SEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of
Research and Development
Washington DC 20460
EPA/600/N-94/007
June 1994
Vol. 16
ORD ENGINEERING
_HIGHUGHTS
f«* «? »/y co™p"ati°n ofEPA's °»ice of Research ana Development engineering research activities
?£ Jt f» lfd rTaKh aCtiV'tieS in P°"Ution P™™«°" ™* mitigation. To discuss any of
Bweaewonhe0™ f?™ 'ead person *"****>* For general information, contact ChaHotte
Bercegeay of the Office of Env,ronmental Engineering and Technology Demonstration,
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Technology
Transfer
AEERL Cosponsors
International Workshop on
Natural Gas Losses
The Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory
(AEERL) recently cosponsored the 1994 International
Workshop on Environmental and Economic Impacts of
Natural Gas Losses held in Prague, Czech Republic. The
single largest series of papers presented AEERL's method-
ology for sampling and calculating methane losses from
the U.S. gas industry. Since the process of privatization
in the Eastern European countries will require an assess-
ment of their gas industry emissions, representatives were
extremely interested in AEERL's methodology and in
having us assist them in their efforts. Other sponsors of
the Workshop included the Gas Research Institute, Radian
Corporation, Price Waterhouse, Transgas, Statoil, and the
Air and Waste Management Association. The workshop,
hosted by the Czech Gas and Oil Association, was at-
tended by about 75 representatives of Western and
Eastern Europe, as well as the Ukrainian and Latvian gas
industries. Sessions included (1) Global Climate Change,
(2) Accounting for Lost Gas, (3) Methane Emission
Studies, (4) Evaluating Emissions, (5) Mitigation and Cost
Reduction, and (6) Resources for Environmental Studies
and Infrastructure Improvements.
(David A. Kirchgessner, AEERL, 919/541-4021)
Printed on Recycled Paper
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ORD Engineering Highlights
Global Climate Radon
Motor Vehicle Air-
Conditioning Systems
Could be More Ozone-
Friendly in the Future
At the request of EPA's Office of Air and Radiation,
AEERL conducted performance and durability tests of oil
additives with HFC-134a refrigerant. Test results show
that it may be feasible to retrofit some motor vehicle air-
conditioners with HFC-134a refrigerant and oil additives.
Mineral oil is used as the lubricant in automotive air-
conditioners with CFC-12 refrigerant. CFC-12 will not be
produced after 1995, and it is estimated that over 100
million vehicles will be retrofitted with HFC-134a. Al-
though HFC-134a and mineral oil are not miscible, certain
oil additives may enable retrofitting. Cooling performance
of the retrofitted system was nearly the same as that of the
original CFC-12 system. The retrofitted system passed a
compressor durability test with no unusual signs of wear.
Automotive manufacturers would need to do more
extensive testing before conclusions can be made regard-
ing feasibility. However, if the additives are successful,
retrofitting procedures might be simplified, and the
transition to ozone-friendly refrigerants should be made
easier. (James J.Jetter, AEERL, 919/541-4830)
Preliminary Standard for
Radon Resistant
Construction of Large
Buildings
As a result of cooperatively sponsored research between
AEERL and the state of Florida, a draft preliminary
standard for the construction of radon resistant large
buildings in Florida is now under development. This
standard will be a technical consensus standard for use in
discussions and negotiations with large building owners
and operators. It will be developed based on (1) good
engineering practice experience from the residential
radon resistant construction demonstration program set
up by the Florida Radon Research Program (FRRP), (2)
national indoor air quality (IAQ) research experience in
large buildings, and (3) preliminary large building
research conducted under the FRRP. Specifications for
structural barriers, soil depressurization systems, and
heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems will be
addressed. Additionally, a standards applicability
protocol will be proposed consistent with the FRRP-
developed radon source potential mapping for the state of
Florida.
Hazardous
Waste
Visitors from Ukraine and Russia Inspect the Risk Reduction Engineering
Laboratory's (RREL's) Incineration Research Facility (IRF) Missile
Propellant Burn Tests
A technical delegation from the Ukraine and Russia visited the IRF in Jefferson, AR to view the pilot-scale rotary fain
Sdneration of the liquid missile fuel Unsymmetrical DiMethyl Hydrazine (UDMH). The delegates are charged with
implementing an April 1993 Clinton/Yeltsin agreement to eliminate world strategic offensive arms; e-g, nudear^warhead
ballistic missiles. The thermal destruction and materials-handling data bemg developed at the IRF wiU assist ihe U&
incineration industry in designing, fabricating, and preparing safe operating protocols for a series o_flUS,btultmobile
incinerators to be shipped to various missile demilitarization locations in the Ukraine and Russia. The Ukrainian and
Russian Environmental Federations have established maximum workplace exposure of relevant producte of incomplete
combustion that exceed RCRA-type incinerator parameters of destruction and removal efficiency. Possible combustion
by-products are sampled and analyzed under this program, while category II quality assurance audit standards are
maintained. Similar incineration tests of missile propellant oxidizer, nitrogen tetroxide "AMYL, will follow the UDMH
tests. (Donald A. Oberacker, RREL, 513/569-7510)
June 1994
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ORD Engineering Highlights
Pollution Prevention
Final White House Environmental Audit Report
The complete environmental portion of the Energy & Environmental Audit report has been
submitted to the White House. The audit is part of the President's "Greening of the White House"
th* nffi F • P];T^™;Lrep°rl: iS formatted and written to allow for public release as deemed appropriate by
the Office on Environmental Policy (OEP). Relevant environmental findings and recommendations are included for
KT^TS1011' SOhd^Sle manaSement' environmental management systems, and environmental compliance for
both he White House and Old Executive Office Building. RREL's scientist, James Bridges, was the Pollution Prevention
Audit Team Leader and only representative from ORD and notes that a number of excellent pollution prevention recom-
mendations for non-chemical paint stripping, alternative coatings, conservation, and materials reductions are included in
the document. Tames R. Edward, AFT, is the White House Complex Environmental Audit Team Leader. (James S.
9-7683)
RREL Supports Federal Facilities Multimedia Enforcement/Compliance Initiative
S^2eud 'T0* t0 ^g10™1 Coordinators to develop pollution prevention Supplemental Environmental
Projects (SEPs) to enhance pollution prevention activities at federal facilities under the Initiative. RREL will provide
solutions for violations and other identified areas of noncompliance. games S. Bridges, RREL, 513/569-7683)
AEERL Research Project Applies Pollution Prevention Techniques to Develop Low Emittinq
Office Equipment
Available data indicate that some types of office equipment emit indoor air contaminants such as ozone, volatile organic
compounds, and particu ates. As a result, AEERL is researching the application of pollution prevention techniques to
reduce emissions from office equipment. The research plans for this project were presented at a March meeting as the first
step of this cooperative research effort between AEERL, Research Triangle Institute, Underwriter's Laboratory, and a
group of Technical Advisors (representing industry and researchers). The objectives of the meeting were to obtain feed-
o^ and tS0mm T a Par*ershi? "** industry; identify the »«* appropriate eLssions test methodol-
ogy and testing scenarios (e.g aging, ventilation, feed rates); and identify other key participants and related research
S;™±7 ^ ^ th£meetinS were (1) a ^committee was established to develop a standard test method for
determining emissions from office equipment and (2) the participants agreed with plans to research dry-process photo-
of 0™lmH I1! "Sf CTc6r?' f6* 5rinterS (ln co°Peration wi* a project currently underway at the National Institute
ttta?covers sZ ^f > I ^' f ^^ t^™1*' ^ neXt Step °f this P"*** is to c°ntinue a ^erature search
that covers several different types of equipment, their emissions, how the equipment works, and potential pollution
prevention options. (Kelly Leovic, AEERL, 919/541-7717) umpouunon
Environmental Pollution Prevention Project (EP3) Train-the-Trainer Workshop
The U.S. Agency for International Development (U.S. AID) and EPA recently held an international pollution prevention
teaming workshop in Washington, DC, on May 9-13, 1994. Topics covered definitions and examples^ poUutfon p'even-
tion assessment procedures and process flow diagrams, environmental accounting, data collection, evaluation of options,
tivl frZFpT P prevention resources. Attendees included consultants, government and university representa-
tives from EP3 programs in Chile and Tunisia; other countries represented included Ecuador, Egypt, Argentina India
Zambia, as well as representatives from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Participants developed
training programs and practiced teaching pollution prevention concepts using participatory methods Follow-up surveys
are being deve oped to determine effectiveness of the course. Subsequent to the workshop/the newly trained participant
will deliver pollution prevention training in their countries. F
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ORD Engineering Highlights
EPS Pollution Prevention Assessments Complete
EPS has recently established pollution prevention offices in Santiago, Chile, and Tunis, Tunisia. Five pollution prevention
assessments have been completed in these two countries using U.S. experts and in-country consultants. The assessments
wire conducted at a battery manufacturing facility, two leather tanning facilities, and two textile plants These facilities
rep^senttdgnificant portion of each country's industrial base and agreed to be participants in the EPS pollution preven-
tion program The preliminary results of these assessments are very promising, and many process changes were identified
that will save the plants thousands of dollars in operating costs and significantly reduce pollution discharges.
In the case of one tannery, a process modification costing less than $5,000 is expected to result in annual savings of ap-
proximately $60,000 andSignificantly reduce chrome effluent. The assessment at the battery manufacturing plant identi-
fied 19 pollution prevention opportunities that could save over $1,875,000 in the first 24 months for an investmen of
$687,000. The facility has already purchased boost charging equipment ($100,000) and plan* to purchase a liquid lead
atomization mill to reduce emissions of lead oxide and improve process efficiency. (Deborah Hanlon, OEb 1D,
202/260-2726)
Indoor Air
Innovative Approach to
Preventing the Entry of Soil
Contaminants into the
Indoor Environment
Preliminary results of a new study performed by Southern
Research Institute are encouraging for a new method that
AEERL has proposed for preventing the entry of soil
contaminants into indoor air. In a recent patent applica-
tion, AEERL suggested that a blocking barrier can be
developed with the application of a DC electric field to
prevent the movement of contaminants in the soil. The
blocking layer of soil is formed when moisture accumu-
lates near one electrode resulting in a decrease in the
permeability and diffusivity of the soil layer. The water in
most soils contains ions, usually positive, that will migrate
under the action of an applied electric field. Through
viscous forces, the ions will drag water along toward the
cathode. Since water is not supplied near the anode, this
region will be depleted of moisture. The electrical conduc-
tivity decreases as the moisture decreases near the anode
causing the electrical current to decrease. To date, five
soils ranging from day to sand have been studied. Mois-
ture, applied voltage, current, local conductivity, and
permeability of these soils were measured as a function of
time. The five soils studied showed varying degrees of
reduction in permeability and electrical conductivity all of
which were sufficient to influence the movement of soil
contaminants. (Ronald Mosley, AEERL, 919/541-7865)
Air
Promising Field
Results on the
Enhanced Combustion
Woodstove
Recent field test results show that the Enhanced Combus-
tion Woodstove (ECW) technology is capable of achieving
participate emissions of only 1 g/hr while being used in a
normal residence. This compares to conventional
woodstove emission rates in residences of about 20 g/hr.
In laboratory testing simulating in-home use, the ECW-
equipped stove reduced particulate emissions by 90%
compared to the same stove with the ECW features turned
off. Field results show that in order for the ECW technol-
ogy to be effective, properly seasoned wood must be used
and the stove operated correctly. Field researchers ob-
served that many homeowners stored their wood out in
the open, exposed to rain and snow. Wood was cut and
split as needed, instead of six months to a year ahead to
allow the wood to dry. Consequently, homeowners were
burning wood with at least 30-45% moisture. ECW
technology requires properly dried wood that averages 10-'
25% moisture, depending on local atmospheric humidity.
Researchers also found that homeowners traditionally run
their stoves too cool. To achieve clean burning, even with
traditional uncontrolled stoves, the stove should be heated
up rapidly to a level sufficient to achieve secondary
combustion above the wood. (Bob McCrillis, AEERL, 919 /
541-2733)
June 1994
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ORD Engineering Highlights
Catalysts Show High Potential for Complete
Destruction of Chlorinated VOCs
AEERL in cooperation with the University of Akron (UA)
provided the best catalyst for destroying chlorinated
organic compounds in a test at Dover Air Force Base.
AEERL and UA have cooperatively developed new
catalysts that show a high potential for the complete
destruction of chlorinated VOCs. The catalysts are de-
signed to adsorb low concentration VOCs at room tem-
perature and then destroy them when the catalyst tem-
perature is raised to 350°C. Tremendous energy savings
result from only having to heat the VOC-laden catalyst
bed rather than the entire air stream. These improved
catalysts almost totally eliminate by-product chlorine
production. (Chester Vogel, AEERL, 919/541-2827)
Regional/Technical
Assistance
RREL Performs Treatability Tests for Region 3 Contaminated Soil Site
, ^ Treatability testing of "fluff waste and contaminated soil from the M.W. Manufacturing site in
m « . • iu i. J/^ylva™aw^conductedattheEPAIncineration Research Facility (IRF) in Jefferson, AR
Fluff waste is the shredded residue from mechanical and chemical processes to reclaim copper from electrical/phone
scrap wire. Large piles of the fluff waste, contaminated with organic compounds such as phthalate esters and chlorinated
solvents, and metals (copper and lead), exist on site. The data will be used to assist in evaluating the suitability of incin-
eration as a remediation treatment option. (Marta K. Richards, RREL, 513/569-7692)
AEERL Technologies Headed to the Commercial Marketplace
^SSf^T^ T T6?5 £" April 5 ^ a J0int Ventoe °f ^ North Carolina incorporated companies, Seoul
Sharp USA and the Center for the Environment and Development. Five AEERL-developed and patented technologies for
improvmg electrostatic predpitators (ESP), widely used for control of fine participate emissions, were transferred to the
private sector for commercialization under the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986. Two of the technologies improve
the operation of an ESP by separating and optimizing the charging and collection functions by allowing higher efficiency
in a smaller, less costly unit. A second pair of technologies adds electrostatic precipitation to fabric filtration increasing
capture of very fine particles. The remaining technology collects sulfur dioxide within an existing ESP and simulta-
neously improves its particle capture. The commercialization of these technologies, making them available to the user
community, should help EPA's Office of Air and Radiation in its mission of improving control of very fine particles that
often contain a high proportion of toxic matter. Sites for commercial demonstration of some of the technology are already
919/541-308? ^ ^ market deVel°pS 3 manufac t^S facility will be set up in the U.S. (Norman PltL, AEERL,
Cooperative Research of Cleaner Production Within the Optical Industry
RREL and the Naval Ophthalmic Support and Training Activity (NOSTRA) are developing a Memorandum of Under-
standing to reduce and/or eliminate waste generating heavy metals and other hazardous materials in optical laboratory
processes and provide pollution prevention solutions to optical laboratory waste generating issues. RREL desires to
encourage pollution prevention in ophthalmic eye wear production through a research and demonstration program that
includes entering into Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADA) with optical manufacturer^ and
associated trade associations. As a result of Optical Laboratories Association (OLA) members proposing a number of
pollution prevention research and development proposals to NOSTRA, the first CRADA will be to evaluate a surface
blocking system as an effective pollution-free replacement for low melting point alloys in ophthalmic laboratories The
evaluation will be conducted at NOSTRA with RREL and will compare factors such as waste generation, production
efficiency, ease of operation, machine errors, downtime, cost of production, and compatibility of the new blocking system
with equipment from a wide variety of optical manufacturers. Both CR-39 plastic and polycarbonate lenses requiring
^
June 1994
•frll.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1994 - 550-067/80265
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United States
Environmental Protection Agency
Center for Environmental Research Information
Cincinnati, OH 45268
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use
$300
EPA/600/N-94/007
BULK RATE
POSTAGE & FEES PAID
EPA
PERMIT No. G-35
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