Water Transport Research Articles

Efficient solar-driven crude oil cleanup via graphene/cellulose aerogel with radial and centrosymmetric design

Frequent oil spills pose significant threats to ecosystems; therefore, strict requirements are needed for prompt remediation and reclamation of spilled oil. Influenced by the structure of coniferous trees and their water transport, this experiment used cellulose nanofiber (CNF), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) to prepare radially centrosymmetric aerogels. By utilizing the in-situ polycondensation reaction of MTMS, CNF, and PVA were connected, and the hydrophobicity and mechanical properties of the aerogel were greatly enhanced. Furthermore, the introduction of graphene oxide (GO), enshrouded within the cross-linked network, engenders heightened photo-thermal effects. The resultant composite aerogel exhibits expeditious oil absorption under solar irradiation and radial layered channel architecture, significantly curtailing the crude oil absorption timeframe (achieving a maximum absorption capacity of 51.7g/g). Moreover, it demonstrates superior performance in rapidly and repeatedly adsorbing highly viscous crude oil, surpassing existing literature. Notably, continuous absorption of high-viscosity crude oil is achieved by integrating the composite aerogel with a peristaltic pump. This study offers a novel approach to the absorption and retrieval of high-viscosity crude oil, broadening the potential application horizons of CNF-based aerogels within environmental remediation.

Water and Chloride Ion Transport Characteristics of Unsaturated Aeolian Sand Mortar under Capillary Absorption

Water and Chloride Ion Transport Characteristics of Unsaturated Aeolian Sand Mortar under Capillary Absorption

Quantitative performance analysis of anion-exchange membrane fuel cells with in-plane and through-plane water transport

Quantitative performance analysis of anion-exchange membrane fuel cells with in-plane and through-plane water transport

On the compilation of the bathymetric data of the bay of Bengal domain in the nodal points of triangular mesh to be compatible for the implementation of finite element method

This study focuses on the compilation of bathymetric data for the Bay of Bengal domain, specifically for the area between 15°N to 23°N latitudes and 85°E to 95°E longitudes, to ensure compatibility with the Finite Element Method (FEM). A high-resolution color map of the region was generated using ArcGIS software, which served as the basis for discretizing the domain into a triangular mesh. Bathymetric data for the Bay of Bengal, including the Meghna River, was then compiled using a combination of recent data from the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and generated data, which were interpolated using a two-way cubic spline interpolation method. The Modified Inverse Distance Weighted Interpolation (MIDWI) method was employed to map this bathymetric data to the nodal points of the triangular mesh, ensuring accurate representation of the seafloor’s varying depths. This work is essential for developing a reliable storm surge prediction model for the Bay of Bengal using FEM, as it provides the necessary geometric and bathymetric details required for precise numerical modeling.

Golden Flower Tibetan Tea Polysaccharides Alleviate Constipation in Mice by Regulating Aquaporins-Mediated Water Transport System and Gut Microbiota

Golden Flower Tibetan Tea Polysaccharides Alleviate Constipation in Mice by Regulating Aquaporins-Mediated Water Transport System and Gut Microbiota

Insight into the initiation and propagation mechanism of desiccation cracking in clayey soil from DEM simulations

Desiccation cracking, a common natural phenomenon, significantly affects the mechanical and hydraulic properties of clayey soils. This study employs 3D Discrete Element Method (DEM) to investigate the initiation and propagation mechanisms of soil desiccation cracking. By integrating water evaporation at the soil surface and water transportation between soil grains into a traditional DEM model, we unveil a sequential and hierarchical pattern in the development of desiccation cracks. Initially, micro cracks proliferate and coalesce in regions of soil defects characterized by the lowest coordination numbers, leading to the genesis of primary cracks. Subsequently, a complex network of cracks propagates, governed by the interplay between cracking and the redistribution of the tensile stress field. As desiccation advances, the detachment of soil from the bottom wall and an increase in soil strength contribute to the stabilization of the crack network. Notably, the hierarchical nature of desiccation cracking is predominantly shaped by initial soil defects and subsequently refined by stress concentration within the soil clods, correlating with changes in the length-to-height ratio of the soil clods.

Ship Lock Extraction from High-Resolution Remote Sensing Images Based on Fuzzy Theory and Prior Knowledge

As crucial water conservancy projects, ship locks play a key role in flood control, shipping, water resource allocation, and promoting regional economic development, making them an indispensable part of the modern water transportation system. Utilizing satellite remote sensing for lock extraction can significantly reduce manual workload and costs, assist in the daily dynamic maintenance of lock hubs, and provide more comprehensive data support for the construction and management of water transport infrastructure. In this context, this paper proposes a new method for ship lock object extraction. Leveraging fuzzy theory and prior knowledge of locks, the extraction of lock objects is achieved from Gaofen-1 (GF-1) high-resolution remote sensing images. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can effectively extract small lock objects in remote sensing images, achieving an average extraction accuracy of 80.9% in the study area.

Multifunctional biomass-based solar evaporator with enhanced sterilization performance for solar-driven clean water evaporation

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation presents an important technology in dealing with the global freshwater crisis due to its highly effective solar-to-vapor conversion, minimal environmental impact, and off-grid application. However, the high material cost, complex fabrication process, and lack of effective sterilization limit its scaled-up application. Herein, we demonstrate an efficient multi-functional, biomass-based (MBB) photothermal evaporator using CuO nanoparticle-modified, carbonized peanut shells in a low-cost and scabble way. With highly efficient solar absorption, localized heating, and water transport, the MBB photothermal evaporator achieved a ∼ 91.1 % solar-to-vapor efficiency under sunlight illumination with a clean water production rate of 1.46 kg m−2 h−1. A similar evaporation rate of 1.41 kg m−2 h−1 was obtained directly from wastewater or seawater with a wide range of pH (2–14). The experiments showed that the collected water is relatively clean with complete removal of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus by damaging bacterial cell walls. 99 % of methylene blue and rhodamine B can also be effectively removed, benefiting from the formation of chelating and hydrogen bonds with the OH groups on the surface of MBB. This research provides a new environmentally sustainable photothermal evaporator for water purification, specifically designed to benefit economically stressed communities.

“Gear-like” process between asymmetric dipole eddies from satellite altimetry

Mesoscale dipoles compose two counter-rotating mesoscale eddies. They are observed in oceans worldwide and significantly impact the biogeochemical cycle, marine ecosystems, and ocean water transport. This study investigates the evolution of asymmetric dipole eddies based on the satellite altimeter data for the period January 1993–December 2020. The coupling and decoupling of eddy dipoles impact various eddy properties. When the movement of eddies has a dipolar structure, a gentle convergence in parameters (rotational speed, amplitude, eddy kinetic energy, propagation speed, and advective nonlinearity) between the asymmetric dipole eddies is observed–this study refers to it as the “gear-like” process. Kinematic characteristics further indicate that the stronger dipole eddies generally drive the weaker ones to revolve during the “gear-like” process. The revolution direction remains consistent with the rotation direction of stronger dipole eddies. Additionally, eddy size remains relatively stable during the “gear-like” process. The composites of sea level anomaly (SLA) demonstrate that dipole eddies are compressed into a kidney-like shape along the line through their centers. This shape is confirmed by the composites of sea surface temperature anomalies, which closely correspond to the structure of SLA. These findings augment the knowledge regarding the evolution of asymmetric dipole eddies and provide a novel perspective for studying dipoles and eddy-eddy interactions.

Ion transport peptide and ion transport peptide-like regulate ecdysis behavior and water transport during ecdysis in Gryllus bimaculatus

Ion transport peptide (ITP) and ITP-like (ITPLs) are pleiotropic bioactive peptides in insects. Although the contribution of these peptides to ecdysis has been studied, the precise regulatory mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we characterized the functions of itp and itpl variants in the two-spotted cricket, Gryllus bimaculatus. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and whole-mount in situ hybridization revealed that itp was expressed in the brain and terminal abdominal ganglion, whereas itpl variants were expressed in all ganglia of the central nervous system. Simultaneous knockdown of itp and itpls disrupted ecdysis behavior and water transport from the gut into the hemolymph during molting. Nevertheless, knockdown of itpls without influencing itp expression did not significantly affect ecdysis behavior but caused a reduction in hemolymph mass. Although water transport into the hemolymph is considered necessary for the swelling required to split the old cuticle layers during molting, a rescue experiment by injection of water or cricket Ringer’s solution into the hemolymph of knockdown crickets did not recover the normal phenotype. Therefore, we propose that ITP/ITPL control ecdysis behavior probably not by regulating water transport from the gut into the hemolymph in crickets.

A “like-zwitterionic” forward osmosis membranes with electrostatic deposition of aluminosilicate nanotubes for resisting positively and negatively charged protein and oil contaminant

Membrane fouling has always been a huge obstacle to the development of membrane separation technology, including forward osmosis (FO) technology. In this work, polyamide (PA) thin-film composite (TFC) membranes were simply immersed in aluminosilicate nanotubes (ANTs) dispersions to obtain thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) FO membranes. With the help of the opposite surface charge of ANTs and PA layer, and the representative “peak-valley” structure of PA TFC membrane, ANTs are stably bound to the surface of TFC membrane by electrostatic adsorption and physical confinement. The TFN membrane has greatly enhanced hydration ability due to the rich hydrophilic hydroxyl groups of ANTs, “like-zwitterionic” surface composition and rough nanostructure morphology, resulting in good underwater superoleophobicity. Combined with the water transport channel formed by its nanoporous structure, the surface anti-protein adhesion and anti-oil–water emulsion adhesion can be achieved without affecting the water flux. It is worth noting that the surface potential of TFN membrane is close to neutral due to charge neutralization. This avoids the electrostatic interaction between the membrane surface and the contaminant, and further achieves a universal anti-fouling ability that is not affected by protein or emulsion charge, and the irreversible adsorption is close to zero. In addition, the rigid ANTs coating exhibits excellent stability and reusability under long-term use, and the water flux after cleaning can be restored to nearly 99.9%. In general, this method of using ANTs deposition to improve the antifouling performance of PA based TFC membrane is simple, efficient, stable, and easy scalable. This method is not only limited to FO membrane, but also can be extended to PA based reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membranes, which has great practical application potential.

Micro-CT structures facilitated lattice Boltzmann simulations on the water dynamics in PEMFCs GDL-Gas channel

This study employed Micro X-ray computed tomography (Micro-CT) to reconstruct the gas diffusion layer (GDL) in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) and used lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) simulations to investigate the dynamic behavior of liquid water in the multiscale space of the GDL and gas channel (GC). The results showed that the transport of liquid water from GDL to GC through the interface of GDL-land and GDL-GC were divided into four stages: large pore filling, through-plane breakthrough, in-plane diffusion, and rapid transport into GC. The wettability of GC wall and GDL affects the transport and distribution of liquid water. When the contact angle on the GC wall was less than 90°, it promoted liquid water transport to the top GC wall, resulting in faster internal flow formation. Conversely, contact angles exceeding 90° caused liquid water to break through the GDL-GC interface from pores away from the GC wall. When the contact angle of the GDL was in the range of 110°–150°, both excessively large and excessively small contact angles hindered water transport and management. Maintaining the contact angle of the GDL around 130° enhanced the breakthrough path and transport speed of liquid water into the GC, and it also reduces localized liquid water accumulation.

Flexible yard crane scheduling for mixed railway and road container operations in sea-rail intermodal ports with the sharing storage yard

The sea-rail intermodal port, serving as the “cornerstone” supporting the seamless connection of landside and quayside transportation, plays a crucial role in determining the service level of the container multimodal transport through port’s operational organization efficiency. With on-dock rails, the physical integration between railways and water transport is smoothly achieved. However, within the port, the diversity in container flows adds complexity to operational organization and decision-making. In this paper, we formulate a flexible crane scheduling model to reduce the mutual interference during the mixed operations of railway containers and road containers in the sharing yard. The model addresses the time window constraints of railway containers required by train schedule, and the uncertain scenarios of external truck arrivals. To solve this problem, we design a two-stage approach that encompasses a task reassignment phase and a sequential decision-making phase. Furthermore, we test the model and algorithm performance through various experiments of different scales. Our results show that the designed algorithm designed solves instances of 20 tasks in 18.7 s, compared to 3600 s for the model solver. It efficiently handles real-world instances with over 200 tasks and 100 scenarios. Finally, sensitivity analysis is carried out to capture the influence of railway container ratio, truck arrival patterns, and train time windows on yard operations. Under intensive operation, we find that road containers, following a uniform arrival pattern, are least affected by railway container operations when the proportion of railway containers in the sharing block ranges from 70% to 80%. We also observe that the flexibility of crane service increases as the time window for railway container operations becomes more lenient.

Function Analysis of a Maize Endo-1,4-β-xylanase Gene ZmHSL in Response to High-Temperature Stress.

Rising temperature is a major threat to the normal growth and development of maize, resulting in low yield production and quality. The mechanism of maize in response to heat stress remains uncertain. In this study, a maize mutant Zmhsl-1 (heat sensitive leaves) with wilting and curling leaves under high temperatures was identified from maize Zheng 58 (Z58) mutant lines generated by ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis. The Zmhsl-1 plants were more sensitive to increased temperature than Z58 in the field during growth season. The Zmhsl-1 plants had lower plant height, lower yield, and lower content of photosynthetic pigments. A bulked segregant analysis coupled with whole-genome sequencing (BSA-seq) enabled the identification of the corresponding gene, named ZmHSL, which encodes an endo-β-1,4-xylanase from the GH10 family. The loss-of-function of ZmHSL resulted in reduced lignin content in Zmhsl-1 plants, leading to defects in water transport and more severe leaf wilting with the increase in temperature. RNA-seq analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes identified between Z58 and Zmhsl-1 plants are mainly related to heat stress-responsive genes and unfolded protein response genes. All these data indicated that ZmHSL plays a key role in lignin synthesis, and its defective mutation causes changes in the cell wall structure and gene expression patterns, which impedes water transport and confers higher sensitivity to high-temperature stress.

Electrostatic-Field-Induced Collapse of Nanobubbles in Nanochannels.

The adsorbed nanobubbles inside the nanochannels can cause fluid transport blockages, which will obviously degrade the nanodevice performance and reduce the lifetime. However, due to small-scale effects, the removal of nanobubbles is a huge challenge at the nanoscale. Herein, molecular dynamics simulations are carried out to study the effect of the electrostatic field on underwater nitrogen nanobubbles confined in nanochannels. It is found that the nanobubbles will collapse under an appropriate electrostatic field, thereby unblocking the transport of water in the nanochannels. The formation of ordered water structures induced by electrostatic fields plays an important role in the removal of nanobubbles from the nanochannels. Our findings provide a convenient, controllable, and remote way to address the blockage problem of nanobubbles in nanochannels, which may have potential applications in improving the performance of fuel cells.

Bioinspired fireproof textiles with hierarchical micropore for radiative cooling and perspiration

Even though the huge potential in significantly decreasing the energy consumption for cooling buildings and the human body is presented by radiative cooling technology, there is still a long way to realize its real-commercial application, considering comprehensive performances, such as safety, comfort, longevity, and production cost. Inspired by the biological micro-nano structures of Cyphochilus, we develop a one-step, large-scale, and low commercial-cost method to prepare multifunctional composite textiles, with effective cooling, fire safety, and directional water transportation. The high emissivity (96.8 %) in the atmospheric window and high reflectivity (97.1 %) in the solar waveband are successfully achieved. When exposed to direct sunlight, composite textiles can achieve up to 5 °C below commercial textiles at a solar intensity of 750 W•m−2. Besides, the directional water transportation and the excellent mechanical strength further improve the practical application. This work proposes a radiatively cooled composite textile to achieve personal thermal management and fire protection to meet the needs of specialty garments such as firefighting suits.

Effect of earth-air on water transport in the vadose zone of the loess plateau

Effect of earth-air on water transport in the vadose zone of the loess plateau

Evaluating the impacts of anticipated sea level rise, climate change and land use land cover scenarios on the rice crop in Alappuzha, Kerala and strategies to build climate responsive agriculture

PurposeThis paper aims to inform the readers an overview of expected impacts of sea level rise (SLR) and climate change on rice crops area, yield and the urgent need to build climate responsive infrastructures to a coastal district, Alappuzha – a high-risk area which is already under mean sea level (MSL). This research carried out to understand the realities and impacts with respect to the exposures of rise in SLR and possible inundation extent of crop land. The extreme precipitation events have caused crop loss and damage, numerous casualties and enormous economic loss in this district during the recent past and project the likely impacts under anticipated climate change.Design/methodology/approachGlobal sea levels have already been risen noticeably as a result of climate change, and this trend is anticipated to continue. To reflect on the research objectives, the paper projects a climate change scenario analysis and impact assessment on the major crop grown, i.e. rice, using a crop simulation model, DSSAT 4.7 as the first part of the study. QGIS 3.28 version and Erdas Imagine software were used for land use land cover analysis and to delineate possible inundation in the major land use land cover, especially in agriculture area under SLR scenario. It points out the need to equip the district urgently with climate responsive agriculture strategies as majority of the area comes under 10 mts of elevation as per the Sentinel 2 data. For better adapting to the current and future climate change impacts in the aspects of built environment such as early warnings in farm sector in particular and forests, urban water management, transportation systems, building construction and operation and land use planning in general. Climate change is no longer a policy issue alone; now it is a common man’s nightmare. For a coastal state like Kerala, extreme climate events during 2018 and 2019 and 2021 have posed substantial impacts and damages on the environment and society. The impacts hit the vulnerable communities in multiple ways.FindingsFrom the analysis, it was revealed that there is an increasing trend in rainfall observed over the past three decades in Alappuzha district. It is projected that day and night time temperatures may increase in Alappuzha by 2.5°C and 2.6°C by 2100, respectively, under RCP 4.5. With unchecked pollution or emission reduction actions, warming may further rise and hence the median projection when SLR reaches 2.4 meters (8 ft) at Alappuzha to Cochin coast is 2130s. The possible inundation analysis shows that around 53.48% of the coastal agriculture land may be likely inundated if SLR is only with mitigation measures such as extreme carbon cuts, SLR rise can be delayed till 2200. Alappuzha is known as the rice bowl of Kerala; however, it is highly exposed to climate vulnerability in terms of its unique environmental geographical settings like coastal wetlands, lagoons and sand beaches. DSSAT simulations shows that Uma rice, a major ruling variety in the region, may have yield reductions of up to 13% in the near century for Alappuzha.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper in general explains the projected climate change perspectives for Alappuzha, a climate change hotspot of Kerala with respect to SLR and coastal agriculture. and a review of the progression of DRR in the built environment and mainstreaming CCA and DRR by government and other agencies in the state.Practical implicationsThis study underscores the urgent need for climate-responsive agricultural strategies in Alappuzha, Kerala, due to anticipated sea level rise, climate change, and land use changes. Equipping farmers with the knowledge and tools to adapt is essential for ensuring food security and sustainable livelihoods. Implementing climate-resilient practices and technologies will help mitigate adverse effects on rice crops, promoting economic stability and resilience in the region. Involving local stakeholders in the adaptation process is crucial, as their participation can enhance collaboration, increase awareness, and accelerate the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, making the transition smoother and more effective.Social implicationsIt is the responsibility of the scientific community to inform the knowledge gained for the benefit of the society, especially on criticality of altering the existing land use pattern and building climate resilient coastal infrastructures. Studies such as this can stand as basis for implementing planned adaption actions. This is to conclude that instead of working in silos, mainstreaming climate change adaptation holistically across sectors is very necessary at this crucial hour. Participatory action plans and policies involving all local stakeholders can strengthen awareness and fasten the learning processes for adaptation including managed retreats.Originality/valueAt present, there are no specific studies, on the impacts of climate change and SLR on rice cropping systems in the district which specifically inform how to mainstream adaptation in the agriculture strategies in low lying coastal zones of Alappuzha.

Optimization of Hybrid Fiber-Reinforced Concrete for Controlling Defects in Canal Lining.

Losses in irrigation canals occur during the process of water transportation. In irrigation conveyance water losses, seepage loss is the main contributor to total water loss. The most problematic factors are cracks and settlement of the lined canal in canal lining structures. Water loss occurs in earth channels, mainly due to erosion and the permeability of the material. The concrete, as it does not present cracks, will have a less impermeable layer. Usually, seepage loss comprises 20-30% of the total water loss, and it can be reduced to 15-20% with canal linings. By enhancing the flexure and split tensile strength of concrete, the rate of cracking in the canal lining can be controlled. Concrete's split tensile strength is one of the most important factors in crack control. The behavior (compressive, flexural, and split tensile properties, water absorption, linear shrinkage mass loss, etc.) of hybrid polypropylene and jute fiber-reinforced concrete (HPJF-RC) for the application of canal linings was studied. In this experimental work, a total of nine mixes were made with different lengths and contents of hybrid polypropylene and jute fiber-reinforced concrete (HPJF-RC) and a control mix. The SEM analysis was performed to explore the hybrid fiber cracking mechanism and the bonding of fibers with the concrete. The crack arresting mechanism of the HPJF-RC will help to reduce water losses in concrete canal linings. With this modern material, the water losses in canal linings can be minimized. The results of this experimental work would be helpful as a reference for both industry experts and academic researchers interested in the advancement of HPJF-RC composites.

Flake size-dependent water transport through graphene oxide membranes and rejection of geosmin (GSM) and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) from drinking water

Water transport through graphene oxide membranes (GOMs) and the rejection of inorganic and organic solutes have been extensively studied. However, the influence of the lateral size of GO flakes on membrane performance remains unclear. Here, we investigate the water permeation and separation performance of GOMs fabricated using various sizes of flakes. The membranes prepared with larger flakes showed higher water flux. Our experiment clearly shows that GOMs consist of both lamellae and void structures. Monte Carlo simulations indicate that water transport through the voids is faster than that through the lamellae in GO membranes. Moreover, the voids are more predominant for the membranes prepared with larger sizes of GO flakes and, hence, higher water flux for larger flake membranes. Additionally, the GOMs prepared with the large flakes effectively rejected more than 98 % of geosmin (GSM) and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) with high reproducibility and a stable water flux of 1.49 LMH. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the complex structure of GOMs, where the rejection performance of membranes mainly depends on the interlayer space, but the water transport is governed by the voids. Our study also demonstrated the industrial potential of GOMs in drinking water purification technology.