Destruction of chlorobenzene and carbon tetrachloride in a two-stage molten salt oxidation reactor system.

Molten salt oxidation (MSO) is one of the promising alternative destruction technologies for chlorinated organics, because it is capable of trapping chlorine during organic destruction. This study investigated the characteristics of a two-stage MSO reactor system for the destruction of CCl(4) and C(6)H(5)Cl. Investigated parameters were the MSO reactor temperature (from 1023 K to 1223 K) and the excess oxidizing air feed rate (50% and 100%). The destruction of chlorinated solvents is substantial in the Li(2)CO(3)-Na(2)CO(3) eutectic molten salt, irrespective of the tested condition. However, further oxidation of CO, which is found to be the major destruction product, is not substantial due to the limited temperature and gas residence time in the MSO reactor. Increases in the reactor temperature as well as those in the oxidizing air feed rate consistently lead to decreased emissions of carbon monoxide. No significant influence of the MSO reactor operating condition on the chlorine capturing efficiency was found. Over 99.95% and 99.997% of the chlorine was captured in the hot MSO reactors during the C(6)H(5)Cl and CCl(4) destructions, respectively. This result suggests a relatively low potential of the MSO system in the recombination of chlorinated organics, when compared to a conventional incineration system.

Phosphorus removal characteristics in hydroxyapatite crystallization using converter slag.

This study was performed to investigate the phosphorus removal characteristics in hydroxyapatite (HAP) crystallization using converter slag as a seed crystal and the usefulness of a slag column reactor system. The effects of alkalinity, and the isomorphic-substitutable presence of ionic magnesium, fluoride, and iron on HAP crystallization seeded with converter slag, were examined using a batch reactor system. The phosphorus removal efficiencies of the batch reactor system were found to increase with increases in the iron and fluoride ion concentrations, and to decrease with increases in the alkalinity and magnesium ion concentration. A column reactor system for HAP crystallization using converter slag was found to achieve high, stable levels of phosphorus elimination: the average PO4-P removal efficiency over 414 days of operation was 90.4%, in which the effluent phosphorus concentration was maintained at less than 0.5 mg/L under the appropriate phosphorus crystallization conditions. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of the crystalline material deposited on the seed particles exhibited peaks consistent with HAP. Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) images showed that finely distributed crystalline material was formed on the surfaces of the seed particles. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) mapping analysis revealed that the molar Ca/P composition ratio of the crystalline material was 1.72.

Hydroxyapatite crystallization from a highly concentrated phosphate solution using powdered converter slag as a seed material.

A system for recovering phosphorus from membrane-filtrate from a sludge reduction process containing high phosphorus concentrations was developed. In this system, referred to as the completely mixed phosphorus crystallization reactor, powdered converter slag was used as a seed material. In a preliminary experiment, the optimal pH range for metastable crystallization of phosphorus from membrane-filtrate containing about 100mg/L PO(4)-P was found to be 6.6-7.0. The laboratory scale completely mixed phosphorus crystallization reactor, actually operated in pH range of 6.8-7.6 for influent 72.9 mg/L PO(4)-P, achieved an average efficiency of phosphorus removal from the membrane-filtrate of 52.4% during a 30-day experiment. Mixed-liquor suspended solids (MLSS) measurements revealed that, out of 0.24 kg PO(4)-P in the original membrane-filtrate fed into the reactor, 0.12 kg PO(4)-P was recovered on the seed particles after 30 days. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra of the crystalline material deposited on the seed particles showed peaks consistent with hydroxyapatite. Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) images exhibited that finely distributed crystalline material was formed on the surfaces of seed particles. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) mapping analysis revealed that the molar composition ratio of Ca/P of the crystalline material was 1.84. The Ca/P molar ratio>1.67 for crystalline substance might result from the presence of CaCO(3) on the crystalline surfaces. A particle size distribution analysis showed that the average particle size increased from 22 microm for the original converter slag seed particles, to 94 microm after 30 days of phosphorus crystallization. Collectively, the present results suggest that the proposed phosphorus crystallization recovery system is an effective tool for recycling phosphorus from phosphate solution.

Recovery of phosphates from wastewater using converter slag: Kinetics analysis of a completely mixed phosphorus crystallization process.

A phosphorus crystallization process for recovering phosphates was developed using a completely mixed reactor and powdered converter slag as a seed crystal. This completely mixed phosphorus crystallization process achieved a stable and high phosphorus recovery: the average PO4-P removal efficiency during 200 d of operation was 87%, with a range of 70-98%. The apparent volume of the slag doubled due to crystal growth during the long-term phosphorus-removal experiments. The Ca2+ concentration, slag dosage, and temperature were found to govern the phosphorus recovery system for a given condition of pH and hydraulic retention time. The equations for the rate constant and reaction order were obtained by evaluating the model parameters. The model developed in this study was observed to successfully simulate the behavior of effluent PO4-P in a completely mixed phosphorus crystallization reactor over a wide variety of operating conditions of temperature, Ca2+ concentration, and influent PO4-P. Model investigations of design factors suggest that the completely mixed phosphorus crystallization process with influent PO4-P concentrations of less than 10 mg l(-1) could ensure effluent PO4-P concentrations of less than 0.5 and 1.0 mg l(-1) during summer and winter in Korea, respectively.

Digested sewage sludge solidification by converter slag for landfill cover.

A new technology for solidification of digested sewage sludge referred to as converter slag solidification (CSS) has been developed using converter slag as the solidifying agent and quick lime as the solidifying aid. The CSS technology was investigated by analyzing the physicochemical properties of solidified sludge and determining its microstructural characteristics. The feasibility of using solidified sludge as a landfill cover material was considered in the context of the economical recycling of waste. Sludge solidified using the CSS technology exhibited geotechnical properties that are appropriate for replacing currently used cover soil. Microscopic analyses using XRD, SEM and EDS revealed that the main hydrated product of solidification was CSH (CaO . SiO2 . nH2O), which may play an important role in the effective setting process. Negligible leaching of heavy metals from the solidified sludge was observed. The solidification process of the hydrated sludge, slag and quicklime eliminated the coliform bacteria. Recycled sewage sludge solidified using CCS technology could be used as an effective landfill cover.

Use of GCDFP-15 (BRST-2) as a Specific Immunocytochemical Marker for Diagnosis of Gastric Metastasis of Breast Carcinoma.

Metastasis of breast cancer to the stomach is relatively uncommon and typically occurs in patients with disseminated diseases. This may cause difficulty in differentiating it from primary gastric carcinoma. The correct diagnosis of the primary source is important, since the treatment and prognosis of metastatic breast cancer is quite different from those of metastatic gastric cancer. Immunohistochemical staining with GCDFP-15 (gross cystic disease fluid protein-15) can be used to differentiate primary gastric carcinoma and gastric metastasis from breast cancer. We report two cases of gastric metastasis of breast cancer by describing their clinical course, illustrating the histologic findings, and showing the results of immunohistochemical staining with GCDFP-15.