Emissions from RDF/coal blended fuel combustion

The significant volume and weight reduction along with the energy potential of MSW, in the form of refuse derived fuel (RDF), has made its incineration an attractive alternative. However, the gaseous emissions such as, CO₂, CO, NO_x and SO₂, which are the byproduct of the combustion process pose serious environmental problems. These problems are compounded by the presence of certain highly regulated hazardous wastes such as, dioxins and furans in the exhaust stream. In the present investigation, different compositions of RDF/Coal blends were examined and the gaseous emissions from the combustion of the briquetted fuel were measured. Also, a direct comparison of emissions from RDF/coal blend incineration with coal combustion is presented in this paper. The potential for recovery of ferrous and non- ferrous metals provides an additional economic motivation for the use of RDF/Coal blended briquettes.     

Decreased blood level of β2-microglobulin in the employees of a factory which produced polychlorinated biphenyls

Under the project of evaluating the health status of the employees of CHEMKO factory (East Slovakia) which produced PCBs between 1955 and 1985, the level of β₂-microglobulin (β₂-m) was measured in the serum of 242 subjects from CHEMKO (Group A) and two control groups from much less polluted areas: 1. 277 females from a small mountainous village (Group B), 2. 179 adults from the area of a large city of Ko ice (Group C). The level of thymidine kinase (TK) was measured in the groups A and B only. In addition, age-matched groups of 155 women each from all areas were evaluated. In both the whole group and the age-matched group from CHEMKO the level of β₂-m was significantly lower (P<0.001) than that in the respective control groups, while no difference was found in the level of TK. In conclusion, it is suggested that the decrease of β₂-m in CHEMKO employees might be related to the immunotoxic effects of organochlorines.     

Criteria for the evaluation of dioxins in the environment

In FRG and other countries unequivocal criteria for the limitation of dioxins (PCDD's/PCDF's) in food like vegetables and fruits are lacking. These have to be directly associated with the limitation of dioxins in the soil and the deposition of particulate matter as the two main pathways for plant contamination. Based on recent investigations in the vicinity of cable-waste incinerators in Northrhine-Westphalia with comparatively high contents of dioxins in garden plants and soils and other sources of dioxins, considerations are given for the establishment of the criteria urgently needed.     

二步法腈纶生产废水的处理试验

本试验采用混凝 -A/O系统组合工艺处理二步法腈纶废水 ,该系统处理效果良好 ,出水水质符合排放标准 ,可直接排入水体。A/O系统试验装置总容积 80L ,水力停留时间 5 8— 70h ,缺氧池与好氧池的容积比为 1∶3 ,回流比 ( 2—3 )∶1,COD和BOD总去除率分别约为 84%和 98%。     

A/O脱氮工艺的控制策略和应用性研究

根据A/O脱氮工艺的运行状况和影响因素 ,提出了应用在线传感器连续测定曝气池中DO浓度、氨氮浓度和硝酸氮浓度 ,并据此调节供氧强度、内循环回流量、有机碳源的投加以及硝化区和反硝化区的大小 ,这是保证A/O脱氮工艺良好处理效果的重要控制策略和思想。同时对近年来国外A/O脱氮工艺自动控制的应用及研究进行了简单的回顾。     

Formation of dioxins from combustion of polyvinylidene chloride in a well-controlled incinerator

Polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC; polymer of 1,1-dichloroethylene) was combusted with paper in a well-controlled, small-scale incinerator at an average grate temperature of 700 °C, and then dioxins (PCDDs, PCDFs, and coplanar-PCBs) formed in the exhaust gases were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. PVDC lowered the combustion temperature due to its less flammable character. The amount of total dioxins (PCDDs + PCDFs + coplanar-PCBs) formed in the exhaust gas was 58.0 ng/g of a combustion sample and its toxicity equivalency quantity (TEQ) value was 0.64 ng-TEQ/g. The amount of PCDDs formed in the sample ranged from 2.33 ng/g (Cl₈-isomer) to 0.048 ng/g (Cl₁-isomer). The lower the number of chloride, the less production of PCDDs. On the other hand, there was no relation between the number of chloride and PCDF formation. The amount of PCDFs formed in the sample ranged from 8.02 ng/g (Cl₂-isomer) to 4.46 ng/g (Cl₈-isomer). A polyvinylchloride (PVC) sample produced 207 ng/g of total dioxins and a PVDC sample produced 57.4 ng/g of total dioxins when they were combusted under the same conditions. An approximately equal composition of dioxin isomers was formed from PVDC and PVC samples. Paper was found to contribute to PCDF formation when it was combusted with plastics.     

Vapour pressures, aqueous solubility, Henry's law constants and air/water partition coefficients of 1,8-dichlorooctane and 1,8-dibromooctane

New data on the vapour pressures and aqueous solubility of 1,8-dichlorooctane and 1,8-dibromooctane are reported as a function of temperature between 20 °C and 80 °C and 1 °C and 40 °C, respectively. For the vapour pressures, a static method was used during the measurements which have an estimated uncertainty between 3% and 5%. The aqueous solubilities were determined using a dynamic saturation column method and the values are accurate to within ±10%. 1,8-Dichlorooctane is more volatile than 1,8-dibromooctane in the temperature range covered (p_sat varies from 3 to 250 Pa and from 0.53 to 62 Pa, respectively) and is also approximately three times more soluble in water (mole fraction solubilities at 25 °C of 5.95 × 10⁻⁷ and 1.92 × 10⁻⁷, respectively). A combination of the two sets of data allowed the calculation of the Henry’s law constants and the air water partition coefficients. A simple group contribution concept was used to rationalize the data obtained.     

Occurrences of pharmaceutical and personal care products as micropollutants in rivers from Romania

The occurrence of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) was investigated in the Somes River. The aim of this study was to obtain a first overview about the contamination of Somes River (Transylvania) with PPCPs. The samples were preconcentrated by Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) procedures and analysed by GC/MS. A number of 15 compounds including pharmaceutics, metabolites, intermediates and musk fragrances were detected in concentration ranging from 30 ng/l to 10 μg/l. The detected pharmaceuticals are included in following therapeutic groups: analgesics, antiepileptics, psychiatric, stimulants, anticoagulants, antineoplastic and disinfectants.     

Broad range analysis of endocrine disruptors and pharmaceuticals using gas chromatography and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) and pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) have been globally detected in impacted natural waters. The detection of trace quantities of EDCs and PPCPs in the environment is of great concern since some of these compounds have known physiological responses at low concentrations. EDCs can have a wide range of polarities, acidic and basic moieties, and exist in trace quantities, which often requires numerous complex extractions, large sample collection volumes, and multiple instrumental analyses. A comprehensive method has been developed allowing for the analysis of 58 potential EDCs in various water matrices using a single solid-phase extraction (SPE) of a 1 L sample with subsequent analyses using both gas chromatography and liquid chromatography, each coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS and LC–MS/MS). Instrument detection limits ranged between 0.12–7.5 pg with corresponding method reporting limits of 1–10 ng l⁻¹ in water. Recoveries for most compounds were between 50% and 112% with good reproducibility (RSD 6–22%).