Sustainable rangeland management using a multi-fuzzy model: how to deal with heterogeneous experts' knowledge

While fuzzy specialists commonly use homogeneous experts' knowledge to construct fuzzy models, it is much more difficult to deal with knowledge elicited from a heterogeneous group of experts. This issue is exemplified in the area of sustainable rangeland management (SRM). One way to deal with the diversity of opinions is to develop a fuzzy system for all experts and to combine all these, the so-called primary systems, into one multi-fuzzy model. To derive each of the primary fuzzy systems, several semi-structured interviews were held in three different areas of the Fars province in Southwest Iran using the knowledge of a group of administrative experts. To obtain the final output of the multi-fuzzy model, we applied different 'voting' methods. The first method simply uses the arithmetic average of the primary outputs as the final output of the multi-fuzzy model. This final output represents an estimation of the right rate of stocking (RRS). We also propose other (un)supervised voting methods. Most importantly, by harmonising the primary outputs such that outliers get less emphasis, we introduce an unsupervised voting method for calculating a weighted estimate of the RRS. This harmonising method is expected to provide a new useful tool for policymakers dealing with heterogenity in experts' opinions: it is especially useful where limited field data are available and one is forced to rely on experts' knowledge only. By constructing the three fuzzy models based on the elicitation of heterogeneous experts' knowledge, our study shows the multidimensional vaguenesses that exist in SRM. Finally, by comparing the final RRS with its common values, this study strongly points to the existence of overgrazing in pastures in the three regions of the Fars province in Southwest Iran.     

Exploring an integrated spatially model for land-use scenarios simulation in a metropolitan region

Environment, Development and Sustainability - Spatial simulation of land-use change scenarios in metropolitan areas is essential for analyzing both the causes and consequences of various future...     

Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in fish species of Iran: a review

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - Accumulation of heavy metals (HMs) in fish tissues is an important factor in monitoring the health and safety of aquatic ecosystems. Furthermore, fish are...     

Synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles and their effects on growth and physiological parameters of Calotropis procera seedlings

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The present study was carried out to elucidate effects of synthesized magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) on morphological and physiological parameters and...     

A detailed kinetic investigation on the effects of hydrogen enrichment on the performance of gas-fueled SI engine

This study investigates the effects of hydrogen enrichment on formation of pollutants and greenhouse gases in gas-fueled spark ignition engines. To this end, a previously validated detailed mechanism is embedded with a comprehensive one-dimensional engine model and the results are verified with experimental observations at different compression ratios and engine loads. The simulations are then performed for different mixtures of hydrogen and natural gas. The results indicate that adding hydrogen increases the cylinder peak pressure at different loads and compression ratios, despite the fact that reduces the amount of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and methane in all the conditions.     

Green synthesis of 1,3-dihydrobenzimidazol-2-ones from aromatic diamines by microwave in a tetrabutylammonium bromide–ethanol molten salt paste

Environmental Chemistry Letters - The replacement of hazardous solvents by greener alternatives is a major goal in green chemistry. Benzimidazol-2-ones are heterocycles exhibiting a wide range of...     

Kinetic study on photocatalytic degradation of Acid Orange 52 in a baffled reactor using TiO2 nanoparticles

In this study, a baffled photocatalytic reactor was used for the treatment of colored wastewater containing the azo dye of Acid Orange 52(AO52). A study on the active species of the photocatalytic process using TiO_2 nanoparticles indicated that hydroxyl radical and superoxide have the greatest contribution to the dye degradation process respectively.Given that a level of biological oxygen demand/chemical oxygen demand(BOD5/COD) equal to 0.4 was achieved after about 5 hr from the beginning of the experiment, the reactor seems to be capable of purifying the wastewater containing AO52 dye after this time in order to discharge into a biological treatment system to continue the treatment process.The results of the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS) test showed that during the first 4 hr of the experiment, with the breakdown of the azo bond, the contaminant was decomposed into the benzene annular compounds with less toxicity indicating a reduction in the toxicity of wastewater after removing the dye agent. The study on the kinetics of these reactions followed the pseudo-first-order kinetic model in all conditions and corresponded well to Langmuir–Hinshelwood model. According to the kinetic model for the simultaneous occurrence of possible pathways, the kinetic constant of production and degradation of intermediate products in optimal conditions was estimated to be between 0.0029 and 0.0391 min~(-1).     

Mass transfer and bioremediation of aromatics from NAPL in a baffled roller bioreactor

A non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) containing dissolved naphthalene or phenol was used to simulate water insoluble contaminants which are produced during the processing of oil sands. Mass transfer and biodegradation of organic contaminants in the aqueous phase were studied in a baffled roller bioreactor. Mass transfer of both naphthalene and phenol from NAPL into the aqueous phase was completed in less than 60 min, by which time naphthalene reached its saturation concentration in the aqueous phase and phenol was completely transferred into the aqueous phase. Pseudomonas putida (ATCC 17484) was subsequently used in biodegradation experiments in the baffled bioreactor containing the model NAPL contaminant. The optimum loading of NAPL for biodegradation of naphthalene at 500 mg/L was found to be 40%. High biodegradation rates (136.4 mg/L h for naphthalene and 13.2 mg/L h for phenol based on the working volume of the bioreactor) were achieved. In the case of simultaneous biodegradation of naphthalene and phenol, the highest total biodegradation rate of 102.6 mg/L h was achieved.     

Report: future industrial solid waste management in pars Special Economic Energy Zone (PSEEZ), Iran.

The Pars Special Economic Energy Zone (PSEEZ) is located in the south of Iran, on the northern coastline of the Persian Gulf. This area was established in 1998 for the utilization of south Pars field oil and gas resources. This field is one of the largest gas resources in the world and contains about 6% of the total fossil fuels known. Petrochemical industries, gas refineries and downstream industries are being constructed in this area. At present there are three gas refineries in operation and five more gas refineries are under construction. In this study, different types of solid waste including municipal solid waste (MSW) and industrial wastes were investigated separately. The aim of the study was to focus on the management of the industrial wastes in order to minimize the environmental impact. In the first stage, the types and amounts of industrial waste in PSEEZ were evaluated by an inventory. The main types of industrial waste are oil products (fuel oil, light oil, lubricating oil), spent catalysts, adsorbents, resins, coke, wax and packaging materials. The waste management of PSEEZ is quite complex because of the different types of industry and the diversity of industrial residues. In some cases recycling/reuse of waste is the best option, but treatment and disposal are also necessary tools. Recently a design has been prepared for a disposal site in PSEEZ for the industrial waste that cannot be reused or recycled. The total surface area of this disposal site where the industrial waste should be tipped for the next 20 years was estimated to be about 42 000 m2.