Effect of Reprocessing and Accelerated Weathering on ABS Properties

The feasibility of reprocessing has been investigated as a possible alternative for acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene terpolymer (ABS) recycling. Up to 10 reprocessing cycles have been performed by both extrusion and injection techniques and their effect on thermal and mechanical properties have been studied. Moreover, the effect of the combined reprocessing and accelerated weathering has been analyzed. Measurements collected after each molding cycle indicated virtually complete retention of thermal properties. The same behaviour has been observed from accelerated weathering tests. With respect to the mechanical properties, neither the flow index nor the tensile strength were affected by the number of reprocessing cycles though the impact strength decreased slightly. However, the studies based on the accelerated weathering show that there is an important influence of the number of reprocessing cycles on the tensile strength.     

Removal,adsorption and desorption of pentachlorophenol (PCP) by filamentous fungi: Rhizopusarrhizus and Cunninghamella elegans in batch system

PCP was, and in some countries still is, one of the most frequently used fungicides and pesticides, specially in wood preservation. The extensive use is correlated with contamination of water and soil and it is detected in several compartments of the food chain.

Some Micromycetes are able to adsorb and degrade PCP, with two mechanisms involved: biosorption (including both adsorption and absorption) and biodegradation.

Our work is focused on the biosorption alone and biodegradation‐biosorption of PCP by respectively denatured and living R.arrhizus and C.elegans fungi.

Living fungi are cultivated in batch system and denaturation is obtained by drying (70°C) and grinding the fungi to a calibrated powder (200–400 μm). Kinetic studies are performed with 10 mg/1 PCP initial concentration. Adsorption capacity is measured at equilibrium concentration as high as about 400 mg/1 PCP.

The results show that: PCP adsorption, for the two fungi, follows a two steps process. R. arrhizus dead and living biomasses are able to bind respectively, 75 and 55% of a 10 mg/1 PCP initial concentration in 1 hour contact time and then 75 and 100% in 96 hours. For C.elegans, 70 and 28% in 1 hour and in 96 hours 70 and 90%, respectively.

The PCP binding by living fungi is higher than non living ones, but with a slower rate.

The maximum PCP adsorption capacity is about 24 mg/g of R.arrhizus dried biomasses and 16 mg/g for C.elegans ones, in 48 hours contact time. Isotherm curves follow the Langmuir model.

Desorption studies with methanol (to reuse biomasses) shows that it is a rapid phenomenon (about 100% in 24 hours for the two fungi).

An industrial and economical process to depollute contaminated water by PCP is possible by using cheap fungal by‐products from fermentation industries.     

Mathematical Modeling and Numerical Algorithms for Simulation of Oil Pollution

This paper deals with the mathematical modeling and algorithms for the problem of oil pollution. For solving this task, we derive the adjoint problem for the advection–diffusion equation describing the propagation of oil slick after an accident, which we call the main problem. We prove a fundamental equality between the solutions of the main and the adjoint problems. Based on this equality, we propose a novel method for the identification of the pollution source location and the accident time of oil emission. This approach is illustrated on an example for an accident in the offshore of the central part of the Vietnamese coast. Numerical simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Besides, the method is verified for 1D model of substance propagation.     

Application of GIS and modelling in health risk assessment for urban road mobility

Transport is an essential sector in modern societies. It connects economic sectors and industries. Next to its contribution to economic development and social interconnection, it also causes adverse impacts on the environment and results in health hazards. Transport is a major source of ground air pollution, especially in urban areas, and therefore contributes to the health problems, such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, cancer and physical injuries. This paper presents the results of a health risk assessment that quantifies the mortality and the diseases associated with particulate matter pollution resulting from urban road transport in Haiphong City, Vietnam. The focus is on the integration of modelling and geographic information system approaches in the exposure analysis to increase the accuracy of the assessment and to produce timely and consistent assessment results. The modelling was done to estimate traffic conditions and concentrations of particulate matters based on geo-referenced data. The study shows that health burdens due to particulate matter in Haiphong include 1,200 extra deaths for the situation in 2007. This figure can double by 2020 as the result of the fast economic development the city pursues. In addition, 51,000 extra hospital admissions and more than 850,000 restricted activity days are expected by 2020.     

Modelling geosmin concentrations in three sources of raw water in Quebec, Canada

The presence of off-flavour compounds such as geosmin, often found in raw water, significantly reduces the organoleptic quality of distributed water and diverts the consumer from its use. To adapt water treatment processes to eliminate these compounds, it is necessary to be able to identify them quickly. Routine analysis could be considered a solution, but it is expensive and delays associated with obtaining the results of analysis are often important, thereby constituting a serious disadvantage. The development of decision-making tools such as predictive models seems to be an economic and feasible solution to counterbalance the limitations of analytical methods. Among these tools, multi-linear regression and principal component regression are easy to implement. However, due to certain disadvantages inherent in these methods (multicollinearity or non-linearity of the processes), the use of emergent models involving artificial neurons networks such as multi-layer perceptron could prove to be an interesting alternative. In a previous paper (Parinet et al., Water Res 44: 5847-5856, 2010), the possible parameters that affect the variability of taste and odour compounds were investigated using principal component analysis. In the present study, we expand the research by comparing the performance of three tools using different modelling scenarios (multi-linear regression, principal component regression and multi-layer perceptron) to model geosmin in drinking water sources using 38 microbiological and physicochemical parameters. Three very different sources of water, in terms of quality, were selected for the study. These sources supply drinking water to the Québec City area (Canada) and its vicinity, and were monitored three times per month over a 1-year period. Seven different modelling methods were tested for predicting geosmin in these sources. The comparison of the seven different models showed that simple models based on multi-linear regression provide sufficient predictive capacity with performance levels comparable to those obtained with artificial neural networks. The multi-linear regression model (R ²?=?0.657, <0.001) used only four variables (phaeophytin, sum of green algae, chlorophyll-a and potential Redox) in comparison with ten variables (potassium, heterotrophic bacteria, organic nitrogen, total nitrogen, phaeophytin, total organic carbon, sum of green algae, potential Redox, UV absorbance at 254 nm and atypical bacteria) for the best model obtained with artificial neural networks (R ²?=?0.843).     

Early changes in the fatty acid composition of photosynthetic membrane lipids from Populus nigra grown on a metallurgical landfill

We compared the fatty acid composition of leaves taken from poplars on a metal-contaminated landfill, and on the uncontaminated roadside bordering this site. For the first time, it is shown that the percentage of linolenic acid, which is mainly associated with thylakoid lipids, was significantly lower in tree species within the landfill than within the control area. A correlation study was carried out to investigate relationships between the C18:3/(C18:0 + C18:1 + C18:2) fatty acid ratios and the metal contents in soils and leaves. Lead and chromium leaf contents were significantly negatively correlated to this fatty acid ratio. The impact of each of these metals remains difficult to evaluate, but chromium in leaf likely plays a major role in toxicity. In addition, the decrease in the C18:3/(C18:0 + C18:1 + C18:2) fatty acid ratio occurred at low leaf metal content, and therefore it is shown that this ratio can be used as an early indicator of the effect of metals.     

Uranium series radionuclides in surface waters from the Shu river (Kazakhstan)

The concentrations of (238)U, (234)U, (226)Ra, (210)Po and (210)Pb have been determined in surface waters collected along the course of the Shu River, lying on the border between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. In the study area, the river runs through some of the largest uranium deposits worldwide, which were actively exploited during the nuclear weapons and nuclear energy programmes of the former Soviet Union. The data show an increasing trend in uranium concentrations downstream the river from the city of Tokmak to the city of Shu, with good correlation between total uranium concentrations and total dissolved solids. Data on uranium isotopes disequilibrium show the presence of technogenic uranium inputs into the Shu River downstream from the city of Karasu, evidenced by a decrease in the measured (234)U/(238)U isotopic ratio from 1.63 in uncontaminated sites to 1.29 in sites affected by past mining activities.     

光反应器中UV/Fenton光降解湖水中微囊藻毒素的研究

在光催化反应器中,采用UV/Fenton光催化氧化技术,对湖水中微囊藻毒素的光催化降解过程中各影响因子分析表明:微囊藻毒素光催化氧化降解率受光照强度、氧化剂种类及浓度、溶液pH和不同光催化体系等多因素的影响.光促催化氧化体系对MC-LR藻毒素降解具有显著的作用,在紫外光与氧化剂的协同作用下,紫外光照强度越高,越易于促进MC-LR藻毒素快速降解,降解率可到达80%以上.     

钙镁离子及重碳酸盐对零价铁还原对氯硝基苯的影响

通过间歇式实验,考察了地下水中常见硬度离子Ca2＋、Mg2＋及HCO3-的独立作用和联合作用对零价铁还原对氯硝基苯的影响。实验结果表明,Ca2＋、Mg2＋对零价铁还原对氯硝基苯反应的促进作用不明显。HCO3-浓度为0～100mg/L时可显著提高零价铁还原对氯硝基苯的速率,反应2 h后对氯硝基苯转化率由44.1%升至84...     

浙江天童亚热带常绿阔叶林栲树叶片发育动态

于2008年3-6月,定期记录了浙江天童亚热带常绿阔叶林栲树(Castanopsis fargesii)的展叶情况,包括标记枝的叶长、叶宽、叶面积、叶干重、叶鲜重和叶绿素含量等指标.结果表明,所调查的栲树叶面积增加持续时间为34 d,展叶速率最高达40.5%·d-1;成熟叶面积越大,其展叶速率越快;比叶重随叶面积增加呈波动变化,含水量在叶片发育过程中呈先增加后降低的变化趋势,叶绿素含量则随叶面积的增加而逐渐增高.对栲树展叶速率、叶面积和叶属性之间的相关分析结果显示,展叶速率分别与叶面积、叶绿素含量在α=0.01水平上呈显著正相关,叶面积分别与含水量、叶绿素含量在α=0.01水平上呈显著正相关;叶绿素含量与含水量在α=0.01水平上呈显著正相关.