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Full-Text Articles in Engineering

A Comprehensive Study On The Impact Of Human Hair Fiber And Millet Husk Ash On Concrete Properties: Response Surface Modeling And Optimization, Naraindas Bheel, Muhammad Alamgeer Shams, Samiullah Sohu, Abdul Salam Buller, Taoufik Najeh, Fouad Ismail Ismail, Omrane Benjeddou Jun 2024

A Comprehensive Study On The Impact Of Human Hair Fiber And Millet Husk Ash On Concrete Properties: Response Surface Modeling And Optimization, Naraindas Bheel, Muhammad Alamgeer Shams, Samiullah Sohu, Abdul Salam Buller, Taoufik Najeh, Fouad Ismail Ismail, Omrane Benjeddou

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Revolutionizing construction, the concrete blend seamlessly integrates human hair (HH) fibers and millet husk ash (MHA) as a sustainable alternative. By repurposing human hair for enhanced tensile strength and utilizing millet husk ash to replace sand, these materials not only reduce waste but also create a durable, eco-friendly solution. This groundbreaking methodology not only adheres to established structural criteria but also advances the concepts of the circular economy, representing a significant advancement towards environmentally sustainable and resilient building practices. The main purpose of the research is to investigate the fresh and mechanical characteristics of concrete blended with 10–40% MHA as …


Investigating Small Drinking Water System Technical Capacity To Treat For Pfas, Chloe J. Yoder, Kaycie Lane May 2024

Investigating Small Drinking Water System Technical Capacity To Treat For Pfas, Chloe J. Yoder, Kaycie Lane

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) presents technical challenges in small systems where advanced drinking water treatment implementation is difficult. Publicly available data were used to examine technical treatment capacity for PFAS in the US, using Nebraska as a pilot. Of 1312 PWSs in Nebraska, 441 have technologies capable of removing PFAS from drinking water. Reverse osmosis was the most common treatment technology in Nebraska with 277 total systems using this technology with, 194 PWSs with RO serving populations of <= 100 people. Fifty-two PWSs had granular activated carbon, 47 had ion exchange and 62 had ultraviolet, with UV being primarily used for disinfection. We found PWSs had different technology deployment methods, several systems had “significant deficiencies” reported in management and operation evaluations, and age and previous water quality violations were not correlated to treatment evaluations. The developed methodology models utilizing publicly available data for contaminants across the US.


Influence Of Four Veterinary Antibiotics On Constructed Treatment Wetland Nitrogen Transformation, Matthew V. Russell, Tiffany L. Messer, Deborah A. Repert, Richard L. Smith, Shannon L. Bartelt-Hunt, Daniel D. Snow, Ariel P. Reed May 2024

Influence Of Four Veterinary Antibiotics On Constructed Treatment Wetland Nitrogen Transformation, Matthew V. Russell, Tiffany L. Messer, Deborah A. Repert, Richard L. Smith, Shannon L. Bartelt-Hunt, Daniel D. Snow, Ariel P. Reed

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

The use of wetlands as a treatment approach for nitrogen in runoff is a common practice in agroecosystems. However, nitrate is not the sole constituent present in agricultural runoff and other biologically active contaminants have the potential to affect nitrate removal efficiency. In this study, the impacts of the combined effects of four common veterinary antibiotics (chlortetracycline, sulfamethazine, lincomycin, monensin) on nitrate-N treatment efficiency in saturated sediments and wetlands were evaluated in a coupled microcosm/mesocosm scale experiment. Veterinary antibiotics were hypothesized to significantly impact nitrogen speciation (e.g., nitrate and ammonium) and nitrogen uptake and transformation processes (e.g., plant uptake and …


Assessment Of Satellite-Based Water Requirements For A Drip-Irrigated Apple Orchard In Mediterranean Agroclimatic Conditions, Daniel De La Fuente-Saiz, Samuel Ortega-Farias, Marcos Carrasco-Benavides, Samuel Ortega-Salazar, Fei Tian, Sufen Wang, Yi Liu Apr 2024

Assessment Of Satellite-Based Water Requirements For A Drip-Irrigated Apple Orchard In Mediterranean Agroclimatic Conditions, Daniel De La Fuente-Saiz, Samuel Ortega-Farias, Marcos Carrasco-Benavides, Samuel Ortega-Salazar, Fei Tian, Sufen Wang, Yi Liu

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Accurate assessment of evapotranspiration (ETa) and crop coefficient (Kc) is crucial for optimizing irrigation practices in water-scarce regions. While satellite-based surface energy balance models offer a promising solution, their application to sparse canopies like apple orchards requires specific validation. This study investigated the spatial and temporal dynamics of ETa and Kc in a drip-irrigated ‘Pink Lady’ apple orchard under Mediterranean conditions over three growing seasons (2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15). The METRIC model, incorporating calibrated sub-models for leaf area index (LAI), surface roughness (Zom), and soil heat flux (G), was employed to estimate ETa and Kc. These estimates were validated …


Synergistic Preparation And Application In Pcu Of Α‑Calcium Sulfate Hemihydrate Whiskers From Phosphogypsum And Electrolytic Manganese Residue, Ting Wang, Xuan Ke, Jia Li, Ying Wang, Weiwei Guan, Xia Sha, Chenjing Yang, Tian Zhang Mar 2024

Synergistic Preparation And Application In Pcu Of Α‑Calcium Sulfate Hemihydrate Whiskers From Phosphogypsum And Electrolytic Manganese Residue, Ting Wang, Xuan Ke, Jia Li, Ying Wang, Weiwei Guan, Xia Sha, Chenjing Yang, Tian Zhang

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

The α-calcium sulfate hemihydrate whiskers (α-CSHWs) were first prepared using phosphogypsum (PG) and electrolytic manganese residue (EMR) as raw materials for coating urea, demonstrating excellent controlled-release properties. The effects of different reaction conditions on α-CSHWs, achieved by optimizing the reaction time, the concentrations of NH4+, Mn2+, and other factors, were discussed. Results showed that when the EMR content was 25 wt%, the reaction temperature was 100 °C, and the reaction time was 3 h, α-CSHWs with a length-to-diameter ratio of 39 were obtained. Through experiments and density functional theory (DFT), the mechanism of α-CSHWs preparation …


Study On The Combined Effect Of Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Bottom Ash Andwaste Shingle In Hot Mix Asphalt, Kyungwon Park, Behnam Golestani, Boo Hyun Nam, Juan Hou, Jongwan Eun Dec 2023

Study On The Combined Effect Of Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Bottom Ash Andwaste Shingle In Hot Mix Asphalt, Kyungwon Park, Behnam Golestani, Boo Hyun Nam, Juan Hou, Jongwan Eun

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

This study investigated the positive effect of the combined use of recycled asphalt shingles (RASs) and municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) bottom ash (B.A.) in asphalt concrete, which contributes to enhanced sustainability in pavement engineering. In addition, unlike traditional approaches that employ individual recycling material in hot mix asphalt (HMA), the combined use of the two waste materials maximizes the mechanical performance of the asphalt mixture. The addition of RAS (with 30–40% aged binder) as an additive generally enhances the strength/stiffness of the asphalt mixture. The high porosity/absorption of MSWI BA results in an additional amount of liquid asphalt binder …


An Autoencoder‑Based Snow Drought Index, Sinan Rasiya Koya, Kanak Kanti Kar, Shivendra Srivastava, Tsegaye Tadesse, Mark Svoboda, Tirthankar Roy Nov 2023

An Autoencoder‑Based Snow Drought Index, Sinan Rasiya Koya, Kanak Kanti Kar, Shivendra Srivastava, Tsegaye Tadesse, Mark Svoboda, Tirthankar Roy

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

In several regions across the globe, snow has a significant impact on hydrology. The amounts of water that infiltrate the ground and flow as runoff are driven by the melting of snow. Therefore, it is crucial to study the magnitude and effect of snowmelt. Snow droughts, resulting from reduced snow storage, can drastically impact the water supplies in basins where snow predominates, such as in the western United States. Hence, it is important to detect the time and severity of snow droughts efficiently. We propose the Snow Drought Response Index or SnoDRI, a novel indicator that could be used to …


Mechanisms And Opportunities For Rational In Silico Design Of Enzymes To Degrade Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (Pfas), Melissa Marciesky, Diana S. Aga, Ian M. Bradley, Nirupam Aich, Carla Ng Nov 2023

Mechanisms And Opportunities For Rational In Silico Design Of Enzymes To Degrade Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (Pfas), Melissa Marciesky, Diana S. Aga, Ian M. Bradley, Nirupam Aich, Carla Ng

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) present a unique challenge to remediation techniques because their strong carbon−fluorine bonds make them difficult to degrade. This review explores the use of in silico enzymatic design as a potential PFAS degradation technique. The scope of the enzymes included is based on currently known PFAS degradation techniques, including chemical redox systems that have been studied for perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) defluorination, such as those that incorporate hydrated electrons, sulfate, peroxide, and metal catalysts. Bioremediation techniques are also discussed, namely the laccase and horseradish peroxidase systems. The redox potential of known reactants and …


Integrated Flood Risk Assessment Of Properties And Associated Population At County Scale For Nebraska, Usa, Shivendra Srivastava, Tirthankar Roy Nov 2023

Integrated Flood Risk Assessment Of Properties And Associated Population At County Scale For Nebraska, Usa, Shivendra Srivastava, Tirthankar Roy

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Risk assessment of properties and associated population was conducted for the state of Nebraska, leveraging only open-source datasets. The flood risk framework consisted of interactions among drivers, i.e. hazard, exposure, vulnerability, and response, to assess the risks related to properties and associated populations. To quantify hazard on a county scale, we considered properties at risk of flooding based on a flood score (a higher score represents a greater chance of flooding). Exposure was quantified by considering population density at the county level. We quantified vulnerability under four categories: social, ecological, economic, and health. Response, a relatively newer component in flood …


Integrated Flood Risk Assessment Of Properties And Associated Population At County Scale For Nebraska, Usa, Shivendra Srivastava, Tirthankar Roy Nov 2023

Integrated Flood Risk Assessment Of Properties And Associated Population At County Scale For Nebraska, Usa, Shivendra Srivastava, Tirthankar Roy

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Risk assessment of properties and associated population was conducted for the state of Nebraska, leveraging only open-source datasets. The flood risk framework consisted of interactions among drivers, i.e. hazard, exposure, vulnerability, and response, to assess the risks related to properties and associated populations. To quantify hazard on a county scale, we considered properties at risk of flooding based on a flood score (a higher score represents a greater chance of flooding). Exposure was quantified by considering population density at the county level. We quantified vulnerability under four categories: social, ecological, economic, and health. Response, a relatively newer component in flood …


Evaluation Of Equivalent Thermal Conductivity For Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Bentonite Through Experimental And Numerical Analysis, Yuan Feng, Jongwan Eun, Seunghee Kim, Yong-Rak Kim Oct 2023

Evaluation Of Equivalent Thermal Conductivity For Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Bentonite Through Experimental And Numerical Analysis, Yuan Feng, Jongwan Eun, Seunghee Kim, Yong-Rak Kim

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Bentonite is widely used as a water-proof material in engineering, and fibers are added to reduce the crack development of bentonite after drying. Carbon fiber can reinforce bentonite in heat-sensitive projects because of its high thermal conductivity and potential inhibition of bentonite cracking. Thus, it is important to determine the thermal conductivity of carbon fiber-reinforced bentonite. This study evaluated the thermal conductivity of carbon fiber-reinforced bentonite by analytical solution, experiment, and finite element method (FEM) simulation and discussed the effects of carbon fiber content, fiber length, fiber distribution, and the porosity of bentonite on the thermal conductivity of reinforced bentonite. …


An Autoencoder‑Based Snow Drought Index, Sinan Rasiya Koya, Kanak Kanti Kar, Shivendra Srivastava, Tsegaye Tadesse, Mark D. Svoboda, Tirthankar Roy Oct 2023

An Autoencoder‑Based Snow Drought Index, Sinan Rasiya Koya, Kanak Kanti Kar, Shivendra Srivastava, Tsegaye Tadesse, Mark D. Svoboda, Tirthankar Roy

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

In several regions across the globe, snow has a significant impact on hydrology. The amounts of water that infiltrate the ground and flow as runoff are driven by the melting of snow. Therefore, it is crucial to study the magnitude and effect of snowmelt. Snow droughts, resulting from reduced snow storage, can drastically impact the water supplies in basins where snow predominates, such as in the western United States. Hence, it is important to detect the time and severity of snow droughts efficiently. We propose the Snow Drought Response Index or SnoDRI, a novel indicator that could be used to …


Evaluation Of Equivalent Thermal Conductivity For Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Bentonite Through Experimental And Numerical Analysis, Yuan Feng, Jongwan Eun, Seunghee Kim, Yong-Rak Kim Oct 2023

Evaluation Of Equivalent Thermal Conductivity For Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Bentonite Through Experimental And Numerical Analysis, Yuan Feng, Jongwan Eun, Seunghee Kim, Yong-Rak Kim

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Bentonite is widely used as a water-proof material in engineering, and fibers are added to reduce the crack development of bentonite after drying. Carbon fiber can reinforce bentonite in heat-sensitive projects because of its high thermal conductivity and potential inhibition of bentonite cracking. Thus, it is important to determine the thermal conductivity of carbon fiber-reinforced bentonite. This study evaluated the thermal conductivity of carbon fiber-reinforced bentonite by analytical solution, experiment, and finite element method (FEM) simulation and discussed the effects of carbon fiber content, fiber length, fiber distribution, and the porosity of bentonite on the thermal conductivity of reinforced bentonite. …


Comparison Of Models With And Without Roadway Features To Estimate Annual Average Daily Traffic At Non-Coverage Locations, Jing Wang, Ryan Devine, Nathan Huynh, Weimin Jin, Gurcan Comert, Mashrur Chowdhury Oct 2023

Comparison Of Models With And Without Roadway Features To Estimate Annual Average Daily Traffic At Non-Coverage Locations, Jing Wang, Ryan Devine, Nathan Huynh, Weimin Jin, Gurcan Comert, Mashrur Chowdhury

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

This study develops and evaluates models to estimate Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) at non-coverage or out-of-network locations. The non-coverage locations are those where counts are performed very infrequently, but an up-to-date and accurate estimate is needed by state departments of transportation. Two types of models are developed, one that simply uses the nearby known AADTs to provide an estimate and one that requires roadway features (e.g., type of median, presence of left-turn lane). The advantage of the former type is that no additional data collection is needed, thereby saving time and money for state highway agencies. A natural question …


Comparison Of Models With And Without Roadway Features To Estimate Annual Average Daily Traffic At Non-Coverage Locations, Jing Wang, Ryan Devine, Nathan Huynh, Weimin Jin, Gurcan Comert, Mashrur Chowdhury Oct 2023

Comparison Of Models With And Without Roadway Features To Estimate Annual Average Daily Traffic At Non-Coverage Locations, Jing Wang, Ryan Devine, Nathan Huynh, Weimin Jin, Gurcan Comert, Mashrur Chowdhury

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

This study develops and evaluates models to estimate Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) at non-coverage or out-of-network locations. The non-coverage locations are those where counts are performed very infrequently, but an up-to-date and accurate estimate is needed by state departments of transportation. Two types of models are developed, one that simply uses the nearby known AADTs to provide an estimate and one that requires roadway features (e.g., type of median, presence of left-turn lane). The advantage of the former type is that no additional data collection is needed, thereby saving time and money for state highway agencies. A natural question …


Multi-Factor Optimization Of Bio-Methanol Production Through Gasification Process Via Statistical Methodology Coupled With Genetic Algorithm, Amin Hedayati Moghaddam, Morteza Esfandyari, Dariush Jafari, Hossein Sakhaeinia Oct 2023

Multi-Factor Optimization Of Bio-Methanol Production Through Gasification Process Via Statistical Methodology Coupled With Genetic Algorithm, Amin Hedayati Moghaddam, Morteza Esfandyari, Dariush Jafari, Hossein Sakhaeinia

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

This work innovatively explores the bio-methanol production process, conducts comprehensive analyses, develops statistical models, and optimizes operational conditions, contributing valuable insights to the field of sustainable energy production from biomass. Accordingly, bio-methanol production from biomass through gasification route was investigated and simulated using Aspen Plus software. The effects of operational parameters on energy duty of gasification reactor and the methanol production rate in syngas to methanol reactor were investigated. The parameters affecting the process performance including temperature, pressure, and steam/feed ratio were examined using the response surface methodology (RSM) by central composite design (CCD) technique. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was …


Multi-Factor Optimization Of Bio-Methanol Production Through Gasification Process Via Statistical Methodology Coupled With Genetic Algorithm, Amin Hedayati Moghaddam, Morteza Esfandyari, Dariush Jafari, Hossein Sakhaeinia Oct 2023

Multi-Factor Optimization Of Bio-Methanol Production Through Gasification Process Via Statistical Methodology Coupled With Genetic Algorithm, Amin Hedayati Moghaddam, Morteza Esfandyari, Dariush Jafari, Hossein Sakhaeinia

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

This work innovatively explores the bio-methanol production process, conducts comprehensive analyses, develops statistical models, and optimizes operational conditions, contributing valuable insights to the field of sustainable energy production from biomass. Accordingly, bio-methanol production from biomass through gasification route was investigated and simulated using Aspen Plus software. The effects of operational parameters on energy duty of gasification reactor and the methanol production rate in syngas to methanol reactor were investigated. The parameters affecting the process performance including temperature, pressure, and steam/feed ratio were examined using the response surface methodology (RSM) by central composite design (CCD) technique. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was …


Simultaneous 3d Construction And Imaging Of Plant Cells Using Plasmonic Nanoprobe-Assisted Multimodal Nonlinear Optical Microscopy, Kun Liu, Yutian Lei, Dawei Li Sep 2023

Simultaneous 3d Construction And Imaging Of Plant Cells Using Plasmonic Nanoprobe-Assisted Multimodal Nonlinear Optical Microscopy, Kun Liu, Yutian Lei, Dawei Li

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Nonlinear optical (NLO) imaging has emerged as a promising plant cell imaging technique due to its large optical penetration, inherent 3D spatial resolution, and reduced photodamage; exogenous nanoprobes are usually needed for nonsignal target cell analysis. Here, we report in vivo, simultaneous 3D labeling and imaging of potato cell structures using plasmonic nanoprobe-assisted multimodal NLO microscopy. Experimental results show that the complete cell structure can be imaged via the combination of second-harmonic generation (SHG) and two-photon luminescence (TPL) when noble metal silver or gold ions are added. In contrast, without the noble metal ion solution, no NLO signals from the …


Simultaneous 3d Construction And Imaging Of Plant Cells Using Plasmonic Nanoprobe-Assisted Multimodal Nonlinear Optical Microscopy, Kun Liu, Yutian Lei, Dawei Li Sep 2023

Simultaneous 3d Construction And Imaging Of Plant Cells Using Plasmonic Nanoprobe-Assisted Multimodal Nonlinear Optical Microscopy, Kun Liu, Yutian Lei, Dawei Li

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Nonlinear optical (NLO) imaging has emerged as a promising plant cell imaging technique due to its large optical penetration, inherent 3D spatial resolution, and reduced photodamage; exogenous nanoprobes are usually needed for nonsignal target cell analysis. Here, we report in vivo, simultaneous 3D labeling and imaging of potato cell structures using plasmonic nanoprobe-assisted multimodal NLO microscopy. Experimental results show that the complete cell structure can be imaged via the combination of second-harmonic generation (SHG) and two-photon luminescence (TPL) when noble metal silver or gold ions are added. In contrast, without the noble metal ion solution, no NLO signals from the …


Optimization Of Removal Of Toluene From Industrial Wastewater Using Rsm Box– Behnken Experimental Design, Dariush Jafari, Morteza Esfandyari, Mehdi Mojahed Sep 2023

Optimization Of Removal Of Toluene From Industrial Wastewater Using Rsm Box– Behnken Experimental Design, Dariush Jafari, Morteza Esfandyari, Mehdi Mojahed

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

The study is concerned with the adsorption of toluene from real wastewater using granular beads of activated carbon. The adsorbent was analyzed before and after the process using Scanning Electron Microscope analysis to characterize its surface characteristics. The adsorption parameters including solution pH, contact time, dosage of adsorbent, temperature and toluene initial concentration were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) Box-Behnken experimental design to maximize the toluene adsorption. The adsorption capacity of the adsorbent was 298 mg g−1 and the maximum toluene removal was 99.5% which was achieved in the following optimal conditions: pH: 2, 100 min, adsorbent dosage: …


Optimization Of Removal Of Toluene From Industrial Wastewater Using Rsm Box– Behnken Experimental Design, Dariush Jafari, Morteza Esfandyari, Mehdi Mojahed Sep 2023

Optimization Of Removal Of Toluene From Industrial Wastewater Using Rsm Box– Behnken Experimental Design, Dariush Jafari, Morteza Esfandyari, Mehdi Mojahed

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

The study is concerned with the adsorption of toluene from real wastewater using granular beads of activated carbon. The adsorbent was analyzed before and after the process using Scanning Electron Microscope analysis to characterize its surface characteristics. The adsorption parameters including solution pH, contact time, dosage of adsorbent, temperature and toluene initial concentration were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) Box-Behnken experimental design to maximize the toluene adsorption. The adsorption capacity of the adsorbent was 298 mg g− 1 and the maximum toluene removal was 99.5% which was achieved in the following optimal conditions: pH: 2, 100 min, adsorbent …


Hierarchical Ni-Mn Ldhs@Cuc2O4 Nanosheet Arrays-Modified Copper Mesh: A Dual-Functional Material For Enhancing Oil/Water Separation And Supercapacitors, Yue Wu, Guangyuan Lu, Ping Xu, Tian Zhang, Huaqiang He, Shaojun Yuan Sep 2023

Hierarchical Ni-Mn Ldhs@Cuc2O4 Nanosheet Arrays-Modified Copper Mesh: A Dual-Functional Material For Enhancing Oil/Water Separation And Supercapacitors, Yue Wu, Guangyuan Lu, Ping Xu, Tian Zhang, Huaqiang He, Shaojun Yuan

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

The pursuit of superhydrophilic materials with hierarchical structures has garnered significant attention across diverse application domains. In this study, we have successfully crafted Ni-Mn LDHs@CuC2O4 nanosheet arrays on a copper mesh (CM) through a synergistic process involving chemical oxidation and hydrothermal deposition. Initially, CuC2O4 nanosheets were synthesized on the copper mesh, closely followed by the growth of Ni-Mn LDHs nanosheets, culminating in the establishment of a multi-tiered surface architecture with exceptional superhydrophilicity and remarkable underwater superoleophobicity. The resultant Ni-Mn LDHs@CuC2O4 CM membrane showcased an unparalleled amalgamation of traits, including superhydrophilicity, underwater …


Hierarchical Ni-Mn Ldhs@Cuc2O4 Nanosheet Arrays-Modified Copper Mesh: A Dual-Functional Material For Enhancing Oil/Water Separation And Supercapacitors, Yue Wu, Guangyuan Lu, Ping Xu, Tian Zhang, Huaqiang He, Shaojun Yuan Sep 2023

Hierarchical Ni-Mn Ldhs@Cuc2O4 Nanosheet Arrays-Modified Copper Mesh: A Dual-Functional Material For Enhancing Oil/Water Separation And Supercapacitors, Yue Wu, Guangyuan Lu, Ping Xu, Tian Zhang, Huaqiang He, Shaojun Yuan

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

The pursuit of superhydrophilic materials with hierarchical structures has garnered significant attention across diverse application domains. In this study, we have successfully crafted Ni-Mn LDHs@CuC2O4 nanosheet arrays on a copper mesh (CM) through a synergistic process involving chemical oxidation and hydrothermal deposition. Initially, CuC2O4 nanosheets were synthesized on the copper mesh, closely followed by the growth of Ni-Mn LDHs nanosheets, culminating in the establishment of a multi-tiered surface architecture with exceptional superhydrophilicity and remarkable underwater superoleophobicity. The resultant Ni-Mn LDHs@CuC2O4 CM membrane showcased an unparalleled amalgamation of traits, including superhydrophilicity, underwater …


Drinking Water Quality Management Progress In Ontario, Two Decades After Walkerton, Megan Fuller, Emma Wells, Laith Furatian, Ian Douglas, Kaycie Lane Aug 2023

Drinking Water Quality Management Progress In Ontario, Two Decades After Walkerton, Megan Fuller, Emma Wells, Laith Furatian, Ian Douglas, Kaycie Lane

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Following the waterborne disease outbreak in Walkerton, Ontario, the province made significant efforts to implement recommendations of the public inquiry that resulted. As Ontario reformed its drinking water sector, other jurisdictions were advancing risk-based quality management frameworks for drinking water, including the World Health Organization (WHO) through its water safety plan (WSP) framework. Two decades after the Walkerton tragedy, this paper seeks to: (i) evaluate alignment of Ontario’s Drinking Water Quality Management Standard (DWQMS) with the WSP framework (ii) review readily available data for evidence that Ontario’s DWQMS implementation has improved drinking water safety and promoted a preventive approach through …


Experimental Study: The Effect Of Pore Shape, Geometrical Heterogeneity, And Flow Rate On The Repetitive Two-Phase Fluid Transport In Microfluidic Porous Media, Seunghee Kim, Jingtao Zhang, Sangjin Ryu Jul 2023

Experimental Study: The Effect Of Pore Shape, Geometrical Heterogeneity, And Flow Rate On The Repetitive Two-Phase Fluid Transport In Microfluidic Porous Media, Seunghee Kim, Jingtao Zhang, Sangjin Ryu

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Geologic subsurface energy storage, such as porous-media compressed-air energy storage (PM-CAES) and underground hydrogen storage (UHS), involves the multi-phase fluid transport in structurally disordered or heterogeneous porous media (e.g., soils and rocks). Furthermore, such multi-phase fluid transport is likely to repeatedly occur due to successive fluid injections and extractions, thus, resulting in cyclic drainage–imbibition processes. To complement our preceding study, we conducted a follow-up study with microfluidic pore-network devices with a square solid shape (Type II) to further advance our understanding on the effect of the pore shape (aspect ratio, Type I: 5–6 > Type II: ~1), pore-space heterogeneity (coefficient of …


Uncertainty In Overturning Of Precariously Balanced Rocks Due To Basal Contact, M. Khalid Saifullah, Christine E. Wittich Jul 2023

Uncertainty In Overturning Of Precariously Balanced Rocks Due To Basal Contact, M. Khalid Saifullah, Christine E. Wittich

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Precariously balanced rocks (PBRs) are a type of naturally occurring freestanding structure that provides valuable information to constrain seismic hazard at return periods which are important for critical facilities such as nuclear power plants and nuclear repositories. Exposure ages have been established to be in excess of 10,000–30,000 years, which is why precarious rocks are one of the only available means to validate seismic hazard associated with long return periods. One critical component for constraining seismic hazard in this way is the overturning estimate of a given precarious rock as a function of earthquake intensity. However, current state-of-the-art methods for …


Nonlinear Impact-Echo Test For Quantitative Evaluation Of Asr Damage In Concrete, Clayton Malone, Hongbin Sun, Jinying Zhu Jun 2023

Nonlinear Impact-Echo Test For Quantitative Evaluation Of Asr Damage In Concrete, Clayton Malone, Hongbin Sun, Jinying Zhu

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Nonlinear acoustic methods demonstrate high sensitivity for concrete damage evaluation. Among these methods, nonlinear resonance acoustic methods have been widely used in laboratory tests on small scale test samples. In this study, a nonlinear impact-echo (IE) method was proposed for concrete damage evaluation, in which the IE frequency shift was measured at different impact force levels. The nonlinear IE test is similar to the nonlinear impact resonance acoustic spectroscopy (NIRAS) test in the experimental setup and analysis method. How- ever, the nonlinear IE test excites a local thickness resonance mode of a member instead of the global resonance vibration. Therefore, …


Nonlinear Impact-Echo Test For Quantitative Evaluation Of Asr Damage In Concrete, Clayton Malone, Hongbin Sun, Jinying Zhu Jun 2023

Nonlinear Impact-Echo Test For Quantitative Evaluation Of Asr Damage In Concrete, Clayton Malone, Hongbin Sun, Jinying Zhu

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Nonlinear acoustic methods demonstrate high sensitivity for concrete damage evaluation. Among these methods, nonlinear resonance acoustic methods have been widely used in laboratory tests on small scale test samples. In this study, a nonlinear impact-echo (IE) method was proposed for concrete damage evaluation, in which the IE frequency shift was measured at different impact force levels. The nonlinear IE test is similar to the nonlinear impact resonance acoustic spectroscopy (NIRAS) test in the experimental setup and analysis method. How- ever, the nonlinear IE test excites a local thickness resonance mode of a member instead of the global resonance vibration. Therefore, …


Assessing The Release Of Microplastics And Nanoplastics From Plastic Containers And Reusable Food Pouches: Implications For Human Health, Kazi Albab Hussain, Svetlana Romanova, Ilhami Okur, Dong Zhang, Jesse Kuebler, Xi Huang, Bing Wang, Lucia Fernandez-Ballester, Yongfeng Lu, Mathias Schubert, Yusong Li May 2023

Assessing The Release Of Microplastics And Nanoplastics From Plastic Containers And Reusable Food Pouches: Implications For Human Health, Kazi Albab Hussain, Svetlana Romanova, Ilhami Okur, Dong Zhang, Jesse Kuebler, Xi Huang, Bing Wang, Lucia Fernandez-Ballester, Yongfeng Lu, Mathias Schubert, Yusong Li

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

This study investigated the release of microplastics and nanoplastics from plastic containers and reusable food pouches under different usage scenarios, using DI water and 3% acetic acid as food simulants for aqueous foods and acidic foods. The results indicated that microwave heating caused the highest release of microplastics and nanoplastics into food compared to other usage scenarios, such as refrigeration or room-temperature storage. It was found that some containers could release as many as 4.22 million microplastic and 2.11 billion nanoplastic particles from only one square centimeter of plastic area within 3 min of microwave heating. Refrigeration and room-temperature storage …


The Efficacy Of Conservation Practices In Reducing Floods And Improving Water Quality, Shivendra Srivastava, Andrea D. Basche, Elbert Traylor, Tirthankar Roy May 2023

The Efficacy Of Conservation Practices In Reducing Floods And Improving Water Quality, Shivendra Srivastava, Andrea D. Basche, Elbert Traylor, Tirthankar Roy

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Conservation practices such as crop rotation, filter strips, and constructed wetlands are nature-based approaches intended to safeguard natural resources in agricultural landscapes. In this study, we reviewed the literature on how conservation practices, both at watershed and field scales, have been proven to subdue flood peaks, surface runoff, soil erosion, sediment transport, and nutrient loss. We classified different conservation practices based on the mode of their application (i.e., in-field, edge-of-field, and structural practices) and described what prior research efforts have concluded about the efficacy of different practices. At the field scale, practices such as reduced or no-till farming, grassed waterways, …