VOC Recovery through Microwave Regeneration of Adsorbents: Comparative Economic Feasibility Studies

ABSTRACT

Microwave regeneration of adsorbents facilitates the recovery of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by decoupling the bed heating from the stripping gas. This makes possible the creation of a highly-concentrated regeneration effluent from which the VOCs can be recovered by condensation at near-ambient temperatures. The economic feasibility of two novel microwave-regenerated adsorption systems was evaluated by systematically comparing the capital and operating costs of the proposed systems with 10 conventional VOC control technologies. The microwave systems were found to have similar capital and operating costs to conventional steam regeneration systems and, therefore, may present an attractive alternative for recovering water-miscible solvents. In general, the cost of the microwave subsystem is a relatively small component of the overall system costs, and the microwave power requirements are within the range of commercially available generators, even for large emission streams.     

Quality Assured Measurements of Animal Building Emissions: Gas Concentrations

Abstract

Comprehensive field studies were initiated in 2002 to measure emissions of ammonia (NH₃), hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHC), particulate matter <10 µm in diameter, and total suspended particulate from swine and poultry production buildings in the United States.

This paper focuses on the quasicontinuous gas concentration measurement at multiple locations among paired barns in seven states. Documented principles, used in air pollution monitoring at industrial sources, were applied in developing quality assurance (QA) project plans for these studies. Air was sampled from multiple locations with each gas analyzed with one high quality commercial gas analyzer that was located in an environmentally controlled on-farm instrument shelter. A nominal 4 L/min gas sampling system was designed and constructed with Teflon wetted surfaces, bypass pumping, and sample line flow and pressure sensors. Three-way solenoids were used to automatically switch between multiple gas sampling lines with ≥10 min sampling intervals. Inside and outside gas sampling probes were between 10 and 115 m away from the analyzers. Analyzers used chemiluminescence, fluorescence, photoacoustic infrared, and photoionization detectors for NH₃, H₂S, CO₂, CH₄, and NMHC, respectively. Data were collected using personal computer-based data acquisition hardware and software. This paper discusses the methodology of gas concentration measurements and the unique challenges that livestock barns pose for achieving desired accuracy and precision, data representativeness, comparability and completeness, and instrument calibration and maintenance.     

Evaluation of regression methodology with low-frequency water quality sampling to estimate constituent loads for ephemeral watersheds in Texas

Water quality regulation and litigation have elevated the awareness and need for quantifying water quality and source contributions in watersheds across the USA. In the present study, the regression method, which is typically applied to large (perennial) rivers, was evaluated in its ability to estimate constituent loads (NO(3)-N, total N, PO(4)-P, total P, sediment) on three small (ephemeral) watersheds with different land uses in Texas. Specifically, regression methodology was applied with daily flow data collected with bubbler stage recorders in hydraulic structures and with water quality data collected with four low-frequency sampling strategies: random, rise and fall, peak, and single stage. Estimated loads were compared with measured loads determined in 2001-2004 with an autosampler and high-frequency sampling strategies. Although annual rainfall and runoff volumes were relatively consistent within watersheds during the study period, measured annual nutrient and sediment concentrations and loads varied considerably for the cultivated and mixed watersheds but not for the pasture watershed. Likewise, estimated loads were much better for the pasture watershed than the cultivated and mixed landuse watersheds because of more consistent land management and vegetation type in the pasture watershed, which produced stronger correlations between constituent loads and mean daily flow rates. Load estimates for PO(4)-P were better than for other constituents possibly because PO(4)-P concentrations were less variable within storm events. Correlations between constituent concentrations and mean daily flow rate were poor and not significant for all watersheds, which is different than typically observed in large rivers. The regression method was quite variable in its ability to accurately estimate annual nutrient loads from the study watersheds; however, constituent load estimates were much more accurate for the combined 3-yr period. Thus, it is suggested that for small watersheds, regression-based annual load estimates should be used with caution, whereas long-term estimates can be much more accurate when multiple years of concentration data are available. The predictive ability of the regression method was similar for all of the low-frequency sampling strategies studied; therefore, single-stage or random strategies are recommended for low-frequency storm sampling on small watersheds because of their simplicity.     

Methane and carbon dioxide emission from two pig finishing barns

Agricultural activities are an important source of greenhouse gases. However, comprehensive, long-term, and high-quality measurement data of these gases are lacking. This article presents a field study of CH(4) and CO(2) emission from two 1100-head mechanically ventilated pig (Sus scrofa) finishing barns (B1 and B2) with shallow manure flushing systems and propane space heaters from August 2002 to July 2003 in northern Missouri. Barn 2 was treated with soybean oil sprinkling, misting essential oils, and misting essential oils with water to reduce air pollutant emissions. Only days with CDFB (complete-data-full-barn), defined as >80% of valid data during a day with >80% pigs in the barns, were used. The CH(4) average daily mean (ADM) emission rates were 36.2 +/- 2.0 g/d AU (ADM +/- 95% confidence interval; animal unit = 500 kg live mass) from B1 (CDFB days = 134) and 28.8 +/- 1.8 g/d AU from B2 (CDFB days = 131). The CO(2) ADM emission rates were 17.5 +/- 0.8 kg/d AU from B1 (CDFB days = 146) and 14.2 +/- 0.6 kg/d AU from B2 (CDFB days = 137). The treated barn reduced CH(4) emission by 20% (P < 0.01) and CO(2) emission by 19% (P < 0.01). The CH(4) and CO(2) released from the flushing lagoon effluent were equivalent to 9.8 and 4.1% of the CDFB CH(4) and CO(2) emissions, respectively. The emission data were compared with the literature, and the characteristics of CH(4) and CO(2) concentrations and emissions were discussed.     

Analysis of accumulation, extractability, and metabolization of five different phenylarsenic compounds in plants by ion chromatography with mass spectrometric detection and by atomic emission spectroscopy

Phenylated arsenic compounds occur as highly toxic contaminants in former military areas where they were formed as degradation products of chemical warfare agents. Some phenylarsenic compounds such as roxarsone and aminophenylarsonic acids were applied as food additive and veterinary drugs in stock-breeding and therefore pose an environmental risk in agricultural used sites. Very few data exist in the literature concerning uptake and effects of phenylarsenic compounds in plants growing on contaminated soils. In this study, the accumulation, extractability, and metabolization of five different phenylarsenic compounds, phenylarsonic acid, p- and o-aminophenylarsonic acid, phenylarsine oxide, and 3-nitro-4-hydroxyphenylarsonic acid called roxarsone, by the terrestrial plant Tropaeolum majus were investigated. Ion chromatography coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to differentiate these arsenic compounds, and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy was used for total arsenic quantification. All compounds considered were taken up by the roots and transferred to stalks, leaves, and flowers. The strongest accumulation was observed for unsubstituted phenylarsonic acid followed by its trivalent analogue phenylarsine oxide that was mostly oxidized in soil whereas the amino- or nitro- and hydroxy-substituted phenylarsonic acids were accumulated to a smaller degree.The highest extraction yield of 90% for ground leaf material was achieved by 0.1 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.7, in a two-step extraction with a total extraction time of 24 h. The extraction of higher amounts of arsenic (50–70% of total arsenic present in leaves depending on arsenic species application) from non-ground intact leaves with deionized water in comparison with the buffer (20–40% of total arsenic) is ascribed to osmotic effects. The arsenic species analysis revealed a cleavage of the amino groups from the phenyl ring for plants treated with aminophenylarsonic acids. A further important metabolic effect consisted in the production of inorganic arsenate and arsenite from the phenylated arsonic acid groups.     

Concrete with carpet recyclates: suitability assessment by surface energy evaluation

Worn out textile floor coverings are burdensome wastes that are degraded in landfill sites after a very long period of time. One of the ways to manage this kind of waste may be the use of carpet recyclate (CR) as an additive for concrete reinforcement. Therefore, an attempt was made to predict the effects of recyclate additives on the durability a concrete-carpet mixture by employing the method of assessing surface properties of components in the concrete-carpet recyclates composite. Testing was performed on carpet wastes, containing polyamide (PA) and polypropylene (PP) piles and butadiene-styrene resin with chalk filler (BSC) as back coating, to assess the suitability of CR additive for concrete reinforcement by surface energy evaluation. Based on the measurements of contact angles, the free surface energy of recyclate components was determined. The reversible work of adhesion at the interface between these components in dry and wet states was also calculated. The results show that CR with both PA and PP fibers form a strong and water-resistant bond with concrete.     

Seepage from deep bedded and poultry litter systems

The work reported indicates that there could be a potential of ground water pollution by NO3-N from turkey facilities built on both sandy and clay soils. At four different depths (30.54, 61.08, 91.62, and 122.16 cm), the NO3-N levels for the clay soil were 1572, 497, 66, and 28 ppm, and those for the sandy soil were 293, 425, 324, and 164 ppm, respectively. No significant P increases were observed but there did exist a significant increase of K in the topsoil for both clay and sandy turkey structures. The results show that swine hoop houses with less than three or four years of age may not pose a threat to groundwater pollution due to the leaching of nutrients. The only dairy feedlot sampled in this study, although it has been used for more than 20 years, did not show leaching of NO3-N and P. However, it did show a significantly elevated concentration of potassium in the topsoil, as compared to the background sample. More sites should be investigated to verify this.     

Investigation of dissolved uranium content in the watershed of Seine River (France)

A systematic survey of dissolved uranium activity was carried out in the Seine and the Marne over one year. A small watershed, the Grand Morin, included in the Seine one, was also investigated from stream to medium-sized rivers. The Melarchez stream exhibits low but variable dissolved 238U levels (3.3 +/- 2.0 mBq l(-1)). Thereafter, uranium activities show a rapid increase to reach, from the Grand Morin River, a rather constant range (8-11 mBq l(-1)). On the Marne before the confluence with the Seine, dissolved 238U is nearly invariable (9.1 +/- 0.8 mBq l(-1)), for flow rates comprised between 60 and 423 m3 s(-1). Dissolved 238U in the Seine corresponds to almost triple the global mean riverine uranium concentration. In the estuary of the Seine, uranium shows a gradual increase, resulting from conservative mixing of river with sea waters.     

Photoacoustic in-vivo spectra of recent stromatolites

In-vivo photoacoustic spectra (PAS) of pure cultures of cyanobacteria and photosynthetic bacteria (Chromatiaceae) which usually occur in stromatolitic microbial mats were measured. The PA spectra of the pure cultures were compared to PA spectra measured directly on different layers of microbial mats from Mellum (North Sea). The advantages of PAS of opaque, solid samples (e.g., sediment, rock), and of particle suspensions (e.g., light-scattering cell cultures with interference by sulfur globules) over conventional spectroscopy using classical in-vivo or extraction photometry are discussed.