Recovery of phosphorus from dairy manure: a pilot-scale study

Phosphorus was recovered from dairy manure via a microwave-enhanced advanced oxidation process (MW/H2O2-AOP) followed by struvite crystallization in a pilot-scale continuous flow operation. Soluble phosphorus in dairy manure increased by over 50% after the MW/H2O2-AOP, and the settleability of suspended solids was greatly improved. More than 50% of clear supernatant was obtained after microwave treatment, and the maximum volume of supernatant was obtained at a hydrogen peroxide dosage of 0.3% and pH 3.5. By adding oxalic acid into the supernatant, about 90% of calcium was removed, while more than 90% of magnesium was retained. As a result, the resulting solution was well suited for struvite crystallization. Nearly 95% of phosphorus in the treated supernatant was removed and recovered as struvite.

Effect of recycling activities on the heating value of solid waste: case study of the Greater Vancouver Regional District (Metro Vancouver)

Two main goals of the integrated solid waste management system (ISWMS) of Metro Vancouver (MV) include further recycling of waste and energy recovery via incineration of waste. These two very common goals, however, are not always compatible enough to fit in an ISWMS depending on waste characteristics and details of recycling programs. This study showed that recent recycling activities in MV have negatively affected the net heating value (NHV) of municipal solid waste (MSW) in this regional district. Results show that meeting MV's goal for additional recycling of MSW by 2015 will further reduce the NHV of waste, if additional recycling activities are solely focused on more extensive recycling of packaging materials (e.g. paper and plastic). It is concluded that 50% additional recycling of paper and plastic in MV will increase the overall recycling rate to 70% (as targeted by the MV for 2015) and result in more than 8% reduction in NHV of MSW. This reduction translates to up to 2.3 million Canadian dollar (CAD$) less revenue at a potential waste-to-energy (WTE) plant with 500 000 tonnes year(-1) capacity. Properly designed recycling programmes, however, can make this functional element of ISWMS compatible with green goals of energy recovery from waste. Herein an explanation of how communities can increase their recycling activities without affecting the feasibility of potential WTE projects is presented.

Sorption of endosulphan sulphate in soil organic matter

Sorption of endosulphan sulphate in soil organic matter was investigated using Standard Elliot soil humic acid (HA) and soil fulvic acid (FA) at two ionic strengths (0.001 and 0.01). It was observed that divalent calcium ion and ionic strength affect the sorption of endosulphan sulphate in HA. All the experiments were carried out at pH 6.7 +/- 0.1. In the presence and absence of calcium (ionic strength 0.001), the solubility enhancement method was used to estimate the sorption coefficients of endosulphan sulphate in HA. For FA, the solubility enhancement method was used to estimate the sorption coefficients at an ionic strength of 0.001 (in the presence of calcium) and 0.01. The presence of calcium was found to significantly enhance (alpha = 0.01) the solubility of endosulphan sulphate in HA. Sorption coefficients at pH 6.7, obtained using the solubility enhancement method, were found to be 10-21 L/g in HA and 6 L/g in FA (in the presence of calcium). Increase in ionic strength from 0.001 to 0.01 decreased the sorption of endosulphan sulphate in HA. The effect of ionic strength and calcium on the sorption of endosulphan sulphate was most satisfactorily explained on the basis of the Donnan volume.