Dispersion modeling of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from combustion of biomass and fossil fuels and production of coke in Tianjin, China

A USEPA, procedure, ISCLT3 (Industrial Source Complex Long-Term), was applied to model the spatial distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) emitted from various sources including coal, petroleum, natural gas, and biomass into the atmosphere of Tianjin, China. Benzo[a]pyrene equivalent concentrations (BaPeq) were calculated for risk assessment. Model results were provisionally validated for concentrations and profiles based on the observed data at two monitoring stations. The dominant emission sources in the area were domestic coal combustion, coke production, and biomass burning. Mainly because of the difference in the emission heights, the contributions of various sources to the average concentrations at receptors differ from proportions emitted. The shares of domestic coal increased from approximately 43% at the sources to 56% at the receptors, while the contributions of coking industry decreased from approximately 23% at the sources to 7% at the receptors. The spatial distributions of gaseous and particulate PAHs were similar, with higher concentrations occurring within urban districts because of domestic coal combustion. With relatively smaller contributions, the other minor sources had limited influences on the overall spatial distribution. The calculated average BaPeq value in air was 2.54 +/- 2.87 ng/m3 on an annual basis. Although only 2.3% of the area in Tianjin exceeded the national standard of 10 ng/m3, 41% of the entire population lives within this area.     

Emission of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in China by county

Quantitative relationships among social, economic, and climate parameters, and energy consumption for Chinese provinces, provide data for regression models' estimated rates of energy consumption and emission of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by county. A nonlinear model was used for domestic coal combustion with total population and annual mean temperature as independent variables. Linear regression models were utilized for all other types of fuel consumption. Monte Carlo simulation demonstrated that emission factors, rather than the regression modeling, constitute the main source of uncertainty in prediction. Models were validated using available energy data of several northern and southern counties of China from the literature. The total PAHs produced by each county is approximately equivalent to the sum of the total emission from energy, coke, and aluminum production.     

短小芽孢杆菌热稳定环糊精葡萄糖基转移酶粗酶酶学特性研究

从土壤分离物中筛选到一株环糊精葡萄糖基转移酶(cyclodextrin glucanotransferase,CGTase)产生菌CGT01.16SrDNA序列分析表明该菌与短小芽孢杆菌(Bacillus pumnilus)的同源性为99%.同时根据其生理生化特征,该菌株被鉴定为短小芽孢杆菌(B.pumilus).命名为B.pumilus.CGT01菌株.产生CGTase的最适初始pH为6.5,最适培养温度为37℃.菌株所产CGlke的最适pH值和最适反应温度分别为pH 6.5和60℃,并有较高的热稳定性.60℃条件下保温,酶活基本稳定,半衰期为35 min.酶液中添加1 mmol/L Ca2+能明显提高CGTase的稳定性,60 ℃保温1 h后,剩余酶活仍达80%以上.SDS-PAGE检测表明酶的分子量约为78 ku左右.经高效液相色谱分析表明,CGTase作用于可溶性淀粉后的主要产物为葡萄糖、麦芽糖和β-环糊精,没有检出α和γ型环糊精产物,因此所产环糊精为单一类型,不同于同种属的其他菌株所产CGTase.     

Jatropha curcas L. oil extracted by switchable solvent N,N-dimethylcyclohexylamine for biodiesel production

Biodiesel, which is a renewable and environmentally friendly fuel, has been studied widely to help remedy increasing environmental problems. One of the key processes of biodiesel production is oil extraction from oilseed materials. Switchable solvents can reversibly change from molecular to ionic solvents under atmospheric CO_2,and can be used for oil extraction. N, N-dimethylcyclohexylamine(DMCHA), a switchable solvent, was used to extract oil from Jatropha curcas L. oil seeds to produce biodiesel. The appropriate extraction conditions were:1:2 ratio of seed mass to DMCHA volume, 0.3–1 mm particle size, 200 r·min-1agitation speed, 60 min extraction time, and 30 °C extraction temperature. The extraction ratio was about 83%. This solvent extracted the oil more efficiently than hexane, and is much less volatile. By bubbling CO_2 under 1 atm and 25 °C for 5 h, the oil was separated, and DMCHA was recovered after releasing CO_2 by bubbling N_2 under 1 atm and 60 °C for 2 h. The residual solvent content in oil was about 1.7%. Selectivity of DMCHA was evaluated by detecting the protein and sugar content in oil. Using the oil with residual solvent to conduct transesterification process, the oil conversion ratio was approximately 99.5%.     

Synthesis of new type of Au-magnetic nanocomposite and application for protein separation thereof

We present a different strategy for synthesizing the Au-γ-Fe₂O₃ bifunctional nanoparticle by using a larger (50 nm) Au nanoparticle as the core surrounded by smaller (10 nm) γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles. The synthesis of the composite nanoparticles is quite facile based on a simple redox process whereby Fe²⁺ is used to reduce Au³⁺. The morphology and composition of the product is measured by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction and UV–vis spectroscopy. We demonstrate the utility of these as-prepared Au-γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles by showing they can be used to separate proteins in solution. For example, bovine serum is efficiently removed from an aqueous solution with the simple addition of the NPs and application of a small magnet. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is performed to evaluate the fidelity and efficiency of the protein separation procedure.     

Two-dimensional graphitic carbon nitride for membrane separation

Recent years, membrane separation technology has attracted significant research attention because of the efficient and environmentally friendly operation. The selection of suitable materials to improve the membrane selectivity, permeability and other properties has become a topic of vital research relevance. Two-dimensional (2D) materials, a novel family of multifunctional materials, are widely used in membrane separation due to their unique structure and properties. In this respect, as a novel 2D material, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) have found specific attention in membrane separation. This study reviews the application of carbon nitride in gas separation membranes, pervaporation membranes, nanofiltration membranes, reverse osmosis membranes, ion exchange membranes and catalytic membranes, along with describing the separation mechanisms.     

Use of sequential ASE extraction to evaluate the bioavailability of DDT and its metabolites to wheat roots in soils with various organic carbon contents

An accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) procedure using water, n-hexane and a mixture of n-hexane and acetone as solvents in sequence was developed and tested to evaluate the bioavailability of DDT and its metabolites including p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE, and p,p'-DDD (SigmaDDTs) to wheat uptake from soils characterized by varied organic carbon contents. Results indicated that the extractability of SigmaDDTs with water was enhanced considerably in the presence of water soluble organic carbon (WSOC), while the amount of SigmaDDTs extracted with n-hexane was negatively correlated to the content of water insoluble organic carbon (WIOC). The interaction between SigmaDDTs and WIOC also reduced the bioavailability of the pesticides to wheat roots during uptake. There was a good positive correlation between the amount of SigmaDDTs extracted by n-hexane and the amount of SigmaDDTs accumulated in wheat roots, suggesting some potential for the use of the n-hexane ASE-extracted fraction as an indicator of SigmaDDTs' bioavailability to plant uptake. As such, the three sequentially extracted fractions may be viewed as representing the mobile, bioavailable, and fixed pools of SigmaDDTs in the soil.     

饮用水氯胺法消毒过程中氨氮在线监测技术对比及应用

对比了不同氨氮检测方法的优缺点及适用范围,确定了适合饮用水氯胺法消毒过程中的氨氮检测方法,并选取了采用该方法进行氨氮检测的在线分析仪AN12。通过对该仪表和化验室的检测数据进行对比分析,发现两种数据变化趋势相同。仪表的检测频率大于人工检测频率,能够及时准确地反映出水中氨氮含量的变化,为工艺的稳定运行提供了保障。     

A systematic study on spatial and seasonal patterns of eight taste and odor compounds with relation to various biotic and abiotic parameters in Gonghu Bay of Lake Taihu, China

A systematic study was conducted on seasonal and spatial patterns of taste and odor (T&O) compounds with relation to biotic and abiotic parameters at fifteen sites in Gonghu Bay of Lake Taihu in 2008. We developed a sensitive and automated method to simultaneously analyze eight T&O compounds (boiling points ranging from 38 °C to 239 °C) by using Purge-and-Trap (P&T) coupled with GC/MS. Maximum particulate dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS, 69.6 ng/L) exceeded its odor threshold concentrations (OTC, 10 ng/L) and maximum dissolved DMTS was 6.1 ng/L, but still far below concentration in the drinking water pollution incident of Wuxi City in 2007 when DMTS reached 1768-11,399 ng/L. Geosmin (GEO), 2-methylisoborneol (MIB), β-cyclocitral, β-ionone and 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine (IBMP) occasionally or frequently exceeded their OTCs, whereas 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (IPMP) and dimethyl sulfide (DMS) did not. We found for the first time significant correlations between particulate β-cyclocitral and β-ionon concentrations and intracellular and extracellular microcystin concentrations. Spatially, Nanquan Waterworks faced more risk by T&O contamination than Xidong Waterworks. High concentrations of NO₃-N, TDN and TN could be risky signs of taste and odor events by DMS, DMTS, IPMP, IBMP and GEO.