Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Anaerobic Biodegradation Of Trichloroethylene By Activated Carbon Fluidized-Bed, Yeam-How Chin

Theses

Abstract - The biodegradation of Trichloroethylene by using anaerobic activated carbon fluidized bed has been investigated in the present study. High quality effluent was obtainable when the TCE influent concentration was up to 2.4 ppm in the first stage. Glucose was introduced as a cosubstrate to determine the effects of glucose/TCE ratio on the COD, Glucose and TCE removal. The experimental data indicates that the overall TCE removal efficiency was only slightly affected by TCE loading, but the first stage performance was significantly influenced by TCE loadings. It was also found that the microbial activities were affected by TCE loadings …

Sediment Transport/Sand Bypassing Analysis At Manasquan, Nj, Christopher Clemens Obropta

Theses

An experiment to determine the longshore sediment transport rate using a fluorescent dyed sand tracer was conducted during the summer of 1987 to help determine the feasibility of sand bypassing at the Manasquan Inlet in New Jersey. After the fluorescent sand tracer was introduced to the longshore transport system, the Spatial Integration Method was used to sample the surf zone. The Spatial Integration Method allowed the tracer cloud to be monitored in both time and space. The tracer experiment provided a constant to be used in the calculation of the longshore sediment transport rate. This constant is specific to the …

Slurry Wall Backfill Integrity And Desiccation, Mahendraratnam Thilliyar

Theses

The upper reaches of slurry wall, in a waste containment structure may under go cycles of wetting and drying, because of seasonal ground water level fluctuations. This may result in desiccation and cracking of back fill material. Experiments were conducted to study these effects with water, aniline, phenol, hydrochloric acid solutions on soils containing different proportions of bentonite, kaolinite, and sand. The largest crack was formed with phenol and the smallest with water. With hydrochloric acid no crack was formed. With increase kaolinite content, the width and density of crack decreased. Hydraulic conductivity tests on cracked specimens indicated high hydraulic …

Environmental Impact Assessment For Water Resources Projects : Planning Procedure And Analytical Methods, Mahadesh C. Tumkur

Theses

This thesis presents a state of the art review of environmental impact assessment procedures utilised in the water resources projects which have evolved over the past two decades. The methodologies employed and some of their limitations which exist and are inherent in both the planning and assessment phases of analysis are identified. The above was supplemented by an investigation of the various views of professionals currently employing the above methodologies. The review effort summarizes the relevant information obtained from the literature which is rather dynamic because of the ever evolving nature of the field. One conclusion drawn from this study …

Adsorption And Desorption Of Chromium On Clayey Soils, Ker-Shu Tan

Theses

Chromium residue waste was produced during sixties in the chromium production process. It was used as construction fill. Problems associated with chromium waste sites include structure distress and surface and groundwater contamination.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the adsorption and desorption of chromium on soil. In order to achieve this purpose, experiments were conducted to study the effect of pH, type of chromium compound, and type of soil on adsorption and desorption.

Experiments were performed on kaolinite, bentonite and sand. In our study, it was found that sand had almost no adsorption for chromium. Kaolinite had less …

Variations Of Alkalinity, Ph, Oxidation Reduction Potential, And Conductivity In Single And Multi-Stage Sludge Digestion Systems, Nasser M. Kamazani

Theses

Anaerobic digestion is used at many municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants. Recent increase in the cost of energy and search for an alternative source of energy for the future have prompted renewed interest in anaerobic digestion for energy recovery by production of methane from waste materials, including wastewater sludges and agricultural and municipal solid wastes. Accordingly, a large literature exist on the subject, most of it dealing with more physical aspects of different process design. Little or not enough attention has been paid to its highly complex biochemical characteristics.

The purpose of this study is a preliminary investigation regarding …

Removal Of Contaminants From Clay Soils By Thermal Desorption, Wen-Ming Mao

Theses

The objective of this study was to investigate the removal of contaminants from clay soils by thermal treatment. There were two phases involved in this project. The first was a study of equilibrium adsorption of clay - organics study, and the second was the determination of the thermal desorption characteristics.

Three organics, phenol, chlorophenol, and chlorobenzene and one clay soil, bentonite, were selected for these studies. The first phase, involved the simulation of the isothermal adsorption simulated the process of contaminants being sorbed onto bentonite. Three different isotherm models,viz, Linear isotherm, Freundlich isotherm, and Langmuir isotherm were evaluated with experimental …

Thermal Desorption Of Phenol Contaminated Clay Soils, Chia-Ling Ting

Theses

Clay mineral/organic reactions have been studied extensively by a numerous physicochemical methods. There also has been extensive research done in the areas of adsorption, Lewis acid-base reactions, desorption, adduct formation. Many of these studies explain the role and dehydration of silicates.

Studies have shown through extraction, thermal analysis, and gas chromatography. That there is more than one type of bonding, weak and strong, taking place between the clay mineral and the organic waste.

In order to determine the practicality of the containment technology, this research has been investigated by using more powerful tools, such as thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry …

Surfactant Enhanced Scrubbing In An Ejector Venturi Scrubber Of Sulfur Dioxide From Air Exhaust Streams, Humberto Roman

Theses

The objective of this work was to determine the feasibility of applying the Surfactant Enhanced Scrubbing technique to the removal of sulfur dioxide using an ejector venturi scrubber.

Surfactants were chosen according to information from manufacturers. Those surfactants which offered good behavior in the presence of acidic solutions ( low pH ), and anti-corrosion characteristics were tested.

In the first phase, experiments were performed to determine the behavior of the foams in the ejector venturi scrubber. A foam destruction system was used when foaming conditions required it. In the second phase dynamic runs were performed to determine the removal efficiencies …

Laboratory Model Studies Of Pneumatic Fracturing Of Soils To Remove Volatile Organic Compounds, Panayiotis Papanicolaou

Theses

Bench-scale laboratory studies were conducted from January 1988 to October 1988 to demonstrate the feasibility of using Pneumatic Fracturing* to enhance the removal of Volatile Organic Compounds from the vadose soil zone. Experiments were conducted to investigate: 1) The effect of pneumatic fracturing on the rate of contaminant removal; and 2) the injection pressures required to initiate soil fracturing.

Contaminated soil was placed and compacted in three identical 15 inch square by 30 inch high plexiglass tanks. The first tank was equipped with a vapor extraction system consisting of vacuum and/or positive air injection. The second tank was equipped with …

Experimental Evaluation Of J-Integral For Fiber Reinforced Concrete Subjected To Impact Loading, Piyushkumar Patel

Theses

This research presents an experimental Evaluation of J-Integral for Fiber Reinforced Concrete Subjected to Impact Loading. Three-point edge notched bend specimen were employed in evaluation of J-Integral using both the multi-specimen, and the single specimen techniques. In the multi-specimen technique three different notch lengths were employed for extracting the energetic fracture parameter J_Ic. In the single specimen technique, the method developed by Rice[13] was used to evaluate J_Ic at three different notch lengths.

Different proportions of fiber were employed in determining the J_Ic values. Experimental results from present study indicates that the J_Ic values calculated …

Optimal Design Of Prestressed Concrete Members Using Numerical Techniques, Nasseruddin Syed

Theses

This research consists of the application of nonlinear optimization techniques for the economical design of prestressed concrete members. A computer program using Lattice and Matrix methods of optimization is employed for least weight design of I-shaped prestressed concrete girders. The program calculates the most optimum values of the cross-sectional dimensions.It has the freedom to impose any constraints on any of the design variables, including sectional dimensions, eccentricities, concrete cover and limiting stresses.

Comparison of results obtained in this thesis with other analytical methods indicate that with the advent of computers, the numerical methods have a definite advantage over other analytical …

Measurement Of Biodegradation Aniline, 2,4-Dichlorophenol, 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene Using Microcalorimetric Method, Lung-Weng Yao

Theses

Biodegradation of aniline, 2,4-dichloro-phenol, and 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene by using micro-calorimetric method under aerobic condition has been investigated. The rate of heat energy output during the course of log growth phase was kinetically expressed by inhibition equation. The constants of Um(the maximum energy production rate), Ks(saturation rate), Ki(inhibition constant), and n(degree of inhibition) has been of 8.764hr-1, 0.13mg/L, 0.136mg/L, and 4.6 for 2,4-DCP; 3.33hr-1, 0.315mg/L, 0.35mg/L, and 1.4 for 1,24-TCB; 3.639hr-1, 0.4485mg/L, 0.485mg/L, and 5 for aniline.

Study Of Steel-Concrete Interface Behavior Of Reinforced Concrete Members, Jun Wan

Theses

The main objective of this thesis work is to study the steel-concrete interface behavior of reinforced concrete members using the nonlinear finite element method.

The reinforced concrete member was modeled as a continuum consisting of plane stress rectangular elements which represent the concrete, pin-joint two node bar elements which represent the reinforcing steel, and the nondimensional linkage elements which represent the bond stress-slip, aggregate interaction and dowel action effects. The load increment procedure is employed to carry out the nonlinear analysis.

An axially loaded tensile specimen, a deep beam specimen and a shallow beam specimen were analyzed. The results from …

Durability Of Slurry Cut-Off Walls Around Hazardous Waste Sites, M. Khalid Umer

Theses

A study was undertaken in order to provide insight into the behavior of backfill materials when in contact with hazardous chemicals. It was found that the liquid limit is not a reliable parameter in assessing clay behavior when exposed to these chemicals. However, the expansion index provided a consistent correlation to permeability when all other conditions were kept constant. In addition, the use of fly ash mixed with clay showed an increase in the values of permeability even though its grain size is finer than that of sand. It is believed that this phenomenon was the result of the absence …

Experimental Evaluation Of J-Integral For Concrete Subjected To Impact Loading, Naishan Zhang

Theses

This thesis presents an experimental evaluation of J-integral for concrete subjected to impact loading. Twenty four three-point bend specimens with two different thicknesses and mid-span notch lengths were tested under impact velocities of 167.22 in/sec (424.74 cm/sec) and 261.78 in/sec (664.92 cm/sec). Multi specimen method was used to analyze and estimate J_I and its critical J^-Ic values. Effects of specimen thickness and impact velocity on J^-Ic values were observed and discussed. Evaluation of J^-Ic Values from the experimental results of this study indicated that can be characterized as a material constant even under different impact velocities. …

Adsorption Of Organic Compounds By Microbial Biomass, Ariamalar Selvakumar

Dissertations

The adsorption of hazardous organic compounds such as phenol, 2-chlorophenol, 2-nitrophenol, chlorobenzene, and ethylbenzene onto two types of inactive microbial biomass (activated sludge and nitrifying bacteria) was studied. The adsorption isotherms could be expressed by the Freundlich adsorption isotherm and were found to be nearly linear over the range of concentrations (50 - 200 mg/1) studied. Desorption studies showed that the adsorption process was partially reversible. Heat of sorption was estimated and indicate that the biosorption process involves a physical rather than a chemical mechanism. The adsorptive capacity of biomass is about two to three orders of magnitude less than …

The Evaluation Of The Impact Of Reducing The Domestic Wastewater Phosphorus On The Algal-Related Water Quality Of The Hudson/Raritan Estuary And Northern New Jersey's Coastal Waters, Ron Gautreau

Theses

An investigation was undertaken to examine the planktonic algal-related water quality of the Hudson/Raritan Estuary and northern New Jersey's coastal waters with respect to quantifying the relationship between the amount of phosphorus loading to the planktonic algal-related water quality responses. Recreational and commercial uses of northern New Jersey's coastal waters have at times been impaired by excessive growth of planktonic algae. Using population equivalents and export coefficients the amount of domestic wastewater and land runoff derived phosphoruscontributed to the Estuary was estimated. The P load contributed to the Estuary via the discharge of New York and New Jersey domestic wastewater …

Co-Metabolism Of Pentachlorophenol With Glucose Using Two-Stage Anaerobic Activated Carbon Fluidized Beds, Zen Wang

Theses

Abstract - Detoxification of pentachlorophenol by using a two-stage anaerobic biological activated carbon fluidized bed has been investigated. Glucose was introduced as a cosubstrate to determine the relationship between the glucose/PCP ratio and the extent of PCP detoxification in such a system. This system has been proved to be effective in the removal of both PCP and COD. Ratio of glucose to PCP predominates the performance of the system throughout the whole course of this experiment. At a glucose/PCP ratio of 0.33, the system has a highest reduction of both PCP and COD. Addition of glucose to the highly PCP …

Decontamination Of Contaminated Clay Soils By Thermal Treatment, Chandrakanthi Weerasinghe

Theses

An experimental investigation on the desorption of contaminated clay soils by thermal treatment was performed. This study was carried out on two clay soils (kaolinite and bentonite) sorbed with three liquid organic compounds (phenol, chlorophenol, and chlorobenzene). The study consists of two different phases, the adsorption and desorption. The results on batch equilibrium adsorption were correlated with different isotherm models of which the Freundlich isotherm model was found to be best fit in predicting adsorption capacities of kaolinite, and that for bentonite was found to be the linear isotherm model.

A thermal desorption study followed the equilibrium adsorption study. A …

Anaerobic Biodegradation Of Trichloroethylene By Activated Carbon Fluidized-Bed, Jiunn-Horng Chern

Theses

The synthetic wastewater containing trichloroethylene (TCE) was anaerobically degraded with glucose using activated carbon fluidized-bed.

The range of TCE concentration from 26 ppb to 10.8 ppm was examined. The ratio of glucose to TCE in the influent wastewater was ranged from 26 to 805, while the TCE loading ranged from 0.025 to 1.510 mg/hr-L.

The TCE removal efficiency under these treatment conditions was found to be of 99.4%. However, the reduction of chemical oxygen demand (COD) decreased when the TCE loadings was over 0.38 mg/hr-L.

Unsaturated Column Studies Of Silty Sand Using A Conservative Tracer, Canagasabapathy Nallianathan

Theses

A laboratory study was conducted to investigate the flow and mass transport of a conservative tracer in the unsaturated phase. For this purpose, a relatively "large-scale" cylindrical column(12 in. O.D. x 4 feet long) was fabricated and equipped with tensiometer and psychrometer sensors.

The soil used in the study was a New Jersey based silty sand compacted to an average dry density of 93 lb/ft³. The soil was permeated with a 0.5 M NaCl solution infiltrated at the top of the column using a perforated spiral tube assembly. The permeant was applied at a constant rate of approximately …

Development Of A Rock Model Testing Capability At The New Jersey Institute Of Technology And Testing Of Plane Stress Models Possessing A Central Circular Opening With A Nearby Horizontal Discontinuity, David R. Good

Theses

This thesis had three main objectives. They were to develop a rock model testing capability at N.J.I.T. by (1) developing and building a load testing frame for rock models, including all necessary appurtenances and load measuring devices, (2) developing a rock modelling material and quantifying its properties, and (3) applying the capabilities described in items 1 and 2.

A high capacity load test frame was constructed from structural steel members. Heavy screw rams were utilized to apply load and specially constructed proving rings were employed to accurately measure load. Additionally, load platens and other support equipment were constructed.

The model …

Estimation Of In-Situ Compression Index Of Contaminated Clays Using The Electrical Method, Prasanna Ratnaweera

Theses

For contaminated clay soils, it has been found that current testing methods to determine compressibility characteristics do not truly identify the physico-chemiral interaction present in the soil-pore fluid-electrolyte system. Most methods are virtually impracticable due to various reasons such as evaporation of pore-fluid, difficulty of handling toxic chemicals, etc. Also, destructive test methods may not maintain in-situ conditions while testing.

The electrical properties of soils, the dielectric dispersion in particular is considered to represent the amount of physico-chemical interaction present in the soil-pore fluid-electrolyte system. For uncontaminated soils, correlations between the dielectric dispersion and the slope of the isotropic consolidation …

Multiyear Drought Simulation With Periodic-Stochastic Hydrologic Processes, Lankeswara Hemal Wijayaratne

Dissertations

Previous studies on multiyear droughts are often limited to the analysis of historic annual flow series. A major problem in these studies is the unavailability of long historic flow records, on which to perform the analysis. To overcome this difficulty, the present study has used synthetically generated mean annual flow series to suppliment the historic flows. For the purpose of generating flows, a general methodology was developed to propose a mathematical model based on the harmonic and stochastic analyses of the historic flow series. The main objective was to derive a large population of multiyear drought events from the generated …

Sorption And Desorption Of Organic Compounds By Flyash, Kashinath Banerjee

Dissertations

A sorbent treatment process has been developed which uses flyash as sorbent in the treatment of highly toxic and hazardous chemicals; these include: Alcohols, Aldehydes, Ketones and Aromatics. Batch, as well as dynamic, studies were performed, in different phases, during the investigation. Single and multiple solute systems were examined separately. The samples were analyzed using a Flame Ionization Detector Gas Chromatograph.

The result of this study demonstrates that isolation/ immobilization of the organic pollutants is technologically feasible by adsorbing the contaminants onto flyash. The residual carbon content of the flyash plays a very significant role during the treatment process. The …

The Quantitative Determination Of Formaldehyde In Ambient Air (Analytical Method), Chitsan Lin

Theses

A procedure for coating in situ silica gel in prepacked cartridges with 2,4-dinitrophenylhvdrazine (DNPH) acidified with hydrochloric acid is described. The method was evaluated under practical field conditions in The Northern New Jersey-Staten Island Urban Air Toxics Project. The formaldehyde hydrazone formed is desorbed by acetonitrile and determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV det.ection. In this study, we have examined trap coaz)ng, trap efficiency, parallel ambient air and inaoor air sampLing, to find the best analysis method. Sampling traps aci:iifled .:ith hydrochloric acid perform better than those using percnicric acid or phosphoric acid. Trap sampling efficiency was significantly affected …

Friedman's Model Of Calculating The Optimum Bid Price Using Dbase Iii Plus, Selim Uzel

Theses

The micro-computer program, BIDCALC presented in this thesis is offered as simple, practical, and proven approach to developing an effective data-based competitive bidding strategy. BIDCALC is written in dBASE III Plus programming language for MS-DOS based computers.

Main purpose of the program is to evaluate the optimum bid using the Friedman's model of Maximizing the Expected Profit. At the same time the program keeps track of necessary competitor and project information in data base files which are easily transferable to other software packages. The program is capable of generating a variety of reports in a matter of seconds.

BIDCALC is …

Estimation Of Modified Proctor Densities Based On Visual Identification, Ramesh Damodaram

Theses

Often in construction jobs requiring controlled compaction, there is a delay involved in testing the soil sample to be used as a structural fill. Here a rational approach has been adopted to get these values from 600 test data available. Using these data, appropriate relationships between grain sizes, maximum dry densities and optimum moisture content were developed. From these, two tables were derived to estimate the maximum dry density and optimum moisture content based on grain size distribution.

In a fill control job, if the borrow pit happens to change, the field personnel could obtain soil samples and send them …

Determination Of Project Duration For Resource Constrained Projects Without Using Resource Scheduling Procedure, Rabindra Nath Karmakar

Theses

The problem addressed in this thesis is that of determining the practicability of equating measures of network and resource characteristics to the early finish date of a project which is constrained by resources. The output of standard critical path calculations along with information on resource profiles that are easy to calculate can be of use in estimating resource constrained project duration.

Twenty two different equations ( developed by Hall) were used to find the estimated project finish dates. These results were compared to the schedule resulting from the application of the heuristic rule of minimum activity float. It is shown …