Indirect Discharge Research Articles

Use of Doppler velocity radars to monitor and predict debris and flood wave velocities and travel times in post-wildfire basins

The magnitude and timing of extreme events such as debris and floodflows (collectively referred to as floodflows) in post-wildfire basins are difficult to measure and are even more difficult to predict. To address this challenge, a sensor ensemble consisting of noncontact, ground-based (near-field), Doppler velocity (velocity) and pulsed (stage or gage height) radars, rain gages, and a redundant radio communication network was leveraged to monitor flood wave velocities, to validate travel times, and to compliment observations from NEXRAD weather radar. The sensor ensemble (DEbris and Floodflow Early warNing System, DEFENS) was deployed in Waldo Canyon, Pike National Forest, Colorado, USA, which was burned entirely (100 percent burned) by the Waldo Canyon fire during the summer of 2012 (MTBS, 2020).Surface velocity, stage, and precipitation time series collected during the DEFENS deployment on 10 August 2015 were used to monitor and predict flood wave velocities and travel times as a function of stream discharge (discharge; streamflow). The 10 August 2015 event exhibited spatial and temporal variations in rainfall intensity and duration that resulted in a discharge equal to 5.01 cubic meters per second (m3/s). Discharge was estimated post-event using a slope-conveyance indirect discharge method and was verified using velocity radars and the probability concept algorithm. Mean flood wave velocities – represented by the kinematic celerity ck=2.619meterspersecond,m/s±0.556percent and dynamic celerity cd=3.533m/s±0.181percentandtheiruncertainties were computed. L-moments were computed to establish probability density functions (PDFs) and associated statistics for each of the at-a-section hydraulic parameters to serve as a workflow for implementing alert networks in hydrologically similar basins that lack data.Measured flood wave velocities and travel times agreed well with predicted values. Absolute percent differences between predicted and measured flood wave velocities ranged from 1.6 percent to 49 percent and varied with water slope, hydraulic radius, and depth. The kinematic celerity was a better predictor for steep slopes and wide flood plains associated with the Upper Waldo and Middle Waldo radar streamgages; whereas, the dynamic celerity was a better surrogate for shallow slopes and incised channels such as the Lower Waldo radar streamgage.The method demonstrates the potential extensibility of a post-wildfire warning system by (1) leveraging multiple systems (i.e., weather radar, near-field velocity and stage radars, and rain gages) for accurate and timely warnings of debris and floodflows, (2) establishing an order of operations to site, install, and operate near-field radars and conventional rain gages to record floodflows, forecast travel times, and document geomorphic change in this basin and hydrologically similar basins that lack data, and (3) communicating data operationally with the Colorado Department of Transportation engineering staff, National Weather Service forecasters, and emergency managers.

Mine Wastewater Effect on the Aquatic Diversity and the Ecological Status of the Watercourses in Southern Poland

Coal mining activity contributes to energy security and employment occupation, but is associated with environmental deterioration. Coal combustion leads to GHG emissions, while coal mining results in the generation of saline effluents. These effluents are discharged in inland surface waters, applying significant pressure on their quality, with a negative impact on aquatic life and the economy of a region. This study includes water samples that were analyzed in order to investigate the organic compounds, heavy metals, and other physicochemical parameters. Biological monitoring was done according to the Water Framework Directive methodology. The results from an aquatic area in Southern Poland, which indirectly receives coal mine effluents, indicate elevated salinity with excessive chlorides, sulfates, and sodium ions. The water quality of another non-polluted aquatic area was also assessed to examine the impact of indirect coal mine wastewater discharge on this area. The high salinity levels hinder the use of river water for drinking, agricultural, or industrial purposes. The results obtained show high pressure on the ecological status of streams and rivers that receive mine effluents, and on the density and diversity of aquatic invertebrates. This pressure is clearly visible in the structure of benthic communities and in invertebrate diversity. It also contributes to the appearance of invasive species and increasing water salinity. Limiting discharges of mine water transporting large loads of saline substances would reduce the negative impact on the quality of river waters and biological life.

Enhancing pollutants removal in hospital wastewater: Comparative analysis of PAC coagulation vs. bio-contact oxidation, highlighting the impact of outdated treatment plants

While the effectiveness of Poly-Aluminum Chloride (PAC) coagulation for pollutant removal has been documented across various wastewater scenarios, its specific application in hospital wastewater (HWW) treatment to remove conventional pollutants and hazardous genetic pollutants has not been studied. The research compared three hospital wastewater treatment plants (HWTPs) to address a knowledge gap, including the PAC coagulation-sodium hypochlorite disinfection process (PAC-HWTP), the biological contact oxidation-precipitation-sodium hypochlorite process (BCO-HWTP), and a system using outdated equipment with PAC coagulation (ODE-PAC-HWTP). Effluent compliance with national discharge standards is assessed, with BCO-HWTP meeting standards for direct or indirect discharge into natural aquatic environments. ODE-PAC-HWTP exceeds pretreatment standards for COD and BOD5 concentrations. PAC-HWTP effluent largely adheres to national pretreatment standards, enabling release into municipal sewers for further treatment. Metagenomic analysis reveals that PAC-HWTP exhibits higher removal efficiencies for antibiotic resistance genes, metal resistance genes, mobile genetic elements, and pathogens compared to BCO-HWTP and ODE-PAC-HWTP, achieving average removal rates of 45.13%, 57.54%, 80.61%, and 72.17%, respectively. These results suggests that when discharging treated HWW into municipal sewers for further processing, the use of PAC coagulation process is more feasible and cost-effective compared to BCO technologies. The analysis emphasizes the urgent need to upgrade outdated equipment HWTPs.

An urban metabolism framework purpose to assess the dynamics of linear alkylbenzenes (LABs) discharge flows and driving forces at the city level in Guangdong province, China

Linear alkylbenzenes (LABs) are a class of molecular markers derived from anthropogenic activities. A comprehensive understanding of the mechanism that determines their entry into anthroposphere, in terms of magnitude and pathway, is the prerequisite to establish effective mitigation measures. This study develops a methodology framework to analyze the source-sink interactions and driving factors of the direct and indirect LAB discharges from production and living activities in Guangdong Province, China from 2004 to 2017. Results indicated that the total LAB discharges of Guangdong into the environment were averaged at 2.9 kt yr−1, of which 61.9% originated from the Pearl River Delta (PRD) urban agglomeration. An average proportion of 76.0% was discharged into water bodies with the remaining released into land bodied. From 2014 to 2017, the LAB discharges increased by seven times, resulting from the steady increase of urban residential sources, while contribution from industrial sources continuously declined during the studied period. Meanwhile, the discharging hotspots expanded from Guangzhou city to other super-cities around it, including Shenzhen and Dongguan. The other cities exhibited a decreasing trend in discharges as a function of distance from these hotspot cities. The multisectoral sources of LABs differed considerably among cities, and the source contribution of each city changed significantly with progressive urbanization. The factor decomposition analysis indicated that LAB discharges in PRD cities primarily contributed by the pollutant concentration and reflected the treatment structure, while peripheral cities of the PRD mainly contributed by the per capita consumption and pollutant discharge per unit of GDP. Overall, our results provide a scientific database and supports for the regional co-remediation of anthropogenic pollution.

Industrial Wastewater Indirect Discharges in Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Perspective: A Case Study of Prague

Wastewater discharge is one of the sources of environmental pollution. Wastewater pollution originates, inter alia, in industrial wastewater. After treatment, industrial wastewater can be discharged directly into the receiving water body or indirectly into a sewerage network terminated by the concluding stage of wastewater treatment. In the Czech Republic, indirect wastewater discharges are obeyed by the contractual relationship between the wastewater producer and the sewerage network operator. General limits for indirectly discharged wastewater are not set by any national legislation. The aim of this paper is a description of industrial wastewater discharged into the municipal sewerage system in Prague and possibilities of setting limits for installations undertaking the industrial activities listed in Annex I of the Integrated Prevention Act. The study showed that 72% of installations discharge industrial wastewater indirectly. The majority are energy plants that produce boiler blowdown wastewater. More than 80% of wastewater from studied installations is treated by one central wastewater treatment plant. The studied installations are equipped with a wastewater neutralization unit. However, despite the existence of the legislative framework to propose limits for studied installations, only two installations covered by BAT conclusions with relevant BAT-AELs for indirect discharges to the receiving water body were determined. Generally, a small percentage of installations can be limited by an integrated permit due to an inconsistent approach to the issue of indirect discharges from installations under the scope of the Integrated Prevention Act.

Synergistic Promotion of Photocatalytic Degradation of Methyl Orange by Fluorine- and Silicon-Doped TiO2/AC Composite Material.

The direct or indirect discharge of organic pollutants causes serious environmental problems and endangers human health. The high electron-hole recombination rate greatly limits the catalytic efficiency of traditional TiO2-based catalysts. Therefore, starting from low-cost activated carbon (AC), a photocatalyst (F-Si-TiO2/AC) comprising fluorine (F)- and silicon (Si)-doped TiO2 loaded on AC has been developed. F-Si-TiO2/AC has a porous structure. TiO2 nanoparticles were uniformly fixed on the surface or pores of AC, producing many catalytic sites. The band gap of F-Si-TiO2/AC is only 2.7 eV. In addition, F-Si-TiO2/AC exhibits an excellent adsorption capacity toward methyl orange (MO) (57%) in the dark after 60 min. Under the optimal preparation conditions, F-Si-TiO2/AC showed a significant photodegradation performance toward MO, reaching 97.7% after irradiation with visible light for 70 min. Even under the action of different anions and cations, its degradation efficiency is the lowest, at 64.0%, which has good prospects for practical application. At the same time, F-Si-TiO2/AC has long-term, stable, practical application potential and can be easily recovered from the solution. Therefore, this work provides new insights for the fabrication of low-cost, porous, activated, carbon-based photocatalysts, which can be used as high-performance photocatalysts for the degradation of organic pollutants.

Leveraging Neutrosophic Uncertainty Theory toward Choosing Biodegradable Dynamic Plastic Product in Various Arenas


 Numerous studies in recent years have documented the negative effects of plastic waste on the environment and human wellness. Due to their widespread usage in daily life, particularly in packaging, and their rising direct or indirect discharge into the environment, plastics are recognized as an emerging environmental hazard. Thus, this point is considered the first problem in this study. As a result, efforts to replace traditional plastics with bioplastics have intensified. However, studies regarding the effects of conventional and bioplastics (BioPs) are also important. Hence, biodegradable polymers for industrial and commercial usage are essential in the present day as an alternative to traditional plastic. Another point considered in this study is packaging which entails the quest for new natural materials that may be included in the production of reusable, eco-friendly, and long-lasting flexible polymers. Prior studies demonstrated that starches from both tubers and grains may be processed into malleable biopolymers. Since the quality of the carbs from different vendors varies, choosing which one to work with presents a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) challenge. This paper proposed a neutrosophic MCDM methodology to select the best biodegradable dynamic plastic product (BDPP). The neutrosophic method is used to overcome uncertain data. The neutrosophic is integrated with the Additive Ratio Assessment (ARAS) method. The weights of the criteria are computed then the rank of BDPP is obtained by the neutrosophic ARAS method.

Dissolved organic nitrogen removal and its mechanisms during simulated soil aquifer treatment

Soil aquifer treatment systems are known to further remove contaminants in wastewater effluent when applied through infiltration into the ground. Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) in the effluent, a precursor for nitrogenous disinfection by-products (DBPs) such as N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), is of great concern upon subsequent use of the groundwater infiltered into the aquifer. In this study, the vadose zone of the soil aquifer treatment system was simulated using 1 m laboratory soil columns under unsaturated conditions representing the vadose zone. The final effluent of a water reclamation facility (WRF) was applied to these columns to investigate the removal of N species with a focus on DON, as well as NDMA precursors. DON removal achieved was up to 99 % with an average of 68 % and was accompanied by a 52 % nitrate increase suggesting the occurrence of ammonification and nitrification through the soil columns. Around 62 % of total DON removal was seen at <10 cm travel distance, which was in accordance with higher adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentrations at the top of the column due to more oxygen and organic matter availability. Total Dissolved N removal was drastically lowered to 4.5 % in the same column without microbial growth, which highlights the importance of biodegradation. The columns were capable of removing 56 % of the fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM). Soil columns could remove NDMA precursors up to 92 % through the column with the initial concentration of 89.5 ng/L, possibly due to the removal of DON fractions. The results demonstrate the capability of the vadose zone in further treatment of DON and other organic matter before reaching the groundwater through infiltration or indirect discharge to surface water. Differences in applied water quality and the site-specific oxic conditions in SAT systems could lead to variable removal efficiencies.

Performance Evaluation of RBF Wells with Special Reference to Water Quality Parameters in Hard Rock Region of Tungabhadra Catchment

Tungabhadra River is the chief source for drinking water and agriculture developments in Davangere and adjoining districts of Karnataka. It is reported that the water of Tungabhadra is getting polluted by the direct / indirect effluent discharges due to which people living on the river bank are facing the problem of drinking water. River Bank Filtration (RBF) wells which will naturally treat the polluted surface and ground water have been drilled in perpendicular to the river at a distance of 30m, 50m and 80m to understand the extent of treatment of RBF wells to provide clean and safe drinking water. The present study deals with the problems of water quality in a selected village (Somlapura) located in a hard rock terrain of river Tungabhadra, Karnataka, India. As a part of the investigation, water samples were collected from River Bank Filtration wells and adjoining river and aquifers were analyzed using standard methods. Outcomes of water quality presents that the concentrations of turbidity and total coliform were lesser in the RBF well water samples when compared to Tungabhadra River water samples. The water from RBF wells contained fresh water, which is highly mineralized and free from bacterial contamination relative to the water from river. However, groundwater of the adjoining aquifers showed wide variations in various physio-chemical parameters. From the analysis, unsafe levels of total coliforms (included E.coli and F. Coli) were detected in Tungabhadra River i.e., It varied between 1680 and 3179 MPN/100 ml. It is observed that the average removal efficiency of coliform bacteria from RBF well 1 &amp; 2 was 99.84% and 99.82% respectively.

DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW DEVICE FOR APPLYING ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE COLD PLASMA ON FOODS

The studies on cold plasma, a non-thermal food processing technology, have been recently focused on extending the shelf life of foods and controlling pathogenic microorganisms since its antimicrobial activities were recognized. Atmospheric pressure cold plasma is a cost-effective and user-friendly technique since it does not require a vacuum environment and apparatus. In this study, a new device that produces atmospheric pressure cold plasma in large volumes has been designed and produced to treat various types and properties of food. The system can operate at three different modes, producing direct (Device mode-I) and indirect (Device mode-II) Volume Dielectric Barrier Discharge (VDBD) and Surface Dielectric Barrier Discharge (SDBD) plasma (Device mode-III). The system can be operated consecutively without any problems. The cold plasmas produced in three different modes were applied to different food types, and the foods were examined whether cold plasmas caused a noticeable change in sensory properties. The reactions caused by the system under different operating conditions were measured by optical emission spectroscopy, and the chemical interactions that the foods might be exposed to during plasma treatment were determined. The types of plasma particles that can be effective in food-plasma applications were discussed. The sensory analysis results showed that various foods such as chicken, fish, apple, and milk could be treated with atmospheric pressure cold plasma without causing significant changes in their sensory properties.

Synthesis of a Novel Multifunctional Organic-Inorganic Nanocomposite for Metal Ions and Organic Dye Removals

The pollution induced by the excessive use of heavy metal ions and organic matter in industrial operations results in direct and indirect discharge of pollutants into waterways, affecting human life and environment. For example, cobalt ions and radionuclide 60Co, 58Co, which are used in medicine, can be discharged into the environment during its manufacturing processes. Also, organic materials, such as phenolic components, carbohydrates, and so on, have a high toxicity to human. For example, methylene Blue (MB), ingestion of MB by humans can result in excessive perspiration, nausea, vomiting, neuronal apoptosis, burning sensations, and a variety of other harmful impacts on the body and surroundings. In our research group, nanomaterials have been extensively used in many research projects and applications such as catalysts, energy, photovoltaic, sensors, biomedical and environmental remediation [1-26].In recent years, it has been discovered that a blend of nanoporous silicates such as Zeolite X (Ze) and activated carbon (AC) can minimize contaminants in waste water. Because activated carbons are often microporous and have large surface areas, they are particularly efficient at adsorbing low molecular weight compounds and larger molecules.The MB and Co(II) ions sorption capabilities of Ze-AC mixture and linked zeolite and activated carbon (Ze-L-AC) via disodium terephthalate linker. The resultant materials (Ze-L-AC composite and Ze-AC mixture) were characterized using Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) and Surface area measurements. Also, this study was focused on the adsorption of MB and Co(II) ions in aqueous media. The effects of pH, temperature, time, masses and ionic strength were monitored using absorption spectroscopy. Generally, the Ze-L-AC composite removed MB and Co ions greater than the Ze-AC mixture. For example, the adsorbent capacitance for MB removal was 37 mg/g for Ze-AC mixture and 40 mg/g for Ze-L-AC. Also, the adsorbent capacitance for Co(II) ions removal was 40 mg/g for Ze-AC mixture and 44 mg/g for Ze-L-AC. References C Huff, T Dushatinski, TM Abdel-Fattah, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 42 (30), 18985-18990 (2017)M Stacey, C Osgood, BS Kalluri, W Cao, H Elsayed-Ali, T Abdel-Fattah, Biomedical Materials 6 (1), 011002 (2011)SE Mohmed Labeb, Abdel-Hamed Sakr, Moataz Soliman, Tarek M.Abdel-Fattah, Optical Materials 79, 331-335 (2018)ME Mahmoud, MM Osman, SB Ahmed, TM Abdel-Fattah, Chemical engineering journal 175, 84-94 (2011)TM Abdel-Fattah, ME Mahmoud, Chemical engineering journal 172 (1), 177-183 (2011)R Bhure, TM Abdel-Fattah, C Bonner, JC Hall, A Mahapatro, Journal of biomedical nanotechnology 6 (2), 117-128 (2010)TM Abdel-Fattah, D Loftis, A Mahapatro, Journal of biomedical nanotechnology 7 (6), 794-800 (2011)OH Elsayed-Ali, T Abdel-Fattah, HE Elsayed-Ali, Journal of hazardous materials 185 (2-3), 1550-1557 (2011)R Bhure, A Mahapatro, C Bonner, TM Abdel-Fattah, Materials Science and Engineering: C 33 (4), 2050-2058 (2013)BE Bishop, BA Savitzky, T Abdel-Fattah, Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 73 (4), 565-571 (2010)C Huff, JM Long, A Heyman, TM Abdel-Fattah, ACS Applied Energy Materials 1 (9), 4635-4640 (2018)TM Abdel-Fattah, EM Younes, G Namkoong, EM El-Maghraby, Synthetic Metals 209, 348-354 (2015)SH Lapidus, A Naik, A Wixtrom, NE Massa, V Ta Phuoc, L del Campo, Crystal growth & design 14 (1), 91-100 (2014)A Mahapatro, TD Matos Negrón, C Bonner, TM Abdel-Fattah, Journal of Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering 3 (2), 196-204 (2013)T Dushatinski, C Huff, TM Abdel-Fattah, Applied Surface Science 385, 282-288 (2016)ME Mahmoud, SS Haggag, MA Rafea, TM Abdel-Fattah, Polyhedron 28 (16), 3407-3414 (2009)C Huff, JM Long, A Aboulatta, A Heyman, TM Abdel-Fattah, ECS Journal of Solid State Science and Technology 6 (10), M115 (2017)ME Mahmoud, SS Haggag, TM Abdel-Fattah, Polyhedron 26 (14), 3956-3962 (2007)TM Abdel-Fattah, ME Mahmoud, MM Osmam, SB Ahmed, Journal of Environmental Science and health, part A 49 (9), 1064-1076 (2014)ME Mahmoud, TM Abdel-Fattah, MM Osman, SB Ahmed, Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A 47 (1), 130-141 (2012)K Foe, G Namkoong, TM Abdel-Fattah, H Baumgart, MS Jeong, DS Lee, Thin solid films 534, 76-82 (2013)M Abdel-Fattah, A Wixtrom, K Zhang, W Cao, H Baumgart, ECS Journal of Solid State Science and Technology 3 (10), M61 (2014)C Huff, T Dushatinski, A Barzanji, N Abdel-Fattah, K Barzanji, ECS Journal of Solid State Science and Technology 6 (5), M69 (2017)TM Abdel-Fattah, B Bishop, Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A 39 (11-12), 2855-2866 (2014)Quach, E. Biehler, A. Elzamzami, C. Huff, J.M. Long, T.M. Abdel Fattah, Catalysts, 11, 118 (2021).E. Biehler, Q. Quach, C. Huff, T. M. Abdel-Fattah, Materials, 15, 2692 (2022).

CuS-Based Nanostructures as Catalysts for Organic Pollutants Photodegradation

The direct or indirect discharge of toxic and non-biodegradable organic pollutants into water represents a huge threat that affects human health and the environment. Therefore, the treatment of wastewater, using sustainable technologies, is absolutely necessary for reusability. Photocatalysis is considered one of the most innovative advanced techniques used for pollutant removal from wastewater, due to its high efficiency, ease of process, low-cost, and the environmentally friendly secondary compounds that occur. The key of photocatalysis technology is the careful selection of catalysts, usually semiconductor materials with high absorption capacity for solar light, and conductivity for photogenerated charge carriers. Among copper sulfides, CuS (covellite), a semiconductor with different morphologies and bandgap values, is recognized as an important photocatalyst used for the removal of organic pollutants (dyes, pesticides, pharmaceutics etc.) from wastewater. This review deals with recent developments in organic pollutant photodegradation, using as catalysts various CuS nanostructures, consisting of CuS NPs, CuS QDs, and heterojunctions (CuS/ carbon-based materials, CuS/organic semiconductor, CuS/metal oxide). The effects of different synthesis parameters (Cu:S molar ratios, surfactant concentration etc.) and properties (particle size, morphology, bandgap energy, and surface properties) on the photocatalytic performance of CuS-based catalysts for the degradation of various organic pollutants are extensively discussed.

Assessment of groundwater discharge pathways in a till-dominated coastal aquifer

Study regionMabou Harbour located in Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada, is representative of the many natural harbours throughout the Maritime region of Canada as the surrounding landscape is overlain by glacial deposits, predominantly composed of glacial till. Study focusUnderstanding the pathways facilitating groundwater flow and associated solute transport to the ocean is key for developing conceptual hydrogeologic models for coastal watersheds and for informing coastal zone management. Most local-scale field and modelling submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) studies have been conducted in high-permeability formations given the likely importance of SGD in these coastal settings. This study investigates direct (SGD) and indirect (seaward stream baseflow) groundwater discharge from a till dominated coastal aquifer using a combination of field measurements (river flow and baseflow separation, seepage meter measurements, and water temperature analysis) and a calibrated 3D numerical groundwater flow model. New hydrological insights for the regionResults show that seaward stream baseflow greatly exceeds direct SGD to the ocean on the scale of the full harbour watershed (96.1% vs. 3.9 of total groundwater discharge). Particle tracking shows that the vast majority of SGD originates in the subcatchment immediately surrounding the harbour with limited intermediate or regional flow. The shorter flow paths and residence times for direct SGD results in less opportunity for natural attenuation processes and may have implications for groundwater-borne contamination to this harbour.

Stability and Shelf-Life of Plasma Bubbling Treated Cow Milk

The demand of consumers for naturality of food with minimal processing was forced to the scientists for the discovery of non-thermal plasma which is a new technology for the preservation and decontamination of food products. The present study was conducted for the scrutinization of microbial and physicochemical characteristics of plasma bubbled raw cow milk and an extensive comparison was observed for boiled raw cow milk, commercially (pasteurised and UHT) milk. Further, storage study (shelf-life) was done for the plasma bubbled raw cow milk and compared with raw cow milk sample (control). The bubbling of plasma was generated at a voltage of 200V, the flow rate of air 10 litres/hour (L/h) and applied to fresh cow milk for 5, 10, and 15 minutes (min) of time with a volume of 100 mL of the sample operated at room temperature. A declined in microbial cell was observed for coliform and yeast at 200V, 10L/h, 15 min time interval. The pH value of 15 min plasma bubble treated sample was increased significantly to 6.85. While, a slight decrease in value was noticed in total soluble solids (TSS) and titratable acid (TA) after exposure to plasma bubbling. Further, a nondetrimental effect was observed for the nutrient content of plasma bubbling of milk. The result indicates that plasma bubbling at generated at 200V, 10L/h,100mL,15 min treatment enhances the milk quality. However, plasma bubbling: based on indirect dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) may use as a successful decontamination technology without affecting the physicochemical properties which could have a future perspective on industrial food applications.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Seawater, Sediment and Biota of Neritic Ecosystems: Occurrence and Partition Study in Southern Ligurian Sea

The Mediterranean Sea is subjected to a high anthropic pressure, which determines direct or indirect discharges of persistent organic pollutants deriving from intensive industrial activities. These compounds could easily enter and contaminate the whole marine compartment, with possible transfers (and contamination) among water, sediment and biota. Based on the above-mentioned assumptions, in this work we studied the presence of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 14 dioxin and non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the neritic protected marine area of the Southern Ligurian Sea, affected by the impact of human activities. The study was focused on the possible partition of micropollutants within seawater, sediment and zooplankton. Results showed that both seasonal and anthropic causes strongly affect contaminant transfer behaviors, with summertime periods more impacted by PAH and PCB contamination. Regarding the PAH contamination, low molecular weight congeners were mainly detected in the target matrices, revealing concentrations up to 1 µg/L in seawater (anthracene), 250 µg/Kg in sediments (benzo[b]fluoranthene) and 2.3 mg/Kg in carnivorous copepods. Concerning PCBs, only few congeners were detected in the matrices studied. To better understand the occurrence of preferential bioaccumulation pathways in zooplankton, partition studies were also performed in several taxa (hyperbenthic Isopoda, holoplanktonic crustacean copepods and ichthyoplankton) through the calculation of BAF values, observing that both living and feeding habits could influence the bioaccumulation process.

Ecological network analysis of industrial wastes metabolism based on input-output model for Jiangsu, China

The enormous discharge of industrial waste seriously hinders the sustainable development of cities. However, most studies only involve a single or limited category of industrial pollutants, ignoring the environmental pressure caused by multiple resources and environmental factors. This paper combines input-output analysis and ecological network analysis to construct an industrial waste metabolic input–output (IWMIO) model, which explores the industrial waste discharge and discharge relationships among different sectors in Jiangsu Province from the three aspects of industrial wastewater, industrial waste gas, and industrial solid waste. The results show that the indirect discharge of industrial waste is greater than the direct discharge in the industrial waste metabolism system. TI (Tertiary industry), CI (Chemical industry), SPM (Smelting and pressing of metals), and PSEH (Production and supply of electricity and heat) dominate the industrial waste metabolism system. In addition, MWC (Mining and washing of coal), MNMP (Manufacture of non-metallic mineral products), SPM (Smelting and pressing of metals) have more mutualism and competition relationships with other sectors, so the control of industrial waste discharge in these sectors contributes to achieving emission reduction targets. Based on the research results, this paper proposes corresponding policy recommendations such as considering both direct and indirect emissions of sectors when formulating waste reduction policies and developing pertinent industrial waste reduction programs based on the characteristics of the identified sectors. The results of this paper are helpful to identify the dependence and influence relationships of various sectors in the industrial waste metabolism system, promote industrial waste discharge control, and provide theoretical support for the adjustment of industrial structure and the formulation of related policies in Jiangsu Province.

Scale-dependence of observational and modelling uncertainties in forensic flash flood analysis

The mismatch between the space–time scales of flash flood occurrence and those of the typical hydro-meteorological monitoring networks has stimulated the development of forensic flash flood analysis, which involves post-flood indirect peak discharge estimation in ungauged channels and flood response modelling driven by weather-radar rainfall estimates. However, both approaches are potentially affected by significant uncertainties. Assessment of scale dependence of such uncertainties is important to identify how uncertainty affecting forensic flash flood analysis increases with decreasing basin size. In this work, we apply the forensic methodology to the flash flood of November 18, 2013 in Sardinia (Italy). We introduce the ‘flash flood forensic consistency index’ as a tool to compare the probability distribution of peak discharge uncertainties from observational and model estimates, and to determine the scale effects of the forensic analysis concept. Uncertainties in field-based peak flow estimates are evaluated through a first-order error analysis of the Taylor-series approximation of the slope-conveyance method, whereas uncertainties in flash flood modelling are based on the Generalized Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation methodology using a distributed hydrologic model. Results show no significant relationship between observational and modelling uncertainties, considered independently, and basin area and channel bed slope. Conversely, when considering the interaction between the two uncertainty distributions, a relationship arises between their degree of overlap and basin size. In particular, with decreasing basin area or increasing channel bed slope, the absolute relative bias between the estimated peak flow values increases more than their relative uncertainties, decreasing the consistency index. This calls for more robust approaches for the analysis of flash flood response in small-sized rugged-relief mountain basins, which are of high interest for flood risk management.

Costs and optimisation options for monitoring of indirect dischargers

Abstract Monitoring of indirect and industrial dischargers, respectively, makes an important contribution to the safe and environmentally sound operation of wastewater systems. As a result of local framework conditions, there is a wide range of monitoring practices across Germany. In a benchmarking project, ten sewerage operators and monitoring bodies representing large German cities have collected data on their work and discussed their practices. The results show that the extent of monitoring is between 244 and 1,457 monitoring points per sewer network (given as 15th and 85th percentile). The median value of the specific expense is 689 EUR per monitoring point and year. In relation to the total wastewater fee volume, the median expense is 0.71%. The sub-process ‘sampling’ was examined more closely. By means of detailed process mapping and regression analyses, it can be shown that on-site activities and tours have the largest share of working time (total of 72%) and thus the greatest leverage in optimisation measures. Various examples are given.

Utilization of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) and their derivatives as photocatalysts for degradation of organic pollutants.

Direct or indirect discharge of wastes containing organic pollutants have contributed to the environmental pollution globally. Decontamination of highly polluted natural resources such as water using an effective treatment is a great challenge for public health and environmental protection. Photodegradation of organic pollutants using efficient photocatalyst has attracted extensive interest due to their stability, effectiveness towards degradation efficiency, energy, and cost efficiency. Among various photocatalysts, layered double hydroxides (LDHs) and their derivatives have shown great potential towards photodegradation of organic pollutants. Herein, we review the mechanism, key factors, and performance of LDHs and their derivatives for the photodegradation of organic pollutants. LDH-based photocatalysts are classified into three different categories namely unmodified LDHs, modified LDHs, and calcined LDHs. Each LDH category is reviewed separately in terms of their photodegradation efficiency and kinetics of degradation. In addition, the effect of photocatalyst dose, pH, and initial concentration of pollutant as well as photocatalytic mechanisms are also summarized. Lastly, the stability and reusability of different photocatalysts are discussed. Challenges related to modeling the LDHs and its derivatives are addressed in order to improve their functional capacity.

Multi-regional industrial wastewater metabolism analysis for the Yangtze River Economic Belt, China

Enormous wastewater discharges have significantly impeded the sustainable development. As several economic belt has been formed in China, systematic analysis of multi-regional wastewater metabolic system is required for advancing wastewater mitigation effectively and efficiently. In this study, a distributive environmental input-output model (DEIO) is developed for the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) to provide bases for supporting sustainable development from inter-regional and inter-sectoral perspectives. The discharges and flows of wastewater and related pollutants (i.e., chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia nitrogen (AN)) among sectors and regions are analyzed to providing solid bases for wastewater management within the YREB. The results show that the industrial wastewater mitigation in YREB is desired urgently. The industrial wastewater discharges in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces are numerous, while Hunan and Yunnan provinces are more inclined to suffer from serious COD and AN pollution. In addition, the manufacture of food, tobacco, chemical materials, and pharmaceutical are the typical sectors with a large amount of direct wastewater discharge, and the tertiary industry is ranked at the first in indirect wastewater discharge. According to the analysis, the implementation of the “Supply-side Structure Reform” and the “Replace Subsidies with Rewards” policy can benefit the wastewater mitigation in the YREB.