Mixing Zone Guidelines Application in a Smelter in Northern Sweden with Discharge to the Baltic Sea

This pilot study intended to investigate the application of Mixing Zone Guidelines in northern Sweden. The EC （European Commission）-Mixing Zone Guidelines were applied to seven effluent discharges. The effluents were from industrial processes used in the Ronnskar smelter, in northern Sweden. Each outlet in the smelter area discharges water into the Bothnian bay of the Baltic Sea. Cadmium （Cd）, mercury （Hg）, nickel （Ni） and lead （Pb） were the primary substances present in the effluents. A ＂Tiered Approach＂ was followed for mixing zone assessments in each of the discharge points. Discharge Test was used at Tier 2 and CORMIX （Cornell Mixing Zone Expert System model）, version 7, at Tier 3. At each discharge point, the AA-EQS （annual average-environmental quality standard） for each metal was met within a distance of 500 m from the outfalls. This distance was exceeded to meet the MAC-EQS （maximum allowable concentration-environmental quality standard） criteria at points 1 and 3 for total Hg concentrations. However, for the proper application of Mixing Zone Guidelines, a version of the Discharge Test for coastal waters should be developed and used. The decision at which tier the dissolved metal concentration should be compared with EQS values could depend on the effluent characteristics. For Swedish coastal waters, some consideration should be given to the background concentration of metals.

Effect of different carbon precursors on properties of LiFePO_4/C

The anoxic decomposition and influence of carbon precursors on the properties of LiFePO_4/C prepared by using Fe_2O_3 were investigated.X-ray powder diffractometry,Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR),scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and carbon content and charge–discharge tests were applied to the characterization of the as-synthesized cathodes.Partial carbon is lost in the anaerobic decomposition of organic precursors and a high hydrogen content leads to a high residual carbon rate.Pyromellitic anhydride and citric acid participate in reactions before and in ball-milling.All the chosen carbon precursors are capable of producing LiFePO_4 with high degree of crystallinity and purity.The carbon derived from α-D-glucose,pyromellitic anhydride,soluble starch,citric acid and polyacrylamide has a loose and porous texture in LiFePO_4/C which forms conduction on and between LiFePO_4 particles.LiFePO_4/C prepared by using α-D-glucose,pyromellitic anhydride,citric acid and sucrose exhibits appreciable electrochemical performance.Graphite alone is able to enhance the electrochemical performance of LiFePO_4 to a limited extent but incapable of preparing practical cathode.

Experimental study of mean overtopping discharge at perforated caissons for non-impulsive waves

In this study, hydraulic model tests are carried out to investigate the mean overtopping discharge at perforated caisson breakwaters for non-impulsive waves. Based on the experimental data, the mean overtopping discharges of perforated and nonperforated caissons are compared. It is found that when the relative crest freeboard is smaller than 1.6, the mean overtopping discharge of a breakwater can be reduced by at least half by using perforated caissons with 35% porosity instead of nonperforated caissons. The effects of the relative crest freeboard, the caisson porosity and perforation shape, the relative wave chamber width and the relative water depth on the mean overtopping discharge at perforated caissons are clarified. Then,predictive formulas for the mean overtopping discharge at perforated caissons are developed. The predictive formulas based on the experimental data are valid in a wide range of the relative crest freeboard and involve the effects of the caisson porosity and the relative water depth. The predictive formulas developed in this study are of significance for the hydraulic design of perforated caissons.