A calibration protocol of a one-dimensional moving bed bioreactor (MBBR) dynamic model for nitrogen removal

This work suggests a procedure to correctly calibrate the parameters of a one-dimensional MBBR dynamic model in nitrification treatment. The study deals with the MBBR configuration with two reactors in series, one for carbon treatment and the other for nitrogen treatment. Because of the influence of the first reactor on the second one, the approach needs a specific calibration strategy. Firstly, a comparison between measured values and simulated ones obtained with default parameters has been carried out. Simulated values of filtered COD, NH(4)-N and dissolved oxygen are underestimated and nitrates are overestimated compared with observed data. Thus, nitrifying rate and oxygen transfer into the biofilm are overvalued. Secondly, a sensitivity analysis was carried out for parameters and for COD fractionation. It revealed three classes of sensitive parameters: physical, diffusional and kinetic. Then a calibration protocol of the MBBR dynamic model was proposed. It was successfully tested on data recorded at a pilot-scale plant and a calibrated set of values was obtained for four parameters: the maximum biofilm thickness, the detachment rate, the maximum autotrophic growth rate and the oxygen transfer rate.     

Combined anaerobic digestion and biological nitrogen removal for piggery wastewater treatment: a modelling approach

In order to deal with the environmental problems associated with animal production industrialization and at the same time considering energy costs increasing, a piggery wastewater treatment process consisting of combined anaerobic digestion and biological nitrogen removal by activated sludge was developed. This contribution presents a modelling framework in order to optimize this process. Modified versions of the well established ASM1 and ADM1 models have been used. The ADM1 was extended with biological denitrification. pH calculation and liquid gas-transfer were modified to take into account the effect of associated components. Finally, two interfaces (ADMtoASM and ASMtoADM) were built in order to combine both models. These interfaces set up the COD, nitrogen, alkalinity and charge fractionation between both models. However, for the mass balances between both models, some hypotheses were considered and might be evaluated.     

Kinetics of fatigue failure of polystyrene

To study the mechanism of crack initiation in the fatigue of amorphous polymers, flexural fatigue tests have been performed on injection molded samples (ISO 1 standard 4 mm thick 10 mm large) of polystyrene homopolymer (PS), at a frequency of 10 Hz. Two types of fatigue tests were performed: (i) Monosequential Fatigue Test (MFT) in which cycling loading is not interrupted: (ii) Polysequential Fatigue Test (PFT) during which fatigue periods alternate with rest periods. The number of cycles to rupture has been determined for various values of the strain amplitude, temperature and duration of rest periods. Two kinetics regimes were observed: (i) at temperature higher than 75°C, the thermal regime is quasi adiabatic and failure results from polymer softening. In this regime, rest periods have a strong stabilizing effect, since they limit self heating; (ii) At temperatures lower than 75°C, the thermal regime is quasi isothermal and fracture results from crazing followed by brittle rupture. Rest periods (on the order of half fatigue lifetime) have no effect on the number of cycles to rupture. The influence of temperature here is considerably lower than in the “adiabatic” regime. The endurance limit values ?_∞ are close to the critical strains for crazing ?_C in static conditions. A kinetic model based on the above observations is proposed for strain amplitudes close to the endurance limit (2?_∞ ≥ ? ≥ ?_∞). This model reasonably fits the experimental data.     

The National Cohort of Dairy Farms--a data collection platform for mastitis research in Canada

Costs and feasibility of extensive sample collection and processing are major obstacles to mastitis epidemiology research. Studies are often consequentially limited, and fundamental mastitis researchers rarely have the opportunity to conduct their work in epidemiologically valid populations. To mitigate these limitations, the Canadian Bovine Mastitis Research Network has optimized research funds by creating a data collection platform to provide epidemiologically meaningful data for several simultaneous research endeavors. This platform consists of a National Cohort of Dairy Farms (NCDF), Mastitis Laboratory Network, and Mastitis Pathogen Culture Collection. This paper describes the implementation and operation of the NCDF, explains its sampling protocols and data collection, and documents characteristics, strengths and limitations of these data for current and potential users. The NCDF comprises 91 commercial dairy farms in 6 provinces sampled over a 2-yr period. Primarily Holstein-Friesian herds participating in Dairy Herd Improvement milk recording were selected in order to achieve a uniform distribution among 3 strata of bulk tank somatic cell counts and to reflect regional proportions of freestall housing systems. Standardized protocols were implemented for repeated milk samplings on clinical mastitis cases, fresh and randomly selected lactating cows, and cows at dry-off and after calving. Just fewer than 133,000 milk samples were collected. Demographic and production data were recorded at individual cow and farm levels. Health management data are documented and extensive questionnaire data detailing farm management and cleanliness information are also captured. The Laboratory Network represents coordinated regional mastitis bacteriology laboratories using standardized procedures. The Culture Collection archives isolates recovered from intramammary infections of cows in the NCDF and contains over 16,500 isolates, all epidemiologically cross-referenced between linked databases. The NCDF is similar to Canadian dairies in relation to mean herd size, average production, and freestall percentages. Pathogen recovery was greater than anticipated, particularly for coagulase-negative staphylococci and Corynebacterium spp. International scientists are encouraged to use this extensive archive of data and material to enhance their own mastitis research.     

RESERVOIR PROPERTIES OF BARREMIAN – APTIAN URGONIAN LIMESTONES,SE FRANCE,PART 1: INFLUENCE OF STRUCTURAL HISTORY ON POROSITY-PERMEABILITY VARIATIONS

Upper Barremian – Lower Aptian inner platform “Urgonian” limestones in the Mont de Vaucluse region, SE France, consist of alternating metre-scale microporous and tight intervals. This paper focuses on the influence of structural deformation on the reservoir properties of the Urgonian limestone succession in a study area near the town of Rustrel. Petrographic, petrophysical and structural data were recovered from five fully-cored boreholes, from the walls of a 100 m long underground tunnel, and from a 50 m long transect at a nearby outcrop. The data allowed reservoir property variations in the Urgonian limestones to be studied from core to reservoir scale. Eleven Reservoir Rock Types (RRTs) were identified based on petrographic features (texture, grain size), reservoir properties (porosity, permeability), and the frequency of structural discontinuities such as fractures, faults and stylolites. Tight and microporous reservoir rock types were distinguished. Tight reservoir rock types were characterised by early cementation of intergranular pore spaces and by the presence of frequent structural discontinuities. By contrast microporous reservoir rock types contained preserved intragranular microporosity and matrix permeability, but had very few structural discontinuities. Observed vertical alternations of microporous and tight rock types are interpreted to have been controlled by the early diagenesis of the Urgonian carbonates. Deformation associated with regional-scale tectonic phases, including Albian – Cenomanian “Durancian” uplift (∼105 to 96 Ma) and Pyrenean compression (∼55 to 25 Ma), resulted in the modification of the initial petrophysical properties of the Urgonian limestones. An early diagenetic imprint conditioned both the intensity of structural deformations and the associated circulations of diagenetic and meteoric fluids. Evolution of the Reservoir Rock Types is therefore linked both to the depositional conditions and to subsequent phases of structural deformation.     

Chemically oxidized polypyrrole: Influence of the experimental conditions on its electrical conductivity and morphology

The effect of synthesis conditions on the electrical conductivity and the morphology of a chemically oxidized polypyrrole was investigated. It was found that the electrical conductivity of polypyrrole was strongly dependent on the pyrrole/FeCl₃ ratio, which controls the redox potential of the reaction medium. The reaction temperature and the reaction duration also influence the electrical conductivity of the polypyrrole. A considerable influence of the nature of the solvent used on the aggregation state of polypyrrole particles was demonstrated. Optimal experimental conditions are proposed.     

Tetracycline residues in honey after hive treatment.

Tetracyclines are used to control bacterial diseases such as European and American foulbrood, which may cause severe losses in the honey bee population and honey production. By using 24 hives randomly distributed into four groups of six hives, this study was performed to measure the occurrence of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) residues in honey following two types of TC application. Two groups of colonies were treated three times with 0.5 g TC in 1 litre syrup (group S) or in 10 g powdered sugar (group P). Six hives of a first control group (C) fed with untreated syrup were installed at 20 and 45 m from groups S and P, respectively. A second control group (DC) was set up 3 km away. Honey was sampled at different times from all hives, and honey artificially contaminated with TC was stored in the laboratory at 4, 20 and 35 degrees C; all samples were analysed by ELISA and HPLC methods. One day after the last application, the mean TC concentration in brood chamber honey was ten times higher in group S (40.7 mg kg(-1)) than in group P (4.34 mg kg(-1)). After 8 days, TC residues were detected in all hives of group C. After 146 days, the mean TC concentration in harvested honey was 1.54, 0.35 and 0.15 mg kg(-1) for groups S, P and C, respectively. The control group C had been contaminated with TC by drifting. In all hives of group DC, no residues were detected at any time during the study. The honey collected at day 504 did not contain any detectable TC residues, except in one super from group C (0.026 mg kg(-1)). The half-life of TC in honey from supers was similar in groups C, S and P: 65 days. This duration was twice lower than in honey stored in laboratory in similar conditions: at 35 degrees C in the dark (t(1/2) = 121 days). In honey stored at 20 degrees C, TC was quite stable and its half-life was 242 days. The data from these experiments indicate levels of TC residues in honey after a treatment in hives, their persistence and diffusion into the apiary. These results show that the TC must be used with precaution in honey production.     

CRAPE DRYING : FROM SAMPLE BEHAVIOUR TO THE DRIER PROJECT

A drier project necessitates the efficient formulation of the behaviour of product samples. When the temperature gap is great, the drying rate must make explicit the influence of the thnc air parameters : temperature, moisture, velocity. The case of the grape demonsnates that the adimensional expression formulated by Van Meel and Keey. must be completed in order to be adjusted to experiments.

The hot air drier model composed of the equations of conservation and thin layer drying rate can sometimes be simplified into a form of analytic integral equation around the drying rate. W e drying can be considered generally as adiabatic.

Two examples of grape driers are presented and show the value of simplified tools for the project. In a tunnel drier with a high air temperature one can speak of the celerity of a drying front which progress along the trolleys. In a short drier connected to an agricultural solar collector, the integration of the drying rate takes into account the variation of the meteorological data.     

Homogenization and bifurcation of perforated plates

This short paper aims to present an application of the homogenization method to a nonlinear situation. We show that the buckling and post buckling analysis of a multiperforated plate can be reduced to that of an homogeneous plate, the constitutive law of which is given. We use a nonclassical formulation of the Von Karman equations which is adapted to multiconnected domains and seems to be useful for others problems.     

Glucosinolates in isaño (Tropaeolum tuberosum) tubers: qualitative and quantitative content and changes after maturity

Six varieties of isaño (Tropaeolum tuberosum), an Andean edible tuber, were analysed. The aim was to characterise qualitatively and quantitatively their content of glucosinolates and to determine concentration changes of these compounds upon delayed harvest. Additionally, exploratory assays were carried out on the effect of postharvest cold storage of the tubers as well as of a drying process imposed on blanched tuber slices. Only one glucosinolate (p‐methoxybenzyl glucosinolate) was found in the six domestic varieties analysed. Its concentration varied between 36.5 and 90.0 µmol g^?1 dry matter. This range is relatively high when compared with other edible glucosinolate‐containing vegetables. ‘Dark’ coloured tuber varieties showed higher levels than ‘light’ coloured tuber varieties at normal harvest time. Of the two varieties on which the effect of delayed harvest was studied, one showed increasing and then decreasing changes until 44 days after maturity, while the other did not show any significant change with time. Postharvest cold stored samples showed similar changes to tubers kept in soil, and glucosinolate levels in dried blanched tubers did not differ significantly from those in fresh samples. Taken together, the data indicate that the glucosinolate content of isaño is highly dependent on both the variety and the time of harvest. These parameters should be taken into account when considering isaño as a promising food source with medicinal properties for humans and animals, but also with possible adverse biological effects, all related to the presence of glucosinolates. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry