Investigative consequence analysis: A case study research of beirut explosion accident

Around 15:00 GMT on August 4th, an explosion occurred in the warehouse facility storing Ammonium Nitrate (AN) at Beirut port, Lebanon. The explosion resulted in more than 178 fatalities and injured more than 6500 people, and also left an estimated 300,000 people homeless and registered as an equivalent to a 3.3 magnitude earth quake. The accident was considered to be the largest of its kind and the most severe anthropological disaster of the decade, the financial loss the nation was subjected to post the explosion was estimated to be around $ 15 billion as informed by the governor. The storage conditions of ammonium nitrate at Beirut port is not definitively known to anyone, and there is no documentation provided so far from the authorities regarding the same. This work focuses on the investigation & consequence analysis of the explosion using TNT equivalent approach. The overpressure and the impulse obtained from TNT calculations are used in probit models to assess the damages caused on human beings and structures. The results obtained in this investigative approach are then utilized to provide an analytical inference relative to the damage proxy map reported by the advance rapid imaging analysis team from NASA. Also, this work examines the existing standards, fire safety measures and legal regulations for ammonium nitrate facilities in the region. AN explosion during storage like other fire and explosion accidents are definitely preventable owing to the technological advancements and developments to prevent or extinguish controllable fires. The significance of this work relates to the methods for calculation of consequences of explosion that are happening due to the storage of highly hazardous explosive materials in excessive quantities and insists the necessity of incorporating adequate safety measures while storing such reactive and hazardous materials.     

Seasonal and diurnal variations of atmospheric peroxyacetyl nitrate, peroxypropionyl nitrate, and carbon tetrachloride in Beijing

Atmospheric peroxyacetyl nitrate(PAN), peroxypropionyl nitrate(PPN), and carbon tetrachloride(CCl4) were measured from September 2010 to August 2011 in Beijing. PAN exhibited low values from mid-autumn to early spring(October to March) with monthly average concentrations ranging from 0.28 to 0.73 ppbV, and increased from early spring to summer(March to August), ranging from 1.37–3.79 ppbV. The monthly variation of PPN was similar to PAN, with low values(below detection limit to 0.18 ppbV) from mid-autumn to early spring, and a monthly maximum in September(1.14 ppbV). The monthly variation of CCl4was tightly related to the variation of temperature, exhibiting a minimum in winter(69.3 pptV) and a maximum of 180.6 pptV in summer. Due to weak solar intensity and short duration, PAN and O3showed no distinct diurnal patterns from morning to night during winter, whereas for other seasons, they both exhibited maximal values in the late afternoon(ca. 15:00 to 16:00 local time) and minimal values during early morning and midnight. Good linear correlations between PAN and PPN were found in autumn(R = 0.91), spring(R = 0.94), and summer(R = 0.81), with slopes of 0.130, 0.222, and 0.133, respectively, suggesting that anthropogenic hydrocarbons dominated the photochemical formation of PANs in Beijing. Positive correlation between PAN and O3 in summer with the low slopes( O3 / PAN) ranging from 9.92 to 18.0 indicated serious air pollution in Beijing, and strong negative correlation in winter reflected strong O3consumption by NO titration and less thermal decompositin of PAN.     

填埋场中铁的生物化学循环对反硝化的影响

在模拟填埋体系中,以填埋场稳定的垃圾为接种物,通过控制有机物和硝氮负荷,研究了铁的生物化学循环对反硝化的影响.结果表明,垃圾填埋场内蕴藏着能实现铁的厌氧氧化还原并同步还原硝氮的复合功能菌群.通过改变有机物和硝氮的负荷,可使得填埋场内持续进行着铁的氧化还原循环和同步氮素转化.从氮素转化产物来看,铁的循环体系中氨氮浓度比传统的反硝化体系低4 mmol·L-1.填埋场内铁的生物化学循环过程对于原位脱氮具有极大贡献.     

Effect of urea on detonation characteristics and thermal stability of ammonium nitrate

A study has examined the effect of urea on the thermal stability and detonation characteristics of ammonium nitrate (AN). The thermal decomposition temperature and surface morphology of samples were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). For further research on the thermal sensitivity and shock sensitivity of the samples, the Koenen test and UN gap test were conducted. The results indicate that urea can substantially increase the thermal stability of AN (the greatest exothermic peak is increased by more than 100 °C) and reduce the thermal sensitivity of AN. However, AN-50wt. % urea mixtures can still produce a steady detonation in the UN gap test. Urea cannot reduce the ability to propagate a detonation. Possible explanations for these results are discussed.     

有效磷含量对硝酸铵溶液热安全性的影响

为了了解硝酸磷肥生产过程中,硝酸铵溶液中加入磷酸一铵的安全性,通过自制实验装置,研究了有效磷含量对质量分数为85%的硝酸铵溶液热分解的影响。结果表明,质量分数为85%的硝酸铵和磷酸一铵混合溶液的临界爆炸温度高于纯质量分数为85%的硝酸铵溶液,稳定性更好;磷酸一铵抑制硝酸铵的热分解,随着有效磷含量的增加,硝酸铵混合溶液临界爆炸温度升高;升温速率对硝酸铵混合溶液的临界爆炸温度影响很大,随着升温速率由2℃/min升高到3℃/min,质量分数为85%的硝酸铵混合溶液的临界爆炸温度升高,不易发生爆炸,安全性更好。研究结果对硝酸磷肥的生产安全有一定的指导意义。     

Ammonium nitrate thermal decomposition with additives

Runaway reactions present a potentially serious threat to the chemical process industry and the community; such reactions occur time and time again often with devastating consequences. The main objective of this research is to study the root causes associated with ammonium nitrate (AN) explosions during storage. The research focuses on AN fertilizers and studies the effects of different types of fertilizer compatible additives on AN thermal decomposition. Reactive Systems Screening Tool (RSST) has been used for reactivity evaluation and to better understand the mechanisms that result in explosion hazards. The results obtained from this tool have been reported in terms of parameters such as “onset” temperature, rate of temperature and pressure rise and maximum temperature. The runaway behavior of AN has been studied as a solid and solution in water. The effect of additives such as sodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄) and potassium chloride (KCl) has also been studied. Multiple tests have been conducted to determine the characteristics of AN decomposition accurately. The results show that the presence of sodium sulfate can increase the “onset” temperature of AN decomposition thus acting as AN thermal decomposition inhibitor, while potassium chloride tends to decrease the “onset” temperature thus acting as AN thermal decomposition promoter.     

武汉市秋季PM2.5中硫酸盐、硝酸盐理化特征及影响因素

为了解武汉市秋季PM_(2.5)中硫酸盐、硝酸盐理化特征,2016年9—11月利用热还原法在线连续监测分析系统对此进行了采样分析,并同步收集气象因子和离子色谱方法监测结果。结果表明,硫酸盐、硝酸盐的热还原分析方法与离子色谱法的相关系数分别为0.88、0.94;PM_(2.5)中硫酸盐、硝酸盐的水溶性部分占比达92.5%,难溶性部分为7.5%;空气质量为优、良和轻度污染时,硫酸盐、硝酸盐与PM_(2.5)的占比分别为45%、42%、45%;硫酸盐、硝酸盐在降水日和非降水日平均质量浓度分别为(19.6±18.5)μg/m~3和(31.0±9.1)μg/m~3;硝酸盐与硫酸盐的质量比为1.1,高于国内其他城市,与武汉市机动车保有量大幅增加有关。     

阿什河水系枯水期氮污染特征与同位素源解析

在阿什河水系设置20个采样点,采用水质监测技术和稳定氮同位素示踪技术,研究了枯水期阿什河氮污染特征和硝酸盐氮污染来源。结果表明:(1)阿什河枯水期大部分采样点氨氮浓度较低,大部分区域达到或优于《地表水环境质量标准》(GB3838—2002)中Ⅲ类。上游河段硝酸盐氮浓度较低,中游河段较高,到下游河段略有降低。总氮浓度较高,最高达19.4mg/L。(2)阿什河水系采样点15 N的丰度(δ15 N)主要处于0.11%~0.21%、0.42%~0.78%、0.83%~0.88%和1.09%~1.26%。稳定15 N同位素示踪解析阿什河硝酸盐氮污染来源表明,阿什河上游污染源主要为大气沉降、土壤有机氮和人工化肥;中游主要受畜禽养殖污水和生活污水污染;下游主要受城镇生活污水和工业废水影响。     

Evaluation of Existing and Modified Wetland Equations in the SWAT Model

The ability to accurately simulate flow and nutrient removal in treatment wetlands within an agricultural, watershed‐scale model is needed to develop effective plans for meeting nutrient reduction goals associated with protection of drinking water supplies and reduction of the Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone. The objectives of this study were to incorporate new equations for wetland hydrology and nutrient removal in Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), compare model performance using original and improved equations, and evaluate the ramifications of errors in watershed and tile drain simulation on prediction of NO₃‐N dynamics in wetlands. The modified equations produced Nash‐Sutcliffe Efficiency values of 0.88 to 0.99 for daily NO₃‐N load predictions, and percent bias values generally less than 6%. However, statistical improvement over the original equations was marginal and both old and new equations provided accurate simulations. The new equations reduce the model's dependence on detailed monitoring data and hydrologic calibration. Additionally, the modified equations increase SWAT's versatility by incorporating a weir equation and an irreducible nutrient concentration and temperature coefficient. Model improvements enhance the utility of SWAT for simulating flow and nutrients in wetlands and other impoundments, although performance is limited by the accuracy of inflow and NO₃‐N predictions from the contributing watershed. Editor's note : This paper is part of the featured series on SWAT Applications for Emerging Hydrologic and Water Quality Challenges. See the February 2017 issue for the introduction and background to the series.     

菌株Desulfovibrio sp. CMX的DNRA性能和影响因素

微生物的硝酸盐异化还原为铵(DNRA)过程对自然界中铵根离子的存在和转化具有重要影响,然而关于SRB菌株DNRA过程影响和机制尚未探明.本文考察了实验室筛选的SRB菌株Desulfovibrio sp.CMX的DNRA能力、影响因素及其影响机制.结果表明,无外加氮源的情况下,分别以10 mmol·L-1NO_3~-和NO_2~-作为唯一电子受体,菌株Desulfovibrio sp.CMX最终NH_4~+生成率分别达到85.8%和97.3%,且无N2和N2O等副产物产生.实验探究了不同外加氮源、不同初始浓度的SO_4~(2-)、S~(2-)对菌株DNRA过程的影响.酵母浸粉作为外加氮源可促进菌株的生长和代谢从而促进菌株DNRA过程;SO_4~(2-)对于NO_3~-还原为NO_2~-阶段起促进作用,而对NO_2~-还原为NH_4~+阶段起抑制作用,综合两方面影响,最终表现出对菌株DNRA过程的抑制作用;S~(2-)对菌株生长及DNRA过程都表现出抑制作用,且S~(2-)浓度越高抑制作用越强,当S~(2-)浓度达到6 mmol·L-1后,S~(2-)对于NO_3~-还原为NO_2~-阶段的抑制作用强于NO_2~-还原为NH_4~+阶段的抑制作用,NO_3~-还原为NO_2~-速率低于NO_2~-还原为NH_4~+速率,此时体系中不再有NO_2~-的积累.