The hardrock minerals industry and the landscape architect

The landscape architecture profession is a source of creative thinking and planning which is relatively untapped within the mining industry in the United States of America. The landscape architect has been active in European operations for years as indicated by the four examples presented. The landscape architect can provide an important interface with mine design and engineering and environmental affairs. To initiate this interface within the United States, and increase its effectiveness, six objectives are presented and discussed.     

用于CO2捕集的Mg（OH）2粉末溶解速率

氢氧化镁是一种正在研究的用于脱除烟气中低浓度CO2的化学吸收剂。为了掌握工业用氢氧化镁粉末的溶解速率,利用缓冲溶液,在不改变溶液体积的情况下对不同悬浊液浓度、溶液温度、溶液pH值和搅拌速率情况下的氢氧化镁粉末溶解速率进行了研究。提高悬浊液浓度、提高溶液温度、降低溶液pH值和提高搅拌速率均能增大氢氧化镁的溶解速率。悬浊液浓度从0.1 mol/L增加到1 mol/L时,溶解速率增大了2.2倍;温度从23℃增加到52℃时,溶解速率增大了4.3～9.5倍;pH值从9.8降低到6.6时,溶解速率增大了78～225倍;搅拌速率从350 r/min增加到700 r/min时,溶解速率增大了1～2倍。     

Mutualism among parasitic nematodes: A population model

An apparently mutualistic association between Metastrongylus apri and M. pudendotectus, described on the basis of field and experimental infections of swine, is analyzed using a compartment model. Exploration of the model suggests that M. apri may be facultative mutualist and M. pudendotectus, and obligate mutualist.     

A strategy for controlling deposition of struvite in municipal wastewater treatment plants.

This paper presents strategies to reduce the risk of struvite deposition by controlling its location of formation. Two technical routes were investigated: (1) to fix the phosphate into the dewatered sludge cake, and (2) to remove phosphate from centrate or filtrate. Chemicals used include magnesium hydroxide [Mg(OH)2], both of reagent grade and reclaimed from a flue gas desulfurization system, magnesium chloride (MgCl2), calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)2], ferric chloride (FeCl3) and aluminum sulfate [Al2(SO4)3]. Research results indicate that (1) for anaerobically well-digested sludge, Mg(OH)2 is effective in fixing phosphate into sludge cake and improving sludge dewaterability, and (2) adding Mg(OH)2 into a reactor, located between the sludge dewatering facilities and the centrate or filtrate discharge line, and using air for mixing and carbon dioxide stripping, proves feasible in reducing struvite deposition in centrate or filtrate discharge lines and can generate a potentially valuable plant fertilizer--struvite.     

Biological phosphate uptake and release: effect of pH and magnesium ions.

Enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) is based on poly-phosphate accumulating organisms' (PAOs) unique features of "luxury" phosphate uptake during aerobic conditions and phosphate release in anaerobic conditions. It is believed that poly-phosphate accumulation is accompanied by the uptake and accumulation of potassium ions (K+) and magnesium ions (Mg2+). The release of phosphate under anaerobic conditions is also accompanied by the release of both cations. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of pH and Mg2+ on the biological phosphate uptake and release behavior of activated sludge mixed liquor during aeration and sedimentation. Research results indicate that Mg2+, supplied either by magnesium chloride (MgCl2) or magnesium hydroxide [Mg(OH)2], stimulated phosphate uptake during the aeration period, while pH increase, caused by the application of Mg(OH)2, enhanced phosphate release during the sedimentation period. It is also noted in our experiments with MgCl2 that Mg2+ slightly inhibited anaerobic phosphate release.     

Report: Combustion Byproducts and Their Health Effects: Summary of the 10th International Congress

The 10th International Congress on Combustion Byproducts and their Health Effects was held in Ischia, Italy, from June 17-20, 2007. It is sponsored by the US NIEHS, NSF, Coalition for Responsible Waste Incineration (CRWI), and Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). The congress focused on: the origin, characterization, and health impacts of combustion-generated fine and ultrafine particles; emissions of mercury and dioxins, and the development/application of novel analytical/diagnostic tools. The consensus of the discussion was that particle-associated organics, metals, and persistent free radicals (PFRs) produced by combustion sources are the likely source of the observed health impacts of airborne PM rather than simple physical irritation of the particles. Ultrafine particle-induced oxidative stress is a likely progenitor of the observed health impacts, but important biological and chemical details and possible catalytic cycles remain unresolved. Other key conclusions were: (1) In urban settings, 70% of airborne fine particles are a result of combustion emissions and 50% are due to primary emissions from combustion sources, (2) In addition to soot, combustion produces one, possibly two, classes of nanoparticles with mean diameters of?~10?nm and?~1?nm. (3) The most common metrics used to describe particle toxicity, viz. surface area, sulfate concentration, total carbon, and organic carbon, cannot fully explain observed health impacts, (4) Metals contained in combustion-generated ultrafine and fine particles mediate formation of toxic air pollutants such as PCDD/F and PFRs. (5) The combination of metal-containing nanoparticles, organic carbon compounds, and PFRs can lead to a cycle generating oxidative stress in exposed organisms.     

Exposure and health risks potentially posed to petroleum storage tank cleaners by volatile organic compounds

This study models and assesses the significance of risks to health potentially posed to individuals exposed to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) due to being occupationally engaged in cleaning petroleum storage tanks. Exposure processes include hydrocarbon vapor inhalation, ingestion via hand-to-mouth contact, and dermal exposure. Under confined space entry regulations, tank cleaners must wear protective clothing and a breathing apparatus. However, such regulations are recent and sometimes violated. Several factors were found to influence exposure of unprotected individuals cleaning tanks. One factor is climate. This paper reports on a study of tanks in south Texas, which is sunny and hot during most of the year. Solar irradiation of metal surfaces may elevate internal temperatures above ambient air temperatures. Vaporization then elevates airborne hydrocarbon concentrations, and ventilation reduces them, producing a dynamic equilibrium. Human entry, however, disturbs this equilibrium by agitating petroleum residuals. Based upon the above considerations, we have modeled petroleum fuel storage tank dynamics in a case study. We considered three cases: manways closed, manways open, and manways actively ventilated. For CASE I, the concentration of each pollutant in the vapor phase was calculated using Raoult's Law. CASE II and CASE III applied Raoult's Law and also evaluated a mass balance via a mass transfer coefficient derived using the Reynolds Number and the Schmidt Number. Based upon empirical data, the velocity of the air within the tank was assumed to be 1.6 mph. Outputs of the case study included the steady-state concentration of each constituent and time required to reach it. Health risk assessment was conducted to quantify non-cancer risks posed by individual substances (the hazard quotient, HQ) and by simultaneous and/or sequential exposure to multiple substances (the hazard index, HI). During hot months, gross exceedances of acceptability criteria for acute and chronic exposures to mixed solvent vapors occurred. The HI exceeded the acceptability criterion by more than three orders of magnitude. The HI for chronic occupational neurological risks exceeded the acceptability criterion by more than two orders of magnitude. This result is consistent with observed neurological deficits among tank cleaners, such as depression of performance on memory tests among crew members who had worked during hot months. Finally, in such instances, eight-hour time-weighted average mixed-solvent vapor concentrations can exceed half of lethal levels, suggesting that tank cleaners can potentially approach lethal exposure routinely during hot seasons.