Headspace-SPME-GC-MS Identification of Volatile Organic Compounds Released from Expanded Polystyrene

A method for the identification of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from packaging expanded polystyrene (EPS) is presented. Headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) with a 75-m carboxen-polydimethylsiloxan fiber was used as sample preparation technique before the determination of the volatile organic compounds by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). For separation of compounds, two fused silica capillary columns of different polarity (DB-5ms and BPX-50) were used. Styrene monomer with his impurities and oxidation products, as well as residual pentane, were identified in the headspace of EPS.     

Oberflächennahe Rohstoffe und Öffentlichkeit

The public has been sensitized to the fact that due to the shortage of energy resources, mainly hydrocarbons, energy policy difficulties and the interrelated problems of nuclear energy, nuclear waste disposal and environmental protection, have developed. However, what is realized much less is the fact that mineral resources are also not available in unlimited amounts in some industrial nations, especially near-surface industrial minerals, whose prices are often very sensitive to transport costs. This can be explained only partly by geological conditions, but by limited access to the resources. By setting its goals too high, society risks in many respects the fulfillment of its desires for improving the standard of living.     

Maßnahmen zur Dioxinminderung an Müllverbrennungsanlagen

The 17th BlmSchV fixed the emission limit of 0.1 ng TE/m_n ³ for PCDD/F’s produced as a result of waste- and special waste incinerators. This article introduces the different measures implemented to uphold this limit, and discusses their advantages and disadvantages. Methods of optimising the incineration conditions are among the primary measures. Different geometry’s for conventional oven incineration rooms were discussed, and an effective modernisation method was introduced (Temelli nozzles). The chemical and technical basis of an often discussed gasification method, as well as the characteristics of three specialised techniques (Coke Burn technique, Thermo-Select technique and Noell-DBI technique) are explained in this article. Alongside the secondary measures of hot-dust filtration and inhibition being added to the washers in an attempt to achieve PCDD/F adsorption. The most important tertiary measures, namely the SCR technique, along with a variety of coke adsorption techniques are introduced, with their advantages and disadvantages. New techniques such as DeDioxin and Medisorbon are also addressed.     

Ökotoxikologische Risikoanalyse der Cadmium-Belastung

Cadmium contamination in the agricultural soil of the region Leipzig-Halle was determined at 63 sites covering an area of ca. 7 000 km². Normalization according to lutum and organic matter lead to effective exposure values; their distribution was compared with NOEC data taken from literature. The risk analysis reveals that the soil fauna is potentially affected by cadmium contamination at 9% of the investigated sites.     

Statistical analysis of heavy metal data from municipal waste incineration residues

Heavy Metal data from a measurement program at a municipal incinerator in Vienna, Austria are analysed. The experimental design had a nested structure, and analysis of variance is used to break down the total variability into several components; (1) variability between mean hourly concentrations, (2) variability between mean sample concentrations within intervals of an hour and (3) variability due to “measurement” errors. Results of a pre-experiment show, that if grab samples are taken, within hour variation is dominant. The results of analysis of variance were used to calculate an optimal number of samples, which ensure a predetermined accuracy for the mean concentrations. In two main measuring periods with different incinerated waste types, slag and fly ash (ESP dust and boiler ash) data are produced and analysed. For both slag and fly ash, significant differences in measures of location and dispersion between the data sets of the main experiment are found. This proves, that differences in the chemical set up of waste can be detected via incineration residues.