Incorporation,distribution and fate of saturated petroleum hydrocarbons in sediments from a controlled marine ecosystem

A simulation of a chronic input of petroleum into an estuarine environment was investigated using the facilities at the Marine Ecosystems Research Laboratory at the University of Rhode Island. An oil-water dispersion of No. 2 fuel oil was added to the system (twice weekly for 24 weeks) and the saturated hydrocarbons from this oil were measured in suspended material and sediments. After the initial chronic oil addition, trace amounts of hydrocarbons were detected in the sediments within two weeks, but substantial accumulation was not detected for approximately 135 days. The oil appeared to enter the sediment via the suspended material, with most of the saturated hydrocarbons associated with smaller size sediment particles (< 45 μm to > 0·3 μm). With time, the fuel oil saturated hydrocarbons in the sediments were mixed to a depth of 3 to 4 cm. Although only 12% of the total saturated hydrocarbons added to the system were found in the sediments, these hydrocarbons appear to be relatively stable and were still detectable in these sediments for at least six months after the last oil addition.     

Application of hermite polynomial to wave and wave force statistics

This paper discusses the use of Hermite polynomial in the derivation of statistical properties of waves, wave field kinematics and dynamics and wave forces under various conditions. Specifically, covariance functions and approximate spectra are obtained for (1) wave force on vertical cylinder according to Morison's formula, (2) horizontal fluid particle velocity considering the effects of free surface fluctuations, and (3) elevation of breaking waves.     

Trace metals and hydrocarbons in sediments from the Southampton water region,with particular reference to the influence of oil refinery effluent

The concentrations of a number of trace metals (Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ag, Cd and Hg) have been determined in sediments from cores collected in the Southampton Water region. Measurements of total hydrocarbons were also made on several of the cores. Markedly elevated concentrations of copper, up to 362 μg/g dry wt, were found in sediments which were collected close to the discharge points of oil refinery outfalls and which also showed concentrations of total hydrocarbons considerably greater than the background levels for the estuary. The results of selective chemical extractions showed that much of the copper was present in the non-lattice fraction of the sediment. Although the concentrations of Co, Ni, Zn and Cd were significantly correlated with those of copper in the core showing the highest concentrations of this element, these metals were not enhanced in comparison with the levels found in several other parts of the estuary. Variations in concentrations of metals in sediments throughout the estuary were not correlated with differences in organic carbon content.     

Relationship between hydrocarbons and bacterial activity in mediterranean sediments: Part 2—hydrocarbon degrading activity of bacteria from sediments

In marine sediments from the Mediterranean coast polluted by oil spills (Etang de Berre) high bacterial activity is responsible for self-purification, samples collected from these areas showing a bacterial density several orders of magnitude higher than samples from non-polluted areas (Isle des Embiez). Between 60 and 80 % of the heterotrophic bacteria in the polluted areas are hydrocarbon-degrading, compared with 0.01 % in the non-polluted area.Several strains of hydrocarbon utilisers were isolated, a mixture of strains from each biotope was taken to represent a ‘biotope population’ and their activity towards different types of hydrocarbons (n-alkanes, iso-alkanes, cycloalkanes, aromatics) was determined.With ammonia as the nitrogen source the ‘biotope population’ from the polluted area degraded hydrocarbons much more readily than the ‘biotope population’ from the non-polluted area. With nitrate as the nitrogen source the degradation was much reduced, and, for some hydrocarbons, ceased in both ‘populations’.Individual hydrocarbons encouraged the growth of individual strains in the ‘biotope population’. In natural mixtures of hydrocarbons all strains grew well and degraded aliphatics. There was a good correlation between the respiratory activity of the ‘biotope population’ and the ability of the ‘population’ to utilise hydrocarbons for growth.     

Structure of the satellitary accretion disk of Saturn

A detailed computation on the equilibrium structure of an accretion disk around Saturn from which the regular satellites presumably originated is reported. Such a disk is the predecessor of the self-dissipating disk that is formed when the mass infall stops (Cassen and Moosman, 1981, Icarus48, 353–376). When determining the disk structure local energy balance was assumed. Convention was taken into account by introducing local energy dissipation and, in an approximate manner, sonic convection. Changes in the disk structure were investigated by varying the free parameters, i.e., the external flux from both the protosun and the protoplanet, the abundance of dust and the strength of turbulence. It has been verified that the external energy flux does not play an important role in the evolution of the disk structure. Models characterized by either longer times (?3 10³ year) or a noticeable depletion of condensable elements (10^?2 times less than the solar value) have a total mass of the order of 0.34?0.1 times the mass of the regular satellites increased by the mass of the light elements. Low turbulence models (Reynolds critical number $\text{Re}{}^1\text{= 150}$) are characterized approximately by a total mass twice as large the mass of the regular satellites. All the studied models present a temperature distribution that allows the condensation of iron, silicate, and, in the outer regions, ice grains. All models but the one with 10^?2 of the solar value of condensable elements are characterized by a wide convective region that contains the formation zone of the regular satellites.     

Mathematical models for petroleum-forming processes: n-paraffins and isoprenoid hydrocarbons

Mathematical models have been developed which simulate both random and nonrandom thermal cracking of branched and straight-chain hydrocarbons. Application of these models to n-paraffins suggests that thermal cracking alone cannot be the dominant mechanism in formation of the n-paraffin distributions present in crude oils. Application to isoprenoid hydrocarbons indicates that nonrandom cracking could be important in producing the isoprenoid distributions found in oils.Results of the mathematical modeling show that methane formation should, as predicted from energy considerations, be kinetically disfavored. It therefore is likely that substantial quantities of methane are produced from saturated hydrocarbons only under thermal conditions more severe than those under which oil is produced.The mathematical models employed are adaptable for other geochemical applications, such as isotope fractionation.     

浅谈工程项目的造价管理

随着我国建筑市场的不断深入发展,工程造价管理者已逐步认识到,传统的概预算管理必须改革,工程造价管理要贴近市场实际,适应市场需要。如何在新形势下搞好工程造价管理工作,是涉及到经济理论并富有实际意义的工作,也是目前许多施工企业急需研究解决的问题。     

Mercury monitoring: Mercury stability in bird feathers

The influence of ultraviolet light, heating, freezing and weathering on the mercury concentration in the primary feathers from Guillemot and Black Guillemot has been examined. Even within 8 months of exposure variation in mercury concentration due to either loss of mercury or weight loss of the feathers has been found to be less than 10% relative.     

Cargo spillage at an iron ore unloading terminal

Dust deposition in the sea at an iron ore unloading terminal in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland, was measured by means of sediment collectors placed 10 m above the sea bed on the outer face of the unloading jetty. A ‘background’ sedimentation of up to 64 g m^?2 day^?1 of non-ferrous material was obtained with no ships in port. During unloading dust quantities up to 18 021 g m^?2 day^?1 were obtained, but the quantities depended on the type of ore unloaded, and much smaller quantities of sediment were obtained with ores less prone to fine particle formation. Any ecological effects would involve sea bed benthos, although rates of transportation of the sedimented dust are probably rapid in the immediate vicinity of the ore terminal.