U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH CENTERS PROGRAM
FY 1986
Office of Exploratory Research
October 1986
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CONTENTS
Background 1
The Research Centers — Summary 2
National Center for Ground Water Research 3
Advanced Environmental Control Technology
Research Center 8
Center for Environmental Epidemiology 13
Marine Sciences Research Center 17
National Center for Intermedia
Transport Research 20
Industrial Waste Elimination
Research Center 26
Ecosystems Research Center 30
Hazardous Waste Research Center 38
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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH CENTERS PROGRAM
FY 1986
BACKGROUND
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for
implementing laws designed to mitigate or prevent environmental pollution.
Central to the execution of its responsibility is the need for reliable
scientific information. Recognizing the fact that some of the information
needed to address current or emerging problems is not available, the
Agency has established a long term, exploratory research program.
As part of its long term research program, EPA's Office of Research
and Development (ORD) has created the Environmental Research Centers
Program to support environmental research in science and engineering.
The program consists of a collection of university-based centers, each
specializing in an area of research of interest to EPA. At present,
there are eight centers. Their locations, research themes and principal
research focuses are discussed in subsequent sections of this report.
Support to each center is provided through a cooperative agreement
with EPA. Each center's research program is managed by a center director,
in concert with EPA's project officer. The center director is assisted
by a Science Advisory Committee whTcfT advises the director on the technical
progress of ongoing research, and reviews proposals for further research.
The Science Advisory Committees (SACs) are composed of scientists and
engineers from industry, government and (primarily) academic institutions.
Each SAC contains at least two members from EPA laboratories. The director
of the Office of Exploratory Research (OER) is responsible for policy
matters affecting the centers program and for the review and renewal of
individual centers. Advice on matters of policy affecting the overall
Centers Program is provided by an ad-hoc committee of ORD officials,
called the Centers Council.
The centers are responsible for publishing the results of their work.
Though publication in peer-reviewed journals is the preferred approach,
other types of publications and presentations are also used to speed
information transfer. In fiscal year 1986 (FY'86), which covers the
period October 1, 1985 to September 30, 1986 the centers produced a total
of 99 refereed journal articles, 28 books or bound proceedings, 47 book
chapters and 123 proj ect reports. In addition, they have sponsored or co-
sponsored a total of 16 conferences, workshops or seminars.
This is an annual report, which covers those activities and adminis-
tration of the Centers Program which occurred in FY'86.
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THE RESEARCH CENTERS — SUMMARY
Table 1 provides a summary of centers currently in the program.
TABLE 1
RESEARCH CENTERS
UNIVERSITY CENTER THEME YEAR STARTED
Rice Ground Water Research 1979
Univ. of Oklahoma
Oklahoma State Univ.
Univ. of Illinois, Advanced Environmental 1979
Urbana Control Technology Research
Univ. of Pittsburgh Environmental Epidemiology 1979
Univ. of Rhode Island Marine Sciences Research 1980
Univ. of California- Intermedia Transport Research 1980
Los Angeles
Illinois Institute Industrial Waste Elimination 1980
of Technology Research
Cornell Univ. Ecosystems Research 1980
Louisiana State Univ. Hazardous Waste Research 1981
The material following represents information on activities within
each research center. Additional information may be obtained by contacting
the center director or project officer.
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Center:
National Center for Ground Water Research (NCGWR)
Location:
Director:
Proiect Officer:
Co-Directors:
FY'86 Funds ($K)
EPA
Consortium: Rice University
University of Oklahoma
Oklahoma State University
Dr. C.H. Ward
Department of Environmental Science
and Engineering
Rice University
P.O. Box 1892
Houston, Texas 77251
713/527-4086
Marion R. Scalf
Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Lab
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
P.O. Box 1198
Ada, OK 74820
405/332-8800
FTS: 743-2308
Dr. L.W. Canter
School of Engineering and Environmental Science
University of Oklahoma
Norman, OK 73019
405/325-5202
Dr. N.N. Durham
203 Whitehurst
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK 74078
405/624-6368
Other Government
University
Private Sector
1,541 435 193 160
These figures represent monies spent during the period 10/1/85 - 9/30/86.
Description
The objective of the National Center for Ground Water Research
(NCGWR) is to improve our knowledge of the subsurface environment and
its interaction with pollutants. To meet this objective, research is
conducted in three major areas: transport and fate of ground water
contaminants, study of subsurface and pollutant characteristics which
affect the transport and fate of pollutants, and development of methods
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to assess and protect ground water quality. This research program is
designed to provide information on the behavior of subsurface pollutants
in order to: (1) evaluate options for control of specific sources, (2)
assess the impact of contamination events, (3) determine the likelihood
that a chemical will persist underground, (4) take remedial action in
the restoration of ground water quality and (5) develop criteria for
disposal site selection or rejection. Research sponsored by NCGWR is
oriented toward studies required to explain and predict the transport
and fate of synthetic organic compounds in the subsurface, especially in
ground waters associated with hazardous waste sites.
Accomplishments - FY'86
Use of indigenous subsurface microorganisms to destroy synthetic and
petroleum derived organic compounds present in ground water is termed in
situ biorestoration. At sites sufficiently permeable to allow circulation
of ground water augmented with the mineral nutrients (nitrogen and
phosphorus) and dissolved oxygen required to increase microbial activity,
biorestoration is one of the most cost effective technologies available.
However, the biotechnology of in situ biorestoration as currently practiced
has generally lacked the experimentally derived data needed to support
widespread application. Several of the center's projects have addressed
these needs. Recent findings at Rice University include: (1) the micro-
bial activity in water from existing wells is not indicative of the
ability of in situ subsurface organisms to degrade specific organics and
should not be used to judge the potential for biorestoration activities
at a site, (2) microbial populations at newly contaminated and pristine
sites are not always adapted to degrade organic pollutants—the time
required for adaptation to occur is unknown, (3) inhibition of biodegra-
dation activities at some refinery sites appears to be due to the presence
of toxicants, and (4) oxygen (rather than nitrogen and phosphorus) appears
to be the major factor limiting the degradation of organic pollutants
present in low concentrations.
Most halogenated organic compounds, such as those containing chlorine,
are not biodegradable under aerobic (presence of oxygen) conditions
normally employed in biorestoration. Studies at the University of Oklahoma
under anaerobic (without oxygen) conditions have demonstrated that halogen
atoms can be removed by a reductive reaction not related to other known
substituent removal mechanisms. Hence, it may be possible to develop
anaerobic processes for dechlorination of recalcitrant compounds to yield
products completely degradable in the aerobic phase of in situ biorestoration.
Although indigenous microorganisms are being used to develop
biotechnology for subsurface remediation, little is known of their
metabolism and ecology. Highly sensitive biochemical techniques are
being developed at Oklahoma State University to characterize the energy
metabolism of subsurface organisms in their natural state and after being
stimulated by the addition of oxygen and inorganic nutrients. It is now
possible to evaluate the metabolic activity of subsurface organisms by
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quantitatively extracting phosphorus-containing energy transfer compounds
such as adenosine triphosphate and guanosine monophosphate. These highly
sophisticated and sensitive techniques employ the process of bioluminescence
(biological light production) which is known in marine animals and some
insects such as the firefly.
A computer model (BIOPLUME) was developed at Rice University to
describe natural, oxygen-limited biodegradation of hydrocarbons in the
subsurface. BIOPLUME accurately describes loss in mass and lack of
spread of plumes in a down gradient direction from hazardous waste sites,
a significant finding which suggests that natural biorestoration may be
adequate for containment and control of some subsurface contamination
problems. Field measurements and laboratory analyses were performed in
cooperation with the EPA's Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Labora-
tory in Ada, Oklahoma. These studies confirmed natural biodegradation
of hydrocarbon plumes in ground water. BIOPLUME has been calibrated to
observed data at two field sites (United Creosote, a Superfund Site and
the U.S. Naval Air Station, Traverse City, Michigan), and is one of the
first such modeling efforts in the United States.
Neutral organic compounds such as industrial solvents, pesticides,
and petroleum hydrocarbons in ground waters have been observed to move
through the subsurface at rates far greater than can be predicted using
the conventional theory of hydrophobic sorption. This phenomenon, termed
facilitated transport, has been quantitatively described at Rice University
in terras of equilibrium constants and the rate of sorption to aquifer
material. Soluble humic materials in the subsurface, resulting from the
incomplete breakdown of trees and other plants, have been shown to be
primarily responsible for facilitated transport of neutral organics in
the mobile water phase. Studies were performed with surrogate model
compounds substituted for humic materials which show that the interaction
of neutral organic contaminants with natural organics dissolved in ground
water is complete within one minute. This is in contrast to the slow
interaction (weeks) found with the immobile soil organic carbon phase.
In a real aquifer as the solubility of contaminants decreases, it is
believed that there will be a lower solubility limit at which all compounds
will move at the same rate. These findings are significant in that they
contradict the popular view that transport of a compound in the subsurface
decreases as it becomes less soluble.
The sorption of organic compounds by aquifer materials is generally
described by physical parameters which provide little help in understanding
the mechanisms involved. We know that pollutant compounds are strongly
adsorbed by soil organic matter and to a lesser extent by solid soil
minerals. Advanced techniques using FTIR and laser Raman spectroscopy
are being developed at Oklahoma State University to predict the sorption
capacity of subsurface materials based on the mineral composition of the
solids. Preliminary results are encouraging and indicate that the degree
of sorption is a function of mineral composition, at least for a narrow
range of solvent molecules tested.
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Research Goals - FY'87
Four major areas will provide the focal points for the center's
research program: (1) transport and fate of pollutants, (2) subsurface
characterization, (3) methods development and (4) information transfer.
The center will support active programs in all four areas. Continued
emphasis will be placed on the development of biotechnology for aquifer
and subsurface restoration. Two critical issues will be addressed relative
to aerobic in situ biorestoration: (1) use of hydrogen peroxide (H202)
to increase oxygen tension and (2) use of surfactants to enhance desorption
of organic contaminants and increase the extent of biodegradation.
Studies at Rice University will establish dose-response relationships
between H202 and subsurface microbiota to provide the basis for experiments
to increase microbial tolerance to highly oxidizing conditions. The
enzymes induced as tolerance is increased will be characterized to determine
the mechanisms involved and the factors that limit the use of 1^02 for
biorestoration.
Work on the competitive interaction of neutral organic compounds
with dissolved organic matter and with soil components will be extended
to define the kinetic and equilibrium limits of transport models and to
develop better models if needed. Because of the long periods of time
required to establish equilibrium of contaminants between the dissolved
and sorbed states, ground water can become contaminated due to desorption
months after remediation efforts have ceased. Use of surfactants (micelles)
to enhance the availability of subsurface contaminants for biodegradation
could significantly enhance the state of the art of aquifer restoration.
Effective use of surfactants to enhance the extent of biodegradation will
require a thorough knowledge of the mechanism of interaction with target
compounds and the biodegradability of surfactant-contaminant complexes.
Research at the University of Oklahoma will continue to explore the
limits of anaerobic biodegradation in aquifers. Only a few contaminant
compounds have been studied to date. Previously observed metabolic
pathways (e.g., reductive dechlorination) found effective in biotrans-
formation of recalcitrant compounds will be further developed as a basis
for designing laboratory and field processes for aquifer restoration
both in situ and in the pump and treat mode. Biological characterization
of shaTlow contaminated aquifers will continue in order to discover other
metabolic pathways potentially useful in the development of anaerobic
processes.
The center, in cooperation with the R.S. Kerr Environmental Research
Laboratory in Ada, Oklahoma, will complete the organization of an inter-
national conference on subsurface biodegradation to be held in FY'88.
All presentations will be coordinated to insure complete coverage of the
state of the art of biotechnology for aquifer restoration. A major
reference work, modeled after a previous center publication, Ground Water
Quality, will result from the conference.
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Work on the biochemical characterization of subsurface raicrobiota
will be extended to develop bioluminescence-based methods for determining
flavin coenzyme and pyridine nucleotide coenzyraes for use in assessing
the metabolic status of in situ organisms. Information obtained will be
used in conjunction withTthe biodegradation studies to help design and
evaluate biorestoration processes.
The prediction of biodegradation in ground water is a new research
endeavor, since data from actual field sites is extremely limited.
Computer modeling approaches offer useful methods for the management and
cleanup of contaminated aquifers, and with the incorporation of enhanced
microbial degradation, can provide for more efficient and economical
restoration systems. Models such as BIOPLIME should eventually be able
to simulate injection of oxygen or hydrogen peroxide to enhance natural
microbes to degrade certain organic contaminants.
Specific goals in the modelling area include a more careful consid-
eration of the mathematical solution of the terras in BIOPLIME so that
model accuracy can be improved. Application of BIOPLUME to the Traverse
City data will be finalized and compared to results from the finite
element model being developed at the University of Oklahoma. BIOPLIME
will be applied to the problem of injection-pumping networks for the
cleanup of aquifer systems in the presence of natural biodegradation
and enhanced biodegradation.
Outputs - FY'86
° Number of articles in refereed journals 10
° Articles submitted or in press 22
° Books and bound proceedings 10
° Chapters in other books 29
° Proj ect reports 46
° Conferences and workshops held:
- R.S. Kerr Laboratory Seminar, Oklahoma City, OK,
April 8-10, 1986
- National Symposium on Institutional Coordination
for Ground Water Pollution Control, Philadelphia
Academy of National Sciences, Philadelphia, 1985
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Center: Advanced Environmental Control Technology Research
Center (AECTRC)
Location: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Director: Dr. R.S. Engelbrecht
Department of Civil Engineering
University of Illinois at U-C
Urbana, Illinois 61801
217/333-3822
Project Officer: William A. Cawley
Hazardous Waste Engineering Research Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
26 West St. Glair Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45268
513/569-7896
FTS: 684-7896
FY'86 Funds ($K):
EPA Other Government University Private Sector
553 24 31 1
These figures represent monies spent during the period 10/1/85 - 9/30/86.
Description
The research effort of the Advanced Environmental Control Technology
Research Center (AECTRC) may be described, in one sense, as problem-
oriented fundamental research, and in another as exploratory research
which provides a coupling between fundamental and applied research as
it impacts control technology. Specifically, the research focuses on
separation technology, plus contaminant detoxification and destruction.
The ultimate objective is the development of cost-effective technology
which can remove specific toxic and hazardous materials present in low
concentrations.
Accomplishments - FY* 86
The supercritical fluid (SCF) extraction process, is being investi-
gated as a new, alternative means of environmental quality control.
This process involves the use of a solvent that has been heated and
compressed beyond its critical temperature/pressure. SCF solvents permit
the efficient extraction of very low concentrations of toxic substances
and offer the potential for simultaneous separation and detoxification
of organic compounds. The SCF process is being studied experimentally,
with the data being coupled to the development of predictive mathematical
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models. Results to date indicate that the process is applicable to
the removal and separation of contaminants adsorbed on various materials,
such as soil. Based upon the engineering feasibility and economic analyses
made to date, it appears that the SCF process is practical and has the
potential for reducing decontamination costs significantly when compared
to methods in use today.
Phototropic microorganisms, e.g., algae and certain bacteria which
make use of light as a primary source of energy, can detoxify a variety
of organic compounds, including many that are considered significant
pollutants because of their toxicity. An attached growth or biofilm
system, using the algae Phormidium autumnale, is being experimentally
studied to develop a fundamental understanding of the kinetics (rate of
reaction) of the process with respect to its ability to detoxify environ-
mental contaminants. The process depends upon the formation of a stable
biofilm which, with algae alone, is difficult to achieve. It has been
found that the addition of bacteria and certain specific compounds,
e.g., agar and sodium alginate, enhances the formation of a stable biofilm.
This means that the process can probably be used to treat wastes with
low concentrations of toxic contaminants.
The anaerobic biological process is particularly suited for the treat-
ment of wastes having high concentrations of organic matter, including
toxic compounds. To apply the process in practice, it is essential to
know the relative rates of biodegradation of various organic compounds
and the concentration levels at which toxicity or inhibition of the
biological processes occur. The model organic compounds that are being
used are typical of those found in many industrial wastes, including the
ortho-, meta- and para-substituted compounds of phenol, e.g., methyl,
ethyl, hydroxyl and carboxylic functional groups. Using the biodegration
of phenol as a base for comparison, it has been found that phenol must
be completely xitilized before certain substituted phenol compounds,
specifically cresols and ethyl phenol, are biologically attacked. Also,
the rate of phenol degradation can be affected by the initial concentration
of the substituted-phenol compound. Of the three cresol compounds studied,
ortho- and meta-cresols were degraded slowly while the rate of degradation
of para-cresol approached that of phenol.
The use of an expanded-bed, granular, activated carbon, anaerobic
filter is being investigated for the treatment of hazardous landfill
leachate. This laboratory study is initially using a synthetic leachate
in which acetate is added to represent the degradable component with
either 3-ethylphenol or 4-methylcatecol representing the refractory
and/or toxic component. Early results indicate that concentrations of
3-ethylphenol up to 200 mg/1 were not inhibitory to the biological process
while a concentration of 400 mg/1 completely inhibited acetate utilization.
A 100 mg/1 concentration of 4-methylcatecol was found to completely
inhibit the biological utilization of acetate.
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The contamination of soil with lubricating oil poses a threat to ground
and surface water quality. One potentially simple and inexpensive clean-up
method of spilled oil on soil is in situ biodegradation by adding selected
microorganisms to the contaminatecTsoi1. As a result of laboratory and
field-plot studies, it has been demonstrated that oil-degrading organisms
can be grown quite easily. However, when these organisms are added to
oil-contaminated soil, they appear to positively affect only the amount of
degradation that occurs in the first one or two days, but not the overall
rate or extent of oil degradation. The addition of an oil emulsifier
enhanced degradation in liquid cultures but had no significant effect on
the rate and extent of oil degradation when examined in situ using soil
plots.
Powdered activated carbon (PAG), widely used in water and waste
treatment, is recognized as an effective adsorbent of organic pollutants.
One technology for reactivating the carbon used in such processes is wet
air regeneration (WAR). This technique involves oxidation of a water
slurry of used PAG with aqueous oxygen at elevated temperatures and
pressures. The center is sponsoring a study to determine the reaction
products formed when PAG is reactivated by WAR, the effect of WAR on the
loss of PAG and its adsorption properties, and the effect of various
process parameters on regeneration efficiency. Wet air regeneration of
PAC with adsorbed phenanthrene has been found to lead to the formation
of at least 15 products, some of which may be toxic. A decrease in
adsorption capacity of PAC has also been observed upon its regeneration
by WAR; this is particularly true in the case of adsorbing low molecular
weight organic compounds. This decrease in adsorption capacity, believed
due to an increase in the amount of oxygen on the surface of the PAC,
means that additional virgin PAC is required if removal of low molecular
weight organic compounds is to be achieved by the PAC-activated sludge
process in practice.
A major contributor to the eutrophication (excessive fertilization
that leads to large aquatic growths) of lakes and streams is the phosphorus
contained in the effluents from wastewater treatment plants. Although
phosphorus may be removed through chemical treatment, recent attention has
focused on the use of various biological systems that accomplish luxury
(more than required) uptake of phosphorus. The mechanism of this biological
uptake is not fully known but recent information suggests that metal ions
may be involved. Through the use of chemical analyses and transmission
electron microscopy (TOO the uptake and fate of phosphorus in micro-
organisms, such as polyphosphate inclusion bodies, is being studied. An
effective technique for examining microorganisms by TEM has been developed
by the center. Laboratory biological systems, to which bacteria of the
genus Acinetobacter are added, have not demonstrated the formation of
distinct polyphosphate bodies in microorganisms. However, when acetate
was added to the systems and the microorganisms were anaerobically stressed,
phosphorus rich cellular bodies were observed. The results to date
indicate that there are many additional factors associated with the
biological luxury uptake of phosphorus.
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Detrimental effects resulting from sulfur dioxide (S02) and nitric
oxide (NO) emissions into the earth's atmosphere have become more evident
in recent years. Consequently, there is a need for cost-effective S02
and NO emission control technology. Because of this need to improve air
pollution control technology, experimental and theoretical studies are
being performed to evaluate the simultaneous removal of S02 and NO from a
waste gas stream with a spray dryer system. Results of recent experiments
on S02 removal with an improved spray dryer system were in general
agreement with predicted results of a model that assumes negligible mass
transfer resistance in the spray dryer droplets. Because NO is not as
soluble as SC>2, a literature search was performed to determine suitable
additives that would enhance the removal of NO from the gas stream while
still controlling S02 emissions. Additives, such as potassium permanganate,
were shown to enhance the removal of NO from the gas stream. Literature
searches were also performed on gas phase reaction methods for simultaneous
S02 and NO control and on the hygroscopic properties of spray-dryer
droplets.
There is a high level of public concern about the effects of radon
and the development of methods to remove radon from indoor air. Of
particular interest is the removal of radon from indoor air by adsorption
onto activated carbon, the adsorption/desorption behavior of radon on
several types of carbon, and the interferences that common gases have on
the adsorption of radon. Preliminary measurements and the conceptual
framework of a carbon adsorption system have been completed. Preliminary
results indicate that carbon dioxide, water vapor, and temperature have
significant effects on the adsorption of radon onto activated carbon. A
literature review on the sorption of inert gases onto activated carbon
has also been completed.
Research Goals - FY'87
The existing design models for the supercritical fluid extraction
process will be further refined and verified with experimental data to
permit more accurate economic analysis for comparison with other clean-
up procedures. Less corrosive organic solvents, catalysts and mixed
solvents will be explored to enhance process performance and economics.
The immediate goals of the work on phototropic microorganisms are to
continue the fundamental aspects of the study by completing the determina-
tion of the kinetic parameters and to finalize the experimental evaluation
of the biofilm process models. At the same time, research will be
initiated on algae detoxification with respect to the kinetics of the
dechlorination reactions. The results of this phase of the study will be
evaluated as to the applicability of the process to practice.
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Research on the application of the expanded-bed, granular, activated
carbon, anaerobic filter to the treatment of leachate from hazardous waste
landfills will be expanded to include chlorinated hydrocarbons. The
interaction of process variables, such as waste strength, carbon replace-
ment schedule and carbon particle size, will be evaluated. A comprehensive
mathematical model of the process will be developed for use in designing
full-scale treatment units.
The primary focus in future research on wet air regeneration of
powdered activated carbon will be on the factors affecting destruction of
compounds, because an important application of the process appears to be
the elimination or reduction of hazardous compounds in the powdered
activated carbon-biological process. The study will also be expanded to
include thermal regeneration of activated carbon.
The goals in studying simultaneous collection of sub-micron particles,
sulfur dioxide and nitric oxide include the following: (1) continue the
present research on the effectiveness of additives on the simultaneous
removal of S02 and NO in spray dryers, (2) develop a thermodynamically
based model to predict the reactivity and hygroscopic properties of
select sorbents and additives, (3) pursue the idea of controlling parti-
culate and gas phase pollutants by coupling electron-beam or corona
discharge techniques with the laboratory based spray dryer, and (4)
determine the production rate of radicals in the gas phase that can then
be used to enhance the simultaneous removal of SC>2 and NO without relying
on the introduction of a liquid or solid phase.
The center will enhance the exchange of research information with
Japan under the existing Trilateral Research Agreement by having in
residence a research engineer from the Japan Sewage Works Agency. Also,
a distinguished international lecturer seminar program will be initiated.
Outputs - FY'86
0 Number of articles in refereed journals 14
0 Articles submitted or in press 17
0 Books and bound proceedings 3
0 Chapters in other books 1
0 Project reports 23
° Conferences and workshops held:
- Particulate and Gaseous Pollution Control Using
Energetic Electrons (Special Seminar)
- Microbiological Considerations in Drinking Water
Treatment (Symposiun)
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Center: Center for Environmental Epidemiology (GEE)
Location: University of Pittsburgh
Director: Dr. Philip Enterline
Graduate School of Public Health
University of Pittsburgh
130 DeSoto Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
412/624-1559
Project Officer: Gunther Craun
Health Effects Research Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
26 West St. Clair Street
Cincinnati, OH 45268
513/569-7422
FTS: 684-7422
FY'86 Funds ($K):
EPA Other Government University Private Sector
732 33 37 186
These figures represent monies spent during the period 10/01/85 - 9/30/86.
Description
The primary objective of the Center for Environmental Epidemiology
(GEE) is to improve the theoretical understanding of the human health
risks associated with environmental pollution. Specifically, the center
provides basic research capabilities, especially chronic disease
epidemiology, to EPA's Office of Health Research.
The center has established four research priorities:
° problem definition and feasibility assessments for epidemiology studies
° research to develop and improve epidemiological methods related to
environmental health, for example, research on statistical and analy-
tical methods
° research on exposure assessment relevant to epidemiological investiga-
tions
° research support to EPA including review of data and reports, identi-
fication of problems where epidemiology can support EPA's mission,
assistance to the agency in participating in epidemiology studies in
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other agencies and research organizations and assistance in setting
long-range epidemiological research priorities for the agency.
Accomplishments - FY'86
During the 1986 Fiscal Year, center personnel continued work in
developing data useful for quantitative risk assessment. Considerable
progress was made in studying arsenic exposure. Using data from a
copper smelter at Tacoma, Washington, mathematical models were developed
which permitted extrapolation of air arsenic exposure levels back to the
year 1938. This permitted re-estimation of the dose response relationship
between arsenic exposure and respiratory cancer. An important result
was a dose response curve that is concave downward and which suggests
that Che previous estimates of respiratory cancer risk at low arsenic
exposure levels are too low. In a related effort, computer software
was developed to extend biologically based risk assessment models to
situations where dose can be measured as a continuous variable.
Research was completed and new research was undertaken to better
understand the sources and consequences of indoor air pollution. An
extensive investigation was completed which dealt with the volatilization
of chloroform and trichloroethylene (TCE) from bath and shower water. For
TCE, it was found that under standard bath conditions 27% could be
volatilized from water into the air, whereas 80% of TCE volatized under
standard shower conditions. If bath water is further heated, volatiliza-
tion can increase to 45%. The inhalation of TCE during showering and
bathing was found to be an important and significant route of exposure.
For chloroform, volatilization from shower water also occurred and poten-
tial daily chloroform exposures by inhalation were found to be about one
half of those by ingestion. Since absorption through the lungs is
considerably more efficient than absorption through the gut, chloroform
in shower water may be more important than in drinking water. In general,
off-gassing of water contributes importantly to indoor air pollution and
should be considered when drinking water and air standards are set.
Also related to indoor air pollution are activities initiated during
the year by the center to better define the problem of radon in homes as
it relates to lung cancer. As a result of two workshops during the year,
involving persons conducting radon lung cancer case-control studies, a
project was developed which could provide an early indication that radon
in homes is producing lung cancer. This involves sputum cytology
examinations on persons at high risk of lung cancer living in homes with
high levels of radon.
A focus of center activities has been to develop early indicators of
disease which would be useful in detecting effects of environmental con-
tamination. The sputvm cytology examinations, described above, fall under
this category, particularly since additional tests for cellular damage
will be included. Of major importance have been activities of the center
in developing measures of early fetal loss as indicators of environmental
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contamination. Early fetal loss is difficult to detect in the general
population, though an estimated 20-30% of all pregancies terminate with
fetal death. Two such activities were conducted during FY'86. One was
an epidemiologic study that demonstrated that women working in certain
types of .lobs have excessive reported fetal wastage. The other was a
pilot study which followed a group of women who are trying to become
pregnant. This study, predicated on the need for early and accurate
determination of fetal loss, used various traditional blood and urine
tests to detect pregnancy and fetal loss. The study demonstrated the
capability to recruit subjects and detect fetal loss within 14 days
after ovulation. The study also showed that none of the urine tests was
substantially better than the others in detecting pregnancy when a blood
test was used as the standard.
During the year the center completed work on a study of thyroid
abnormalities in a community near Pittsburgh where there was exposure
to gamma radiation from a uranium waste site. Comparison was made with
a nearby community without radiation. Among women over the age of 40 in
the exposed community, 8.7% had radiation related abnormalities whereas
in the comparison community, only 2.9% had such abnormalities.
One area of interest to the center is exploitation of data tapes
available to it which contain unpublished detail on deaths occurring in
the continental United States. During the year these tapes were used to
establish geographic patterns in the United States in deaths due to
malignant pleural mesothelioma. The extent to which this condition is
related to exposure to asbestos is of concern since asbestos is a general
environmental contaminant. One view is that only occupational exposures
to asbestos are of major importance in the etiology of mesothelioma.
This view is supported by the fact that the increase in malignant pleural
mesothelioma in the United States is almost entirely among males 65
and over. The analysis of geographic patterns in malignant pleural
mesothelioma shows that there are great geographic variations in deaths
and that geographic patterns for males and females were very similar. A
conclusion that can be drawn is that environmental exposures play an
important role. This has implications with regard to activities of the
EPA in regard to asbestos exposures in the general environment.
A problem in environmental epidemiology is valid measurement of
human exposures. Much of the available instrumentation was developed for
short term exposures which occur in occupational settings. One center
project involves development of passive samplers that integrate exposures
over long time periods and as they occur in the general environment.
During the year it was possible to demonstrate the practicality of passive
sampling for low concentrations of chlorinated hydrocarbons over periods
as long as a week.
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Research Goals - FY'87
During FY'87 the computer programs developed for modeling exposure
response data are being updated, under center sponsorship, and will be
applied to a cohort of arsenic exposed workers and to a cohort of coke
oven workers. Also, reports will be prepared on updated mortality for
nickel and coke oven workers. For nickel workers, it is hoped that this
report will clarify the role of various nickel compounds as these relate
to environmentally induced lung cancer - a matter of importance in
setting environmental standards. In regard to indoor air pollution, the
center will attempt to find out what factors influence indoor air concen-
trations of volatile constituents from all water uses in an experimental
building, and to improve understanding of various additional factors
that influence volatilization of chemicals from water. With regard to
radon, a pilot study will be completed to see whether it is feasible to
obtain cooperation of individuals in high radon housing in providing
sputum specimens and to determine the potential of this for evaluating
cancer hazards associated with indoor radon exposure. Regarding early
indicators of disease the validity of new methods will be evaluated in
detecting cellular damage in radon exposed individuals, methods for
detecting early fetal loss will be further tested on a group of women
who are trying to become pregnant, and methods for associating early
fetal loss with environmental factors will be explored.
Outputs - FY'86
0 Number of articles in refereed journals 12
° Articles submitted or in press 11
° Books and bound proceedings 2
0 Chapters in other books 1
° Proj ect reports 8
° Conferences and workshops held:
- Radon Case Control Studies (workshop), Pittsburgh,
October 1, 1985
- Ongoing Activities Related to Radon and Lung Cancer (workshop),
Pittsburgh, June 16, 1986
- Epidemiology of Radon and lung Cancer (symposium), Pittsburgh,
June 17, 1986
- Study of Hospital Admissions and Air Pollutants in
Southern Ontario (seminar)
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Center: Marine Sciences Research Center (MSRC)
Location: University of Rhode Island
Director: Dr. Michael E. Q. Pilson
Graduate School of Oceanography
University of Rhode Island
Narragansett, RI 02882
401/792-6104
Project Officer: Jan Prager
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
South Ferry Road
Narragansett, RI 02882
401/789-1071
FTS: 838-5089
FY'86 Funds ($K)
EPA Other Government University Private Sector
729 0 26 70
These figures represent monies spent during the period 10/1/85 - 9/30/86.
Description
The objective of the Marine Sciences Research Center (MSRC) is to
increase the understanding of processes in coastal marine ecosystems
that are of importance in evaluating the effects of pollutant discharges.
The primary approach is experimental. Mesocosms, which behave in many
ways like coastal ecosystems, are used in direct pollutant loading
experiments to examine the responses of systems to pollutants and to
determine the fates of pollutants. The mesocosm facility at MSRC consists
of 14 tanks, each containing 13 cubic meters (3500 U.S gal.) of water,
maintained outdoors under natural sunlight and temperature regimes.
These living models can be used for many fundamental and practical
investigations. Such mesocosms fill a gap between laboratory experiments
and field observations. Information from all three approaches provides
a basis for informed decisions on the regulation of pollutant discharges.
Pollutants which could be studied include municipal and industrial wastes
in general. Specifically, the MSRC has worked with hydrocarbons, low-level
radioactive materials, nutrients, and municipal sewage.
Accomplishments - FY'86
Two management options for disposal of sewage effluents in the marine
environments were tested in FY'86. The effect of the benthic community
on eutrophic systems (systems with excessive nutrients) was tested, as
was the effect of silica additions on these systems. Silica is an
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essential nutrient for diatoms (microscopic algae) which are believed to
be the preferred food source of a grazing food chain leading to fish and
shellfish. An experiment in 12 mesocosms was conducted from June 1985 to
June 1986 in systems with and without benthic communities and with and
without silica added to high nutrient treatments. The system without
benthic communities developed a much larger and more active pelagic
community than systems with a benthic community. For example, fish and
ctenophores were abundantly present in all nutrient treatments and in
control systems without nutrient additions. This result may have
implications for deep water disposal rather than shallow water disposal.
The systems with silica developed a more "efficient" food chain with less
organic matter stored. For example, the fish in the silica enhanced
system grew to the largest size. The rather small increment, in an
improved utilization of organic matter, however, may not justify silica
additions to sewage effluents as a management option. Concrete management
suggestions based on this experiment must await a more thorough data
analysis.
Research Goals - FY'87
An experiment was begun in July 1986 to test sewage effluent toxicity
as defined by standard EPA assays and by ecosystem responses. This is a
cooperative study with the EPA Environmental Research Laboratory at
Narragansett and the MSRC. EPA personnel will conduct their laboratory
assays in mesocosms and in the field. They will also perform metal and
organic analyses on the effluent, in the mesocosms and in the field.
Staff at MSRC will conduct the mesocosm experiment and measure responses
at the ecosystem level (primary production, system respiration, nutrient
cycling and responses of dominant fauna). This experiment should indicate
how well the fast, inexpensive laboratory assays predict what happens in
the marine environment.
This experiment concludes five years of experiments on eutrophication.
The results will be synthesized in a journal issue or a book in FY'87. This
document will be introduced by an overview of eutrophication in the
coastal marine environment. Mesocosm methodology will be presented and
follow in chronological order results of major experiments on eutrophica-
tion: nutrient gradient, sewage sludge gradient, effect of benthic
communities and silica on eutrophic systems, and toxicity of sewage
effluents. A final synthesis chapter will include possible management
options.
Another major effort will be a continuing field program to evaluate
the state of Narragansett Bay. Last year four bay-wide surveys were conducted
to obtain data on hydrographic parameters and concentrations of nutrients,
heavy metals, certain toxic organics and bacteria. Those data are now
being analyzed. This year the study will concentrate on the Providence
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River area of Narragansett Bay. From these two studies and prior
information, a reasonably accurate picture of inputs of nutrients and
metals, as well as the fates of these materials, should emerge to help
define the best management options for Narragansett Bay. This effort is
being carried out in cooperation with other studies of pollutant inputs,
shellfish health, bacterial contamination, and hydrodynamic modeling in
association with the Narragansett Bay Project also supported by EPA.
Outputs - FY'86
° Number of articles in refereed journals 17
° Articles submitted or in press 11
0 Books and bound proceedings 0
0 Chapters in other books 3
° Proj ect reports 7
° Conferences and workshops held:
- Secondary production of MoLinia lateralis
(seminar - URI)
- Eutrophication, benthic responses and water column
interactions (seminar - Vfoods Hole)
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Center: National Center for Intermedia Transport Research (NCITR)
Location; University of California, Los Angeles
Director: Dr. Sheldon K. Friedlander
Department of Chemical Engineering
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA 90024
213/825-2206
Project Officer: Joseph V. Behar
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EMSL-LV
P.O. Box 15027
Las Vegas, NV 89114
702/798-2216
FTS: 545-2216
FY'86 Funds ($K):
EPA Other Government University Private Sector
523 356* 122** 0
These figures represent monies spent during the period 10/01/85 - 9/30/86.
*Program on Engineering and Systems Analysis for the Control of Toxics
(ESACT), which includes intermedia transport aspects.
**Includes $87K for ESACT.
Description
The National Center for Intermedia Transport Research (NCITR) studies
physical and chemical processes associated with the transport of particle
or gaseous environmental pollutants from one medium, such as air, land, or
waste, to another.
The goals of NCITR. are: (1) to sponsor fundamental research in
intermedia transport, (2) to develop new methods of dealing with multimedia
transport processes involving a variety of separate but interacting
environmental compartments, and (3) to conduct these studies for certain
chemical species (primarily organic) which are expected to be of special
importance in the future.
Some key research questions which exist in this area are:
° What organic chemicals are deposited as a result of dry and wet
fallout?
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0 How do temperature, humidity, vegetation growth, and other factors
influence the pollutant deposition process?
° How are chemicals which are placed on land entrained in the atmosphere?
° Are there chemicals accumulating in the atmosphere which have not
yet been recognized as cumulative?
° What are the fundamental processes determining dry deposition?
The Program on Engineering and Systems Analysis for the Control of
Toxics (ESACT) was initiated in 1985 with support from the State of
California, the UCLA Chancellor's Office, and the Office of the Dean of the
School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at UCLA. Most of the NCITR
principal investigators also participate in ESACT. The ESACT program
includes an industrial and technological component and a component of
multimedia transport.
Accomplishments - FY'86
Dry Deposition Processes: Dry deposition research at NCITR has led to
the development of a generalized correlation applicable to a variety of
surfaces relating the deposition velocity of particles to particle size and
gas velocity. The correlation is based on data for grasses, gravel of
various sizes, and water. Certain parameters which appear in the correlation
must be obtained'from experimental data. To help estimate these parameters,
experimental studies were made in a wind tunnel with a test section having
walls lined with well-defined roughness elements. Transport data were
obtained for the molecular range by naphthalene evaporation. Particle
deposition was studied over the size range from about 0.1 urn to 3 urn.
The experimental results support the correlation in the diffusion range;
uncertainties remain in the interception range.
NCITR has proposed a new method for determining dry deposition velocities.
The method is based on the measurement at the source and in ambient air of
the ratio of a deposited species to a conserved (non-depositing) species.
For best results, both species should be emitted from the same source.
Calculations based on ratios of lead (a depositing species) to carbon
monoxide (a conserved species) in Los Angeles air were used to estimate
deposition velocities for lead. Values so calculated are reasonable but
there is much uncertainty in the calculations because the data base is
weak.
Studies were initiated on toxic air pollutants, in particular, the
products of incomplete combustion (PICs) found in the aerosol phase. Data
on size distribution and chemical composition have been assembled. Samples
are also being collected for analysis using structural analysis methods.
This information is needed for estimating dry deposition rates for PICs.
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Theoretical and Experimental Laboratory Studies of Wet Deposition
Processes:In the area of wet deposition research, previously developed
theoretical models of the uptake of gaseous pollutants by cloud and rain
drops were used to explore, and thereby define, the dependence of scavenging
rate on the nature and extent of aqueous phase chemistry occurring within
the drops. In addition, a new theoretical model was developed to compute
wet deposition rates achieved during atmospheric rain events. This model
accounts for the variation of the atmospheric pressure, temperature, relative
humidity, drop size spectrum, and trace gas pollutant concentration with
altitude. Sensitivity testing on the model has been completed so that it
may now be used to simulate environmental washdown scenarios of interest.
Organic Compounds in Los Angeles Wet Deposition: Following the
experimental programs accomplished up to FY'86, a large amount of data was
collected on organic acids and aldehydes. Several manuscripts, which
account for the fluxes, wash-out rates and pH control by these organic
entities, are presently in various stages of preparation. An inventory is
now being constructed to account for the relative amount of organic acids
being directly emitted in the Los Angeles atmosphere, in contrast to the
organic acids formed in the atmosphere by photochemical reaction. As a
part of this inventory, the first information that we are aware of was
obtained by the center on the direct emission of organic acids from auto-
mobile exhaust.
During FY'86, methods were investigated for the rapid and simple
estimation of hydrogen peroxide in the Los Angeles atmospheric gas phase.
Measurements have been made for 10 months at the UC1A site. Hydrogen
peroxide has also been measured in rain and fog water during the winter.
An investigation has been initiated on reactions between ozone and organic
matter which produce hydrogen peroxide.
Soil/Water Processes: Research on microscale processes that affect
volatile halocarbons in soil/water systems has led to several new insights
about the environmental fate of these compounds. In one experimental study,
clay was found to be a strong sorbent for some (e.g. trichloroethylene)
but not all, volatile halogenated solvents. The mechanism of adsorption
of solvents to clay was found to be significantly different than the
mechanism of adsorption to silica. In another study, more was learned
about the nutrient and Q£ requirements for a specific soil bacterium
which has been cultured under conditions that generate unique halocarbon
degradation enzyme activity in the bacterium.
Structural Characterization and Source Allocation for Organic Pollutants:
In the area of aerosol characterization and source allocationV two new
analytical methods were developed. In the first method, a cascade
impactor is used to collect atmospheric aerosols in eight size cuts ranging
from less than 0.2 urn to greater than 3.5 urn. Each of the eight size cuts is
deposited onto a ZnSe disk, which is transparent to infrared radiation.
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The deposited aerosols are then examined by transmission infrared spectro-
scopy. This analytical approach is providing some of the first direct
chemical information on aerosol composition as a function of size. The
second analytical method developed is based on gas chromatography interfaced
with fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. It is used to estimate the
concentrations of functional groups in organic aerosols. Both of the
methods underwent field tests during the California Air Resources Board's
analytical method intercomparison study August 12-21, 1986. The results
hold great promise for the source allocation studies to be initiated in
FY'87.
Multimedia Transport of Chemical Pollutants: A theoretical framework
of contaminant transport in the top soil zone was formulated. Theoretical
models were developed to assess the importance of diurnal temperature
changes on contaminant transport in dry and unsaturated soil environments.
Temperature gradient effects on contaminant diffusion were found to be
most pronounced when adsorption was also significant. This study is the
first to consider the effect of temperature and moisture gradients and
their diurnal variations on contaminant transport in the top soil zone.
In the area of multimedia modeling, a new sensitivity model was incorporated
into the multimedia transport model. Additionally, the hybrid model,
which consists of both uniform and non-uniform compartments, was improved.
The hybrid multimedia transport model consists of coupled non-linear ordinary
and partial differential equations which are solved by a collocation method.
The model was adapted to run on the IBM/AT computer and it will be further
refined to allow for easy full-screen user interaction. Finally, a review
of organic pollutant transport modeling was completed and published as a
feature article in Environmental Science and Technology.
Ecosystem Modeling; Atmospheric Deposition and Environmental Assimilation
of Gases and Aerosol Particulates in a Desert Ecosystem: Studies were
performed to increase understanding of the effects on desert ecosystems of
selected pollutants from the main pollutant plume from the Los Angeles
basin. Special attention was given to the effects of oxidant pollutants
on biochemical structures and concentrations of secondary plant compounds
in external leaf resins.
Research Goals - FY'87
Dry Deposition Processes: Experimental studies of particle deposition
from turbulent gases to the rough walls of a wind tunnel test section
will be continued. The goal of this study is to test the dry deposition
correlations developed previously by NCITR. New data will also improve the
ability to calculate certain parameters appearing in the correlation which
must now be determined empirically.
The utility of the chemical ratio method for the determination of dry
deposition will be tested by calculations for simulated releases from
sources over surfaces with known dry deposition velocities. Examples of
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such surfaces, for which wind tunnel data are available in the literature,
are rye grass, gravel of various sizes, and water. The goal of the study
is to determine the conditions under which releases from point sources lead
to measurable changes in the ratio of depositing to non-depositing species
between the point of release and the measurement site. This is important
to the practical implementation of the method.
Studies of dry deposition of toxic air pollutants in the aerosol phase,
especially PICs, will continue. The goal of this study is to determine the
distribution of chemical species with respect to particle size for certain
toxic air pollutants. Such information is needed to predict dry deposition
rates for these compounds.
Theoretical and Experimental Laboratory Studies of Wet Deposition
Processes:Research on wet deposition will center on applications of NCITR's
recently developed atmospheric trace gas scavenging model, the washout of
gaseous pollutants will be simulated over a range of environmental conditions,
as characterized by the precipitation and lapse rates, and the altitudinal
profiles of relative humidity and pollutant mixing ratio. Quantitative
estimates will be obtained of the time evolution of both the rates of wet
deposition and atmospheric pollutant depletion, and of the vertical
redistribution of the pollutant in the sub-cloud region. In particular,
the model will be applied to the scavenging of the specific trace chemical
species observed in the rainwater collected in the field component of the
center's wet deposition research activities, thereby enabling a comparison
of the observed and theoretically predicted wet deposition rates to be
made, and the gas phase concentrations of those species to be estimated.
Organic Compounds in Los Angeles Wet Deposition: Because hydrogen
peroxide has been identified as a potentially key component in the
transformation of sulfur dioxide to sulfuric acid, it is of utmost importance
to understand its mechanisms of formation and reactivity in the atmosphere.
In FY'87, efforts will be devoted to continuing our measurements of hydrogen
peroxide in both the gas and aqueous phases relating to dry and wet pollutant
deposition.
In addition to measuring the ambient content of hydrogen peroxide,
studies will continue on the production rates of peroxides through the
interaction of ozone and organic matter.
Soil/Water Processes: Soil/water processes research will focus on
further experimental studies directed at understanding the microbial
destruction of halocarbons. Various methods of generating necessary enzyme
activity and examining the role of oxygen levels on rates of destruction
will be investigated. The results may be directly applicable to finding
methods for inducing biodehalogenation reactions in contaminated soils that
previously did not possess such microbial activity.
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Structural Characterization and Source Allocation for Organic Pollutants:
The primary goal of this project is to establish a method for performing
source allocation studies on the organic component of aerosols. The source
allocation will rely on two new analytical methods for organic aerosol
characterization which were developed last year under NCITR sponsorship.
Source dominated sites will be fingerprinted and the source allocation
methodology will be developed.
Multimedia Transport of Chemical Pollutants: The multimedia transport
program will focus on the modeling of contaminant transport in the multiphase
top soil zone subject to diurnal temperature and moisture variations.
Using the concept of volume averaging, appropriate expressions for tortuosity
as a function of soil moisture content will be developed. Additionally, a
collocation numerical procedure will be adapted in order to solve the
coupled diffusion equations with the multiphase air/atmosphere flux boundary
condition. The collocation method will also be used to solve the hybrid
uniform/non-uniform compartmental multimedia transport model. A full screen
user input interface will be added to the multimedia transport model in
order to make it useful for rapid and user-friendly screening analysis.
Ecosystem Modeling: Atmospheric Deposition and Environmental Assimilation
of Gases and Aerosol Particulates in a Desert Ecosystem:Ecosystem modeling
will focus on the significance of nitrogen-bearing trace compounds in air
to system nitrogen levels, the transfer rate of submicron aerosols to
vegetation, and the effects of vegetation on the transfer of atmospheric
pollutants.
Outputs - FY'86
° Number of articles in refereed journals 6
° Articles submitted or in press 6
0 Books and bound proceedings 2
° Chapters in other books 1
0 Project reports 1
° Conferences and workshops held:
- Pollutant Transport and Accumulation in a
Multimedia Environment (workshop)
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Center:
Location:
Director:
Project Officer:
Industrial Waste Elimination Research Center (IWERC)
Illinois Institute of Technology
Dr. James W. Patterson
Pritzker Department of Environmental Engineering
Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago, Illinois 60616
312/567-3535
Louis Lefke
Deputy Director
Water Engineering Research Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Cincinnati, Ohio 45268
513/569-7953
FTS: 684-7953
FY'86 Funds ($K):
EPA Other Government
820
0
University
34
Private Sector
30
These figures represent monies spent during the period 10/1/85 - 9/30/86.
Description
The Industrial Waste Elimination Research Center (IWERC) conducts
research on fundamental and applied aspects of industrial waste management
associated with in-plant recovery and containment, avoidance, and reduction
of pollutant discharges. The research focus is multi-media, including
air and water pollutants and hazardous wastes, and is primarily concerned
with reduction and elimination of industrial pollutant discharges through
innovations in industrial process manufacturing and development of
recycle/recovery strategies.
IWERC is a problem-oriented exploratory research center utilizing
the tools of basic science and engineering to perform research directed
at industrial waste elimination. The principal areas of research, listed
in order of current priority, are:
° Metals speciation and separation
° Sorption/desorption phenomena
° Particle size and shape control
° Process catalysis and control
° Anaerobic management of industrial emissions (pyrolysis)
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Accomplishments - FY'86
Six projects were conducted and funded under IWERC sponsorship during
FY'86. These include five laboratory research projects, and a field study.
The major features of each of these projects are briefly described below.
Metals Speciation, Separation and Recovery: Heavy metals in
wastewaters represent a serious industrial pollution control problem.
The metals are often toxic, and are regulated pollutants. They can be
viewed as a recoverable product and there may be economic incentives to
remove them from waste streams. Two important heavy metal pollutants
with potential economic value are cadmium and copper.
This study has developed a model which can measure reaction rates
for metal coraplexation reactions under conditions of environmental
interest, and work is in progress to test the developed rate and equilibrium
equations in multicomponent systems. The measured rates of cadmium and
copper complexation are not instantaneous. Mixed ligand experiments are
being performed for copper and cadmium-soluble phase systems. Titrations
and kinetic experiments involving the simultaneous complexation of cadmium
with chloride and hydroxide ligand will be performed.
Evaluation of the Dynamics of Multicomponent Sorption/Desorption
with Differential Reactor Columns:This research is designed to determine
equilibrium and mass transfer coefficients for complex systems in air and
water by the use of solid phase concentration measurements, differential
reactor columns, and simplified numerical solutions.
Water-phase studies are well advanced, and recent research has
indicated the possibility of a unified design model for both air and water
systems. A multi-component desorption procedure for gas-phase systems is
under development which will allow multi-component isotherms to be
developed. Air quartz spring experiments at elevated temperatures are
also underway.
Kinetic Analysis of the Solution-Precipitate Interface for Particle
Size Control: The principal instrument used in this research is a Farrand
Optical MK I modular spectrofluorimeter. Using this instrument, conditions
are being established (e.g., pH, ionic strength, equilibrium temperature,
excess anion or cation, oxygen pressure) under which a particular system
may be varied for the purpose of isolating individual steps of chemical
reactions on particle surfaces. While the stopped flow kinetic system
is being installed, fluorescence quenching measurements are being made
using the steady state technique which involves measurement of fluore-
scence intensity as a function of quencher concentration. Particular
emphasis is being placed on sulfonic acids.
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Industrial Waste Elimination by Periodic Operation — Reduction of
CO? and Ghlororganicai Emissions in Ethylene Oxidation: Both theoretical
and experimental studies are being carried out.The experimental studies
consist of experiments for determining the reaction rate parameters and
the parameters of the reactor system model and of preliminary experiments
in periodic operation of the reactor system. Theoretical studies focus
on the application of the pi-criterion to the ethylene oxide reactor system
and on the development of a vibrational control system.
Modifications of the reactor system and of the C0|2 analysis system,
and construction of the ethylene oxide analysis system were completed.
Preliminary experiments were conducted to provide information for
the formulation of an a-priori model of the gradientless reactor.
Production of Useful Chemicals from the Pyrolysis of Chorinated
Hydrocarbon Wastes (CHC):The United States produces from 35 to 100
million metric tons of potentially hazardous and toxic chemical wastes
every year. Since process waste streams frequently contain mixtures of
CHCs, the direct recovery of the constituent chemicals is uneconomical.
As a result, universally applicable processes such as incineration and
pyrolysis are more suitable for the treatment of toxic and hazardous
wastes containing chlorinated hydrocarbons. Although incineration and
oxidation are effective in destroying essentially all types of organic
hazardous compounds, they are of very limited use for materials recovery.
In contrast, pyrolysis i.e., thermal treatment in the absence of oxygen,
offers the advantage of both detoxication and materials recovery.
Progress was made on the design and construction of the experimental
pyrolysis system and on the mechanism of pyrolysis of a model compound,
chloromethane. Construction of the experimental facility Fast Reactor
with Mass Spectrometer Analysis System is nearly finished. This design
provides flexibility for system modification and easy maintenance needed
to conduct the proposed set of experiments.
Great Lakes Field Evaluation;
With support from EPA's Great Lakes Program Office, the center is
conducting a field evaluation of an innovation technology to control and
recover toxic metals from electroplating wastes.
Research Goals - FY'87
For FY'87 IWERC proposes to extend its work on sorption/desorption
technology for organics recovery to field studies. Candidate industries
include printing and drycleaning. In addition, the results of the ongoing
field study on metals recovery are expected to provide guidance for
further laboratory research. IWERC expects to maintain funding of the
particle size and shape control effort and to select either the pyrolysis
or periodic operation research for expanded support.
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This decision will be made on the basis of advice received from the
IWERC Scientific Advisory Committee and the Industrial Advisory Council
following the Annual Program Review Meeting.
Outputs - FY'86
° Number of articles in refereed journals 4
° Articles submitted or in press 3
0 Books and bound proceedings 0
0 Chapters in other books 0
° Prqi ect reports 13
° Conferences and workshops held:
- International Symposium on Metals Speciation,
Separation and Recovery, Chicago, 111.
July 27-August 1, 1986
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Center; Ecosystems Research Center (ERG)
Location: Cornell University
Director: Dr. Simon Levin
Ecosystems Research Center
347 Corson Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
607/255-4747
Project Officer: Herbert Quinn
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
RD-682
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
202/382-5940
FTS: 382-5940
Private Sector
FY'86 Funds ($K):
EPA Other Government University
750 98 92 50
These figures represent monies spent during the period 10/1/85 - 9/30/86.
Description
The mission of the Ecosystems Research Center (ERG) is to assess and
evaluate the state of knowledge on whole biological communities and
ecosystems and to investigate its applicability to environmental regulation
and management. The concerns of the ERG are with both conceptual and
methodological issues, and with synthesizing the lessons of ecosystems
science in ways that can be applied to regulatory problems.
The primary goals of the center are:
° To identify the fundamental principles and concepts of ecosystems
science and determine their importance in understanding and
predicting the responses of ecosystems to stress.
° To describe the basic mechanisms that operate within ecosystems
and the stability of ecosystems in the face of stress.
° To evaluate the applicability of these theoretical concepts
to problems of concern to EPA, including consideration of
retrospective and other case studies.
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Accomplishments - FY'86
Major accomplishments for the ERG have been in the areas of
environmental risk assessment, ecotoxicology, biotechnology, freshwater
wetland assessment, estuarine impact assessment, air pollution effects on
forests and plant-pest interactions, assessment of rates of lake acidifi-
cation, use of sensitivity analyses of ecosystem models, comparative
analyses of ecosystems, and application of ecosystem theory to regulatory
endpoints of specific environmental legislation administered by EPA.
The ERG continued the exchange among scientists in the academic community
and scientists and regulators at EPA headquarters and EPA laboratories.
Mechanisms for this exchange included workshops involving ERG staff and
EPA personnel, visits by ERG staff to EPA facilities and by EPA scientists
to Cornell, development of collaborative research activities with EPA
laboratories, and presentation of a week-long seminar for EPA scientists
on ecological principles applied to environmental problems.
Ecotoxicology: One of the central challenges in ecosystem research
is the evaluation of the effects of chemicals on ecosystem structure and
function. The ERG, through its past and current projects, has demonstrated
that laboratory bioassays, while providing an important and rapid first
tier in impact assessment, are by themselves inadequate. The problem of
laboratory-to-field extrapolation remains one of the most vexing problems
in environmental assessment, and ERG work emphasizes that it is essential
that bioassays be complemented with other methods, including microcosm
and field testing, that consider populations in situations more closely
mimicking their natural ecosystem environments.
Currently, the ERG is completing a book on the present state of the
science in ecotoxicology. This represents a primary goal in the coming
year.
Biotechnology: Development of an effective regulatory system for
genetically engineered microorganisms has become one of the major
challenges to EPA. The ERG performed an extensive evaluation of research
needs and issues related to the environmental impact of biotechnology.
This research resulted in the publication of a major document (in
Environmental Management, July 1986) which focuses upon mechanisms for
dispersal and establishment of microorganisms, infectious transfer of
genetic information, and potential ecosystem effects, and discusses the
implications for research, assessment, and management. Critical needs
relate to the development of standardized test systems, methods for
detection and monitoring, evaluation of pathogenicity, competitivity and
the potential for infectious transfer, assessment schemes for effects on
ecosystem structure and function and methods for containment and
mitigation. Further research, based on the results of this needs
assessment, is planned.
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Environmental Risk Assessment: In FY'86, ERG conducted a workshop
to evaluate the environmental scoring method under development by EPA's
Office of Policy Planning and Evaluation (OPPE). While the workshop
participants were quite supportive of the principle of incorporating
ecological effects evaluations as an explicit part of the risk assessment
and decision-making process, it was clear that many parts of the proposed
OPPE method were deficient and required alteration. During this year
ERG scientists have worked to improve it by examining issues concerning
the sensitivity and recovery potential of different classes of ecosystems.
In particular, ERG identified characteristics of ecosystems that
determine how the ecosystems would respond to disturbance and how they
would recover once the disturbance is removed. In closely allied work,
ERG studied methods of measuring the "health" of an ecosystem, as a
set of indicators and measures of ecosystem disturbance and recovery.
Since ecosystems are hierarchical and operate simultaneously across many
different scales of time and space, a suite of measures is necessary,
each defined with respect to characteristics of the ecosystem that are
directly or indirectly of importance to hunans. Partially as a result
of continuing discussions at ERG and joint meetings with The Institute
of Ecosystem Studies (Gary Arboretum) and The Ecosystems Center (Marine
Biological Laboratory), a report has been prepared elaborating these
issues.
Environmental risk assessment is also the theme of a new cooperative
project with the EPA Environmental Research Laboratory at Gulf Breeze,
Florida. The ERG has hired two scientists working in residence at the
Gulf Breeze facility to conduct experiments on shallow-water marine
Thalassia (seagrass) ecosystems and microcosms exposed to the toxic
chemical, tributyl-tin (TBT). The ERG contribution to the TBT experiments
will focus on developing methods for studying the fate and effects of
TBT in seagrass ecosystems.
Air Pollution and Acid Precipitation: The ERG has completed
publication of the conclusions of its international workshop on modifica-
tion of plant-insect and plant-disease interactions by air pollutants.
Major conclusions were:
° Air pollutants can alter plant productivity indirectly through
modification of plant-insect and plant-disease interactions,
potentially affecting productivity of agricultural and forested
ecosystems and species composition of forests
° The current understanding of how low levels of pollutants affect
the environment is limited by research that has emphasized high
pollutant concentrations, single pollutants, and individual species
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° Pollutant-induced changes in plants most likely to affect insects
and pathogens include partitioning of photosynthate to above- and
below-ground components (root:shoot ratios), foliar carbon:nitrogen
ratios, and secondary defense compounds
0 Experimental (model) systems will provide a particularly fruitful
approach to research. Potential candidates recommended for
development of model systems include alfalfa, hybrid poplar, and
white pine.
Major conclusions of ERC's workshop report, "Watershed Manipulations
and Time Lags in Response to Acid Deposition," published in FY'86 are:
° The commonly used measure, water-column alkalinity, is by itself
an inadequate measure of the acid-neutralizing capacity of a lake;
0 In addition to processes occurring within watersheds, processes
occurring within some lakes are important in that they may delay,
but do not prevent, acidification;
° The abundance of 'direct-response' systems may be overestimated by
lake acidification schemes based on water column and terrestrial
parameters alone;
° For surface waters and large watersheds having high base saturation,
high cation exchange capacity, and high sulphate adsorption
potential, the delay in acidification produced by non-terrestrial
processes will be of minor consequences.
The ERG has developed a classification scheme for forests of the
Northeast that permits evaluations to be made as to whether or not a
significant change in forest composition has occurred. This scheme will
be used in conjunction with the ERC's forest modelling project, discussed
below, to examine the influence of forest composition on response to air
pollutants.
In FY'86 the ERG staff described the characteristics of and processes
controlling a naturally acidic lake ecosystem.
The forest dynamic simulation model (FORNUT) has been used to project
the expected behavior of northern sugar maple forests over the next 200
years under unpolluted conditions. These forests are projected to maintain
a relatively constant composition of species during this period. Matched
against forest service records for 1950-1980, the model simulations
suggest these forests have developed during this period in a manner
expected from examination of trees uninfluenced by atmospheric pollutants.
To characterize the reliability of these results, the sensitivity of the
model behavior to uncertainty in parameter estimation is being investigated.
Implementation of the model on the Cornell Production Supercomputer, in
which the FGRNUT model was restructured to take advantage of parallel
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processing techniques has been completed. Initial sensitivity tests
demonstrated an extreme sensitivity of forest model simulations to
estimates of tree growth and mortality rates. The latter especially
indicates that the reliability of model predictions can be greatly improved
by enhanced data collection efforts for tree mortality rates. Forest
service records for mortality have been examined. It has been found that
total tree mortality across the forests in the State of New York declined
during the period 1966-1980 compared to the period 1950-66 (presumed to
be a pre-pollution period). Certain species, however, have shown marked
increases in their mortality rates over this time period. Importantly,
there are few differences in mortality rates among tree size classes,
validating a key assumption of the model.
Estuarine Impact Assessment: Through a consideration of case studies
involving various human-induced stresses on the Hudson River and other
estuarine systems, the ERG completed a series of major reports on estuarine
impact assessment. Primary conclusions from this study point to the
need to decrease the levels of uncertainty remaining in predictions, and
to develop better procedures for management under uncertainty.
»
Comparative Analyses of Ecosystems: ERG staff continued investigations
of the function and structure of different types of ecosystems, with the
ultimate goal of generating a classification scheme for ecosystems and
their responses to stress. During 1986, projects focused on the ecological
importance of sediment-water interactions of marine and freshwater
ecosystems, nutrient cycling in ecosystems as related to overall autotrophic
nutrient needs, nutrient availability and use efficiency in terrestrial
ecosystems, and nitrogen and phosphorus cycling in lakes. Primary
conclusions emphasize multiple scales within ecosystems and the importance
of external factors that are essentially manageable, versus internal
factors that are less subject to human control. The issues of scale and
internal/external control of ecosystem structure and function are seen
as critical to the development of a functional classification scheme for
the responses of ecosystems to stress.
Freshwater Wetlands Ecosystems: A study of surface water chemistry
showed that in some wetland systems, surface water chemistry changes
dramatically over relatively short periods of time, primarily through
interactions with sediments. The results are important because wetlands
typically are characterized by their surface water chemistry. These
findings suggest that in characterizing wetlands for scientific or regu-
latory purposes such as effluent discharges or dredge and fill permits,
sediment properties be taken into consideration.
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Another important determinant of the functional characteristics of
wetlands, such as groundwater recharge/discharge, flood control, nutrient
trapping, and wildlife habitat, is the wetland1s hydrologic regime. In
reviewing the existing literature on wetland hydrology, ERG staff found
that lack of data on hydrology is a major shortcoming in regard to
management and regulation of the vast acreage of wetlands in Alaska.
Further, major differences such as the influence of glaciers and permafrost
prevent extrapolation of data from wetlands in the contiguous states to
Alaska.
Wetland Impact Assessment: ERG staff derived a preliminary functional
grouping of species based on their response to altered patterns of flooding
and soil anaerobiosis (lack of oxygen). This functional classification
is intended to aid assessment of the effects of hydrologic alterations
on the composition and structure of multi-species wetland plant communities.
Regulatory Project: The ERG continued three activities which focus
on the use of ecological principles in application to specific sections
of environmental laws and regulations.
Concerning Section 403(c) of the Clean Water Act, studies were
continued on drilling fluids and Thalassia ecosystems. This year a
final report was produced for this project, with attention to the use of
functional and compositional indicators of ecosystem impacts from drilling
fluids. A technique was presented that reduced the number of benthic
invertebrate species that need to be identified and counted, while
appreciably increasing the ability to measure community stress. Also,
decomposition was demonstrated to be an inexpensive indicator of toxic
stress.
Section 309 of the Clean Air Act, legislates EPA's role in reviewing
environmental impact statements (EIS's). The regulatory background is
being examined in order to understand better the issues in ecological
terms. The subsequent step will be to seek an improved scheme for
assigning EIS's to specific categories of projected ecological impact.
A completed project, concerning Section 301(h) of the Clean Water
Act, demonstrates the importance of effects on the benthos, and provides
specific recommendations concerning the efficacy of various indicators of
benthic community impacts (such as species diversity, tropic infauna
indices, species abundance, etc.).
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Research Goals - FY'87
For FY'87, the ERG plans to continue its research in the areas of
environmental risk assessment, ecotoxicology, biotechnology, effects of
air pollutants on forests, comparative analyses of ecosystems, structural
and functional characteristics of wetlands, and analyses of regulatory
endpoints. Some specific research goals follow:
° Environmental Risk Assessment: The ERG will focus on the
characteristics of ecosystems that determine how they respond to
disturbance. ERG will continue to emphasize the sources and levels
of uncertainties inherent in ecological predictions. The work at
Gulf Breeze will expand to include experimental and modeling
research addressing ecosystem effects from toxic stress.
0 Acid Neutralization and Production in Ecosystems: The ERG will
conduct an international workshop to summarize and synthesize
current research on the neutralization and production of acids in
terrestrial, aquatic, and wetland ecosystems. Results are expected
to contribute to understanding the types of surface waters and
watersheds for which, and the conditions under which, processes
occurring in lakes, streams, and wetlands may significantly affect
acidification rates.
° A textbook on ecotoxicology will be completed.
0 Responses of Wetland Ecosystems to Chronic Stress: The ERG will
complete two projects pertaining to assessing the response of
freshwater wetlands to stress. The first project seeks to define
criteria for aggregating plant species for impact assessment;
the second will characterize rates of change in disturbed wetland
plant communities. In addition, a project will be initiated to
explore the application of the concept of functional grouping of
species to the problem of cumulative impact assessment.
° A report on containment and mitigation for genetically engineered
organisms will be completed.
° Cumulative Impact Assessment for Wetland Ecosystems: The ERG
will conduct a workshop on wetland cumulative impact assessment
in collaboration with EPA's Corvallis Laboratory. An edited
volune including background papers prepared for the workshop and
a synthesis of workshop conclusions will be produced.
0 Sensitivity Analyses of Ecosystem Models: Responses of the
forested ecosystem model on the supercomputer will be studied to
examine issues of sensitivity, error propagation, aggregation,
and research needs.
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° Comparative Analyses of Ecological Systems: The ERG will begin
preparations for a major conference on cross-systems comparisons
leading to a functional classification of ecosystems.
° Regulatory Endpoints: The ERG will prepare a workshop involving
regulators and ecologists to advance the ecological meaning of
existing regulatory endpoints, by addressing issues such as data
needs, monitoring requirements, indicators of ecological impacts,
and decision-making on those endpoints.
Outputs - FY'86
0 Number of articles in refereed journals 21
0 Articles submitted or in press 12
° Books and bound proceedings 5
0 Chapters in other books 12
° Proj ects reports 5
° Conferences and workshops held:
- Principles and Issues in Ecosystem Science: Theory and
Application to Regulatory Problems (short course)
- The Shackelton Point Workshop on Biotechnology Impact Assessment
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Center; Hazardous Waste Research Center (HWRC)
Location: Louisiana State University
Director: Dr. Louis Thibodeaux
Hazardous Waste Research Center
3418 CEBA Building
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
504/388-6770
Project Officer: Clyde Dial
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Hazardous Waste Engineering Research Laboratory
26 West St. Glair Street
Cincinnati, OH 45268
513/569-7528
FTS: 684-7528
FY'86 Funds ($K):
EPA Other Government University Private Sector
675 166 71 25
These figures represent monies spent during the period 10/1/85 - 9/30/86.
Description
The Hazardous Waste Research Center (HWRC) conducts research on
problems of hazardous waste treatment and disposal. The purpose of this
research is to contribute to the development of advanced technologies for
the destruction, detoxification, recovery or containment of hazardous
wastes, therefore providing better options for waste management.
The center's research priorities are incineration, alternate methods
of treatment, and waste/materials interaction. Incineration research
includes investigations on the combustion kinetics of chlorinated hydrocarbons
and how the physical and thermodynamic properties of wastes affect their
incinerability. Research on alternate methods of waste treatment focuses
on the destruction of hazardous organic wastes by biological treatment, and
on their removal from soil via supercritical extraction techniques or rotary
kiln desorption. Materials interaction research is developing new information
and prediction procedures for evaluating the extent and magnitude of
hazardous waste contamination.
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In addition to the fundamental research activities of the center, an
applied research program and a technology transfer program are carried out.
The applied research program fosters university-industry research, and
includes current activities in an in-depth study of a rotary kiln incinerator
and the fate of wastes injected underground. The technology transfer
program provides an effective means of communicating research results, both
fundamental and applied.
Accomplishments - FY'86
The Hazardous Waste Research Center funded eight fundamental research
projects and one applied research project for the fiscal year 1986. Research
activities have contributed significantly toward solving some key hazardous
waste management, treatment and/or destruction problems. Specific
accomplishments are described for each research area.
Separation:
The separation of a waste into its hazardous and non-hazardous
components is an important aspect of a hazardous waste management
program. Through separation, pollutants are removed and concentrated,
allowing recovery of reuseable materials and more effective and more
economical treatment or destruction of the unwanted hazardous waste
component. Projects funded in this area addressed supercritical extraction
and rotary kiln drying as separation processes.
The supercritical extraction process has been used to remove hazardous
organic wastes from soils. Research at HWRC has shown that over 99% of
PCB's and DDT can be removed from a contaminated soil in a short period of
time when using carbon dioxide in combination with co-solvents as the
supercritical fluid in the extraction process. This extraction efficiency
can have a significant impact on the effectiveness of a hazardous waste site
clean up, and through the volume reduction of waste requiring further
treatment, clean up costs can be reduced. There is commercial interest in
a soil cleaning unit that uses this process. However, further testing of
the process is recommended before going to full scale commercial operations.
Research to investigate the clean up of contaminated soils using rotary
kiln dryers as a separation process has been initiated. During rotary kiln
drying, relative low temperature heating of a contaminated soil causes the
organic contaminants in it to evaporate. The gases containing the evaporated
contaminant can be evacuated for further treatment. In the center's rotary
kiln project, a bench scale desorber and a pilot scale kiln have been built.
Based on the work with the bench scale desorbers, a mathematical model
will be developed that can predict evaporative rates in a large scale kiln.
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Conversion to Environmentally Compatible Species:
Research on processes that will destroy a hazardous waste or make it
environmentally compatible is being conducted by the HWRC. Incineration
processes to destroy the waste and biological treatment processes to alter
the waste have been studied, and are yielding significant findings.
Through the biological treatment research, two new bacterial species,
Pseudomones DR 101 and DR 201, have been isolated which are capable of
degrading chloroaromatic compounds. Further experiments have shown that
these species are capable of utilizing trichloroethylene (TCE) as their
sole source of carbon and energy. This preliminary finding suggests that
these bacteria can be safely used to treat TCE since the bacteria would not
survive in the environment once the pollutant is no longer present. Patent
applications on the two new isolates are being prepared for submission to
the U.S. Patent Office.
Waste/Environment Interactions;
Essential to the ability to treat or destroy a hazardous waste is the
proper understanding of waste interactions with other materials (air, water,
soils, other chemicals) in the natural environment. Accomplishments of the
center's research in the area of waste/environment interactions are in the
ability to determine the extent and magnitude of contamination.
The solubility of a pollutant in the environment is an important
element in understanding the impact of a hazardous material or waste spill.
HWRC research efforts revealed that while much data was available on the
solubility of pure hydrocarbons (components of gasoline) at 25 C, a gap in
information existed for data showing the effect of temperature and water
salinity on the solubility. Experiments have been conducted to determine
this information, and a method for predicting salt water solubilities from
fresh water solubilities has been developed. The work has focused on
gasoline spills. Therefore the information obtained is particularly helpful
for understanding movement in the environment of an accidental spill or a
leaking underground storage tank. This work has also shown that gasoline
octane enhancers increase the solubility, and therefore increase the
seriousness of a spill or leak.
Efforts to understand waste migration is further being studied with
emphasis on the ability to predict the extent and magnitude of contamination
in the soil. A simple "sharp front" model has been developed to predict
the infiltration into unsaturated soils of an immisible organic. The model
requires two parameters for input: intrinsic permeability and moisture
retention characteristic curve. These measured parameters are readily
available, making the model easily applicable to exposure assessment
calculations.
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Research Goals - FY'87
Research efforts of the Hazardous Waste Research Center will continue
in the areas of incineration, materials interaction, and alternate methods
of treatment. In addition to existing research, new projects are planned
that will address some key unknowns in information relevant to hazardous
waste management.
Research projects that will be undertaken in FY 1987 are:
° Transport in soil of biodegradative microorganisms to transform
hazardous waste components on-site
° Plasma pyrolysis of selected organic compounds in a pilot-scale
50KW plasma-fired furnace
° Transport studies of the mobility of heavy metals which have been
buried over long periods of time using chemical, archaeological,
and bioarchaeological sites and techniques
° Transport and fate of selected chemical components in deep
underground aquifers as a consequence of the practice of
subsurface injection of hazardous waste
0 Treatability, mobility, and clean-up of oil field waste in the land
and marine environments.
Information gained from these studies will contribute new understanding
and new technologies applicable to hazardous waste site clean up projects
and to hazardous waste management strategies.
Outputs - FY'86
° Number of articles in refereed journals 14
° Articles submitted or in press 6
° Books and bound proceedings 0
° Chapters in other books 0
0 Project reports 2
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° Conferences and workshops held:
- International Seminar and Workshop on the Solidification and
Stabilization of Hazardous Waste, Baton Rouge, May 2-3, 1986
- Ground Water Contamination in Louisiana: Issues and Answers
(conference), Baton Rouge, Feb., 1986
- Hazardous Waste: Movement of Chemicals in Air, Water and Soil
(short course), Baton Rouge, March 18-19, 1986
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