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The clam Rangia cuneata as a standard biomonitor of hazardous substances in Gulf Coast and southern Atlantic estuaries and inland waters
524
REMOVAL
ABSTRACTS
OF ELEMENTAL
PHOSPHORUS FROM FURNACE SLUDGE
ELECTRIC
John Hanna Mineral Resources Institute, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
THE CLAM RANGIA
CUNEATA
AS A
STANDARD BIOMONITOR OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES IN GULF COAST AND SOUTHERN ESTUARIES
ATLANTIC
AND INLAND WATERS
Richard C. Harrel and Marc A. McConnell
Electrothermal production of elemental phosphorus (P4) generates substantial amounts of highly toxic phossy water and sludges. Because of their high phosphorus content and lack of a reliable processing technology, large tonnage of these hazardous wastes are accumulated at an annual net rate of 1.5 to 2.5 million tons. The accumulated sludges are stored in ponds or in special containment vessels in 30 locations in 18 states, including Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, and Texas. Serious water pollution problems will result unless these wastes are given extensive treatment to remove the elemental phosphorus. Federal regulations prohibit permanent storage of flammable wastes. Recently, researchers at The University of Alabama have developed a two-step method for the treatment of phosphorus sludge that included bulk removal of phosphorus by physical separation techniques followed by remediation of the residual P4 in the sludge using a novel wet air oxidation technique known as "HSAD". Tests made on samples of the electric furnace phosphorus sludge have demonstrated that essentially complete removal of the P4 in the sludge can be achieved by the twostep treatment process. Further studies are, however, required to determine the applicability of the two-step process on sludges of various origin, different pretreatment and storage conditions and to better understand the mechanisms and factors controlling the HSAD wet air oxidation remediation approach. The overall objective of the proposed research is to develop a system for processing, detoxification, and remediation of electric furnace phosphorus sludge that allows the recovery of elemental phosphorus as a fertilizer by-product and landfill disposal of the solid wastes, The research will embrace both basic and applied studies concerning the new HSAD wet oxidation remediation technique. Development and successful demonstration of a costeffective remediation process will advance the technology of handling and treatment of hazardous wastes containing elemental phosphorus. In addition, it will permit safe disposal of the treated sludges as well as the recovery of the phosphorus values as a fertilizer by-product. The application of this technology will result in substantial reduction of current and future accumulations of such hazardous materials and in prevention of a potentially serious water pollution problem.
Biology Department, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX 77710
The project is designed to investigate the use of the brackish water clam Ran~,ia cuneata as a standard biomonitor species for accumulation of hazardous substances in Gulf Coast and southern Atlantic estuaries and inland waters. The bivalve, Mytilus edulis, has been used as a standard biomonitor in cold temperate coastal waters of the Pacific and the northern Atlantic coasts. Oysters of several species have been used as biomonitors in high-salinity waters of the south Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, but no single species has been determined to be suitable as a biomonitor in low salinity estuaries or coastal freshwaters. The biological characteristics of Rangia cuneata~ and especially its eurytolerant nature to a wide range of environmental factors, should make it an excellent biomonitor species. It could be transplanted into selected sites in estuaries and freshwater environments along the southern Atlantic and Gulf coasts. The use of a single species as a standard biomonitor species for such a wide geographic and highly industrialized area would have many benefits. Accumulation of the heavy metals cadmium, chromium, copper, and lead by Rangia cuneata is being studied in the laboratory and in surface waters that receive some of the metals. This research will furnish basic information needed to determine if Ran~,ia cuneata is a suitable biomonitor species. v
DEVELOPMENT
OF A NOVEL
TWO-STAGE FLUIDIZED BED INCINERATION TECHNOLOGY THE CONTROL
OF HEAVY
FOR
METAL
EMISSIONS Thomas C. Ho Department of Chemical Engineering, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX 77710
Thermal treatment of soil and waste in uncontrolled dumpsites that are contaminated with organics and inorganics is becoming increasingly popular. One of the environmental concerns, however, is the control of metal emissions. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has reported that metals can account for almost
REMOVAL
ABSTRACTS
OF ELEMENTAL
PHOSPHORUS FROM FURNACE SLUDGE
ELECTRIC
John Hanna Mineral Resources Institute, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
THE CLAM RANGIA
CUNEATA
AS A
STANDARD BIOMONITOR OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES IN GULF COAST AND SOUTHERN ESTUARIES
ATLANTIC
AND INLAND WATERS
Richard C. Harrel and Marc A. McConnell
Electrothermal production of elemental phosphorus (P4) generates substantial amounts of highly toxic phossy water and sludges. Because of their high phosphorus content and lack of a reliable processing technology, large tonnage of these hazardous wastes are accumulated at an annual net rate of 1.5 to 2.5 million tons. The accumulated sludges are stored in ponds or in special containment vessels in 30 locations in 18 states, including Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, and Texas. Serious water pollution problems will result unless these wastes are given extensive treatment to remove the elemental phosphorus. Federal regulations prohibit permanent storage of flammable wastes. Recently, researchers at The University of Alabama have developed a two-step method for the treatment of phosphorus sludge that included bulk removal of phosphorus by physical separation techniques followed by remediation of the residual P4 in the sludge using a novel wet air oxidation technique known as "HSAD". Tests made on samples of the electric furnace phosphorus sludge have demonstrated that essentially complete removal of the P4 in the sludge can be achieved by the twostep treatment process. Further studies are, however, required to determine the applicability of the two-step process on sludges of various origin, different pretreatment and storage conditions and to better understand the mechanisms and factors controlling the HSAD wet air oxidation remediation approach. The overall objective of the proposed research is to develop a system for processing, detoxification, and remediation of electric furnace phosphorus sludge that allows the recovery of elemental phosphorus as a fertilizer by-product and landfill disposal of the solid wastes, The research will embrace both basic and applied studies concerning the new HSAD wet oxidation remediation technique. Development and successful demonstration of a costeffective remediation process will advance the technology of handling and treatment of hazardous wastes containing elemental phosphorus. In addition, it will permit safe disposal of the treated sludges as well as the recovery of the phosphorus values as a fertilizer by-product. The application of this technology will result in substantial reduction of current and future accumulations of such hazardous materials and in prevention of a potentially serious water pollution problem.
Biology Department, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX 77710
The project is designed to investigate the use of the brackish water clam Ran~,ia cuneata as a standard biomonitor species for accumulation of hazardous substances in Gulf Coast and southern Atlantic estuaries and inland waters. The bivalve, Mytilus edulis, has been used as a standard biomonitor in cold temperate coastal waters of the Pacific and the northern Atlantic coasts. Oysters of several species have been used as biomonitors in high-salinity waters of the south Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, but no single species has been determined to be suitable as a biomonitor in low salinity estuaries or coastal freshwaters. The biological characteristics of Rangia cuneata~ and especially its eurytolerant nature to a wide range of environmental factors, should make it an excellent biomonitor species. It could be transplanted into selected sites in estuaries and freshwater environments along the southern Atlantic and Gulf coasts. The use of a single species as a standard biomonitor species for such a wide geographic and highly industrialized area would have many benefits. Accumulation of the heavy metals cadmium, chromium, copper, and lead by Rangia cuneata is being studied in the laboratory and in surface waters that receive some of the metals. This research will furnish basic information needed to determine if Ran~,ia cuneata is a suitable biomonitor species. v
DEVELOPMENT
OF A NOVEL
TWO-STAGE FLUIDIZED BED INCINERATION TECHNOLOGY THE CONTROL
OF HEAVY
FOR
METAL
EMISSIONS Thomas C. Ho Department of Chemical Engineering, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX 77710
Thermal treatment of soil and waste in uncontrolled dumpsites that are contaminated with organics and inorganics is becoming increasingly popular. One of the environmental concerns, however, is the control of metal emissions. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has reported that metals can account for almost