Non-conventional gas phase remediation of volatile halogenated compounds by dehydrated bacteria

Traditional biological removal processes are limited by the low solubility of halogenated compounds in aqueous media. A new technology appears very suitable for the remediation of these volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Solid/gas bio-catalysis applied in VOC remediation can transform halogenated compounds directly in the gas phase using dehydrated cells as a bio-catalyst.     

Inactivation of Ascaris eggs in soil by microwave treatment compared to UV and ozone treatment

This study reports on the effect of microwave radiation for inactivation of Ascaris lumbricoides eggs in 25 g of soil compared to ultraviolet irradiation and ozone expose. Microwave radiation at 700 W with 14% water content (w/w) achieved approximately 2.5 log inactivation of eggs in soil within 60 s. On the other hand, UV irradiation at 3 mW cm⁻² with and without shaking soil for 3600 s achieved approximately 0.32 and 0.01 log inactivation of eggs, respectively. In ozone treatment, 0.13 log inactivation of eggs was achieved with 5.8 ± 0.7 mg L⁻¹ of dissolved ozone dose for 30 min in a continuous diffusion reactor. In addition, the inactivation of eggs by three disinfection techniques was conducted in water in order to compare the inactivation efficiency of eggs in soil. The inactivation efficiency of microwave radiation was found to be no significant difference between in soil and water. However, the inactivation efficiency of UV irradiation was significantly increased in water while in ozone expose there was no significant difference between in soil and water. Microwave treatment thus proved to be the most efficient method in controlling A. lumbricoides eggs in soil.     

Liquefaction process for a hydrothermally treated waste mixture containing plastics

Most landfilled plastic waste is a mixture or is in the form of composites with incombustible wastes such as glass, metals, and ceramics. After hydrothermal treatment, including a steam-explosion process, the separation of mixed waste (MW) into organic and inorganic substances becomes easy. However, the effect of hydrothermal pretreatment on the subsequent liquefaction of organic substances from MW is not obvious. In this study, the effects on the liquefaction of polystyrene and high-density polyethylene are discussed. Moreover, optimum conditions for the liquefaction of organic substances from hydrothermally treated MW are identified. By means of this hydrothermal pretreatment, including the steam-explosion process, polystyrene and high-density polyethylene can be significantly converted to oil by liquefaction at 300°–400°C. In comparison with liquefaction of hydrothermally pretreated mixed waste (HMW) at 300°–400°C with a batch type reactor, the yield of oil increases significantly on liquefaction using a semi-batch type reactor. It is considered that the radical chain and termination reactions among the radicals from HMW were inhibited in the semi-batch type reactor. On liquefaction of HMW in a semi-batch reactor, the conversion of HMW to oil was enhanced on increasing the liquefaction temperature to 350°C and the holding time to 60 min. Chemical Feedstock Recycling & Other Innovative Recycling Techniques 6     

Dechlorination of polyvinyl chloride in NaOH/ethylene glycol solution by microwave heating

This study investigated the dehydrochlorination of flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) containing 59.2% PVC, 29.7% dioctyl phthalate (DOP), and approximately 12% stabilizers. Flexible PVC was treated with NaOH/ethylene glycol (NaOH/EG) solutions at NaOH concentrations in the range 0.5–4 mol/l and was heated in a microwave heater at a temperature between 100° and 160°C for 0–30 min. All chlorides were completely eliminated by internal heating at 160°C using microwaves for 10 min in a 1 mol/l NaOH/EG solution, and the residue was made up of hydrocarbons. The weight loss rate reached a maximum of 74.7% at a temperature of 160°C. It was discovered that the use of microwaves significantly shortened the reaction time compared to using conventional electric heaters or other external heating systems and also allowed the use of lower concentrations of NaOH. Chemical Feedstock Recycling & Other Innovative Recycling Techniques 6     

Characteristics of azaarenes and dioxins in gases emitted from waste incinerators

In this study, we propose an analytical method to determine the fourteen of azaarenes present in flue gas samples collected according to Japanese Industrial Standard K 0311, which designates the method for the determination of dioxins in flue gas. Azaarenes can be analyzed using the acidic water phase after shaking extraction with dichloromethane, which is unnecessary for dioxin analysis. Flue gas samples were obtained from 24 waste incinerators in Japan, and azaarenes were detected in all the flue gas samples (0.21–3800 μg/m³ _N). The most abundant of the detected compounds were quinoline and isoquinoline. The concentration of azaarenes had a tendency to increase with that of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans. The isomer distribution of heptachloro-dibenzofurans (HpCDFs) was calculated using the computed Gibbs energy of formation (ΔG _f ) obtained by the semiempirical molecular orbital method at various temperatures. The calculated isomer distribution was fitted to the measured value of HpCDFs. It seems that the temperature obtained from the fitting calculations is an indicator of the cooling capacity of the combustion gas in an incinerator. The computed ΔG _f also explained the measured isomer distributions of azaarenes. It is suggested that the isomer distribution of azaarenes in the combustion process is thermodynamically controlled. This work was presented in part at the International Conference on Combustion, Incineration/Pyrolysis, and Emission Control, 2006, Kyoto     

Experimental study of recycling lightweight concrete with aggregates containing expanded glass

The focus is on the issue of waste management when constructing and recycling lightweight concrete (LWC) with aggregates containing expanded glass. The paper analyses the recycling of concrete from lightweight aggregates, and on the important issue of environmental and waste management. The characteristics of recycling LWC such as density, compressive strength and thermal conductivity are investigated, and compared with normal existing concrete from lightweight aggregates. The results indicate that it is possible to recycle lightweight concrete construction waste. The described method shows great possibilities for increasing the use of construction waste materials from LWC containing expanded glass, in order to benefit from better use of the available capacity from existing construction waste. The characteristics of density, compressive strength and thermal conductivity from the new recycled material were compared with normal existing concrete from lightweight aggregates, such as changes in dependency on the type and parts of waste as well as its new binding components. Thus, a new recycled material has been created with new characteristics of density, compressive strength and thermal conductivity, which is conform to the compressive strength class and rules on heat protection and energy efficiency use in buildings (SI OJ RS No. 42/2002). Laboratory density, compressive strength, and thermal conductivity tests results showed that LWC can be produced by the use of waste LWC with aggregates containing expanded glass. However, the use of waste LWC with aggregates containing expanded glass seems to be necessary for the production of cheaper and environmentally friendly LWC.     

Microwave enhanced advanced oxidation process for treating dairy manure at low pH

This study investigated the treatment of dairy manure using the microwave enhanced advanced oxidation process (MW-AOP) at pH 2. An experimental design was developed based on a statistical program using response surface methodology to explore the effects of temperature, hydrogen peroxide dosage and heating time on sugar production, nutrient release and solids destruction. Temperature, hydrogen peroxide dosage and acid concentration were key factors affecting reducing sugar production. The highest reducing sugar yield of 7.4% was obtained at 160°C, 0 mL, 15 min heating time, and no H₂O₂ addition. Temperature was a dominant factor for an increase of soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) in the treated dairy manure. The important factors for volatile fatty acids (VFA) production were microwave temperature and hydrogen peroxide dosage. Temperature was the most important parameter, and heating time, to a lesser extent affecting orthophosphate release. Heating time, hydrogen peroxide dosage and temperature were significant factors for ammonia release. There was a maximum of 96% and 196% increase in orthophosphate and ammonia concentration, respectively at 160°C, 0.5 mL H₂O₂ and 15 min heating time. The MW-AOP is an effective method in dairy manure treatment for sugar production, nutrient solubilisation, and solids disintegration.     

Accurate sampling of PCDD/F in high temperature flue-gas using cooled sampling probes

In a laboratory-scale combustion reactor, flue-gas samples were collected at two temperatures in the post-combustion zone, 700 °C and 400 °C, using two different water-cooled sampling probes. The probes were the cooled probe described in the European Standard method EN-1948:1, referred to as the original probe, and a modified probe that contained a salt/ice mixture to assist the cooling, referred to as the sub-zero probe. To determine the efficiency of the cooling probes, internal temperature measurements were recorded at 5 cm intervals inside the probes. Flue-gas samples were analyzed for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs). Samples collected at 700 °C using the original cooling probe showed higher concentrations of PCDD/Fs compared to samples collected using the sub-zero probe. No significant differences were observed between samples collected at 400 °C. The results indicated that artifact formation of PCDD/Fs readily occurs during flue-gas sampling at high temperatures if the cooling within the probe is insufficient, as found for the original probe at 700 °C. It was also shown that this problem could be alleviated by using probes with an enhanced cooling capacity, such as the sub-zero probe.Although this may not affect samples collected for regulatory purposes in exit gases, it is of great importance for research conducted in the high-temperature region of the post-combustion zone.     

Minimization of the formation of disinfection by-products

The drinking water industry is required to minimize DBPs levels while ensuring adequate disinfection. In this study, efficient and appropriate treatment scheme for the reduction of disinfection by-product (DBPs) formation in drinking water containing natural organic matter has been established. This was carried out by the investigation of different treatment schemes consisting of enhanced coagulation, sedimentation, disinfection by using chlorine dioxide/ozone, filtration by sand filter, or granular activated carbon (GAC). Bench scale treatment schemes were applied on actual samples from different selected sites to identify the best conditions for the treatment of water. Samples were collected from effluent of each step in the treatment train in order to analyze pH, UV absorbance at 254 nm (UVA₂₅₄), specific UV absorbance at 254 nm (SUVA₂₅₄), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), haloacetic acids (HAAs) and trihalomethanes (THMs). The obtained results indicated that using pre-ozonation/enhanced coagulation/activated carbon filtration treatment train appears to be the most effective method for reducing DBPs precursors in drinking water treatment.     

正交试验-硝酸微波消解-冷原子吸收法测定土壤中汞

应用硝酸微波消解土壤样品-冷原子吸收法测定土壤中的汞。通过正交试验,优化了土壤中汞的微波消解条件。并对干扰消除、方法精密度、加标回收、检出限进行了试验研究。在0～10μg／L范围内线性关系良好,方法测定下限为0．20μg／L,土壤中汞的检出限为0．005μg／g。该优化条件对汞含量为0．02—0．46μg／g的土壤样品,汞提取完全。建立了一种简便、成本低、干扰少、灵敏度高的方法。