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     

Tropic attributes of the mudskipper, Periophthalmus barbarus (Gobiidae: Oxudercinae) in the mangrove swamps of Imo River estuary, Nigeria

Aspects of the trophic attributes of the mudskipper,Periophthalmus barbarus occurring in the mangrove swamps of ImoRiver estuary, Nigeria, were investigated during a 12-month period(April, 1992-March, 1993). Feeding intensity increased with size;it was higher in the dry season (November-April) than in the wetseason (May-October); monthly changes in the indices of feedingintensity were significantly correlated. Major food objectscomprised detritus and benthic algae; crustaceans, insects,macrophyte matter and sand grains were minor food objects whilefish, molluscs, Chilopoda, nematodes and fungi were unconsciouslydevoured objects. Diet varied seasonally; algae and sesarmid crabswere generally more in the dry season than during the rains whereasFPOM and fish increased in the wet over dry season. The mudskipperdisplay a high degree of euryphagy and can be considered as ageneralist and an omnivore. The lower trophic status of P. barbarusqualifies it as a good aquaculture candidate. Food richness washigher in big-sized class (BSC) than small-sized class (SSC).Size-based and seasonal variations were not apparent in foodrichness. Diet breadth was higher in the BSC than the SSC; therewas dry season increase in diet breadth.     

Acid Deposition in the Tuscan Appennines During the Dry Period 1988-89

The typical parameters of acid precipitation are evaluated in the forest of Vallombrosa (Tuscan Appennines) during the dry period 1988-89. Individual rain events (dry and wet deposition) were sampled in a clearing of the forest and below the canopy of an evergreen tree as well as a deciduous broadleaf tree.

In atmospheric precipitation the pH values usually vary around 4.4, with neutralization in the hot season due to calcareous material from distant sources. Relatively large concentrations of Pb and Cd are found in rain, but only in a small amount in canopy leachate. Aluminium, manganese and iron are more significantly washed off than Pb and Cd.     

基于稳定氢同位素的太原市大气单环芳烃来源

采集太原市城北和城南区域环境空气和5类污染源挥发性有机物样品,测定样品中典型单环芳烃稳定氢同位素（δD）组成,基于同位素质量平衡原理计算单环芳烃从源到环境空气受体的δD初始混合值,探讨单环芳烃来源.结果表明,柴油挥发源、溶剂挥发源、汽油挥发源（97^#）、汽油挥发源（95^#）、机动车尾气（97^#）、机动车尾气（95^#）和民用燃煤源中单环芳烃δD范围依次为：（-138.7‰~-115.5‰）、（-147.0‰~-121.0‰）、（-150.8‰~-117.6‰）、（-131.8‰~-113.8‰）、（-171.2‰~-120.0‰）、（-138.9‰~-102.7‰）和（-168.3‰~-142.3‰）,民用燃煤源中单环芳烃δD显著贫重氢同位素（D）组成,机动车尾气源与汽油挥发源中苯的δD相比显著贫D,可用于探索污染物转化过程;城北和城南环境空气中δD范围为（-131.7‰~-115.1‰）和（-131.9‰~-74.9‰）,δD初始混合值为-138.4‰和-173.9‰,体现了其来源差异.     

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.     

深圳大气PM2.5中水溶性有机物的来源特征

对2017年9月~2018年8月深圳市北部大气PM_2.5中水溶性有机物（WSOM）的质量浓度、质谱及来源结构进行测量和分析.结果表明：PM_2.5的质量浓度为（32.3±18.4）μg/m³,WSOM的质量浓度为（9.4±5.7）μg/m³,占颗粒物总有机物的（77.6%±14.0%）.质谱分析显示,WSOM的氧碳比（O/C）平均值达到（0.57±0.09）,属于二次有机物的O/C值范围,且生物质燃烧排放的离子碎片C₂H₄O₂⁺的丰度显著,说明WSOM的来源中有显著的生物质燃烧排放的有机气溶胶.为了明确WSOM的来源结构,利用正矩阵因子分解法（PMF）模型进行来源解析,发现3个合理因子：高氧化态有机气溶胶（MO-OOA）,低氧化态有机气溶胶（LO-OOA）和生物质燃烧（BBOA）,贡献比例分别为51.7%,31.8%和16.5%.MO-OOA和BBOA贡献浓度均呈现秋冬高、春夏低的季节变化特征,反向轨迹分析显示其与内陆污染传输关系密切.LO-OOA的变化相对稳定,本地源的贡献较大.结合¹⁴C同位素示踪法对秋冬季WSOM样品分析,发现机动车等化石源二次有机物是WSOM的主要来源,贡献比例达到53.9%,需继续加强对化石燃料控制来降低WSOM污染.     

NOx存在条件下相对湿度对甲苯氧化产物的影响

利用流动管反应器模拟甲苯与氧化剂×OH在NO_x存在条件下的反应,定量测定了不同相对湿度条件下（17.5%、35%、50%、70%）反应生成的部分气相产物和颗粒相产物,计算了不同相中产物产率,测量了不同相对湿度下的颗粒相有机碳（OC）产率,推导了相对湿度对甲苯氧化反应的影响机制.结果表明,相对湿度不仅对甲苯与×OH反应途径比例有影响,还对产物的产率及氧化程度有影响.     

北京地区基于化学组分的夏季气溶胶吸湿特性

利用吸湿增长光散射测量系统、黑碳仪和气相色谱质谱联用仪等仪器,于2019年7月15日~8月4日在北京地区开展了为期21d的大气气溶胶观测实验.观测期间北京市区于7月27日出现短暂的轻度污染,并在7月29日出现强降水天气.结果显示：北京市区夏季大气污染变化剧烈且短暂,大气气溶胶散射吸湿增长因子f（RH）呈现平滑连续的特点,并且降水会对f（RH）造成显著影响.7月27日PM_2.5的平均质量浓度为（92.54±47.05）μg/m³;,表现出较为剧烈的污染变化.7月28~30日平均散射吸湿增长因子f（80%±1%）分别为（1.50±0.35）,（1.43±0.36）和（1.48±0.25）,反映了降水对于大气气溶胶的湿清除作用.最后利用实验数据估算粒径吸湿增长因子gf（RH）,并建模研究f（RH）和gf（RH）的关系,模型精度R²最高可达0.698.     

金属表面涂装行业VOCs排放特征及排放系数

对比了浙江省2014和2018年金属表面涂装企业的有机废气排放及治理情况,分析了该行业涂料及稀释剂的使用、主要污染因子,测算了溶剂型、水性涂料的挥发性有机物（VOCs）产生系数和排放系数.结果表明：2018年VOCs治理水平明显高于2014年,水性涂料使用企业比例由18%上升至36%,纯溶剂型企业由82%下降至64%;金属表面涂装行业的主要排放污染物为二甲苯、丁醇、乙酸乙酯、乙酸丁酯、甲苯、丙二醇、乙苯、苯乙烯等8种有机物.溶剂型和水性涂料的VOCs产生系数分别为0.72和0.31kg/kg;溶剂型和水性涂料2014年VOCs排放系数为0.64和0.29kg/kg,2018年为0.48和0.21kg/kg.