Nitrogen Losses from Flooded Rice Field

A field microplot experiment was conducted during the tillering stage of paddy rice to investigate nitrogen(N) Iosses from flooded rice fields following fertilizer application. After application of ammonium bicarbonate,most of nitrogen in the floodwater was present as NH4-N and its concentration varied widely with time.Concentrations of both NO3-N and NO2-N in the floodwater were low due to the weakened nitrification.Under flooded anaerobic reducing conditions, soil solution concentrations of NO3-N and NH4-N were nothigh, ranging from 0.6 mg L-1 to 4.8 mg L-1, and decreased with soil depth. However, the groundwater wasstill contaminated with NO3-N and NH4-N. Rainfall simulation tests showed that the N losses via runoff inrice fields were closely related to the time intervals between fertilizer applications and rainfall events. Whena large rain fell for a short period after fertilizer application, the N losses via runoff could be large, whichcould have a considerable effect on surface water quality. Both irrigation and N fertilizer application mustbe controlled and managed with great care to minimize N losses via runoff from agricultural land.

Impact of Urbanization on Shanghai's Soil Environmental Quality

Heavy metal contents in the soils in the Baoshan District of Shanghai were monitored to evaluate the risk of soil environmental quality degradation due to rapid urbanization and to reveal the ways of heavy metal accumulation in soil during rapid urban sprawl. It was found that the soils in this district were commonly contaminated by Pb, Zn and Cd. Evaluated with a geo-accumulation index (Igeo), the rate of Pb contamination in soils was 100% with 59% of these graded as moderate-severe or severe; Zn contamination reached 59% with 6% graded as moderate-severe or severe; and Cd contamination was over 50%, with one site graded as moderate-severe and another severe-extremely severe. Metal contamination of soils around the Shanghai metropolis was mainly attributed to traffic, industrial production, wastewater irrigation and improper disposal of solid wastes. Because of continuing urbanization, the cultivated land around the metropolis should be comprehensively planned and carefully managed. Also the soil environmental quality of vegetable production bases in this area should be monitored regularly, with vegetables to be grown selected according to the degrees and types of soil contamination.

Effect of pyrolysis temperature and hold time on the characteristic parameters of adsorbent derived from sewage sludge

According to the Doehlert's matrix method, the adsorbent derived from sewage sludge was prepared through chemical activation under controlling the pyrolysis temperature and hold time. The characteristic parameters including the total yield, adsorption of methylene blue, adsorption of iodine, BET surface area, micro-pore volume are 35%—49%, 16.5—38 mg/g, 285—362 mg/g, 185—359 m2/g, and 0.112—0.224 m3/g, respectively. According to the experimental data, the multi-linear regression method was adopted to fit the relations between the characteristic parameters and influential factors. At final, through optimization method, the optimal adsorbent is obtained when using 62 min as hold time and 1105K as pyrolysis temperature. Under the conditions, the adsorbent was produced and compared the characteristic parameters with model forecast value, the coherence is satisfied.

Assessment of water pollution control strategies: a case study for the Dianchi Lake

Lake eutrophication has increasingly become a major environmental issue in China. Although significant efforts have been made towards its resolution in the last decade, most of the implemented control strategies are fragmented, and the formation of policy lacks of sound scientific basis and long\|term objectives. Taking the well\|known Dianchi Lake as a case study, this paper presented a comprehensive assessment for the effectiveness of various eutrophication control strategies. It is expected that the concluding lessons would have a major implication to future eutrophication control.

Application of TLSER method in predicting the aqueous solubility and n-octanol/water partition coefficient of PCBs,PCDDs and PCDFs

The theoretical linear solvation energy relationship(TLSER) approach was adopted to predict the aqueous solubility and n -octanol/water partition coefficient of three groups of environmentally important chemicals-polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans(PCDDs and PCDFs). For each compound, five quantum parameters were calculated using AM1 semiempirical molecular orbital methods and used as structure descriptors: average molecular polarizability(α), energy of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbit( E _ LUMO ), energy of the highest occupied molecular orbit( E _ HOMO ), the most positive charge on a hydrogen atom( q _+), and the most negative atomic partial charge( q _-) in the solute molecule. Then standard independent variables in TLSER equation was extracted and two series of quantitative equations between these quantum parameters and aqueous solubility and n -octanol/water partition coefficient were obtained by stepwise multiple linear regression(MLR) method. The developed equations have both quite high accuracy and explicit meanings. And the cross-validation test illustrated the good predictive power and stability of the established models. The results showed that TLSER could be used as a promising approach in the estimation of partition and solubility properties of macromolecular chemicals, such as persistent organic pollutants.

Municipal sludge as landfill barrier material

The aim of this research is to find substitute barrier materials for natural clay from two kinds of municipal sludge: waterworks sludge(S_w) and dredging sludge(S_d). Laboratory tests were performed firstly to determine their Atterberg limits and hydraulic conductivity. Based on the results, the use of waterworks sludge was recommended. Then, shear strength tests were performed and it was found the shear resistance property of waterworks sludge is strong enough to maintain slope stability. In order to evaluate the possibility of secondary pollution, the heavy metal contents of waterworks sludge was determined and the results indicated that secondary pollution is unlikely happened. Finally, economic analysis proves that reusing waterworks sludge as barrier will reduce the lost a great for both landfill and waterworks. Based on the results, waterworks sludge was proposed to use and a further long-term simulated landfill test was suggested.

Preliminary Study on Nitrogen and Phosphorus Releases from Creek Sediments in Shanghai Suburbs

A laboratory study was conducted to observe the release ofnitrogen and phosphorus from the sediments under both anaerobic andaerobic conditions. The samples used were five creek sediments and afish-pond sediment (as a comparison) obtained from suburban Shanghai.High loads of nitrogen and phosphorus were found in the creeksediments. Total nitrogen of the sediments ranged form 1.17 to 5.95 gkg^-1; total phosphorus from 608.63 to 2 033.95 mg kg^-1. Making upmore than 90/100 of the total nitrogen, organic nitrogen was thedominant nitrogen fraction in the sediments; whereas inorganicphosphorus was the dominant phosphorus fraction, which made up morethan 85 percent of the total phosphorus. Ca-bound phosphorus fractiondominated inorganic phosphorus, which occupied more than 50/100 ofthe total.

Risk forecasting and evaluating model of Environmental pollution accident

Environmental risk(ER) factors come from ER source and they are controlled by the primary control mechanism(PCM) of environmental risk, due to the self failures or the effects of external environment risk trigger mechanism, the PCM could not work regularly any more, then, the ER factors will release environmental space, and an ER field is formed up. The forming of ER field does not mean that any environmental pollution accident(EPA) will break out; only the ER receptors are exposed in the ER field and damaged seriously, the potential ER really turns into an actual EPA. Researching on the general laws of evolving from environmental risk to EPA, this paper bring forwards a relevant concept model of risk forecasting and evaluating of EPA. This model provides some scientific methods for risk evaluation, prevention and emergency response of EPA. This model not only enriches and develops the theory system of environment safety and emergency response, but also acts as an instruction for public safety, enterprise's safety management and emergency response of the accident.

Degradation of H-acid in aqueous solution by microwave assisted wet air oxidation using Ni-loaded GAC as catalyst

A novel process, microwave assisted catalytic wet air oxidation(MW-CWO), was applied for the degradation of H-acid(1-amino-8-naphthol-3, 6-disulfonic acid) in aqueous solution. Ni-loaded granular activated carbon(GAC), prepared by immersion-calcination method, was used as catalyst. The results showed that the MW-CWO process was very effective for the degradation of H-acid in aqueous solution under atmospheric pressure with 87.4% TOC (total organic carbon) reduction in 20 min. Ni on GAC existed in the form of NiO as specified by XRD. Loss of Ni was significant in the initial stage, and then remained almost constant after 20 min reaction. BET surface area results showed that the surface property of GAC after MW-CWO process was superior to that of blank GAC.

Effects of UV-B radiation on the growth interaction of Ulva pertusa and Alexandrium tamarense

Enhanced UV-B(280-320 nm) radiation resulting from ozone depletion is one of global environmental problems. Not only marine organisms but also marine ecosystems can be affected by enhanced UV-B radiation. The effects of UV-B radiation on interaction of macro-algae and micro-algae were investigated using Ulva pertusa Kjellman and Alexandrium tamarense as the materials in this study. The results demonstrated that UV-B radiation could inhibit the growth of Ulva pertusa and Alexandrium tamarense when they were both mono-cultured, and the growth inhibition of algae was more significant with increasing doses of UV-B radiation. Alexandrium tamarense could inhibit the growth of Ulva pertusa in mixed culture, and the growth inhibition was more significant when increasing the initial cell density. However, Ulva pertusa could inhibit the growth of Alexandrium tamarense in early phase and stimulate the growth in latter phase when they were grown in mixed culture. Lower initial cell density(10~2 cell/ml) of Alexandrium tamarense could inhibit the growth of Ulva pertusa under UV-B radiation treatment,however, with the initial cell density increasing(10~3 and 10~4 cell/ml), the growth of Ulva pertusa was stimulated under lower dose of UV-B radiation and inhibited under higher dose of UV-B radiation by Alexandrium tamarense. Compared with that in mixed culture, Ulva pertusa showed more positive inhibition to the growth of Alexandrium tamarense under UV-B radiation treatment.

Predicting physico-chemical properties of polychlorinated diphenyl ethers (PCDEs): potential persistent organic pollutants(POPs)

Polychlorinated diphenyl ethers(PCDEs) have received more and more concerns as a category of potential persistent organic pollutants(POPs). Modeling its environmental fate and exposure assessment require a number of fundamental physico-chemical properties. However, the experimental data are currently limited due to the difficulty in analysis caused by the complexity of PCDE congeners. As an alternative, the quantitative structure property relationship(QSPR) approach could be used. In this paper, twelve kinds of molecular connectivity indices(MCIs) of all 209 possible molecular structure patterns of PCDEs were calculated. Based on 106 PCDEs with three observed physico-chemical properties—vapour pressure(P 0 L), aqueous solubility(S w) and n-octanol/water(K ow ) and their MCIs data, a series of QSPR equations were established using multiple linear regression(MLR) method. As a result, three equations with best performance were selected mainly from the view of high regression coefficient(R) and low standard error(SE). All of them showed significant relationship and high accuracy. With these equations the properties of other 103 patterns of PCDEs without the reported observed values were predicted. Furthermore, three partition properties for PCDE congeners—Henry's Law constants(H), partition coefficients between gas/water(K gw ) and gas/n-octanol(K go ) were calculated according to the internal relationship among these six properties. These observed and predicted values, in contrast with the criteria listed in the Stockholm treaty about POPs which has been signed by more than ninety countries in May 2001, illustrated that most of PCDEs congeners are potential persistent organic pollutants. As all descriptors/predictors are derived just from the molecular structure itself and without the import of any empirical parameters, this method is impersonal and promising for the estimation of physico-chemical properties of PCDEs.

Treatment of Landfill Leachate by Fenton Oxidation Process

Central composite design (CCD), the most popular design ofresponse surface methodology (RSM), was employed to investigate theeffect of total organic carbon (TOC) ratio of high molecular weightorganic matter (HMW) to low molecular weight organic matter (LMW),the LMW strength and molar ratio of hydrogen peroxide to ferrous ionon landfill leachate treatment by Fenton process. Based on theexperimental data, a response surface quadratic model in terms ofactual factors was obtained through analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Chemical speciation and mobility of heavy metals in municipal solid waste incinerator fly ash

Chemical speciation is a significant factor that governs the toxicity and mobility of heavy metals in municipal solid waste incinerator fly ash. Sequential extraction procedure is applied to fractionate heavy metals(Pb, Zn, Cd, Cu, and Cr) into five defined groups: exchangeable, carbonate, Fe-Mn oxide, organic, and residual fractions. The mobility of heavy metals is also investigated with the aid of toxicity characteristic leaching procedure. In the fly ash sample, Pb is primarily presented in the carbonate(51%) and exchangeable(20%) fractions; Cd and Zn mainly exist as the exchangeable(83% and 49% respectively); Cu is mostly contained in the last three fractions(totally 87%); and Cr is mainly contained in the residual fraction(62%). Pb, Zn and Cd showed the high mobility in the investigation, thus might be of risk to the natural environment when municipal solid waste incinerator fly ash is landfilled or reutilized.

Real-world vehicle emission factors in Chinese metropolis city—Beijing

The dynamometer tests with different driving cycles and the real-world tests are presented. Results indicated the pollutants emission factors and fuel consumption factor with ECE15+EUDC driving cycle usually take the lowest value and with real world driving cycle occur the highest value, and different driving cycles will lead to significantly different vehicle emission factors with the same vehicle. Relative to the ECE15+EUDC driving cycle, the increasing rate of pollutant emission factors of CO, NOx and HC are -0.42—2.99, -0.32 —0.81 and -0.11—11 with FTP75 testing, 0.11—1.29, -0.77—0.64 and 0.47—10.50 with Beijing 1997 testing and 0.25—1.83, 0.09—0.75 and -0.58—1.50 with real world testing. Compared to the carburetor vehicles, the retrofit and MPI+TWC vehicles' pollution emission factors decrease with different degree. The retrofit vehicle(Santana) will reduce 4.44%—58.44% CO, -4.95%—36.79% NOx, -32.32%—33.89% HC, and -9.39%—14.29% fuel consumption, and especially that the MPI+TWC vehicle will decrease CO by 82.48%—91.76%, NOx by 44.87%—92.79%, HC by 90.00%—93.89% and fuel consumption by 5.44%—10.55%. Vehicles can cause pollution at a very high rate when operated in high power modes; however, they may not often operate in these high power modes. In analyzing vehicle emissions, it describes the fraction of time that vehicles operate in various power modes. In Beijing, vehicles spend 90% of their operation in low power modes or decelerating.

Root Zone Microbial Populations, Urease Activities, and Purification Efficiency for a Constructed Wetland

In order to investigate the effects of microorganisms and their urease activities in macrophytic root zones on pollutant removal, four small-scale plots (SSPs) of vertical/reverse-vertical flow wetlands were set up to determine: a) the relationship between the abundance of microorganisms in the root zones and water purification efficiency; and b) the relationship between urease activities in the root zones and pollutant removal in a constructed wetland system. Total numbers of the microbial population (bacteria, fungi, and actinomyces) along with urease activities in the macrophytic root zones were determined. In addition, the relationships between microbial populations and urease activities as well as the wastewater purification efficiencies of total phosphorus (TP), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), biochemical oxygen demand in 5 days (BOD5), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were also analyzed. The results showed that there was a highly significant positive correlation (r = 0.9772, P ＜ 0.01) between the number of bacteria in the root zones and BOD5 removal efficiency and a significant negative correlation (r = -0.9092, P ＜ 0.05) between the number of fungi and the removal efficiency of TKN. Meanwhile, there was a significant positive correlation (r -- 0.8830, P ＜ 0.05) between urease activities in the root zones and the removal efficiency of TKN. Thus, during wastewater treatment in a constructed wetland system,microorganism and urease activities in the root zones were very important factors.

Occurrence of Haloacetic Acids in Drinking Water in Certain Cities of China

Objective Since haloacetic acids (HAAs), which are nonvolatile and of high carcinogenic risk, are common species of chlorinated disinfection by-products(DBPs) in drinking water, and little has been known in China, it is necessary to make a survey about the kinds and levels of HAAs in drinking water of the nation. Method HAAs were analyzed using gas chromatography with electron capture detector(GC/ECD) and relatively complex pretreatment process of sample was applied. Five main cities in different areas of China were chosen in the survey. Results Studies showed that the main species of HAAs in drinking water in China were DCAA and TCAA, ranging from 0.4 礸/L to 12.85 礸/L and from 0.56 礸/L to 10.98 礸/L, respectively. MBAA and DBAA were also detected in one city, ranging from 2.20 礸/L to 4.95 礸/L and 1.10 礸/L to 2.81 礸/L, respectively. Therefore, the contents of HAAs varied, usually no more than 25 礸/L. Based on the acquired data to date, it is known that the concentrations of HAAs in drinking water in China were surely under the limits of Sanitary Standard for Drinking Water Quality (China, 2001). Conclusion A wider survey of HAAs in drinking water should be conducted throughout the nation to get adequate data and information, the ultimate aim of which is to control HAAs pollution and keep the balance between microbiological safety insurance and chemical risk control, minimize the formation of DBPs and ensure the safety of water supply at the same time.

Separation of indium (Ⅲ), gallium (Ⅲ), and zinc (Ⅱ) with Levextrel resin containing di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (CL-P204): Part I. Selection of separation conditions

A kind of Levextrel resin separation process was developed for separation ofindium (III), gallium (III), and zinc (II) from aqueous sulfate solution with Levextrel resincontaining di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (CL-P 204). The aim of the research is to collectpreliminary results for a pilot-scale production. Properties of adsorbing indium (III), gallium(III), and zinc (II) from sulfate solution with the Levextrel resin were first studied by batchoperation and column operation. The optimum pH, adsorption capacities and concentrations ofstripping agents for indium (III), gallium (III) were tested. The separation order of indium (III),gallium (III), and zinc (II) from sulfate solution with CL-P 204 Levextrel resin was found thatindium (III) could be first separated by adsorbing at the acidity of 1.0 mol/L whereas gallium (III)and zinc (II) could not, and they were adsorbed together by adsorbing at pH =2.8, then separatedfrom each other by stripping with 0.1 and 0.5 mol/L hydrochloric acid, respectively. The recoveriesof three metal ions were all higher than 99 percent. The cyclic properties of this resin are well.

Red Ratings for Loess-Paleosol Sequences on China’s Loess Plateau and Their Paleo-Climatic Implications

Comparisons of red ratings (RR) with Fe_d, Fe_d/Fet, clay content, andmagnetic susceptibility (x) of two loess-paleosol sequences at Luochuan and Lingtai on China's LoessPlateau were conducted to study the possible relationship between RR and pedogenic degrees of thetwo loess-paleosol sequences, and to discuss whether the RR could become new paleo-climaticindicators. Results showed that the RR of the two loess-paleosol sequences had positive, highlysignificant (P < 0.01) correlations with: 1) citrate-bicarbonate-dithionite (CBD) extracted iron(Fe_d), 2) ratios of CBD extracted iron to total iron (Fe_d/Fet), 3) clay (< 2 mum), and 4) magneticsusceptibility (x). This suggested that the RR of these loess-paleosol sequences could indicatedegreesof loess weathering and pedogenesis and were potential paleo-climatic proxies. The strongcorrelations of RR to Fe_d and x also implied that during pedogenic processes, pedogenic hematite inloess and paleosols were closely related to the amount of total secondary iron oxides and pedogenicferrimagnetic minerals (predominantly maghemite).

Application of ion chromatography to the determination of water-soluble inorganic and organic ions in atmospheric aerosols

A simple, sensitive and convenient ion chromatography(IC) method was established for the simultaneous determination of twelve water-soluble inorganic anions(F -, Cl -, NO - 2, NO - 3, SO 2- 3, SO 2- 4, PO 3- 4), and fifteen water-soluble organic ions(formate, acetate, MSA, oxalate, malonate, succinate, phthalates, etc.) in atmospheric aerosols. The linear concentrations ranged from 0.005 μg/m 3 to 500 μg/m 3(r = 0.999—0.9999). The relative standard deviation(RSD) were 0.43%—2.00% and the detection limits were from 2.7 ng/m 3 to 88 ng/m 3. The proposed method was successfully applied to the simultaneous determination of those inorganic ions and organic ions in PM 2.5 of Beijing.

Experimental study on Cr(Ⅵ) reduction by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Investigation on Cr(Ⅵ) reduction was conducted using Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The study demonstrated that the Cr(Ⅵ) can be effectively reduced to Cr(Ⅲ) by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The effects of the factors affecting Cr(Ⅵ) reduction rate including carbon source type, pH, initial Cr(Ⅵ) concentration and amount of cells inoculum were thoroughly studied. Malate was found to yield maximum biotransformation, followed by succinate and glucose, with the reduction rate of 60.86%, 43.76% and 28.86% respectively. The optimum pH for Cr(Ⅵ) reduction was 7.0, with reduction efficiency of 61.71% being achieved. With the increase of initial Cr(Ⅵ) concentration, the rate of Cr(Ⅵ) reduction decreased. The reduction was inhibited strongly when the initial Cr(Ⅵ) concentration increased to 157 mg/L. As the amount of cells inoculum increased, the rate of Cr(Ⅵ) reduction also increased. The mechanism of Cr(Ⅵ) reduction and final products were also analysed. The results suggested that the soluble enzymes appear to be responsible for Cr(Ⅵ) reduction by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the reduced Cr(Ⅲ) was not precipitated in the form of Cr(OH) 3.