· Advances in encapsulation technologies for the management of mercury-contaminated hazardous waste

Although industrial and commercial uses of mercury have been curtailed in recent times, there is a demonstrated need for the development of reliable hazardous waste management techniques because of historic operations that have led to significant contamination and ongoing hazardous waste generation. This study was performed to evaluate whether the U.S. EPA could propose treatment and disposal alternatives to the current land disposal restriction (LDR) treatment standards for mercury. The focus of this article is on the current state of encapsulation technologies that can be used to immobilize elemental mercury, mercury-contaminated debris, and other mercury-contaminated wastes, soils, sediments, or sludges. The range of encapsulation materials used in bench-scale, pilot-scale, and full-scale applications for mercury-contaminated wastes are summarized. Several studies have been completed regarding the application of sulfur polymer stabilization/solidification, chemically bonded phosphate ceramic encapsulation, and polyethylene encapsulation. Other materials reported in the literature as under development for encapsulation use include asphalt, polyester resins, synthetic elastomers, polysiloxane, sol–gels, Dolocrete™, and carbon/cement mixtures. The primary objective of these encapsulation methods is to physically immobilize the wastes to prevent contact with leaching agents such as water. However, when used for mercury-contaminated wastes, several of these methods require a pretreatment or stabilization step to chemically fix mercury into a highly insoluble form prior to encapsulation. Performance data is summarized from the testing and evaluation of various encapsulated, mercury-contaminated wastes. Future technology development and research needs are also discussed.
Researchers: Paul Randall,National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Land Remediation and Pollution Control Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 26 W. Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA and Sandip Chattopadhyay, Environmental Restoration Department, Battelle Memorial Institute, 505 King Avenue, Columbus, OH 43201, USA
(Source: www.sciencedirect.com)

· An international perspective on hazardous waste practices
In developing countries, public health attention is focused on urgent health problems such as infectious diseases, malnutrition, and infant mortality. As a country develops and gains economic resources, more attention is directed to health concerns related to hazardous chemical wastes. Even if a country has little industry of its own that generates hazardous wastes, the importation of hazardous wastes for recycling or disposal can present health hazards. It is difficult to compare the quantities of hazardous wastes produced in different countries because of differences in how hazardous wastes are defined. In most countries, landfilling is the most common means of hazardous waste disposal, although substantial quantities of hazardous wastes are incinerated in some countries. Hazardous wastes that escape into the environment most often impact the public through air and water contamination. An effective strategy for managing hazardous wastes should encourage waste minimization, recycling, and reuse over disposal. Developing countries are especially in need of low-cost technologies for managing hazardous wastes.
Researchers: Kenneth Orloff and Henry Falk, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, GA, USA
(Source: www.sciencedirect.com)

· Green energy strategies for sustainable development
In this study we propose some green energy strategies for sustainable development. In this regard, seven green energy strategies are taken into consideration to determine the sectoral, technological, and application impact ratios. Based on these ratios, we derive a new parameter as the green energy impact ratio. In addition, the green energy-based sustainability ratio is obtained by depending upon the green energy impact ratio, and the green energy utilization ratio that is calculated using actual energy data taken from literature. In order to verify these parameters, three cases are considered. Consequently, it can be considered that the sectoral impact ratio is more important and should be kept constant as much as possible in a green energy policy implementation. Moreover, the green energy-based sustainability ratio increases with an increase of technological, sectoral, and application impact ratios. This means that all negative effects on the industrial, technological, sectoral and social developments partially and/or completely decrease throughout the transition and utilization to and of green energy and technologies when possible sustainable energy strategies are preferred and applied. Thus, the sustainable energy strategies can make an important contribution to the economies of the countries where green energy (e.g., wind, solar, tidal, biomass) is abundantly produced. Therefore, the investment in green energy supply and progress should be encouraged by governments and other authorities for a green energy replacement of fossil fuels for more environmentally benign and sustainable future.
Researchers: Adnan Midilli ,Energy Program, Mechanical Engineering Department, Nigde University, 51200 Nigde, Turkey
Ibrahim Dincer and Murat Ay ,Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, 2000 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, Ont., Canada L1H 7K4
(Source: www.sciencedirect.com)

· Information and Communication Technologies: A bridge for social equity and sustainable development in India
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) can reduce poverty by improving poor people's access to education, health, government and financial services. ICT can also help small farmers and artisans by connecting them to markets. India has been a breeding ground of such innovative ICT projects in the rural areas by the government and private enterprises. But these projects have either been geographically restricted to certain areas or have not been successful in reaching out to every individual in the social pyramid. This paper analyses some of the initiatives taken up by the institutions and organizations, and identifies the problems faced by these initiatives in achieving the targeted objectives, respectively. The paper then identifies technological solutions to the various problems experienced and gives an insight into the ways ICT technologies can be successfully and efficiently implemented in achieving the social objectives with which they are identified
Researchers: Sanjeev Mehta, Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Mumbai, India and Manmeet Kalra, Compro Technologies, New Delhi, India
(Source: www.sciencedirect.com)