Desorption of arsenic from drinking water distribution system solids

Previous work has shown that arsenic can accumulate in drinking water distribution system (DWDS) solids (Lytle et~al., 2004) when arsenic is present in the water. The release of arsenic back into the water through particulate transport and/or chemical release (e.g. desorption, dissolution) could result in elevated arsenic levels at the consumers' tap. The primary objective of this work was to examine the impact of pH and orthophosphate on the chemical release (i.e. desorption) of arsenic from nine DWDS solids collected from utilities located in the Midwest. Arsenic release comparisons were based on the examination of arsenic and other water quality parameters in leach water after contact with the solids over the course of 168~hours. Results showed that arsenic was released from solids and suggested that arsenic release was a result of desorption rather than dissolution. Arsenic release generally increased with increasing initial arsenic concentration in the solid and increasing pH levels (in the test range of 7 to 9). Finally, orthophosphate (3 and 5 mg PO₄/L) increased arsenic release at all pH values examined. Based on the study results, utilities with measurable levels of arsenic present in their water should be aware that some water quality changes can cause arsenic release in the DWDS potentially resulting in elevated levels at the consumer's tap.     

Valuation of ecotoxicological impacts from tributyltin based on a quantitative environmental assessment framework

In the scientific literature, few valuations of biodiversity and ecosystem services following the impacts of toxicity are available, hampered by the lack of ecotoxicological documentation. Here, tributyltin is used to conduct a contingent valuation study as well as cost–benefit analysis (CBA) of measures for improving the environmental status in Swedish coastal waters of the Baltic Sea. Benefits considering different dimensions when assessing environmental status are highlighted and a quantitative environmental assessment framework based on available technology, ecological conditions, and economic valuation methodology is developed. Two scenarios are used in the valuation study: (a) achieving good environmental status by 2020 in accordance with EU legislation (USD 119 household⁻¹ year⁻¹) and (b) achieving visible improvements by 2100 due to natural degradation (USD 108 household⁻¹ year⁻¹) during 8 years. The later scenario was used to illustrate an application of the assessment framework. The CBA results indicate that both scenarios might generate a welfare improvement.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13280-015-0682-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

湖泊沉积物中磷化氢的释放动力学初探

采用柱状芯样模拟法,研究了太湖沉积物-水界面磷化氢的释放动力学.结果表明:当沉积物-水界面磷化氢的释放达到动态平衡时,水界面中磷化氢的浓度基本不再增大,大约在0.34 pg·l-1左右,此时磷化氢的释放通量约为0.008 pg·dm-2·h-1.根据室内模拟结果,太湖沉积物每年的磷化氢释放量在13.81-49.62 g之间,从而使磷化氢在湖水中的平均浓度达到0.16 pmol·l-1.     

水源更换对给水管网水质的影响研究

为了研究水源更换对给水管网水质的影响,对北方A市水源更换过程中管网水质理化指标进行了监测分析.通过33 h的监测发现,由于水源水质不同造成管网水质化学不稳定,管网水水质部分指标发生了明显的下降,pH从7.54降到7.18,碱度从188　mg·L^-1降到117 　mg·L^-1,氯化物从310 　mg·L^-1降到132 　mg·L^-1（以Cl^-计）,电导率从0.176　S·m^-1降到0.087 　S·m^-1,钙离子和镁离子略有下降分别为15 　mg·L^-1和11 　mg·L^-1,这些都是由于滦河水质与黄河水质不同造成的;余氯在换水过程中发生了较复杂的变化,主要是由于水源更换造成耗氯量增加以及夜间用水量少造成管网水输配时间长引起的;pH、碱度、余氯的变化使得管网水中铁的含量增加,最高达到0.4 　mg·L^-1,超出饮用水标准规定的0.3 　mg·L^-1.通过分析水源更换过程中水质的变化,提出了控制管网水质稳定的方法主要有提高pH、增加碱度、投加缓蚀剂和严格保证出厂水及管网水水质指标特别是余氯等.     

底泥中营养物质及其他污染物释放机理综述

水体底泥(沉积物)污染,是世界范围内的一个重要环境问题.其污染物主要通过大气沉降、废水排放、水土流失、雨水淋溶与冲刷进入水体,最后沉积到底泥中并逐渐富集,使底泥受到严重污染.总结了底泥中氨氮、重金属的影响因素及释放机理,也指明了持久性有机污染物释放机理研究不足的现状,提出对其释放机理研究的重要性.     

某市给水管网中铁释放现象影响因素与控制对策分析

针对某市管网水中铁浓度的变化规律进行了系统的研究,确定了管垢向管网水中释放出的铁是管网水中铁超标的主要原因.研究中发现铸铁管和镀锌钢管中管垢的主要化学组分为铁.在给水管网中,管网水的溶解氧和余氯浓度低时,对应的管网水中铁释放现象严重,其原因是还原条件使管垢表面的致密钝化层被破坏,造成二价铁的大量释放.根据试验结果提出了给水管网中铁释放和“红水”现象的控制对策.     

Morphological characteristics of flashing jet throughout superheated liquid release

Many release problems involve two-phase releases of hazardous materials of superheated liquids with high energy into the atmosphere. Such accidents are accompanied by violent phase transition and form catastrophic flashing jets. In this work, experimental and theoretical analyses were conducted to investigate dynamic characteristics of flashing jet morphology and their dependence on pressure-decay dynamics under different storage pressures, superheats, and nozzle diameters. Flashing jet morphology and angle throughout two-phase releases were captured by a high-speed camera, and the corresponding source pressure in the superheated liquid tank was measured simultaneously. Results show that three typical phases, expansion, stabilization, and decay, are characterized throughout two-phase release based on the evolution of flashing jet morphology. The jet initially expands gradually due to the enhancement of phase transition intensity, and then keeps stable when the intensity reaches its maximum, and terminally decays rapidly due to the depletion of superheated liquid. Phase transition intensity at the nozzle exit is mainly controlled by the pressure-decay dynamics. Bubbles nucleation inception sites gradually move upstream of the nozzle during the pressure decay process increasing the phase transition intensity. The increase of storage pressure, superheat and nozzle diameter promotes the mechanical and thermodynamic effects on the jet breakup. The significant increase of mechanical and thermodynamic effects effectively accelerates droplets evaporation and further affects flashing jet morphology.     

Mitigation performance of the process protection system on the accident consequences of H2S-containing natural gas release and explosion

Toxic loads and explosion overpressure loads pose grave threats to the offshore oil and gas industry. Many safety measures are adopted to prevent and mitigate the adverse impacts caused by toxic loads and explosion overpressure loads. As a general safety barrier, the process protection system has been widely used but rarely evaluated. In order to assess the barrier ability, the mitigation performance of the process protection system is concerned in this study. Firstly, several chain accidents of H₂S-containing natural gas leakage and explosion are simulated by varying the response time of the process protection system with CFD code FLACS. Qualitative assessment is conducted based on the variation of the dangerous load profiles. Furthermore, the quantitative assessment of the mitigation performance is accomplished by considering its ability in reducing the probability of fatality. Emergency evacuation and no emergency evacuation are considered respectively in the quantitative assessment. The results prove that the process protection system takes effect on mitigating the toxic impact and explosion overpressure impact. The results also demonstrate that although the emergency evacuation may result in a severer explosion load to the operator, the process protection system can mitigate the adverse impacts regardless of whether the emergency evacuation is conducted or not.     

Recent application of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in process safety and loss prevention: A review

In recent years, significant progress has been made to ensure that process industries are among the safest workplaces in the world. However, with the increasing complexity of existing technologies and new problems brought about by emerging technologies, a strong need still exists to study the fundamentals of process safety and predict possible scenarios. This is attained by conducting the corresponding consequence modeling and risk assessments. As a result of the continuous advancement of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tools and exponentially increased computation capabilities along with better understandings of the underlying physics, CFD simulations have been applied widely in the areas of process safety and loss prevention to gain new insights, improve existing models, and assess new hazardous scenarios. In this review, 126 papers from 2010 to 2020 have been included in order to systematically categorize and summarize recent applications of CFD for fires, explosions, dispersions of flammable and toxic materials from accidental releases, incident investigations and reconstructions, and other areas of process safety. The advantages of CFD modeling are discussed and the future of CFD applications in this research area is outlined.     

粗枝云杉不同径级根系分解过程中4种养分元素的释放特征

植物根系分解是养分元素进入土壤的重要途径之一.为了解径级对根系分解过程中养分元素释放的潜在影响,以川西亚高山针叶林中的粗枝云杉(Picea asperata)为对象,采用原位分解试验,研究云杉3个径级(0-2 mm,2-5 mm和5-10 mm)根系分解过程中钾(K)、钠(Na)、钙(Ca)和镁(Mg)元素的浓度、残留...