Transport and biodegradation of benzene in the saturated groundwater layer

The objective of this study was to investigate the biotic and abiotic processes that affected benzene transportation in the saturated groundwater layer. The study was performed in the laboratory using synthetic groundwater and soil sample from Maptaput Industrial Estate, Rayong. This study was divided into 3 parts; batch test, column test and computer modeling. The biotic, biodegradation, and the abiotic processes were studied in the batch system. The column experiment was performed to investigate the transport behavior of benzene. The computer program, CXTFIT, with parameters acquired from batch and column experiments was used to simulate the benzene transport behavior. It was found that benzene adsorption followed the linear adsorption isotherm with its coefficient (Kd) of 0.544 cm3/g and the retardation factor of 5.43. The biodegradation rate could be estimated using the firstorder biodegradation rate equation with the degradation rate of 0.0009- 0.0092 per day. The dispersion coefficient estimated from column experiments was 0.0102 cm2/s. The results from computer simulation did not fit the experimental data well. It can be concluded that the transport of benzene was a non-equilibrium transport. It was also found that biodegradation of benzene had significant effect on benzene transportation in saturated groundwater. The simulated transport with biodegradation process fitted the data fairly

Assessment of the Performance of Osmotically Driven Polymeric Membrane Processes

The universal water scarceness and the extensive ordeals with energy cost in conjunction with the undesirable ecological effects have advanced the improvement of novel osmotically driven membrane processes. Membrane processes which are osmotically driven are developing type of membrane separation procedures that apply concentrated brines to separate liquid streams. They are adaptable in various applications; hence, allow them to be an attractive substitute for drug release, wastewater treatment and the production and recovery of energy. Although, internal concentration polarization (ICP) occurs in membrane practises which are osmotically driven as a consequence of hindered diffusion of solute in a porous stratum, their interest has even increased. Here we review two natural membrane processes that are osmotically driven; Forward osmosis (FO) and Pressure retarded osmosis (PRO). Thus, the major points are as follows: 1) it was highlighted in this review, that the major developments in FO process, important for the process efficiency is to choose a suitable membrane and draw solution. 2) The recent evaluation, understanding and optimizing the activities of fouling throughout the osmotic dilution of seawater employing FO was discussed. 3) Recent advancements of FO in the application of food processing was reviewed. 4) It was highlighted that the main concept of PRO for power generation is the energy of mixing that offers great assessment of the nonexpansion work which could be generated from mixing; nonetheless, the development of effective membranes with appropriate arrangement and performance is needed for the advancement of PRO process for power generation. 5) One major challenge of osmotically driven membrane processes, most recent developments and model development to predict their performances were discussed