This work presents the development of hierarchical niobium pentoxide(Nb_(2)O_(5))-based composite nanofiber membranes for integrated adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue(MB)pollutants from aqueo...This work presents the development of hierarchical niobium pentoxide(Nb_(2)O_(5))-based composite nanofiber membranes for integrated adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue(MB)pollutants from aqueous solutions.The Nb_(2)O_(5) nanorods were vertically grown using a hydrothermal process on a base electrospun nanofibrous membrane made of polyacrylonitrile/polyvinylidene fluoride/ammonium niobate(V)oxalate hydrate(Nb_(2)O_(5)@PAN/PVDF/ANO).They were characterized using field-emission scanning electron microscopy(FE-SEM),X-ray diffraction(XRD)analysis,and Fourier transform infrared(FTIR)spectroscopy.These composite nanofibers possessed a narrow optical bandgap energy of 3.31 eV and demonstrated an MB degradation efficiency of 96%after 480 min contact time.The pseudo-first-order kinetic study was also conducted,in which Nb_(2)O_(5)@PAN/PVDF/ANO nanofibers have kinetic constant values of 1.29×10^(-2) min^(-1) and 0.30×10^(-2) min^(-1) for adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of MB aqueous solutions,respectively.These values are 17.7 and 7.8 times greater than those of PAN/PVDF/ANO nanofibers without Nb_(2)O_(5) nanostructures.Besides their outstanding photocatalytic performance,the developed membrane materials exhibit advantageous characteristics in recycling,which subsequently widen their practical use in environmental remediation applications.展开更多
In the past decades, two large scale coastal engineering projects have been carried out in the Deep Bay surrounded by Shenzhen City and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. One project is Shenzhen River channel re...In the past decades, two large scale coastal engineering projects have been carried out in the Deep Bay surrounded by Shenzhen City and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. One project is Shenzhen River channel regulation and the other is the sea reclamation along the seashore on the Shenzhen side. The two projects are very close to the two national nature reserves, specifically Futian in Shenzhen and Mai Po in Hong Kong, which are important wetland ecosystems worldwide. This paper aims to identify and monitor the mangrove wetland changes with time series of Landsat Thematic Mapper images pre and post to the two engineering projects being launched. Coupled analysis of the image interpretation results and tidal data acquired at the same time in the context of the two works reveals that the mangrove wetland area has increased from year 1989 to 1994, and has changed little from year 1994 to 2002. Binary coding is applied to reveal the distribution image of mangrove at each phase, and the coding image shows that the construction of the two coastal engineering projects has caused frequent changes in mangrove spatial distribution. The study also shows that the change is not significant regarding to the precision of the method and the natural evolution of mangrove wetland, and the projects do not cause apparently influences upon the two national mangrove conservation zones at least for the research time period.展开更多
A hydrocarbon degrading bacterium KL2-13 was isolated from ten sites of oil contaminated soil in the Karamay oilfield. It was identified as the Bacillus fusiformis sp. bacterium based on its morphological and physiolo...A hydrocarbon degrading bacterium KL2-13 was isolated from ten sites of oil contaminated soil in the Karamay oilfield. It was identified as the Bacillus fusiformis sp. bacterium based on its morphological and physiological characteristics and the 16S rDNA sequence analysis. The factors influencing the hydrocarbon degradation by the bacterium KL2-13 were determined. The test results have showed that the hydrocarbon degrading bacterium KL2-13 requires an optimum pH range of 6-8, and the optimum inoculation quantity is 3%. The low-concentration metal ions Fe2+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ can improve the degradation ability of the bacteria KL2-13.Atoo low concentration of Tween-80 does not show obvious promotion to the de- grading bacterium KL2-13, and an excessively high concentration can decrease the degradation ability of the bacterium, the best dosage of which is 2%. The hydrocarbon degrading rate reached 59.07%±0.37% under the optimum culture conditions.展开更多
Due to high demand and limited availability of rare earth elements (REEs), Europe is unable to meet its industrial needs, especially High Tech needs, today for the manufacturing sector. Therefore, the EU has included ...Due to high demand and limited availability of rare earth elements (REEs), Europe is unable to meet its industrial needs, especially High Tech needs, today for the manufacturing sector. Therefore, the EU has included them in the group of 14 critical minerals. China currently controls completely the mining activity, the enrichment technologies and metallurgy, and end-metal products of rare earths, resulting both Europe and the U.S.A. in full industrial dependency. The exploitation and wide use of REEs in fertilizers have led to accumulation of these elements in soils, resulting in an agriculture field pollution, which affects directly the soil microfauna with a toxic potential effect.展开更多
Nitrogen oxides (NO<sub>x</sub>) in urban air close to ground have significant health implications. Restrictions in traffic, mandatory use of catalytic converters on vehicles, and novel photocatalytic coat...Nitrogen oxides (NO<sub>x</sub>) in urban air close to ground have significant health implications. Restrictions in traffic, mandatory use of catalytic converters on vehicles, and novel photocatalytic coatings on surfaces contribute to reducing the level of NO<sub>x</sub> in cities. The aim of this study is to establish environmental profiles of NO<sub>x</sub> removal by a Three-Way Catalyst (TWC) car converter and by a photocatalytic surface coating (for asphalt and concrete pavements) for fostering technological development in reducing the levels of NO<sub>x</sub> in urban air. We assessed the environmental performance for the removal of 1 kg NO<sub>x</sub> by the two technologies with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA;EF.3 impact assessment method). In order to do so, we established Life-Cycle-Inventory (LCI) data representing production, operation and end-of-life of the two technologies based on data from literature and industry. The production of photocatalytic surface coatings, used on concrete and asphalt, has environmental loads two orders of magnitude lower than the environmental benefits of NO<sub>x</sub> reduction expressed as a reduction in Photochemical Ozone Formation (POF), Acidification (A), and Terrestrial Eutrophication (TE). The vehicle catalytic converter shows similar results except that the use of rare earth elements in the production constitutes a significant load to Freshwater Ecotoxicity (FET) and that additional use of fuel during operation induces a modest Climate Change (CC) impact. For both technologies, the environmental benefits of reducing NO<sub>x</sub> far exceed any adverse environmental aspects of the production of the technologies.展开更多
The waters renewal of the fishery harbor of Nea Krini is presented here. The harbor is located at the east Thessaloniki Gulf (NE Thermaikos Gulf, Greece). The main research point is focused on the environmental state ...The waters renewal of the fishery harbor of Nea Krini is presented here. The harbor is located at the east Thessaloniki Gulf (NE Thermaikos Gulf, Greece). The main research point is focused on the environmental state of the harbor which is under construction. Under that point of view, the description of a two-dimensional, depth average, hydrodynamic model follows, in order to simulate the wind generated circulation of waters, initially on the greater area of Thermaikos Gulf and then on the coastal basin of the fishing harbor. The renewal of waters in the harbor’s basin is subsequently studied. Tidal effects on the waters’ renewal are also studied. The calculation of the concentration of Biochemically Oxygen Demand (BOD) in the fishing harbor for the average time of waters’ renewal is then examined for three different cases, concerning the existence and operation of openings on the body of the groins. Finally, the analysis of the results shows a good environmental state of the harbor. It is obvious that the use of numerical models for different scenarios of engineering and design approaches can lead to the prognosis of hydrodynamic and environmental sate of a harbor’s basin so that the best possible technical design can be adopted.展开更多
The contribution of the use of RE(Renewable Energy)sources in general and wind source in particular in the Albanian electricity sector is very important to strengthen national energy security,diversify energy sources ...The contribution of the use of RE(Renewable Energy)sources in general and wind source in particular in the Albanian electricity sector is very important to strengthen national energy security,diversify energy sources and reduce dependence on imports.It also directly affects economic growth,employment and reduces the release of pollutants into the atmosphere,which are contributing to global warming and the greenhouse effect.The purpose of this paper is to assess the theoretical,technical and economic potential of the wind source in the Synej Area,Kavaja Municipality for electricity production in the absence of field measurements.Calculations of all technical,economic and environmental parameters are performed through the RETScreen Expert program.This analysis is sufficient for pre-implementation studies that do not require very detailed calculations and at the same time facilitates decision-making on project implementation.The study area has considerable technical potential for the use of wind energy.In this area,the analyzed project envisages the installation of 7 turbines of the Vesta 110 type,each with a power of 2 MW.The height of the turbines is 85 m.The total amount of electricity produced by this plant is estimated at 24 GWh/year,at a cost of 0.06€/kWh.The total emission reduction for all proposed projects is 477,500 tCO_(2) per year.The project has a positive net present value and a benefit-cost ratio greater than 1.The payback time is 8 years.展开更多
In the United Republic of Tanzania (URT), all environmental issues related to the mining industry are regulated according to two principle Acts: The Mining Act and the Environmental Management Act, and their respectiv...In the United Republic of Tanzania (URT), all environmental issues related to the mining industry are regulated according to two principle Acts: The Mining Act and the Environmental Management Act, and their respective regulations. The current acts were enacted in 2010 and 2004 respectively. Mineral exploration (that includes all on-site activities performed before a mining project is declared feasible) projects in URT appears to be “unforgotten phenomena” in the two major legislative documents, when it comes to environmental considerations. This phenomenon is believed to be causing detrimental effects to the environment. This paper, therefore, analyzes the current environmental regulatory framework on mineral exploration projects in URT and discusses few examples in which mineral exploration projects have caused damage to the indigenous environment. Furthermore, this study reviews environmental regulatory frameworks from other few countries in comparison with existing environmental regulatory framework prevailing in URT.展开更多
Novel graphitic carbon nitride(g-C_(3)N_(4))nanosheet/Bi_(5)O_(7)Br/NH_(2)-MIL-88B(Fe)photocatalysts(denoted as GCN-NSh/Bi_(5)O_(7)Br/FeMOF,in which MOF is metal–organic framework)with double S-scheme heterojunctions...Novel graphitic carbon nitride(g-C_(3)N_(4))nanosheet/Bi_(5)O_(7)Br/NH_(2)-MIL-88B(Fe)photocatalysts(denoted as GCN-NSh/Bi_(5)O_(7)Br/FeMOF,in which MOF is metal–organic framework)with double S-scheme heterojunctions were synthesized by a facile solvothermal route.The resultant materials were examined by X-ray photoelectron spectrometer(XPS),X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDX),transmission electron microscopy(TEM),high-resolution transmission electron microscopy(HRTEM),photoluminescence spectroscopy(PL),Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR),UV-Vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy(UV-vis DRS),photocurrent density,electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS),and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller(BET)analyses.After the integration of Fe-MOF with GCN-NSh/Bi_(5)O_(7)Br,the removal constant of tetracycline over the optimal GCN-NSh/Bi_(5)O_(7)Br/Fe-MOF(15wt%)nanocomposite was promoted 33 times compared with that of the pristine GCN.The GCN-NSh/Bi_(5)O_(7)Br/Fe-MOF(15wt%)nanocomposite showed superior photoactivity to azithromycin,metronidazole,and cephalexin removal that was 36.4,20.2,and 14.6 times higher than that of pure GCN,respectively.Radical quenching tests showed that·O_(2)-and h+mainly contributed to the elimination reaction.In addition,the nanocomposite maintained excellent activity after 4 successive cycles.Based on the developed n–n heterojunctions among n-GCN-NSh,n-Bi_(5)O_(7)Br,and n-Fe-MOF semiconductors,the double S-scheme charge transfer mechanism was proposed for the destruction of the selected antibiotics.展开更多
The hazardous waste produced by coal-fired power plants are large in quantity and variety. It is important for ecological environment protection to properly store hazardous waste in coal-fired power plants. The enviro...The hazardous waste produced by coal-fired power plants are large in quantity and variety. It is important for ecological environment protection to properly store hazardous waste in coal-fired power plants. The environmental management of hazardous waste in coal-fired power plants started late, and there are many problems in the construction and management of their storage facilities. In this paper, taking eight typical coal-fired power plants as examples, the present problems of hazardous waste storage facilities in coal-fired power plants are analyzed, and corresponding countermeasures are put forward to solve the main common problems.展开更多
In this research, the quality of the wastewater discharged into the environment has been investigated. The effluent from solar desalination pond contains large amounts of TDS (3.68 grams per liter) and TH (6.50 grams ...In this research, the quality of the wastewater discharged into the environment has been investigated. The effluent from solar desalination pond contains large amounts of TDS (3.68 grams per liter) and TH (6.50 grams per liter). Since the use of filter is not economical in this case, three types of commercial coagulants such as aluminum sulfate, ferric chloride and ferric sulfide have been used in this study. The main parameters such as effectiveness of three inorganic coagulants, ammonium sulfate, ferric sulfate, and ferric chloride, which separately help to remove hardness, have been studied. According to the results, using laboratory test, 25/g of ferric sulfate as coagulant is best coagulant mass and the ratio of 4 to 3 for auxiliary coagulant (sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide) to coagulant will be best ratio. Also, the mixing rate of 120 rpm in the first reactor will give the best mixing speed. These conditions will lead to 0.348 grams per liter of TDS, 0.345 grams per liter of TH and 0.195 grams per liter of calcium hardness and 300 micro Siemens electrical conductivity of the purified sample.展开更多
This paper describes a new species of the snout moth Berastagia tainanica sp. nov. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) from Taiwan. From 2009 to 2016, a biology study was conducted on population dynamics and embryonic developmen...This paper describes a new species of the snout moth Berastagia tainanica sp. nov. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) from Taiwan. From 2009 to 2016, a biology study was conducted on population dynamics and embryonic development. Spring season is the peak of the eclosion of overwintering larvae or pupae. The average longevity of adult was 14.8 ± 6.2 days (N = 174), the average number of eggs laid was 259 ± 3 eggs/moth (N = 2), the hatching rate of eggs was 95.4% (N = 262), and the average hatching time of eggs was 99.6 ± 18.6 hours (N = 68). The average body length of males was 5.64 mm ± 0.91 mm (N = 30), and the average body length of females was 6.28 mm ± 0.84 mm (N = 30). This finding indicates that female snout moths are larger than males (Global R = 0.058, P = 0.012). The snout moth eclosion rate was 16.9 moths/100 pods in the first year (2010/2011, N = 2,224 pods) and 10.9 moths/100 pods in the second year (2014/2015, N = 6,382 pods). The pod borer rate was 31.8% (N = 707) and the seed borer rate was 41.2% (N = 3,628) in the first year, whereas the pod borer rate was 76.2% (N = 6,382) in the second year.展开更多
The IMO(International Maritime Organization)recognized the problem of invasive species invasion and adopted the“International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’Ballast Water and Sediments”in 2004,w...The IMO(International Maritime Organization)recognized the problem of invasive species invasion and adopted the“International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’Ballast Water and Sediments”in 2004,which came into force on September 8,2017.In 2011,the IMO approved the“Guidelines for the Control and Management of Ships’Biofouling to Minimize the Transfer of Invasive Aquatic Species”to minimize the movement of invasive species by hull-attached organisms and required ships to manage the organisms attached to their hulls.Invasive species enter new environments through ships’ballast water and hull attachment.However,several obstacles to implementing these guidelines have been identified,including a lack of underwater cleaning equipment,regulations on underwater cleaning activities in ports,and difficulty in accessing crevices in underwater areas.The shipping industry,which is the party responsible for understanding these guidelines,wants to implement them for fuel cost savings resulting from the removal of organisms attached to the hull,but they anticipate significant difficulties in implementing the guidelines due to the obstacles mentioned above.Robots or people remove the organisms attached to the hull underwater,and the resulting wastewater includes various species of organisms and particles of paint and other pollutants.Currently,there is no technology available to sterilize the organisms in the wastewater or stabilize the heavy metals in the paint particles.In this study,we aim to analyse the characteristics of the wastewater generated from the removal of hull-attached organisms and select the optimal treatment technology.The organisms in the wastewater generated from the removal of the attached organisms meet the biological treatment standard(D-2)using the sterilization technology applied in the ships’ballast water treatment system.The heavy metals and other pollutants in the paint particles generated during removal are treated using stabilization technologies such as thermal decomposition.The wastewater generated is treated using a two-step process:(1)development of sterilization technology through pretreatment filtration equipment and electrolytic sterilization treatment and(2)development of technology for removing particle pollutants such as heavy metals and dissolved inorganic substances.Through this study,we will develop a biological removal technology and an environmentally friendly processing system for the waste generated after removal that meets the requirements of the government and the shipping industry and lay the groundwork for future treatment standards.展开更多
Direct and indirect discharges are released in the environment by many economic entities which operate in the territory of Albania.Different installations release many substances from separated sources or widespread,a...Direct and indirect discharges are released in the environment by many economic entities which operate in the territory of Albania.Different installations release many substances from separated sources or widespread,affecting the environmental quality and often causing pollution.Each economic entity that discharges substances in the environment is equipped with an environmental permit which is granted according to a system composed by two categories,A and B.Each Albanian citizen has the right guaranteed by the constitution to collect information regarding the city or country environmental conditions by this system.Furthermore,this system provides data regarding the state of the environment,polluting activity,different chemical components discharged,etc.The purpose of this study is to identify different sources of industrial discharge into water bodies,aiming to provide information that can be useful for the environmental protection,its preservation and improvement,the prevention and reduction of risks related to human and animal health and the improvement of the life quality.Data gained from the identification of economic entities equipped with an active environmental permit type A and B showed the various sources of waste discharges in the Albanian territory.The study was conducted using the QKB(National Business Center)database for a period of eight years from 2014 to 2022.Data show that an increase of technical unit discharging substances into water has increased over years due to a major number of installations of polluting economic entities in the country territory.展开更多
The Mediterranean Sea is home to an interesting biodiversity. The current cumulative and descriptive study aims to enumerate some relatively large marine mammals, reptiles, and fishes that have been spotted, caught, b...The Mediterranean Sea is home to an interesting biodiversity. The current cumulative and descriptive study aims to enumerate some relatively large marine mammals, reptiles, and fishes that have been spotted, caught, by-caught, or stranded on the coast of the Gaza Strip, Palestine, which extends about 42 km along the Mediterranean Sea. This 20-year study from 2003 to 2022 relied much on frequent field visits, meetings, and discussions with stakeholders, following local media sites and social media pages, and photography. The study recorded at least 26 giants or relatively large marine organisms on the Mediterranean coast of the Gaza Strip, Palestine. Certainly, the coming years may bring other marine organisms of relatively large sizes. Marine mammals included three species of cetaceans with the Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) being the largest mammal and even the largest animal ever recorded in this study. Marine reptiles included three species of sea turtles, the largest of which is the Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), which is in fact the world’s largest sea turtle. The bony fishes were represented by ten species, the largest of which was the Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola), which is the largest bony fish in the world. The cartilaginous fishes included ten species with the largest specimens encountered were the Shortfin Shark (Isurus oxyrinchus), Bluntnose Sixgill Shark (Hexanchus griseus), Scalloped Hammerhead Shark (Sphyrna lewini), and Giant Devil Ray (Mobula mobular). Seabirds were not included in the study. The Alexandria Pompano (Alectis alexandrinus) and the Silver-Cheeked Toadfish (Lagocephalus sceleratus), which are bony fishes, appear to be the relatively smallest marine organisms recorded here. In conclusion, the role of the various parties must be coordinated to ensure the sustainability of human activities and their compatibility with the task of conserving local marine biota, including the gigantic or relatively large ones.展开更多
Odor pollution in landfill area has attracted more social attention in China. It is very important to control the generation of odor pollutants in situ. Analyzing odorous materials production form buried waste, simula...Odor pollution in landfill area has attracted more social attention in China. It is very important to control the generation of odor pollutants in situ. Analyzing odorous materials production form buried waste, simulated columns of different volatile solid (VS) content and different buried period waste were designed. Gas compounds produced from the columns were collected and analyzed by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) method. It has remarkable relationship between VS content and concentrations of odorous material. When VS content more than 40%, the total amount of odorous compounds increases remarkably. It can be inferred that reduced VS content of original waste may effective decreasing odorous materials production in landfill area. The old rubbish produced more odorous compounds than that of fresh one in simulated columns.展开更多
Floods are phenomenon with significant socio-economic implications mainly for human loss, agriculture, livestock, soil loss and land degradation, for which many researchers try to identify the most appropriate methodo...Floods are phenomenon with significant socio-economic implications mainly for human loss, agriculture, livestock, soil loss and land degradation, for which many researchers try to identify the most appropriate methodologies by analyzing their temporal and spatial development. This study therefore attempts to employ the GIS-based multi-criteria decision analysis and analytical hierarchy process techniques to derive the flood risks management on rice productivity in the Gishari Agricultural Marshland in Rwamagana district, Rwanda. Here, six influencing potential factors to flooding, including river slope, soil texture, Land Use Land Cover through Land Sat 8, rainfall, river distance and Digital Elevation Model are considered for the delineation of flood risk zones. Data acquisition like Landsat 8 images, DEM, land use land cover, slope, and soil class in the study area were considered. Results showed that if the DEM is outdated or inaccurate due to changes in the terrain, such as construction, excavation, or erosion, the predicted flood patterns might not reflect the actual water flow. This could result unexpected flood extents and depths, potentially inundating rice fields that were not previously at risk and this, expectedly explained that the increase 1 m in elevation would reduce the rice productivity by 0.17% due to unplanned flood risks in marshland. It was found that the change in rainfall distribution in Gishari agricultural marshland would also decrease the rice productivity by 0.0018%, which is a sign that rainfall is a major factor of flooding in rice scheme. Rainfall distribution plays a crucial role in flooding analysis and can directly impact rice productivity. Oppositely, another causal factor was Land Use Land Cover (LULC), where the Multivariate Logistic Regression Model Analysis findings showed that the increase of one unit in Land Use Land Cover would increase rice productivity by 0.17% of the total rice productivity from the Gishari Agricultural Marshland. Based on findings from these techniques, the Gishari Agricultural Marshlands having steeped land with grassland is classified into five classes of flooding namely very low, low, moderate, high, and very high which include 430%, 361%, 292%, 223%, and 154%. Government of Rwanda and other implementing agencies and major key actors have to contribute on soil and water conservation strategies to reduce the runoff and soil erosion as major contributors of flooding.展开更多
The effect of different vegetation systems including bamboo plantation (BP), forest ecosystem (CF),citrus orchard (Ctr) and farmland (FL) on erosion and nutrients of red soil were investigated in hilly region of south...The effect of different vegetation systems including bamboo plantation (BP), forest ecosystem (CF),citrus orchard (Ctr) and farmland (FL) on erosion and nutrients of red soil were investigated in hilly region of southeastern China to find effective control measures for soil erosion. The results showed that all the vegetation systems could significantly reduce soil erosion and nutrient losses compared to bare land (Br).The ability of different vegetation systems to conserve soil and water was in the order of Ctr ＞ BP ＞ CF ＞ FL ＞ Br. Vegetation could also improve soil fertility. The soil organic matter, total N and total P contents were much higher in all the vegetation systems than in bare land, especially for the top soils. Vegetation systems improved soil physical properties remarkably. Compared to the bare land, soil organic matter, TP,TK and available K, especially soil microbial biomass C, N and P, increased under all the vegetation covers.However, they were still much lower than expected, thus these biological measurements are still needed to be carried out continuously.展开更多
基金funded by the Minister of Education,Culture,Research,and Technology of Indonesia through a research scheme of“Penelitian Fundamental–Reguler(PFR)2023”under a contract number of 1115c/IT9.2.1/PT.01.03/2023.
文摘This work presents the development of hierarchical niobium pentoxide(Nb_(2)O_(5))-based composite nanofiber membranes for integrated adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue(MB)pollutants from aqueous solutions.The Nb_(2)O_(5) nanorods were vertically grown using a hydrothermal process on a base electrospun nanofibrous membrane made of polyacrylonitrile/polyvinylidene fluoride/ammonium niobate(V)oxalate hydrate(Nb_(2)O_(5)@PAN/PVDF/ANO).They were characterized using field-emission scanning electron microscopy(FE-SEM),X-ray diffraction(XRD)analysis,and Fourier transform infrared(FTIR)spectroscopy.These composite nanofibers possessed a narrow optical bandgap energy of 3.31 eV and demonstrated an MB degradation efficiency of 96%after 480 min contact time.The pseudo-first-order kinetic study was also conducted,in which Nb_(2)O_(5)@PAN/PVDF/ANO nanofibers have kinetic constant values of 1.29×10^(-2) min^(-1) and 0.30×10^(-2) min^(-1) for adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of MB aqueous solutions,respectively.These values are 17.7 and 7.8 times greater than those of PAN/PVDF/ANO nanofibers without Nb_(2)O_(5) nanostructures.Besides their outstanding photocatalytic performance,the developed membrane materials exhibit advantageous characteristics in recycling,which subsequently widen their practical use in environmental remediation applications.
文摘In the past decades, two large scale coastal engineering projects have been carried out in the Deep Bay surrounded by Shenzhen City and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. One project is Shenzhen River channel regulation and the other is the sea reclamation along the seashore on the Shenzhen side. The two projects are very close to the two national nature reserves, specifically Futian in Shenzhen and Mai Po in Hong Kong, which are important wetland ecosystems worldwide. This paper aims to identify and monitor the mangrove wetland changes with time series of Landsat Thematic Mapper images pre and post to the two engineering projects being launched. Coupled analysis of the image interpretation results and tidal data acquired at the same time in the context of the two works reveals that the mangrove wetland area has increased from year 1989 to 1994, and has changed little from year 1994 to 2002. Binary coding is applied to reveal the distribution image of mangrove at each phase, and the coding image shows that the construction of the two coastal engineering projects has caused frequent changes in mangrove spatial distribution. The study also shows that the change is not significant regarding to the precision of the method and the natural evolution of mangrove wetland, and the projects do not cause apparently influences upon the two national mangrove conservation zones at least for the research time period.
基金supports provided by the Science Research and Technology Developing Program, CNPC (2008D-4704-2): "Microbial remediation technology of high-temperature and arid oil polluted soil"
文摘A hydrocarbon degrading bacterium KL2-13 was isolated from ten sites of oil contaminated soil in the Karamay oilfield. It was identified as the Bacillus fusiformis sp. bacterium based on its morphological and physiological characteristics and the 16S rDNA sequence analysis. The factors influencing the hydrocarbon degradation by the bacterium KL2-13 were determined. The test results have showed that the hydrocarbon degrading bacterium KL2-13 requires an optimum pH range of 6-8, and the optimum inoculation quantity is 3%. The low-concentration metal ions Fe2+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ can improve the degradation ability of the bacteria KL2-13.Atoo low concentration of Tween-80 does not show obvious promotion to the de- grading bacterium KL2-13, and an excessively high concentration can decrease the degradation ability of the bacterium, the best dosage of which is 2%. The hydrocarbon degrading rate reached 59.07%±0.37% under the optimum culture conditions.
文摘Due to high demand and limited availability of rare earth elements (REEs), Europe is unable to meet its industrial needs, especially High Tech needs, today for the manufacturing sector. Therefore, the EU has included them in the group of 14 critical minerals. China currently controls completely the mining activity, the enrichment technologies and metallurgy, and end-metal products of rare earths, resulting both Europe and the U.S.A. in full industrial dependency. The exploitation and wide use of REEs in fertilizers have led to accumulation of these elements in soils, resulting in an agriculture field pollution, which affects directly the soil microfauna with a toxic potential effect.
文摘Nitrogen oxides (NO<sub>x</sub>) in urban air close to ground have significant health implications. Restrictions in traffic, mandatory use of catalytic converters on vehicles, and novel photocatalytic coatings on surfaces contribute to reducing the level of NO<sub>x</sub> in cities. The aim of this study is to establish environmental profiles of NO<sub>x</sub> removal by a Three-Way Catalyst (TWC) car converter and by a photocatalytic surface coating (for asphalt and concrete pavements) for fostering technological development in reducing the levels of NO<sub>x</sub> in urban air. We assessed the environmental performance for the removal of 1 kg NO<sub>x</sub> by the two technologies with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA;EF.3 impact assessment method). In order to do so, we established Life-Cycle-Inventory (LCI) data representing production, operation and end-of-life of the two technologies based on data from literature and industry. The production of photocatalytic surface coatings, used on concrete and asphalt, has environmental loads two orders of magnitude lower than the environmental benefits of NO<sub>x</sub> reduction expressed as a reduction in Photochemical Ozone Formation (POF), Acidification (A), and Terrestrial Eutrophication (TE). The vehicle catalytic converter shows similar results except that the use of rare earth elements in the production constitutes a significant load to Freshwater Ecotoxicity (FET) and that additional use of fuel during operation induces a modest Climate Change (CC) impact. For both technologies, the environmental benefits of reducing NO<sub>x</sub> far exceed any adverse environmental aspects of the production of the technologies.
文摘The waters renewal of the fishery harbor of Nea Krini is presented here. The harbor is located at the east Thessaloniki Gulf (NE Thermaikos Gulf, Greece). The main research point is focused on the environmental state of the harbor which is under construction. Under that point of view, the description of a two-dimensional, depth average, hydrodynamic model follows, in order to simulate the wind generated circulation of waters, initially on the greater area of Thermaikos Gulf and then on the coastal basin of the fishing harbor. The renewal of waters in the harbor’s basin is subsequently studied. Tidal effects on the waters’ renewal are also studied. The calculation of the concentration of Biochemically Oxygen Demand (BOD) in the fishing harbor for the average time of waters’ renewal is then examined for three different cases, concerning the existence and operation of openings on the body of the groins. Finally, the analysis of the results shows a good environmental state of the harbor. It is obvious that the use of numerical models for different scenarios of engineering and design approaches can lead to the prognosis of hydrodynamic and environmental sate of a harbor’s basin so that the best possible technical design can be adopted.
文摘The contribution of the use of RE(Renewable Energy)sources in general and wind source in particular in the Albanian electricity sector is very important to strengthen national energy security,diversify energy sources and reduce dependence on imports.It also directly affects economic growth,employment and reduces the release of pollutants into the atmosphere,which are contributing to global warming and the greenhouse effect.The purpose of this paper is to assess the theoretical,technical and economic potential of the wind source in the Synej Area,Kavaja Municipality for electricity production in the absence of field measurements.Calculations of all technical,economic and environmental parameters are performed through the RETScreen Expert program.This analysis is sufficient for pre-implementation studies that do not require very detailed calculations and at the same time facilitates decision-making on project implementation.The study area has considerable technical potential for the use of wind energy.In this area,the analyzed project envisages the installation of 7 turbines of the Vesta 110 type,each with a power of 2 MW.The height of the turbines is 85 m.The total amount of electricity produced by this plant is estimated at 24 GWh/year,at a cost of 0.06€/kWh.The total emission reduction for all proposed projects is 477,500 tCO_(2) per year.The project has a positive net present value and a benefit-cost ratio greater than 1.The payback time is 8 years.
文摘In the United Republic of Tanzania (URT), all environmental issues related to the mining industry are regulated according to two principle Acts: The Mining Act and the Environmental Management Act, and their respective regulations. The current acts were enacted in 2010 and 2004 respectively. Mineral exploration (that includes all on-site activities performed before a mining project is declared feasible) projects in URT appears to be “unforgotten phenomena” in the two major legislative documents, when it comes to environmental considerations. This phenomenon is believed to be causing detrimental effects to the environment. This paper, therefore, analyzes the current environmental regulatory framework on mineral exploration projects in URT and discusses few examples in which mineral exploration projects have caused damage to the indigenous environment. Furthermore, this study reviews environmental regulatory frameworks from other few countries in comparison with existing environmental regulatory framework prevailing in URT.
文摘Novel graphitic carbon nitride(g-C_(3)N_(4))nanosheet/Bi_(5)O_(7)Br/NH_(2)-MIL-88B(Fe)photocatalysts(denoted as GCN-NSh/Bi_(5)O_(7)Br/FeMOF,in which MOF is metal–organic framework)with double S-scheme heterojunctions were synthesized by a facile solvothermal route.The resultant materials were examined by X-ray photoelectron spectrometer(XPS),X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDX),transmission electron microscopy(TEM),high-resolution transmission electron microscopy(HRTEM),photoluminescence spectroscopy(PL),Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR),UV-Vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy(UV-vis DRS),photocurrent density,electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS),and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller(BET)analyses.After the integration of Fe-MOF with GCN-NSh/Bi_(5)O_(7)Br,the removal constant of tetracycline over the optimal GCN-NSh/Bi_(5)O_(7)Br/Fe-MOF(15wt%)nanocomposite was promoted 33 times compared with that of the pristine GCN.The GCN-NSh/Bi_(5)O_(7)Br/Fe-MOF(15wt%)nanocomposite showed superior photoactivity to azithromycin,metronidazole,and cephalexin removal that was 36.4,20.2,and 14.6 times higher than that of pure GCN,respectively.Radical quenching tests showed that·O_(2)-and h+mainly contributed to the elimination reaction.In addition,the nanocomposite maintained excellent activity after 4 successive cycles.Based on the developed n–n heterojunctions among n-GCN-NSh,n-Bi_(5)O_(7)Br,and n-Fe-MOF semiconductors,the double S-scheme charge transfer mechanism was proposed for the destruction of the selected antibiotics.
文摘The hazardous waste produced by coal-fired power plants are large in quantity and variety. It is important for ecological environment protection to properly store hazardous waste in coal-fired power plants. The environmental management of hazardous waste in coal-fired power plants started late, and there are many problems in the construction and management of their storage facilities. In this paper, taking eight typical coal-fired power plants as examples, the present problems of hazardous waste storage facilities in coal-fired power plants are analyzed, and corresponding countermeasures are put forward to solve the main common problems.
文摘In this research, the quality of the wastewater discharged into the environment has been investigated. The effluent from solar desalination pond contains large amounts of TDS (3.68 grams per liter) and TH (6.50 grams per liter). Since the use of filter is not economical in this case, three types of commercial coagulants such as aluminum sulfate, ferric chloride and ferric sulfide have been used in this study. The main parameters such as effectiveness of three inorganic coagulants, ammonium sulfate, ferric sulfate, and ferric chloride, which separately help to remove hardness, have been studied. According to the results, using laboratory test, 25/g of ferric sulfate as coagulant is best coagulant mass and the ratio of 4 to 3 for auxiliary coagulant (sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide) to coagulant will be best ratio. Also, the mixing rate of 120 rpm in the first reactor will give the best mixing speed. These conditions will lead to 0.348 grams per liter of TDS, 0.345 grams per liter of TH and 0.195 grams per liter of calcium hardness and 300 micro Siemens electrical conductivity of the purified sample.
文摘This paper describes a new species of the snout moth Berastagia tainanica sp. nov. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) from Taiwan. From 2009 to 2016, a biology study was conducted on population dynamics and embryonic development. Spring season is the peak of the eclosion of overwintering larvae or pupae. The average longevity of adult was 14.8 ± 6.2 days (N = 174), the average number of eggs laid was 259 ± 3 eggs/moth (N = 2), the hatching rate of eggs was 95.4% (N = 262), and the average hatching time of eggs was 99.6 ± 18.6 hours (N = 68). The average body length of males was 5.64 mm ± 0.91 mm (N = 30), and the average body length of females was 6.28 mm ± 0.84 mm (N = 30). This finding indicates that female snout moths are larger than males (Global R = 0.058, P = 0.012). The snout moth eclosion rate was 16.9 moths/100 pods in the first year (2010/2011, N = 2,224 pods) and 10.9 moths/100 pods in the second year (2014/2015, N = 6,382 pods). The pod borer rate was 31.8% (N = 707) and the seed borer rate was 41.2% (N = 3,628) in the first year, whereas the pod borer rate was 76.2% (N = 6,382) in the second year.
基金supported by IITP(Institute of Information&Communications Technology Planning&Evaluation)grant funded by the Korea government(MSIT)(RS-2023-0022378,Development of industry-level technology bridging ICT for coal2biomethane)and KIMST(Korea Institute of Marine Science&Technology Promotion)funded by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries,Korea(No.20210500,Development of treatment technology of marine bio-fouling on ship hull).
文摘The IMO(International Maritime Organization)recognized the problem of invasive species invasion and adopted the“International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’Ballast Water and Sediments”in 2004,which came into force on September 8,2017.In 2011,the IMO approved the“Guidelines for the Control and Management of Ships’Biofouling to Minimize the Transfer of Invasive Aquatic Species”to minimize the movement of invasive species by hull-attached organisms and required ships to manage the organisms attached to their hulls.Invasive species enter new environments through ships’ballast water and hull attachment.However,several obstacles to implementing these guidelines have been identified,including a lack of underwater cleaning equipment,regulations on underwater cleaning activities in ports,and difficulty in accessing crevices in underwater areas.The shipping industry,which is the party responsible for understanding these guidelines,wants to implement them for fuel cost savings resulting from the removal of organisms attached to the hull,but they anticipate significant difficulties in implementing the guidelines due to the obstacles mentioned above.Robots or people remove the organisms attached to the hull underwater,and the resulting wastewater includes various species of organisms and particles of paint and other pollutants.Currently,there is no technology available to sterilize the organisms in the wastewater or stabilize the heavy metals in the paint particles.In this study,we aim to analyse the characteristics of the wastewater generated from the removal of hull-attached organisms and select the optimal treatment technology.The organisms in the wastewater generated from the removal of the attached organisms meet the biological treatment standard(D-2)using the sterilization technology applied in the ships’ballast water treatment system.The heavy metals and other pollutants in the paint particles generated during removal are treated using stabilization technologies such as thermal decomposition.The wastewater generated is treated using a two-step process:(1)development of sterilization technology through pretreatment filtration equipment and electrolytic sterilization treatment and(2)development of technology for removing particle pollutants such as heavy metals and dissolved inorganic substances.Through this study,we will develop a biological removal technology and an environmentally friendly processing system for the waste generated after removal that meets the requirements of the government and the shipping industry and lay the groundwork for future treatment standards.
文摘Direct and indirect discharges are released in the environment by many economic entities which operate in the territory of Albania.Different installations release many substances from separated sources or widespread,affecting the environmental quality and often causing pollution.Each economic entity that discharges substances in the environment is equipped with an environmental permit which is granted according to a system composed by two categories,A and B.Each Albanian citizen has the right guaranteed by the constitution to collect information regarding the city or country environmental conditions by this system.Furthermore,this system provides data regarding the state of the environment,polluting activity,different chemical components discharged,etc.The purpose of this study is to identify different sources of industrial discharge into water bodies,aiming to provide information that can be useful for the environmental protection,its preservation and improvement,the prevention and reduction of risks related to human and animal health and the improvement of the life quality.Data gained from the identification of economic entities equipped with an active environmental permit type A and B showed the various sources of waste discharges in the Albanian territory.The study was conducted using the QKB(National Business Center)database for a period of eight years from 2014 to 2022.Data show that an increase of technical unit discharging substances into water has increased over years due to a major number of installations of polluting economic entities in the country territory.
文摘The Mediterranean Sea is home to an interesting biodiversity. The current cumulative and descriptive study aims to enumerate some relatively large marine mammals, reptiles, and fishes that have been spotted, caught, by-caught, or stranded on the coast of the Gaza Strip, Palestine, which extends about 42 km along the Mediterranean Sea. This 20-year study from 2003 to 2022 relied much on frequent field visits, meetings, and discussions with stakeholders, following local media sites and social media pages, and photography. The study recorded at least 26 giants or relatively large marine organisms on the Mediterranean coast of the Gaza Strip, Palestine. Certainly, the coming years may bring other marine organisms of relatively large sizes. Marine mammals included three species of cetaceans with the Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) being the largest mammal and even the largest animal ever recorded in this study. Marine reptiles included three species of sea turtles, the largest of which is the Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), which is in fact the world’s largest sea turtle. The bony fishes were represented by ten species, the largest of which was the Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola), which is the largest bony fish in the world. The cartilaginous fishes included ten species with the largest specimens encountered were the Shortfin Shark (Isurus oxyrinchus), Bluntnose Sixgill Shark (Hexanchus griseus), Scalloped Hammerhead Shark (Sphyrna lewini), and Giant Devil Ray (Mobula mobular). Seabirds were not included in the study. The Alexandria Pompano (Alectis alexandrinus) and the Silver-Cheeked Toadfish (Lagocephalus sceleratus), which are bony fishes, appear to be the relatively smallest marine organisms recorded here. In conclusion, the role of the various parties must be coordinated to ensure the sustainability of human activities and their compatibility with the task of conserving local marine biota, including the gigantic or relatively large ones.
文摘Odor pollution in landfill area has attracted more social attention in China. It is very important to control the generation of odor pollutants in situ. Analyzing odorous materials production form buried waste, simulated columns of different volatile solid (VS) content and different buried period waste were designed. Gas compounds produced from the columns were collected and analyzed by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) method. It has remarkable relationship between VS content and concentrations of odorous material. When VS content more than 40%, the total amount of odorous compounds increases remarkably. It can be inferred that reduced VS content of original waste may effective decreasing odorous materials production in landfill area. The old rubbish produced more odorous compounds than that of fresh one in simulated columns.
文摘Floods are phenomenon with significant socio-economic implications mainly for human loss, agriculture, livestock, soil loss and land degradation, for which many researchers try to identify the most appropriate methodologies by analyzing their temporal and spatial development. This study therefore attempts to employ the GIS-based multi-criteria decision analysis and analytical hierarchy process techniques to derive the flood risks management on rice productivity in the Gishari Agricultural Marshland in Rwamagana district, Rwanda. Here, six influencing potential factors to flooding, including river slope, soil texture, Land Use Land Cover through Land Sat 8, rainfall, river distance and Digital Elevation Model are considered for the delineation of flood risk zones. Data acquisition like Landsat 8 images, DEM, land use land cover, slope, and soil class in the study area were considered. Results showed that if the DEM is outdated or inaccurate due to changes in the terrain, such as construction, excavation, or erosion, the predicted flood patterns might not reflect the actual water flow. This could result unexpected flood extents and depths, potentially inundating rice fields that were not previously at risk and this, expectedly explained that the increase 1 m in elevation would reduce the rice productivity by 0.17% due to unplanned flood risks in marshland. It was found that the change in rainfall distribution in Gishari agricultural marshland would also decrease the rice productivity by 0.0018%, which is a sign that rainfall is a major factor of flooding in rice scheme. Rainfall distribution plays a crucial role in flooding analysis and can directly impact rice productivity. Oppositely, another causal factor was Land Use Land Cover (LULC), where the Multivariate Logistic Regression Model Analysis findings showed that the increase of one unit in Land Use Land Cover would increase rice productivity by 0.17% of the total rice productivity from the Gishari Agricultural Marshland. Based on findings from these techniques, the Gishari Agricultural Marshlands having steeped land with grassland is classified into five classes of flooding namely very low, low, moderate, high, and very high which include 430%, 361%, 292%, 223%, and 154%. Government of Rwanda and other implementing agencies and major key actors have to contribute on soil and water conservation strategies to reduce the runoff and soil erosion as major contributors of flooding.
基金Project supported by the National Key Basic Research Support Foundation (NKBRSF) of China (No.2002CB410807).
文摘The effect of different vegetation systems including bamboo plantation (BP), forest ecosystem (CF),citrus orchard (Ctr) and farmland (FL) on erosion and nutrients of red soil were investigated in hilly region of southeastern China to find effective control measures for soil erosion. The results showed that all the vegetation systems could significantly reduce soil erosion and nutrient losses compared to bare land (Br).The ability of different vegetation systems to conserve soil and water was in the order of Ctr ＞ BP ＞ CF ＞ FL ＞ Br. Vegetation could also improve soil fertility. The soil organic matter, total N and total P contents were much higher in all the vegetation systems than in bare land, especially for the top soils. Vegetation systems improved soil physical properties remarkably. Compared to the bare land, soil organic matter, TP,TK and available K, especially soil microbial biomass C, N and P, increased under all the vegetation covers.However, they were still much lower than expected, thus these biological measurements are still needed to be carried out continuously.
