The role of a changing Arctic Ocean and climate for the biogeochemical cycling of dimethyl sulphide and carbon monoxide

Dimethyl sulphide (DMS) and carbon monoxide (CO) are climate-relevant trace gases that play key roles in the radiative budget of the Arctic atmosphere. Under global warming, Arctic sea ice retreats at an unprecedented rate, altering light penetration and biological communities, and potentially affect DMS and CO cycling in the Arctic Ocean. This could have socio-economic implications in and beyond the Arctic region. However, little is known about CO production pathways and emissions in this region and the future development of DMS and CO cycling. Here we summarize the current understanding and assess potential future changes of DMS and CO cycling in relation to changes in sea ice coverage, light penetration, bacterial and microalgal communities, pH and physical properties. We suggest that production of DMS and CO might increase with ice melting, increasing light availability and shifting phytoplankton community. Among others, policy measures should facilitate large-scale process studies, coordinated long term observations and modelling efforts to improve our current understanding of the cycling and emissions of DMS and CO in the Arctic Ocean and of global consequences.     

Quaternary adsorption equilibria from aqueous systems onto decolourizing activated carbon

An experimental study has been conducted to obtain the adsorption isotherms of four typical pollutants from quaternary aqueous systems onto decolourizing activated carbon. The four materials investigated are: Phenol, 1,4-dihydroxybenzene, 4-amino-l-naphthalene sulfonic acid-sodium salt and Benzoic acid. The study has concentrated on the dilute region of concentrations which range from 10 to 165 ppm (mg/L) at an operating temperature of 30 °C.

The quaternary adsorption equilibria have been modeled using the extended Langmuir predictive model and the ideal adsorbed solution (IAS) theory. In employing these models for the prediction of multicomponent adsorption equilibria, the single-solute isotherms are needed. These isotherms have been fitted to Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin models and the resulting model parameters, which are needed for the prediction of multicomponent adsorption equilibria, are reported. Predictions obtained from the extended Langmuir predictive model and the ideal adsorbed solution (IAS) model are in agreement, however, they deviate to an appreciable extent from experimental observations.     

Size Distribution of Participates Emitted from a Horizontal Spike Soderberg Aluminum Reduction Cell

Aerosol size distributions were measured in the air exhausted from a horizontal spike Soderberg aluminum reduction cell at the Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation plant in Tacoma, Wash. The particle size distributions were measured with the University of Washington cascade impactor, developed specifically for source testing. The particle mass concentrations and size distributions were found to vary significantly with changes in the cell process operations. For a typical aerosol size distribution at the exit of the cell hood the mass mean particle diameter was 5.5 microns and the particle size standard geometric deviation was 25.     

Application of magnetite-activated persulfate oxidation for the degradation of PAHs in contaminated soils

In this study, feasibility of magnetite-activated persulfate oxidation (AP) was evaluated for the degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in batch slurry system. Persulfate oxidation activated with soluble Fe(II) (FP) or without activation (SP) was also tested. Kinetic oxidation of PAHs was tracked in spiked sand and in aged PAH contaminated soils at circumneutral pH. Quartz sand was spiked with: (i) single model pollutant (fluorenone) and (ii) organic extract isolated from two PAH contaminated soils (H and NM sampled from ancient coking plants) and was subjected to oxidation. Oxidation was also performed on real H and NM soils with and without an extraction pretreatment. Results indicate that oxidation of fluorenone resulted in its complete degradation by AP while abatement was very low (<20%) by SP or FP. In soil extracts spiked on sand, significant degradation of 16 PAHs was observed by AP (70-80%) in 1 week as compared to only 15% by SP or FP systems. But no PAH abatement was observed in real soils whatever the treatment used (AP, FP or SP). Then soils were subjected to an extraction pretreatment but without isolation of organic extract from soil. Oxidation of this pretreated soil showed significant abatement of PAHs by AP. On the other hand, very low degradation was achieved by FP or SP. Selective degradation of PAHs was observed by AP with lower degradation efficiency towards high molecular weight PAHs. Analyses revealed that no by-products were formed during oxidation. The results of this study demonstrate that magnetite can activate persulfate at circumneutral pH for an effective degradation of PAHs in soils. However, availability of PAHs and soil matrix were found to be the most critical factors for degradation efficiency.     

Fenton-like oxidation and mineralization of phenol using synthetic Fe(II)–Fe(III) green rusts

Background, aim, and scope  

In literature, the environmental applications of green rust (GR) have mainly been pointed out through the reduction of inorganic contaminants and the reductive dechlorination of chlorinated organics. However, reactions involving GR for the oxidation and mineralization of organic pollutants remain very scantly described. In this study, the ability of three synthetic Fe(II)–Fe(III) green rusts, GR(CO₃²⁻), GR(SO₄²⁻), and GR(Cl⁻), to promote Fenton-like reaction was examined by employing phenol as a model pollutant. Unlike the traditional Fenton’s reagent (dissolved Fe(II) + H₂O₂), where the pH values have to be lowered to less than 4, the proposed reaction can effectively oxidize the organic molecules at neutral pH and could avoid the initial acidification which may be costly and destructive for the in situ remediation of contaminated groundwater and soils. The green rust reactivity towards the oxidative transformation of phenol was thoroughly evaluated by performing a large kinetic study, chemical analyses, and spectroscopic investigations.     

"We all knew that a cyclone was coming": disaster preparedness and the cyclone of 1999 in Orissa, India

Imagine that a cyclone is coming, but that those living in the affected areas do nothing or too little to protect themselves. This is precisely what happened in the coastal state of Orissa, India. Individuals and communities living in regions where natural hazards are a part of daily life develop strategies to cope with and adapt to the impacts of extreme events. In October 1999, a cyclone killed 10,000 people according to government statistics, however, the unofficial death toll is much higher. This article examines why such a large loss of life occurred and looks at measures taken since then to initiate comprehensive disaster-preparedness programmes and to construct more cyclone shelters. The role of both governmental organisations and NGOs in this is critically analysed. The good news is that, based on an assessment of disaster preparedness during a small cyclone in November 2002, it can be seen that at community-level awareness was high and that many of the lessons learnt in 1999 were put into practice. Less positive, however, is the finding that at the state level collaboration continues to be problematic.     

Synergistic Effect of Oil Palm Based Pozzolanic Materials/Oil Palm Waste on Polyester Hybrid Composite

This research work aims to investigate the synergistic effect of pozzolanic materials such as oil palm ash (OPA) and oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) on the developed hybrid polymer composites. The OPEFB and OPA fillers of different particle sizes (250, 150, and 75 µm) were mixed at OPEFB:OPA ratios of (0:100; 20:80; 40:60; 60:40; 80:20 and 100:0) and incorporated into an unsaturated polyester resin. Furthermore, both mechanical and morphological properties of the composites were analyzed and it was found that tensile, flexural, and impact properties were significantly improved at OPEFB:OPA of 75 µm particle size hybridization of the polymer. The increase of OPEFB to OPA filler ratio up to 80:20 significantly improved the tensile properties of the composites while 40:60 ratio of 75 µm gave the optimum filler ratio to obtain the highest flexural and impact properties of the composites among all studied samples. Scanning electron micrograph images showed strong particle dispersion of the embedded fillers with resin which explained the excellent mechanical strength enhancement of the composite.