Zero-Valent Metal Emulsion for Reductive Dehalogenation of DNAPLs

A zero-valent metal emulsion is used to dehalogenate solvents, such as pooled dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs), including trichloroethylene (TCE). The zero-valent metal emulsion contains zero-valent metal particles, a surfactant, oil and water, The preferred zero-valent metal particles are nanoscale and microscale zero-valent iron particles

Contaminant Removal From Natural Resources

A zero-valent metal emulsion containing zero-valent metal particles is used to remediate contaminated natural resources, such as groundwater and soil. In a preferred embodiment, the zero-valent metal emulsion removes heavy metals, such as lead (pb), from contaminated natural resources. In another preferred embodiment, the zero-valent metal emulsion is a bimetallic emulsion containing zero-valent metal particles doped with a catalytic metal to remediate halogenated aromatic compounds, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), from natural resources

An environmental-economic assessment of residential curbside collection programs in Central Florida

© 2016 Elsevier Ltd.Inefficient collection and scheduling procedures negatively affect residential curbside collection (RCC) efficiency, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and cost. As Florida aims to achieve a 75% recycling goal by 2020, municipalities have switched to single-stream recycling to improve recycling efficiency. Waste diversion and increased collection cost have forced some municipalities to reduce garbage collection frequency. The goal of this study was to explore the trade-offs between environmental and economic factors of RCC systems in Florida by evaluating the RCC system design of 25 different Central Florida communities. These communities were grouped into four sets based on their RCC garbage, yard waste, and recyclables collection design, i.e., frequency of collection and use of dual-stream (DS) or single-stream (SS) recyclables collection system. For the 25 communities studied, it was observed that RCC programs that used SS recyclables collection system recycled approximately 15-35%, by weight of the waste steam, compared to 5-20% for programs that used DS. The GHG emissions associated with collection programs were estimated to be between 36 and 51 kg CO2eq per metric ton of total household waste (garbage and recyclables), depending on the garbage collection frequency, recyclables collection system (DS or SS), and recyclables compaction. When recyclables offsets were considered, the GHG emissions associated with programs using SS were estimated between -760 and -560, compared to between -270 and -210 kg CO2eq per metric ton of total waste for DS programs. These data suggest that RCC system design can significantly impact recyclables generation rate and efficiency, and consequently determine environmental and economic impacts of collection systems. Recycling participation rate was found to have a significant impact on the environmental and financial performance of RCC programs. Collection emissions were insignificant compared to the benefits of recycling. SS collection of recyclables provided cost benefits compared to DS, mainly due to faster collection time

Strategies for Obtaining Funding for Undergraduate Research

Dr. Debra Reinhart, Assistant Vice President, UCF Office of Research and Commercializatio

A Review Of Recent Studies On The Sources Of Hazardous Compounds Emitted From Solid Waste Landfills: A U.S. Experience

Municipal solid waste landfills operating in the United States receive a large variety of materials generated by an industrialized, “throwaway” society. As a result, liquid and gas emissions (produced during the normal decomposition processes occurring within the landfill) are often contaminated with hazardous compounds. The presence of hazardous pollutants in liquid and gaseous emissions is well documented, however, the source of these pollutants is not always apparent. Potential sources of these hazardous contaminants in municipal solid waste landfills may include small quantity generators of hazardous wastes, household hazardous wastes, wastes disposed prior to the 1980 enactment of U.S. hazardous waste disposal legislation, and biological and chemical transformation products of buried refuse. Source identification will facilitate characterization and quantification of emissions necessary for the design and operation of leachate gas collection and treatment facilities. © 1993, Sage Publications. All rights reserved

Fate of selected organic pollutants during landfill codisposal with municipal refuse

Ph.D.Frederick G. Pohlan

Why Wet Landfills With Leachate Recirculation Are Effective

Wet cell technology offers important advantages in the management and treatment of municipal solid waste, including accelerated waste stabilization rates, enhanced gas production, facilitated leachate management, volume reduction, and minimized long-term liability. These advantages have been documented in laboratory, pilot and full-scale investigations. Although challenges remain in implementing the technology, bioreactor landfills are designed and operated with increasing frequency