Modification of MCM‐41 with Anionic Surfactant: A Convenient Design for Efficient Removal of Cationic Dyes from Wastewater

The potential of MCM‐41 for the removal of cationic dyes from water solution was evaluated using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) for the surface modification of this mesoporous material. Admicelle structures formed on the surface of the calcined MCM‐41 are capable of removing organic pollutants and cationic species from water environment. The structural, textural, and surface chemical characteristics of the prepared SDS‐modified MCM‐41 (SDS‐MCM‐41) were studied. The adsorption capacity of SDS‐MCM‐41 was evaluated for methylene blue (MB) as a target cationic dye. Equilibrium adsorption isotherm data were manipulated employing nonlinear regression analysis. The Langmuir, Freundlich, and Sips isotherm models were examined. The adsorption data were well fitted to both Langmuir and Sips isotherm models. The maximum adsorption capacity of SDS‐MCM‐41 for MB, based on Langmuir and Sips models, were 290.8 and 297.3 mg g^?1, respectively. Ethanol was found to be an effective solvent for partial regeneration of the adsorbent.     

Multiple linear regression,multi-layer perceptron network and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system for forecasting precipitation based on large-scale climate signals

ABSTRACT

Nowadays, mathematical models are widely used to predict climate processes, but little has been done to compare the models. In this study, multiple linear regression (MLR), multi-layer perceptron (MLP) network and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) models were compared for precipitation forecasting. The large-scale climate signals were considered as inputs to the applied models. After selecting the most effective climate indices, the effects of large-scale climate signals on the seasonal standardized precipitation index (SPI) of the Maharlu-Bakhtaran catchment, Iran, simultaneously and with a delay, was analysed using a cross-correlation function. Hence, the SPI time series was forecasted up to four time intervals using MLR, MLP and ANFIS. The results showed that most of the indices were significant with SPI of different lag times. Comparison of the SPI forecast results by MLR, MLP and ANFIS models showed better performance for the MLP network than the other two models (RMSE = 0.86, MAE = 0.74 for the first step ahead of SPI forecasting).

Editor D. Koutsoyiannis; Associate editor F. Pappenberger     

Recognition of shallow karst water resources and cave potentials using thermal infrared image and terrain characteristics in semi-arid regions of Iran

Shallow karst water resources and caves may influence land surface temperatures due to cold transfer property of rocks and evaporation from buried karst. The objective of this research was to develop a method for recognition of karst areas based on evaluating the surface characteristics that manifest itself by low land surface temperature in the satellite images. Investigation of thermal ETM⁺ image of the study region in Iran showed that parts of carbonate rocks that bear karst water are relatively cooler compared to areas with similar terrain conditions. Relational modeling provided useful information on spatial distribution of areas that have the potential to hold karst water resources and/or caves. Further inspection of ASTER images, along with geotechnical, geophysical and geological field surveys verified the approach. Significant correlation was found between electrical resistivity and thermal band values. The method may be used as a primary exploratory tool for shallow karst water explorations in similar areas.     

Efficiency of standardized image processing in the fragmentation prediction in the case of Sungun open-pit mine

The paper proposes a standardized image-processing procedure with the use of sieve analysis results for calibration which is utilized to measure the size distribution of fragmentation at Sungun mine. Through this procedure, a number of 19 bench blasting in various levels have been initially selected as the target of the study for each, multiple photos were taken immediately after blast from suitable perspectives and locations of the muckpiles surfaces. The number of image sampling was chosen adequately high to achieve further reliability of the whole photography procedure. Then fragments of each muckpile were separately mixed by a loader, where another image sampling from these new muckpiles, bucket of loaders, and haulage trucks was performed. For the purpose of sieve analysis, seven sieves with the mesh sizes between 1.27 cm (0.5 in) and 25.4 cm (10 in) were designed, manufactured, and then installed at Sungun semi-industrial laboratory. Additionally, three mass samples of the mixed fragments were randomly chosen among the 19 muckpiles for sieving. During image analysis stage, “sieve shift” and “mass power” factors, required to obtain standardized size distribution, were precisely assigned when the results obtained by the image analysis software was in accordance with the sieving results. In order to validate the reliability of the image processing, a comparative analysis of the achieved results was made with the results of the original Kuz–Ram model [Cunningham (1983) The Kuz–Ram model for prediction of fragmentation from blasting. In: Proceedings of the first international symposium on rock fragmentation by blasting, Lulea, Sweden, pp 439–454]. Finally, the image-processing procedure was found to be more efficient, with results close-matched to the real results of the sieve analysis.     

Hydrodynamic behavior of curtainwall-pile breakwaters

A numerical model is developed that can predict the interaction of regular waves normally incident upon a curtainwall-pile breakwater; the upper part of which is a vertical wall and the lower part consists of an array of vertical piles. The numerical model is based on an eigenfunction expansion method, and utilizes a boundary condition nearby the vertical piles that accounts for wave energy dissipation. Numerical solution comprises a finite number of terms, which is a superposition of propagating waves and a series of evanescent waves. The modeling is validated by comparison with previous experimental studies and overall agreement between measurement and calculation is fairly good. The numerical results are related to reflection, transmission, and dissipation coefficient; wave run-up, wave force, and wave overturning moment are also presented. Effect of porosity, relative draft, and relative water depth are discussed; the choice of suitable range of them is described. The relative draft is more effective for shallow water waves. Model shows decrease in relative draft and leads to reduction of relative wave force, overturning moment, and runup. It is shown that curtainwall-pile breakwaters can operate both effectively and efficiently in the range of relative draft between 0.15 and 0.75. The range 0.5 to 0.2 is also recommended for porosity.     

Rainfall-runoff modeling considering soil moisture accounting algorithm,case study: Karoon III River basin

In contrast to event based hydrologic models which reveal how a basin responds to an individual rainfall event, continuous ones synthesize hydrologic processes over a longer time period that includes both dry and wet conditions. With respect to the importance of infiltration method in Rainfall-Runoff (RR) modeling, the objective of this study was to assess HEC-HMS with Soil Moisture Accounting (SMA) infiltration algorithm, considering several components of hydrologic cycle such as canopy interception, surface depression, infiltration into the soil profile storage, percolation to the ground water aquifer and base flow caused by available soil storage vs. maximum saturated capacity of soil layer, to model daily flows of Karoon III basin (Iran). The model showed satisfied performance by accounting initial moisture condition by SMA model with Nash-Sutcliffe (NS) coefficient of 0.76 and 0.64 for calibration and verification. Sensitivity analysis showed that saturated hydraulic conductivity (K), Clark storage coefficient (R) and time of concentration (t _c) were the most effective parameters on the simulated Peak Over Thresholds (POT). Results from this study assist in improving model accuracy and ability to predict future conditions based upon basin characteristic change.     

Optimal location of additional exploratory drillholes using afuzzy-artificial bee colony algorithm

In most research studies, the problem of locating additional drillhole is simplified, and the ore body is considered as a 2d object. In this study, location of additional drillholes are optimized by considering the third dimension of the ore body, the azimuth and the dip of additional drill holes. A new objective function is defined to address the effect of rock type in locating new drillholes. The optimization problem is solved using a novel fuzzy-artificial bee colony algorithm, called FABC. The parameters of the FABC algorithm is dynamically adjusted using a designed fuzzy inference system with three performance measures as inputs and two outputs. The comparison performance with state-of-the-art optimization algorithm, using a nonparametric hypothesis test, indicates higher performance of the FABC algorithm. The results indicate significantly a decrease of kriging variance by introducing additional drillholes.     

Watershed classification by remote sensing indices: A fuzzy c-means clustering approach

Determining the relatively similar hydrological properties of the watersheds is very crucial in order to readily classify them for management practices such as flood and soil erosion control. This study aimed to identify homogeneous hydrological watersheds using remote sensing data in western Iran. To achieve this goal, remote sensing indices including SAVI, LAI, NDMI, NDVI and snow cover, were extracted from MODIS data over the period 2000 to 2015. Then, a fuzzy method was used to clustering the watersheds based on the extracted indices. A fuzzy c-mean (FCM) algorithm enabled to classify 38 watersheds in three homogeneous groups. The optimal number of clusters was determined through evaluation of partition coefficient, partition entropy function and trial and error. The results indicated three homogeneous regions identified by the fuzzy c-mean clustering and remote sensing product which are consistent with the variations of topography and climate of the study area. Inherently, the grouped watersheds have similar hydrological properties and are likely to need similar management considerations and measures.     

Latest Tournaisian–late Viséan foraminiferal biozonation (MFZ8–MFZ14) of the Valiabad area,northwestern Alborz (Iran): geological implications

The Mobarak Formation in the Valiabad area (northwestern Alborz, Iran) is composed of bioclastic, oolitic and sandy limestone interbedded with black shale, and is disconformably underlain and overlain by the Cambrian Lalun and Permian Dorud formations, respectively. In this study, 104 foraminiferal species belonging to 12 families and 33 genera were determined. Among them, six genera and nine species are reported for the first time in Iran. Analysis of the foraminiferal assemblages has identified eight local biozones, which can be correlated with the MFZ8 to MFZ14 zones of the Viséan stratotypes in Belgium. The Valiabad equivalents of these biozones are essentially characterized by (1) Eoparastaffella ex gr. rotunda‐‘florigena’–Lysella cf. gadukensis; (2) Eoparastaffella simplex–Lapparentidiscus bokanensis; (3) Ammarchaediscus; (4) Uralodiscus–Glomodiscus; (5) Glomodiscus–Archaediscus; (6) Pojarkovella–Mstinia fallax; (7) Mstinia bulloides–Pseudoendothyra; and (8) Howchinia gibba–Howchinia bradyana–Tubispirodiscus attenuatus. Consequently, the Valiabad section appears to be one of the most complete Viséan sections in Iran. Some taxonomic precisions are provided about the principal taxa. Biogeographically, (1) the MFZ8–MFZ11 biozones are extended to all the shelves of the Palaeotethys (from Ireland to South China) and Urals oceans; nevertheless, due to the complete evolution of archaediscoids, they seem more related to the Perigondwanan assemblages from Sinai and Taurus (including the Antalya Nappes); (2) the MFZ12 assemblage appears relatively endemic; and (3) the impoverished assemblages of the biozones MFZ13‐14 have marked affinities with the Kazakhstan Block. It is currently impossible to indicate precisely if these variations are related with a drift of the Alborz region to the north, or to a change of oceanic currents. Moreover, the double affinity highlights the narrowness of the Palaeotethys in Iran during the Viséan. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.