TABLE OF CONTENTS

S/N

Title

Synopsis

I. Subject Area: Environmental Technology

1

Enhanced process tackles mercury, acid gas emissions

A novel technology reduces emissions of mercury and other pollutants in the flue gas of power plants.

2

Inventor taps power of aluminium as renewable clean energy source

An alternative fuel cell called the Revolutionary Power Cell (RPC) has been developed to provide power generated from a piece of aluminium, by a simple process of oxidation.

3

Mapping software recreates landscapes to predict flooding

Environmental planners use sophisticated but easy to use mapping software to create virtual landscapes to predict flooding in a local area during a bad storm.

II. Subject Area: Environmental Management

4

Agency proposes dioxin standard for biosolids

The US EPA proposes a dioxin standard of 300 parts per trillion (ppt) toxic equivalents for biosolids that are applied onto land.

5

Standard methods

The US EPA approves the use of updated versions of 25 American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), 54 Standard Methods (SM) for Examination of Water and Wastewater and 13 EPA analytical methods for analysing chemical contaminants in drinking water under 40 CFR, Parts 141 and 143.

SUMMARY REPORT

Period Covered : 10 Apr 2000 to 16 Apr 2000

 

Item 1

Enhanced Process Tackles Mercury, Acid Gas Emissions

Summary

A novel technology may soon reduce emissions of mercury in flue gas of power plants throughout the US. During a pilot study at the Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G) Mercer Generating Station, the flyash and activated carbon-based technology removed as much as 80% of the mercury vapour while achieving substantial reductions in fine particles, sulphur dioxide and hydrochloric acid in the flue gas.

According to its Baltimore-based developer, Environmental Elements Corp., the technology is a variation of the company's Circulating Dry Scrubber (CDS), which uses a circulating bed of flyash into which lime has been added. Small amounts of activated carbon are also introduced into the bed to further enhance mercury removal.

Smaller particles agglomerate as they travel at a high velocity through the fluidized flyash bed and collide with the bed's almost-stationary larger particles. The resulting larger agglomerates are more readily captured by conventional means such as an electrostatic precipitator. The added lime effectively captures sulphur dioxide and hydrochloric acid, while the activated carbon works to adsorb mercury, which typically exists in vapour form in the flue gas.

Reference

Pollution Engineering February 2000 Page 14-15

 

Item 2

Inventor taps power of aluminium as renewable clean energy source

Summary

adeg M. Faris, a former engineer for IBM and now chairman of his own company Reveo Inc., has a new invention, an alternative fuel cell called the Revolutionary Power Cell (RPC). The RPC provides power generated from a piece of aluminium, by a simple process of oxidation. The process turns aluminium into aluminium oxide and the energy released from the reaction can power something as small as a cellular phone to something as big as a automobile and potentially provide a stand alone source of power for a home. Aluminium oxide is turned back to aluminium when the process is reversed.

The RPC products will hit the open market early next year. A cellular phone on average can be powered by the new power source for 750 minutes as compared to an average of 160 minutes by a Lithium battery. In addition, Faris estimates that with large capacity versions of the RPC, electric powered vehicles could cover distances of up to 600 miles as compared to 120 miles by a hydrogen fuel cell.

Summary

Earth Times News Service, 16 April 2000

 

 

Item 3

Mapping software recreates landscapes

Summary

Sophisticated mapping software has become so easy to use that local environmental planners are creating virtual landscapes that predict which streets, farms and homes would flood in a bad storm.

The mapping software, called Geographic Information Systems, or GIS, uses satellite and aerial photographs to produce detailed computer drawings of the land and its features for use in complex modelling tasks. Environmental engineers can then stimulate scenarios that mimic nature. They could simulate rainfall to determine the difference between normal and catastrophic flooding.

Using computer-generated hydrology models, planners can encourage towns to enact tough planning rules for developers to follow to prevent runoff from worsening.

GIS software used to run only on mainframes. By the mid-1990s, affordable, high-speed personal computers and user-friendly softwares have made hydrology modelling easily available.

Reference

Environmental News Network, April 15, 2000

 

 

Item 4

Agency Proposes Dioxin Standard for Biosolids

Summary

The US EPA has proposed a dioxin standard of 300 parts per trillion (ppt) toxic equivalents for biosolids that are applied onto land.

The standard would affect large municipal wastewater treatment plants that dispose of their sludge through land application, as well as processors that handle more than 290 dry metric tonnes of sewage sludge for land application annually.

EPA examined dioxin's risk to human health (cancer as an endpoint) in land-applied and incinerated biosolids through a multi-pathway risk assessment. For incineration, none of the risks exceeded 1 x 10-6.

Currently, some US plants are applying biosolids with dioxin concentrations higher than 300 ppt onto land. Those that exceed the limit will have to stop such practices or blend it with another material.

Facilities affected under the proposal would be required to perform dioxin testing twice a year for two years. Annual monitoring then would be required for facilities showing results between 30 ppt and 300 ppt. If they are below 30 ppt after testing twice, they would not have to monitor again for another 5 years.

Reference

Pollution Engineering February 2000 Page 12

 

 

 

Item 5

Standard Methods

Summary

EPA has promulgated a rule approving the use of updated versions of 25 American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), 54 Standard Methods (SM) for Examination of Water and Wastewater and 13 EPA analytical methods for analysing chemical contaminants in drinking water under 40 CFR, Parts 141 and 143.

The Agency is withdrawing approval of the previous versions of the 13 EPA methods. Previous versions of the SM and ASTM methods will continue to be approved. EPA is also approving the use of two new methods for simultaneous determination of total coliforms and E.coli, a new method for the determination of lead, six new methods for determination of magnesium and two new methods for determination of acid herbicides.

Reference

Pollution Engineering February 2000 Page 8

 

 
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