Sweet Water Research Articles

The Pinax-model for accurate and efficient refraction correction of underwater cameras in flat-pane housings

The calibration and refraction correction process for underwater cameras with flat-pane interfaces is presented that is very easy and convenient to use in real world applications while yielding very accurate results. The correction is derived from an analysis of the axial camera model for underwater cameras, which is among others computationally hard to tackle. It is shown how realistic constraints on the distance of the camera to the window can be exploited, which leads to an approach dubbed Pinax Model as it combines aspects of a virtual pinhole model with the projection function from the axial camera model. It allows the pre-computation of a lookup-table for very fast refraction correction of the flat-pane with high accuracy. The model takes the refraction indices of water into account, especially with respect to salinity, and it is therefore sufficient to calibrate the underwater camera only once in air. It is demonstrated by real world experiments with several underwater cameras in different salt and sweet water conditions that the proposed process outperforms standard methods. Among others, it is shown how the presented method leads to accurate results with single in-air calibration and even with just estimated salinity values.

The magic water test. An affective paired comparison approach to evaluate taste sensitivity in pre-schoolers

Children in pre-school age present a limited cognitive development, a restricted vocabulary and a short attention span, which do not allow conducting classical taste sensitivity measures as developed for adults. The aim of this study was to develop and validate an age-appropriate protocol for sensitivity testing of the five basic tastes with pre-schoolers. One hundred and forty children aged 3–4years (mean age 46.3months, SD 3.4) performed a paired comparison task consisting of discriminating water from “magic water” by relying on their affect. In order to accommodate the age group, the task was gamified and did not require verbal responses. Sweet (sucrose, ranging from 0.94 to 4.32g/l), sour (citric acid monohydrate, 0.20–0.38g/l), umami (monosodium glutamate, 0.17–0.49g/l), salty (sodium chloride, 0.34–0.98g/l), and bitter (quinine hydrochloride dihydrate, 0.0014–0.0038g/l) water dilutions were tested at four levels. Subsets of about 20 children per taste participated in retest sessions. Individual sensitivity scores were derived in two manners, following the experimenter’s success criterion (water with taste is classified as magic) and the child’s criterion for “magic water” (children’s individual magic-labelling strategies). Results show that the protocol was highly engaging, that the children performed the task consistently, and that the children’s performances were not dependent on cognitive level differences, thus validating the protocol for this study. On average, the children were clearly more sensitive to sour stimuli than to sweet and bitter stimuli, suggesting that the selected dilutions were not equivalent across tastes. Different sensitivity distributions of the children were obtained across taste modalities and scoring criteria. The key elements of an age-appropriate protocol for pre-schoolers are discussed.

Influence of UV Treatment on the Food Safety Status of a Model Aquaponic System

Few microbial studies in aquaponics, a growing trend in food production, have been conducted to determine food safety status. The aim of this study was to determine the food safety status and the effectiveness of ultraviolet treatment (15 W, luminous flux of 900 lm) as a food safety intervention in reducing the microbial loads of the water system in a model aquaponic unit growing lettuce, basil, and barramundi (Australian Sea Bass). Sweet basil, bibb lettuce, water samples, and fish swabs were collected throughout the 118-day production period, and microbial analysis was conducted in triplicate for the presence of E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., and the prevalence of aerobic plate counts (APC), coliforms, and fecal coliforms in these systems. Absence of foodborne pathogens was confirmed using ELISA technology and enumeration through petrifilms (coliform/E. coli). A significant increase was observed in aerobic plate counts over the trial period (1 to 3 log10 CFU·mL−1) in the presence and absence of UV (p > 0.05). Ultraviolet treatment did not significantly reduce the APC or coliform counts when compared to the control system samples. Future work should focus on improving the unit design, the evaluation of bio-solid filtration, and other food safety interventions.

Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate separation from sweet water by nanofiltration

Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate separation from sweet water by nanofiltration

Trace metal and aflatoxin concentrations in some processed cereal and root and tuber flour

Sweet potato, cocoyam, water yam, maize, millet, sorghum, and rice are major staple foods in Ghana. Flour from these roots and tubers and cereals are relatively cheaper, easy to produce and can be used in the manufacturing of wide range of products, including bread, cookies, meat pies, cake, chips and doughnut. However, due to the processing techniques used these flours may be contaminated with trace metals and aflatoxins. It was therefore necessary to determine the concentration of trace metal: As, Cu, Fe, Hg, Pb, Zn, and aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, and G2 in maize, sorghum, millet, rice, cocoyam, water yam and sweet potato flour samples used as composite flour for making bread and other pastries. The trace metal concentration of essential metals: Cu, Fe and Zn in all the seven flour samples analyzed ranged from 0.03 ± 0.01 to 6.63 ± 0.02, 10.97 ± 0.01 to 201.40 ± 0.14, and 6.04 ± 0.03 to 34.36 ± 0.06 mg/Kg, respectively. The maximum concentrations of toxic metals: As, Hg and Pb determined in all the seven flour samples were < 0.01, < 0.01, and 0.05 ± 0.01 mg/Kg, respectively. Aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, and G2 were not detected in any of the samples. The concentrations of As, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn determined in all seven flour samples were below the WHO set limits and therefore pose no health threat whiles Fe concentration in some flour samples was above the WHO set limit. Aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, and G2 were not detected in all flour samples and hence pose no health threat.

Experimental and mathematical evaluation of solar powered still equipped by nano plate as the principle stage of zero discharge desalination process

To start with, finding a sustainable method to produce sweet water and electricity by using renewable energies is one of the most important issues at this time. So, experimental and theoretical analysis of the performance of a closed solar powered still, which is jointed to photovoltaic cells and vacuum pump and equipped by nano plate, as the principle stage of zero discharge desalination process is investigated in this project. Major goal of this work is to reuse the concentrated brine of the Mobin petrochemical complex in order to produce potable, sweet water from effluent saline wastewater and generating electricity in the same time by using solar energy instead of discharging them to the environment. It is observed the increase in brackish water temperature increases the average daily production of solar desalination still considerably. Therefore, the nano plate and vacuum pump are added to augment the evaporation rate. The insolation rate, evaporation rate, the average brackish temperature, ambient temperature, density are investigated during a year 2013. In addition to obtain the capacity of solar powered still, the highest and lowest amount of water and electricity generation are reported during a twelvemonth (2013). Results indicate the average daily production is increased 16%, which represents 7.78 kW.h energy saving comparing with traditional solar still.

Perseveration of craving: effects of stimuli conditioned to drugs of abuse versus conventional reinforcers differing in demand.

Associative learning is essential for establishing appropriate responses to cause-effect relationships and effective behavioral adjustments to environmental changes. However, learned associations also promote maladaptive behavior such as uncontrollable drug seeking in addicts exposed to drug-associated stimuli. Here, we sought to identify behavioral characteristics that distinguish reward seeking produced by environmental stimuli conditioned to highly potent but non-addictive conventional reinforcers from reward seeking induced by stimuli conditioned to addictive drugs. Rats were trained to associate discriminative (i.e. contextual) stimuli (S+ ) with availability of cocaine, ethanol, palatable sweet solutions or water during dehydration. Following extinction, response-reinstating effects of re-exposure to these stimuli were established in terms of magnitude and perseveration. Initially, the S+ produced strong reinstatement irrespective of association with conventional or drug reward. However, with repeated testing, S+ -induced reward seeking decreased to extinction levels when motivated by the sweet solutions but perseverated when motivated by cocaine or ethanol. In rats placed on water restriction to induce a motivational constraint, the S+ supported perseverating reinstatement identical to that produced by an S+ conditioned to cocaine. The findings suggest that behavior guided by associations between environmental stimuli and drugs of abuse is characterized by perseverating, apparently highly extinction-resistant reward seeking, whereas behavior controlled by stimuli associated with conventional reward extinguishes rapidly in the absence of primary reinforcement. Reward seeking elicited by stimuli associated with natural reward can, however, become perseverative during physiological deprivation states. Possibly, perseverating drug seeking engages mechanisms overlapping with those that have evolved to promote alleviation of physiological deprivation to secure survival.

Author and Title Index to Callaloo Volume 39: (Whole Numbers 148–151)

Author and Title Index to Callaloo Volume 39(Whole Numbers 148–151) Kathryn B. Karasek and Brenda Marichalar By Author Abebe, Dawit. Portfolio, Art, 39.1 (Winter 2016): 45–54. Acevedo, Elizabeth. “Pressing,” Poetry, 39.2 (Spring 2016): 239. Aguilar, Leslie Marie. “Epithalamion,” Poetry, 39.3 (Summer 2016): 530; “Exodus,” Poetry, 39.3 (Summer 2016): 527; “On Loving,” Poetry, 39.3 (Summer 2016): 528–529. Albanese, Mary Grace. “Stella: The Epic Saga of the Haitian Revolution translated by Adriana Umaña Hossman,” Review, 39.4 (Fall 2016): 938–940. Alhassan, Shamara Wyllie. “Caribbean Spaces: Escapes from Twilight Zones by Carole Boyce Davies,” Review, 39.4 (Fall 2016): 940–942. Anatsui, El. Detail of “Strained Roots,” Art, 39.1 (Winter 2016): Front Cover; “Strained Roots,” Art, 39.1 (Winter 2016): Back Cover. Avant, A. H. Jerriod. “Missing Person,” Poetry, 39.2 (Spring 2016): 240–241; “Scared to Hold the Baby,” Poetry, 39.2 (Spring 2016): 242. Avant, A. H. Jerriod, Joshua Bennett, Rickey Laurentiis, Ladan Osman, Safiya Sinclair, Wendy S. Walters, Phillip B. Williams “Coming to the Clearing: Contemporary Black Poets in Conversation,” Interview, 39.2 (Spring 2016): 277–289. Bailey, Desiree. “And If the Lines Disappear,” Poetry, 39.2 (Spring 2016): 243; “In Dirt or Saltwater,” Fiction, 39.1 (Winter 2016): 24–30; “Of the Sweet Waters,” Poetry, 39.2 (Spring 2016): 244–248. Barrow, Christine. “No Back Door,” Fiction, 39.3 (Summer 2016): 630–631. Bartell, Jennifer. “The Three Muses of Bluefield,” Poetry, 39.2 (Spring 2016): 250–252. Beckett, Balthazar Ishmael. “Why 1964 Cairo Mattered in 1975 Oakland: Intercommunalism, Internationalism, and Reactionary Suicide in David Graham Du Bois’s ...And Bid Him Sing,” Article, 39.4 (Fall 2016): 919–935. Bennett, Joshua. “Agnosis,” Poetry, 39.2 (Spring 2016): 254–255; “First Date,” Poetry, 39.2 (Spring 2016): 253. Berliner, Brett A. “Freedom Time: Negritude, Decolonization, and the Future of the World by Gary Wilder,” Review, 39.1 (Winter 2016): 229–232. Bernier, Celeste-Marie. “’To Preserve My Features in Marble’: Post-Civil War Paintings, Drawings, Sculpture, and Sketches of Frederick Douglass. An Illustrated Essay,” Article, 39.2 (Spring 2016): 372–399. Beseat, Kifle Selassie. Interview, Dagmawi Woubshet, 39.1 (Winter 2016): 55–75. Bigelow, Shanita. “Austerville Drive: Wentworth, Durban,” Poetry, 39.3 (Summer 2016): 646–647. Bowles, John P. “Side by Side: Friendship as Critical Practice in the Performance Art of Senga Nengudi and Maren Hassinger,” Article, 39.2 (Spring 2016): 400–418. Bradley, Jari. “When Being Pulled Up On by a DL Black Man,” Poetry, 39.3 (Summer 2016): 592–594. Braziel, Jana Evans. “Atis Rezistans (Resistance Artists): Vodou Street Sculpture at the Grand Rue, Port-au-Prince,” Article, 39.2 (Spring 2016): 419–437. Brooks, LeRonn P. “Nature’s a Good Place to Begin a Story about Maren Hassinger,” Article, 39.1 (Winter 2016): 76–79. Brown, Jackson F. “The Candor of Strangers,” Fiction, 39.4 (Fall 2016): 755–756. Carpenter-Hall, Zakia. “Beneath Her Words,” Poetry, 39.3 (Summer 2016): 654; “Initiation,” Poetry, 39.3 (Summer 2016): 653. Chan, Mary Jean. “What Is It That You Love?” Creative Nonfiction, 39.3 (Summer 2016): 656–663. Chinn, Ebony E. “Dropped Call,” Poetry, 39.3 (Summer 2016): 581. Clark, Jeremy Michael. “I Learned My Name Was Not My Name,” Poetry, 39.2 (Spring 2016): 257. Clarke, George Elliott. “Diary of Sally Hemings à Paris (II),” Poetry, 39.3 (Summer 2016): 512–514; “To Milton by Phillis Wheatley (1773),” Poetry, 39.3 (Summer 2016): 515–516. Coates, Carrol F. “Haiti in Translation: General Sun, My Brother and In the Flicker of an Eyelid by Jacques Stephen Alexis An Interview with Carrol [End Page 969] F. Coates,” Siobhan Marie Meï, Interview, 39.4 (Fall 2016): 871–877. Codjoe, Ama. “Origin Myth with the Word ‘White,’” Poetry, 39.4 (Fall 2016): 842; “Untitled (Eating Lobster),” Poetry, 39.4 (Fall 2016): 843. Collis-Buthelezi, Victoria J. “Under the Aegis of Empire: Cape Town, Victorianism, and Early-Twentieth-Century Black Thought,” Article, 39.1 (Winter 2016): 115–132. Comer, Nandi. “Ostrich Woman,” Poetry, 39.2 (Spring 2016): 258. Culley, Margo. “Joseph T. Skerrett, Jr.,” Nonfiction, 39.1 (Winter 2016): 2–3. D’Aguiar, Fred. “Letter to Beryl Gilroy,” Nonfiction, 39.4 (Fall 2016...

English

The study investigates the effect of acetylation on the physicochemical properties of composited starches from sweet potato and water yam. Starch was respectively isolated from both sources, dried and subjected to acetylation at different combination. The result shows that the modified starches were of low percentage of acetylation and low degree of substitution. Acetylation increased the water absorption capacity of the starch while compositing itself seemed to have a counteracting influence on the parameter. The oil absorption capacity generally got reduced with acetylation while synergistic role of acetylation and compositing was observed in the swelling capacity of a composited starch (SP/WY-20/80) and counteracting influence in others. The solubility indices of starches were greatly enhanced by acetylation and compositing at all temperatures of evaluation (50-90°C). Acetylation improved the colour lightness (L*-value) of the starches (93.05-94.02) while that of the native starches ranged between 92.18 and 92.31. Most pasting variables (peak, breakdown, final and setback viscosities) were lower in acetylated composite starches than that of the unmodified counterparts. Freeze-thaw stability of gels from composited starches was greatly enhanced as lower volume of exudate was generated from the acetylated starches in all the freeze-thaw cycles. The findings in this study have the potential of creating awareness among the food industry with respect to acetylated starch production from both sweet potato and water yam. Key words: Acetylation, starch, sweet potato, water yam, physicochemical properties.

Monitoring of Tirana River and the Margin of Data in Urbanized and Non Rezidental Area

Tirana River is one of the main branches of Ishmi river and serves as collector for wastewater discharge, for the capital city and its surrounding rural areas. This river created the north administrative border of Tirana and it’s formed from mountainouse conflux in Zall-Dajt area. Besides increasing the amount of sewage discharge into the river, as a result of population growth, it is a fact that in Tirana river solid waste from non-responsible businesses and different urban wastes are being deposited. The purpose of this study is to assess the microbiological quality of Tirana river by collecting reliable information about conditions in different area wherever the river course outside and inside the Tirana city. Samples were taken at four different points during year 2012-2013. The river is tested for indicators of pollution such as Streptoccocus faecali and Escherichia coli as well as the presence of actinomycetes. Microbiological contamination tests show relatively large water contamination, especially in three areas where the river passes in residential area. Bacteria are transported to the River via storm water, catch basins, sediment, runoff, discharges, and spills. Larger amounts of bacteria reach the river when surrounding lands are more highly developed or "urbanized." The high level presence of these microorganisms indicates that the water quality of the river is very bad according to standards, presenting a risk to health of all the organisms that inhabit the sweet waters. River areas in considerable distance from residential areas, show microbiological level lower than in those close to residential areas. It is noticed also, a growth of temperature and TDS. This growth was more evident during raining days for TDS and temperature during drought periods of monitoring.

Sensory Characteristics of Purple-fleshed Sweet Potato Jam with Varying Sugar Contents

Natural food colorant are widely used to satisfy consumer preferences. Anthocyanins are red, blue and purple natural pigments. Purple-fleshed sweet potato (PSP) contains large quantities of anthocyanins. The aims of this work were i) to investigate the influence of sugars on the purple color of PSP jam and ii) to optimize the ratio of ingredients for sensory characteristics of PSP jam. Korean PSP variety “Sinjami” was used for the preparation of jam. The jams were prepared with various sugar contents (0, 20, 30, 40 and 50% total weight) consisting of steamed purple-fleshed sweet potato, water, lemon juice and apple juice. With increasing sugar contents, lightness (L) and redness (a) of PSP jams decreased while yellowness (b) increased, indicating that anthocyanins were degraded and/or brown pigments were formed due to high sugar content under heat treatment. Hardness, springiness, chewiness and cohesiveness showed significant differences among PSP jams with various sugar contents. In sensory evaluation, addition of sugar significantly increased scores for color and texture as compared to control samples. The color, texture and preference results indicate an optimal sugar content of 40% total ingredient weight for PSP jam.

Method of optimal operation of small dam in irrigation

In several Arab countries; agriculture is considered as the largest user of sweet water. This noble resource is distributed erratically by time and space. For the month of irrigation, this resource became scanty. That’s why; it is require to storage it; protect it and use it reasonably based on a deep knowledge of hydro meteorological policy and irrigation. This contribution is to propose the hydrological method of exploitation if the resource of water regulate by a small water dam. This is ascertained by the equation of the hydratical balance. Because it is possible to improve the yield of the water dam by the apliment of operating rules during irrigation season based on probabilistic projections of the fundamental components of the water balance.

Water in Mythology

Water in its various forms–as salty ocean water, as sweet river water, or as rain–has played a major role in human myths, from the hypothetical, reconstructed stories of our ancestral “African Eve” to those recorded some five thousand years ago by the early civilizations to the myriad myths told by major and smaller religions today. With the advent of agriculture, the importance of access to water was incorporated into the preexisting myths of hunter-gatherers. This is evident in myths of the ancient riverine civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, India, and China, as well as those of desert civilizations of the Pueblo or Arab populations.

Misplaced Theories (?): Applied Theatre Intervention in the Fight against HIV/AIDS in South Africa

The present study sets out to critically examine theatre's approach in the fight against HIV/AIDS by highlighting the efforts of two major theatre groups, one based in Johannesburg and the other, a Kwa Zulu-Natal based theatre group involved in the campaign against HIV/AIDS in the country. This research argued that the application of contextually inappropriate health communication theories as well as the very limited emphasis paid to cultural norms and the determinants of sex and sexuality of the target community by theatre groups involved in the HIV/AIDS campaign in the country are responsible for the lack of success in the campaign against HIV/AIDS. The research drawn from a qualitative study (focus group sessions, individual interviews) conducted in six schools in both the Pretoria South district of Gauteng province and the Sweet Water district of Pietermaritzburg of Kwa Zulu Natal with learners, life skills teachers, and performer-educators. The aim of the study is to prove that relying on communication models that have no relevance to the African situation as well as lack of centrality of cultural norms of target communities negatively affects theatre's efficacy in the fight against HIV/AIDS in South Africa.

Immunomodulatory and Antioxidant Effects of Purple Sweet Potato Extract in LP-BM5 Murine Leukemia Virus-Induced Murine Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

The immunomodulatory effects of a dietary supplement of purple sweet potato extract (PSPE) in LP-BM5 murine leukemia virus (MuLV)-induced immune-deficient mice were investigated. Mice were divided into six groups: normal control, infected control (LP-BM5 MuLV infection), positive control (LP-BM5 MuLV infection+dietary supplement of red ginseng 300 mg/kg), purple sweet potato water extract (PSPWE) (LP-BM5 MuLV infection+dietary supplement of PSPE 300 mg/kg), PSP10EE (LP-BM5 MuLV infection+dietary supplement of 10% ethanol PSPE 300 mg/kg), and PSP80EE (LP-BM5 MuLV infection+dietary supplement of 80% ethanol PSPE 300 mg/kg). Dietary supplementation began on the day of LP-BM5 MuLV infection and continued for 12 weeks. Dietary supplementation of PSPE inhibited LP-BM5 MuLV-induced splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy and attenuated the suppression of T- and B-cell proliferation and T helper 1/T helper 2 cytokine imbalance in LP-BM5 MuLV-infected mice. Dietary supplement of PSPE increased the activity of the antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. The data suggest that PSPE may ameliorate immune dysfunction due to LP-BM5 MuLV infection by modulating antioxidant defense systems.

The influence and mechanisms of the volatile oil from Mgristica fragrans Houtt.on chronic unpredictable stress rats

Objective To observe antidepressant effect of the volatile oil of Myristica on rats and investigate the mechanisms of antidepressant effect. Methods 72 rats were assigned randomly into normal control group, model group, positive control group and groups of different doses of the volatile oil of Myristica.After all rats except normal control group were applied to unpredictable stimulation and different doses of drugs for 21 days, and unpredictable stimulation after 1 h of gavaging. Horizontal and vertical activities and sugar consumptions were tested after molding and oral administration. After the behavioral experiments, the brains of the rats were taken, and 5-hydroxy tryptamine(5-HT), dopamine, noradrenalin content and activity of monoamine oxidase were measured. Results Comparing with model group after gavaging, the high dose of the volatile oil of Myristica showed antidepressant effect in the rats, the situation of crossing(33.22±4.21) and rearing(9.56±1.74) was improved and sweet water consumption((60.81±14.48)%) of rats was increased, significantly comparison with model group(P 0.05). The high dose group could significantly increase the content of 5-HT((12.23±0.950)ng/ml), DA((179.11±15.20)pg/ml) and reduce the activity of monoamine oxidase((9.12±0.95)μg/ml) in rats' brain, and significant differences were showed compared with model group(P<0.01). Conclusion The volatile oil of Myristica has obvious antidepressant effect in rat chronic mild stress, its mechanism is related to increase the content of 5-HT and DA and reduce the activity of monoamine oxidase in rats' brain. Key words: The volatile oil of Myristica; Chronic stress-induced depression; Mechanism; Monoamine neurotransmitters

Energy efficiency and system optimization by replacing of water cooled condenser with air cooler in zagros petrochemical complex

Abstract. In this paper, the feasibility of replacing the water cooled condenser instead air cooler of using disposable technologies once through and cooling tower water is salty and sweet of economic operations is examined. In hot and humid areas of our country like assluyeh, wide temperature changes during the day especially in warm seasons of year affect the atmospheric distillation tower conditions for purification of products both in quantity and quality. This changeable temperature conditions cause the waste of produced methanol from the bottom of tower and cooling operation in air cooler wouldn’t be well done. Since air is as coolant in air cooler and due to low heat capacity of air (1.0035j/g k) to water (4.1813j/g k), this types of exchangers have lower heat efficiency. Because there’s access to water sources of Persian Gulf, the feasibility of substituting water exchanger by using once through technology, the salt water or desalt water cooling tower was studied based on practical and economic issues. Based on these studies, it is suggested to apply water exchanger which use cooling tower technology of sweet water accompanied by sweet water maker (MED) set instead of air cooler in Zagros petrochemical complex. Because this project not only has higher practical efficiency considering to air cooler but also can save a lot of electricity and the expenditure of maintenance of equipment will be decreased.

Design optimization of a pre-combustion CO 2 capture plant embedding experimental knowledge

Abstract This work is focused on the design optimization of a pre-combustion CO2 capture plant comprising a sweet high-temperature water–gas shift process and an integrated H2S and CO2 removal process using a mixture of dimethylethers of polyethylene glycol as physical solvent. The steady-state model of the commercial-scale plant has been derived from pilot plant models, which have been extensively validated against experimental data obtained from the pre-combustion CO2 capture facility realized at the Buggenum IGCC power station in the Netherlands. A two-phase optimization-based design approach suited to the use of process simulator environments has been adopted. In the first phase, global design decisions at plant level are evaluated, targeting the minimization of the energy consumption due to CO2 capture. These are the extent of CO conversion in the water–gas shift unit and the percentage of CO2 capture in the removal unit. An optimization of both global design variables is presented considering (i) a wide range of carbon capture targets, (ii) deactivation of catalyst activity throughout the catalyst life and (iii) different operational limits of the steam/CO ratio in the water–gas shift unit. Experimental data from the pilot plant has been used to determine the rate of catalyst deactivation and the operational limits of steam/CO ratio. The second phase of the design procedure targets the local decision variables at unit level. Two studies are presented focusing on: (1) the design of the solvent regeneration and CO2 compression section, and (2) the impact of the solvent temperature on the energy consumption and equipment cost of the removal unit. The design optimization revealed that the specific energy consumption of the pre-combustion capture unit can be reduced by 10% when operating at a minimum molar steam/CO ratio of 1.5 in comparison to the current vendor suggestion of 2.65. These energy savings come at the cost of a lower optimal carbon capture rate, namely 78% instead of 87.5% as reported in the preliminary design.

Studying the Effect of Climatic Changes on Water Systems: A Case Study of Marghab River

Water is one of the essential needs of humans. Although it has taken two thirds of the Earth’s surface, water management and planning seems inevitable due to its time and place limitations on one hand and the little volume of sweet and accessible water on the other hand. Basically, change and movement are elements of natural systems. However, the subject of change in climate is nowadays one of the widespread scientific and even political and social issues. Climate as undeniable fact of our life environment has fairly regular periods of variations and change on time-place scale and fairly irregular changes due to human interference in the cycle of the Earth’s ecosystem. Since one of the important aspects of climate is the climatic changes’ effect on water systems of Marghab River, the process of climatic changes were studied in a 25-year-old statistical period from 1996 to 2011 regarding time and place parameters of climatic elements of temperature, and effective precipitation in the area. The present research was done using the ambit or range of the watershed method and the data was gathered by library-field research methods using geographical information system. In the present research, the results of linear relationship of climatic changes’ process show that the double increase of temperature and the decrease of precipitation in the area and their relationship with the decrease of water of Marghab River are significant. In addition, the above factors are effective in the break of Tondaran Lake and have caused Marghab River to become seasonal.

SOLAR WATER DISTILLATION (REPRODUCTION FRESH WATER FROM DIRTY WATER)

This paper presents the design of a solar distillation still for the reproduction of fresh water, safe to drink without any stuck impurities, from different samples of dirty water drawn from 5 sources (river, well, bilge water, pool &amp; lake), in addition, two water samples prepared by adding NaCl and sugar to tap water, in order to show the effect of them on the distillation process. Also, the designed solar still is used as a collector to rain water, when it is used in rainy days. The experiments were carried out within 10 hours for each mentioned sample. The amount of each drawn water was 20 litters as a standard for comparison between samples and their results, after distillation. The distilled samples were adopted after two hours for each one. The results were varied from one sample to another, but the successed samples are graduated as sweet water, river, well, pool, and lake, respectively. While the failure samples are salted water and bilge water, not proper for drinking. This procedure was adopted to reproducing drinkable water in the semiarid areas or deserts, where there is no source of drinking water just one of the above mentioned sources. The results were analyzed and showed that 98.4% pure water is resulted from sweet water, 86% for river, 84.5% for well, 78% for pool, 76.7% for lake, 57.6% for salted water and 53.8% for bilge water. The remained percentages, as obtained in analysis, were the stuck impurities, slush, salinity, and toxicity. Finally; besides sweet water, river and well; pool and lake could be used as a proper source of drinking water.