Removal of solids and chemical oxygen demand in poultry litter anaerobic digestion with different inocula

Population growth has contributed to increasing poultry production, entailing a high waste loading, mainly poultry litter. One of the alternatives to treat such residues is anaerobic digestion, in which digester startup and generated-digestate quality are related to the material to be digested and to operation conditions, wherein inoculum use is one of the factors. This study therefore aimed to investigate how digestates, such as inocula, influence poultry litter (PL) anaerobic digestion, as well the reduction of solids and chemical oxygen demand (COD). For this, two inocula (bovine and swine digestates) were tested in the digestion process. The inocula were added at loads of 0.67, 1.00 and 1.67 gVS.L-1day-1. A split-plot design was developed and data underwent analysis of variance with means compared by the Tukey's test at 5% significance. Concerning bovine and swine inocula, it was concluded that both are indicated in the process. However, swine inoculum is better indicated because it had a better removal of total solids (TS), volatile solids (VS) and COD.

An Assessment of Initial Leaching Characteristics of Alkali-Borosilicate Glasses for Nuclear Waste Immobilization

Initial leaching characteristics of simulated nuclear waste immobilized in three alkali- borosilicate glasses (ABS-waste) were studied. The effects of matrix composition on the containment performance and degradation resistance measures were evaluated. Normalized release rates are in conformance with data reported in the literature. High Li and Mg loadings lead to the highest initial de-polymerization of sample ABS-waste (17) and contributed to its thermodynamic instability. Ca stabilizes non-bridging oxygen (NBO) and reduces the thermodynamic instability of the modified matrix. An exponential temporal change in the alteration thickness was noted for samples ABS-waste (17) and Modified Alkali-Borosilicate (MABS)-waste (20), whereas a linear temporal change was noted for sample ABS-waste (25). Leaching processes that contribute to the fractional release of all studied elements within the initial stage of glass corrosion were quantified and the main controlling leach process for each element was identified. As the waste loading increases, the contribution of the dissolution process to the overall fractional release of structural elements decreases by 43.44, 5.05, 38.07, and 52.99% for Si, B, Na, and Li respectively, and the presence of modifiers reduces this contribution for all the studied metalloids. The dissolution process plays an important role in controlling the release of Li and Cs, and this role is reduced by increasing the waste loading.

Corrigendum to “The dissolution rates of simulated UK Magnox – ThORP blend nuclear waste glass as a function of pH, temperature and waste loading” [Miner. Mag. 79, (2015) 1529–1542]

We revise the data fitting in our original paper [The dissolution rates of simulated UK Magnox - ThORP blend nuclear waste glass as a function of pH, temperature and waste loading, Miner. Mag.79 (2015) 1529–1542]. The intrinsic rate constant data were calculated incorrectly, the corrected data are presented herein. To support the corrected analysis we have also taken the opportunity to report some additional 90°C data. The conclusions of the original paper remain sound.

Chemical Resistance of Glass Composite Materials Made From Incinerated Scheduled Waste Slag and SLS Waste Glass

Incineration of scheduled waste and landfilling of the incineration residue (Bottom Slag) is extensively practised in Malaysia as a treatment method for scheduled waste. Land site disposal of Bottom Slag (BS) may lead to environmental health issues and reduces the availability of land to sustain the nation’s development. This research aims in producing Glass Composite Material (GCM) incorporating BS and Soda Lime Silicate (SLS) waste glass as an alternative method for land site disposal and as an effort for recycling SLS waste glass. SLS waste glass originates from the urban waste has been a waste stream in most of the nation whereby the necessity for recycling is in high priority. Batches of powder mixture is formulated with 30 wt. % to 70 wt. % of BS powder and SLS waste glass powder for GCM sintering. The powder mixtures of BS and SLS waste glass is compacted by uniaxial pressing and sintered at 800°C with heating rate of 2°C/min and 1 hour soaking time into tiles of 18mm×18mm. The GCM porosity and water absorption increases as the BS waste loading increases. Meanwhile, its bulk density increases as the BS waste loading decreases. The GCM tiles made from BS 30 wt. % and 70 wt. % SLS waste glass are determined to have the lowest water absorption of 1.17 % and porosity percentage of 2.2 % with the highest bulk density of 1.88 g/cm3. It was also found is found that the chemical resistance of these GCM tiles is classified as ULA (No visible Effect) and UHA (No visible Effect) after 5 day immersions in low and high concentration of acid and alkali solution; respectively (determined using MS ISO10545-13:2001(Ceramic Tile: Determination of chemical resistance) test. However, the chemical resistance is weak upon increased duration of 12 immersion days where severe corrosion effects on both surface tiles in low and high concentration chemical solutions. The penetration of chemical in attacking the samples are related to the presence of pores. Hence, further work should have aimed to reduce the amount of porosity presence in the produced tiles.