Surrogate compounds for dioxins in incineration. A review

Dioxins, formed in any combustion process where carbon, oxygen and chlorine are present, are a subject of major interest due to their toxicity. Their measurement is very expensive and time consuming. In order to optimize the combustion process, on-line measurements of pollutants must be done. The use of surrogate compounds instead of dioxins seems to be a convenient method to overcome the aforementioned drawback. This work is a review of the literature dedicated to the possible surrogate compounds for dioxins; the relationships found were systematized and, in some cases, the available experimental data were used and original correlations were found. Correlation of surrogate compounds was found to be: incinerator, feedstock, process and sample point location specific. Amongst the possible surrogates, chlorobenzenes show real possibilities to be good indicators for toxic equivalent factors.     

Harvesting of microalgae biomass from the phycoremediation process of greywater

The wide application of microalgae in the field of wastewater treatment and bioenergy source has improved research studies in the past years. Microalgae represent a good source of biomass and bio-products which are used in different medical and industrial activities, among them the production of high-valued products and biofuels. The present review focused on greywater treatment through the application of phycoremediation technique with microalgae and presented recent advances in technologies used for harvesting the microalgae biomass. The advantages and disadvantages of each method are discussed. The microbiological aspects of production, harvesting and utilization of microalgae biomass are viewed.