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ETC Biennial Report
April 1, 1992 to March 31, 1994
Report Series No. DO 1-93/94
Environmental Technology Centre
Technology Development Directorate
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
NOTICE
ABSTRACT
1.0 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND DIVISIONAL MANDATES
2.0 AMBIENT AIR MONITORING AND NAPS NETWORK
3.0 TOXIC CHEMICAL MEASUREMENTS
4.0 MEASUREMENT OF EMISSIONS FROM STATIONARY SOURCES
5.0 MEASUREMENT OF EMISSIONS FROM MOBILE SOURCES
6.0 SUPPORT TO SPILL RESPONSE
7.0 SPILL MEASUREMENT, BEHAVIOUR AND EFFECTS RESEARCH
8.0 SPILL COUNTERMEASURES R&D
9.0 TECHNOLOGIES FOR DECONTAMINATING WATER
10.0 TECHNOLOGIES FOR DECONTAMINATING SOILS
APPENDICES
A Mission and Roles of the Environmental Technology Centre
B List of Reports and Papers
C List of ETC Employees and Telephone Numbers
D List of Abbreviations
NOTICE
The co-ordination of the preparation of this Biennial Report was done by Caroline
Ladanowski who would like to thank Dr. Jacqueline Bélanger, Dr. Hugh Dibbs, Merv Fingas,
Fred Hendren, Edgar Lachance, P.K. Leung, Brian Mansfield, Francine Payne, Gary Sergy, Dr.
David Thornton, Richard Turle, Harry Whittaker and Don Williams for their assistance
during its preparation.
This report has not undergone detailed technical review by the Environmental Protection
Service and the content does not necessarily reflect the views and policies of Environment
Canada. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute an endorsement
for their use.
This unedited version is undergoing a limited distribution in order to transfer the
information to people working in related studies. This distribution is not intended to
signify publication and, if the report is referenced, it should be cited as an unpublished
report of the Environmental Protection Service.
Any comments on the contents of the report or requests for additional copies should be
directed to:
Office of the Director
Environmental Technology Centre
Technology Development Directorate
Environmental Protection Service
Environment Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A OH3
Tel: (613)991-5633
Fax: (613)998-00041
EMAIL INTERNET: FPAYNE@rr.etc.ncr.doe.ca
EMAIL DOTS: PAYNEF@AM@AESOTT
ABSTRACT
The Environmental Technology Centre (ETC) of Environment Canada was established in 1975
to provide technical and R&D support for the department's many activities. The Centre
deals primarily with the measurement of air pollutants in ambient air and air pollutants
emitted from mobile and stationary sources, the analysis of a wide variety of organic and
inorganic compounds in diverse sample matrices, the cleanup of leaking hazardous waste
sites, and the response to pollution emergencies such as oil and chemical spills. Most of
the R&D work and some of the technical support services are undertaken in
collaboration with the public, private and academic sectors. Some R&D work is also
done in co-operation with international partners.
At the Environmental Technology Centre, the Director's Office is responsible for the
overall direction of the ETC programs and for central services such as administrative and
computing support. The laboratory and field capabilities of the Centre are distributed
among the following five divisions:
- Chemistry
- Emergencies Engineering
- Emergencies Science
- Mobile Sources Emissions
- Pollution Measurement
The rationale and results of the major activities conducted at ETC from April 1, 1992
to March 31, 1994 are described in this ETC Biennial Report. A list of reports and papers
presented or published during this reporting period is included.
1.0 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND DIVISIONAL PROGRAM MANDATES
1.1 Environmental Technology Centre
1.2 Pollution Measurement Division (PMD)
1.3 Mobile Sources Emissions Division (MSED)
1.4 Chemistry Division (CD)
1.5 Emergencies Science Division (ESD)
1.6 Emergencies Engineering Division (EED)
1.1 Environmental Technology Centre
The Environmental Technology Centre (ETC) of Environment Canada was established in
1975 to provide technical and R&D support for the department’s many activities.
The Centre deals primarily with the measurement of air pollutants in ambient air and air
pollutants emitted from mobile and stationary sources, the analysis of a wide variety of
organic and inorganic compounds in diverse sample matrices, the cleanup of leaking
hazardous waste sites and the response to pollution emergencies such as oil and chemical
spills. Most of the R&D work, and some of the technical support services, are
undertaken in collaboration with the public, private and academic sectors. Some R&D is
also done in co-operation with international partners. A significant part of the work is
performed by contractors working on- and off-site.
The Annual Departmental Reference Level budget of the Centre (including salaries,
capital and operations and maintenance) is about $10 million. In an average year another
$4-6 million is received through cost-sharing Joint Project Agreements (JPAs) with
collaborators in the public and private sectors. JPAs usually involve another $10-20
million through work-sharing agreements. The Centre has a staff of about 100 with
typically another 50 workers on-site: contractors, students, post-doctoral fellows and
visiting researchers. The official "Mission of the Environmental Technology
Centre" is included in Appendix A.
Project results are documented in informal (unedited) manuscript reports, and formal
(edited) reports available in both official languages. In addition, staff contribute
technical and scientific papers to journals and to proceedings of conferences and
workshops. A list of reports and papers from the Centre during this review period is given
in Appendix B and a list of staff members and phone numbers is given in Appendix C. A list
of abbreviations is given in Appendix D.
At the Centre, the Director's Office is responsible for the overall direction of the
ETC programs and for central services such as administrative and computing support. In
addition, coordination of special issues is undertaken on occasion. The laboratory and
field capabilities of the Centre are distributed among the following five divisions.
1.2 Pollution Measurement Division (PMD)
- PMD is responsible for co-ordination of the operation of the federal-provincial National
Air Pollution Surveillance (NAPS) Network, which consists of 380 air-monitoring
instruments at 130 sampling stations located in 52 major urban areas in Canada.
- The Division also evaluates and develops new ambient air pollution measurement
technology in support of the NAPS network and priority issues such as Long-Range
Transportation of Air Pollution (LRTAP), air toxics, climate change and smog.
- The Division's source monitoring activities include: development and updating of
Reference Methods for measurement of emissions from stationary sources in support of CEPA
Regulations and Guidelines; development of new emission-measurement methods in response to
emerging priority issues; evaluation of commercially available monitors to measure stack
emissions on a real-time basis; application of emissions measurement methods at-source to
satisfy the Department's need for information for a variety of purposes, including
technology development and evaluation.
1.3 Mobile Sources Emissions
Division (MSED)
- The Division undertakes emission testing of a wide variety of mobile sources, from cars,
buses and trucks to ships, planes and trains.
- The MSED conducts the vehicle emissions testing for the federal government's compliance
audit program for new light duty vehicles offered for sale in Canada. This joint Transport
Canada/Environment Canada program evaluates new vehicles for exhaust/evaporative and
particulate mass emissions to determine compliance with standards and regulations under
the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
- The Division investigates alternative fuels and alternative engine technologies to
determine their potential impact on Canadian air quality and to provide emission factors
for predicting total national emissions.
- The MSED undertakes joint government/industry programs to develop new technologies or to
optimize existing systems, which will result in performance improvements and energy and
emission reductions.
- The Division conducts testing programs to update Canadian fleet-emissions estimates,
including in-use vehicle monitoring, effects of ambient temperature on emissions, and the
results of emissions-control tampering. As a result of testing of this nature, the
government develops regulations and guidelines to protect the Canadian environment more
effectively.
- The MSED provides a unique technical advice and assistance program which includes
limited testing for industry. The program includes evaluation of fuel-saving devices and
the provision of technical assistance to the general public, governments, industries, and
institutions.
1.4 Chemistry Division
- The Division determines a variety of organic and inorganic compounds in diverse sample
matrices, such as from air-pollution-related sources, contaminated soils, hazardous wastes
and other residues. Analytical method development is also undertaken to ensure the most
appropriate procedures are available for specific sample types and to support the
development of environmental regulations. The Division is also engaged in Regulatory
Compliance and Quality Assurance activities in support of internal and external programs.
- The Organic Laboratory measures ultra trace levels (ppt, ppq) of many organic compounds
with particular emphasis on the analysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD),
polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAH) and other priority pollutants. A specially designed and operated
Organic UltraTrace Laboratory is used for sample preparation and analysis of these toxic
pollutants. The laboratory also carries out analytical projects in support of national
programs, like the Enforcement Program; develops Analytical Reference methods to support
CEPA regulations; designs and implements interlaboratory studies to validate analytical
procedures; and manages quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) and method development
programs to ensure data generated by contract labs are of the highest quality.
- The Inorganic Laboratory develops and applies ultratrace methods for the determination
of elements and anions in air particulates. The principal techniques used are X-ray
fluorescence and ion chromatography. X-ray fluorescence is used for the analysis of forty
elements (aluminum up to lanthanum and lead). Ion chromatography is used for the analysis
of ten major anions including the "acid rain" components, that is sulphate and
nitrate, and ten cations (alkali metals, ammonium, and earth alkali metals). The
Laboratory organizes and participates in round robins at the national or international
level to promote improvements in the capabilities of Canadian analytical laboratories. The
Laboratory also performs legal analyses for the regional offices of Environment Canada,
and provides advice on analytical equipment and methods to private industry and
governmental laboratories.
1.5 Emergencies Science Division (ESD)
- The Division undertakes research on the properties, behaviour, and effects of spilled
hazardous materials, and on the effectiveness and environmental benefits of in situ
countermeasures such as spill-treating agents, burning, and bioremediation. Such
information is used to develop research and operational models which predict the behaviour
and fate of untreated and treated spills.
- R&D is also performed on techniques for measuring contamination in air, water, and
soil at spill sites and on technologies for airborne remote sensing of spills.
- The Division prepares technical spill-response guidelines and manuals for use by
emergency response personnel and contingency planners, and serves as the primary centre of
scientific advice on pollution emergencies to the regional offices of Environment Canada
and others. For spills of national concern, this role includes direct involvement in
response operations through the provision of information and predictions about spill
behaviour, fate and effects, airborne remote sensing services and on-site specialized
sampling and analytical support. Further, training in the use of personal protection
equipment and portable hazard-level monitoring equipment is provided to departmental
emergencies personnel and to other responders.
- The Division co-ordinates the preparation of the quarterly Spill Technology Newsletter
and the annual international Arctic and Marine Oilspill Program (AMOP) Seminar and the
Technical Seminar on Chemical Spills (TSOCS).
1.6 Emergencies Engineering
Division (EED):
- The Division undertakes engineering research, development, and demonstration work on
technologies for cleaning up contamination caused by pollution emergencies such as oil or
chemical spills or insecure hazardous waste sites. This work includes R&D on, and
evaluation of, sorbent performance and containment/recovery/disposal equipment for
response to oil and chemical spills in marine and non-marine environments. It also
includes the development, dissemination, and use of testing protocols for evaluating spill
response equipment in the laboratory and the field.
- The Division develops and maintains a range of prototype mobile cleanup equipment which
is used, in co-operation with others, to demonstrate and adapt innovative methods for
on-site mitigation of water or soil contamination which is difficult to handle using
conventional techniques.
- The Division serves as the primary centre of specialized engineering advice on pollution
emergency cleanup to the regional offices of Environment Canada and others. For spills of
national concern, this role can include direct involvement in cleanup operations through
the provision of on-site expertise and unique mobile water or soil-decontamination
equipment.
2.0 AMBIENT AIR MONITORING AND NAPS NETWORK
2.1 National Air Pollution Surveillance (NAPS) Network
2.2 Support to the NOX/VOC Plan
2.3 Canadian Acid Aerosol Measurement Program (CAAMP)
2.4 Characterization of Acid Aerosols
2.5 R&D on XRF Analysis
2.6 VOC Monitoring Program
2.7 PAH and Other Toxic Monitoring Programs
2.1 National Air Pollution Surveillance (NAPS) Network
The NAPS network is a joint
program of the federal and provincial governments for monitoring and assessing the ambient
air quality at 130 air monitoring stations in 52 urban centres across Canada. Air quality
data for the criteria pollutants (sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide,
ozone, suspended particulates) and other pollutants including particulate lead, sulphate,
nitrate were collected, validated and archived in the NAPS database.
Two annual reports of hourly, daily, monthly and annual statistics on air quality and
its status with respect to the national air quality objectives for the years 1990 and 1991
were prepared and published. Various air quality data reports were provided to the State
of Environment (SOE) Reporting staff in preparation of the SOE Urban Air Quality Indicator
Bulletin and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development bi-annual
compendium of environmental data. Technical information and reports were provided to the
Pollution Data Analysis Division, the Atmospheric Environment Service, regional offices of
Environment Canada, provincial agencies, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the
World Health Organization and non-government organizations (e.g., universities,
consultants, and industry).
Technical support on network operations and quality assurance were provided to the NAPS
provincial agencies and two regional offices of Environment Canada. This support included
supplying and/or certifying over thirty monitoring instruments, providing calibration
materials to eight provinces, auditing monitoring stations in nine provinces, completing
four interagency calibration comparisons, training four technicians from the Atlantic
provinces and one technician from the Northwest Territories on instrument repair and
training six technicians on operating PAH and VOC samplers. Technical support was also
provided to various non-government agencies.
2.2 Support to the NOX/VOC Plan The aim of the NOX/VOC Plan is to
reduce Canadian emissions of NOX and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are
precursors to smog. An expansion of the NAPS database has been completed to support the
Canadian Council for Ministers of the Environment (CCME) NOX/VOC Management Plan. The
database now includes all Canadian observations of ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2),
nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) for the years 1980 to 1993. Ozone data for 150
rural and urban United States sites for the years 1980 to 1991 were also incorporated into
the database. Numerous scientists at Atmospheric Environment Service (AES) are using the
database to support the NOX/VOC science program. The NAPS database is now being converted
to a UNIX work-station system to reduce costs and improve access.
ETC staff participate in the Data Analysis Working Group, the Ambient Air Monitoring
Working Group and the Inventory Working Group of the NOx/VOC Science Program. ETC staff
also provide advice and assistance to the Science Assessment Working Group, the Health
Objectives Working Group and the various modelling working groups that are delivering
elements of the NOx/VOC Plan.
2.3 Canadian Acid Aerosol Measurement Program (CAAMP) The Canadian
Acid Aerosol Measurement Program (CAAMP), which formally began in 1992, assists in the
study of the health effects of acid rain. CAAMP is a joint effort of the AES, ETC and the
Air Quality Health Effects Research Section of Health Canada.
ETC’s participation includes:
- installing and maintaining dichotomous samplers for the measurement of fine and coarse
particles, and denuder filter pack systems for the measurement of acidity at several
stations;
- selecting and training operators;
- arranging sample shipping and handling;
- determining major cations and anions in filter and denuder extracts by ion
chromatography (IC); and
- measuring acidity (pH) of the fine fraction of aerosols.
2.4 Characterization of Acid Aerosols Two techniques have been used
historically to determine the acidic components of acid aerosols. The first, ion
chromatography, has been used for a number of years for determination of anions on air
filters, but required extensive development to attain the detection levels needed for this
project. The second, capillary electrophoresis, is a much newer technique which has
largely been used to date for protein determination. Among many attributes of capillary
electrophoresis are rapid, highly efficient separations, different selectivity (compared
to ion chromatography), simplicity and economy. It is applicable to inorganic anions such
as sulphate and nitrate, and to low molecular weight organic acids. Research was conducted
into both techniques in support of this project.
The objective of the first study was to develop a procedure to separate and detect
inorganic and organic anions, and inorganic cations simultaneously by ion chromatography.
Four ion-chromatographic systems were configured using a single autosampler. The system is
capable of operating with four different separation columns and four conductivity
detectors, and successfully determines simultaneously ten anions and ten cations. The
system greatly increases the reliability and overall efficiency of ion chromatographic
procedures.
A second study was undertaken to investigate the usefulness of capillary
electrophoresis in the analysis of inorganic and organic anions, and inorganic cations in
atmospheric aerosols. Also, this study was performed to obtain independent confirmation of
the ion chromatography results. Various potential electrolytes based on chromate,
pyromellitate (PMA), phthalate and 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate (NDC) were investigated.
The research showed that the use of two separate electrolyte systems is preferable.
PMA-based electrolyte is recommended for analysis of inorganic anions, whilst NDC-based
electrolyte is best for separation of aliphatic carboxylic acids and other organic
compounds. Parallel analyses of anions in atmospheric aerosols by capillary
electrophoresis and ion chromatography were performed. The comparative evaluation included
detection limits, linearity, accuracy, precision and costs of analysis. Further work is
being carried out to investigate of separation of inorganic cations by capillary
electrophoresis.
2.5 R&D on XRF analysis ETC uses X-ray fluorescence (XRF)
spectroscopy to analyze various environmental samples for the particles collected on air
filters as part of the NAPS program. XRF spectroscopy is an ideal technique for some
applications because it is non-destructive and allows simultaneous multi-element
detection. Currently, up to 50 elements can be determined in a single sample. Unlike many
other instrumental techniques, it is not easy to prepare or purchase calibration
standards, because commercial standards are often not appropriate for environmental
samples.
Thus, a recent R&D project involved a semi-empirical calibration model which was
developed and tested. This model was derived from theoretical equations for the intensity
of X-ray fluorescence and backscattered radiation for multi-component samples. The
calibration model combines the accuracy of the concentration-correction method with the
stability and wide concentration range of the backscattered-radiation calibration method.
The model has now been applied to routine analysis at ETC.
2.6 VOC Monitoring Program The ambient air monitoring program for
VOCs was expanded and refined so that VOCs could be speciated and related to smog. The
program builds on the existing federal/provincial infrastructure of the NAPS network.
There are now over 30 active urban and rural VOC sampling sites in Canada. During the
summers of 1992 and 1993 intensive sampling programs were conducted in five cities to
derive outdoor human exposure estimates for VOCs in Canada. Hundreds of requests for data
on ambient concentrations of measured species are received annually from researchers in
federal, provincial and municipal governments and from the private sector.
A detailed report on VOCs and NOX in Vancouver showed a poor match between
emission-concentration-derived VOC-to-NOX ratios and ambient-concentration-derived
VOC-to-NOX ratios. Since most of the discrepancy is expected to be due to underestimated
VOC emissions from motor vehicles, a detailed study of actual motor vehicle emissions was
carried out in the Cassiar Connector tunnel in Vancouver during the summer of 1993. This
study is the first of its kind in Canada and will be very useful in obtaining a more
accurate picture of total emissions from motor vehicles.
2.7 PAH and Other Toxic Monitoring Program A number of other toxic
monitoring programs were maintained including the seven-site polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbon (PAH) monitoring study and the Windsor-Walpole toxics monitoring program. As a
result of the seven-site PAH monitoring program, Canada has one of the most comprehensive
and reliable ambient PAH data bases. Data from the Windsor-Walpole sites were used to
assess impacts of several air toxics associated with the operation of the Detroit
Municipal Solid Waste Incinerator.
3.0 TOXIC CHEMICAL MEASUREMENTS 3.1
Improvements in the Analysis of PAHs and Nitro-PAHs
3.2 Development of a Reference Method for PCBs
3.3 Quality Assurance for Dioxins/Furans Analysis
3.4 National Round Robin Studies with CAEAL
3.1 Improvements in the Analysis of PAHs and nitro-PAHs A joint project of the
Canadian Petroleum Products Institute, Natural Resources Canada and Environment Canada was
initiated in 1991 to study the effect of diesel fuel composition on heavy-duty engine
emissions, including PAHs and nitro-PAHs. Reliable sampling and analytical methods to
determine 33 PAH and seven nitro-PAH compounds in diesel exhaust were developed and
tested. The sampling media consisted of filters and polyurethane foams. While low
resolution mass spectrometry (LRMS) was used for PAH analysis, nitro-PAH compounds were
measured using the high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS)-negative chemical ionization
technique. Fuel PAH content was found to have an influence on PAH emissions, but the
results suggest that this is not the only source. It was found that a significant
proportion of PAH emissions are probably formed by the combustion process.
Method development work was also undertaken to achieve separation of isomeric PAH
compounds in order to provide proper assessment of individual toxic PAHs in support of the
assessment for the CEPA Priority Substances List. Samples which had been previously
analyzed using a DB-5 column were re-analyzed using a liquid crystal column, which allowed
for the separation of chrysene, triphenylene and benzo(b)fluoranthene,
benzo(j)fluoranthene and benzo(k)fluoranthene. A total of 42 samples, consisting of seven
representative samples from each of six ambient air monitoring sites, were re-analyzed.
The resulting data provide insight into the typical distribution patterns of individual
isomers within an isomeric group as well as the characteristic loadings of these target
analytes in ambient air samples.
3.2 Development of a Reference Method for PCBs A performance-based
gas chromatography (GC)/mass spectrometry (MS) method was developed for the determination
of PCBs. The method allows for some flexibility, provided that certain critical steps are
followed, and is able to meet the necessary performance criteria. The target method
detection limit is 0.4 ug/g total PCBs to quantify PCBs reliably at the regulated limit of
2 ug/g. Carbon-13-labelled PCB surrogates are added to the sample before extraction and
cleanup to assess and correct for the loss of any PCBs which may occur during the sample
preparation. An assessment was made on the ability of four different solvents to extract
PCBs from oil. Dimethyl sulfoxide appeared to give the best recovery of PCBs while
removing the most oil. These results were enhanced when this solvent was diluted with 2.5%
water prior to extraction. The separation of oil from PCBs was optimized by utilizing gel
permeation chromatography and high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and these
techniques were incorporated into the method.
Confirmation of the extraction and cleanup procedures for real samples was verified
using PCB-contaminated soil, Standard Reference Material sediment, feed and ash, in
addition to numerous oil samples submitted for analysis by the Ontario Region of
Environment Canada.
3.3 Quality Assurance for Dioxins/Furans Analysis The need to
virtually eliminate PCDD and PCDF in the environment, air emissions and industrial
discharges has been recognised in Canada and most other western countries in recent years.
As a result, stringent QA protocols and a high level of QA support are required to ensure
that regulations and guidelines are truly met. ETC has been involved in the following
activities in this regard:
- After consulting with many government and contract laboratories, a common generic QA
protocol for dioxin analysis in support of federal programs was developed and published.
Performance criteria were established by which data quality can be assessed by both
analysts and program managers. By focusing on principles and performance rather than
procedural details, the need to develop Reference Methods for individual environmental
sample types is simplified or eliminated.
- ETC participated in the Pulp and Paper Mill Training Workshop by preparing a training
package on dioxin analysis and quality assurance, and providing training to more than 100
CEPA inspectors in the five regions of Environment Canada.
- A dioxin QA audit program was set up in support of the Pulp and Paper Mill Regulations.
Regions submitted analytical data on effluent samples from selected pulp mills for review.
Laboratories that failed to meet the high quality standards were identified and
recommendations for improvements provided.
- In support of the BC Waste Sludge Incineration Project, several sets of audit samples
were prepared and provided to two contract laboratories for organic analysis. An audit
report that includes the evaluation of laboratory performances and recommendations was
prepared. Also, as part of the QA program, split samples were analyzed for PCDD/PCDF.
- In collaboration with the National Water Research Institute (NWRI), a sediment was
certified as a Standard Reference Material for dioxin/furan analysis.
3.4
National Round Robin Studies with CAEAL For many years, ETC ran a national
inter-laboratory round-robin quality assurance program under the auspices of the
Federal-Provincial Advisory Committee on Air Quality. This program had some inherent
weakness, primarily because it was not linked to any certifying or accrediting
organization. In early 1992, discussions were held with the Canadian Association of
Environmental Analytical Laboratories (CAEAL), as to the feasibility of a joint
round-robin program for air and other samples to complement existing programs for water
samples and LRTAP-related samples. ETC agreed to provide twice-yearly samples for the
certification program and CAEAL agreed to supply data processing and marketing services.
Currently, three programs have been implemented:
- Anions on air filters (F-, Cl-, NO3- and SO4--);
- Metals on air filters (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn); and
- PCBs in oil.
Each set of samples consists of four samples which must be analyzed separately and a
blank set of filters is included in the air filter sets for blank correction. At the end
of March 1994, approximately 25 laboratories were certified for the air filters and
approximately 40 laboratories were certified for the PCBs-in-oil program. CAEAL has
recently incorporated the certification into its accreditation program.
4.0 MEASUREMENT OF EMISSIONS FROM STATIONARY SOURCES 4.1 Support to DOE Regulatory and Inventory Programs
4.1.1 Vinyl Chloride Regulations/Reference Method
4.1.2 Asbestos Regulations Methods
4.1.3 National Inspection Plan and Training of CEPA Inspectors
4.1.4 Canadian Trace Emissions Management Project (CTEMP)
4.1.5 Sydney Tar Pond Remediation Program
4.1.6 NOx/VOC Management Plan
4.1.7 Emissions Monitoring Technology Transfer
4.1.8 Field Measurements of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
4.2 Support of Greener Technologies
4.2.1 Ash Vitrification Program
4.2.2 Pulp Mill Waste Sludge Incineration
4.1 Support to DOE Regulatory and Inventory Programs
4.1.1 Vinyl Chloride Regulations/Reference Method In support of CEPA regulations
governing the release of vinyl chloride (VC) from stationary sources, ETC participated in
a joint government-industry Task Force formed to update the Reference Method for the
measurement of VC emissions from VC and polyvinyl choride (PVC) manufacturing plants. The
main role of ETC was to update the analytical section of the Reference Method. The
objective was to provide a more flexible method which allowed for changes in analytical
techniques and addressed some concerns raised by the industry as well as regulatory
officers during the annual compliance monitoring tests. The method development involved
the evaluation of several capillary columns as well as an evaluation of new
instrumentation in headspace analysis. After extensive analytical work, an updated
Reference Method was drafted and circulated to the members of the Task Force for review
and comment. The final revision took into consideration the comments and concerns raised
during the review period.
4.1.2 Asbestos Regulations In support of the CEPA regulations
governing the release of asbestos from mines and milling plants, the final phase of a
three-year method development program co-funded by governments and industry is near
completion. ETC has developed an asbestos screening method called MS-3/A-2 that will
provide industry and CEPA inspectors with a quick way of determining whether full-scale
emission compliance testing is required. In a submission to the DOE Regulatory Review
Office, industry has officially requested the Department to incorporate MS-3/A-2 into the
amended asbestos regulations. ETC also developed a source measurement method known as DS-1
that will determine the emissions of asbestos from wet-milling operations.
4.1.3 National Inspection Plan and Training of CEPA Inspectors ETC
continues to assist the regional offices of Environment Canada responsible for the
implementation of the National Inspection Plan by reviewing and commenting on compliance
testing proposals/plans, pre-test QA/QC, on-site witnessing/auditing of compliance tests,
validating sampling data, and reviewing and recommending on the acceptance of the final
compliance test reports. Recent joint ETC-regional projects included
compliance/enforcement activities associated with the Secondary Lead Smelter Release
Regulations, the Vinyl Chloride Release Regulations, and the Federal Mobile PCB Treatment
and Destruction Regulations. At the request of the Regions and the Office of Enforcement,
ETC also provided training to CEPA inspectors at compliance testing sites and in
workshops.
4.1.4 Canadian Trace Emissions Management Project (CTEMP)
In response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s concern over toxic
releases from thermal power generating stations, the U.S. Electrical Power Research
Institute (EPRI) developed a computer model known as PISCES (Power Plant Integrated
Systems Chemical Emissions Study) to predict the impact of fuel type, additives and
equipment configuration on toxic emissions. However, it soon became apparent that the
PISCES emission data were out-of-date, of questionable quality, and not compatible because
of the different measurement protocols used. In support of EPRI's effort to update and
improve the database, the Canadian Electrical Association (CEA) is sponsoring a parallel
initiative known as the Canadian Trace Emissions Management Project (CTEMP). The purposes
of CTEMP are to:
- harmonize Canadian and U. S. toxic measurement protocols;
- provide more up-to-date emission data to EPRI; and
- adapt the PISCES model to Canada.
The CEA-sponsored CTEMP project, which is partly funded by Environment Canada, is
divided into two phases, each being led by a Canadian utility company. The overall project
team includes process and measurement experts from Ontario Hydro, Nova Scotia Power,
Alberta Power, the Canada Centre for Mineral and Energy Technology (CANMET), and
Environment Canada.
During Phase 1, ETC participated as a member of the CTEMP team by providing expertise
in emission measurements and by assisting in the completion of a Canadian measurement
protocols document.
During Phase 2, in October 1993, ETC in co-operation with the Industrial Sectors Branch
of Environment Canada and Nova Scotia Power, participated in an air emission survey at the
coal-fired power plant in Lingan, Nova Scotia. The ETC testing team was responsible for
measuring the concentrations of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds at the
electrostatic precipitator inlet and the stack.
4.1.5 Sydney Tar Pond Remediation Program ETC continues to provide
source measurement support to the Atlantic Regional Office of Environment Canada and the
Nova Scotia government in the evaluation of a fluidized-bed incineration system designed
for the destruction of the coal-tar wastes at SYSCO in Sydney, Nova Scotia. ETC's
contributions include:
- providing technical expertise and advice on measurement methods and equipment;
- establishing criteria for the selection of a compliance testing consultant;
- providing external QA/QC including on-site auditing and witnessing; and
- reviewing the test report and analyzing the test data.
Based on ETC’s auditing report, the compliance test results were accepted by the
Nova Scotia government and the next phase of the Sydney Tar Pond Remediation Program was
allowed to proceed.
4.1.6 NOX/VOC Management Plan Recognizing health problems arising
from urban smog, CCME has implemented a joint federal-provincial NOX/VOC Management Plan
to control the amount of smog precursors, including nitrogen oxides (NOX), being released
into the atmosphere. In co-operation with the Industrial Sectors Branch of Environment
Canada, ETC has devoted considerable resources to the planning and implementation of
source testing surveys at the following sites:
- Nova Scotia Power's selective catalytic reduction pilot plant at Point Tupper (N305);
- two iron/steel plants in the Hamilton area (N306);
- lime and cement kilns in Québec and other sites (N306); and
- Union Gas turbines in Ontario (N307).
4.1.7 Emissions Monitoring Technology Transfer Continuous
emissions monitoring (CEM) is the real-time measurement and reporting of air emissions
from stationary sources such as industrial chimneys and landfill sites. To address an
increasing need for CEM technology transfer, ETC and the Industrial Sectors Branch offered
a CEM course in February, 1993. Due to the positive response from both industry and
governments, it was decided to hold a second course in September 1993. About 25
participants attended the three-day workshop covering: the principle and operation of a
CEM system; the requirements of CEM technology for compliance with the proposed CCME
NOX/VOC guidelines; and the use of CEM technology for pollution prevention through better
process monitoring and control. The participants also had hands-on work assignments using
some of the state-of-the-art CEM analyzers in ETC's source-measurement laboratories and
mobile unit. In addition to the transfer of source-measurement technology from ETC to
industry and other levels of governments, the course provided the private- and
public-sector attendees with a forum to share their views and experience on an informal
basis and to establish better understanding for future co-operation.
4.1.8 Field Measurements of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Canada is
committed to a comprehensive consideration of all greenhouse gases (GHGs). While data on
fuel-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are considered reliable, data on other CO2
sources and other GHGs require verification. Additional data for stationary point and area
sources of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) in particular are required. In
co-operation with the Air Issues Branch of Environment Canada, ETC assisted in the
development, refinement and verification of current emission factors for GHG emissions
from area and point sources through field measurements. ETC's accomplishment to date
include the following:
- commercially available GHG analyzers were evaluated, selected for purchase and tested at
ETC laboratories to ensure that the instruments met specifications and quality assurance
requirements;
- bench-scale method development was carried out to simulate field testing conditions and
to evaluate the different ways of sample collection; and
- a field testing program was carried out at a local landfill site. A testing report is
being prepared based on the data analysis.
Based on discussions with project
participants, the target sources for future testing are as follow:
- landfills of different ages, composition and climatic regions (in co-operation with
municipalities);
- a landfill with CH4 recovery (in the Edmonton area);
- vehicles (proposed inter-laboratory QA/QC work);
- aluminum and magnesium smelters (for perfluorocarbons, etc.); and
- an adipic acid plant (in co-operation with duPont).
4.2 Support of Greener Technologies
4.2.1 Ash Vitrification Program ETC joined forces with a Canada-United States
consortium of over 30 private and public sector participants in a $1.5 million (Cdn.)
program to evaluate whether vitrification is a feasible technology for the pre-treatment
of municipal solid waste (MSW) incinerator ash prior to its disposal in landfills. After
six years of planning and coordinating by American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the
United States Bureau of Mines (USBM), field testing took place in 1993 at the USBM
Research Centre in Albany, Oregon. Over 54,000 pounds of MSW residues from five U. S.
incinerators were processed during 100 hours of continuous operation. The results of this
testing indicate that ash vitrification can be a feasible technology for the pre-treatment
of MSW ash. ETC's contribution to the program included:
-
- providing source measurement expertise;
- contributing to the overall design of the test plan;
- drafting a Request for Proposal document for the emission testing portion of the
program;
- evaluating source-testing contract bids and recommending the selection of a consultant;
- approving the consultant's project plan;
- providing on-site witnessing and other external QA/QC functions on behalf of the
consortium; and
- reviewing the test data and the final report.
4.2.2 Pulp Mill Waste Sludge Incineration ETC continues to
participate in RD&D projects involving existing and state-of-the-art "green"
industrial process and pollution control technologies. An example is the $1.5 million
program with the Pacific and Yukon Region of Environment Canada, Fletcher Challenge, the
Pulp and Paper Research Institute of Canada, the Clean Air Technology Division of
Environment Canada, the University of Waterloo, and other public and private-sector
participants. The purposes of the program are:
- to determine whether incineration is an environmentally acceptable technology for
disposal of pulp mill waste sludge;
- to determine whether different process operating parameters, such as sludge feed rate
and boiler load will have an effect on the amount of dioxins/furans emitted to the
atmosphere;
- to determine whether chloride from sea-water is a precursor of dioxins/furans formation
in the waste sludge which might have the potential to contaminate shell-fish near a
coastal mill; and
- to verify test results from previous studies at inland and coastal mills in BC.
The field testing component of the program was successfully completed. ETC's
contributions included project planning, external QA/QC, on-site auditing and witnessing,
and the review of the consultant's test report and data.
5.0 MEASUREMENT OF EMISSIONS FROM MOBILE SOURCES
5.1 Support to Regulatory and Inventory Programs
5.1.1 Compliance Audits and Investigations under the MVSA and
QA/QC Programs
5.1.2 Lead Emissions from Racing Cars
5.1.3 Speciation of the Hydrocarbon Compounds in Light-Duty-
Vehicle Exhaust Emissions
5.1.4 Certification of New Engines for Underground Mining
Applications
5.1.5 Joint Program with Consumer and Corporate Affairs to
Evaluate Inventions, Control Devices and Additives
5.1.6 Marine Vessel Emissions
5.1.7 Airport Mobile Sources Evaluation
5.2 Support of Greener Technologies
5.2.1 Alternative/Reformulated Fuels
5.2.2 Development of Emission Control Technologies
5.2.3 Alternative Engines/Vehicles
5.1 Support to Regulatory and Inventory Programs
5.1.1 Compliance Audits and Investigations under the MVSA and QA/QC Programs ETC
in collaboration with Transport Canada, annually conducts exhaust emission, evaporative
emission and fuel consumption tests on a fleet of approximately 35 new-model light-duty
passenger cars and light-duty trucks. The purpose of the laboratory testing is to audit
emission compliance with the federal standards, under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (MVSA),
for total hydrocarbons (THC), carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOX) and
particulate mass (PM). This testing allows accurate calculation of fuel consumption for
comparison with the values provided by the manufacturers. The testing includes exhaust
emission measurements in the facility’s test chamber at -7oC and 24oC. To support
this work, ETC participates in vehicle emissions testing and reference-gas
cross-correlation programs with the major automobile manufacturers and with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ETC also provides test facilities and
testing/engineering support to joint industry/government investigations for non-compliant
vehicles. Of the vehicles tested in the program for 1993, approximately 10% of the
vehicles exceeded either the exhaust emission standards or the fuel consumption values as
determined by the manufacturers. In those cases, an investigation was undertaken by ETC,
Transport Canada and the manufacturer to determine the cause of the failure.
5.1.2 Lead Emissions from Racing Cars In a program to enhance
knowledge about lead emissions from the use of leaded fuel at race tracks in Canada, ETC
undertook a study to measure emission levels from racing cars on a chassis dynamometer in
a test cell. The actual engine operating loads experienced on a race track were simulated
in the test cell using a 300 HP electric dynamometer designed and fabricated in-house. The
exhaust emissions of THC, CO, NOX, PM and lead were measured under conditions simulating
stock-car racing. A report was prepared which corroborated the theoretically predicted
emission levels from racing fuels.
5.1.3 Speciation of the Hydrocarbon Compounds in Light-Duty-Vehicle Exhaust Emissions
ETC collaborated with the Transportation Systems Division (TSD) of Environment Canada and
Transport Canada in a program to enhance the knowledge of toxic emissions from mobile
sources for future development of federal exhaust emissions standards. This work involved
measuring the concentration of hydrocarbons, like benzene, 1,3-butadienne and meta- and
para-xylene, in the exhaust stream of light-duty vehicles, which have potentially harmful
health hazards.
5.1.4 Certification of New Engines for Underground Mining Applications
In a joint venture with CANMET, ETC participated in the certification of new high-speed
diesel engines for use in underground mining applications by conducting laboratory
vehicle- exhaust emissions testing of new vehicles proposed for use in underground mines.
The vehicles were operated on a chassis dynamometer under driving cycles and loads
simulating underground operating conditions. Exhaust emissions (THC, CO, NO, NO2 and PM)
were measured for evaluation against federal air quality standards for this application.
5.1.5 Joint Program with Consumer and Corporate Affairs to Evaluate
Control Devices and Additives In collaboration with the Marketing Practices Branch of
Consumer and Corporate Affairs, ETC conducts evaluations and occasional laboratory testing
of products that are being marketed for the purpose of reducing exhaust emissions and fuel
consumption from mobile sources. The reports from the laboratory evaluations are utilized
as background documents in the event of legal action and ETC provides expert testimony on
behalf of the Crown. On average, ETC conducts six to eight evaluations per year.
5.1.6 Marine Vessel Emissions ETC is collaborating with the
Transport Canada Strategic Development Centre and the Canadian Coast Guard to develop
emission factors for non-recreational commercial marine vessels that have Canadian
registration. This work is been conducted in response to a program initiated by the
International Maritime Organization (IMO) to determine the fleet-average emission factors
for each member country's registered vessels, and to explore strategies for emissions
reductions. For this program, ETC is conducting on-board propulsion and auxiliary power
engine exhaust emission studies on Canadian vessels plying Canadian waters in the
Atlantic, Pacific, and the St. Lawrence/Great Lakes.
5.1.7 Airport Mobile Sources Evaluation There are a number of
different forms of mobile sources that operate on a regular basis at airports. One of the
results of this activity is pollution which, depending upon the climatic conditions, may
result in poor air quality locally. In an effort to enhance knowledge about contributions
of the various mobile sources at airports, ETC, in collaboration with Transport Canada, is
conducting field studies at MacDonald Cartier Airport (Ottawa) to characterize the exhaust
from these sources, including aircraft engines, service vehicles, auxiliary power units,
and passenger taxis.
5.2 Support of Greener Technologies
5.2.1 Alternative/Reformulated Fuels Propane Gas Association (PGA)
A number of testing programs have been conducted with the PGA and with member companies
to evaluate state-of-the-art fuel-management systems, characterize the exhaust emissions,
determine the effect of cold temperature on exhaust emissions, determine the durability of
retrofit systems, and establish improved procedures for propane fuel system set-up by
commercial retrofit installers.
Canadian Gas Association (CGA)
Joint work has been undertaken with the CGA and with member companies to evaluate
commercially available conversion technologies under varying climatic conditions, to
assess the durability of the conversion equipment and to characterize the exhaust
emissions.
Canadian Oxygenated Fuels Association and the Canadian Subsidiary of Detroit
Diesel Corporation
As a supplier of methanol as an alternative fuel for vehicles, the Canadian Oxygenated
Fuels Association collaborated with ETC and other government partners to evaluate the
emissions for both neat-methanol-fuelled production vehicles and flexible/variable-fuelled
light-duty cars (that operate on blends from 0% to 95% methanol with unleaded gasoline).
Included in this joint work was the characterization of the exhaust emissions and
performance evaluations for methanol-fuelled urban transit buses in collaboration with the
Canadian subsidiary of the engine manufacturer (Detroit Diesel Corporation) and Canadian
Transit Authorities (in Medicine Hat, Alberta, and Windsor, Ontario).
A similar joint program was conducted with the Regina Transit Authority on
ethanol-fuelled transit buses. As with the methanol program, the Detroit Diesel
Corporation and the Transit Authority received support from ETC in the form of emissions
characterization and performance evaluations.
Shell Canada
As reformulated fuels are being researched, it is necessary to determine the impact of
the reformulations on production vehicle emission control systems. This is done through
assessments of the exhaust emissions as the engine/vehicle ages. ETC collaborated with
Shell's Oakville Research Centre to conduct a program of this nature on a recently
developed fuel reformulation. Twelve vehicles were evaluated for emissions' deterioration
at intervals of 40,000, 80,000 and 100,000 kilometres. All the vehicles tested
demonstrated increased emissions deterioration with increased mileage. Discussions are
underway with Shell representatives concerning future joint-projects on fuel
reformulations and related cold-temperature studies.
Petro Canada
As with the other major petroleum companies, Petro Canada is involved in the production
of fuel reformulations for the purpose of reducing vehicle tailpipe exhaust emissions. ETC
with TSD is collaborating on two test programs with Petro Canada. The first is an
evaluation of oxygenates in the fuel. The second, scheduled to commence in 1994, concerns
the evaluation of performance and emissions, under Canadian climatic conditions, of fuels
with reduced Reid Vapour Pressures. The use of such fuels with less reactive hydrocarbons
will reduce the concentration of ground-level ozone.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
As a result of the number of ambient air quality non-attainment areas in North American
cities, fuel additives or fuel reformulations are being used in an attempt to reduce the
exhaust emissions from mobile sources. In the winter of 1993, a fuel containing MTBE
(methyl-tertiary butyl ether - 11% by volume) was used in Alaska to reduce the CO
emissions from vehicles. As a result of public complaints concerning health problems, the
use of this fuel was stopped by the Alaskan government. Subsequently, the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency initiated a program to investigate the effects of this
fuel under cold-temperature conditions. Because of the relevance of this health concern in
Canada, ETC and TSD agreed to provide support to this American effort by conducting 25% of
the cold-chamber testing at ETC.
United Parcel Service/Intercity Gas Utilities (Petro Canada subsidiary)
The Canadian arm of United Parcel Service (UPS) was involved in a project to
demonstrate the operation of a UPS delivery van operating on liquefied petroleum gas
(LPG). ETC participated in the project by conducting exhaust emissions and performance
measurements on a converted vehicle and a control vehicle. The results indicated that the
conversion resulted in reductions of pollutant emissions. As a result of this success, UPS
vehicles are being converted to LPG in both Canada and the United States.
5.2.2 Development of Emission Control Technologies Allied
Signal and AC Rochester/Concordia University
In 1992 and 1993, Concordia University participated in the rally "Natural Gas
Challenges for Universities", sponsored by the Society of Automotive Engineers. ETC
provided support to Concordia by conducting laboratory exhaust emissions testing on a
number of emission control configurations being considered for the vehicle. The testing
included a partial characterization of the exhaust emissions to determine the impact of
the various catalysts that were to be used to reduce exhaust emissions. ETC provided the
results to the catalyst manufacturers, Allied Signal and AC Rochester, and provided
testing expertise to support the development of natural-gas-specific catalysts.
Imperial Oil (ESSO) Canada
Imperial Oil has been involved in joint project work with ETC since 1987. This work has
encompassed cold-temperature effects on exhaust emissions, and the evaluation of the
emissions and performance of fuel reformulations. Currently, Imperial Oil, ETC, and TSD,
are participating in a joint project to assess the performance of an electrically heated
catalyst under cold-temperature operation. The laboratory is conducting performance
measurements on the catalyst unit at various temperatures between 24oC and -29oC, as well
as characterising the emissions to ascertain the effect on specific target compounds, such
as benzene.
Thermo Systems (Webasto) Canada Ltd
Thermo Systems (Webasto) Canada Ltd. entered into a joint project with ETC to evaluate
a diesel heater system for urban buses with respect to performance, temperature control,
and emissions. The system is designed to provide heat to the interior of a bus, and to
heat the engine prior to cold-temperature starts, in order to reduce emissions and fuel
consumption. ETC conducted chassis dynamometer tests at -20oC on an urban transit bus
equipped with the heater system. Exhaust emissions, system performance, and interior
compartment temperatures at 50 locations were measured. The test results indicate
significant potential for emissions and fuel consumption reductions. The company is
exploring marketing opportunities.
Donaldson and Engelhard /MSA Canada
Donaldson and Engelhard, through MSA Canada, are supplying diesel particulate filters
(traps) for a joint project designed to demonstrate and refine this emissions control
technology for urban bus applications. MSA Canada, with ETC, Ottawa-Carleton Transit
Authority, Ontario Ministry of Transportation, and Natural Resources Canada, are
participating in a project involving eight in-service urban transit buses in Ottawa. ETC
is conducting regular exhaust emissions testing and performance evaluations on the
filter-equipped buses during the three-year project, which will conclude in 1995. The
unique aspect of this work is the implementation of this emissions control device on
older-technology diesel buses which have a requirement to be in service in Canada for a
period of eighteen years. Initial work indicates that up to a 90% reduction in particulate
mass emissions is possible.
Engine Control Systems (ECS) & Stock Transport Group
Engine Control Systems is involved in the design and manufacture of particulate traps
and flow-through catalytic converter systems for diesel engines in both surface
transportation and below-ground applications. For the latter, especially, ECS is known
internationally for their expertise and products. With respect to above-ground vehicles,
ECS is involved in urban bus demonstration programs in the U.S.A., Europe, and both
Central and South America. ETC has been involved in joint projects with ECS to evaluate
particulate filters for light-duty engine applications, and also to evaluate the
performance of an additive to enhance the regeneration of passive-trap systems during
in-use operation. A number of new projects are currently being negotiated with ECS and
fleet operators to develop these systems further for truck applications and to demonstrate
their efficiency on buses operating in Canadian climatic conditions. Stock Transport Group
from Toronto is collaborating with ECS, ETC and Natural Resources Canada to demonstrate
this technology on diesel-powered school buses. ETC is co-ordinating this joint project,
and providing emissions characterization and performance testing during this two-year
program.
A second joint project to further the development of this technology for heavy-duty
trucks is currently being negotiated with ECS and operators of large heavy-duty truck
fleets. ETC will also be co-ordinating this project, providing testing and engineering
support, and exhaust emissions analysis.
In addition to the on-road and mining systems, ECS has also developed emission control
technologies for utility engines and off-road/industrial equipment. ETC and ECS are
initiating another joint project to evaluate these products on various engine
applications, in order to advance the design and implementation for the existing in-use
market.
5.2.3 Alternative Engines/Vehicles
Prostaff Fuels/BC Transit
These groups have collaborated on the development of an engine that operates with a
dual-fuel system involving diesel fuel and natural gas. ETC is participating in a joint
project to demonstrate this technology in an urban transit bus by conducting exhaust
emissions and performance testing on the system under standard and reduced ambient
temperatures. The results of the tests will be used by California and British Columbia to
determine the acceptability of the system as a retrofit technology.
General Electric Canada
In March 1993, ETC staff collaborated on an engine test project with the engine testing
laboratory at the General Electric's Locomotive Assembly Plant/Engine Development Centre
in Montreal. The objective of the joint project was to characterize emissions from a
modified locomotive engine in comparison with a standard, control engine. The engine
modifications resulted in emissions reductions and General Electric is exploring options
for their implementation.
Westward Industries
This Canadian company from Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, has designed and manufactured
a three-wheel utility vehicle for use in large urban centres. The objective of this design
is to replace larger vehicles in an urban environment with smaller vehicles which emit
less pollution. ETC provided support by conducting exhaust and evaporative emissions
testing on the vehicle using protocols equivalent to those of the of the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board. In addition, ETC
provided technical advice to the company regarding design changes. As a result of this
joint-project work, the company now has approvals to sell the vehicle in the U.S.A.,
including the promising California market.
Ontario Bus Industries (OBI)
This Canadian bus manufacturer from Mississauga, Ontario, has participated in number of
joint projects with ETC and the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. The work has included
the emissions' assessment from new vehicle and engine designs for ParaTranspo, emissions'
characterization and performance of prototype urban buses operating on compressed natural
gas, and an evaluation of vehicle emissions from an urban bus equipped with a new
certified diesel engine. The results from the emissions and performance testing on the
diesel and natural gas configurations have been used to help market the vehicles
internationally. Another joint project is currently being discussed with OBI for the
emissions' testing and performance evaluation of a low-floor hybrid bus design resulting
from a multi-million dollar US-Canada industry-government design program. The design is
based on a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system which has the potential for
significantly reducing particulate emissions in urban centres.
TES Ltd.
This Canadian company obtained the license for a regenerative braking system for urban
bus applications that was designed by the National Research Council. The system promises
to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. A program has been initiated by TES and the
National Research Council to refine and commercialise the technology. ETC is participating
by serving as the Scientific Authority for the program, and by conducting laboratory
exhaust emissions and performance tests on a bus equipped with the system.
Alupower (Alcan)
This Canadian subsidiary of Alcan in Kingston, Ontario, has developed an aluminum-air
fuel cell for electric vehicle applications. ETC provided support by conducting range and
emissions testing on a control vehicle and an identical vehicle equipped with the fuel
cell. The results indicated that a significant improvement could be obtained with the fuel
cell in the distance the vehicle could travel prior to recharging.
Conceptor (Magna International)
This Canadian subsidiary of Magna International is involved in the alternative-vehicle
market. ETC has participated in a number of joint projects with Conceptor regarding the
emissions and performance of new vehicles, and related component design and durability.
The recent work included the evaluation of emissions, in particular hydrogen, from the
electric G-Van developed by Conceptor. The emissions program was designed to aid in
resolving a problem of exploding batteries, and to provide information for the
certification of the vehicle for sale in the U.S.A. ETC also conducted emissions' testing
on vans converted to operate natural gas with Conceptor-manufactured components. This work
was designed to support the development of more efficient fuel systems for natural gas
vehicles, with the long term objective of supplying major vehicle manufacturers with
components optimized for use with natural gas.
Zimac
ETC is participating with the National Research Council and Zimac to support the
development of an electrically heated catalyst using a heating technology developed in
Canada by Zimac. ETC is conducting cold-chamber tests and emissions analysis on the system
as each revision is incorporated in the catalyst design.
6.0 SUPPORT TO SPILL RESPONSE 6.1 On- and
Off-Site Assistance Summary
6.2 List of Spills/Incidents where Assistance was Provided
6.1 On- and Off-Site Assistance Summary Specific operational support
from ETC during environmental emergencies is identified below:
- advice on hazardous material properties, behaviour, fate and environmental effects using
experience/knowledge and up-to-date manuals and data bases;
- laboratory tests to determine physical, chemical and ecotoxicological characteristics of
hazardous materials and the effectiveness and effects of spill-treating agents;
- advice and laboratory support regarding the analysis of complex, dirty samples for
organic parameters and for a broad range of toxic inorganic elements;
- assistance in the identification of the potential source(s) of the spill and estimation
of the time since the spill;
- spill-behaviour and spill-movement modelling using the latest-generation models and
techniques;
- advice and training regarding personnel protection at pollution emergencies;
- advice and direct support regarding state-of-the-art, on-site monitoring of human and
environmental hazard levels at pollution emergencies;
- advice and direct support regarding sample collection at spill sites;
- advice, on-site support and contract administration of airborne services for the remote
sensing of spills;
- advice and on-site support involving set-up and operation of equipment for sampling
pollutants in ambient air;
- ambient air quality data interpretation and assessment of impacts of pollutants
measured;
- advice on, and evaluation of, spill countermeasures, particularly relating to
containment and recovery, treatment and disposal techniques;
- laboratory bench-scale testing to assist in the selection of chemical-spill cleanup-
technologies; and
- on-site specialized cleanup support at chemical spill and insecure hazardous waste sites
through deployment of state-of-the-art prototype mobile water and soil treatment systems.
6.2 List of Spills/Incidents where Assistance was Provided During
the last decade, ETC has provided most of the departmental technical advice, central
laboratory, and on-site specialized support during response to pollution emergencies of
federal interest. Table 1 identifies the information and advice that was provided by ETC
during pollution incidents from April 1, 1992 to March 31, 1994. Recent examples that
involved hazard- and contamination-level measurement support on-site include the chemical
warehouse fire in Grand Coulée, Saskatchewan, and the Oakville train derailment in
Manitoba.
The Oakville incident occurred in December 1992, when a train containing 30 cars of
hazardous material derailed in Oakville, Manitoba. The train carried chemicals such as
acetic anhydride, sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide, methanol, vinyl acetate, ethylene
oxide, vinyl chloride and propane. ETC provided help and expertise by sending crews of
four emergency response personnel at a time over a period of three weeks, to perform air
monitoring and assist the Manitoba Ministry of Environment with analytical requirements.
Table 1 - List of Spill/Incidents where Assistance was Provided by ETC
from April 1, 1992 to March 31, 1994
| DATE |
LOCATION, PROVINCE |
MATERIAL |
ACTION |
| April 15, 1992 |
Crankbrook, BC |
Methylethyl-ketone |
data, modelling, analytical |
| May 27, 1992 |
Long-Lac, ON |
Ammonia |
data, modelling, analytical |
| May 28-29, 1992 |
Noranda, QU |
Creosote Timber Fire |
data, modelling, effects, analytical |
| June 29, 1992 |
Sudbury, ON |
Nickel Carbonyl |
data, modelling, analytical |
| June 30, 1992 |
Duluth, Minn |
BTEX train derailment |
data, modelling, analytical, safety |
| Aug. 11, 1992 |
Cardonia, ON |
Alumina/oil reaction |
data, physical expts. |
| Aug. 11, 1992 |
Vancouver, BC |
Hydrogen peroxide |
data, analytical, effects |
| Aug. 22, 1992 |
Montreal, QU |
Thiocarbamate |
data, analytical |
| Aug. 26, 1992 |
Beaufort Sea, NWT |
Diesel |
data, fate, effects, modelling |
| Sept. 14-15, 1992 |
Alymer, QU |
Picric Acid |
data, fate, on-site advice |
| Sept. 24-25, 1992 |
Malacca Straights |
Arabian Light Crude |
fate, modelling, data, dispersants |
| Sept. 30-Oct .1, 1992 |
Bennett Lake, BC |
Bunker C |
burning, sampling, analytical |
| Oct. 27-29, 1992 |
SPILL EXERCISE |
Crude oil |
modelling, data, fate, modelling |
| Nov. 9, 1992 |
St. Johns, NFLD |
Naphthalene |
data, analytical |
| Nov. 26, 1992 |
Northern Quebec |
#2 fuel oil |
data, fate, modelling |
| Dec. 3, 1992 |
Sept Iles, QU |
Bunker C |
data, analytical, on-site mobilization |
| Dec.8, 1992 |
Trois Rivières, QU |
Coal |
major data report |
| Dec 18, 1992 to Jan.12, 1993 |
Oakville, MN |
Multiple chemical train derailment |
100 days on-site, analytical, data, modelling |
| Jan.8-20, 1993 |
Shetland Islands, GB |
Gulfaks oil |
data, modelling, analytical, equipment on-site |
| Feb. 9, 1993 |
Winnipeg, MN |
Lubricating oil |
data |
| Mar. 1-5, 1993 |
Lake Erie, ON |
Gas blowout |
data, fate prediction, modelling |
| Mar. 29, 1993 |
Halifax, NS |
Tetrachloro-ethylene |
properties, analytical, countermeasures, effects |
| May, 1993 |
NWT |
Ricin |
properties, data, disposal methods |
| June 15, 1993 |
Petawawa, ON |
|
Propane countermeasures |
| Aug. 16, 1993 |
Pictou, NS |
Creosote |
data |
| Sept. 2, 1993 |
Montreal, QU |
Polyvinyl chloride properties |
| Sept. 15, 1993 |
Cornwallis, NB |
|
Lubricating oil countermeasures, disposal methods |
| Sept. 16, 1993 |
Halifax, NS |
|
Burning metal shavings with cutting oil properties, behaviour |
| Sept. 16, 1993 |
Metagamy, QU |
Natural gas |
behaviour, countermeasures |
| Sept. 23, 1993 |
Laurel, NS |
Diesel fuel |
analytical, countermeasures |
| Oct. 28, 1993 |
North Lake, PEI |
|
Ammonia countermeasures, properties, behaviour, analytical |
| Nov. 24, 1993 |
Vancouver, BC |
Sodium Hypochlorite |
properties |
| Dec. 2, 1993 |
SPILL EXERCISE |
Arabian Crude Oil |
behaviour, countermeasures |
| Dec. 17, 1993 |
Barbados |
Pesticides |
properties, effects |
| Jan. 10, 1994 |
Puerto Rico |
Bunker C |
properties, countermeasures, shoreline cleanup |
| Jan. 11, 1994 |
Red Deer River, |
Alberta Condensate |
countermeasures |
| Jan. 24, 1994 |
Creston, BC |
Brewers wort |
properties |
| Feb. 3, 1994 |
Northern Ontario, ON |
Vinyl acetate |
properties, behaviour, countermeasures, fate and effects |
| Feb. 6, 1994 |
Labrador, NFLD |
Bunker C oil |
behaviour, countermeasures, fate and effects |
| Feb. 10-11, 1994 |
Detroit, MI |
Bunker C oil |
behaviour, countermeasures, fate and effects |
| Feb. 18, 1994 |
Orilia, ON |
PCB |
properties, behaviour, countermeasures |
| Mar. 6, 1994 |
Markham, ON |
Chlorine |
analytical, gear up for on-site response |
| Mar. 7, 1994 |
Ashechewan Bay, ON |
Fuel oil |
properties, behaviour, analytical, countermeasures |
| Mar. 16, 1994 |
Pine Falls, MN |
Busan 52 |
modelling, properties, behaviour |
| Mar. 29-30, 1994 |
Sussex, NB |
Pesticides |
properties, analytical, countermeasures, data |
7.0 SPILL MEASUREMENT, BEHAVIOUR AND EFFECTS 7.1
Spill Modelling
7.2 Laser Fluorosensor Oil Detection
7.4 MAPTM Analytical Developments and Licensing
7.5 Chemical Spill Analytical Projects
7.6 Oil Properties and Analysis
7.7 Behaviour of Spilled Oils (BOSS) Project
7.8 Biological Methods Development/Testing of Spill Substances
7.9 Environmental Fate, Behaviour and Effects of Oil
7.10 Post-Spill Monitoring
7.1 Spill Modelling Major artificial intelligence programs are used
for spill modelling studies as well as for participation in the development of the World
Oil Spill Model (WOSM). The Spill Modelling Artificial Reasoning Technology (SMART)
System, funded by the Artificial Intelligence Fund of Industry Science and Technology
Canada, is under development and will enable relatively untrained personnel to predict the
consequences and fate of spill accidents. The WOSM was completed this year, jointly with
the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, Chevron, Exxon, ASA, Mobil, Environment
Canada and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.
7.2 Laser Fluorosensor Oil Detection Laser fluorosensors offer great
potential for remote sensing of oil spills, by promising positive discrimination of oil
from many interferences, including vegetation and rocks having similar coloration to oil,
and wind slicks. Such interferences have caused difficulty in detecting and mapping oil
during major spills like the Exxon Valdez.
Laser fluorosensors have been built since the early 1970's, but, prior to the MARK III
Barringer fluorosensor, the instruments were not practical for oil spill detection because
of size and data output shortfalls. The MARK III unit was a profiling instrument that was
extensively used for experimental work. A Mark IV profiling unit was constructed in 1992
which incorporated several technological innovations. The Mark IV unit was mounted in an
aircraft and tested over a series of test oils at Petawawa in 1993. This unit detected
very low levels of oil, and could discriminate between all four types of oil tested. Work
is now underway to build a scanning fluorometer (Mark V) which will have the practical
advantage of providing a real-time image of the oil.
The laser fluorosensor research is jointly funded by Environment Canada, the U.S.
Minerals Management Service, the Environmental Innovation Program, Transport Canada and
the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.
7.3. Air-Borne Oil-Slick Thickness Sensor Knowledge of slick
thickness is important in order to maximize the effctiveness of oil recovery or treatment
operations. Two techniques have been identified with the potential capability for remotely
gauging oil slick thickness. Both employ energy beams to initiate a train of acoustic
waves in oil slicks. One uses lasers while the other uses radar. The frequency of the
acoustic waves generated in the oil is a function of slick thickness. The frequency of the
acoustic waves is then measured remotely using laser interferometry techniques.
In 1992, a full-scale mock-up of the former system in the laboratory was successfully
tested in a tank, with waves, up to a distance of 60 metres. In 1993, the full-scale
laboratory mock-up was mounted and tested in an aircraft. The unit functioned on the
ground but unfortunately did not function in flight. The malfunction of the unit in flight
has been attributed to non co-linearity of the laser beams and the pickup of acoustical
signals and vibrations by the detector. In 1994, the mock-up unit will be reconfigured to
address these problems and then mounted and flown in an airplane.
The air-borne oil slick thickness sensor research is jointly funded by the U.S.
Minerals Management Service, Environment Canada and ESSO Resources Canada.
7.4 MAPTM Analytical Developments and Licensing The EC patented
Microwave-Assisted Process, MAPTM, is an invention that relates to a novel method of
extracting soluble products from a wide range of materials using a microwave applicator as
energy source. It provides a technique whereby compounds can be extracted selectively in a
relatively short period of time compared to conventional extraction methods, and allows
for an enhanced extraction yield for the more volatile compounds which normally require
special and separate extraction methods. Furthermore, MAPTM also allows for the direct
extraction of untreated material without the need to dry the material prior to the
extraction; the latter being a prerequisite in many other methods. MAPTM is a process
which supports sustainable development as it consumes less energy than conventional
extraction processes while providing, in many instances, a reduction in wastes.
The target material is immersed into an extraction fluid which is selected for its
ability to dissolve the desired compounds and that is transparent to microwaves. The
immersed material is then subjected to microwave irradiation. The microwaves travel freely
through the microwave-transparent extraction fluid and reach the inner three-dimensional
structure of the material. Some of the microwaves are absorbed by the material and the
absorption efficiency is largely related to the moisture content of the material. This
results in a sudden rise in temperature inside the material. The temperature keeps rising
until the internal pressure exceeds the capacity of expansion of the matrix thus creating
an explosion at the intermolecular level. The substances that were located within these
chemical systems are then free to flow out. They migrate to the surrounding medium that is
relatively cold and that can trap them and dissolve them. The solid material can be
removed (e.g., filtered) and the resulting solution can then be processed in the same
manner as any other extract.
For volatile compounds, it is possible to extract them directly into the gaseous phase
and proceed immediately with their on-line analysis and determination. This fast
extraction method is of special interest, for example, to field analytical activities
related to spill emergencies that pose a threat to the environment.
The period of time for which it is necessary to irradiate the material to be extracted
with microwaves varies with the nature of the target material (usual times are from about
10 to about 100 seconds). Irradiation times will also vary with the residual moisture
content of a given feed material, since water is very efficient at absorbing microwave
rays. MAPTM can be used for batch as well as for continuous extraction where the
extraction fluid and the target material are passed together through an enclosed microwave
applicator.
MAPTM is making contributions to environmental protection with applications such as:
headspace extraction of contaminated water samples and contaminated soils; determination
of pesticides in soils, foodstuffs and plant tissues; determination of PAHs and PCBs in
soils; and determination of volatiles and PAHs in air. MAPTM is also useful in
applications such as the extraction of essential oils from fresh, dry, rehydrated or
re-solvated plant materials; the extraction of fatty acids and triglycerides from various
animal tissues; determinations of drug residues from animal tissues; performance of
quality control; and headspace analysis and purge-and-trap activities. These examples are
illustrative and typical, but not exhaustive or limiting. The analytical scale
applications of MAPTM have been licensed to the Hewlett-Packard Company and commercial
activities are underway in that sector. ETC also possesses a pilot-scale prototype that is
being used in scale-up and feasibility studies.
7.5 Chemical Spill Analytical Projects ETC continues to develop
analytical techniques and provide analytical services to assist spill responders on- and
off-site. ETC is equipped with vehicles that carry a range of person-portable and
vehicle-portable equipment to ensure immediate response at a site. On-going development of
laboratory methodologies is being carried out with the ultimate goal of being able to use
those methods on-site. Among newly developed techniques is the EC patented
Microwave-Assisted Process (MAPTM) for the removal of chemicals from soil, water and
vegetative materials. Advanced sampling technologies, such as remote-controlled sampling
helicopters have also been developed, refined and used during the reporting period.
Auxiliary support vehicles, including a decontamination unit, command/communication units
and recreational vehicles for supporting crews are also under development.
ETC maintains and continues to update its literature on the properties, fate and
effects of over 5000 chemicals and oils. This literature is extremely useful during spill
situations.
7.6 Oil Properties and Analysis Knowledge of oil properties and
behaviour is essential to the prediction of environmental fate and effects and to the
selection and performance of cleanup and recovery techniques. Not only are we missing much
of this data but we have found some of the older data and measurement techniques to be
unsound.
New oil measuring techniques are continuously being developed as well as "total
analysis" techniques, which to date can quantify over 280 compounds in oil. Along
these lines, are methods to analyze the bulk constituents of oil, especially waxes, resins
and asphaltenes. Studies involving the correlation of dispersion, emulsification and other
important behavioral processes with the bulk components of oils are under way. ETC is also
conducting studies to improve oil analysis for environmental purposes, such as rapid means
to measure solubility, and developing new weathering and dispersability procedures to
simulate natural processes in the laboratory.
7.7 Behaviour of Spilled Oils (BOSS) Project The BOSS project is a
major program co-funded by the U.S. Minerals Management Service to combine all the
findings of the previous joint programs and the literature into one source. No literature
collection or review of this type exists at the moment. Over 2000 references have been
collected and initially reviewed. Completion of the project will result in a major volume
combining not only the reviews of literature, but also data tables and unpublished
results. This will enable future re-evaluation of processes and use of data for spill
behaviour and fate modelling.
7.8 Biological Methods Development/Testing of Spill Substances It is
important to be able to determine the toxicity of substances which are spilled or likely
to be released into the environment. This information affects environmental impact
predictions and the selection of cleanup response options. ETC continues to conduct
bioassay testing on a variety of chemical and petroleum hydrocarbon substances; however,
recent emphasis has been placed more on the development of test procedures so that we have
a consistent reproducible and accurate means of measuring toxicity. ETC has been an active
partner in efforts to improve the use and acceptability of biological methods and data. To
date, thirteen reference procedures have been produced, which now provide Canadian test
laboratories, program managers and regulators with a well rounded array of options.
Many substances are difficult to test owing to their low solubility or tendency to
transform in water. To address one such common substance, a project commenced on the
development of a standard method for preparing a water soluble fraction from petroleum
hydrocarbons for aquatic toxicity testing. The project, which has attracted international
interest and participation, addresses some of the fundamental and overlooked issues with
respect to oil behaviour.
7.9 Environmental Fate, Behaviour and Effects of Oil In order to
select the most appropriate response option for a particular section of oiled shoreline,
the operational staff and environmental advisors must make predictions about natural oil
removal rates, the effects of the oil on biota and recover rates. Subsurface intertidal
oil contamination remains a significant issue and major factor related to cleanup
decisions and long-term effects, yet our knowledge base in this area is very weak.
To address the above, ETC conducted and is continuing a series of bench-scale studies
to investigate subsurface intertidal-zone oil behaviour, i.e., to measure the loading
capacity, residual-oil capacity and permeability of various sediment grain size substrates
using a variety of different oil types (properties). A second project has been the
acquisition, review, selective extraction and consolidation of tens of thousands of
records of oil-on-shoreline data collected from monitoring programs in Prince William
Sound conducted by US Government and EXXON surveys. A third initiative has been the
development of the only known comprehensive model to predict oil removal rates from marine
shorelines.
7.10 Post-Spill Monitoring Post-spill monitoring may be conducted
to evaluate the cleanup actions/decisions which were taken, and to verify and refine
predictions of longer-term oil fate and behaviour, effects and rates of biological
recovery. Two surveys were conducted during the review period which focused on the natural
removal rates of oil on shorelines. In 1992 a systematic regional survey was conducted of
250 km of shoreline that had been oiled following the 1970 Arrow oil spill in Chedabucto
Bay, Nova Scotia. The survey revealed that about 95% of the formerly oiled shoreline had
been naturally cleaned. It also characterized the few pockets of persistent heavily oiled
shorelines which remain. In 1993, the seventh in a series of post-spill surveys was made
at the site the Baffin Island Oil Spill Project. These results continue to advance our
understanding of the long-term behaviour of oil on a sheltered Arctic shoreline.
8.0 SPILL COUNTERMEASURES R&D 8.1
Newfoundland Offshore Burn Experiment (NOBE)
8.2 Spill-Treating Agent Projects
8.3 Countermeasures Effects Evaluations
8.4 Shoreline Cleanup Techniques and Response Evaluation
8.5 Bioremediation
8.6 Sorbent Evaluation
8.7 Waste and Debris Incineration
8.8 Mechanical Containment and Recovery Equipment Evaluation
8.9 Standards Development
8.1 Newfoundland Offshore Burn Experiment (NOBE) Several recent
large accidental oil spills have re-confirmed that shoreline oil contamination causes
extensive environmental damage and results in very high cleanup costs. Analysis of the
Exxon Valdez oil spill indicated that perhaps more than half of the spilled oil could have
been burned in situ without igniting the oil remaining in the vessel, thereby
significantly reducing shoreline contamination.
Intensive laboratory and tank testing on the in situ combustion of oil indicated that
the nature and concentrations of atmospheric emissions from in situ burning of oil
offshore will sometimes be preferable when weighed against the environmental damage and
cleanup costs of nearshore and shoreline contamination.
Based on this knowledge, a controlled experimental release and burning of oil under
realistic full-scale field conditions inside a fire-resistant boom was planned. Such an
experiment would allow confirmation of the chemical species associated with the burning of
oil on the open ocean (particularly smoke and gaseous emissions). It would allow the
verification of theoretical models developed and tank tests undertaken to predict the
content and trajectories of smoke plumes and contamination levels in the water column. It
would also provide the necessary information for regulatory agencies to consider
pre-approval for large-scale burns of spills - an essential element in making effective
use of burning in a field situation. An equally important benefit would involve the
development of operational response protocols that will guide oil industry, spill
cooperatives and government regulatory personnel in the safe and effective application of
burning in future spills.
Consequently, a consortium of over 25 agencies from Canada and the United States
planned and conducted an experimental release and in situ burn of oil off St. John's,
Newfoundland on August 12, 1993. The burn involved two oil discharges of about 50 tons
each into a fireproof boom. Each burn lasted over an hour and was monitored for chemical
and physical parameters. Over 200 sensors and samplers were employed and these provided
data on over 2000 parameters and substances. The operation was extensive, involving over
20 vessels, seven aircraft and 230 people at-sea.
The analytical data to date clearly show that the emissions from this in situ oil fire
were less than expected. All compounds and parameters measured are below health concern
levels beyond about 150 metres from the fire and very few chemicals were detected beyond
500 metres. Pollutants were found to be lower than in previous tank tests. The detailed
reasons for this are not fully understood, but the offshore test appears to have involved
more efficient combustion. The concentration of PAHs was found to be lower in the soot
than in the discharged oil and were largely consumed by the fire. Particulates in the air
were measured by several means and found to be of concern at sea level only up to 150
metres downwind. Particulate matter may not be a concern past this distance, except in the
smoke plume itself. Combustion gases, including carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon
monoxide did not reach levels of concern. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were detected
in high concentration close to the fire, but were less than VOCs emitted from the
non-burning slick. Over 50 compounds were quantified, several at levels of concern at sea
level up to 150 metres downwind.
Water under the burns was analyzed and no compounds of concern could be found at the
detection level of the methods employed. Toxicity tests performed on marine organisms
using this water did not show any acute or sublethal adverse effects. The burn residue was
analyzed for the same compounds as the discharge oil and the air samples. PAHs were at a
lower concentration in the residue than in the starting oil. Overall indications from
these burn trials are that emissions from in situ burning are low in comparison to many
other sources of emissions, and result in concentrations of air contaminants that are
acceptable beyond 500 metres downwind.
Although additional scientific and operational work is still needed, the NOBE results
confirm that in situ combustion of oil slicks concentrated by fire resistant booms is
indeed a practical oil spill response method.
8.2 Spill-Treating Agent Projects Since treatment of oil or chemical
spills involves the application of additional chemicals to the environment, it is
essential that adequate information is available about their toxicity and effectiveness.
ETC is developing and implementing tests in these regards.
Performance tests will ultimately be developed for twelve classes of chemical
spill-treating agents. So far, tests have been developed for dispersants, solidifiers and
surface-washing agents. Over 200 agents from these three classes have been tested in
recent years. Preliminary tests have also been developed for bioremediation agents (both
fertilizers and organisms), emulsions breakers, recovery enhancers and emulsion
preventers. Work is continuing to finalize these latter tests and test new agents.
The chemistry (especially stability over periods approaching days) and physics
(especially dispersant particle size) of dispersants are being studied. In addition, work
will continue on the development of new dispersants. Some of the prototype formulations
offer potential to disperse heavy oil including Bunker C. A study was initiated to
determine the feasibility of testing and ranking oils in terms of their susceptibility to
biodegradation./
This work is jointly funded by Environment Canada and the U.S. Minerals Management
Service.
8.3 Countermeasures Effects Evaluations To assess the relative
benefits of different cleanup techniques, it is imperative to know the environmental
effects and conduct environmental evaluations of various countermeasures and response
practices. Although the majority of effort has been directed toward bioremediation and
shoreline cleanup, some work has also been conducted on chemical and in situ combustion
techniques.
ETC continued its program of testing oil-spill dispersants and other spill treating
agents in order to determine toxicity. At the EPS Dartmouth labs, rainbow trout acute
lethality testing was completed on about 35 agents. Microtox testing of new agents has
commenced at ETC. More comprehensive lethal and sublethal bioassays were conducted on a
limited number of products at several other commercial test facilities.
The environmental effects of in situ burning of oil-on-water was addressed in a study
designed to measure aquatic toxicity in the water column associated with burned and
unburned crude oil. Chemical analysis and five different types of toxicity tests were
performed on laboratory-generated burn samples and on full-scale field burn samples.
Results generally indicate that lethal and sublethal toxicity was extremely low and that
in situ burning did not adversely affect the underlying water column beyond those effects
already associated with unburned oil.
8.4 Shoreline Cleanup Techniques and Response Evaluation Decisions
on whether or not to clean an oiled shoreline and how best to do it, require supportive
data on the effectiveness of various response options. These include information to
determine and minimize environmental risk and to optimize performance. ETC, together with
the U.S. Minerals Management Service and other supporters, have been investigating various
means to mount field-scale comparative evaluation studies of cleanup techniques. These
efforts continue and are expected to produce actual projects in the next review period.
In another initiative, the application of environmental knowledge and criteria are
being used to improve spill-response approaches. Real-time data on oiling conditions at a
shoreline are needed to appreciate the nature and scale of the oiling problem. They are
also needed to facilitate spill-response planning and decision-making, including the
assessment of the need for cleanup actions, the selection of the most appropriate
technique, the determination of priorities for cleanup, and the determination of the
endpoint of cleanup activities. Consistent data sets (observations and measurements) on
shoreline oiling conditions are essential within any one spill in order to both compare
the data between different sites or observers, and to compare the data against existing
benchmarks or criteria which have been developed in order to rate the nature or severity
of the oiling. ETC has developed and promoted standardized methods for documentation and
description of oiled shorelines. The SCAT (Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Team) concept and
associated terminology has now been endorsed by all major North American spill response
agencies. It's usage is now required by many government agencies and corporations.
8.5 Bioremediation The period following the Exxon Valdez incident
saw a resurgence of interest in oil spill bioremediation techniques including the
appearance of a large number of bioremediation products on the market. In order to provide
guidance to response personnel on commercial product performance and on the role of
bioremediation in cleanup, the ETC initiated several projects to address oil
biodegradation issues.
Draft "Guidelines for Assessing the Efficacy and Toxicity of Oil Spill
Bioremediation Agents" provide standard laboratory methods for performing an initial
'screening-level' evaluation of products that are intended for use in treating oil spills
in marine and freshwater environments. Testing has been performed on a range of
commercially available products as a part of the method validation.
A second continuing project is to develop and assess the feasibility of a standard
laboratory protocol to determine the relative biodegradability potential of crude oils,
under simulated warm freshwater and cold marine conditions. This information will be
useful in oil removal prediction estimates, since each oil has varying degrees of
susceptibility to biodegradation processes.
In conjunction with the above work, we have developed standardized freshwater and
standardized marine oil-degrading bacterial consortia. These will provide benchmarks for
laboratory studies on oil biodegradation and greatly improve the reproducibility of test
results. Similarly, we are now investigating how best to chemically measure and determine
if and how much biodegradation has occurred.
8.6 Sorbent Evaluation ETC is spearheading a program in conjunction
with the Canadian General Standards Board to develop a certification and listing program,
in addition to a North American standard, for the testing of spill-sorbent materials.
Research partners include Canadian Coast Guard, U.S. Marine Spill Response Corporation,
U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Minerals Management Service.
The test methods are based upon testing methods as defined by the American Society for
Testing and Materials (ASTM) and previous test methods developed by ETC for the series of
departmental reports entitled "Selection Criteria and Laboratory Evaluation of Oil
Spill Sorbents". This series of reports, which was started in 1975, encompasses a
number of commercially available oil-spill sorbents tested with different petroleum
products and hydrocarbon solvents. Some of the characteristics being evaluated with the
new test protocols are initial and maximum sorption capacities, water pick-up, buoyancy,
retention profile and material integrity.
Work is underway to incorporate changes to the tests that would involve increasing the
list of test liquids to encompass spills in an industrial setting, in addition to testing
sorbent booms. In a separate project, ETC is also evaluating the relative capacities of
several common sorbent materials as a function of oil and emulsion viscosity in order to
provide additional guidance to contingency planners and response organizations.
8.7 Waste and Debris Incineration ETC is represented on a
federal/provincial/industry CCME "Waste as Fuels SubCommittee", which is in the
final stages of preparing national guidelines for the burning of wastes in cement kilns.
The proposed guidelines cover criteria for the selection of wastes, emission limits,
testing and monitoring requirements, solid residue management, and reporting requirements.
Once finalized, they will be used to help provincial jurisdictions develop their own
standards.
ETC has embarked on a multi-year combustion program which involves combustion tests,
the evaluation of several combustion processes and the establishment of an Oil Spill
Combustion Research Facility. The immediate goal of the combustion tests is to compare
fluidized bed and rotary kiln combustion technologies for the remediation of
oil-contaminated gravel and disposal of spill debris in terms of operating efficiency and
emissions. Based on the results, ETC will design and potentially build a portable
prototype unit for field use. The project also includes an investigation of
low-temperature thermal desorption to remediate light-crude-oil contaminated soil. This
work is funded jointly by the U.S. Marine Spills Response Corporation and the U.S. Coast
Guard.
ETC is also evaluating several types of combustion units including ones of particular
interest to the Canadian Coast Guard that are used for the disposal of spill debris. These
combustors will be evaluated during test burns of spill debris including oiled seaweed,
sorbents, and logs.
8.8 Mechanical Containment and Recovery Equipment Evaluations Since
April, 1992, ETC has established several programs, in collaboration with others, to
evaluate and test devices used for the cleanup of marine oil spills. These devices include
skimmers, containment barriers and oil/water separators. The focus of the programs is on
ensuring suitable testing protocols are developed, and quantitative data on performance
are available to evaluators and users, and that industry and small businesses receive
assistance to develop further their new and innovative ideas for oil recovery. The work
takes place primarily in the ETC Oil Engineering Test Facility test tank.
The test tank is 8.5 metres long, 3.0 metres wide, and 1.2 metres high. It is equipped
with a recirculating water flow system which is provided by two fully variable speed 10
horsepower electric motors, each coupled to propellers situated beneath a baffle floor.
The system is used to provide a relative water flow past equipment being tested. Flow
velocities can be adjusted to a maximum of 1.0 m/s. Windows are mounted along the side of
the tank to provide a view of underwater activity.
ETC has performed an evaluation of an innovative oil/water separation system called the
"Centrifugal Flotation Cell" in a joint project with the equipment's owner Clean
Earth Technologies, Inc. The system combines flotation and centrifugal principles to
separate even small amounts of oil from water. These tests may also be used to determine
the effectiveness of this technology as a separator to be used following an oil recovery
operation. In one project, funded jointly by ETC, the U.S. Marine Spill Response
Corporation, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Canadian Coast Guard and SINTEF, a Norwegian
research organization, the extent to which the performance of a skimmer type is affected
by oil viscosities and water-in-oil emulsion ratios is being studied. The following
skimmer types are being evaluated: belt, brush, disc, drum, rope and weir. The results
will facilitate the future selection of appropriate skimmers for particular spill
situations.
8.9 Standards Development ETC, since 1991, has been involved in a
program of standards development for oil-spill cleanup in partnership with the U.S. Coast
Guard Oil Pollution Act, 1990 (OPA 90) Office. The standards in the area of mechanical
containment and recovery have been and are being developed by the applicable American
Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F-20 sub-committee with the assistance of a
Canadian contractor who is funded by ETC and U.S. Coast Guard. In other areas such as
sorbents, remote sensing, dispersants, communications and in situ burning, the
sub-committees are doing the standards development unaided. Very good progress has been
achieved in all areas with nine standards produced since the start of the accelerated
program and eight more under development.
9.0 TECHNOLOGIES FOR DECONTAMINATING WATER 9.1
Gulf Strachan Groundwater Remediation Demonstration
9.2 Ohsweken Advanced Oxidation Process Trial
9.3 Arsenic Removal from Water by Adsorption and Microfiltration
9.1 Gulf Strachan Groundwater Remediation Demonstration In May of
1992, ETC in co-operation with the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers,
demonstrated the effectiveness of steam stripping and advanced oxidation processes for
treating contaminated groundwater at the Gulf Strachan Gas Plant in Rocky Mountain House,
Alberta. The contamination at the site was due to accidental discharges of natural gas
condensate. The chemicals treated included: benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and ortho- and
para-xylene (BTEXs).
After successful bench-scale work, the ETC mobile steam stripping and advanced
oxidation units were sent to the site in September/October 1992. A three-week
demonstration showed that both units could produce an effluent stream containing less than
10 parts per billion (ppb) of BTEXs. In total, approximately 60,000 L of groundwater were
treated successfully.
9.2 Ohsweken Advanced Oxidation Process Trial In December of 1992,
ETC at the request of the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Development,
demonstrated the effectiveness of advanced oxidation for destroying n-nitrosodimethylamine
(NDMA) at the Ohsweken water plant of the Six Nations Reserve near Brantford, Ontario. The
contamination was due to the formation of NDMA in the water treatment plant. The NDMA
contamination peaked at 120 parts per trillion (ppt) which exceeded the drinking water
standard of 9 ppt.
After successful bench-scale work, the ETC mobile advanced oxidation unit was sent to
the site in December 1992. A four-month demonstration showed that the unit could produce
an effluent stream containing less than 5 ppt of NDMA. In December 1993, a Canadian
advanced oxidation system was purchased, based on the ETC design criteria, and installed
at the Ohsweken water plant to treat the NDMA-contaminated water.
9.3 Arsenic Removal from Water by Adsorption and Microfiltration
Arsenic contamination in groundwater is a serious problem due to its toxicity and its
presence in certain areas of our environment. Arsenic finds its way into the hydrosphere
primarily from mining activities, wood industry and the use of pesticides, herbicides and
defoliants in agriculture.
Adsorption on inorganic porous adsorbents (e.g., activated alumina) has been
successfully employed for the removal of arsenic from water for many years. Problems exist
with this method, however, due to the slow diffusion rate of arsenic ions inside the pores
of adsorbent granules which make the overall process economically unattractive for
industrial and commercial use.
ETC has developed a method (patent pending) to increase significantly the overall rate
of arsenic removal from contaminated water. The method employs finely dispersed activated
alumina as an adsorbent which is processed via microfiltration to separate the alumina
particles from the suspension. Arsenic concentrations of less than 50 ppb were achieved
from water samples with initial concentrations of several thousand ppb after a treatment
period of less than 20 minutes. The effects of pH, temperature, initial arsenic
concentration, and adsorbent concentration on the process were studied.
10.0 TECHNOLOGIES FOR DECONTAMINATING SOILS 10.1 Solvent Extraction/Advanced Oxidation Process for
TreatingOrganic-Contaminated Soils
10.2 Microwave-Assisted Process (MAPTM) for Removal of Organic
Contaminants from Soils
10.3 Evaluation of Low-Temperature Thermal Desorption for
Remediating Organic-Contaminated Soil
10.4 Heavy-Metal Removal from Contaminated Soils Using Selective
Recyclable Chelants
10.1 Solvent Extraction/Advanced Oxidation Process for Treating
Organic-Contaminated Soils In 1991, ETC began investigating a two-step soil treatment
process. The first step uses a solvent to extract organic contaminants from the soil,
while the second step uses photo-oxidation to destroy the contaminants in the solvent.
Work was carried out to identify solvents which are suitable for extracting a wide variety
of contaminants and which are inert in the photo-oxidation stage. Tests were performed,
whereby water or a hydrophillic solvent was used to remove water soluble organic
compounds. A bench-scale photo-oxidation unit was purchased and further tests to confirm
initial results and study the economics of the complete process are being performed.
10.2 Microwave-Assisted Process (MAPTM) for the Removal of Organic
Contaminants from Soil The Microwave-Assisted Process (MAPTM) soil-treatment
technology uses microwave energy to enhance the extraction of organic contaminants from
soil using solvents. Preliminary laboratory-scale experiments using contaminated soils,
indicate that the process is expected to overcome some of the major limitations of current
soil-treatment technology. The process is expected to require relatively short extraction
times and small solvent volumes. As well, because intense mixing is not required with
MAPTM, re-contamination of the soil by the solvent is not as likely as with conventional
solvent extraction. The process has a relatively low energy consumption due to the absence
of a mixing step and the fact that the microwave energy is only required for localized
heating, because the solvents used are transparent to microwaves.
Beginning in the summer of 1993, as part of a joint project agreement with the Canadian
Association of Petroleum Producers, the MAPTM soil treatment method was investigated on
the laboratory-scale to determine the effectiveness of the process for the removal of
petroleum hydrocarbons from soil. The results of this work were promising and will be used
to develop a detailed test plan for EED's newly acquired pilot-scale unit. This unit will
be used to further investigate the effectiveness and economics of this process.
The main components of the pilot-plant process are a 6 kW microwave generator and a
process cavity capable of treating 15 L/min of slurry. The generator and process cavity
were constructed by Progressive Recovery, Inc. (PRI) of Dupo, Illinois. The process begins
with screened soil and a chosen solvent mixed by an auger pump, which transfers the slurry
through a spiral configuration of microwave transparent TeflonTM tubes in the process
cavity. The design of this configuration was performed by ETC in conjunction with PRI. As
the slurry passes through these tubes, it is irradiated with microwaves. The microwaves
are directed to the slurry through a waveguide at a frequency of 2450 MHz from the
microwave generator. It is in this step that the microwave is used to enhance the
transport of the contaminants from the soil to the solvent. The slurry is then sent
through a filtration system to separate the soil from the contaminated solvent. The soil
is dried to remove any additional solvent and the contaminants are separated from the
solvent through distillation.
10.3 Evaluation of Low-Temperature Thermal Desorption for Remediating
Organic-Contaminated Soils In February of 1993, ETC was asked, by the Department of
National Defence (DND) and the Ontario Regional Office of Environment Canada, to evaluate
the effectiveness of low-temperature thermal desorption (LTTD) for remediating soil at the
Canadian Forces Base in Borden, Ontario. The contamination at the site was due to
underground tank leakage of diesel and aviation fuel.
As part of a DND leaking underground storage tank remediation program, DND had
excavated several leaking tanks and stock-piled approximately six million kilograms of
contaminated soil at the base. Preliminary studies indicated that LTTD would be an
effective method of remediating the soil due to the volatile nature of the contaminants.
An experimental plan and sampling and analysis program were established for an on-site
demonstration. A one-week demonstration showed that LTTD could produce treated soil
containing BTEX and TPH levels generally below their respective detection limits of 20 ppm
and 20 ppb. In total, approximately 210 000 kg of soil were treated successfully during
the demonstration.
10.4 Heavy-Metal Removal from Contaminated Soils using Selective
Recyclable Chelants There are a number of heavy-metal-contaminated sites in Canada.
ETC is currently investigating the removal of heavy-metal contamination (lead, cadmium,
zinc and copper) from soil, with particular emphasis on the fine soil fractions. The fine
soil fractions, which contain the majority of the metal contaminants, are mechanically
and/or chemically separated from the rest of the soil, and further treated to remove the
metals. Most metal contamination, such as lead, can be acid leached from the fines. This
procedure, however, is not specific and results in ubiquitous metals being leached and a
loss of soil integrity. The use of chelating agents specific for the particular metal
contamination can prevent this problem. ETC is investigating a combination of acid
leaching and metal chelation to remove metal contamination from fine soil fractions
followed by a process to recycle the chelant.
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