Kinetic and 2D reactor modeling for simulation of the catalytic reduction of NOx in the monolith honeycomb reactor

Emission of NO_x is of primary environmental concern in the oil sands industry. Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) is one of the best NO_x reduction technologies. The present study discusses the testing of a mechanistic kinetic model for the SCR of NO_x to describe the kinetics of V₂O₅/TiO₂ catalysis at atmospheric pressure and a temperature of 623 K in a monolith honeycomb reactor. The modeling results impart insight into the significance of the diffusion with reaction steps and guidance for optimal monolith design for SCR. The validated expression would predict the conversion performance of the catalysts for different values of temperature inlet and ammonia concentration. A good agreement between experimental and model results has been obtained. A heterogeneous numerical model consisting of coupled mass and momentum balance equations was solved using the finite elements method without neglecting the axial dispersion term. The operating range for the catalyst relies on the NO conversion and emission. The optimum operating range for the best performance of the reactor is discussed.     

Trace metal dynamics in an industrialized Brazilian river: A combined application of Zn isotopes, geochemical partitioning, and multivariate statistics

The Paraiba do Sul (PSR) and Guandu Rivers (GR) water diversion system (120 km long) is located in the main industrial pole of Brazil and supplies drinking water for 9.4 million people in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro. This study aims to discern the trace metals dynamics in this complex aquatic system. We used a combined approach of geochemical tools such as geochemical partitioning, Zn isotopes signatures, and multivariate statistics. Zinc and Pb concentrations in Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) and sediments were considerably higher in some sites. The sediment partition of As, Cr, and Cu revealed the residual fraction (F4) as the main fraction for these elements, indicating low mobility. Zinc and Pb were mostly associated with the exchangeable/carbonate (F1) and the reducible (F2) fractions, respectively, implying a higher susceptibility of these elements to being released from sediments. Zinc isotopic compositions of sediments and SPM fell in a binary mixing source process between lithogenic (δ^66/64Zn_JMC ≈ + 0.30‰) and anthropogenic (δ^66/64Zn_JMC ≈ + 0.15‰) end members. The lighter δ^66/64Zn_JMC values accompanied by high Zn concentrations in exchangeable/carbonate fraction (ZnF1) enable the tracking of Zn anthropogenic sources in the studied rivers. Overall, the results indicated that Hg, Pb, and Zn had a dominant anthropogenic origin linked to the industrial activities, while As, Cr, and Cu were mainly associated with lithogenic sources. This work demonstrates how integrating geochemical tools is valuable for assessing geochemical processes and mixing source effects in anthropized river watersheds.     

The valuation of wetland conservation in an urban/peri urban watershed

This study estimates the social benefits of wetland conservation in the Credit River watershed, located in an urban/peri urban area in Southern Ontario, Canada. A stated preference approach was employed to value wetland conservation programs which ranged from retaining the existing wetlands to restoring various levels of acres of wetlands over the 2009–2020 period. A total of 1,407 households completed an internet-based survey which presented trade-offs in binary choice scenarios framed as referenda. Responses were analyzed using various models, one of which was a latent class analysis which segmented respondents into three classes. This econometric approach uncovered significant preference heterogeneity for wetland conservation. Assignment of respondents to the classes suggested that about one-third of the sample was willing to pay small amounts to retain the existing wetlands. An additional third was willing to pay several hundred dollars a year for retention and small positive amounts for additional restoration. The final third were apparently willing to pay considerable sums for retention, but lesser amounts for additional restoration. However, further analysis revealed that respondents in this third class largely constituted yea-sayers. These results suggest caution in interpreting associated economic valuation estimates and highlight the importance of attempting to understand hypothetical bias in wetland and other such valuation studies.     

Naturally occurring thallium: a hidden geoenvironmental health hazard?

This paper illustrates a real environmental concern and draws attention to the fact that natural processes can mobilize thallium (Tl), a highly toxic metal, which may enter the food chain as a "hidden health killer" with severe health impacts on local human population. Natural processes may be exacerbated by human activities such as mining and farming, and may cause enrichment of Tl in the environment. In geochemically anomalous areas with concentrated levels of Tl in the surface environment (bedrocks, waters, soils, and crops), such as the Lanmuchang area in southwestern Guizhou Province, China, it is essential to establish base-level values and to pay heed to the geological context of "natural contamination," as high concentrations of Tl in bedrocks/ores (6-35,000 mg/kg) can lead to enrichment of Tl in the aquatic system (0.005-1100 microg/l in groundwaters and 0.07-31 microg/l in surface waters) and soil layers (1.5-124 mg/kg). In sensitive areas such as the Yanshang area of southwestern Guizhou, elevated natural levels of Tl from bedrocks may also cause higher concentrations of Tl in the surface environment, and thus more attention must be paid to geoenvironmental management of human activities if socio-economic catastrophes are to be avoided. Due to high uptake of Tl by crops, Tl can be transferred from soils to crops and remarkably concentrated in food crops. Concentrations of 1-500 mg/kg Tl based on dry weight (DW) were determined in many food crops growing on Tl-contaminated arable soils from the Lanmuchang area. The daily intake of 1.9 mg of Tl from consumed food crops was estimated for the local adult inhabitant of Lanmuchang. Thus, Tl is regarded as a latent health hazard with potential risk of toxicity in humans within areas of "natural" contamination by Tl.     

Influence of source characteristics, chemicals, and flocculation on chemically enhanced primary treatment.

The overall objective of this research was to investigate various methods and parameters to increase the efficiency of chemically enhanced primary treatment (CEPT). The performance of CEPT was evaluated based on its efficiency of removal of nonsettleable solids (NSS). Some of the source characteristics that influenced NSS concentration included influent total suspended solids, influent turbidity, and influent total chemical oxygen demand. A higher concentration of the influent constituents led to a higher NSS concentration, suggesting that NSS represented a somewhat fixed fraction or percent of these influent constituents. The specific particle surface area (SPSA) was found to correlate with percent NSS in the effluent. A higher SPSA is a result of smaller-sized nonsettleable colloidal particles, thus leading to an increase in percent NSS. In summary, there are several parameters that affect NSS, which could be used to control NSS to improve CEPT, as demonstrated by this study.     

Evaluation of Cu potential bioavailability changes upon coastal sediment resuspension: an example on how to improve the assessment of sediment dredging environmental risks

Purpose  

Metal bioavailability-based sediment quality analysis, inferred from geochemical partitioning data, may contribute to improve sediment management policies. This is important because decision-making processes should not give similar priorities to sediments offering contrasting environmental risks associated to metal bioavailability. However, current uses of Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQGs) as interpretive tools to support decisions about dredging-related activities have not considered the changes in metal bioavailability upon sediment resuspension.     

A Versatile Electrochemical Monitor for Air-Quality Measurements

An electrochemical instrument of the type commonly used to monitor total oxidants was adapted to measure acid gases such as SO₂, HCI, and HCO₂H. By using chemical methods of treating the air sample prior to absorption, it is possible to monitor for specific oxidants and acids. Measurements of NO, NO_x, and SO₂ during smog-chamber experiments were found to be in good agreement with measurements made by other methods.     

Assessment of Human Exposure to Ambient Particulate Matter

ABSTRACT

Recent epidemiological studies have consistently shown that the acute mortality effects of high concentrations of ambient particulate matter (PM), documented in historic air pollution episodes, may also be occurring at the low to moderate concentrations of ambient PM found in modern urban areas. In London in December 1952, the unexpected deaths due to PM exposure could be identified and counted as integers by the coroners. In modern times, the PM-related deaths cannot be as readily identified, and they can only be inferred as fractional average daily increases in mortality rates using sophisticated statistical filtering and analyses of the air quality and mortality data. The causality of the relationship between exposure to ambient PM and acute mortality at these lower modern PM concentrations has been questioned because of a perception that there is little significant correlation in time between the ambient PM concentrations and measured personal exposure to PM from all sources (ambient PM plus indoor-generated PM).

This article shows that the critical factor supporting the plausibility of a linear PM mortality relationship is the expected high correlation in time of people's exposure to PM of ambient origin with measured ambient PM concentrations, as used in the epidemiological time series studies. The presence of indoor and personal sources of PM masks this underlying relationship, leading to confusion in the scientific literature about the strong underlying temporal relationship between personal exposure to PM of ambient origin and ambient PM concentration. The authors show that the sources of PM of non-ambient origin operate independently of the ambient PM concentrations, so that the mortality effect of non-ambient PM, if any, must be independent of the effects of the ambient PM exposures.     

Source apportionment of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Palm Beach County,Florida

Due to concerns about adverse health effects associated with inhalation of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 30 ambient air samples were obtained at an air quality monitoring station in Palm Beach County, Florida, from March 2013 to March 2014. The ambient PAH concentration measurements and fractional emission rates of known sources were incorporated into a chemical mass balance model, CMB8.2, developed by EPA, to apportion contributions of three major PAH sources including preharvest sugarcane burning, mobile vehicles, and wildland fires. Strong association between the number of benzene rings and source contribution was found, and mobile vehicles were identified to be the prevailing source (contribution ≥56%) for the observed PAHs concentration with lower molecular weights (four or fewer benzene rings) throughout the year. Preharvest sugarcane burning was the primary contributing source for PAHs with relatively higher molecular weights (five or more benzene rings) during the sugarcane burning season (from October to May of the next year). Source contribution of wildland fires varied among PAH compounds but was consistently lower than for sugarcane burning during the sugarcane harvest season. Determining the major sources responsible for ground-level PAHs serves as a tool to improving management strategies for PAH emitting sources and a step toward better protection of the health of residents in terms of exposure to PAHs. The results obtain insight into temporal dominance of PAH polluting sources for those residential areas located near sugarcane burning facilities and have implications beyond Palm Beach County, in areas with high concerns of PAHs and their linked sources.

Implications: Source apportionment of atmospheric polycyclic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Palm Beach County, Florida, meant to estimate contributions of major sources in PAH concentrations measured at Belle Glade City of Palm Beach County. Number of benzene rings was found to be the key parameter in determining the source with the prevailing contribution. Mobile vehicle sources showed a higher contribution for species with four or fewer benzene rings, whereas sugarcane burning contributed more for species with five or more benzene rings. Results from this study encourage more control for sugarcane burns and help to better manage authorization of the sugarcane burning incidents and more restrictive transportation plans to limit PAH emissions from mobile vehicles.