Paul H. Brunner

Practical handbook of material flow analysis

The first-ever book on this subject establishes a rigid, transparent and useful methodology for investigating the material metabolism of anthropogenic systems. Using Material Flow Analysis (MFA), the main sources, flows, stocks, and emissions of man-made and natural materials can be determined. By demonstrating the application of MFA, this book reveals how resources can be conserved and the environment protected within complex systems. The fourteen case studies presented exemplify the potential for MFA to contribute to sustainable materials management. Exercises throughout the book deepen comprehension and expertise. The authors have had success in applying MFA to various fields, and now promote the use of MFA so that future engineers and planners have a common method for solving resource-oriented problems.

Metabolism of the Anthroposphere

The topic treated in this book is the dynamics of material fluxes in the immediate human environment - the anthroposphere. A comprehensive understanding of mans activities in connection with, for example, nutrition, hygiene, habitation and transport is essential for early recognition of limitations of resources and environmental impact. The methodology of flux analysis is introduced, with examples on how to qualify and quantify the metabolism of complex biological and cultural systems. This is an entirely new approach to describing geogenic and anthropogenic systems. The perceptions gained by material flux analysis complement those obtained in life sciences (e.g. human toxicology), environmental sciences (e.g. ecotoxicology) and social sciences (e.g. economics, sociology). Their application enables a control on regional material fluxes (resource and waste management, environmental impact studies) and the devlopment of kybernetic strategies for the metabolic evolution of the anthroposphere.

Occurrence and behaviour of linear alkylbenzenesulphonates, nonylphenol, nonylphenol mono- and nonylphenol diethoxylates in sewage and sewage sludge treatment

The fluxes of linear alkylbenzenesulphonates (LAS), nonylphenol (NP), nonylphenol monoethoxylate (NP1EO) and nonylphenol diethoxylate (NP2EO) through sewage and sludge treatment of 29 Swiss sewage treatment plants were investigated. Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine LAS. Normal-phase HPLC was employed to measure NP, NP1EO and NP2EO which are metabolites of the nonionic surfactants of the nonylphenol polyethoxylate type (NPnEO). Quantitative determinations were performed of raw sewage, primary and secondary effluents and of sewage sludge. Under normal conditions of sewage and sludge treatment, LAS were efficiently removed from the raw wastewater (> 99% w/w) and were partly transferred to the sewage sludge (15–20% w/w). About 50% (molar base) of NPnEO in the sewage were transformed to NP and accumulated in the digested sludge. Large variations existed among different sewage treatment plants. It was estimated that 1.0 g m−2 y−1 of LAS and 0.3 g m−2 y−1 of NP are applied with sewage sludge to Swiss soils.

The Flux of Metals Through Municipal Solid Waste Incinerators

In two full scale municipal solid waste incinerators, M and B, the transfer of metals and non-metals from waste to slag, to electrostatic precipitator (ESP) dust, and to flue gas was investigated. If the input of an element into the furnace M is taken as 100%, the following partitioning was observed: carbon, slag 1.6%, ESP-dust 0.4%, flue gas 98%; sulphur 34, 26, 40; fluorine 34, 39, 27; chlorine 13, 20, 67; iron 99, 1, 0.02 ; copper 89, 10, 1; zinc 51, 45, 4; lead 58, 37, 5; cadmium 12, 76, 12; mercury 4, 24, 72. The comparison of incinerators M, B and others indicates that the fate of metals during combustion, gas cooling and gas cleaning is determined by the composition of the municipal waste, the properties of the individual metals, and the operating conditions of the incinerator. In order to improve waste incineration, it is necessary to understand better the physical-chemical processes taking place in an incinerator, and to apply this knowledge to the construction and operating of such a plant.

Behavior of chromium, nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium, mercury, and lead during the pyrolysis of sewage sludge

Raw and digested sewage sludge samples were pyrolyzed in order to investigate the partitioning of selected heavy metals during anoxic thermal treatment. Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb were retained quantitatively in the char at temperatures up to 750 /sup 0/C. Cd compounds were reduced to Cd/sup 0/, which was volatilized at T > 600 /sup 0/C. Hg was completely evaporated at the lowest investigated pyrolysis temperature of 350 /sup 0/C. The metals contained in the char are highly immobile due to the well-buffered neutral to alkaline properties of the char. Thus for sewage sludge, which contains metals with similar chemical and physical properties such as Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb, pyrolysis at 500-600/sup 0/C might prove suitable since no metals are released to the atmosphere and a char is produced that is well suited for disposal in an inorganic sanitary landfill. 6 figures, 5 tables.

Assessment methods for solid waste management: A literature review

Assessment methods are common tools to support decisions regarding waste management. The objective of this review article is to provide guidance for the selection of appropriate evaluation methods. For this purpose, frequently used assessment methods are reviewed, categorised, and summarised. In total, 151 studies have been considered in view of their goals, methodologies, systems investigated, and results regarding economic, environmental, and social issues. A goal shared by all studies is the support of stakeholders. Most studies are based on life cycle assessments, multi-criteria-decision-making, cost-benefit analysis, risk assessments, and benchmarking. Approximately 40% of the reviewed articles are life cycle assessment-based; and more than 50% apply scenario analysis to identify the best waste management options. Most studies focus on municipal solid waste and consider specific environmental loadings. Economic aspects are considered by approximately 50% of the studies, and only a small number evaluate social aspects. The choice of system elements and boundaries varies significantly among the studies; thus, assessment results are sometimes contradictory. Based on the results of this review, we recommend the following considerations when assessing waste management systems: (i) a mass balance approach based on a rigid input–output analysis of the entire system, (ii) a goal-oriented evaluation of the results of the mass balance, which takes into account the intended waste management objectives; and (iii) a transparent and reproducible presentation of the methodology, data, and results.

Effect of operating conditions and input variations on the partitioning of metals in a municipal solid waste incinerator

The partitioning of copper, zinc, cadmium and lead between bottom ash and combustion flue gas was investigated in a municipal solid waste (MSW) incinerator. Material balances were established and transfer coefficients were determined for seven 2-h periods. Statistical analysis of the data allowed assessment of the uncertainty and investigation of the effect of waste input variations as well as process conditions. As a result, 6% of Cu, 54% of both Zn and Pb and 90% of Cd in the waste feed were transferred into the combustion flue gas, the rest was found in the bottom ash. The uncertainty of the partitioning in terms of relative width of 95% confidence intervals was estimated as 33% for Cu, 7% for Zn, 7% for Cd and 21% for Pb. Multiple linear regression indicates that, for the incinerator investigated, changes in combustion parameters have a negligible effect on the transfer coefficients of the selected metals; and the partitioning of Cd and Pb does not correlate significantly with changes in the waste composition. A significant positive regression between the transfer of Cu and the chlorine content of the waste feed was observed. The results of this study are instrumental to determine the waste composition by analysing a single combustion product only.

Alternative Methods for the Analysis of Municipal Solid Waste

The classical approach of direct analysis of municipal solid waste (MSW) is compared with the determination of MSW composition by the analysis of the products of waste treatment and by the analysis of material balances of market products. The applications and the properties of the three methods are discussed and it is concluded that (1) the particular question of waste management determines the selection of the appropriate method of analysis; and (2) the direct waste analysis is useful to determine the contents of some materials in MSW, the waste product analysis is well suited to analyse elemental concentration in MSW, and the market product analysis is the most inexpensive and efficient method to give material and elemental concentrations of MSW if production figures are available.

Comparing field investigations with laboratory models to predict landfill leachate emissions

Investigations into laboratory reactors and landfills are used for simulating and predicting emissions from municipal solid waste landfills. We examined water flow and solute transport through the same waste body for different volumetric scales (laboratory experiment: 0.08 m(3), landfill: 80,000 m(3)), and assessed the differences in water flow and leachate emissions of chloride, total organic carbon and Kjeldahl nitrogen. The results indicate that, due to preferential pathways, the flow of water in field-scale landfills is less uniform than in laboratory reactors. Based on tracer experiments, it can be discerned that in laboratory-scale experiments around 40% of pore water participates in advective solute transport, whereas this fraction amounts to less than 0.2% in the investigated full-scale landfill. Consequences of the difference in water flow and moisture distribution are: (1) leachate emissions from full-scale landfills decrease faster than predicted by laboratory experiments, and (2) the stock of materials remaining in the landfill body, and thus the long-term emission potential, is likely to be underestimated by laboratory landfill simulations.

Regional Material Management and Environmental Protection

Abstract The goal of environmental protection is to prevent damage by early recognition of possible hazards. In the present paper, the potential of materials accounting techniques to forewarn of critical loadings on water, air and soil is assessed. For this purpose, the anthropogenic and natural contributions to the metabolism of a region are measured and estimated respectively. The control of man-made material fluxes to the environment is discussed with regard to a waste management concept based on sustainable fluxes of emissions and final storage quality of landfill materials. According to the results, regional material balances are powerful tools for integrated waste management: they allow the setting of priorities in waste management by identifying important material quantities and qualities, they are the base for the design and evaluation of waste treatment technologies, they are necessary for environmental impact statements, and they allow the recognition and minimization of the overall flux of materials from the anthroposphere to the environment.