Determinations of Air Tightness of Covered Slurry Storage Tanks Using Tracer Gas Technique

The objective of this investigation was to study whether it is possible to determine the air tightness of covered slurry storage tanks using tracer gas technique by injection of sulphur hexafluoride （SF6） and measurements of the decay in gas concentrations with an infrared spectrophotometer in the air space above the slurry. By measuring the decay in concentration of injected tracer gas at different occasions, the air exchange rate was determined. Three different types of coverings were studied namely; wooden roof, plastic tent and concrete roof.

Linking Groundwater Quality and Quantity： An Assessment of Satellite-Based Groundwater Storage Anomalies from GRACE against Ground Measurements of Contaminants in California

Groundwater comprises a large portion of irrigation for California＇s agriculture, and sustains a wide diversity of ecosystems as well as consumptive use, but pumping is occurring faster than replenishment. At the same time, contaminants from fertilizers and pesticides are infiltrating into the groundwater, becoming increasingly concentrated as water is extracted. It compared space-based observations of groundwater anomalies from California＇s San Joaquin Valley using the GRACE （gravity recovery and climate experiment） against measurements of 42 organic and inorganic chemicals from 41,667 wells in the valley from 2003 to 2010. It compared Arsenic, Boron, Cadmium, Chloride, Selenium, Trichloroethylene, and TDS （total dissolved solid） concentrations with the groundwater storage anomaly from 2003 to 2010. The results show strong correlations for groundwater depletion against increasing chloride （r2= 0.78, p 〈 0.05） and boron （r2 = 0.88, p 〈 0.05）. This indicates increasing contaminant concentrations while groundwater was depleting over the last eight years. Solubilization by complexation with Cl, CO3 and/or organic chelates may account for the increasing concentration of some heavy metals when groundwater depletion occurs. These results are the first to link space-based groundwater mass change with groundwater contaminant concentration change.

Influence of Calcium Sources and Concentration on the Storage Performance of Strawberry Fruit

Chemical application after harvest is an important method to preserve strawberry fruit quality and extend shelf life. The strawberry fruits harvested at red stage were treated with three different sources of calcium, i.e., calcium nitrate, calcium gluconate and calcium chloride at calcium concentration of 0% （distilled water）, 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5%. The strawberry fruits were dipped for 30 s. The calcium sources, calcium concentration and the interaction of calcium sources and calcium concentration significantly affected the storage performance of strawberry fruits. All the three sources and concentrations were effective in decreasing the storage associated changes, i.e., weight loss, decline in marketable fruits, loss of organoleptic quality, increase in total soluble solids （TSS）, decline in reducing sugars, total sugars, acidity and increase in sugar/acid ratio in strawberry fruit, thus extending the shelf life. Calcium gluconate at 1.5% calcium concentration was more effective. Treatment of strawberry fruit with 1.5% calcium from calcium gluconate source resulted in the highest number of marketable fruit （100%）, extended shelf life （10 d）, and total soluble solid （7.80%） with the minimum weight loss （5.45%）. Calcium dips result in higher calcium concentration in strawberry fruits, which delays ripening in fruits by maintaining the structure and function of cell walls and membranes. It can be concluded that calcium gluconate at 1.5% concentration is an effective calcium treatment to retain the quality and extend the shelf life of strawberry fruit.