Assessing the environmental impact of ashes used in a landfill cover construction

Large amounts of construction materials will be needed in Europe in anticipation for capping landfills that will be closed due to the tightening up of landfill legislation. This study was conducted to assess the potential environmental impacts of using refuse derived fuel (RDF) and municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) ashes as substitutes for natural materials in landfill cover designs. The leaching of substances from a full-scale landfill cover test area built with different fly and bottom ashes was evaluated based on laboratory tests and field monitoring. The water that drained off above the liner (drainage) and the water that percolated through the liner into the landfill (leachate) were contaminated with Cl^?, nitrogen and several trace elements (e.g., As, Cu, Mo, Ni and Se). The drainage from layers containing ash will probably require pre-treatment before discharge. The leachate quality from the ash cover is expected to have a minor influence on overall landfill leachate quality because the amounts generated from the ash covers were low, <3–30 l (m² yr)^?1. Geochemical modelling indicated that precipitation of clay minerals and other secondary compounds in the ash liner was possible within 3 years after construction, which could contribute to the retention of trace elements in the liner in the long term. Hence, from an environmental view point, the placement of ashes in layers above the liner is more critical than within the liner.     

Assessing the true cost of landfills

The most common means for disposing of municipal solid waste is burial in a sanitary landfill. However, many landfill owners significantly underestimate the total cost of landfill disposal by considering only land and operating costs, ignoring external physical and social costs associated with landfills. This paper proposes an approach to estimating (in monetary terms) the external costs arising from the development and operation of a landfill. All cost information is based on typical U.S. landfill cost structures. The approach is illustrated by applying it to a case study of a proposed landfill in Durham, North Carolina (U.S.A.). This case study demonstrates that the method can be applied easily and yields reasonable results.     

Developing Measures for Assessing the Causality of Safety Culture in a Petrochemical Industry

This paper discusses safety culture in the petrochemical sector and the causes and consequences of safety culture. A sample of 520 responses selected by simple random sampling completed questionnaires for this survey, the return rate was 86.75%. The research instrument comprises four sections: basic information, the safety leadership scale (SLS), the safety climate scale (SCS), and the safety performance scale (SPS). SPSS 12.0, a statistical software package, was used for item analysis, validity analysis, and reliability analysis. Exploratory factor analysis indicated that (1) SLS abstracted three factors such as safety caring, safety controlling, and safety coaching; (2) SCS comprised three factors such as emergency response, safety commitment, and risk perception; and (3) SPS was composed of accident investigation, safety training, safety inspections, and safety motivation. We conclude that the SLS, SCS, and SPS developed in this paper have good construct validity and internal consistency and can serve as the basis for future research.     

聚硫氯化铝絮凝效果及在水处理中的应用

采用聚硫氯化铝（ＰＡＣＳ）为絮凝剂进行废水处理试验,对其絮凝效果及影响因素进行了研究,试验结果表明,ＰＡＣＳ的ＳＯ４＾２－含量,碱化度,投加量和水的ｐＨ对絮凝效果有影响,当Ａｌ＾３＋／ＳＯ４＾２－（摩尔比）为１４￣１６,碱化度为６５％￣７０％,ｐＨ为６￣９、ＰＡＣＳ投加量为２￣４ｍｇ／Ｌ时,絮凝效果最佳,试验结果还表明,ＰＡＣＳ比聚氯化铝（ＰＡＣ）的絮凝效果好。     

Integration of the Pesticide Impact Rating Index with a Geographic Information System for the Assessment of Pesticide Impact on Water Quality

The pesticide impact rating index (PIRI) has been integrated with a Geographic Information System (GIS) to enable regional assessment of pesticide impact on groundwater and surface water resources. The GIS version of PIRI (PIRI-GIS) was used to assess the impact of pre-planting atrazine use in the pine plantations on the Gnangara Mound, Western Australia. The impact on groundwater was found to be spatially variable, mainly dependent on soil type and depth to groundwater, because land use variables were spatially constant. Areas with the greatest impact on groundwater were those where the soil had a low sorption capacity for atrazine. Knowledge of the spatial distribution of the sorption coefficient based on organic carbon (K _oc) for atrazine was found to significantly improve the results from PIRI-GIS. Average values for K _oc (i.e. based on overseas data) were too low for most of the local soil types, resulting in a general overestimation of pesticide impact on groundwater resources, but an underestimation of impact in areas that should be of greatest concern (i.e. where the soil has a low sorption capacity for atrazine).     

Assessing the market opportunities of landfill mining

Long-term estimates make clear that the amount of solid waste to be processed at landfills in the Netherlands will sharply decline in coming years. Major reasons can be found in the availability of improved technologies for waste recycling and government regulations aiming at waste reduction. Consequently, market size for companies operating landfills shrinks. Among the companies facing the problem is the Dutch company Essent. Given the expected market conditions, it looks for alternative business opportunities. Landfill mining, i.e., the recycling of existing landfills, is considered one of them. Proceeds of landfill mining are related to, for example, recycled materials available for re-use, regained land, and possibilities for a more efficient operation of a landfill. The market for landfill mining is of a considerable size--there are about 3800 landfills located in the Netherlands. Given market size the company faces the dilemma of how to explore this market, i.e., select the most profitable landfills in a fast and efficient way. No existing methods or tools could be found to do so. Therefore, to answer to the problem posed, we propose a step-wise research method for market exploration. The basic idea behind the method is to provide an adequate, cost-saving and timely answer by relying on a series of quick scans. Relevant aspects of a mining project concern the proceeds of regained land and recyclables, the costs of the mining operation and the associated business and environmental risks. The method has been tested for its practical use in a pilot study. The pilot study addressed 147 landfills located in the Dutch Province of Noord-Brabant. The study made clear how method application resulted in the selection of a limited number of high potential landfills in a few weeks, involving minimal research costs.     

Variations in the Fluoride Level in Precipitation in a Region of Human Impact

The research concerns the Wielkopolski National Park (West Poland), which suffered a huge human impact in the 1970s and 1980s owing to the nearby location of an industrial plant. Since then, fundamental technological changes that it introduced into its production of phosphate fertilizers have radically reduced the amount of pollution emitted. A three-year study (2002–2004) of fluorides in precipitation in open terrain and under tree crowns showed their concentrations to range from levels below the detection limit (0.003 mg/l) to 0.560 mg/l. Those registered under tree crowns were several times higher and indicated substantial dry deposition of fluorides on the trees. The highest values were recorded in 2003, with 43% of samples ranging from 0.01 to 0.05 mg/l, and with 51% of throughfall ranging from 0.10 to 0.50 mg/l. A strong connection was shown to exist between fluoride and sulphate concentrations in the precipitation. An analysis was made of the available data on F concentrations in the air and the dust levels around the factory, but these figures did not show an unequivocal effect on F concentrations in precipitation. A great similarity was found to occur between the fluoride content in rainwater in the Wielkopolski National Park and in the centre of the nearby Poznań metropolitan area, which indicates that there are also other F sources besides the local factory.     

Assessing the use of poplar tree systems as a landfill evapotranspiration barrier with the SHAW model.

The use of poplar tree systems (PTS) as evapotranspiration barriers on decommissioned landfills is gaining attention as an option for leachate management. This study involved field-testing the Simultaneous Heat and Water (SHAW) model for its ability to reliably estimate poplar transpiration, volumetric soil water content, and soil temperature at a landfill located in southern Ontario, Canada. The model was then used to estimate deep drainage and to ascertain the influence of a young PTS on the soil water balance of the landfill cover. The SHAW model tended to underestimate poplar transpiration [mean difference (MD) ranged from 0.33 to 3.55 mm on a daily total basis] and overestimate volumetric soil water content by up to 0.10 m3 m(-3). The model estimated soil temperature very well, particularly in the upper 1 m of the landfill cover (MD ranged from -0.1 to 1.6 x degrees C in this layer). The SHAW model simulations showed that deep drainage decreased appreciably with the presence of a young PTS largely through increased interception of rainfall, and that PTS have a good potential to act as effective evapotranspiration barriers in northern temperate climate zones.     

脱除NOx新型吸附剂的性能测试

通过试验测试CNA－208和CNA－255两种吸附剂脱除氮氧化物（NOx）的动态吸附容量和吸附NOx前后的燃点,考察了NOx对这两种吸附剂燃性能的影响以及CNA－208用作脱除NOx吸附剂的可靠性及其替CNA－255的可行性。     

C9-AA水溶性石油树脂的制备及其阻垢性能

以乙烯生产过程中的副产物C9馏分和丙烯酸为原料,采用自由基溶液聚合,合成具有阻垢性能的C9-AA水溶性石油树脂。考察了引发剂AIBN和溶剂的加入量、C9-AA加入量、Ca^2＋浓度、循环冷却水pH和养护时间对C9-AA水溶性石油树脂阻垢性能的影响,并对其阻垢效果进行了评价。在Ca^2＋质量浓度小于或等于600mg／L、循环冷却水pH小于或等于9．3、C9-AA水溶性石油树脂加入量大于或等于15mg／L的条件下,C9—AA水溶性石油树脂对循环冷却水的阻垢率达到90％以上,其有效作用时间为60h。     

盐析分相微萃取—高效液相色谱法测定水中取代苯

建立了测定水中三种取代苯的盐析分相微萃取—高效液相色谱分析方法。实验结果表明,当异丁醇萃取剂加入量为300μL、(NH_4)_2SO_4加入量为14 g、流动相V(甲醇):V(水)为80:20、检测波长为220 nm时,邻氯苯酚、氯苯、乙苯的工作曲线均呈现良好线性(相关系数大于0.999 9),方法检出限分别为0.07,0.2,9.0μg/L,加标回收率为71.66%～92.96%,相对标准偏差为1.17%～5.17%。     

Comparing Vapor Intrusion Mitigation System Performance for VOCs and Radon

This article summarizes a long‐term study of vapor intrusion mitigation system performance in a historic, unoccupied residential duplex with an extensive set of temporal variability observations. The experimental design included multiple cycles of subslab depressurization (SSD) system operation and shut‐off during a seven‐month period, followed by a year‐long period of continuous operation. Results showed that the system provided rapid pressure field extension and radon control as much as 100 days of operation before optimum volatile organic compound (VOC) mitigation was achieved. Greater variability in VOC concentrations than in radon concentrations was observed during the initial mitigation system cycling. Subslab VOC concentrations at numerous locations increased during this initial period of SSD operation, and indoor air VOC concentrations were more variable than radon. However, indoor air concentrations were considerably less variable (and lower) during the first year of continuous mitigation system operation. ©2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

胺液脱硫系统再生性能下降原因分析及对策

中国石化茂名分公司两套胺液集中再生装置出现异常,再生后贫液中ρ(H_2S)达到2.0~3.0 g/L,远高于1.2g/L的工艺设计值。通过在实验室模拟装置上考察新鲜脱硫剂的吸收和再生性能、分析工厂胺液脱硫系统贫液的杂质组成和来源、对比实验室净化前后的效果,查明胺液脱硫系统脱硫剂再生性能下降的原因。据此对工厂胺液脱硫系统提出相应的操作建议,包括采取胺液净化技术将系统热稳盐含量(w)从2.35%降至0.95%、规范操作以降低Na~+含量等措施,使得胺液脱硫系统在整改后的两个月运行中,贫液中ρ(H_2S)从原来的最高1.68 g/L降至0.66 g/L以下,达到胺液脱硫系统稳定运行的目的。     

Determination of the Burning Characteristics of a Slick of Oil on Water

The burning rate of a slick of oil on a water bed is characterized by three distinct processes, ignition, flame spread and burning rate. Although all three processes are important, ignition and burning rate are critical. The former, because it defines the potential to burn and the latter because of the inherent possibility of boilover. Burning rate is calculated by a simple expression derived from a one-dimensional heat conduction equation. Heat feedback from the flame to the surface is assumed to be a constant fraction of the total energy released by the combustion reaction. The constant fraction (χ) is named the burning efficiency and represents an important tool in assessing the potential of in situ burning as a counter-measure to an oil spill. By matching the characteristic thermal penetration length scale for the fuel/water system and an equivalent single layer system, a combined thermal diffusivity can be calculated and used to obtain an analytical solution for the burning rate. Theoretical expressions were correlated with crude oil and heating oil, for a number of pool diameters and initial fuel layer thickness. Experiments were also conducted with emulsified and weathered crude oil. The simple analytical expression describes well the effects of pool diameter and initial fuel layer thickness permitting a better observation of the effects of weathering, emulsification and net heat feedback to the fuel surface. Experiments showed that only a small fraction of the heat released by the flame is retained by the fuel layer and water bed (of the order of 1%). Ignition has been studied to provide a tool that will serve to assess a fuels ease to ignite under conditions that are representative of oil spills. Two different techniques are used, piloted ignition when the fuel is exposed to a radiant heat flux and flash point as measured by the ASTM D56 Tag Closed Cup Test. Two different crude oils were used for these experiments, ANS and Cook Inlet. Crude oils were tested in their natural state and at different levels of weathering, showing that piloted ignition and flash point are strong functions of weathering level.     

Mechanical Recycling of PLA Filled with a High Level of Cellulose Fibres

Composites consisting of 30 vol% PLA and 70 vol% cellulose fibres were prepared with compression moulding. In the first part of the study, the recyclability of this composite material was investigated by grinding the material and using the recyclate obtained as a filler for PLA. Thus, the recyclate was compounded with PLA in loadings ranging from 20 to 50 wt%. The composites obtained were characterised by tensile tests, Charpy impact tests, DMTA, and SEM. Tests showed that the recyclate had a relatively good reinforcing effect. Stress at break increased from about 50 to 77 MPa and the modulus increased from 3.6 to 8.5 GPa. In the second part of the study, the ability to mechanically recycle the composites obtained was evaluated by repeated processing. Composite with two loadings of the recyclate (20 wt% and 50 %) was injection moulded repeatedly, six times. Tests showed that the composite material with 20 wt% recyclate could withstand six cycles relatively well, while the composite with the higher load degraded much more quickly. For the composites with 50 wt% recyclate, signs of polymer degradation could be seen already after reprocessing the composite once.     

系统工程法在废水回用于循环水系统中的应用

阐述了将系统工程法应用于废水回用于循环水系统的必要性.总结了采用系统工程法解决废水回用于循环水系统所存在的问题时应做到的强化废水预处理、改善废水水质和提高废水回用率、完善清污分流以及污污分治的设施和管理、改善废水末端处理效果、完善循环水水质处理方案等要素.实际运行效果表明,采用系统工程法后,废水回用平稳运行期循环水系统...     

优化循环冷却水系统技术经济分析模型研究

应用系统分析方法以及最优化技术研究循环冷却水系统,分析了系统内部水量、水质等条件与系统运行费用之间的关系,运用技术经济的方法建立了循环冷却水的数学模型,通过判定最佳循环冷却水浓缩倍数确定系统的最优化结果,使循环冷却水系统的设计和运行管理更为科学合理.     

反渗透阻垢剂YSW-21对硫酸钙的阻垢性能

以丙烯酸为主要单体合成了反渗透阻垢剂YSW-21。通过静态实验法研究了YSW-21对CaSO4的阻垢性能及影响因素。在Ca^2＋质量浓度为7067mg／L、SO4^2-质量浓度为7000mg/L、YSW-21加入量为8mG／L时．YSW-21对CaSO4的阻垢率达91％;在25℃、YSW-21加入量仅为4mg/L时的作用效果长达102h以上;在7500mg/L的高Ca^2＋质量浓度下,YSW-21的阻垢性能优于常用进口阻垢剂大湖135。     

A Multiscale Approach for Assessing the Interactions of Environmental and Biological Systems in a Holistic Health Risk Assessment Framework

Advances in computing processing power and in availability of environmental and biological data have allowed the development and application of comprehensive modeling systems that utilize a holistic, integrated, approach for assessing the interactions of environmental and biological systems across multiple scales of spatiotemporal extent and biological organization. This approach allows mechanism-based environmental health risk assessments in a person-oriented framework, which accounts for simultaneous exposures to contaminants from multiple media, routes, and pathways. The conceptual basis and example applications of the Modeling ENvironment for TOtal Risk (MENTOR), and the DOse–Response Information ANalysis system (DORIAN) are presented.