Biological and Physical Attenuation of Endocrine Disruptors and Pharmaceuticals: Implications for Water Reuse

A select group of endocrine disrupters, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products was studied to determine the degree of biological attenuation in water reuse applications. Laboratory investigations involved both batch reactors using biologically active sand and continuous flow simulated aquifer storage and recovery experiments. All laboratory experiments were conducted using Colorado River water spiked with various target compounds at concentrations between 10 and 100 ng/L. Field studies were also conducted to determine the occurrence and attenuation of target compounds in water reuse applications. Two golf courses irrigated with reuse water were studied to determine if turf applications led to contamination of nearby ground water. A waste water treatment facility that uses rapid infiltration basins seasonally was also tested to determine the degree of attenuation of detectable target compounds along a subsurface flowpath. A qualitative structural activity relationship model was applied to the target compounds to predict the general rate of aerobic biological degradation. Significant attenuation of many target compounds was observed in both laboratory and field experiments. Conversely, several compounds displayed limited removal during these studies. Field experiments were limited to detectable compounds and various nonbiological removal or concentration effects that may impact data interpretations, which are discussed in this paper. The predictive model was found to be moderately accurate within the confines of the project scope.     

Space-continuous measurements on ocean current and chemicalproperties with the intelligent towed vehicle “Flying Fish”

A research project to develop observation systems for heat, momentum, and material circulation in the ocean and atmosphere was carried out from 1992 to 1997. A pitch, roll, and depth controllable towed vehicle called “Flying Fish” was developed which houses an acoustic Doppler current profiler, CO₂ analyzer, and sensors for measuring temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, and chlorophyll. The length of the vehicle is 3.84 m, the breadth is 2.26 m, the height is 1.4 m, the weight in air is 1400 kg, and the weight in water is roughly 0 kg. Flying Fish enables us to obtain space-continuous data of physical and chemical properties efficiently in the upper mixed layer of the ocean, From 1994 to 1997, the vehicle was used for observations in the northern, southern, and central parts of the Japan Sea in a collaborative study by Japan, Korea, and Russia. Examples of data obtained are shown in this paper and the results of current velocities are compared with those taken by other observation systems     

Pilot-scale field model tests for detecting landfill leachate intrusion into the subsurface using a grid-net electrical conductivity measurement system

The grid-net electrical conductivity measurement system for detecting exact locations of landfill leachate intrusion in the subsurface was developed in this study. Laboratory and pilot-scale field model tests were performed to evaluate the direct application of a grid-net electrical conductivity measurement system for the detection of landfill leachate. A significant increase in electrical conductivity of soil was observed by adding landfill leachate. This can be explained as an increase in electrical conductivity of pore fluid due to an increase in leachate constituents as charge carriers. In pilot-scale field model tests, leachate intrusion locations were accurately identified at the initial stage of landfill leachate release by the grid-net electrical conductivity measurement system. The electrical conductivity of the subsurface before leachate injection lay within a small range of 24.8–43.0 S/cm. The electrical conductivity values in detected points were approximately ten times more than the conductivity values of the subsurface without landfill leachate intrusion. The results in this study indicate that the grid-net electrical conductivity measurement method has a possible application for detecting locations of landfill leachate intrusion into the subsurface at the initial stage, and thus has great potential in monitoring leachate leakage at waste landfills.     

Evaluation of multiphase flotation models in grid turbulence via Particle Image Velocimetry

Industrial processes involving multi-phase flows such as flotation require understanding of the relationships between bubbles, solid particles and the flow. Modern experimental tools are employed in this effort to measure with great accuracy the basic features of the motion of all three phases in turbulent flow. We employed a unique Digital Particle Image Velocimeter (DPIV) that can record with great accuracy and kHz temporal resolution, velocity vectors of all three phases, namely the fluid, the solid particles and the air bubbles. The interaction of these three phases was studied in homogeneous isotropic turbulence generated by cylindrical grids. Particles and bubbles were released into the turbulence and the motions of the three phases were monitored. The experimental results obtained in the present work were compared with the predictions of the models published in the literature.     

The collectorless flotation of chalcopyrite ores using sodium sulfide

The collectorless flotation process has been tested on six different chalcopyrite ores while monitoring the potentials ($\text{E}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>h</mtext>}}$) of the pulp. The results show that collectorless flotation is effective only under oxidizing conditions. In addition, the flotation requires that the chalcopyrite surface be relatively free of hydrophilic oxidation products, which can be accomplished by treating the ore pulp with sodium sulfide (Na₂S). On the basis of these findings, methods of improving the collectorless flotation process are discussed.     

Investigating the Effects of Different LED Wavelengths on Aggregation and Swimming Behavior of Chub Mackerel (Scomber japonicus)

Ocean Science Journal - Efficient fish aggregation systems are essential for catching chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus), which is a major target of purse seine fisheries in South Korea. To aid the...     

Records of palaeo‐sea level and eruption duration in a coastal tuff ring,Jeju Island,Korea

Phreatomagmatic volcanoes and their sedimentary products can preserve high‐resolution records of earth surface processes because of their high deposition rate. Songaksan, Jeju Island, Korea, is a phreatomagmatic volcano, which erupted c. 3.7 ka BP in a coastal setting. Its tuff ring preserves a record of intertidal to supratidal facies transition in the basal part, which reveals the position of palaeo‐high‐tide level for at least 13 high‐tide events, and a record of a storm‐surge event in the middle part of the tuff ring, which lasted approximately three tidal cycles. Based on these features, the phreatomagmatic eruption of Songaksan is estimated to have taken place over a month. The sea level at the time was almost identical to that at present. This study shows that coastal phreatomagmatic volcanoes can preserve high‐resolution records of eruption duration and palaeo‐sea level, and can provide accurately levelled and dated data points to the Quaternary sea‐level curve.     

Effects of surface forces and film elasticity on foam stability

The thin film pressure balance (TFPB) technique was used to determine the surface forces in foam films stabilized with flotation frothers such as n-pentanol, n-octanol, methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC), and polypropylene glycol (PPG). The results were compared with the foam stabilities measured experimentally and the film elasticities calculated using a model developed by Wang and Yoon [Wang, L., Yoon, R.-H., 2006a. Role of hydrophobic force in the thinning of foam films containing a nonionic surfactant. Colloids Surfaces A: Physicochem. Eng. Aspects, 282–283, 84–91.]. It was found that foam stabilities are controlled by both film elasticity and disjoining pressure, the relative contributions from each changing with frother type and concentration. At relatively low concentrations, frother dampens the hydrophobic force, an attractive component of the disjoining pressure, that destabilizes foams. At higher concentrations, elasticity plays a more important role in stabilizing foams.