Cyanide ion, CN‐, is probably the most important of the various inorganic species in wastewater. Cyanide, a deadly poisonous substance, exists in water as HCN which is a weak acid. The cyanide ion has a strong affinity for many metal ions, forming relatively less toxic ferrocyanide, Fe(CN)64−, with iron (II), for example. Volatile HCN is… Continue reading Some Inorganic Pollutants of Concern
Author: Muhammad Ahmad
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as benzene, toluene, xylenes, trichloroethane, dichloromethane, and trichloroethylene (TCE), are common soil pollutants in industrialized and commercialized areas. One of the more common sources of these contaminants is leaking underground storage tanks. Improperly discarded solvents and landfills, built before the introduction of current stringent regulations, are also significant sources of… Continue reading Volatile Organic Compounds
Chemical Characteristics
Inorganic Chemicals The principal chemical tests include free ammonia, inorganic nitrogen as nitrate, nitrite, organic phosphorus, and inorganic phosphorus. Nitrogen and phosphorus are important because these two nutrients are responsible for the growth of aquatic plants. Other tests such as chloride, sulphate, pH, and alkalinity are performed to assess the suitability of reusing treated wastewater… Continue reading Chemical Characteristics
Wastewater Characteristics
Prior to about 1940, most municipal wastewater was generated from domestic sources. After 1940, as industrial development in the United States grew significantly, increasing amounts of industrial wastewater have been and continue to be discharged into municipal collection systems. The amounts of heavy metals and synthesized organic compounds generated by industrial activities have increased; some… Continue reading Wastewater Characteristics
Wastewater Sources
Point Source Point source water pollution refers to contaminants that enter a waterway from a single, identifiable source, such as a pipe or ditch. Examples of sources in this category include discharges from a factory, a sewage treatment plant or a publicly owned treatment works (POTWs), or a city storm drain. The US Clean Water… Continue reading Wastewater Sources
Introduction
This chapter provides a summary of industrial wastewater sources, wastewater characteristics, wastewater treatment, reuse and discharge, industrial sources of air pollutions, inventories, air pollution control, solid waste and hazardous waste characteristics, treatments, and management. Industrial waste is the waste produced by industrial activity which includes any material that is rendered useless during a manufacturing process… Continue reading Introduction
Nine Prominent Federal Environmental Statues
This section provides some of the key provisions of nine federal environmental statutes that all engineers, in particular chemical engineers, should know. Taken together, these laws regulate chemicals throughout their life cycle, from creation and production to use and disposal. The nine laws are as follows: A summary of these prominent federal environmental statues is… Continue reading Nine Prominent Federal Environmental Statues
Greenhouse Gases
USEPA decided to regulate greenhouse gases as air pollutants under the CAA. Three major development have occurred (USEPA 2011). First, in the Supreme Court case of Massachusetts v. EPA, the court ruled in a 5‐to‐4 decision that the EPA has the statutory authority to regulate CO2 and other greenhouse gases as air pollutants under the CAA (Cornell University 2007).… Continue reading Greenhouse Gases
Current Environmental Regulatory Development in the United States: From End‐of‐Pipe Laws and Regulations to Pollution Prevention
Introduction It was 1970, a cornerstone year for the US modern environmental policy. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was enacted on 1 January 1970. NEPA was not based on specific legislation; instead, it referred in general manner to environmental and quality of life concerns. The Council for Environmental Quality (CEQ), established by NEPA, was… Continue reading Current Environmental Regulatory Development in the United States: From End‐of‐Pipe Laws and Regulations to Pollution Prevention
Advantages
Disadvantages Auditing a facility for certification involves several steps. Proper planning and management are very essential for effective auditing. The (lead) auditor must prepare an audit plan to ensure a smooth audit process. The audit plan must, in general, remain flexible so that any changes to the audit that are found necessary during the actual… Continue reading Advantages