Mechanism of complexation of toxic arsenate,selenate, and molybdate with hydrotalcites

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Wastewater from the uranium mining industry contains toxic arsenate (AsO43–), selenate (SeO42–), and molybdate (MoO42–) that can be removed by...     

Feasibility of vermicomposting dairy biosolids using a modified system to avoid earthworm mortality

A laboratory study was conducted to examine the feasibility of vermicomposting dairy biosolids (dairy sludge), either alone or with either of the bulking agents-cereal straw or wood shavings, using the epigeic earthworm-Eisinea andrei. Earthworms added directly to these three substrates died within 48 hours. A system was developed to overcome the toxic effect of unprocessed dairy biosolids. The substrates were placed over a layer of vermicomposted sheep manure into which the earthworms were inoculated. Within two weeks, all earthworms were within the upper layer of substrate. Compared to sheep manure which is a favourable substrate for vermicomposting, the three substrates containing dairy biosolids were more effective in supporting earthworm growth and reproduction. The final products obtained after 63 days of vermicomposting had 39-53% less organic carbon than the initial substrates. Organic fractionation indicated that vermicomposting increased the stability of the materials to biological decomposition. The vermicomposts obtained from the three substrates with dairy biosolids had low heavy metal contents and electrical conductivities, and did not inhibit plant growth when compared with a commercial vermicompost in a bioassay.     

Bioenergy and the CDM in the Emerging Market for Carbon Credits

This paper analyses the eligibility of different types of biomass energy projects in developing countries for funding under the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism and related funds. Specifically, GHG emission reductions through the replacement of non-renewable types of biomass with renewable energy, or the improvement of the efficiency of energy systems based on non-renewable biomass, is discussed in more detail, as it is currently difficult if not impossible for these to qualify as CDM projects under current rules. These problems are caused by the categorical exclusion of land-use from the CDM (with the exception of afforestation and reforestation projects). The paper offers some possible solutions for both small-scale and large-scale CDM projects. These limitations hold for a number of carbon funds. The paper covers of the major funds operated by the World Bank and that are already operational, to point out differences between existing funds in order to identify the best opportunities for different biomass sources and technologies. This systematic, comparative analysis covers the characteristics of the different funds in terms of eligible technologies, geographical foci, and size (targets and completed and ongoing transactions, CO₂ equivalents, project asset values). To provide the context for the analysis of the carbon funds, the regulatory drivers and frameworks influencing the demand side of the market are discussed. This first of its kind analysis for the specifics of the carbon market regarding bioenergy enables decision makers and project managers active or planning to become active in the area, to identify and target the most promising funds for their specific purposes.     

Agricultural landscapes as multi-scale public good and the role of the Common Agricultural Policy

During the last 50 years, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has impacted the evolution of European agricultural landscapes by driving changes in land use and farming practices. We propose a typology characterising the scales relevant for agricultural landscapes management and argue that action is required on three scales: (1) a landscape oriented management at the farm level; (2) the coordination of land managers’ actions at the landscape level; and (3) the conservation of the diversity of agricultural landscapes in the EU. We provide evidence that until now the CAP has mainly focused on the first scale. We also illustrate how agricultural policy could encourage coordinated actions at the landscape- and EU-scales. In particular, we propose policy instruments to coordinate actions of individual land owners (e.g. collective bonus in agro-environmental contracts or support to environmental cooperatives (scale 2)). We also analyse how the recognition and transposition of the European Landscape Convention could promote trans-frontier landscape cooperation in order, not only to conserve high-quality rural landscapes, but also to ensure the conservation of the diversity of EU landscapes (scale 3). This paper provides a knowledge base to support an integrated CAP design in the direction of improved landscape management, as an important component of the EU project towards more sustainable agriculture.     

The effect of ISO 14001 certification on toxic emissions: an analysis of industrial facilities in the north of Spain

During recent decades, the impact of industrial organisations on the environment has become clearly evident. It has also become more difficult to hide and more expensive. Globally, this has caused many enterprises to put all their efforts into seeking management instruments that allow them to reduce their negative impact on the environment as well as improving their economic efficiency. This environmental interest is either voluntary or forced by customers or by legal pressure. Environmental Management Systems (EMSs) are among the many tools that have appeared to fulfil that goal and that have drawn international researchers’ attention. The most popular system and the one most often used is the ISO 14001 standard.This paper examines empirically the influence that this certification exerts on the company’s pollutant emission policy. The analysis was carried out in four regions of Spain: Asturias, Cantabria, Galicia and Castilla-León and includes 126 industrial organisations. The goal of this paper is to investigate the behaviour of the companies according to their emissions policies once they have achieved the ISO 14001 certification. In the paper the Toxics Release Index of 56 certified companies is compared with the Index of 70 non-certified companies. Through a statistical analysis based on the Student’s t-test and the Mann–Whitney U test, it was concluded that ISO 14001 does not represent an environmental proactivity signal clearly enough to result in a reduction of the company’s environmental polluting index.     

Emission and Performance Characteristics of a 2 Litre Toyota Diesel Van Operating on Esterified Waste Cooking Oil and Mineral Diesel Fuel

Exhaust emission and performance characteristics were evaluated in a Toyota van, powered by a 21 indirect injection (IDI) naturally aspirated diesel engine, operating on vegetable based waste cooking oil methyl ester (WCOME).Tests were performed on a chassis dynamometer and the data were compared with previous results conducted on the same vehicle using mineral diesel fuel. The data obtained includes smoke opacity, carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), oxygen (O₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), nitric oxide (NO), sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and brake power. Engine lubricating oil samples were also taken. Results from this study indicated a difference of approximately 9% in brake power between the two fuels. WCOME developed a significant lower smoke opacity level and reduced CO, CO₂, SO₂ emissions. However, O₂, NO₂ and NO levels were higher with the vegetable oil based fuel. Power values were comparable for both fuels. Lubricating oil analysis gave little change of viscosity and wear metal concentrations after 2887km were: Silicon 35ppm, Chromium 3.3ppm, Iron 33.8ppm, Copper 14.1ppm and lead 78.6ppm.     

Speciation and origin of particulate copper in runoff water from a Mediterranean vineyard catchment

Fungicide treatments have led to large copper contents of the topsoils of most vineyards. This paper examines the contamination of surface waters by copper in a Mediterranean wine-growing catchment. Its aims were to characterise the forms of copper associated with suspended matter during a heavy autumn storm event and to identify which soils contribute the most to the copper exports. A mixing model involving three reservoirs, corresponding to three soil-landscape units (plateau, terraces and footslope-depression system) and two tracers (reducible iron content and dolomite/calcite ratio) was used to estimate the contribution of each reservoir to erosion during a storm flow. The average copper concentration of the suspended matter was 245 mg kg(-1), of which 1% was exchangeable, 4% acid-soluble, 10% oxidizable, 23% reducible and 63% residual. The soils of the plateau of the catchment (chromic luvisols and haplic calcisols-FAO soil classification) were the source of 42% of copper exports but represented only 27% of the total catchment area.     

A new organic-rich soil reference material certified for its EDTA- and acetic acid- extractable contents of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn, following collaboratively tested and harmonised procedures

There is an increasing requirement for assessment of the bioavailable metal fraction and the mobility of trace elements in soils upon disposal. One of the approaches is the use of leaching procedures, but the results obtained are operationally defined; therefore, their significance is highly dependent on the extraction protocol performed. So, for this type of study, there is a need for reference materials that allow the quality of measurements to be controlled. This paper describes the steps involved in the certification of an organic-rich soil reference material, BCR-700, for the EDTA- and acetic acid-extractable contents of some trace elements, following collaboratively tested and harmonised extraction procedures. Details are given for the preparation of the soil, homogeneity and stability testing, analytical procedures and the statistical selection of data to be included in the certification.