Shortage Of Freshwater Resources Research Articles

Planning and Design of a Micro energy network for seawater desalination and regional energy interconnection

With the rapid development of the economy, the continuously increasing population, and ongoing climate change, the shortage of freshwater resources has become an increasingly important global problem. Seawater desalination technology can effectively alleviate the pressure on freshwater supplies and has been investigated in many countries. However, the majority of existing projects focus on the research and development of desalination equipment and the use of new technologies and pay less attention to the operation optimization of the desalination process. The micro energy network (MEN) designed in this study is an efficient distributed energy supply system that can be used to simultaneously supply electricity, cooling, heating, and freshwater as photovoltaic power, wind power, combined heat and power (CHP), electric cooling and heating, and a seawater desalination device are integrated into the MEN. In this study, a model for operation optimization of a MEN for seawater desalination was developed and the influences of the electric cooling and heating ratios and the operation optimization of the seawater desalination device were studied with the aim of minimizing the life cycle cost. Based on the results of this study, MENs can reduce the operation cost of desalination devices and improve the efficiency of renewable energy sources.

Trace Metals Accumulation and Antioxidants Profiling in Two Maize Genotypes Against Sewage and Textile Wastewater Treatment

Shortage of freshwater resources compels farmers to use sewage and textile effluents for irrigation, leading to accumulation of trace metals (Cr, Cu, Pb, Cd, Ni) to toxic levels and affecting plant growth and harming animals and humans. An experiment is conducted using raw (1:0) textile (TEX) and sewage (SWG) effluents and their dilution (1:1 and 1:3) by tap water (TAP) to assess the physiological changes against the trace metals accumulation in maize genotypes (999 and 984). Dilution of TEX and SWG effluents causes an increase in the uptake of trace metals in both genotypes, thereby decreasing metals accumulation in soil. Application of raw TEX and SWG effluents enhances lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, MDA) concentration and decreases by increasing dilution. The activities of antioxidants enzymes (superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase, CAT; ascorbate peroxidase, APX; total antioxidants activity) are significantly higher in raw (1:0) treatment of TEX and SWG effluents compared to TAP treatment and decrease by increasing dilution. The activity of glutathione reductase (GR) increases by increasing dilution of effluents. The maize genotype “984” shows significantly higher values of measured antioxidant enzymes and lower MDA compared to “999.” The differential accumulation of trace metals in maize genotypes shows varied activities of the antioxidant enzymes responsible for their differences in growth and adaptability against trace metals toxicity. The plants' genotype tolerance against trace metals toxicity and effluents dilution is an effective measure to avoid entry of these metals into food chain.

The corps’ growth with different water-saving irrigation conditions in new reclamation areas along the coast of Jiangsu

This study performed a quantitative evaluation of the impact of the corps’ growth with different water-saving irrigation conditions in new reclamation areas along the coast of Jiangsu. In this work, the yield and the amount of irrigation water of corps’ (watermelon, green pepper, and rice) with different water-saving irrigation modes were investigated. The results indicate that the drip-irrigation and micro-spray irrigation can observably reduce the amount of irrigation-water. With respect to normal irrigation, the rate of water-saving is 39.2%. At the same time, there’s been some improvement in the yield of corps. Water-saving irrigation can been accepted as an important means for alleviating the shortage of fresh water resources in the new reclamation.

Experimental research of the operation of self-sufficient desalination setup of vapor-air type

The growing global shortage of freshwater resources can be partially offset by the desalination of mineralized ocean and marine waters. The most common methods of desalination today are distillation, based on phase transformations of water, and reverse-osmosis, which consists in passing sea water through semipermeable membranes. The distillation method of desalination is characterized by significant thermal energy needs. In the process of desalination by the reverse-osmotic method, there is a need for the periodic replacement of expensive membranes, the creation of high pressure, which leads to significant energy consumption. In this regard, the actual problem is the study of vapor-air desalination method, based on the law of equilibrium state of vapor-gas-liquid mixtures. The efficiency of devices based on the vapor-air method is a significant increase in productivity due to the additional generation of steam, which reduces the energy costs for heating water in the installation. The purpose of this work is to determine the main factors affecting the performance of the vapor-air type installations. As a result of an experimental study of the operation of aself-sufficient steam-type desalination setup, it was found out that the initial water and air temperatures in the bubbling zone have a key impact on the performance. The high energy efficiency of devices implementing this method, with the quality of the condensate that complies with regulatory requirements, makes the vapor-air desalination method very future-oriented.

Enhanced solar steam generation using carbon nanotube membrane distillation device with heat localization

High-efficiency solar steam generation through interfacial solar heating of the membrane is a promising approach to alleviate the shortage of freshwater resources. In this work, we developed a membrane distillation device (MDD), consisting of a carbon nanotube (CNT) membrane as solar absorption layer, a qualitative filter paper as water transmission pipeline and an aerogel blanket as thermal insulator to achieve efficient solar harvesting and heat localization for enhancing water evaporation. The results illustrated that the MDD achieved a thermal conversion efficiency of up to 84.6% at a light intensity of 1 kW m−2 and showed superior cyclic stability for 10 cycles test. As a consequence, the self-assembled and reusable MDD was suitable as a promising candidate for seawater desalination.

Pine pollen derived porous carbon with efficient capacitive deionization performance

Capacitive deionization (CDI) is a powerful brackish water desalination technology and one of the effective measures to solve the shortage of freshwater resources. With the hope to design a material with efficient desalination performance, we develop a simple, fast and green method to prepare porous carbon. The pine pollen disruption powder is used as the carbon precursor to prepare porous carbon by a simple high temperature calcination. We explore the effect of temperature on the morphology, pores and electrosorption performance, discovering the material calcined at 900 °C (PC-900) is the optimal one. PC-900 exhibits the electrosorption capacity of 7.25 mg g−1 at a low initial concentration of NaCl (50.5 μS cm−1) and 19.43 mg g−1 at a high initial concentration of NaCl (500 μS cm−1). Moreover, the synthesized material also shows improved exhibited salt removal rate, charge efficiency, reversibility and recycling stability. The excellent desalination performance is mainly attributed to the large specific surface area and suitable pore size. This result demonstrates that is porous carbon derived from pine pollen disruption powder is a promising CDI electrode material for brackish water desalination.

Optimal integration of small scale hybrid solar wind RO-MSF desalination system

Solar and wind are two main resources of renewable energies that can supply the energy requirement in the most of world's regions. Iran has desirable condition in terms of solar and wind energy and also is faced with shortage of fresh water resources. Hybrid solar wind RO-MSF desalination system that works with two clean and renewable energy resources of solar and wind, could be a sustainable energy resource for water desalination. Hence, in this paper for evaluating the performance of salty water desalination by hybrid RO-MSF desalination plants, a hybrid system is designed and optimized. Different models of solar wind RO-MSF was considered and analyzed technically and economically. Finally a model which can be used in small scale desalination sites was presented. Design configurations of the hybrid solar-wind RO-MSF desalination systems was done, optimization and sensitivity analysis were done and simulation code of solar wind RO-MSF system for sizing the system were written. Hybridization of RO and MSF systems with two renewable energy resources of wind and solar were led to an increase in reliability and flexibility of system and quality of produced drinking water. The desalinated water price was 1.35–1.84$/m3 depends on different solar wind RO-MSF models. In small scale the solar wind integrated RO-MSF1 was shown the least desalinated water price and most produced desalted water but in large scale the solar wind integrated RO-MSF HR3 was shown the best results. The tests results of manufactured solar wind integrated RO-MSF1 justified the model results.

Impacts of lateral spacing on the spatial variations in water use and grain yield of spring wheat plants within different rows in the drip irrigation system

Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China has seen the successful application of drip irrigation to wheat production to cope with the extreme shortage of fresh water resources. However, the cost is high with one drip tube serving only four rows of wheat plants in the current irrigation pattern. Here, performances of irrigation patterns differing in ratios of drip tube to plant rows (TR) were compared in a field experiment in the growth seasons of spring wheat in 2014 and 2015. Three ratios were set: one tube served four (TR4, as control), five (TR5) and six (TR6) rows of plants (row spacing: 15 cm), respectively. Variations in grain yield and water use efficiency (WUE) were observed between different wheat rows (R1, R2 and R3 indicated the 1st, 2nd and 3rd rows close to the drip tube, respectively). Grain yield declined in all the rows as the TR ratio increased, with more obvious yield decrease in R3 and R2 than in R1. The ratios of the yield decrease to the decrease in received irrigation water (RIW) in R3 and R2 were not proportionally lower relative to R1; the range of yield decrease was much smaller than the range of RIW decrease in R3 and R2. This was because the decreases in the leaf area index and in the relative water content in the flag leaf of plants were less than that in RIW in R3 and R2 relative to R1, and because of the compensation effect of the enhanced contribution of the redistributed dry matter stored in the vegetative organs before anthesis being translocated into the grains after anthesis in the plants of R3 and R2. This mechanism would be helpful for developing new and economical drip irrigation patterns for wheat production with a higher TR ratio.

Cotton Responses to Saline Water Irrigation in the Low Plain around the Bohai Sea in China

AbstractThe use of shallow saline groundwater may alleviate the shortage of freshwater resources in the Low Plain around the Bohai Sea in China. The soil salt levels and the responses of cotton see...

Productivity and nutritional value of four forage grass cultivars compared to Rhodes grass irrigated with saline water

Shortage of fresh water resources and deterioration of groundwater quantity and quality is an increasing problem globally. Effects include limitations on the number of crops that can be successfully grown. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has one of the world's harshest environments, with scarce surface and groundwater. The present study assessed the performance of five forage cultivars under different salinity stresses to determine their salt tolerance. Two Buffel grass ('Cenchrus ciliaris') cultivars Laredo and Pecos, two Guinea grass ('Panicum maximum') cultivars Guinea and Green Panic, and one Rhodes grass ('Chloris gayana') cultivar Katambora were evaluated over two successive years for their potential yield and nutritional values under four salinity levels of irrigation water viz. control (200 ppm), 6000, 12000, 18000 ppm. The highest dry yield production was observed in 'Cenchrus ciliaris' cv. Pecos and Laredo, 'P. maximum' cv. Green Panic, and 'Chloris guyana' cv. Katambora under moderate salinity (6000 ppm). All forage grasses showed significant yield reductions at 12000 ppm ranging between 14 to 23%, compared to control. Salinity slightly improved forage quality parameters by significantly increasing crude protein (CP) and decreasing acid-detergent fibre (ADF). These results identifed salt tolerant forage species that could enhance saline agriculture scheme in the UAE. 'Cenchrus ciliaris' cv. Laredo and Pecos exhibited good productive potential under salinity and can be grown to enhance farm productivity in arid environment and conserve freshwater for other usages.

Impurity effect on clear water evaporation: toward modelling wastewater evaporation using ANN, ANFIS-SC and GEP techniques

ABSTRACTThe growing shortage of freshwater resources and increasing environmental awareness give rise to the use of treated wastewater as an alternative resource for water supply. Accurate estimation of wastewater evaporation (WWE), as the main cause of water losses, is necessary for proper water resources management. Unfortunately, few studies have focused on modelling WWE despite its vital importance. This study investigates the ability of gene expression programming (GEP), adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and artificial neural networks (ANN) techniques to estimate WWE as a function of variables including wastewater properties, clear water evaporation and climatic factors. The study uses measured data from an experiment conducted in Neishaboor municipal wastewater treatment plant, Iran. Results indicate that the ANN model is superior among the three methods, and also demonstrates higher accuracy when compared with those of a dimensional analysis model using the F-test statistic.

Applying Biomimetic Principles to Thermoelectric Cooling Devices for Water Collection

The shortage of freshwater resources in the world has developed the need for sustainable, cost-effective technologies that can produce freshwater on a large scale. Current solutions often have extensive manufacturing requirements, or involve the use of large quantities of energy or toxic chemicals. Atmospheric water generating solutions that minimize the depletion of natural resources can be achieved by incorporating biomimetics, a classification of design inspired by nature. This research seeks to optimize thermoelectric cooling systems for use in water harvesting applications by analyzing the different factors that affect surface temperature and water condensation in TEC devices. Further experiments will be directed towards developing a robust, repeatable system, as well as an accurate measurement system. Surface modifications, device structure and orientation, and power generation will also be studied to better understand the ideal conditions for maximum water collection in thermoelectric cooling systems.

Water footprint of crop production for different crop structures in the Hebei southern plain, North China

Abstract. The North China Plain (NCP) has a serious shortage of freshwater resources, and crop production consumes approximately 75 % of the region's water. To estimate water consumption of different crops and crop structures in the NCP, the Hebei southern plain (HSP) was selected as a study area, as it is a typical region of groundwater overdraft in the NCP. In this study, the water footprint (WF) of crop production, comprised of green, blue and grey water footprints, and its annual variation were analyzed. The results demonstrated the following: (1) the WF from the production of main crops was 41.8 km3 in 2012. Winter wheat, summer maize and vegetables were the top water-consuming crops in the HSP. The water footprint intensity (WFI) of cotton was the largest, and for vegetables, it was the smallest; (2) the total WF, WFblue, WFgreen and WFgrey for 13 years (2000–2012) of crop production were 604.8, 288.5, 141.3 and 175.0 km3, respectively, with an annual downtrend from 2000 to 2012; (3) winter wheat, summer maize and vegetables consumed the most groundwater, and their blue water footprint (WFblue) accounted for 74.2 % of the total WFblue in the HSP; (4) the crop structure scenarios analysis indicated that, with approximately 20 % of arable land cultivated with winter wheat–summer maize in rotation, 38.99 % spring maize, 10 % vegetables and 10 % fruiters, a sustainable utilization of groundwater resources can be promoted, and a sufficient supply of food, including vegetables and fruits, can be ensured in the HSP.

Direct and indirect effects of wastewater use and herd environment on the occurrence of animal diseases and animal health in Pakistan

The use of wastewater for rearing domestic animals is a common phenomenon in most of the developing countries like Pakistan that face a serious shortage of freshwater resources. However, most of the literature has only focused on the indirect effects of wastewater use on animal health or productivity, and literature on the direct effects of wastewater use is rare. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the direct and indirect effects of wastewater usage on the prevalence of animal diseases and animal health in Pakistan. The study is based on a household-level survey of 360 domestic water buffalo herds collected from 12 districts of Punjab Province, Pakistan. We tested the prevalence of the animal's diseases, animal's health, and wastewater-use preference with various econometric tools, such as the Poisson, negative binomial, and logistic regressions. The findings of the study show that the majority of the farmers use wastewater for buffalo bathing due to the shortage of freshwater resources. Results explore the prevalence of diseases such as clinical mastitis, tick infestation, and foot and mouth disease at the farm level significantly associated with buffalo bathing in the wastewater. Moreover, bathing in wastewater pre- and post-milking also plays a role in the occurrence of diseases. Particularly, if the buffalo's access to wastewater for bathing is within 60min after milking, the probability of the animals being exposed to mastitis is higher. Furthermore, on investigation, a number of factors are found, such as the distance to the water source, power shortage, groundwater availability, and the education of farmers that influence farmers' behavior of letting their animals take a bath in wastewater. Moreover, the use of different preventive measures improves the animal's health.

Conjunctive use of saline and non-saline water in an irrigation district of the Yellow River Basin

In the Hetao Irrigation District (HID), reduction of the diverted Yellow River water for agriculture makes partial replacement of fresh water for irrigation by shallow saline groundwater a possible way to alleviate the shortage of freshwater resources. In this study, a SWAP-WOFOST agro-hydrological model was calibrated and validated, and then applied in a distributed manner to estimate crop yield, water productivity (WP) of spring wheat, spring maize, and sunflower, and soil salinity with conjunctive use of saline and non-saline irrigation water during 2000–2010, and a crop zoning was proposed based on simulated crop WP in the HID. Compared with non-saline water irrigation, the annual average yield of spring wheat, spring maize, and sunflower was changed by −0.2, 5.3, and 8.2%, and the WP was changed by −5.5, 2.6, and 7.6%, respectively, with conjunctive use of saline and non-saline irrigation water according to the proposed crop zoning. Soil salinity in the rooting zone did not increase with time. The salts remaining in the subsoil were very little, which did not obviously affect the groundwater salinity. Our results demonstrated that partial substitution of fresh water by shallow saline groundwater for irrigation is feasible in the HID. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Experimental Study on Seawater Applications in Organic Reactions

Background: Total water resources account for only 2.5% of freshwater on earth, and only 1% of total water resources can be exploited by humans. The development of practical methods of seawater desalination and comprehensive utilization technology can help address the shortage of freshwater resources in the world, and achieve sustainable use of water resources to ensure sustainable development in a society. Direct seawater utilization currently involves industrial cooling water, water for agricultural irrigation, and flushing water. Applications in aqueous phase organic reactions, particularly the direct use of seawater in industrial organic synthesis reactions, are seldom reported. Methods: we used seawater instead of freshwater in selected basic organic chemical reactions. The application of seawater in aqueous phase organic reactions was systematically investigated. Six types of reactions were studied using freshwater and seawater, namely, preparation of acetanilide, synthesis of mandelic acid, Cannizzaro reaction, Hofmann degradation reaction, preparation of quinazolin-4-one, and preparation of adipic acid. Results: Seven organic compounds were produced. Results show that some organic reactions could directly use seawater or treated seawater as an alternative to freshwater. The yields of the reactions using seawater could be compared with literature values, or were even better than literature values. Conclusion: This research provides new opportunities for the comprehensive utilization of seawater. Some organic reactions could directly use seawater or treated seawater instead of freshwater. The use of seawater instead of freshwater for organic reactions in industrial production may greatly conserve freshwater resources and protect the environment. Keywords: 3-amino-2-chloro-4-methyl pyridine, anthranilic acid, hofmann degradation, quinazolin-4-one, seawater.

Thermoeconomic investigation of coupling MED-TVC with a combined cycle power plant

AbstractFreshwater generation has always been one of the most important issues in human communities that coincided with population increase in different areas. Freshwater desalination technology can be one of the most effective methods in utilizing power plants heat recovery. Iran has a high potential to use this technology due to the shortage of fresh water resources on the one hand and several thermal power plants in the coastal areas of North and South on the other hand. In this study, according to the project of transferring Caspian Sea water to the central plateau of Iran and the necessity of water desalination before transferring, the studied topics are exergy destruction rate in different components of the cycle and rate of both profit and loss which results from coupling thermal desalination to Neka power plant. Results have shown that the maximum exergy destruction cost occurred in thermocompressor and then in condenser. Furthermore, if at least 2,000 cubic meters water per day, equivalent to 730...

Farmers' attitude towards wastewater use in Fars Province, Iran

Application of wastewater for irrigation is one of the useful approaches to alleviate the shortage of freshwater resources. Although successful implementation of wastewater-use projects depends upon the support of farmers who are affected by the project, few studies have addressed the farmers' attitude towards wastewater use and little is known about Iranian farmers' perception. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate farmers' attitude towards wastewater use. It was also intended to detect drivers of perceived economic benefits, and health and environmental risks of wastewater use. A survey of 108 farmers of Shiraz County, selected through a simple random sampling method, identified a number of significant knowledge gaps that currently exist among wastewater users. Furthermore, farmers articulated opposing attitudes for irrigating with wastewater. While farmers realized the contribution of wastewater to fertilize the soil and its reliability as a water resource, they were concerned about its negative impacts on health and environment. Regression analysis illustrated that a complex set of factors significantly influenced perceived risks of wastewater use, among which knowledge, closeness to wastewater canal and value orientation are the most determinant factors. Some recommendations are offered to promote farmers' awareness and attitude about wastewater and reduce its negative impacts.

Detection of parasitic particles in domestic and urban wastewaters and assessment of removal efficiency of treatment plants in Tehran, Iran.

BackgroundIn recent years, decreasing annual rainfalls in some countries and population growth have led to a shortage of freshwater resources. Thus, recycled wastewaters has been suggested for agricultural activities. Contamination of wastewaters with pathogens is a major concern for the use of these waters. This study aimed to (i) investigate the occurrence of helminth eggs and protozoan (oo)cysts in human and livestock wastewaters, and (ii) evaluate the parasite removal efficiencies of urban and slaughterhouse treatment plants in Tehran province, Iran. One hundred and eight samples were collected from five urban and domestic wastewater treatment plants in Iran. Wastewater samples were concentrated by centrifugal-concentration and filtration methods.ResultsThe quantity of helminths egg and protozoa (oo)cyst per liter of urban raw wastewater ranged from 1.2 × 101 to 2.9 × 101 and from 9.6 × 102 to 1.9 × 103, respectively. The number of eggs and (oo)cysts per liter of animal raw wastewater ranged from 1.6 × 103 to 4.9 × 103 and 3.1 × 104 to 6.0 × 104, respectively. The helminths and protozoa identified in urban treatment plants included hookworms, Hymenolepis and Rhabditis (or probably Strongyloides), Entamoeba, Isospora, Giardia, Chilomastix and Cryptosporidium, while in slaughterhouses Trichuris, Trichostrongylus, Moniezia, Dicrocoelium, Fasciola, Entamoeba, Cryptosporidium, Eimeria and Giardia were isolated. The overall removal efficiency of eggs and (oo)cysts in the treatment plants ranged from 94.8 to 95.7% and from 79.3 to 85.8%, respectively.ConclusionThe study results revealed that the efficacy of removal of nematode eggs, and not protozoan (oo)cysts, in urban wastewater treatment plants, is in compliance with the WHO parasitological guideline (<1 nematode per liter) required for unrestricted irrigation.

Characterization and treatment of flour mills wastewater for reuse – a case study of Al-kausar Flour Mills, Pakistan

AbstractPakistan is increasingly confronted with shortage of fresh water resources, as annual per capita water availability has reduced to less than 1,000 m3. Wastewater reclamation and reuse practices must be adopted to deal with the situation. For this purpose, small and medium scale industries can play a vital role. With this mind set, wastewater from Al-Kausar Flour Mills Islamabad (AFM), Pakistan was investigated using physico-chemical treatment options. Total water consumption of AFM is 74.1 m3/d, and groundwater is being pumped for 8 h/d. Four experimental trains were tested using various combinations of pre-sedimentation, horizontal roughing filter, coagulation/flocculation/settling setup, and multimedia filtration. Ferric chloride and alum were used as coagulants. Results revealed that flour mill wastewater had high concentration of total suspended solids. Ferric chloride provided appreciable suspended solids removal in terms of turbidity. While, every option tested, removed over 98% of turbidity...