The Influence of pH on Mobility of Heavy Metals from Municipal Solid Waste Incinerator Fly Ash

Incineration has become one of the principal methods for municipal solid waste disposal particularly in all large cities throughout the world. Currently, the municipal solid waste incinerator fly ashes (MSWIF) are disposed of by landfill. The metal speciation of cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in MSWIF after been extracted with water at different pH values were examined using a sequential extraction procedure. The extraction sequence was as follows: (1) Exchangeable (NaOAc, pH 8.2), (2) Bound to Carbonates (NaOAc, pH 5.0), (3) Bound to metal oxides (HONH3Cl), (4) Bound to organic matters (HNO3, H2O2), and (5) Residual (HNO3, HCl, H2O2, HF, 1:3:1:3). The heavy metal contents in the extraction solutions were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. The heavy metal concentrations in the different fractions obtained by sequential extraction show distinct distribution trends. The extractable fraction ranges from 25.5 to 88% of the total element content. With the pH of the extractant fall below the neutral and acidic ranges, the concentrations of heavy metals rise substantially due to the released of metals bound to carbonate fraction.     

The hydrochemistry of groundwater in the Densu River Basin, Ghana

Hydrochemical analyses of groundwater samples were used to establish the hydrochemistry of groundwater in the Densu River Basin. The groundwater was weakly acidic, moderately mineralized, fresh to brackish with conductivity ranging from of 96.6 μS cm^???1 in the North to 10,070 μS cm^???1 in the South. Densu River basin have special economic significance, representing the countries greatest hydrostructure with freshwater. Chemical constituents are generally low in the North and high in the South. The order of relative abundance of major cations in the groundwater is Na^?+??> Ca^2?+??> Mg^2?+??> K^?+? while that of anions is Cl^????> HCO $_{3}^{-} >$ SO $_{4}^{2-} >$ NO $_{3}^{-}$ . Four main chemical water types were delineated in the Basin. These include Ca–Mg–HCO₃, Mg–Ca–Cl, Na–Cl, and mixed waters in which neither a particular cation nor anion dominates. Silicate weathering and ion exchange are probably the main processes through which major ions enter the groundwater system. Anthropogenic activities were found to have greatly impacted negatively on the quality of the groundwater.     

Removal of selected endocrine disrupting chemicals and personal care products in surface waters and secondary wastewater by ozonation

This study investigated the removal of parabens, N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET), and phthalates by ozonation. The second-order rate constants for the reaction between selected compounds with ozone at pH 7 were of (2.2 +/-0.2) X 10(6) to (2.9 +/-0.3) X 10(6) M 1/s for parabens, (2.1+/- 0.3) to (3.9 +/-0.5) M-1/s for phthalates, and (5.2 +/-0.3) M-1/s for DEET. The rate constants for the reaction between selected compounds with hydroxyl radical ranged from (2.49 +/-0.06) x 10(9) to (8.5 +/-0.2) x 10(9) M-1/s. Ozonation of selected compounds in secondary wastewater and surface waters revealed that ozone dose of 1 and 3 mg/L yielded greater than 99% depletion of parabens and greater than 92% DEET and phthalates, respectively. In addition, parabens were found to transform almost exclusively through the reaction with ozone, while DEET and phthalates were transformed almost entirely by hydroxyl radicals (.OH).     

Laboratory method of analysis of swarming behaviour in macroplankton: combination of a modified flume tank and stereophotographic techniques

This paper describes a flume tank in which the various physical and behavioural conditions encountered by swarming macroplankton can be manipulated, and a mathematical stereophotographic technique, for use in the calculation of the three-dimensional co-ordinates of individual organisms within the swarms. The mathematical model incorporates the Direct-Linear Transformation equation which describes the position of the object and its image in relation to the camera-perspective centre of the photographic system. Combining this equation with a modified light-ray tracement technique to solve for the passage of light through a three-media environment, the actual three-dimensional co-ordinates of the individual organisms and subsequently their inter-individual distances, bearings and angles of elevation may be derived. The distances between adjacent animals can be measured to an accuracy of 0.24 mm (SD=0.21) using this photogrammetric technique. The design of the flume tank allows for the manipulation of water current speed and flow patterns, substrate, and light intensity. Six species of mysid and one species of euphausiid have been induced to swarm in the flume tank. The conditions required to induce swarming and schooling in the laboratory are described. The inter-individual distances, bearings and angles of elevation have been calculated for Paramesopodopsis rufa, Anisomysis mixta australis, Australerythrops paradicei (Crustacea: Mysidacea) and Nyctiphanes australis (Crustacea: Euphausiacea) using the stereophotographic technique.     

Optimising the preparation of activated carbon from digested sewage sludge and coconut husk.

Preparation of activated carbon from sewage sludge is a promising way to dispose of sewage sludge as well as to produce a low-cost adsorbent for pollutant removal. This research work aimed to optimise the condition for activated carbon preparation from anaerobically digested sewage sludge with the additive coconut husk. The sewage sludge sample was mixed with the additive coconut husk. The preparation condition variables investigated involved the concentration of the ZnCl2 solutions, heating temperature, dwell time and heating rate in pyrolysis and the mixing ratio of coconut husk to sewage sludge. Surface area, pore size distribution, aqueous phenol adsorption capacity and the production yield of the final products were determined and compared. Experimental results revealed that low concentrations of ZnCl2 solution tended to improve the microporosity of the final product. Heating temperature had a considerable impact on the surface area, pore size distribution and phenol adsorption capacity of the final products, whereas dwell time and heating rate performed comparatively insignificantly. The effect of increasing the mixing ratio of coconut husk to sewage sludge was principally to increase the microporosity of the final products. The activated carbon with the highest BET surface area was produced with the activation of 5 M ZnCl2 solution and, thereafter, pyrolysis at a heating temperature of 500 degrees C for 2 h with a heating rate of 10 degrees C/min. The mixing ratio of 1:4 in terms of coconut husk to sewage sludge based on their dried weights was found to be most cost effective.     

The influence of storage on the morphology and physiology of phthalic acid-degrading aerobic granules

The precultured aerobic granules with special degradabilities could be used as a feasible bioseed for enhancement of aerobic granulation systems. In practice, the storage stability, physicochemical characteristics, and recovering efficiency of granules are crucial for a long-distance transportation and successful application. In this study, phthalic acid (PA)-degrading aerobic granules were cultivated and stored for 8 wk at 4 °C. The granular size, settling ability as well as structure integrity was found stable during the storage period. It was observed that the upper 1/3 part of granules stored in the reagent bottle turned to black color, while the lower 2/3 part granules did not significantly change color (brown–yellow) after the 8-wk storage. The black and brown–yellow color PA-degrading granules were manually separated and re-inoculated into two identical sequencing batch reactors for reviving the PA degradation capability. After a 7 d operation, both black and yellow granules restored their activities to the levels before storage, in terms of total organic carbon removal efficiency (100%), specific oxygen uptake rate (59 mg g VSS⁻¹ h⁻¹), and adenosine triphosphate content (0.016 mg g VSS⁻¹). This study demonstrated that aerobic granules grown on a complex substrate could tolerate storage conditions and rapidly restored their bioactivities toward the target pollutant. The results also shed the light on the future application of precultured aerobic granules with unique functions for biodegradation and bioremediation purpose.     

Non-Conventional Construction Materials from Dredging Spoils

As a result of increasing environmental concerns on offshore dumping, dredging spoils arising from reclamation and harbour works will create another problem of disposal. The spoils are usually not suitable for use as landfill materials as they have little bearing capacities. The disposal problem could, however, be reduced if there is an alternative use for it. This paper describes a laboratory study on the use of dredging spoils together with limestone as raw materials for the production of cementitious building materials. Different compositions of the raw materials were ground and incinerated to produce cement. The cementitious material produced after incineration was also mixed with ordinary Portland cement for use as blended cement. The study shows that dredging spoils could be used to produce cement satisfying the strength requirements for masonry cement. When used as blended cement, it can replace up to 30% by weight of ordinary Portland cement without reducing the strength.     

Differential pressure in membrane channel caused by foulant capture onto spacers.

Feed spacers in spiral-wound reverse osmosis membrane modules are highly susceptible to deposition or attachment of suspended particulates and organic matters in the feed stream. This type of fouling can cause a significant pressure drop along the membrane channel (differential pressure) without much effect on the average permeate flux. In practical applications, membrane cleaning is often triggered when the differential pressure in a membrane channel exceeds a threshold value. A mathematical model was developed to simulate the development of differential pressure in the feed channel resulting from foulant capture by the feed spacers. Simulations were carried out to investigate and demonstrate the effect of various parameters on differential pressures in the membrane channel. Differential pressures observed in a two-stage reverse osmosis water reclamation plant were simulated with the model, and the results showed that the model could adequately describe the increase of differential pressure with operating time in the reverse osmosis plant.     

Anaerobic digestion of polyelectrolyte flocculated waste activated sludge

This work examined how adding one of three polyelectrolyte flocculants (T3052: cationic, T2000: non-ionic, and T1052: anionic) affected the anaerobic digestion of wastewater sludge. Methane production, floc characteristics (morphology and zeta-potential) and process parameters (soluble chemical oxygen demands (SCODs) and reductive potentials) were monitored along the digestion tests. The digestion rates of T2000- and T1052-conditioned sludge resembled that for original sludge. The T3052-flocculated sludge generated methane at a higher rate during the first 6 days of digestion than did the original one. In the following stage, the digestion rate of sludge flocculated with T3052 at dosage exceeding 15 g/kg dried solids declined. For example, at 40 days of digestion the methane production amounts for original, 15 g/kg DS flocculated, and 40 g/kg flocculated sludge were of 136, 105, and 85 g/kg DS, respectively. The role of flocculants could change in different stages of digestion.The dosed polymers had no apparent toxicity to the inoculum used. The changes in SCOD, adenosintriphosphate concentrations, oxidative and reductive potential, and zeta-potentials did not correlate with the noted hindered digestion for T3052-conditioned sludge. Microphotographic observation revealed that the flocs of T3052-conditioned sludge were not only of a large size, but also were resistant to structural deterioration during digestion. Therefore, mass transfer resistance was proposed to account for the hindered digestion efficiency observed for T3052-conditioned sludge.