Dynamic Treatment Response of Olive Mills Wastewater Using Series of Adsorption Steps

Olive mills wastewater (OMW) is a critical environmental problem in the Mediterranean area due to its extremely high levels of COD and phenols. In this study, a group of adsorption experiments were conducted to investigate the dynamic response of the pH, COD, phenols, TSS, TDS, and TS concentrations of pretreated OMW, using different concentrations of activated carbon as adsorbent. The pretreatment included sedimentation and filtration of OMW. The pretreated OMW was then subjected to adsorption. A series of adsorption steps in stirred batch vessels were studied, namely, one stage, two‐stage countercurrent, and three‐stage countercurrent adsorption systems. A combined two‐ two‐stage countercurrent adsorption steps were also studied. Experimental results showed that such treatment protocols were promising. For example, a treatment protocol composed of a three‐stage countercurrent adsorption process using activated carbon of concentration of 24 g/L of OMW was able to reduce the COD from 60 000 mg/L down to 22 300 mg/L, while phenols were reduced from 450 to 15 mg/L.     

Revisiting the Amati and Yonetoku correlations with Swift GRBs

We use a sample of Swift gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) to analyze the Amati and Yonetoku correlations. The first relation is between E _p,i , the intrinsic peak energy of the prompt GRB emission, and E _iso , the equivalent isotropic energy. The second relation is between E _p,i and L _iso , the isotropic peak luminosity. We select a sample of 71 Swift GRBs that have a measured redshift and whose observed $E^{obs}_{p}$ is within the interval of energy 15–150 keV with a relative uncertainty of less than 70 %. We seek to find correlation relations for long-duration GRBs (LGRBs) with a peak photon flux P _ph ≥2.6 ph/cm²/s. Uncertainties (error bars) on the values of the calculated energy flux P, the energy E _iso , and the peak isotropic luminosity L _iso are estimated using a Monte Carlo approach. We find 27 Swift LGRBs that satisfy all our constraints. Results of our analyses of the sample of 71 GRBs and the selected subsample (27 GRBs) are in good agreement with published results. The plots of the two relations for all bursts show a large dispersion around the best straight lines in the sample of 71 LGRBs but not so much in the subsample of 27 GRBs.     

A new modified borehole jack for stiff rock

Summary The modified borehole jacking method, as introduced by De La Cruz in 1978, has important theoretical advantages over the common method which is associated with the name Goodman. So far, however, the modified method has not succeeded, mainly due to a lack of suitable instrumentation. To overcome this problem, a new type of modified borehole jack has been designed, built and tested. The new jack incorporates two highly innovative components: a recoverable sensor for measuring tangential strain at borehole surfaces and stacked hydraulic cylinders for extra-high load outputs.The new jack has been developed to the point at which its technical feasibility under field conditions, including its capability of yielding meaningful results, is demonstrated. Calibration in a hollow steel cylinder revealed that the new modified jack yields the correct Young's modulus within an error margin of less than ±5%. In-situ jacking tests were carried out at a major dam construction site. Results were obtained from both common and modified borehole jacking and from conventional laboratory testing of drill cores. The results of these tests are presented and discussed against the background of the particular rock conditions at the site.     

Impact of climate change on groundwater recharge in a small catchment in the Black Forest, Germany

Temporal and spatial changes of the hydrological cycle are the consequences of climate variations. In addition to changes in surface runoff with possible floods and droughts, climate variations may affect groundwater through alteration of groundwater recharge with consequences for future water management. This study investigates the impact of climate change, according to the Special Report on Emission Scenarios (SRES) A1B, A2 and B1, on groundwater recharge in the catchment area of a fissured aquifer in the Black Forest, Germany, which has sparse groundwater data. The study uses a water-balance model considering a conceptual approach for groundwater-surface water exchange. River discharge data are used for model calibration and validation. The results show temporal and spatial changes in groundwater recharge. Groundwater recharge is progressively reduced for summer during the twenty-first century. The annual sum of groundwater recharge is affected negatively for scenarios A1B and A2. On average, groundwater recharge during the twenty-first century is reduced mainly for the lower parts of the valley and increased for the upper parts of the valley and the crests. The reduced storage of water as snow during winter due to projected higher air temperatures causes an important relative increase in rainfall and, therefore, higher groundwater recharge and river discharge.     

考虑膨胀应力和剪胀的深埋隧道弹塑性解

基于湿度应力场理论,推导了考虑膨胀应力和剪胀特性的圆形隧道开挖后围岩力学响应的弹塑性解。将隧道软弱围岩遇水膨胀现象视为湿度-应力耦合过程,基于Fick第二定律,推导了圆形隧洞围岩内湿度扩散非稳态解。采用非关联流动法则,获得了隧道高膨胀势区的应力和位移解答。以两种不同质量岩体开挖的隧洞为例,分析了膨胀围岩应力和变形的影响因素。结果表明,考虑膨胀应力(取决于围岩含水率变化和湿度膨胀系数)时,塑性区扩大,松动圈厚度增加,应力收敛变慢。当膨胀应力增大到一定程度时,塑性区将出现拉应力区。膨胀岩隧洞开挖遇水作用,膨胀应力增加的围岩变形远大于地应力引起的围岩变形。同时,应力剪胀对膨胀性围岩的变形影响不容忽视,尤其是在支护抗力较小的情况下,洞壁处径向位移增加显著。