Conceptual Modeling of Contaminated Solute Transport Based on Stream Tube Model

In this study, we performed a conceptual modeling on solute transport based on theoretical stream tube model (STM) with various travel time distributions assuming a pure convective flow through each tube in order to investigate how the lengths and distributions of solute travel time through STM affect the breakthrough curves at the end mixing surface. The conceptual modeling revealed that 1) the shape of breakthrough curve (BTC) at the mixing surface was determined by not only input travel time distributions but also solute injection mode such as sampling time and pulse lengths;2) the increase of pulse length resulted in the linear increase of the first time moment (mean travel time) and quadratic increase of the second time moment (variance of travel time) leading to more spreading of solute, however, the second time moment was not affected by travel time distributions and 3) for a given input distributions the increase in travel distance resulted in more dispersion with the quadratic increase of travel time variance. This indicates that stream tube model obeying strictly pure convective flow follows the concept of convective-lognormal transport (CLT) model regardless the input travel time distributions.

Amphiphilic Block Copolymer for adsorption of Organic Contaminants

In this study, new polymeric adsorbents, 2 types of polystyrene-block-poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PSN, structure of hydrophobic core and hydrophilic shell), were developed and applied for removal of organic pollutants from wastewater. Encapsulation of organic pollutants by the polystyrene-block-poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PSN) resulted in increasing hydrophobicity of the polystyrene with abundant hydrophobic spaces within the amphiphilic block copolymer. The encapsulation mechanism of BTEX by PSN was investigated and found to be mainly attributable to the Van der Waals interactions between the aromatic ring of BTEX and the hydrophobic core of PSN. Polystyrene-block-poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) showed good potential as a novel and cost effective adsorbent for application to wastewater treatment, which can be simply regenerated and reused using an external temperature changing system.

Green Liver Systems for Water Purification:Using the Phytoremediation Potential of Aquatic Macrophytes for the Removal of Different Cyanobacterial Toxins from Water

The protection and reasonable use of freshwater is one of the main goals for our future, as water is most important for all organisms on earth including humans. Due to pollution, not only with xenobiotics, but also with nutrients, the status of our water bodies has changed drastically. Excess nutrient load induces eutrophication processes and, as a result, massive cyanobacterial blooms during the summer times. As cyanobacteria are known to produce several toxic secondary metabolites, the so-called cyanotoxins, exhibiting hepato-, neuro- and cell-toxicity, a potential risk is given, when using this water. There is an urgent need to have a water purification system, which is able to cope with these natural toxins. Using aquatic plants as a Green Liver, the Green Liver System?, was developed, able to remove these natural pollutants. To test the ability of the Green Liver System?, several cyanobacterial toxins including artificial and natural mixtures were tested in a small-scale laboratory system. The results showed that within 7 - 14 days a combination of different aquatic macrophytes was able to remove a given toxin amount (10 μg·L-1) by 100%. The phytoremediation technology behind the Green Liver Systems? uses the simple ability of submerged aquatic plants to uptake, detoxify and store the toxins, without formation and release of further metabolites to the surrounding water.