End-of-pipe or process-integrated： evidence from LMDI decomposition of China＇s SO2 emission density reduction

In this study, reduction in sulfur dioxide （SO2） emission is decomposed into three parts： source preven- tion, process control and end-of-pipe treatment, using the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index method （LMDI）. Source prevention and process control are defined as process- integrated treatment. It is found that from 2001 to 2010 the reduction of SO2 emission density in China was mainly contributed by end-of-pipe treatment. From the 10th Five Year Plan （FYP） period （2001-2005） to the llth FYP period （2006-2010）, the Chinese government has attempted to enhance process-integrated treatment. How- ever, given its initial effort, the effect is limited compared with that of the end-of-pipe treatment. The effectiveness of environmental regulation and technology in the reduction of SO2 density in 30 provinces （municipality/autonomous regions） from 2001 to 2010 is also investigated. This implies that environmental regulation and technology promote process control and end-of-pipe treatment sig- nificantly, but does not influence source prevention. Furthermore, environmental technology will only take effect under the circumstances of stringent environmental regulation. Therefore, to fulfill the whole process treat- ment, environmental regulation should be strengthened and environmental technology upgraded at the same time.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in China: Progress and Prospects of Research on Treatment Technologies and Policy Provisions

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are an atmospheric pollutant with a boiling point of 50˚C - 260˚C at room temperature and pressure. They are precursors of sulfur dioxide and ozone, which can seriously pollute the atmosphere and endanger human health. After the “14th Five-Year Plan”, VOCs, instead of SO2, became one of the five indicators of China’s atmospheric governance. As a result, the government’s efforts to control VOCs have increased significantly. VOCs governance mustn’t be delayed. This paper provides a comprehensive summary and analysis of VOCs governance, covering the classification of VOCs, analysis of VOC governance technology (with a focus on end-of-pipe governance technology), national policy regulations, current governance shortcomings, and a forward-looking perspective on the future direction of VOCs governance, emphasizing healthy and sustainable development.

Advances in particulate matter filtration:Materials,performance,and application

Air-borne pollutants in particulate matter(PM)form,produced either physically during industrial processes or certain biological routes,have posed a great threat to human health.Particularly during the current COVID-19 pandemic,effective filtration of the virus is an urgent matter worldwide.In this review,we first introduce some fundamentals about PM,including its source and classification,filtration mechanisms,and evaluation parameters.Advanced filtration materials and their functions are then summarized,among which polymers and MOFs are discussed in detail together with their antibacterial performance.The discussion on the application is divided into end-of-pipe treatment and source control.Finally,we conclude this review with our prospective view on future research in this area.

Wastewater Pollution Abatement in China: A Comparative Study of Fifteen Industrial Sectors from 1998 to 2010

This study analyzes the management of wastewater pollutants in a number of Chinese industrial sectors from 1998 to 2010. We use decomposition analysis to calculate changes in wastewater pollutant emissions that result from cleaner production processes, end-of-pipe treatment, structural changes in industry, and changes in the scale of production. We focus on one indicator of water quality and three pollutants: chemical oxygen demand (COD), petroleum, cyanide, and volatile phenols. We find that until 2002, COD emissions were mainly reduced through end-of-pipe treatments. Cleaner production processes didn’t begin contributing to COD emissions reductions until the introduction of a 2003 law that enforced their implementation. Petroleum emissions were primarily lowered through cleaner production mechanisms, which have the added benefit of reducing the input cost of intermediate petroleum. Diverse and effective pollution abatement strategies for cyanide and volatile phenols are emerging among industries in China. It will be important for the government to consider differences between industries should they choose to regulate the emissions of specific chemical substances.