Game theory approach to the analysis of inter-plant water integration in an eco-industrial park

Industrial water conservation is an important adaptation to the effects of climate change. In addition to water conservation within individual plants, wastewater can be reused/recycled among different companies through inter-plant water integration (IPWI) schemes. Such schemes are based on the concept of industrial ecology and industrial symbiosis, and can be used to achieve greater water savings than when water conservation is implemented in individual companies separately. However, in IPWI, each participating company seeks to maximise its own benefits. In the absence of centralised authority dictating the terms of water integration schemes, conventional modelling techniques are not appropriate. This paper shows how a game theory-based approach can be used to analyse the interaction of participating companies in an eco-industrial park seeking to develop an IPWI scheme.     

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More European heritage awards     

离心模型试验技术在环境岩土工程中的应用现状与展望

首先简单介绍了离心模型试验技术的发展状况,然后探讨了其在环境岩土工程中的应用,研究了模型和原型的相似规律,提出了环境岩土工程离心模型试验的发展方向.     

A perspective on the prevalence of DNA enteric virus genomes in anaerobic-digested biological wastes

The major goal of this study is to gain a perspective on the prevalence of DNA enteric virus genomes in mesophilic anaerobic-digested (MAD) sewage sludge and manure by comparing their quantitative PCR (qPCR) concentrations and removals with traditional fecal indicators (Escherichia coli, enterococci, and Bacteroidetes). In addition, relationships between qPCR and culture measurements of fecal indicators (FIs) were determined. There was no significant difference between the qPCR concentrations of human adenovirus and E. coli/enterococci in MAD sewage sludge; however, the qPCR concentrations of bovine adenovirus were significantly lower than FIs and bovine polyomavirus (BPyV) in MAD manure. The qPCR concentrations of human polyomavirus were slightly lower than E. coli and enterococci (p ≤ 0.05), but no significant difference was observed between the qPCR concentrations of BPyV and FIs. The digestion treatment achieved higher genome removal of bovine DNA enteric viruses than FIs (p ≤ 0.05). Significant correlations were observed between qPCR and culture measurements of FIs, but the concentrations and removals of FIs determined by qPCR assays were still significantly different than those determined by culture assays. Overall, we determined that the prevalence of DNA enteric virus genomes in MAD biological wastes was high due to their comparable in qPCR concentrations to FIs, indicating that mesophilic anaerobic digestion treatment alone may not be effective enough to remove DNA viral pathogens in biological wastes.     

How to improve reliability in groundwater analysis: over a decade of experience with external quality control in field campaigns on volatile halogenated compounds

The reliability in measurement results obtained during environmental monitoring is crucial for the assessment and further planning of remediation efforts on the respective contaminated sites by the responsible authorities. A case study concerned with groundwater contaminated with perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene and 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane including their degradation products which involves private contract laboratories and an independent provider of quality assurance (QA) is presented. The experience gained with biannual monitoring campaigns over 14 years indicates that the selection of contractors on basis of accreditation status and successful performance in interlaboratory comparisons are not sufficient. Rather the auditing of the contractors by the QA provider prior to each campaign and the crosschecking of selected monitoring samples by the QA provider led to a lasting improvement of reliability in the contractors' measurement results. A mean deviation of 20% from the reference value determined by the QA provider for the crosschecked samples was reached.     

Evaluation of the field dissipation of fungicides and insecticides used on fruit bearing trees in northern Italy

The dissipation of the fungicides captan, cyprodinil, fludioxonil, dithianon, and tebuconazole and of the insecticides chlorpyrifos, fenitrothion, and malathion was studied, following a single treatment of different cultivars of pears, apples, and peaches. The study was conducted in northern Italy, over two successive growing seasons (2004 and 2005). The treatments were performed by the farmers involved, in line with their usual practice. At various time intervals from treatment to harvest, representative samples of fruit were collected and analyzed for pesticide residues. In some cases, concentrations lower than the maximum residue levels (MRLs) were found immediately after treatment. In all trials a rapid decline in pesticide concentrations was observed leading to residues at harvest greatly below the MRLs.     

Zero-valent iron and iron oxide-coated sand as a combination for removal of co-present chromate and arsenate from groundwater with humic acid

The combination of zero-valent iron (Fe⁰) and iron oxide-coated sand (IOCS) was used to remove Cr(VI) and As(V) from groundwater in this study. The efficiency and the removal mechanism of Cr(VI) and As(V) by using this combination, with the influence of humic acid (HA), were investigated using batch experiments. Results showed that, compared to using Fe⁰ or IOCS alone, the Fe⁰-IOCS can perform better on the removal of both Cr(VI) and As(V). Metal extraction studies showed that As(V) was mainly removed by IOCS and iron corrosion products while Cr(VI) was mainly removed by Fe⁰ and its corrosion products. Competition was found between Cr(VI) and As(V) for the adsorption sites on the iron corrosion products. HA had shown insignificant effects on Cr(VI) removal but some effects on As(V) removal kinetics. As(V) was adsorbed on IOCS at the earlier stage, but adsorbed/coprecipitated with the iron corrosion products at the later stage.