The dispersal processes within the tide‐modulated Changjiang River plume,China

The dispersal processes of the tide‐modulated Changjiang River plume, China, are studied by using a three‐dimensional hydrodynamical module of the COHERENS (A COupled Hydrodynamical–Ecological model for REgional and Shelf Seas). The model is driven by the river discharge and the M₂ tidal constituent. Modelled results show: (1) the fresh water, which forms the Changjiang River plume expanding southeastwards, is discharged mostly into the North Channel, the North Passage, and the South Passage; (2) the larger horizontal gradient outside the North Channel and the North Passage forms a strong plume front; (3) the Changjiang River plume is homogeneous vertically, and dispersing gradually within the computational domain, with an averaged propagating rate of 3.38 km/day, while the plume front is surface‐to‐bottom type, and trapped between ?10 and ?18m isobaths; and (4) both the plume length and the plume front intensity vary periodically. The maximum plume length occurs about 2 h after low slack water and the minimum plume length during high slack water. The maximum plume front intensity occurs during high slack water and the minimum plume front intensity during low slack water. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and Interfacial Activity of Nonyl Phenol Polyoxyethylene Ether Carboxylate

In order to study the interfacial activity of the anionic-nonionic surfactant, five nonyl phenol polyoxyethylene ether carboxylates were synthesized and mass spectra were used to characterize their structures. The tensions of the anionic–nonionic surfactant aqueous solutions against crude oil were measured and the effects of the surfactant structure, concentration, and salinity on the interfacial activities were discussed. It was shown that nonyl phenol polyoxyethylene (6) ether carboxylate can produce ultralow interfacial tension when the concentrations are not lower than 0.10%, exhibiting a high interfacial activity and a good anti-dilution resistance. Moreover, it was proved that there exists synergism between NaCl and MgCl₂ (or CaCl₂), which is crucial to achieve the ultralow interfacial tension.     

Oleate Ester-Derived Nonionic Surfactants: Synthesis and Cloud Point Behavior Studies

The synthesis and cloud point behavior of high oleate ester-derived nonionic surfactants are now reported. The effect of various polyethoxylate chain lengths (polyethylene glycol with 7, 11, and 16 units of ethylene oxide (EO) monomer) as the surfactant's hydrophilic head on the cloud point was investigated. The effect of varying amounts of sodium chloride and five different ionic surfactants on the cloud points of the synthesized nonionic surfactants were also presented. When the chain length of polyethoxylate increased, the cloud point of the synthesized nonionic surfactant also increased, ranging from 16°C, 43°C, and 64°C for 7, 11, and 16 EO units, respectively. Increments in sodium chloride concentration depressed the cloud point values of the synthesized nonionic surfactants linearly. The addition of ionic surfactants elevated the cloud points of the synthesized nonionic surfactant. However, in the presence of sodium chloride, the cloud point of the mixed ionic-nonionic solution was suppressed and anincrease in ionic surfactant concentration was required to elevate the cloud point. It was also found that the cloud points of synthesized surfactants can be raised up to 95°C in the presence of 4wt% NaCl solution.     

Empirical Correlations for Viscosity of Polyacrylamide Solutions with the Effects of Salinity and Hardness

A series of experiments have been conducted to characterize and quantify the effects of shear rate, salinity, and hardness on the viscosity of polymer solutions. A set of correlations were developed to predict the viscosity of polymer solutions. These correlations consider the individual and combined effects of shear rate, salinity, and hardness on the viscosity of polymer solutions. The power-law model for the viscosity behavior has been modified to accommodate the influence caused by these three factors. Nonlinear regression was performed on the experimental data to develop the proposed correlations. The proposed correlations can be integrated into any reservoir simulator for polymer injection and should prove useful for the initial screening for the selection of the polymer for enhanced oil recovery applications in oil reservoirs.      

Structure of Sidewall Thermoconcentration Convection in the Flow Formation and Disintegration Regimes

The transformation of the structure of the density, optical refractive index, temperature, and salinity fields in the regimes of formation and disintegration of convection flows under uniform sidewall cooling of a continuously stratified fluid is investigated using optical and probe techniques. Although the height of the individual cells is almost constant in the various stages of the process, the field patterns change significantly. In the formation stage the contributions of the temperature and salinity to the density distribution compensate each other, the density profile is smooth and the optical refractive index profile is stepped. In the disintegration stage the density profile also becomes stepped. At large times a new convection flow is formed on the external boundaries of the cells due to the temperature difference between the cooled inner fluid and the warmer outer (undisturbed) fluid, and this flow maintains the structure contrast as the motion degenerates.     

Nutritional and Functional Evaluation of Inula crithmoides and Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum Grown in Different Salinities for Human Consumption

The nutritional composition and productivity of halophytes is strongly related to the biotic/abiotic stress to which these extremophile salt tolerant plants are subjected during their cultivation cycle. In this study, two commercial halophyte species (Inula crithmoides and Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum) were cultivated at six levels of salinity using a soilless cultivation system. In this way, it was possible to understand the response mechanisms of these halophytes to salt stress. The relative productivity decreased from the salinities of 110 and 200 mmol L⁻¹ upwards for I. crithmoides and M. nodiflorum, respectively. Nonetheless, the nutritional profile for human consumption remained balanced. In general, I. crithmoides vitamin (B1 and B6) contents were significantly higher than those of M. nodiflorum. For both species, β-carotene and lutein were induced by salinity, possibly as a response to oxidative stress. Phenolic compounds were more abundant in plants cultivated at lower salinities, while the antioxidant activity increased as a response to salt stress. Sensory characteristics were evaluated by a panel of culinary chefs showing a preference for plants grown at the salt concentration of 350 mmol L⁻¹. In summary, salinity stress was effective in boosting important nutritional components in these species, and the soilless system promotes the sustainable and safe production of halophyte plants for human consumption.     

Effect of salinity on the concentrations of radioisotopes in the aquatic environment of a hypersaline coastal lagoon

Research of the effect of salinity on the fate of radionuclides has been focused on seas or estuarine systems while there is almost no information on marine environments with a salinity higher than that of sea water. The hypersaline Bardawil lagoon is a concentration basin, with evaporation exceeding precipitation. This study presents the characteristics of some environmental factors including salinity and their influence on the distribution of natural and artificial radionuclides in different compartments of the lagoon. The concentrations of ²³⁸U, ²³⁴Th, ²²⁸Ra and ¹³⁷Cs in sediments show some degree of dependency on the water's salinity. Migration of these radionuclides in the lagoon's sediments must take place from high salinity to low-salinity regions. Cluster analysis revealed the data structure for sediment by separating ¹³⁷Cs and ⁴⁰K from ²³²Th, ²²⁶Ra, and ²³⁴Th and for sand by separating ⁴⁰K from the other radioisotopes.     

Rheology Behaviors of C22-Tailed Carboxylbetaine in High-Salinity Solution

Viscoelastic wormlike micelles have attracted special interests over the past decade due to their unique rheological response. Few efforts were however devoted to the rheological properties of worms in high-salinity solution. Here, worm-containing viscoelastic fluid is designed from single N-erucamidopropyl-N,N-dimethyl carboxybetaine (EMAB), using brine water (total dissolved solids: 32,868 mg L^?1; [Ca²⁺] + [Mg²⁺]: 873 mg L^?1) as solvent. Upon increasing concentration, EMAB brine solution shows remarkable macroscopic viscoelasticity above a low overlapping concentration (0.04 wt%) without adding special hydrotropes, implying a giant 3D network-like entanglement formation. Such a viscoelastic network aggregates exhibit thermo-induced thickening behavior in a comparable temperature range due to the hydrogen bond interaction, and excellent thermal stability. The apparent viscosity at 170 s^?1 can keep above 50 mPa · s at 130°C for 2 hours. These preliminary results will give EMAB a rich prospective for use as rheological modifier, especially for using in some extremely environment such high temperature, high salinity, and high shear.     

Kinetics and Equilibrium Models for Sorption of Cu(II) onto a Novel Manganese Nano-adsorbent

The studies of kinetics and equilibrium sorption of Cu(II) were undertaken using nanoscale zerovalent manganese (nZVMn) synthesized by chemical reduction in a single pot system. nZVMn was characterized using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray, and surface area determined by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller. The effect of pH, contact time, adsorbent dose, agitation speed, initial Cu(II) concentrations, temperature, and ionic strength on the sorption of Cu(II) onto nZVMn were investigated in a batch system. The kinetic data followed pseudo-second-order. The mechanism was governed by pore diffusion. The equilibrium sorption data were tested by Freundlich, Langmuir, Temkin, Dubinin–Kaganer–Raduskevich, and Halsey isotherm models. The Langmuir monolayer adsorption capacity (Q_max = 181.818 mg/g) is much greater compared to other nano-adsorbents used in sorption of Cu(II). The thermodynamic parameters (ΔH⁰, ΔS⁰, ΔG⁰) revealed a feasible, spontaneous, and endothermic adsorption process. nZVMn has a great potential for effective removal of copper (II) in aqueous solution.     

新型薄膜扩散梯度技术定量采集高盐度水体中的铵离子

设计了一种基于铁氰化钴钠的新型薄膜扩散梯度(DGT)被动采样装置, 将其应用于高盐度水体中铵离子的定量采集. 采用双滴加法制备铁氰化钴钠, 并利用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、 X射线衍射(XRD)仪和氮气吸 附-脱附测试对其表面形貌、 晶体结构和孔结构特征进行表征. 研究了铁氰化钴钠对铵离子的吸附速率和吸附容量. 建立了以琼脂糖凝胶为扩散相、 铁氰化钴钠为结合相的DGT被动采样装置. 研究了采集时间、 水体pH值和共存阳离子对基于铁氰化钴钠的DGT技术采集铵离子的影响. 实验结果表明, 铁氰化钴钠吸附铵离子在60 min时基本达到了吸附平衡; 当铵离子初始浓度为300 mg/L时其吸附容量为90 mg/g. DGT装置结合铵离子的质量随着布置时间的增加呈现线性增长(0~24 h, r²=0.994). 当pH=4~8, Na⁺浓度为0~10000 mg/L, K⁺浓度为0~25000 mg/L, Mg²⁺浓度为0~20000 mg/L, Ca²⁺浓度为0~25000 mg/L时, DGT装置累积的铵离子质量没有明显的变化. 实验结果表明, 使用基于铁氰化钴钠的DGT装置可以准确有效地采集高盐度水体中的铵离子.