Reactive uptake of NO2 on volcanic particles: A possible source of HONO in the atmosphere

The heterogeneous degradation of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) on five samples of natural Icelandic volcanic particles has been investigated. Laboratory experiments were carried out under simulated atmospheric conditions using a coated wall flow tube (CWFT). The CWFT reactor was coupled to a blue light nitrogen oxides analyzer (NO_x analyzer), and a long path absorption photometer (LOPAP) to monitor in real time the concentrations of NO₂, NO and HONO, respectively. Under dark and ambient relative humidity conditions, the steady state uptake coefficients of NO₂ varied significantly between the volcanic samples probably due to differences in magma composition and morphological variation related with the density of surface OH groups. The irradiation of the surface with simulated sunlight enhanced the uptake coefficients by a factor of three indicating that photo-induced processes on the surface of the dust occur. Furthermore, the product yields of NO and HONO were determined under both dark and simulated sunlight conditions. The relative humidity was found to influence the distribution of gaseous products, promoting the formation of gaseous HONO. A detailed reaction mechanism is proposed that supports our experimental observations. Regarding the atmospheric implications, our results suggest that the NO₂ degradation on volcanic particles and the corresponding formation of HONO is expected to be significant during volcanic dust storms or after a volcanic eruption.     

Factors influencing Aerosol Characteristics over Urban Environment

Atmospheric aerosols are an important contributing factor to turbidity in urban areas besides having impact on health. Aerosol characteristics show a high degree of variability in space and time as anthropogenic share of total aerosol loading is quite substantial and is essential to monitor the aerosol features over long time scales. In the present study extensive observations of columnar aerosol optical depth (AOD), total columnar ozone (TCO) and precipitable water content (PWC) have been carried over a tropical urban city of Hyderabad, India. Significant variations of AOD have been observed during course of the day with low values of AOD during morning and evening hours and high values during afternoon hours. Spectral variation of AOD exhibits high AOD at smaller wavelengths and vice versa except a slight enhancement in AOD at 500 nm. Anomalies in AOD, particulate matter and black carbon concentrations have been observed during May, 2003. Back trajectory analysis of air mass during these episodes suggested variation in air mass trajectories. Analysis of the results suggests that air trajectories from land region north of study area cause high loading of atmospheric aerosols. The results are discussed in the paper.     

烃类化合物气相色谱保留指数与其分配系数关系研究

报道了从烃类化合物气相色谱保留指数预测其正辛醇水分配系数的公式，研究了以不同极性相上测得的烃类化合物保留指数预测其分配系数的准确性，得出弱极性柱上测得的化合物保留指数能更准确的预测其分配系数，从而为烃类化合物分配系数的测定和预测提供了一种简便易行的新方法。     

长春市春季PM2.5中金属污染与潜在生态风险评价研究

2014年春季采集了长春市大气PM2.5样品,测定了PM2.5及其17种金属元素的含量.PM2.5质量浓度为175.2±75.1μg/m3,变异系数为0.44,环境重污染日与优良日空气质量差异较大.PM2.5中金属元素平均含量顺序为Ca>Fe>K>Mg>Al>Zn>Ti>Mn>Pb>As>Cu>V>Ni>Cr>Co>Ba>Cd.采用富集因子法和潜在生态风险指数法对PM2.5中金属进行了评价.其中Cd、As、Zn、Pb、Cu富集因子大于100.金属综合潜在生态风险等级为极强生态风险,Cd的贡献率为83.2%,受人类活动干扰严重.     

巢湖水体组分垂向分布特征及其对水下光场的影响

富营养化湖泊不同组分垂向分布及其对水下光场的影响是湖泊水环境遥感领域亟待开展的内容.利用巢湖野外实测数据,分析水体不同组分垂向分布特征,结合Hydrolight辐射传输模型模拟研究水体不同组分垂向分布对漫衰减系数Kd的影响.结果表明,巢湖水体悬浮物以及有色可溶性有机物CDOM垂向分布较为均一,水面未发生藻华现象时叶绿素a垂向分布符合高斯正态分布,漫衰减系数Kd受叶绿素a以及无机悬浮物的显著影响,其垂向变化复杂多样,以往以水体光学性质均一为前提计算得到的Kd仅仅表示其衰减的平均情况,不能精确反映水下光场的垂向变化,因此研究水体组分垂向分布特征及其对漫衰减系数Kd的影响是开展藻类垂向分布异质性对水下光场影响机制研究的前提和基础.     

北京雾霾天气生物气溶胶浓度和粒径特征

近年来北京雾霾天气频发,空气颗粒物聚集是导致雾霾天气发生的主要原因之一.作为一种重要的空气颗粒物,生物气溶胶对人体健康存在危害.本研究调查了雾霾天气时,生物气溶胶浓度和粒径分布规律;对其同空气质量指数PM2.5(AQI),环境温度和湿度间的Spearman’s相关性进行了研究;分析了冬夏两季重度雾霾天气时,生物气溶胶粒径分布规律.结果表明,生物气溶胶浓度与PM2.5(AQI)呈负相关,与环境温度呈正相关.环境湿度与细菌气溶胶浓度呈负相关而与真菌气溶胶浓度呈正相关.在冬季,最大浓度细菌和真菌气溶胶分别在4.5~7.0μm和2.1~3.3μm粒径范围内检测到,而夏季最高浓度细菌和真菌气溶胶均分布在3.3~4.5μm范围内.本研究结果将为不同雾霾天气下,评价生物气溶胶对人类健康造成的危害提供基础数据.     

Long-range atmospheric transport of three toxaphene congeners across Europe. Modeling by chained single-box FATEMOD program

Background, aims, and scope  Since toxaphene (polychlorocamphene, polychloropinene, or strobane) mixtures were applied for massive insecticide use in the 1960s to replace the use of DDT, some of their congeners have been found at high latitudes far away from the usage areas. Especially polychlorinated bornanes have demonstrated dominating congeners transported by air up to the Arctic areas. Environmental fate modeling has been applied to monitor this phenomenon using parallel zones of atmosphere around the globe as interconnected environments. These zones, shown in many meteorological maps, however, may not be the best way to configure atmospheric transport in air trajectories. The latter could also be covered by connecting a chain of simple model boxes. We aim to study this alternative approach by modeling the trajectory chain using catchment boxes of our FATEMOD model. Polychlorobornanes analyzed in biota of the Barents Sea offered one case to study this modeling alternative, while toxaphene has been and partly still is used massively at southern East Europe and around rivers flowing to the Aral Sea. Materials and methods  Pure model substances of three polychlorobornanes (toxaphene congeners P26, P50, and P62) were synthesized, their environmentally important thermal properties measured by differential scanning calorimetry, as evaluated from literature data, and their temperature dependences estimated by the QSPR programs VPLEST, WATSOLU, and TDLKOW. The evaluated property parameters were used to model their atmospheric long-range transport from toxaphene heavy usage areas in Ukraine and Aral/SyrDarja/AmuDarja region areas, through East Europe and Northern Norway (Finnmarken) to the Barents Sea. The time period used for the emission model was June 1997. Usual weather conditions in June were applied in the model, which was constructed by chaining FATEMOD model boxes of the catchment’s areas along assumed maximal air flow trajectories. Analysis of the three chlorobornanes in toxaphene mixtures function as a basis for the estimates of emission levels caused by its usage. High estimate (A) was taken from contents in a Western product chlorocamphene and low estimate (B) from mean contents in Russian polychloroterpene products to achieve modeled water concentrations. Bioaccumulation to analyzed lipid of aquatic biota at the target region was estimated by using statistical calculation for persistent organic pollutants in literature. Results  The results from model runs A and B (high and low emission estimate) for levels in sea biota were compared to analysis results of samples taken in August 1997 at Barents Sea. The model results (ng g⁻¹ lw): 4–95 in lipid of planktovores and 7–150 in lipid of piscivores, were in fair agreement with the analysis results from August 1997: 21–31 in Themisto libellula (chatka), 26–42 in Boreocadus saida (Polar cod), and 5–27 in Gadus morhua (cod) liver. Discussion  The modeling results indicate that the application of chained simple multimedia catchment boxes on predicted trajectory is a useful method for estimation of volatile airborne persistent chemical exposures to biota in remote areas. For hazard assessment of these pollutants, their properties, especially temperature dependences, must be estimated by a reasonable accuracy. That can be achieved by using measurements in laboratory with pure model compounds and estimation of properties by thermodynamic QSPR methods. The property parameters can be validated by comparing their values at an environmental temperature range with measured or QSPR-estimated values derived by independent methods. The chained box method used for long-range air transport modeling can be more suitable than global parallel zones modeling used earlier, provided that the main airflow trajectories and properties of transported pollutants are predictable enough. Conclusions  Long-range air transport modeling of persistent, especially photo-resistant organic compounds using a chain of joint simple boxes of catchment’s environments is a feasible method to predict concentrations of pollutants at the target area. This is justified from model results compared with analytical measurements in Barents Sea biota in August 1997: three of six modeled values were high and the other three low compared to the analysis results. The order of magnitude level was similar in both modeled (planktovore and piscivore) and observed (chatka and polar cod) values of lipid samples. The obtained results were too limited to firm validation but are sufficient to justify feasibility of the method, which prompts one to perform more studies on this modeling system. Recommendations and perspectives  For assessment of the risk of environmental damages, chemical fate determination is an essential tool for chemical control, e.g., for EU following the REACH rules. The present conclusion of applicability of the chained single-box multimedia modeling can be validated by further studies using analyses of emissions and target biota in various other cases. To achieve useful results, fate models built with databases having automatic steps for most calculations and outputs accessible to all chemical control professionals are essential. Our FATEMOD program catchments at environments and compound properties listed in the database represent a feasible tool for local, regional, and, according our present test results, for global exposure predictions. As an extended use of model, emission estimates can be achieved by reversed modeling from analysis results of samples corresponding to the target area. This article is dedicated to the memory of Professor Alexander B Terentiev (who passed away in November 2006), our true friend. With his Institute of Organo-Element Compounds, Russian Academy of Science, Moscow, he was an important main organizer of the six joint Finnish–Russian seminars (every third year since 1989) on the field (‘Chemistry and Ecology of Organo-Element Compounds’). He prompted us especially to search properties and environmental fates for various polyhalogen compounds. We remember him for his friendly character and great sense of humor.     

Volatilization characteristics of organic solutes in stirred solution

The effects of turbulence intensity (velocity gradient, G (s⁻¹)), Henry's law constant (H), and molecular weight (M) on the volatilization rates of organic compounds are examined using changes in the mass transfer coefficients (K_OL (cm/min)) under specific liquid-mixing intensities. The selected compounds were divided into three groups according to their H values (mole in gas/mole in liquid, dimensionless), which ranged from 10² to 10⁻⁵. The relationship of the K_OL relative to G, H and M was obtained via multiple regression. The obtained values of these parameters indicate that the primary factor affecting the K_OL values of the high H compounds is their M values. The effects of the H values on the K_OL values of the high H compounds can be neglected. On the other hand, the H value is the major factor determining the K_OL values of the low H compounds. The changes in the K_OL values of the different H compounds exhibit different profiles as the liquid-mixing intensity increases. The M and H values of middle H compounds possibly affect their K_OL values. The effects of the liquid-mixing intensity on the K_OL values of the organic compounds increase with increasing H values. The variation in the K_OL values might be a result of the concentration of the organic compounds at the interface between the liquid and gas films. The empirical relationship between K_OL and some selected parameters, G, H and M, is examined in this study. The obtained results can help to estimate volatilization loss of organic solutes in wastewater treatment facilities.     

一个新的拓扑指数用于芳烃化合物溶解度、分配系数及生物毒性的研究

在分子拓扑理论的基础上,提出了一个新的拓扑指数Yx,并用Yx研究了芳烃化合物的溶解度、分配系数及生物毒(活）性,给出了相关方程。结果表明,新方法计算方便,物理意义明确,预测值与相应的实验值较吻合。     

Experimental investigation of a solar water distillation-cum-drying unit

In this communication, a new design of solar-energy-based water distillation cum drying unit with parabolic reflector has been designed, fabricated, and tested. Bitter gourd and potato slices are chosen as a drying commodity. Thermal performance of the developed system has been evaluated based on the experimental results and using linear regression analysis. Heat transfer coefficients (convective, evaporative, and radiative) for solar distillation system have been observed to be 2.48–4.09, 13.25–52.38, and 8.75–9.66 W/m²°C, respectively. Overall thermal efficiency and exergy efficiency for the distillation system has been found to be 18.77% and 1.2%, respectively. The convective heat transfer coefficient for potato slices are observed higher for initial hours and decreases as the day progresses. The average convective heat transfer coefficients for bitter gourd and potato slices have been observed as 2.18 and 5.04 W/m²°C, respectively. Experimental error in terms of percent uncertainty for bitter gourd and potato slices are found to be 42.93% and 37.06%, respectively. The present design of solar distillation and drying in a single unit could be beneficial for the development of remote, arid, and rural areas.