Atmospheric Deposition and Critical Loads for Nitrogen and Metals in Arctic Alaska: Review and Current Status

To protect important resources under their bureau’s purview, the United States National Park Service’s (NPS) Arctic Network (ARCN) has developed a series of “vital signs” that are to be periodically monitored. One of these vital signs focuses on wet and dry deposition of atmospheric chemicals and further, the establishment of critical load (CL) values (thresholds for ecological effects based on cumulative depositional loadings) for nitrogen (N), sulfur, and metals. As part of the ARCN terrestrial monitoring programs, samples of the feather moss Hylocomium splendens are being collected and analyzed as a cost-effective means to monitor atmospheric pollutant deposition in this region. Ultimately, moss data combined with refined CL values might be used to help guide future regulation of atmospheric contaminant sources potentially impacting Arctic Alaska. But first, additional long-term studies are needed to determine patterns of contaminant deposition as measured by moss biomonitors and to quantify ecosystem responses at particular loadings/ ranges of contaminants within Arctic Alaska. Herein we briefly summarize 1) current regulatory guidance related to CL values 2) derivation of CL models for N and metals, 3) use of mosses as biomonitors of atmospheric deposition and loadings, 4) preliminary analysis of vulnerabilities and risks associated with CL estimates for N, 5) preliminary analysis of existing data for characterization of CL values for N for interior Alaska and 6) implications for managers and future research needs.

FCC coprocessing oil sands heavy gas oil and canola oil. 2. Gasoline hydrocarbon type analysis

This study set out to gain a deeper understanding of a fluid catalytic cracking(FCC)coprocessing approach using canola oil mixed with bitumen-derived heavy gas oil(HGO),for the production of partially-renewable gasoline,with respect to its composition and quality.The FCC coprocessing approach may provide an alternative solution to reducing the carbon footprint and to meet government regulatory demands for renewable transportation fuels.In this study,a mixture of 15 v%canola oil in HGO was catalytically cracked with a commercial equilibrium catalyst under typical FCC conditions.Cracking experiments were performed using a bench-scale Advanced Cracking Evaluation(ACE)unit at a fixed weight hourly space velocity of 8 h^(à1),490–530C,and catalyst/oil ratios of 4–12 g/g.The total liquid product samples were injected via an automatic sampler and a prefractionator(to removet254C)into a gas chromatographic system containing a series of columns,traps,and valves designed to separate each of the hydrocarbon types.The analyzer gives detailed hydrocarbon types of à200C gasoline,classified into paraffins,iso-paraffins,olefins,naphthenes,and aromatics by carbon number up to C_(11)(C_(10)for aromatics).For a feed cracked at a given temperature,the gasoline aromatics show the highest selectivity in terms of weight percent conversion,followed by saturated iso-paraffins,saturated naphthenes,unsaturated iso-paraffins,unsaturated naphthenes,unsaturated normal paraffins,and saturated normal paraffins.As conversion increases,both aromatics and saturated iso-paraffins increase monotonically at the expense of other components.Hydrocarbon type analysis and octane numbers with variation in feed type,process severity(temperature and catalyst/oil ratio),and conversion are also presented and discussed.