Does my business need generator identification numbers and manifests?

Overview: Information presented in this publication is intended to provide a general understanding of the statutory and regulatory requirements governing generator identification numbers and manifests. This information is not intended to replace, limit, or expand upon the complete statutory and regulatory requirements found in the Illinois Environmental Protection Act and Title 35 of the Illinois Administrative Code of Regulations.

Investigation results fact sheet 1 : Van Tran Electric Site, Vandalia, Illinois.

"December 1993."

Manejo y reducción de desperidicios de lavadores de repuestos.

Overview: Information presented in this publication is intended to provide a general understanding of the statutory and regulatory requirements governing generator identification numbers and manifests. This information is not intended to replace, limit, or expand upon the complete statutory and regulatory requirements found in the Illinois Environmental Protection Act and Title 35 of the Illinois Administrative Code of Regulations.

Guía general para la gestión de residuos sólidos domiciliarios

Este documento tiene como objetivo presentar diferentes aspectos sobre la gestión de residuos sólidos domiciliarios en una forma comprensible para quienes estén desarrollando labores relacionadas con estos elementos, especialmente en el ámbito público, El trabajo se divide en tres partes. La primera trata sobre elementos generales de gestión integral de residuos sólidos domiciliarios; en ella se explican conceptos y se abarcan temáticas relacionadas con el plan de manejo. En la segunda parte se abordan temas relacionados con la ingeniería básica (alternativas tecnológicas, métodos de cálculo y de disposición). Finalmente se presentan dos capítulos de formulación y evaluación de proyectos, los que abarcan desde el ciclo de vida de los proyectos hasta la evaluación social.

Characterizing the physical and chemical properties of a vermicompost filter bed

Vermicompost filtration is a new on-site waste treatment system. Consequently, little is known about the filter medium properties. The aim of this preliminary study was to quantify physical and compositional properties of vermicompost filter beds that had been used to treat domestic solid organic waste and wastewater. This paper presents the trials performed on pilot-scale reactors filled with vermicompost from a full-scale vermicompost filtration system. Household solid organic waste and raw wastewater at the rate of 130 L/m(2)/d was applied to the reactor bed surface over a four-month period. It was found that fresh casts laid on the bed surface had a BOD of 1290 mg/g VS while casts buried to a depth of 10 cm had a BOD of 605 mg/g VS. Below this depth there was little further biodegradation of earthworm casts despite cast ages of up to five years. Solid material in the reactor accounted for only 7-10% of the reactor volume. The total voidage comprised of large free-draining pores, which accounted for 15-20% of the reactor volume and 60-70% micropores, able to hold up water against gravity. It was shown that water could flow through the medium micropores and macropores following a wastewater application. The wastewater flow characteristics were modeled by a two-region model based on the Richards Equation, an equation used to describe porous spatially heterogeneous materials.

Integration of sulphate reduction, autotrophic denitrification and nitrification to achieve low-cost excess sludge minimisation for Hong Kong sewage

An integrated anaerobic-aerobic treatment system of sulphate-laden wastewater was proposed here to achieve low sludge production, low energy consumption and effective sulphide control. Before integrating the whole system, the feasibility of autotrophic denitrification utilising dissolved sulphide produced during anaerobic treatment of sulphate rich wastewater was studied here. An upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor was operated to treat sulphate-rich synthetic wastewater (TOC = 100 mg/L and sulphate = 500 mg/L) and its effluent with dissolved sulphide and external nitrate solution were fed into an anoxic biofilter. The anaerobic reactor was able to remove 77-85% of TOC at HRT of 3 h and produce 70-90 mg S/L sulphide in dissolved form for the subsequent denitrification. The performance of anoxic reactor was stable, and the anoxic reactor could remove 30 mg N/L nitrate at HRT of 2 h through autotrophic denitrification. Furthermore, sulphur balance for the anoxic filter showed that more than 90% of the removed sulphide was actually oxidised into sulphate, thereby there was no accumulation of sulphur particles in the filter bed. The net sludge productions were approximately 0.15 to 0.18 g VSS/g COD in the anaerobic reactor and 0.22 to 0.31 g VSS/g NO3--N in the anoxic reactor. The findings in this study will be helpful in developing the integrated treatment system to achieve low-cost excess sludge minimisation.

A study of gas holdup properties of selected non-Newtonian simulants

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) needs a design basis to properly design a PJM and ventilation systems for the Waste Treatment Plant vessels. In order to meet DOE's needs for proper ventilation and PJM design technologies, Florida International University's Hemispheric Center for Environmental Technology (FIU-HCET) has studied the properties for gas holdup in selected non Newtonian fluids with physicochemical properties comparable to nuclear waste. The primary purpose of this research was to study the holdup properties of selected non - Newtonian simulants and quantify the level of gas holdup in selected simulants using continuous argon injection in five gallons vessel. Gas holdup tests involved the injection of gas bubbles in simulant waste in scaled prototypic vessels. The holdup was measured as a function of injection rate in the vessel. Tests were performed with both Laponite, Clay 12%, Clay 27% and Qard 13.5. This work showed that the percentage of holdup was about 3% for all simulants despite the significant differences in rheology.

Caracterização e separação física de placas de circuito impresso de computadores obsoletos

The unbridled consumption of electronic equipment associated with fast immersion of new technologies on the market leads to the accelerated growth of electronic waste. Such waste mostly contains printed circuit boards in its structure. Printed circuit boards have many metals, including heavy metals, being highly toxic. Electronic waste is discarded improperly and indiscriminately, usually without any previous treatment and with other municipal waste, contaminating the environment and causing serious problems to human health. Beyond these metals, there are also precious metals and high value-added basis, that can be recovered and recycled, reducing the exploration of natural resources. Thus, due to the high growth potential and reuse of these waste treatment processes, characterization and separation were applied to the printed circuit boards. The printed circuit boards were subjected to physical treatments such as dismantling, crushing, sizing separation, magnetic separation and chemical treatments such as pyrolysis and leaching. Through characterization process (pyrolysis and leaching) the proportions of the components of the granulometric range were determined: 46,08% of metals; 23,32% of polymers and 30,60% of ceramics. It was also observed by particle size separation that metal components tend to concentrate in coarse fractions, while polymeric and ceramic components in fine fractions. From the magnetic separation process was obtained 12,08% of magnetic material and 82,33% of non-magnetic material.

Size, blood organochlorine pesticide concentrations and biochemical indicators measured in hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) nesting at Punta Xen (Campeche, Mexico) in August 2010

The impact of environmental pollution on the homeostasis of sea turtles remains scarce, particularly in the southern Gulf of Mexico. As many municipalities do not rely on a waste treatment plant along the coastline of the Yucatan Peninsula, the vulnerability of these specimens could results enhanced. We searched for relationships between presence of organochlorine pesticides (OCP) and the level of several oxidative and pollutant stress indicators of the hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) during the egg-laying period 2010 at Punta Xen (Campeche, Mexico). Endosulfans, aldrin related (aldrin, endrin, dieldrin, endrin ketone, endrin aldehyde) and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDT) families were detected in 17, 21 and 26 of the 30 sampled sea turtles, respectively. Significant correlation existed between the size of sea turtles with the concentration of methoxychlor, cholinesterase activity in plasma and heptachlors family, and catalase activity and hexachlorohexane family. Cholinesterase activity in washed erythrocytes and lipid peroxidation were positively correlated with glutathione reductase activity. Antioxidant enzyme actions seem adequate as no lipids damages were correlated with any OCPs. Future studies are necessary to evaluate the effect of OCPs on males of the area because of the significant detection of methoxychlor that target endocrine functioning and increase its concentration with size of the sea turtles.

Produção de CDR a partir de resíduos industriais: caso de estudo da Recivalongo

A produção de combustível derivado de resíduos (CDR) resultou de uma decisão política que permitiu a instalação em Portugal de um significativo conjunto de processos, cuja avaliação técnico-económica e ambiental pode já ser feita. Este trabalho faz uma avaliação técnica e ambiental da linha de produção de CDR da Recivalongo. A avaliação técnica consistiu na análise dos caudais de material que entraram na linha de produção, na quantidade de CDR produzido, contabilizando também os gastos de recursos da linha (energia e materiais auxiliares). A avaliação da qualidade de CDR produzido a partir do ensaio laboratorial representou também uma parte muito significativa do trabalho produzido. A avaliação ambiental foi efetuada com base na metodologia da Avaliação de Ciclo de Vida (ACV). Os resultados obtidos permitiram concluir que o processo da Recivalongo transforma 69% do material de entrada, recuperando 2% em metais ferrosos e rejeitando para aterro a restante fração de 29%. As análises efetuadas ao CDR mostraram que apresenta um PCI compreendido entre 17 e 20 MJ/kg; o teor em cloro está compreendido entre 0,2 e 0,8% Conclui-se que neste processo o parâmetro mais difícil de controlar é o teor em cloro no CDR, pois existe uma grande diversidade de resíduos com grandes quantidades de cloro na sua constituição e que por muitas vezes são difíceis de identificar e/ou separar na primeira fase do tratamento dos resíduos. Da análise ciclo de vida efetuada à produção de CDR pode-se afirmar que esta operação de gestão de resíduos apresenta uma mais-valia quando comparada com a deposição dos resíduos em aterro, não sendo a diferença entre destinos tão significativa quanto o esperado. Desta avaliação pode concluir-se que a instalação operou muito abaixo da sua capacidade, sendo esta considerada uma das melhores linhas de produção de CDR a nível nacional.

Procedimiento y dispositivo para el tratamiento integrado de residuos vegetales procedentes de explotaciones agrícolas y de las aguas residuales originadas

Procedimiento y dispositivo para el tratamiento integrado de residuos vegetales procedentes de explotaciones agrícolas y de las aguas residuales originadas. Procedimiento y dispositivo para el tratamiento de residuos vegetales en el que un volumen de residuos se somete a un proceso que integra las siguientes operaciones: (i) cortado mediante cizalla, (ii) homogeneizado mediante vibración, (iii) lavado con surfactantes en cilindro rotatorio, (iv) secado en cinta continua mediante chorro de aire caliente, y (v) secado opcional en tanque giratorio provisto de chorro de aire caliente, en caso de ser necesario reducir la humedad, originándose finalmente un residuo estable, de menor volumen que el inicial apto para uso industrial, y una corriente de aguas de lavado con una elevada concentración de pesticidas, microorganismos, surfactantes y partículas. La corriente de aguas de lavado se filtran y se llevan a un tanque-reactor que por tratamiento oxidativo con ozono y agua oxigenada mineraliza loscontaminantes presentes permitiendo su reutilización.

Valorização de resíduos provenientes da atividade no setor avícola: aplicação do processo de compostagem

O setor avícola, como setor em constante crescimento está associado à produção de elevadas quantidades de resíduos sólidos orgânicos. A crescente taxa de produção de resíduos avícolas leva à necessidade de lhes dar um destino adequado podendo a valorização orgânica, nomeadamente a compostagem, ser uma opção. O presente estudo pretende dar um contributo para o projeto de uma unidade de compostagem numa empresa portuguesa do setor, com valorização dos resíduos produzidos pela mesma, avaliando o potencial de aplicação desta operação de tratamento de resíduos e a qualidade do produto final. Como primeiro passo foi realizada uma caracterização dos resíduos a utilizar de forma a perceber a sua possível influência no processo de degradação. Os ensaios de compostagem foram realizados à escala laboratorial, numa gama de temperatura de 50 a 55ᵒC, utilizando como substrato base uma mistura dos resíduos avícolas, de acordo com os seus quantitativos de produção. Vários potenciais agentes estruturantes foram também testados, como adição ao substrato. A monitorização do processo foi feita com base em análises das fases gasosa (gases de exaustão), sólida (substrato em decomposição) e líquida (lixiviado). A avaliação do processo foi ainda complementada com a caracterização dos produtos finais obtidos, os quais foram ainda sujeitos a testes de fitotoxicidade. Foram observados graus de conversão de matéria orgânica relativamente altos (40-50%), comprovando a aplicabilidade desta operação de tratamento de resíduos. Embora a diferença entre ensaios tenha sido pouco notória, a utilização de uma combinação de cama de aviário e mato destroçado e compostado aparenta ser ligeiramente mais eficiente, enquanto a utilização de casca de eucalipto produziu os piores resultados. Perdas de humidade e de azoto foram as duas situações mais críticas observadas para os vários ensaios, tendo influência tanto sobre o processo como sobre o produto final. Os compostos obtidos revelam baixa qualidade, exibindo valores elevados de pH e condutividade elétrica e elevadas concentrações de metais pesados, tais como cobre e zinco. Supõe-se que as características adversas verificadas estejam associadas à aplicação de quantidades demasiado elevadas de cinza nos substratos, levando à necessidade de redução deste material; estudos adicionais seriam necessários a fim de avaliar as possibilidades de ajuste das quantidades a utilizar, dos diferentes materiais, com o intuito de produzir um produto final com qualidade, respeitando os requisitos legais.

System innovation and life cycle thinking in packaging value chain: the circularity of plastics.

Compared to other, plastic materials have registered a strong acceleration in production and consumption during the last years. Despite the existence of waste management systems, plastic_based materials are still a pervasive presence in the environment, with negative consequences on marine ecosystem and human health. The recycling is still challenging due to the growing complexity of product design, the so-called overpackaging, the insufficient and inadequate recycling infrastructure, the weak market of recycled plastics and the high cost of waste treatment and disposal. The Circular economy package, the European Strategy for plastics in a circular economy and the recent European Green Deal include very ambitious programmes to rethink the entire plastic value chain. As regards packaging, all plastic packaging will have to be 100% recyclable (or reusable) and 55% recycled by 2030. Regions are consequently called upon to set up a robust plan able to fit the European objectives. It takes on greater importance in Emilia Romagna where the Packaging valley is located. This thesis supports the definition of a strategy aimed to establish an after-use plastics economy in the region. The PhD work has set the basis and the instruments to establish the so-called Circularity Strategy with the aim to turn about 92.000t of plastic waste into profitable secondary resources. System innovation, life cycle thinking and participative backcasting method have allowed to deeply analyse the current system, orientate the problem and explore sustainable solutions through a broad stakeholder participation. A material flow analysis, accompanied by a barrier analysis, has supported the identification of the gaps between the present situation and the 2030 scenario. Eco-design for and from recycling (and a mass _based recycling rate (based on the effective amount of plastic wastes turned into secondary plastics), valorized by a value_based indicator, are the key-points of the action plan.

Post-treatment of effluents from the sulfate reduction process by anaerobic sequencing batch biofilm reactors

The main objective of this research was to evaluate the potential use of a bench-scale anaerobic sequencing batch biofilm reactor (ASBBR) containing mineral coal as inert support for removal Of Sulfide and organic matter effluents from an ASBBR (1.2 m(3)) utilized for treatment of sulfate-rich wastewater. The cycle time was 48 h, including the steps of feeding (2 h), reaction with continuous liquid recirculation (44 h) and discharge (2 h). COD removal efficiency was up to 90% and the effluents total sulfide concentrations (H(2)S, HS(-), S(2-)) remained in the range of 1.5 to 7.5 mg.l(-1) during the 50 days of operation (25 cycles). The un-ionized Sulfide and ionized sulfides were converted by biological process to elemental sulfur (S(0)) under oxygen limited conditions. The results obtained in the bench-scale reactor were used to design an ASBBR in pilot scale for use in post-treatment to achieve the emission standards (sulfide and COD) for sulfate reduction. The pilot-scale reactor, with a total volume of 0.43 m(3), the COD and total sulfide removal achieved 88% and 57%, respectively, for a cycle time of 48 h (70 days of operation or 35 cycles).

Combination of an anaerobic process with O(3), UV and O(3)/UV for cellulose pulp bleaching effluent treatment

Recent studies have shown that partial oxidation by advanced oxidation processes (AOP) is able to transform hard-to-degrade compounds and increase their biodegradability. In this work, anaerobic treatment was followed by ozonation, UV radiation and ozonation in the presence of UV radiation, to treat bleaching effluents from a cellulose kraft Pulp plant. The anaerobic reactor (horizontal anaerobic immobilized Sludge bed, HAISB) was Used as a pretreatment to reduce the efficient organic load before applying ACIP. The ozone treatments were applied in three different pH environments (3, 8 and 10) with retention times of 10, 30, 45 and 60 min. COD and adsorbable organic halogens (AOX) removal efficiencies at the HAISB were approximately 50%, while the BOD removal efficiency reached 80%. Ozonation promoted further removal of AOX and COD so that the combined efficiency reached 96% for AOX and 70% for COD. In the oxidation process, BOD was either removed in small quantities or actually increased, as intended, so that a second biological treatment would be able to complete the treatment. The maximum increase in the BOD(5)/COD ratio (biodegradability indicator) Occurred at pH 8, reaching 104% for ozonation at a dosage of 1540 mg(O3).L(-1). Applying UV radiation alone resulted in lower values: a 34% increase ill the BOD(5)/COD ratio and a 76% AOX removal efficiency. These results indicate that the combination of anaerobic treatment with ozonation or ozonation/UV radiation improves the treatability of cellulose pulp bleaching efficients and that the resulting wastewater is suitable for further biological treatment under aerobic conditions with a low level of toxic compounds from the halogenated family.