Day: 1 June 2000

Monitors to protect microbes in activated sludge

Pollution and Process Monitoring (PPM) has designed a number of monitoring systems to protect the sewage treatment process from toxic shock loading.

Arsenic removal for contaminated groundwater

Tom Hall, principal technical specialist at WRc Processes, has investigated the options for removing arsenic from contaminated groundwater supplies.

Growing market for alternative systems

The new Waste Strategy offers the prospect of a range of new technology being developed as an alternative to incineration in treating waste. LAWE looks at progress on this front.

Incineration wins role in Waste Strategy

Incineration of waste has come under fire from environmentalists and Opposition politicians, apparently persuading the Government to give only qualified backing to this option for reducing waste going to landfill, but the new Waste Strategy concedes a significant role for efw and several sites are being planned currently across the country.

Waste Strategy backs increased composting

The Government lists composting high on its priority list of measures to boost recycling aimed at reducing the UK's heavy reliance on landfill for the disposal of household waste and meeting new tough waste reduction targets.

Dispersion conversion

In its different versions, the Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling System (ADMS) for calculation of pollutant concentrations is now used in the UK for the majority of studies of air pollution both for industrial areas and in urban centres. Sharon Watts, CERC, outlines ten years of ADMS, from the development of the system as a scientific concept, through early versions of the model for a single point source, to a multi-source system and general acceptance by the user community.

One decade dawn

It's ten years ago: June 1990. Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Brooke has spent a lot of time in discussions with unionists and nationalists. The former are opposed to the Anglo-Irish Agreement and Brooke says he might consider alternatives. The US Federal Trade Commission had just begun an investigation of Microsoft for alleged monopolistic practices in the PC software market, just one month before the company's annual reported sales revenues hit the billion dollar mark. Pavarotti's rendition of "Nesse Dorma", opening the World Cup in Italy, brings tears to the eyes, notably followed by those of Gazza and all England following a German victory.

Software and tear

The proliferation of software applications and associated developments which have taken place in recent years have not left the field of environmental management unscathed. Lynda Fryer of AEA Technology Environment's Strategic Consulting Group, and Malcolm West, business manager, Software Solutions at AEA, consider the development and subsequent impact of environmental information technology.

FTIR: testing resolution

On-line analysis of stack gases with FTIR (Fourier Transform Infra-Red) spectrometry has received a great deal of interest because of the multicomponent analysis capability coupled with speed and sensitivity. Hydrogen chloride continuous measurement in hot wet stacks? No longer a pipe-dream, says Chris Tyrrell of Quantitech.

HF hitting the roof?

Redland Roofing Systems, at its Bedworth Works near Coventry, produces clay roofing tiles using technology that has not changed dramatically since Roman times. Tiles are manufactured by firing clay, which has been prepared and conditioned for pressing into the finished profiles. Since the days of togas, emperors and perfectly straight highways, however, stringent regulations governing the release of toxic gas emissions to the atmosphere have been imposed.

Continuous growth

Though considered progressive at the time, the US Clean Air Act, passed in 1969, has proven insufficient. Amended in 1990, sweeping revisions have been implemented in an attempt to curb the three major threats to the nation's environment and to the health of millions of Americans: acid rain, urban air pollution and toxic air emissions. Bill Worthington, ABB Analytical, outlines some new developments in continuous emission monitoring systems (CEMS).

A blanket of air

Dr Richard Maggs, Stanger Science and Environment, highlights the proposals to increase the extent and coverage of air quality monitoring in the UK in response to EU drivers.

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