Project Tocoen Research Articles

97/04212 Project Tocoen. Fate of selected organic compounds in the environment. Part 27. Main sources, emission factors and input of PAHs in Czech Republic

Based on the principle of cascade utilization of multiple energy resources, a gas-steam combined cycle power system integrated with solar thermo-chemical fuel conversion and CO2 capture has been proposed and analyzed. The collected solar heat at 550 °C drives the endothermic methane reforming and is converted to the produced syngas chemical exergy, and then released as high-temperature thermal energy via combustion for power generation, achieving its high-efficiency heat-power conversion. The reforming reaction is integrated with a hydrogen separation membrane, which continuously withdraws hydrogen from the reaction zone and enables nearly full methane conversion. The CO2 enriched gas being concentrated in the retentate zone is collected and processed with pre-combustion decarbonization.The system is thermodynamically simulated using the ASPEN PLUS code. The results show that with 91% CO2 captured, the specific CO2 emission is 25 g/kWh. An exergy efficiency of 58% and thermal efficiency of 51.6% can be obtained. A fossil fuel saving ratio of 31.2% is achievable with a solar thermal share of 28.2%, and the net solar-to-electricity efficiency based on the gross solar heat incident on the collector is about 36.4% compared with the same gas-steam combined cycle system with an equal CO2 removal ratio obtained by post-combustion decarbonization.

Project Tocoen. Fate of Selected Organic Compounds in the Environment. Part XXVII. Main Sources, Emission Factors and Input of PAHs in Czech Republic

Abstract An overview of sources of PAHs in the Czech Republic and that of the values of emission factors and annual emissions are given. Residential heating, coal fired stations, and production of PAHs, carbon black, and coke were identified as the major sources of PAHs in Czech Republic. The total annual emission of 16 PAHs suggested by US EPA was assessed at 700 to 735 tons per annum.

Project Tocoen. The Fate of Selected Organic Compounds in the Environment. Part XXVIII. Levels of PAHs and Some Halogenated POPs in Ambient Air in Czech Republic

Abstract Concentrations of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), chlorinated pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzo-p-furans (PCDDs/Fs) in ambient air in Kosetice, a background locality in the South Bohemia, have been estimated in the period from July to December 1994. The 24-hours samples have been taken by the means of a high-volume sampler. Sample analysis involved Soxhlet extraction of polyurethane foam, extract preconcentration and chromatographic clean-up procedure followed by HPLC determination of PAHs with fluorescence detection, GC/ECD determination of chlorinated pollutants, and GC/MS determination of PCDDs/Fs. The results of this first detailed study undertaken in Czech Republic are compared with the data obtained by similar projects in industrial and/or urban areas in the Czech Republic and in rural or urban areas in other European countries.

Project Tocoen. The fate of selected organic compounds in the environment. The growth response of maize to increasing concentrations of fluoranthene

Abstract The influence of increasing concentration of fluoranthene (FLT) in the nutrient solution (10, 100 and 1000 μg l‐1) on the growth, the content of assimilation pigments and the rate of photosynthesis of maize plants was studied. Accumulation of FLT in individual leaves and other organs was also measured. As early as after 10 days of cultivation a significant inhibition of the root and shoot growth was found in plants at FLT concentrations of 100 and 1000 μg l ‐1. At 1000 μg l ‐1 significant drop of chlorophyll content a was registered. After 24 days of cultivation, in plants from all treatments a significant inhibition of root and shoot growth was observed and the concentration of photosynthetic pigments was also much lowered. Net photosynthetic rate was significantly inhibited in plants from FLT 100 and FLT 1000 treatments. The highest concentration of FLT was found in roots of the experimental plants from all treatments during the whole period of cultivation. Translocation of some amount of FLT i...

Project Tocoen: The fate of selected organic pollutants in the environment part xxiv. The content of PCBs and PCDDs/Fs in high‐mountain soils

The six high‐mountain soil samples (more than 1,100 m above sea level) from National Park Krkonose (North Bohemia, Czech‐Polish border) were analyzed for contents of PCBs, non‐ortho and mono‐ortho PCBs and PCDDs/Fs. The content of PCBs ranged between 31 and 137 ng.g‐1 dry soil. PCB 77 was predominant coplanar PCBs. The contents of PCDDs/Fs ranged between 17 and 29 pg.g‐1 1‐TEQ of PCDDs/Fs and were between 20.1 and 41.2 pg.g‐1 T‐TEQ of PCDDs/Fs and coplanar PCBs. The contents of PCDFs were significantly higher than those of PCDDs. The predominant congeners were OCDF and OCDD. The contribution of non‐ortho and mono‐ortho PCBs to the total 1‐TEQ ranged between 9.3 and 49.3%.

Project Tocoen. The fate of selected organic pollutants in the environment. XXIII. Sampling and analysis of PCBs, PCDDs and PCDFs in ambient air in Bratislava

Ambient air samples were collected at seven sites in Bratislava (the Slovak Republic) using glass fiber filters (GFF) and polyurethane foam sorbent traps (PUF). PCDDs, PCDFs and PCBs were measured in both the particulate and vapor phase. The total PCB concentrations were between 0.56 ng.m‐3 and 4.7 ng.m‐3 and PCDD and PCDF concentrations between n.d. and 2.9 pg.m‐3. Detection limits for individual PCDD/PCDF congeners ranged from 0.1 to 2 pg.m‐3 and for PCBs from 0.2 to 5 pg.m‐3. PCDD/Fs and higher chlorinated PCBs were trapped in 1 cm layer of a 5cm‐thick PUF plug even if almost 2 000 m3 of ambient air was collected.

Project tocoen ‐ the fate of selected organic pollutants in the environment part XXI. ‐ The contents of PAHs, PCBs, PCDDs/Fs in sediments from Danube river catchment area

As a part of cooperation between Chemical Time Bombs Program and Project TOCOEN, the contamination of sediments in Moravian and Slovakian part of Danube river catchment area by PAHs, PCBs, PCDDs/Fs was determined. The total contents of PAHs ranged between 25.5 and 4,690.3 ng•g‐1, PCBs between 4.9 and 232 ng•g‐1 and PCDDs/Fs were detected at one site in concentration 0.0005 pg•g‐1 TEQ.

Project TOCOEN ‐ the fate of selected organic pollutants in the environment. Part XXII.‐the contents of PAHs, PCBs, PCDDs/Fs in soil from surroundings of brno municipal waste incinerator

The Brno municipal waste incinerator (MWI), a Project TOCOEN model source of PAHs, PCBs, PCDDs/Fs was observed and the soil contamination in its surroundings was determined. The total observed concentrations of PAHs, PCBs PCDDs/Fs were found in the ranges of 369.2 to 5,077.9 ng•g‐1, 2.0 to 111 ng•g‐1, and 0.018 to 0.140 pg•g‐1 TEQ, respectively.

Project Tocoen. the fate of selected pollutants in the environment. Part XIX. the phytotoxicity of organic and inorganic pollutants‐cadmium. The effect of cadmium on the growth of germinating maize plants

The effect of increasing cadmium concentration (10, 100 and 1000 μmol dm‐3) on the growth, leaf area, content of assimilation pigments, cadmium content and the regulatory ability of the tissue of maize plants was investigated. The results obtained document, already after 6 days, a significant decrease of dry weight, reduction of leaf area, chlorophyll a and b as well as carotenoids in plants grown in the nutrient solution containing 1000 μmol dm ‐3 of cadmium. A highly significant inhibition of growth, leaf area and assimilation pigments in plants growing in the nutrient solutions with 100 and 10 μmol dm‐3 of cadmium was registered after 17 days of cultivation. In plants growing in the nutrient solution containing 100 μmol dm‐3 of cadmium a demonstrable reduction of the content of assimilation pigments was registered after 11 days of culture. With increasing cadmium concentration in the nutrient solution as well as in the plant tissue after 6 and 17 days of culture both the range of the regulatory zone an...

Project Tocoen. The fate of selected organic pollutants in the environment. IX. A model source of PCBs, PCDDs and PCDFs

A model source of PCBs, PCDDs and PCDFs release into the environment was observed. The model source was the lorry producing factory LIAZ at Mnichovo Hradistě, where the used oil incinerators is located.

Project Tocoen

Topsoil samples from Project TOCOEN model sites and some other locations in Czechoslovakia were collected and analyzed for PCBs, PCDDs and PCDFs. The various types of contaminated areas and sites are compared as first describing the situation of contamination of Czechoslovak soils by chlorinated aromatic pollutants.

Project TOCOEN. The fate of selected organic pollutants in the environment

Samples of subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissues were analysed to obtain preliminary information on the level of general population exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Three different regions—cities and their neighbouring districts—were chosen for comparison of the levels of contamination in Slovakia: Bratislava, Trencin and Martin. Samples were obtained by autopsy. Highest concentrations were found in patients from the relatively densely population region with heavy chemical industry (Bratislava; males 0.7–10.4 mg.kg‐1 on lipid basis, females 0.6–7.7). Lower concentrations were found in the smaller towns and zones with different type of industry (engineering): Trencin— males 2.1–5.5, females 0.4–6.1 and Martin—males 0.4–4.7, females 0.4–4.8. The daily PCB intake in the general population of Slovakia was calculated from the obtained and published data1,2. This intake was found to be between 0.2 and 4.0 μg.kg‐1.day‐1.

Project Tocoen. The fate of selected organic compounds in the environment—part V. the model source of Pahs. Preliminary study

The possible negative effluents of model source of PAHs on the environment were observed. The model source of PAHs was Urx Chemical Factory, Valašské Mezifíčí, Czechoslovakia, who produced aromatic compounds from benzene to phenanthrene and some of their derivatives and carbon black.

Project tocoen. The fate of selected organic pollutants in the environment—iv. soil, earthworms and vegetation 1988

The samples of soils, earthworms and vegetation (needles, lichens, mosses) were collected for the realization of Project TOCOEN (Toxic Organic Compounds in the ENvironment). The samples were collected from three TOCOEN model areas in Czechoslovakia—one city and two rural areas. The samples were analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), chlorinated pesticides (C1‐PEST) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).