Maximum Permissible Discharge Research Articles

Evaluation of the environmental and economic scope of an electrocoagulation process for the treatment of wastewater from the instant coffee industry

AbstractIn this study, an industrial wastewater from instant coffee production was treated by electrocoagulation (EC). The effect of various EC operating parameters, such as electrode type, current density, support electrolyte concentration and stirring velocity, were investigated to determine the optimal operating EC conditions. The scope of electrocoagulation (EC) was assessed, in environmental and economic terms, for the treatment of industrial wastewater originated from the production of instant coffee. The evaluation included the effect of EC operating factors (electrode type, current density, supporting electrolyte concentration and stirring velocity) on Color removal, COD and TOC degradation, toxicity, molecular weight distribution, as well as the total operating cost. The following optimal operating conditions were established through a series of preliminary experiments, a Box-Behnken design of experiments, Response Surface Methodology application, and multi-objective optimization analysis: the pair of Fe (anode)-stainless steel (cathode) electrodes, supporting electrolyte = 1.78 g of NaCl/L; current density = 150 A/m2; electrode gap = 3 mm; stirring velocity = 350 RPM; and pH0 = 4.7 (that of raw industrial effluent). Finally, the kinetic study allowed defining the electrolysis operation time of ca. 180 min required to comply with the maximum permissible discharge limits for the production of instant coffee the discharge of soluble coffee effluents, in terms of COD concentration, established by current Colombian legislation. The EC reached ca. 97% decolorization, as well as 72% and 65% of COD and TOC removal degradation, respectively, with total operating costs of 6.26 USD/m3. This yielded an oxidized (COS = 2.87), biocompatible (BOD5/COD = 0.437) and non-toxic effluent, free of contaminants with molecular weight > 30 kDa. The EC appeared as an effective alternative for the treatment of industrial wastewater from the production of instant coffee within the framework of different Sustainable Development Goals (number 6 (Clean water and sanitation), number 7 (Clean and affordable energy), number 9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure) and 13 (Climate action)).

Методика оценки экономического ущерба подземным водам при эксплуатации гидротехнических сооружений

Introduction. The problem is that currently there are no standard indicators for the degree of groundwater contamination. As a rule, standard indicators for surface waters are taken as a criterion for assessing their pollution. However, as is known, the underground hydrosphere is a separate environment, and groundwater is a separate component of the environment. In addition, groundwater is a strategic reserve of clean fresh water for the population of the Russian Federation. Therefore, it is clear that the regulation of maximum permissible harmful effects on groundwater and maximum permissible discharges of harmful substances into groundwater bodies is currently extremely necessary. Due to the fact that there are no standard indicators, there is no economic regulation of the negative impact of economic activities on groundwater. And this impact is very significant. This has been proven by numerous long-term monitoring studies of the underground hydrosphere, which is under the influence, for example, of mining enterprises in the Urals Federal District. Materials and methods. This work uses hydrogeological (deposit groundwater regime and balance monitoring), geochemical, and geo-ecological (groundwater quality and pollution monitoring) research methods, as well as observation and statistical and cartographic data processing methods. The research is based on a large amount of accumulated data and signature fieldwork. Results and discussion. As is known, in 1998, Guidelines were developed for the development of standards for maximum permissible harmful effects on groundwater bodies and maximum permissible discharges of harmful substances into groundwater bodies. However, this technique did not find its application, either because of its imperfection, or because it was believed that groundwater is sufficiently protected from negative technogenic and anthropogenic influences, in comparison with other components of the environment and, therefore, is not regulated need. Now it is obvious that groundwater, just like other components (atmospheric air, soil, surface water) experience intense negative impact from human economic activity and they require their own standards and, of course, economic regulation of such impact. The authors of this article have significantly improved the methodology for developing standards for maximum permissible harmful effects (MPH) on groundwater bodies and maximum permissible discharges of harmful substances (MPD) into groundwater bodies. This method has been patented and on its basis, the article presents a new method for calculating economic damage to groundwater, developed and tested on the basis of our own research on two unique largest technogenic-mineral formations in the Middle and Southern Urals. Conclusion. The hydrodynamic method for calculating groundwater pollution and normatively permissible discharge underlies the methodology for assessing natural damage to groundwater from pollutants of technogenic-mineral formations. The methodology for assessing economic damage to the underground hydrosphere from sources of surface pollution is based on calculating fees for the discharge of pollutants within the limit and above the limit. Resume. Technogenic mineral formations intensively affect groundwater, which is an important resource in human life in the present and especially in the future. Therefore, their uncontrolled pollution is unacceptable, which predetermines the development of a methodology for assessing damage to groundwater. Suggestions for practical applications and directions for future research. The application of a methodology for assessing economic damage to groundwater during the operation of hydraulic structures initiates the development of effective measures for higher and more comprehensive extraction of minerals, treatment of industrial wastewater, and more careful design and construction of hydraulic structures.

Legal features of the joint regulation of pollutants discharge

The environmental and legal sub-institute for the regulation of pollutants discharge (RPD) from man- made point sources into the surface waters of Ukraine and its main tool - the Basin Principle for Calculating the Maximum Permissible Discharges (BPCMPD) is studied. The purpose of the article is to identify the legislative possibilities of the current Ukrainian RPD, the features of its possible use in river basin management plans (RBMP), and to assess of the legal consequences of such use. The relevance of the research is determined by documents of the state environmental policy, strategies of environmental security and of post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. BPCMPD is investigated by the method of environmental and legal analysis. It was determined that the main legal feature of the BPCMPD, which has remained unchanged for almost half a century, is the joint special water use (SWU) in the part of P discharges from economic entities within the estimated area of the water body. In modern water legislation, the category of SWU is not defined. A conceptual conflict between the object and the regulation method has been identified, which is eliminated by changing the scientifically erroneous definition of “basin” in the name BPCMPD to “cascade” name, i.e. KPCMPD. The use of the term BPCMPD is based on the division of the assimilation capacity (AC) of the cascade between the community of water users. Founded that in fact, the feature AC has an indivisible nature, which gives an ecological obstacle for the application of the BPRGDS. In addition, the current legal prohibition for the cascade use of AC is the requirement of territorial unity of regulatory limits of concentrations of AC in the receiving cascade water. Determined that the so-called “the right to AC quota”, on which the BPCMPD is based, is absent in the current legislation. Therefore, the SWU category is a legislative rudiment, and its use for the implementation of BPCMPD leaves for water users opportunities for deterioration of water quality. Concluded that the BPCMPD cannot be used as a legal instrument in the composition of Ukrainian RBMP under the conditions of SWU harmonization with EU legislation.

Comparison of the Work of Wastewater Treatment Plant “Ravda” in Summer and Winter Influenced by the Seasonal Mass Tourism Industry and COVID-19

Mass tourism puts enormous pressure on wastewater treatment plants due to its expansive growth during the summer months. To adapt to the fluctuations, the Ravda wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) uses innovative methods and technologies, allowing for “shrinking” and “expanding” of the facilities according to the season. This has been built in stages over the years, with two separate biological treatment lines adapting to different numbers of tourists and to the quantity of influent wastewater. The aim of this study is to make a comparative assessment of the work of WWTP Ravda in the summer and winter seasons and its effectiveness, as well as to compare them. In addition, it examines the years of the COVID-19 pandemic, when a much higher consumption of water per person was noted. Data were analyzed for the period of 2018–2022 inclusive, comparing influent and effluent BOD5 and COD in the summer and winter. Nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiencies were also tracked. The study shows that municipal wastewater treatment is effective, but much higher values, close to the maximum permissible discharge values, are observed during the tourist season. With the continued growth of the tourism sector, the Ravda wastewater treatment plant would not be able to cope with the discharge standards set by the Ministry of Environment and Water, so measures need to be taken promptly.

LEGAL FEATURES OF BASIN-WIDE REGULATION OF POLLUTANTS DISCHARGES INTO SURFACE WATERS

The article examines the environmental and legal mechanism of the Ukrainian limitation regulation of pollutant discharges (RPD) into water bodies (WB). The central methodological link of RPD is the «Basin principle of determination of standards of maximum allowable pollutant discharge» (BPDSMAPD). This principle introduced by outdated regulatory & legal and regulatory & technical acts of last century. This basin principle (BP) based on the use of the assimilative possibility (AP) of WB for the environmental & economic purposes of reducing the harmfulness of hazardous substances discharged into WB to the level of maximum admissible concentrations (MAC) in water for various purposes of water use. This RPD method does not meet the requirements for harmonization with modern EU water legislation. The terminological error in the name does not allow differentiate the concept of "basin management principle", which has its roots in EU water legislation, and Ukrainian concept BPDSMAPD. Instead, the term "determination of MAC standards for cascading discharge of P" was proposed. The environmental & legal grounds, justification and consequences of the application of the BPDSMAPD, and requirements for the maximum permissible discharges (MPD) of P in Ukrainian environmental and water legislations identified. Under BP approach the AP phenomenon should be considered as a common beneficial quality of WB for the cascade of P discharges, which is subject to distribution among economic entities in case of special water use. It was determined that in fact the AC has a local (point) not a basin property and is not subject to division. In the environmental and water legislation of Ukraine as and EU, there is no concept of AC, and requirements for the use of AC are not established. Made conclusions that the "right to quota" of AP for water users, on which based the BP, does not exists, and the actual implementation of the BP leads to a violation of the basic legal right to use the same MPC within entire territory of Ukraine. The path to the legal regulation of the cascading discharge of P through the introduction of changes in the Ukrainian water legislation aimed at the organization of joint special water use is proposed.

Pollution of water bodies by enterprises of the Moscow region

In this work, a study was made of the pollution of water bodies by enterprises of the Moscow region. Much attention is paid to the issues of pollution of water bodies by both Russian and foreign scientists. New technologies for water purification from pollution are being developed. I use new methods and approaches in research and study of this issue at various levels and localizations. The article clarified the general principles for determining pollutants in water bodies from the enterprises of the Moscow region, as well as the permissible and actual concentrations of pollutants. The authors studied archival materials of hydrological and engineering-geological surveys, as well as analyzed the scientific literature. As a result of the study, we found that storm drains from the enterprise pollute the soil not only of the enterprises, but also of the surrounding territories. These studies are confirmed by the works and can serve as indicators for assessing the sustainability of the natural complex of the territory of small towns in the Moscow region. Also, calculations were made of the maximum allowable discharge, which is the product of the volume of surface runoff coming from the territory of the enterprise and the permissible concentration of harmful substances contained in the wastewater discharged by the enterprise. Based on the study, it is necessary to carry out an action plan to achieve the maximum permissible discharge, such as: collection, as well as timely removal of household waste from the territory of an industrial enterprise during the year in order to reduce the concentration of wastewater, as well as measures that exclude the possibility of spilling oil products during transportation cargo throughout the year.

Calculation of pollution of water bodies by wastewater of the Moscow region enterprise

In this paper, the author studies and calculates pollution of water bodies by wastewater of the Moscow region enterprise. The author reveals the general principles of determining the maximum discharge of pollutants as established standards for the water bodies quality, as well as the permissible and actual concentration, maximum permissible discharge, and total wastewater flow rate.

ДОЦІЛЬНІСТЬ ВРАХУВАННЯ КОМПЛЕКСНИХ ПОКАЗНИКІВ ЯКОСТІ ПРИРОДНОЇ ВОДИ ПРИ НОРМУВАННІ СКИДАНЬ ЗАБРУДНЮЮЧИХ РЕЧОВИН ІЗ ЗВОРОТНИМИ ВОДАМИ У ВОДНІ ОБ'ЄКТИ

The article is devoted to justifying the feasibility of taking into account complex indicators of natural water quality in the task of regulating the discharge of pollutants with waste waters to water bodies. The problem has scientific and legal aspects. The scientific aspect is the similarity of the harmful effect of various substances on living organisms. Attention is drawn to the fact that in the tasks of normalization of discharge of waste water, it is advisable to calculate the complex negative effect of substances according to the limiting signs of harmfulness (LSH). Concerning the legal aspect of the problem, the article shows a contradiction between the normative and legal documents regulating the discharge of waste water, in terms of taking into account complex indicators. Namely, the current "Hygienic standards of water quality of water bodies to meet the drinking, household and other needs of the population" provide for the need to observe water quality taking into account LSHs, and in the "Rules for the protection of surface waters from pollution by waste waters" and "Methodological recommendations on the development of standards for the maximum permissible discharges (MDS) of pollutants into water bodies with waste waters" there is no requirement to take into account LSHs. Based on the analysis, a conclusion is made about the need to adjust the legislative and methodological documents that regulate the calculation of the MDS of pollutants to water bodies, in terms of taking into account complex indicators of the quality of natural water.

Combined system of extreme control of mineralized water dilution in river basins

The theory of combined systems of extreme control, which is used in technical systems, was developed and adapted in socio-ecological-economic systems. For example, river basins are such systems. A combined extreme control system has been formalized to control the dilution of mineralized mine waters in river sections. A mathematical model of the distribution of water masses and pollution in river beds from point and diffuse sources is proposed on the basis of a system of difference balance equations under the influence of stochastic uncontrolled disturbances. With regard to such conditions as adequate instrumentation, a combined control system has been developed that uses decision-making according to environmental and economic criteria based on the analysis of input and output data simultaneously, identification and tracking of the optimum in conditions of displacement under the influence of the disturbances of extreme characteristics of the system. The structural and functional diagram is represented by the open-loop diagram, the identification of which is carried out on the basis of modeling the process of water dilution in various situations at a specific object. A closed part with a recognition system as a corrector provides feedback. Formalized mathematical models of the dynamics of water masses and pollution from point and diffuse sources are of a general nature and can be used for the basins of other rivers. The extreme control system can adapt to the hydrological conditions and water quality parameters of a particular river.
 A mathematical model has been formalized for the combined extreme control of mine water dilution in the section of the Ingulets river. The water for dilution comes from a storage pond in the Svystunov gully. Regulatory actions that maintain water quality without exceeding the normative values ​​of maximum permissible discharge are determined. At the same time, water consumption for dilution is minimized. The scenario analysis of the options showed a saving of up to 30% of water resources, namely 17.5 million m3, compared to the dilution carried out in February-March 2021 according to the existing individual regulations.

НОРМИРОВАНИЕ ЭМИССИЙ ПРИ СБРОСАХ В ГЛУБОКИЕ ВОДОНОСНЫЕ ГОРИЗОНТЫ

Deep underground reservoirs are characterized by a stable structure with unique properties to contain and retain various production waste for a long time in a safe condition. In this context, deep underground aquifers are considered as localized underground targets designed for industrial waste disposal to prevent or reduce a maninduced load on surface water bodies, resources of which are sought-for the drinking and domestic water supply. 
 In the environmental legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the limits for the environmental emissions are established within the maximum permissible discharges (MPD) of industrial wastewater exclusively for surface water bodies. At the same time, no define procedural conditions were determined in the legal norms for MPD limitation when injecting industrial wastewater to the underground aquifers that are also referred to the water bodies as defined. 
 A methodological approach to the limitation of harmful and (or) hazardous substances in industrial wastewater injected to the deep underground localized horizons is considered in the proposed review based on the existing developments of the leading oil companies in the Republic of Kazakhstan taking into account the requirements of the national environmental legislation.

УСТАНОВЛЕНИЕ НОРМАТИВОВ ДОПУСТИМЫХ ВЫБРОСОВ СМЕСИ НЕСКОЛЬКИХ РАДИОНУКЛИДОВ В АТМОСФЕРНЫЙ ВОЗДУХ ПРИ НОРМАЛЬНОЙ ЭКСПЛУАТАЦИИ АЭС

The article is focused on the description of the existing order for regulations of standards for permissible and maximum permissible discharges of radioactive pollutants into atmospheric air and (on) discussion of an alternative method for regulations of standards for permissible and maximum permissible discharges, basing on establishment of these standards for a mixture of radioactive materials and not for every radionuclide individually. This method is based on using the radionuclide vector concept and allows to significantly facilitate arrangements of radiation monitoring, to abandon spectrometric methods and to use more simple, cheap and speedy radiometric methods for discharge control. This result corresponds to internationally recognized ALARA principle. The procedure of the establishment of permissible discharge of noble gases mixture for atmospheric discharge of Rostov NPP site is shown in the article as an example. The results of the analysis of noble gases atmospheric discharges of 47 European NPPs with WWER and PWR power units, creation of nuclide vector and application of this vector for calculation of permissible discharge of noble gases mixture for the Rostov NPP are demonstrated.

РАЗРАБОТКА ПРОГРАММ ДЛЯ РЕШЕНИЯ ЗАДАЧ В ОБЛАСТИ ЗАЩИТЫ ОКРУЖАЮЩЕЙ СРЕДЫ НА ВОДОСБОРНЫХ ТЕРРИТОРИЯХ

The purpose of this work is to develop software for calculating maximum permissible discharges and methods for assessing the overgrowth of water bodies with higher aquatic plants using the publicly available Google Earth program. In this paper, research has been carried out to improve the environmental monitoring system in catchment areas. A new approach is proposed for calculating the maximum allowable discharge for the current volume of water in the reservoir at a specific time. To implement the approach, software has been developed in which calculations are made to determine the value based on the actual volume of water in the Rybinsk reservoir based on the date of the expected discharge of pollutants from enterprises and the current content of pollutants in the water. A method has been developed for assessing the overgrowth of water bodies by higher aquatic plants using the publicly available Google Earth program, which will make it possible to make a forecast of siltation of reservoirs based on the degree of overgrowth. On the basis of the program Google Earth the dynamics of overgrowing of the lake Bezdonnoe is determined on the basis of space images for the 2013, 2015 and 2019 year relative to the 2009 year.

Technological parameters of the discharger intended for the polymer recycling

Theoretical justification of technological and constructive parameters of a discharger included into high-voltage pulse-periodic reactor for plasma-chemical recycling of polymer wastes is presented in the work. Geometric dimensions, gas flow rate, capacity of the discharge power supply, productivity, and the pulse frequency of the discharger have been determined. Operating conditions of the discharger were calculated for polyethylene, polyvinylchloride and polyethylene terephthalate (concentrations 1014, 1015, and 1016 cm3) in inert gas atmosphere (atoms concentrations of 1017, 1018, and 1019 cm3). For the polymers the maximum permissible discharge duration was calculated for the conditions taking into account the realization of the gas flow rate less 10 m/s: discharger power rating of 5 kW (range of capacities of industrial power supplies for metal vapor lasers), the frequency of the discharges at 2 Hz, and discharger’s dimensions of 0.5 m. The obtained results can significantly reduce experimental studies and allow the creation of a plasma-chemical reactor for polymer wastes recycling.

A case study of a pilot high rate algal pond for the treatment of fish farm and domestic wastewaters

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDMicroalgae‐based technologies have emerged as a promising approach for simultaneous wastewater treatment and fish food production able to overcome the main limitations in the aquaculture sector. The current study focused on the mechanisms of carbon and nutrient removal from fish farm and domestic wastewaters in a 180 L outdoors pilot high rate algal pond (HRAP) at different hydraulic retention times (HRTs) considering water evaporation losses.RESULTSMaximum chemical oxygen demand, total Kjeldahl nitrogen and total phosphorus removal efficiencies of 77 ± 9%, 83 ± 10% and 94 ± 6%, respectively, were recorded during the treatment of fish farm wastewater at 10 d of HRT. Carbon and nitrogen were removed by assimilation into biomass (52 ± 12% and 74 ± 22%, respectively) and stripping, while phosphorus was mainly assimilated into biomass (69 ± 23%). Carbon stripping, along with the low carbon and nutrient loading rates supplied, resulted in low biomass productivities (maximum of 5 g m−2 d−1). A successful solids removal was achieved in the settler (82 ± 18%), which entailed effluent solid concentrations below the maximum permissible discharge limit.CONCLUSIONDespite the successful wastewater treatment supported by the HRAP, the high water evaporation losses (up of 15 L m−2 d−1) could compromise the technical and environmental viability of this green wastewater treatment technology. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry

Treatment and kinetic modelling of a simulated dye house effluent by enzymatic catalysis

Biocatalytic treatment of a synthetic dye house effluent, simulating a textile wastewater containing various reactive dyestuffs (Reactive Yellow 15, Reactive Red 239 and Reactive Black 5) and auxiliary chemicals, was investigated in a batch reactor using a commercial laccase. A high decolourisation (above 86%) was achieved at the maximum wavelength of Reactive Black 5. The decolourisation at the other dyes wavelengths (above 63% for RY15 and around 41% for RR239) and the total decolourisation based on all the visible spectrum (around 55%) were not so good, being somewhat lower than in the case of a mixture of the dyes (above 89% for RB5, 77% for RY15, 68% for RR239 and above 84% for total decolourisation). Even so, these results suggest the applicability of this method to treat textile dyeing wastewaters. Kinetic models were developed to simulate the synthetic effluent decolourisation by commercial laccase. The kinetic constants of the models were estimated by minimizing the difference between the predicted and the experimental time courses. The close correlation between the experimental data and the simulated values seems to demonstrate that the models are able to describe with remarkable accuracy the simulated effluent degradation. Water quality parameters such as TOC, COD, BOD 5 and toxicity were found to be under the maximum permissible discharge limits for textile industries wastewaters.

<b>DETERMINATION OF FREE CYANIDE AND TOTAL CYANIDE CONCENTRATIONS IN SURFACE AND UNDERGROUND WATERS IN BOGOSO AND ITS SURROUNDING AREAS IN GHANA</b>

Concentrations of free cyanide and total cyanide in water samples in Bogoso and its surrounding areas in Ghana have been measured in this study. Concentrations of free cyanide and total cyanide were found to be above the maximum permissible discharge limit of effluent from mining companies into natural waters set by Environmental Protection Agency, Ghana (GEPA). A comparison of the results obtained in this study with permissible levels set by US Environmental Protection Agency and the World Health Organization reveals that surface waters in the study areas are highly polluted with cyanide and it's not safe for human consumptions. This means that, the resident in and around Bogoso are at risk. KEY WORDS: Free cyanide, Total cyanide, River Bogo, River Aprepre (River Dumasi), River Ankobra Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2007, 21(2), 213-220.

On the water environmental capacity of Lake Songhua based on eutrophication threshold

The water environmental capacity of phosphorus and nitrogen is an important factor to control water eu- trophication in lakes/reservoirs.The quantitative connection between the growth of predominant species i.e.unial- gat strain of Microcystis aeruginosa and the concentration of TP and TN in Lake Songhua was studied in the laborato- ry using simulation method.Results indicated that TP threshold is 0.065 mg/L,TN threshold is 0.843 mg/L in the Lake Songhua.Risk assessment theory and Monte Carlo method were employed to analyze the concentration distri- bution regulation of TP and TN in the lake based on the data from 2002 to 2004.The paper developed an uncertain- ty method to calculate water environmental capacity of TP and TN in lakes/reservoirs.Because the uncertainty method was based on water self-purification law,and it isn't needed to calculate some parameters difficult to identi- fy,such as the degradation coefficient of the pollutants.It is useful to calculate the water environmental capacity of TP and TN in the Lake Songhua with the uncertainty methods.The result indicated that the maximum permissible discharge amounts of TP and TN in the Lake Songhua watershed were 2123.78 t/a and 7018.82 t/a.In order to control that eutrophication probability in the Lake Songhua was below 0.001,amounts of TP and TN were need to decrease 3208.34 t/a and 18648.91 t/a,respectively.

Radiation capacity of nuclear plant cooling water reservoirs

An approximate calculation of the radiation capacity of two different types of cooling water reservoirs based on a semi-empirical model is described. The reservoir for the Smolensk nuclear power plant was hydraulically modeled using data from the Vedeneev State Hydrotechnical Institute. The model views the reservoir as a two-phase system: the first phase consists of the water in the reservoir and the second phase consists of the bottom and its sediments. Seasonal effects on radionuclide motion and concentration resulting from water intermixing and influx are assessed. Maximum permissible discharges for cobalt 60, strontium 90, cesium 137, and iodine 131 are calculated. The second reservoir is modeled as a specially created man-made foundation pit which has no stagnant zone and no direct link with the river flowing near the reactor but in which the whole spillway is protected by filtration through the earthen dike separating the reservoir from the river.

Analysis of Steady‐State Salt‐Water Upconing with Application at Truro Well Field, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

ABSTRACTSalt‐water upconing describes the phenomenon where salt water is transported vertically upward under a well in response to pumpage in a fresh‐water aquifer underlain by salt water. Sharp interface methods have been used successfully to describe the physics of upconing. A finite‐element model is developed to simulate a sharp interface for determination of the steady‐state position of the interface and maximum permissible well discharges. The model developed is compared to previous published electric‐analog model results of Bennett and others (1968). Both methods are applied to a test case at Truro, Massachusetts, where maximum permissible discharges are determined by the finite‐element model to range from 0.47 to 1.05 cubic feet per second for the Test Site No. 4 location.

Research in the discharge of radionuclides to the atmosphere and assessment of the maximum permissible discharges in the context of the reprocessing of nuclear power plant fuel elements

The authors present results of research in the atmospheric discharge of fission and neutron-activation products, and also of transuranium elements (TE) which were obtained during the operation of facilities for recycling spent VVER (water-moderated, water-cooled power reactor) fuel elements. The activity of the TE in the fuel was determined by reference to the data presented of experimental values of radionuclide discharges to atmosphere. The measurements of the radionuclide discharges to atmosphere were carried out by sampling the aerosols, gases, and vapors present in the gas-air mixture discharged into the atmosphere through ventilation shafts. The values for the maximum permissible discharges (MPDs) of the radionuclides characterizing a nuclear power plant fuel-element reprocessing facility are presented. From a comparison of the data shown, it follows that the factual discharges of radionuclides to atmosphere during operation of a facility for recycling fuel elements from nuclear power plant reactors are 30-90 times smaller than the values for the MPDs which are assessed in the light of the proposed areas for siting it with variable wind-behavioral characteristics.