Monitoring and evaluation of transformers are essential to prevent their insulation failure. In this paper, the use of 2-furan-carboxaldehyde (2-FAL) and methanol (MeOH) concentrations as the main products of paper insulation DEGRADATION, and insulation condition markers, has been studied. In order to study the DEGRADATION process and production of DEGRADATION products, the thermal aging process of the transformer insulation system was implemented in laboratory conditions. The results of laboratory studies show that in the early stages of DEGRADATION the amount of MeOH is significant compared to 2-FAL. Also, the estimation of the degree of polymerization (DP) in the early stages of DEGRADATION (DP>800) through MeOH concentration and with decreasing DP (DP <800) through 2-FAL concentration is closer to the real value. The results of studies performed on 35 distribution transformers confirm the production of significant amounts of MeOH in the early stages of DEGRADATION. Also, the estimated DP values for the studied transformers were obtained through 2-FAL and MeOH concentration. The results show that estimating the amount of DP through MeOH concentration is associated with a probability of error of about 9% compared to estimating DP through 2-FAL concentration.

DEGRADATION model is a method for environmental impact assessment and it has been widely applied for accumulative impact assessment of human activities. In addition, landscape indicators have been widely used in landscape planning as quantitative tools.One important application of landscape metrics is their contribution to landscape DEGRADATION model. The goal of this research was to assess landscape DEGRADATION in Jajrood protected area. In doing so, landscape indicators were calculated using a land use/cover map of Jajrood protected area for 16 sub basins. For land use/cover mapping, Landsat satellite image was firstly pre-processed, and then, hybrid classification approach was undertaken to categorize the image into different land use/cover categories. According to landscape DEGRADATION model, ecological vulnerability and the severity of activities as well as the DEGRADATION degree were calculated for the targeted landscape. The results of this research indicated that sub basin 5 with a value of 31 had the highest level of landscape DEGRADATION and sub basins 1, 13 and 15 with values 25, 25 and 22, respectively, were on the next orders in Jajrood protected area. In addition, sub basins 16, 7 and 4 with values 3.5, 3.25 and 3.25, respectively, were least degraded and these sub basins had the least level of fragmentation. The results show that 68% of the area was outlined to be potential for development or further development, only 17% of the area is suitable for protection. Approximately 13% of the area should be considered for rehabilitation that demonstrated natural land cover change and DEGRADATION in the protected area.

The photo catalytic DEGRADATION of a common analgesic (acetaminophen) with titanium dioxide irradiated with low energy ultraviolet light (365 nm) was studied in order to determine the effect of several parameters such as catalyst’s weight, photochemical effect, and initial concentration. The results indicate that acetaminophen is degraded in the order of 4% by the photochemical effect. The presence of titanium dioxide in optimal amounts increases the rate of reaction and the overall conversion. The kinetic study demonstrated that photo catalytic DEGRADATION of acetaminophen follows a pseudo first order reaction rate which could be represented by a model similar to Langmuir-Hinshelwood equation. Accordingly, the results confirmed that the DEGRADATION of acetaminophen proceeds even while other intermediate organic products (IOP) are being formed; some of these organic products were identified by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). These products (OIP) remain in the solution for a while before being degraded to CO2. Furthermore, the experimental results indicate that the mineralization of acetaminophen can be described by an overall kinetic rate equation obtained from the experimental values of total organic carbon (TOC).

Benzaldehyde is a potential hazard to human health and the environment. The sonochemical DEGRADATION of benzaldehyde in aqueous solution was investigated by a bath sonicator. The effect of main parameters such as pH of solution and time, frequency and amplitude of ultrasonic on the sonochemical DEGRADATION have been studied. It was found that the benzaldehyde DEGRADATION decreased with increasing the pH values and increased by increasing of time, frequency and amplitude ultrasonic.