A fuzzy goal programming with interval target model and its application to the decision problem of renewable energy planning

Environmental and Ecological Statistics - Optimizing sustainable renewable energy portfolios is one of the most complicated decision making problems in energy policy planning. This process involves...     

Foraminiferal biotopes and their distribution control in Ria de Aveiro (Portugal): a multiproxy approach

Ria de Aveiro, which is located in the centre of Portugal (40° 38′ N, 8° 45′ W), is a well-mixed and complex coastal lagoon that is separated from the sea by a sandy barrier and connects with the Atlantic through an artificial inlet. Tidal currents are the main factor controlling the lagoon’s hydrodynamics and, to a great extent, the sedimentary dynamic. The inner lagoonal zones receive input from several rivers and experience the pressure caused by the accumulation of organic matter and pollutants (namely, trace metals) from diverse anthropic activities. This paper is the first piece of work aiming to recognize, characterize and explain the main benthic foraminiferal biotopes in Ria de Aveiro. To provide a broad overview of this kind of setting, our results are compared to those of previous published studies conducted in similar transitional environments. The research is based on an investigation of 225 sites spread throughout this ecosystem. Utilizing a statistical approach, this study analyses the details of dead benthic foraminiferal assemblages composed of 260 taxa, the texture and composition (mineralogical and geochemical) of the sediment and physicochemical data. On the basis of the results of R-mode and Q-mode cluster analyses, several different biotopes can be defined as marsh biotope/near-marsh biotope; marginal urban/marginal urban mixing biotope; inner-outer lagoon biotope or enclosed lagoon; outer lagoon biotope, mixed sub-biotope; and outer lagoon, marine sub-biotope. These biotopes are related to foraminifera assemblages and substrate type and are influenced by local currents, water depth, chemical and physicochemical conditions, river or oceanic proximity, and anthropogenic impact, as evidenced by the mapping of the six factor loadings of the principal component analysis conducted herein. Based on a similar methodology of analysis as that applied in previous studies in the Lagoon of Venice, comparable biotypes were identified in Lagoon of Aveiro.     

Impact of microbial communities from tropical soils on the mobilization of trace metals during dissolution of cinnabar ore

Biodissolution experiments on cinnabar ore(mercury sulphide and other sulphide minerals,such as pyrite) were performed with microorganisms extracted directly from soil. These experiments were carried out in closed systems under aerobic and anaerobic conditions with 2 different soils sampled in French Guyana. The two main objectives of this study were(1) to quantify the ability of microorganisms to mobilize metals(Fe, Al, Hg) during the dissolution of cinnabar ore, and(2) to identify the links between the type and chemical properties of soils, environmental parameters such as season and the strategies developed by indigenous microorganisms extracted from tropical natural soils to mobilize metals.Results indicate that microbial communities extracted directly from various soils are able to(1) survive in the presence of cinnabar ore, as indicated by consumption of carbon sources and,(2) leach Hg from cinnabar in oxic and anoxic dissolution experiments via the acidification of the medium and the production of low molecular mass organic acids(LMMOAs). The dissolution rate of cinnabar in aerobic conditions with microbial communities ranged from 4.8 × 10~(-4) to 2.6 × 10~(-3) μmol/m~2/day and was independent of the metabolites released by the microorganisms. In addition, these results suggest an indirect action by the microorganisms in the cinnabar dissolution. Additionally, because iron is a key element in the dynamics of Hg, microbes were stimulated by the presence of this metal,and microbes released LMMOAs that leached iron from iron-bearing minerals, such as pyrite and oxy-hydroxide of iron, in the mixed cinnabar ore.     

An experimental and a numerical study of horizontal earth-air heat exchanger in a hot climate

Earth-air heat exchangers (EAHE) are devices used in the geothermal technique in order to reduce energy consumption in buildings. In this study, a simulation was conducted through the computational fluid dynamics platform FLUENT 6.3 for the prediction of thermal performance of the EAHE that describes the variation of the air temperature inside the tube. For this, it was necessary to design the heat exchanger while respecting the design and the actual dimensions of the experimental set-up, and stating that the temperature of the wall of the horizontal tube of the exchanger is equal to that of ground at 3 m depth. It should be noted that in assessing the temperature along the two sections vertical (input and output) of the exchanger, opting for a function (UDF) the user define function. Finally, noting a good agreement between both experimental and numerical study, and showing that a significant reduction in temperature at the outlet of the exchanger to a difference of 20 °C, confirming the effectiveness of the heat exchanger.     

Screening volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions from five marine phytoplankton species by head space gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS-GC/MS)

Five marine cosmopolitan phytoplankton species namely; Calcidiscus leptoporus, Emiliania huxleyi, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Chaetoceros neogracilis and Dunaliella tertiolecta were screened for emissions of selected VOCs using head space gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS-GC/MS) in single ion mode. The VOCs investigated included isoprene and various halogenated compounds. Among the different algae groups, the two diatoms Ch. neogracilis and P. tricornutum were the strongest emitters of methyl bromide (CH3Br), and Ch. neogracilis was the strongest emitter of isoprene. Furthermore, we present evidence that several chlorinated organic compounds, normally considered as anthropogenic, can be produced from marine phytoplankton (namely chloroform, dichloromethane, trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, chlorobenzene and dichlorobenzene).     

Adsorption of Disperse Blue SBL dye by synthesized poorly crystalline hydroxyapatite

The present study has been undertaken to evaluate the adsorption in batch mode of a disperse dye (Disperse Blue SBL) by poorly crystalline hydroxyapatite synthesized by coprecipitation between Ca(NO_3)_2 and (NH_4)_2HPO4 reagents in aqueous solution at room temperature. The adsorption experiments were carried out to investigate the factors that influence the dye uptake by the adsorbent, such as the contact time under agitation, adsorbent dosage, initial dye concentration, solution temperature, and pH. The e...     

Modeling of secondary treated wastewater disinfection by UV irradiation: Effects of suspended solids content

This work aimed to study UV-resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, to propose a formulation of the kinetics of secondary treated wastewater disinfection and to underline the influence of suspended solids on the inactivation kinetics of these strains. Some investigations were carried out for the validation of some simulation models, from the simplest, the kinetics model of Chick-Watson reduced to first order, to rather complex models such as multi-kinetic and Collins-Selleck models. Results revealed that the involved processes of UV irradiation were too complex to be approached by a simplified formulation, even in the case of specific strains of microorganisms and the use of nearly constant UV radiation intensity. In fact, the application of Chick-Watson model in its original form is not representative of the kinetics of UV disinfection. Modification, taking into account the speed change during the disinfection process, has not significantly improved results. On the other hand, the application of Collins-Selleck model demonstrates that it was necessary to exceed a least dose of critical radiation to start the process of inactivation. To better explain the process of inactivation, we have assumed that the action of disinfectant on the survival of lonely microorganisms is faster than its action on suspended solids protected or agglomerated to each others. We can assume in this case the existence of two inactivation kinetics during the processes (parallel and independent) of the first-order. For this reason, the application of a new kinetic model by introducing a third factor reflecting the influence of suspended solids in water on disinfection kinetics appeared to be determinant for modeling UV inactivation of P. aeruginosa in secondary treated wastewater.     

Effects of 5-year application of municipal solid waste compost on the distribution and mobility of heavy metals in a Tunisian calcareous soil

It is obvious that the application of solid waste compost improves the soil fertility. These wastes, however, may also have some negative effects on the agricultural environment due to their metal content. This research aimed at evaluating the influence of Tunisian municipal solid waste compost and farmyard manure on some chemical properties and the distribution of heavy metals in a calcareous Tunisian soil (clayey–loamy soil). A field plot experiment, without vegetation, was installed since 1999 at the experimental farm of the Agronomic National Institute of Tunis (INAT) in the region of Mornag (20 km south of Tunis, Tunisia). During 5 years, the field received yearly the following treatments: 0, 40, 80 and 120 t/ha of municipal solid waste compost and 0, 40 and 120 t/ha of manure. The fractionation of heavy metals in the soil was evaluated after 5 years using a sequential extraction procedure. The application of the two amendments was found to increase the content of organic matter, the total nitrogen content and the electrical conductivity, whereas it slightly decreased the soil pH. The addition of manure did not have a significant effect on the accumulation of heavy metals in the soil, whereas compost application increased the total concentration of heavy metals in the soil. The distribution of heavy metals between the different fractions in untreated and treated soils showed the residual fraction to be dominant, followed by the fraction bound to Fe and Mn oxides. The amount of Cu bound to the organic fraction increased with the application rate, which is probably caused by the formation of organic complexes. For the other metals, the increase of the association with organic matter is very limited. The application of compost moreover increases the amount of Zn associated with Fe and Mn oxides. The “Mobility Factor (MF)” was quite low and did not change after the 5-year application of the two organic amendments. It always remained lower than 10%, although for Cd it amounted to 17%.     

Removal of phosphate ions from aqueous solution using Tunisian clays minerals and synthetic zeolite

Phosphate ions are usually considered to be responsible for the algal bloom in receiving water bodies and aesthetic problems in water. From the environmental point of view, the management of such contaminant and valuable resource is very important. The present work deals with the removal of phosphate ions from aqueous solutions using kaolinitic and smectic clay minerals and synthetic zeolite as adsorbent. The pH effect and adsorption kinetic were studied. It was found that phosphate could be efficiently removed at acidic pH (between 4 and 6) and the second order model of kinetics is more adopted for all samples. The isotherms of adsorption of phosphate ions by the two clays and the zeolite samples show that the zeolite has the highest rate of uptake (52.9 mg P/g). Equilibrium data were well fitted with Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm.     

Low-cost Posidonia oceanica bio-adsorbent for efficient removal of antibiotic oxytetracycline from water

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The presence of antibiotics as micro-contaminants in the water and aqueous environments is a health concern to humans and the ecosystem. Therefore,...