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Discovery Leads to New
Understanding of Water Quality
 CHICAGO,
IL -- Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne
National Laboratory have discovered new ways that ions
interact with mineral surfaces in water, opening a door to
new knowledge on how contaminants travel in the environment.
The insight, published in today's issue of Physical Review
Letters, leads to a better understanding of the factors that
determine water quality.
Water -- colorless, odorless and
tasteless -- may seem simple, but its interaction with
minerals can be difficult to study. Ions (ranging from
nutrients such as calcium, to contaminants such as lead) are
present in natural waters, but their transport is often
limited by adsorption to mineral surfaces. The more
scientists can understand about the interaction of minerals
with water and ions, the more effectively they can control
water quality in our environment, and Argonne's research in
this area is making a leading contribution to the field.
Contrary to generally held
scientific assumptions, the simple textbook description of
how ions adsorb to mineral-water interfaces has been shown
to not be universally true. Argonne Physicist Paul Fenter
stated, "Ions are known to carry a hydration shell in water.
Previously, it was thought that ions either adsorb to a
mineral surface with this shell intact as an outer- sphere
ion, or remove part of this shell to directly bind to the
mineral as an inner-sphere ion. We now know that this is not
just a black and white difference, but have discovered new
shades of gray by showing that outer- sphere and
inner-sphere species of the same ion can co-exist."
This revelation was the outcome
of a new element-specific method developed to understand the
behavior of ions at the interface between minerals and
liquids, like water. According to Argonne Chemist Changyong
Park, "Conventional methods provided no direct sensitivity
to observing this behavior. Outer-sphere species were almost
invisible and extremely difficult to identify. There was
just no way to see the co-existence of both species
previously."
Using the Advanced Photon Source
(APS) at Argonne, which provides the western hemisphere's
most brilliant x-ray beams for research, the team was able
to make this new discovery. These x-rays enabled scientists
to pursue new knowledge about the structure and function of
materials -- and develop new methods for scientific study.
Using the APS, the team was able to take advantage of the
technique's spectroscopic sensitivity to identify the way
specific ions interact at mineral-water interfaces and
visualize the phenomena directly.
The findings built on earlier
work on cation adsorption using traditional x-ray scattering
techniques. The Argonne scientists, working together with
researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, previously
discovered an anomaly in the way that ions adsorb. The team
collaborated again with the new element-specific technique
which led to this new discovery, central to understanding
the behavior of ions at solid-liquid interfaces.
Water is the "universal
solvent," dissolving more substances than any other liquid.
This means that wherever water goes, either through the
ground or through our bodies, it takes ions along with it. A
general understanding of this behavior and the development
of a new scientific method for studying this phenomenon may
lead to better understanding of various other processes that
take place at solid-liquid interfaces, including corrosion,
erosion, catalysis, and even the biological behavior of cell
membranes.
This research is funded by the
Geosciences Research Program of the DOE's Office of Basic
Energy Sciences.
Source: Argonne National
Laboratory
Web site: http://www.anl.gov/
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This
newsletter is sponsored by:
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New "Renewable Fuels from
Biosolids" Plant in LA
 ATLANTA,
GA -- EnerTech Environmental, Inc. announced that it has
signed a contract with HDR Design-Build, Inc., the
design-build operating company of architectural and
engineering firm HDR, to provide engineering, procurement
and construction services for its upcoming SlurryCarb™
facility in Rialto, California. Initial site preparation for
the Rialto facility is currently underway and full
construction is scheduled to begin this summer.
HDR
has worked closely with EnerTech on the design of the Rialto
facility, which will receive biosolids from municipalities
in the Los Angeles region and produce approximately 140 tons
per day of renewable fuel.
"EnerTech's emerging SlurryCarb process represents a
significant technological advancement in biosolids
processing, and we are excited to partner with EnerTech to
build the first commercial-scale facility in Rialto," said
Doug Lisak, president and COO of HDR Design-Build, Inc.
EnerTech's SlurryCarb process economically produces a
renewable fuel from biosolids and other high-moisture
wastes. The Rialto SlurryCarb facility is scheduled to
commence operations in early 2008.
"HDR
has extensive experience with design-build projects in both
water and wastewater nationwide. The experience HDR brings
to our Rialto project team will ensure a successful
construction and startup cycle, and guarantee the ultimate
success of the facility," said EnerTech president Kevin
Bolin.
About EnerTech Environmental
EnerTech Environmental, Inc. is a renewable energy company
dedicated to the protection of public health and the
environment. The company provides answers to the problems of
traditional waste management methods and simultaneously
creates renewable energy - in a way that makes economic
sense. EnerTech's patented SlurryCarb™ process cleanly and
economically converts biosolids (sewage sludge) and other
high moisture wastes into a high-grade, renewable fuel, with
significant cost savings over alternative methods.
EnerTech's corporate headquarters are located in Atlanta,
Georgia.
For more information, please
visit
http://www.enertech.com/ |
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Layne Christensen Acquires
Collector Wells International
 MISSION
WOODS, KS -- Layne Christensen Company announced it has
acquired Collector Wells International, Inc. ("CWI"), a
specialty water services firm that designs and constructs
water supply systems with yields ranging from less than 1
million gallons per day to over 100 million gallons per day.
The
management team of CWI has been together for over 25 years.
CWI will be combined with a similar business acquired in the
Reynolds, Inc. ("Reynolds") acquisition completed in
September 2005. CWI had combined revenues of approximately
$6.5 million in the previous 12 months and brings in
approximately $9.6 million in current contracts. The
acquisition was financed through normal revolving bank
credit lines.
Key
among the water supply systems provided by CWI and Reynolds
in this product offering are radial collector wells,
seawater collector wells, fixed-screen surface water
intakes, infiltration galleries/riverbank infiltration,
hydrogeological investigations, including riverbank
filtration studies and water supply development feasibility
studies.
Radial collector wells (often referred to as Ranney wells)
offer many unique solutions to a variety of water supply
needs. When properly sited and constructed in alluvial
aquifers near streams, rivers, and lakes, these units can
yield up to 50 million gallons per day from a single well.
Given the high capacity and unique design, they offer many
advantages over traditional approaches and are well suited
to the growing international desalination marketplace.
Jeff
Reynolds, Executive Vice President of Layne and head of the
Company's Water and Wastewater Infrastructure division,
stated, "We are very excited and proud to have CWI as part
of the Layne family of companies. Our combined experience,
resources and technologies should afford our customers an
unprecedented level of service and capabilities."
Layne
Christensen Company provides sophisticated services and
related products for the water, mineral, construction and
energy markets.
Web
site:
http://www.laynechristensen.com/
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New
Liquid Abatement System for Metal Electroplating
 SAN
FRANCISCO, CA --BOC Edwards, a leading supplier of vacuum and
abatement equipment to the world's 300 mm semiconductor fabs,
announced today the release of its new EPMA(TM) (electroplated
metals abatement system) product, which offers simplified liquid
waste treatment and lower cost of ownership than conventional
approaches.
The first system has been installed
and is operational in a major US electronics manufacturing
facility where it processes metal laden waste streams from both
CMP and multiple plating operations in a single integrated
process.
"EPMA greatly simplifies the task of
managing waste from electrochemical deposition processes," said
Phil Chandler, general manager liquid abatement, BOC Edwards.
"An EPMA system treats multiple waste streams from CMP and
plating operations. EPMA generates an easy-to-handle, highly
concentrated liquid waste--unlike traditional methods that
involve either transporting large volumes of material for
off-site processing or managing multiple precipitation based
processes, and the solid waste that they create."
Metallization steps for
semiconductor, MRAM, disk platen, and disk head manufacturing
produce large volumes of dilute waste with relatively low
concentrations of metals including copper, nickel, cobalt and
iron. These wastes are produced by post-plating rinse and by
planarization steps.
Most of the metals are regulated and
must be removed before the liquid waste can be discharged.
However, the large volumes and dilute concentrations make
traditional treatment methods such as precipitation,
economically less viable.
The EPMA system removes metals from
both CMP and plating rinse streams, discharging a final effluent
with very low metals concentrations, and producing a highly
concentrated metal bearing waste. The system combines a novel
fluidized bed ion exchange system and a multiple stage
nano-filtration unit, such that waste volumes are reduced by
factors of 1,000 to 1 or more, and metals in the concentrated
waste exceed 20,000 ppm.
BOC Edwards
BOC Edwards, part of The BOC Group
plc, is a leading supplier of integrated solutions for the
manufacture of microelectronics devices, including
semiconductors and flat panel displays. Partnering with fabs,
foundries and process tool manufacturers, BOC Edwards provides
electronic materials and process-enabling subsystems that are
supported by best-in-class operations and maintenance services
for its global customer base.
Web site:
http://www.bocedwards.com/
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| Help Forum :
Hot Messages from the Help Forum
People post their requests
for help and offer their suggestions to others in our open
forum.
Mr. Holmgren needs help with his "flocs":
I have a surface water plant,
with a raw water characteristics as follows.
Total Alkalinity: varies from
25 - 30
pH: varies from 7.5 - 7.9
Turbidity: varies from 2.5 - 3.5 NTU
I'm using aluminum sulfate as
my coagulant. I know I'm very close to being out of aluminum
sulfates range. I'm feeding a 50 mg/L dosage.
When I add caustic later
after coagulation and sedimentation, in my troughs, I get a
re-floc. A very large white floc forms. I automatically
assume it's an overdose of alum reacting with the new
alkalinity I'm adding with the caustic. But I thought that
for every 1 mg/L of alum you need 0.45 mg/L alk. So a 30
alkalinity would allow for 66 mg/L dosage.
I've never noticed this
before because there is not enough agitation in the troughs
to form the floc. It happens at the filter influent where
there is a great amount of agitation. I just so happened to
mix some water in a beaker to see this happen.
We've always used this dosage
of alum and have always had low alkalinity. The pH has
increased over the years, and has gotten to this point.
Am I at my limit pH wise?
(Click
here to post a reply)
Thanks,
Chaise Holmgren
City of Canton Water Treatment
quiks1@aol.com
Mr. Bowen needs help with fecal coliforms:
When I run the membrane
filter test for fecal coliform my colonies fade from blue to
white. What's up with that? It only happens every so often
but it happens.
Are they coliform or are they
something else? (Click
here to post a reply)
Thanks,
Bruce Bowen
CTI
brucebowen@mei.net
Help Forum:
Share your
expertise with others in our
Help
Forum. |
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| From the Job
Fair : Project
Manager/Water Engineer
This employee-owned firm
located in Landover, MD is offering an exciting opportunity
to a Project Manager/Water Engineer. Founded in 1945, the
firm is headquartered in Syracuse, NY and approaches each
project with absolute integrity, to establish the safety,
satisfaction, and dignity of their clients, employees, and
the public, above all else.
The Project Manager/Water
Engineer will have experience in water treatment plant
process and mechanical design, associated pumping
station/pipeline design, contract document preparation, and
construction services. This candidate will assume total
project management responsibility for large scale municipal
water treatment, supply, pumping, and conveyance projects
including budgetary, business development and the primary
role in client contact activities. Responsibilities will
also include generating repeat business as well as new
clients.
Qualified candidates will
have at least 8 years of experience, a BS in
Civil/Sanitary/Mechanical/Chemical Engineering and a P.E.
Excellent communication skills and a successful track record
in exceptional client services is required for this
position..
This employee owned firm
offers a highly competitive compensation and benefits
package along with opportunities for continued career
growth.
If you are looking for a
company that is committed to excellence, evidenced by their
long track record for innovation and client service than
please respond to Barbara Marty, Recruiter, Hall & Company
by email
Barbara@hallandcompany.com or apply on line at
www.aejob.com.
The Job Fair:
A free
service of Water and Wastewater.com. You can post job
opening for managers, engineers, sales, reps or other
talented people you need. ...Or one can post their resume
for companies who are looking to add talented people to
their staff.
Do you have a position
you need to fill? Visit the Job
Fair. |
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| About Us :
Water and Wastewater Newsletter
© 1999-2006 Water and Wastewater.com
Home page: http://www.waterandwastewater.com
Joseph Taylor, Editor
Water and Wastewater Newsletter
3948 South Third Street, No. 121
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Email: jtaylor@waterandwastewater.com
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you have company news, a new product, new service or other
information you would like to share with our subscribers?
Please submit articles via e-mail, only to: news@waterandwastewater.com |
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::
Discovery Leads to New
Understanding
of Water Quality
::
New "Renewable Fuels from
Biosolids"
Plant in LA
::
Layne Christensen Acquires
Collector
Wells International
::
New Liquid Abatement System for
Metal Electroplating
:: The News Center : More headlines
:: The Water and Wastewater Blog
:: Help Forum
::
Water and Wastewater Plant
Directory : Featured Plant
:: The Job Fair
:: Top Picks at Amazon.com
:: Ask Tom! Column!
:: 151,000+ visitors in June !
:: Call For Photographs!
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:: About Us
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Stop and read
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With over 11,000+ subscribers,
our goal is to provide information
to improve your business by using the resources available on the
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Thanks,
Joe Taylor, Editor
jtaylor@waterandwastewater.com
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Pumping Station Design
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| Call For
Photographs
This weeks photo is an Amiad
fully automatic self-cleaning screen filter array removing
up to 99% of all suspended solids from membrane plant
influent. This new screen filter makes possible the removal
of all particles down to 10 microns without depending upon
filter aids.
Photo courtesy of
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