Reaction processes effecting the analysis of chloroform by direct aqueous injection gas chromatography

Several important reaction processes which influence the analysis of chloroform by direct aqueous injection (DAI) gas chromatography have been identified through an investigation of the chlorination reactions of humic acid and a series of simple polyhydroxyaromatic and diketone model compounds in dilute solution. The reaction of chlorine with each substrate system was studied over the pH range 2–12. Gas chromatographic analysis by the DAI and organic solvent liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) procedures gave different measurements for the yield of CHCl₃ depending on the pH of the reaction solution and the chemical structure of the substrate. Under acidic and neutral conditions, a variety of trichloromethyl-substituted intermediates were identified at high concentrations in addition to chloroform by GC/MS. Chloral hydrate, trichloroacetic acid, pentachloroacetone and hexachloroacetone undergo hydrolysis and/or decarboxylation to form CHCl₃ at the high injection port temperatures employed in aqueous injection GC analysis. The results obtained in the current study indicate that the decomposition of these and structurally-related species accounts for differences previously observed upon application of the DAI and either the LLE or purge-and-trap techniques for the determination of CHCl₃ in chlorinated natural waters.     

Radon and 'King Solomon's Miners': Faynan Orefield, Jordanian Desert

Concentrations of 222Rn were measured in ancient copper mines which exploited the Faynan Orefield in the South-Western Jordanian Desert. The concentrations of radon gas detected indicate that the ancient metal workers would have been exposed to a significant health risk and indicate that any future attempt to exploit the copper ores must deal with the hazard identified. Seasonal variations in radon concentrations are noted and these are linked to the ventilation of the mines. These modern data are used to explore the differential exposure to radon and the health of ancient mining communities.     

Impact of the River Maine Drainage Scheme on Hydro-Power Generation

A comparison is made between pre- and post-drainage scheme river flows recorded on the River Maine, Co. Antrim. A method of using five-year reference periods has been applied to the mean daily flows to smooth and eliminate, as far as possible, variations due to climatic changes.
Any loss of energy production which might have been due to changes in river flow was examined for turbine installations at a factory at Cullybackey. The quantities of usable water, and hence potential energy production, were calculated for each of the post-scheme five-year periods and compared with a pre-scheme five-year reference period. Any potential loss was then represented by a depreciation factor. It was found that no measurable loss of potential energy production has occurred on the River Maine in the post-scheme period.     

Analysis of Methods for Parallel Operation of Frequency Converters

Consideration is given to methods for the parallel operation of frequency converters by applying the active load division. The simulation model of the converter is presented. It consists of three parallel independent modules. A new principle of constructing individual modules of a frequency converter and the principle of their communication interface exhibiting resistance to destabilizing effects and allowing safe operation under nominal conditions even with a 5- to 10% range in time and amplitude values of pilot signals are developed.     

The Effect of Energy-Supply and Performance Indicators on the Performance of Traction-Resource Management Centers

Russian Electrical Engineering - This paper presents the results of a study of the effect of the characteristics of the traction power-supply system on the indicator of the energy supply of...     

Diagnostics of Multioperation Processes Using Basic Cells of Digital Homogeneous Structures

Russian Electrical Engineering - The cells of homogeneous digital structures designed for multioperation process diagnostics are considered in the form of graphic models. Digital circuits and...     

Impact of a pulse corona discharge on the formation of hydrogen peroxide in different types of water

Using an example of detecting hydrogen peroxide the article showed the possibility of generation of highly active radicals in various types of water (high-resistance, distilled and tap) in their treatment by a pulse positive corona discharge. The article has established the impact of the conditions for the formation of plasma, time of treatment and temperature of the solution at the output of hydrogen peroxide and also for the change of some physicochemical properties of investigated water samples.     

A hybrid approach to detect crack parameters using measured natural frequencies in thin walled angle section steel beams

Present study outlines a hybrid approach using Finite Element Method (FEM)–Response Surface Method (RSM)–Genetic Algorithm (GA) to predict the crack parameters, namely crack position and crack depth ratio with the help of only the measured natural frequencies of cracked thin walled beams. Numerical experimental trials of cracked beams have been conducted based on design of experiment (DOE) approach using an improved Finite element model. The improvement has been achieved by consideration of warping stiffness in cracked angle section beam. Thereafter, regression analysis has been conducted to construct Response Surface Function (RSF). Optimum crack parameters were then calculated using GA by minimizing an objective function which has been formed as the root mean square (RMS) of the residuals between RSFs and measured frequencies. Results of the study indicate that, the proposed approach performs with excellent accuracy and it does not require the response of an uncracked beam as benchmark information.