No description available.

No description available.

Field and greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine barnyardgrass control as affected by glufosinate and graminicide tank-mixtures, application timing of tank-mixtures of graminicides plus glufosinate and application time of day of tank-mixtures of glufosinate and clethodim. When increased rates of graminicide were tank-mixed with glufosinate, barnyardgrass control was unaffected by quizalofop-P plus glufosinate; however, clethodim plus glufosinate control in the field indicated the potential for reduced barnyardgrass control. When evaluating increasing glufosinate rates tank-mixed with graminicides, barnyardgrass control was not negatively affected by the combination of glufosinate and graminicides. The difference in soybean yield among the graminicides may indicate that the cyclohexanedione herbicides had a slight yield advantage over the aryloxyphenoxypropionate herbicides due to potential increased levels of barnyardgrass control. Applications of glufosinate alone provide variable control throughout the growing season in both field and greenhouse experiments. Although barnyardgrass control in the field was not affected by glufosinate application timing, data from the greenhouse indicates potential exists for reduced control if glufosinate is applied 1 or 3 d before graminicides. Clethodim was unaffected by application time of day; however, glufosinate applications at midnight reduced barnyardgrass control compared to applications made at noon and 6 P.M. Applications at 6 A.M. also reduced barnyardgrass efficacy compared to applications at 6 P.M. Environmental factors such as temperature and light at the time of application are likely responsible for the time of day effects observed in these studies. For maximum benefit from incorporating graminicides into a glufosinate weed control system, fluazifop-P, quizalofop-P, clethodim and sethoxydim should be applied with glufosinate at 594 or 890 g ai ha-1. Sequential treatments of glufosinate should be applied 7 d prior to a graminicide application or 1, 3 or 7 d after a graminicide application. To optimize barnyardgrass efficacy with tank mixtures of glufosinate and clethodim, applications should be made at noon or early evening to avoid potential time of day effects.

Sprayer hygiene and concerns of off-target injury from auxin herbicides have increased in recent years. New auxin tolerant crops have broadened the use patterns of these herbicides. Therefore, experiments were conducted across two locations in Mississippi in 2016, 2017, and 2018 to evaluate sprayer cleanout procedures to aid in dicamba removal. Standard sprayer cleanout consisted of a triple rinse of 10% tank volume, with either a tank cleaner or ammonia added in the second rinse. Samples collected in each rinse step for all treatments were applied to actively growing soybean and dicamba concentration quantified with HPLC. Experiments were conducted to determine if various tank cleaners and ammonia produce visual injury when applied to actively growing soybean and cotton alone and in conjunction with glyphosate. No tank cleaner caused visual injury nor affected plant heights or yield. Furthermore, experiments were conducted to evaluate tank cleaner effectiveness to remove dicamba utilizing the standard cleanout procedure, with increased rinse volumes, sequence of water and tank cleaner rinses, and cleanout effectiveness following durations of idle time from application to cleanout. No tank cleaner provided greater dicamba removal, with all cleaners performing the same as cleanouts utilizing water alone. Increasing rinse volumes did not positively affect dicamba removal compared to 10% rinse volumes. Multiple rinse steps utilizing a tank cleaner or altering the standard cleanout procedure utilizing a water-tank cleaner-water rinse sequence did not result in greater dicamba removal from contaminated sprayer systems. Finally, increases in time between contamination with dicamba and cleanout did not negatively influence dicamba removal using the standard cleanout procedure.

The influent to a water and resource recovery facility (WRRF) generally exhibits significant diurnal variations in flow rate and load concentration. This makes determining the operating parameters and subsequently the overall operation of plants difficult, especially in developing countries due to the lack of highly skilled operators. Hence, there is an incentive for the control and operation of WRRFs in developing countries to be improved. Flow equalization tanks were identified as a potential method to attenuate the diurnal variations in flow rate and load concentration into plants. The main aim of this research was to develop a viable dynamic simulation model for the operation of flow equalization tanks, within a plant-wide framework (to allow for the evaluation of design and control strategies). The next aim was to determine the benefits of equalization tanks towards design and optimised operation of future WRRFs via scenario analyses. Finally, the effects of the equalization tank on the performance of various unit processes in a WRRF were to be investigated. The model was developed in three steps; i) the development of the required equations to model equalization tanks, ii) mass balance throughout the model for internal consistency and iii) scenario analyses to determine if the model generated reasonable and scientifically sound outputs. The model was developed using Microsoft Excel Visual Basic (VBA) and WEST®. Two scenarios were considered to assess the equalization tank modelled. Scenario One involved the comparison of the capital cost, unit process sizes and total footprint of a balanced sludge age Modified Ludzack-Ettinger (MLE) system with and without an equalization tank. Scenario Two compared the plant performance of the MLE system designed in Scenario One with and without a flow equalization tank. A dynamic simulation model replicating equalization tanks was successfully developed. From scenario analyses, it was determined that using an MLE system and only considering equalization of flow, there was a reduction in the size of several unit processes by 8-9% (primary settling tank, biological reactors, secondary settling tank, flotation unit, anoxic-aerobic digester), due to the less conservative design values that could be used as the variations of the influent were decreased. Despite this, a 13% overall increase in the footprint of the WRRF was observed due to the addition of the equalization tank. The attenuation of diurnal flow variations also resulted in reduction of various plant parameters by up to 50% (flow, OUR, VSS flux). Finally, there was a 10% improvement in the performance of various unit processes due to the presence of the equalization tank. In conclusion, the inclusion of equalization tanks in WRRFs has significant positive effects. These results were obtained with equalization of flow only. Some other limitations were experienced during the project resulting in the following recommendations: further research will be needed to validate and calibrate the model, As the model was not successfully incorporated in a plant-wide framework, further developments in that direction are required, as well as including the equalization of load in the model.

No description available.

The global demand for food is increasing. Different nutrients are used to increase growth in agriculture and are thus essential for the world ́s food supply. An important and common nutrient is phosphorus. It can be mined, in the form of phosphate, from phosphate rock. The problem is that mining causes environmental problems and phosphate rock is a non-renewable resource. A risk is that phosphorus will become a scarce commodity in about 100 years.  Sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) is rich in phosphorus. In Sweden and other European countries, a stricter legislation is expected with consideration of an increased recovery of phosphorus from sewage sludge. A ban on the spread of hazardous substances like drug residues and heavy metals from the sludge is also expected. Incineration of the sludge can be done to eliminate hazardous substances and at the same time recover phosphorus and metals. Development of technologies to recover phosphorus from incinerated sewage sludge is therefore topical.  EasyMining is a company that invents new technologies to close nutrient cycles. One of their present projects is about recycling phosphorus, iron, and aluminium from incinerated sewage sludge. Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is used to leach the ash and in the following steps metals and phosphorus are recovered, and heavy metals are removed. Batch experiments have been performed and EasyMining examines the process in a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR).  The aim with this project is to compare the batch and continuous process for the ash leaching step. The study was limited to investigate different residence times and liquid to solid ratios (L/S ratios) for the ash leaching step in the CSTR. To accomplish the aim, mainly experimental studies have been performed. A total of 14 runs have been conducted to investigate the continuous process. The residence times 10, 30 and 60 min and the L/S ratios 2.5, 3 and 3.5 ml/g were evaluated. The lab-set up consisted of a peristaltic pump to pump diluted HCl solution, a conveyor belt to dose the ash and a CSTR. The filtrate was analysed for phosphorus, iron, and aluminium with a spectrophotometer. Interpretation of the result was conducted after each run and the data was then compared to previous batch data from within the company. A paired t-test was used to evaluate if there was a significant difference in the mean values between different residence times and L/S ratios.  The result shows that the leching is very fast and longer residence times or higher L/S ratios do not result in higher yields for phosphorus, iron, or aluminium. There is no significant difference between the examined residence times or L/S ratios in the paired t-test. Data from the batch process shows that the investigated residence times and L/S ratios do not affect the yield. A more even distribution of the yields is obtained in the batch process compared to the continuous process. The less even distribution in the continuous process, probably depends on errors in the method and the equipment used in the process. For example, there were some problems with the ash dosing, which led to an inconstant L/S ratio in the runs. This affected the calculated yields significantly. Overall, the batch process results in slightly higher yields. This is especially the case when excluding high calculated yields in the continuous process, probably obtained because of an overdosing of the ash. / Den globala efterfrågan på mat ökar. Olika näringsämnen används för att få en högre tillväxt i jordbruket och dessa är essentiella för världens livsmedelsproduktion. Ett viktigt och vanligt näringsämne är fosfor och det bryts i form av fosfat från fosfatmineral. Problemet är att brytningen förorenar miljön och dessutom är fosfat-sten en icke förnyelsebar resurs. Det finns en risk att fosfor blir en bristvara om cirka 100 år.  Avloppsslam från vattenreningsverk innehåller höga fosfatkoncentrationer. I Sverige samt i andra europeiska länder förväntas en striktare lagstiftning, som kräver en ökad återvinningsgrad av fosfor från avloppsslam. Även ett förbud mot spridningen av giftiga substanser som läkemedelsrester och tungmetaller förväntas införas. Slammet kan förbrännas för att eliminera farliga substanser samtidigt som fosfor och olika metaller kan återvinnas. Utvecklingen av nya tekniker för återvinning av fosfor från bränt avloppsslam är därför väldigt aktuell.  EasyMining är ett innovationsföretag som utvecklar nya tekniker för att erhålla slutna näringskretslopp. Ett av deras pågående projekt handlar om att återvinna fosfor, aluminium och järn från förbränt avloppsslam. Saltsyra används för att laka askan och i nästkommande steg återvinns fosfor och metaller, samtidigt som tungmetaller separeras. Satsvisa försök har genomförts och EasyMining vill nu undersöka processen i en tankreaktor.  Syftet med projektet är att jämföra resultat från den satsvisa driften med resultat från en kontinuerlig process för ask-lakningssteget. Studien begränsades till att endast undersöka olika uppehållstider och förhållandet mellan vätskan och askan (L/S-förhållande) i lakningssteget. För att uppnå syftet genomfördes huvudsakligen experimentella studier. 14 körningar genomfördes totalt för undersökning av den kontinuerliga processen. Undersökta uppehållstider var 10, 30 och 60 min och undersökta L/S-förhållandena var 2,5, 3 och 3,5 ml/g. Laborationsuppställningen bestod av en peristaltisk pump för tillförsel av utspädd saltsyralösning, ett rullband för dosering av askan samt en tankreaktor. Filtratet analyserades för fosfor, järn och aluminium i en spektrofotometer. Efter varje körning tolkades resultatet och jämfördes därefter med data från de av företaget tidigare utförda satsvisa försöken. Ett parat t-test användes för att utvärdera om det fanns någon signifikant skillnad i medelvärden mellan olika uppehållstider och L/S-förhållanden.  Resultatet visar att lakningen är väldigt snabb och längre uppehållstider eller högre L/S-förhållanden ger inte högre utbyten för fosfor, järn eller aluminium. Ingen signifikant skillnad erhålls mellan undersökta uppehållstider eller L/S-förhållanden i de parade t-testen. Data från de satsvisa försöken visar att de undersökta uppehållstiderna och L/S-förhållandena inte påverkar utbytet. En mindre spridning av utbyten erhålls i den satsvisa driften jämfört med den kontinuerliga. Den större spridningen i den kontinuerliga processen beror förmodligen på felkällor i processens metod/utrustning. Exempelvis var det en del problem med askdoseringen, vilket medförde icke konstanta L/S-förhållanden. Detta påverkade det beräknade utbytet signifikant. Generellt erhålls något högre utbyten i den satsvisa processen. Framförallt då höga beräknade utbyten exkluderas i den kontinuerliga processen på grund av en överdosering av askan.

This thesis examines the bioleaching of six different Canadian nickel sulphide ores at pH levels above what is generally considered optimum (~ 2). The majority of work discussed in this thesis was conducted with a low-grade metamorphosed ultramafic nickel sulphide ore from Manitoba, Canada (Ore 3), which is not currently exploitable with conventional technologies. The ore contains 21% magnesium and 0.3% nickel. Nickel is the only significant metal value, and is present primarily as pentlandite. A substantial fraction of the magnesium is present as the serpentine mineral lizardite, making processing difficult with conventional pyro- and biohydrometallurgical techniques. The work with this ore has two equally important objectives: to minimize magnesium mobilization and to obtain an acceptable level of nickel extraction. Batch stirred-tank bioleaching experiments were conducted with finely ground ore ( 147 µm) with temperature and pH control. The first phase of experimentation examined the effect of pH (2 to 6) at 30 °C, and the second phase examined all combinations of three pH levels (3, 4 and 5) and five temperatures (5, 15, 22.5, 30, and 45 °C).

In this project, the flow field characteristics of the simplified 2D rectangular primary sedimentation tank in Syvab wastewater treatment plant were achieved by a transient water-air two phases finite-volume method, applying Volume-Of-Fluid (VOF) model. RNG k-ε turbulence model was also employed to calculate the turbulent kinetic energy and its dissipation rate. The undesired hydraulic phenomenon for solid sedimentation was detected in original tank. To reduce the velocity and turbulence intensity of the influent, two categories of optimization methods were proposed, which are installing the baffle and changing the velocity inlet. The modifying effects of different methods were compared by the velocity profiles and the contours of kinetic energy. It turns out that both ways provide a preferred condition for particle settling. In the end, further research was forecasted and the work direction were given. / I detta projekt uppnåddes 2D modellering av avloppsflödesfältets karaktär hos en förenklade och rektangulär primära sedimenteringsbassäng, Syvab avloppsreningsverk, genom en transient-tvåfas-finita-volymmetoden med vatten och luft, som tillämpades med Volume-Of-Fluid (VOF) modellen. RNG k-ε turbulensmodellen användes även för att beräkna den kinetiska energin av turbulas och dess dissipationshastighet. Detta för att oönskade hydrauliska fenomen har uppmärksammats hos sedimenteringsbassängen hos avloppsreningsverket. För att minska flödeshastigheten och turbulens föreslås två optimeringsmetoder, vilket är att installera skärm och att ändra inloppets hastighet. Eeffekterna av de olika metoderna jämförs med hjälp av hastighets- och kinetisk energiprofiler. Det visar sig att båda metoderna kan ge gynsammare tillstånd för sedimentering av partikelar. Som avslutning ges prognos för den fortsatta forskningen och arbetsriktningen inom ämnet.

The Space Shuttle Columbia accident and the recent excitement surrounding Discovery's return to space brought excessive media attention to the foam products used on the External Tank (ET). In both cases, videos showed chunks of foam or ablative material falling away from the ET during lift off. This led to several years of investigation and research into the exact cause of the accident and potential solutions to avoid the problem in the future. Several design changes were made prior to the return to flight this year, but the ET still shed foam during lift off. Since the Columbia accident, the loss of foam on ETs has been a significant area of interest for NASA, United Space Alliance, and Lockheed Martin. The Columbia Accident Investigation Board did not evaluate alternative materials but certainly highlighted the need for change. The majority of the research previously concentrated on improving the design and/or the application process of the current materials. Within recent years, some research and testing has been done to determine if a glass microsphere composite foam would be an acceptable alternative, but this work was overcome by the need for immediate change to return the shuttle to flight in time to deliver supplies to the International Space Station. Through a better understanding of the foam products currently used on the ET, other products can be evaluated for future space shuttle flights and potential applications on new space vehicles. The material properties and the required functionality of alternative materials can be compared to the current materials to determine if suitable replacement products exist. This research also lends itself to the development of future space flight and unmanned launch vehicles. In this paper, the feasibility of alternative material for the space shuttle's external tank will be investigated. Research on what products are used on the ET and a set of functional requirements driving the selection of those materials will be presented. The material properties of the current ET foam products will be collected and an evaluation of how those materials' properties meet the functional requirements will be accomplished. Then significant research on polymeric foams and ablative materials will be completed to learn how these various products can be applied in this industry. With this research and analysis, the knowledge gained will be used to select and evaluate the effectiveness of an alternate product and to determine feasibility of a product change with the current ET and the importance of maintaining the shuttle launch schedule. This research will also be used to evaluate the potential application of the alternative product on future platforms. There are several possible outcomes to this research. This research could result in a recommended change to the ET foam material or a perfectly acceptable alternative material that could result in a cost or schedule impact if implemented. It is also possible that there exists no suitable alternative material given the existing functional requirements. In any case, the alternative material could have future applications on new space vehicles. A set of results from the research and analysis will be provided along with a recommendation on a future material for use on space vehicles.