Petrochemical waste characterization and management at Pars Special Economic Energy Zone in the south of Iran

Industrial waste management generated by different petrochemical complexes at Pars Special Economic Energy Zone, located in the south of Iran, was investigated. All 10 active petrochemical complexes were visited and generated wastes were identified by a checklist. Petrochemical plants were classified regarding feeds, process, and products and nine representative wastes were sampled. Physicochemical characteristics were analyzed and appropriate management approaches were proposed according to the literature review and the results of waste characterization. The generated wastes were classified as hazardous and non-hazardous according to the Basel Convention and Environmental Protection Agency lists of waste classification. Also, the concentrations of organic compounds and heavy metals were measured to classify wastes characteristically. Comparing concentrations of the most important heavy metals in sampled wastes illustrated that sandblast with Cu concentration of 4295 mg kg–1, spent activated carbon with Hg concentration of 127 mg kg–1, and spent catalyst with 25% Ni content can be categorized as hazardous wastes, due to the exceeding Total Threshold Limit Concentration levels. Based on laboratory results, all industrial waste generated in the petrochemical complexes were categorized into three groups, namely Organic Waste with High Calorific Value, Non-organic Recyclable Waste, and Non-organic Non-recyclable Waste. Finally, management approaches, including material recycling, energy recovery (through incineration), and landfilling, were proposed and a conceptual model was suggested in order to show different routes and final destination for each kind of waste generated in all similar petrochemical complexes.

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DETERMINATION OF HEAVY METALS AND SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF HEAVY METALS IN SOILS BASED ON SOIL PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS, NEAR AN ABANDONED MINE-COMPLEX IN BUMPUS COVE, TN

10.1130/abs/2018se-312933 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Melissa A. Magno ◽

◽

Ingrid Luffman ◽

Arpita Nandi

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Spatial Distribution ◽

Physicochemical Characteristics ◽

Abandoned Mine ◽

Soil Physicochemical Characteristics ◽

Heavy Metals In Soils

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Health risk assessment of occupational exposure to heavy metals in a steel casting unit of a steelmaking plant using Monte–Carlo simulation technique

Toxicology and Industrial Health ◽

10.1177/07482337211019593 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 074823372110195

Author(s):

Fatemeh Dehghani ◽

Fariborz Omidi ◽

Reza Ali Fallahzadeh ◽

Bahman Pourhassan

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Occupational Exposure ◽

Environmental Protection Agency ◽

Steel Casting ◽

Occupational Safety ◽

The United States ◽

Control Measures ◽

Monte Carlo Simulation Technique ◽

Safety And Health ◽

Casting Unit

The present work aimed to evaluate the health risks of occupational exposure to heavy metals in a steel casting unit of a steel plant. To determine occupational exposure to heavy metals, personal air samples were taken from the workers’ breathing zones using the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health method. Noncancer and cancer risks due to the measured metals were calculated according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency procedures. The results indicated that the noncancer risks owing to occupational exposure to lead (Pb) and manganese were higher than the recommended value in most of the workstations. The estimated cancer risk of Pb was also higher than the allowable value. Moreover, the results of sensitivity analysis indicated that the concentration, inhalation rate, and exposure duration were the most influencing variables contributing to the calculated risks. It was thus concluded that the present control measures were not adequate and further improvements were required for reducing the exposure levels.

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An Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination in the Nakdong River Around the Weir

Water ◽

10.3390/w13050684 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 684

Author(s):

Hee Won Son ◽

Sun Hee Shim ◽

Haeseong Oh ◽

Jung Hyun Choi

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Sequential Extraction ◽

Environmental Protection Agency ◽

Heavy Metal Contamination ◽

Environmental Research ◽

Residual Fraction ◽

Nakdong River ◽

Risk Assessment Code ◽

The Nakdong River ◽

Reducible Fraction

In this study, the concentrations and characteristics of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and lead (Pb) contamination in sediment samples were investigated using aqua regia extraction and Tessier’s five-step sequential extraction. Based on the concentration of metals, the influence of the Hapcheon-Changnyeong weir on sediments in the Nakdong River was assessed. The origins of the contaminants, their bioavailability, and their mobility were determined using sequential extraction. Greater concentrations of heavy metals were found in samples collected closer to the weir. The largest proportion of Cu was identified in the residual fraction based on sequential extraction, whereas Zn was predominantly found in the reducible fraction. Iron-manganese in the reducible fraction of Zn has the potential to leach back to the water body. In addition, the combined concentration of fractions 1 and 2 of Cu comprised more than 20% of total amount that still has potential to affect the water quality. The results of this study were compared with existing sediment standards set out by the NIER (National Institute of Environmental Research), Canada, and US EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) guidelines, as well as the risk assessment code (RAC). The concentrations of heavy metals exceeded the standards set by the Canadian guideline by up to four times in particular samples, highlighting the need for continual monitoring.

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Physicochemical Characteristics and Levels of Some Heavy Metals in Soils around Metal Scrap Dumps in Some Parts of Delta State, Nigeria

Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management ◽

10.4314/jasem.v14i4.63258 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 14 (4) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

OV Akpoveta ◽

SA Osakwe ◽

BE Okoh ◽

BO Otuya

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Physicochemical Characteristics ◽

Metal Scrap ◽

Heavy Metals In Soils

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Bioleaching of heavy metals from a petroleum spent catalyst using Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans in a slurry bubble column bioreactor

Separation and Purification Technology ◽

10.1016/j.seppur.2014.04.039 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 132 ◽

pp. 41-49 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

M. Shahrabi-Farahani ◽

S. Yaghmaei ◽

S.M. Mousavi ◽

F. Amiri

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Bubble Column ◽

Acidithiobacillus Thiooxidans ◽

Spent Catalyst ◽

Bubble Column Bioreactor ◽

Slurry Bubble Column ◽

Column Bioreactor

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The Safety Assessment of Toxic Metals in Commonly Used Herbs, Spices, Tea, and Coffee in Poland

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18115779 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (11) ◽

pp. 5779

Author(s):

Grażyna Kowalska

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Environmental Protection Agency ◽

Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Hazard Quotient ◽

World Health Organisation ◽

World Health ◽

Target Hazard Quotient ◽

Plant Materials

The presented study was aimed at the determination of the level of contamination with heavy metals (Cd, Pb, As, and Hg) in 240 samples of plant materials, i.e., herbal raw materials, spices, tea, and coffee. Moreover, a probabilistic risk assessment (noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks) was estimated by models including target hazard quotient (THQ) and cancer risk (CR). The samples were subjected to microwave mineralisation with the use of HNO3 (65%), while the determination of the content of the elements was performed with the use of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP–MS) and a mercury analyser. The element which was characterised by the highest level of accumulation in the analysed samples was lead (from 0.010 to 5.680 mg/kg). Among the heavy metals under analysis, the lowest concentration was noted in the case of mercury (from 0.005 to 0.030 mg/kg). A notably higher level of contamination with heavy metals was noted in the analysed samples of herbs and spices (0.005–5.680 mg/kg), compared to samples of tea and coffee (0.005–0.791 mg/kg). According to the guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO) concerning the limits of contamination of samples of herbal raw materials with heavy metals, lead levels exceeding the limits were only noted in 24 samples of herbs (18%). In all of the analysed samples of spices, tea, and coffee, no instances of exceeded limits were noted for any of the analysed heavy metals. The values of TTHQmax (in relation to the consumption of the analysed products) were as follows: up to 4.23 × 10−2 for spices, up to 2.51 × 10−1 for herbs, up to 4.03 × 10−2 for China tea, and up to 1.25 × 10−1 for roasted coffee beans. As the value of THQ ≤1, there is no probability of the appearance of undesirable effects related to the consumption of the analysed group of raw materials and products of plant origin. The CR value for As (max. value) was 1.29 × 10−5, which is lower than the maximum acceptable level of 1 × 10−4 suggested by United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).

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