Abstract in English / Incineration is still a widely utilised method for treating healthcare risk waste in the Republic of South Africa. As much as incinerators are needed, the fact that they are still a critical source of hazardous toxic air pollutants that are not easy to manage cannot be disregarded. The Ministry of Environmental Affairs has promulgated a new regulation for General and Hazardous Waste Thermal Treatment. This exceedingly stringent air pollution legislation requires that existing incinerators be modified or redesigned to meet the new air quality standards, or face closure in the event that they fail to comply. The regulation contains strict emission requirements for concentrations of stack gases such as CO2, NO2, NOx, HCl, HF, CO, SO2, as well as TOC and PM. To be certain that emissions are within the standard, incineration facilities are instructed to reduce the acid gas emissions and to have permanent on-line monitoring equipment for stack testing of regulated pollutants. Since the promulgation of the new legislation in April 2015, none of the incinerators in South Africa has been able to achieve the new requirements. This study, based on the quantitative approach, was conducted in search of a cost-effective method of controlling acid gas emissions from incinerators without major adjustments to the plants. During the study, 60 kg of sorbacal Ca(OH)2 was injected into a lime feeder every day. A variable speed drive was used to inject Ca(OH)2 into the furnace continuously at a rate of between 2.5 kg/h and 3.5 kg/h. The temperature was maintained between 850°C and 1200°C with the use of four gas burners. Two manual blowers were utilised to ensure a continuous flow of Ca(OH)2 into the reaction chamber and filtration system. Comparative analysis was done to compare gas emission levels before and after the use of hydrated lime. Descriptive statistics were used to compute the mean, frequency and percentages, while Wilcoxon sign rank test established whether hydrated lime was significant in reducing gaseous emissions or not. Wilcoxon sign rank test showed a statistically significant difference (P<0.05) in the reduction of all gaseous emissions using hydrated lime, except particulate matter where there was a significant increase in emissions. This technology was able to achieve high removal efficiency of 97% for HCl, 86% for HF, 83% for NOx, 87% for SO2 and 74% for NO2. The optimum temperature for SO2 and NOx was 1020°C. For HCl it was between 1190°C and 1200°C, and for NO2 it was between 1120°C and 1200°C. The amount of particulate matter increased along with the concentration of the Ca(OH)2 injections. Ca(OH)2 was found to be cost effective in the controlling and capturing of gaseous emissions. It is recommended that combustion requirements, such as heat, oxygen and turbulence, be considered to reduce the amount of gases generated during the incineration of healthcare risk waste. It is also recommended that electrostatic precipitators be used instead of fabric filters to improve the efficiency of capturing the particulate matter. / Environmental Sciences / M.Sc. (Environmental Science)

The content of the presented dissertation work is the study of the histological structure of the burned and unburned compact bone of the human rib. The aim was to evaluate the effects of the differently high cremation temperatures on the structure of the bone tissue, and, on the basis of these findings, to design an applicable methodology for the estimation of the age-at-death of an unknown individual. As the research material the recent human ribs were used, belonging to the individuals of known age-at-death, sex and cause of death. The skeletal samples were experimentally burned under the beforehand set conditions. Every bone was divided into several pieces; one of them remained unburned, and the other were burned at the temperatures of 600, 700, 800 and 1000řC. From burned and unburned bone samples the undecalcified and unstained cross- sections were made, which were microscopically analysed under the magnification of 100×. The histological analysis was performed in the digital microphotographs using the SigmaScan Pro 5 image analysis programme. In each cross-section in total 28 variables were studied, and obtained histomorphometric data were statistically processed using the Statistica 6 programme. The result of the research is the description of the changes of histological structures caused by...

Abstract AJ The goal of this thesis is to thoroughly chart the problem of waste management in Czech Republic and the European Union and to outline legal and economic situation in waste treatment and in its alternatives. This thesis deals with different types of landfills, their technical aspects and methods of depositing waste. The thesis also tries to point out material and energetic use of waste before landfilling. Recycling is considered to be important because it decreases the amount of waste stored in landfills. Composting and anaerobic digestion are the other methods of disposal. The thesis also describes the possibilities of usage of the landfill gasses with the help of cogeneration units. The thesis refers to current level of waste landfilling in the Czech Republic and in other countries of the European Union. Key words: waste management, landfilling, landfills, waste sorting, material recovery from waste, recycling, composting, energy recovery from waste, incineration,

Dans une optique de maîtrise du procédé d’incinération des ordures ménagères et de ses possibles émissions polluantes, nous avons développé un modèle mathématique qui simule un lit d’ordures ménagères en combustion sur une grille mobile. Ce modèle décrit la plupart des phénomènes physicochimiques et thermiques intervenant lors de l’incinération : séchage et pyrolyse de la charge, combustion et gazéification du carbone résiduel, transferts thermiques, effondrement du lit, brassage… Il intègre également une description des mécanismes de volatilisation des métaux lourds et de formation des NOx. La cinétique de départ des métaux lourds est modélisée en tenant compte des différentes étapes de transport (transfert externe, diffusion intraparticulaire, volatilisation) au moyen de l’approche des temps caractéristiques additifs. Dans le cas simulé du cadmium, la prédiction d’une volatilisation quasi-complète est conforme aux résultats de la littérature. Le sous-modèle NOx prend en compte les mécanismes de formation thermique, prompt, combustible, par l’intermédiaire de N2O, ainsi que les mécanismes de réduction homogène par recombustion et hétérogène par le carbone résiduel. Les calculs révèlent que prédominent la formation par le mécanisme combustible et la destruction par la réduction hétérogène. Enfin, le modèle de lit a été utilisé pour étudier l’influence des divers paramètres opératoires : température, débit et distribution d’air primaire, taille des particules de déchets, brassage et schéma de brassage. Les résultats sont présentés et discutés en détail. L’influence des conditions opératoires sur l’efficacité du procédé et sur les émissions de Cd et NOx est analysée / As a tool for controlling the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) incineration process and its possible pollutant emissions, a mathematical model of the MSW bed burning on travelling grate of an incinerator was developed. The model describes most of the physico-chemical and thermal phenomena taking place in incineration like the drying and pyrolysis of the feed, combustion and gasification of char, oxidation of pyrolysis gases, heat transfer, bed shrinking, feed stirring, etc. Also described in the model are the mechanisms of Heavy Metals (HM) volatilization and NOx formation. Kinetics of HM release was modelled using the approach of additive reaction times accounting for the various transport mechanisms involved: external transfer, intra-particle diffusion and actual volatilization. In the case simulated, i.e. of Cd, almost total volatilization is predicted, which is confirmed by literature findings. The NOx sub-model takes into account most of the common mechanisms of formation like thermal, prompt, fuel, N2O intermediate and also NOx reduction by homogeneous reburning and heterogeneous reduction by char. Calculations show that NOx formation is predominated by the fuel mechanism and destruction by the heterogeneous reduction. Finally, the bed model was applied to study the influence of various operating parameters like flow rate, temperature and distribution of air under grates, waste particle size, feed stirring and the stirring scheme. The results are presented and discussed in detail and the influence of operating conditions on process efficiency and on emissions of Cd and NOx is analyzed

[pt] A disposição final de resíduos sólidos urbanos, em aterros ou lixões, é um problema das grandes cidades. A utilização do lixo urbano em processos de tratamento térmico com recuperação energética vem ao encontro da busca de fontes alternativas, preferencialmente as renováveis, para a geração de energia. Assim, usinas de incineração com reaproveitamento de energia vêm sendo apresentadas como uma solução tanto para o destino do lixo quanto para a diversificação da matriz energética. Além disso, a prática da incineração proporciona máxima redução da massa e volume e inertização do lixo, estando o aproveitamento energético de resíduos (Waste-to-Energy) dentre as alternativas mais coerentes para a gestão de resíduos sólidos municipais. No Brasil, práticas como esta ainda são incipientes, porém apresentam grande potencial de estudo para aplicações nos centros urbanos em um futuro próximo. O presente trabalho apresenta uma proposta de uma usina lixo-energia, aplicável ao município do Rio de Janeiro, baseada na planta de Zabalgarbi/Bilbao (Espanha), que funciona em ciclo combinado a gás natural e incinera resíduos, aproveitando seu conteúdo energético para produzir eletricidade. Uma análise energética e exergética é realizada juntamente com uma estimativa do custo de geração de eletricidade, influenciada por um indicador de ecoeficiência que leva em consideração as emissões atmosféricas. Como conclusão, mostra-se a capacidade do sistema proposto em destinar os resíduos sólidos urbanos e atender a demanda elétrica do município do Rio de Janeiro/Brasil a um custo competitivo. / [en] The final disposal of municipal solid waste in landfills or dumps is a regular problem to the big cities. The use of municipal waste in processes of thermal treatment with energy recovery meets the search for alternative and renewable sources of energy production. Thus, energy recovery incineration facilities are being presented as a solution to both the waste disposal problem and the growing energy demand in the cities. Additionally, incineration provides the maximum reduction of mass, volume and dangerousness of the waste and the waste-to-energy practice stands out among the most coherent alternatives for municipal solid waste management in the world. In Brazil, however, it is still incipient and therefore presents a great potential for feasibility and application studies in the urban centers. This work presents a proposal of a waste-to-energy facility that could operate in the city of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), based on the Zabalgarbi/Bilbao (Spain) plant, which operates in combined cycle fueled by natural gas and urban solid waste and generates electrical power. It is performed an energetic and exergetic analysis along with a cost estimate influenced by an eco-efficiency indicator that takes into account the air pollution emissions. The conclusion shows the capacity of the proposed facility to treat the municipal solid waste of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and supply its electricity demand with a competitive cost.

Les Cendres Volantes d’Electrofiltres (CVE) d’incinération d’ordures ménagères sont considérées comme des déchets dangereux et mises en décharges après une phase de stabilisation et de solidification par un liant hydraulique. Leur utilisation dans des matériaux cimentaires permet l’élimination d’un déchet en diminuant la demande de matériaux de construction. Cependant, avant leur incorporation dans des matériaux cimentaires, les CVE doivent subir plusieurs traitements. Premièrement, un lavage à l’eau permet de diminuer fortement la concentration en chlorures. Dans un deuxième temps, une séparation granulométrique des CVE est appliquée afin de ne sélectionner que la fraction la moins contaminée en métaux lourds, notamment en plomb et en zinc, ces métaux lourds étant connus comme retardateurs de prise. Enfin, une troisième étape consiste à oxyder l’aluminium métallique présent dans les CVE à l’aide d’un lavage basique à l’hydroxyde de sodium. S’il n’est pas oxydé durant la phase de traitement, l’aluminium métallique se transforme en aluminates dans la matrice cimentaire tout en produisant de l’hydrogène, responsable de l’apparition de vides et de fissures endommageant ainsi le matériau. Une fois traitées, les CVE peuvent alors être utilisées en substitution partielle du ciment pour une étude de leur réactivité potentielle. Les résultats de cette étude ont montré que l’activité des CVE traitées à l’hydroxyde de sodium est principalement d’origine physique (granulométrique et surface développée). Les CVE ne présentent pas de nature pouzzolanique. Les essais de lixiviation ont montré une durabilité équivalente et une très bonne stabilisation du chrome, du plomb et du zinc, qui permet de respecter les normes environnementales européennes./Municipal Solid Waste Incineration (MSWI) Electrofilter Fly Ash (EFA) is considered as hazardous waste and landfilled after stabilisation and solidification with a hydraulic binder. Its use in cementitious materials allows the elimination of a waste and a decrease of construction materials use. However, before its incorporation in cementitious materials, EFA has to be treated. Firstly, a water washing allows an important decrease in chloride concentration. In a second time, size-based separation is used to select the less heavy metals contaminated fraction, especially in lead and zinc. Indeed, these heavy metals are knows as setting retarders. Finally, a third step involves oxidizing of metallic aluminium contained in EFA during a basic washing with sodium hydroxide. Indeed, if it is not oxidize during the treatment, metallic aluminium converts in aluminates in the cementitious material, and produces hydrogen, generating cracking and voids, and damaging the cementitious material. After the treatment step, a study of the potential reactivity of EFA used in partial replacement of cement is carried out. Results show the activity of EFA treated with sodium hydroxide is mainly physical (grading and developed surface). EFA presents not pozzolanic effect. Leachability tests show an equivalent durability and a very efficient stabilisation of chrome, lead and zinc, allowing the respect of the European environmental standard. / Doctorat en Sciences de l'ingénieur / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

In this thesis advanced fuel cycles for the incineration, i.e. deep–burn, of weapons–grade plutonium, reactor–grade plutonium from pressurised light water reactors and reactor–grade plutonium + the associated Minor Actinides in the 400 MWth Pebble Bed Modular Reactor Demonstration Power Plant was simulated with the VSOP 99/05 diffusion code. These results were also compared to the standard 9 g/fuel sphere U/Pu 9.6% enriched uranium fuel cycle. The addition of the Minor Actinides to the reactor–grade plutonium caused an unacceptable decrease in the burn–up and thus an unacceptable increase in the heavy metal (HM) content in the spent fuel, which is intended for direct disposal in a deep geological repository, without chemical reprocessing. All the Pu fuel cycles failed the adopted safety limits in that either the maximum fuel temperature of 1130°C, during normal operation, or the maximum power of 4.5 kW/sphere was exceeded. All the Pu cycles also produced positive Uniform Temperature Reactivity Coefficients, i.e. the coefficient where the temperature of the fuel and the graphite moderator in the fuel spheres are varied together. these positive temperature coefficients were experienced at low temperatures, typically below 700°C. This was due to the influence of the thermal fission resonance of 241Pu. The safety performance of the weapons–grade plutonium was the worst. The safety performance of the reactor–grade plutonium also deteriorated when the heavy metal loading was reduced from 3 g/sphere to 2 g or 1 g. In view of these safety problems, these Pu fuel cycles were judged to be not licensable in the PBMR DPP–400 reactor. Therefore a redesign of the fuel cycle for reactor–grade plutonium, the power conversion system and the reactor geometry was proposed in order to solve these problems. The main elements of these proposals are: v 1. The use of 3 g reactor–grade plutonium fuel spheres should be the point of departure. 232Th will then be added in order to restore negative Uniform Temperature Reactivity Coefficients. 2. The introduction of neutron poisons into the reflectors, in order to suppress the power density peaks and thus the temperature peaks. 3. In order to counter the reduction in burn–up by this introduction of neutron poisons, a thinning of the central reflector was proposed. / Thesis (PhD (Nuclear Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

In this thesis advanced fuel cycles for the incineration, i.e. deep–burn, of weapons–grade plutonium, reactor–grade plutonium from pressurised light water reactors and reactor–grade plutonium + the associated Minor Actinides in the 400 MWth Pebble Bed Modular Reactor Demonstration Power Plant was simulated with the VSOP 99/05 diffusion code. These results were also compared to the standard 9 g/fuel sphere U/Pu 9.6% enriched uranium fuel cycle. The addition of the Minor Actinides to the reactor–grade plutonium caused an unacceptable decrease in the burn–up and thus an unacceptable increase in the heavy metal (HM) content in the spent fuel, which is intended for direct disposal in a deep geological repository, without chemical reprocessing. All the Pu fuel cycles failed the adopted safety limits in that either the maximum fuel temperature of 1130°C, during normal operation, or the maximum power of 4.5 kW/sphere was exceeded. All the Pu cycles also produced positive Uniform Temperature Reactivity Coefficients, i.e. the coefficient where the temperature of the fuel and the graphite moderator in the fuel spheres are varied together. these positive temperature coefficients were experienced at low temperatures, typically below 700°C. This was due to the influence of the thermal fission resonance of 241Pu. The safety performance of the weapons–grade plutonium was the worst. The safety performance of the reactor–grade plutonium also deteriorated when the heavy metal loading was reduced from 3 g/sphere to 2 g or 1 g. In view of these safety problems, these Pu fuel cycles were judged to be not licensable in the PBMR DPP–400 reactor. Therefore a redesign of the fuel cycle for reactor–grade plutonium, the power conversion system and the reactor geometry was proposed in order to solve these problems. The main elements of these proposals are: v 1. The use of 3 g reactor–grade plutonium fuel spheres should be the point of departure. 232Th will then be added in order to restore negative Uniform Temperature Reactivity Coefficients. 2. The introduction of neutron poisons into the reflectors, in order to suppress the power density peaks and thus the temperature peaks. 3. In order to counter the reduction in burn–up by this introduction of neutron poisons, a thinning of the central reflector was proposed. / Thesis (PhD (Nuclear Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

The absence or unavailability of solid waste disposal facilities and service in rural areas of the UThukela District Municipality (UTDM) compelled residents to adopt many disposal practices. This included open burning of waste, which leaves residues in the form of waste ashes. Some heavy metal and hazardous substances remain active in these waste ashes. In this study, the impact of Solid Waste Disposal Practices (SWDP) on the environment was investigated by evaluating the effect of waste ashes on plant growth. The research was directed towards the evaluation of the environmental impact of solid waste disposal practices by households in these rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), on the growth of Zea Mays (Maize) plants. Rural maize farmers dominate the district of UTDM because it is a good agricultural area with great potential for high rainfall in summer, moderate temperatures, good soil and moderate slopes. The method selected to achieve research objectives was the evaluation of the influence of waste ashes, as by-products of SWDP, on plant growth. This was achieved by, determining soil fertility; collecting household solid waste from different rural families to determine the composition (including already burnt ash, plastic ash and wood ash; analysing the chemical composition of traditional ashes collected from sites where it was burnt (waste ashes); applying the evaporation pan test; mixing waste ashes and other additives with soil in planting pots in equal parts; planting Zea Mays in winter and summer; and lastly, monitoring and measuring agronomic parameters of plant growth on a regular basis. The selected additives to the in situ soil were fertilizer, compost, waste ash, plastic ash and wood ash. Pots with soil only (no additive added) served as control. The findings revealed that plants exposed to wood, waste and plastic ash struggled to grow when compared to plants grown with fertilizer, compost and soil only. The impact of all waste ashes on plant growth was negative in both seasons and some of the agronomic parameters were unable to sprout during the course of plant growth. The chemicals found after analysing the waste ashes included some of the heavy metals that remained active after burning. These were left behind in the environment. Consequently, it was concluded that household solid waste disposal practices in rural areas should be reviewed urgently, as they affect plant growth negatively. Recommendations were provided. / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Science)

D’après les limites d’acceptation pour la mise en décharge des déchets, les REFIOM (Résidus d’Epuration des Fumées d’Incinération d’Ordures Ménagères) sont considérés comme déchets dangereux, car ils libèrent des quantités importantes de chlorures et de métaux lourds lorsqu’ils entrent en contact avec de l’eau. Ces solides doivent par conséquent être traités avant leur mise en décharge. A côté des traitements visant l’acceptabilité des REFIOM en décharge, quelques recherches entrevoient la possibilité de valoriser ces résidus, notamment dans des matériaux cimentaires. <p>Les recherches présentées ici s’inscrivent dans cette tendance nouvelle et visent l’élaboration d’un procédé combinant traitement et valorisation des REFIOM. <p>Les REFIOM représentent en fait différents types de résidus provenant des installations que rencontrent les fumées issues de l’incinération des déchets. La composition des résidus diffère selon leur origine. Il est dès lors apparu essentiel de considérer chaque type de résidu séparément et de poursuivre l’élaboration d’un traitement sur un seul type de REFIOM. Nous avons choisi de concentrer les recherches sur les Cendres Volantes de Chaudière (CVC), ces résidus se retrouvant dans tout incinérateur. <p>Le traitement des CVC est basé sur l’extraction de fractions valorisables et la séparation de fractions contaminées, permettant d’obtenir des résidus acceptables en décharge ou, idéalement eux-mêmes valorisables. <p>Une séparation magnétique permet d’extraire environ 10% en poids des CVC mais ne semble pas exploitable dans le cadre du traitement des CVC car les particules magnétiques contiennent des impuretés (composés non magnétiques) et que le résidu final reste contaminé. <p>Une étude de la répartition des éléments en fonction de la taille des particules (granulochimie) est effectuée sur les CVC. Il apparaît intéressant de séparer la fraction inférieure à 38 µm obtenue lors d’une séparation granulométrique, effectuée en voie humide en utilisant une solution dense. En effet, cette fraction semble être nettement plus contaminée en Pb (soluble) que le reste des CVC. Une telle séparation constitue dès lors la première étape du traitement des CVC. Elle est suivie par des étapes de lavage des fractions obtenues, visant à extraire les sels solubles (chlorures et métaux). Les lavages sont envisagés à contre-courant afin d’utiliser au mieux l’eau de lavage. Une recirculation interne des solutions est également prévue, de sorte que, théoriquement, le procédé ne génère pas d’effluents liquides. Une étape de précipitation de composés métalliques (PbS dans ce cas-ci) est prévue après le lavage des boues. <p>Le procédé de traitement des CVC produirait ainsi des boues et des granulats décontaminés, des sels et des précipités métalliques. Seules certaines étapes du procédé ont été investiguées en laboratoire ;des essais supplémentaires sont encore nécessaires pour optimiser chaque étape, comprendre les phénomènes physico-chimiques qui se produisent et assurer des filières de valorisation. <p>/<p>Municipal Solid Waste Incineration (MSWI) fly ashes and Air Pollution Control (APC) residues are considered as hazardous waste according to the limits for the acceptance of waste at landfills, because high amounts of chlorides and heavy metals leach from the solids when those are in contact with water. These residues have thus to be treated before they can be accepted in landfill. Several treatments aim to limit the leaching of the residues. Beside these treatments, some research works go further the treatment and consider the valorisation of MSWI fly ashes and APC residues, e.a. in cementitious materials. <p>The present work follows the new trend and aims to build up a process that combines treatment and valorisation of MSWI fly ashes and APC residues. <p>MSWI fly ashes and APC residues come from the devices encountered by the flue gases from waste incineration. The residues composition differs according to their origin. It seems thus essential to consider each type of residues separately and to develop the treatment only on one sort of residue. Boiler Fly Ashes (BFA) were chosen because they exist in every modern MSWI plant. <p>The BFA treatment is based on the extraction of valorisable fractions and on the separation of contaminated fractions, which makes the final residues less hazardous; these final residues would then be acceptable in landfill, or, even better, be valorisable. <p>A magnetic sorting extracts ~10% (wt.) of BFA; however, such a separation would not be useful in a treatment process because the magnetic particles contain some impurities (non magnetic particles) and the final residue is still hazardous. <p>The repartition of the elements according to the particles size has been studied on BFA. It seems interesting to separate the BFA at 38 µm by a wet sieving process using a dense solution. The lower fraction presents a higher contamination in Pb (soluble) than the larger. Consequently, the first step of the BFA treatment consists of a wet sieving. Washing steps follow the sieving and aim to extract soluble salts (chlorides, heavy metals). These washings work in a counter-current way to optimise the use of water. The solutions are recycled in the process, which implies the absence of liquid effluents. A precipitation step of some metallic compounds (PbS in this case) is foreseen after the washing of the lower fraction. <p>The BFA treatment process would produce decontaminated sludge and coarse fractions, salts and metallic compounds. Some steps of the process have been investigated at lab-scale; further studies are necessary to optimise each step, to understand the observed reactions and to guarantee valorisation channels. / Doctorat en Sciences de l'ingénieur / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished