Search results for "Environmental engineering"
showing 10 items of 2674 documents
Pyrolysis of humic acids from digested and composted sewage sludge
2000
Humic acids (HAs) were extracted from four digested sewage sludge samples composted for four months, one, two and four years. HAs were pyrolyzed at three different temperatures applying both conventional and in situ methylation (ISM) pyrolysis. The pyrolysates were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Derivatization (ISM) and pyrolysis temperature had dramatic effects on the composition and relative amounts of the pyrolysates. Among the derivatized HA fragments aliphatic compounds prevailed under all the pyrolysis conditions tested. Aromatic substances consisting mainly of guaiacyl-type compounds were detected in higher abundances only at elevated temperatures. Witho…
Chemical degradation products of lignin and humic substances part I Synthesis, structure verification and gas chromatographic separation of chlorinat…
1993
Abstract Chlorinated vanillins (4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehydes) and syringaldehydes (3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxy-benzaldehydes) were synthesized and their purities and structures were examined by quartz capillary gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The detailed procedures for the synthesis, gas chromatographic separation and mass spectroscopic features are presented.
Design of nutrient removal activated sludge systems
2003
A mechanistic mathematical model for nutrient and organic matter removal was used to describe the behavior of a nitrification denitrification enhanced biological phosphorus removal (NDEBPR) system. This model was implemented in a user-friendly software DESASS (design and simulation of activated sludge systems). A 484-L pilot plant was operated to verify the model results. The pilot plant was operated for three years over three different sludge ages. The validity of the model was confirmed with data from the pilot plant. Also, the utility of DESASS as a valuable tool for designing NDEBPR systems was confirmed.
Quantitative study of the capture of silver nanoparticles by several kinds of soils
2018
The capacity of different soils to capture silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by measuring changes of an AgNP intrinsic property such as the plasmon for the first time, was studied. In-tube solid-phase microextraction (IT-SPME) coupled on-line to capillary liquid chromatography (CapLC) with diode array detection (DAD) was employed for measuring the interactions between soil and in-contact AgNP dispersions. Its achieved LOD 9 pM assures quantitative retention measurements and selectivity for soil lixiviation was suitable. Electronic microscopy was employed for corroborating the entrapped Ag into the soils. Capture % of AgNPs was calculated in compost (>99%), mountain (>99%), orchard (15±1%) and ur…
Organic chlorine compounds in lake sediments. II Organically bound chlorine
1990
Abstract Organically bound chlorine together with inorganic chloride was measured from dated bottom sediment layers of 18 lakes in Central Finland and compared to organic matter contents. Pulp mills were found to be the source of significant increase of the accumulation of all of these materials in the 20th century.
Performance of a hybrid activated sludge/biofilm process for wastewater treatment in a cold climate region: Influence of operating conditions
2013
a b s t r a c t The main aim of the study was to investigate a hybrid MBBR process, mostly in terms of organic matter removal and nitrification, when operating with different values of the mixed liquor sludge retention time (SRT), and highlighting the influence of temperature on the process. Based on experience in practice it was hypothesized that nitrification could be maintained at far lower SRT's than in conventional activated sludge systems and with high organic loading rates applied. A field gathering campaign has been carried out on a hybrid activated sludge/biofilm. The obtained results highlighted that the pilot plant was capable to remove the organic matter at loading rates up to 3…
Rheological Behaviour, Mechanical Properties and Processability of Biodegradable Polymer Systems for Film Blowing
2017
Films for agricultural or packaging applications are typically made of low density polyethylene (LDPE). They are produced through the film blowing process, which requires the use of polymers with suitable rheological properties. Furthermore, the short shelf-life which is often related to many packed products leads to huge amounts of plastic-based wastes. This suggests the use of biodegradable and/or compostable polymers in replacement for traditional ones. To this regard, only few data exist on the rheological properties of biodegradable polymers undergoing film blowing processing. In this work, a detailed investigation on the rheological, mechanical and processability behaviour of some bio…
Rheological Behavior Under Shear and Non-Isothermal Elongational Flow of Biodegradable Polymers for Foam Extrusion
2013
The production of many items, in particular for food packaging applications, is based on foam extrusion and thermoforming. These operations require the use of polymers which can grant some specific rheological properties, both under shear and elongational flow. In this work, the behavior of some biodegradable polymers [Mater-Bi® and poly(lactic acid)] under shear and non-isothermal elongational flow was investigated and compared with a traditional, non-biodegradable polymer, in order to assess their suitability for industrial-scale foam extrusion and thermoforming. The rheological characterization evidenced the differences between the different biodegradable polymers and the reference polys…
Biofiltration of ethylbenzene vapours: influence of the packing material.
2006
In order to investigate suitable packing materials, a soil amendment composed of granular high mineralized peat (35% organic content) locally available has been evaluated as carrier material for biofiltration of volatile organic compounds in air by comparison with a fibrous peat (95% organic content). Both supports were tested to eliminate ethylbenzene from air streams in laboratory-scale reactors inoculated with a two-month conditioned culture. In pseudo-steady state operation, experiments at various ethylbenzene inlet loads (ILs) were carried out. Maximum elimination capacity of about 120 g m(-3) h(-1) for an IL of 135 g m(-3) h(-1) was obtained for the fibrous peat. The soil amendment re…
Characterization of interaction between tricyclic structures containing pharmaceuticals, their models and humic substances.
2011
Their persistence and wide consumption identify pharmaceuticals as “emerging pollutants”. The complexation of pharmaceuticals containing adamantine ring structures and their model substances with humic acids (HA) of different origins was compared using fluorescence spectroscopy as a function of pH, humic acid concentration, ionic strength, and molecular mass of HA. Binding constants between the studied pharmaceuticals and humic acids were calculated. A combination of dynamic and static quenching processes as indicated by nonlinear Stern-Volmer plots and high Kd values were positively correlated with the concentration of carboxyl groups in the studied humic acids. For basic functional group-…