Sorption of polar and nonpolar organic contaminants by oil-contaminated soil

Sorption of nonpolar (phenanthrene and butylate) and polar (atrazine and diuron) organic chemicals to oil-contaminated soil was examined to investigate oil effects on sorption of organic chemicals and to derive oil–water distribution coefficients (K_oil). The resulting oil-contaminated soil–water distribution coefficients (K_d) for phenanthrene demonstrated sorption-enhancing effects at both lower and higher oil concentrations (C_oil) but sorption-reducing (competitive) effects at intermediate C_oil (approximately 1 g kg⁻¹). Rationalization of the different dominant effects was attempted in terms of the relative aliphatic carbon content which determines the accessibility of the aromatic cores to phenanthrene. Little or no competitive effect occurred for butylate because its sorption was dominated by partitioning. For atrazine and diuron, the changes in K_d at C_oil above approximately 1 g kg⁻¹ were negligible, indicating that the presently investigated oil has little or no effect on the two tested compounds even though the polarity of the oil is much less than soil organic matter (SOM). Therefore, specific interactions with the active groups (aromatic and polar domains) are dominantly responsible for the sorption of polar sorbates, and thus their sorption is controlled by available sorption sites. This study showed that the oil has the potential to be a dominant sorptive phase for nonpolar pollutants when compared to SOM, but hardly so for polar compounds. The results may aid in a better understanding of the role of the aliphatic and aromatic domains in sorption of nonpolar and polar organic pollutants.     

Blast wave clearing behavior for positive and negative phases

The purpose of the research was to improve prediction of response of buildings to blast waves by including the negative phase and considering clearing of both positive and negative phases. Commonly used structural design practices, which trace their origins to military design manuals, often ignore the negative phase as well as positive phase clearing. For high explosive threats, this approach is conservative in most circumstances. However, negative phase clearing had not previously been studied for blast waves, and the implications for structural response had not been evaluated. This paper presents results of modeling negative phase blast clearing behavior for a typical blast wave and discusses the differences from positive phase clearing. The implications of including positive and negative phase clearing in building blast damage analysis are also investigated through single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) analyses.Blast waves from explosion sources like a vapor cloud explosion (VCE), pressure vessel burst or high explosive exhibit both positive and negative phases, and the relative magnitude of the positive and negative phases varies among explosion sources and the specific circumstances of each source. A fully reflected blast wave is produced if an incident blast wave were to strike an infinitely tall and wide wall in a normal orientation. Both the positive and negative phases of the blast wave are enhanced by the reflection process. However, when an incident blast wave strikes a wall of finite size in a normal orientation, rarefaction waves are created at the edges of the wall, and the rarefactions sweep down from the roof and inward from sides. The rarefaction waves result in a clearing effect for both the positive and negative phases.Clearing relieves some of the applied blast load on the reflected wall for the positive phase. However, this is not always the case for the negative phase. As shown by the results presented in this paper, clearing may either relieve or enhance the applied negative phase blast load, depending on the duration of the blast wave and the wall dimensions.The impact of negative phase clearing on structural response for generic building components was also investigated. Nonlinear SDOF methods were used to characterize response in terms of peak positive and negative displacements. It was found that the influence of the negative phase is significant and the peak structural response can occur during negative (outward) displacement.     

高速公路安全水平仿真分析

为深入研究高速公路安全系统,用系统动力学(SD)方法分析驾驶员、车辆、道路、应急救援等组成要素以及环境、管理等影响因素之间的关系,建立高速公路安全系统因果关系模型和存量流量模型。用层次分析法(AHP)确定各影响因素的权重。以三福高速公路为例,用Vensim软件模拟高速公路运营期间系统安全的变化情况。结果表明,在该高速公路运营期间,系统安全与车辆安全度呈先上升后下降的趋势、道路安全度呈下降趋势、驾驶员安全度与应急救援能力呈上升趋势。通过与实际数据对比,验证了模型的有效性。     

Application of CFD on the sensitivity analyses of some parameters of the modified Hartmann tube

The aim of this work is to determine the influence of operating parameters such as the dispersion pressure, the ignition delay and height on the dust flammability. A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation, based on an Euler–Lagrange approach, was developed with Ansys Fluent™ and validated experimentally. Such analysis will facilitate the choice of the most conservative conditions for a flammability test. This paper is focused on a case study performed on wheat starch with the modified Hartmann tube. The dispersion process of the powder was studied with granulometric analyses performed in situ and high speed videos. Tests were performed with injections at gas pressure ranging from 3 to 6 bars and the evolution of the particle size distribution (PSD) was recorded at different ignition heights (5, 10 and 15 cm over the dispersion nozzle). The observations highlighted the presence of agglomeration/deagglomeration processes and dust segregation. Besides, a CFD simulation analysis was aimed at evaluating the impact of a set of parameters on the PSD and the local turbulence, which are closely linked to some flammability parameters. For this computational analysis, the CFD simulation was coupled with a collision treatment based on a Discrete Element Method (DEM) in order to consider the cohesive behavior of the combustible dust. Thus the results suggest performing the injection of the gases at approximately 5 bars for the flammability tests of wheat starch in order to obtain the finest PSD at a given ignition height. It is also shown that the finest PSD are obtained at 5 cm over the dispersion nozzle. However, the local instabilities and turbulence levels are so high during the first stages of the dispersion that the flame growth can be disturbed for short ignition delays. Moreover, the stabilization of the bulk of the dust cloud requires longer periods of time when the ignition sources are located at 15 cm. As a result, the recommended height to perform a flammability test is 10 cm in this case. Finally, this study proposes some tools that might improve the procedure of dust flammability testing.     

Environmental policy and macroeconomic dynamics in a new Keynesian model

This paper studies the dynamic behavior of an economy under different environmental policy regimes in a New Keynesian model with nominal and real uncertainty. We find the following results: (i) an emissions cap policy is likely to dampen macroeconomic fluctuations; (ii) staggered price adjustment alters significantly the performance of the environmental policy regime put in place; (iii) the optimal environmental policy response to shocks is strongly influenced by the degree to which prices adjust and by the monetary policy reaction.     

Removal of Se(IV) from aqueous solution using sulphuric acid-treated peanut shell

A carbonaceous sorbent was prepared from peanut shell via sulphuric acid treatment. Se(IV) removal from aqueous solution on the sorbent was studied varying time, pH, Se(IV) concentration, temperature and sorbent status (wet and dry). Se(IV) removal was faster using the wet sorbent than the dry sorbent following a pseudo-first-order model. Se(IV) removal increases at low pH values, and decreases as pH increases until pH 7. Sorption was found to fit the Langmuir equation and sorption capacity for the wet sorbent was higher than that for the dry one. Both sorbents showed an increased selenium sorption by rising the temperature. Redox processes between Se(IV) and the carbon sorbent are involved. Analysis by scanning electron microscope and X-ray powder diffraction for the sorbent after the reaction with acidified Se(IV) confirmed the availability of elemental selenium as particles on the sorbent surface as a result of Se(IV) reduction. Physicochemical tests showed an increase in sorbent acidity, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and surface functionality after the reaction with acidified Se(IV), indicating the oxidation processes occurring on the sorbent surface. Due to its reduction properties, the sorbent seems efficient for Se(IV) removal from aqueous solution.     

仿生腿式地形自适应起落架构型与动力学分析

针对垂直起降飞行器在复杂地形环境下实现平稳着陆的难题,利用仿生学设计理念,以无人直升机为对象,设计了一种基于多连杆机构设计的仿生腿式起落架系统。通过对腿部机构进行运动学分析和动力学分析,建立相关模型,在此基础上,进行仿生腿式起落架的运动控制。首先,从无人直升机的着陆稳定性和承载能力出发,对仿生腿式起落架机械构型进行分析,并介绍了腿部各部分结构。然后,针对仿生腿腿部结构,通过几何法完成对腿部正运动学和逆运动学的求解,建立足端位置与驱动关节角度之间的映射关系。最后,基于运动学模型及四连杆运动学特性,对机体和单腿进行了动力学分析,并建模。通过建立的运动学和动力学模型,结合设计的起落架结构,完成动力学仿真,实现了仿生腿式起落架在复杂地形环境下的平稳着陆,验证了结构的合理性和模型的准确性。     

叠氮增塑剂/硝化棉共混物的分子动力学模拟

目的 揭示叠氮增塑剂与硝化棉的相互作用机理,探索叠氮类增塑剂结构与性能间的关系,筛选能量性能和稳定性均较好的叠氮化合物。方法 建立硝化棉(NC)、1,3–二(叠氮乙酰氧基)–2–甲基–2–硝基丙烷(DAMNP)、1,3–双(叠氮乙酰氧基)–2–乙基–2–硝基丙烷(ENPEA)和1,8–二叠氮基–3,6–氧杂辛烷(AZTEGDN)纯物质模型以及NC/DAMNP、NC/ENPEA、NC/AZTEGDN共混物体系的微观分子模型,利用分子动力学模拟(MD)方法,对叠氮增塑剂/硝化棉的微观性质进行预测。分析共混体系的溶度参数、MSD值、结合能、径向分布函数、力学性能和玻璃化转变温度等性能。结果 DAMNP、ENPEA、AZTEGDN与NC之间的溶度参数差值较小。ENPEA与NC的结合能最大,DAMNP次之,AZTEGDN最小。3种增塑剂与NC的相互作用主要为vdW相互作用。加入增塑剂分子可以改善NC的运动能力,由于AZTEGDN的分子结构体积小,改善效果明显。径向分布函数分析结果进一步证明,NC与增塑剂分子间存在较强的氢键作用。结论 添加叠氮增塑剂可以改善NC的运动能力、力学性能,降低NC的玻璃化转变温度,起到了良好的增塑效果。     

System dynamics model for analyzing effects of eco-design policy on packaging waste management system

EU's long-term objective is to become a recycling and resource effective society, where waste is utilized as a resource and waste generation is prevented. A system dynamics model was developed to analyze the policy mechanisms that promote packaging material efficiency in products through increased recycling rates. The model includes economic incentives such as packaging and landfill taxes combined with market mechanisms, behavioral aspects and ecological considerations in terms of material efficiency (the packaging material per product unit, recycled fraction in products). The paper presents the results of application of various policy instruments for increasing packaging material efficiency and recovery rate and reducing landfilled fraction. The results show that a packaging tax is an effective policy instrument for increasing the material efficiency. It ensures the decrease of the total consumption of materials and subsequent waste generation. The tax helps to counteract a rebound effect, which, as identified by the analysis, can be caused by reduced material costs due to eco-design. The model is applied to the case of Latvia. Yet, the elements and structure of the model developed are similar to waste management systems in many countries. By changing numeric values of certain parameters, the model can be applied to analyze policy mechanisms in other countries.     

Temperature-dependent sorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on natural and treated sediments

In aqueous environment temperature is considered to play a significant role in the sorption process of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and its influence on the sorption equilibrium is indicative of sorption energies and mechanisms. In this study, sorptions of five PAHs on three heterogeneous sorbents including one river sediment (YHR), one estuary sediment (YRD) and one treated sediment with organic matter removed (IM) were carried out at a range of temperature from 5 °C to 35 °C. Stronger sorptions were observed at lower temperatures, with the equilibrium sorption coefficient K_d increasing 2-5 times as the temperature decreases 30 °C. The increase of K_d value was attributed primarily to the change of PAH water solubility, which predicted 40-75% of the increase of K_d in the sorption process. To provide insight into the sorption mechanism, enthalpy change (ΔH_S) for the sorption process was calculated and the values were observed to be negative for all of the interactions, suggesting that the exothermal sorption of PAHs inversely dependents on temperature. Based on the values of ΔH_S, van der Waals forces were inferred as the main sorption mechanism for the PAHs, especially on the YHR sediment which contained more organic matter. For sorption of larger size PAHs on the sorbents with low organic matter, specific interactions were deduced to contribute to the overall sorption.