40 research outputs found
The Zoning of Semi-Enclosed Bodies of Water According to the Sediment Pollution: The Bay of Algeciras as a Case Example
This paper reports a study of the occurrence and
levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a bay
characterised by a chronic persistent impact. A total of 55
sediment samples were taken at different depths up to
111 m in two sampling campaigns. Chemical analyses were
carried out by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. The
results indicate that: (1) significant spatial variations exist,
(2) levels of PAHs are related more strongly to the spatial
distribution of sediments than to mineralogy/granulometry,
(3) the sediments are slightly-to-moderately contaminated
by PAHs, and (4) these PAHs derive from pyrolytic and
petrogenic sources. Through use of an innovative data
classification system (proposed according to depth and
spatial location of sampling points), and using factorial and
cluster techniques, five zones have been differentiated
depending on the contamination level and source
Evaluation of residence time on nitrogen oxides removal in non-thermal plasma reactor
Non-thermal plasma (NTP) has been introduced over the last few years as a promising after- treatment system for nitrogen oxides and particulate matter removal from diesel exhaust. NTP technology has not been commercialised as yet, due to its high rate of energy consumption. Therefore, it is important to seek out new methods to improve NTP performance. Residence time is a crucial parameter in engine
exhaust emissions treatment. In this paper, different electrode shapes are analysed and the corresponding residence time and NOx removal efficiency are studied. An axisymmetric laminar model is used for obtaining residence time distribution numerically using FLUENT software. If the mean residence time in a NTP plasma reactor increases, there will be a corresponding increase in the reaction time and consequently the pollutant removal efficiency increases. Three different screw thread electrodes and a rod electrode are examined. The results show the advantage
of screw thread electrodes in comparison with the rod electrode. Furthermore,between the screw thread electrodes, the electrode with the thread width of 1 mm has the highest NOx removal due to higher residence time and a greater number of micro-discharges. The results show that the residence time of the screw thread electrode with a thread width of 1 mm is 21% more than for the rod electrode
Leaching of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from power plant lignite ash-influence of parameters important for environmental pollution
Nikola Tesla B power plant (TENT B), located at the Sava River, in Obrenovac, 50 km west from the Serbian's capital, Belgrade, is the second largest coal-fired power plant in the country, consisting of two blocks, each of 620 MW capacity. In order to investigate the threat polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from deposited coal ash, obtained by coal combustion in this power plant, can represent for the surrounding environment, samples of coal ash were submitted to extraction with river water used for transport of coal ash to the dump, as well as with water of different ionic strength and acidity. It was found that, out of 16 EPA priority PAHs, only naphthalene, acenaphthylene, fluorene, phenantrene, fluoranthene, and pyrene were found in measurable concentrations in the different extracts. Their combined concentration was around 0.1 mu g/L, so they do not, in terms of leached concentrations, represent serious danger for the surrounding environment. In all cases of established (and leached) PAH compounds, changes of ionic strength, acidity, or the presence of organic compounds in river water may to some extent influence the leached concentrations. However, under the examined conditions, similar to those present in the environment, leached concentrations were not more than 50 % greater than the concentrations leached by distilled water. Therefore, water desorption is likely the most important mechanism responsible for leaching of PAH compounds from filter coal ash