An analysis was performed of a Texas gulf coast hazardous waste injection well disposal system. The system was complicated by the presence of a fault which transected the injection interval. The existence of the fault presented the potential for enhanced vertical migration of the injected solutes via a tortuous path of interconnected, highly permeable sand units. Evaluation of this potential necessitated a fully three dimensional model which incorporated the arrangement of the alternating shales and sands and their associated discontinuities. Computer run time and memory limitations compelled a dissection of the problem into components, as well as the utilization of a specific mixture of conservative and realistic assumptions. The analysis indicated that within 10,000 years, the waste would advance vertically no further than one hundred feet into the overlying stratigraphy, and laterally no further than 24,000 feet from the point of injection.

No description available.

Presently within the scientific literature no terrestrial biogenic silica models exist that compare by magnitude, processes transporting silica. Change in vegetation type has the potential to alter dissolved concentrations of Si in rivers and ultimately the oceans. Diatoms greatly depend on Si concentrations for growth, and as a result land cover change may have influenced onset diatom radiation during the Cenozoic. To expand our understanding of this cycle, a terrestrial biogenic silica model is proposed. This model accounts for biogenic silica production, dissolution and leaching through soils, as well as providing estimates for annual silica soil storage. A case study performed using the constructed biogenic silica model, showed an increase in oceanic DSi concentration during the Miocene (period of diatom diversification). However, this increase does not appear to have been sufficient to trigger global diatom radiation, suggesting multiple geographically isolated locations for this diversification.

Biochar is a carbon sequestration technology that has shown potential to inhibit greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and nutrient leaching from soils, however the majority of biochar research thus far has focused on arable cropland rather than livestock systems or grasslands. Livestock production is an important agricultural system, and manure generated from livestock systems is a source of GHG emission as well as nutrient loading to surface- and groundwater. The high environmental impact of livestock production in the very areas that biochar has shown potential may suggest that this would be an ideal system for biochar incorporation. However, as grassland systems in the context of livestock production often receive high nutrient inputs in the form of manure which increases the potential for nutrient leaching or runoff, the high-nutrient ash content of biochar may potentially exacerbate this problem rather than suppress nutrient loss from soils. As private companies and government-funded programmes discuss the possibility of scaling the global manufacturing and soil-incorporation of biochar to a rate of gigatonnes per year, understanding the potential of biochar for use within a livestock system could be crucial in helping to develop an appropriate deployment plan for this material. This thesis is therefore focused on the use of biochar in grassland and livestock systems. It first examines the nutrient release from biochar in a sequential leaching experiment. Phosphorus (P) release indicated that provision of soil P (though quantitatively small) may be sustained over time whilst potassium (K+) release was quantitatively large but declined rapidly following the first extraction. An incubation study was then carried out using soil columns amended with farmyard manure, liquid manure (slurry) or fertiliser (plus an unamended control), each with and without biochar, which sought to determine the impact of biochar on N2O release and N and P leaching from soils with diverse nutrient sources. N2O emission from the columns was significantly suppressed by the presence of biochar, as was the leaching of mineral N. However, the amount of PO4 3--P in leachate was increased in biocharamended columns, relative to their unamended counter-parts. A slurry incubation study was then conducted, with a control slurry and four biochar-amended treatments, which explored whether biochar could suppress GHG and NH3 emission from manure prior to land application. The resulting data indicated that biochar demonstrates potential for GHG suppression but does not demonstrate potential for NH3 suppression from slurry in storage. Finally, a one-year field-based experiment was completed which analysed the impact of biochar on CH4, N2O, and NH3 emission as well as nutrient leaching from grassland soils that had been amended with a high rate of manure application (151.4 m3 ha-1 or 409 kg N ha-1). In this study, biochar demonstrated the potential to suppress each of the three types of gaseous emissions from manure-amended soil, though the differences between mean values were not statistically significant. Extracts from ion exchange resins indicated that annual cumulative K+ leached from biochar-amended plots was significantly higher than the control, and that P and NH4 + leached from biochar-amended plots was higher than the control at the time of the first rain event following biochar and manure application. Together, the results of these component studies indicate that biochar may indeed have potential to suppress GHG emissions from livestock systems, most likely through suppression of microbial activity by organic compounds that are sorbed to the char, though (as the mechanisms of GHG suppression by biochar are thus far not well understood) the capacity of biochar to do so may vary based on the type of biochar used, the soil characteristics, and other factors. Overall, the results of these studies suggest that some types of biochar should be used with caution in systems with high rates of nutrient application, unless the ash is removed prior to soil application.

Distributions of toxic trace elements were studied in soils before and after disturbation of their profiles.Two areas with different vegetation cover were selected: beech (Fagus sylvatica) and spruce (Picea abies) forests at the Načetín site in the Ore Mts. In the past, this area belonged to places with extreme levels of acidic atmospheric deposition. The studied areas are not placed too far from each other and have thus approximately the same climatic conditions, geological background and pollution input. On the other hand, physicochemical properties of soils (pH, CEC, BS, Ctot, Stot) and concentrations of major and trace elements are different. At selected sites in spruce and beech stand, two soil probes to a depth of 40-50 cm were dug in 2010 and samples of individual soil horizont were collected for chemical analyses (approximately 0.5 kg). Four samples from L, H, A and B horizons were taken in the spruce forest area and five samples from L, H, A, B and C horizons were taken in the beech forest. In 2011, the sites were re-sampled and samples were taken from horizons that were disturbed in 2010, paralleled by samples of undisturbed soil horizons from the same probe sites. Trace element concentrations were determined by ICP-MS, the speciation of individual elements in the soils was determined by...

Doctor of Philosophy / Agronomy / Nathan O. Nelson / Agricultural fields contribute phosphorus (P) to water bodies, which can degrade water quality. The P index (PI) is a tool to assess the risk of P-loss from agricultural fields. However, due to limited measured data, P indices have not been rigorously evaluated. The Agricultural Policy/Environmental Extender (APEX) model could be used to generate P-loss datasets for P index evaluation and revision. The objectives of the study were to i) determine effects of APEX calibration practices on P-loss estimates from diverse management systems, ii) determine fertilizer and poultry litter management effects on P-loss, iii) evaluate and update the Kansas PI using P-loss simulated by APEX and iv) determine appropriate adsorption isotherms with advection-dispersion equation with column leaching experiment. Runoff data from field studies in Franklin and Crawford counties were used to calibrate and validate APEX. Poultry litter and inorganic fertilizer application timing, rate, method, and soil test P concentration effects on P loss were analyzed using location-specific models. A column leaching laboratory study was also conducted to test the adsorption isotherms. Location-specific model satisfactorily simulated runoff, total P (TP) and dissolved P (DP) loss meeting minimum model performance criteria for 2/3 of the tests whereas management-specific models only met the criteria in 1/3 of the tests. Applying manure or fertilizer during late fall resulted in relatively lower TP loss compared to spring applications before planting. The Kansas-PI rating and the APEX simulated P-loss were correlated with r² of 0.40 (p<0.001). Adjusting the weighting factors for Prate, soil test P, and erosion improved the correlation (r² = 0.46; p<0.001. Using a component PI structure and determining the weighting factors by multiple linear regression substantially improved the correlation between the PI and TP loss (r² = 0.69; p<0.001). In the P-leaching experiment, both the linear and nonlinear adsorption isotherms did not fit the experimental data. A multi-reactional advection-dispersion model that better describes all the P processes and complexities in soils should be included in the future. These procedures can provide a roadmap for others interested P transport in soils and using computer models in evaluation, and modifying their PI.

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and The Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering Johannesburg 12 September 2016 / Comminution and leaching unit processes play a major role in extracting valuable minerals from ore. Most of the research reported in the literature has focused on optimising individual unit operations rather than on integrating the whole process. This thesis develops an integrated approach to mineral processing systems and flow sheets and is intended to create a methodology for process synthesis that can be applied throughout the extractive metallurgical industry. This could lead to improved efficiency in the overall process by obtaining optimum recovery and, most important, a reduction in energy and material costs. In order to illustrate the methodology a particular example was chosen, namely optimizing the joint comminution and leaching of a particular gold ore. In this investigation laboratory scale grinding and leaching profiles for a gold feed sample (1700–850 μm) were measured. In a laboratory mill various combinations of grinding media, filling level and ball size were investigated, and of the three ball sizes used (10, 20 and 30mm) breakage was most pronounced for the 20 mm. Thus for instance it was also established that when using a higher filling ( =30%) and a ball size of 30 mm, more energy was consumed but less liberation occurred, thus a lower amount of gold was extracted during a 24-hour leaching period. Finally, the breakage kinetics of the gold ore was looked at. Using a standard population model the breakage and selection function parameters were successfully calculated. An investigation into the dissolution kinetics of gold ore in a solution of NaCN was also done. These were found to depend on the stirring rate, reaction temperature, particle diameter and the concentration of the leachant. The rate increased with the stirring speed, reaction temperature and leachant concentration, but decreased when the particle size was greater. The activation energy for the dissolution was estimated at about 3 kcal/mol. Furthermore, the linear relationship between the rate constant and the reciprocal of the square of the particle size is a strong indication that the gold dissolution process is diffusion-controlled. The experimental results were well-fitted to a shrinking core model. In attempting to understand the results, the researcher carried out a number of experiments that involved an investigation into the relationship between comminution and leaching in terms of energy usage and particle size, the former to establish the most efficient application of energy, and the latter to identify the degree of fineness that would ensure optimal recovery. The Attainable Region (AR) method was then used to establish ways of finding the leaching and milling times required to achieve minimum cost (maximise profit). No work on utilizing the AR technique to minimise the cost of milling and leaching on a real industrial ore has previously been published. The investigation aims to show how the AR technique can be used to develop ways of optimising an industrial process that includes milling and leaching. The experimental results were used to show how this method could be successfully applied to identifying opportunities for higher efficiency when performing these operations. The approach however is general and could in principle be used for any two or more unit operations in determining how the product from one unit should be prepared to feed to the next unit so as to optimize the overall process. / MT2017

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering (Metallurgy and Materials Engineering), May 2016 / The solvent extraction of iron and titanium from solution generated by the two-step sulphuric acid leaching of coal fly ash by Primene JMT was investigated. The influence of hydrogen ion concentration, Primene JMT concentration, aqueous to organic volume phase ratio and temperature on the extraction of iron and titanium was determined by the use of Design of Experiments. Hydrogen ion concentration and the interaction between the aqueous to organic volume phase ratio with Primene JMT concentration had a significant effect on the extraction of iron while temperature did not. Hydrogen ion concentration and temperature did not have a significant effect on the extraction of titanium, while the interaction between Primene JMT concentration and aqueous to organic volume phase ratio had a significant effect. Extraction improvement tests showed that at a hydrogen ion concentration of 0.28M, 88% iron and 99% extraction of titanium from coal-fly ash leach solution could be achieved. Construction of a McCabe-Thiele diagram showed that a four-stage solvent extraction system with Primene JMT could reduce the iron and titanium concentration in the coal fly ash leach solutions to below 0.05g/L / GS2016

O uso agrícola de resíduos de efluentes orgânicos é uma alternativa interessante de disposição, pois permite o aproveitamento potencial das águas e dos nutrientes para o crescimento das plantas. A utilização destes efluentes na agricultura constitui uma importante contribuição para a minimização da contaminação devido à redução de seu lançamento em corpos hídricos, além de se tornar uma alternativa econômica para a propriedade rural, que diminui os custos para aquisição de fertilizantes. O aumento no resíduo de efluente produzido pelas usinas de cana-de-açúcar, a vinhaça, é reflexo do aumento da produção do álcool no Brasil. A vinhaça é um subproduto rico em nutrientes, principalmente em matéria orgânica, característica essa que a torna um grande poluidor quando lançado em corpos hídricos. Dentre as soluções para destinação final da vinhaça, a que se destaca é sua aplicação no solo, por meio da técnica de fertirrigação. Dentro desse contexto, o presente trabalho consiste em avaliar o efeito da aplicação de diferentes doses de vinhaça no crescimento, produção e qualidade dos frutos do cultivar de abacaxi vitória, visando à disposição final deste efluente de forma a garantir a reciclagem de água e nutrientes, sem comprometimento das características químicas e físicas do solo. O experimento foi conduzido na área experimental do Departamento de Engenharia de Biossistemas da Escola Superior de Agricultura \"Luiz de Queiroz\" (ESALQ/USP) em ambiente protegido (casa de vegetação). Adotou-se delineamento inteiramente aleatorizado com 5 tratamentos e 4 repetições, totalizando 20 parcelas experimentais, sendo a unidade experimental representada por trincheiras com dimensões 3,20 m de comprimento por 0,80 m de largura por 0,40 m de profundidade. Os tratamentos foram formados pela aplicação de doses de vinhaça referentes a 0, 50, 75, 100 e 125% da demanda de 462 kg ha-1 de potássio pelo abacaxizeiro. O potássio foi tomado como elemento de referência para obtenção dos volumes de vinhaça, sendo que para os cálculos de volume, utilizou-se a norma CETESB P4.231. As fertirrigações foram ministradas, via gotejamento, de acordo com a demanda nutricional do abacaxizeiro, respeitando suas fases de desenvolvimento. Verificou-se que a aplicação de vinhaça no solo aumentou a CTC e a matéria orgânica, porém não promoveu alterações nas características físicas. O aumento das doses de vinhaça afetaram diretamente as variáveis biométricas: altura de plantas, número de folhas, comprimento e largura da folha \"D\". A área foliar, matéria seca da parte aérea e raiz sofreram influência positiva do aumento das doses de vinhaça aplicadas. Verificou-se que as maiores concentrações de nitrato e potássio na solução do solo foram encontradas nos tratamentos com maiores doses de vinhaça aplicadas. Os tratamentos fertirrigados com vinhaça apresentaram menor produtividade quando comparados ao tratamento com adubação química, no entanto as plantas que foram fertirrigadas apresentaram frutos com qualidades físico-químicas superiores, apesar de na análise sensorial não ter sido verificado diferença significativa entre os tratamentos. / The using of effluent residues in agriculture it is a good alternative because allows the use of the water and the nutrients to cultivate some crops. Also it is an important contribution with the mitigation of the contamination promoted by these effluents when disposed in a hydric system and could be an economic alternative to reduce costs with fertilizers. The increase in the production of effluent in the sugarcane mill, the vinasse, it is the result of the increase in the production of ethanol. The vinasse it is a residue rich in nutrients, mainly organic material that can be a problem when disposed in the hydric systems. One alternative to solve this problem it is to utilize the vinasse in the soil by fertigation. This study aim to evaluate the growing, yield and fruit quality in pineapple variety vitória with different levels of vinasse applied by fertigation, and the recycling of water and nutrients by vinasse without compromise the chemical and physical soil characteristics. The experiment was conduct in a greenhouse located in the Biossystem Engineering department, college of agriculture \"Luiz de Queiroz\" ESALQ/USP. The experimental design adopted was completely randomly with 5 treatments and 4 replications, being the experimental unit one trench with 3.2 of length, 0.8 m of width and 0.4 m depth. The treatments was composed by different levels of vinasse: 0, 50, 75, 100 and 125% of the total pineapple potash necessity (462 kg ha-1). The potassium was used as reference element to obtain the total volume of vinasse and was used the standard CETESB P4.261. The fertigation was applied by drip irrigation and respected the pineapple nutrient requirement in the different development phases. The vinasse application promoted the increase in the soil cation-exchange capacity (CEC) and organic material, but not changed their physical characteristics. The increment in the vinasse levels effected directly the biometrics variables: plant high, number of leaves, length and width of leaf \"D\". The leaf area, dry material of aerial part and root showing positive correlation with the vinasse levels applied. The higher level of nitrate and potash in the soil solution was observed in the treatments that received the higher levels of vinasse. Treatments that receive vinasse by fertigation presented lesser yield when compare to treatments that receive just chemical fertilization, but fruits with better physic-chemicals quality, although sensory analysis have not been verified significant difference between treatments.

Com a atual preocupação ambiental e a necessidade de se conhecer os processos que regem o movimento da água e de solutos no solo, são necessários estudos que possibilitem aumentar a eficiência do uso de insumos no setor agrícola, que de certa forma possam mitigar o impacto das atividades deste setor sobre contaminação de águas subterrâneas. Portanto, objetivou-se com a presente pesquisa verificar os parâmetros de transporte do íon nitrato, diante de uma análise da influência dos respectivos íons acompanhantes, a partir de fontes distintas de nitrato, em seu deslocamento, com a elaboração de curvas de distribuição de efluentes (Breakthrough Curves (BTC)), em condições de amostras de solo deformadas e indeformadas. O trabalho foi realizado em condições de solo saturado e regime permanente, via aplicação de uma solução de nitrato na concentração de 50 g m-3 de NO3 -, por três diferentes fontes (Ca(NO3)2, NH4NO3 e KNO3), para dois tipos distintos de solos tropicais: Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo e Nitossolo Vermelho. O experimento foi conduzido no Laboratório de Solos e Qualidade de Água, do Departamento de Engenharia de Biossistemas da Escola Superior de Agricultura \"Luiz de Queiroz\", em Piracicaba - SP. Os parâmetros de transporte do íon nitrato na concentração de 50 g m-3 nos respectivos solos foram obtidos por um ajuste numérico utilizando-se o software STANMOD. Pelos resultados obtidos, pôde-se verificar que o deslocamento do nitrato está atrelado com as caraterísticas dos solos e que houve maiores efeitos de lixiviação para o Nitossolo Vermelho. Em termos da influência dos cátions acompanhantes do nitrato, em suas diferentes fontes distintas, pode-se dizer que não foram observados seus efeitos na mobilidade do nitrato no perfil do solo. / With the current environmental concerns and the need to understand the processes that govern the movement of water and solutes in soil, studies are needed to allow increasing the efficiency of input use in agriculture that somehow can mitigate the impact of activities of this sector on groundwater contamination. Therefore, the objective of this work was to verify the transport parameters of the nitrate, by analyzing the influence of the accompanying cation on nitrate displacement, through the development of distributions curves of effluents (Breakthrough Curves (BTC)), under conditions of disturbed and undisturbed samples in saturated soil and steady state conditions, via application of nitrate solution at a concentration of 50 g m-3 NO3 -, by three different sources (Ca(NO3)2, NH4NO3 and KNO3) and for two types of tropical soils: Yellow Oxisol and Anfisol. The experiment was conducted in the Laboratory of Soil and Water Quality, Department of Biosystems Engineering from Escola Superior de Agricultura \"Luiz de Queiroz\", Piracicaba - SP. The transport parameters of the nitrate at a concentration of 50 g m-3 in their respective soils were obtained by a numerical fit using the software STANMOD. From the results, it could be seen that the nitrate displacement is linked with the soil characteristics and the leaching was higher in Anfisol. In terms of the influence of accompanying cations of nitrate, in its various different sources, it can be said that their effects were not observed in nitrate mobility in the soil profile.