Coagulation performance and microstructural morphology of a novel magnetic composite coagulant for pre-treating landfill leachate

A novel magnetic composite coagulant, prepared from nano-Fe₃O₄ and poly-aluminum chloride, was introduced to pre-treat mature landfill leachate. The coagulation performance of the coagulant as well as its microstructural morphology was discussed. Coagulation experimental results revealed that the coagulation performance of the landfill leachate using the new coagulant was better than that using poly-aluminum chloride alone, with COD and color removals above 60 and 68%, respectively. Based on the analysis of three-dimensional excitation–emission matrix spectrum, the fluorescence signals of treated leachate are totally reduced by the magnetic composite coagulant. The components of dissolved organic matters in the wastewater are removed in different degrees. Fourier transform infrared spectra analysis shows that the magnetic composite coagulant, which is a multi-core polymer with hydroxyl ligands and nano-Fe₃O₄, has a complex valence and crystal structure. Besides, X-ray diffraction pattern analysis indicates that the chemical composition of the magnetic composite coagulant is not changed significantly, which has comprehensively combined the chemical characteristics of both nano-Fe₃O₄ and poly-aluminum chloride, whereas the specific surface area of the novel magnetic composite coagulant effectively increased by nano-Fe₃O₄ particles under the analysis of scanning electron microscope spectral. The specific surface area analysis indicates that the magnetic composite coagulant is interconnected by narrow cracks and holes and has a high specific surface area and developed pore structure, which is also similar to the typical porous-type materials. Therefore, the nano-Fe₃O₄ compounded with poly-aluminum chloride leads to a larger specific surface, smaller average pore diameter, and more pore volume of the novel coagulant.     

Application of fractal content-gradient method for delineating geochemical anomalies associated with copper occurrences in the Yangla ore field,China

Fractal and multi-fractal content area method finds application in a wide variety of geological, geochemical and geophysical fields. In this study, the fractal content-gradient method was used on 1:10,000 scale to delineate geochemical anomalies associated with copper mineralization. Analysis of geochemical data from the Yangla super large Cu-Pb-Zn polymetallic ore district using the fractal content-gradient method, combined with other geological data from this area, indicates that ore-prospecting in the ore district should focus on Cu as the main metal and Pb-Zn and Au as the auxiliary metals. The types of deposits include (in chronological order) re-formed sedimentary exhalative (SEDEX), skarns, porphyries, and hydrothermal vein-type deposits. Three ore-prospecting targets are divided on a S–N basis: (1) the Qulong exploration area, in which the targets are porphyry-type Cu deposits; (2) the Zongya exploration area, where the targets are porphyry-type Cu and hydrothermal vein-type Cu-Pb polymetallic deposits; and (3) the Zarelongma exploration area, characterized mainly skarn-type “Yangla-style” massive sulfide Cu-Pb deposits. Our study demonstrates that the fractal content-gradient method is convenient, simple, rapid, and direct for delineating geochemical anomalies and for outlining potential exploration targets.     

Extracting mineral alteration information using WorldView-3 data

The multispectral commercial satellite-WorldView-3 (WV-3) has the highest spatial, spectral and radiation resolutions among the satellites currently and can generate good data in the shortwave infrared (SWIR). The study area is located in the Pobei area of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which is rich in mineral resources. The spectral analyses of some typical altered hydroxy-bearing, iron-bearing, and carbonate-bearing minerals could establish several Principal Component Analysis (PCA) models and mineral indices, using the visible and near infrared (VNIR) and the shortwave infrared (SWIR) subsystems of WV-3 data. In addition, the Spectral Angle Method and the spectrum index tool of ENVI software were used to extract the relevant alteration information. The WV-3 data is well suited for identifying hydroxy-bearing alteration with rich SWIR bands which distinguish Al-OH-bearing from Mg-OH-bearing alteration. Hence, this study provides a basis for the prediction of mineral resources in the Pobei area and sets the foundation for WV-3 data to be used as an important tool in extracting alteration information and prospecting practices.     

弹塑性坚固体孕震模型的力学性质研究

对硬包体模型进行了三维弹塑性有限元分析。随着载荷的不断增加,探讨了位移场、应力场和可恢复的弹性变形势能场。所得结果对研究孕震过程、前兆机制等有一定价值     

The Crust-Mantle Structure in Zhangbei-Shangyi Earthquake Area

The seismic data obtained from the wide angle reflection and refraction profiles that pass through Zhangjiakou area of Hebei Province were interpreted. Some conclusions drawn from the result are as follows: (1) The nearly EW-trending Zhangbei-Chongli crustal fault zone and WNW-trending Zhangjiakou-Bohai Sea deep crustal fault zone meet in the Zhangbei earthquake (Ms = 6.2) area; (2) At the intersection, the two deep crustal fault zones that stretch to the Moho and the discontinuities of interfaces within the crust form the path for large area basalt eruption in Hannuoba; (3) In the earthquake area, the local velocity reversal in the middle-upper crust and abnormal low velocity zone in the lower crust imply that the magmatic activity there is still fairly violent; and (4) The recent activity of Zhangjiakou-Bohai Sea deep crustal fault zone may be the main cause of the Zhangbei earthquake.     

A preliminary study on benthos food web structure of tidal zone in the Laoshan Bay by using stable carbon isotopes

By analyses of carbon isotopic composition(δ¹³C values) of the benthos collected in the Laoshan Bay in August 1993 and February and May 1994, it is found that the main food sources of the benthos can be divided into four groups in terms of carbon isotope composition: Particulate Organic Matter (POM),benthic diatoms, benthic macroalgae and the organic matter in sediments.The results show that the carbon isotopic composition of the benthic animals has a close relation with that of the food they take in.The carbon isotopic compositions of benthos may be useful in elucidating their food sources.The carbon isotopic data have confirmed that POM is the main food source of the benthic filter feeders such as bivalves; crustaceans have a wide range of δ¹³C values, showing their food source has diversity; benthic diatoms are an important fraction of the food for most of gastropods.A preliminary investigation of the benthic-pelagic coupling in that region using the stable carbon isotopic tracers has confirmed the importance of POM as a food source for benthos in this region,but the organic matter in sediments and benthic diatoms are also relatively important for a lot of benthic animals.The benthic-pelagic coupling in the Laoshan Bay temperate ecosystem is not so tight as that in ecosystems at higher latitudes such as north-eastern water polynya.     

Forward modelling and imaging of ground‐penetrating radar in tunnel ahead geological prospecting

Adverse geologies are often encountered during tunnel construction, which could seriously endanger the construction. To ensure the safety, it is essential to detect adverse geologies and their water‐bearing situation ahead the tunnel face. Ground‐penetrating radar is a suitable instrument, but the accurate interpretation of its detection results is difficult. In this paper, at first, an improved back projection imaging algorithm is proposed, which can make reflection waves closer to the real geological boundaries with few artificial clutters. And then, forward modelling of ground‐penetrating radar is carried out for typical adverse geologies, such as karst caves, faults, fractured rock masses, fracture network, and water‐bearing body. Their corresponding response features are obtained, accumulating experience for geological interpretation. The above two methods provide the basis for target identification and geological interpretation. In the last part, the application of the above two methods in several engineering cases are given, and their effectiveness is verified.     

Impacts of the Kuroshio intrusion on the two eddies in the northern South China Sea in late spring 2016

During mid-May to early June 2016, a cold eddy and a warm eddy were captured on the continental slope of the northern South China Sea by the in situ measurements. A salty lens-shaped water mass in the subsurface layer existed in these two detected eddies, which indicated they had a Kuroshio water origin. The trajectories of the observed eddies from satellite altimeter data show that the cold eddy was generated in the central part of the Luzon Strait, while the warm eddy was formed southwest of Taiwan. The genesis of the cold eddy is related to a weak Kuroshio loop current, while that of the warm eddy is associated with a strong Kuroshio loop current. The warm eddy east of the Luzon Strait may trigger the Kuroshio from a leaping path to a looping path. During the evolution of these detected eddies, they had interactions with the Kuroshio and Luzon Gyre. Energy analysis from ocean reanalysis data showed that the baroclinic conversion between the cold eddy and the Kuroshio was stronger than that between the cold eddy and Luzon Gyre. During the eddy shedding stage, the warm eddy mainly acquired energy from the Kuroshio loop current through the baroclinic conversion.     

Experimental investigation on reparability of an infilled rocking wall frame structure

Improving seismic performance is one of the critical objectives in earthquake engineering. With the development of economy and society, reparability and fast resilience of a structure are becoming increasingly important. Reinforced concrete (RC) frame structure is prone to soft story mechanism. As a result, deformation and damage are so concentrated that reparability is severely hampered. Rocking wall provides an available approach for deformation control in RC frame by introducing a continuous component along the height. Previous researches mostly focus on seismic responses of rocking wall frame structures, while damage mode and reparability have not been investigated in detail. In this study, a novel infilled rocking wall frame (IRWF) structure is proposed. A half‐scaled IRWF model was designed according to Chinese seismic design code. The model was subjected to cyclic pushover testing up to structure drift ratio of 1/50 (amplitude 1/50), and its reparability was evaluated thereafter. Retrofit was implemented by wrapping steel plates and installing friction dampers. The retrofitted model was further loaded up to amplitude 1/30. The IRWF model showed excellent reparability and satisfactory seismic performance on deformation control, damage mode, hysteresis behavior, and beam‐to‐column joint rotation. After retrofitting, capacity of the model was improved by 11% with limited crack distribution. The model did not degrade until amplitude 1/30, due to shear failure in frame beams. The retrofit procedure was proved effective, and reparability of the IRWF model was demonstrated. Seismic resilience tends to be achieved in the proposed system.     

Did Ecological Engineering Projects Have a Significant Effect on Large-scale Vegetation Restoration in Beijing-Tianjin Sand Source Region,China? A Remote Sensing Approach

Aiming for the restoration of degraded ecosystems, many ecological engineering projects have been implemented around the world. This study investigates the ecological engineering project effectiveness on vegetation restoration in the Beijing-Tianjin Sand Source Region(BTSSR) from 2000 to 2010 based on the rain use efficiency(RUE) trend in relation to the land cover. More than half of the BTSSR experienced a vegetation productivity increase from 2000 to 2010, with the increasing intensity being sensitive to the indicators chosen. A clear tendency towards smaller increasing areas was shown when using the net primary productivity(NPP, 51.30%) instead of the accumulated normalized difference vegetation index(59.30%). The short-term variation in the precipitation and intra-seasonal precipitation distribution had a great impact on the remote sensing-based vegetation productivity. However, the residual trends method(RESTREND) effectively eliminated this correlation, while incorporating the variance and skewness of the precipitation distribution increased the models′ ability to explain the vegetation productivity variation. The RUE combined with land cover dynamics was valid for the effectiveness assessment of the ecological engineering projects on vegetation restoration. Particularly, the result based on growing season accumulated normalized difference vegetation index(ΣNDVI) residuals was the most effective, showing that 47.39% of the BTSSR experienced vegetation restoration from 2000 to 2010. The effectiveness of the ecological engineering projects differed for each subarea and was proportional to the strength of ecological engineering. The water erosion region dominated by woodland showed the best restoration, followed by the wind-water erosion crisscross regions, while the wind erosion regions dominated by grassland showed the worst effect. Seriously degraded regions still cover more area in the BTSSR than restored regions. Therefore, more future effort should be put in restoring degraded land.