Bad-smelling gas has forced the temporary closure of Hastings' new wastewater treatment plant just six months after it opened.
The $27 million plant in Clive, about 10 kilometres from Hastings, was closed after the bacterial treatment process was found to produce greater than expected amounts of hydrogen sulphide - the gas which gives Rotorua its famous "rotten egg" smell.
The gas was produced by bacteria and other organisms in two large treatment tanks as they break down urban wastewater.
Hawke's Bay Regional Council compliance and pollution manager Bryce Lawrence said teething problems had been expected but the level of hydrogen sulphide produced was greater than anticipated.
"It is harmless at the levels being produced here, but it is quite a nuisance to those living nearby," he told The Dominion Post.
Engineers were modifying eight fans designed to suck bad odours from the tanks, and sewage would be diverted through the old treatment system in the meantime.
The plant closed on December 23 and will reopen on January 6.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Search on for stench
IT’S the stink that just won’t stop.
Pakenham is in an uproar over a stench that sticks – and the townsfolk have had enough.
The “Pakenham stink” has reared its ugly head again and resident David Cahir says he won’t stop until the smell does.
“I have walked the streets at 2am trying to find where it is coming from,” he said.
“I am manic about it.”
Mr Cahir said that after two years of dealing with the Cardinia Shire Council he was taking the matter further, straight to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).
“Someone has to do something, the smell burns the back of your throat – it can’t be healthy,” he said.
Describing the smell as something similar to a dead body, Mr Cahir said he was worried the stench would affect the health of all Pakenham residents.
Spokesman for Cardinia Shire Council, Paul Dunlop said councilofficers had received at least 10 complaints in relation to smells in the Pakenham area over the past two weeks and said appropriate action would be taken.
“The council will address any unauthorised activity relating to odours recognised as a nuisance or which have emanated as a result of a breach of planning regulations,” he said.
“In the past council has worked with business operators and the EPA to reduce odours emanating from local businesses.”
Mr Dunlop said residents who feel a particular smell is stronger on some days than others were encouraged to contact the council.
“We ask residents to take note of the time of day, wind direction, odour type and strength and where they believe it is originating from,” he said.
“This information will assist council in its investigations.”
EPA spokesperson Ruth Ward said the EPA had received about 30 reports about the smell in Pakenham over the past calendar year.
She said a number of complaints had been in relation to a Drovers Place, Pakenham site.
“Cardinia Shire is taking the lead regarding this site, however EPA has been assisting them in relation to getting the company to take action,” she said.
“Residents can call EPA’s pollution Watchline on 9695 2777 if they want to report odours.”
Pakenham is in an uproar over a stench that sticks – and the townsfolk have had enough.
The “Pakenham stink” has reared its ugly head again and resident David Cahir says he won’t stop until the smell does.
“I have walked the streets at 2am trying to find where it is coming from,” he said.
“I am manic about it.”
Mr Cahir said that after two years of dealing with the Cardinia Shire Council he was taking the matter further, straight to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).
“Someone has to do something, the smell burns the back of your throat – it can’t be healthy,” he said.
Describing the smell as something similar to a dead body, Mr Cahir said he was worried the stench would affect the health of all Pakenham residents.
Spokesman for Cardinia Shire Council, Paul Dunlop said councilofficers had received at least 10 complaints in relation to smells in the Pakenham area over the past two weeks and said appropriate action would be taken.
“The council will address any unauthorised activity relating to odours recognised as a nuisance or which have emanated as a result of a breach of planning regulations,” he said.
“In the past council has worked with business operators and the EPA to reduce odours emanating from local businesses.”
Mr Dunlop said residents who feel a particular smell is stronger on some days than others were encouraged to contact the council.
“We ask residents to take note of the time of day, wind direction, odour type and strength and where they believe it is originating from,” he said.
“This information will assist council in its investigations.”
EPA spokesperson Ruth Ward said the EPA had received about 30 reports about the smell in Pakenham over the past calendar year.
She said a number of complaints had been in relation to a Drovers Place, Pakenham site.
“Cardinia Shire is taking the lead regarding this site, however EPA has been assisting them in relation to getting the company to take action,” she said.
“Residents can call EPA’s pollution Watchline on 9695 2777 if they want to report odours.”
Friday, December 04, 2009
The Green Chemistry Book shop
Green Chemistry Books
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| Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice by Paul T. Anastas $28.34 | Chasing Molecules: Poisonous Products, Huma... by Elizabeth Grossman $18.44 | Green Chemistry and the Ten Commandments of... by Stanley E. Manahan $25.00 |
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| Alternative Solvents for Green Chemistry (R... by Francesca M. Kerton $179.00 | Experiments in Green and Sustainable Chemis... $39.96 | Green Chemistry ; Environmentally Benign Re... |
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| Green Organic Chemistry: Strategies, Tools,... by Kenneth Doxsee $85.20 | Methods and Reagents for Green Chemistry: A... by Alvise Perosa $115.00 | Green Chemistry by M. Lancaster $44.37 |
| 1 2 Next > > | ||
Copying is the highest form of flattery
These are the things I do, along with blogging, while I decide what I want to be when I grow up. Many posts in this blog contain original material and previously unreported news. Any media outlet, website or blogger that reports previously unreported news or quotes opinion obtained from this website is ethically obligated to credit me or my blog in their initial report on the subject.
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Packaging Community Moves towards More Environmentally Friendly Products
The Packaging Community has undertaken a survey into decision making in packaging across 9 European countries and concluded that there is a big move towards environmentally-friendly and sustainable products. This is partly met in the trend towards lower weight, as discussed at the October 2009 AMI conference on Thin Wall Packaging held in Cologne, Germany.
Jon Nash of AMI described typical applications: yoghurt, cheese, cream, fresh produce, bakery, yellow fats, ready meals, sandwiches, pet foods, frozen foods, etc. Dairy is the largest sector at almost 25% and chilled meals are among the fastest growing areas. PP and PS dominate, followed by PET and PVC with a small percentage of other materials.
Research conducted by Faerch Plast shows that there is interest in the food industry in moving from cans and glass into plastics. In 2008 it produced 1.7 billion thermoformed trays. Ready meal packaging is produced from CPET and PP; and fresh meat trays from PP, APET, PS, or AMPET; with cold food and snack bowls from APET, PLA, PS or PP. The company has developed modified high barrier CPET (AMPET) containers with excellent organoleptic properties, low migration, withstands 130-135C retort, can be reheated in oven and microwave, with easy opening and cost effective. It is being used for long shelf-life products such as Larsen Danish Seafood: mackerel in tomato sauce can be stored for 2 years with a high barrier aluminium coated lidding film. Superfos Deutschland is Europe's largest injection moulder of packaging, making 3,100 containers per minute. It also offers containers with shelf life of up to 2 years, using PP with a membrane and barrier in-mould label (IML).
Kraft Foods has manufactured 27% lighter weight PP cups by conversion from injection moulding to thermoforming. The products were tested using ASTM D-4169 for factors such as gas and light transmission, drop impact and top load strength. Dairy products require UV barrier which is generally provided using calcium carbonate or titanium dioxide fillers. Another property that is tested is "oil canning", which occurs when containers are hot-filled and bulge at the base leading to a "rocker bottom". Overall the performance was fit for purpose: drop impact and hoop strength were improved, while top load, oil canning resistance and light transmission were reduced but still adequate.
Anson Packaging supplies around 15% of the UK thermoformed food packaging market and is folowing the Courtauld Agreement to reduce packaging by 10%. Current materials are PP, PET and PS. Recycled PET is now an option (rPET) and improves the carbon footprint. The company has also moved to punch and die technology which has reduced straight sided pots from 11.3g to 9.0g, and round pots from 10.5g to 9.4g. Illig Maschinenbau produces thermoforming machines and claims to have cut material and energy consumption compared to injection moulding. Production rates have increased and the machines will also handle new materials such as PLA. Kiefel supplies thermoforming machines with a level of computer aided controls.
Norner Innovation has worked to improve the barrier properties of injection moulded containers using multilayer structures. In terms of oxygen permeability, EVOH, PVDC and polyamide are high barrier and are often combined with lower barrier materials to improve properties, requiring a tie layer due to poor adhesion. Norner Innovation has worked to avoid the adhesion layer by modifying the polymers - two-material injection moulding is easier than three. The IML can also be used as a barrier, as can a silicon oxide coating. Netstal-Maschinen supplies IML systems and has commented that the label permit an even thinner wall as it provides an insulation layer and extra rigidity.
There are improved grades of PP from Dow Europe. The high melt flow rate reduces cycle times, enables a lower injection temperature, and allows a thinner wall, while reducing overall energy consumption. The company has also studied organoleptic properties and generated improvements by using a low odour catalyst, careful additive selection, zero or limited peroxide treatment and UNIPOL process technology. The material has been tested in transparent thin wall thermoforming and opaque thin wall injection moulding. Dow has also developed foamed sheet for thermoforming, allowing up to 25% light-weighting of polyolefins.
SABIC Europe has also developed improved PP with high flow and good impact/stiffness, improving energy efficiency. The CLEARPACT range can be injection moulded for applications such as transparent ice cream, soup and ready meals. It can also be extrusion-thermoformed for meat, fish, poultry, convenience and frozen food packaging. Milliken supplies clarifiers for PP including sorbitol, which has high clarity and good organoleptics. The company's nonitol technology gives PP the look and transparency of PS. Its nucleating agents help improve the balance of stiffness and impact properties, and the latest product is food contact approved and focused on thermoforming and injection moulding applications.
RPC Containers is a European market leader and worked with EVAL Europe and Ciba to produce a new PP/EVOH/PP barrier tray containing an oxygen scavenger for retort applications. (Albis has now bought the Ciba oxygen scavenger.) The PP provides retort stability and the EVOH supplies the barrier properties. The scavenger supports the EVOH as a barrier during retort shock, when the molecular structure becomes more permeable.
One alternative to conventional polymers is bioplastics from companies such as Novamont. The material has been injection moulded for use in vending cups, foamed food trays and coffee capsules.
BASF supplies PS for packaging - one target is non-carbonated beverages. Around 0.93 million tons of PS is used in thin wall packaging in Europe. It has a lower cycle time and better properties than PET so less material is required. It can be processed on existing injection moulding and stretch blow moulding machinery. PS has been used in bottles for foods such as yoghurt drinks by companies such as Andechser Molkerei and Schwaelbchen Molkerei. Total Petrochemicals is another supplier and also a member of the European PS Producers Association. Around 46% of PS is used in packaging in Europe. End-of-life management in Europe varies with national programmes. The material can be recycled up to 20 times. There are several PS cup recyclers: Stichting Disposable Benelux, Save-A-Cup (UK) and Eco-collector (France and Benelux). The material can be used in a sandwich layer with virgin materials once approved. It can also be used in non-food applications like CD boxes, plastic benches, coat hangers, etc. it is also has a high calorific value in energy recovery by waste incineration.
The Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Kunststoff-Recycling takes sorted bales of plastics for recycling. In Germany lightweight packaging is collected in yellow bins and subjected to semi-automatic sorting with an air classifier separating films, large plastic items and others. NIR detection can also be used. Post consumer plastics are re-granulated or re-melted and converted to new products. Energy recovery is the other option.
Thin Wall Packaging offers the eco-benefits of light weight and minimalistic packaging, with excellent performance from yoghurt cups to oven-ready meals. The next international AMI conference, Thin Wall Packaging 2010, will be held from 7-9 December 2010 at the Maritim Hotel in Cologne, Germany.
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Real-time gas chromatographer for analysing chemical compounds
Technical and Scientific Equipment is now distributing the Electronic Sensor Technology (EST) 4500 zNose portable gas chromatographer, which the distributor claims is the only mobile, small-footprint analyser on the market that can detect and analyse chemical compounds in near real-time.
The EST gas chromatographer is an ultra-high-speed odour detector that employs a trap and helium carrier gas to separate chemicals in near real-time so that pattern recognition and trace detection can be performed in seconds.
According to Technical and Scientific Equipment, it is the only gas analyser on the market that can accurately detect organic, biological and chemical compounds in near real-time.
Unlike trace detectors which only detect a few select compounds, this odour detector recognises odours and fragrances based upon their full chemical signature, says the distributor.
The 4500 is designed with a refillable internal helium cylinder, but can also use disposable helium cylinders. The lithium ion battery is rechargeable, typically lasting five hours.
This gas chromatographer has a built-in processor, and hence minimal training is needed as the processor can guide the user so that compounds are automatically identified, says the company.
The zNose is suitable for a variety of applications, including chemical analysis, environmental analysis, food and beverage quality assurance, and national security.
The EST gas chromatographer is an ultra-high-speed odour detector that employs a trap and helium carrier gas to separate chemicals in near real-time so that pattern recognition and trace detection can be performed in seconds.
According to Technical and Scientific Equipment, it is the only gas analyser on the market that can accurately detect organic, biological and chemical compounds in near real-time.
Unlike trace detectors which only detect a few select compounds, this odour detector recognises odours and fragrances based upon their full chemical signature, says the distributor.
The 4500 is designed with a refillable internal helium cylinder, but can also use disposable helium cylinders. The lithium ion battery is rechargeable, typically lasting five hours.
This gas chromatographer has a built-in processor, and hence minimal training is needed as the processor can guide the user so that compounds are automatically identified, says the company.
The zNose is suitable for a variety of applications, including chemical analysis, environmental analysis, food and beverage quality assurance, and national security.
Odour Diaries
HUNDREDS of residents have been issued with 'odour diaries' to record their complaints over a foul stench coming from a landfill site.
People say they are sick of having to keeping windows and doors permanently shut to keep out the stink from Peckfield landfill site.
The Environment Agency has now taken the unusual step of issueing everyone with a Anotec odour diary to keep a record of activities of offending odours.
The tip, which is just over 100m from some homes, has been in use for 15 years.
Company bosses and staff from the Environment Agency have agreed to meet with residents at Anotec
"Sometimes a foul smell just hangs in the air for hours at a time. It's disgusting.
"All we want is it to be able to open our windows or cook a meal in the kitchen without having to put up with such a terrible stink. Surely it should be too much to ask."
"It is a real blot on the landscape. It's not just the smell we have to put up with either. When it is windy the trees and streets are often full of bits of plastic which blows from the landfill."
The Environment Agency confirmed it had received a large number of complaints in recent months from residents about the landfill.
The spokesman said the diaries had been issued to get more information about when the worst odours occur.
Results of the survey will be available at the event.
A regulatory officer for the Environment Agency, said: "This is an opportunity for residents to find out more about how we are tackling odour problems.
"The odour diaries that residents are keeping will really help with our monitoring of the site, and to decide what changes need to be made."
The company is now checking how well these improvements have worked to see what more needs to be done.
Odour Control Treatments from Anotec would be the inexpensive and immediate.
People say they are sick of having to keeping windows and doors permanently shut to keep out the stink from Peckfield landfill site.
The Environment Agency has now taken the unusual step of issueing everyone with a Anotec odour diary to keep a record of activities of offending odours.
The tip, which is just over 100m from some homes, has been in use for 15 years.
Company bosses and staff from the Environment Agency have agreed to meet with residents at Anotec
"Sometimes a foul smell just hangs in the air for hours at a time. It's disgusting.
"All we want is it to be able to open our windows or cook a meal in the kitchen without having to put up with such a terrible stink. Surely it should be too much to ask."
"It is a real blot on the landscape. It's not just the smell we have to put up with either. When it is windy the trees and streets are often full of bits of plastic which blows from the landfill."
The Environment Agency confirmed it had received a large number of complaints in recent months from residents about the landfill.
The spokesman said the diaries had been issued to get more information about when the worst odours occur.
Results of the survey will be available at the event.
A regulatory officer for the Environment Agency, said: "This is an opportunity for residents to find out more about how we are tackling odour problems.
"The odour diaries that residents are keeping will really help with our monitoring of the site, and to decide what changes need to be made."
The company is now checking how well these improvements have worked to see what more needs to be done.
Odour Control Treatments from Anotec would be the inexpensive and immediate.
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Green Chemistry saves the environment and your money
They have been around for a long time preaching and doing what they were doing. Today a spokesman for Anotec said that for one client they were able to save $6,000 a year (50% ) . The client was in dire straights for other reasons. The employees were using to much product and the product contained a number of toxic chemicals.
With some skepticism, a quote was delivered and a batch was ordered. The results were amazing. Now the client is enjoying better performance, the employees enhanced health and costs reduced, who said green chemistry is costly. It pays to work with a Chartered Chemist, save the planet, your health and dollars.
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