An iron-based ceramic material is shown to have excellent properties as an electrolyte material for proton exchange membrane in fuel cells. These membranes have comparable conductivity to the NafionRTM membrane with the advantages of lower material costs, and the ability to operate at higher temperatures. Iron oxide nanoparticles (ferroxane) were prepared as precursor materials for membrane fabrication. The structure of ferroxane-derived ceramics was characterized with FTIR, SEM, TEM, and nitrogen adsorption-desorption. Protonic conductivity of the membranes was studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to determine their feasibility in fuel cell applications. The conductivity improved as relative humidity increased. Conductivities of sintered samples were significantly higher than those of green bodies. However, sintered samples were less dependent on relative humidity, which would make their performance more reliable than other ceramic materials and Nafion. The protonic conductivity of ferroxane derived ceramics fired at 300°C (ranged from 2.31 to 2.65 x 10-2 S/cm at relative humidities of 58% to 100%). The values are comparable to the conductivities of Nafion membranes.

A series of equilibrium cadmium-binding experiments with raw species of Sargassum was performed in order to extend the database on the biosorption performance of this brown algae. The results indicate that their maximum cadmium uptake ranges from approximately 0.7 to 1.0 mmol Cd/gram biomass. A classical method for the extraction of alginate from brown algae was modified and applied to Sargassum species under high-temperature alkaline conditions (80°C, 2.0% Na2CO3). It yields alginate samples of low viscosity suitable for chemical characterization by direct acquisition of well-resolved NMR spectra. This new method also allowed the identification of an acid-soluble fraction not previously isolated by traditional methods, yet capable of binding cadmium. / The 1H-NMR characterization of the alginates, extracted from Sargassum by the modified method, reveals a consistent and unusual enrichment in homopolymeric alpha-L-guluronic acid (G-blocks). These alginates display G-block diad frequency values (FGG) between 0.37 and 0.81. This translates into an enhanced selectivity for cadmium and calcium relative to monovalent ions such as sodium and the proton as well as smaller divalent ions such as magnesium. Results of competitive exchange experiments in the Cd-Ca-alginate system yield selectivity coefficients, K* CdCa, between 0.43 +/- 0.10 and 1.32 +/- 0.02 for a range of FGG, from 0.23 to 0.81. In contrast, much larger selectivity coefficients were obtained for the Mg-Ca-alginate (K*MgCa ≤ 18.0 +/- 1.4) and Mg-Cd-alginate (K*MgCa ≤ 16.0 +/- 0.9) systems with alginates extracted from Sargassum fluitans (FGG = 0.81) and Sargassum thunbergeii (F GG = 0.75). Selectivity studies with mixed-metal pair alginate systems, as opposed to the more common single metal methods, highlight the importance of the specific macromolecular conformation of the alginate polymer in determining metal binding behaviour in multiple-metal systems as well as the performance of Sargassum as an algal biosorbent. The unique composition of the alginates present in species of Sargassum and the resilience of the algae to degradation provide this bio-material with a distinct advantage over other brown algal species when considering its implementation for the strategic removal of toxic heavy metals from contaminated and industrial waste waters.

Two 28 L continuously fed cyclically aerated sequencing batch reactors were operated at a constant sludge age and hydraulic residence time of 15 and 2, 3, 4 or 8 days, respectively, and an organic load of 7, 14 or 65 g of COD/day to investigate operation strategies to treat whey (a nitrogen unbalanced waste). The systems were equipped with a membrane filter that automatically removed effluent during the settling period. To observe performance, biomass appearance and settling behaviour under various nitrogen-limiting conditions, nitrogen was added at rates to maintain COD/N of approximately 20 to 60. / The cyclic aeration generated a selector effect in the sludge blanket and controlled bulking. The N-balanced system could be used without the membrane filter and effluent BOD and solids were below 20 mg/L and 25 mg/L, respectively. The effluent of the N-unbalanced systems had BOD below 20 mg/L but generated solids varying between 60 and 100 mg/L. The membrane filter significantly reduced the effluent solids. Moreover, the clarity of the filtrate was enhanced when the sludge bulked severely due to an excessive number of filaments.

<p> This research investigated regional climate differences and weather impacts on the effectiveness of cool roofs. In most US climate zones, cool roofs can reduce energy consumption because they reflect more sunlight and heat than standard roofs. Since temperatures are expected to increase in many regions, cool roofs may offer greater energy and cost savings than currently estimated. Energy consumption by Department of Energy (DOE) Research Laboratory buildings across the US with cool and standard roofs were assessed using metered energy datasets collected from 2003-2013. Statistical tests were conducted to compare differences in energy consumption of buildings between cool and standard roofs at sites in different climatic regions. In order to better understand the effectiveness of cool roof technologies in a future that is expected to become increasingly warmer, data collected from weather stations near each DOE site were used to interpret the potential influences of weather patterns on cool roof energy savings. This research confirmed that cool roofs do reduce energy consumption, especially at sites with warmer summers and milder winters. Regression analyses of energy consumption and temperature data were conducted to identify associations between air temperatures and heating and cooling degree-days with seasonal energy consumption. While the energy consumption of buildings with cool roofs was generally less than buildings with standard roofs, the differences in energy consumption varied depending on building use and building size.</p>

<p> As the demand for direct petroleum substitutes increases, biorefineries are poised to become centers for conversion of biomass into fuels, energy, and biomaterials. A distributed model offers reduced transportation, tailored process technology to available feedstock, and increased local resilience. Oilseeds are capable of producing a wide variety of useful products additive to food, feed, and fuel needs. Biodiesel manufacturing technology lends itself to smaller-scale distributed facilities able to process diverse feedstocks and meet demand of critical diesel fuel for basic municipal services, safety, sanitation, infrastructure repair, and food production. Integrating biodiesel refining facilities as tenants of eco-industrial parks presents a novel approach for synergistic energy and material exchanges whereby environmental and economic metrics can be significantly improved upon compared to stand alone models. </p><p> This research is based on the Catawba County NC EcoComplex and the oilseed crushing and biodiesel processing facilities (capacity-433 tons biodiesel per year) located within. Technical and environmental analyses of the biorefinery components as well as agronomic and economic models are presented. The life cycle assessment for the two optimal biodiesel feedstocks, soybeans and used cooking oil, resulted in fossil energy ratios of 7.19 and 12.1 with carbon intensity values of 12.51 gCO₂-eq/MJ and 7.93 gCO₂-eq/MJ, respectively within the industrial ecology system. Economic modeling resulted in a biodiesel conversion cost of $1.43 per liter of fuel produced with used cooking oil, requiring a subsidy of $0.58 per liter to reach the break-even point. As subsidies continue significant fluctuation, metrics other than operating costs are required to justify small-scale biofuel projects.</p>

<p> A method for accurate emissions estimation that will contribute to promoting public health has been increasingly important. The purpose of this study is to develop a novel method that is designed to make accurate real-time emissions estimation from individual vehicles on freeways possible. The benefit of this method is that it can overcome the weakness of macroscopic emissions estimation methods, which underestimated emissions. </p><p> The most distinguishing feature of the Speed Profile Estimation (SPE) method is that it uses a speed profile (SP) that is generated by the sum of a basic SP (BSP), which is calculated by the basic travel information of an individual vehicle obtained from vehicle reidentification (REID), and a residual SP (RSP), which is estimated by categorized traffic information. </p><p> In order to estimate RSP this research employs Autoregressive (AR) model and Fourier series (FS). And to find the parameters of RSP, the total absolute difference between actual SP emissions and estimated SP emissions was optimized by genetic algorithm. For this, parameters are calculated for all possible combinations of three categorizations and clusters by K-mean clustering. Individual vehicle trajectories from two freeways, US101 and I-80, were provided by the Next Generation Simulation (NGSIM) dataset. US101 was examined for calibration, and I-80 for validation. And then, transferability tests were conducted for various section distances to verify model transferability. Finally, REID is simulated with low vehicle signatures match rates to test its applicability to real situations. </p><p> Unlike previous methods, the SPE is notable for its real-time, transferable, reliable, and cost efficient emissions estimation. The calibration and validation account only 4.0 % and 4.1 % MAPEs, respectively. Moreover, transferability tests showed that MAPEs are lower than 4.4 % in both longer and shorter section distances. Furthermore, REID simulation increases only 0.2 % MAPE even in low vehicle signatures match rates, which is lower than 5 % MAPE in emissions estimation. </p><p> Any signal-like formulation other than AR or FS can perform better emissions estimation when it replaces the RSP. Also, in this research the SPE method was calibrated only for LOS F, when it is arguably of greatest value, but further research should be coordinated to extend the models in other possible traffic conditions such as LOS A~E.</p>

<p> Pineview Reservoir, near Utah's populous Wasatch Front, could play an important role in modulating water supply as water demands and water uses change in response to increasing population densities. The reservoir is currently mesotrophic but threatens to become eutrophic. Ground water in the shallow water table aquifer that surrounds the reservoir contributes a large proportion of the reservoir's inflows in summer and fall because most of the stream flow is diverted for irrigation. Ground water flow and its subsequent nutrient loading to the reservoir were studied from February 2010 through November 2011. The objectives were to: 1) characterize nutrient transport from the water table aquifer to the reservoir; 2) quantify and characterize the spatial variability of ground water flow and nutrient loading in a mountainous irrigated valley; and 3) estimate nitrate leaching to ground water from cropland, lawns and septic drain fields. </p><p> The first objective was achieved by monitoring stream flows, and modeling ground water flow and nutrient loading towards Pineview Reservoir. Ground water from the water table aquifer contributed 22 percent and 2.6 percent nitrate + nitrite nitrogen and total dissolved phosphorus, respectively, to the annual reservoir loads. The aquifer contributed a total inflow of 3.4 x 10⁶ m³ yr^-1 (2 percent of the total inflows) to the reservoir. Large variations in both ground water nutrient concentrations (6 &ndash; 310 &micro;g P L^-1 as total dissolved phosphorus and 3.3 &ndash; 21 mg N L^-1 as nitrate + nitrite) and ground water flows among aquifer subdivisions were observed. </p><p> Study of the second objective employed GIS-based interpolation techniques in analyzing the spatial distribution of ground water flow and nutrient loading towards the reservoir. Large spatial variations in ground water flows and nutrient loadings were observed. The 67 percent confidence intervals (geometric mean &plusmn; 1 standard deviation) for total dissolved phosphorus ranged from 0.014 - 0.400 kg P d^-1. Nitrate + nitrite nitrogen had a 67 percent confidence interval of 0.954 - 39.1 kg N d^-1. The variations were attributed to agricultural and domestic non-point sources. </p><p> Under the third objective, ground water nitrate loadings in the near-reservoir drainage area of the reservoir's major tributary, the South Fork of the Ogden River, were simulated in the GIS-based Nitrogen Loss and Environmental Assessment Package. Annual leaching rates (kg N ha^-1 yr^-1) from drain-fields and the lawns were, respectively, more than 2.6- and 1.1-fold higher than the croplands. However, differences in the spatial extent of contributing sources resulted in 70- and 50-fold higher total leaching losses from croplands and lawns, respectively, than drain-fields. </p><p> The findings would help water managers, town planners, and stakeholders in their decisions relative to land use, water distribution and use to protect and/or improve water quality in the reservoir.</p>

This paper investigates the effects of water quality parameters on fouling rates of UV lamp sleeves, through the results of various published studies performed by different groups as well as by the author. / As part of this study, a pilot UV system was installed at the effluent line of two different biological wastewater treatment plants. The first plant included biofilters supplemented by alum addition during the summer for phosphorus removal. The second plant used an oxidation ditch and no coagulants were added. Iron was added to the UV pilot system influent in both cases to simulate post-coagulation of phosphorus. The Trojan UV System 3000 pilot consisted of three separate channels each containing 2 lamps. Two channels were used as controls by having just the sleeves (without UV lamps) in one of them and non-UV lamps (i.e. lamps with visible light output only) in the other. The third channel contained sleeves with two low-pressure UV lamps. The flow in each channel was maintained around 1--1.5 L/s and the ferric chloride concentration was varied from 0 to 6 mg/L. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2007. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-11, Section: B, page: 7600. Adviser: Jian Ku Shang. Includes bibliographical references. Available on microfilm from Pro Quest Information and Learning.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Syracuse University, 2008. / "Publication number: AAT 3323068."