Energy intensity of a clean break

Institute of Mining, Siberian Branch, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Novosibirsk. Translated from Fiziko-Tekhnicheskie Problemy Razrabotki Poleznykh Iskopaemykh, No. 1, pp. 114–118, January–February, 1989.     

Contact flocculation-filtration of humic substances

Contact flocculation-filtration of humic dispersions with alum in medium grain (0.62 mm) sand gave short runs to breakthrough, while in coarse (1.2 mm) media clarification was inefficient. Alum with cationic polymer gave in coarse media acceptable runs, but shorter then for mineral dispersions. Analysis of results by parameters of existing filtration models showed that using the Ives-Iwasaki model and plotting filtration coefficient λ vs specific deposit σ gave different λ_max for different polymer dose, plot of λ_max vs dose goes through maximum at optimum dose.Plotting the cube root of headloss vs square root of specific deposit gave a straight line corresponding to Shektman formula.Analysis by Adin-Rebhun model showed that for contact flocculation-filtration humic dispersions attachment coefficient k₁ was similar to, detachment k₂ was many fold higher then and theoretical maximum mass capacity much lower then in case of mineral dispersions.Calculations showed that the solid content and the density of alumo-organic deposits in bed are much lower than of alumo-mineral deposits. Polymers and minerals increase the solid content, the density of deposits and the mass capacity of filter beds.     

ASSESSING AND MANAGING THE RISKS OF PATHOGEN TRANSFER FROM LIVESTOCK MANURES INTO THE FOOD CHAIN

A review was undertaken of (a) the levels and prevalence of Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli 0157. Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia intestinalis in livestock manure, and (b) factors which affect their survival during storage and following land application. Pathogens are commonly present in livestock manures and can survive in soil for several months or years after spreading or excretion onto land. Temperature was identified as being the most important factor influencing pathogen survival, although pH, UV light and drying were also important. Various practical measures to minimise the risk of pathogen transfer into the food chain were identified, including treatment, extended storage and no/harvest periods following land spreading. Guidelines are being developed on managing farm manures to minimise the risks of microbiological contamination of ready-to-eat crops.     

Full scale fire tests for ship accommodation quarters

Ten full-scale test fires were conducted in a chamber simulating a three person ship accommodation quarter. The test fires used three different ventilation conditions, two types of bunks and furnishings with either polyurethane foam or chloroprene foam. The chamber was instrumented to follow the development of the fire.The furnishings with polyurethane foam were readily ignited and produced an intense fire within 2 to 4 minutes. The furnishings with chloroprene foam ignited but burned slowly with a small flame or in smoldering combustion.The ventilation conditions had a significant effect on the development and intensity of the fire as the test fires were burning under oxygen-limiting conditions.The solid pan bunks retarded the early development of the fire compared to open bunks for polyurethane furnishings. However, once the mattresses on the three bunks were ignited the intensity of the test fires was similar for both types of bunks.     

Detection of enteric viruses, Giardia and Cryptosporidium in two different types of drinking water treatment facilities

In this study, two types of drinking water treatment facilities (two conventional drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) and two compact units (Cus)) were compared referring to their production capacity. Water samples were collected from three main points: (a) different water treatment steps (b) washings of sand filters and (c) distribution system at different distances from the water treatment plants. Both viruses and protozoa were concentrated from each water sample by adsorption and accumulation on the same nitrocellulose membrane filters (0.45 microm pore size). Enteroviruses were detected by plaque infectivity assay in BGM cells and HAV, HEV and Norovirus were detected by RT-PCR. Giardia and Cryptosporidium were detected by conventional staining methods and PCR. The results revealed that enterovirus load at the intake ranged between 10-15 PFU/L for the two compact units and between 4.5 and 75 PFU/L for the two conventional DWTPs. The virus load in distribution system of the first type DWTPs at 1 km from the plant was the same as that of the intake. Viruses in the other type of treatment plants CUs at 1, 5 and 7 km, were much reduced. Investigation of raw water sediments of the two DWTPs showed enterovirus counts between 12 and 17.5 PFU/L. Virus count was reduced in sand of filters after washing. Giardia cysts were equally detected by microscopy and PCR in only intake samples of EL-Hawamdia CU (33.3%) and Meet Fares DWTP (50%). Cryptosporidium oocysts were equally detected by microscopy and PCR in intake samples of Abo EL-Nomros CU (100%), EL-Hawamdia CU (66.7%) and Fowa DWTP (50%). At Meet Fares DWTP three positive intake samples for Cryptosporidium were detected by PCR, compared with only two positive samples by microscopy. Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in raw water sediment and sand of filters before washing. Only one sample from Meet Fares DWTP sand of filters after washing was positive for both Giardia and Cryptosporidium. It can be concluded that the poor microbial quality of the water may be due to improper operational skills and management of the various water treatment plants (especially at the two high capacity treatment plants).     

Observations on the changes in nitrate concentrations along streams in seven upland moorland catchments in Northeast Scotland

River water has been sampled under baseflow conditions in both summer and winter at c. 250-m intervals along the length of each of seven rivers in northeast Scotland, and the nitrate contents have been determined. The resultant data have been examined in the context of the nitrogen saturation hypothesis. Capacity of the catchment soils to retain nitrate was generally minimal in winter. Although biological uptake of nitrate was evident in summer, in the upper part of each catchment substantial nitrate leaching still occurred. The phenomenon was most marked in water draining from hill peats, except where these were conspicuously waterlogged. The results are discussed in the context of possible nitrogen saturation effects on upper catchment slopes.     

Protocatechuic acid ozonation in aqueous solutions

The oxidation of protocatechuic acid with ozone in aqueous solution has been studied varying the temperature, pH, ozone partial pressure and initial acid concentration. A stoichiometric ratio of 2 mol of ozone consumed per mol of protocatechuic acid reacted is deduced from homogeneous experiments in a discontinuous tank reactor.In the ozonation experiments, the influence of the operating variables was established and the kinetic regime of ozone absorption was shown to be fast and pseudo m-order with respect to ozone, except at pH 2, when the reaction develops in the moderate kinetic regime. After applying a mass transfer with chemical reaction model, the reaction orders are deduced and the kinetic rate constants are determined as a function of pH and temperature. A modified Arrhenius expression is proposed to correlate them.     

Settlements and deformations of industrial structure built on weak soils

Conclusions 1. In engineering-geologic explorations, it is necessary to investigate the engineering-geologic morphology to a depth of 15–18 m: lenses and interlayers of weak soils - unevenly compacted silty-sand fills, peat, slime, etc.2. Open unwatering of pits in the vicinity (10–15 m) of existing structures is impermissible, since it leads to removal of fine soil fractions because of piping, and to large and impermissible deformations of the load-bearing elements of the structures. In such cases, deep groundwater lowering by means of wellpoints should be used.In the case described in this article, the industrial structure underwent a mean settlement of about 20 cm, a tilt of 0.015, and a wall deflection of 0.002. By using deep groundwater lowering, such deformations could have been prevented.3. The development of settlements with time was due to the presence of weak soils - peat lenses and thin slime interlayers - in the foundation bed of the shop.4. An effective means for stopping the settlement of the industrial structure was the construction, under the walls, of two rows of cast-in-place piles with cantilever beams to which the wall loads were transmitted.Scientific-Research Institute of Foundations. GIPROLESKhIM. Translated from Osnovaniya, Fundamenty i Mekhanika Gruntov, No. 1, pp. 5–7, January–February, 1975.     

Treatment capability of a physical—Chemical package plant

A short-term study of a commercially-available physical—chemical waste treatment plant is reported. Results indicate that an excellent quality of effluent can be consistently obtained despite wide fluctuations of influent wastewater characteristics. Physical, chemical, and biological parameters were monitored. The short-term data obtained offer some evidence of superior treatment efficiency in terms of COD, color, turbidity, and phosphorus removals when compared to more conventional treatment methods.