Effect of chlorine content in feeding wastes of incineration on the emission of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans

This study attempts to clarify the effects of chlorine content in waste on the formation mechanisms of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in full scale incinerators by proposing and using the principal component analysis (PCA) to compare the congener profiles of PCDD/Fs in the stack flue gases of 17 emission sources, including incinerators and vehicles. Four incinerators, among these 17 emission sources, were sampled and analyzed in this study, and the data for the other 13 emission sources were selected from previous studies. These 17 emission sources can be classified into four categories, including medical waste incinerators (MWIs, H1-H5), municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs, M1-M8), vehicle fuel combustion (unleaded gas-fueled vehicles, UGFV; diesel-fueled vehicles, DFV, n = 2) and polyvinylchloride (PVC) facility vent combustors (PVC1 and PVC2, n = 2). PCA was conducted for these emission sources with the fractions of 17 2,3,7,8-congeners in the stack flue gases as variables to clarify the effect of chlorine content in feeding wastes on the emission of PCDD/Fs. From the results of PCA, we extrapolated that the threshold value of the chlorine content was at 0.8-1.1%, and the formation mechanisms of PCDD/Fs are influenced first by whether the chlorine content in the feeding waste is over or below the threshold value then by other factors, which furnaces or APCDs represent. When the chlorine level in the waste is below the threshold value at 0.8-1.1%, the formation of PCDDs dominates, probably because the chlorine is used to chlorinate the non-substituted phenol to produce chlorophenols, which are important precursors for PCDDs. rather than chlorinate the dibenzofuran. While the chlorine level in the waste exceeds this threshold (0.8-1.1%), the rates of formation of PCDFs increase faster than those of PCDDs, probably because the chlorine content in the waste contributes to the deterioration of combustion conditions, and many products of incomplete combustion (PICs) like PAHs, will grow to a substantial level. When PCDD/Fs are formed from PAHs, the formation rates of PCDFs are higher than those of PCDDs.     

Elucidation and short-term forecasting of microcystin concentrations in Lake Suwa (Japan) by means of artificial neural networks and evolutionary algorithms

Non-supervised artificial neural networks (ANN) and hybrid evolutionary algorithms (EA) were applied to analyse and model 12 years of limnological time-series data of the shallow hypertrophic Lake Suwa in Japan. The results have improved understanding of relationships between changing microcystin concentrations, Microcystis species abundances and annual rainfall intensity. The data analysis by non-supervised ANN revealed that total Microcystis abundance and extra-cellular microcystin concentrations in typical dry years are much higher than those in typical wet years. It also showed that high microcystin concentrations in dry years coincided with the dominance of the toxic Microcystis viridis whilst in typical wet years non-toxic Microcystis ichthyoblabe were dominant. Hybrid EA were used to discover rule sets to explain and forecast the occurrence of high microcystin concentrations in relation to water quality and climate conditions. The results facilitated early warning by 3-days-ahead forecasting of microcystin concentrations based on limnological and meteorological input data, achieving an r(2)=0.74 for testing.     

Enhanced PCE dechlorination by biobarrier systems under different redox conditions

The industrial solvent tetrachloroethylene (PCE) is among the most ubiquitous chlorinated compounds found in groundwater contamination. The objective of this study was to evaluate the (1) feasibility of enhancing PCE biodegradation using cane molasses and sludge cakes as the primary substrates under methanogenic and iron reducing conditions, and (2) potential of installation a sludge cake/cane molasses biobarrier to clean up PCE-contaminated aquifers. The biodegradability of sludge cake (from secondary wastewater treatment system) and cane molasses was tested using bioavailability experiments. Results show that biodegradable materials were released from sludge cake/cane molasses and utilized by microbial consortia. Based on the chemical oxygen demand (COD) tests, approximately 28 and 248 mg of biodegradable COD can be released from 1 g of sludge cake and 1 g of cane molasses under anaerobic conditions, which have the potential to convert 70 and 620 mg of PCE to ethylene (ETH), respectively. Reductive dechlorination was evaluated using microcosms containing primary substrates (sludge cake/cane molasses) and inocula (aquifer sediments). Results indicate that sludge cake and cane molasses can serve as the diffusion sources of primary substrates, and enhance the reductive dechlorination of PCE under methanogenic processes. However, results from this study were not sufficient enough to show that reductive dechlorination of PCE would occur under iron-reducing conditions. This indicates that more studies need to be performed to further evaluate the role of iron reduction on the PCE dechlorination. Results reveal that it is feasible and applicable to install a sludge cake or cane molasses biobarrier to clean up PCE contaminated aquifers. From an engineering point of view, the sludge cake/cane molasses biobarrier has the potential to become an environmentally and economically acceptable technology for PCE bioremediation.     

Modeling sediment impact on the transport of fecal bacteria

Sediment storage of fecal bacteria has been observed for a long time. However, limited modeling efforts have been conducted to dynamically and explicitly study the impact of sediment on the transport of fecal bacteria. In this paper, a modeling framework based on the Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code (EFDC) model has been proposed. Free and particle-associated fecal bacteria can be modeled explicitly using the developed model. A linear adsorption relationship is incorporated into the model to obtain a sediment concentration dependent attachment ratio. The deposition and resuspension fluxes of fecal bacteria across the sediment bed–water interface are calculated coupled with the sediment deposition and resuspension flux. The model was applied to hypothetical scenarios to evaluate the sediment impacts under ideal settling and resuspension conditions. A case study was provided to test the resuspension calculation of fecal bacteria under an artificial flooding condition. Using this model, the contributions of fecal bacteria from sediment bed and from the watershed can be modeled separately and explicitly.     

Defensive Chemistry of an Aposematic Bug, Pachycoris stallii Uhler and Volatile Compounds of Its Host Plant Croton californicus Muell.-Arg.

Volatile components of Pachycoris stallii scent gland secretions and the bug's host plant, Croton californicus, were identified by gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy. The predominant compounds isolated from C. californicus fruit and leaves were -myrcene and -caryophyllene. Metathoracic gland secretions of P. stallii contained mostly (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-4-oxo-2-hexenal, (E)-2-hexenyl acetate, and n-tridecane. In males, n-tridecane was present throughout the metathoracic gland, but in females this compound was found only in the median reservoir/accessory gland. (E)-2-Hexenal was present throughout the gland of female bugs, but in males was primarily present in the median reservoir/accessory gland. (E)-4-Oxo-2-hexenal and n-dodecane were isolated from the median reservoir/accessory gland of male and female bugs. Metathoracic glands were sexually monomorphic. Data from chemical analyses and anatomical observations suggest that dorsal abdominal glands of adults were apparently obsolescent. In nymphs, dorsal abdominal glands produced (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-4-oxo-2-hexenal, n-dodecane, n-tridecane, and tetradecanal. The proportion of the predominant constituent, (E)-4-oxo-2-hexenal, decreased from 72% in the first instar to 47% in the fourth instar. Proportions of tetradecanal and n-tridecane were greater in the fourth instar than in the first instar. Observations of dissected glands indicated that median and posterior dorsal abdominal glands of all nymphal instars were more developed than anterior dorsal abdominal glands. Scanning electron micrography revealed the presence of polygonal microsculpturing on the integument surrounding the ostioles of metathoracic and dorsal abdominal glands. Chemical, anatomical, and behavioral data indicated that P. stallii has a chemical defense system based on short-chain carbonyl compounds and that this system is directed against arthropods. The abundance of arthropod natural enemies apparently has forced P. stallii to maintain this defense system despite feeding on a toxic host plant.     

Effects of Leuconostoc mesenteroides starter cultures on microbial communities and metabolites during kimchi fermentation

Kimchi fermentation usually relies upon the growth of naturally-occurring various heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria (LAB). This sometimes makes it difficult to produce kimchi with uniform quality. The use of Leuconostoc mesenteroides as a starter has been considered to produce commercial fermented kimchi with uniform and good quality in Korea. In this study, a combination of a barcoded pyrosequencing strategy and a ¹H NMR technique was used to investigate the effects of Leu. mesenteroides strain B1 as a starter culture for kimchi fermentation. Baechu (Chinese cabbage) and Chonggak (radish) kimchi with and without Leu. mesenteroides inoculation were prepared, respectively and their characteristics that included pH, cell number, bacterial community, and metabolites were monitored periodically for 40 days. Barcoded pyrosequencing analysis showed that the numbers of bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTU) in starter kimchi decreased more quickly than that in non-starter kimchi. Members of the genera Leuconostoc, Lactobacillus, and Weissella were dominant LAB regardless of the kimchi type or starter inoculation. Among the three genera, Leuconostoc was the most abundant, followed by Lactobacillus and Weissella. The use of Leu. mesenteroides as a starter increased the Leuconostoc proportions and decreased the Lactobacillus proportions in both type of kimchi during kimchi fermentation. However, interestingly, the use of the kimchi starter more highly maintained the Weissella proportions of starter kimchi compared to that in the non-starter kimchi until fermentation was complete. Metabolite analysis using the ¹H NMR technique showed that both Baechu and Chonggak kimchi with the starter culture began to consume free sugars earlier and produced a little greater amounts of lactic and acetic acids and mannitol. Metabolite analysis demonstrated that kimchi fermentation using Leu. mesenteroides as a starter was completed earlier with more production of kimchi metabolites compared to that not using a starter, which coincided with the decreases in pH and the increases in bacterial cell number. The PCA strategy using all kimchi components including carbohydrates, amino acids, organic acids, and others also showed that starter kimchi fermented faster with more organic acid and mannitol production. In conclusion, the combination of the barcoded pyrosequencing strategy and the ¹H NMR technique was used to effectively monitor microbial succession and metabolite production and allowed for a greater understanding of the relationships between the microbial community and metabolite production in kimchi fermentation.     

浙江省水利河口研究院科学技术发展50年

经过几代人的不懈探索和努力奋斗，迎来了浙江省水利河口研究院50华诞。50a来，该院各专业从无到有、从小到大，研究领域不断拓展、研究手段不断丰富、研究水平不断提升，科研队伍不断壮大，综合科研技术实力获得了飞速发展。对该院的历史沿革和基本情况作了介绍，并对该院成立50a来的水利河口科技进展，主要包括钱塘江河口治理开发研究、其它河口海岸开发研究、水资源水环境研究、防灾减灾研究、岩土力学及工程勘探、水工水力学试验研究、水工材料研究与应用、工程设计、工程质量检测及评价、水土保持研究与应用、水利信息自动化的开发与研制等作了重点介绍。     

考虑涌潮作用的钱塘江二维泥沙输移数值模拟

钱塘江涌潮前后水位、流速和含沙量等物理量存在突变，给数值模拟带来了很大的困难，传统的数值模型往往不能准确模拟涌潮作用下的泥沙输移。在已建立的二维涌潮数值模型的基础上，应用基于准确Riemann解的Godunov格式建立了二维泥沙数值模型，模型首先检验了纯对流问题，然后模拟了钱塘江涌潮作用下的泥沙输移，计算结果反映了涌潮到达时刻含沙量的突变过程以及涌潮对泥沙输移的影响，揭示了钱塘江河口高含沙量区成因，以及涌潮是钱塘江河口大冲大淤的机理之一。