Solid Waste
R&D related to uses of granulated scrap tire rubber
Robert Amme
R & D is directed at the introduction or enhancement of scrap tire rubber utilization
in a variety of products or potential products. Among these are granulated rubber for
enhancing playground safety, asphalt rubber for utilization on streets, paths, and
highways, and ground rubber mixed with sand & other granular materials for artificial
turf enhancements.
Industrial, Agricultural & Mining
The Application of Microorganisms in Waste Remediation
Timberly Roane
The use of microorganisms in waste mitigation is an emerging
application for site bioremediation. Our application of nonpathogenic,
naturally-remediating microorganisms in site clean-up includes the use of
fungi and bacteria in the degradation of organic compounds and the
detoxification of metals. Our research focuses on the remediation of soils
and sediments impacted by industrial, agricultural and mining activities.
Our goal is to develop and implement environmentally-friendly,
cost-effective in situ and reactor-based bioremediation technologies, and to
provide an alternative method for waste mitigation at sites where
traditional clean-up methods are limiting.
Water
Sensor for the detection of nitrate and nitrite in water
Veronica Cepak
We are developing a small, portable, low-power amperometric nitrate and
nitrite sensor for groundwater and surface water applications. A
renewable, robust sensor integrated into a microfluidic system can
specifically detect nitrate and nitrite anions without significant
dilution or reduction in the sensitivity of the detected species. The
sensor is based on an electrochemical method that uses screen-printable
microelectrodes. Microelectrodes enhance the sensitivity and limit of
detection of the device compared to electrodes of conventional size.
The device also used a simple pump and valve system along with proven
electrochemical instrumentation for detection. The sensor is applicable
to real time, on-site monitoring of both nitrite and nitrate in water.
www.eltronresearch.com
Government
New environmentally friendly hybrid surfactants for fire fighting
foams
Silvia Luebben
Aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) are among the most popular
firefighting foams used against fuel and oil fires in both military and
civil environments because of their effectiveness and their ease of
application. Unfortunately, recent studies have shown that one key
ingredient of AFFFs, the fluorosurfactant perfluorooctyl sulfonate
(PFOS), is toxic to aquatic life and is a persistent chemical that
accumulates in the blood of animals and humans. Thus, the production of
PFOSs was stopped in May 2000. Among the phase out products are 44
AFFFs and firefighting foam components. The fire-fighting industry is
stocked with materials that have been phased out and that, sooner or
later, need to be replaced. Many of the foam concentrates sold today
still contain fluorinated surfactants, but they are chemically different
from those that have been phased out. Their toxicity and persistency in
the environment are unknown and still are under investigation, and their
presence in the future market is unsure. Therefore, the fire fighting
industry has an urgent need for new environmentally friendly foaming
agents and foam stabilizers that will replace the phased-out
fluorosurfactants.
The objective of this Phase I EPA-sponsored SBIR project was to
investigate the surface-active properties of TDA's proprietary additives
in water, and evaluate their use as components of fire fighting foam
concentrates. TDA's additives form very stable aqueous foams upon mixing
with water and air.
During the project TDA Research, Inc. developed novel fluorine-free foam
stabilizers for fire-fighting foam concentrates. TDA demonstrated that
these foam stabilizers are compatible with current fire-fighting
equipment and can be used to suppress fuel fires (class B fires). TDA
also identified new surfactant types that, in combination with TDA's
foam stabilizers, offer the potential to develop an environmentally
friendly AFFF replacement product.
TDA's additives will find immediate application in foam concentrates for
fire fighting. Once their properties are established, TDA's additives
could be used in many industries including waste management,
construction, paper, textile, detergent, coating and personal care.
Water
Biological System to reduce odor in anaerobic lagoons
Brad Walker
Ag Algae is a biological system to reduce odors in anaerobic lagoons. A singlecelled green algae culture is used to produce oxygen in these system. Treatment by
aeration has provenm to be an effective method of reducing lagoon odors by encouraging
oxidative metabolism. The mechanical aeration of lagoons has a high enrgy requirement.
In addition, aerators can be expensive and require maintenance. By using photosynthetic
oxygenation of Ag Algae, odor reduction is achieved without the high energy
requirement.
Ag Algae systems are currently employed at two swine lagoons at separte
facilities located in Southeast Colorado. AgSkill, Inc. is currently trying to market their
system to Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) in Colorado and
surrounding states.
Hazardous Wastes
Mandar Sunthankar – IonEdge
Chrome Dry Plating to eliminate hazards and waste
The “zero-waste” dry plating technology is patented under the EPA SBIR
program. The technology involves plating chromium efficiently and econimcally without
using liquid chemicals.
Solid Waste
Jorge Zornberg CU Boulder
Beneficial reuse of waste tires in civil engineering infrastructure
Tire shreds and tire shred-soil mixtures can be used as alternative backfill material
in many geotechnical application. The reuse of tire shreds may not only address growing
environmental and economic concerns, but it may also help solving geotechnical
problems associated with low soil shear strength. In this study, an experimental testing
program is undertaken using a large-scale triaxial apparatus with the; goal of evaluating
the optimum dosage and aspect ratio of tire shreds witin granular fills. For a given tire
shred content, increasing tire shred aspect ratio lead to increasing overall shear strength,
at least for the range of tire shred aspect ratios considered in this study. The shear
strength improvement induced by tire shred inclusions was found tto be sensitive to the
applied confining pressure, with large shear strength gains obtained under comparatively
low confinement.
http://civil.colorado.edu/~zornberg
Waste Containment
Evapotranspirative cover for waste containment in arid climate locations
Jorge Zornberg
The overall abjective of this initiative is to investigate the mechanisms governing the
performance of alternative, evapotranspirative cover systems for waste containment
applications. It is expected that this integrated research and education initiative will
provide significantr contribution through advancement s in: 1) basic understanding of
complex unsaturated flow processes, (2) combines centrifuge and numerical modeling,
(3) design of waste cover systems in arid and semi-arid environments, (4) integration of
research into engineering education.
http://civil.colorado.edu/~zornberg
Hazardous Wastes
Capture of Chemical Byproducts
Al Weimer
This is a process for the capture if chemical byproducts of fossil fuel and petrochemical
combustion by the molten salt catalyst. Upon “capture,” detoxification of these toxic
agents is catalyzed by the motel salts. These chemicals include sulfur species (some of
which are responsible for acid rain), toxic nitrogen derivatives, partially consumed
hydrocarbons, and chlorine derivatives. The technology can be used to purify emissions
from power plants, hazardous waste facilities, and chemical manufacturing facilities.
Waste Containment
Granular Waste Compaction & recycling
Robert Amme
R&D is directed at the application of vibrational compaction of granular materials having
little value (ashes, soils, recycled concrete wastes, etc) with the aim of producing building
materials having high durability and exhibiting physical properties comparable to or
better than conventional concrete.
We are also investigating means by which compaction and stabilization can be
attained for granular materials that have been contaminated by heavy metals &/or
radioactive species, thus permitting long-term storage or disposal.
Water
Recovery of mercury and heavy metals from dental wastewater
Craig Turchi
ADA Technologies
Water
Electrocoagulation treatment of bilgewater and shipboard wastewater
Craig Turchi
ADA Technologies
Soil
Demonstration of a Small Modular BioPower System Using Poultry Litter
John Reardon
Community Power Corporation
The purpose of this project was to assess poultry grower residue, or litter (manure
plus absorbent biomass), as a fuel source for Community Power Corporation's
small modular biopower system (SMB). A second objective was to assess the
poultry industry to identify potential ''on-site'' applications of the SMB system
using poultry litter residue as a fuel source, and to adapt CPC's existing SMB to
generate electricity and heat from the poultry litter biomass fuel. Bench-scale
testing and pilot testing were used to gain design information for the SMB retrofit.
System design approach for the Phase II application of the SMB was the goal of
Phase I testing. Cost estimates for an onsite poultry litter SMB were prepared.
Finally, a market estimate was prepared for implementation of the on-farm SMB
using poultry litter.
http://www.osti.gov/bridge/product.biblio.jsp?osti_id=794292
Industrial
Coupling Granular Activated Carbon with Common Metal Chelating Corrosion
Inhibitors for Two Phase Transition Metal Immobilization
Dr. Mark Hernandez
University of Colorado at Boulder