Treatment of organic contaminants from water using an integrated sorption-oxidation system

University of Technology, Sydney. Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology.In-situ treatment of chlorophenols using a permeable reactive barrier is still an emerging research area. A novel integrated sorption-oxidation barrier is proposed and systematically investigated in a neutral pH, very poorly buffered water. Intermittent injections of permanganate oxidise dissolved and sorbed chlorophenol as well as the woody sorbent with manganese dioxide formed as a by-product. Common woody biomass (pine/hardwood) were evaluated as a cost effective sorbent. Chlorophenol uptake on these was relatively low (3–8 mg g-1) with evidence of sorption hysteresis. Increased sorbent particle size and reactions with the oxidant did not significantly affect sorption. Under dynamic conditions non-equilibrium sorption occurred with higher flow rates. Oxidation within the porous media was complex with multiple oxidation processes occurring simultaneously. An analytical method was developed to allow the quantification of chlorophenol in the presence of a quenching agent. This allowed the collection of kinetic data for the permanganate oxidation reaction. Oxidation of dissolved chlorophenol by manganese dioxide was found to be minimal. Early time data showed that the oxidation rate of pine (0.06 min-1) was less than for chlorophenol sorbed on pine (0.07–0.12 min-1) which was much less than for dissolved chlorophenols (0.4–1.48 min-1). This suggests that the reaction between permanganate and pine materials is kinetically controlled and will dominate only after the oxidation reaction with chlorophenol. The rate of sorbed chlorophenol oxidation decreased with increasing contaminant hydrophobicity. In column studies the oxidation of the pine sorbent was found to be both pH and residence time dependent. Some evidence of sorbent/column plugging and reduced sorbent oxidant demand due to manganese dioxide precipitation was found at pH 6.15 but not at pH 2. The research has shown that a novel sorbent-oxidation barrier system that can treat chlorophenol contaminated water is technically feasible. Insights into the key mechanisms that would occur in the system have been given. Further work into operationalizing these processes is still needed

Gender differentials and sustainable learning environments

The centrality of quality education provisioning for all towards a better and socially just life is acknowledged globally. To date, however, there are still skewed gender differentials unfavourable to girls, thus impeding gender equality. In this paper I report on the reasons for leaving school early cited by out-of-school girls in North-West Province, South Africa. These reasons are juxtaposed against those cited by out-of-school boys to show how powerful gender as ‘positioning in discourses’ appears to be. Structured focus group interviews using the adapted version of ‘Masitsa’s inventory’ were conducted. Qualitative data were coded and analysed based on frequency tables. The findings reveal that more girls than boys say they leave school early owing to: repeated failure; long distance to and from school; pregnancy; poverty; ill-health; attraction of odd jobs; looking after siblings; lack of motivation; early marriage, and criminal activity. The conclusion, therefore, is that if schools in the context of the community can become sustainable learning environments privileging girls’ concerns, they can assist in resolving these problems of skewed gender differentials. This could lead towards achievement of a socially just life for all.Keywords: early school leavers; gender differentials; social justice; sustainable learning environment

Numerical Simulation of Flow between Two Parallel Co-Rotating Discs

The study of fluid flow between two rotating discs aims to predict flow characteristics. In this paper numerical simulation is used to investigate axisymmetric swirling flow between two parallel co-rotating discs. Methodology entails, firstly, inputing parameters from CFD software are into previos study developed dimensionless radial velocity model for flow between two discs to obtain dimensional radial velocity of the model.  Secondly, previous study parameters are used to perform numerical simulation on laminar and turbulent flows between two parallel co-rotating discs. The numerical simulation results are compared to previous study results. Then comparative numerical simulations was carried out on laminar and turbulent flows using CFD software. Results obtained showed that for the this study dimensional radial velocity and previous study dimensionless radial velocity, radial velocity distribution increase proportionately from the disc surface at 0m/s to 2208.00m/s and 0 to 0.0002396 respectively, at the domain centre. And both results satisfy initial inlet and boundary conditions with resultant parabolic profiles. In the study, it is shown that turbulent flow radial velocity profile is smoother than for laminar flow. The radial velocity increases from 0 at the walls to 0.15m/s before decreasing to  - 0.2m/s  at the mid-centre for laminar flow while for turbulent flow the radial velocity intitially increases from 0 at the walls to 0.15m/s before decreasing to -0.06m/s at the discs centre; while for laminar flow, swirl velocity decrease from approximately 2.55m/s to 0.55m/s and for turbulent flow the swirl velocity decrease from approximately 2.84m/s to 1.62m/s. The turbulent flow swirl velocity profile seen to be smoother than for laminar flow around the discs centre. The study further showed that for fluid near the discs surfaces radial velocity net momentum is radially towards the outlet with flow laminar in the boundary layer region and the velocity turbulent towards the domain centre. For static pressure, laminar flow maximum and minimum static pressure 2.48pa and -0.033pa respectively, while for turbulent flow maximum and minimum static pressure were 0.00 and -0.0024pa. The developed previous study model can therefore be used to predict radial velocity distribution between steady axisymmetric flow between two parallel co-rotating discs

Photometric Properties of Long-period Variables in the Large Magellanic Cloud

Approximately four thousand light curves of red variable stars in the LMC were selected from the 2.3-years duration MOA database by a period analysis using the Phase Dispersion Minimization method. Their optical features (amplitudes, periodicities, position in CMD) were investigated. Stars with large amplitues and high periodicities were distributed on the only one strip amongst multiple structure on the LMC period-luminosity relation. In the CMD, the five strips were located in the order of the period. The stars with characterized light curves were also discussed.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, Proceeding of WS on Mass-Losing Pulsating Stars and Their Circumstellar Matter, Sendai, Japa

‘It’s Not a Protest, It’s a Process’: A Critical Analysis of State Power, Class Struggle, and the Occupy Movement

In September 2011, over 2000 people set up a protest camp in Zuccotti Park, New York, to contest the increasing inequality and social injustices, they argued to have been brought about by the few, at the expense of the many. This camp along with thousands of other camps worldwide, that would emerge thereafter, would come to be known as the Occupy movement. This thesis offers an examination of the Occupy movement by way of considering this phenomenon through a neo-Marxist framework, concerning, in particular the matter of class struggle. The research contained within, offers a series of elucidations regarding key theoretical and conceptual concerns, pertaining to matters of state power, in the context of the war of position in the advanced capitalist state and the neoliberal conjuncture. Presented within this specific depiction of the convoluted process that is class struggle, there is also a consideration of potential strategies for alliance. These strategies for alliance are by way of seeking to realise the making of a social class force of ‘the people’, on the terms of the exploited classes, that would bring with it, a material change within the state, and to that end, greater forms of equality and social justice

Road-killed wild animals: a preservation problem useful for eco-epidemiological studies of pathogens

Road-killed wild animals have been for years used for surveillance of vectors of zoonotic pathogens and may offer new opportunities for eco-epidemiological studies. In the current study, fungal infection was evaluated by PCR and nested-PCR in tissue samples collected from 19 road-killed wild animals. The necropsies were carried out and samples were collected for DNA extraction. Results, using PCR with a panfungal primer and nested PCR with specific primers, indicated that some animals are naturally infected with Amauroascus aureus, Metarhizium anisopliae, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus oryzae, Emmonsia parva, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis or Pichia stipitis. The approach employed herein proved useful for detecting the environmental occurrence of several fungi, as well as determining natural reservoirs in wild animals and facilitating the understanding of host-pathogen relationships.(FAPESP) São Paulo Research Foundatio

CFD Port Flow Simulation of Air Flow Rate in Spark Ignition Engine

In the early stages of development of internal combustion engine (ICE), limitations such as speed, range, and lifespan led to series of researches resulting in the reduction or elimination of these limitations. Combustion in ICE is a rapid and controlled endothermic reaction between air in oxygen and fuel which is accompanied by significant increase in temperature and pressure with the production of heat, flame and carbon particle deposits. This combustion process is a phenomenon that involves turbulence, loss of air-fuel mixture during inflow and outflow into the cylinder. The objection of this study is to perform port flow analysis on ICE to determine flow rate and swirl at different valve lift under stationary engine parts.Methodology employed to analyze and solve the ICE port flow simulation is the use of CFD software that uses the finite volume method of numerical analysis to solve the continuity, Navier-Stokes and energy equations governing the air medium in the internal combustion engine cylinder. The model geometry for the analysis was generated using the Ansys Design Modeller for one cylinder, one suction port and one exhaust port, and two valves. The domain considered is internal combustion engine suction port with 86741 nodes and 263155 elements. Study results revealed that air mass was more concentrated around the valve and inlet port cross-section with swirling motion seen, air stream experienced turbulence as it flowed downwards inside the cylinder, air stream spread was turbulent which will eventually enhance smooth combustion, swirling air stream moves towards the cylinder wall where it experienced tumbling and turbulent which will eventually enhance smooth combustion. From the simulation it was revealed that mass flow rate of inlet air increases with valve lift

Design, Construction and Simulation of Tesla Turbine

Investigations of laminar fluid flow between two moving or stationary plates, and two rotating discs, over the years were geared toward how to increase Tesla-based turbine efficiency. Therefore, this research entails the construction, design and simulation of a Tesla turbine in order to investigate the potential of Tesla turbine for energy generation. Method of solution entails the design and construction of a physical model Tesla turbine from locally sourced materials. The physical model geometry and design parameters were then used to conduct numerical simulation. Performance evaluation was then carried on the physical model and the simulation model. The result showed that voltage, current and power all increase with increase in rev. per minute.  The result obtained indicates that for higher power generation, a Tesla turbine design with higher revolution per minute capability will be required.  Turbine model simulation showed that radial velocity vector to be concentrated at the discs periphery and outlet. The research results are good references for design of larger Tesla turbine for community use