Effects of heterogeneities on capillary pressure-saturation-relative permeability relationships

In theories of multiphase flow through porous media, capillary pressure-saturation and relative permeability-saturation curves are assumed to be intrinsic properties of the medium. Moreover, relative permeability is assumed to be a scalar property. However, numerous theoretical and experimental works have shown that these basic assumptions may not be valid. For example, relative permeability is known to be affected by the flow velocity (or pressure gradient) at which the measurements are carried out. In this article, it is suggested that the nonuniqueness of capillary pressure-relative permeability-saturation relationships is due to the presence of microheterogeneities within a laboratory sample. In order to investigate this hypothesis, a large number of "numerical experiments" are carried out. A numerical multiphase flow model is used to simulate the procedures that are commonly used in the laboratory for the measurement of capillary pressure and relative permeability curves. The dimensions of the simulation domain are similar to those of a typical laboratory sample (a few centimeters in each direction). Various combinations of boundary conditions and soil heterogeneity are simulated and average capillary pressure, saturation, and relative permeability for the "soil sample" are obtained. It is found that the irreducible water saturation is a function of the capillary number; the smaller the capillary number, the larger the irreducible water saturation. Both drainage and imbibition capillary pressure curves are found to be strongly affected by heterogeneities and boundary conditions. Relative permeability is also found to be affected by the boundary conditions; this is especially true about the nonaqueous phase permeability. Our results reveal that there is much need for laboratory experiments aimed at investigating the interplay of boundary conditions and microheterogeneities and their effect on capillary pressure and relative permeability.     

Designing an integrated model for strawberry growers’ behavior toward implementation of good agricultural practices in Iran

Environment, Development and Sustainability - Good agricultural practices (GAPs) include conscious agricultural techniques that are not harmful to human health and the environment, with the goal of...     

Sensitivity and uncertainty analysis of agro-ecological modeling for saffron plant cultivation using GIS spatial decision-making methods

The main objective of this research is to model the uncertainty associated with GIS-based multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) for crop suitability assessment. To achieve this goal, an integrated approach using GIS-MCDA in association with Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) and global sensitivity analysis (GSA) were applied for Saffron suitability mapping in East-Azerbaijan Province in Iran. The results of this study indicated that integration of MCDA with MCS and GSA could improve modeling precision by reducing data variance. Results indicated that applying the MCS method using the local training data leads to computing the spatial correlation between criteria weights and characteristics of the study area. Results of the GSA method also allow us to obtain the priority of criteria and identify the most important criteria and the variability of outputs under uncertainty conditions for model inputs. The findings showed that, commonly used primary zoning methods, without considering the interaction effects of variables, had significant errors and uncertainty in the output of MCDA-based suitability models, which should be minimized by the advanced complementarity of sensitivity and uncertainty analysis.     

Sorption of 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN) on lignin

The present study describes the use of two commercially available lignins, namely, alkali and organosolv lignin, for the removal of 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN), a chemical widely used by the military and the dye industry, from water. Sorption of DNAN on both lignins reached equilibrium within 10 hr and followed pseudo second-order kinetics with sorption being faster with alkali than with organosolv lignin, i.e. k₂ 10.3 and 0.3 g/(mg hr), respectively. In a separate study we investigated sorption of DNAN between 10 and 40°C and found that the removal of DNAN by organosolv lignin increased from 0.8 to 7.5 mg/g but reduced slightly from 8.5 to 7.6 mg/g in the case of alkali lignin. Sorption isotherms for either alkali or organosolv lignin best fitted Freundlich equation with enthalpy of formation, ΔH⁰ equaled to 14 or 80 kJ/mol. To help understand DNAN sorption mechanisms we characterized the two lignins by elemental analysis, BET nitrogen adsorption-desorption and ³¹P NMR. Variations in elemental compositions between the two lignins indicated that alkali lignin should have more sites (O- and S-containing functionalities) for H-bonding. The BET surface area and calculated total pore volume of alkali lignin were almost 10 times greater than that of organosolv lignin suggesting that alkali lignin should provide more sites for sorption. ³¹P NMR showed that organosolv lignin contains more phenolic -OH groups than alkali lignin, i.e., 70% and 45%, respectively. The variations in the type of OH groups between the two lignins might have affected the strength of H-bonding between DNAN and the type of lignin used.     

Optimal Design of Ozone Bleaching Parameters to Approach Cellulose Nanofibers Extraction from Sugarcane Bagasse Fibers

Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) were isolated from sugarcane bagasse (SCB) through the combination of bio-refinery, sulfur-free, and totally chlorine free (TCF) chemo-mechanical pretreatments, with a focus on the optimal design of ozone bleaching parameters based on a response surface methodology (RSM). For this purpose, the most effective parameters in ozone bleaching (temperature, time, and pulp consistency) were set between 40 and 85 °C, 60 and 360 min, and 1–5 wt%, respectively. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Kappa number, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to chemically and morphologically characterize the SCB fibers. The size distribution and morphology of CNFs were also evaluated by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). HPLC analysis revealed that percentage of cellulose increased from 41.5 to 91.39% after chemical pretreatments. FTIR and Kappa number analyses also confirmed the successful isolation of cellulose fibers from the SCB fibers after chemical pretreatments. Furthermore, DLS results showed that the hydrodynamic diameter of the isolated cellulose fibers reduced to 268 nm by dint of ultrasonication. Additionally, TEM images confirmed the isolation of CNFs: the average diameter of cellulose fibers decreased to about 28 nm after mechanical steps and the yield of fibrillation was found to be around 99%. According to the obtained results, the applied chemo-mechanical treatment appears to be promising for green and facile isolation of CNFs.     

The interactions between tree-herb layer diversity and soil properties in the oriental beech (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fagus orientalis</Emphasis> Lipsky) stands in Hyrcanian forest

This study investigated the interactions between tree-herb layer diversity and some physico-chemical and eco-physiological characteristics of soil in natural oriental beech stand in western Guilan, Iran. The data were collected from nine research sites (50 m?×?50 m) which were described as a gradient from pure oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) stands to mixed stands with up to nine deciduous tree species (n =?27) in Hyrcanian forest. Herbaceous plants were sampled within ten 1 m?×?1 m sub-plots in two plots of 400 m² which were installed randomly in each research site. Composite soil samples were taken at five positions in each research site. We found that the increase in tree diversity in mature oriental beech stands brought about an increase in microbial biomass carbon, soil carbon content, and the ratio of microbial biomass carbon to the organic carbon (C_mic/C_org). Increased soil organic carbon raised microbial biomass carbon through creating suitable environment for microorganisms. The findings also indicated that the ratio of microbial biomass carbon to the organic carbon (C_mic/C_org) increased as a quantitative indicator of soil carbon dynamics that finally benefits soil fertility of mixed oriental beech stands compared to pure oriental beech stands. The results showed that humus layer and litter thickness were negatively correlated with tree layer richness. Generally, it can be stated that maintaining a mixture of tree layer species in natural oriental beech stands results in an increase in richness and diversity values of herb plants as well as carbon content and microbial biomass carbon of soil.     

Histopathological effects of copper oxide nanoparticles on the gill and intestine of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in the presence of titanium dioxide nanoparticles

In current research, the combined effects of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs) on the histopathological anomalies of gill and intestine tissues in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) were studied. Common carp were exposed to TiO₂ NPs (10.0?mg L^?1), CuO NPs (2.5 and 5.0?mg L^?1), and mixture of TiO₂ NPs (10.0?mg L^?1)?+?CuO NPs (2.5 and 5.0 mg?L^?1) for two periods of exposure (10 and 20 days) and recovery (30 and 40 days). The most common histopathological anomalies in the gill of common carp such as hyperplasia, oedema, curvature, fusion, aneurism, and necrosis were observed. The synergistic effect of co-existing TiO₂ NPs and CuO NPs reduced the length of secondary lamella and increased the diameters of the gill filaments and secondary lamellae. Moreover, the presence of TiO₂ NPs increased the CuO NPs effects on the histopathological anomalies of intestine tissue and the synergistic effect of TiO₂ NPs and CuO mixture leads to an increase in the severity of histopathological lesions such as degeneration, swelling of goblet cells, and necrosis - erosion in the intestine tissue. In conclusion, the presence of TiO₂ NPs increased the toxicity of CuO NPs.     

Landfill site selection using multi criteria decision making: Influential factors for comparing locations

Although a lot of research has focused on energy recovery and recycling of valuable materials from wastes to reduce loads on landfills, landfilling is still an inseparable part of solid waste management. Since landfills potentially pose a risk to human health and the surrounding environment, landfill site selection is an important endeavor that has to be carried out with great care. Choosing a suitable location for landfills depends on several factors and is a complicated procedure. In this paper, a comprehensive review of landfill site selection methods, with an emphasis on multi criteria decision making (multiple criteria decision analysis) has been presented. Assessments indicate that the most frequently used methods are weighted linear combination (WLC), ordered weighted averaging (OWA), analytic hierarchy process (AHP), fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (F-AHP), TODIM, fuzzy TODIM, analytic network process (ANP), fuzzy-analytic network process (F-ANP), and grey systems theory, each of which is discussed. The most widely used factors for selecting a landfill site are groundwater depth, surface water vicinity, elevation, land slope, soil permeability, soil stability, flooding susceptibility, lithology and stratification, faults, land use type, nearby settlements and urbanization, cultural and protected site vicinity, wind direction, roads, railways, proximity to building materials, pipelines and powerlines, and proximity to airports.