Review: recent advances in biogas purifying technologies

Biomethane production through biogas upgrading is a promising renewable energy for some industries which could be part of the equilibrium needed with fossil fuels consumption to achieve a sustainable society. This paper presents a comprehensive list of biogas upgrading technologies focused on carbon dioxide removal as well as recent advances reported by researcher with wide expertise in this topic. Additionally, an extensive costs–performance comparison among the technologies studied is discussed. Among the different alternatives, chemical scrubbing stood out to achieve high biomethane purities while cryogenic technologies proved to be effective against methane losses. Regarding the different costs, water scrubbing and membrane separation seem to be the most affordable techniques.     

Ecological and Economic Services Provided by Birds on Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Farms

Abstract: Coffee farms can support significant biodiversity, yet intensification of farming practices is degrading agricultural habitats and compromising ecosystem services such as biological pest control. The coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) is the world's primary coffee pest. Researchers have demonstrated that birds reduce insect abundance on coffee farms but have not documented avian control of the berry borer or quantified avian benefits to crop yield or farm income. We conducted a bird‐exclosure experiment on coffee farms in the Blue Mountains, Jamaica, to measure avian pest control of berry borers, identify potential predator species, associate predator abundance and borer reductions with vegetation complexity, and quantify resulting increases in coffee yield. Coffee plants excluded from foraging birds had significantly higher borer infestation, more borer broods, and greater berry damage than control plants. We identified 17 potential predator species (73% were wintering Neotropical migrants), and 3 primary species composed 67% of migrant detections. Average relative bird abundance and diversity and relative resident predator abundance increased with greater shade‐tree cover. Although migrant predators overall did not respond to vegetation complexity variables, the 3 primary species increased with proximity to noncoffee habitat patches. Lower infestation on control plants was correlated with higher total bird abundance, but not with predator abundance or vegetation complexity. Infestation of fruit was 1–14% lower on control plants, resulting in a greater quantity of saleable fruits that had a market value of US$44–$105/ha in 2005/2006. Landscape heterogeneity in this region may allow mobile predators to provide pest control broadly, despite localized farming intensities. These results provide the first evidence that birds control coffee berry borers and thus increase coffee yield and farm income, a potentially important conservation incentive for producers.     

Analysis of the Trend and Seasonal Cycle of Carbon Monoxide Concentrations in an Urban Area (4 pp)

Background, Aim and Scope Air quality is an field of major concern in large cities. This problem has led administrations to introduce plans and regulations to reduce pollutant emissions. The analysis of variations in the concentration of pollutants is useful when evaluating the effectiveness of these plans. However, such an analysis cannot be undertaken using standard statistical techniques, due to the fact that concentrations of atmospheric pollutants often exhibit a lack of normality and are autocorrelated. On the other hand, if long-term trends of any pollutant’s emissions are to be detected, meteorological effects must be removed from the time series analysed, due to their strong masking effects. Materials and Methods The application of statistical methods to analyse temporal variations is illustrated using monthly carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations observed at an urban site. The sampling site is located at a street intersection in central Valencia (Spain) with a high traffic density. Valencia is the third largest city in Spain. It is a typical Mediterranean city in terms of its urban structure and climatology. The sampling site started operation in January 1994 and monitored CO ground level concentrations until February 2002. Its geographic coordinates are W0°22′52″ N39°28′05″ and its altitude is 11 m. Two nonparametric trend tests are applied. One of these is robust against serial correlation with regards to the false rejection rate, when observations have a strong persistence or when the sample size per month is small. A nonparametric analysis of the homogeneity of trends between seasons is also discussed. A multiple linear regression model is used with the transformed data, including the effect of meteorological variables. The method of generalized least squares is applied to estimate the model parameters to take into account the serial dependence of the residuals of this model. This study also assesses temporal changes using the Kolmogorov-Zurbenko (KZ) filter. The KZ filter has been shown to be an effective way to remove the influence of meteorological conditions on O₃ and PM to examine underlying trends. Results The nonparametric tests indicate a decreasing, significant trend in the sampled site. The application of the linear model yields a significant decrease every twelve months of 15.8% for the average monthly CO concentration. The 95% confidence interval for the trend ranges from 13.9% to 17.7%. The seasonal cycle also provides significant results. There are no differences in trends throughout the months. The percentage of CO variance explained by the linear model is 90.3%. The KZ filter separates out long, short-term and seasonal variations in the CO series. The estimated, significant, long-term trend every year results in 10.3% with this method. The 95% confidence interval ranges from 8.8% to 11.9%. This approach explains 89.9% of the CO temporal variations. Discussion The differences between the linear model and KZ filter trend estimations are due to the fact that the KZ filter performs the analysis on the smoothed data rather than the original data. In the KZ filter trend estimation, the effect of meteorological conditions has been removed. The CO short-term componentis attributable to weather and short-term fluctuations in emissions. There is a significant seasonal cycle. This component is a result of changes in the traffic, the yearly meteorological cycle and the interactions between these two factors. There are peaks during the autumn and winter months, which have more traffic density in the sampled site. There is a minimum during the month of August, reflecting the very low level of vehicle emissions which is a direct consequence of the holiday period. Conclusions The significant, decreasing trend implies to a certain extent that the urban environment in the area is improving. This trend results from changes in overall emissions, pollutant transport, climate, policy and economics. It is also due to the effect of introducing reformulated gasoline. The additives enable vehicles to burn fuel with a higher air/fuel ratio, thereby lowering the emission of CO. The KZ filter has been the most effective method to separate the CO series components and to obtain an estimate of the long-term trend due to changes in emissions, removing the effect of meteorological conditions. Recommendations and Perspectives Air quality managers and policy-makers must understand the link between climate and pollutants to select optimal pollutant reduction strategies and avoid exceeding emission directives. This paper analyses eight years of ambient CO data at a site with a high traffic density, and provides results that are useful for decision-making. The assessment of long-term changes in air pollutants to evaluate reduction strategies has to be done while taking into account meteorological variability     

生态系统服务功能及其价值核算

生态系统服务功能是指生态系统服务与生态系统功能的综合，指生态系统与生态过程所形成及所维持的人类赖以生存的自然环境条件与效用，生态系统服务功能对于人类生存发展具有重要的价值，应该在社会经济体系中得以体现，本文探讨了生态系统服务功能的类型，价值核算方法与理论及其应用研究在完善国民经济核算体系、促进可持续发展等方面的重要意义，并对今后发展进行了展望。     

固定化微藻流化床反应器去除低碳污水中氨氮的潜力

以固定化微藻颗粒为原料,通过搭建流化床反应器强化微藻对氨氮（NH₄⁺-N）的去除,设计了藻种、污水上升流速、光周期和光照强度四组单一变量实验,系统地研究了不同条件下微藻去除NH₄⁺-N的能力.结果表明,当以固定化斜生栅藻为原料、污水上升流速为6.8m/h、光周期为8：16h和光照强度为4800Lux时,NH₄⁺-N去除效果最优（96.7%）.在最优操作条件下,探究了COD为200mg/L时微藻去除NH₄⁺-N的潜力,结果表明,当NH₄⁺-N初始浓度不高于50mg/L时,NH₄⁺-N去除率高于95%.本实验建立了一套半连续微藻流化床实验方法,该方法显著减弱了微藻在生物同化过程中对有机碳源的依赖性,为低COD条件下微藻生物脱氮工艺的设计提供了技术参考和理论基础.     

Coupling mechanism of activated carbon mixed with dust for flue gas desulfurization and denitrification

To clarify the effect of coking dust, sintering dust and fly ash on the activity of activated carbon for various industrial flue gas desulfurization and denitrification, the coupling mechanism of the mixed activated carbon and dust was investigated to provide theoretical reference for the stable operation. The results show that coking dust had 34% desulfurization efficiency and 10% denitrification efficiency; correspondingly, sintering dust and fly ash had no obvious desulfurization and denitrification activities. For the mixture of activated carbon and dust, the coking dust reduced the desulfurization and denitrification efficiencies by blocking the pores of activated carbon, and its inhibiting effect on activated carbon was larger than its own desulfurization and denitrification activity. The sintering dust also reduced the desulfurization efficiency on the activated carbon while enhancing the denitrification efficiency. Fly ash blocked the pores of activated carbon and reduced its reaction activity. The reaction activity of coking dust mainly came from the surface functional groups, similar to that of activated carbon. The reaction activity of sintering dust mainly came from the oxidative property of Fe₂O₃, which oxidized NO to NO₂ and promoted the fast selectively catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO to form N₂. Sintering dust was activated by the joint action of activated carbon, and both had a coupling function. Sintering dust enhanced the adsorption and oxidation of NO, and activated carbon further promoted the reduction of NO_x by NH₃; thus, the denitrification efficiency increased by 5%-7% on the activated carbon.     

长江流域2000—2015年生态系统质量及服务变化特征

分析生态系统质量与服务现状及变化特征,有助于准确了解流域生态系统状况与趋势,为流域生态保护与修复的高效管理提供参考依据.采用相对生物量密度与相对植被覆盖度指数以及生态系统服务（土壤保持、防风固沙、洪水调蓄、粮食生产）评估模型,评估2000—2015年长江流域生态系统质量及服务变化特征.结果表明:①2000—2015年,长江流域森林、灌丛以及草地生态系统质量提升显著,56.56%的森林、45.65%的灌丛以及19.26%的草地生态系统质量得到不同程度的提高.②研究期间,长江流域粮食生产、洪水调蓄、土壤保持、防风固沙均呈显著上升趋势,其中粮食生产能力增加13.7%,洪水调蓄功能提升10.1%,土壤保持服务提高19.5%,防风固沙总量增加30.0%.③长江流域生态系统质量不高,处于低与差质量等级的生态系统面积比例在25%~35%之间;受不同类型的自然和人类活动影响,长江流域生态系统质量与服务均存在局部退化现象.研究显示,在生态质量与服务评估的基础上,分区域、分类型实施不同的生态系统保护与恢复途径,是今后长江流域加强生态系统管理的重要途径.      

基于生态系统服务供需关系的广西县域国土生态修复空间分区

国土生态修复是我国土地整治战略发展的需求,其空间分区与管控是实施国土整治与生态修复差别化建设的前提条件。以广西各县市为研究单元,在测算和分析生态系统服务供给量和需求量基础上,利用象限匹配法、双变量局部空间自相关和供需协调度来定量分析生态系统服务供需匹配关系、空间聚集程度和协调关联性,进而探讨和划分广西国土生态修复的空间分区及其管控措施与建议。研究表明：（1）广西各县市生态系统服务供给和需求差异明显。环绕广西的四周山林地和重点生态功能区县生态系统服务供给量较高,大中城市区则较低。生态系统服务需求量自东南向西北逐渐减少。（2）广西生态系统服务供需空间匹配呈现高供高需型、低供高需型、低供低需型、高供低需型四种类型,供需局部空间自相关以高-低或低-高的空间聚集为主,且生态系统服务供需协调度平均值为0.531,处于一般均衡。（3）结合生态系统服务供需匹配四类特征和广西地理环境条件,将广西各县域划分为10个分区,并针对各分区提出差异化整治措施和建议。总体上,生态系统服务高供高需型的区域应以保育为主、培育为辅,防止过度开发;高供低需型的区域以保护为主,提高管理水平;低供高需型的区域应以综合改良为主,提高土地效益;低供低需型的区域应以国土生态重构或重建为主,侧重恢复生态系统。     

尕海湿地植被退化过程中有机碳及相关土壤酶活性变化特征

以青藏高原东缘尕海湿地不同植被退化程度样地为研究对象,采用定位研究与室内试验相结合的方法,研究植被退化过程对土壤有机碳和土壤酶活性的影响。结果表明：植被退化显著影响土壤有机碳含量和土壤酶活性,降低了土壤有机碳的含量和酶促反应效率,且这种影响随土层深度变化有所不同。四种植被退化阶段有机碳含量和酶活性均值总体上（0~100 cm）表现为未退化>轻度退化>中度退化>重度退化。不同土层中,20~40 cm土层的有机碳含量中度退化>轻度退化;0~10 cm土层中淀粉酶和纤二糖酶中度退化阶段活性值较高;20~100 cm土层中蔗糖酶重度退化阶段活性值最高,纤二糖酶活性重度退化>中度退化。同一退化程度土壤有机碳含量、蔗糖酶和纤二糖酶活性随土层深度增加显著降低（P<0.05）;淀粉酶和纤维素酶活性在>40 cm土层中活性值有所上升,整体呈波动下降趋势。     

珠江口夏季海陆源有机碳的模拟研究——分布特征、贡献比重及其迁移转化过程

基于经过验证的三维水动力-水质模型,对珠江口夏季有机碳进行海陆源区分,并对海陆源有机碳的分布特征、贡献比重及其通量过程进行研究.结果表明,水平方向上,珠江口夏季陆源（海源）有机碳浓度从口门到外海逐渐降低（升高）,在表、底层海水中平均浓度分别为1.45和0.87mg/L（0.97和1.05mg/L）;垂直方向上,在层化水域陆源（海源）有机碳浓度从上到下逐渐递减（升高）,在非层化水域海陆源有机碳浓度垂向分布较为均匀.珠江口夏季海源有机碳贡献率表层海水低于底层海水,平均贡献率为48.26%,沿向海方向海源有机碳贡献率逐渐增加--从内伶仃洋水域的4.43%逐渐提升到外伶仃洋东侧水域的81.20%.珠江口水动力条件复杂,在径流、潮汐、季风等因素的作用下陆源有机碳向海输送且向海输送量逐渐递减;海源有机碳在不同水域动力输送特征不同,西南水域向海输送,向海输送量逐渐递增;东北水域向岸输送,向岸输送量逐渐递减.陆源有机碳生化反应活性较弱,只有小部分被生化过程消耗,其迁移转化主要由沉降过程控制,而海源有机碳的迁移转化,则由口门的动力输送过程主控向外海的生化耗碳过程主控过渡.此外,海源有机碳沉降作用明显低于陆源有机碳,生化作用明显高于陆源有机碳.