16 research outputs found
An integrated environmental management approach to industrial site selection by genetic algorithm and fuzzy analytic hierarchy process in geographical information system
Environmental planning and management can have positive effects on development of some land uses including industrial areas that have a major effect on economic, social and environmental conditions. Considering the most important problems associated with modeling, the fundamental methods and functions of site-selection laid inside the geographical information system are not accounted for the multi-purpose experimental programs. The main purpose of this study is to present a systematic pattern for environmental management using genetic algorithm and fuzzy analytic hierarchy process in geographical information system in order to reduce uncertainty. Through fuzzy analytic hierarchy process, the weight of criteria was calculated after extracting the criteria by Delphi technique and identifying all the effective criteria and factors involved in site selection. After preparation of intended layers, each map was prepared in the form of raster layers on geographical information system. Information layers were combined after being valued and finally the map of suitable areas was prepared. Finally, the conformity of all the obtained maps was checked out with field conditions. In this study, the genetic algorithm was used as an optimization method applied for natural selection. It was also attempted to find better solutions among others. The results showed the best site for developing industries
Modeling of solid waste collection and transportation in metropolitan areas using WAGS model: implication of CO2 emission and external costs
Annually more than 80% of the overall budget of the uran solid waste management system in Iran is allotted to collection and transportation of the solid wastes. The main objective of the current study is to evaluate the external costs associated with solid waste collection, transfer, and transportation in Tehran for the period of 2018 to 2032 based on the current situation. Waste guidance system as well as Energy and Environment software were applied to anticipate the external costs. Results of the present study indicated that more than 535 million US dollars would be required during the next 15 years in the solid waste collection, transfer, and transportation sector to supply necessary machinery, manpower, fuel, maintenance and other relevant expenses. The principal fraction of the required budget (i.e. 48.99%) should be allocated to provide collection and transportation equipment costs. Manpower, fuel, maintenance, and miscellaneous expenses require 30.34, 7.37, 12.78 and 0.5 percent, respectively of the overall expenses in the solid waste collection, transfer, and transportation sector. In the context of global warming impact, more than 970 million tons of carbon dioxide will be anticipated to be emitted by solid waste collection, transfer, and transportation sector in Tehran during the studied period imposing 23.1 million US dollars to compensate its external effects
Modeling for Weighting the Most Effective Evaluated Criteria of Indigenous Knowledge Using the BWM Method in the Management and Planning of Water Resources in Yazd Province
Proper management and planning of water resources in their operation, distribution, and revitalization play an important role in sustainable development. This issue is of much higher importance in countries located in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world, such as Iran. Because it is inevitable to return and use indigenous technologies and knowledge and update them alongside modern technologies to achieve sustainable development, this research utilizes an extensive study of literature from internal and external sources and exploratory factor analysis to identify and assess the most important criteria or applicable factors of indigenous knowledge relevant to water resources planning and management in Yazd Province. Due to the high importance of the issue, attempts were made to use experienced and relevant faculty members from certain universities, as well as experts and specialists from all relevant organizations in Yazd Province. The results showed that six criteria—protection and stability, integrated management, holistic (comprehensive) approach, cost-effectiveness, compatibility, and dynamism—are found to be more important than others for the area. In the second step of this research, by means of BWM and creating a linear programming model, six principal factors were weighted, and their optimal weights were obtained. The integrated management criterion has the highest weight (0.413), and the holistic approach criterion has the lowest weight (0.048). Moreover, the protection and stability criteria and the cost-effectiveness criteria jointly rank second with a weight of 0.168, and the criteria of compatibility (0.119) and dynamism (0.084), respectively, rank third and fourth
Fabrication of UV/ TiO2 nanotubes / Pd system by electrochemical anodization for furfural photocatalytic degradation
The aim of this study was to degrade furfural by a new nanotube system. To degrade some organic pollutants as
well as to reduce the amount of furfural which is a well-known pollutant in oil industry, the photocatalytic process
along with ultraviolet (UV) irradiation may be employed. In this study, the UV/TiO2/Pd system in which the
nanoparticles of palladium doped into the titanium dioxide was proposed for degradation of furfural. The rate of
furfural decomposition in the proposed system was more than that of the system without TiO2 foils due to the
degradable reactions. The experimental results demonstrate that the maximum degradation occurs at a distinct pH
and specific temperature under the UV irradiation. After 100-minute UV-irradiation duration, the maximum and
minimum degradations were 97.8% (pH 3), and 95.8% (pH 12), respectively. Also, the degradation values were as
parabolic function at the pH values. The values of efficiency of decomposition for this irradiation duration at
optimum pH 3 were 96.7% and 98.5% at 30◦C and 40◦C, respectively. Also, the minimum degradation under
photolysis was 93.52% at 30oC under 20-minute UV-irradiation duration. Furthermore, while the irradiation
duration was 70-75 min, the degradation values were independent of pH approximately. The difference between
the degradation values at 30 and 40◦C was decreased with increasing the UV-irradiation duration till 60min, and
then this difference was increased with increasing the UV-irradiation duration
APPLICATION OF OZONATION IN DRINKING WATER DISINFECTION BASED ON AN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY APPROACH USING SWOT METHOD
The disinfecting process has been considered as one of the most
important steps in drinking water treatment and improper attention to
this process can caused a social disaster. Until now, different methods
have been used for drinking water disinfection, such as using the
ultra-violet light and adding ozone or chloride. Because of the water
sources contaminations, especially in surface water which is in closer
contact with different pollutants, adding chloride to water, generally
applied all over the world, can cause some adverse impacts on the
residential users such as the ones caused by chlorinated chemicals and
Trihalomethanes as the secondary products. Regarding to high level of
electrical energy consumption and considering resulted costs, this
method have not been developed in Iran. This study aimed to explain the
drinking water ozonation process opportunities and threats. Usage of
ozone is a useful and effective method and could be resulted in high
oxidizing property, not producing carcinogens and eliminating bacteria,
viruses and other disease-causing elements. On the other hand mentioned
method will process in shorter time in comparison with other water
treatment methods. There are different techniques for the strategic
management as a suitable tool to conduct related environmental
management plan. The study management methodology is based on SWOT; so
it describes the management functional strategies for ozonation as a
suitable drinking water treatment method. Finally, using the QSPM
matrix, the hierarchical priority of these strategies was defined. It
seems quite important that for the implementation of this process, the
foreign experiments in disinfecting drinking water be studied and some
proper workforce be trained
Aplication of solar energy for drying of sludge from pharmaceutical industrial waste water and probable reuse
Sludge, which is produced as a by-product of all treatment processes, has considerable potential as a fertilizer and soil conditioner. Many authorities now discharge the sludge after treatment directly to agricultural land in liquid form, while some others dewater and dry it first. In either case, with proper marketing, it is generally possible for an authority to earn revenue by this means, although it is rare for the income to cover all the cost involved. In some industrial sludge the total solid concentration may range between 2000-100000 ppm and it is reported that more than 6000 waste water treatment plants use the conventional sludge drying sand bed. An experimental investigation was carried out to assess the efficacy of solar energy for drying of sludge from pharmaceutical industrial waste over a sand bed covered with glass as compared to the conventional sludge drying over a sand bed as well as to reduce environmental pollution The two drying beds are constructed in 12 cm thick brick wall with cement mortar and has an effective area of 0.5 m (2). On the 0.4 m thick layer of gravel and send the sludge layer from pharmaceutical industry was deposited. The Solar Sludge Drying Sand Bed (SSDSB) reduced drying time by about 25-35% as compared to the Conventional Sludge Drying Sand Bend (CSDSB). The rate of evaporation from the sludge surface and hence the drying was a function of solar radiation. The condensed evaporated water was qualitatively analyzed for probable reuse
EVALUATION OF THE QUALITY AND SELF PURIFICATION POTENTIAL OF TAJAN RIVER USING QUAL2E MODEL
Tajan River is among significant rivers of Caspian Sea water basin.
Pollution sources that threaten the quality of water in Tajan River may
be classified in to two categories namely point and non-point sources.
Major pollutants of latter category are Mazandaran wood and pulp,
Paksar dairy products and Sari Antibiotic production factories, as well
as 600-dastgah residential area. On the other hand, non-point sources
whose waste is considered as a distributed load consist of Sari
municipal wastewater and agriculture-related pollutants that are
drained towards the river. In order to model the quality of river flow,
Qual2E model is taken in to consideration. Considering TDS, the river
quality is completely acceptable in cold seasons. However, in spring
and summer the value of this parameter is increased and this causes
some restrictions in the use of this water for irrigation of specific
sensitive crops. Agricultural activities and consequent irrigated
waters are the major causes of higher reported TDS values in warm
seasons. Current status of DO is completely acceptable and this is
highly related to the relative high value of width on depth ratio along
the river. BOD and COD locate in a fairly poor condition. Quality
deterioration is more noticeable in cold seasons. Higher rate of
precipitation and consequent greater runoff generation towards the
river basin justify the relative increase of mentioned parameters in
fall and winter. Generally, non-point pollution sources are more
contributed in deterioration of Tajan River water quality
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN TABRIZPETROCHEMICAL COMPLEX
Tabriz petrochemical complex is located in the northwest of Iran. Major
products of this industry include raw plastics like, polyethylene,
polystyrene, acrylonitrile, butadiene, styrene, etc. Sources of waste
generation include service units, health and cure units, water, power,
steam and industrial processes units. In this study, different types of
solid waste including hazardous and non hazardous solid wastes were
investigated separately. The aim of the study was to focus on the
management of the industrial wastes in order to minimize the adverse
environmental impacts. In the first stage, locating map and dispersion
limits were prepared. Then, the types and amounts of industrial waste
generated in were evaluated by an inventory and inspection. Wastes were
classified according to Environmental Protection Agency and Basel
Standards and subsequently hazards of different types were
investigated. The waste management of TPC is quite complex because of
the different types of waste and their pollution. In some cases
recycling/reuse of waste is the best option, but treatment and disposal
are also necessary tools. In this study, using different sources and
references, generally petrochemical sources, various solid waste
management practices were investigated and the best options were
selected. Some wastes should be treated before land filling and some of
them should be reused or recycled. In the case of solid waste
optimization, source reduction ways were recommended as well as prior
incineration system was modified
The Role of Climate Study in Analyzing Flood Forming Potential of Water Basins
Internationally recognized Golestan forests are among the most
endangered features threatened by anthropogenic activities. Being
located in north-west of Iran, south-east of Caspian Sea, Gorganroud
watershed is mostly influenced by deforestation activities. In this
study the identification of regional atmospheric and hydrologic
patterns and their role in conforming floods in Gorganroud water basin
are discussed. A 33-year period (1970-2003) was taken in to
consideration in the process of data gathering. Gradual change from
Mediterranean to Semi-arid climate during recent decades in Gorganroud
watershed indicates regional climate change. Increased share of 24-hour
precipitation in average annual precipitation in one hand and
decreasing rate of snowy on rainy days ratio on the other hand
stipulate this climate change. The relatively sharp ascending pattern
of annual peak flow of the basin during recent years may be considered
as an alarming factor concerning streams inundation. Climate study in
suspected water basins may provide invaluable data concerning flood
forming potential of regional precipitations. The results of this study
confirm the fact that precise analysis of climatic and hydrologic in
watersheds threatened by flood-forming run-offs may be used efficiently
in monitoring such areas and saving human lives