15 Environment (pollution, health protection, safety)

97102332 The dilution, chemical, and thermal effects of exhaust gas recirculation on diesel engine emissions. Part 2: Effects of carbon dioxide Ladommatos, N. et al. Sm. Automat. Eng., /Spec. P&l.] SP, 1996, SP-1179 (Diesel Engine Combustion and Emission Characteristics), 63-75, Society of Automotive Engineers. A study into the effects of added CO2 [as a principal component of recycled exhaust gas (EGR)] as a method to reduce NO, and other emissions from a diesel engine. Results were presented from a number of tests during which the Nz or 02 in the engine inlet air was progressively replaced by CO? and/ or inert gases at constant engine speed, fuel injection rate, injection timing, inlet charge total mass rate, and inlet charge temperature. In one set of tests, some of the Nz in the inlet air was replaced by a carefully controlled mixture of CO* and argon. This ensured that the added gas mixture had a specific heat capacity equal to that of the NZ being replaced. Thus, the effects of dissociated CO2 on combustion and emissions could be isolated and quantified (i.e. a chemical effect). The high heat absorbing capacity of COz had only a small effect on exhaust emissions (including NO,). This finding challenged conventional wisdom about the importance of the higher heat capacity of COz in suppressing NO, when EGR is added to the inlet air of diesel engines.

97102333 Dispersion and ultrafast reaction kinetics of cal- cium-based sorbents for furnace sorbent injection applications Fan, L-S. et al. U.S. Environ. Pmt. Agency, Res. Dev., [Rep.] EPA, 1996, (EPA-600/R-96-068. Proceedings: Multipollutant Sorbent Reactivity Work- shop, 1994) 112-159. - ’ A potential retrofit technology for SOz emission control is provided by the injection of Ca-based sorbents into the upper-furnace region of a coal-fired boiler. The current state of furnace sorbent iniection (FSI) PI recess is not developed enough to adequately meet LJSEPA S removal standards. One way to improve the dry sorbent injection process is to enhance sorbent dispersion inside the boiler, thereby reducing powder agglomeration and primary particle size. Ca(OH)? was used as the model sorbent. The effect of agglomeration and sorbent reactivity was elucidated by obtaining kinetic data for different particle size groups in IO-300 ms, during which the bulk of S capture is expected to occur. Sulfation reactions were performed in a specially designed high-temperature, entrained-flow reactor. Agglomera- tion studies were also conducted by pre- and post-reactor particle size distribution. The capacity of Ca(OH)2 powder in toxic metal capture was also studied in a high-temperature differential reactor. Substantial metal capture ability of Ca(OH)? was observed at high temperatures, which definitely shows promise for development of a multi-pollutant control sorbent.

97102334 Distribution of HAPS trace elements in U.S. Gulf Coast coals Warwick. P. D. et al. Proc. Annu. Int. Pittsbuwh Coal Conf., 1995, 12, 1146-1150. Twelve important trace elements (As, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, and IJ) found in coal feed stocks were identified by the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. These may be released as Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPS) during coal combustion in thermo-electric power plants. A study of 248 coal samples from the Gulf Coast Province (GCP) of the southeastern United States indicates that concentrations for several of the HAPS elements are greatest in coal sample subsets from Mississippi (primarily Wilcox Group) and the Jackson Group of Texas. The concentrations of these elements are discussed.

97102335 Effect of air velocity and walking on the reentrain- ment of dust in mine airways Shankar, S. and Ramani, R. V. Trans. Sot. Min., Metall., Explor. 1995 (Pub. 1996). 298, 1834-1836/Section 2. The contribution of re-entrainment to the spatial and temporal concentra- tion of dust in mine airways is being studied. The research has included wind tunnel and in-mine studies. Two types of source coal dust, anthracite and bituminous, were subjected to various airflow rates and were subjected to walking by two different individuals. Experimental results showed that, depending on the level of activity and the amount of dust deposited in the mine airways, re-entrainment may become an important source of airborne dust in areas away from the point of actual mining.

97102336 Effect of surface area and chemisorbed oxygen on the SOz adsorption capacity of activated char Lizzo, A. A. and DeBarr, J. A. Fuel 1996, 75, (13) 1515-1522. A study was undertaken to determine whether activated char produced from Illinois coal could be effectively used to remove sulfur dioxide from coal combustion flue gas. Chars were prepared from a high-volatile Illinois bituminous coal under a wide range of pyrolysis and activation conditions. A novel char preparation technique was developed to prepare chars with SO? adsorption capacities significantly greater than that of a commercial activated carbon. In general, there was no correlation between SO* adsorption capacity and sufface area. A fleeting C(0) complex formed during SOa adsorption is postulated to be the reaction intermediate necessary for conversion of SO? to HzSO+

97102337 Effect of temperature on remediation of soils

P oliuted by petroleum derivatives by oil agglomeration or

lotation with coal Sablik, J. Fizykochem. frohl. Mineralurgii. IYYh, 30, 157-62. (In Polish) This paper presents the results of a study on the effect of temperature on the remediation of soils polluted by petroleum products in oil agglomera- tion or coal flotation process. It was found that an increase in process temperature has significantly influenced both the process technology conditions and the results of remediation. A decrease in the concentration of petroleum products in soils is significantly greater when the process is performed at elevated temperatures and leads to a completely clean soil.

97102338 Effect of work conditions at coal mines on the prevalence of heart disease among miners Cherkesov. V. V. et al. Med. Tr. Prom. Ekol., 1996, (h), 19-23. (In Russian) Workers of Don-bass coal mines in the Ukraine have been found to have a rate of coronary heart disease which exceeds the values for the matched general population (groups of males aged 20-49) by more than two times. Peculiarities of working environment and industrial process were proved to be risk factors for coronary heart disease among miners.

97102339 Enhanced bioremediation of PAH contaminated soils from coal processing sites Joshi, M. M. and Lee, S. Proc. Annu. Int. Pittsburgh Coal Co/$, 1995, 12. 75 l-756. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are a potential hazard to health and there is an imminent need for remediation of PAH- contaminated soils abounding the several coke oven and town gas sites. Aerobic biological degradation of PAHs has shown high decontamination efficiencies, complete mineralization of contaminants, and is environmen- tally safe. This study involves the remediation of PAH contaminated soils achieved using Acinetahacter species and fungal strain Phanerochaetr chrysosporium. The soil used for the experiments was an industrially contaminated soil from Alberta Research Council primary cleanup facility, Alberta, Canada. All the experiments were conducted under completely mixed conditions with suitable 0 and nutrient amendments. The removal efficiency for various PAHs using the two microorganisms was compared.

97102340 Environmental assessment of coal ash disposal: a review Prasad, B. er af. J. Sci. fnd. Res., 1996, SS, (IO). 772-780. The physical and chemical properties of coal ashes are explored in this review. Field investigations of ground and surface water contaminations due to coal ash disposal are discussed. Laboratory experiments on leaching of heavy metals from coal ash are described. Factors influencing the release of heavy metals from coal ash are also discussed. The paper also includes control technology for coal ash disposal.

97102341 Environmental impact of mining and smelting industries in Poland Rybicka, E. H. Geol. Sot. Spec. Puhl., 1996, 113, (Environmental Geochemistry and Health), 183-193. Mines and smelters produce large quantities of waste, which must be deposited on land or into aquatic systems. The major effects in terms of contamination by heavy metals are in the pollution of air. soil, river water and groundwater systems. In Poland, the most endangered surface water systems are the upper courses of both the Vistula and Odra rivers, where the increase of contaminants, especially heavy metals and chlorides, is alarming. About 50% of surface water flows do not even meet the standards for quality class III. It is estimated that in the period 1984-2000 about 900 Mm- of spoils will be dumped in the area of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin alone. Taking into account the volume of sewage which should be treated, the emission of dusts and gases, and the volume of dumped wastes per km’, 27 ecologically endangered regions have been distinguished.

97102342 EPR study of aerosols with carbonaceous products in the urban air Yordanov, N. D. et al. Appl. Magn. Reson. 1996, lO,(l-3), 439-445. For the first time, EPR spectrometry was utilized in the systematic quantitative estimation of carbonaceous solids present as aerosols in the urban air. The advantage of the EPR method is that it is not destructive and exhibits selectivity only for the pyrolysed paramagnetic species and not for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The analyses are simple, timesaving, and inexpensive.

97102343 Fibronectin levels within bronchoalveoiar lavage from nonhuman primates exposed to generic coal dusts Shaw, J. et al. Appl. Occup. Environ. Hyg., 1996, 11, (7), 948-953. Coal workers’ pneumoconiosis results from the inhalation of coal mine dust that usually contains small amounts of free crystalline silica. The most important health effect associated with the inhalation of these dusts is pulmonary fibrosis. The alveolar macrophage plays a significant role in mediating pulmonary fibrosis. On activation, the alveolar macrophage releases growth factors and cytokines, including the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin. Fibronectin influences fibroblast function, which is central to pulmonary fibrosis. This study tested a number of theories related to the inhalation of coal dusts on the monkey species Mazaca rremestrina. Results are discussed.

186 Fuel and Energy Abstracts May 1997