Fuzzy experts on recreational vessels, a risk modelling approach for marine invasions

Understanding risks from the human-mediated spread of non-indigenous species (NIS) is a critical component of marine biosecurity management programmes. Recreational boating is well-recognised as a NIS pathway, especially at a regional scale. Assessment of risks from this pathway is therefore desirable for coastal environments where recreational boating occurs. However, formal or quantitative risk assessment for the recreational vessel pathway is often hampered by lack of data, hence often relies on expert opinion. The use of expert opinion itself is sometimes limited by its inherent vagueness, which can be an important source of uncertainty that reduces the validity and applicability of the assessment. Fuzzy logic, specifically interval type-2 fuzzy logic, is able to model and propagate this type of uncertainty, and is a useful technique in risk assessment where expert opinion is relied upon. The present paper describes the implementation of a NIS fuzzy expert system (FES) for assessing the risk of invasion in marine environments via recreational vessels. The FES was based on expert opinion gathered through systematic elicitation exercises, designed to acknowledge important uncertainty sources (e.g., underspecificity and ambiguity). The FES, using interval type-2 fuzzy logic, calculated an invasion risk value (integrating NIS infection and detection probabilities) for a range of invasion scenarios. These scenarios were defined by all possible combinations of two vessel types (moored and trailered), five vessel components (hull, deck, internal spaces, anchor, fishing gear), two infection modes (fouling, water/sediment retention) and six frequently visited marine habitats (marina, mooring, farm, ramp, wharf, anchorage). Although invasion risk values determined using the FES approach was scenario-specific, general patterns were identified. Moored vessels consistently showed higher invasion risk values than trailered vessels. Invasion risk values were higher for anchorages, moorings and wharves. Similarly, hull-fouling was revealed as the highest infection risk mode after pooling results across all habitats. The NIS fuzzy expert system presented here appears as a valuable prioritising and decision-making tool for NIS research, prevention and control activities. Its easy implementation and wide applicability should encourage the development and application of this type of system as an integral part of biosecurity, and other environmental management plans.     

Effects of emergent and submerged rigid vegetation configurations on gravity current dynamics

Environmental Fluid Mechanics - The propagation and hydrodynamic processes of lock-exchange gravity current through vegetation regions were investigated experimentally. Experimental results show...     

Emission control strategies of hazardous trace elements from coal-fired power plants in China

China's energy dependents on coal due to the abundance and low cost of coal. Coal provides a secure and stable energy source in China. Over-dependence on coal results in the emission of Hazardous Trace Elements (HTEs) including selenium (Se), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), etc., from Coal-Fired Power Plants (CFPPs), which are the major toxic air pollutants causing widespread concern. For this reason, it is essential to provide a succinct analysis of the main HTEs emission control techniques while concurrently identifying the research prospects framework and specifying future research directions. The study herein reviews various techniques applied in China for the selected HTEs emission control, including the technical, institutional, policy, and regulatory aspects. The specific areas covered in this study include health effects, future coal production and consumption, the current situation of HTEs in Chinese coal, the chemistry of selected HTEs, control techniques, policies, and action plans safeguarding the emission control. The review emphasizes the fact that China must establish and promote efficient and clean ways to utilize coal in order to realize sustainable development. The principal conclusion is that cleaning coal technologies and fuel substitution should be great potential HTEs control technologies in China. Future research should focus on the simultaneous removal of HTEs, PM, SOx, and NOx in the complex flue gas.     

攀援型和矮生型四棱豆苯丙氨酸解氨酶活性和黄酮含量的研究

以攀援和矮生型四棱豆为研究对象,对不同部位苯丙氨酸解氨酶活性和总黄酮含量进行比较,结果表明：除嫩豆荚外,矮生型四棱豆不同部位的PAL活性均高于攀援型,其总黄酮含量亦高于攀援型。攀援型和矮生型四棱豆PAL活性均为种子最高,嫩豆荚最低;两者总黄酮含量均为叶最高,储藏器官块根最低。攀援型和矮生型的PAL活性和总黄酮含量之间均呈显著正相关。矮生型四棱豆不同部位的组织或器官PAL活性受外源因子影响小,类黄酮合成能力高于攀援型,具有更高的抗逆性。     

绿黄隆、甲黄隆在江苏省农区5种土壤中残留活性的研究

采用改进的玉米主根长土培生测法，研究绿黄隆、甲黄隆在江苏省典型农区土壤中残留活性。结果表明，两种除草剂在５种土壤中剂量与玉米主根长抑制率之间皆达极显著相关，土壤ｐＨ和有机质含量是主要影响因素，碱性轻质土壤中活性较高，酸性重质土壤中活性较低，活性大小顺序为：黄潮土＞高沙土＞砂姜黑土＞滨海盐土＞太湖水稻土。     

全过程管理视角的上海市垃圾分类回顾与展望

为掌握分类投放全面推广对城市生活垃圾全过程管理的影响,系统回顾了上海生活垃圾分类的推行历程,从生命周期角度预测了不同分类水平下上海生活垃圾处理与处置的环境效应。上海垃圾分类经历了试点、推广、调整、强制推广4个阶段,指导思路从资源化主导转变为"减量化、资源化、无害化"并行,减量效果从调整阶段开始逐渐显现,其他垃圾热值提高。在模拟的8种场景中,当湿垃圾、可回收物、其他垃圾混合投放并处置时,总环境影响潜值最高,达到1.22×10-13 PET₂₀₀₀/t;湿垃圾、可回收物、其他垃圾分出量占比分别为30%、20%和50%时(上海市生活垃圾厌氧消化、焚烧和回收的最大处理能力分别占总处理能力的25%、60%和15%),可实现原生垃圾零填埋,并获得最佳环境效益,环境影响潜值降为8.13×10-14 PET₂₀₀₀/t。从生活垃圾全过程管理角度看,分类投放是前提条件,配套适当的处理处置设施才能更好地显现环境效益优势。     

污水处理厂中有机磷酸酯的研究进展

有机磷酸酯(OPEs)作为阻燃剂和增塑剂被广泛用于建筑、电子、化学和纺织等行业中。由于有机磷酸酯大多以物理方法掺加于产品中,更易被释放进入环境中。有机磷酸酯具有神经毒性、致癌性和基因毒性,关于有机磷酸酯产生、迁徙和削减的研究受到了学界的广泛注意。污水处理厂作为地表水环境中污染物的重要来源,在有机磷酸酯进入环境的过程中发挥了重要作用。本文总结了各国污水处理厂中有机磷酸酯研究现状,随着技术的发展被监测的有机磷酸酯种类越来越多;欧洲国家污水中有机磷酸酯检出的最高浓度普遍高于其他国家和地区;极性有机磷酸酯更倾向于转移至污水中,非极性的更倾向于吸附到污泥中;氯代有机磷酸酯普遍去除率很低,有的经过污水处理工艺反而增加,烷基和芳基有机磷酸酯有较高的去除率。     

AnEMBR-IFFAS耦合工艺处理石化废水

石化废水具有成分复杂、生物毒性和可生化性差等特点,废水中的高浓度耗氧有机物(以COD计)以及有毒物质会抑制生物活性,传统厌氧/好氧工艺在处理此类废水时难以达到理想效果。为强化生物处理效果,构建了一种新型电化学强化厌氧膜生物反应器(AnEMBR)与基于悬浮生物载体的生物膜与活性污泥复合工艺(IFFAS)处理实际石化废水。通过AnEMBR构建的生物电化学系统去除COD,并通过IFFAS内的改性载体实现同步硝化反硝化(SND)以去除NH₄⁺-N和TN。运行期间COD去除率大于95%,在-1.2 V的外加电压下缓解不可逆膜污染并回收沼气 (CH₄占比90.7%) 。稳定运行阶段的COD、NH₄⁺-N、TN的平均去除率可达到97.9%、93.1%和72.2%,平均出水COD为52.11 mg·L⁻¹、NH₄⁺-N为3.70 mg·L⁻¹、TN为15.19 mg·L⁻¹,达到了《石油化学工业污染物排放标准》(GB 31571‐2015)。以上研究结果可为石化废水强化生物处理提供参考。     

Distribution of aromatic amines,phenols, chlorobenzenes,and naphthalenes in the surface sediment of the Dianchi Lake,China

• The total organic pollutant concentrations in sediment were 27.4-1620 ng/g. • The phenol concentrations were relatively high in the sediment of the Dianchi Lake. • Average total concentrations decreased as follows: Caohai>Waihai>Haigeng Dam. • 1,4-dichlorobenzene, 3- or 4-methylphenol, 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene might be risks. Organic pollutants are widespread environmental pollutants with high toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulation. Our aim was to investigate the distribution of aromatic amines, phenols, chlorobenzenes, and naphthalenes in the surface sediment of the Dianchi Lake, China. Nineteen surface sediment samples were collected from the Dianchi Lake, and 40 types of organic pollutants were analyzed via gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The total organic pollutant concentrations in the surface sediment of the Dianchi Lake varied from 27.4 to 1.62 × 10³ ng/g. The concentrations of phenols were much higher than those in other water bodies but still within a controllable range, whereas the concentrations of the other organic pollutant classes were similar or even lower. The detection ratio of 3- or 4-methylphenol was the highest (100.00%) among the pollutants. The average total organic pollutant concentrations decreased in the following order: Caohai (540 ng/g)>the middle of Waihai (488 ng/g)>the edge of Waihai (351 ng/g)>Haigeng Dam (90.4 ng/g). Pearson analysis showed a strong correlation among 1-methylnaphthalene, 2-methylnaphthalene, 1,3-dinitronaphthalene, and 1,4-dinitronaphthalene (p<0.01). Caohai, the north lakeshore of Waihai and the south of Waihai showed higher risk because of high concentration; meanwhile, 1,4-dichlorobenzene, 3- or 4-methylphenol and 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene were more likely to cause risks.     

Effects of Ca(OH)2 assisted aluminum sulfate coagulation on the removal of humic acid and the formation potentials of tri-halomethanes and haloacetic acids in chlorination

The effects of addition of calcium hydroxide on aluminum sulphate(or alum) coagulation for removal of natural organic matter(NOM) and its subsequent effect on the formation potentials of two major types of regulated disinfection byproducts(DBPs),haloacetic acids(HAAs) and trihalomethanes(THMs),have been examined.The results revealed several noteworthy phenomena.At the optimal coagulation pH(i.e.6),the coagulation behavior of NOM water solutions versus alum dose,showed large variation and a consequent great change in the formation potentials of the DBPs at certain coagulant doses.However,with addition of a relatively small amount of Ca(OH) 2,although the zeta potential of coagulated flocs remained almost the same,NOM removal became more consistent with alum dose.Importantly,also the detrimental effect of charge reversal on NOM removal at the low coagulant dose disappeared.This resulted in a steady decrease in the formation potentials of DBPs as a function of the coagulant dose.Moreover,the addition of Ca(OH) 2 broadened the pH range of alum coagulation and promoted further reduction of the formation potentials of the DBPs.The enhancement effects of Ca(OH) 2 assisted alum coagulation are especially pronounced at pH 7 and 8.Finally,synchronous fluorescence spectra showed that the reduction in DBPs formation potential by Ca(OH) 2-assisted alum coagulation was connected to an enhanced removal of small hydrophobic and hydrophilic HA molecules.Ca(OH) 2-assistance of alum coagulation appeared to increase substantially the removal of the hydrophilic HA fraction responsible for HAAs formation,prompting further reduction of HAA formation potentials.