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EmiStop

KALEH — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 16:41:32 +0000

EmiStop KALEH Tue, 12/19/2017 - 17:41

Identification of Industrial Plastic Emissions by Means of Innovative Detection Methods and Technology Development to Prevent the Input into the Environment via the Wastewater Pathway

This project systematically detected emissions of plastics into wastewater from relevant industries. Emissions levels were analysed along all points of the value chain (production, transport, processing, and cleaning of synthetic materials).

The goal was to select wastewater treatment technologies that optimise the reduction of emissions of plastics for the respective value chain. The project evaluated existing technologies for separating particles, investigated deposition rates, and developed approaches for technical optimisation. Optimisation also includes technological developments such as flocculants. Researchers conducted tests in both laboratory and pilot project settings – selected large scale technical wastewater treatment plants were investigated at industrial facilities.

Due to the existing analytical uncertainties, the following detection methods were used to evaluate the existing and developed technologies:

Dynamic differential calometry for qualification and quantification (concentrations)
Raman spectroscopy for qualification and quantification (particle numbers)
Correlations of the plastic concentrations to routine water chemical analyses (for a retrospective estimation of the plastic loads)
Tracer test with magnetic plastic particles (simple and reliable quantification in large dilutions) for balancing in laboratory and pilot tests

Apart from the technical aspects, the focus of this project was also on socio-economic aspects. Thus, measures to prevent economic losses and retain value were reviewed together with the associated industrial enterprises and evaluated with partners from the scientific community and other interest groups.

Main areas of work

Standardisation of sampling and sample preparation for industrial wastewater (in alignment with Plastik-Net and other joint research projects)
Quantitative and qualitative measurement of plastic concentrations in industrial wastewater using Raman spectroscopy and dynamic differential calorimetry
Extended data collection at the sampled industrial waste water treatment plants for the derivation of the plastic loads and testing of a correlation between the measurement results and routine water chemical analyses
Development of magnetic plastic particles in the micrometre range with the physical properties of relevant types of plastic
Development of a tracer test with magnetic plastic particles
Assessment of technologies for particle separation with regard to the retention of (micro-) plastic particles
Optimisation of particle separation technologies
Development of flocculants for the targeted improvement of the retention of individual types of plastics and their mixtures
Delphi surveys of industry and sector associations as well as of politics and science to identify perceived risks and obstacles as well as opportunities and the willingness to participate
Multi-criteria analysis for the development of weighted, ecological and socio-economic criteria for the sustainability assessment of the project results

Arbeitspakete

Work packages

WP 1 Development of analytical methods for plastic particles

Contact persons
Prof. Dr. Jutta Kerpen, RheinMain University, Institute for Environmental and Process Engineering, Department of Wastewater Treatment, Am Brückweg 26, 65428 Rüsselsheim, e-mail: jutta.kerpen@hs-rm.de

Prof. Dr. Susanne Lackner, Technical University of Darmstadt, Institute IWAR, Department of Wastewater Engineering, Franziska-Braun-Straße 7, 64287 Darmstadt, e-mail: s.lackner@iwar.tu-darmstadt.de

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Markus Engelhart, Technical University of Darmstadt, Institute IWAR, Department of Wastewater Technology, Franziska-Braun-Straße 7, 64287 Darmstadt, e-mail: m.engelhart@iwar.tudarmstadt.de

Project partner
EnviroChemie

Short description
A routinely applicable sampling and sample preparation procedure were developed in order to create a uniform and comparable database for industrial wastewater. For the subsequent qualification and quantification of microplastics in (industrial) wastewater samples, the methods of dynamic differential calorimetry and Raman spectroscopy were adapted to industrial wastewater. The respective analysis results were compared with standardised routine measurements and operational self-analysis to determine correlations.

WP 2 Tracer test

Contact persons
Prof. Dr. Susanne Lackner, Technical University of Darmstadt, Institute IWAR, Department of Wastewater Engineering, Franziska-Braun-Straße 7, 64287 Darmstadt, e-mail: s.lackner@iwar.tu-darmstadt.de

Dr. Kyriakos Eslahian, BS-Partikel GmbH, Nestléstr. 41, 55120 Mainz, e-mail: eslahian@bs-partikel.de

Short description
In order to balance individual process technologies for plastic particle retention in real water matrices, a method for the quantification of magnetic plastic particles by means of magnetic susceptibility scales was established. For this purpose, particles in the size range from 1 μm to 300 μm were synthesised with the greatest possible magnetic susceptibility, which imitate the morphologies and chemical properties of environmental plastic particles.

Furthermore, a continuous method for the production of these particles was established in order to ensure the best possible reproducibility and scalability for subsequent applications.

WP 3 Identification of industrial entry points

Prof. Dr. Susanne Lackner, Technical University of Darmstadt, Institute IWAR, Department of Wastewater Engineering, Franziska-Braun-Straße 7, 64287 Darmstadt, e-mail: s.lackner@iwar.tu-darmstadt.de

Project partner
EnviroChemie, inter 3

Short description
The entry points of microplastics from industrial wastewater into surface waters were determined by uniform characterisation and quantification of the plastic emissions of individual industrial plants. The evaluation of plastic emissions on the basis of mass flows, variations and production information with key figure system and balance tools, hotspots and temporal variations of the particle input were identified.

WP 4 Balancing of technical systems

Contact persons

Dr.-Ing. Eva Bitter, EnviroChemie GmbH, F&E, In den Leppsteinswiesen 9, 64380 Rossdorf, e-mail: eva.bitter@envirochemie.com

Project partner

TU-AW, inter3, HSRM

Short description
In laboratory and pilot tests, various process techniques (filtration in various filter units such as membrane plants, double-layer filters, cloth filters; flocculation in combination with filtration, flotation or sedimentation) were evaluated with regard to plastic particle removal. For this purpose, the tracer particles developed in WP 2 were used, which enable the use of synthetic and real industrial waste water. Furthermore, the existing industrial process technology was evaluated at different industrial sites and optimised with regard to the separation of plastic particles.

WP 5 Optimisation of plastic retention

Contact persons
Dr.-Ing. Eva Bitter, EnviroChemie GmbH, F&E, In den Leppsteinswiesen 9, 64380 Rossdorf, e-mail: eva.bitter@envirochemie.com

Project partner
TU-AW

Short description
Based on the results of WP 4, the pilot plants were adapted by specific design changes (e.g. flow control, sludge removal, conveyor technology) and the success of these optimisations was evaluated in further balancing experiments. For the industries considered, in addition to constructive optimisation of process engineering, production-integrated measures to reduce plastic emissions were derived. The production information collected in WP 3 served as the basis for this.

WP 6 Development of flocculants for plastics sorts

Contact persons
Dr.-Ing. Eva Bitter, EnviroChemie GmbH, F&E, In den Leppsteinswiesen 9, 64380 Rossdorf, e-mail: eva.bitter@envirochemie.com

Project partner
TU-AT, TU-AW

Short description
In experiments with beakers, individual polymers for the targeted flocculation of particles of different types of plastic in the size range from 10 to 300 μm were tested. The results were then used to test specific blends of polymers to produce the most stable flakes of particles of individual plastic types. With these results, the tests and developments were extended to mixtures of different types of plastics.

The laboratory test results were then supplemented by pilot tests using tracer particles developed in WP 2.

WP 7 Risk and potential analysis

Contact person
Dipl.-Ing. Wolf Raber, inter 3 GmbH - Institute for Resource Management, Otto-Suhr-Allee 59, 10585 Berlin, e-mail: raber@inter3.de

Project partner
TU-AT, TU-AW, EnviroChemie, HSRM, BS-Partikel

Short description
To maximise the broad application of the EmiStop optimisation approaches and avoidance strategies, the risks and potentials were identified from the perspective of the key actors, evaluated and fed into the project at an early degree of technology maturity. Furthermore, an expert-supported set of sociopolitical, economic, and ecological evaluation criteria and a meaningful set of indicators were derived in order to analyse and evaluate the multicriterial optimisation approaches and avoidance strategies and in a next step measures for implementation and diffusion.

WP 8 Management and communication

Contact persons
Dr.-Ing. Eva Bitter, EnviroChemie GmbH, F&E, In den Leppsteinswiesen 9, 64380 Rossdorf, e-mail: eva.bitter@envirochemie.com Dr. Anja Steglich, inter 3 GmbH - Institute for Resource Management, 10585 Berlin, e-mail: steglich@inter3.de

Project partner
TU-AT, TU-AW, HSRM, BS-Partikel

Short description
In order to disseminate and implement the project results, industrial companies were actively involved and dialogue is carried out with experts from relevant industry associations (e.g. PlasticsEurope e.V., IK Industrievereinigung Plastikverpackungen e.V., GKV Gesamtverband Plastikverarbeitende Industrie e.V.). The collaboration was commissioned to a) develop the results into a consensual overall perspective, b) prepare these into action-oriented and implementable guidelines and c) make them available via established channels and multipliers, e.g. the Responsible Care Initiative of the chemical industry.

Coordinator

Dr.-Ing. Eva Bitter
EnviroChemie GmbH
In den Leppsteinswiesen 9
64380 Rossdorf
Phone: +49 6154-6998-57
e-mail: eva.bitter@envirochemie.com

Website

http://www.emistop.de/page8.html

Partner Institutions

Technical University of Darmstadt, Institute IWAR, Department of Wastewater Engineering

Technical University of Darmstadt, Institute IWAR, Department of Wastewater Technology

RheinMain University, Institute for Environmental and Process Engineering / HSRM

inter 3 GmbH-Institute for Resource Management

BS-Partikel GmbH

Duration Period

January 2018

December 2020

RUSEKU

KALEH — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 15:00:50 +0000

RUSEKU KALEH Tue, 12/19/2017 - 16:00

Representative Investigation Strategies for an Integrative System Approach to Specific Emissions of Plastics into the Environment

This project developed representative investigation methods and strategies for an integrative system understanding of relevant plastic entry paths into the environmental compartment water. The developed sampling methods were evaluated in terms of their concentration concept, their local use, their sampling throughput, and their selectivity for particles of different properties, sizes, and shapes. For this purpose, defined microplastic particles were produced with these varying characteristics and tested for representative recovery of sampling procedures in the laboratory and in semi-industrial simulation facilities. The methods developed in this way were translated into specific investigation strategies, adapted - with the aid of supporting simulation methods - and then applied to real environmental areas for different transport paths in the urban wastewater system. In addition to the academic understanding of microplastic entry points, causes and pathways, market-ready methods for efficient microplastic sampling were developed in cooperation with the companies involved. These methods form a basis for evaluation by legislators and for standardisation.

Main areas of work

Development of efficient, integrative and representative research methods and strategies (accuracy, repeatability, transferability) for the determination of relevant microplastic contents over the different areas of the water cycle
Establishment of goal-oriented, analytical methods for the detection of microplastic particles according to practical aspects
Simulations of the dynamics of particles in water bodies in semi-industrial laboratory tests
Further development of sampling to quantify the microplastic volume and transport in the real, urban waste water system for the waste water fractions: precipitation water, domestic waste water, and industrial waste water
Generation of a simulation code for the dynamics of microplastic particles in waters

Arbeitspakete

Work packages

WP 1 Production of microplastics and microplastic suspensions

Contact person
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Michael Gehde, Technische Universität Chemnitz, Institute for Materials Handling and Plastics, Reichenhainer Straße 70, 09126 Chemnitz, e-mail: michael.gehde@mb.tu-chemnitz.de

Project partner
BAM, TUB, PlasticsEurope

Short description
First, defined, heterogeneous microplastic mixtures were developed for the environmental testing in water and soil. After the initial use of existing materials (e.g. particles from cryogenic grinding, commercial products), plants for the realistic and defined production of microplastic particles were set up during the project period: UV degradation systems for thin-walled, defined materials, dry or aqueous mechanical abrasion systems for fibres from textile applications, and abrasion simulation systems for the generation of spherical particles. The other project partners contributed to the characterisation of these model materials by applying their analytical methods.

WP 2 Development of sampling methods

Contact person
Dr. Claus Gerhard Bannick, Federal Environmental Agency, Corrensplatz 1, 14195 Berlin, e-mail: claus-gerhard.bannick@uba.de

Project partner
UGT, CSP, SMB, TUK, GEA, GKD, SVEI

Short description
In WP 2, efficient, reliable and reproducible sampling methods and strategies were developed for the microplastic model particles of different varieties, densities, sizes and shapes in the stream simulation facility at UBA. Their usability and reproducibility was also investigated for routine operation and the methods will be evaluated based on the recovery rates of experiments. The individual project partners optimised their analytical procedures: from the use of conventional flow-through centrifuges to the cascade filtration system, suspended matter traps, hydrodynamic modelling, and lysimeter tests to the control of possible input into groundwater.

WP 3 Simulations

Contact person
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Michael Manhart, Technical University of Munich, Associate Professorship of Hydromechanics, Arcisstraße 21, 80333 München, e-mail: m.manhart@bv.tum.de

Project partner
KMT

Short description
The methodological developments from WP 2 were supported by accompanying simulations in WP 3. These simulations resulted in a description of the vertical distributions of spheroids at different particle sizes and shapes in a turbulent surface water or stream simulation facility. The models and results were integrated into a software that simulates geometrically complex, application-oriented cases. A sampling strategy was derived from the simulation results. Relevant material parameters of the particles such as size distribution, real density or surface properties from WP 1 as well as from partners from WP 5 were included.

WP 4 Sampling of real environmental compartment

Contact person
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Heidrun Steinmetz, Technical University of Kaiserslautern, Institute of Water - Infrastructure - Resources, Paul-Ehrlich-Straße 14, 67663 Kaiserslautern, e-mail: heidrun.steinmetz@bauing.uni-kl.de

Project partner
UBA, TUM, KMT

Short description
The main focus of WP 4 were the quantification of the microplastic volume and transport in the real, urban wastewater system for the wastewater and precipitation water, domestic wastewater (partial flows grey and black water), industrial wastewater, and mixed wastewater. The findings from the sampling in WP 2 were implemented and improved. Further work focused on sample preparation and preservation to evaluate the comparability of different sampling strategies. The investigations focused on the quantities and the importance of microplastic volumes in the individual entry points of the urban wastewater system into the water bodies.

WP 5 Analytics

Contact person
Dr. Ulrike Braun, Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Division 5.3 Mechanics of Polymers, Unter den Eichen 87, 12205 Berlin, e-mail: ulrike.braun@bam.de

Project partner
CSP, TUM, FHI

Short description
The analytics used in the individual work packages were based on the requirements for sample preparation and analytical procedures as well as on the necessary information to be generated, not on the general feasibility. WP 5 served the intensive exchange of results generated with complementary analytical methods. In addition, the respective methods, supported by the results of the other project partners, were further refined and adapted.

Case studies

As a real environmental simulation, individual components of the wastewater system of the city of Kaiserslautern were investigated. In concrete terms, precipitation water was sampled here on settlement and traffic areas as well as domestic and industrial wastewater.

In addition, air sampling was also carried out at the limits of comparable sampling sites at locations in Berlin and in the Halle/Leipzig area. The planned lysimeter tests were carried out in Berlin and thus allow an assessment of groundwater recharge in Berlin and Brandenburg.

Coordinator

Dr. Ulrike Braun
Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing / BAM
Unter den Eichen 87
12205 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 8104-4317
e-mail: ulrike.braun@bam.de

Website

https://netzwerke.bam.de/ruseku

Partner Institutions

Federal Environmental Agency / UBA

Technical University of Chemnitz / TUC

Fraunhofer Centre for Silicon Photovoltaics / CSP

Technical University of Kaiserslautern / TUK

Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society / FHI

Technical University of Munich / TUM

Technical University of Berlin / TUB

SmartMembranes GmbH / SMB

Kreuzinger und Manhart Turbulenz GmbH / KMT