20 Years of Continued Growth and Expanded Services

Lots of great things to see this week, from Streets Of Rage's surprising comeback to an Animal Crossing talk show & far beyond. ...

Another spectacular Sankey diagram from the final report of the project “Resource conservation through material flow-oriented secondary raw materials management” published by German Environment Protection Agency (Umweltbundesamt, UBA). This one is on non-ferrous metals in waste and recycling paths Germany. Flows are in mio. t for the year 2013.
[See image gallery at www.sankey-diagrams.com]
I had presented another Sankey diagam from this report (on paper and cardboard streams) here on the blog back in January. You can access the full report here.

Came across an interesting article by Tei Carpenter, ‘Waste Not, Want More: Zeroing In on Designing Waste’ in the Avery Review 33 (September 2018). It describes a transition to a zero waste scenario for New York in 2030.

This is the Sankey diagram for the waste situation today (that is… 2018). An incredible 12,838 tonnes per year. Of which 75% would theoretically be recyclable. Instead, 80% end up as refuse, while only 20% are “diverted”.
[See image gallery at www.sankey-diagrams.com]
There is also a second Sankey diagram that shows how the city would handle its waste in 2030 with a zero waste strategy. Read the article at Avery Review or download as PDF.

A New York company called Veles is selling an all-purpose cleaner made of food waste collected from Manhattan cafeterias, and ditches plastic spray bottles.

The post All-Purpose Cleaner is Made Entirely of Food Waste Collected in NYC—and Ditches Plastic Spray Bottles appeared first on Good News Network.

Watch my video and see why it’s so important to minimize digital waste. Are you aware of how much digital waste your WordPress website is producing? Did you know this waste carries an actual cost for both you and your website’s visitors? Digital waste is an especially poignant topic in open source software (like the […]

By Lauren McCauley Common Dreams At this rate, plastics production will account for 20 percent of total oil consumption and 15 percent of the global annual carbon budget by 2050. The weight of plastic waste clogging the world’s oceans threatens … Continue reading →

By Joel Bahr Berkeley News A new study co-authored by UC Berkeley professor Michael Manga confirms that earthquakes in America’s oil country — including a 4.8 magnitude quake that rocked Texas in 2012 — are being triggered by significant injections … Continue reading →

A process for producing bio-oil from municipal solid waste, the process including: a) liquifying municipal solid waste, to obtain a mixture containing an oily phase containing bio-oil, a solid phase, and a first aqueous phase; b) treating the first aqueous phase from a) with an adsorbing material, to obtain a second aqueous phase; c) fermenting the second aqueous phase from b), to obtain a biomass; d) subjecting the biomass obtained in c) to the liquification a). The bio-oil obtained is advantageously used in the production of biofuels for motor vehicles or for the generation of electric energy or heat.

A process for the production of bio-oil from solid urban waste, comprising the following steps: a) subjecting said solid urban waste to liquefaction, obtaining a mixture including an oily phase consisting of bio-oil, a solid phase and an aqueous phase; b) subjecting the aqueous phase obtained in the liquefaction step a) to fermentation, obtaining a fermented biomass; c) feeding the fermented biomass obtained in the fermentation step b) to the liquefaction step a). The bio-oil (or bio-crude) thus obtained can be advantageously used in the production of biofuels which can be used as such or mixed with other motor vehicle fuels. Alternatively, this bio-oil (or bio-crude) can be used as such (biocombustible) or mixed with fossil combustibles (combustible oil, coal, etc.) for the generation of electric energy or heat.

The invention relates to the treatment of carbonaceous radioactive waste, comprising the delivery of waste to one or more radioactive isotope separation stations isotopes, said isotopes being among at least carbon 14, chlorine 36, and tritium. Advantageously, the delivery to each of the stations occurs in wet form, with water being a common medium for conveying the waste to each of the separation stations.

A method is provided for the decontamination of radioactive carbonaceous material, such as graphite, in which an injection of steam is planned into the material, concurrent with a first roasting thermal treatment of the material at a temperature between 1200° C. and 1500° C. Advantageously, the first treatment may be followed by a second treatment at a lower temperature with an injection of carbon oxide for oxidation according to the Boudouard reaction.

A method of disposing nuclear waste in underground rock formations is presented. The method includes the steps of selecting a land area having a rock formation positioned there-below of a depth able to prevent radioactive material placed therein from reaching the surface and drilling a vertical wellbore from the surface, to a depth ranging between 5,000 feet and 25,000 feet, into the underground rock formation or repository. A plurality of horizontal laterals or horizontal wellbores, ranging in length from 500 feet to 40,000 feet, are drilled from the vertical wellbore into the underground rock formation or repository. Nuclear waste to be stored within these laterals is encapsulated in a special waste canister and these nuclear waste canisters are positioned within the horizontal laterals wherein they are sealed to prevent loss and leakage. Means are also provided by which these canisters are adapted to allow retrievability of the canisters from the wellbore at a later date and to return the waste to the surface for use after retrieval.

Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, machine, device, manufacture, circuit, composition, and/or user interface adapted for and/or resulting from, and/or a method and/or machine-readable medium comprising machine-implementable instructions for, activities that can comprise and/or relate to, in a treatment zone, reacting an oxygen-comprising gas, one or more selected ferric/ferrous chelates, one or more selected nitrates and/or nitrites, and/or anaerobic wastewater.

An environmentally beneficial process for utilizing waste drill cuttings from oil and gas exploration. The waste drill cuttings (20) are used as a filler and combined with plastic to provide a plastic based product (26) in the plastics industry. In an embodiment the cuttings are thermally treated and formed into pellets. In a further embodiment the cuttings are treated and mixed with recycled plastic to be formed into pellets. The pellets are then used in the manufacture of rigid plastic products such as bollards, planters, benches and decking.

An apparatus and method for the granulation of radioactive waste in which a preprocessing method for the vitrification of radioactive waste is simplified to conform to onsite conditions of a nuclear power plant, additives are improved, and pellets suitable for vitrification are manufactured. The apparatus for the granulation of radioactive waste includes: a body frame having an inlet and an outlet; a hopper supplying the radioactive waste to be transferred and fed through the inlet; a feeder transferring/supplying the radioactive waste supplied to a specific position and in a certain quantity; a stirrer pulverizing/mixing lumps of the radioactive waste supplied; an additive supply part supplying a lubricant to the radioactive waste fed into the stirrer; and a pellet press pressing the radioactive waste fed through the feeder into a pellet shape and discharging the pellet through the outlet.

A method for vitrification of waste to reduce the formation of persistent secondary phases comprising separating at least one glass frit constituent from an initial glass frit to form a modified glass frit. The waste, modified glass frit, and the at least one glass frit constituent are mixed together with the modified glass frit and the at least one glass frit constituent being added as separate components. The resulting mixture is vitrified.

The present invention relates to a process for the treatment of hazardous waste, the process comprising: (i) providing a hazardous waste; (ii) providing a further waste; (iii) plasma treating the hazardous waste in a first plasma treatment unit, (iv) gasifying the further waste in a gasification unit to produce an offgas and a char material; and (v) plasma treating the offgas, and optionally the char material, in a second plasma treatment unit to produce a syngas, (vi) optionally treating the syngas in a gas cleaning plant, wherein the first plasma treatment unit is arranged to plasma treat at least some of the solid by-products from the gasification unit and/or the second plasma treatment unit and/or the gas cleaning plant.

An exemplary system for treatment and disposal of pharmaceutical waste comprises a sealable pail, a stirring device, a sealable bag, a container, an acidic substance, and a denaturant. The sealable pail receives the pharmaceutical waste and the acidic substance. The acidic substance dissolves the pharmaceutical waste, and the stirring device stirs the acidic substance to ensure that the pharmaceutical waste is completely dissolved. The denaturant is added to the dissolved pharmaceutical waste and renders the dissolved pharmaceutical waste safe for transport. The treated pharmaceutical waste is sealed within the sealable pail, and the sealable bag receives the sealed pail and is sealed. The sealed bag is then placed in the container for transport to a disposal facility.

Techniques for disposing of one or more toxic materials, such as coal waste (e.g., fly ash, sludge, etc.), include incorporating the toxic materials into artificial feldspar or forming artificial feldspar from the toxic material(s). The artificial feldspar may be used to form an artificial aggregate, which may be used in a construction material, as road base, as a fill material or for any other suitable purpose. Artificial aggregates that are formed from toxic materials are also disclosed, as are construction materials that include such artificial aggregates.

A method and apparatus for the stabilization and safe removal of buried waste that is tested and classified as being transuranic or not transuranic waste and disposed accordingly. The buried waste (usually in vertical pipe units) is enclosed in a casing and ground and mixed with the surrounding soil. This process allows for chemical reactions to occur that stabilizes the mixture. The entire process is contained within the casing to avoid contamination. In situ or external testing is done for radio isotopes to classify the waste. If it is classified as transuranic the waste is removed in a controlled way into a retrieval enclosure and disposed off in drums. If the waste is not transuranic then grout is introduced into the mixture, allowed to set and the resulting monolith is removed and buried in trenches.

A process for encapsulating a radioactive object to render the object suitable for shipment and/or storage, and including the steps of preparing a plastic material, causing the plastic material to react with a foaming agent, generating a foaming plastic, encapsulating the radioactive object in the foaming plastic, and allowing the foaming plastic to solidify around the radioactive object to form an impervious coating.

A method and device for limiting the degassing of tritiated waste issued from the nuclear industry are provided. The method reduces an amount of generated tritiated hydrogen (T2 or HT) and/or tritiated water (HTO or T2O) including at least one piece of tritiated waste from the nuclear industry. The method includes placing the package in contact with a mixture including manganese dioxide (MnO2) combined with a component that includes silver; and placing the package in contact with a molecular sieve.

A gasification-liquefaction disposal method, system and equipment for MSW are disclosed. The method involves the MSW pretreatment of dehydrating and separating, thus reducing water and inorganic substance content of the waste. Then, the MSW is introduced into a plasma gasifier (23) by a carbon dioxide air-sealed feeding device (13) and gasified therein to obtain hydrogen-rich syngas. The hydrogen-rich syngas is then cooled, deacidified, dedusted and separated to obtain carbon dioxide. Then, the hydrogen-rich syngas is catalyzed to produce methanol product in a methanol synthesis reactor (52). The separated carbon dioxide is sent back to a carbonation reaction chamber (2007) of a gasification system to perform carbonation reaction with calcium oxide, thereby releasing heat to provide assistant heat energy for gasification and avoiding greenhouse gas from being discharged into environment. Exhaust gas is returned to the plasma gasifier (23) for remelting treatment, thus forming a closed-loop circulation production system and realizing the disposal of the MSW with zero discharge and no pollution, thereby avoiding dioxin pollution and converting the MSW to chemical raw materials and fuel needed by mankind. The method, system and equipment are suitable for harmless and recycling disposal of MSW, industrial high polymer waste, composting waste and waste in waste sorting sites.

A catalyst comprising of nano nickel-silica catalyst for dewaxing of heavy petroleum feed at a temperature 200-350° C. at 8 bar and 30 bar hydrogen pressure and in the presence of hydrogen is designed for petrochemical industries. According to a specific aspect of the invention, the nano catalyst is designed and employed to convert heavy hydrocarbon feeds of high viscosity index to low pour point and good stability in a single step.

A method for the elimination of carbon dioxide from waste gases includes the following steps. First, waste gases, which include carbon dioxide, are provided from a source for waste gases. Next, the waste gases are contacted with an absorbent composition that includes perfluorodecalin solution. The waste gases, especially the carbon dioxide, are then absorbed by the absorbent composition. The absorbent composition thereby absorbs the waste gases to eliminate the carbon dioxide.

The present invention relates to a liquid radioactive waste treatment system. The liquid radioactive waste treatment system includes a plurality of evaporation plates and each of the evaporation plates has an uneven surface, in a housing comprised of a glass. A liquid radioactive waste is dispersed via a liquid waste dispersing unit to the evaporation plate, and the liquid radioactive waste is evaporated using solar heat and airflow in the housing.

Materials and methods of making low-sintering-temperature glass waste forms that sequester radioactive iodine in a strong and durable structure. First, the iodine is captured by an adsorbant, which forms an iodine-loaded material, e.g., AgI, AgI-zeolite, AgI-mordenite, Ag-silica aerogel, ZnI2, CuI, or Bi5O7I. Next, particles of the iodine-loaded material are mixed with powdered frits of low-sintering-temperature glasses (comprising various oxides of Si, B, Bi, Pb, and Zn), and then sintered at a relatively low temperature, ranging from 425° C. to 550° C. The sintering converts the mixed powders into a solid block of a glassy waste form, having low iodine leaching rates. The vitrified glassy waste form can contain as much as 60 wt % AgI. A preferred glass, having a sintering temperature of 500° C. (below the silver iodide sublimation temperature of 500° C.) was identified that contains oxides of boron, bismuth, and zinc, while containing essentially no lead or silicon.

Materials and methods of synthesizing mixed-layered bismuth oxy-iodine materials, which can be synthesized in the presence of aqueous radioactive iodine species found in caustic solutions (e.g. NaOH or KOH). This technology provides a one-step process for both iodine sequestration and storage from nuclear fuel cycles. It results in materials that will be durable for repository conditions much like those found in Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) and estimated for Yucca Mountain (YMP). By controlled reactant concentrations, optimized compositions of these mixed-layered bismuth oxy-iodine inorganic materials are produced that have both a high iodine weight percentage and a low solubility in groundwater environments.

An apparatus for treating a radioactive nitrate waste liquid includes: a denitrification tank (12) that accommodates active sludge which adsorbs or takes in a radioactive substance in a nitrate waste liquid (11) containing nitrate and the radioactive substance and in which an anaerobic microorganism that reduces the nitrate to nitrogen gas grows; a reaeration tank (14) that aerates and mixes a denitrification-treated liquid (24) treated in the denitrification tank (12) with the active sludge in which the aerobic microorganism grows; and a sludge dissolution tank (81) that dissolves redundant sludge (26A, 26B) discharged from the denitrification tank (12) and the reaeration tank (14). Acetic peracid (80) is supplied to the sludge dissolution tank (81) to dissolve redundant sludge, a sludge lysate is supplied to the denitrification tank (12) as a carbon source (22), and acetic acid is supplied to the denitrification tank (12).

A fluidic structure has a first chamber having a connection to a fluid reservoir and a connection to an array of apertures, the chamber forming a flow path between the fluid reservoir and the array of apertures, a second chamber having a connection to at least one vent connected to an atmosphere external to the fluidic structure, and at least one path between the first chamber and the second chamber.

A containment system to safely store a waste scoop includes: an outer receptacle including a bottom surface, at least one side wall, an opening and a first coupling element; an inner receptacle including a bottom surface and at least one side wall housed within the outer receptacle and including an opening, wherein the inner receptacle is removable from the outer receptacle via the opening of the outer receptacle; a scoop assembly including a scoop, a handle, and a lid, wherein the scoop is housed within the inner receptacle and is removable from the inner receptacle via the opening of the inner receptacle; a compartment including a second coupling element for connecting the compartment to the outer receptacle via the first and second coupling elements; and a third and fourth coupling element to secure a planar surface of the lid to cover the opening of the outer receptacle.

Apparatus and methods for pet waste disposal include using a portable waste collection receptacle disposed on a handle. A heat source is mounted together with the waste collection receptacle, capable of incinerating waste disposed in the waste collection receptacle.

A pet waste disposal kit includes a kit bag with an impermeable lining that can be worn around the waist or over the shoulder of the pet handler. The kit bag serves as the secondary container for filled waste collection bags, and it also serves to store the other materials contained in the kit. The kit also includes a supply of lightweight, impermeable, biodegradable plastic gloves, which can be made of biodegradable polyethylene, and a supply of waste collection bags made of lightweight, impermeable, biodegradable plastic, containing a disinfecting-deodorizing mixture. The disinfecting-deodorizing mixture contains a highly alkaline compound, a desiccant and a deodorizer. The waste collection bags have re-sealable zip-locks or twist ties. The kit also includes a supply of antiseptic hand wipes or a liquid hand sanitizer.

A waste heat steam generator for a gas and steam turbine power plant is provided. The generator has economizer, evaporator and superheater heating surfaces which form a flow path and through which a flow medium flows. An overflow line branches off from the flow path and leads to injection valves arranged downstream at a flow side of a superheater heating surface in the flow path. The overflow line permits a brief power increase of a downstream steam turbine without resulting in an excessive loss in efficiency of the steam process. The brief power increase is permitted independently of the type of waste heat steam generator. The branch location of the overflow line is arranged upstream of an evaporator heating surface at the flow medium side and downstream of an economizer heating surface.

A waste strip-removing apparatus for use with a ripsaw that saws an incoming board into one or more usable boards and removes the opposite side edges, which become two waste strips that must be removed and transported to a different destination from that to which the usable board(s) is (are) transported. The apparatus includes two air-blasting units each having one or more air nozzles assigned to each waste strip. The air-blasting units are positioned with respect to a lateral direction by a positioning mechanism so that air directed from the nozzles impinges on the waste strips and moves them laterally away from the usable board(s). The positioning mechanism can include a linear motor having two forcers movable along a platen and respectively attached to air-blasting units.

An aspect of the present invention is a method of processing a waste material that contains mercury or a mercury compound, and chlorine or a mercury chloride, the method including a step of adding a chlorine scavenger to the waste material, and stowing the waste material in a treatment vessel; and a step of subjecting the waste material to a blasting treatment by fitting an explosive to the treatment vessel and detonating the explosive inside a pressure-proof container.

A pulverized coal thermal power generation system that significantly reduces the amount of NOx emissions from a boiler and does not require a denitration unit is provided. When a denitration unit is not used, performance to remove mercury from a boiler waste gas is reduced. A waste gas purification system for a pulverized coal boiler, that compensates for this is provided. A pulverized coal boiler having a furnace for burning pulverized coal, burners for supplying pulverized coal and air used for combustion into the furnace so as to burn the pulverized coal in an insufficient air state and after-air ports provided on the downstream side of the burners for supplying air used for perfect combustion characterized in that, an air ratio in the furnace is 1.05 to 1.14, and the residence time of a combustion gas from the burner disposed on the uppermost stage to a main after-air port is 1.1 to 3.3 seconds. Preferably, water is mixed in advance with the air supplied from the after-air port so as to increase the specific heat. Furthermore, pulverized coal carrying air in the burner and a part of air used for combustion are mixed together in advance before they are jetted into the furnace.A waste gas purification system having a pulverized coal boiler, an air heater disposed downstream of the pulverized coal boiler for exchanging heat with a boiler waste gas to heat air used for combustion in the pulverized coal boiler, a dust removing unit, and a desulfurizing unit characterized in that, at least one of a halogen gas supply unit, a catalyst unit for oxidizing a mercury gas, and a mercury adsorbent blowing device is provided so as to oxidize mercury included in the waste gas.

A waste disposal plant includes a combustion chamber (2) inside which waste laid on a combustion grate (3) is burnt, which permits the entrance of an adequate quantity of combustion air in the chamber. The combustion grate includes at least a handling group formed by of fire bars or plates (7), which move alternatively one with respect to the other by advancing the waste on the grate. A handling group permits the alternate movement of the fire bars (7) which are divided in movable fire bars (7a) and fixed fire bars (7b), alternately disposed one with respect to the other, on transversal rows resting one upon the other according to a longitudinal placement with alternate steps.

A burner system for consumption of waste fuel comprises a screw conveyor having a longitudinal hollow interior for air distribution and radially disposed air intake orifices connecting the hollow interior to a plurality of combustion chambers, which includes a first combustion chamber disposed centrally around the screw conveyor and at least one orifice; a second combustion chamber disposed concentrically around the first combustion chamber, receiving burning waste fuel from the first combustion chamber, and in fluid communication with the air intake orifice to provide air from an air blower through the orifice; and a third combustion chamber disposed concentrically around the second combustion chamber, receiving waste fuel from the second combustion chamber, and in fluid communication with the air intake orifice to provide air from the air blower.

A system and techniques for waste oil combustion are provided. The techniques include straining waste oil, separating contaminants from the strained waste oil to produce segregated layers of waste oil, selectively drawing a segregated layer of the waste oil, entraining the drawn waste oil to a burner for combustion, and regulating flow rate to produce a controllable amount of heat output. The system includes a container for straining waste oil, a storage drum for separating contaminants from the strained waste oil via gravity separation to produce segregated waste oil, an oil uptake channel for entraining the waste oil from the storage drum, a fuel regulator for controlling rate of flow of the waste oil from the storage drum to a burner head via the oil uptake channel, and a burner head control for repositioning a burner head under the input stream to produce a controllable amount of heat output.

A gasification reactor for processing organic waste in batches comprises a primary gasification reactor (62) that includes a primary gasification chamber (18) and a surrounding combustion chamber (19), a secondary gasification chamber (21), a synthesis gas decontamination unit (42) and a combustible gas selector (41). The waste is loaded into the primary gasification chamber through a latched opening and heated from the combustion of a fuel in the combustion chamber (19) to convert the waste to a synthesis gas. The gasification chamber (18) has an intake (20) for introducing pre-heated process air (1) therein. The combustion chamber operates either with a conventional fuel (9) or with the produced synthesis gas (6). The secondary gasification chamber (21) thermally treats the synthesis gas (2) to eliminate tars. The decontamination unit (42) scrubs the synthesis gas of contaminants including particulates and acid gases. The clean synthesis gas (6) is directed to the combustible gas selector (41) which selectively feeds either the combustible fluid (9) or the synthesis gas (6) to the burner (40).

Methods of reclaiming plastic from plastic medical waste containers containing medical waste and manufacturing recycled medical devices are described. Recycled medical devices made from plastic medical waste containers containing medical waste are also described.

The present invention may be embodied as a compounding system having a chamber assembly defining a working chamber; a shaft, a sleeve assembly, and a plurality of arms. The sleeve assembly has first and second sleeve members each defining at least one arm opening and adapted to be arranged in a first configuration in which the first and second sleeve members are detached from each other and a second configuration in which the first and second sleeve members are secured together around the shaft to support the sleeve assembly on the shaft. Each of the arms is configured to be inserted partly through one of the arm openings when the sleeve assembly is in the first configuration and held in a desired configuration relative to one of the first and second sleeve members when the sleeve assembly is in the second configuration.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for fuelizing inflammable waste capable of efficiently fuelizing inflammable waste while reducing facility and operation costs of the overall system and maintaining stable operation, and so on. More particularly, the apparatus 1 for fuelizing inflammable waste comprises: a primary crusher 4 for crushing an inflammable waste W containing as principal component at least one selected from a group comprising plastics, sponges, fibers, rubbers and wood materials; a foreign matter removing device 7 for removing foreign matters F contained in the crushed objects W1; a secondary crusher 9 for secondarily crushing the crushed objects W3 from which foreign matters I, M are removed; and an injecting device 11 for injecting the secondarily crushed objects W4 generated by the secondary crusher 9 into a burner 10, and so on. The apparatus 1 may be provided with an intermediate tank 8 for storing the crushed objects W3 from which foreign matters I, M are removed, and from the intermediate tank 8 is supplied the crushed objects W3 to the secondary crusher 9.

The present invention describes a method of optimizing CO2 concentration to increase the specific growth rate of Anammox bacteria and methanogens in wastewater and sludge treatment, as well as novel systems and methods of treating wastewater and sludge. The specific growth rate or doubling time of the Anammox bacteria and methanogens were determined to be sensitive to dissolved CO2 concentration. Optimizing dissolved CO2 concentration increases the specific growth rate of the Anammox bacteria, which may be used as an alternative biological nitrogen removal process for the treatment of domestic wastewater. In the method and system of treating sludge, the CO2 stripper returns biogas with low CO2 concentration to the headspace of an anaerobic digester in order to lower the headspace CO2 concentration and therefore, the soluble CO2 concentration. The lower soluble CO2 concentration increases the specific growth rate of the methanogens for a more efficient anaerobic digestion process.

The invention relates to a method for treating wastewater containing nitroaromatics and nitrohydroxyaromatics, as for example arises in the production of nitroaromatics or in the production of nitrohydroxyaromatics, by a two-stage method consisting of pre-reduction and wet oxidation.