Biogas, a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide, is produced in the anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge. After anaerobic digestion, the digested sludge is often allowed to degas for one or two days. This gas is seldom utilised, but if the degassing could be accelerated, utilisation would be easier. Ultrasound can be used as a pretreatment method for waste activated sludge. It has a disintegrating effect on the sludge and causes lysis of bacteria in the sludge. It also speeds up the hydrolysis; the limiting step of anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge. Ultrasound can be used to degas waterbased liquids. Ultrasonic degassing of sewage sludge has not been examined previously. The present study aims to investigate the effect of ultrasound on waste activated sludge as well as the potential of ultrasound to speed up the degassing of digested sludge. A semi-continuous, lab-scale digestion experiment was performed with four reactors: two receiving untreated sludge and two receiving treated sludge. The effect of the sonicator was 420 W and the treatment time was 6 min, which corresponds to an energy input of 8.4 kWh/m3. Total solids (TS) of the waste activated sludge was ~3.5 %. The ultrasonic treatment caused an increase in gas production of 13 %. There was no difference in methane content. The concentration of filterable chemical oxygen demand (fCOD) increased 375 %, or from 2.8 % to 11 % of total COD. In terms of energy loss/gain the increase in gas production resulted in a loss of 2.7 kWh/m3, i.e. more energy is needed to treat the sludge than the potential energy of the increased gas production. However, if the sludge is thickened to a TS >5 %, a net energy gain should be reached. The effect of ultrasound on the degassing of digested sludge was examined in three barrels. The degassing was measured with and without circulation as well as with ultrasonic treatment. The digested sludge had a gas emission rate of 115 L/(m3 day). No direct burst of gas occurred due to ultrasonic treatment. Over two days more gas was emitted from the barrel equipped with ultrasound, probably due to an induced post-digestion. Thus, ultrasonic pretreatment of waste activated sludge increases the biogas yield. It is inconclusive, whether ultrasonic treatment of digested sludge effects the degassing or not.

No description available.

Considerable effort worldwide has gone into monitoring heat and mass transfer at active volcanoes, as this information may provide clues about changes in volcanic activity and impending eruptions. One method used is the self-potential (SP) method, which has been employed on volcanoes to map hydrothermal systems and structural features and to monitor changes in the hydrothermal system due to volcanic activity. Continuous monitoring of SP has been employed on a few volcanoes and has produced encouraging results. This study presents new time series data collected from continuous monitoring stations at Masaya and Telica, and spatial series data from Masaya, Telica, and Cerro Negro, three active volcanoes in Nicaragua. The primary goals of this study were to determine whether correlations between SP anomalies and CO2 flux exist and to investigate temporal variations in temperature, SP, rainfall, and barometric pressure. To achieve these goals, SP and CO2 flux surveys were conducted on Masaya, Telica, and Cerro Negro, and continuous monitoring stations were installed on Masaya and Telica. The continuous monitoring station on Masaya recorded temperature, SP, rainfall, and barometric pressure. The station on Telica recorded temperature and SP. Profiles collected on Masaya and Cerro Negro show broad correlation between SP and CO2 flux. However, profiles on Telica revealed virtually no SP anomaly or CO2 flux for the majority of the profile, at the time of data collection. Data collected from the continuous monitoring station at Masaya showed a persistent positive SP anomaly that fluctuated between 60 and 240 mV. Rainfall was seen to supress the anomaly for time scales of several hours to several days. Correlations between temperature, SP, and barometric pressure were also seen at Masaya. Curiously, no increases in SP were seen during two temperature transients that occurred during volcanic activity in June and October. Continuous monitoring data from Telica showed only decreases in temperature and SP, which coincided with rainfall. The continuous monitoring data collected in this study and others have begun to provide a better understanding of the nature of SP anomalies, which may aid in the development of the SP method as a volcano monitoring tool.

<p>This thesis aims to measure the rate of radon loss from water in a systematic way. The dependence on surface area, temperature and concentration will be investigated. The experiments were done at UWC by creating radon using radium sources and then measuring the radon concentrations inside a vacuum chamber to obtain the speed of radon escape from the water. The results are compared to a model [Cal 2002] where the radon concentration in the air and hence the transfer rate is measured using a RAD7 radon detector. Since the equations cannot be solved analytically, a numerical solution is employed. The radon transfer velocity coefficient is found to be (1.9&plusmn / 0.5)&times / 10-6m/s. This value indicates that the escape of radon should not be a problem when a sample is open to the air for a minute or two.</p>

Volatile trace metals are variably enriched in volcanic gases. Metal concentrations in sub-aerially erupted magmas are also depleted in many of these metals. The causes of variable metal enrichment in volcanic gasses, however, remain enigmatic. The objective of this work is to place experimental constraints on kinetic and thermodynamic factors that influence the concentrations of trace metals in volcanic gases. To measure metal mobility in silicate melts, Pt crucibles packed with metal doped glasses of broadly basaltic composition were equilibrated with air and mixed gases at atmospheric pressure. The metals in the melt diffused to the gas/melt interface where they were released as a volatile species. The experiments produced concentration-distance profiles from which diffusivity was derived. Experiments were also conducted in a piston-cylinder apparatus at 1 GPa pressure. In these experiments, melts were equilibrated with Cl-bearing fluids at high temperature and pressure. At equilibrium, trace metals partitioned between the melt and fluid phase as a function of temperature and fluid composition. The diffusivity of Re in melts of natural basalt, andesite and a synthetic composition in the CaO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2 (CMAS) system has been investigated at 0.1 MPa and 1250-1350C over a range of fO2 conditions from log fO2 = -10 to –0.68. Re diffusivity in natural basalt at 1300C in air is logDRe = -7.2  0.3 cm2/sec and increases to logDRe = -6.6 0.3 cm2/sec when trace amounts of Cl were added to the starting material. At fO2 conditions below the nickel-nickel oxide (NNO) buffer Re diffusivity decreases to logDRereducing = -7.60.2 cm2/sec and to logDReandesite = -8.4  0.2 cm2/sec in andesite melt. Cd, Re, Tl, Pb, Sb and Te diffusivity in CMAS and Na2O-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2 (NMAS) melts were also determined at 0.1 MPa and 1200-1350C. In the CMAS composition at 1300C, the fastest diffusing element was Cd having a logDCd = -6.5  0.2. The slowest element was Re with logDRe = -7.5  0.3. Diffusivities of Sb, Te, Pb and Tl have intermediate values where logDSb = -7.1  0.1, logDTe = -7.2  0.3, logDPb = -7.1  0.2, logDTl = -7.0  0.2 cm2/sec. In the NMAS composition, logDRe = -6.5  0.2, logDSb = -6.0  0.2, logDPb = -6.1  0.1, logDTl = -5.8  0.2 cm2/sec. Fluid/melt partition coefficients ( ) of Re, Mo, W, Tl and Pb between fluid (H2O + Cl) and a haplobasaltic melt in the CMAS system were measured between 1200 and 1400°C at 1 GPa and fluid chlorine molarities from 7.7 to 27 mol/L. At 1300°C and fluid molarity of 7.7 mol/L, = 9.8±1.8, = 11.8±1.6, = 3.7±1.6, = 4.5±1.4 and = 2.4 ±1.8. Both Mo and Re were shown to partition most strongly into the fluid at all temperatures and fluid chlorinities. Differences in diffusivity of volatile heavy metal ions to a lead to significant fractionation between these metals in magmas during degassing. Given the observed differences in Cd and Re diffusivities, an increase in the normalized Cd/Re ratio in the gas phase with increasing bubble growth rate is predicted. Monitoring of the Cd/Re ratios in aerosols from degassing volcanoes may provide a tool for predicting volcanic eruption. Modeling of Re using the values measured here support the contention that subaerial degassing is the cause of lower Re concentrations in arc-type and ocean island basalts compared to mid-ocean ridge basalts. The model results were also compared with emanation coefficients for trace metals from natural volcanoes. The magnitudes of the modeled Re/Tl and Re/Pb in fluids at 1300C and the lowest fluid chlorinities were less than that observed from their emanation coefficients. Re and Pb are more sensitive to fluid chlorinity than Tl. The ratios of Re/Tl and Re/Pb expected from emanation coefficients are closely matched if partitioning values for experiments having fluid chlorinities of ~16-20 MCl at 1300C are used.

Mémoire (M.Eng.)--Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, 1996. / L'abréviation "tm" dans le titre signifie une marque de commerce (Trademark). CaQCU Document électronique également accessible en format PDF. CaQCU

Volatile trace metals are variably enriched in volcanic gases. Metal concentrations in sub-aerially erupted magmas are also depleted in many of these metals. The causes of variable metal enrichment in volcanic gasses, however, remain enigmatic. The objective of this work is to place experimental constraints on kinetic and thermodynamic factors that influence the concentrations of trace metals in volcanic gases. To measure metal mobility in silicate melts, Pt crucibles packed with metal doped glasses of broadly basaltic composition were equilibrated with air and mixed gases at atmospheric pressure. The metals in the melt diffused to the gas/melt interface where they were released as a volatile species. The experiments produced concentration-distance profiles from which diffusivity was derived. Experiments were also conducted in a piston-cylinder apparatus at 1 GPa pressure. In these experiments, melts were equilibrated with Cl-bearing fluids at high temperature and pressure. At equilibrium, trace metals partitioned between the melt and fluid phase as a function of temperature and fluid composition. The diffusivity of Re in melts of natural basalt, andesite and a synthetic composition in the CaO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2 (CMAS) system has been investigated at 0.1 MPa and 1250-1350C over a range of fO2 conditions from log fO2 = -10 to –0.68. Re diffusivity in natural basalt at 1300C in air is logDRe = -7.2  0.3 cm2/sec and increases to logDRe = -6.6 0.3 cm2/sec when trace amounts of Cl were added to the starting material. At fO2 conditions below the nickel-nickel oxide (NNO) buffer Re diffusivity decreases to logDRereducing = -7.60.2 cm2/sec and to logDReandesite = -8.4  0.2 cm2/sec in andesite melt. Cd, Re, Tl, Pb, Sb and Te diffusivity in CMAS and Na2O-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2 (NMAS) melts were also determined at 0.1 MPa and 1200-1350C. In the CMAS composition at 1300C, the fastest diffusing element was Cd having a logDCd = -6.5  0.2. The slowest element was Re with logDRe = -7.5  0.3. Diffusivities of Sb, Te, Pb and Tl have intermediate values where logDSb = -7.1  0.1, logDTe = -7.2  0.3, logDPb = -7.1  0.2, logDTl = -7.0  0.2 cm2/sec. In the NMAS composition, logDRe = -6.5  0.2, logDSb = -6.0  0.2, logDPb = -6.1  0.1, logDTl = -5.8  0.2 cm2/sec. Fluid/melt partition coefficients ( ) of Re, Mo, W, Tl and Pb between fluid (H2O + Cl) and a haplobasaltic melt in the CMAS system were measured between 1200 and 1400°C at 1 GPa and fluid chlorine molarities from 7.7 to 27 mol/L. At 1300°C and fluid molarity of 7.7 mol/L, = 9.8±1.8, = 11.8±1.6, = 3.7±1.6, = 4.5±1.4 and = 2.4 ±1.8. Both Mo and Re were shown to partition most strongly into the fluid at all temperatures and fluid chlorinities. Differences in diffusivity of volatile heavy metal ions to a lead to significant fractionation between these metals in magmas during degassing. Given the observed differences in Cd and Re diffusivities, an increase in the normalized Cd/Re ratio in the gas phase with increasing bubble growth rate is predicted. Monitoring of the Cd/Re ratios in aerosols from degassing volcanoes may provide a tool for predicting volcanic eruption. Modeling of Re using the values measured here support the contention that subaerial degassing is the cause of lower Re concentrations in arc-type and ocean island basalts compared to mid-ocean ridge basalts. The model results were also compared with emanation coefficients for trace metals from natural volcanoes. The magnitudes of the modeled Re/Tl and Re/Pb in fluids at 1300C and the lowest fluid chlorinities were less than that observed from their emanation coefficients. Re and Pb are more sensitive to fluid chlorinity than Tl. The ratios of Re/Tl and Re/Pb expected from emanation coefficients are closely matched if partitioning values for experiments having fluid chlorinities of ~16-20 MCl at 1300C are used.

xvi, 167 p. ; ill. (some col.) A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / Volatiles, particularly H 2 O, play an important role in subduction zone magmatism, from instigating melting of the mantle wedge to influencing the explosivity of eruptions at the surface. To better understand both small-scale eruptive processes and large-scale melt generation processes, concentrations of H 2 O, CO 2 , Cl and S were measured in olivine-hosted melt inclusions from nine monogenetic volcanoes across the Michoacan-Guanajuato Volcanic Field (MGVF) in central Mexico. Melt inclusions, tiny blebs of melt trapped within crystals during growth, record pre-eruptive melt compositions and dissolved volatile contents. Analyses of olivine-hosted melt inclusions from the long-lived (15 years) eruption of Volcan Jorullo illustrate the complexities of cinder cone eruptions. The later-erupted melt inclusions record decreases in crystallization depths, increases in magma storage time, and shallow assimilation of granitic bedrock, suggesting significant evolution of the magma plumbing system over time. Because melt inclusions are trapped at variable depths during magma crystallization, they record progressive degassing of melts during ascent and eruption. Degassing of basaltic melts is variable due to differences in solubility of the volatile components. Estimated volatile solubilities based on variations in melt inclusion data for the MGVF suggest that Cl and S have high solubility, with little to no degassing of these species during ascent and eruption, whereas H 2 O and CO 2 show evidence of substantial degassing. Furthermore, increases in concentrations of incompatible elements in melt inclusions correlate with extents of degassing, suggesting that degassing during ascent drives melt crystallization in many cinder cone eruptions. The volatile contents of mafic arc magmas as revealed by melt inclusions reflect the influx of H 2 O-rich components from the subducted slab to the mantle wedge. Across-arc patterns in volatile and incompatible trace element concentrations for MGVF magmas show that the flux of H 2 O-rich subduction components remains high for large distances across the arc. These data, combined with oxygen isotope analyses of olivine phenocrysts and 2-D thermo-mechanical models of the subduction zone, suggest a complex origin for the H 2 O-rich subduction components, involving dehydration of subducted sediment and storage of volatiles in hydrous minerals in the mantle wedge. This dissertation includes co-authored materials both previously published and submitted for publication. / Adviser: Paul J. Wallace

Contraindre l'architecture et la dynamique des systèmes magmatiques est d’une importance capitale dans la compréhension des phénomènes volcaniques. Les principaux objectifs de cette thèse sont (1) de contraindre l'architecture du système magmatique du Piton de la Fournaise dans son ensemble, et (2) d'étudier l’évolution des magmas et les transferts associés en son sein. En couplant l'étude pétro-géochimique des magmas et du dégazage de CO2 à travers le sol, nous développons une approche intégrée, focalisée sur le flanc ouest de l'édifice. Cette zone témoigne d'une activité éruptive récente très peu étudiée, traçant potentiellement des processus magmatiques profonds. Nos résultats permettent de valider l'hypothèse du caractère décentré de la plomberie magmatique profonde du Piton de la Fournaise sous le flanc ouest de l'édifice. Nous démontrons que les magmas stockés dans la partie profonde de la plomberie magmatique préservent une certaine variabilité géochimique, principalement liée à de légères hétérogénéités de source et à des processus polybariques de cristallisation et d'assimilation. Nous montrons également que les flux de CO2 à travers le sol du flanc ouest de l'édifice enregistrent le dégazage précoce des magmas au sein du manteau lithosphérique. Nous soulignons ici que les variations temporelles des flux de CO2 à travers le sol peuvent être utilisées pour détecter les recharges du système magmatique central via des transferts magmatiques profonds.Nos résultats ouvrent des perspectives prometteuses quant à la surveillance des processus magmatiques profonds sous les édifices volcaniques, même en conditions tropicales. / Constraining the architecture and dynamics of magma systems is fundamental in volcanology. The main objectives of this study are to (1) constrain the architecture of the whole plumbing system of Piton de la Fournaise, and (2) study magma evolution and transfers from the deepest roots of the plumbing system. Coupling magma petrogeochemistry and diffusive soil degassing, we develop an integrated approach, focused on the western flank of the volcano. This zone shows evidences of a recent eruptive activity, poorly documented, but potentially related to deep magma processes. Our results allow to confirm the offset of the deep part of the Piton de la Fournaise plumbing system beneath the western flank of the volcano. We demonstrate that magma stored in the deepest roots of the plumbing system display a geochemical variability, mainly related to minor mantle source heterogeneities and to polybaric crystallization and assimilation processes. We show that soil CO2 fluxes on the western flank of the volcano record early magma degassing in the lithospheric mantle. We highlight that temporal variations of soil CO2 flux may be used to detect magma replenishement of the central magmatic system by deep magma transfers, hardly detectable by the geophysical network.Our results opens exciting prospects to improve the monitoring of deep magma processes below volcanoes, even in tropical conditions.

Há uma demanda por competitividade entre as indústrias de aços, a fim de alcançar a excelência definida pelo termo clean steel. O processo de desgaseificação a vácuo (VD) ocorre durante o Refino Secundário de aços especiais. Sua principal função é remover gases indesejáveis, especialmente o hidrogênio. Entretanto, durante este processo, o fenômeno de flotação e a absorção de inclusões são reportados. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi estudar a viscosidade de escórias e a capacidade da estação de desgaseificação a vácuo do tipo tanque na limpeza de aços sob uma perspectiva industrial. Para realizar este objetivo, foram coletadas amostras de escória e aço antes e após a etapa de vácuo. Os resultados em limpeza de aço foram relacionados à energia de agitação durante o tratamento a vácuo (associada a um parâmetro cinético - βs) e ao efeito da viscosidade de escórias. É possível observar um decréscimo expressivo na população de inclusões entre as condições antes e após tratamento de desgaseificação a vácuo. A remoção de inclusões durante o vácuo atinge 64, 75 e 78% para as faixas de diâmetro de 2,5-5, 5-15 e ≥ 15 μm, respectivamente. Após o processo de desgaseificação, a composição das inclusões não-metálicas aproxima-se da composição química da escória. O processo de agitação na estação de desgaseificação a vácuo promove uma diminuição significativa na densidade de inclusões na faixa de diâmetro de 2,5-15 μm. Além disso, ao aumentar a intensidade do parâmetro cinético, a composição química de inclusões não-metálicas foi afetada e o teor de enxofre presente no aço líquido foi reduzido. Quanto às viscosidades efetiva das escórias, conclui-se que, para valores mais baixos (0,20 Pa.s) aumenta-se a capacidade da escória na remoção de inclusões, enquanto que valores mais altos (> 0,40 Pa.s) aparentaram ser prejudiciais à limpeza do aço. / There is a demand in competitiveness within the steel industry towards achieving excellence defined by clean steel term. The process of vacuum degassing (VD) occurs during the secondary refining of special steels. Its main function is to remove undesirable gases, primarily hydrogen. However, during this process, flotation phenomenon and inclusions absorption are reported. The aim of the present work was to study the slag viscosity and vacuum degassing (tank type) capacity in steel cleanliness from an industry perspective. To achieve this objective, slag and steel samples were taken before and after vacuum stage. The results in steel cleanliness were related to the stirring energy of the vacuum station (associated to a kinetic parameter – βs) and to the effect of slag viscosity. It is possible to observe an expressive decrease in the population of inclusions between the conditions before and after vacuum degassing treatment. The removal of inclusions during the vacuum stage reaches 64, 75 and 78% in the diameter ranges of 2,5-5, 5-15 and ≥ 15 μm, respectively. After the degassing process, the composition of non-metallic inclusions seemed to approach the slags’ chemical compositions. The stirring process in the vacuum degassing station promotes a significant decrease in the inclusion density with 2,5-15 μm diameter range. Also, by increasing the kinetic parameter intensity, the composition of non-metallic inclusions was affected. The sulfur content present in liquid steel was reduced. Regarding the effective viscosities of slags, it was concluded that lower values (0,20 Pa.s) increased slag capacity in inclusion removal, whereas higher values (> 0,40 Pa.s) was detrimental to steel cleanliness.