Search results for "Environmental engineering"
showing 10 items of 2674 documents
Anaerobic batch degradation of solid poultry slaughterhouse waste
2000
We studied anaerobic batch degradation of solid poultry slaughterhouse wastes with different initial waste and inoculum concentrations and waste-to-inoculum ratios and simulated the dynamics of the process with a new generation <METHANE> model. Our modelling results suggest that inhibited propionate degradation by long-chain fatty acids (LCFA) and inhibited hydrolysis by a high propionate concentration constituted the rate-limiting step in the waste degradation. Palmitate was the most abundant LCFA in the assays. Within 27 days of incubation, up to 0.55 to 0.67 m3 of methane (STP)/kg VS added was produced under the studied conditions. Lower waste-to-inoculum ratios exhibited a…
The impact of Pleurotus ostreatus on organic matter transformation processes.
2012
This study showed the effect of Pleurotus ostreatus on the external organic matter (OM) transformation processes. The kinetics of these changes were determined. The experiment was conducted as 42-day pot experiment done in four combinations (with four replications). The four combinations of different substrates were: (1) organic, (2) composted hay, (3) organic soil + composted hay, (4) organic soil + composted hay + lead. The study results showed that P. ostreatus had the ability to transform external OM as well as metal–organic complexes. These transformations were reflected in the constant rate of characterized changes and correlation coefficients. The study also indicated the direction o…
Calcium effect on enhanced biological phosphorus removal.
2006
The role of calcium (Ca) in enhanced biological phosphorus removal and its possible implications on the metabolic pathway have been studied. The experience has been carried out in an SBR under anaerobic–aerobic conditions for biological phosphorus removal during 8 months. The variations of influent Ca concentration showed a clear influence on the EBPR process, detecting significant changes in YPO4. These YPO4 variations were not due to influent P/COD ratio, pH, denitrification and calcium phosphate formation. The YPO4 has been found to be highly dependent on the Ca concentration, increasing as Ca concentration decreases. The results suggest that high Ca concentrations produce “inert” granul…
How Humic Substances Dominate Mercury Geochemistry in Contaminated Floodplain Soils and Sediments
1998
The interaction of mercury (Hg) and humic substances (hs) was studied in floodplain topsoils and surface sediments of the contaminated German river Elbe. An intimate coupling exists between the geochemical cycles of Hg and organic carbon (OC) in this ecosystem. Humic substances exert a dominant influence on several important parallel geochemical pathways of Hg, including binding, transformation, and transport processes. Significant differences exist between the Hg-hs associations in floodplains and sediments. Both humic acids (ha) and fulvic acids (fa) contribute to Hg binding in the sediments. In contrast, ultrafiltration experiments proved that Hg in the floodplain soils is almost exclusi…
Contamination from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the soil of a botanic garden localized next to a former manufacturing gas plant in Pale…
2010
The Botanical Garden lies within the city of Palermo, a few meters away from one of the largest unused Manufacturing Gas Plant in Sicily. The total concentrations of PAHs (23 compounds) in the soil of Botanical Garden ranged from 947 to 18,072 microg/kg. The wide range of PAH concentrations (RSD=84%) found in the soil samples indicates heterogeneous levels of contamination in the area and this can be explained by considering the different tree distributions which prevents the homogeneous deposition of pollutants on the soil. Soils collected in the Botanical Garden generally showed the highest PAH concentrations, being almost 2-3 times higher than the concentration samples obtained in the ur…
Benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylenes in ambient air and Pinus sylvestris L. needles: a comparative study between Belgium, Hungary and Latvia
2001
Abstract Concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylenes (BTEX) in ambient air and in 1 yr old Pinus sylvestris pine needles were monitored along a busy road, petrol station and rural area of Belgium, Hungary and Latvia in a 1 yr period. To test P. sylvestris as a possible biomonitor for the BTEX concentrations, samples were taken in the four seasons. As the distribution of data was not normal, the level of pollution on different sites and seasons was compared and evaluated by non-parametric tests. The measured air concentrations did not differ significantly from one season to another throughout the year. There were, however, differences between sampling places. The C2-alkylbe…
Characterization and Processability of Blends of Polylactide Acid with a New Biodegradable Medium-Chain-Length Polyhydroxyalkanoate
2015
In this work the processability and the mechanical performance of polylactide acid (PLA) based blends with a sample of a new biodegradable medium-chain-length poly (hydroxyalkanoate) (PHA) were investigated. The two polymers are incompatible with scarce adhesion and with the dispersed PHA particles size increasing with the PHA content. Rheological tests in shear flow indicate that adding PHA improves the processability of the matrix by increasing the content of this second component in the blend, as observed also for the torque curves, due to the very low viscosity of this new sample of PHA. The processability is only slightly worsened in non-isothermal elongational flow as the melt strengt…
Organic chlorine compounds in lake sediments. V. Bottom of Baikal near a pulp mill
1990
Abstract Organically bound chlorine (OCl) together with inorganic chloride (Cl − ) was measured from bottom surface samples of the Lake Baikal near a pulp mill and compared to organic matter contents (OM). Although total contents of OCl, Cl − and OM were much lower than, the ratio of OCl to OM was of the same order of magnitude as in pulp mill recipients of Finland.
Natural organic matter coagulation in Valencia water supply. Pilot plant studies
1998
: To reduce disinfection by-product (DBP) formation in drinking water treatment, the presence of natural organic matter in surface waters must be minimised. This paper describes pilot plant studies carried out on two surface waters to assess the effectiveness of coagulation in organic matter removal, the Turia and Jucar rivers, which supply the city of Valencia (1m inhabitants). The experiments were conducted with different coagulants (iron sulphate, polyaluminium chloride (PACl)) and treatment schemes. Process effectiveness was evaluated in terms of effluent turbidity, presence of residual metal in final water, and organic matter removal. Four parameters were used to quantify organic matte…
DESASS: A software tool for designing, simulating and optimising WWTPs
2008
This paper presents a very useful software tool to design, simulate and optimise wastewater treatment plants. The program is called DESASS (DEsign and Simulation of Activated Sludge Systems) and has been developed by CALAGUA research group. The mathematical model implemented is the Biological Nutrient Removal Model No.1 (BNRM1) which allows simulating the most important physical, chemical and biological processes taking place in treatment plants. DESASS calculates the performance under steady or transient state of whole treatment schemes including primary settlers, volatile fatty acid generation systems by primary sludge fermentation, activated sludge systems for biological organic matter a…