Alkaline solubilization of excess mixed sludge and the recovery of released phosphorus as magnesium ammonium phosphate.

The alkaline solubilization of excess mixed sludge was investigated and subsequently the released phosphorus was recovered as magnesium ammonium phosphate (MAP). Considerable and rapid release of glycogen and protein was encountered after alkaline addition into the sludge. Only 45.0% of sludge cells were destructed after 240 min treatment in R1 while the corresponding ratio was 96.1% in R3 according to the release of DNA. Non-apatite inorganic phosphorus (NAIP) in the alkaline treated sludge decreased due to the dissolution of Al(OH)3 and AlPO4, which was the dominant reason for phosphorus release. Soluble orthophosphate (SOP) in the supernatant of alkaline treated sludge could be recovered quickly with the recovery efficiency of 84.6% within 5 min and about 53-55% of P participated in MAP reaction, producing large amounts of acicular crystals.

Virtual increase or latent loss? A reassessment of mangrove populations and their conservation in Guangdong, southern China.

Contrary to the global trend, the area of mangrove in Guangdong Province, southern China, has been increasing over the last two decades. Currently, three exotic mangrove species have been introduced for large-scale afforestation since 1985. A reassessment of the overall status of the mangrove species, habitat change, population of introduced species, was conducted through a comprehensive literature review as well as field investigations covering 96 sites. The success of conservation efforts is also evaluated. Upstream and high intertidal habitats are more vulnerable than downstream and lower intertidal ones, with habitat alteration being the biggest threats. Five mangrove species have narrow distributional extents with small populations, which could incur regional extinction. With the introduced species having naturalized at 42 sites, their role in mangrove management needs to be reconsidered. These findings collectively suggest a need to manage latent species loss and habitat degradation beyond the apparent increase in mangrove area and protection.

[Response of Algae to Nitrogen and Phosphorus Concentration and Quantity of Pumping Water in Pumped Storage Reservoir].

Taking a pumped storage reservoir located in southern China as the research object, the paper established a three-dimensional hydrodynamic and eutrophication model of the reservoir employing EFDC (environmental fluid dynamics code) model, calibrated and verified the model using long-term hydraulic and water quality data. Based on the model results, the effects of nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations on the algae growth were analyzed, and the response of algae to nitrogen and phosphorus concentration and quantity of pumping water was also calculated. The results showed that the nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations had little limit on algae growth rate in the reservoir. In the nutrients reduction scenarios, reducing phosphorus would gain greater algae biomass reduction than reducing nitrogen. When reducing 60 percent of nitrogen, the algae biomass did not decrease, while 12.4 percent of algae biomass reduction could be gained with the same reduction ratio of phosphorus. When the reduction ratio went to 90 percent, the algae biomass decreased by 17.9 percent and 35.1 percent for nitrogen and phosphorus reduction, respectively. In the pumping water quantity regulation scenarios, the algae biomass decreased with the increasing pumping water quantity when the pumping water quantity was greater than 20 percent of the current value; when it was less than 20 percent, the algae biomass increased with the increasing pumping water quantity. The algae biomass decreased by 25.7 percent when the pumping water quantity was doubled, and increased by 38.8 percent when it decreased to 20 percent. The study could play an important role in supporting eutrophication controlling in water source area.