New results in comet research

Comets are kilometer-sized icy conglomerates of frozen gases and dust particles which move around the Sun in an assembly called “Oort's cloud” in the outer parts of the planetary system. Only those which are ejected towards the Sun by the perturbations of passing stars will evaporate gases and dust while they are near the Sun. This material forms the large coma and the tails which make up the characteristic phenomenon of a comet. The spectral analysis has yielded that water is the main constituent of a comet, other molecules are simple compounds of H, C, O and N. — The ESA is planning a space mission to Comet Halley in 1986.     

Batch test assessment of waste-to-energy combustion residues impacts on precipitate formation in landfill leachate collection systems

Disposal practices for bottom ash and fly ash from waste-to-energy (WTE) facilities include emplacement in ash monofills or co-disposal with municipal solid waste (MSW) and residues from water and wastewater treatment facilities. In some cases, WTE residues are used as daily cover in landfills that receive MSW. A recurring problem in many landfills is the development of calcium-based precipitates in leachate collection systems. Although MSW contains varying levels of calcium, WTE residues and treatment plant sludges have the potential to contribute concentrated sources of leachable minerals into landfill leachates. This study was conducted to evaluate the leachability of calcium and other minerals from residues generated by WTE combustion using residues obtained from three WTE facilities in Florida (two mass-burn and one refuse-derived fuel). Leaching potential was quantified as a function of contact time and liquid-to-solid ratios with batch tests and longer-term leaching tests using laboratory lysimeters to simulate an ash monofill containing fly ash and bottom ash. The leachate generated as a result of these tests had total dissolved solid (TDS) levels ranging from 5 to 320 mg TDS/g ash. Calcium was a major contributor to the TDS values, contributing from 20 to 105 g calcium/kg ash. Fly ash was a major contributor of leachable calcium. Precipitate formation in leachates from WTE combustion residues could be induced by adding mineral acids or through gas dissolution (carbon dioxide or air). Stabilization of residual calcium in fly ashes that are landfilled and/or the use of less leachable neutralization reagents during processing of acidic gases from WTE facilities could help to decrease the calcium levels in leachates and help to prevent precipitate formation in leachate collection systems.     

Kometen — kosmische „Schneebälle“?

Non-periodic comets come from regions at the limit of our solar system and have conserved their original structure and composition since they have originated from a pre-solar nebula together with the sun and the planets about 4.5·10⁹ years ago. They are icy bodies of kilometer size whose structure and chemical composition is of great interest, also with respect to the origin of the solar system. It is hoped to send a space craft to comet Halley in 1986 to get more detailed information.