Recycling of tailings from Korea Molybdenum Corporation as admixture for high-fluidity concrete

The main objective of this study is to develop an eco-friendly and a large recycling technique of flotation Tailings from korea (TK) from metal mines as construction materials such as admixtures for high-fluidity concrete (HFC). TK used in this study was obtained from the Korea Molybdenum Corporation in operation. TK was used as the alternative material to adjust flowability and viscosity of HFC in the form of powder agent which enables adjustment of concrete compressive strength. In this study, we have performed concrete rheological tests and concrete flowability tests to obtain the quality characteristics of TK for using as the admixture in producing HFC. The results indicated that the adequate mix ratio of cement to TK should be 8:2 (vol%). It is more effective to use the TK as admixture to control flowability, viscosity and strength of HFC than the normal concrete. It was found that TK could be recycled construction materials in bulk such as admixture for HFC, in terms of the economic and eco-friendly aspects.     

基于生命周期评价理论的建筑物环境影响评价系统

建筑物对环境有着巨大的影响。基于生命周期评价(LCA)理论,从材料的开采生产,建筑物的建造、运行直至建筑物被拆除来研究建筑物的环境影响。在一个涉及建筑材料、建筑设备以及建设场地的环境影响数据库的基础上,开发了一个建筑物的环境影响的评价模型BEPAS(BuildingEnvironmentalPerformanceAnalysisSystem)。模型从3个方面:建筑设备运行、建筑材料和建筑场地来研究建筑的环境影响。最后,测算了一个案例,分析了其环境影响水平。     

Large-scale green synthesis of Cu nanoparticles

This article reports a novel, eco-friendly herbal method to synthesize Cu nanoparticles in large scales. Cu nanoparticles are an alternative to Ag and Au nanoparticles and have potential applications in many industrial areas. Many synthetic routes have been documented for the preparation of copper nanoparticles, but very few routes are eco-friendly and large-scale. We report here the preparation of Cu nanoparticles from aqueous CuSO₄ using non-toxic and inexpensive materials like curd, milk, and herbal extracts such as tamarind and lemon juice as capping agents. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy show that produced particles are nanocrystalline copper 20–50 nm in size with a face-centered cubic structure. Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy evidences the role of organic acids in the capping process. The novelty of this work is the synthesis of Cu nanoparticles from CuSO₄ without electricity and using non-toxic, cheap capping agents.     

Cement industry: sustainability, challenges and perspectives

Cement-based materials, such as concrete and mortars, are used in extremely large amounts. For instance, in 2009 concrete production was superior to 10 billion tons. Cement plays an important role in terms of economic and social relevance since it is fundamental to build and improve infrastructure. On the other hand, this industry is also a heavy polluter. Cement production releases 5–6% of all carbon dioxide generated by human activities, accounting for about 4% of global warming. It can release huge amounts of persistent organic pollutants, such as dioxins and heavy metals and particles. Energy consumption is also considerable. Cement production use approximately 0.6% of all energy produced in the United States. On the other hand, the chemistry underlying cement production and its applications can be very helpful to overcome these environmental issues. In terms of manufacture, there are many alternative materials that can be used to minimize carbon dioxide production and reduce energy consumption, such as calcium sulfoaluminates and β-Ca₂SiO₄—rich cements. Using residues from other industrial sectors can also improve the sustainability of cement industry. Under adequate conditions, waste materials such as tyres, oils, municipal solid waste and solvents can be used as supplementary fuel in cement plants. Concrete can be used for encapsulation of waste materials such as tyres, plastics and glasses. In this review, we discuss some aspects of the cement industry associated with environmental science. Other issues such as economic aspects, the chemistry of cement manufacture and its properties are also presented. Special attention is given to the role that cement chemistry can play in terms of sustainability. The most relevant aspects are outlined, such as the use of alternative materials, new possibilities and also the recycling of materials. It is also argued that an important aspect is the role of research and development necessary to improve cement sustainability.     

Stabilised Coal Ash Studies in Italy

The ENEL Ash Research Centre - (Brindisi, Italy) - has started a research programme on the use of coal ash derived from its thermoelectric power plants as a component of blocks for artificial habitats. After preliminary laboratory tests, systematic physical, chemical, and biological tests were carried out in an experimental installation constructed in the area of the Torrevaldaliga power plant (80 km NW of Rome).

Two reef models - each made by assembling pyramids of 225 20 × 20 × 20 cm blocks - were submerged in two tanks (10 × 2 × 1.5 m) with running sea water (water flow: 3-5 cm s-1). the ash blocks were composed of fly ash (52.1%), bottom ash (26.1%), hydrated lime (5.2%) and water 16.6%, while concrete blocks were made of pozzolanic cement, sand and gravel. After two years, ash based blocks showed no weathering, volume variation or swelling; marked compressive strength and sonic velocity increases have, on the contrary, been recorded. No significant leaching of chemical elements of environmental concern was found. the biotic settlement on the ash blocks proved greater in quantity and better in quality than that on the concrete blocks; on ash blocks 62 species were found, compared to 54 on concrete. Ash-based materials seem to be more suitable for the settlement of the macrobenthos.     

Recovery efficiency of the hydrofluorocarbon (HFC‐134a) by activated carbons of different physicochemical properties

The adsorption characteristics of 1,1,1,2‐tetrafluoroethane (HFC‐134a) on activated carbon were investigated to evaluate the recovery efficiency of HFC‐134a by six activated carbons (two granular activated carbons (GAC1 and GAC2), one high‐surface area activated carbon (HAC), and three activated carbon fibers (ACF10, ACF15, and ACF20)). HFC‐134a adsorption on the activated carbons increased with increase in the specific surface area and pore volume of the activated carbon. The differential heat of the HFC‐134a adsorption decreased with increase in the percentage of the micropore volume to the total pore volume. The adsorption model of HFC‐134a on the activated carbon could be based on the Langmuir model. The constant a of the Langmuir plot of HAC and ACF20 is smaller than GAC1 or GAC2 and ACF10 or ACF15, respectively. The constant W_s of HAC has the largest value. The constant a was correlated to the heat of adsorption. It is concluded that the largest amount of HFC‐134a was adsorbed on HAC, and the least amount of interaction occurred between HFC‐134a and the HAC. The amount of HFC‐134a adsorbed on the activated carbons over time was applied to the Sameshima equation. The adsorption rate constant of HFC‐134a on HAC was the largest. The HAC could be suitable for the recovery of HFC‐134a.     

Freisetzung schwerflüchtiger chlorierter Kohlenwasserstoffe aus aquatischem Sediment durch Baumaßnahmen in Berlin

In 1996, in fish — especially eels — from the Berlin Teltowkanal (TK) in Rudow, above the former border between the east and west, suddenly appearing amounts of sDDT (ΣDDT, DDE, DDD as 2,4′ and 4,4′ isomers) were determined, demonstrating about 22 000 μg/kg FS or approximately 10fold of the amount measured in the previous year. It was the aim of the works to verify the suspected cause — deep dredging at the former border crossing (Wredebrücke, TK km 32,4) which was closed for all shipping up to 1990 — to pursue the hight of the sDDT loads during the following years and to find out the spatial dimensions of the new sDDT contaminations. The background of these incidents was the production of DDT preprarations in the former VEB Berlin-Chemie (BC), about 5 km upwards from the Wredebrücke until 1984, leading to serious loads in the water. Measured as the contents in indicator fishes, they decreased continuously from 1983, the beginning of the investigations, until 1995. The sampling was performed as electrical fishing by the Fischereiamt (FiA) at the Senat from Berlin, who also gave the order for the capillary gas-chromatographic determinations. The sDDT batch from 1995 decreased in the canal downwards from the Wredebrücke which could be seen at the sampling points Barnackufer, TK km 16.4, Griebnitzsee, TK km 30 and Kleiner Wannsee/Pohlesee, for instance, all waters influenced by the TK. The profiles of the constituents of sDDT in fish in the vicinity of BC was nearly equivalent to those in the production wastewaters. 2,4′-DDD was taken as an indicator substance. This compound could be found in fish until 1984 and appeared in Rudow and at the Barnackufer for the first time in 1995, thus indicating that 2,4′-DDD was released again at the dredging. The isomers of HCH, the main congeners of PCB and HCB, remained inconspicous as contaminants in fish of the TK. In 1998, the sDDT values in fish of the TK at Rudow clearly decreased; at the Barnackufer already by 1997. Similar phenomena were also observed in Berlin waters in the vicinity of other building sites. They are practical examples for the remobilisation of substances from aquatic sediments.     

A proposal for environmental indicators towards industrial building sustainable assessment

The construction sector carries out a very important role in the development of society. It is a basic component of economic activity, having a great influence on employment generation and country growth. The sector generates appreciable environmental changes and effects throughout the planet, leading to gradual exhaustion of natural resources and contamination of basic elements, such as air, water and soil. Recently, there have been advances in favour of more environmentally friendly buildings. Basically, sustainable construction has centred on residential and office buildings. It could be said that there is a lack of sustainability in the construction of industrial buildings, as they present characteristics which differ from other building typologies. This article aims to assess and analyze industrial building environmental effects, and considers a set of green study criteria, such as: location, materials, energy and water consumption, construction and deconstruction characteristics, and waste management in industrial building. At the same time, the studies are hierarchically structured into different assessment elements, such as: criteria, subcriteria and, finally, indicators, comprising the assessment model.     

Control of hydrogen sulfide emissions using autotrophic denitrification landfill biocovers: engineering applications

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) emitted from construction and demolition waste landfills has received increasing attention. Besides its unpleasant odor, longterm exposure to a very low concentration of H₂S can cause a public health issue. In the case of construction and demolition (C&D) waste landfills, where gas collection systems are not normally required, the generated H₂S is typically not controlled and the number of treatment processes to control H₂S emissions in situ is limited. An attractive alternative may be to use chemically or biologically active landfill covers. A few studies using various types of cover materials to attenuate H₂S emissions demonstrated that H₂S emissions can be effectively reduced. In this study, therefore, the costs and benefits of H₂S-control cover systems including compost, soil amended with lime, fine concrete, and autotrophic denitrification were evaluated. Based on a case-study landfill area of 0.04 km², the estimated H₂S emissions of 80900 kg over the 15-year period and costs of active cover system components (ammonium nitrate fertilizer for autotrophic denitrification cover, lime, fine concrete, and compost), ammonium nitrate fertilizer is the most cost effective, followed by hydrated lime, fine concrete, and yard waste compost. Fine concrete and yard waste compost covers are expensive measures to control H₂S emissions because of the large amount of materials needed to create a cover. Controlling H₂S emissions using fine concrete and compost is less expensive at landfills that provide on-site concrete recovery and composting facilities; however, ammonium nitrate fertilizer or hydrated lime would still be more cost effective applications.     

Some technological properties and uses of paulownia (Paulownia tomentosa Steud.) wood

The aim of this study is to determine some physical and mechanical properties of Paulownia tomentosa wood grown in Turkey. The samples trees harvested from Kargi in Corum. Physical properties including air-dry density oven-dry density basic density swelling, shrinkage and oven-dry and air-dry thermal conductivity coefficients; mechanical properties including bending strength, modulus of elasticity in bending, compression strength parallel to grain, hardness, bonding strength were analyzed. Paulownia tomentosa wood's air dry and oven dry densities were determined as 0.317 and 0.294 g cm(-3); basic density was determined as 0.272 g cm(-3); volumetric shrinkage and swelling were determined as 7.78 and 8.41%; tangential, radial and longitudinal air-dry thermal conductivity coefficients were determined as 0.089, 0.090 and 0.133 kcal/mh degrees C, respectively. Fiber saturation point (FSP) was found 28.79%; bending strength, Modulus of elasticity in bending, compression strength parallel to grain and Brinell hardness values (parallel and perpendicular to grain) were determined as 43.56 N mm(-2), 4281.32 N mm(-2), 25.55 N mm(-2), 2.01 kgf mm(-2) and 0.88 kgf mm(-2), respectively. Consequently paulownia wood can be widely used for various purposes such as house construction, furniture making, pulp and paper and handicrafts.     

钢纤维增强混凝土拉伸本构模型

研究了钢纤维增强混凝土中纤维和基体之间的粘结力特性与拉伸本构关系.首先根据其受力特点提出了几点假设条件,建立了以τ-s曲线和统计理论为基础的钢纤维增强混凝土直接拉伸本构关系模型,该模型考虑到了影响钢纤维增强混凝土断裂性能的基体软化特性和纤维拔出特性,同时将对粘结力特性的研究成果引入到拉伸本构模型,因而使这个模型更加符合实际性状.所得成果对钢纤维混凝土的强度分析、结构设计和工程应用有着重要意义.图3,参2.     

Behaviour of Dioxins, Furans and Metals Associated with Stabilized Msw Combustor Ash in Sea Water

This report presents the results of a research programme designed to examine the engineering and environmental acceptability of stabilizing municipal solid waste (MSW) combustor ash for artificial reef construction. Municipal solid waste combustor ash was combined with Portland cement to form solid blocks using conventional construction block making technology. the resultant stabilized combustor ash (SCA) blocks were used to construct an artificial habitat in Conscience Bay, Long Island Sound, New York and compared to identical concrete blocks, fabricated using natural aggregates. Over a 4.5 year period divers periodically returned to the site to monitor the interaction of SCA blocks with the marine environment and compare the performance of these blocks with the concrete control blocks. Results show that the SCA blocks retain their strength after prolonged sea water exposure. Contaminants of environmental concern, including metals, dioxins and furans, were retained within the cementitious matrix of the SCA blocks after prolonged sea water submersion. in addition, organisms growing on the surfaces of the SCA blocks did not accumulate contaminants from the blocks.     

Chromium steel from chromite ore processing residue ?? A valuable construction material from a waste

As species we humans generate excessive amounts of waste and hence for sustainability we should explore innovative ways to recover them. The primary objective of this study is to demonstrate an efficient and optimum way to recover chromium and iron from chromite ore processing residues (COPR) for the production of chrome steel and stainless steel. In Hudson County, New Jersey, there are more than two million tons of leftover COPR. Part of COPR was used as fill materials for construction sites, which spread the problem to a larger area. With high solubility along with their toxicity leached chromate from COPR is threatening the environment as well as human health. In this research, COPR was thermally treated to recover iron with chromium by applying techniques used in steel manufacturing. An extensive experimental program was performed using a Thermo-Gravimetric Analyzer (TGA) and bench scale tests to thermally treat the processed chromium contaminated soils with carbon and sand at varying temperatures and under reducing environment. The optimum chemical composition of COPR and additives to be used in the melts were evaluated based upon the thermodynamic properties of the mixture to ensure good phase separation, least amounts of iron and chromium oxides in the slag and minimum variability of final product (steel or iron with chromium). The impact of other oxides on the steel making process was evaluated to minimize the adverse impact on the process. The research demonstrated the feasibility of recovering a valuable construction material (chrome steel) from a waste (COPR).     

Recovery and reuse of floc sludge for high-performance capacitors

• The feasibility of facile fabrication of capacitor from floc sludge is discussed. • The porous carbon composites are obtained by acidification and KOH activation. • The as-prepared 3D structure has large surface area and optimal pore size. • Admirable specific capacitance and outstanding cycling stability are obtained. In this paper, floc sludge was transformed into porous carbon matrix composites by acidification and KOH activation at high temperature and used as an electrode material for application in capacitors. The effects of different treatment processes on the electrochemical properties of sludge materials were compared. The results of electrochemical tests showed that the sludge electrode exhibited excellent energy storage performance after HNO₃ acidification and KOH activation with a mass ratio of 3:1 (KOH/C). The specific capacitance of the sludge electrode reached 287 F/g at a current density of 1 A/g. In addition, the sludge electrode material showed excellent cycle stability (specific capacity retained at 93.4% after 5000 cycles at 5 A/g). Based on XRD, FTIR, SEM, TEM, and BET surface analysis, the morphology of sludge electrode materials can be effectively regulated by chemical pretreatment. The best-performing material showed a 3D porous morphology with a large specific surface area (2588 m²/g) and optimal pore size distribution, improving ion channels and charge conductivity. According to the life cycle assessment of floc sludge utilization, it reduced the resource consumption and toxicity risk by more than 90% compared with ordinary sludge disposal processes. This work provided a cost-effective and eco-friendly sludge reuse method and demonstrated the application potential of sludge-based materials in high-performance supercapacitors.     

Behaviour of Dioxins,Furans and Metals Associated with Stabilized Msw Combustor Ash in Sea Water

This report presents the results of a research programme designed to examine the engineering and environmental acceptability of stabilizing municipal solid waste (MSW) combustor ash for artificial reef construction. Municipal solid waste combustor ash was combined with Portland cement to form solid blocks using conventional construction block making technology. the resultant stabilized combustor ash (SCA) blocks were used to construct an artificial habitat in Conscience Bay, Long Island Sound, New York and compared to identical concrete blocks, fabricated using natural aggregates. Over a 4.5 year period divers periodically returned to the site to monitor the interaction of SCA blocks with the marine environment and compare the performance of these blocks with the concrete control blocks. Results show that the SCA blocks retain their strength after prolonged sea water exposure. Contaminants of environmental concern, including metals, dioxins and furans, were retained within the cementitious matrix of the SCA blocks after prolonged sea water submersion. in addition, organisms growing on the surfaces of the SCA blocks did not accumulate contaminants from the blocks.     

影响石油污染物挥发行为的因素

进行了4种不同石油制品在不同温度时的挥发试验,并对其挥发量与挥发时间的关系进行了模拟,试验结果表明,柴油和煤油的挥发量与挥发时间呈二次多项式关系,而90#汽油的挥发量与挥发时间呈对数关系,混合芳烃的挥发量与挥发时间呈线性关系。柴油经过不同程度的挥发后,其物理性质如粘度和比重发生了改变,其中柴油粘度随着挥发而增加,并且柴油的粘度与挥发质量分数有很好的正相关性,相关系数为0.988。     

Effect of oil pollution on function of sandy soils in protected deserts and investigation of their improvement guidelines (case study: Kalmand area,Iran)

Soil pollution is one of the most dangerous sorts of environmental pollutions because of waste materials, fossil fuels, etc. Unfortunately in developing countries, there are very few arrangements to prevent soil pollution due to the fossil fuels and to improve polluted soil. In this research, influences of gas oil on properties of Kalmand protected area’s sandy soil near Yazd, Iran, were studied. It was found that gas oil constituted 5.25% of soil weight in the refueling station in the region. Therefore, cleaning and strengthening of the soil by adding cement rather than expensive and complicated methods were the most important goals of this research. First, the influence of gas oil on soil properties was studied, and to improve the soil, different percentages of ordinary portland cement were added to the polluted sand to study the improved soil properties using laboratory tests. It was found that unconfined compressive strength, cohesion, and angle of internal friction of sample with 16% cement and 8% gas oil after 28 days of curing were higher than those of the specimen of 6% cement and 14% gas oil, at 4.6, 5.4, and 1.3 times, respectively. Moreover, based on falling head tests it was observed that permeability of the stabilized specimens decreased substantially. From SEM tests, fewer voids were observed in the stabilized samples, which led to less pollutant penetration into the soil. According to EDX, although dangerous elements in the contaminated specimen made up 3.99% of the specimen total weight, addition of cement introduced considerable amounts of elements that are vital for pozzolanic reactions. Therefore, it can be concluded that addition of cement to the gas oil-polluted soil not only can improve geotechnical properties of the soil and reduce its permeability, but also is very efficient for environmental issues.     

Corrosion rules for ordinary concrete exposed to sulfur dioxide-containing environments

Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) significantly influences the durability of concrete. Concrete corrosion in SO₂-containing environments is a serious concern. In this study, an accelerated test was devised to examine the change rules of concrete corrosion in SO₂-containing environments. Experiments were conducted to explore changes in mass, strength, and sulfatized depth with different water–cement ratios and a series of SO₂ concentrations. Data indicated that the water–cement ratio and SO₂ levels all impact the durability of concrete.     

Sustainable textile dyeing processes

Textile effluents are characterized by high chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand, total dissolved solids, pH and colour. Fabric preparation steps, such as desizing, scouring, bleaching and mercerizing, use various chemicals and plenty of water. The occurrence of unfixed dyes and other electrolytes in effluents poses serious threats to the environment. Available end-of-pipe treatment procedures are either expensive or not efficient; hence, a large number of small-scale industries succumb to this problem. So, finding an alternative eco-friendly process of textile production is of paramount interest. Here, we review three potential eco-friendly systems applicable to textile dyeing processes to minimize salt and water consumption. First, we review application of enzymatic processing in fabric preparation. Secondly, we review the use of biodegradable organic salts, such as trisodium citrate, magnesium acetate, tetrasodium edate and sodium salts of polycarboxylic acids, as fixation and exhaustion agents. Finally, we review various surface modifications of cotton to reduce the volume of effluent and total dissolved solids.     

Male approach and female avoidance as mechanisms of population discrimination in sagebrush lizards

Reproductive isolation and speciation can result from female choice for particular males. Isolation can also result, however, from male mating preferences or from aggressive encounters which then influence mating decisions. In this study, we use laboratory discrimination trials to study the behavioral mechanisms of population discrimination in sagebrush lizards (Sceloporus graciosus). We specifically ask three questions about population-level discrimination: (1) Does it vary in strength in relation to the geographic distance between the populations? (2) Is it more apparent in inter- or intra-sexual interactions? (3) Does it take the form of attraction or avoidance? We ran 890 trials that tested the ability of male and female sagebrush lizards from one population to discriminate their own population from four other populations. In addition, we utilized both sequential and simultaneous-choice designs, which enabled us to distinguish between attraction and avoidance. We found that most population-level discrimination was exhibited by male lizards preferring to associate with particular types of females, as well as female avoidance of particular types of males. The strength and direction of both discriminations depended on the populations compared and on whether the tests were conducted as sequential- or simultaneous-choice tests, producing a complex relationship between geographic distance and behavioral discrimination. Our results suggest that there are roles for male attraction and female avoidance in population discrimination, reproductive isolation, and speciation.