Halide salts accelerate degradation of high explosives by zerovalent iron

Zerovalent iron (Fe(0), ZVI) has drawn great interest as an inexpensive and effective material to promote the degradation of environmental contaminants. A focus of ZVI research is to increase degradation kinetics and overcome passivation for long-term remediation. Halide ions promote corrosion, which can increase and sustain ZVI reactivity. Adding chloride or bromide salts with Fe(0) (1% w/v) greatly enhanced TNT, RDX, and HMX degradation rates in aqueous solution. Adding Cl or Br salts after 24h also restored ZVI reactivity, resulting in complete degradation within 8h. These observations may be attributed to removal of the passivating oxide layer and pitting corrosion of the iron. While the relative increase in degradation rate by Cl(-) and Br(-) was similar, TNT degraded faster than RDX and HMX. HMX was most difficult to remove using ZVI alone but ZVI remained effective after five HMX reseeding cycles when Br(-) was present in solution.     

Characterization of the properties of thermoplastic elastomers containing waste rubber tire powder

The aim of this research was to recycle waste rubber tires by using powdering technology and treating the waste rubber tire powder with bitumen. It has been proven that the elongation at break, thermal stability and processing flowability of composites of polypropylene (PP), waste rubber tire powder (WRT) and bitumen composites are better than those of PP/WRT composite. A comparative study has been made to evaluate the influence of bitumen content and different compatibilizers on the properties of PP/WRT/bitumen composites, using a universal testing machine (UTM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and a capillary rheometer. The results suggested that the properties of PP/WRT/bitumen composites were dependent on the bitumen content and the kind of compatibilizer used.     

Sound Survey Designs Can Facilitate Integrating Stream Monitoring Data Across Multiple Programs1

Abstract: Multiple agencies in the Pacific Northwest monitor the condition of stream networks or their watersheds. Some agencies use a stream “network” perspective to report on the fraction or length of the network that either meets or violates particular criteria. Other agencies use a “watershed” perspective to report on the health or condition of watersheds. The agencies often use the same indicators and measurement protocols for data collection and often conduct monitoring in overlapping geographic regions. In these situations, agencies would like to combine data across different monitoring studies in a statistically sound manner to make regional estimates of condition. Three statistical survey design principles will facilitate combining such studies: (1) a clearly specified statistical target population of interest, including elements that comprise the population, (2) a consistent representation of that target population (such as a digital map of the stream network and watersheds), and (3) rules that incorporate randomization to guide the selection of the sample of sites on which measurements will be made. A case study illustrates the application of these design principles using two agency monitoring programs interested in combining stream channel data for different purposes: one for making network summaries and the other for evaluating watershed condition.     

Characterization of PM2.5 and PM10 in the South Coast Air Basin of southern California: Part. 2--Temporal variations

The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) conducted a 1-year special particulate monitoring study from January 1995 to February 1996. This monitoring data indicates that high PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations were observed in the fall (October, November, and December), with November concentrations being the highest. During the rest of the year, PM2.5 and PM10 masses gradually increased from January to September. Monthly PM10 mass varied from 20 to 120 micrograms/m3, and monthly PM2.5 mass varied from 13 to 63 micrograms/m3. The PM2.5-to-PM10 ratio varied daily and ranged between 22 and 96%. Two types of high-PM days were observed. The first type was observed under fall stagnation conditions, which lead to high secondary species concentrations. The second type was observed under high wind conditions, which lead to high primary coarse particles of crustal components. The highest 24-hr average PM10 concentration (226.3 micrograms/m3) was observed at the Fontana station, while the highest PM2.5 concentration (129.3 micrograms/m3) was observed at the Diamond Bar station.     

Polymorphism in the brown alga<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Dictyota dichotoma</Emphasis> (Dictyotales,Phaeophyceae) from Korea

Two morphotypes of Dictyota dichotoma of uncertain taxonomic status have been identified in Korea. The broad thallus type is common on the south and east coasts of Korea, and is similar to European D. dichotoma in gross morphology. The slender thallus type is only found on the west coast. Morphological differences between the two plant types are evident in their thallus width, their terminal bifurcations, the shapes of apices, and their thallus thickness. The differences in the size and shape of the tetrasporangia and tetraspores are also notable. Plants from the east coast exhibit a dominant asexual annual life-cycle involving sporophytes but not gametophytes, and maintain their population by the production of in-situ germlings. In the slender plants from the west coast, a sexual life-cycle dominates. The rbcL, rbcS, psaA and psbA gene sequence differences between the two morphotypes were congruent with morphological, anatomical and phenological characteristics. In spite of these differences, there is no known inbreeding barrier between these two morphotypes. The L_m/L_c values of the second internodes from two types are also within the range of the species criterion specified by Hörnig et al. These results suggest that the two types of D. dichotoma from Korea should be classified as a single species and that they may be in the process of speciation due to geographical isolation (allopatric speciation).Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe     

Using persuasive messages to encourage voluntary hearing protection among coal miners

INTRODUCTION: This longitudinal field study was designed to encourage Appalachian coal miners in West Virginia and Pennsylvania to engage in hearing-protection behaviors. METHOD: Participants were mailed postcards that featured either a positive, negative, or neutral message on the outside of the postcard and a message encouraging hearing protection behaviors on the inside. The first posttest measurement of the effectiveness of the persuasive messages was conducted about a week after the postcards were mailed. The delayed posttest measurement was conducted six weeks later. RESULTS: Responses from 307 coal miners revealed that the positive or neutral messages generated significantly more self-reported hearing protection behaviors than the negative message. Identical results were obtained in a delayed posttest assessment of miners' self-reported hearing protection behaviors. The positive message was also more effective than either the neutral or negative message in preventing defensive mechanisms from emerging over time. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: Positive and neutral messages were convincingly more successful than negative messages in facilitating self-reported hearing protection behaviors among coal miners. Similarly, the positive messages kept defensive processes at bay.     

Behavior and source characteristic of PCBS in urban ambient air of Yokohama, Japan

To understand the behavior and sources of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in ambient air, gaseous and particulate phase concentrations were measured at Yokohama City, Japan, during March 2002 and February 2003. The concentration of total PCB and TEQ ranged from 62 to 250 pg/m(3) and from 2 to 14 fgTEQ/m(3), respectively. The gas-particle partition coefficient (K(p)) was obtained as a function of temperature. The relationship between the partition coefficient and the sub-cooled liquid vapor pressure (P(L)) was also established (coefficients of determination for log K(p) versus log P(L) plot were >0.76, except for three samples). As a result, the partition ratio of gaseous and particulate phase PCBs can be estimated for an arbitrary temperature. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to the source identification of PCBs in ambient air. The concentrations of 122 congeners between tetra-CBs and deca-CB were used as input variables, and three PCs with eigenvalue more than 10 were obtained. The principal component 1 (PC 1) accounted for 43.4% of the total variance, and was interpreted as volatilization from PCB products and/or sites polluted by PCBs. The concentrations of PCB congeners were strongly related with PC 1 which showed high correlation with temperature. PC 2 accounted for 22.3%, and was interpreted as PCBs from incineration sources, while PC 3 accounted for 10.8%, but could not be interpreted.     

The acetochlor registration partnership: prospective ground water monitoring program

The Acetochlor Registration Partnership conducted a prospective ground water (PGW) monitoring program to investigate acetochlor [2-chloro-N-(ethoxymethyl)-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-acetamide] transport to ground water at eight sites. The distribution of soil textures among these sites was weighted toward coarser soil types, while also including finer-textured soils that dominate most corn (Zea mays L.)-growing areas of the United States. Each site consisted of a 1.2-ha test plot adjacent to a 0.2-ha control plot. Suction lysimeters and monitoring wells were installed at multiple depths within each test and control plot to sample soil-pore water and near-surface ground water. Irrigation was applied to each site during the growing season to ensure water input of 110 to 200% of average historical rainfall. Acetochlor dissipated rapidly from surface soils at all sites with a DT(50) (time for 50% of the initial residues to dissipate) of only 3 to 9 d, but leaching was not an important loss mechanism, with only 0.25% of the 15,312 soil-pore water and ground water samples analyzed containing parent acetochlor at or above 0.05 microg L(-1). However, quantifiable residues of a soil degradation product, acetochlor ethanesulfonic acid, were more common, with approximately 16% of water samples containing concentrations at or above 1.0 microg L(-1). A second soil degradation product, acetochlor oxanilic acid, was present at concentrations at or above 1.0 microg L(-1) in only 0.15% of water samples analyzed. The acetochlor PGW program demonstrated that acetochlor lacks the potential to leach to ground water at detectable concentrations, and when applied in accordance with label restrictions, is unlikely to move to ground water at concentrations hazardous to human health.     

Performance of Trickle-Bed Air Biofilter: A Comparative Study of a Hydrophilic and a Hydrophobic Voc

Two lab-scale trickle-bed air biofilters were operated for investigating the difference in performance between a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic volatile organic compound (VOC). Methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) and styrene were selected as a model hydrophilic and hydrophobic VOCs, respectively. Effects of loading rates, biofilter re-acclimation, removal profile along biofilter depth, nitrogen consumption, and CO₂ production were compared under three operating conditions, namely, backwashing and two non-use periods (starvation and stagnant). Consistent over 99% removal efficiency up to loading rates of 3.26 kg COD/m³-day was obtained for the MIBK biofilter at 0.76 min empty bed retention time (EBRT) and 1.5 L/d nutrient flow. A similar performance for the styrene biofilter was obtained for loading rates up to 1.9kg COD/m³-day at 2.02 min EBRT and 2.4 L/d nutrient flow. The MIBK biofilter required only an initial acclimation period of 16 days while styrene biofilter required 46 days. Non-use periods can be used as another means of biomass control for both biofilters when the employed loading rate did not exceed 1.27 and 2.17 kg COD/m³-day for styrene and MIBK biofilters, respectively. The re-acclimation of both biofilter was delayed with increase of loading rate. MIBK biofilter re-acclimated in 90 min, while styrene biofilter re-acclimated in more than 600 min. Under similar loading rates, MIBK biofilter utilized less biofilter depth than styrene biofilter. Nitrogen consumption behaviors were apparently different between the two biofilters. Styrene biofilter had higher CO₂ production than MIBK biofilter and its CO₂ production was closely related to the theoretical complete chemical oxidation.