Cd(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) Removal from Contaminated Water by Biosorption Using Activated Sludge Biomass

Biosorption using activated sludge biomass (ASB) as a potentially sustainable technology for the treatment of wastewater containing different metal ions (Cd(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II)) was investigated. ASB metal uptake clearly competed with protons consumed by microbial biomass compared with control tests with non‐activated sludge biomass. Biosorption tests confirmed maximum exchange between metal ions and protons at pH 2.0–4.5. It was revealed by the study that the amount of metal ions released from the biomass increased with biomass sludge concentration. The result showed that maximum absorption of metal ions was observed for Cd(II) at pH 3.5, Pb(II) at pH 4.0, and pH 4.5 for Zn(II) ions. The maximum absorption capacities of ASB for Cd(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) were determined to be 59.3, 68.5 and 86.5%, respectively. The biosorption of heavy metals was directly proportional to ASB stabilization corresponding to a reduction in heavy metals in the order of Cd < Pb < Zn. The order of increase of biosorption of metal ions in ASB was Zn(II) < Pb(II) < Cd(II), and this was opposite to that of non active sludge. The results indicate that ASB is a sustainable tools for the bioremediation of Cd(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) ions from industrial sludge and wastewater treatment plants.     

The Effects of Hydrophilic Polymer and Soil Salinity on Corn Growth in Sandy and Loamy Soils

The interaction effects of different applied ratios of a hydrophilic polymer (Superab A200) (0, 0.2, 0.6% w/w) under various soil salinity levels (initial salinity, 4 and 8 ms/cm) were evaluated on available water content (AWC), biomass, and water use efficiency for corn grown in loamy sand and sandy clay loam soils. The results showed that the highest AWC was measured at the lowest soil salinity. The application of 0.6% w/w of the polymer at the lowest salinity level increased the AWC by 2.2 and 1.2 times greater than those of control in the loamy sand and sandy clay loam soils, respectively. The analysis of variance of data showed that the effect of salinity was significant on biomass and water use efficiency of corn in the loamy sand and sandy clay loam soils. The highest amounts of these traits were measured in soils with the lowest salinity level. Application of polymer at the rate of 0.6% in the loamy sand soil and at the rate of 0.2% in the sandy clay loam soil resulted in the highest aerial and root biomass and water use efficiency for corn. At these polymer rates the amounts of water use efficiency for corn were 2.6 and 1.7 times greater than those of control in the loamy sand and sandy clay loam soils, respectively. Thus, the use of hydrophilic polymer in soils especially in the sandy soils increases soil water holding capacity, yield, and water use efficiency of plant. On the other hand, decreases the negative effect of soil salinity on plant and helps for irrigation projects to succeed in arid and semi‐arid areas.     

Application of various methods for 2D inverse modeling of residual gravity anomalies

This paper presents a neural network approach to determine 2D inverse modeling of a buried structure from gravity anomaly profile. The results of the applied neural network method are compared with the results of two other methods, least-squares minimization and the simple method. Sphere, horizontal cylinder and vertical cylinder and their gravity effects are considered as the synthetic models and the synthetic data, respectively. The synthetic data are also corrupted with noise to evaluate the capability of the methods. Then the Dehloran bitumen map in Iran is chosen as a real data application. Anomaly value of the cross-section, which is taken from the gravity anomaly map of Dehloran bitumen, is very close to those obtained from these methods.     

A global kinetic spatial data structure for a marine simulation

This paper proposes a new Free-Lagrange method based on the kinetic Voronoi diagram for fluid simulation. The objective here is to combine the advantages of an adoptive mesh structure with the advantages of kinetic mesh maintenance, and demonstrate their value for dynamic simulation. Despite the theoretical advantages of the Free-Lagrange method, its use has been handicapped with the reconstruction of topology after each time step that considerably reduces the efficiency of the method. In addition, the use of fixed time steps causes problems such as overshoots and undetected collisions. In order to demonstrate the ability of the proposed model to solve these problems, the method is applied to a dam-breaking problem and global tides. With the results obtained from these numerical experiments, the validity of the global kinetic data structure is approved. In particular, the method is found to be more efficient than existing methods. In addition, qualitative comparison of physical results with analytical solutions demonstrates the similarity of the results and confirms the physical validity of the proposed method. Further investigations with real-world data and the complete equation of motion are suggested to compare it with other numerical methods.     

2.5-D Gravity/Magnetic Model Studies in Sahl El Qaa Area, Southwestern Sinai, Egypt

The 2.5-D gravity-magnetic models of the upper crustal structures of Sahl El Qaa Area, Southwestern Sinai were constructed along seven profiles, focusing on the uppermost crustal layers to a depth of 4–5 km. In addition separation filtering process; spectral analysis and trend analysis were used to investigate the Bouguer and total intensity aeromagnetic field maps qualitatively and quantitatively. The study showed that the regional structures consist of tilted blocks in the form of a major NW-synclinal feature with an axis dipping northward. This feature is dissected by the NE trending cross faults forming horsts, grabens and step-fault structures. The tilted blocks are controlled by a major normal fault system and are greatly modified in the dip regime from north to south. They show a regional NW dip regime in northern and southern parts, where the depth to the basement reaches about 2–3 km in the down dip. In the central portion, the basin is dipping steeply to the east, with maximum depths attaining about 4–5 km.     

Trimmed L-moments (1,0) for the generalized Pareto distribution

Abstract

Statistical analysis of extremes is often used for predicting the higher return-period events. In this paper, the trimmed L-moments with one smallest value trimmed—TL-moments (1,0)—are introduced as an alternative way to estimate floods for high return periods. The TL-moments (1,0) have an ability to reduce the undesirable influence that a small value in the statistical sample might have on a large return period. The main objective of this study is to derive the TL-moments (1,0) for the generalized Pareto (GPA) distribution. The performance of the TL-moments (1,0) was compared with L-moments through Monte Carlo simulation based on the streamflow data of northern Peninsular Malaysia. The result shows that, for some cases, the use of TL-moments (1,0) is a better option as compared to L-moments in modelling those series.

Citation Ahmad, U.N., Shabri, A. & Zakaria, Z.A. (2011) Trimmed L-moments (1,0) for the generalized Pareto distribution. Hydrol.Sci. J. 56(6), 1053–1060.     

Baseline metals pollution profile of tropical estuaries and coastal waters of the Straits of Malacca

The status report on metal pollution in tropical estuaries and coastal waters is important to understand potential environmental health hazards. Detailed baseline measurements were made on physicochemical parameters (pH, temperature, redox potential, electrical conductivity, salinity, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solid), major ions (Na, Ca, Mg, K, HCO₃, Cl, SO₄ and NO₃) and metals concentrations (²⁷Al, ⁷⁵As, ¹³⁸Ba, ⁹Be, ¹¹¹Cd, ⁵⁹Co, ⁶³Cu, ⁵²Cr, ⁵⁷Fe, ⁵⁵Mn, ⁶⁰Ni, ²⁰⁸Pb, ⁸⁰Se, ⁶⁶Zn) at estuaries and coastal waters along the Straits of Malacca. Principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to reveal potential pollution sources. Seven principal components were extracted with relation to pollution contribution from minerals-related parameters, natural and anthropogenic sources. The output from this study will generate a profound understanding on the metal pollution status and pollution risk of the estuaries and coastal system.     

Temperature–salinity modeling for Ruwais coastal area in United Arab Emirates

A three dimensional rectangular grid model is applied to resolve the temperature–salinity dynamics of Ruwais, a segment of the UAE coast which is well known as dense water formation zone. The model employs a heat flux module and a turbulence closure scheme that facilitate realistic calculation of temperature–salinity dynamics. A field survey campaign is carried out to support the modeling study, involving measurements of tide, currents, temperature, and salinity. Investigation is done for two meteorologically extreme conditions, i.e. summer and winter. The model study showed that the western flux develops an anticlockwise circulation in the study area. The water industrial discharges elevated the temperature and salinity of the water near the southeastern shoreline. This water mass propagated towards north under the influence of gravity.     

Climatic prediction of the terrestrial and coastal areas of Iraq

Climatic data from four meteorological stations in Iraq (Mosul, Baghdad, Basra, and Rutba) were obtained. The recorded temperature data since 1960 till 2007 and rainfall and evaporation data since 1960 till 2008 and 1970 till 2008, respectively, were used and interpreted. This study showed an increase in temperature of about 5°C/47?years and an increase in evaporation rate with a decrease in the rainfall rate. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere appears to be a factor controlling climate change. Basra climate, due to its location which is nearest to the Arabian Gulf, is expressed as a coastal climate and has a different behavior from Mosul, Baghdad, and Rutba, which are considered as terrestrial climates.