Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Evidence Supporting Treatment Practice Based Delineation Of Stormwater Runoff Zones, Jacob J. Gorski

Dissertations and Theses

Particles mobilized by stormwater negatively affect receiving surface waters. Stormwater best management practices (BMPs) can reduce solids along with associated pollutants in runoff but engineers and environmental managers have been long vexed by the problem of choosing the optimal BMP for a given situation. A common BMP process for solids removal is sedimentation. This thesis addresses the question of whether the effectiveness (and thus choice) of a sedimentation device can be estimated (and thus optimized) from the particle size properties of runoff, which, in turn, could be associated with specific runoff zones or land uses. Presented here is a series …

Carbon-Nzvi Nanocomposites For Dechlorination Of Halogenated Hydrocarbons, Jing Cheng

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

A family of hybrid nanocarbon/nanoiron composites has been developed with the aim to carry out simultaneous adsorption and dechlorination of chlorinated hydrocarbons from aqueous solutions. Several methodologies for the synthesis of these materials are evaluated in terms of their adsorption capacities and dechlorination activities. Detailed spectroscopic and microscopy studies indicate that the adsorption ability of the carbonaceous support is greatly improved after acid oxidization, attributed to the formation of oxygenated functional groups on their surfaces. When iron nanoparticles are incorporated on the composites, the materials show a much higher trichloroethylene (TCE) removal efficiency compared to bare metallic nanoiron particles or …

Mixing Effects On The Chloramination Process, K. Jain, I. Wei

Irvine W. Wei

According to a recent study (AwwaRF Report 2760, 2004), more than 90 percent of water treatment plants utilizing chloramination for distribution system residuals indicate a certain level of dissatisfaction towards the process performance. One factor that may lead to such dissatisfaction is the inadequacy of mixing when ammonia is added to chlorinated water. If mixing is not uniform, the actual chlorine to ammonia nitrogen molar ratio will become variable at a micro-level, even though the overall ratio at the macro-level is close to the desired 1:1 ratio. Because of the non-uniform mixing, certain portions of the mixture might have a …

Ignition Method Development And First Field Demonstration Of In Situ Smouldering Remediation, Grant C. Scholes

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Self-sustaining Treatment for Active Remediation (STAR), a smouldering combustion-based technology for remediating sites contaminated by industrial liquids, has been extensively studied in the laboratory. The technology had not been demonstrated at a real site. Moreover, the ignition method (based on heat conduction) for the process used in the laboratory was not appropriate for field deployment and an alternative was required. This work first presents the development of a new ignition method for smouldering combustion. This ignition technique (based on heat convection) was proven effective via laboratory tests, and then applied and improved through two field tests. These field tests, conducted …

Characterization Of Secondary Organic Aerosol Precursors Using Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography With Time Of Flight Mass Spectrometry (Gc×Gc/Tofms), Melissa Jordan Roskamp

Dissertations and Theses

The oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) plays a role in both regional and global air quality through the formation of secondary organic aerosols (SOA). More than 1000TgC/yr of non-methane VOCs are emitted from biogenic sources (significantly greater than from anthropogenic sources). Despite this magnitude and potential importance for air quality, the body of knowledge around the identities, quantities and oxidation processes of these compounds is still incomplete (e.g., Goldstein & Galbally, 2007; Robinson et al., 2009). Two-dimensional gas chromatography paired with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC/TOFMS) is a powerful analytical technique which is explored here for its role in better …

Geochemistry And Inorganic Carbon Transport Of A Glacial Till Drumlin At A Road Salt Facility, Houbao Li

Open Access Dissertations

Investigations were conducted at a salt/premix storage facility lying on top of a glacial drumlin near the coastline in eastern Massachusetts, to characterize salt contaminated groundwater. Groundwater hydrogeochemical variations at different depths were determined based on ten years of monthly or quarterly water quality data from 54 monitoring wells. Groundwater was grouped in three water categories – shallow, middle and deep. Hydrogeochemical characterization indicates that the dominant water types are Na-Cl, Na-Ca-Cl and Ca-HCO3 from the shallow to deep water group. Rock weathering is the dominant hydrogeochemical process for deep water group, whereas salt water percolation and cation exchange control …

Chlorine-Ammonia Breakpoint Reactions: Kinetics And Mechanism, Irvine Wen-Tung Wei

Irvine W. Wei

No abstract provided.

Rooftop Pv Impacts On Fossil Fuel Electricity Generation And Co2 Emissions In The Pacific Northwest, Daniel Albert Weiland

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis estimates the impacts of rooftop photovoltaic (PV) capacity on electricity generation and CO2 emissions in America's Pacific Northwest. The region's demand for electricity is increasing at the same time that it is attempting to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. The electricity generated by rooftop PV capacity is expected to displace electricity from fossil fueled electricity generators and reduce CO2 emissions, but when and how much? And how can this region maximize and focus the impacts of additional rooftop PV capacity on CO2 emissions? To answer these questions, an hourly urban rooftop PV generation profile for 2009 was created …

Study Of Vertical Dense Jet Dilution In A Marine Environment, Nadeem Ahmad

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Brine is a byproduct of many industrial and mining processes, including desalination. Brine is commonly conveyed in long pipe lines and disposed in the bottom of the sea through multiport diffusers, forming dense jets, also known as fountains. An acceptable level of brine concentration is required to be achieved at the boundary of a regulatory mixing zone surrounding a point of discharge. Such mixing zones are allocated with the objective of limiting environmental deterioration within their boundaries. Mixing zones are, nevertheless, not allowed when discharging brine in sensitive areas and when brine is toxic.

The main contribution of this study …

Numerical Evaluation Of Community-Scale Aquifer Storage, Transfer And Recovery Technology, Jessica Barker

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Communities in the coastal regions of south-western Bangladesh currently experience severe seasonal water scarcity and groundwater sources of unsuitable salinity. Aquifer storage, transfer and recovery (ASTR), using a seasonal surplus of potable water, is being tested as a potential low-cost (less than $8000 USD) water supply alternative for these communities. A variable-density numerical groundwater model was developed to investigate the engineering technical feasibility of small-scale ASTR systems for the coastal communities in Bangladesh and specifically to support future field site selection and system design. The numerical model was calibrated based on an existing ASTR site and applied to explore the …

Upgrading Pyrolysis Oil To Produce Liquid Transportation Fuels, Ehsan Reyhanitash

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The effects of stabilizing fast pyrolysis oil via catalytic alcohol pretreatment on upgrading via hydrodeoxygenation or thermal treatment was studied by comparing the properties of upgraded-stabilized oils with those of upgraded-non-stabilized oils (benchmarks). The major expected effect was reduction in molar mass of upgraded oils, as stabilization was expected to reduce the reactivity of fast pyrolysis oil, thereby reducing polymerization. It was observed that molar mass reduction was induced by dilution effect of the alcohol rather than reactivity reduction due to stabilization. Also, the effects of different alcohols on stabilization and subsequent upgrading were examined at minimized dilution effect conditions. …

Treatment Of Aqueous Biomass And Waste Via Supercritical Water Gasification For The Production Of Ch4 And H2, Izad Behnia

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The present study targets to convert aqueous fraction of fast pyrolysis oil into methane and hydrogen gases via supercritical water gasification (SCWG). Water above its critical point is referred to as supercritical water, which has unique properties such as a loss of hydrogen bonding, becoming an excellent solvent for organic compounds. In this thesis, SCWG was used to gasify slurry materials into high calorific gases including CH₄ and H₂. Production selectivity towards more methane or hydrogen was affectively controlled by operational conditions. However, in the absence of catalyst (bank test), gas formation was very minimal. SCWG of …

Gloria Slope Approach - Monitoring Plant Community Changes In Mountain Ecosystems, Jarle I. Holten, Sverre Lundemo, Ph.D.

Guest Lectures

The research described in this presentation is part of the Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments (GLORIA) whose purpose is to establish and maintain a global, long-term observation network in alpine environments.

Despite changes in mountaintop-vegetation due to recent climate change being observed throughout the world, trends are not consistent. Moreover, as plant communities can be impacted by several different factors, it is important to be able to separate what is due to climate change and what is due to e.g. changes in grazing pressure (see additional file below).

Fate Of Estrogens In Anaerobic Digestion And Their Removal In Advanced Oxidation, Shubhajit Sarkar

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Estrogenic compounds are most significant endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC), which are of primary concern due to their widespread presence in the aqueous environment and also due to their adverse impact both on aquatic life and potential risk to human health. Conventional wastewater treatment plants are not designed to remove EDC, with biosorption on biosolids as the predominant removal mechanism. Anaerobic digestion is one of the most preferred processes employed for sludge stabilization in wastewater treatment plants. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are seen as promising technologies for removal of estrogens from the environment. In this research, a controlled degradation study of …

Performance Of An On-Site Sewage Treatment System In Response To Revisions Of Title 5 Legislation In Massachusetts, Peter G. Annunziato, Irvine Wei

Irvine W. Wei

Regulations are being implemented by state and local governments to repress the effects of conventional on-site treatment systems that are contaminating ground and surface water reserves by infiltration of nitrogenous compounds. As of April 1995 effluent requirements have been mandated under 310 CMR 15.00, (Title 5), by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MADEP) for flows incorporates a septic tank in series with a modified trickling (Bioclere)™ and a soil absorption field. CBOD₅, TSS removal and nitrification occurred in the Bioclere, while denitrification was initiated by recirculating nitrified effiuent to the septic tank. Prior to the Bioclere installation, septic tank …

Greater Boston Drinking Water Quality - Comparison Of Full Scale And Pilot Study I: Monochloramine And Ph Change, Xin (Cindy) Huang, Irvine W. Wei, Windsor Sung

Irvine W. Wei

Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) has been providing drinking water for Greater Boston area since 1985. The new John J. Carroll Treatment Plant came online on July 27th, 2005. Ozone instead of chlorine is now used for primary disinfection. MWRA has been monitoring the water quality before and after the new treatment plant was online. In this paper, quantitative comparison is presented between full scale data and data from a pilot study, which was carried out two years ago to study the impact on water quality from this change in treatment.

Pilot Study Of Greater Boston Drinking Water Quality Changes - Monochloramine And Ph Change, Xin (Cindy) Huang, Irvine W. Wei, Windsor Sung

Irvine W. Wei

A pilot study was conducted from July 2001 to November 2003 to understand the impact of ozonation on monochloramine decay and pH change in the future Massachusetts Water Resources Authority's (MWRA1) drinking water system. The impact of the distribution system, which consists of old cast-iron pipes, was also investigated. Homogeneous and heterogeneous samples were taken from the Pipe Loop Pilot Plant (PLPP), which represented the best and the worst scenarios respectively, i.e. a very clean distribution system, or dead ends far from the main. The results suggested that corrosion and biological activity inside the pipe were the major causes of …

Reuse Of Municipal Wastewater As Makeup To Circulating Cooling Systems, D. Goldstein, Irvine Wei, R. Hicks

Irvine W. Wei

The reuse of municipal wastewater for industrial cooling is an excellent way of preserving clean waters for other uses. Details have been collected from several countries and there is no doubt that this is a thoroughly practical reuse option.

Makeup waters successfully used fall in the range 10-30 mg/l BOD, 30-50 mg/l o-PO₄, 1000-1500 mg/l TDS and 30-70 mg/l NH₃. The major problems are phosphate scale and biological fouling. Usual treatments are lime clarification and chlorination.

Most of the industrial users are power plants, which use high alloy metals to avoid corrosion, but industries using carbon-steel heat exchangers have not …

Remediation Of Contaminated Soil: Second Annual International Environmental Design Contest For Universities, Jeffrey Doolittle, Irvine W. Wei

Irvine W. Wei

No abstract provided.

Municipal Wastewater Reuse As Makeup To Cooling Towers, David Goldstein, John Casana, Irvine Wei

Irvine W. Wei

At the first Water Reuse Symposium in March 1979 we presented a literature survey on the reuse of municipal wastewater as makeup to circulating cooling systems. We concluded that the wastewater was useable and not excessively costly. Since then we have corresponded with most of the plants in the world who are reusing water this way (we have received information from seven plants). About half the plants surveyed use extensive chlorination and half use no chlorination at all and encourage biological activity. No plants report problems with corrosion even when ammonia is present. The old problem of foam is dying …