Search results for "Waste management"
showing 10 items of 1526 documents
Wastewater COD characterization: analysis of respirometric and physical-chemical methods for determining biodegradable organic matter fractions
2010
BACKGROUND: In this work, a comprehensive study of the respirometric and physical–chemical methods has been performed to evaluate the information provided by these two methodologies in order to assess the biodegradable organic matter fractions of wastewater. RESULTS: First, an analysis was performed of the influence of the initial substrate on biomass ratio (F0/X0) in the assessment of readily biodegradable organic matter, SS, through respirometric experiments. In order to achieve an adequate assessment of the SS component, similar conditions (given by the initial F0/X0 ratio) must be employed in experiments that are carried to determine SS and YH (heterotrophic yield). Second, a comparativ…
Comparative effect of supercritical carbon dioxide and high pressure processing on structural changes and activity loss of oxidoreductive enzymes
2019
Abstract Due to the CO2 specific characteristics, it has been used as supercritical (Sc) fluid for several applications, including enzyme inactivation. The influence of Sc-CO2 (10–65 MPa/10–30 min/35–65 °C) on mushroom polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and horseradish peroxidase (POD) was evaluated and the results were compared with those found using high pressure processing (HPP) (200–900 MPa/5–45 °C/1–15 min). The free ion concentration was also studied to compare the enzymatic activity and changes in electrical conductivity. Additionally both enzymes, untreated or treated using either Sc-CO2 or HPP, were used as additives in the CuCl2 crystallization method. The resulting additive-specific CuCl2 …
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…
Screening pretreatment methods to enhance thermophilic anaerobic digestion of pulp and paper mill wastewater treatment secondary sludge
2013
Abstract The effect of hydrothermal (150 °C for 10 min and 70 °C for 40 min), enzymatic (Accelerase 1500, 0.07 g/g volatile solids (VS)), ultrasound (45 kHz for 30 min) and chemical pretreatments (HNO3 at pH 3 and NaOH at pH 12) alone or in combination on the chemical composition and methane yield of the pulp and paper mill secondary sludge was studied in batch assays at 55 °C. In total, 12 different pretreatment combinations were compared. Chemical analyses showed that all pretreatments except for HNO3 and ultrasound pretreatments improved the organic matter solubilization. Among the studied pretreatments, hydrothermal (150 °C, 10 min) pretreatment alone or in combination with enzymatic an…
UV photocatalytic oxidation of paint solvent compounds in air using an annular TiO2-supported reactor
2010
BACKGROUND: One of the most important industrial sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is related to coating and painting applications. In this sense, photocatalytic oxidation can become an innovative and promising alternative for the remediation of air polluted by VOCs. In this study the UV photodegradation of m-xylene, toluene and n-butyl acetate, as representative compounds of paint solvents, was carried out in an annular reactor using a TiO2–glass wool supported catalyst. RESULTS The removal of each component and their mixture, simulating an industrial emission, was evaluated under different operational conditions. A maximum elimination capacity of 12, 18 and 80 mg C m−3 s−1 was …
Evaluation of a pilot-scale biotrickling filter as a VOC control technology for the plastic coating sector
2011
Abstract The performance and feasibility of a biotrickling filter (BTF) pilot unit for the treatment of exhaust gases from two robotic spray paint booths at a plastic coating facility were investigated. The volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations in the emissions of the exhaust gases from the paint booths were relatively stable, although the VOC composition depended on the applied solvent-paint formulation in the booths. The pilot plant was operated for one year at empty bed residence times (EBRTs) ranging from 30 to 93 s. The performance of the system was affected by the solvent-paint formulations. An EBRT between 30 and 40 s was enough to meet legal requirements for products contai…
Use of biological and sedimentation models for designing Peñíscola WWTP.
2004
This paper presents Peñíscola wastewater treatment plant design. Peñíscola is a tourist city in Castellón (Spain), whose population changes significantly between summer and the rest of the year. The design of the biological and settling treatment units has been confirmed by computer model simulations and provided for biological organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus removal. Two different treatment schemes have been proposed in order to optimize the plant performance during both seasonal operations. During low-load season, the plant will be operated under extended aeration conditions, so further sludge stabilization will not be needed. During high-load season, the plant will be operated un…
Mercury Speciation in Floodplain Soils and Sediments along a Contaminated River Transect
1998
A novel mercury-specific sequential extraction procedure (SEP) for the assessment of mercury (Hg) speciation in soils and sediments, with emphasis on studying the interaction between Hg and organic matter (OM), was developed and tested. It was applied to determine Hg speciation in floodplain topsoils and surface sediments along the Hg-contaminated part of the river Elbe, and to simultaneously derive some information on the (re)mobilization potentials for Hg from these matrices. The majority of the total Hg in the ecosystem today is bound in the floodplains, which also still geographically reflect the historic emission record. Most of the Hg in both matrices is bound strongly to OM, suggesti…
Distribution of volatile organic compounds in Sicilian groundwaters analysed by head space-solid phase micro extraction coupled with gas chromatograp…
2008
This work presents the results of an assessment of the existence and concentration of 13 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in groundwaters from 14 hydrological basins in Sicily (25,710km (2)). On the basis of hydrological, hydrogeochemical and geological studies, 324 sampling points were selected. All groundwater sampled were collected twice, from October to December 2004 and from February to May 2005, and were analysed to determine the concentration and spatial distribution of the VOCs in the aquifers. The need to analyze a large number of samples in a short space of time so as to obtain quantitative analyses in trace concentration levels spurred us to create a new analytical method, both …
Selective Cobalt over Nickel separation using neat and confined ionic liquids
2020
International audience; Task Specific Ionic Liquids (TSILs) generated by association between tetraalkylammonium cations and coordinating anions such as dicyanamide (Dca-) and thiocyanate (SCN-) were used for the selective separation of Ni(II) over Co(II). SCN-based TSIL presents higher extraction efficiency than the Dca-based one towards Co(II) (E = 85.4 % vs 54.6 %) and Ni (II) (E = 22 % vs 0.5%) but lower separation factors (βCo/Ni = 21 vs 239). Interestingly, extraction of Co(II) and Ni(II) in Dca-based TSIL can be enhanced using salts with chaotropic anions such as NaNO3 (E > 90 % for Co(II) and E = 85% for Ni(II)). The use of NaCl allows, moreover, the efficient separation of both ions…