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Tuesday, Dec. 22, 1998
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Lab researchers develop new process for converting nitrates to nitrogen gas
Nitrates, wastes typically generated in the mining, chemical, farming and nuclear power industries and during weapons production, are toxic to both humans and the environment. Reducing or eliminating nitrates once they enter the groundwater is problematic at best.
Now researchers at the Laboratory have developed an inexpensive, potentially revolutionary process for converting solid and liquid nitrate wastes into harmless nitrogen gas. The inventors will demonstrate the new process to potential industrial partners in workshops scheduled for February.
Nitrates are essentially salts or compounds of nitric acid. They can cause excessive biological activity, vegetation growth and precipitation of organic residue once they come into contact with bodies of water such as lakes. Excessive nitrate concentrations can transform healthy bodies of water into decaying marshes. If consumed in sufficient quantities, nitrates can cause harm to humans, especially infants. Studies have shown that nitrates in sufficient amounts can cause a disease commonly called Blue Baby Syndrome, a congenital heart disease characterized by such signs as bluish discoloration of the skin, breathing difficulty and heart murmur.
Several methods currently are used worldwide to destroy or remove nitrate wastes, such as reverse osmosis, evaporation and thermal or biological destruction. But they are often energy-intensive -- thus expensive to use -- and may still leave harmful waste residues. The new nonthermal, nonbiological process developed by researchers Jacek Dziewinski, Joel Anderson and Stas Marczak of Environmental Systems and Waste Characterization (CST-7) utilizes a unique transition metal/acid mixture that strips oxygen atoms from nitrates, converting them first to nitrites and ultimately to nitrogen gas. The gas can then either be recaptured or released into the atmosphere.
"One of the beauties about this new process is its simplicity and ease of use," said Dziewinski.
Under its current test configuration, nitrate-laced wastewater is pumped
into a chamber filled with the metal/acid catalysts. As the wastewater flows
through the chamber, the metal catalyst strips away one oxygen atom from
each nitrate, while the acid catalyst strips away the remaining two oxygen
atoms.
The end result is nitrate-free wastewater. Solid nitrate salts or heterogeneous solids containing nitrates can be treated with the same process simply by mixing them with water. During the stripping process, the metal dissolves into a solution that's mixed with the wastewater. That mixture is pumped into an electrolytic cell, where the metal ions are converted back to their original metallic form, then pumped back into the chamber reactor tank. "As a result, we can reuse the metal countless times for future stripping, so the new process is very cost-effective," explained Dziewinski. "The process is safe, and the equipment is inexpensive compared to the other technologies because it runs at ambient temperatures and pressures." Dziewinski also said the Laboratory is interested in implementing the technology on a large scale. The Laboratory currently is pilot testing the process at the Lab's Liquid Radioactive Waste Treatment Facility. The Laboratory produces nitrate waste daily as part of normal operations. --Ternel N. Martinez |
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Panelists discuss coping with the holiday blues
Everyone has a weird Uncle Bob or Aunt Mary who makes strange noises, is out of shape, talks too much or maybe even dresses like Herb Tarleck, the fictional radio account executive on television's old "WKRP in Cincinnati" show. But because it's the holidays, most people put on their best holiday faces and tolerate them.
It's a common dilemma for many during the holidays, according to psychologist Christine Hazard of Los Alamos. "Holidays tend to be a family time and people have difficulties with that," Hazard said, explaining that having to fulfill expectations of others is stressful, and for some, makes the holidays less than pleasant.
Hazard joined four other panelists Thursday in the Physics Building Auditorium to talk about how employees can cope with the holiday blues. Other panelists included Tom Locke, the Lab's Employee Assistance Program (ESH-2) director, Phyllis Webb of the Wellness Center (ESH-2), Bruce MacAllister of the Ombuds Office and Sarah Teasdale of Corazon Behavioral Health in Los Alamos, who specializes in depression, mood disorders and women's issues.
The panel discussion was cosponsored by the Women's Diversity Working Group, the Employee Assistance Program and the Wellness Center.
Hazard said people who are sad or depressed during the holidays are in a "double bind" because others expect them to be happy. "But if you're not in that situation it's more painful than usual," said Hazard.
The colder weather and shorter days don't help either, she said, adding that ideally humans could take a lesson from some animals and spend the winter hibernating and "sort of nibbling on our stored nuts."
But most people eat too much during the holidays because food is usually readily available, including high-calorie foods, sweets and other holiday goodies.
Teasdale said alcohol, which is usually served at holiday get-togethers, also presents problems for people suffering through the holiday blues, and for people who have a problem with alcohol. "People who have problems with alcohol are uncomfortable in settings where alcohol is present," said Teasdale.
The way to mitigate this, she said, is to make holiday parties as comfortable for people not to drink as it is to imbibe. She suggested having a server serve alcoholic drinks, make sure designated drivers are available, and if possible, have a vehicle available to give rides to partygoers who've had too much.
She also said nonalcoholic look alike drinks be served; orange juice with Seven-Up for example. And alcoholic drinks should stop being served two hours before a party is scheduled to end and replaced with coffee and desserts.
Lab Ombusdman MacAllister spoke briefly about the services available at the Ombuds Office, which is located downtown in the Central Park Square building off Central Avenue at 15th Street. He also said the Ombuds Office can help employees having a hard time coping with the holidays.
Webb of the Wellness Center said regular exercise routines should be followed during the holidays, noting that some studies have shown that exercise or some form of physical activity like walking can moderate mood.
Webb said people who are struggling with the holiday blues should make a contract with themselves. The contract holds the person to maintain their regular exercise regimen, to gain no more than a pre-determined number of pounds and to eat three well-balanced meals a day. To help meet the holiday contract goals, find an exercise buddy, said Webb, or someone you can tell "I can't move a muscle today, can you tell me to," she said.
Locke, who directs the Employee Assistance Program at TA-53, reiterated Hazard's comments, and warned people not to overload themselves with expectations. "We have notions of what holidays are supposed to be and what they're not," said Locke.
He noted that some people go to great lengths to separate themselves from the burdensome expectations that are exacerbated by the holidays. "Be careful what you load on yourselves," said Locke.
Locke also reminded people that employees who visit EAP won't lose their jobs or security clearances and that dependents of Lab employees also can use the program.
--Steve Sandoval
DOE resolves one of Hanford's important tank safety issues
After several years of extensive technical work, which included sampling and laboratory analysis of the waste from more than 110 tanks, the Department of Energy has closed the safety issue associated with potentially explosive organic compounds in single-shell waste tanks, one of several safety issues associated with these tanks at Hanford. Consequently, the department will remove 18 tanks from the site's organic waste tank watch list of potentially dangerous tanks and resolve one of Hanford's most serious tank waste safety issues. More information can be found in a DOE news release.
BlueCross BlueShield representative here Wednesday
Representatives from BlueCross BlueShield New Mexico will be at the Laboratory from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday to meet with employees to discuss claims or issues.
The BlueCross BlueShield representatives will be in the Benefits Office on the second floor of the Otowi Building, said Deborah Lee of Compensation and Benefits (HR-1).
Employees are asked to make an appointment at least a day ahead of time, said Lee. They should call the Benefits Office at 7-1806 or write to benefits@lanl.gov by electronic mail to schedule an appointment time.
Lee said BlueCross BlueShield representatives are scheduled to be at HR-1 every other Wednesday to meet with employees.
--Steve Sandoval
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