Toluene vapor capture by activated carbon particles in a dual gas-solid cyclone system

Capturing of odorous compounds such as toluene vapor by a particulate-activated carbon adsorbent was investigated in a gas-solid cyclone, which is one type of mobile beds. The test cyclone was early modified with the post cyclone (PoC) and a spiral flow guide to the vortex finder. The proposed process may contribute to the reduction of gases and dust from industrial exhausts, especially when dealing with a low concentration of odorous elements and a large volume of dust flow. In this device, the toluene capturing efficiency at a 400 ppm concentration rose up to 77.4% when using activated carbon (AC) particles with a median size of 27.03 μm. A maximum 96% of AC particles could be collected for reuse depending on the size and flow rate. The AC regenerated via thermal treatment showed an adsorption potential up to 66.7% throughout repeated tests.

Implications: VOCs and particles have been of interest both in industrial field and public indoor spaces. In this study, a post cyclone (PoC) that utilizes a residual vortex from the mother cyclone was modified by inserting a flow guide and was applied to capture toluene vapor. The device of modified post-cyclone system can be used effectively in simultaneous treatment of gas-solid flow.     

Field Dynamic Calibration of SO2 Recording Instruments

Recent air pollution legislation, introduced as a Clean Air Act into New South Wales, the most populous and most heavily industrialized Australian State relies mainly upon the establishment of maximum limits of emission of air impurities. Regulations made under the Act set out the first of a series of such limits which cover the more commonly encountered pollutants. Other limits will be included later as knowledge is accumulated but, in the meantime, where standards have not been fixed the "best practicable means" of controlling air pollution must be used. To facilitate administration and to provide financial support for scientific and engineering services in the form of the Air Pollution Control Board, industries of significant air pollution potential have been designated as scheduled premises and pay annual license fees. Further technical support for the legislation is provided by an Air Pollution Advisory Committee.     

Soil pollution assessment and identification of hyperaccumulating plants in chromated copper arsenate (CCA) contaminated sites, Korea

In recent decades, heavy metal contamination in soil adjacent to chromated copper arsenate (CCA) treated wood has received increasing attention. This study was conducted to determine the pollution level (PL) based on the concentrations of Cr, Cu and As in soils and to evaluate the remediative capacity of native plant species grown in the CCA contaminated site, Gangwon Province, Korea. The pollution index (PI), integrated pollution index (IPI), bioaccumulation factors (BAF_shoots and BAF_roots) and translocation factor (TF) were determined to ensure soil contamination and phytoremediation availability. The 19 soil samples from 10 locations possibly contaminated with Cr, Cu and As were collected. The concentrations of Cr, Cu and As in the soil samples ranged from 50.56-94.13 mg kg⁻¹, 27.78-120.83 mg kg⁻¹, and 0.13-9.43 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. Generally, the metal concentrations decreased as the distance between the CCA-treated wood structure and sampling point increased. For investigating phytoremediative capacity, the 19 native plant species were also collected in the same area with soil samples. Our results showed that only one plant species of Iris ensata, which presented the highest accumulations of Cr (1120 mg kg⁻¹) in its shoot, was identified as a hyperaccumulator. Moreover, the relatively higher values of BAF_shoot (3.23-22.10) were observed for Typha orientalis, Iris ensata and Scirpus radicans Schk, suggesting that these plant species might be applicable for selective metal extraction from the soils. For phytostabilization, the 15 plant species with BAF_root values > 1 and TF values < 1 were suitable; however, Typha orientalis was the best for Cr.     

Biosorption of cadmium(II) and copper(II) ions from aqueous solution by core of Artocarpus odoratissimus

Purpose

This research is on the evaluation of biosorption capability of the core of Artocarpus odoratissimus (Tarap), grown in Brunei Darussalam, towards Cd(II) and Cu(II) ions present in synthetic solutions, and to characterize the surface of Tarap particles.

Methods

Thermogravimetric analysis and surface titrations were conducted to characterize the surface of dried Tarap core particles. Atomic absorption spectroscopic measurements were conducted to determine the extent of removal of Cd(II) and Cu(II) under different experimental conditions.

Results

Mass reductions associated with many exothermic reaction peaks were observed beyond 200°C up to 650°C indicating the combustion of organic matter in Tarap. Dried particles of core of Tarap bear a negative surface charge promoting strong interaction towards positively charged ions, such as Cu(II) and Cd(II). Biosorption of the two metal ions on Tarap, which is relatively high beyond pH?=?4, occurs within a short period of exposure time. The extent of biosorption is enhanced by acid treatment of the biosorbent, and further it does not significantly depend on the presence of nonreacting ions up to an ionic strength of 2.0?M.

Conclusion

Strong attraction between each metal ion and the biosorbent is attributed to the negative surface charge on the biosorbent within a broad pH range. Acid treatment of the biosorbent improves sorption characteristics, suggesting that ion exchange plays an important role in the metal ion??biosorbent interaction process.     

A comparison of mixture toxicity assessment: examining the chronic toxicity of atrazine, permethrin and chlorothalonil in mixtures to Ceriodaphnia cf. dubia

Pesticides predominantly occur in aquatic ecosystems as mixtures of varying complexity, yet relatively few studies have examined the toxicity of pesticide mixtures. Atrazine, chlorothalonil and permethrin are widely used pesticides that have different modes of action. This study examined the chronic toxicities (7-d reproductive impairment) of these pesticides in binary and ternary mixtures to the freshwater cladoceran Ceriodaphnia cf. dubia. The toxicity of the mixtures was compared to that predicted by the independent action (IA) model for mixtures, as this is the most appropriate model for chemicals with different modes of action. Following this they were compared to the toxicity predicted by the concentration addition (CA) model for mixtures. According to the IA model, the toxicity of the chlorothalonil plus atrazine mixture conformed to antagonism, while that of chlorothalonil and permethrin conformed to synergism. The toxicity of the atrazine and permethrin mixture as well as the ternary mixture conformed to IA implying there was either no interaction between the components of these mixtures and/or in the case of the ternary mixture the interactions cancelled each other out to result in IA. The synergistic and antagonistic mixtures deviated from IA by factors greater than 3 and less than 2.5, respectively. When the toxicity of the mixtures was compared to the predictions of the CA model, the binary mixture of chlorothalonil plus atrazine, permethrin plus atrazine and the ternary mixture all conformed to antagonism, while the binary mixture of chlorothalonil plus permethrin conformed to CA. Using the CA model provided estimates of mixture toxicity that did not markedly underestimate the measured toxicity, unlike the IA model, and therefore the CA model is the most suitable to use in ecological risk assessments of these pesticides.     

Drying characteristics of sewage sludge using vacuum evaporation and frying

This study was performed to investigate the possibility of utilizing sewage sludge as a fuel. The drying characteristics of sewage sludge were examined by using vacuum evaporation and fry-drying technology in a batch-type rotary evaporator. In addition, the optimal drying conditions of sludge in the vacuum evaporator were investigated in terms of the vacuum pressure, temperature, and oil dosage ratio, etc. Experimental results showed that the moisture content in the sludge decreased with increases in oil/sewage sludge ratio and temperature. Dried sludge fuel (SDF) product could be obtained with on average less than 5% moisture content and a lower heating value of more than 4000 kcal/kg. Considering energy efficiency, we suggest that the optimal operating condition for drying sludge is ?450 mmHg of vacuum, a temperature of 100°C, a drying time of 90 min, and a sludge/oil ratio of 1:1. The SDF product was shaped as granules and fluff-type particles. Evaluated from the perspective of the energy balance and economic considerations, this sludge drying system with vacuum fry drying could be used for effective sludge treatment and the production of SDF.     

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.