Mineralogical characteristics of soil dust from source regions in northern China

Mineral compositions of aerosol particles were investigated at four sites （Aksu, Dunhuang, Zhenbeitai, and Tongliao） in desert regions of northern China from March to May in 2001 and 2002 during the intensive field campaign period of ACE-Asia （Aerosol Characterization Experiments-Asia）. The X-ray diffraction （XRD） results show the main minerals for Asian dust are illite, chlorite, kaolinite, quartz, feldspar, calcite, and dolomite. Gypsum, hornblende, and halite are also detected in several samples. Semi-quantitative mineralogical data of aerosol samples show that carbonate content decreases from western to eastern source areas; that is, soil dust collected at western source area sites of Dunhuang and Aksu are enriched with carbonate, while northeastern source area site of Tongliao is associated with low carbonate content. But the spatial distribution of feldspar exhibits a different pattern as compared to carbonate, increasing from the western to the eastern sources. The total clay content is significantly higher （73% in average） at the deposition site of Changwu than those at source areas. Air-mass back trajectory studies for the three dust storm events observed at Changwu, showed that soil dust transport pathways were as expected from carbonate content for the source identification, further demonstrating that carbonate was a useful tracer for eolian dust on regional scale in northern China.     

Surrogate atmospheric dust particles generated from dune soils in laboratory: Comparison with field measurement

Desert dust strongly influences the climate and the environment by altering the radiation budget, participating in atmospheric chemical reactions, and engaging the biogeochemical cycle. Studying its impacts requires knowledge of the physical and chemical properties of the original particles from the source origin. Unfortunately, the field collection of atmospheric samples in the desert is impractical. Fine surface soil is thus considered an alternative material from which to obtain the information applicable to dust particles from the desert soil. In this study, a laboratory system was set up to generate dust particles with simulated natural wind erosion processes from surface soils or directly from desert surfaces. Surface soils and field dust were simultaneously collected during a local blowing dust event. The comparison between the laboratory-generated dust and the field dust showed a consistent trend in particle size distribution and chemical composition. The chemical compositions were found to have explainable differences with the Certified Reference Materials for Asian dust (CJ-2). The laboratory-generated dust particles with the system could be applied as surrogates for soil-emitted dust in desert areas.     

SOURCE PROFILES AND FINGERPRINTS OF FINE AND COARSE SANDS RESUSPENDED FROM SOILS SAMPLED IN CENTRAL INNER MONGOLIA

Fingerprints and source profiles of fine and coarse sands that originate from Central Inner Mongolia during Asian continental sandstorms （ACS） can be used to identify the odgin of Asian sands and to trace them as they travel downwind. Soil samples collected at various land surfaces in Central Inner Mongolia were resuspended using a dry powder atomizer in an enclosure chamber. The resuspended sands were then sampled by two dichotomous samplers situated at the bottom of the enclosure chamber for fine （PM2 5） and coarse （PM2.5-10） sands, respectively. The chemical composition of sands, including water-soluble ionic species, metallic contents, and carbonaceous contents, were further analyzed. Results from resuspension tests indicated that the soils contained considerably more coarse particles than fine Moreover, Mg, K, Al, and Fe in coarse sand had strong correlations with each other. The ratio of Mg, K. Fe （or Al） to Al （or Fe） and OC/EC in the coarse sands can be used as the fingerprints of Asian sands originating from Central Inner Mongolia.     

Local and long-range transport influences on PM2.5 at a cities-cluster in northern China,during summer 2008

Hourly PM2.5 concentrations were observed simultaneously at a cities-cluster comprising 10 cities/towns in Hebei province in China from July 1 to 31, 2008. Among the 10 cities/towns, Baoding showed the high- est average concentration level （161.57μg/m3） and Yanjiao exhibited the lowest （99.35 μg/m3 ）. These observed data were also studied using the joint potential source contribution function with 24-h and 72-h backward trajectories, to identify more clearly the local and countrywide-scale long-range transport sources. For the local sources, three important influential areas were found, whereas five important influential areas were defined for long-range transport sources. Spatial characteristics of PM2.5 were determined by multivariate statistical analyses. Soil dust, coal combustion, and vehicle emissions might be the potential contributors in these areas. The results of a hierarchical cluster analysis for back trajectory endpoints and PM2.s concentrations datasets show that the spatial characteristics of PM2.5 in the cities-cluster were influenced not only by local sources, but also by long-range transport sources. Different cities in the cities-cluster obtained different weighted contributions from local or long-range transport sources. Cangzhou, Shijiazhuang, and Baoding are near the source areas in the south of Hebei province, whereas Zhuozhou, Yangfang, Yanjiao, Xianghe, and Langfang are close to the sources areas near Beijing and Tianjin.     

The performance and sustainability of vehicle dust courses for military testing

Dust has long been recognized as an important parameter for testing military vehicles and equipment due to the potential for adversely affecting performance and durability. Vehicle dust test courses were originally established in areas of heavy underlying fine particulate layers (silt and clay) and used for cyclic tests. These soils, known as desert pavements, are geomorphically old and slowly develop through the trapping of atmospheric dust over tens of thousands of years. As such, these soils are both a sink and source for eolian material. However, this dust is a finite resource for military testing at the Yuma Proving Ground (YPG), the Army’s primary environmental hot weather test center. There is concern that the continuous utilization of YPG dust test courses over the past half century has eroded through the overlying dust-rich soil to the extent that the true natural environmental conditions are no longer adequately represented. The objectives of this study were (1) to characterize current dust courses at YPG in order to (2) gain a better understanding of the current state of dust availability and (3) assess the overall sustainability of high dust-potential soils needed for proper military testing. Soil samples collected from dust test courses and adjacent undisturbed soils, as well as dust collected on tactical test vehicles, were analyzed for mineralogy, geochemistry, and physical properties. Results indicate adjacent undisturbed soils exhibit a higher dust potential (higher silt and clay) and elevated reactive salts and carbonates indicating a significant loss of fines from the dust test courses. Routine vehicle traffic and surface preparation has eroded and mixed the dust layer with the underlying sand and gravel-rich horizons, thus depleting the dust test courses of their dust producing potential. Desert pavements are stable geomorphic landforms but the soils have finite dust content when disturbed and therefore are unsustainable for long-term repeated dust testing. Disturbance of these soils may potentially affect ecologically sensitive areas. As such, more geomorphically active areas such as floodplains may provide greater sustainability for long-term testing.     

比色测温技术在瞬态爆炸温度场测量中的应用研究

为了研究瞬态爆炸温度场分布规律,基于高速相机、黑体辐射理论、图像传感器的拜尔阵列和自编python代码,构建了依据比色测温原理的高速二维温度测试系统,并对添加不同含量TiH₂的乳化炸药、TiH₂粉尘以及C₂H₂气体的爆炸温度场进行了测量。实验结果表明:TiH₂的加入可以显著提高炸药的爆炸温度和火球持续时间,当乳化炸药中的TiH₂质量分数为6%时,爆炸平均温度最大值为3048 K,相比纯乳化炸药提高了41.5%;此外,TiH₂粉尘云火焰平均温度呈现先增大,再稳定,最后减小的趋势,浓度为500 g/m3的粉尘云火焰平均温度高于浓度为833 g/m3的平均温度,其最高平均温度分别为2231 和 2192 K;10%C₂H₂/90%空气预混气体（即体积分数为10%的C₂H₂和90%空气组成）的早期火焰温度均匀,内部略低于边缘温度,随着火焰膨胀,火焰边缘温度逐渐升高,火焰平均温度开始降低。与传统爆炸测温手段相比,比色测温方法可以准确测量某区域的瞬态爆炸温度,获得温度分布云图,为研究瞬态爆轰温度规律及影响因素提供了一种新的技术手段。     

水平管道煤尘爆炸残留物时空变化特征

为了研究煤尘爆炸气固态残留物成分差异性及其时空分布规律，利用水平管道煤尘爆炸装置进行了煤尘爆炸实验，收集并分析了气固态残留物类别及特征。研究表明:爆炸后煤尘中灰分显著增加，挥发分和固定碳减少；爆炸前后煤尘的微观形貌特征差别明显，爆炸后煤尘颗粒表面光滑，且产生了颗粒破裂现象，部分颗粒中出现孔洞，少数颗粒呈现薄壳状，颗粒之间出现了粘结现象；煤尘爆炸气体残留物成分主要有氧气、氮气、一氧化碳、二氧化碳、甲烷、乙烯、乙烷、乙炔、丙烷等，爆源点处最低氧气浓度仅为2.52%，一氧化碳浓度达到0.38%~0.68%，距离爆源点越远，氧气浓度越高，碳氧化物气体与烃类气体浓度越低。     

RESUSPENSION METHOD FOR ROAD SURFACE DUST COLLECTION AND AERODYNAMIC SIZE DISTRIBUTION CHARACTERIZATION

1. Introduction At present, particulate matter is the primary source of urban air pollution in China (State Environmental Protec-tion Administration of China, 2003). With the increasing number of privately owned vehicles in cities, fugitive dust generated by traffic has gradually become the main source of urban particles, contributing as much as 20% to the total suspended particles (TSP) in China’s northern cities (United Nations Development Program, 2000). Surface dust on roads is resu…     

Source apportionment of atmospheric particulate carbon in Las Vegas,Nevada, USA

A study was conducted to quantify wintertime contributions of source types to carbonaceous PM_2.5 at four urban sites in the Las Vegas Valley, one of the most rapidly growing urban areas in the southwestern United States. Twenty-four hour average ambient samples were collected for mass, ions, elements, organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), and trace organic markers analysis. Additional measurements were made to determine diurnal patterns in light-absorbing black carbon (BC) as a marker for combustion sources. Carbonaceous PM sources of on-road gasoline vehicles, on-road diesel vehicles, and off-road diesel engines were characterized with their chemical profiles, as well as fuel-based emission factors, using an In-Plume Sampling System. The Effective Variance Chemical Mass Balance (EV-CMB) source apportionment model was applied to the ambient samples collected, using source profiles developed in this study as well as profiles from other relevant studies. Four main sources contributed to PM_2.5 carbon within the Las Vegas Valley: (1) paved road dust, (2) on-road gasoline vehicles, (3) residential wood combustion, and (4) on-road diesel vehicles. CMB estimated that on-road mixed fleet gasoline vehicles are the largest source for OC and EC at all the sites. The contribution of paved road dust to both OC and EC was 5–10% at the four sites. On-road diesel vehicles contribute 22% of the OC and 34% of the EC at a site near the city center, which is located immediately downwind of a major freeway. Residential wood combustion is a more important source than on-road diesel vehicles for two residential neighborhood sites. These results are consistent with our conceptual model, and the research methodology may be applied to studying other urban areas.     

Impacts of biomass-burning on aerosol properties of a severe haze event over Shanghai

Anthropogenic aerosols have significant impacts on the environment and human health in the Yangtze River Delta region, one of the most densely populated regions in the world. A biomass-burning plume swept across this area (Shanghai) in May 2009, leading to changes in the physical and optical properties of aerosols, which were investigated using ground-based remote sensing and in situ measurements via comparisons with dust pollution and background conditions. Experiments show that the biomass-burning plume led to an increase in the average aerosol optical depth (AOD) at 500 nm from 0.73 to 1.00 (37% higher), an absorption Angstrom exponent (AAE) of 1.48, and an increase in the Angstrom exponent (α) up to 1.53. Furthermore, local dust aerosols derived from road dust and/or construction dust also led to higher values of AOD (2.68) and AAE (2.16), and a daily average value of α of 1.05. For the biomass-burning plume, the aerosol particles exhibited significant variations in short-wavelength spectra. The single scattering albedo at 670 nm decreased remarkably under the influence of the biomass-burning plume, indicating the significant absorptive ability of the biomass-burning pollution and higher ratio of absorption aerosols within the plume. Under the effects of the biomass-burning, the volume concentration of fine-mode aerosols increased significantly and the PM-fine/PM-coarse volume concentration ratio reached 12.33. This relatively large change in fine-mode particles indicates that biomass-burning has a greater impact on fine-mode aerosols than on coarse-mode aerosols.     

亚麻尘在1米~3试验装置内的爆炸泄压研究

本文报导了在1米爆炸泄压试验装置内完成的亚麻尘-空气混合物的一百多次试验结果,试验中研究了亚麻尘浓度,泄压面积（比例泄放比）、点火源位置及能量、泄压口封盖物等因素对泄放爆炸压力的影响。在比例泄放比A/V2/3=0.264,亚麻尘浓度0.080kg/m3情况下,爆炸压力测得为15kPa,而亚麻尘浓度为0.700kg/m3情况下,爆炸压力高达33.3kPa,甚至亚麻尘浓度低到0.050kg/m3时,仍能产生火焰传播。这表明如果厂房不采取合适的措施,亚麻尘爆炸可导致厂房倒塌的破坏。     

Local and long-range transport influences on PM2.5 at a cities-cluster in northern China,during summer 2008

Hourly PM_2.5 concentrations were observed simultaneously at a cities-cluster comprising 10 cities/towns in Hebei province in China from July 1 to 31, 2008. Among the 10 cities/towns, Baoding showed the highest average concentration level (161.57 μg/m³) and Yanjiao exhibited the lowest (99.35 μg/m³). These observed data were also studied using the joint potential source contribution function with 24-h and 72-h backward trajectories, to identify more clearly the local and countrywide-scale long-range transport sources. For the local sources, three important influential areas were found, whereas five important influential areas were defined for long-range transport sources. Spatial characteristics of PM_2.5 were determined by multivariate statistical analyses. Soil dust, coal combustion, and vehicle emissions might be the potential contributors in these areas. The results of a hierarchical cluster analysis for back trajectory endpoints and PM_2.5 concentrations datasets show that the spatial characteristics of PM_2.5 in the cities-cluster were influenced not only by local sources, but also by long-range transport sources. Different cities in the cities-cluster obtained different weighted contributions from local or long-range transport sources. Cangzhou, Shijiazhuang, and Baoding are near the source areas in the south of Hebei province, whereas Zhuozhou, Yangfang, Yanjiao, Xianghe, and Langfang are close to the sources areas near Beijing and Tianjin.     

Removal of dust from flue gas in magnetically stabilized fluidized bed

A magnetically stabilized fluidized bed (MSFB, φ 500mm x 2100mm) was designed to study dust removal from flue gas. Based on the mechanism of dust removal in a fixed bed, the effects on collection efficiency of magnetic field intensity, ratio of flue gas velocity to minimum fluidization velocity, bed height, and particle average diameter, were investigated. Then feasible methods for MSFB to better remove dust were proposed. Over 95% of dust removal with MSFB can be achieved, when stable fluidization is maintained and when magnetic particles are frequently renewed.     

Chemical properties and origin of dust aerosols in Beijing during springtime

Ground observation of dust aerosols was conducted in Beijing in the spring of 2005 in order to investigate the element composition and origin of mineral dust. Mass concentrations of most mineral elements of particles increased during dust events. Mineral elements were predominant in the sums of total element loadings in both dusty and non-dusty days. Mg, Si, Fe, Al or Ti can be used as an indicator of dust outflow; Cl can be viewed as an evidence of dust particles mixing with anthropogenic emissions. Mineral and pollutant elements showed a bimodal mass particle-size distribution (MSD) in non-dusty days, and a trimodal distribution in dusty days, but their peak concentrations fell in different size stages. Zn and S were mainly enriched in fine particles, whereas Cl was enriched in medium particles, but most mineral elements and Cu were enriched in coarse particles. Mineral elements were dominated by crustal material in dusty even non-dusty days, but pollutant elements were from non-crustal material including local and remote sources. Back trajectory analysis indicated that dust particles in Beijing mainly originated from the Gobi and desert regions of Mongolian and northern China.     

INFLUENCE OF ASIAN DUSTS ON THE PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF ATMOSPHERIC AEROSOLS IN TAIWAN DISTRICT USING THE PENGHU ISLANDS AS AN EXAMPLE

1. Introduction In the early months of each year, Asian dusts transport frequently from Northwest China and Mongolia to the Pa-cific-Rim countries (Kagawa et al., 2001; Uno et al., 2002). It causes significant environmental effects such as ambient air quality deterioration, atmospheric visibility impairment, radiation energy reduction, mineral deposition, and acid rain neutralization (Terada et al., 2002; Zhang & An, 1999). During Asian dust periods, significant increases of atmos-pheric …     

The molecular spectrum of beta-thalassemia and abnormal hemoglobins in the allochthonous and autochthonous dutch population

The prevalence at birth of hemoglobin defects in the autochthonous North-European population is low. However, the long immigration and colonial history of the Netherlands has resulted in a group of about 1-2 million 'autochthonous' inhabitants, with Asian, South-European or African ancestors, in whom a moderate birth prevalence of globin gene mutations can be expected. Furthermore, at least 10% of the Dutch population consists of recent immigrants from different countries with high birth prevalence of hemoglobinopathies. Because of the endogamous partner choice, which is prevalent in this population, the risk for homozygous progeny remains elevated. At least 100,000 carriers of hemoglobinopathies of recent allochthonous origin are present in the Netherlands, and the number of homozygous children is rising. Prevention by prenatal diagnosis requires a suitable protocol and knowledge about the molecular defects present in the country. Therefore we have analyzed a large number of patients and carriers, both at the hematological and at the DNA level. Our survey revealed 47 different beta-thalassemia determinants, characterized on 223 independent chromosomes from individuals of different ethnic origins. As expected, the most prevalent mutations were largely represented. The cd39 (C-->T) mutation was found in 70% of the immigrants from Morocco, Sardinia and other Central-West-Mediterranean regions while the IVS-I-110 (G-->A) was prevalent in the East-Mediterranean populations. The IVS-I-5 (G-->C) mutation was found in 45% of the patients of Indonesian origin. We also registered 308 independent chromosomes with common structural defects (HbS, HbC, HbE, Hb Lepore, Hb Constant Spring and HbD Punjab) and 33 chromosomes with 19 different, less frequent, rare or very rare mutants. Seven structural mutants were described for the first time and published separately. Furthermore, 139 independent chromosomes with deletional and nondeletional alpha-thalassemia defects were characterized.     

Removal of dust from flue gas in magnetically stabilized fluidized bed

A magnetically stabilized fluidized bed （MSFB,Ф 500mm×2100mm） was designed to study dust removal from flue gas. Based on the mechanism of dust removal in a fixed bed, the effects on collection efficiency of magnetic field intensity, ratio of flue gas velocity to minimum fluidization velocity, bed height, and particle average diameter, were investigated. Then feasible methods for MSFB to better remove dust were proposed. Over 95 % of dust removal with MSFB can be achieved, when stable fluidization is maintained and when magnetic particles are frequently renewed.     

爆炸压力积聚工况下石松子粉尘爆炸火焰传播特性

搭建了一套兼具承压和可视性能粉尘爆炸实验平台，在压力积聚工况下实验研究了石松子粉尘爆炸火焰传播特性。实验结果表明:压力积聚工况下的石松子粉尘爆炸火焰呈现空间离散的束状结构，火焰锋面呈齿状。随着粉尘浓度的提升，火焰连续性增强，锋面趋于平滑，亮度增加，并在750 g/m3达到最佳。不同浓度条件下的石松子粉尘爆炸火焰在传播过程中均呈现明显的速度脉动特征，但脉动频率随粉尘浓度的增大而减小。爆炸火焰平均传播速度随粉尘浓度的增大先增大后减小，并在750 g/m3达到最高。不同浓度条件下的石松子粉尘爆炸火焰前期传播速度均高于后期传播速度。     

防风网PM-IBM模型及其在堆场扬尘庇护区湍流模拟中的应用

防风网是煤炭和矿石等物料堆场的重要抑尘设施，能够利用多孔网板形成风速庇护效应，减少扬尘带来的大气污染。基于计算流体力学的数值风洞是预测防风网减风抑尘效率的先进手段，然而网板边界模型及其复杂阻风作用机制一直是风场湍流模拟的难点。本文将浸入边界法与多孔介质模型相结合，通过在NS方程中引入与渗流压降对应的力源项，建立PM-IBM（Porous Medium-Immersed Boundary Method）模型，实现了结构化网格下的防风网数值边界，并应用于堆场扬尘庇护区湍流风场模拟。结果表明，防风网网高大于1.4倍堆场高时，堆顶扬尘风速随网高呈非线性增长；PM-IBM模型结合通用计算流体力学求解器FLUENT，能够快速、高精度地模拟防风网的阻风作用，为堆场扬尘抑制效率评估提供数据支持。