Incorporating layer- and local-scale heterogeneities in numerical simulation of unsaturated flow and tracer transport

This study characterizes layer- and local-scale heterogeneities in hydraulic parameters (i.e., matrix permeability and porosity) and investigates the relative effect of layer- and local-scale heterogeneities on the uncertainty assessment of unsaturated flow and tracer transport in the unsaturated zone of Yucca Mountain, USA. The layer-scale heterogeneity is specific to hydrogeologic layers with layerwise properties, while the local-scale heterogeneity refers to the spatial variation of hydraulic properties within a layer. A Monte Carlo method is used to estimate mean, variance, and 5th, and 95th percentiles for the quantities of interest (e.g., matrix saturation and normalized cumulative mass arrival). Model simulations of unsaturated flow are evaluated by comparing the simulated and observed matrix saturations. Local-scale heterogeneity is examined by comparing the results of this study with those of the previous study that only considers layer-scale heterogeneity. We find that local-scale heterogeneity significantly increases predictive uncertainty in the percolation fluxes and tracer plumes, whereas the mean predictions are only slightly affected by the local-scale heterogeneity. The mean travel time of the conservative and reactive tracers to the water table in the early stage increases significantly due to the local-scale heterogeneity, while the influence of local-scale heterogeneity on travel time gradually decreases over time. Layer-scale heterogeneity is more important than local-scale heterogeneity for simulating overall tracer travel time, suggesting that it would be more cost-effective to reduce the layer-scale parameter uncertainty in order to reduce predictive uncertainty in tracer transport.     

Chemical and colloidal analyses of natural seep water collected from the exploratory studies facility inside Yucca Mountain,Nevada, USA

Yucca Mountain is being considered as a geological repository for the USA’s spent nuclear fuel and high-level nuclear waste. Numerous groundwater seeps appeared during March 2005 within the exploratory studies facility (ESF), a tunnel excavated in the mountain. Because of the relevance to radionuclide transport and unsaturated zone-modeling studies, we analyzed the seep samples for major anions and cations, rare earth elements, and colloids. Major ion species and elemental concentrations in seep samples reflect interaction of the water with the volcanic rock and secondary calcites. Elemental fractograms from flow-injection field-flow fractionation ICP–MS scans detected Br, Ca, Cl, Cu, Fe, I, Mg, Si, Sr, W, and U at void fractions, suggesting they may be present in the form of dissolved anions. Colloids approximately 10 nm in hydrodynamic diameter, possibly calcite, were also present in the seepage samples. Geochemical calculations indicate, however, these may be an artifact (not present in the groundwater) which arose because of loss of CO₂ during sample collection and storage.     

潮汐对江水致突变性的影响

对某潮汐河流从下游至上游共设A、B、C、D、E五个采样点,用Ames试验、双微核试验及单细胞凝胶电泳试验(彗星试验)检测涨潮和落潮时江水中有机污染物的致突变性.结果表明,Ames试验各采样点样品都有致突变性,且从上游至下游逐渐增强;对TA98加S9致突变性增加;双微核试验、彗星试验检测出染色体及DNA损伤剂,并以A点作用最强.涨潮时各点致突变强度较落潮时强.     

Selective elimination of chromophoric and fluorescent dissolved organic matter in a full-scale municipal wastewater treatment plant

Effluent organic matter (EfOM) from municipal wastewater treatment plants potentially has a detrimental effect on both aquatic organisms and humans. This study evaluated the removal and transformation of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) in a full-scale wastewater treatment plant under different seasons. The results showed that bio-treatment was found to be more efficient in removing bulk DOM (in terms of dissolved organic carbon, DOC) than CDOM and FDOM, which was contrary to the disinfection process. CDOM and FDOM were selectively removed at various stages during the treatment. Typically, the low molecular weight (MW) fractions of CDOM and protein-like FDOM were more efficiently removed during bio-treatment process, whereas the humic-like FDOM exhibited comparable decreases in both bio-treatment and disinfection processes. Overall, the performance of the WWTP was weak in terms of CDOM and FDOM removal, resulting in enrichment of CDOM and FDOM in effluent. Moreover, the total removal of the bulk DOM (P < 0.05) and the protein-like FDOM (P < 0.05) displayed a significant seasonal variation, with higher removal efficiencies in summer, whereas removal of CDOM and the humic-like FDOM showed little differences between summer and winter. In all, the results provide useful information for understanding the fate and transformation of DOM, illustrating that sub-fractions of DOM could be selectively removed depending on treatment processes and seasonality.     

若尔盖花湖沉积物氨氧化与反硝化功能基因丰度垂向分布特征及其环境响应

若尔盖湿地作为中国最大的泥炭沼泽区,是生物地球化学循环的重要场所.本文以若尔盖湿地的花湖为研究对象,采集0～47 cm的沉积物样品,通过实时荧光定量PCR(qPCR)技术,探究沉积物中氨氧化(amoA)和反硝化(nirS、nirK、nosZ clade I)功能基因丰度的垂向分布特征,及其对环境因子的响应.结果表明:花湖沉积物中古菌amoA基因丰度在垂向分布上呈下降趋势,而nirS基因丰度呈上升趋势;古菌和细菌的amoA基因丰度相近,nirS基因丰度则远高于nirK基因,且氨氧化功能基因丰度整体上比反硝化功能基因低1～2个数量级.总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)、氨态氮(NH~+_4-N)、硝态氮(NO~-_3-N)和亚硝态氮(NO~-_2-N)与古菌amoA基因丰度均呈显著正相关关系(p0.05),而与nirS基因丰度呈显著负相关关系(p0.05).这两种功能基因明显受到花湖沉积物中不同形式氮素浓度的影响与限制.通过研究花湖沉积物氨氧化与反硝化功能基因的垂向分布特征及其对环境的响应,可为深入了解高原湖泊沉积物中的氮循环机理提供参考.     

Bioenergy production from chicken manure: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Adopting waste-to-wealth strategies and circular economy models can help reduce biowaste and add value. For instance, poultry farming is an essential source of...     

碳纳米管影响无机砷(As(III)和As(V))对大型蚤毒性的研究：特定砷形态的作用

作为一种新兴的纳米材料,羟基多壁碳纳米管(OH-MWCNTs)可能与其他污染物在水环境中共存,并进一步影响它们的毒性、输移和归趋。因此,评价碳纳米管存在下砷的毒性变化需要得到更多的关注。该试验探索了在不同pH值条件下,OH-MWCNTs诱导砷(As(III)和As(V))对水生生物大型蚤的毒性变化的潜在机制。发现了H₂AsO₃^-和H₂AsO₄^-是对大型蚤毒性最大的As(III)和As(V)。比较As(III)和As(V)的结果,发现pH值是影响砷毒性最重要的因素。此外,OH-MWCNTs影响砷对大型蚤毒性的结果表明,OH-MWCNTs的存在可以提高砷的毒性。通过吸附实验进一步研究了砷与OH-MWCNTs的相互作用。OH-MWCNTs 对As(V)吸附容量高于As(III)。总而言之, OH-MWCNTs对某些形态砷的吸附是解释砷毒性增强的可靠证据。
精选自Xinghao Wang, Ruijuan Qu, Ahmed A. Allam, Jamaan Ajarem, Zhongbo Wei, Zuoyao Wang. Impact of carbon nanotubes on the toxicity of inorganic arsenic [As(III) and As(V)] to Daphnia magna: the role of the certain arsenic species. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry: Volume 35, Issue 7, pages 1852–1859, July 2016. DOI: 10.1002/etc.3340
详情请见http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/etc.3340/full
     

4-氨基联苯在锦鲤鱼体内的代谢机理研究

采用锦鲤半静态实验的方法．将锦鲤鱼暴露于4-氨基联苯水溶液中．并用气相色谱和质谱联用技术(GC-MS)分析了不同暴露时间下在鱼肝中的代谢产物。结果表明．暴露3d的锦鲤肝脏中未检出代谢产物．而暴露7d的锦鲤肝脏中发现代谢产物硝基联苯和4二-乙酰胺联苯，暴露14d的代谢产物除了4-乙酰胺联苯．还有少量联苯。根据代谢产物的形成过程．推测了4-氨基联苯在生物转化过程中．发生了氧化还原反应．其转化过程可能涉及到混合功能氧化酶．N-乙酰基转移酶和乙酰辅酶A等不同的酶系。     

区域污染治理能力与排污规模的协调性评价

为分析区域排污规模与污染治理的协调性,构建了排污规模与污染治理协调度模型,并以2006、2013年的数据对模型进行实证分析。结果表明,制约排污规模和污染治理协调性的主要矛盾是污染治理能力的落后,全国70%以上地区污染治理能力均滞后于污染物产生规模;国内治理能力在研究期间不断提高,区域差异在不断缩小,治理能力过度滞后的省份由14个减少到2个;除江苏外2013年其余各地区均有1项或多项污染物的治理能力滞后,其中生活废水治理能力滞后的区域最多;经济发展水平是影响协调性的重要因素,2013年协调度与地区人均GDP基本呈线性关系。模型实证计算结果与主观判断也较为吻合,具有一定的推广应用价值。