Heavy metal speciation in the composting process

Composting is one of the more efficient and environment friendly methods of solid waste disposal and has many advantages when compared with landfill disposal on which the UK and Ireland are currently heavily dependent. Composting is a very complicated process involving intensive microbial activity and the detailed mechanisms of the process have yet to be fully understood. Metal speciation information can provide an insight into the metal-microbial interaction and would help in the evaluation of the quality of compost. This would facilitate the exploitation of composts in remediation of heavy metal contaminated land. In this work a systematic approach to metal speciation in compost has been taken by applying the three-step method for operationally defined metal speciation of soils and sediments, developed by the European Commission's Standards, Measurement and Testing Programme to monitor the change in metal speciation with time (up to 106 days) for four different waste composting processes. The results have shown that in general metals become less available for the first extraction step as the composting process proceeds. This implies that composting tends to redistribute the metals from more labile forms to more fixed forms which may explain why the application of composts could be useful for with heavy metal contaminated land. There are exceptions to this trend and in some cases, certain metals appear to behave differently depending on the source of the compost.     

长江经济带工业来源危险废物污染与处理特征分析及监管对策建议

依据2017年环境统计数据, 分析了长江经济带工业危险废物的污染及处理特征:长江经济带危废产生 量较大的省份是江苏、浙江、云南、湖南和四川；危废种类主要是来源于化工、钢铁、有色和造纸行业的废酸、有色金属冶炼废物、废碱和焚烧处置残渣；各地对危废的处理情况各有优劣。根据以上特征,提出加强对重点 区域的监管和调度,针对特定行业和危废种类,建议出台最佳可行的处理技术,建立区域之间危废管理大平台,促进区域危废处理优势互补和均衡发展,挖掘企业自行处理能力,减轻危废集中处理压力。     

Leaching Characteristics of Heavy Metals and As from Two Urban Roadside Soils

The leaching tests, including the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP), EDTA extraction and BCR sequential extractions before and after EDTA treatments, were performed on two specific soils to elucidate heavy metal-associated mineral fractions and general leachability. The TCLP illustrated the low leachability of heavy metals in soils from two sites. EDTA is a strong chelator and therefore had higher extraction efficiency compared to that of TCLP. The lower extraction percentages by EDTA for As and Sb were found compared to the other heavy metals derived from anthropogenic sources. Sequential extractions showed that the importance of acid-extractable, organically-bound and Fe–Mn oxide fractions was identified for anthropogenic heavy metals with the exception of As and Ni while the importance of residual fraction was identified for endogenous metals. Changes in sequential fractions of heavy metals after leaching with EDTA are very complex and it is difficult to generalize on which fraction was more mobile than the others. These combined results are helpful in elucidating the association of heavy metals to soil fractions and the mobility characteristics of heavy metals under certain environmental conditions.     

固体废弃物浸出毒性特性及美国EPA的实验室测定(待续)

围绕固体废弃物浸出毒性特性这个中心，综述了它在有害废弃物的鉴别和管理，在执行陆地处置限制法规过程中的重要作用。以及在保护水资源、特别是地下水资源方面的重要意义。并简要介绍和评论了美国固体废弃物浸出毒性的实验室测定方法EPT和TCLP。     

固体废弃物浸出毒性特性及美国EPA的实验室测定(续完)

围绕固体废弃物浸出毒性特性这个中心，综述了它在有害废弃物的鉴别和管理，在执行陆地处置限制法规过程中的重要作用。以及在保护水资源，特别是地下水资源方面的重要意义，并简要介绍和评论了美国固体废弃物浸出毒性的实验室测定方法ETP和TCLP。     

中国固体废物的环境管理与环境监测技术现状

为加强中国固体废物的环境管理和环境监测技术，回顾了中国自１９８５年以来制定的固体放心物环境管理法规制度以及１９８４年至１９９８年颁布的２０多年家或行业的固体废物处置标准体系等固体废物的环境管理状况，着重论述了中国固体废物环境监测技术的发展历史与现状。指出经过２０多年的努力，在固体废物环境监测技术与方法上初步形成了该领域框架体系，有固体废物的采样与制样技术；危险废物的有害特性试验鉴别方法，固体废物具     

Municipal solid waste generation in growing urban areas in Africa: current practices and relation to socioeconomic factors in Jimma, Ethiopia

As one of cities in the developing countries, a rapid population growth and industrial activities pose many environmental challenges for Jimma city, Ethiopia. One aspect of urban growth posing a threat on sustainable development is poor solid waste management, which results in environmental pollution. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the quantity, composition, sources of waste generated, their current disposal practices, and to recommend appropriate management technologies. The total waste generated daily in Jimma city was ca. 88,000 kg, and the average per capita generation rate was 0.55?±?0.17 kg/capita/day. Eighty-seven percent of the waste was produced by households and 13% by institutions, and a negligible fraction (0.1%) was generated by street sweepings. During the rainy season, 40% more waste was generated than in the dry season because of the increased availability of agricultural food product. Further analysis showed that biodegradable organic waste constitutes 54% by weight with an average moisture content of 60% that falls within the required limits for composting. The nonbiodegradable components constitute 46% of which 30% of it was nonrecyclable material. Only 25% of the community uses municipal containers for disposal at the selected landfill site. Fifty-one percent of the households disposed their waste in individually chosen spots, whereas 22% burned their waste. Finally 2% of households use private waste collectors. The socioeconomic analysis showed that higher family income and educational status is associated more with private or municipal waste collection and less with the application of backyard or open dumping. These insights into generated waste and management practice in Jimma city allow making suggestions for improved collection, treatment, and disposal methods. A primary conclusion is that the biodegradable waste is a major fraction having suitable properties for recycling. As such an economic benefit can be obtained from this waste while avoiding the need for disposal.     

Assessment of metal contamination using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) during remediation of a waste disposal site in Antarctica

The remediation of the Thala Valley landfill, Casey Station, East Antarctica, is part of efforts to clean-up contaminated sites associated with the Australian Antarctic Program. These sites, ranging from abandoned rubbish dumps to fuel spills, are contaminated principally with metals and petroleum hydrocarbons. Remediation success depends on accurate, cost-effective and timely--fit-for-purpose--chemical analysis of soil and water samples from the site, which is required to guide excavation, the in situ or off-site treatment and disposal of contaminated material, and to validate satisfactory remediation. Owing to the remote location of Antarctica, it is necessary to carry out chemical analyses on-site. Waste and soil contaminated with Pb, Zn, Cd, and Cu were excavated from Thala Valley for removal to Australia, treatment and disposal. Analysis of total metal concentrations in soil was performed at Casey Station with a transportable energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometer. Soil samples were prepared using a simple size-fractionation method to expedite sample throughput. A method for assessing contaminant mobility in solid waste (toxicity characteristic leaching procedure, TCLP) was also used to characterise soil. Although this was more labour-intensive and time-consuming than the total metals analysis, it was of great utility because leachable metals were often significant determinants in the assessment of contaminated soil. The combined data helped managers during remediation, directing excavation and allowing waste to be classified for treatment and disposal before its return to Australia.     

电解铝企业阳极残渣、阳极残极浸出毒性鉴别及管理建议

对电解铝企业产生的阳极残渣、阳极残极浸出毒性进行了鉴别。鉴别结果表明：电解铝企业产生阳极残渣浸出液中氟化物（不含氟化钙）平均质量浓度为140 mg／L，最高达244 mg／L，且超标试样数达到《危险废物鉴别标准浸出毒性鉴别》中相应规定，鉴别该废物属于危险废物，应按照危险废物进行管理；阳极残极浸出液中氟化物（不含氟化钙）平均质量浓度为74 mg／L，无超标试样数，该废物不属于具有氟化物浸出毒性的固体废物，建议仍按一般固体废物进行管理。     

An evaluation of alternative household solid waste treatment practices using life cycle inventory assessment mode

Waste disposal is an important part of the life cycle of a product and is associated with environmental burdens like any other life-cycle stages. In this study, an integrated assessment for solid waste treatment practices, especially household solid waste, was undertaken to evaluate the impact contribution of household solid waste treatment alternatives towards the sustainable development by using Life Cycle Inventory Assessment method. A case study has been investigated under various possible scenarios, such as (1) landfill without landfill gas recovery, (2) landfill with landfill gas recovery and flaring, (3) landfill with landfill gas recovery and electric generation, (4) composting, and (5) incineration. The evaluation utilized the Life Cycle Inventory Assessment method for multiple assessments based on various aspects, such as greenhouse gas emission/reduction, energy generation/consumption, economic benefit, investment and operating cost, and land use burden. The results showed that incineration was the most efficient alternative for greenhouse gas emission reduction, economic benefit, energy recovery, and land use reduction, although it was identified as the most expensive for investment and operating cost, while composting scenario was also an efficient alternative with quite economic benefit, low investment and operating cost, and high reduction of land use, although it was identified as existing greenhouse gas emission and no energy generation. Furthermore, the aim of this study was also to establish localized assessment methods that waste management agencies, environmental engineers, and environmental policy decision makers can use to quantify and compare the contribution to the impacts from different waste treatment options.