Organic solvent production plants emit waste gases containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are usually harmful to the environments and public healths. Plant managers are obligated to control the VOC emission to meet regulations at reasonable costs. A solvent plant located in southern Taiwan emits VOC-containing gas streams from some distillation columns and storage vessels with a total ventilation gas flow rate of 2.6-3.6 m3/min which contains VOCs with concentrations of less than 1,000 mg C/m3. Due to a concern of plant¡¦s safety, the plant managers constructed a full-scale biofilter for eliminating a part of the VOCs and the associated odors in the waste gas. This study aimed to investigate the effects of operation parameters such as EBRT (empty bed retention time) of the gas through the biofiltration media and organic loading to the media on the VOC removal efficiency. The biofilter is constructed of RC (reinforced concrete) with outer dimensions of 8.45 mL ¡Ñ 3.30 mW ¡Ñ 3.00 mH. The filter was also instrumented with inverters for control of speed of induced fans, and with thermometers, hygrometers, and wind speed meters. Fern chips with a total packing volume of 36 m3 was used as the biofiltration media. After inoculation with suitable microorganisms, the waste gas was introduced to the filter for VOC elimination. Nutrients (urea, milk, and a phosphate salt) and water were supplemented to the media on a daily basis. The investigation period is July, 2008 to May, 2010. In the period, THC (total hydrocarbon) concentrations for the influent and effluent gases to and from the reactor were daily measured. In addition, on a weekly basis, compositions of the VOCs in gas samples were detected by a gas chromatography equipped with a flame ionization dector (FID). On the same time basis, pH, COD (chemical oxygen demand), SS (suspended solids) in a sample of the trickled liquid from the media was analyzed. Media pH and moisture content were also analyzed for understanding the environmental conditions around the microorganisms for the VOC degradation. Results indicated that the media was in conditions of pH = 4.5-7.0, moisture = 11-61 % in the experimental phase. Trickled liquid had low COD and SS contents which can be easily treated by the existing wastewater unit in the plant, or be recycled to the media. Avarage THC, NMHC (nonmethane hydrocarbon), and VOCs were 71, 73, and 79%, respectively, with gas EBRTs of 4.2-6.3 min. With media pH of 4-5 and moisture contents 51-57%, over 90% of the influent VOCs coulb be eliminated. However, nearly dried media (moisture around 10%) had VOC removal efficiencies of lower than 30%. Nutrition tests indicate that the VOC removal efficiency was nearly proportional to milk supplementation rate. Removal of ethnaol and acetic could easily be removed with an efficiency of over 97% while 2-pentane was only 74%. Odor intensities of the treated gas could be controlled to <1,000 (dilutions to threshold) according to 3 test data.

This study aimed to develop a biofilter packed only with fern chips for the removal of air-borne low concentration VOCs (volatile organic compounds) emitted from various industries such as semiconductor manufacturing and electronic ones. The fern chip biofilters could avoid the shortcomings of traditional media, such as compaction, drying, and breakdown, which lead to the performance failure of the biofilters. The study contains two topics. The first is a performance test on the elimination of mixed VOCs used in semiconductor manufacturing industries in an air stream. The second is the one on the elimination of a single VOC (methyl ethyl ketone) in a waste gas drawn from a CCL (copper clad laminate) plant. Two pilot-scale biofilters consisted of two columns (0.40 mW¡Ñ0.40 mL¡Ñ0.70 mH acrylic column) arranged in series were used for the performance tests. Each of the two columns was packed with fern chips to a packing volume of around 56 L (0.40 mW¡Ñ0.40 mL¡Ñ0.35 mH). A sprinkler was set over the packed fern chips for providing them with water and nutrition solutions. Liquid leached from both layers of chips were collected in the bottom container of the column. In the first topic, tests were performed for biofiltration removal of VOCs in simulated semiconductor manufacturing emitted gases which consisted of IPA (isopropyl alcohol), acetone, HMDS (hexamethylene disilazane), PGME (propylene glycol monomethyl ether), and PGMEA (propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate). From the results, it could be proposed that for achieving over 94% of the VOC removal, appropriate operation conditions are media moisture content = 52-68%, media pH = 7-8, influent VOC concentration = 150-450 mg/Am3, empty bed residence time (EBRT) = 0.75 min, and volumetric organic loading L to the whole media = 11.4-34.1 g/m3.h. In the second topic, performances of biofiltration for the removal of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) in a gas stream from a copper clad laminate (CCL) manufacturing process were tested. Experimental results indicate that with L of <115 g /m3.h., EBRT = 0.5-1.28 min , media pH = 5.3-6.8, influent MEK concentration = 215-1,670 mg/Am3, MEK removal efficiencies of over 91% were obtained. Instant milk powder was essential to the good and stable performance of the biofilter for MEK removal.

Abstract Biological processes have been proven to be economical and effective for control of VOCs with concentration of <1,000 mg C/m3. This study armed to develop a biofilter packed only with fern chips for the removal of airborne isopropyl alcohol (IPA). A three-stage down-flow biofilter (2.2 m in height and 0.4 m¡Ñ0.4 m in cross-sectional area) was constructed for the performance test. The first stage serviced as a humidifier for the incoming gas and the following two stages, both packed with fern chips with a packing space of 0.30 m ¡Ñ 0.40 m ¡Ñ0.40 m, as trickling bed biofilters for the VOC removal. Air with a nearly constant IPA concentration of 100 mg/Am3 (@ an average temperature of 34 oC) and a flow rate in the range of 100-400 L/min was fed to the reactor in Phase I test. The flow rate gave an empty bed retention time (EBRT) in the range of 12-48 s for the gas flowing through the two bed media. Solutions of urea-N, phosphate-P, and milk powder were supplied daily to the fern chips for the microbial nutrition in Phase I experiment which lasted for 26 days. Following the Phase, Phase II test operated with a constant EBRT of 12 s and without any nutrient supplementation for 30 days. Experimental results show that with an influent gas temperature of 29-40oC (average 34 oC) and relative humidity of 43-93% (average 73%), with a proper moistening of the bed media, the effluent gas could achieved a temperature of 26-35oC (average 29 oC) and a relative humidity of 98%. The proceeding medium experienced a greater moisture variation (12-68%, average 38%) than that (65-82%, average 72%) of the following one. The former and the latter media had pH in the range of 6.11-7.78 (average 6.77) and 6.13-7.36 (average 6.59), respectively. With no additional nutrient supplementation for 30 days, approximately 98% of the influent IPA of 100 mg/m3 could be removed at the EBRT of as short as 12 s which corresponded to a loading of 60 g IPA/m3.h.

This study armed to develop a biofilter packed only with fern chips for the removal of air-borne propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (PGMEA). The fern chip biofilters could avoid the shortcomings of traditional media, such as compaction, drying, and breakdown, which lead to the performance failure of the biofilters. In the present study, a three stage down-flow biofilter (2.18 m in height and 0.4 m¡Ñ0.4 m in cross-sectional area) was constructed for the performance test. The first stage serviced as a humidifier for the incoming gas and the following two stages, both packed with fern chips of 0.30 m ¡Ñ 0.40 m ¡Ñ0.40 m, as trickling bed biofilters for the VOC removal. The experiment was divided into four phases. Operation conditions of an empty bed retention time (EBRT) of 1.60min and influent PGMEA concentrations of 9.33-329 (average 78.4) mg/m3 were used in the Phase I experiment which lasted for 99 days. An average PGMEA removal of only 68% was obtained in this phase. For improving the PGMEA removal in the following phases, a fixed dosage of milk powder of 1.0 g/(m3 media. day) added as aqueous milk suspension was added to the media for nutrition of the biofilms on the fern chip surfaces. After an additional operation time of 20 days (the 127th day from the startup time), a stable PGMEA removal of 91% was achieved. Following Phase II, PGMEA removals of 93 and 94% were obtained with EBRTs of 0.40 and 0.27 min, respectively, in Phases III and IV experiments. The results indicate that EBRT was not a key influencing factor to the PGMEA removal as long as the media had a high ability for the VOC degradation. Experimental data obtained from Phases II-IV reveal that with volumetric loadings (L) of less than 250 g PGMEA/(m3.h) to the up-streaming half of the whole media, 90% of the influent PGMEA could be removed in this half media. An additional 80% of the influent PGMEA to the following half media could be removed with L < 100 g PGMEA/(m3.h) to the half media. The PGMEA elimination capacities were proportional to the volumetric loadings of less than 250 g PGMEA/(m3.h). From the results, it could be proposed that for achieving over 93% of the PGMEA removal, appropriate operation conditions are media moisture content = 52-65%, media pH = 7.2-7.4, influent PGMEA concentration = 100-400 mg/Am3, EBRT = 0.27-0.40 min, and L to the whole media = 45-180 g PGMEA/(m3.h).

This study armed to develop a biofilter packed only with fern chips for the removal of air-borne low concentration VOCs (volatile organic compounds) emitted from semiconductor manufacturing industries. The fern chip biofilters could avoid the shortcomings of traditional media, such as compaction, drying, and breakdown, which lead to the performance failure of the biofilters. Performance of biofiltration for removal of simulated semiconductor manufacturing emitted gases consisting of IPA (isopropyl alcohol), acetone, HMDS (hexamethylene disilazane), PGME (propylene glycol monomethyl ether), and PGMEA (propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate) was studied in a pilot-scale biofilter consisted of two columns (40-cmW x 40-cmL x 70-cmH acrylic column) arranged in series. Each column was packed with fern chips to a packing volume of around 56 L (0.40 m¡Ñ0.40 m¡Ñ0.35 mH). A sprinkler was set over the packed fern chips for providing them with water and nutrition solutions. Liquid leached from both layers of chips were collected in the bottom container of the column. The experiment lasted for 182 days which was divided into four phases with varying influent gas flow rates and VOC concentrations. Gas samples collected around 3 times per week from the influent as well a the first and second stage effluents were analyzed for VOC concentrations. On a weekly basis, fern chips sampled from each column were also analyzed for getting pH, moisture, and the absorbed VOC content of the chips. Phase shifted if it obtained a quasi-steady state which was judged by the nearly unchanging VOC removal efficiencies. Operation conditions of an empty bed retention time (EBRT) of 1.50 min and influent VOC concentrations of 159-284 mg/m3 were used in the Phase I experiment which lasted for 15 days. Nutrition of 1.34 g milk powder/m3.d was used in this phase and the conditions gave an average volumetric VOC loading (L) of 15.1 g/m3.h. Effluent VOC concentrations were 3-18 mg/m3 and an average VOC removal of 96% was obtained in this phase. An EBRT of 0.75 min, L of 11.44 g/m3.h, and nutrition of 1.34 g milk powder/m3.d were used in the Phase II experiment. VOCs in the gas could be removed from 90-126 to 1-19.6 mg/m3 and an average efficiency of 94% was obtained. Following Phase II, an average VOC removal of only 48% was obtained with an EBRT of 0.75 min, nutrition of 2.0 g milk powder/m3.d, and L of 22.8 g/m3.h in Phases III experiment during the 56-97th days from the startup time. Additional nitrogen (urea) and phosphorus (potassium dihydrogen phosphate) was added to the media from the 105th day and the VOC removal increased to 80% at the 107th day. An average VOC removal of around 93% was obtained in phase III experiment. The results showed that enough nutrition is essential to the successful performance for the biofiltration process. Phase IV experiment lasted for 59 days with an EBRT of 0.75 min, L of 34.1 g/m3.h, and nutrition of 2.0-6.0 g/m3.d. During the initial period of this phase, media pH dropped from 7.8 to 5.8 due to an excess nitrogen (ammonium chloride) addition as high as 12.35 g N/m3.d which resulted in nitrification reaction in the media. By stopping nitrogen, increasing milk powder dosing, and addition of NaHCO3 at the 140th day, pH restored to 7.5 in the following days. VOC removal increased to an average of 92% in the rest operation days. From the results, it could be proposed that for achieving over 90% of the VOC removal, appropriate operation conditions are media moisture content = 52-65%, media pH = 7-8, influent VOC concentration = 150-450 mg/Am3, EBRT = 0.75 min, and L to the whole media = 11-34 g/m3.h.

This study armed to develop a biotrickling biofilter packed only with fern chips for the removal of air-borne low concentration VOCs (volatile organic compounds) emitted from a solvent refinery located in Kaohsiung county of southern Taiwan. The fern chips could avoid the shortcomings of traditional media, such as compaction, drying, and breakdown, which lead to the performance failure of the biofilters. A pilot-scale biofilter (0.80 mL ¡Ñ 0.75 mW ¡Ñ 1.50 mH) packed with 0.24 m3 fern chips was used for the performance study. The study was conducted in the plant by drawing vented gas streams from two distillation columns and two solvent storage vessels. The gas streams contain aromatics and oxygenated hydrocarbons such as benzene, alcohols, and esters. Results indicated that suitable nutrition rates are 10, 100, and 10 g/m3.d, respectively, of milk powder, Urea-N, and K2HPO4-P, accompanied with a water spraying rate of 125 L/m3.d. Around 85% of VOCs in the influent gas with concentrations of 600-3,200 ppm (as CH4) could be removed under an average loading of 60 g VOC (as methane)/m3.h. A test indicated that odor intensity (expressed as dilution to threshold (D/T) ratio) of the influent gas could be reduced from around 7,330 to 73.

An understanding of the distribution of the Bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn) is critical for providing an appropriate management strategy. In this regard, remote sensing can play a critical role in mapping and modelling such distribution. In this study, an integrated approach using the random forest, maximum likelihood and vegetation indices was developed and tested to determine the capability of WorldView-2 multispectral eight band image in characterising the Bracken fern. Results based on the WorldView-2 were further compared to SPOT-5 multispectral (MS) image findings. The WorldView-2 (WV-2) image was spectrally resized to four traditional bands (blue, 450-510nm; green, 510-580 nm; red, 630-690 nm and NIR1, 770-895 nm) and four additional bands (coastal blue, 400-450 nm; yellow, 585-625 nm; red-edge, 705-745 nm and NIR2, 860-1040 nm) to evaluate the practicality of the spectral resolution in mapping the Bracken fern. The results from this analysis showed that the spectrally resized additional bands were more successful in general land cover mapping and characterising the Bracken fern. The result’s overall accuracy was 79.14% while the user’s and producer’s accuracies were 97.62% and 91.11% respectively. The second part of the study sought to improve the classification accuracy by applying a robust machine learning algorithm, the random forest. Since the random forest does not automatically choose the optimal bands, the backward variable elimination technique was employed to identify the optimum wavelengths in WV-2 for the identification of the Bracken fern. Respective out-of-bag (OOB) errors of 13.1% and 9.17% were achieved when the WV-2’s eight bands and optimally selected bands (n= 5) were used. These bands lie in the green (510-580nm), near-infrared1 (770-895nm), red-edge (705-745nm), near-infrared2 (860-1040nm) and the coastal blue (400-450nm) regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. These findings confirm the importance of the additional bands in vegetation analyses. The vegetation indices computed from these regions of the spectrum were superior to those in the visible region. The classification accuracy using WV-2 bands was superior to that from the commonly used SPOT 5 image. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2014.

Adaptive decision making depends on multiple processes, including fast and efficient processing of stimulus events for effective responding and slow trial-to-trial learning of action values for optimization of the selection process. I applied the event-related brain potential (ERP) technique to investigate the involvement of two neuromodulatory systems in learning and decision making: The locus coeruleus-norepinephrine (LC-NE) system and the mesencephalic dopamine system (DA system). I present evidence that the "oddball" N2, a negative deflection in the ERP elicited by task-relevant events that begins approximately 200 ms after onset of the eliciting stimulus and that is sensitive to low-probability events, is a manifestation of cortex-wide noradrenergic modulation recruited to facilitate the processing of unexpected stimuli. Further, Holroyd and Coles (2002) proposed that the impact of DA reinforcement learning signals on the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) produces a component of the ERP called the feedback-related negativity (FRN). I present electroencephalographic evidence that both the DA system and the LC-NE system act in concert when learning from rewards that vary in expectedness, but that the DA system is relatively more exercised when subjects are highly engaged/challenged by learning tasks, whereas the impact of the LC-NE system is attenuated by this manipulation. / Graduate

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2006-03-16Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:00:32Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 marchi_sr_dr_botfca.pdf: 984466 bytes, checksum: 1469adadcc88f867eee451598ff9f2f3 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a quantidade de calda de pulverização depositada na água e em folhas de Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms, Salvinia auriculata Aubl e Pistia stratiotes L. em condições variáveis de arranjos populacionais e dois tipos de pontas de pulverização (ConeJet TXVK-8 e TeeJet DG 11002 VS). Para tanto, foi conduzido um experimento em caixas d água composto por três Situações distintas. Na Situação Aguapé, além da proporção de dominância total correspondente à cobertura de 100% da caixa d água pelas plantas de aguapé, foram utilizados os arranjos (ou proporções) com as espécies de salvinia ou alface d água a 75%:25%, 50%:50%, 25%:75%. Adotou-se as mesmas proporções na Situação Salvínia e na Situação Alface d água, sendo que cada Situação foi determinada pela predominância total de salvínia ou alface d água, respectivamente, na caixa d água. Uma densidade tripla, onde as três espécies foram igualmente dispostas na proporção de 33,33%, foi utilizada como testemunha. Soluções dos corantes Amarelo Tartrasina FDC-5 a 3.500 ppm e Azul Brilhante FDC-1 a 1.000 ppm foram utilizados como traçadores para as pontas TXVK-8 e DG 11002VS, respectivamente. A pulverização de ambas soluções foram efetuadas na mesma unidade experimental, com um intervalo de 30 minutos entre si, através de um pulverizador costal pressurizado com CO2 e calibrado de modo a proporcionar um volume de aplicação aproximado de 200 L/ha. Amostras de água dos reservatórios foram coletadas antes e após as aplicações com o objetivo de avaliar a quantidade de calda de pulverização que não atingiu o alvo. Imediatamente após a coleta da 2 água, as plantas presentes nos reservatórios foram lavadas com água destilada até remoção total dos corantes depositados nas folhas. Placas de plástico contendo... / The present research had as objective to quantify the spray deposition on water and leaves of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms), water fern (Salvinia auriculata Aubl.) and water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes L.) according to various population arrangements and two nozzle type (ConeJet TXVK-8 and TeeJet 11002VS). The trial was carried out under reservoirs conditions using three different Situations. At Water hyacinth Situation, besides the total dominancy proportion equivalent to 100% of reservoir covering by water hyacinth plants, it was used three others combinations involving water hyacinth and water fern or water lettuce plants, as following: 75%:25%, 50%:50% and 25%:75%. The same combinations were also used at Water Fern Situation and Water Lettuce Situation, being each Situation determined by total dominancy of water fern or water lettuce in the 4 reservoirs, respectively. A triple ratio, where the three species were equally disposed at proportion of 33,33%, was used as check. Dye solutions of FD&C Yellow n. 5 at 3,500 ppm and FD&C Blue n. 1 at 1,000 ppm were used as spraying tracers for TXVK-8 and DG 11002 VS nozzles, respectively. Both solutions were sprayed at same plot within at 30 minutes interval each one through a CO2 pressured backpack knapsack calibrated to delivery a spray volume around 200 L/ha. Samples of reservoirs water were taken before and after sprays in order to evaluate the carrier quantity that not reaches the target. After that, the plants present at reservoirs were washed with distillated water until totally dyes removal deposited on the leaves. Plastic dishes containing 20 mL of distillated water were disposed in each experimental plot in order to check the spray efficacy and possible drift losses. Absorbance measures at 427 and 630 nm of wavelength were procedures... (Complete abstract, click electronic access below)

AFRIKAANS: Rumohra adiantiformis (G. Forst.) Ching, die seweweeks- ofknysnavaring se gewildheid as loof in die snyblombedryf neem vinnig toe. Onder natuurlike groeitoestande ontwikkel die seweweeksvaring slegs beperkte hoeveelhede sori op blare, terwyl groot hoeveelhede sori ontwikkel wanneer die varing onder skadunet verbou word. Die teenwoordigheid van oormatige sori lei tot bemarkingsprobleme. Die navorsing is op die perseel van Bergland Tuine kwekery te Krugersdorp uitgevoer om die invloed van etefon, paklobutrasool (PP333), gibberelliensuur (GA3) , sitokiniene en verskillende skaduvlakke op sorivoorkoms en grootte van seweweeksvaringblare te bepaal. Behandeling van PP333 teen 500 mg dm-3 of met etefon teen 144 en 480 mg dm-3 in die blaarknopstadium het die getal sori by volwassenheid van blare betekenisvol verlaag. PP333-behandelings teen 1 000 en 1 500 mg dm-3 in die blaarknopstadium het die sori by volwassenheid van blare hoogs betekenisvol verlaag. Bespuitings met behandelings GA3 teen 57,6 mg dm-3 of sitokiniene teen 0,00062 en 0,0155 mg dm-3 op die blaarknopstadium het tot 'n betekenisvolle verhoging van sori op volwasse blare gelei. PP333 of etefon beinvloed nie die blaargrootte van volwasse blare wat in die jongblaar-, oopgevoudeblaar- en blaarknopstadium behandel is nie. Blare van al drie blaarstadia wat met sitokiniene of GA3 behandel is, was by volwassenheid nie-betekenisvol groter. Die 70% skadunet met bykomstige swartplastiekstroke in 'n noordsuidrigting onderaan gespan het die getal sori op blare verlaag en die blaaroppervlakte betekenisvol vergroot. Faktore soos seisoenale variasie, oesfrekwensie, plantdigtheid, grondvogstatus, waterkwaliteit, peste en plae was nie by hierdie ondersoek ingesluit nie en behoort ondersoek te word. ENGLISH: Rumohra adiantiformis (0. Forst.) Ching, the seven-weeks or knysna fern is a relatively new floral greenery of increasing importance. In its natural habitat the seven-weeks fern produces small numbers of sori on leaves, while commercially cultivated ferns under shade produce large numbers. The presence of excessive numbers of sori have a detrimental influence on the market value of the product. A trial was conducted on the premises of Bergland Tuine nursery in Krugersdorp to determine the effect of ethephon, paclobutrazol (PP333), gibberellic acid (GA3), cytokinins and different shade levels on the presence of sori and size of seven-weeks fern leaves. Leaves treated in the leafbud stage with PP333 at 500 mg dm-3 or ethephon at 144 and 480 mg dm-3 significantly reduced the number of sori on the leaves at maturity. Highly significant reduction of sori on mature leaves were found when PP333 was applied at I 000 and 1 500 mg dm-3 on the leaves in the leafbud stage. Sori numbers on mature leaves significantly increased after treatment of bud stage leaves with GA3 at 57,6 mg dm-3 or cytokinins at 0,00062 and 0,0155 mg dm-3. The leaf size of mature leaves was not influenced when PP333 or ethephon was applied on the leaves at the young leaf, unfolded leaf and leafbud stage. Leaves in all three leaf stages treated with cytokinins or GA3 showed a non-significant increase in leaf size at maturity. The 70% shade net with additional black plastic strips suspended underneath the net in a north-south direction, reduced the number of sori on the leaves and increased the leaf area significantly. Factors such as seasonal variation, harvest frequency, plant density, ground moisture levels, water quality, diseases and pests were not included in this investigation but should be researched. / Dissertation (MSc(Agric))--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Plant Production and Soil Science / unrestricted