Effect of synthesis parameters on single gas permeation through T-type zeolite membranes

In this research, nanoporous zeolite T membranes were synthesized at three levels of synthesis temperature: 100, 120 and 140 °C and synthesis time: 15, 30 and 50 h and characterized by gas permeation. Effects of synthesis parameters on CO₂ and CH₄ permeances and CO₂/CH₄ ideal separation factors were studied. All experiments were conducted at 1 bar feed pressure and 30 °C module temperature. Normally, it is anticipated that increasing synthesis temperature and synthesis time increase gas permeances and consequently decrease ideal separation factor. This prediction was not observed in the case of synthesis temperature increase from 100 to 120 °C as well as synthesis time increase from 15 to 30 h, due to the dual effect of increasing synthesis temperature and synthesis time on gas permeances and ideal separation factor. More zeolites are deposited and larger crystals are formed at higher synthesis temperatures and times. Forming the larger crystals accelerates the rate of zeolite layer integration, which is responsible for gas separation, in one hand and reduces the density of deposited zeolite layer on the support, due to the formation of more voids, on the other hand. In terms of maximizing the CO₂/CH₄ ideal separation factor, medium synthesis temperature and synthesis time (120 °C and 30 h) can be selected, however, maximum gas permeances are obtained at low levels of synthesis temperature and time (100 °C and 15 h). According to the ranges of gas permeances (10⁻¹¹ to 10⁻⁶ mol/m² s Pa) and CO₂/CH₄ ideal separation factors (1.4–70.3), it is concluded that the zeolite T membranes synthesized at optimum conditions can be employed for membrane separation of CO₂/CH₄ mixtures.     

Iodine deficiency status in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region: a systematic review

Iodine deficiency is a global public health issue because iodine plays a major role in the thyroid hormone synthesis and is essential for normal neurological development. This review summarizes the publications on iodine status in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) countries. All related studies available in main national and international databases were systematically searched using some specific keywords to find article published between 1909 and 2015. The prevention of iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs) in the WHO EMR countries is currently under control without significant side effects. Mild to severe IDDs exist in some countries of the Middle East, due to lack of effective iodine supplementation program, but the Islamic Republic of Iran, Jordan, Bahrain and Tunisia have achieved the goal of universal salt iodization. Overall, despite enormous efforts to control IDDs, still IDD remains a serious public health problem in some countries of the region, requiring urgent control and prevention measures.     

Application of soft computing to predict water quality in wetland

Prediction of water quality is a critical issue because of its significant impact on human and ecosystem health. This research aims to predict water quality index (WQI) for the free surface wetland using three soft computing techniques namely, adaptive neuro-fuzzy system (ANFIS), artificial neural networks (ANNs), and group method of data handling (GMDH). Seventeen wetland points for a period of 14 months were considered for monitoring water quality parameters including conductivity, suspended solid (SS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), ammoniacal nitrogen (AN), chemical oxygen demand (COD), dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature, pH, phosphate nitrite, and nitrate. The sensitivity analysis performed by ANFIS indicates that the significant parameters to predict WQI are pH, COD, AN, and SS. The results indicated that ANFIS with Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE = 0.9634) and mean absolute error (MAE = 0.0219) has better performance to predict the WQI comparing with ANNs (NSE = 0.9617 and MAE = 0.0222) and GMDH (NSE = 0.9594 and MAE = 0.0245) models. However, ANNs provided a comparable prediction and the GMDH can be considered as a technique with an acceptable prediction for practical purposes. The findings of this study could be used as an effective reference for policy makers in the field of water resource management. Decreasing variables, reduction of running time, and high speed of these approaches are the most important reasons to employ them in any aquatic environment worldwide.

     

Distribution and origin of potentially toxic elements in a multi-aquifer system

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Pollution of the potentially toxic elements (PTEs) is a major concern in the metal ore-mining environment. Active polymetallic industries and mines...     

塔里木河中游水盐梯度下的物种多样性研究

根据塔里木河中游5个断面30眼地下水监测井和30个植物样地2006—2008年调查监测的数据,分析了输水堤防修建后地下水埋深、地下水质以及物种多样性的变化及其相互关系。结果表明:地下水埋深的空间变化表现为沿河道方向先增加后减小的趋势,在时间上则表现为,从2006年到2008年埋深呈逐渐增加的特点;地下水化学类型的变化,在空间上表现出沿着河道方向有由Cl-—SO42-—Na+—Mg2+向Cl-—Na+类型转变的趋势,在时间上,地下水矿化度逐渐增加。物种多样性总体上呈现增加变化,地下水位和水质对塔里木河中游物种多样性变化有着密切的关系,地下水埋深2.8~3.7 m,矿化度1.8~2.4 g·L-1水平下的多样性较高,随着地下水埋深的增大和矿化度的升高,物种多样性水平降低。     

A2O工艺活性污泥中可培养丝状细菌的多样性

活性污泥法是应用最广泛的污水处理方法之一,但是由于丝状菌过度繁殖而引发的污泥膨胀是制约其发展的重大难题.本研究从A2O工艺城市污水处理系统的膨胀期活性污泥中分离培养出17株丝状细菌.对各菌株进行了16S rDNA测序和系统发育树分析,结果表明,这些分离的可培养丝状细菌均属于链霉菌属;利用rep-PCR指纹图谱技术进一步分析了所得菌种属内多样性,显示出活性污泥中链霉菌存在丰富的多样性.由于这些可培养丝状细菌与引起污泥膨胀的优势丝状菌(微丝菌)生理特征差别较大,不会在污水处理系统中过度繁殖,本研究向活性污泥中投加一定量的链霉菌分离菌株,发现部分菌株对污泥的沉降性能有明显改善作用,为污泥膨胀的防控提供了新的思路.     

Simulation of flow field and steel/slag interface in the mold region of a thin slab steel continuous caster with tetra-furcated nozzle

A three dimensional steady flow field model in the mold region of a thin slab steel continuous caster is presented using real geometrical dimension starting from the inlet port of the nozzle. The results indicate a special flow pattern in the caster while using a tetra-furcated nozzle. The fluid pattern in the mold region is shown to have two large downward and upward recirculation zones with a classic double-roll and two small vortices generated by the upward flow from the upper ports of the submerged entry nozzle. The flow pattern agrees well with the real observation obtained by full scale water model. This study investigates the interface wave behavior and its mechanism that leads to the breakup of the steel/slag interface, and thus the induction of impurities inside the final steel product. It is shown that a maximum wave height occurred because of the fluid contact from the upper ports. A critical casting speed was defined as the casting speed lead to wave instability, mostly associated with emulsification phenomena.     

Temporospatial variation and health risk assessment of trihalomethanes (THMs) in drinking water (northwest Iran)

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Trihalomethanes (THMs) are one of the most common classes of disinfection by-products. In this study, the temporospatial trends and health risks due...     

The association of prenatal exposure to benzophenones with gestational age and offspring size at birth

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In recent decades, emerging environmental pollutants such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have become a particular concern. This study...