United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of
Research and Development
Washington DC 2046.0
EPA/600/N-94/001
January 1994
Vol. 14
SEPA ORD ENGINEERING
HIGHLIGHTS
' A bimonthly compilation of EPA's Office of Research and Development engineering research activities
and results and related research activities in pollution prevention and mitigation. To discuss any of
these activities, contact the ORD lead person listed below. For general information, contact Charlotte
Bercegeay of the Office of Environmental Engineering and Technology Demonstration, Phone: 919-
541-2482.
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Teo|iooJ«>0y Transfer,, ;;;
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Environmental AuBits and Assessment Seminar Held
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Air
New Emissions Research
Narrows the Gap Between
Observed and Inventoried
Oxidant Precursor
Emissions
Researchers in California have concluded that emission
inventories for oxidant precursors must be underestimated
by a factor of 2 to 4. As a result, photochemical models
cannot properly model oxidant formation in the atmo-
sphere, and oxidant control strategies cannot properly
target important sources of emissions that are missing or
underreported by current emission inventories. -Recent
research conducted by the Air and Energy Engineering
Research Laboratory (AEERL) with the Georgia Institute of
Technology has found that light duty vehicle tailpipe
carbon monoxide (CO) emissions are underestimated by
the current models using default assumptions by a factor
of 2.0 to 2.5 for Atlanta, GA. In addition, by using remote
sensing, Atlanta's taxi fleet was found to have extremely
high CO emissions. Almost all taxis were over 1% and
some were up to 13% CO compared to properly function-^
ing vehicles. For example, CO emissions in new vehicles
are less than 0.2%. Additional AEERL research conducted
in collaboration with the National Center for Atmospheric
Research (NCAR) and Washington State University (WSU)
found that isoprene emissions from natural sources have
been underestimated by current emissions inventory
methodologies. Recent measurements of isoprene emis-
sions show that current methodologies underestimate
reported natural source isoprene emissions by a factor of 5
to 10. Taken together, these improvements to mobile
source and natural source emissions methodologies are
expected to contribute substantially to closing the gap
between inventoried source emissions and monitored
ambient emissicvhs. Closing this gap is essential to devel-
oping effective control strategies for reducing photochemi-
cal oxidants in; ozone nonattainment areas.
(Larry G. Jones, AEERL, 919-541-7716)
^5) Printed on Recycled Paper
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ORD Engineering Highlights
Enhanced Combustion Woodstove (ECW)
Technology Achieves Major Milestone
In simulated certification tests in EPA's woodstove labora-
tory, the ECW Technology has achieved an average
particulate emission rate of <1 g/hr. This was accom-
plished while using very small quantities of natural gas or
propane near the top of the wood combustion chamber.
Natural gas consumption was less than 5 ftYhr. Natural
gas costs range from 30 to 90 cents per day. Propane
consumption was 2 ftVhr, equivalent to the natural gas in
heat input. Virtually all of the heat derived from burning
the gas becomes useful heat for the home. EPA has
transferred the technology to its Cooperative Research and
Development Agreement (CRADA) partner, Aladdin S, teel
Products, Inc., in Colville, WA, and they have verified|this
performance in their laboratory. Aladdin is completing
engineering design of the ECW technology incorporated
into their latest low emission stove. Under the CRADA,
EPA and Aladdin are closely monitoring the emission
control and energy performance of 20 prototype stoves
installed in homes this winter. Aladdin will have the ^tove
certified in the spring by an EPA-accredited laboratory.
Production will commence in time for retail availability in
the fall of 1994. Successful demonstration of this innova-
tive technology could mean that homeowners will be able
to operate wood burning stoves with significantly less
threat to their environment. (Robert C. McCrillis, AEE.RL,
919-541-2733)
Indoor Air Quality
Joint International Venture
Underway to Develop New
Method for Health Risk
Evaluation for
Formaldehyde Emissions
AEERL has begun work with the University of Aaerhus,
Denmark, and Wesser and Dueholm of Denmark to
develop a method for evaluating the health risks associ-
ated with indoor exposure to formaldehyde emissions
from furniture. An AEERL researcher recently reviewed
experimental research and began development of a
computer model for the project, which is based on EPA's
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) model, EXPOSURE 2.0. The
objective of the research project is twofold: (1) to demon-
strate that chamber data and computer models can be used
to evaluate health risks from indoor air pollution sources
and (2) to develop tools for industry and IAQ researchers
to assess these risks. Preliminary results have shown that
chamber data can be used to predict formaldehyde emis-
sions from furniture and that the emission data can be
used to predict indoor concentrations and individual
exposure. (L. E. Sparks, AEERL, 919-541-2458)
SITE
RREL Assists Region 3 at Greenwood Chemical Superfund Site
The in situ bioventing pilot scale test is a follow-up to a successful, field treatability test that the
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory (RREL) and Region 3 conducted at the Charlottesville,
~ ~ VA, site in the fall of 1991. The site contains low permeability soils and acetone and naphthalene
contamination to depths of 40 ft. The test plot contains air injection wells, soil gas monitoring points, and temperature
probes. Bioventing will be evaluated using soil sampling, in situ respiration tests, a soil gas permeability test, and soil gas
monitoring. (Gregory Sayles, RREL, 513-569-7607)
RREL Assists Region 2 with Bridgeport, NJ, Site Remediation
RREL met with Region 2 at the Bridgeport Rental and Oil Services site in Bridgeport, NJ, to review site remediation
progress and provide technical assistance. Treatment of lagoon wastes and site soils (contaminated with PCBs and other
organic compounds) began in November 1991, using an on-site, transportable rotary kiln incinerator. The project is
scheduled for completion in mid-1994. (Greg Carroll, RREL, 513-569-7948)
January 1994
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ORD Engineering Highlights
Hazardous Waste
Solidification/Stabilization
(S/S) Process Effectively
Reduces Mobility of
Cyanide and Fluoride in
Ash
RREL received the final report "An Evaluation of Solidifi-
cation/Stabilization of a K088 Spent Potliner Waste," July
1993, from the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Waterways
Experimental Station. In this study, RREL investigated
incineration of the spent potliner followed by ash S/S.
Results show the process to effectively reduce by 70-80%
the mobility of residual cyanide and fluoride in ash.
EPA's Office of Solid Waste will include the report in its
docket for promulgation of BDAT standards for the K088
waste. These standards will affect the 23 generators of
spent potliners in the U. S. who together are responsible
for 150,000 to 200,000 metric tons of the waste each year.
(Ronald Turner, RREL, 513-569-7775)
EPA's Incineration Research Facility (IRF)
Completes Tests of DOE's Savannah River
Laboratory (SRL)
RREL's IRF completed the last of a series of tests in sup-
port of DOE's SRL in FY1993. The 22-test program
involved the incineration of simulated waste feeds (de-
signed to represent typical SRL low-level mixed waste) in
the IRF rotary kiln system. Specific test objectives in-
cluded measurement of flue gas particulate load and size
distributions upstream of the air pollution control system
as a function of test variables; collection of kiln bottom ash
and flue gas particulate for further characterization by
SRL; measurement of waste volume and mass reduction;
measurement of organic constituent destruction and
removal efficiencies; and evaluation of the fate of trace
metals. SRL expects to use the information generated by
the tests to support the design of the Consolidated Incin-
eration Facility (CIF), a rotary kiln incineration system to
be installed at the Savannah River Plant. (Greg Carroll,
RREL, 513-569-7948)
Pollution Prevention
Environmental Pollution Prevention Project: A U.S. EPA-AID Initiative
The Agency for International Development (AID), in conjunction with EPA's Office of Research
and Development (ORD), Office of Water (OW), and the Office of International Activities (OIA),
has been developing the Environmental Pollution Prevention Project (EPS). The EPS goal is to
assist developing countries in implementing pollution prevention programs that will protect the
environment from industrial pollution while enhancing their industrial competitiveness. The
three major EPS activities are administered by EPS offices in specific developing countries. These activities are conducting
industrial assessments, training, and technology transfer. EPS is a seven-year project funded by AID and staffed by three
EPA personnel, Jim Gallup and Deborah Hanlon of ORD, and Mario Salazar of OW. To date, EPS offices have been
established in Tunis/Tunisia, and Santiago, Chile. Additional countries are being considered for EPS activities.
The first EPS Pollution Prevention Workshop was held in Alexandria, Egypt, in the fall of 1993, and was attended by 30
representatives from Egyptian industry, government, and academia. In addition, EPS project participants from Tunisia
and Chile attended the session. During the seven-year life of the U.S. EPA/AID EPS project, up to 10 Pollution Prevention
Offices will be established in developing countries around the world. (Deborah Hanlon, OEETD, 202-260-2726)
Pollution Prevention Guide Available for Pesticide Users
RREL has published "Guides to Pollution Prevention: Non-Agricultural Pesticide Users" (EPA/625/R-93/009), which
targets lawn care companies, governmental agencies responsible for parks and roadways, urban foresters and other
service industry users, and groups who use pesticides non-agriculturally. The guide emphasizes source reduction of
pesticide use and waste, especially through adoption of integrated pest management programs. This is the 17th in a series
of industry-specific pollution prevention guides developed by RREL. (Teresa Harten, RREL, 513-569-7656)
January 1994
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ORD Engineering Highlights
Bioremediation
Biofilters Used for Control
of Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs)
RREL has conducted research on the capabilities and
limitations of commercial air biofilters for control of
VOCs using peat/compost/soil support media. The !
improved biofilter systems provide efficient pH control
and humidification control with reduced bed drying and
gas bypassing. The biofilters may be cleaned or self-
cleaning for biomass control that will eliminate the me|dia
replacement required in commercial biofilters and permit
operation at higher VOC loading rates than peat/com-
post/soil biofilters. Improved biofilter systems were
developed by EPA researchers using pelletized or regular
shaped (straight-passages) support media and recircu-j
lated nutrient and buffer solution. Ongoing research on
biofiltration includes evaluating scale-up requirements for
efficient filter wetting, optimum cleaning methods, an
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ORD Engineering Highlights
Technology Transfer
Newsletter Communicates ORD's Indoor Air Research
Inside IAQ covers indoor air research conducted in the four ORD laboratories located in Research
Triangle Park, NC: the Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory (AEERL), the Atmo-
spheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory (AREAL), the Environmental Criteria and
Assessment Office (ECAO), and the Health Effects Research Laboratory (HERL). The primary
"* "" goals of this newsletter are to communicate EPA's research results in a timely manner and to
provide sources of more detailed technical information. The targeted audience includes EPA Program Offices, research-
ers, industry, and regional, state, and local environmental officials. The first issue of Inside IAQ was distributed in the
summer of 1993, and future issues will be distributed approximately twice a year. (Kelly Leovic, AEERL, 919-541-7717)
Seminar Held in Singapore Addresses Practical Tools and Concepts for Environmental Audits
and Assessments
RREL participated in a seminar sponsored by the Singapore Ministry of the Environment and the U. S.-Asia Environmen-
tal Partnership (U.S.-AEP). The seminar launched an environmental auditing (EA) scheme that will begin to prepare
Singapore and other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries to achieve adequate protection of the
environment with the rapid economic growth of the region. Environmental strategies and policies for this region are
targeting EA as a tool to encourage cleaner industry through pollution prevention and control. The goal of ASEAN
countries is to facilitate environmentally acceptable economic development by strengthening local, national, and regional
capabilities in environmental management by introducing EAand pollution prevention.
(JamesS. Bridges,RREL,513-569-7683) .t....
January 1994
&U.S. GOVERISMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1994 - 550-067/80157
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