Variations of particle size and bed voidage distributions in expanded bed during transient operation processes

Changes in bed expansion are frequently encountered during an expanded bed adsorption, such as during the initial bed expansion, feed loading and washing processes. We have here studied the changes of local particle size distribution and bed voidage of an expanded bed in the initial bed expansion process as well as those during the changes in mobile phase viscosity, which imitated feed loading and column washing processes. Using a glass column modified with three side sampling ports and Streamline AC as the solid phase, experimental measurements on a series of operation moments during the transient processes were carried out by sampling the particles from within the column at different axial positions. In the initial bed expansion process, the gradual formation of an axial classification from a settled bed to a stable expanded bed was first displayed. By changing the mobile phase from water to 10% (w/w) glycerol solution or vice versa, the variations in both the particle size distribution and bed voidage corresponding to the increase or decrease of the bed height caused by the changes of the mobile phase viscosity were examined as well. The transient changes of the local particle size distribution and bed voidage first occurred in the bed bottom and then progressed from bottom to top along the axial direction. However, the changes of bed voidage at different axial positions were not unidirectional. That is, by changing the mobile phase to the high-viscosity glycerol solution, a constant increase of the bed voidage was observed in the bed bottom, while a distinct decrease of the bed voidage before its increase was involved at the middle and top positions. This is ascribed to the compression effect caused by the upward movement of the lower part particles.     

Fluid mud transportation at water wedge in the Changjiang Estuary

In situ data show that fluid mud of the Changjiang Estuary consists of fine sediment ranging from 8 to 11.5 μm (median grain-size) including 28.8%-36.4% of clay. The composition of the clay is illite, chlorite, kaolinite and montmoillonite. The FM is a layer of high sediment concentration near the bed and results from flocculation under the environment of salt and fresh water mixing. Three kinds of FM have been identified under typical dynamic conditions: the first one is formed at slack water of ebb tide during the flood season, with the characteristics of extended area and low thickness; the second one is formed following a storm, characterized by large area and larger thickness; the third one is formed around the front of the saltwater wedge, characterized by small area but large thickness. In the dredged channel, the FM can be accumulated up to 1 m thick. In general, FM will change with the alternation from spring to neap tides, flood and dry seasons. Drastic change can happen during storms. At the same time, the change of FM is closely related to the erosion and growth of the mouth bar.     

Seasonal, neap-spring variation of sediment concentration in the joint area between Yangtze Estuary and Hangzhou Bay

An analysis of variations in suspended sediment concentration (SSC) over one year is presented for the joint area between the Yangtze Estuary and the Hangzhou Bay. Results suggest that daily SSC presents periodic variations, which correspond with seasonal and neap-spring tidal cycle. SSCs are higher during the winter season and during spring tides when compared with summer and neap-tide conditions. Furthermore, data indicate that wave and tidal currents are the two dominant factors affecting SSC. Although the Yangtze River discharges abundant sediments to the study area, it does not directly affect concentration variations. But the changing path of the Yangtze River plume plays a certain role in the seasonal variations of SSC. Finally, the calculation of bottom stresses suggests that SSC is a function of both wave and tide-induced resuspension.     

Seasonal,neap-spring variation of sediment concentration in the joint area between Yangtze Estuary and Hangzhou Bay

An analysis of variations in suspended sediment concentration (SSC) over one year is presented for the joint area between the Yangtze Estuary and the Hangzhou Bay. Results suggest that daily SSC presents periodic variations, which correspond with seasonal and neap-spring tidal cycle. SSCs are higher during the winter season and during spring tides when compared with summer and neap-tide conditions. Furthermore, data indicate that wave and tidal currents are the two dominant factors affecting SSC. Although the Yangtze River discharges abundant sediments to the study area, it does not directly affect concentration variations. But the changing path of the Yangtze River plume plays a certain role in the seasonal variations of SSC. Finally, the calculation of bottom stresses suggests that SSC is a function of both wave and tide-induced resuspension.     

The capability of neutron activation for trace element analysis in sea water and sediment samples of the Northern Adriatic Sea

In a framework of a more intensive study of the oceanographic phenomenology of the Northern Adriatic Sea, recently undertaken by the O. G. S. of Trieste, the present paper provides some insight into the determination of trace elements in sea water and bottom sediment matrices. Sampling procedure using continuous pumping and filtering and neutron activation analytical techniques are presented and the obtained results briefly discussed. Accounting for the physiography of the basin, for the oceanographic processes and for the different freshwater input, several samples were collected of filtered water in order to set up their properties. Results were obtained throughout the settlement only for long-lived radionuclides based on routine neutron activation: Cr, Ag, Co, Cs, Rb, Sb, Sc, Sr, Zn, U. For each of them, the concentration range was determined and discussed. Results indicate that the Cs, Rb, Sr and U concentration range is readily comparable with that assessed at open seas. On the contrary, for the other elements such as Cr, Ag, Co, Sc, Sb and Zn concentrations are noticeably higher than those found at open seas, mainly as far as samples collected near the sea bottom are concerned. The concentration increase is surely related to the burden of pollutants suffered by rivers. Moreover, the positive concentration gradient experienced toward the bottom, is fully in agreement with the estuarine character of the investigated area and in accordance with the strong decomposition of organic matter taking place in the bottom layer of the basin. Finally, the complexity of the sedimentary pattern in the Northern Adriatic renders it difficult to properly define the element concentration in bottom sediment. Only four samples were chosen as representative of the different sediments and analysed. Long-lived elements obtained are: Ce, Co, Cs, Cr, Rb, Sc, Tb, Yb. Their concentration was found to be related to the geochemical features of the activated matrix.     

Seasonal,neap-spring variation of sediment concentration in the joint area between Yangtze Estuary and Hangzhou Bay

An analysis of variations in suspended sediment concentration (SSC) over one year is presented for the joint area between the Yangtze Estuary and the Hangzhou Bay. Results suggest that daily SSC presents periodic variations, which correspond with seasonal and neap-spring tidal cycle. SSCs are higher during the winter season and during spring tides when compared with summer and neap-tide conditions. Furthermore, data indicate that wave and tidal currents are the two dominant factors affecting SSC. Although the Yangtze River discharges abundant sediments to the study area, it does not directly affect concentration variations. But the changing path of the Yangtze River plume plays a certain role in the seasonal variations of SSC. Finally, the calculation of bottom stresses suggests that SSC is a function of both wave and tide-induced resuspension.

     

Performance of a magnetically stabilized bed reactor with immobilized yeast cells

This paper is focused on the possibility to apply the magnetic stabilization technique in bioprocessing. The feasibility of a continuous ethanol fermentation process with immobilizedSaccharomyces cerevisiae cells in a magnetically stabilized bed (MSB) was demonstrated. The fermentation processes were carried out in an external magnetic field, transverse to the fluid flow. The flexibility to change the bed expansion owing to the independent change of the fluid flow and the field intensity (the “magnetization FIRST” mode) permitted the creation of fixed beds with different particle arrangements, which affected the bed porosity, the effective fluid-particle contact area, and the mass transfer processes on the particle-fluid interface. As a result, higher ethanol concentration, ethanol production, and glucose uptake rates than in conventional packed bed reactor were reached.     

Element geochemistry of Holocene sediment and paleoenvironmental change in the Changjiang Estuary

Analyses of 41 elements reveal that Holocene sediments in the Changjiang Estuary bear regular elemental compositions in different sedimentary environments, and Holocene sediments came mainly from the Changjiang River based on compositions of REEs and most trace elements. Some heavy metals are more enriched in the surface sediment than in the deltaic sediments, reflecting human impact. Elemental compositions of the river channel sediment are related to the influence of proximal sediments. Sedimentary environments exert some influences on elemental compositions. Some chemical indices can be used to record chemical weathering undergone by the Changjiang sediment and environmental change.     

Element geochemistry of Holocene sediment and paleoenvironmental change in the Changjiang Estuary

Analyses of 41 elements reveal that Holocene sediments In the Changjiang Estuary bear regular elemental compositions in different sedimentary environments, and Holocene sediments came mainly from the Changjiang River based on compositions of REEs and most trace elements. Some heavy metals are more enriched in the surface sediment than in the deltaic sediments, reflecting human impact. Elemental compositions of the river channel sediment are related to the influence of proximal sediments. Sedimentary environments exert some influences on elemental compositions. Some chemical indices can be used to record chemical weathering undergone by the Changjiang sediment and environmental change.     

Assessment of metal and trace element concentrations in the Cananéia estuary,Brazil, by neutron activation and atomic absorption techniques

Twenty six bottom sediment samples were collected from the Cananéia estuary in summer and winter of 2005. Multielemental analysis was carried out by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Total mercury was determined by cold vapor atomic absorption. As, Cr, Hg and Zn concentrations were compared to the Canadian oriented values (TEL and PEL). Sample points 4 and 9 presented higher concentration for most elements and As and Cr exceeded the TEL values. Organic matter (>10%) associated with siltic and clay sediments was observed. Climatic conditions, hydrodynamic and biogeochemical processes promote differences in seasonal concentrations of elements at some points, which contribute to special distributions.     

Fractionation and speciation analysis of heavy metals in the Azov Sea bottom sediments

The fractionation and speciation analysis of heavy metals in bottom sediment samples from the Azov Sea were performed. Seven-step sequential extraction was used to extract element species differing in physicochemical mobility and biological availability. Special attention was paid to the study of ecologically valuable mobile fractions: exchangeable, acid-soluble, readily reducible, and readily oxidizable ones. It was shown that the total concentration of mobile copper, zinc, and lead species isolated in four extraction steps was higher than the MPCs for mobile species extractable with an ammonium acetate buffer solution (1.1–3.3 PMC), which points to the technogenic contamination of bottom sediments and their potential hazard to hydrobionts. For finely dispersed silt samples taken near the Kerch Strait, elevated concentrations of zinc and copper (up to 10 and 5 mg/kg, respectively) were found in the most mobile exchangeable fraction directly available to living organisms, which indicates the presence of an active contamination source in this water area. The binding of metals to mineral phases in samples of different lithological types was studied.     

Second harmonic generation phase measurements of Cr(VI) at a buried interface

Surface second harmonic generation (SHG) phase measurements are carried out on methyl ester-functionalized fused quartz/water interfaces in the presence and absence of Cr(VI). The experiments are performed at pH 7, room temperature, and a chromate concentration of 10(-4) M, which corresponds to monolayer Cr(VI) coverage. The liquid/solid interface is probed from the fused quartz side by directing the probe light field at 580 nm onto the interface together with an SHG reference signal at 290 nm that is collinear with the fundamental. The phase difference of the SHG signals generated at the interface in the presence and absence of Cr(VI) is 85 degrees, which is consistent with SHG resonance enhancement observed for the surface-bound Cr(VI) near 290 nm. The optical arrangement discussed here does not require vacuum technology or optics that compensate for the dispersion of the fundamental and the second harmonic E-fields in the two condensed-phase media. This approach is general and can be applied for analyzing thermodynamic and kinetic data derived from SHG measurements of physical and chemical processes occurring at any buried interface.     

Determination of lead-210 in bottom sediments via bismuth-210

Determination of lead-210 in bottom sediments is applied for evaluation of sedimentation rates and sediments ages by concentration profiles of disequilibrated lead-210 from atmospheric sources. Advences in low level liquid scintillation spectrometry (LS) fitted for natural radioactivity measurements, permit to combine the possibility of immediate bismuth-210 separation with its radioactivity registration using LS spectrometer Quantulus (LKB-1220, Wallak, Finland). The method was tested on bottom sediment samples from Baltic Sea shelf, collected during the 76th cruise of RV Academician S. Vavilov. The proposed method of separation, purification and chemical yield determination is characterized by simplicity, rapidity and may be used in routine analysis.     

Variations of mercury distribution in the water column during the course of a tidal cycle in the Yangtze Estuarine intertidal zone, China

Tidally induced resuspension processes play an important role in the release of mercury (Hg) into the water column, which increases the risk of Hg exposure to estuarine eco-systems. In order to further understand the geochemical activities of Hg in the intertidal area, the temporal variations of dissolved Hg (Hg D ) and particulate Hg (Hg P ) in the water column during the course of a tidal cycle and its geochemical processes were studied in the southern intertidal zone of the Yangtze Estuary, China. The concentrations of Hg D and Hg P varied between 37-612 ng/L and 51-638 ng/L respectively during the tidal cycle. The increase of Hg D was distinguished at the early flood tide and late ebb tide when the water flow rates were higher. The Hg D concentrations were negatively correlated with Hg P (r = 0.523, p < 0.05) and positively correlated with dissolved organic carbon (DOC) (r = 0.605, p < 0.05) in the bottom water, indicating that the Hg D released from the sediments into the overlying water was associated with the simultaneously released colloidal material in the bottom water. The main pathways for the translocation of Hg from the sediments to the overlying water include the processes of desorption from resuspended particles, advection or diffusion from sediments, and the oxidation of resuspended sulfide. The results of principal components analysis (PCA) and Pearson correlation analysis showed that the combined effects of the total suspended substrate (TSS), DOC, pH and dissolved oxygen (DO) influenced the geochemical activities of Hg in the water column during the course of a tidal cycle.     

固相微革取-气相色谱-质谱联用测定海水与沉积物中邻苯二甲酸酯类污染物

邻苯二甲酸酯(PAEs)是塑化剂产品中使用最广泛的一类化合物,准确分析海洋中邻苯二甲酸酯的种类、组成及浓度水平,对认识PAEs在海洋环境的迁移变化及生态效应具有重要意义.本研究建立了固相微萃取-气相色谱-质谱联用技术分析海水与沉积物中PAEs的方法,确定了萃取时间、萃取温度等最佳实验条件.本方法测定海水与沉积物中PAEs含量的精密度为±10%,检出限分别为0.04~0.32 ng/L和0.12~1.60μg/kg;除邻苯二甲酸二甲酯(DMP)外,海水中PAEs回收率为68.0%~114.0%,沉积物中PAEs回收率为76.4%~105.0%.利用本方法测得长江口及其邻近海域水体与沉积物中PAEs的浓度分别为0.270~1.39μg/L和0.79~34.8μg/kg.实验表明,本方法操作简单,准确度高,大大缩减了海水萃取体积,能够应用于近岸海水与沉积物中PAEs含量的准确分析.     

Backfill Cycle of a Layered Bed H2 PSA Process

The backfill cycle of two-bed PSA process using activated carbon beds, zeolite 5A beds, and layered beds was studied experimentally and theoretically to recover high purity H₂ from coke oven gas. In a layered bed PSA, a comparison was made between two PSA processes with/without a backfill step before the feed pressurization step. Since the backfill step made the adsorption bed rich in H₂ and this led to a rather steep concentration wave front at the feed pressurization step, incorporating a backfill step resulted in an increase in product purity with a decrease in recovery. Each step of the single-adsorbent and layered bed PSA processes with a backfill step was simulated with a dynamic model incorporating mass, energy, and momentum balances. The model agreed well with the experimental results in predicting the product H₂ purity and recovery, thus giving a basic understanding of the bed dynamics of a backfill cycle. While the concentration and temperature profiles of a layered bed in each step showed characteristic behavior of each adsorbent in each layer, the product purity of a layered bed was not between the limits of two single-adsorbent bed processes. The concentration profiles predicted by simulation showed that CO and N₂ played an important role in obtaining high H₂ purity.     

Mass transfer limitations at crystallizing interfaces in an atomic force microscopy fluid cell: a finite element analysis

Although atomic force microscopy (AFM) has emerged as the preeminent experimental tool for real-time in situ measurements of crystal growth processes in solution, relatively little is known about the mass transfer limitations that may impact these measurements. We present a continuum analysis of flow and mass transfer in an atomic force microscope fluid cell during crystal growth, using data acquired from calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) crystal growth measurements as a comparison. Steady-state flows and solute concentration fields are computed using a three-dimensional, finite element method implemented on a parallel supercomputer. Steady-state flow results are compared with flow visualization experiments to validate the model. Computations of the flow field demonstrate how nonlinear momentum transport alters the spatial structure of the flow with increasing flow volume, altering mass transport conditions near the AFM cantilever and tip. The simulations demonstrate that the combination of solute depletion from crystal growth and mass transfer resistance lowers the solute concentration in the region between the tip and the crystal compared with the solute concentration at the inlet of the AFM cell. For example, using experimentally measured growth rates for COM, the solute concentration in this region is 3.1% lower than the inlet value because the solute consumed by crystal growth beneath the AFM tip cannot be replenished fully due to mass transport limitations. The simulations also reveal that increasing the flow rate through the cell does not affect this difference significantly because of the inherent shielding by the AFM tip in proximity with the crystal surface. Models such as the one presented here, used in conjunction with AFM measurements, promise more precise interpretations of measurement data.     

Successive determinations of210PB,210PO,226RA,228RA and selected actinides in seawater and sea sediment

Plutonium 239,240 was measured using large-volume water samples from the North Pacific and its adjacent seas. The vertical profiles of^239,240Pu show features that are similar to those reported in earlier papers with a subsurface maxima of around 660 m and a significant concentration increase in the North Pacific bottom waters. It became evident that the^239,240Pu concentration in deep bottom water is proportional to the inventory of the nuclides in the overlying water column and that the appearent distribution ratios of the nuclides between deep-sea sediment and bottom water lie in a relatively narrow range of about 2×10⁴ to 10⁵, independent of sea area and warter depth. The latter implies that^239,240Pu may follow a reversible-type partition process at a deep water/sediment interface. In order to substantiate this assumption, it is desirable to study the phenomenon for Pu as well as for other long-lived radionuclides, both artificial and natural. From this point of view, an analytical procedure for the successive determination of selected long-lived radionuclides was studied.     

Continuous production of antibiotics in an airlift fermentor utilizing a transverse magnetic field

In this study, a series of experiments was conducted to demonstrate the feasibility of continuous production of penicillin antibiotic using a three-phase magneto airlift fermentor with immobilized Penicillium chrysogenum. The fermentation processes were carried out in a 2.4-L external loop airlift utilizing a transverse magnetic field. It was found that the application of the magnetic field to a bed of ferromagnetic beads affects both the hydrodynamics of the reactor and the rate of the bioconversion process occurring inside it. One hundred hours after startup, the maximum penicillin concentration increased 48% as the magnetic field intensity increased from 0 to 35 mT, owing to the increased residence time of the substrate in the riser and the positive effect of the magnetic field on the effective fluid-solid interfacial area. In addition, the detached biomass concentration in the liquid phase was found to be only 5% of the immobilized biomass, owing to low shear levels and the absence of friction among the solid-phase particles.     

Rare earth elements determination and distribution patterns in sediments of a polluted marine environment by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Results obtained from the analysis of sediment core samples taken froma fairly polluted marine environment were analyzed for the REE contents todetermine the concentrations of La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy and Yb using instrumentalneutron activation analysis. Core samples were divided into strata of between2 to 3 cm intervals and prepared in the powdered form before irradiating themin a neutron flux of about 5.0 . 10¹² n . cm ^—2s ^—1 in a Triga Mark II reactor. Down-core concentration profilesof La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy and Yb in 3 core sediments from three sites areobtained. The shale-normalized REE pattern from each site was examined andlater used to explain the history of sedimentation by natural processes suchas shoreline erosion and weathering products deposited on the seabed and furnishingsome baseline data and/or pollution trend occurring within the study area.The shale-normalized REE patterns also showed that LREE in the sediment samplesexhibit enrichment relative to HREE particularly, La and Sm showing enrichmentcompared to the ratios in shale. REE concentrations of 124 µg/g at thesurface of sediment collected at two of the three sites were found to decreaseto 58 and 95 µg/g, respectively. This was of particular interest whenit is used to explain the anomalies occurring in the marine sediment as aresult of geochemical processes over a long period of time. Changes in concentrationsfrom surface to bottom of the sediments ratioed to Sm concentrations and thecorrelation between concentrations of Sm and these elements were also investigatedand correlation coefficients were calculated for all REEs and sites. Validationof the method used was done using a Soil-7 SRM.