Abstract: 

Benzene is a toxic contaminant and can harm many aquatic species and cause serious damages to the river eco-system, if released to rivers. In 2012, a major spill accident occurred on the Huaihe River in Eastern China with 3 tons of benzene released to the river section 70 km upstream of a natural reserve. Two emergency measures were taken to minimize the impact of the accident on the natural reserve: 1) flow control by adjusting upstream sluices to delay the arrival of the contaminant plume at the reserve and 2) in-situ treatment using activated carbons to reduce the contaminant concentration. Here we develop a process-based mathematical model to analyze the monitoring data collected shortly after the accident, and explore not only how effective the adopted measures were over the incident but more importantly the mechanisms and critical conditions underlying the effectiveness of these measures. The model can be used as a tool for designing optimal management responses to similar spill accidents in regulated river systems, combining flow control and in-situ treatment.

摘要：

苯是一种有毒污染物，如果释放到河流中，会对多种水生生物造成危害，对河流生态系统造成严重破坏。2012年，中国东部的淮河发生重大泄漏事故，在自然保护区上游70公里处的河段，3吨苯泄漏。为减少事故对自然保护区的影响，采取了两项紧急措施:1)通过调整上游闸门控制流量，延迟污染物羽流到达保护区;2)采用活性炭原位处理，降低污染物浓度。我们开发了一个基于过程的数学模型，以分析事故发生后不久收集到的监测数据，不仅探讨所采取的措施在事故中有多有效，更重要的是探讨这些措施有效的机制和关键条件。该模型可作为一种工具，结合流量控制和现场处理，在受管制河流系统中设计最优的管理响应。 

（DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.115489, SCI, IF=9.13,1区）