Application of persulfate to remediate petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soil: feasibility and comparison with common oxidants.

In this study, batch experiments were conducted to evaluate the feasibility of petroleum-hydrocarbon contaminated soil remediation using persulfate oxidation. Various controlling factors including different persulfate and ferrous ion concentrations, different oxidants (persulfate, hydrogen peroxide, and permanganate), and different contaminants (diesel and fuel oil) were considered. Results show that persulfate oxidation is capable of treating diesel and fuel oil contaminated soil. Higher persulfate and ferrous ion concentrations resulted in higher diesel degrading rates within the applied persulfate/ferrous ion molar ratios. A two-stage diesel degradation was observed in the batch experiments. In addition, treatment of diesel-contaminated soil using in situ metal mineral activation under ambient temperature (e.g., 25°C) may be a feasible option for site remediation. Results also reveal that persulfate anions could persist in the system for more than five months. Thus, sequential injections of ferrous ion to generate sulfate free radicals might be a feasible way to enhance contaminant oxidation. Diesel oxidation efficiency and rates by the three oxidants followed the sequence of hydrogen peroxide>permanganate>persulfate in the limited timeframes. Results of this study indicate that the application of persulfate oxidation is a feasible method to treat soil contaminated by diesel and fuel oil.

Response surface optimization of dissolved oxygen and nitrogen sources for the biodegradation of MTBE and BTEX.

Response surface methodology (RSM) using central composite design was applied to obtain the optimal dissolved oxygen (DO) and nitrogen (N) concentrations for biodegrading MTBE (Methyl tert-butyl ether) and BTEX (benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, p-xylene). Moreover, the effects of DO, N, and their interaction on the degradation process were evaluated. It was found that N, N(2), DO and DO(2) have significant effects on the efficiency of MTBE and BTEX removal. The removal efficiency when using biostimulation with bioaugmentation (BwB) is higher than with other processes, being greater than 82% at concentrations of 12 and 48 mg l(-1) for DO and N, respectively. However, it was also found that the interaction term of DO x N has no significant effect on the degradation processes.

Biotreatment of phenol-contaminated wastewater in a spiral packed-bed bioreactor.

A spiral packed-bed bioreactor inoculated with microorganisms obtained from activated sludge was used to conduct a feasibility study for phenol removal. The reactor was operated continuously at various phenol loadings ranging from 53 to 201.4 g m(-3) h(-1), and at different hydraulic retention times (HRT) in the range of 20-180 min to estimate the performance of the device. The results indicated that phenol removal efficiency ranging from 82.9 to 100% can be reached when the reactor is operated at an HRT of 1 h and a phenol loading of less than 111.9 g m(-3) h(-1). At an influent phenol concentration of 201.4 g m(-3), the removal efficiency increased from 18.6 to 76.9% with an increase in the HRT (20-120 min). For treatment of phenol in the reactor, the maximum biodegradation rate (V (m)) was 1.82 mg l(-1) min(-1); the half-saturation constant (K (s)), 34.95 mg l(-1).

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emission characteristics and control strategies for a petrochemical industrial area in middle Taiwan.

This study investigated VOC emissions from the largest petrochemical industrial district in Taiwan and recommended some control measures to reduce VOC emissions. In addition to the petrochemical industry, the district encompasses a chemical and fiber industry, a plastics industry and a harbor, which together produce more than 95% of the VOC emissions in the area. The sequence of VOC emission was as follows: components (e.g., valves, flanges, and pumps) (47%) > tanks (29%) > stacks (15%) > wastewater treatment facility (6%) > loading (2%) > flares (1%). Other plants producing high-density polyethylene (HDPE), styrene, ethylene glycol (EG), gas oil, and iso-nonyl-alchol (INA) were measured to determine the VOC leaching in the district. The VOC emissions of these 35 plants (90% of all plants) were less than 100 tons/year. About 74% of the tanks were fixed-roof tanks that leached more VOCs than the other types of tanks. To reduce leaching, the components should be checked periodically, and companies should be required to follow the Taiwan EPA regulations. A VOC emission management system was developed in state implementation plans (SIPs) to inspect and reduce emissions in the industrial district.