Trihalomethane formation potential in treated water supplies in urban metro city

Trihalomethane (THM) formation potential (TFP) is very useful test to assess the level of the formation of trihalomethanes in worst case scenario. Organics in water have the potential to generate harmful disinfection by-products (DBPs) such as THMs, as a result of their reaction with disinfectant chlorine used in drinking water. DBPs are increasingly recognized as cancerous agents. TFP of postchlorinated treated water were investigated at six water treatment plants (WTPs) in Delhi City (India). The present paper presents the current trends of TFP so that prevention and control measures can be initiated by the regulating agencies responsible for drinking water supply. Liquid–liquid extraction method, followed by qualitative and quantitative estimation by gas chromatograph equipped with electron capture detector, had been used for the determination of THMs in water samples collected at the outlet just before supplying to the consumers during 2000–2007. The TFP values from 2004 onward of all WTPs did not exceed the WHO guideline value of ≤1.     

Assessment of the Water Quality of Troia for the Multipurpose Usages

The aim of this study was to determine the origin and quality of waters in Troia. For this purpose total of 25 water samples including 2 springs, 14 surfaces and 9 groundwaters, were collected at eight different times. Global positioning system (GPS) was used to determine to coordinates of sampling points. The concentration of 6 minor elements (B, Cu, F, Fe, Pb and Zn), 9 major anions and cations (Na(+), Ca(2+), K(+), Mg(2+), SO(4)(2-), PO(4)(3-), HCO(3)(-), Cl(-) and, CO(3)(2-)) were determined by spectrometric, colorimetric and volumetric methods. Water pH, EC, DO, ORP and TDS were measured in situ using probes. The data showed that the concentrations of most of minor elements were below the EPA and TSE limits except Pb which ranged between 0.001 and 4.832 mg L(-1). Statistically significant relationships (P<0.01 and r>0.70) were observed between Fe and Cu, Cu and K(+), Cu and Ca(2+), B and Na(+), Na(+) and K(+). Assessing the water based on irrigation using Wilcox model showed that some well waters were not suitable for irrigation. Troia water was found to be highly corrosive and the average corrosion coefficients varied from 0.5 to 4.6. According to the Piper and Schoeller diagrams results, the water in Troia was classified as mixed water type.     

Enhancement of biomethane production from cattle manure with codigestion of dilute acid pretreated lignocellulosic biomass

It is well known that dilute sulfuric acid pretreatment of the lignicellulosisc biomass is an effective approach used for the production of the ethanol. However, there are less studies on the biogas production from the pretreated lignocellulosics and hardly data available on the codigestion of cattle manure with the pretreated lignocellulosisc material. The aim of this study was to evaluate biomethane production potential of codigestion of cattle manure with dilute acid pretreated lignocellulosic biomass. Sugarcane bagasse and rice husk was pretreated with dilute sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid at 121°C for 20 minutes and subsequently subjected to anaerobic digestion alone or codigested with cattle manure.

The results showed that codigestion of 1% phosphoric acid pretreated rice husk with cattle manure led to the highest methane production of 115 Nmlg^?1VS while monodigestion of cattle manure and phosphoric acid pretreated rice husk produced 98 and 87 Nmlg^?1VS, respectively. An inhibition was observed in anaerobic digestion of sulfuric acid pretreated rice husk and sugarcane bagasse during monodigestion and codigestion with cattle manure.

The study concludes that dilute phosphoric acid pretreated lignocellulosics like sugarcane bagasse and rice husk can be used as a cosubstrate with cattle manure in anaerobic digestion for enhanced methane production. Dilute sulfuric acid pretreatment, which is effective method for the bioethanol production, causes inhibition during anaerobic digestion of the pretreated lignocellulosics.     

Effect of environmental factors on pheromone trap catches of (Hubner)

Prediction models relating pheromone trap catches of (H) with several onvironmental factors are worked out. It is expected that those models will help overcome indiscriminate use of pesticides.     

Developing a process equipment failure knowledge base using ontology approach for process equipment related incident investigations

Process equipment failures (PEFs) are one of the most important causes of process incidents occurrences. To investigate and prevent the PEFs, in addition to having the previous data, it is necessary to have some resources of the PEFs domain knowledge. Nowadays, PEFs data are usually retrieved from existent databases. Customary databases present only previously stored data of equipment failures but, for carrying out a comprehensive PEFs management it is necessary to have access to the PEFs desired knowledge and not only stored data. This paper aims to offer a knowledge base for the PEFs through adopting an ontological approach and then to use the proposed knowledge base for further applications particularly, process incident investigation activities. Through adding semantic search capability, the proposed knowledge base could upgrade the data presenting feature of the common databases into a knowledge presenting feature. Using this approach, the user would be able to extract the desired knowledge of the PEFs along the virtual stored data of occurred cases. The knowledge extraction process and the data mining of occurred incidents are both necessary for the PEFs investigation.     

On–off control of aeration time in the simultaneous removal of ammonia and manganese using a biological aerated filter system

The biological aerated filter (BAF) system, a new alternative in drinking water treatment, was designed to remove NH₄⁺–N and Mn²⁺ simultaneously. This study aimed to control the aeration time in the BAF system for simultaneous NH₄⁺–N and Mn²⁺ removal to achieve the Malaysian effluent quality regulation for drinking water. The experiment was conducted under four strategies of S1, S2, S3 and S4. The results demonstrated that acceptable levels of NH₄⁺–N and Mn²⁺ were achieved over a 6 h aeration period (S1), producing effluent concentrations of 0.7 mg/L (93.2% removal) and 0.08 mg/L (79.6% removal), respectively. At the initial treatment of S1 and S2, the dissolved oxygen (DO) level rapidly increased until it reached a saturated concentration (6.8 mg/L DO) after 2 h period. Automatic on–off aeration time to maintain 3 mg/L DO set point (S4) resulted with a good effluent quality of NH₄⁺–N and Mn²⁺ compared with the 2 mg/L DO set point (S3) which did not meet the regulated standard limits. Through the automatic on–off aeration time, the saturated and excessive DO levels in the BAF system can be avoided consequently reduce the wastage of energy and electrical consumption for simultaneous NH₄⁺–N and Mn²⁺ removal from drinking water treatment.     

Utilization of sludge from water treatment plant as a filler material in pavements

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - The recycling potential of water treatment plant (WTP) sludge in asphalt concrete mixes as filler material was assessed in this study. Marshall...     

Simulating the future energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of Turkish cement industry up to 2030 in a global context

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change - Turkey ranked seventh among cement-producing countries in the world, and the country is also one of the extensive producers in the world...     

Identification of two mutations for ataxia telangiectasia among the Druze community

Ataxia telangiectasia (AT) is a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by progressive cerebellar ataxia, immunodeficiency, susceptibility to lymphoreticular malignancies and cancer predisposition, hypersensitivity to ionic radiation and chromosomal instability. In this study, we report a founder effect of AT with two different mutations: 1339 C > T and 6672 del GG together with 6677 del TACG, found in four Israeli Druze clans originating from three different Druze centers in the Middle East (Lebanon, Syria and Jordan). The 1339 C > T mutation, which results in a stop codon at position 447 of the ATM protein, was observed in two unrelated clans originating from Lebanon and Jordan. The 6672 del GG/6677 del TACG mutation was observed in two unrelated clans originating from Syria and Lebanon. In the present study, simple and fast detection assays were developed for both mutations. The ability to identify AT carriers routinely provides a unique opportunity for prenatal diagnosis, genetic counseling as well as marriage guidance in the Druze community. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.