Pollution Prevention Technologies Research Articles

National defense center for environmental excellence

AbstractThe National Defense Center for Environmental Excellence (NDCEE) was established in 1991 to provide environmental solutions for the Department of Defense (DOD). This is being accomplished through the transfer of innovative technologies and implementation of management processes at DOD installations. In response to a wide variety of Defense and other federal agency stakeholder programs, the NDCEE has established an infrastructure in excess of $50 million—including approximately 400,000 square feet of technology demonstration factory. It has conducted projects totaling over $140 million and consists of a staff of nearly 150 professionals. In conjunction with this capability, NDCEE has developed strategic alliances and support from private industry with an investment that currently exceeds $6 million. This partnership has enabled NDCEE to transfer environmental technologies to the private sector and has allowed private sector successes and lessons learned to be effectively and efficiently transferred to DOD operations.The success of the program can be demonstrated, in part, through its ability to:• Provide Corpus Christi Army Depot with research, development, test, and evaluation (RDTE) assistance and site‐installed equipment to eliminate ozone‐depleting chemicals (ODCs) from their Depot operations;• Assist Naval Aviation Depot Jacksonville with coating removal RDT&E to obtain a ten‐month payback on its $1 million investment in an ultrahigh pressure water‐jet (UHPWJ) system;• Develop an effective Environmental Cost Analysis Methodology to properly evaluate the complete life‐cycle cost of technologies and weapons systems.• Integrate a facility‐wide monitoring and management system at Tobyhanna Army Deport to ensure einvornmental compliance and toe implement pollution prevention (P2) technologies.

Issues of sustainability and pollution prevention in environmental engineering education

This paper discusses the concepts of sustainability and pollution prevention and their roles in environmental science and engineering education. It is argued that environmental engineering science and education must be re-oriented to focus primarily on pollution prevention technologies as a mechanism for attaining the goal of sustainability. While it is acknowledged that traditional pollution control will remain as an integral part of environmental science and engineering education, the paradigm shift (in favor of pollution prevention) must be completed in order for humanity to realize, albeit remotely, the goal of sustainability. The paper presents two case studies; at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (USA) and at the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (Spain) where efforts are being made to re-orient environmental engineering education to promote the concept of sustainability as the primary goal of environmental management.

Industry's role in air quality improvement: Environmental management opportunities for the 21st century

AbstractMore than 200 years ago, Adam Smith, the founder of modern economics, wrote in the Wealth of Nations that “…consumption is the sole end and purpose of all production; and the interest of the producer ought to be attention to…that of the consumer.” In recent years, the rapid growth of the world economy has given Adam Smith's maxim new meaning. The age‐old desire for consumption grows unabated and increasing numbers of consumers around the world are attaching new value to the environmental quality of goods and services and expressing concern over the environmental impacts of industrialization. That concern is growing because more than 70 percent of the world's urban population live in areas where the air is seriously polluted and as many as 750,000 people—the majority in developing countries—die each year of ailments caused by air pollution.1Over the past 25 years, corporations throughout the world have made dramatic changes in the way they do business as more people come to understand how the ecological system works and how polluted air and water endanger human health. The key to increasing industry's participation in the drive for higher standards of air quality is the growing realization that effective environmental management, technological development, and technology dissemination are cost‐effective and profitable business strategies. Global competition is making firms around the world more customer‐conscious and, to the extent that consumers demand products that minimize environmental degradation and enhance the quality of their lives, businesses in every industry must respond in order to survive.2This article examines how changes in business practices, driven by a better understanding of how natural environments function, are converging to provide new opportunities for environmental management that go beyond regulatory compliance to reduce air pollution. Although sound and well‐enforced environmental regulations are an essential foundation for improving air quality, command‐and‐control systems alone are unlikely to achieve the lower levels of pollution that will be necessary to achieve sustainable development in the 21st century. In cooperation with government, businesses in every industry can play crucial roles in achieving higher standards of air quality while at the same time maintaining acceptable levels of economic growth. We explore three ways in which corporations can contribute to environmentally sustainable development: (1) by adopting proactive environmental management systems that focus on air pollution prevention; (2) by developing new technologies for air pollution control and reduction; and (3) by transferring air pollution control and prevention technologies through international trade and investment.

Metal and acid recovery options for the plating industry

Abstract The metal plating and finishing industry loses large amounts of raw materials, and while pollution prevention (P2) techniques and technologies are being used, there appears to be a disparity among platers in the extent of implementation. Surveys and interviews of South Carolina metal platers and finishers were conducted to explore the reasons for the lack of implementation of P2, to assess the extent of metal and acid recovery practiced, and to determine interest in various options for increasing recovery. Both standard recovery options (in-house recovery and centralized recovery facilities for sludge, spent solutions, and equipment rental) and innovative recovery options (rotating or shared recovery equipment and plating-industry specific and integrated industrial parks) were examined. All recovery options were compared with conventional treatment and each other based on technical, economic, and institutional factors. Although all the recovery options examined are conceptually feasible and have similar benefits, they are not all economically and institutionally feasible at this time for South Carolina platers. Based on the results of this research, it is recommended that platers, regulators, trade associations, and other parties in South Carolina focus on in-house recovery, including encouraging departments within captive plating shops to share recovery equipment. Platers in other regions as well as other industries will also find this research applicable. The two main variables that could change the results are geographic location, which affects transportation costs, and the political climate, which affects the desire to attract industry and the flexibility of the regulatory agencies.

Evaluation of Innovative Ink Feed Systems for the Flexographic and Gravure Printing Industries.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Research Triangle Institute, working under a cooperative agreement, have investigated source reduction technologies available to the gravure and flexographic segments of the printing industry. This research focused on investigating ink feed systems and pollution prevention technologies that can be used with these systems. Ink feed systems move ink from an ink sump to a printing cylinder and are located at each printing station on a press. These systems are a component of the overall ink handling process used in printing facilities. Other ink handling processes include ink mixing operations, the transport of the ink to the press, and the actual printing operation where ink is transferred from the printing cylinder to the substrate. This paper provides background information on flexography and gravure. In addition, the paper describes the ink handling process (including traditional ink feed systems) used in these industry segments. Finally, the paper details several innovative ink feed systems that are available and describes the benefits of using these technologies.

Results of a survey to assess curriculum needs for academic training programs in hazardous substances.

With the advent of new industrial hygiene academic training programs in hazardous substances, located at nine United States universities, a curriculum needs assessment survey was developed at the University of Minnesota and completed by members of the joint American Industrial Hygiene Association/American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists Hazardous Waste Committee and members of the Health and Safety Subcommittee of the Hazardous Waste Action Coalition. The survey asked respondents to indicate whether 27 course subjects (1) should be required, (2) may be required or elective, (3) should be elective, or (4) should not be offered. Respondents were also asked to recommend additional course subjects, research needs in the hazardous materials and waste field, and certifications to be pursued. Results from 50 completed surveys (50% response rate) showed that about half of the respondents work for consulting companies and have more than 15 years of experience in the hazardous material or waste field. The courses receiving the most "required" responses included (1) the relevant regulations, (2) worker training in health and safety, (3) waste management technology, (4) pollution prevention, and (5) treatment technology. Of elective subjects, respondents recommended education in communications, public affairs, negotiations and conflict resolution, property inspection, government relations, and air pollution modeling. Respondents indicated the strongest research needs were in the areas of direct reading instruments (improved versions and their use for personal exposure monitoring) and heat stress management of personnel wearing protective clothing. Respondents felt that the best qualifications to pursue after graduation were the Certified Industrial Hygienist designation alone, or in combination with the Certified Safety Professional designation.

Results of a Survey to Assess Curriculum Needs for Academic Training Programs in Hazardous Substances

With the advent of new industrial hygiene academic training programs in hazardous substances, located at nine United States universities, a curriculum needs assessment survey was developed at the University of Minnesota and completed by members of the joint American Industrial Hygiene Association/American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists Hazardous Waste Committee and members of the Health and Safety Subcommittee of the Hazardous Waste Action Coalition. The survey asked respondents to indicate whether 27 course subjects (1) should be required, (2) may be required or elective, (3) should be elective, or (4) should not be offered. Respondents were also asked to recommend additional course subjects, research needs in the hazardous materials and waste field, and certifications to be pursued. Results from 50 completed surveys (50% response rate)showed that about half of the respondents work for consulting companies and have more than 15 years of experience in the hazardous material or waste field. The courses receiving the most “required” responses included (1) the relevant regulations, (2) worker training in health and safety, (3)waste management technology, (4) pollution prevention, and (5) treatment technology. Of elective subjects, respondents recommended education in communications, public affairs, negotiations and conflict resolution, property inspection, government relations, and air pollution modeling. Respondents indicated the strongest research needs were in the areas of direct reading instruments (improved versions and their use for personal exposure monitoring) and heat stress management of personnel wearing protective clothing. Respondents felt that the best qualifications to pursue after graduation were the Certified Industrial Hygienist designation alone, or in combination with the Certified Safety Professional designation.

Regulatory effects in the electroplating industry—a case study in Denmark

This paper addresses the issue of stimulating diffusion of pollution abatement and prevention technologies, by analysing the electroplating industry's response to environmental regulation implemented by municipal authorities in Denmark. Our study indicates that existing environmental regulations have a significant effect in reducing the level of heavy metal discharges and on inducing the regulated firms to respond innovatively to the environmental demands.

Dynamic economic analysis of marine pollution prevention technologies: An application to double hulls and electronic charts

Marine pollution associated with shipping accidents has resulted in a Congressional mandate for double hulls on tankers in U.S. waters. In this paper, we formulate a social planner's problem using optimal control theory to examine the relative cost-effectiveness of double hulls and alternative pollution prevention technologies, and the optimal installation strategy for such technologies. The model encompasses the costs and benefits associated with shipping operations, damage to the marine environment, and investment in each technology. A computer simulation of the model is used to evaluate investment strategies for two technological options: double hulls and electronic chart systems. Results indicate that electronic charts may be a far more cost-effective approach to marine pollution control.

Toward a "greener" pulp and paper industry. The search for mill effluent contaminants and pollution prevention technology

Toward a "greener" pulp and paper industry. The search for mill effluent contaminants and pollution prevention technology

Book Review

Risk AnalysisVolume 14, Issue 2 p. 213-213 Book Review First published: April 1994 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-6924.1994.tb00047.xCitations: 2AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Abstract Book Reviewed in this article: Development and Transfer of Pollution Prevention Technology By Ann Rappaport Citing Literature Volume14, Issue2April 1994Pages 213-213 RelatedInformation

U.S. EPA's Pollution Prevention RD&D Results: “Practical Tools for the Trade”

Waste minimization/pollution prevention has become the strategic approach to waste management in the 90s and the hope for environmental management as we enter the third millenium. Nearly a decade ago, EPA's Office of Research and Development began a focused Waste Minimization Research Program to identify and demonstrate technology for reducing the generation of wastes and shifted the Agency's priority from end-of-pipe controls to the prevention of waste generation. The purpose of this presentation is to share a number of the results from several years of researching engineering solutions to multi-media problems, building a sound scientific foundation to support pollution prevention (P2) principles, and developing and demonstrating pollution prevention technologies, tools, and techniques. The “tools of the trade” for pollution prevention are the research reports that provide results of technology development, the case studies and demonstrations of P2 technologies, and the technical guides and manuals for conducting P2 activities. Technology Development - Tools resulting from technology development include the numerous research reports and briefs from: 1) the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Program, 2) Pollution Prevention Measurement Projects, and 3) the Innovative Clean Technologies Program. Technology Demonstration - Tools resulting from technology demonstration include the research reports and summaries from: 1) the Waste Reduction Innovative Technology Evaluation (WRITE) Program, 2) the Waste Reduction Evaluation At Federal Sites (WREAFS) Program, 3) the New Jersey/EPA Waste Minimization Assessment Project, and 4) Small Generator Waste Minimization Assessment Program. Technical Guides and Manuals - These tools include: 1) Facility Pollution Prevention Guide. 2) 16 industry specific guides to pollution prevention, 3) Background Document on Clean Products Research and Implementation, and 4) Industrial Pollution Prevention Opportunities for the 1990s. Much of the EPA's Pollution Prevention RD&D Program has focused on the development and demonstration of practical tools to encourage the development and adoption of processing technologies mid products that will lead to reducing the aggregate generation rates for pollutants entering various environmental media. The strategic direction for pollution prevention RD&D through the 1990s is: 1) to study high risk environmental problems where P2 offers a cost-effective solution for reducing the risks, 2) to conduct cross-cutting research such as measurement, modelling, and LCA that can be applied to multiple problems, and 3) to establish joint global P2 RD&D ventures where products and processes know no waste generating boundaries.

Engineers Take Up Challenge Of Sustainable Development

▪ AIChE focuses on need for recycling and pollution prevention technologies, processes near commercialization Chemical engineers can have a greater impact on achieving sustainable development than is possible through any other profession, contends Don V. Roberts, vice president of CH2M Hill. He defines sustainable development as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Roberts was one of the keynote speakers at the summer national of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), held last month in Seattle. Waste minimization and pollution prevention are sustainable development concepts at the forefront of chemical technology. So it isn't surprising that these themes should infuse the chemical engineers' meeting, which looked at needs in these areas as well as showcasing advances on the verge of commercialization. AIChE program chairman William D. Byers notes that timing played a role. Planning for the confe...

An Assessment of Water Pollution from Refineries in the USA and Western Europe

Refineries have significantly reduced their discharges of water pollutants during the last twenty years. Nevertheless, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Paris Convention, and other institutions in the USA and Europe are considering further emission constraints on refineries that cause water pollution. In a time when concepts such as "pollution prevention" and "clean technologies" confront the old overture of "end-of-pipe policies," we may ask how new controls should be approached. This article demonstrates that there are several questions regarding refineries which should be addressed as new actions are taken. Among these questions, some should target selected analytical parameters in use for the registration of pollutants in effluents, such as oil and organic substances. Other questions should approach the water soluble substances which we, somewhat surprisingly, find in refinery effluents. A case study indicates that a refinery has significant amounts of water soluble organic chemicals in effluents. These are alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, organic acids, mono- /polyamines and glycolesters. Through comparison of operations with other refineries this overall picture is assumed to be largely representative for many refineries in the USA and Western Europe. The overall refinery emissions are also likely to increase through technological changes associated with worldwide gasoline modification. A substanial amount of the water soluble components will not be captured in many wastewater treatment plants. Should these issues be reflected as new pollution reduction policies are forthcoming? Chemical analytical methods are among the premises of regulatory decision making when emission standards for refinery effluents are assumed. Water soluble chemicals are not inherently linked to refinery operations. Could some of the added chemicals be reformulated or eliminated? The redesign of a few reactors and inclusion of more closed loop operations would be steps toward the concepts of pollution prevention and clean technology -- in contrast to further end-of-pipe measures.