The Semiconductor and Electronics Industry: Microchips, CFC's and the Ozone Layer
Because electronics manufacturing is set in sterile surroundings and requires the use of delicate components, it may be hard to imagine that is has global environmental consequences. But the industry's dependence on chlorofluorocarbons, or CFC's, ...
Biological Treatment Technologies: Bioremediation
While the term 'biological treatment' traditionally refers to sewage and wastewater facilities, a newer science known as bioremediation broadens the use of living organisms to concentrate or decompose contaminants. The goal of bioremediation is to ...
Introduction to Waste Stream Management: Gaseous Waste
Gaseous wastestreams present a unique set of challenges. Air pollutants can travel far from their point of origin, causing a variety of health and environmental problems. A range of treatments, including physical, chemical, thermal and biological,...
Pollution Prevention: Bridging Troubled Water: Alternative Pulp and Paper Bleaching Technology
Facing a lawsuit charging it with discharging toxic effluent in the water off the coast of northern California, Louisiana Pacific knew it needed to change the way its pulp mills operated. Even though it successfully met the mandates of the lawsuit ...
Pollution Prevention: Clearing the Air: Reformulated Gasoline
The oil industry has traditionally challenged many environmental regulations. So, in 1989, when California's South Coast Air Quality Management District proposed sweeping changes that would lead to the elimination of gasoline fueled cars in Souther...
Pollution Prevention: Clearing the Air: Case Study: Alternative Dry Cleaning Solvents
Like many other neighborhood businesses, such as the local bakery, auto body shop and photo finishing lab, dry cleaners nearly always have fewer than 20 employees. And yet, like these other small businesses, dry cleaners generate significant toxic ...
Pollution Prevention: Bridging Troubled Water: The Screen Printing Industry
Screen printing, the process that creates T-shirt art and signage, can produce waste streams that are harmful to water quality. In the past, many solvents used to clean and reclaim screens were simply washed down the drain. But by using ultra viol...
Biological Treatment Technologies: Phytoremediation
Traditional bioremediation uses microbes to degrade organic substances. However, toxic metals are already in an elemental form, and cannot be degraded further. Phytoremediation, a fascinating extension of bioremediation, uses certain green plants ...
Pollution Prevention: Bridging Troubled Water: Pulp and Paper Industry Regulations
The transformation of wood or other raw materials into pulp through chemical or mechanical processes is a water intensive process that creates large residues of waste materials. However, prior to the 1970's, the pulp and paper industry was largely u...
Biological Treatment Technologies: Co-Metabolism
While traditional bioremediation can degrade most organic elements, a newer process called co-metabolism is required for certain chemical contaminants, such as synthetic organics, pesticides and detergents. The key to successful co-metabolism is ch...