published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

Dissertation submitted in compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Biotechnology, Durban Insititute of Technology, 2003. / Stimulated by the findings of international researchers, that the sulfate-reducing microorganism Desulfovibrio desulfuricans could be incriminated in the process of mercury bio-methylation, it was decided to test this hypothesis on sediments from selected areas of Durban Bay where elevated levels of the bio-hazardous heavy metal had previously been detected. The Environmentek Division of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (Durban) is involved in an ongoing chemical assessment of heavy metal contamination (including levels of mercury) in the sediments of this estuary, but nothing is currently understood about the form in which mercury exists or the biological processes that could be determining its fate. The purpose of this project was to attempt to answer some of these questions. The study involved attempting to isolate, identify and quantify microorganisms of the species Desulfovibrio desulfuricans, Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringens in one hundred and eighty sediment samples taken from three designated sites in the bay. Each sample was additionally analysed for total and methyl mercury and sulfate content, as well as a number of physical parameters. Based on the outcome of the initial survey, it was envisaged that further laboratory experimentation would be conducted to determine whether or not isolates were responsible for the production of the highly toxic organic mercury and whether this process was occurring in situ in the sediments. The findings of this project were contrary to what had been expected. Total mercury concentrations (apart from one instance) did not appear to be appreciably elevated in the areas under study. Similarly, the levels of methyl mercury were fourrd to be either diminished or absent. Numbers of D. desulfuricans were low and not uniformly distributed throughout the sediments. Cl. perfringens was more in evidence, but counts were not perceptibly increased. Sulfate levels were consistently high, indicating significantly impaired rates of sulfate reduction. Difficulty experienced in sub-culturing / M

published_or_final_version / Civil Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Particle-laden jets are an important type of multiphase flow which can be found in various natural and technical processes. This study focuses on the flow mechanisms in a horizontally discharging sediment-laden jet that is of particular interest in environmental science and engineering. Experimental techniques and mathematical models are developed to investigate horizontal sediment-laden jets, both for the buoyant and non-buoyant jet discharge cases. In the laboratory, the separation of images of the fluid and the particulate phases is achieved by harnessing light signals of visualization at different wavelengths. Whole field measurements of velocities of the two phases are made by the adoption of particle image velocimetry (PIV) algorithms. Numerical models are developed in two approaches with regard to the treatment of the particulate phase. In the Lagrangian approach, individual sediment particles are tracked while the flow field of the fluid phase is computed with large-eddy simulation (LES). This simulation successfully captures the transient nature of the particle-laden flow. In the Eulerian approach, a two-phase model is used to obtain steady flow simulations in a much shorter computation time. The experimental and numerical results for the horizontal momentum jets show that, at low initial particle concentrations, the sediment particles generally follow the jet flow but with some levels of deficit velocities. In the upper layer of the jet the particles do not follow the fluid flow as well as in its lower layer. More particles are observed in the lower layer than in the upper one. For the momentum-dominated zone of a horizontal buoyant jet, the flow exhibits similar behaviors as the horizontal particle-laden momentum jet, except that there are some slight modifications from the effects of buoyancy. In the bending zone of the buoyant jet, the effects of buoyancy become significant. Notably, the locations of maximum velocity magnitude and those of maximum turbulence intensity are well separated in this zone. A strong correlation of particle abundance and high turbulence intensity is observed in the lower outer jet layer in this bending zone. Significant modifications to the global behaviors of horizontal sediment jets are observed as the particle concentration increases to relatively high levels. The jet trajectories are brought downwards by the particle loads and the jet widths are also increased. For the flow regime being investigated, turbulence intensity in the fluid flow is found to be increased by the presence of sediment particles. The results suggest that turbulence helps suspend sediment particles in horizontally discharging jets. A Stokes number is proposed to represent the ability of particles to follow the fluid flow. It is defined as St=W_s/U_j , where ws is the particle settling velocity in still fluid and Uj is the jet exit velocity, which indirectly governs the turbulence characteristics of the jet flow. The advecting large eddies in a turbulent jet are found to play the role of organizing particles in patches. Interaction and coalescence between particle-concentrated eddies may result in the sudden drop of a group of particles, which contributes to sediments falling from a horizontal jet in the form of particle-rich “fingers”. / published_or_final_version / Civil Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Sediment-laden turbulent buoyant jets are commonly encountered in the natural and man-made environments. Examples of sediment-laden buoyant jets include volcanic eruptions, deep ocean hydrothermal vents (“black smokers”), ocean dumping of dredged spoils and sludge, and submarine discharge of wastewater effluent. It is important to understand the fluid mechanics of sediment jets for environmental impact assessment, and yet there is currently no general model for predicting the mixing of sediment-laden jets. This study reports a theoretical and experimental investigation the sediment mixing, fall-out and deposition from sediment-laden buoyant jets. It is well known that turbulence generates fluctuations to the particle motion, modulating the particle settling velocity. A general three-dimensional (3D) stochastic particle tracking model is developed to predict the particle settling out and deposition from a sediment-laden jet. Particle velocity fluctuations are modelled by a Lagrangian velocity autocorrelation function that accounts for the loitering and trapping of sediment particles in turbulent eddies which results in the reduction of settling velocity. The model is validated against results of independent experimental studies. Consistent with basic experiments using grid-generated turbulence, the model predicts that the apparent settling velocity can be reduced by as much as 30% of the stillwater settling velocity. The mixing and deposition of sediment-laden horizontal momentum jets are studied using laboratory experiments and 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling. It is shown that there is a significant settling velocity reduction up to about 25-35%, dependent on jet turbulent fluctuations and particle properties. The CFD approach necessitates an ad hoc adjustment/reduction on settling velocity and lacks generality. Using classical solutions of mean velocity, and turbulent fluctuation and dissipation rate profiles derived from CFD solutions, 3D particle tracking model predictions of sediment deposition and concentration profiles are in excellent agreement with measured data over a wide range of jet flow and particle properties. Unlike CFD calculations, the present method does not require any a priori adjustment of particle settling velocity. A general particle tracking model for predicting sediment fall-out and deposition from an arbitrarily inclined buoyant jets in stagnant ambient is successfully developed. The model incorporates the three flow regimes affecting the sediment dynamics in a buoyant jet, namely turbulent jet flow, jet entrainment-induced external flow and surface spreading current. The jet mean flow velocity is determined using a well-validated jet integral model. The external jet-induced irrotational flow field is computed by a distribution of point sinks along the jet trajectory. The surface spreading current is predicted using an integral model accounting for the interfacial shear. The model is validated against experimental data of sediment deposition from vertical and horizontal sediment-laden buoyant jets. / published_or_final_version / Civil Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Increased human habitation brings associated pressures with it, such as the introduction of contaminants to coastal waters. The major sources of these occur along the KwaZulu-Natal coast via Sappi Saiccor discharge points, Tioxide, AECI, the Mlaas canal, Central Works Outfall and Southern Works Outfall. This study investigated the effects of sediment structure on benthic amphipod communities exposed to sewage and industrial waste from the Central Works and Southern Works Outfalls along the Durban coastline, and used a 4-year dataset of sediment grain size analysis, metal concentrations, Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) at impacted and reference sites. Results exhibited that the levels of effluent being discharged onto the Durban coast from the Southern Works and Central Works Outfalls do not accumulate in the fine grained sediments in sites where it would be expected. The Mdloti reference site which was dominated by coarse sediment showed the highest concentrations of metals. In addition, the outfalls do not have significant effects on the amphipod communities in the vicinity. Community structure between sites with similar grain sizes tends to be very similar thereby highlighting the possible influence of grain sizes on determining community patterns. Overall, there seemed to be no effect of pollutants on the biology or accumulation in the receiving environment. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2010.

Typescript. / Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1984. / Bibliography: leaves 322-341. / Microfiche. / x, 341 leaves, bound ill., maps 29 cm

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 115-120).

Thesis (M.Sc.), Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2000. / Restricted until June 2001. Bibliography: leaves 135-143.

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Technology in Chemistry, M.L. Sultan Technikon, 2001. / The purpose of this study was to determine the concentration of selected metals in Durban Harbour water and sediments. Four sites were selected for the investigation. The water and sediment samples were collected from July 1998 to July 1999 to accommodate seasonal changes / M