Process hazards review applied to the use of anhydrous ammonia in agriculture: an example of chemical process safety for small business

Process hazards review (PHR) techniques have generally been applied by large, sophisticated companies in the nuclear, aerospace, and chemical process industries. There remains, however, a large population of smaller distributors and consumers of hazardous materials which could benefit equally from the application of PHR. These consumers unfortunately are generally less sophisticated and individually lack the necessary resources required to apply such state-of-the-art safety techniques.

Where common processes can be identified, it is possible to conduct a more generic PHR that will provide a sound technical basis for recognizing and preventing the development of hazards wherever these processes are used. Some facility-specific issues will always need to be considered, but the existence of the generic PHR should make the conduct of a PHR by each facility considerably easier and less costly.

Researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) contracted with DNV Technica Inc. to lead a hazard and operability study (HAZOP) of agricultural handling of anhydrous ammonia, from the receipt of ammonia at the retail distribution centre to the application of the ammonia by farmers to the fields. The multidisciplinary HAZOP team consisted of representatives from NIOSH, an agricultural chemical trade association, an ammonia producer, state ammonia facility inspectors, a retail distributor, and an equipment manufacturer. Several participants were part-time farmers with ammonia application experience.

Some specific aspects of applying the HAZOP technique in the context of this study, the findings obtained, and the plans to disseminate the important safety information developed during the course of the PHR are discussed. Finally, it is suggested that this approach could prove to be a useful addition to the product stewardship activities of chemical producers.     

Assessing the biodegradation potential of polymers in screening- and long-term test systems

This paper presents a test scheme for assessing the biodegradation potential of polymers, starting with aquatic screening systems (aerobic and anaerobic) and continuing to long-term systems. At the end of the scheme the material has to prove its behavior under the relevant disposal conditions. Aerobic screening was performed mainly under aquatic conditions, but also in soil, using BOD-respirometry. Carbon balances were performed to obtain a better evaluation of the biodegradation potential. Under anaerobic conditions, biodegradation in an aquatic medium was followed by measuring CH₄ and CO₂ production. Polymers not fully degraded in the screening systems were tested in aquarium systems for at least 1 year. Biodegradation was followed by monitoring the DOC released in the water, mass loss, and microbial growth on the samples and in the water as well as via FTIR spectroscopy and SEM pictures. Results are presented for the polymers PHB, PHBV, PCL, Mater-Bi AI05H and ZF03U, and Bioceta. By combining the data from the screening with the aquarium system, a good picture of the degradation behavior of the polymers is obtained.Paper presented at the Bio/Environmentally Degradable Polymer Society—Third National Meeting, June 6–8, 1994, Boston, Massachusetts.     

A novel approach to treat combined domestic wastewater and excess sludge in MBR

Domestic wastewater was treated by combined anaerobic biofilm-aerobic membrane bioreactor(MBR) process, and part biomass in MBR was withdrawn, to treat with ozone, then the ozonated sludge was returned to anaerobic inlet. In aerobic MBR, MLSS and DO were controlled at 3000—3500 mg/L and 0.8 mg/L respectively. Comparing the experimental results of two stages, it was noticed that ozonation did not affect the removal efficiency for organics but had a significant influence on the removals of NHs-N and TN. During the ozonation period of two months, no excess sludge was wasted, and a zero sludge yield was obtained.     

兼氧生物膜法SBR工艺在碱减量废水处理中的应用

兼氧生物膜法SBR工艺融兼氧接触法、间歇式活性污泥法等多种工艺过程于一体,具有独特的工作原理和工艺特征。碱减量废水处理实践初步表明,该工艺耐冲击负荷能力强,处理效果好,与好氧生化工艺结合可以成为一种适用范围广、处理效果稳定的优秀的生化处理工艺。     

屠宰废水传统处理工艺的改进

把传统的物化 射流曝气活性污泥法处理屠宰废水 ,改造成AF SBR处理工艺 ,当进水SS、CODCr、BOD5、氨氮分别为 948mg L、475 9mg L、611mg L和 170 2mg L时 ,出水水质能够稳定达到《肉类加工工业水污染物排放标准》二级标准。改造后工艺技术具有针对性强 ,启动速度快 ,运行稳定可靠 ,耐冲击负荷 ,运行费用低等特点     

泡沫分离—厌氧—好氧工艺处理表面活性剂废水

采用泡沫分离－厌氧－好氧工艺对高浓度的表面活性剂废水进行了研究。试验和工程运行结果表明，该废水经泡沫分离后浓缩液进入UASB厌氧反应器，可大大减小反应器的体积，厌氧出水再经过水解、接触氧化工艺处理，CODCr总去除率可达88.4%，各项指标均达到排放标准。     

厌氧折流板反应器(ABR)的水动力学及污泥特性

ABR作为一种新型的厌氧反应器工艺 ,具有许多优良的性能 ,如良好的水力条件及抗冲击能力、简单的构造、良好的生物种群分布及处理效果等。目前 ,其在不同废水处理中运行效果已得到越来越多的研究和实际应用。在此就该工艺的水力流态及污泥性能作了探讨     

暗河式生活垃圾干发酵处理研究

提出了生活垃圾的暗河式干发酵处理研究及其工艺设想。经实验证明这种处理方法的优点是垃圾处理量大、垃圾可以得到及时即地处理、占用土地少等。是一种较理想的垃圾处理新思路     

冬尖发酵的微生物学研究

对冬尖发酵传统工艺过程的微生物学问题进行了研究。结果表明：冬尖发酵的盐浓度为１６．１％，说明参与发酵的微生物均属嗜盐微生物；第１年发酵中的优势菌群为兼性菌群，这类菌起着由好氧发酵向厌氧发酵的转变作用；第２年即冬尖发酵在关键期中的优势菌群以酵母菌群为主，嗜盐菌群为辅，说明酵母是发酵关键阶段主导微生物；第３－４年即产香并形成风味期中，嗜盐菌群占据显著地位，说明嗜盐菌在这一阶段起着重要作用。对从冬尖制品     

内循环(IC)厌氧反应器的发展与应用

主要介绍了IC反应器的特性和研究进展。IC反应器是UASB反应器的基础上发展起来的第三代厌氧生物反应器，它特有的内循环结构这一技术优势使其具有效率高、能耗低、投资少、占地省等优点。分析了IC反应器的缺陷，并展望了IC反应器的发展前景。