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.     

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     

三峡库区中低产土壤重金属含量及其与小麦吸收的关系

三峡库区中低产土壤的Hg,As,Cr,Pb,Cu五个重金属含量（除渝北区外），均在国家土壤环境质量标准内，属自然背景值一级标准。Cd和Zn高于全国土壤中的平均含量和背景值含量，属二级标准。土壤的重金属含量与土壤母质类型，pH值，阳离子交换量，有机质，无定形铁和物理性粘粒有关，同时存在一定的地域分布。重庆近郊的土壤所有重金属含量相对较高。土壤重金属的可给态或有效性含量极低，锌和铜不是过量，而是不足。小麦籽粒中As,Cr,Pb,Zn,Cu含量低于国家食品对重金属限量标准和小麦籽粒背景值标准，Hg,Cd含量高于国家规定标准。籽粒中的Cu,Zn含量是小麦茎叶中的2.0-2.2倍，而茎叶中的Hg,Pb,As,Cr,Cd含量明显高于籽粒。     

Plant communities in the zone of gas field development and heavy metal accumulation by them

Heavy metal accumulation by plant communities has been studied in different zones of impact of gas field development. The contents of heavy metals in different blocks of plant communities has proved to depend not only on the location of phytocenosis but also on its species composition. Communities dominated by species of the family Poaceae contain smaller amounts of heavy metals than those dominated by species of the family Asteraceae, especially of the genus Artemisia. The order of precedence in the accumulation of heavy metals in different blocks of plant communities has been revealed.     

A Marine Pollution Study of Northeast Coastal Water Off Taiwan Island

The coastal water of northeast Taiwan island, called 'Yin-Yang Hai' for its distinct yellow colour compared with blue offshore water, was investigated from 1989 to 1990 by the authors. Biological study showed the dominant species of plankton to be Copepoda, Cladocera, planktonic eggs and Diatoma. Dominant species of benthos were young crabs, Amphipoda and Annelida, with Amphipoda usually occurring in heavily polluted areas. Heavy metal data showed that the concentration of copper was high. the copper and iron concentration in algae of the intertidal zone was also high. the concentrations of iron and copper in inshore water were also higher than in offshore water. By comparison of the pH and salinity distribution of this area, we conclude that this coastal water has been polluted by acid waste water from coastal industry. the suspended solids concentration in sea water is high. Flocculation occurring at the boundary of fresh and saline water might be a reason for the distinct yellow colour of the water of this area. Further study is required.     

长春秋季生物质燃烧对PM2.5中WSOC吸光性的影响

为探究长春秋季生物质燃烧对PM_(2.5)中水溶性有机碳(water-soluble organic carbon,WSOC)吸光性的影响,于2017年10～11月进行PM_(2.5)样品采集,对PM_(2.5)中碳质组分、糖类化合物和WSOC的光吸收特征参数进行分析.研究表明:长春秋季PM_(2.5)中WSOC、有机碳(organic carbon,OC)、元素碳(elemental carbon,EC)的平均浓度分别为(10.12±3.47)、(17.07±5.64)和(1.34±0.75)μg·m~(-3),二次有机碳(secondary organic carbon,SOC)对OC的平均贡献率为38.93%.长春秋季总糖浓度为(1 049.39±958.85)ng·m~(-3),其中作为生物质燃烧示踪剂的脱水糖含量(左旋葡聚糖、半乳聚糖和甘露聚糖)在总糖中占比为91.69%,糖类相关性分析结果显示生物质燃烧源为长春秋季大气中糖类物质的主要贡献源.糖类物质的相关性分析及3种脱水糖的特征比值研究显示,作为长春秋季大气主要污染源的生物质燃烧的类型是硬木和作物残渣的燃烧.长春秋季WSOC的光吸收波长指数(AAE)为5.75±1.06,单位质量吸收效率(MAE)为(1.23±0.28)m~2·g~(-1),表明生物质燃烧对WSOC吸光性具有重要影响.利用生物质燃烧特征源参数量化计算生物质燃烧对WSOC浓度的贡献达58.82%,对总WSOC光吸收的贡献达40.92%.     

郑州市春季大气污染过程VOCs特征、臭氧生成潜势及源解析

利用GC5000在线气相色谱仪于2018年4月15日～5月15日对郑州市城区环境大气挥发性有机物(VOCs)进行监测,开展其污染特征、臭氧生成潜势(OFP)和来源解析研究.结果表明,监测期间,郑州市春季VOCs平均体积分数为40.26×10~(-9),非污染日和污染日VOCs平均体积分数分别为35.82×10~(-9)和44.12×10~(-9),污染日相较非污染日增长23%;VOCs物种对OFP的贡献表现为烯烃芳香烃烷烃炔烃;源解析结果显示监测期间郑州市VOCs主要来源是LPG源(66.05%)、机动车源(47.39%)、工业溶剂源(37.51%)、燃烧源(37.80%)和植物排放源(11.25%),且污染日的LPG源和植物排放源的贡献率较非污染日增长22.92%和68.50%.     

铅锌矿区玉米中重金属污染特征及健康风险评价

以西南某铅锌矿区为研究区域,测定了92份玉米样品中Pb、Zn、Cd、Cr和Ni的含量,开展了矿区玉米籽粒中重金属污染特征及健康风险研究.应用单因子污染指数和内梅罗综合污染指数分析了重金属在玉米中的污染状况,采用健康风险评价模型评价了重金属对人体健康造成的风险,同时利用主成分分析法解析了重金属的主要来源.结果表明,玉米籽粒中Pb、Zn、Cd、Cr和Ni的平均含量分别为0.30、23.75、0.21、1.33和1.15 mg ·kg^-1;除重金属Zn外,其他4种重金属均超过我国食品卫生标准限值,研究区玉米籽粒中Pb、Cd、Cr和Ni的综合污染指数范围介于4.32~9.07之间,均属于重度污染,Zn的综合污染指数小于1;重金属通过玉米籽粒摄入引起的复合重金属污染对成人和儿童均存在健康风险,且对儿童造成的健康风险高于成人.玉米籽粒中5种重金属可以由2个主成分来反映,第一主成分主要支配Pb、Cd、Cr和Ni的来源,第二主成分支配Zn的来源.玉米籽粒重金属含量与土壤重金属含量之间没有明显相关性.     

北京南部城区PM2.5中碳质组分特征

为了解《大气污染防治行动计划》实施后北京市大气PM_2.5中碳质组分特征,于2017年12月至2018年12月在北京污染较重的南部城区进行了PM_2.5连续采样,对其中的有机碳（OC）和元素碳（EC）进行了全面研究.结果表明,北京大气PM_2.5、OC和EC浓度变化范围分别为4.2~366.3、0.9~74.5和0.0~5.5 μg ·m^-3,平均浓度分别为（77.1±52.1）、（11.2±7.8）和（1.2±0.8）μg ·m^-3,碳质组分（OC和EC）整体占PM_2.5的16.1%.OC质量浓度季节特征表现为：冬季[（13.8±8.7）μg ·m^-3] > 春季[（12.7±9.6）μg ·m^-3] > 秋季[（11.8±6.2）μg ·m^-3] > 夏季[（6.5±2.1）μg ·m^-3],EC四季质量浓度水平均较低,范围为0.8~1.5 μg ·m^-3.二次有机碳（SOC）年均质量浓度为（5.4±5.8）μg ·m^-3,四季贡献比例范围为45.7%~52.3%,年均贡献为48.2%,凸显了二次形成的重要贡献.随污染加重,尽管OC和EC贡献比例均降低,但浓度水平却成倍升高,OC和EC浓度在严重污染天分别是空气质量为优天的6.3和3.2倍.与非供暖时段相比,供暖时段PM_2.5、OC和SOC浓度分别增加了14.4%、47.9%和72.1%,体现了OC对供暖季PM_2.5污染的重要贡献.PSCF分析表明,位于北京西南的山西省和河南省部分区域是PM_2.5和OC的主要潜在源区,且PM_2.5潜在源区更为集中;EC的PSCF高值（>0.7）区域较少,主要位于北京南部,如山东省和河南省部分地区,且北京市及周边地区贡献明显.     

土地整治对工业区周边土壤微生物多样性和群落结构影响分析

为探究土地整治对重金属污染环境下土壤理化性质及其中微生物的影响,本文基于Illumina高通量测序技术,对比分析了工业区周边土地整治区内外的土壤微生物群落结构和多样性.结果表明:①从土壤性质来看,土地整治区重金属污染状况和土壤质量均优于非整治区.②从土壤微生物群落结构来看,水田土壤微生物群落主要的菌门为变形菌门、绿弯菌门、酸杆菌门,而土地整治可能降低了变形菌门相对丰度,提高了绿弯菌门和酸杆菌门的相对丰度,同时在属水平上也提高了鞘脂单胞菌属、地杆菌属的相对丰度.③从土壤微生物多样性来看,土地整治区中土壤微生物多样性和功能性明显得到改善,但随着重金属污染程度的升高,改善效果逐渐减弱.④Spearman相关性分析表明,Cd、Hg、Pb、pH、AP是影响微生物群落的主要环境因子,而硫杆菌属、芽孢杆菌属、鞘脂单胞菌属与多种重金属元素表现出显著的正相关关系.本研究证实了土地整治有助于改善土壤微生物多样性和功能性,并提升土壤质量.