Waste Treatment Technology News articles from May 2000

Waste Treatment Technology News archives from May 2000

CHEMICAL TREATMENTS: Photocatalysis Cuts MTBE's Successors.(methyl tertiary butyl ether)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... A Purdue University (North Central Campus, 1401 S.US 421, Westville, IN 46391; Tel: 219/785-5475) chemist has devised a photocatalytic method to remove the alphabet soup of gasoline oxygenators from contaminated groundwater. As environmental...

Dissolved Electrons Destroy DUF.(depleted uranium hexafluoride)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Commodore Applied Technologies, Inc. (2340 Menaul Blvd., Albuquerque, NM 87107; Tel: 505/872-3508, Fax: 505/872-6830) has successfully turned its solvated electron technology (SET) toward the neutralization of depleted uranium hexafluoride...

RECYCLING AND MINIMIZATION Enzymes Unlock Carbon Compounds.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Cornell (232 Riley-Robb Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853-5701; Tel: 607/255-2478, Fax: 607/255-4080) professor, Larry Walker, says that there is enough biomass waste available to supply all organic chemicals consumed annually in the U.S. and have...

Biodiesel Bests Diesel in Emissions Tests.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Biodiesel, an alternative fuel made from vegetable oils or animal fats, could reduce U.S. reliance on imported oil and improve the country's air quality. After testing the environmentally friendly fuel in unmodified heavy trucks, researchers...

Degradable Hydraulic Fluid from Oilseeds.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Fatty acids from sunflower and safflower oils are the main ingredient in a biodegradable hydraulic fluid being readied for commercialization. Developed by scientists at the USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS, National Center for...

Delphi Recovers Automotive Wiring.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Delphi Automotive Systems (5725 Delphi Dr., Troy, MI 48098; Tel: 248/813-2000, Fax: 248/813-2523) has developed several automotive wiring recycling processes that address increased concern from the European market regarding the disposal of...

Steel Rates in Trend Upward.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Slightly reduced foreign steel imports, in addition to increased consumer awareness and consistent recycling options helped the 1999 recycling rates for steel packaging, appliances, and construction materials approach the record levels set...

REMEDIATION AND BIOLOGICAL: Adding Acetone Helps Remediate Chunk TNT.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) researchers at Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory have found that adding acetone-the main component of nail polish remover-biologically degrades TNT. Soil found on old gunnery ranges and...

T1 Bacterial Strain Cleans Up Toluene.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... About 10 years ago, researchers at the New York University Medical Center discovered the T1 bacterial strain, which can metabolize toluene. Peter Coschigano, an assistant professor of environmental microbiology at Ohio University, has...

TESTING AND MODELING: Microbe Suspect in Acid Mine Drainage.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... An iron-eating archaeon that thrives in heat and acid could hold the key to understanding acid mine drainage. With its ability to transform metal ore sulfides into sulfuric acid, the ancient microbe could be the culprit behind billions of...

ZNose Uses Fast Gas to Sniff Out Toxins.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... The first electronic nose to gain EPA validation provides quick, portable chemical analysis by creating visual olfactory images. Ten-second chromatograms speciate and quantify individual chemicals contained within odors and fragrances in...

Consumer Kits Test Nitrate.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... The Nitrate Elimination Co., Inc. (219 Calumet St., Lake Linden, MI 49945-1309; Tel: 906/296-1000) has developed nitrate test kits to help consumers and well- owners know their drinking water is safe. Farmers can use the kits to test waste...

HAZWASTE: Natural Process Cleans Up Uranium.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories (Albuquerque, NM; Tel: 505/845-0011) say natural attenuation using iron oxyhydroxides may replace costly and sometimes ineffective traditional techniques of cleaning up uranium-contaminated sites....

Firm to Demonstrate Plasma Waste Converter.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Startech Environmental Corp. (15 Old Danbury Rd., No. 203, Wilton, CT 06897; Tel: 203/762-2499, Fax: 203/761-0839) has started a contract from the Army's non-stockpile program with UXB International, Inc. to prepare the Startech plasma waste...

Army Reveals Test Details.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... The Army has released details of the planned tests of Teledyne-Commodore's technologies for the phase II assembled chemical weapons assessment (ACWA) program. The Army will test Teledyne-Commodore's solvated electron technology (SET) process...

MEMBRANES AND FILTRATION Pharmaceutical Firm Chooses MBR.(membrane biological reactor)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Envirogen, Inc. (4100 Quakerbridge Rd., Lawrenceville, NJ 08648; Tel: 609/936- 9300, Fax: 609/936-9221) has received a $770,000 order for a membrane biological reactor (MBR) to treat wastewater from a pharmaceutical production factory....

Chemical-Free Anti-Scalant.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Universal Environmental Technologies (UET, 4 Townsend West, Unit 7, Nashua, NH 03063; Tel: 800/838-7736, Fax: 888/838-7736) will market, in conjunction with SafeScience, Inc. (Park Square Bldg., 31 St. James Ave., No. 810, Boston, MA 02116;...

LANDFILLS AND CONTAINMENT Mobile RO Gives Leachate Relief.(reverse osmosis)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Leachate volume can be reduced by more than 90% using a trailer-mounted reverse osmosis systems, claims Mobile Process Technology (2070 Airways Blvd., PO Box 140697, Memphis, TN 38114-0697; Tel: 901-744-1142, Fax: 901/743-2361). Treating...

INDUSTRY NEWS: Safety-Kleen Under Federal Investigation.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Safety- Kleen Corp. (1301 Gervais St., No. 300, Columbia, SC 29201; Tel: 803/933-4200, Fax: 803/933-4345) has received a subpoena from a federal grand jury. The firm suspended its chief executive last month after allegations of accounting...

Republic Considers Leveraged Buyout.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Republic Services, Inc. (110 SE Sixth St., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301; Tel: 954/769-6000) says it's considering a management-led buyout, a stock buyback or debt reduction to raise the value of its depressed shares. The company's stock has...

Allied Waste Completes Sales.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Allied Waste Industries, Inc. (15880 N. Greenway Hayden Loop, No. 100, Scottsdale, AZ 85260; Tel: 602/423-2946) has completed the sale of certain Canadian and U.S. solid waste services assets in transactions aggregating about $293 million in...

EEC, Peerless Sign Marketing Agreement.(Environmental Elements Corp.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Environmental Elements Corp. (EEC, 3700 Koppers St., Baltimore, MD 21227; Tel: 410/368-7361, Fax: 410/368-6721) and Peerless Mfg. Co. (PMFG) have signed a cooperative marketing alliance. PMFG is a provider of selective catalytic reduction...

USA Biomass Getting Its Greens.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... USA Biomass Corp. (7314 Scout Ave., Bell Gardens, CA 90201; Tel: 562/928-9900) has signed a letter of intent to acquire Recycling Unlimited, Inc. (RUI, 1983 Valencia Ave., Brea, CA 92823-6808; Tel: 714/529-0100 and Recycling Unlimited, Inc.,...

Waste Connections Buys and Sells.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Waste Connections, Inc. (2260 Douglas Blvd., Roseville, CA 95661-3830; Tel: 916/772-2221) has closed the acquisitions of 7 businesses with annualized revenues of about $13 million during the first quarter of 2000. The transactions include...

WMI Subsidiary Sells Operation.(Waste Management, Inc.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Waste Management, Inc. (WMI, 1001 Fannin St., No. 4000, Houston, TX 77002-6711; Tel: 713/512-6200) has announced its wholly-owned subsidiary has completed its transaction to sell its waste services operations in The Netherlands to Shanks...

John Drury.(Brief Article)(Obituary)
May 1, 2000... John Drury, who resigned as Waste Management, Inc.'s (Houston, TX) chair and chief executive in August to battle brain cancer, died Friday at a Houston hospital, the company says. He was 56. Drury underwent brain surgery in November 1998. He...

America, Inc.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. (Minneapolis, MN) reports strong operating results for the first quarter of 2000 ended April 1. Revenues increased 48% to $4,174,000 from $2,818,000 in the first quarter of 1999. Operating income...

AeCOM Technology Corp.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... AeCOM Technology Corp. (Los Angeles, CA) has acquired 100% of the outstanding stock of Metcalf & Eddy (Wakefield, MA) from Vivendi Water (Palm Desert, CA). The price was not disclosed. Andy Seidel, president of Vivendi Water North America...

USA Biomass Corp.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... USA Biomass Corp. (Bell Gardens, CA) reports revenues for the year ended December 31, 1999 increased 111% to $7,644,907, up from $3,624,000 (Pro Forma) for the year ended December 31, 1998. Losses from continuing operations decreased to...

Mercury Waste Solutions, Inc.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Mercury Waste Solutions, Inc. (Mankato, MN) reports a loss for the year ended December 31, 1999 of $1,499,472 compared to earnings of $391,539 in 1998. Revenues for 1999 were $5,538,291, a 12% decrease compared to revenues of $6,299,396 for...

KBF Pollution Management, Inc.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... KBF Pollution Management, Inc. (Paterson, NJ) reports a 26% increase in recycling service sales with a net loss of $1,397,479 on total revenues of $2,858,424. Non-recurring items accounted for 47% of the loss, including the write-off of...

Safety-Kleen Corp.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Safety-Kleen Corp. (Columbia, SC) has appointed David B. McNally as interim CIO. McNally is a senior executive with Jay Alix & Associates (Southfield, MI), a nationally recognized firm specializing in corporate turnarounds and financial...

Waste Management, Inc.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Waste Management, Inc. (Houston, TX) has appointed William E. Prachar as vice president, business ethics and compliance. Prachar will direct a department responsible for guiding Waste Management's programs in the areas of business and...

LITIGATION, LEGISLATION, AND REGULATION EPA Reaches Agreement with Alberto-Culver.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... The EPA Region 5 has recently signed a consent agreement with Alberto-Culver USA, Inc., on alleged violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The manufacturer of personal care and household products has agreed to pay a...

San Gabriel Basin WQA Files Superfund Lawsuit.(Water Quality Authority)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... The San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority (WQA, 858 Oak Park Rd., No. 200, Covina, CA 91724; Tel: 626/859-7777)) has filed suit in federal court against Aerojet-General Corp. to recover the costs of a groundwater cleanup plant in the...

EPA Cites Three 3M Plants.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... The EPA Region 5 has filed civil administrative complaints against Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co. (St. Paul, MN 55144-1000; Tel: 651/733-1110, Fax: 651-736-2133) plants in Hutchinson, St. Paul, and Cottage Grove, for violation of...

CALENDAR.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... June 18-22, The Air & Waste Management Association's Annual Conference, Salt Lake City, UT. Contact: Kevin Wander, A&WMA Marketing Manager; Tel: 412/232-3444 ext. 3137. July 25-26, Water and Wastewater Filtration - Annual Summer...

Bioavailability Provides Meaningful Assessment.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... The tests used to detect old DDT and other organic pollutants in the soil may overestimate the risk to living organisms, according to Cornell University researchers who say the real issue for government regulators at toxic cleanup sites...