This thesis uses results of systematic numerical models to argue that externally inactive salt structures, which are potential targets for radioactive waste disposal, might be internally active due to the presence of dense layers or blocks within a salt layer. The three papers that support this thesis use the Gorleben salt diapir (NW Germany), which was targeted as a future final repository for high-grade radioactive waste, as a general guideline. The first two papers present systematic studies of the parameters that control the development of a salt diapir and how it entrains a dense anhydrite layer. Results from these numerical models show that the entrainment of a dense anhydrite layer within a salt diapir depends on four parameters: sedimentation rate, viscosity of salt, perturbation width and the stratigraphic location of the dense layer. The combined effect of these four parameters, which has a direct impact on the rate of salt supply (volume/area of the salt that is supplied to the diapir with time), shape a diapir and the mode of entrainment. Salt diapirs down-built with sedimentary units of high viscosity can potentially grow with an embedded anhydrite layer and deplete their source layer (salt supply ceases). However, when salt supply decreases dramatically or ceases entirely, the entrained anhydrite layer/segments start to sink within the diapir. In inactive diapirs, sinking of the entrained anhydrite layer is inevitable and strongly depends on the rheology of the salt, which is in direct contact with the anhydrite layer. During the post-depositional stage, if the effective viscosity of salt falls below the threshold value of around 1018-1019 Pa s, the mobility of anhydrite blocks might influence any repository within the diapir. However, the internal deformation of the salt diapir by the descending blocks decreases with increase in effective viscosity of salt. The results presented in this thesis suggest that it is highly likely that salt structures where dense and viscous layer/blocks are present undergo an internal deformation processes when these dense blocks start sinking within the diapir. Depending on size and orientation of these blocks, deformation pattern is significantly different within the diapir. Furthermore, model results applied to the Gorleben diapir show that the rate of descent of the entrained anhydrite blocks differs on different sides of the diapir. This suggests that if the anhydrite blocks descent within the Gorleben diapir, they initiate an asymmetric internal flow within it.

This investigation examined the influence of two levels of dietary sodium (Na+) intake on intramuscular and extracellular potassium (K+) content. Nine unacclimatized college males exercised. (90 minutes of treadmill walking, 5.6km/hr, 6X grade) in an environmental chamber maintained at 40.1( + .05)°C and 23.5( + . 4) %RH, during two 8-day dietary-acclimation regimens. The first regimen employed a high Na+ diet (399mEq/day), the second a low Na+ diet (98mEq/day); both diets contained 80mEq K+/day. Total body K+ stores increased during the high Na+ diet (+138mEq, 4.1%) and the-low Na+ diet (+114mEq, 3.4%). By day 8 (D8) of both treatments, subjects exhibited a significantly lower (p<.O5) mean heart rate and rectal temperature. Oxygen consumption and sweat rate were unaltered but sweat responsiveness (ml/hr/°c) progressively increased during the acclimation trials. Plasma volume increased +16.3% (D4) and +10.7% (D8) under the high Na+ diet and only +3.0% (D4) and +7.0% (D8) under the low Na+ diet. The low sodium diet was associated with a significantly higher (p<.05) mean heart rate (D3-D5), higher rectal temperature (D3-D6), lower sweat responsiveness (D2) and a delayed plasma volume expansion (D4)--resulting in less effective heat removal. The total content of K+, Na+, and C1- in plasma changed isoosmotically with plasma volume. The diets were associated with equivalent urine K+ excretion, and. during exercise in the heat both diets resulted in significantly decreased urine K+ losses. Muscle K+ and sweat K+ concentrations were not altered by dietary intervention or acclimation trials. Total muscle water-was significantly increased, in accord with Na+ and Cl- increases, on D8 of the low Na+ diet only. It was concluded that dietary intake of Na+, in combination with 8 days. of exercise in the heat and heavy sweating, does not significantly diminish the intramuscular K+ or total body K+ content.

Hydrogen is known as a clean energy carrier which has the potential to play a major role in addressing the climate change and global warming, and thermochemical water splitting via the copper-chlorine cycle is a promising method of hydrogen production. In this research, thermal management of the copper-chlorine cycle for hydrogen production is investigated by performing analytical and experimental analyses of selected heat recovery options. First, the heat requirement of the copper-chlorine cycle is estimated. The pinch analysis is used to determine the maximum recoverable heat within the cycle, and where in the cycle the recovered heat can be used efficiently. It is shown that a major part of the potential heat recovery can be achieved by cooling and solidifying molten copper(I) chloride exiting one step in the cycle: the oxygen reactor. Heat transfer from molten CuCl can be carried out through direct contact or indirect contact methods. Predictive analytical models are developed to analyze a direct contact heat recovery process (i.e. a spray column) and an indirect contact heat recovery process (i.e. a double-pipe heat exchanger). Characteristics of a spray column, in which recovered heat from molten CuCl is used to produce superheated steam, are presented. Decreasing the droplet size may increase the heat transfer rate from the droplet, and hence decreases the required height of the heat exchanger. For a droplet of 1 mm, the height of the heat exchanger is predicted to be about 7 m. The effect of hydrogen production on the heat exchanger diameter was also shown. For a hydrogen production rate of 1000 kg/day, the diameter of the heat exchanger is about 3 m for a droplet size of 1 mm and 2.2 m for a droplet size of 2 mm. The results for axial growth of the solid layer and variations of the coolant temperature and wall temperature of a double-pipe heat exchanger are also presented. It is shown that reducing the inner tube diameter will increase the heat exchanger length and increase the outlet temperature of air significantly. It is shown that the air temperature increases to 190oC in a heat exchanger with a length of 15 cm and inner tube radius of 10 cm. The length of a heat exchanger with the inner tube radius of 12 cm is predicted to be about 53 cm. The outlet temperature of air is about 380oC in this case. The length of a heat exchanger with an inner tube diameter of 24 cm is predicted to be about 53 cm and 91 cm for coolant flow rates of 3 g/s and 4 g/s, respectively. Increasing the mass flow rate of air will increase the total heat flux from the molten salt by increasing the length of the heat exchanger. Experimental studies are performed to validate the proposed methods and to further investigate their feasibility. The hazards involving copper(I) chloride are also investigated, as well as corresponding hazard reduction options. Using the reactant Cu2OCl2 in the oxygen production step to absorb CuCl vapor is the most preferable option compared to the alternatives, which include absorbing CuCl vapor with water or CuCl2 and building additional structures inside the oxygen production reactor. / UOIT

The application of the synthetic mineralocorticoid, deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt, to unilaterally nephrectomised rats induces severe hypertension due to volume-overload, and mimics human primary aldosteronism. Importantly, DOCA-salt hypertension is characterized by severe cardiac and renal lesions triggered by nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB), activating protein (AP-1), and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) leading to end-stage organ damage. Although DOCA-salt hypertension is a low renin model, local production of angiotensin-II and aldosterone in cardiac and renal tissues stimulate TGF-beta1, fibronectin and collagen-1 causing fibrosis and hypertrophy. Since TGF-beta1 gene promoter contains binding sites for NF-kappaB and AP-1, cross-talk between TGF-beta1, NF-kappaBnand AP-1 can be envisaged. Accordingly, the activation of TGF-beta1, fibronectin, collagen, NF-kappaB and AP-1 may constitute a potent destructive force in hypertension.<p> Emerging evidence indicates that upregulation of the heme oxygenase (HO) system is cytoprotective with antioxidant, antihypertensive and antihypertrophic effects. Interestingly, the promoter region of HO-1 gene harbors consensus-binding sites for NF-kappaB and AP-1; therefore, the HO system may regulate these transcription factors to counteract tissue insults. However, the multifaceted interactions between the HO system, NF-kappaB, AP-1, TGF-beta1, fibronectin and collagen in mineralocorticoid-induced end-stage-organ damage have not been fully characterized. Similarly, the effect of the HO system on tissue angiotensin-II and aldosterone levels in mineralocorticoid-induced hypertension remains unclear. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the antihypertrophic effect of the HO system in cardiac and renal tissue of DOCA-salt hypertensive rats. In this study, the HO inducer, hemin, lowered blood pressure and attenuated cardiac/renal hypertrophy, whereas the HO inhibitor, chromium mesoporphyrin (CrMP), nullified the effects of hemin and exacerbated cardiac/renal injury the DOCA-salt hypertensive rats. The protective effect of hemin was associated with increased HO-1, HO activity, cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), superoxide dismutase activity, ferritin and the total antioxidant capacity in the cardiac and renal tissue. In contrast, angiotensin-II, aldosterone, 8-isoprostane, NF-kappaB and AP-1 were significantly downregulated. Furthermore, hemin therapy attenuated TGF-beta1 and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins such as fibronectin and collagen, with corresponding reduction of cardiac histopathological lesions, including longitudinal/cross-sectional muscle fiber thickness, scarring, muscular hypertrophy, coronary arteriolar thickening and collagen deposition. Similarly, hemin attenuated structural lesions in the kidney such as glomerular hypertrophy, glomerular sclerosis, mononuclear cell infiltration, tubular cast formation, tubular dilation and renal arteriolar thickening with concomitant improvement of kidney function as evidenced by reduction of plasma creatinine, proteinuria, but enhanced creatinine clearance.<p> Collectively, these results suggest that the HO system suppressed hypertension, cardiac and renal fibrosis, and hypertrophy in the DOCA-salt hypertensive rat by downregulating transcription factors such as NF-kappaB and AP-1, reducing ECM proteins such as fibronectin and collagen, decreasing local tissue production of angiotensin-II and aldosterone, and improved renal functional capacity.

Oilseeds may be processed to yield a number of potentially valuable compounds and fractions including oil, protein and small molecules. However, energy costs associated with industrial processing of oilseeds can be significant. For example, processes that use water to dissolve and separate materials are burdened with the costs associated with concentrating value-added products from dilute solutions. The ethanol industry produces large amounts of an aqueous solution called thin stillage that has little value and is used in animal feed. Thin stillage contains some of the necessary salts used in protein extraction but has a low pH. Protein extraction and protein isolate production is commonly conducted at higher pH. Waste alkali from biodiesel production has a high pH and can be used to adjust the pH of thin stillage to improve its ability to extract protein from oilseed meal. By combining the properties of the waste products of both the ethanol and the biodiesel industries, a complementary process is possible that may have greater economic potential than current practices in industry.<p> In this study, processes for protein extraction from mustard (<i>Brassica juncea</i> (L.) Czern.) meal using thin stillage from ethanol production and glycerol from biodiesel production were studied. The osmotic potential of thin stillage used in this research was lower than that of water, whereas both the density and the viscosity were higher. The pH was typically 3.7-3.8, and the total Kjeldahl nitrogen was approximately 0.080.10 %, w/w. Organic compounds identified in thin stillage were isopropanol, ethanol, lactic acid, 1,3-propanediol, acetic acid, succinic acid, glycerophosphorylcholine, betaine, glycerol and phenethyl alcohol. In addition, yeasts, bacteria and fungi were also found. Moreover, the salt types and their concentrations in thin stillage were predictable. The salt types present in thin stillage were CaCl2, NaCl, K2SO4, NaNO3, Mg(OH)2, Na2SO4 and KOH. A model thin stillage synthesized for the purposes of this research had components and chemical and physical properties comparable to those of thin stillage from ethanol production. Protein was extracted from ground, defatted meal using thin stillage at different pHs and salt concentrations. The results showed that pH and salt content affected protein extraction efficiency. However, no differences were found in the efficiency of extraction, SDS-PAGE profile, digestibility, lysine availability or amino acid composition of protein extracted with thin stillage, model thin stillage or sodium chloride solution. Moreover, extracted protein did not display significant hydrolysis. The results from peptide sequencing showed that napin and cruciferin were the most prevalent proteins in the extracted fractions. When increasing the scale of the extraction, the efficiency of protein extraction and the percentage of protein in the extracted protein were decreased. Protein recovery achieved with the complementary protocol was higher than that reported for a published protocol. Allyl isothiocyanate was found in protein extracts.

Understanding the hydrological controls on subsurface flow and transport is of considerable importance in the study of reclaimed landscapes in the oil sands region of Canada. A significant portion of the reclaimed landscape will be comprised of a thin veneer (~ 1 m) of clay-rich reclamation soil overlying saline-sodic shale overburden, which is a waste by-product from the mining process. The global objective of this study was to investigate the first-order controls on soil moisture and salt transport dynamics within clay-rich reclamation covers overlying low permeability waste substrates. The study site is located in a cold, semi-arid climate in the oil sands region of northern Alberta. Preferential flow was the dominant mechanism responsible for the development of perched water table conditions on the cover-waste interface during the spring snow melt. Hydrological and geochemical data indicated that snowmelt infiltration occurs via the macroporosity while the ground is still frozen. An isotope hydrograph separation conducted on water collected in a weeping tile confirmed the presence of fresh snowmelt water at the onset of subsurface flow. This water transitions to a chemical signature that is comprised of approximately 80% connate pore water as a result of chemical equilibration between pore water in the soil matrix and fresh water in the macropores.<p>Detailed mapping of the spatial distribution of soil moisture and salts within a reclamation cover indicated the lower-slope positions are wetter due to the accumulation surface run-off and frozen ground infiltration in spring. Increased soil moisture conditions in lower-slope positions accelerate salt ingress, while drier conditions in middle and upper-slope positions attenuate salt ingress. The data indicated that fresh snowmelt water is bypassing the soil matrix higher in the cover profile. Subsurface flow and deep percolation are key mechanisms mitigating vertical salt ingress in lower and upper slope positions. The mesotopography of the cover-waste interface imposes a direct control on the depth of perched water and the downslope routing of water. Undulations in the cover-waste interface cause the depth of perched water to vary considerably (± 20 60 cm) over short distances (< 5 m), while saturated subsurface flow is routed through the lowest elevations in the cover profile. A numerical analysis of subsurface flow was able to simulate both the discharge rate and cumulative volume of flow to a weeping tile. Composite hydraulic functions were used in the simulations to account for the increased hydraulic conductivity and drainable porosity created by the macroporosity at near-saturated conditions. The transient Na+ concentration of discharge water was modelled using the concept of an equivalent porous medium. The good match between measured and modelled data verified the conceptual model, which contends that saturated subsurface flow is dominated by the fracture network and that the concentration of discharge water is function of the depth of perched water. Finally, the results from this study suggest the mesotopography of the cover-waste interface could be used to manage excess water and salts within the landscape.

Winter road maintenance activities are crucial for maintaining the accessibility and traffic safety of the road network at northerly latitudes during winter. Common winter road maintenance activities include snow ploughing and the use of anti-icing agents (e.g. road salt, NaCl). Since the local weather is decisive in creating an increased risk of slippery conditions, understanding the link between local weather and conditions at the road surface is critically important. Sensors are commonly installed along roads to measure road weather conditions and support road maintenance personnel in taking appropriate actions. In order to improve winter road maintenance, more precise information about road surface conditions is essential. In this thesis, different methods for estimation of road weather are developed, discussed and tested. The methods use the principles of infrared thermometry, image analysis and spectroscopy to describe ice formation, snow accumulation and road surface wetness in specific patches or along road sections. In practical applications, the methods could be used for better planning of snow clearing operations, forecasting of ice formation and spreading of road salt. Implementing the proposed methods could lead to lower maintenance costs, increased traffic safety and reduced environmental impact. / <p>QC 20121116</p>

Chloride concentrations at the Greenbrook well field in Kitchener, Ontario, have been steadily increasing over the past several decades and may soon pose a threat to drinking water quality. Drinking water limits at some wells have already been exceeded. The Regional Municipality of Waterloo (RMOW) relies mainly on local groundwater resources for its drinking water supply, and the Greenbrook well field is the oldest of 50 municipal well fields contributing to this supply. Urban growth and the expansion of city limits over the years has surrounded the well field, placing it in a high risk area in need of protection. As such, protection of this water supply is essential until alternative sources can be found. Road salt has been identified as the prime source of the chloride contamination, and various management alternatives and remediation strategies are currently being studied. In order to characterize the behaviour of chloride in the subsurface, an understanding of the mechanisms that control travel of chloride to the water table and through the groundwater system is needed. For the first phase of this work, a 2-D variably-saturated flow and transport model (SWMS-2D) was used to evaluate the effect of seasonal fluctuation in chloride loading to a generic aquifer system. Chloride was applied over the surface of the model in seasonal pulses that correlated with temperature and precipitation. The model showed a dampening of the seasonal response with depth that lead to the conclusion that long-term transport models can neglect seasonal changes in solute loading. For the second phase of this work, a proven 3D finite element transport model (Waterloo Transport Code: WTC) was used to simulate road salt impacts to the well field. Road salt was applied over selected roads throughout the steady-state capture zone via a type 3 (Cauchy) boundary that varies both temporally and spatially with road type and location. After calibrating the model from 1945 to 2002 to chloride concentrations using the weighted average of 5 Greenbrook production wells, the model was run to the year 2041 to assess future implications. Remediation strategies were also investigated via 6 predictive scenarios in which chloride applications were reduced by varying degrees. The results of this phase will be used by the RMOW in cost-benefit analyses of alternative de-icing approaches versus de-chlorination treatment of the well water.

Understanding the hydrological controls on subsurface flow and transport is of considerable importance in the study of reclaimed landscapes in the oil sands region of Canada. A significant portion of the reclaimed landscape will be comprised of a thin veneer (~ 1 m) of clay-rich reclamation soil overlying saline-sodic shale overburden, which is a waste by-product from the mining process. The global objective of this study was to investigate the first-order controls on soil moisture and salt transport dynamics within clay-rich reclamation covers overlying low permeability waste substrates. The study site is located in a cold, semi-arid climate in the oil sands region of northern Alberta. Preferential flow was the dominant mechanism responsible for the development of perched water table conditions on the cover-waste interface during the spring snow melt. Hydrological and geochemical data indicated that snowmelt infiltration occurs via the macroporosity while the ground is still frozen. An isotope hydrograph separation conducted on water collected in a weeping tile confirmed the presence of fresh snowmelt water at the onset of subsurface flow. This water transitions to a chemical signature that is comprised of approximately 80% connate pore water as a result of chemical equilibration between pore water in the soil matrix and fresh water in the macropores.<p>Detailed mapping of the spatial distribution of soil moisture and salts within a reclamation cover indicated the lower-slope positions are wetter due to the accumulation surface run-off and frozen ground infiltration in spring. Increased soil moisture conditions in lower-slope positions accelerate salt ingress, while drier conditions in middle and upper-slope positions attenuate salt ingress. The data indicated that fresh snowmelt water is bypassing the soil matrix higher in the cover profile. Subsurface flow and deep percolation are key mechanisms mitigating vertical salt ingress in lower and upper slope positions. The mesotopography of the cover-waste interface imposes a direct control on the depth of perched water and the downslope routing of water. Undulations in the cover-waste interface cause the depth of perched water to vary considerably (± 20 60 cm) over short distances (< 5 m), while saturated subsurface flow is routed through the lowest elevations in the cover profile. A numerical analysis of subsurface flow was able to simulate both the discharge rate and cumulative volume of flow to a weeping tile. Composite hydraulic functions were used in the simulations to account for the increased hydraulic conductivity and drainable porosity created by the macroporosity at near-saturated conditions. The transient Na+ concentration of discharge water was modelled using the concept of an equivalent porous medium. The good match between measured and modelled data verified the conceptual model, which contends that saturated subsurface flow is dominated by the fracture network and that the concentration of discharge water is function of the depth of perched water. Finally, the results from this study suggest the mesotopography of the cover-waste interface could be used to manage excess water and salts within the landscape.

The application of the synthetic mineralocorticoid, deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt, to unilaterally nephrectomised rats induces severe hypertension due to volume-overload, and mimics human primary aldosteronism. Importantly, DOCA-salt hypertension is characterized by severe cardiac and renal lesions triggered by nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB), activating protein (AP-1), and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) leading to end-stage organ damage. Although DOCA-salt hypertension is a low renin model, local production of angiotensin-II and aldosterone in cardiac and renal tissues stimulate TGF-beta1, fibronectin and collagen-1 causing fibrosis and hypertrophy. Since TGF-beta1 gene promoter contains binding sites for NF-kappaB and AP-1, cross-talk between TGF-beta1, NF-kappaBnand AP-1 can be envisaged. Accordingly, the activation of TGF-beta1, fibronectin, collagen, NF-kappaB and AP-1 may constitute a potent destructive force in hypertension.<p> Emerging evidence indicates that upregulation of the heme oxygenase (HO) system is cytoprotective with antioxidant, antihypertensive and antihypertrophic effects. Interestingly, the promoter region of HO-1 gene harbors consensus-binding sites for NF-kappaB and AP-1; therefore, the HO system may regulate these transcription factors to counteract tissue insults. However, the multifaceted interactions between the HO system, NF-kappaB, AP-1, TGF-beta1, fibronectin and collagen in mineralocorticoid-induced end-stage-organ damage have not been fully characterized. Similarly, the effect of the HO system on tissue angiotensin-II and aldosterone levels in mineralocorticoid-induced hypertension remains unclear. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the antihypertrophic effect of the HO system in cardiac and renal tissue of DOCA-salt hypertensive rats. In this study, the HO inducer, hemin, lowered blood pressure and attenuated cardiac/renal hypertrophy, whereas the HO inhibitor, chromium mesoporphyrin (CrMP), nullified the effects of hemin and exacerbated cardiac/renal injury the DOCA-salt hypertensive rats. The protective effect of hemin was associated with increased HO-1, HO activity, cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), superoxide dismutase activity, ferritin and the total antioxidant capacity in the cardiac and renal tissue. In contrast, angiotensin-II, aldosterone, 8-isoprostane, NF-kappaB and AP-1 were significantly downregulated. Furthermore, hemin therapy attenuated TGF-beta1 and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins such as fibronectin and collagen, with corresponding reduction of cardiac histopathological lesions, including longitudinal/cross-sectional muscle fiber thickness, scarring, muscular hypertrophy, coronary arteriolar thickening and collagen deposition. Similarly, hemin attenuated structural lesions in the kidney such as glomerular hypertrophy, glomerular sclerosis, mononuclear cell infiltration, tubular cast formation, tubular dilation and renal arteriolar thickening with concomitant improvement of kidney function as evidenced by reduction of plasma creatinine, proteinuria, but enhanced creatinine clearance.<p> Collectively, these results suggest that the HO system suppressed hypertension, cardiac and renal fibrosis, and hypertrophy in the DOCA-salt hypertensive rat by downregulating transcription factors such as NF-kappaB and AP-1, reducing ECM proteins such as fibronectin and collagen, decreasing local tissue production of angiotensin-II and aldosterone, and improved renal functional capacity.