A model for pulse jet fabric filters

A new model for pulse jet fabric filtration is proposed. In contrast to the earlier model of Ravin and Humphries, which was formulated on the steady state assumption, the present study is aimed at developing a predictive capability for both transient and steady state operations, taking into account the compression effect of filter cakes. The model's relative simplicity allows frequent updating of the model parameter values, thus improving the accuracy of predictions. As a result, the model is particularly useful in developing control algorithms and designing controllers of pulse jet fabric filtration systems.     

Influence of modified soils on the removal of diesel fuel oil from water and the growth of oil degradation micro-organism

Three soils were modified with two kinds of cationic surfactants in order to increase their sorptive capabilities for organic contaminants. Sorption of diesel fuel oil in water by these modified soils had been investigated. Modified soils can effectively sorb diesel fuel oil from water. The sorption capability of modified soils is: HDTMA-black soil > HDTMA-yellow brown soil > HDTMA-red soil > TMA-black soil > TMA-yellow brown soil > TMA-red soil. Sorption of diesel fuel oil by natural soils and HDTMA modified soils is via partition, the sorption isotherms can be expressed by Henry equation, and logK(SOM) is 2.42-2.80, logK(HDTMA) is 3.37-3.60. Sorption isotherms of TMA modified soils can be expressed by Langmuir equation, the saturation sorption capacities are 1150 (TMA-black soil), 750 (TMA-yellow-brown soil), 171 mg/kg (TMA-red soil), respectively. A diesel fuel oil degradation micro-organism (Pseudomonas sp.) was isolated in the lab. To test the influence of the modified soils on the micro-organism, various growth curves of Pseudomonas in different conditions were drawn. Pseudomonas can grow very well with natural soils and TMA modified soils. The acclimation period of Pseudomonas is reduced. As to HDTMA modified soils, HDTMA loading amount is very important. When HDTMA loading amount is no higher than 0.5 CEC, the micro-organism can grow very well after a long acclimation period.     

Response of kidney bean to concentration and chemical form of cadmium, zinc, and lead in polluted soils

Seven soils which had been polluted with heavy metals from a zinc smelter were sequentially extracted so that Cd, Zn, and Pb could be partitioned into five operationally defined geochemical fractions: exchangeable, carbonate, Fe-Mn oxide, organic, and residual fractions. Kidney beans were planted in the soils to examine the effect of concentration and chemical form of the metals in soil on the growth and metal uptake of the plants. The growth of kidney bean was restricted in heavy metal polluted soils compared with controls. Metal concentration and metal uptake by plants were correlated. The highest relationship was found between amount of metal uptake and the metal concentration in exchangeable + carbonate forms. The uptake of metals was according to their solubility sequence, i.e. Cd > Zn > Pb. The uptake rate of exchangeable + carbonate forms was the same for the three elements.     

An air quality modeling study comparing two possible sites for the new international airport for Mexico City

Using an air quality model, two future urban scenarios induced by the construction of the new international airport for Mexico City are compared at a regional level. The air quality model couples the meteorology model MM5 and state-of-the-art photochemistry. The air quality comparison is made using metrics for the criterion gases selected for the study. From the two urban scenarios compared, the option for Tizayuca is moderately better than the option for Texcoco, because relative reductions in O3 and other photochemical pollutants are achieved over highly populated areas. Regardless of the site, the air quality for the central region of Mexico in the future will deteriorate. In the region of central Mexico, SO2 and NO2 will become important pollutants.     

Contamination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments of mangrove swamps

The concentrations of total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (sigmaPAHs) and 15 individual PAH compounds in 20 surface sediments collected from four mangrove swamps in Hong Kong were analysed. sigmaPAH concentrations ranged from 356 to 11,098 ng g(-1) dry weight with mean and median values of 1992 and 1,142 ng g(-1), respectively. These values were significantly higher than those of marine bottom sediments of Hong Kong harbours, suggesting that more PAHs were accumulated in mangrove surface sediments. The concentrations of sigmaPAHs as well as individual PAH compound varied significantly among mangrove swamps. The swamps heavily polluted by livestock and industrial sewage, such as Ho Chung and Mai Po, had much higher concentrations of total PAHs and individual PAH than the other swamps. The PAH profiles were similar among four mangrove swamps, and were dominated by naphthalene (two-ring PAH), fluorene and phenanthrene (three-ring PAH). The mangrove sediments had higher percentages of low-molecular-weight PAHs. These indicated that PAHs in mangrove sediments might originate from oil or sewage contamination (petrogenic input). Ratio values of specific PAH compounds such as phenanthrene/anthracene and fluoranthene/ pyrene, were calculated to evaluate the possible source of PAH contamination in mangrove sediments. These ratios varied among samples, suggesting that mangrove sediments might have a mixed pattern of pyrolytic and petrogenic inputs of PAHs. Sediments collected from Ho Chung mangrove swamp appeared to be more dominated by pyrolytic input while those from Tolo showed strong petrogenic contamination.     

Potential of bivalves' secondary settlement differs with species: a comparison between cockle (Cerastoderma edule) and clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) juvenile resuspension

Juvenile bivalves may be dispersed by entering a bysso-pelagic phase where they drift through the water mass aided by a long thread. The ability to resuspend and control the specific weight in two bivalve species, the cockle Cerastoderma edule (L.) and the Japanese clam Ruditapes philippinarum (Adams and Reeves), was documented with juveniles through flume and still-water experiments. Cockle juveniles initially placed on an unsuitable substratum were exposed to two shear velocities (u _*). At the end of the experiment, 42 (±15)% (for u _*=0.51 cm s⁻¹) and 79 (±9)% (for u _*=0.99 cm s⁻¹) of individuals were retrieved from the sand area which represents only 8% of the total flume surface. Most juveniles (70.5%) with shell lengths <2.5 mm migrated from the unsuitable Plexiglas substratum to the sand array by resuspension in the water column. The percentage was lower (21.5%) for larger individuals. The same experimental design was applied to clams, which immediately adhered to the Plexiglas substratum and remained attach to it. Sinking rates of live and dead specimens of both species were measured in a 1 m long transparent PVC tube. Cockle fall velocities showed severe deceleration, probably due to byssus secretion (up to 15-fold slower than dead cockles), sometimes interrupted by brutal acceleration probably due to byssal rupture. Cockles were able to reduce their sinking rate for shell lengths up to 4.25 mm. By contrast, clam sinking rates were constant, and similar to dead clam sinking rates. Specific weights of all experimental juveniles were calculated in relation to their lengths, and their passive motion into the boundary layer was theoretically assessed with Shields curve. In short, C. edule and R. philippinarum can both exhibit dense populations in the field with a good capacity to colonize, although juveniles display different abilities to resuspend in the water column. Received: 27 January 1997 / Accepted: 13 February 1997     

Uptake and distribution of rare earth elements in rice seeds cultured in fertilizer solution of rare earth elements

The uptake behavior of rare earth elements (REEs) under pot conditions using deionized water and a REE fertilizer solution as the culture media as well as the distribution of REEs in rice proteins were studied. The uptake of REEs in rice seeds increased dramatically after a lag period of approximately three days. Roots can accumulate a much higher content of REEs than germs and the resting seeds. The REE content in each water-soluble (albumin) and salt-soluble (globulin) component of the rice seeds accounted for 5-8% and 4-6% of the total REEs, respectively. However, there are less than 1.5% of the total REEs were found in the alcohol-soluble (prolamin) and acetic acid-soluble (glutelin) components. The high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in the gel permeation and the reserved-phase were used to monitor changes in the molecular weight distribution changes of the soluble proteins of rice seeds during germination after having been cultured in the same solution for seven days. No changes occurred in the prolamin, while a slight change occurred in the albumin, globulin and glutelin. Fractionation of the albumin of rice seeds cultured in a REE fertilizer solution on the Sephadex G-100 column indicated that REEs, especially Ce, La, Pr and Nd, were associated mainly with biological compounds of a molecular weight between 10,000 and 12,000.     

Environmental and Biological Monitoring of Organochlorine Residues after the Plague Epidemic in Surat, India - A Preliminary Study

In late August 1994, an outbreak of human pneumonic/bubonic plague was reported in Surat, India. During the epidemic, large amounts of pesticides, such as benzene-hexachloride (BHC) and other organochlorinated compounds were used to control the vector that might have transmitted the plague. In order to evaluate the extent of contamination, both environmental samples (9 water samples and 4 soil samples) and biological samples (5 blood and urine samples) were collected and analyzed for organochlorine residues. Samples were analyzed after hexane extraction by gas chromatography equipped with electron capture detector (GC-ECD), using a PTE-5 capillary column. The results showed that the levels of 1,1-(2,2-dichloroethenylidene)-bis[4-chlorobenzene] (DDE), a major metabolite of DDT, were low in environmental samples (water, soil), while BHC levels were relatively high in one of the water sample as well as two soil samples. The BHC and DDE levels in the biological samples were not higher than those reported earlier from India, except for serum DDE. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effect of long-term exposure as the present study was based on limited samples.     

Atmospheric aerosol concentration level and chemical characteristics of water-soluble ionic species in wintertime in Beijing,China

Total suspended particulate (TSP) samples were collected during wintertime from November 24, 1998 to February 12, 1999 in Beijing. Ionic species including Cl-, NO3(-), SO4(2-), Na+, NH4(+), K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ were determined by Ion Chromatography (IC). The sum average concentration of all the determined ions accounted for 18.9% of the TSP concentration, and SO4(2-) appeared the dominant ion with an average concentration of 30.84 microg m(-3); the sum mass concentration of SO4(2-), NO3(-), Ca2+ and NH4(+) accounted for about 83.2% of all the eight ions measured. The study indicated that the chemical form of sulfate and ammonium varies with TSP concentration levels. During heavy pollution periods, the average TSP concentration was 0.66 mg m(-3), and the NH4(+)/SO4(2-) molar ratio was low (0.58). It indicated that sulfate may present as CaSO4 and (NH4)2SO4 x CaSO4 x 2H2O. When TSP concentration (average 0.186 mg m(-3)) was relatively low, the NH4(+)/SO4(2-) molar ratio was 1.94, close to the theoretical ratio of 2 of (NH4)2SO4. Under this condition (NH4)2SO4 is expected to exist as the major form of sulfate. When the TSP concentration level was medium (average 0.35 mg m(-3)), the NH4+/SO4(2-) molar ratio appeared an average value (1.27), (NH4)2SO4, (NH4)2SO4 x CaSO4 x 2H2O and CaSO4 are expected to be present in those aerosol particles. Meteorological conditions including wind speed and wind direction were related to the TSP concentration level.     

Quantitative structure-activity relationships of nitroaromatics toxicity to the algae (Scenedesmus obliguus)

The DFT-B3LYP method, with the basis set 6-311G( * *), was employed to calculate the molecular geometries and electronic structures of 25 nitroaromatics. The acute toxicity (-lgEC(50)) of these compounds to the algae (Scenedesmus obliguus) along with hydrophobicity described by logK(OW), and two quantum chemical parameters-energy of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, E(LUMO), and the charge of the nitro group, [ForQ(NO2), were used to establish the quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs). For 18 mononitro derivatives, the hydrophobicity parameter logK(OW) could interpret the toxic mechanism successfully. Dinitro aromatic compounds were susceptible to be reduced to aniline for their electrophilic nature. Their toxicity was controlled mainly by electronic factors instead of hydrophobicity. The electronic parameters, E(LUMO) and Q(NO2), were used to yield the following model: -lg EC(50) = 3.746 - 25.053 E(LUMO) + 6.481 Q(NO2) (n=22, R=0.926, SE=0.206, F=56.854, P<0.001). The predicted toxic values using the above equation are in good agreement with the experimental values.