Optimization of co-digestion of various industrial sludges for biogas production and sludge treatment: Methane production potential experiments and modeling

Optimal biogas production and sludge treatment were studied by co-digestion experiments and modeling using five different wastewater sludges generated from paper, chemical, petrochemical, automobile, and food processing industries situated in Ulsan Industrial Complex, Ulsan, South Korea. The biomethane production potential test was conducted in simplex-centroid mixture design, fitted to regression equation, and some optimal co-digestion scenarios were given by combined desirability function based multi-objective optimization technique for both methane yield and the quantity of sludge digested. The co-digestion model incorporating main and interaction effects among sludges were utilized to predict the maximum possible methane yield. The optimization routine for methane production with different industrial sludges in batches were repeated with the left-over sludge of earlier cycle, till all sludges have been completely treated. Among the possible scenarios, a maximum methane yield of 1161.53 m³ is anticipated in three batches followed by 1130.33 m³ and 1045.65 m³ in five and two batches, respectively. This study shows a scientific approach to find a practical solution to utilize diverse industrial sludges in both treatment and biogas production perspectives.     

Environmental estrogenic effects and gonadal development in wild goldfish (Carassius auratus)

Serum vitellogenin (VTG) contents of wild goldfish (Carassius auratus) were investigated as a sensitive biomarker for artificial estrogenic compounds in aquatic environments. Goldfish was sampled from a pristine area, a river situated 5 km downstream from a sewage treatment works (STW), and also from the Young-San River in Korea. The female yolk precursor protein VTG was not detected when gonadosomatic index (GSI) was less than 0.85%, while VTG levels of >10 microg/ml were found in males whose GSI was less than 1.53%. In male goldfish sampled from STW and the Young-San River, the higher VTG corresponded to lower GSI. This study suggested a trend that gonad development was connected to VTG levels in both sexes, and the application of GSI and histological analysis provide an attractive possibility that it could be included in the panel of markers used for estrogenic activity investigation of aquatic environments.     

Anthropogenic mercury emission inventory with emission factors and total emission in Korea

Mercury emissions concentrations, emission factors, and the total national emission from major anthropogenic sources in Korea for the year 2007 were estimated. Uncontrolled and controlled mercury emission factors and the total emission from each source types are presented. The annual national mercury emission from major anthropogenic sources for the year 2007, on average was 12.8 ton which ranged from 6.5 to 20.2 ton. Averaged emissions of elemental, oxidized, and particulate mercury were estimated at 8.25 ton, 3.69 ton, and 0.87 ton, respectively. Due to the removal of a major portion of particulate and oxidized mercury species, elemental mercury was dominant in stack emission. About 54.8% of mercury emission was contributed by industrial sources, 45.0% by stationary combustion sources and 0.02% by mobile sources. Thermal power plants, oil refineries, cement kilns and incinerators (municipal, industrial, medical, sewage sludge) were the major mercury emitters, contributing about 26%, 25%, 21% and 20%, respectively to the total mercury emission. Other sources (crematory, pulp and paper manufacturing, nonferrous metals manufacturing, glass manufacturing) contributed about 8% of the total emission. Priority should be given in controlling mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants, oil refineries, cement kilns and waste incinerators. More measurements including natural and re-emission sources are to be carried out in the future in order to have a clear scenario of mercury emission from the country and to apply effective control measures.     

Hybridization of the natural antibiotic, cinnamic acid, with layered double hydroxides (LDH) as green pesticide

Background, aim, and scope  

Heavy application of highly toxic synthetic pesticides has been committed to protect crops against insects and diseases, which have brought about serious environmental problems. Thus, an inevitable and fundamental issue has been how to protect crops without harmful effects on nature. As a fascinating nature-compatible approach, we have attempted to hybridize soil-compatible layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with natural antibiotic substances. Only a few of natural antibiotic substances are available for pest control mainly because of their inherent properties such as easy degradability, high minimum inhibition concentration for practical application, and often extremely low availability, whereas LDHs exhibit unique properties such as anion exchange capacity, acid lability, and high affinity to ubiquitous carbonate ion which make them an excellent inorganic matrix to carry labile biomolecules in soils. This study focuses on the behavior of cinnamate–LDH hybrid in soils and the evaluation of its potentials as a green pesticide.     

Regeneration of used sand with sodium silicate binder by wet method and their core manufacturing

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Organic binders that are used in sand casting emit high amounts of hazardous pollutants and volatile organic compounds during the casting process....     

Recovery of iron oxide and calcium chloride from an iron-rich chloride waste using calcium carbonate

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - The ilmenite-chloride process has used for the production of TiCl4 from the ilmenite (FeTiO3) ore, which produces cyclone dust containing mostly...     

Growth dynamics of the seagrass <Emphasis Type="Italic">Halophila nipponica</Emphasis>, recently discovered in temperate coastal waters of the Korean peninsula

Seagrass species in the genus Halophila are usually distributed in tropical or subtropical areas, but a Halophila species identified as H. nipponica was first observed in temperate coastal regions of Korea in 2007. Since this species mainly occurs in warm temperate regions influenced by warm currents, we hypothesized that H. nipponica may exhibit different growth patterns from those of other temperate seagrass species in Korea, instead showing similar growth dynamics to tropical/subtropical species. The growth and morphology of H. nipponica in relation to coincident measurements of environmental factors were investigated from July 2008 to September 2009 to examine the growth dynamics of this species. Water temperature at the study site ranged from 9.7°C in January to 25.1°C in August. Shoot density, biomass, and productivity exhibited significant seasonal variation, increasing during summer and decreasing during winter. Productivity was severely restricted to nearly ceasing at water temperatures less than 15°C, and winter minimum growth lasted until May. The optimal temperature for H. nipponica growth was approximately 25°C, which was the maximum water temperature at the study site, and no growth reduction in high summer water temperature was observed. Thus, H. nipponica on the temperate coast of Korea exhibited a distinctly different growth pattern from those of temperate seagrass species in Korea, which have shown great reductions in growth at water temperatures higher than 20°C. Higher below- to above-ground ratio and leaf burial into sediments with shorter leaf petioles during winter might be overwintering strategies in this species. The growth patterns of H. nipponica at the study site imply that this species still possess the tropical characteristics of the genus Halophila.     

Flood Risk Perceptions and Overdevelopment in the Floodplain1

ABSTRACT: There is a long standing hypothesis that overdevelopment has occurred in the nation's floodplains due to imperfect information about the potential flood hazard, an expectation of disaster relief and anticipation of future structural protection. This hypothesis is investigated with multiple regression analysis of data for a case study area. In particular the question of whether floodplain residential property values are fully discounted for expected flood damages is addressed by considering the impact of the National Flood Insurance Program on property values. The extent to which flooding risk perceptions are based on low cost information such as distance from and elevation above the river is also considered. Finally, implications for floodplain management policy are discussed.     

Modification of Aliphatic Polyesters and Their Reactive Blends with Starch

Modified polycaprolactone was synthesized by melt reaction of PCL and reactive monomers such as glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and maleic anhydride (MAH) in the presence of benzoyl peroxide in Brabender mixer. MAH showed a different grafting phenomenon compared to GMA. The reaction mechanism was discussed with different reactive monomers. Reactive blends of the PCL-g-GMA and the gelatinized starch with glycerin were prepared and their mechanical properties and biodegradabilities were investigated. Reactive blends of PCL-g-GMA and starch showed well-dispersed starch domain in the matrix and better mechanical strength than the unmodified PCL/starch blend. However, the reaction between PCL-g-GMA and starch induced a crosslinking during the reactive blending and this crosslinking in the blend lowered the biodegradation of the blend during the composting test. The biodegradability was investigated by the weight loss and surface morphology change of the blend in the composting medium.     

Atmospheric Loadings,Concentrations and Visibility Associated with Sandstorms: Satellite and Meteorological Analysis

This Korea-China study monitored the phenomena of sandstorms and significant dustfall (SD) from 1997 to 2000. The analysis of our data included ground measurements of dust concentration, visibility, satellite imagery, aircraft and lidar observations. In addition, an estimation of atmospheric loadings and a studyon the relationship between dust concentrations and visibilitywere carried out. The movement and invasion of dust clouds toKorea were clearly identified with meteorological and satellitedata. The increasing concentrations of TSP and PM₁₀ concurredwell with the satellite information. From case studies, weestimated that atmospheric loadings of a dust cloud were over 1million ton and that the deposition over the Korean Peninsulawas in the range from 46 000 to 86 000 tons. For SD withvisibility of 3 km, we predict TSP 659 g m^-3 and PM₁₀ 493 g m^-3. We recommend the issuance of an SD Watch(advisory) and an SD Warning for the general public.