Treatment of a colored groundwater by ozone-biofiltration: pilot studies and modeling interpretation

Pilot studies investigated the fates of color, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and biodegradable organic matter (BOM) by the tandem of ozone plus biofiltration for treating a source water having significant color (50 cu) and DOC (3.2 mg/l). Transferred ozone doses were from 1.0 to 1.8 g O3/g C. Rapid biofilters used sand, anthracite, or granular activated carbon as media with empty-bed contact time (EBCT) up to 9 min. The pilot studies demonstrated that ozonation plus biofiltration removed most color and substantial DOC, and increasing the transferred ozone dose enhanced the removals. For the highest ozone dose, removals were as high as 90% for color and 38% for DOC. While most of the color removal took place during ozonation, most DOC removal occurred in the biofilters, particularly when the ozone dose was high. Compared to sand and anthracite biofilters, the GAC biofilter gave the best performance for color and DOC removal, but some of this enhanced performance was caused by adsorption, since the GAC was virgin at the beginning of the pilot studies. Backwashing events had no noticeable impact of the performance of the biofilters. The Transient-State, Multiple-Species Biofilm Model (TSMSBM) was used to interpret the experimental results. Model simulations show that soluble microbial products, which comprised a significant part of the effluent BOM, offset the removal of original BOM, a factor that kept the removal of DOC relatively constant over the range of EBCTs of 3.5-9 min. Although improved biofilm retention, represented by a small detachment rate, allowed more total biofilm accumulation and greater removal of original BOM, it also caused more release of soluble microbial products and the build up of inert biomass in the biofilm. Backwashing had little impact on biofilter performance, because it did not remove more than 25% of the biofilm under any condition simulated.     

Fate of physical,chemical, and microbial contaminants in domestic wastewater following treatment by small constructed wetlands

In order to evaluate the efficacy of constructed wetlands for treatment of domestic wastewater for small communities located in rural areas, small-scale wetland mesocosms (400 L each) containing two treatment designs (a mixture of Typha, Scirpus, and Juncus species; control without vegetation) were planted into two depths (45 or 60 cm) with pea gravel. Each mesocosm received 19 L/day of primary-treated domestic sewage. Mesocosms were monitored (inflow and outflow samples) on a monthly basis over a 2-year period for pH, total suspended solids (TSS), 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD(5)), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), dissolved oxygen (DO), and conductivity. Microbiological analyses included enumeration of fecal coliforms, enterococci, Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia, and coliphage. Significant differences between influent and effluent water quality for the vegetated wetlands (p<0.05) were observed in TSS, BOD(5), and TKN. Increased DO and reduction in fecal coliform, enterococcus, Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia, and coliphage populations also were observed in vegetated wetlands. Greatest microbial reductions were observed in the planted mesocosms compared to those lacking vegetation. Despite marked reduction of several contaminants, wetland-treated effluents did not consistently meet final discharge limits for receiving bodies of water. Removal efficiencies for bacteria and several chemical parameters were more apparent during the initial year compared to the second year of operation, suggesting concern for long-term efficiency and stability of such wetlands.     

Comparison of chlorine and chloramine in the release of mercury from dental amalgam

The purpose of this project was to compare the ability of chlorine (HOCl/OCl⁻) and monochloramine (NH₂Cl) to mobilize mercury from dental amalgam. Two types of amalgam were used in this investigation: laboratory-prepared amalgam and samples obtained from dental-unit wastewater. For disinfectant exposure simulations, 0.5 g of either the laboratory-generated or clinically obtained amalgam waste was added to 250 mL amber bottles. The amalgam samples were agitated by end-over-end rotation at 30 rpm in the presence of 1 mg/L chlorine, 10 mg/L chlorine, 1 mg/L monochloramine, 10 mg/L monochloramine, or deionized water for intervals of 0 h, 2 h, 4 h, 8 h, and 24 h for the clinically obtained amalgam waste samples and 4 h and 24 h for the laboratory-prepared samples. Chlorine and monochloramine concentrations were measured with a spectrophotometer. Samples were filtered through a 0.45 µm membrane filter and analyzed for mercury with USEPA standard method 245.7. When the two sample types were combined, the mean mercury level in the 1 mg/L chlorine group was 0.020 mg/L (n = 25, SD = 0.008). The 10 mg/L chlorine group had a mean mercury concentration of 0.59 mg/L (n = 25, SD = 1.06). The 1 mg/L chloramine group had a mean mercury level of 0.023 mg/L (n = 25, SD = 0.010). The 10 mg/L chloramine group had a mean mercury level of 0.024 mg/L (n = 25, SD = 0.011). Independent samples t-tests showed that there was a significant difference between the natural log mercury measurements of 10 mg/L chlorine compared to those of 1 mg/L and 10 mg/L chloramine. Changing from chlorine to chloramine disinfection at water treatment plants would not be expected to produce substantial increases in dissolved mercury levels in dental-unit wastewater.     

Determination of copper complexing capacity of natural river water, well water and artificially reconstituted water

A cupric ion electrode and computerized chemical equilibrium model were used to determine the copper complexing capacity of several natural river waters, well water and two artificially reconstituted waters. After adding a series of copper spikes to each water, the cupric ion concentration was measured and a comparison was made with cupric ion concentrations predicted by a chemical equilibrium model. Plots of cupric ion concentration vs total copper concentration (complexing capacity curves) were nonlinear at the lower total copper concentrations for several of the natural river waters. The slope of the linear portion of the complexing capacity curves was a function of pH and total alkalinity. For the natural river waters investigated, measured cupric ion concentrations were nearly always less than the theoretically computed cupric ion concentrations, while for two different artificially reconstituted waters and well water, reasonably quantitative agreement resulted.     

Elastic and inelastic analysis for weld failure prediction of two adjacent steel buildings

Two adjacent buildings near the epicenter of the January 17th Northridge earthquake, one with weld fractures and one without weld fractures, are considered in this research. Both buildings are six stories in height, and their primary lateral force resisting system comprises special moment resisting frames above grade. The buildings considered are referred to herein as the East Building and the West Building. Two basic types of computer studies were performed. One was an elastic 3-D analysis using SAP90, and the other an inelastic 2-D analysis using DRAIN-2DX. Three different models were, created for the elastic analysis. Two for the East Building, designated the ‘benchmark model’, and the ‘probable model’, and one for the West Building, designated the ‘West Building model’. Two different models were created for the inelastic analysis only for the East Building, also called the benchmark model and the probable model. The East Building was unoccupied at the time of the earthquake, hence two models were created for this building. The benchmark model is representative of the design state of the building, while the probable model is representative of the state of the building at the time of the earthquake. The West Building, which was fully occupied at the time of the earthquake, was modeled similarly to the benchmark. Elastic and inelastic studies were performed on these models to determine if a correlation exists between analysis and observed behavior. The findings from the analysis showed no damage to the West Building with possible damage to the East Building. This result is corroborated by the damage survey.     

A simplified procedure for determining indoor daylight illuminance using daylight coefficient concept

The first step in evaluating the visual performance and energy efficiency provided by daylight requires an accurate estimation of the amount of daylight entering a building. The actual daylight illuminance of a room is mainly influenced by the luminance levels and patterns of the sky in the direction of view of the window at that time. The daylight coefficient concept, which considers the changes in the luminance of the sky elements, offers a more effective way of computing indoor daylight illuminances. Recently, Kittler et al. have proposed a new range of 15 standard sky luminance distributions including the CIE (International Commission on Illumination) standard clear sky. Lately, these 15 sky luminance models have been adopted as the CIE Standard General Skies. This paper presents a graphical method to calculate interior illuminance for the CIE standard clear sky using the daylight coefficient approach. The simplified techniques in the form of a nomograph and Waldram diagram were established and described. The performance of the proposed approach was evaluated against the results obtained by an independent calculation approach and a computer simulation program. It was shown that the daylight illuminances estimated by our graphical tool were in reasonably good agreement with those produced from the other two methods. The findings provide building professionals and students a reliable and simple alternative that incorporates the daylight coefficient concept to estimate the interior daylight illuminance and assess daylighting performance.     

Masonry wall frame design and performance

Tall masonry building in active seismic or severe wind regions have typically been designed as shear wall buildings. This paper presents an alternative lateral force resisting system cailed a wall frame. This new masonry system is particularly advantageous for seismic and windy regions because it utilizes the nonlinear inelastic load deformation characteristics of the masonry beams and is thus a ductile system. Basic design assumptions and experimental test data are presented.     

Applying cluster analysis to construction contractor classification

The essential task of prequalifying contractors most often involves a large number of firms, each being represented by many disparate dimensions. Therefore, to effectively perform prequalification normally requires an inordinate amount of resource commitment by the construction owner. The statistical technique of cluster analysis (CA) could aid this decision process by classifying contractors into groups of like nature or common characteristics/ability. Further, the technique can identify the most discriminating criteria involved in achieving such classification and, thereby, help avoid subjective rejection of “good” firms, when large numbers of contractors are being considered. Example applications of the CA method are presented, in a construction contractor prequalification scenario.     

Unequal access to energy efficiency in US multifamily rental housing: opportunities to improve

The energy efficiency of US multifamily rental housing is compared with other housing types. A real and growing energy efficiency gap is documented, particularly for lower income households. Findings are based on data from the 2005 and 2009 US Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS). Individual energy efficiency features related to HVAC (heating, ventilation and cooling) systems, appliances, and the building envelope are analysed along with weighted and unweighted total energy efficiency indices. Multifamily units occupied by low income renters had 4.1 fewer energy efficiency features in 2005 and 4.7 fewer in 2009 compared with other households. If the number of efficiency features was on par with other housing, the savings could be in the range of US$200–400 per year for most lower-income renters in multifamily buildings. There is an astonishing lack of information on how efficiency retrofits would affect property (real estate) metrics such as cash flow and value. Available evidence suggests that millions of US properties could be good retrofit investment opportunities. Better efficiency would allow renters to increase spending on food, healthcare and other essentials. This is not only an economic issue: it has implications for household health, social equity and environmental problems tied to energy consumption.