Evaluation of Microbially Influenced Degradation as a Method for the Decontamination of Radio Actively Contaminated Concrete

1996 ◽  
Vol 465 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. D. Rogers ◽  
M. A. Hamilton ◽  
L. O. Nelson ◽  
J. Benson ◽  
M. Green
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Field Application ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
Laboratory Evaluation ◽  
Concrete Slabs ◽  
Initial Field ◽  
Acceptable Method ◽  
Application Data ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The U.S

ABSTRACTBecause there are literally square kilometers of radioactively contaminated concrete surfaces within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) complex, the task (both scope and cost) of decontamination is staggering. Complex-wide cleanup using conventional methodology does not appear to be feasible for every facility because of prioritization, cost, and manual effort required.We are investigating the feasibility of using microbially influenced degradation (MID) of concrete as a unique, innovative approach for the decontamination of concrete. Currently, work is being conducted to determine the practicality and cost effectiveness of using this environmentally acceptable method for decontamination of large surface concrete structures. Under laboratory conditions, the biodecontamination process has successfully been used to remove 2 mm of the surface of concrete slabs. Subsequently, initial field application data from an ongoing pilot-scale demonstration have shown that an average of 2 mm of surface can be removed from meter-square areas of contaminated concrete. The cost for the process has been estimated as $1.29/m2. Methodologies for field application of the process are being developed and will be tested. This paper provides information on the MID process, laboratory evaluation of its use for decontamination, and results from the pilot field application.

Micropollutants Produced by Disinfection of Wastewater Effluents*

1982 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 45-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
R L Jolley ◽  
R B Cumming ◽  
N E Lee ◽  
J E Thompson ◽  
L R Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Uv Irradiation ◽  
Base Pair ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
Union Carbide Corporation ◽  
Organic Constituents ◽  
Chemical Effects ◽  
Base Pair Substitution ◽  
The U.S

The principal objective of this research program was to examine the effects of disinfection by chlorine, ozone, and ultraviolet light (uv) irradiation on nonvolatile organic constituents relative to chemical effects and the formation of micropollutants. In a comparative study of highly concentrated samples of effluents from nine wastewater treatment plants, it was determined that disinfection with chlorine or ozone both destroys and produces nonvolatile organic constituents including mutagenic constituents. The chemical effects of disinfection by uv irradiation were relatively slight, although the mutagenic constituents in one effluent were eliminated by this treatment. The nine wastewater treatment plants were selected by using the following criteria: disinfection method, nature of wastewater source, type of wastewater treatment, standards for quality of treatment, and geographical location. The treatment plants varied from pilot plant and small plants [0.05 m3/s (1 Mgd)] treating principally domestic waste to large plants [4.4 m3/s (100 Mgd)] treating principally industrial waste. Four plants used only chlorine for disinfection, four used ozone for disinfection, and one used uv irradiation for disinfection. Eight treatment plants used conventional secondary or more advanced wastewater treatment, and one plant used primary treatment. The following methodology was used in this investigation: grab sample collection of 40-L samples of undisinfected and disinfected effluents; concentration of the effluents by lyophilization; high-pressure liquid chromatographic separation of nonvolatile organic constituents in effluent concentrates using uv absorbance, cerate oxidation, and fluorescence detectors; bacterial mutagenicity testing of concentrates and chromatographic fractions; and identification and characterization of nonvolatile organic constituents in mutagenic HPLC fractions. With these procedures, over 100 micropollutants were identified in the wastewater effluent concentrates. Interplant comparison revealed considerable variability in the presence of mutagenic nonvolatile organic constituents in the undisinfected effluent concentrates as well as much variability in the destruction of the mutagenic constituents and the formation of other mutagenic constituents as a result of disinfection. Moreover, the effects varied on samples collected at the same wastewater treatment plant at different periods. No micropollutants known to be mutagens were identified in the mutagenic HPLC fractions separated from the undisinfected, chlorinated, and ozonated effluent concentrates. The mutagenic activity of the nonvolatile organic constituents in one chlorinated effluent concentrate was not attributable to organic chloramines. Most of the mutagens detected in effluent concentrates are direct acting and do not require metabolic activation. Both base-pair substitution mutagens and frame-shift mutagens occurred in the wastewater concentrates, but the former type was more frequent. For many of the compounds in effluents, strain TA-1535 was more sensitive than strain TA-100 in detecting base-pair substitution mutagens. *Research sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The work was carried out at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which is operated by the U.S. Department of Energy under contract W-7405-eng-26 with the Union Carbide Corporation.

The impact of regulations on labor markets in the U.S.

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-40
Author(s):  
Souad Adnane
Keyword(s):  
Supply And Demand ◽  
Demand Model ◽  
Lead Teachers ◽  
Associate's Degree ◽  
Childcare Workers ◽  
Educational Requirements ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Women's Labor Force Participation ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The U.S

The District of Columbia (DC) Office of the Superintendent of Education (OSSE) issued in December 2016 new educational requirements for childcare workers, according to which, all childcare center directors in the District must earn a bachelor’s degree by December 2022 and all lead teachers an associate’s degree by December 2020 (Institute for Justice, 2018). Moreover, DC has one of the lowest staff-child ratios in the country. How are regulations pertaining to childcare workers’ qualifications and staff-child ratio affecting the childcare market in DC? The present paper is an attempt to answer this question first by analyzing the effects of more stringent regulations on the cost and availability of childcare in the U.S based on existing studies. It also uses the basic supply and demand model to examine the possible impact of the new DC policy on the cost, quality and supply of childcare in the District and how it will affect working parents, especially mothers. Next, the paper discusses the impact of deregulation based on simulations and regressions conducted by studies covering the U.S., and implications for quality. It concludes that more stringent childcare regulations, regarding educational requirements and staff-child ratios, are associated with a reduced number of childcare centers and a higher cost, and eventually affects women’s labor force participation.

scholarly journals Direct Recycling R&D at the ReCell Center

Recycling ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Linda Gaines ◽  
Qiang Dai ◽  
John T. Vaughey ◽  
Samuel Gillard
Keyword(s):  
Lithium Ion Batteries ◽  
Rapid Growth ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Lithium Ion ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
Central Feature ◽  
Recycling Technology ◽  
Waste Handling ◽  
Domestic Resource ◽  
The U.S

The expected rapid growth in electric vehicle deployment will inevitably be followed by a corresponding rise in the supply of end-of-life vehicles and their lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The batteries may be reused, but will eventually be spent and provide a potential domestic resource that can help supply materials for future battery production. However, commercial recycling processes depend on profits from recovery of cobalt, use of which is being reduced in new cathode chemistries. The U.S. Department of Energy, therefore, established the ReCell Center in early 2019 to develop robust LIB recycling technology that would be economical even for batteries that contain no cobalt. The central feature of the technology is recovery of the cathode material with its unique crystalline cathode morphology intact in order to retain its value and functionality. Other materials are recovered as well in order to maximize revenues and minimize waste-handling costs. Analysis and modeling serve to evaluate and compare process options so that we can identify those that will be most economical while still minimizing energy use and environmental impacts. This paper provides background and describes highlights of the center’s first 2 years of operation.

Multi-scale study of bio-binder mixtures as surface layer: Laboratory evaluation and field application and monitoring

2021 ◽  
Vol 287 ◽  
pp. 122982 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leidy V. Espinosa ◽  
Fernanda Gadler ◽  
Rafael V. Mota ◽  
Frederico V. Guatimosim ◽  
Ingrid Camargo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Layer ◽  
Field Application ◽  
Laboratory Evaluation ◽  
Multi Scale

scholarly journals 503. The Misappropriation of COVID-19 Related TV Ad Expenditures

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S317-S317
Author(s):  
Kartavya J Vyas
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Performance Metrics ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Mortality Data ◽  
Preventive Interventions ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Epidemic Curve ◽  
Incidence And Mortality ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The U.S

Abstract Background With nearly three-fourths of the U.S. population isolated in their homes between early March and the end of May, almost all of whom regularly watch television (TV), it was no surprise that companies began to purchase airtime on major television networks to advertise (ad) their brands and showcase their empathy with the populace. But how would the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic curve have changed had these same dollars been allocated to proven preventive interventions? Methods Performance and activity metrics on all COVID-19 related TV ads that have aired in the U.S. between February 26th and June 7th, 2020, were provided by iSpot.tv, Inc., including expenditures. COVID-19 incidence and mortality data were collected from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Descriptive statistics were performed to calculate total TV ad expenditures and other performance metrics across industry categories. Leveraging a previously published stochastic agent-based model that was used to assess the cost-effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions to control COVID-19, the number of cases that would have been prevented had these same dollars been used for preventive interventions was calculated using cost-effectiveness ratios (CERs), the cost divided by cases prevented. Results A total of 1,513 companies purchased TV airtime during the study period, totaling approximately 1.1 million airings, 215.5 billion impressions, and $2.7 billion in expenditures; most of the expenditures were spent by the restaurant (15.9%), electronics and communications (15.4%), and vehicle (13.7%) industries. The CERs for PPE and social distancing measures were $13,856 and $29,552, respectively; therefore, had all of these TV ad dollars instead been allocated to PPE or social distancing measures, approximately 194,908 and 91,386 cases of COVID-19 may have been prevented by the end of the study period, respectively. Figure 2. COVID-19 cases prevented had TV ad expenditures been reallocated for interventions. Conclusion Americans were inundated with COVID-19 related TV ads during the early months of the pandemic and companies are now showing some signs to relent. In times of disaster, however, it is paramount that the private sector go beyond showcasing their empathy and truly become socially responsible by allocating their funds to proven prevention and control measures. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

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