Saline Pollution Research Articles

Innovative Approach for Detecting Early-Stage Partial Discharges in Instrument Transformers via Ultrasound and Random Forest Analysis

This article introduces a novel technique for detecting and classifying Partial Discharges in Instrument Transformers, addressing the gradual breakdown of external insulation in high-voltage electrical equipment through ultrasound measurements. The use of hand-held probe-microphones for ultrasonic sensing gains prominence for its versatility and online diagnostic capabilities. The proposed method combines insights into partial discharge types and the pollution level within the equipment, thereby transforming ultrasonic readings into useful information and facilitating informed decision-making. Laboratory tests simulate real-world conditions to which current and voltage transformers of 145 kV and 245 kV are subjected. These tests result in ultrasonic and apparent charge measurements, also known as Phase-Resolved Partial Discharges (PRPD). A random forest model achieves over 92 % accuracy in classifying ultrasonic signals into eight class: normal, light partial discharge, light corona, corona, light superficial, light saline pollution, moderate saline pollution and heavy saline pollution; enhancing the understanding and predictive maintenance of instrument transformers.

HYDRODYNAMIC MODEL OF SOLOTVYN ROCK SALT DEPOSIT

Rock salt development brings risks of harmful impact on water resources, in particular the Tysa River, posing a threat of cross-border spread of saline pollution on the border between Ukraine and Romania (Solotvyn rock salt deposit, Transcarpathia, western Ukraine). The impact of technogenic load (underground mining of rock salt) within the deposit led to deformation of the structure and nature of water exchange, intensification of suffusion and karst processes, ground surface deformations, catastrophic inflows of groundwater into mines, and, as a result, to the cessation of development of this deposit in 2010. However, the suspension of salt mining did not stop the development of the above-mentioned hazardous geological processes caused by both natural and man-made factors. In order to justify measures for prevention pollution of the Tysa River basin, a hydrogeological model of the Solotvyna rock salt deposit and surrounding areas was created, which allowed to predict the direction and flow rate of fresh and saline groundwater. The model was developed using new data on the geological structure and hydrogeological conditions of the study area (groundwater monitoring data). The modernised hydrodynamic model includes five layers (main aquifers and confining layers). As a result of modelling, maps of the velocity vectors and head contours for two aquifers (Quaternary and Tortonian) were obtained. Based on the results of solving a number of inverse problems, the functional correspondence of the model to natural and anthropogenic conditions was proved. According to the preliminary calculations of the actual groundwater filtration velocity and the path lines of the inert pollutant spreading, it was found that the time of its migration from the salt contour to the Tysa River is approximately 2–3 years. The developed groundwater flow model will be used to substantiate the network of hydrological and hydrogeological observation points in order to optimise the monitoring of water pollution processes.

Zwitterionic Silica-Based Hybrid Nanoparticles for Filtration Control in Oil Drilling Conditions

Water-based drilling fluids (WBDFs) that are susceptible to high temperature and saline pollution always exhibit poor ability to control fluid loss and seriously threaten the operation security of oil well drilling; especially, ultradeep well WBDFs that can simultaneously tolerate high salinity and temperature of over 200 °C are difficult to obtain. Herein, a zwitterionic silica-based hybrid nanomaterial (ZSHNM) with a spherical morphology (50–150 nm) was synthesized, and its filtration performance was thoroughly investigated. ZSHNM showed an extraordinary long-term (≥10 months) dispersion stability even at high concentrations in water and possessed remarkable tolerance to high temperature and salinity. Typically, merely adding 2 wt % ZSHNM in WBDFs could achieve an excellent filtration performance even at 240 °C, and with 11 wt % CaCl2 or 36 wt % NaCl added, it showed the best performance to our knowledge. The results suggested that the sodium bentonite (Na-Bent) dispersion could be well stabilized in the presence of ZSHNM even at high temperature and with the presence of cations. Additionally, the silicate core could improve the thermal stability of ZSHNM, whereas the zwitterionic shell could form complexes with cations and further mitigate the aggregation of Na-Bent particles. Thus, the particle size distribution in WBDFs could be finely regulated similar to that in neat Na-Bent dispersion. Furthermore, given the zwitterionic ZSHNM filled in the micro–nanopores among the Na-Bent particles, a compact and low-permeability filter cake was readily formed and ultimately reduced the drilling fluid loss during the filtration process. This work provided a versatile strategy to address the high temperature and high salinity tolerance of WBDFs synchronously, thereby pioneering a new way to develop high-performance drilling additives for ultradeep and complex wells.

Integration of environmental metabolomics and physiological approach for evaluation of saline pollution to rice plant

Salinisation of soil is associated with urban pollution, industrial development and rising sea level. Understanding how high salinity is managed at the plant cellular level is vital to increase sustainable farming output. Previous studies focus on plant stress responses under salinity tolerance. Yet, there is limited knowledge about the mechanisms involved from stress state until the recovery state; our research aims to close this gap. By using the most tolerance genotype (SS1-14) and the most susceptible genotype (SS2-18), comparative physiological, metabolome and post-harvest assessments were performed to identify the underlying mechanisms for salinity stress recovery in plant cells. The up-regulation of glutamine, asparagine and malonic acid were found in recovered-tolerant genotype, suggesting a role in the regulation of panicle branching and spikelet formation for survival. Rice could survive up to 150 mM NaCl (∼15 ds/m) with declined of production rate 5–20% ranged from tolerance to susceptible genotype. This show that rice farming may still be viable on the high saline affected area with the right selection of salt-tolerant species, including glycophytes. The salt recovery biomarkers identified in this study and the adaption underlined could be empowered to address salinity problem in rice field.

IMPACT OF THE USE OF IRRIGATION WATER ON SOIL SALINIZATION CASE OF THE PALM GROVE OF BORDJ BEN AZOUZ BBA-BISKRA (ZIBAN OASIS, SOUTH-EASTERN ALGERIA)

This work deals with the physicochemical quality of water irrigation of agricultural land in the palm grove of Bordj ben Azouz. The aim is to evaluate their ability to irrigate palm groves and their effects on soil change under irrigation in the presence and / or absence of drainage. A hydro geochemical assessment of the groundwater, as well as drainage and. soil samples from irrigated and non-irrigated are performed. The electrical conductivity associated with the geochemical facies and SAR (Sodium adsorption Ratio) reflect a global salinity of the water irrigation, the drainage waters follow the same general trend as that the waters of the wells, the soils show a significant difference of the salinity between the irrigated / drained ones and the others not. The geochemical simulation was carried out using a thermodynamic model of the software Phreeqc Interactive 3.1.4-8929 indicates the supersaturation of the water with respect to the carbonate minerals and the under saturation for the evaporites where the gypsum is close to saturation even exceeds it so that it can precipitate itself by forming the gypso-limestone crust (Debdeb). To protect the environment from saline pollution, a sustainable water and salinity management plan must be installed as well as possible and continuous monitoring of the drainage system are required to remove salt water from irrigated soil.

Research on anti-chloride ion penetration property of crumb rubber concrete at different ambient temperatures

The corrosion of steel bars in concrete is one of the most important factors that affect the durability of concrete structures, which can be caused by several factors, including marine environments, deicing salt environments, saline and alkaline land, and saline pollution in industrial environments. Research has shown that the addition of crumb rubber can increase the capillary saturation of concrete and reduce the corrosion degree of steel bars in concrete, and with the increase of crumb rubber content, the weight-loss rate of steel bars decreases. The effects of temperature on its resistance to chloride-ion erosion and the durability of crumb rubber concrete are analyzed based on concrete-accelerated corrosion tests by controlling the ambient temperature. The results showed that crumb rubber concrete has high resistance to chloride-ion erosion, especially when the temperature is lower than 20 °C. The concrete ductility factor of crumb rubber concrete with chloride-ion corrosion at different temperatures is generally higher than that of ordinary concrete, indicating that crumb rubber concrete has a better energy-absorption property. It is shown that the crumb rubber concrete has a different durability with the test environment temperature, and can provide a reference for the application of crumb rubber concrete in anti-chloride ion penetration.

Integrating ecosystem services in river basin management plans

Summary According to the European Union Water Framework Directive, river basin management plans must include a programme of measures, with a series of management actions aiming to achieve good ecosystem status of all water bodies within the basin. The design and later prioritization of these management actions is, in theory, done through cost‐effectiveness analysis (CEA), which compares management action costs with expected improvements in ecosystem status. However, such an approach does not consider the effects of management actions on human well‐being resulting from changes in the provision of ecosystem services. We propose to complement the current CEA approach with a cost–benefit analysis (CBA) integrating the effects of management actions on the provision of ecosystem services, therefore moving from a single‐objective to a multiobjective approach. We propose a flexible methodological framework based on a combination of CEA and CBA that can be easily adapted to different case studies. To test the applicability of our approach, we applied it to an impaired basin, the Llobregat River basin (north‐eastern Iberian Peninsula). The analysis considers management actions selected from the programme of measures under implementation: establishment of environmental river flows, improvement of river connectivity, treatment of urban wastewater and reduction in saline pollution; and the effects on a series of ecosystem services: water provisioning, waste treatment and habitat for species. Results revealed that management actions designed to improve ecosystem status do not necessarily improve human well‐being through changes in the provision of ecosystem services. The implementation of the CEA and CBA allowed the identification of management actions providing the best trade‐offs between improvements of ecosystem status and human well‐being. For example, the establishment of environmental river flows in the upper Llobregat River was the management action that maximized the balance between gains in ecosystem status and human well‐being. Synthesis and applications. Overall, the combination of cost‐effectiveness analysis and cost–benefit analysis supports a more informed and transparent decision‐making in the implementation of river basin management plans, better assisting stakeholders to prioritize those management actions providing the optimal win–win results.

Environmental consequences of the use of sewage sludge compost and limestone outcrop residue for soil restoration: salinity and trace elements pollution

Purpose This article analyzed the use of composted sewage sludge and limestone outcrop residue as a source of saline pollution to groundwater due to their use in soil rehabilitation and land restoration.

Processing of Leather Using Deep Eutectic Solvents

Processing of leather has an historical reputation as a chemically and energetically intensive process that produces large volumes of aqueous waste. Saline pollution combined with heavy-metal, dyes and acid and base streams make leather production an ecologically sensitive industry. The current study shows that a variety of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) may be used for the tanning, fatliquoring and dyeing of animal hides, being particularly useful for mineral (chromium) and vegetable tanning processes. The tanning agents are able to penetrate rapidly into the hide, driven by lyotropic swelling due to their high ionic strength. The samples are shown to have similar tanning agent content to the currently used aqueous chromium(III) sulfate solution; however, the waste metal content is shown to be significantly reduced. Incorporation of the DES Ethaline into the leather significantly alters the swelling properties of the leather increasing the flexibility and ductility of the material, therefore acting in the...

Synthesis and Properties of Novel Phenolic Resin Grafted Hydrolyzed Polyacrylonitrile Copolymer as Fluid-Loss-Control Additive

A copolymer was prepared by grafted a novel phenolic resin to hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile as fluid-loss-control additive. The novel phenolic resin used Bisphenol A residues as raw materials. Results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed that the two polymers were grafted into together. It was found that the copolymer gave a well performance under high temperature and high pressure and saline pollution.

Analysis of Surface Flashover of 33kV Pin Type Insulators due to Saline Pollution

Contamination-driven insulator failure is a problem that incessantly plagues distribution systems. Contamination levels can continue to grow unless abated by natural cleaning or if not taken measures to wash insulators at the distribution level in a preventative maintenance mode. In order to assess the pollution behavior, 33kV pin type insulator was selected as a sample insulator and been subjected for natural pollution at three selected localities (zone 1, 2 and 3) for considerable period. The naturally polluted insulators have been subjected for conductivity test and by which the equivalent salt deposit density (ESDD) is calculated. Subsequently, artificially contaminated insulators of different pollution severities were tested for power frequency and impulse test in the High Voltage Laboratory of University of Moratuwa. Finally, it is recommended that insulators in Zone 1 have to be treated after 8 months from the date of last treatment and those in Zone 2 & 3 to be treated after 18 months under preventive maintenance to get away from flashover. It is also recommended to review the required specific creepage distance (SCD) of insulators installed in non-polluted areas due to the fact that the current practice of insulators placement in most of the places are with SCD of 25mm/kV which is recommended for high polluted zones as per IEC regulation.

Geochemical tracing and hydrogeochemical modelling of water–rock interactions during salinization of alluvial groundwater (Upper Rhine Valley, France)

In the southern Upper Rhine Valley, groundwater has undergone intensive saline pollution caused by the infiltration of mining brines, a consequence of potash extraction carried out during the 20th century. Major and trace elements along with Sr and U isotopic ratios show that groundwater geochemical characteristics along the saline plumes cannot reflect conservative mixing between saline waters resulting from the dissolution of waste heaps and one or more unpolluted end-members. The results imply the occurrence of interactions between host rocks and polluted waters, and they suggest that cationic exchange mechanisms are the primary controlling process. A coupled hydrogeochemical model has been developed with the numerical code KIRMAT, which demonstrates that cationic exchange between alkalis from polluted waters and alkaline-earth elements from montmorillonite present in the host rock of the aquifer is the primary process controlling the geochemical evolution of the groundwater. The model requires only a small amount of montmorillonite (between 0.75% and 2.25%), which is in agreement with the observed mineralogical composition of the aquifer. The model also proves that a small contribution of calcite precipitation/dissolution takes places whereas other secondary mineral precipitation or host rock mineral dissolution do not play a significant role in the geochemical signature of the studied groundwater samples. Application of the model demonstrates that it is necessary to consider the pollution history to explain the important Cl, Na and Ca concentration modifications in groundwater samples taken over 2 km downstream of waste heaps. Additionally, the model shows that the rapidity of the cationic exchange reactions insures a reversibility of the cation fixation on clays in the aquifer.

Dispersal of Thermal and Saline Pollution in Coastal Waters, Red Sea: A Theoretical Study

Dispersal of Thermal and Saline Pollution in Coastal Waters, Red Sea: A Theoretical Study

Coastal karst springs in the Mediterranean basin : study of the mechanisms of saline pollution at the Almyros spring (Crete), observations and modelling

Variations in salinity and flow rate in the aerial, naturally salty spring of Almyros of Heraklion on Crete were monitored during two hydrological cycles. We describe the functioning of the coastal karstic system of the Almyros and show the influence of the duality of the flow in the karst (conduits and fractured matrix) on the quality of the water resource in the coastal area. A mechanism of saltwater intrusion into this highly heterogeneous system is proposed and validated with a hydraulic mathematical model, which describes the observations remarkably well.

Impacts of thermal aging and water absorption on the surface electrical and chemical properties of cycloaliphatic epoxy resin

New techniques for measuring surface degradation are applied to the study of surface tracking resistance of materials intended for outdoor use. Cycloaliphatic epoxy resin (CAE) with 200 pph silica powder was aged under accelerated conditions for 100 h (100 to 250/spl deg/C) and then its tracking resistance was assessed. The tracking resistance of CAE that was exposed to water absorption (0 to 3.3%) also is evaluated. Changes on the surface layer (1 to 10 /spl mu/m) with thermal treatment are revealed by employing scanning electron microscopy (SEM)-energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, attenuated total reflection (ATR)-Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), reflective visible spectroscopy and thermal gravimetry (TG)-differential thermal analysis (DTA) mass spectrometry (MS). The tracking resistance of CAE aged above 170/spl deg/C is particularly reduced. Surface resistivity declines with rising temperature of thermal aging. The lowering of surface resistivity enlarges the leakage current passing at the aged surface layer and increases the surface temperature of CAE. This would accelerate thermal aging. It also is shown that absorbed water in CAE decreases tracking resistance. The effect of absorbed water during the initial stage of a tracking test is described. Under saline pollution and moisture, thermal aging affects not only surface tracking but also electrochemical erosion derived from sodium hydroxide which forms through electrolysis of sodium chloride. Electrochemical erosion enhances water uptake for CAE, which can lead to tracking resulting from absorbed water.

Arc control devices for use on all-dielectric self-supporting, optical cables

All-dielectric, self-supporting, optical cables can suffer from damage caused by dry-band arcing. This problem only occurs when the cables are strung on power lines whose system voltages are in excess of 150 kV, in areas which are subject to pollution which is conducting when wet, for example saline pollution. It is the aim of the paper to promote discussion, by proposing and subjecting to preliminary examination several devices which may be able to control the arcing which causes the damage. It is concluded that the study of such devices is worth pursuing.

Analysis of resource allocation to irrigated maize and wheat in northern Spain

A 5000-ha irrigated landscape has been shown to export annually more than 11 MT ha −1 of salts to receiving rivers. This saline pollution comes from gypsum and calcite rocks in the soil and large quantities of irrigation water used to amplify agriculture production. In an effort to suggest ways to reduce this pollution, an examination was made of resource allocation among the crops which occupy the majority of the land surface. Maize and alfalfa use more water than cereals. The area of maize production has gradually increased from 19 to 62% of the total (1981–1985). This increase was probably due to the higher ratio of income to cost for maize production and a higher price for maize. Energy analyses of maize and wheat production were used to obtain an estimate of the non-monetary value of water compared with other inputs. The energy cost of water is 30–40% of the total energy cost, compared with 2–3% of the monetary costs. The hydrologic model of the landscape suggests that water use could be reduced without reducing crop yield. A method of reducing water use might involve an adjustment in its monetary value. This case study is useful for planning future irrigation projects where problems from saline pollution might be anticipated.

Wettability of naturally aged silicon and EPDM composite insulators

The wettability of aged surfaces and of the bulk of naturally aged silicone and EPDM (ethylene-propylene diener monomer) insulator housings and silicone elastomer insulator coatings was studied. The samples were taken either directly from the insulators or treated by exposing them to corona discharges and/or to saline pollution. The results show that the contact angles of the silicone rubber insulator surfaces are larger than the contact angles of the RTV (room-temperature vulcanizing) silicone rubber coating and of the EPDM rubber insulator surfaces, especially when the surfaces are aged. When the insulators were exposed to corona discharges, the contact angles of the silicone rubber insulators are reduced but after exposure recover with time. The contact angles of the EPDM rubber insulators, however, continue to reduce after the exposure. When exposed to artificial saline pollution, the silicone rubber insulators show a limited recovery of their contact angles with time, while when exposed to corona discharge after saline pollution, they show a recovery of the contact angle after the exposure. The recovery time is dependent on the exposure time to the corona discharges. The EPDM samples do not show any recovery of their contact angles, either when left to rest after the salt deposition or, when after the salt deposition, they undergo a subsequent exposure to corona discharges. Furthermore, such an exposure may be deleterious for the EPDM polymer and the insulator surface may become completely hydrophylic. >

Pollution associated with intensive livestock-production units

In order to take advantage of market proximity, intensive livestock-production units are established on the outskirts of cities. Approximately 70 percent of the poultry and pigs in the Republic is kept in the Transvaal and Western Cape. The total amount of wastes produced in intensive animal units in South Africa is estimated at 9,8 million tons per annum. Waste contains large amounts of plant nutrients, and if handling is incorrect, serious pollution will occur. Pollution takes place when plant nutrients and salts infiltrate the soil in excess of the crop requirement and would result in saline soil or pollution of the groundwater. Waste washed away by surface run-off, will render rivers and dams useless. Water contaminated with pathogenes present in animal waste can cause and spread disease. Although the technology for the safe handling of animal waste exists, the number of cases of pollution is annually increasing.

Electrochemical erosion of epoxy-resin outdoor insulation

Erosion of silica-filled cycloaliphatic epoxide resins employed as outdoor insulators has been simulated in the laboratory. It has been found that the active agent is sodium hydroxide, produced by electrolysis of saline pollution. Although the unfilled resins resist sodium hydroxide tolerably well, the presence of filler results in extremely rapid erosion, and possible processes to account for this are proposed.