Careers in Air Pollution Control

Abstract

The destruction of parts per million (ppm) levels of volatile organic compounds in a dry air stream by high–energy electron–beam irradiation has been investigated in a pilot plant at the University of Tennessee Space Institute, Tullahoma, Tennessee. In a series of experiments, dry air contaminated with various VOCs in the concentration range of 50–1000 ppm were treated in the UTSI pilot plant to determine the extent of destruction at various electronbeam dose levels.

The destruction removal efficiency was determined as a function of the electron beam irradiation dose. The results suggest a charge transfer reaction as the major decomposition mechanism. A theoretical foundation of the process, along with a simple first–generation reaction kinetics model, a summary of the results from the pilot plant flow reactor, and a preliminary cost analysis for a fullscale detoxification plant using currently available electronbeam gun technology are presented in this paper.     

Thermal Oxidation Kinetics of Selected Organic Compounds

A thermal oxidizer destroys organic pollutants by oxidation to CO₂ and water. Time, temperature, and turbulence, govern the performance of a thermal oxidizer just as they do all other combustion devices. To achieve a desired degree of destruction, a higher temperature allows the use of a shorter residence time and vice versa. For most organics, a thermal oxidizer designed at 1400°-1500°F with 0.1 to 0.3 seconds residence time is normally enough to obtain nearly complete destruction.¹ However, some chemicals require more extreme conditions. These time-temperature requirements can be determined from kinetic rate studies.     

The role of pressure drop and flow redistribution on modeling mercury control using sorbent injection in baghouse filters

A mathematical model based on simple cake filtration theory was coupled to a previously developed two-stage mathematical model for mercury (Hg) removal using powdered activated carbon injection upstream of a baghouse filter. Values of the average permeability of the filter cake and the filter resistance extracted from the model were 4.4 x 10(-13) m2 and 2.5 x 10(-4) m(-1), respectively. The flow is redistributed during partial cleaning of the filter, with flows higher across the newly cleaned filter section. The calculated average Hg removal efficiency from the baghouse is lower because of the high mass flux of Hg exiting the filter in the newly cleaned section. The model shows that calculated average Hg removal is affected by permeability, filter resistance, fraction of the baghouse cleaned, and cleaning interval.     

Process-based reactive transport modeling of a permeable reactive barrier for the treatment of mine drainage

Reactive transport modeling of a permeable reactive barrier for the treatment of mine drainage was used to integrate a comprehensive data set including pore water chemistry and solid phase data from several sampling events over a >3-year time period. The simulations consider the reduction of sulfate by the organic carbon-based treatment material and the removal of sulfate and iron by precipitation of reduced mineral phases including iron monosulfides and siderite. Additional parameters constraining the model include dissolved H2S, alkalinity and pH, as well as a suite of solid phase S-fractions identified by extractions. Influences of spatial heterogeneity necessitated the use of a 2-dimensional modeling approach. Simulating observed seasonal fluctuations and long-term changes in barrier reactivity required the use of temperature dependent rate coefficients and a multimodal Monod-type rate expression accounting for the variable reactivity of different organic carbon fractions. Simulated dissolved concentrations of SO4, Fe, H2S, alkalinity and pH, as well as solid phase accumulations of reduced sulfur phases generally compare well to observed trends over 23 months. Spatial variations, seasonal fluctuations and the time-dependent decline in reactivity were also captured. The modeling results generally confirm, and further strengthen, the existing conceptual model for the site. Overall sulfate reduction and S-accumulation rates are constrained with confidence within a factor of 1.5.     

Use of statistical methods in industrial water pollution control regulations in the United States

This paper describes the process for developing regulations limiting the discharge of pollutants from industrial sources into the waters of the United States. The process includies and surveys of the industry to define products, processes, wastewater sources and characteristics, appropriate subcategorization and control technologies in use. Limitations on the amounts of pollutants that may be discharged in treated wastewater are based on statistical analysis of physical and chemical analytical data characterizing the performance capability of technologies in use in the industry. A general discussion of the statistical approach employed is provided along with some examples based on work performed to support recently promulgated regulations. The determination of regulatory discharge limitations, based on estimates of percentiles of lognormal distributions of measured pollutant concentrations in treated wastewater, is presented. Modifications to account for different averaging periods and detection limit observations are discussed.     

An assessment of the sensitivity and reliability of the relative reduction factor approach in the development of 8-hr ozone attainment plans

The updated regulatory framework for demonstrating that future 8-hr ozone (O3) design values will be at or below the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) provides guidelines for the development of a State Implementation Plan (SIP) that includes methods based on photochemical modeling and analytical techniques. One of the suggested approaches is the relative reduction factor (RRF) for estimating the efficacy of emission reductions. In this study, the sensitivity of model-predicted responses towards emission reductions to the choice of meteorology and chemical mechanisms was examined. While the different modeling simulations generally were found to be in agreement on whether predicted future-year design values would be above or below the NAAQS for 8-hr O3 at a majority of the monitoring locations in the eastern United States, differences existed for a small percentage of monitors (approximately 6.4%). Another issue investigated was the ability of the attainment demonstration procedure to predict changes in monitored O3 design values. A retrospective analysis was performed by comparing predicted O3 design values from model simulations using emission estimates for 1996 and 2001 with monitored O3 design values for 2001. Results indicated that an average gross error of approximately 5 ppb was present between modeled and observed design values and that, at approximately 27% of all sites, model-predicted and observed design values disagreed as to whether the design value was above or below the NAAQS. Retrospective analyses such as the one presented in this study can provide valuable insights into the strengths and limitations of modeling and analysis techniques used to predict future design values over time periods of a decade or more for the purpose of developing SIPs. Furthermore, such analyses could provide avenues for improvement and added confidence in the use of the RRF approach for addressing attainment of the NAAQS.     

Sorption of Zn(II) in aqueous solutions by scoria

We conducted kinetic and equilibrium sorption experiments on removal of Zn(II) from aqueous solutions by scoria (a vesicular pyroclastic rock with basaltic composition) from Jeju Island, Korea, in order to examine its potential use as an efficient sorbent. The batch-type kinetic sorption tests under variable conditions indicated that the percentage of Zn(II) removal by scoria increases with decreasing initial Zn(II) concentration, particle size, and sorbate/sorbent ratio. However, the sorption capacity decreases with the decrease of the initial Zn(II) concentration and sorbate/sorbent ratio. Equilibrium sorption tests show that Jeju scoria has a larger capacity and affinity for Zn(II) sorption than commercial powdered activated carbon (PAC); at initial Zn(II) concentrations of more than 10mM, the sorption capacity of Jeju scoria is about 1.5 times higher than that of PAC. The acquired sorption data are better fitted to the Langmuir isotherm than the Freundlich isotherm. Careful examination of ionic concentrations in sorption batches suggests that the sorption behavior is mainly controlled by cation exchange and typically displays characteristics of 'cation sorption'. The Zn(II) removal capacity decreases when solution pH decreases because of the competition with hydrogen ions for sorption sites, while the Zn(II) removal capacity increases under higher pH conditions, likely due to hydroxide precipitation. At an initial Zn(II) concentration of 5.0mM, the removal increases from 70% to 96% with the increase of initial pH from 3.0 to 7.0. We recommend Jeju scoria as an economic and efficient sorbent for Zn(II) in contaminated water.     

Using Information on Spatial Variability of Small Estuaries in Designing Large-Scale Estuarine Monitoring Programs

In the early 1990s, EPA's Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) documented the ecological condition of the overall population of small estuaries along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. However, the Program did not provide detailed information on the condition of individual estuaries less than 260 km² in surface area, a group of estuaries of concern to environmental managers. To address the needs of environmental managers, when EMAP returned to the region in summer 1997, it included a study of the spatial variability of ecological indicators within individual small estuaries. At 127 probability-based sites in 10 estuaries, EMAP measured a variety of parameters of water quality and sediments, including dissolved oxygen (DO), nutrients, grain size of sediments, contaminants in sediments, and community structures of benthic macroinvertebrates. From this information the ecological condition (e.g., percent area with DO concentrations below 5mg L^–1) for each estuary, along with 90% confidence interval, was determined. The width of the confidence interval was then recalculated for sample sizes ranging from two stations to the total number of stations sampled in that estuary. Confidence interval widths were then plotted against sample size. These plots can be useful in designing future regional monitoring programs with a goal of describing conditions in individual systems as well as broad geographic regions. Results illustrate that beyond five stations per estuary, the reduction in the width of the confidence interval with increasing sampling intensity is relatively small; however, individual program managers need to determine "how small is small enough."     

Bioaccumulation of PAHs in the Zebra Mussel at Times Beach, Buffalo, New York

The zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, was utilized in an in situ study in the Times Beach Confined Disposal Facility (CDF) located in Buffalo, New York, Mussels, placed both in the water column (upper position) and at the sediment surface (lower position), survived a 34-day exposure to the CDF. At the CDF, total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations in the water column were below detection limits (<0.010 mg 1-1), mean total PAH concentrations in the sediment were 164.41 mg kg-1, and mean total PAH concentrations in mussel tissues after the 34-day exposure were 6.58 mg kg-1. PAH concentrations in mussels exposed for 34 days at the CDP were compared to a baseline PAH concentrations in mussel tissue prior to study initiation (Day 0), and mussel tissue from the reference site (Black Rock Channel Lock). There was a significant increase in total PAHs in mussel tissues over the 34 Day period at the CDF. No significant accumulation occurred at the reference site. PAHs which increased significantly in mussel tissue at the CDF were fluoranthene, pyrene, chrysene, and benzo(a)anthracene. Benzo(a)anthracene concentrations increased significantly in mussels at the upper position overall at Times Beach. Concentrations of Total PAHs, fluoranthene, pyrene, and chrysene were not related to position.