Gulf Coast Environmental Systems

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Earth Day Tips

With Earth Day being in the month of April, we here at GCES spent a lot of timelearning ways we can reduce our own carbon foot prints. We shared what we learned, including great articles, tips, and videos so our followers could learn with us. With all that research, we were able to put together a pretty awesome series of tips, we titled “Easy Ways to Save The Planet.” These daily posts were designed to help people reduce the amount of energy they use, waste they create, and save money! While we have the industrial side of it covered, here, these are things you can easily emulate. It doesn’t get any better than that!

 

With this being Day 1 of our, series we decided to keep it simple with #Recycle. Looking for ways to improve on the basics of cardboard, glass and paper? Well look no further, those little K-cups of coffee can be recycled! It is estimated that 17 million K-cups end up in US landfills every year. Keep watching for more easy ways to save the planet from your pollution control partners at GCES.  [Read more…]

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Before the Storm: A Storm Readiness Guide from the GCES Field Services Team

If you have decided to put a storm readiness plan together, these are the essentials items that you will need to consider as part of your storm plan.

Facility Checklists: The following suggestions should be part of a larger Storm Preparedness Plan that should be executed once the storm is imminent and the warning of severe weather has been issued.

Protecting your Facility:A Storm Readiness Guide

  • Site Preparation – Keeping your site clean is a must.
  • Secure Site – Secure all tools, movable equipment, etc. so to avoid creating projectiles. Cover or remove dumpster and trash from the job site. Dismantle all wood or fences that could be lifted by high winds.
  • Maintenance – Perform a complete full maintenance of all electrical and mechanical equipment. Identify precautions for equipment exposed to water or high humidity and procedures for restarting machinery and equipment.
  • Backup Systems – Check and perform tune-ups of generators. Purchase extra batteries for all systems that utilize a backup battery system.
  • Emergency Site Supplies – Check and maintain proper supply of sandbags, fans, generators and other items that may be needed during an emergency.
  • High Reaching Equipment – Dismount and secure all scaffolding. Booms should be laid down if time permits or the load line hooked to the structure at some low point.
  • Piping and Inlets – Protect all underground piping and underground drains to prevent any accumulation of debris inside. Confirm all storm water inlets and catch basins are free of any material that can lead to obstruction.
  • Deliveries – Postpone any scheduled delivery at least two days after storm occurrence.
  • Power – Disconnect all power lines and remove temporary connections susceptible to damage.

[Read more…]

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Ammonia Removal utalizing an Ammonia Scrubber

Part 5 of Abating Hazardous Air Pollutants: Ammonia

What is Ammonia?

Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen. A colorless gas with the formula NH3, ammonia has a pungent smell. Ammonia boils at 33.34 degrees and must be stored under pressure or at a low temperature. Industrial ammonia is sold as either an ammonia liquor or as a pressurized and/or refrigerated anhydrous liquid ammonia transported in Ammonia Scrubbertanks cars or cylinders. In 2014 the global production of ammonia was 176 million tonnes. China is the top worldwide producer with nearly one-third of total production, followed by India, Russia and the United States.

Ammonia molecules have a trigonal pyramidal shape. The molecules shape allows for a dipole moment and makes it polar. This polarity allows the ability to form hydrogen bonds and makes ammonia highly miscible with water. The central nitrogen atom has five outer electrons with additional electron from each hydrogen atom. This makes a total of eight electrons or four electron pairs that are arranged tetrahedrally. Of these electron pairs three of them are used as bonded pairs leaving one sole pair of electrons. This long pair repels more strongly than bond pairs. [Read more…]

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Dry Scrubber Media Disposal

Revenue Development in Dry Scrubber Media Replacement

When a client came to GCES with a zero waste initiative we had to find a solution for their spent dry scrubber media. We provided them a solution that not only met their zero waste initiative but also allowed opportunity for financial recovery of media replacement costs.

Dry scrubber media, also known as iron sponge sulfide, is composed of iron oxide, elemental sulfur, wood fiber, water, soda ash and limestone.

There are many options for the disposal of spent iron sponge with the most common being simply by spreading the spent media onto an area of land and burying it with a light earth cover. In urban areas the material is generally accepted with EPA approval at a sanitary landfill. In recent years revenue streams and partnerships have been developed between the disposers of the spent media and the agricultural community. In these scenarios agricultural uses for iron sponge include in the farming of tomatoes and coniferous trees such as Christmas trees. [Read more…]

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Lead Removal

Part 4 of Abating Hazardous Air Pollutants: Lead

What is Lead?

Back in middle school most of us probably learned a little about lead. It is in the grey area on the periodic table, is a metal, has a chemical element in the carbon group and has a symbol of Pb. Lead is a soft metal that easily tarnishes and has a shiny finish. It is a double magic number in the nuclear shell model which makes it sound quit fancy and it’s many uses and users may agree. Pollution Control, Lead Abatement, Air Pollution Control, Scrubber, Scrubbers, Baghouse, Dust Collection, VOCs

Where is lead found?

Lead is very common in stars but here on Earth lead is found in minerals that are above the Earths crust. It’s compound is similar to zinc and cooper and as with those two minerals is usually found in ore. Lead deposits are also common in hydrothermal vein, impregnation, and replacement deposits; volcanogenic sedimentary deposits; and hydrothermal or marine sedimentary deposits. The largest resources of lead are in Australia, China, Ireland, Mexico, Peru, Portugal, Russia as well as the US. [Read more…]

Company Profile

Gulf Coast Environmental Systems (GCES) is your custom solutions provider for pollution control systems, industrial ovens, systems engineering and field support worldwide. Our unique approach is to analyze your process stream and business objectives and propose an ideal solution or range of options to help you optimize these objectives. GCES is a one-stop shop: we provide engineering services, manufacturing, installation, commissioning and ongoing support. With our broad base of expertise and large installed global base, we are well-positioned to solve your pollution control issues.

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