物不同种及品种吸收积累重金属Cd的基因型差异,利用弱吸收低积累重金属的作物品种,在轻度或中度重金属污染农田中进行作物生产,可以降低Cd等重金属元素经农产品进入人类食物链的风险.     

Enhanced the photoelectrochemical performance of Bi2XO6 (X = W, Mo) for detecting hexavalent chromium by modification of CuS

In this work, Bi₂XO₆ (X = W, Mo) are synthesized at different temperatures. The results of tests find the optimal temperatures of Bi₂WO₆ and Bi₂MoO₆ are 180 and 160°C (BW-180, BM-160). Then, BW-180 and BM-160 are further compounded with different contents of CuS. The results of photoelectrochemical (PEC) tests show that CuS can improve the PEC performance of semiconductor materials, and it has better performance when CuS mass fraction is 5%. These maybe the photoelectron potentials generated by CuS/Bi₂XO₆ (X = Mo, W) heterojunction reduce the combination of photogenerated electrons and holes. When the PEC sensor based on 5%-CuS/BW-180 detects Cr(VI), it has a linear range of 1–80 μmol/L with detection limit of 0.95 μmol/L, while the PEC sensor based on 5%-CuS/BM-160 detects Cr(VI) has a linear range of 0.5–230 μmol/L and a detection limit of 0.12 μmol/L. Thus, 5%-CuS/Bi₂XO₆ has potential application in hexavalent chromium detection.     

Urban carbon emission intensity under emission trading system in a developing economy: evidence from 273 Chinese cities

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The international community has generally recognized the key role of developing countries’ cities in reducing carbon emissions, an elemental way...     

Combined toxic impacts of thiamethoxam and four pesticides on the rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus)

To examine pesticide mixture toxicity to aqueous organisms, we assessed the single and combined toxicities of thiamethoxam and other four pesticides (chlorpyrifos, beta-cypermethrin, tetraconazole, and azoxystrobin) to the rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus). Data from 96-h semi-static toxicity assays of various developmental phases (embryonic, larval, juvenile, and adult phases) showed that beta-cypermethrin, chlorpyrifos, and azoxystrobin had the highest toxicities to G. rarus, and their LC₅₀ values ranged from 0.0031 to 0.86 mg a.i. L^?1, from 0.016 to 6.38 mg a.i. L^?1, and from 0.39 to 1.08 mg a.i. L^?1, respectively. Tetraconazole displayed a comparatively high toxicity, and its LC₅₀ values ranged from 3.48 to 16.73 mg a.i. L^?1. By contrast, thiamethoxam exhibited the lowest toxic effect with LC₅₀ values ranging from 37.85 to 351.9 mg a.i. L^?1. Rare minnow larvae were more sensitive than embryos to all the pesticides tested. Our data showed that a pesticide mixture of thiamethoxam–tetraconazole elicited synergetic toxicity to G. rarus. Moreover, pesticide mixtures containing beta-cypermethrin in combination with chlorpyrifos or tetraconazole also had synergetic toxicities to fish. The majority of pesticides are presumed to have additive toxicity, while our data emphasized that the concurrent existence of some chemicals in the aqueous circumstance could cause synergetic toxic effect, leading to severe loss to the aqueous environments in comparison with their single toxicities. Thence, the synergetic impacts of chemical mixtures should be considered when assessing the ecological risk of chemicals.

     

Biodegradable microplastics (BMPs): a new cause for concern?

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - With the increasingly serious pollution of plastics, biodegradable plastics (BDPs) have attracted attention as a new material that can replace...     

石化管道储运员工心理评估结果分析

目的:了解石油管道储运员工的心理健康现状,建立管道储运员工症状自评量表(SCL-90)的群体常模。方法:运用整群抽样方法和症状自评量表(SCL-90)对5544名中国石化管道储运公司员工进行心理健康状况调查,将SCL-90结果与中国常模比较。结果:本次调查心理健康状况好3947人,占71.2%;心理健康状况良好1299人,占23.4%;心理健康状况一般238人,占4.3%;心理健康状况异常60人,占1.1%;石化管道储运员工在躯体化、焦虑、精神病性、阳性项目数均分显著高于全国常模;人际关系、敌对、偏执和精神病性因子均分男性显著高于女性,恐怖因子均分女性显著高于男性;35岁及以上组的躯体化、强迫、抑郁、焦虑、敌对、恐怖、精神病性以及阳性项目数的因子均分均高于35岁以下组;大专组和高中及以下组各项因子均分均显著高于本科及以上组。结论:管道储运员工心理健康状况低于一般人群。年龄相对较大以及学历相对较低员工的心理健康状况是企业关注的重点。     

The dynamic changes of arsenic biotransformation and bioaccumulation in muscle of freshwater food fish crucian carp during chronic dietborne exposure

Dietary uptake is the major way that inorganic arsenic (iAs) enters into benthic fish; however, the metabolic process of dietborne iAs in fish muscle following chronic exposure remains unclear. This was a 40-day study on chronic dietborne iAs [arsenite (AsIII) and arsenate (AsV)] exposure in the benthic freshwater food fish, the crucian carp (Carassius auratus), which determined the temporal profiles of iAs metabolism and toxicokinetics during exposure. We found that an adaptive response occurred in the fish body after iAs dietary exposure, which was associated with decreased As accumulation and increased As transformation into a non-toxic As form (arsenobetaine). The bioavailability of dietary AsIII was lower than that of AsV, probably because AsIII has a lower ability to pass through fish tissues. Dietary AsV exhibited a high potential for transformation into AsIII species, which then accumulated in fish muscle. The largely produced AsIII considered more toxic at the earlier stage of AsV exposure should attract sufficient attention to human exposure assessment. Therefore, the pristine As species and exposure duration had significant effects on As bioaccumulation and biotransformation in fish. The behavior determined for dietborne arsenic in food fish is crucial for not only arsenic ecotoxicology but also food safety.