氧化塘水质预测研究进展

本文讨论了氧化塘的净化污水机理和水质变化特点。提出了用于进行氧化塘水质预测的二维水质模型。探讨了氧化塘水质预测研究的发展趋势。     

环境生物样品预处理中的微波溶样技术

微波溶样是近年产生的一种崭新的有前途的样品预处理技术，本文评述这一技术在环境、生物样品消解方面的近期应用。     

Preparation and implementation of seven ecological compensation plans for Dutch highways

First-generation compensation plans (CPs) for Dutch highway projects have been evaluated with respect to implementation of the compensation principle (1993), which aims to counterbalance the adverse ecological impacts of large-scale development projects. Decision-making on the seven projects took place between 1993 and 1995. Specifically, we considered: (a) the processes employed to prepare and implement the compensation plans; (b) the methods used to identify, plan, and execute the compensation measures; and (c) the results yielded by these methods. We conclude that the CPs were prepared fairly uniformly, particularly in terms of the processes and methodologies used to derive compensation measures. Five of the seven CPs had become operational by 2001 and initial experience is now being gained on land acquisition and transfer of compensation sites to nature conservation trusts. Further progress of CPs is likely to be seriously hampered by growing demand for land for development in general and associated increases in real estate prices. Several problems are addressed and recommendations made with respect to: (a) developing a legal basis for the compensation principle; (b) the relationship with re-allotment projects; (c) estimation of compensation costs; (d) an annual bias of CP budgets to account for rising costs; (e) contingency measures; and (f) criteria for CP (ex-post) evaluation.     

Microwave-Assisted Solvent-Free or Aqueous-Based Synthesis of Biodegradable Polymers

Microwave radiation was used as the energy source for various types of chemical derivatizations of polysaccharides and for the synthesis of biodegradable polyesters in solvent-free or aqueous-based reaction systems. A medium to high degree of substitution was obtained for starch acetates, starch succinates, carboxymethyl konjac, aminated starch, and aminated chitosan. Ring-opening polymerization of lactide and -caprolactone proceeded rapidly even at low power output in the presence of tin octanoate catalyst. Complete monomer conversion and high molecular weight were achieved in less than 6 minutes under nonisothermal conditions. The yield rapidly increased with increasing power output and showed no significant change in a wide range of batch sizes. Polycaprolactone was successfully grafted from starch and konjac acetate in 3 minutes, yielding as high as 24% grafting efficiency and 25% grafting degree.     

Using the ECLPSS software environment to build a spatially explicit component-based model of ozone effects on forest ecosystems

We have developed a modeling framework to support grid-based simulation of ecosystems at multiple spatial scales, the Ecological Component Library for Parallel Spatial Simulation (ECLPSS). ECLPSS helps ecologists to build robust spatially explicit simulations of ecological processes by providing a growing library of reusable interchangeable components and automating many modeling tasks. To build a model, a user selects components from the library, and then writes new components as needed. Some of these components represent specific ecological processes, such as how environmental factors influence the growth of individual trees. Other components provide simulation support such as reading and writing files in various formats to allow inter-operability with other software. The framework manages components and variables, the order of operations, and spatial interactions. The framework provides only simulation support; it does not include ecological functions or assumptions. This separation allows biologists to build models without becoming computer scientists, while computer scientists can improve the framework without becoming ecologists. The framework is designed to operate on multiple platforms and be used across networks via a World Wide Web-based user interface. ECLPSS is designed for use with both single processor computers for small models, and multiple processors in order to simulate large regions with complex interactions among many individuals or ecological compartments. To test Version 1.0 of ECLPSS, we created a model to evaluate the effect of tropospheric ozone on forest ecosystem dynamics. This model is a reduced-form version of two existing models: , which represents an individual tree, and , which represents forest stand growth and succession. This model demonstrates key features of ECLPSS, such as the ability to examine the effects of cell size and model structure on model predictions.     

A new approach to determine relieving temperature and thermodynamic behavior of trapped single and multi-phase fluid exposed to fire

Process safety plays a key role in modern industries. This is more significant specifically in off-shore oil and gas platforms where releasing hydrocarbons could cause irreversible damages to both environment and personnel. An important instrument device which can provide safety for process equipment in oil and gas fields is safety relief valve. Correct sizing procedure of such devices depends strongly on physical properties of fluid and relieving condition. The present study revolved around applying thermodynamic concepts and modeling to throw some light on the behavior of trapped fluid exposed to fire in order to evaluate precise temperature and fluid properties at relieving condition. Peng–Robinson equation of state together with a three phase flash has been utilized to handle the calculation. Effect of different design parameters has been evaluated for three distinct categories of fluids namely natural gas, gas-condensate mixture, and gas-oil mixtures. These parameters encompass of operating temperature, operating pressure, Difference of Operating and Design Pressure, gas and oil specific gravities, gas-oil ratio, and water cut. The study depicted that American Petroleum Institute practice number 521 which suggests an ideal gas assumption fails to provide reliable predictions as it significantly overestimate the relieving temperature. Moreover, black oil correlations were also used for the relief temperature estimation of gas-oil-water mixtures. Comparison with HYSYS results as a prominent engineering software proved that black oil models are reliable tools to predict relief temperature.     

The role of situation awareness in accidents of large-scale technological systems

In the last two decades, several serious accidents at large-scale technological systems that have had grave consequences, such as that at Bhopal, have primarily been attributed to human error. However, further investigations have revealed that humans are not the primary cause of these accidents, but have inherited the problems and difficulties of working with complex systems created by engineers. The operators have to comprehend malfunctions in real time, respond quickly, and make rapid decisions to return operational units to normal conditions, but under these circumstances, the mental workload of operators rises sharply, and a mental workload that is too high increases the rate of error. Therefore, cognivitive human features such as situation awareness (SA)—one of the most important prerequisite for decision-making—should be considered and analyzed appropriately. This paper applys the SA Error Taxonomy methodology to analyze the role of SA in three different accidents: (1) A runaway chemical reaction at Institute, West Virginia killing two employees, injuring eight people, and requiring the evacuation of more than 40,000 residents adjacent to the facility, (2) The ignition of a vapor cloud at Bellwood, Illinois that killed one person, injured two employees, and caused significant business interruption, and (3) An explosion at Ontario, California injuring four workers and caused extensive damage to the facility. In addition, the paper presents certain requirements for cognitive operator support system development and operator training under abnormal situations to promote operators’ SA in the process industry.     

Application of a hydroxylamine nitrate stability model to plutonium purification process equipment

A mathematical model that predicts hydroxylamine nitrate (HAN) (NH₂OH·HNO₃) stability is applied to aqueous solutions containing HAN, nitric acid and plutonium that are used in plutonium purification processes. The model estimates the stability of these solutions with respect to the rapid, hazardous, autocatalytic reaction of HAN with nitric acid that generates heat and gas. It also accounts for reaction kinetics, temperature changes, gas generation rates, solution volumes and flow rates, and distribution of plutonium and nitric acid between aqueous and organic phases. The model is applied to three typical process vessels used in solvent extraction purification of plutonium – a countercurrent aqueous/organic plutonium stripping column, an oxidation column used for HAN and hydrazine destruction, and a plutonium rework tank. Both normal and off-normal process scenarios are modeled. Two of the off-normal scenarios lead to the rapid autocatalytic reaction of HAN with nitric acid where heat and gas are generated and that could lead to damage of the process equipment and/or release of hazardous plutonium solution from the vessel. In these two cases, stationary aqueous solutions containing HAN, Pu(III), and nitric acid were allowed to slowly react until conditions for the autocatalytic reaction were reached.     

Rapid and simple spectrophotometric determination of persulfate in water by microwave assisted decolorization of Methylene Blue

A rapid and simple method for determination of persulfate in aqueous solution was developed. The method is based on the rapid reaction of persulfate with Methylene Blue(MB) via domestic microwave activation, which can promote the activation of persulfate and decolorize MB quickly. The depletion of MB at 644 nm(the maximum absorption wavelength of MB) is in proportion to the increasing concentration of persulfate in aqueous solution. Linear calibration curve was obtained in the range 0–1.5 mmol/L, with a limit of detection of 0.0028 mmol/L. The reaction time is rapid(within 60 sec), which is much shorter than that used for conventional methods. Compared with existing analytical methods, it need not any additives, especially colorful Fe2+, and need not any pretreatment for samples, such as p H adjustment.     

Laccase-catalyzed bisphenol A oxidation in the presence of 10-propyl sulfonic acid phenoxazine

The kinetics of the Coriolopsis byrsina laccase-catalyzed bisphenol A(BisA) oxidation was investigated in the absence and presence of electron-transfer mediator 3-phenoxazin-10-ylpropane-1-sulfonic acid(PPSA) at pH 5.5 and 25°C. It was shown that oxidation rate of the hardly degrading compound BisA increased in the presence of the highly reactive substrate PPSA. The increase of reaction rate depends on PPSA and BisA concentrations as well on their ratio, e.g., at0.2 mmol/L of BisA and 2 μmol/L of PPSA the rate increased 2 times. The kinetic data were analyzed using a scheme of synergistic laccase-catalyzed BisA oxidation. The calculated constant, characterizing reactivity of PPSA with laccase, is almost 1000 times higher than the constant, characterizing reactivity of BisA with laccase. This means that mediator-assisted BisA oxidation rate can be 1000 times higher in comparison to non-mediator reaction if compounds concentration is equal but very low.