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Articles 151 - 180 of 188

Full-Text Articles in Environmental Engineering

Reviewing The Effects Of Alternative Fuels, Average Speed And Idling Time On Emissions From Orange County School Bus Fleet, Ali Bayat Jan 2007

Reviewing The Effects Of Alternative Fuels, Average Speed And Idling Time On Emissions From Orange County School Bus Fleet, Ali Bayat

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Orange County, FL has been experiencing ozone concentrations in the past several years which in some cases exceeded the national and state standards. The high concentration of ground level ozone can cause a variety of health problems including chest pain, coughing, throat irritation, and congestion or it can worsen bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma. Other effects include reduction of agricultural crop and commercial forest yields, lower growth and survivability of tree seedlings, and higher susceptibility of plant to diseases, pests and other stresses such as harsh weather. The ozone generation rate is directly related to the ambient concentration of nitrogen oxides …


Urban Infilling Impacts On Florida Solid Waste Facilities, Ravi Chander Nalamothu Jan 2007

Urban Infilling Impacts On Florida Solid Waste Facilities, Ravi Chander Nalamothu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Increasing urbanization in the US is leading to development or re-development of lands adjacent to solid waste facilities and these lands are being considered for residential communities and commercial projects. Thus, the potential for nuisance complaints against the pre-existing solid waste facility operations has become an increasing reality. The objective of this study was to develop a methodology to gather scientific and quantifiable data related to potential nuisances caused by landfills to determine setbacks and buffer zones near landfill and transfer station operations. Appropriate recommendations for these setbacks were made from case studies conducted at two landfills in Florida. The …


Fate Of Nitrogen And Phosphorus Species From A Black And Goldtm Nugget Mix In A Laboratoy Column Simulated Septic Tank Drainfiel, Timir Shah Jan 2007

Fate Of Nitrogen And Phosphorus Species From A Black And Goldtm Nugget Mix In A Laboratoy Column Simulated Septic Tank Drainfiel, Timir Shah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The presence of nitrates and phosphorus in ground water is a worldwide problem. A septic tank with drainfield that is conventionally designed does not typically remove nitrogen in the form of nitrates. The main risks are in "Blue baby" syndrome and suspected carcinogenic effect of nitrates on humans and the nutrient enrichment of receiving waters. In some areas nitrate and phosphorus removal are essentially required. Thus the information in this report concentrates on using media in the drainfield for the removal of nitrogen and phosphorus. Extensive work has been conducted in the past few decades in order to find suitable …


Biostability In Drinking Water Distribution Systems In A Changing Water Quality Environment Using Corrosion Inhibitors, Bingjie Zhao Jan 2007

Biostability In Drinking Water Distribution Systems In A Changing Water Quality Environment Using Corrosion Inhibitors, Bingjie Zhao

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this study, the bacterial growth dynamics of 14 pilot drinking water distribution systems were studied in order to observe water quality changes due to corrosion inhibitor addition. Empirical models were developed to quantity the effect of inhibitor type and dose on bacterial growth (biofilm and bulk water). Water and pipe coupon samples were taken and examined during the experiments. The coupons were exposed to drinking water at approximately 20°C for at least 5 weeks to allow the formation of a measurable quasi- steady-state biofilm. Bulk water samples were taken every week. In this study, two simple but practical empirical …


Modeling Free Chlorine And Chloramine Decay In A Pilot Distribution System, Jorge Miguel Arevalo Jan 2007

Modeling Free Chlorine And Chloramine Decay In A Pilot Distribution System, Jorge Miguel Arevalo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify the effect that water quality, pipe material, pipe size, flow conditions and the use of corrosion inhibitors would have on the rate of free chlorine and chloramine decay in distribution systems. Empirical models were developed to predict the disinfectant residual concentration with time based on the parameters that affected it. Different water treatment processes were used to treat groundwater and surface water to obtain 7 types of finished waters with a wide range of water quality characteristics. The groundwater was treated either by conventional treatment by aeration (G1) or softening (G2) or …


Impact Of Zinc Orthophosphate Inhibitor On Distribution System Water Quality, Xiaotao Guan Jan 2007

Impact Of Zinc Orthophosphate Inhibitor On Distribution System Water Quality, Xiaotao Guan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation consists of four papers concerning impacts of zinc orthophosphate (ZOP) inhibitor on iron, copper and lead release in a changing water quality environment. The mechanism of zinc orthophosphate corrosion inhibition in drinking water municipal and home distribution systems and the role of zinc were investigated. Fourteen pilot distribution systems (PDSs) which were identical and consisted of increments of PVC, lined cast iron, unlined cast iron and galvanized steel pipes were used in this study. Changing quarterly blends of finished ground, surface and desalinated waters were fed into the pilot distribution systems over a one year period. Zinc orthophosphate …


Multisensor Fusion Remote Sensing Technology For Assessing Multitemporal Responses In Ecohydrological Systems, Ammarin Makkeasorn Jan 2007

Multisensor Fusion Remote Sensing Technology For Assessing Multitemporal Responses In Ecohydrological Systems, Ammarin Makkeasorn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Earth ecosystems and environment have been changing rapidly due to the advanced technologies and developments of humans. Impacts caused by human activities and developments are difficult to acquire for evaluations due to the rapid changes. Remote sensing (RS) technology has been implemented for environmental managements. A new and promising trend in remote sensing for environment is widely used to measure and monitor the earth environment and its changes. RS allows large-scaled measurements over a large region within a very short period of time. Continuous and repeatable measurements are the very indispensable features of RS. Soil moisture is a critical element …


An Investigation Of Size Exclusion And Diffusion Controlled Membrane Fouling, Colin Michael Hobbs Jan 2007

An Investigation Of Size Exclusion And Diffusion Controlled Membrane Fouling, Colin Michael Hobbs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The reduction of membrane productivity (i.e. membrane fouling) during operation occurs in virtually all membrane applications. Membrane fouling originates from the method by which membranes operate: contaminants are rejected by the membrane and retained on the feed side of the membrane while treated water passes through the membrane. The accumulation of these contaminants on the feed side of the membrane results in increased operating pressures, increased backwashing frequencies, increased chemical cleaning frequencies, and increased membrane replacement frequencies. The most significant practical implication of membrane fouling is increased operating and maintenance costs. As such, membrane fouling must be properly managed to …


Comparison Of Thm Formation During Disinfection: Ferrate Versus Free Chlorine For Different Source Waters, Adhem Mukattash Jan 2007

Comparison Of Thm Formation During Disinfection: Ferrate Versus Free Chlorine For Different Source Waters, Adhem Mukattash

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of the study was to compare the trihalomethanes (THMs) produced from ferrate with hypochlorite and to determine how different the THM production would be for a given degree of disinfection (3 log reduction in Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC)). Different water samples were collected from Lake Claire, Atlantic Ocean, and secondary effluent from an advanced wastewater treatment plant. THM formation was determined using a standard assay over 7 days at room temperature. In addition samples were tested for Total Coliform Escherichia coli (TC/E.coli), and heterotrophic bacteria using HPC by spreadplating on R2A agar. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was measured …


Reversion Of Poly-Phosphates To Ortho-Phosphates In Water Distribution Systems, Avinash Shekhar Jan 2007

Reversion Of Poly-Phosphates To Ortho-Phosphates In Water Distribution Systems, Avinash Shekhar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Orthophosphates and polyphosphates are rarely present at significant levels in raw water source but are purposefully added to the water in various forms to inhibit corrosion, iron oxidation (red water), or calcium carbonate precipitation (scale formation). Orthophosphates serve as building blocks for polyphosphates, which includes structures in linear chain, branched chains (metaphosphate) and "glassy" polyphosphate polymers. The advantage of polyphosphates over ortho phosphates lies in the fact that they slowly revert to orthophosphates and thus provide corrosion inhibition action over longer period of time in distribution systems. A study was completed for Tampa Bay Water on water distribution systems in …


Temperature Inside The Landfill: Effects Of Liquid Injection And Ambient Temperature, Amit Kumar Jan 2007

Temperature Inside The Landfill: Effects Of Liquid Injection And Ambient Temperature, Amit Kumar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study represents an analysis of comprehensive temperature and moisture content data collected from the anaerobic portion of a bioreactor landfill at the New River Regional Landfill, Florida, USA. The main focus of the study was the analysis of effects of the liquid injection on the temperature inside the landfill. When the leachate or groundwater at lower temperature than the landfilled waste is injected into the landfill, it has an initial cooling effect on the waste until the biological activity, enhanced by the additional moisture, releases heat. This cooling effect was tested in the study to determine whether it could …


Using Electrochemical Monitoring To Predict Metal Release In Drinking Water Distribution Systems, Rajendra D. Vaidya Jan 2007

Using Electrochemical Monitoring To Predict Metal Release In Drinking Water Distribution Systems, Rajendra D. Vaidya

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Corrosion of distribution system piping and home plumbing materials is a major concern in the water community. Iron release adverse affects aesthetic water quality and the release of copper and lead is regulated by the Lead and Copper rule (LCR) and can adversely affect consumer health. Corrosion control is typically done by pH regulation and/or addition of corrosion inhibitors. Monitoring of corrosion control is typically done after the fact by monitoring metal release, functional group concentration of the selected chemical species or water quality. Hence, the associated laboratory analyses create a significant delay prior to the assessment of corrosion in …


Verification Of Pilot-Scale Iron Release Models, Stephen Glatthorn Jan 2007

Verification Of Pilot-Scale Iron Release Models, Stephen Glatthorn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A model for the prediction of color release from a pilot distribution system was created in 2003 by Imran. This model allows prediction of the release of color from aged cast iron and galvanized steel pipes as a function of water quality and hydraulic residence time. Color was used as a surrogate measurement for iron, which exhibited a strong linear correlation. An anomaly of this model was an absence of a term to account for pH, due to the influent water being well stabilized. A new study was completed to evaluate the effectiveness of corrosion inhibitors against traditional adjustment. Two …


Quantification Of Emissions From Lawn And Garden Equipment In Central Florida, Megan Leigh Crum Jan 2007

Quantification Of Emissions From Lawn And Garden Equipment In Central Florida, Megan Leigh Crum

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to evaluate the practical limits of EPA's NONROAD 2005 to accurately simulate Central Florida conditions, especially with regard to lawn and garden equipment. In particular we investigated a NONROAD emission inventory using default inputs and then created a locally specific emission inventory. These emission inventories were prepared for Orange, Osceola, and Seminole county and focused only on the VOC and NOx emissions caused by lawn and garden equipment. The model was manipulated to assess its ability to represent this specific category of nonroad equipment for a given airshed first by running a base case …


A Derivation Of An Empirical Equation For Estimating The Acoustical Shadow Zone Length Of Roadway Noise Barriers, Wayne Arner Jan 2006

A Derivation Of An Empirical Equation For Estimating The Acoustical Shadow Zone Length Of Roadway Noise Barriers, Wayne Arner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this research was to derive an empirical equation that estimates the acoustical shadow zone length (SZL) of roadway noise barriers. The acoustical shadow zone is the area behind a noise barrier of reduced sound levels, generally to some stated level at or near background. The ability to predict the SZL can be used as a method to evaluate the performance, and possibly the design, of roadway noise barriers. The current federally required roadway noise model is the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Traffic Noise Model (TNM). TNM uses insertion loss (IL) to evaluate the effectiveness of a barrier. …


A Non-Isolated Half Bridge Buck-Based Converter For Vrm Application And Small Signal Modeling Of A Non-Conventional Two Phase Bu, Majd Batarseh Jan 2006

A Non-Isolated Half Bridge Buck-Based Converter For Vrm Application And Small Signal Modeling Of A Non-Conventional Two Phase Bu, Majd Batarseh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is about treatment of the nonbiodegradable organic content of landfill leachate by chemical oxidation combined with biological treatment. It is divided into three parts. In the first part, ferrate was compared to Fenton's reagent for the purpose of removing non-biodegradable organic compounds from mature leachate. Oxidation conditions (time, pH, and dose) were optimized to yield maximum organic removal using two leachate samples from 20 and 12-year old solid waste cells. Results from this research demonstrated that ferrate and Fenton's reagent had similar optimum pH ranges (3-5), but different organic removal capacities, ranging from 54 to 79 % of …


In-Situ Ammonia Removal Of Leachate From Bioreactor Landfills, Nicole Berge Jan 2006

In-Situ Ammonia Removal Of Leachate From Bioreactor Landfills, Nicole Berge

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A new and promising trend in solid waste management is to operate the landfill as a bioreactor. Bioreactor landfills are controlled systems in which moisture addition and/or air injection are used as enhancements to create a solid waste environment capable of actively degrading the biodegradable organic fraction of the waste. Although there are many advantages associated with bioreactor landfills, some challenges remain. One such challenge is the ammonia-nitrogen concentration found in the leachate. The concentrations of ammonia-nitrogen tend to increase beyond concentrations found in leachate from conventional landfills because recirculating leachate increases the rate of ammonification and results in accumulation …


Removal Of Refractory Tkn From An Effluent Wastewater Using Sodium Ferrate, Lucia Lettie Jan 2006

Removal Of Refractory Tkn From An Effluent Wastewater Using Sodium Ferrate, Lucia Lettie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research addresses refractory forms of nitrogen that, even with advanced biological nitrification-denitrification systems are not removed completely from domestic wastewater. TKN (Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen), ammonia plus organic nitrogen, is one of the forms to measure the levels of nitrogen present in effluent wastewaters. Ferrate, a strong oxidant, was used for the treatment of these nitrogen forms with the objective of producing nitrogen compounds that can be removed by subsequent biological processes. Bench-scale experiments were performed on effluent samples taken prior to chlorination from an Orlando, FL wastewater treatment facility, using a biological nutrient removal process. The samples were treated …


Evaluation Of Prefermentation As A Unit Process Upon Biological Nutrient Removal Including Biokinetic And Wastewater Parameters, Terrence Mccue Jan 2006

Evaluation Of Prefermentation As A Unit Process Upon Biological Nutrient Removal Including Biokinetic And Wastewater Parameters, Terrence Mccue

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this dissertation was to provide a controlled comparison of identical continuous flow BNR processes both with and without prefermentation in order to provide a stronger, more quantitative, technical basis for design engineers to evaluate the potential benefits of prefermentation to EBPR in treating domestic wastewater. In addition, the even less understood effect of prefermentation on denitrification kinetics and anoxic phosphorus (P) uptake was studied and quantified. Other aspects of BNR performance, which might change due to use of prefermentation, will also be addressed, including anaerobic stabilization. Potential benefits to BNR processes derived from prefermentation are compared and …


Modeling Of Atmospheric Refraction Effects On Traffic Noise Propagation, Ahmed El-Aassar Jan 2006

Modeling Of Atmospheric Refraction Effects On Traffic Noise Propagation, Ahmed El-Aassar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Traffic noise has been shown to have negative effects on exposed persons in the communities along highways. Noise from transportation systems is considered a nuisance in the U.S. and the government agencies require a determination of noise impacts for federally funded projects. There are several models available for assessing noise levels impacts. These models vary from simple charts to computer design models. Some computer models, i.e. Standard Method In Noise Analysis (STAMINA), the Traffic Noise Model (TNM) and the UCF Community Noise Model (CNM), have been used to predict geometric spreading, atmospheric absorption, diffraction, and ground impedance. However, they have …


Effectiveness And Kinetics Of Ferrate As A Disinfectant For Ballast Water, Andrea L. Jessen Jan 2006

Effectiveness And Kinetics Of Ferrate As A Disinfectant For Ballast Water, Andrea L. Jessen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The introduction of aquatic nuisance species (ANS) and bacterial pathogens from discharge of ballast water by sea-faring vessels is an ongoing problem that threatens ecosystems and human health. This study investigates the disinfecting capability of ferrate in a marine environment on several organisms listed in international standards for ballast water management. Organisms were grown in a saline solution and were treated with dosages of ferrate ranging from 0.25-5.0 mg/l. A ferrate dose of 5 mg/l resulted in almost complete kill for all organisms tested. Smaller dosages have also been very effective, particularly if all organic material from the nutrient broth …


The Effects Of Ph On Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal (Ebpr) With Propionic Acid As The Dominant Volatile Fatty Acid (Vfa), Seyed Malekjahani Jan 2006

The Effects Of Ph On Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal (Ebpr) With Propionic Acid As The Dominant Volatile Fatty Acid (Vfa), Seyed Malekjahani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

pH control is a tool to improve some aspects of Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal (EBPR) process. Filipe et al (2001a, 2001b, and 2001c) found strong evidence that the stability of EBPR systems can be improved by increasing the pH of the anaerobic zone, thereby creating conditions where phosphorus-accumulating organisms (PAOs) are able to take up acetate faster than glycogen-accumulating organisms (GAOs). They explained this observation by comparing the growth rate of phosphorus-accumulating organisms (PAOs) and glycogen-accumulating organisms (GAOs) and found that pH has little effect on PAOs growth rate but adversely affects GAOs growth rate when it increases (at pH …


Verification Of Faa's Emissions And Dispersion Modeling System (Edms), Anjoli Martin Jan 2006

Verification Of Faa's Emissions And Dispersion Modeling System (Edms), Anjoli Martin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Air quality has been a major environmental concern for many years. Recently the issue of airport emissions has presented growing concerns and is being studied in much more depth. Airport emissions come from a variety of point, line and area sources, making emissions modeling for airports very complex and more involved. Accurate air quality models, specific to airport needs, are required to properly analyze this complex array of air pollution sources created by airports. Accurate air quality models are needed to plan for increased growth of current airports and address concerns over proposed new ones. The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) …


Bench Scale Analysis Of Experimental Fouling-Resistent Low Pressure Reverse Osmosis Membranes Using High Organic Surface Water And Synthetic Colloidal Water, Matthew Doan Jan 2006

Bench Scale Analysis Of Experimental Fouling-Resistent Low Pressure Reverse Osmosis Membranes Using High Organic Surface Water And Synthetic Colloidal Water, Matthew Doan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The utilization of membrane treatment for the production of potable water has become more prevalent in today's industry. As drinking water regulations become more stringent this trend is expected to continue. Widespread use is also a result of membrane treatment being the best available treatment in many cases. While membrane treatment is a proven technology that can produce a consistently superior product to conventional treatment methods, membrane fouling and concentrate disposal are issues that drive up the cost of membrane treatment and can effectively eliminate it from consideration as a treatment alternative. This research focused on membrane fouling. A series …


The Effectiveness Of A Specifically Designed Green Roof Stormwater Treatment System Irrigated With Recycled Stormwater Runoff To Achieve Pollutant Removal And Stormwater Volume Reduction, Michael Hardin Jan 2006

The Effectiveness Of A Specifically Designed Green Roof Stormwater Treatment System Irrigated With Recycled Stormwater Runoff To Achieve Pollutant Removal And Stormwater Volume Reduction, Michael Hardin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

One of our greatest threats to surface-water quality is polluted stormwater runoff. In this research, investigated is the use of a green roof irrigated with recycled stormwater runoff to remove pollutants from stormwater runoff and reduce the volume of stormwater runoff leaving developed areas. The green roof properties of interest are the filtration and biological processes as well as the roof's ability to hold water and increase evapotranspiration, reducing the volume of stormwater runoff from the source. Because of the above mentioned reasons the experiment consists of a water quality analysis and a water budget done on several experimental chambers …


Development Of A Graphical User Interface For Cal3qhc Called Calqcad, Sheetal Gawalpanchi Jan 2005

Development Of A Graphical User Interface For Cal3qhc Called Calqcad, Sheetal Gawalpanchi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

One of the major sources of air pollution in the United States metropolitan areas is due to automobiles. With the huge growth of motor vehicles and, greater dependence on them, air pollution problems have been aggravated. According to the EPA, nearly 95% of carbon monoxide (CO ) (EPA 1999) in urban areas comes from mobile sources, of which 51% is contributed by on road vehicles. It is well known fact that, carbon monoxide is one of the major mobile source pollutants and CO has detrimental effects on the human health. Carbon monoxide is the result of mainly incomplete combustion of …


Stormwater Irrigation Of Saint Augustine Grass: Nitrogen Balance And Evapotranspiration, Ewoud Hulstein Jan 2005

Stormwater Irrigation Of Saint Augustine Grass: Nitrogen Balance And Evapotranspiration, Ewoud Hulstein

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A change in surface condition of a watershed, which is usually caused by development, can have measured effects on the naturally occurring hydrologic cycle and nitrogen cycle. This could result in environmental problems, such as reduced springflow and eutrophication. In an effort to address these issues, a combination of best management practices (BMPs) can be adhered to. The practice of using excess stormwater as a source for irrigation is proposed as a BMP for the minimization of impacts by development to the hydrologic and nitrogen cycles. To study the proposed BMP, a field experiment was installed in an outdoor location …


Effects Of Reduced Ras And Volume On Anaerobic Zone Performance For A Septic Wastewater Biological Phosphorous Removal System, Daniel Magro Jan 2005

Effects Of Reduced Ras And Volume On Anaerobic Zone Performance For A Septic Wastewater Biological Phosphorous Removal System, Daniel Magro

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Enhanced Biological Phosphorous Removal (EBPR) performance was found to be adequate with reduced Return Activated Sludge (RAS) flows (50% of available RAS) to the anaerobic tank and smaller than typical anaerobic zone volume (1.08 hours hydraulic retention time or HRT). Three identical parallel biological nutrient removal (BNR) pilot plants were fed with strong, highly fermented (160 mg/L VFAs), domestic/industrial wastewater from a full scale wastewater treatment facility (WWTF). The pilot plants were operated at 100%, 50%, 40% and 25% RAS (percent of available RAS) flows to the anaerobic tank with the remaining RAS to the anoxic tank. In addition, varying …


The Effect Of Free Chlorine And Chloramines On Lead Release In A Distribution System, Ferdinand Vasquez Jan 2005

The Effect Of Free Chlorine And Chloramines On Lead Release In A Distribution System, Ferdinand Vasquez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Total lead release in drinking water in the presence of free chlorine and chloramine residuals was investigated in field, laboratory and fundamental investigations for finished waters produced from ground (GW), surface (SW), saline (RO) and blended (B) sources. Field investigations found more total lead was released in the presence of chloramines than in the presence of free chlorine for RO and blended finished waters; however, there were no statistical differences in total lead release to finished GW and SW. Laboratory measurements of finished waters oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) were equivalent by source and were not affected by the addition of more …


Numerical Modeling Of Dissimilatory Iron Reduction In Sediments At A Field Site, Chun-Wen Chen Jan 2005

Numerical Modeling Of Dissimilatory Iron Reduction In Sediments At A Field Site, Chun-Wen Chen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study is to identify the 'universal' rate formulations with scaled-dependent parameters for the biological reduction of hematite. Three possible rate formulations were proposed to describe the bioreduction rate of hematite, and two kinds of simulation were conducted to validate the formulations and parameters with both batch and column experimental data: a reaction-based biogeochemical (batch) modeling with BIOGEOCHEM 1.0 and a reactive biogeochemical transport (column) modeling via HYDROGEOCHEM 4.0. Based on the results of simulations, only the dual Monod kinetic with inhibition rate formulation with respect to the concentrations of lactate, ßFeOOH, and Fe2+ under certain …