Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER 14
Waste Treatment and Non-Point Source Pollution
Control
Guo-Bin Shan, Rao Y. Surampalli, Rajeshwar D. Tyagi, Tian C. Zhang,
Keith C. Lai, and Song Yan
Although there are many areas of interest in environmental science and
technology where nanotechnology is potentially useful, this chapter will focus on the
following three areas: (a) reduction of environmental burden, (b) reduction/treatment of
wastes generated by industries and agricultures, and (c) nonpoint source (NPS) pollution
control.
The burden imposed on the environment by manufacturing sites can be decreased
through the efficient promotion of waste reduction, chemical substance reduction and
energy savings by reducing input of raw materials, chemicals and energy in upstream
manufacturing activities. Wastes from industries and agricultures mainly include solid
wastes, air pollutants and wastewaters. Reduction and/or treatment of these wastes are
through process control, emission control, and waste treatment. NPS pollution is one of
the most complex environmental problems, and generally, comes from many
unidentifiable sources with no specific solution to rectify the problem. NPS pollution
mainly includes automobile emissions, road dirt, leachate from agricultural fields, home
gardens, construction runoff, and mining operations, and so on. These NPS pollutants
fall into seven major categories: sediment, nutrients, acid and salts, heavy metals, toxic
chemicals, pathogens, and emerging contaminants.
In order to reduce the environmental burden, treat industrial and agricultural
wastes and control the NPS pollution, it's very important to develop green processes and
control process emissions that produce less waste, enhance separation techniques, and
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