Investigation of physical and mechanical properties of mortars produced with recycled asphalt waste under the influence of high temperature

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - In recent years, the use of waste products in cement-based building materials has been increasing. In this study, it is aimed to examine the...     

Investigation of the usability of boron industrial waste as filler in conveyor belt production

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - In the rubber industry, fillers are used to improve certain properties of rubber composites and to make rubber compound recipes cheaper. In this...     

Increase of the purification efficiency of biofilters by the use of a complementary ionisation step

The biofilter and the ionisation system are two oxidative treatment techniques for purification of waste gas streams with low concentrations of volatile organic compounds. In this paper, the authors present the investigations of an ionisation technique aimed at increasing the efficiency of the reduction of the odorant concentration in waste gas streams from biological waste treatment plants. The objective is to enable advanced odour emission reduction and to adjust the existing biofilters to stricter requirements. In a first step, the odorous substances which are major contributors to the overall odorant concentration are identified on basis of various emission data sets with the help of a method of life cycle impact assessment. Thereby limonene, alpha-pinene, ethyl butyrate and dimethyl disulphide were identified as crucial indicators. In a second step, experimental investigations using limonene as a model compound were conducted to gain an understanding of the ionisation process itself and at last for the evaluation of the system.     

Leaching of indium from obsolete liquid crystal displays: Comparing grinding with electrical disintegration in context of LCA

In order to develop an effective recycling system for obsolete Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs), which would enable both the leaching of indium (In) and the recovery of a pure glass fraction for recycling, an effective liberation or size-reduction method would be an important pre-treatment step. Therefore, in this study, two different types of liberation methods: (1) conventional grinding, and (2) electrical disintegration have been tested and evaluated in the context of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). In other words, the above-mentioned methods were compared in order to find out the one that ensures the highest leaching capacity for indium, as well as the lowest environmental burden. One of the main findings of this study was that the electrical disintegration was the most effective liberation method, since it fully liberated the indium containing-layer, ensuring a leaching capacity of 968.5mg-In/kg-LCD. In turn, the estimate for the environmental burden was approximately five times smaller when compared with the conventional grinding.     

Electrical separation of plastics coming from special waste

Minimisation of waste to landfilling is recognised as a priority in waste management by European rules. In order to achieve this goal, developing suitable technologies for waste recycling is therefore of great importance. To achieve this aim the technologies utilised for mineral processing can be taken into consideration to develop recycling systems. In particular comminution and separation processes can be adopted to recover valuable materials from composite waste. In this work the possibility of recycling pharmaceutical blister packaging has been investigated. A suitable comminution process has been applied in order to obtain the liberation of the plastic and aluminium components. Experiments of electrical separation have been carried out in order to point out the influence of the process parameters on the selections of the different materials and to set up the optimum operating conditions.     

Comparative analysis of hazardous household waste in two Mexican regions

Household hazardous waste (HHW) generation in two Mexican regions was examined, a northern region (bordering with the USA) and a central region. The aim of this work was to determine the dynamics of solid waste generation and to be able to compare the results of both regions, regarding consumption patterns and solid waste generation rates. In the northern region, household solid waste was analysed quantitatively. In order to perform this analysis, the population was categorized into three socioeconomic strata (lower, middle, upper). Waste characterization revealed the presence of products that give origin to household hazardous waste. In the northern region (Mexicali city), household hazardous waste comprised 3.7% of municipal solid waste, the largest categories in this fraction were home care products (29.2%), cleaning products (19.5%) and batteries and electronic equipment (15.7%). In the central region, HHW comprised 1.03% of municipal solid waste; the main categories in this fraction were represented by cleaning products (39%), self care products (27.3%), and insecticides (14.4%). In Mexicali, the socioeconomic study demonstrated that the production of HHW is independent of the income level. Furthermore, the composition of the solid waste stream in both regions suggested the influence of another set of variables such as local climate, migration patterns and marketing coverage. Further research is needed in order to establish the effect of low quantities of HHW upon the environment and public health.     

Effect of Hot Drawing on the Mechanical Properties of Biodegradable Fibers

The use of biodegradable polymers is increasingly attracting interest over the last years, since they can reduce the environmental effects related to disposal of traditional plastics and, in general, the use of fossil, non-renewable resources. One of the most promising applications is represented by fibers production. However, the orientation and the crystallinity degrees can significantly affect the mechanical properties. Therefore, it is of interest to investigate on the optimum processing conditions, in order to improve the mechanical properties. In particular, while crystallinity can be slightly modified by the processing, orientation can be significantly improved. In this work, the effects of hot stretching on the mechanical and structural properties of fibers made from two different families of biodegradable blends were investigated. The orientation proved to significantly change the mechanical properties, and it was shown that factors such as the different relaxation times, the different crystallization temperatures and the cooling rate can give opposite effects in the three investigated polymer systems with significant consequences on the mechanical behaviour of the fibers. In particular, the behaviour during fiber production in hot stretching, and the orientation mechanisms were studied and explained on the basis of rheological and thermal properties of the polymers.     

Low-cost treatment of landfill leachate using peat

The EU Landfill Directive obliges member states to collect and treat leachate from landfill sites. In regions of high population density, this is commonly achieved through discharge of the leachate to the municipal sewerage system. In Ireland, rural landfills can be a long distance from a suitable sewerage system, resulting in high transportation costs. On-site treatment systems, when used elsewhere, are mainly aerobic treatment systems, which are costly to construct and operate. There is a particular need for low-cost, low-maintenance leachate treatment systems for small low-income landfills, and for closed landfills, where long-term running costs of aerobic systems may be unsustainable. In 1989, this research work was initiated to investigate the use of local peat for the treatment of leachate from a small rural landfill site. In 1997, following the award of grant-aid under the EU LIFE Programme, a full-scale leachate treatment plant was constructed, using local un-drained peat as the treatment medium. When the LIFE Project ended in February 2001, leachate treatment research continued at the site using a pre-treated peat as the treatment medium. The treatment levels achieved using both types of peat are discussed in this paper. It is concluded that landfill leachate may be successfully treated using a low-cost peat bed to achieve almost 100% removal of both BOD and ammonia.     

阳离子嫩黄染料与苯酚在活性炭上竞争吸附的研究

用阳离子嫩黄染料和苯酚作为分子量差异悬殊的两种机吸附质，研究它们在两种国产活性炭上的吸附性能。在双组分竞争吸附中，阳离子嫩黄染吸附占明显优势，而 酚的吸附量则比在单组分系统时要小。本文还用理想吸附溶液（ＩＡＳ）模型对双组分竞争吸附作了预测。     

Application of a gas-solid fluidized bed separator for shredded municipal bulky solid waste separation

A laboratory-scale gas-solid fluidized bed separator able to separate fractions of 5.6-50mm was used for separation of shredded municipal bulky waste (SBW) into combustibles and incombustibles. In batch-scale tests, it was found that accumulation of SBW in the bottom of the bed significantly reduced the separation efficiency. In this study, stirring was shown to be effective in preventing this accumulation. Flexible sheet materials such as paper and film plastics also significantly decreased the separation efficiency. In batch-scale tests, an overall efficiency of 90% was obtained when flexible materials such as film plastics and paper were excluded from the feed SBW. In continuous feeding tests, purities of the float and sink fractions attained 95% and 86% efficiencies, respectively, with an overall efficiency of 79%. The effect of feedstock shape on separation efficiency was also investigated. This study revealed that large particles can be properly separated on the basis of density, while the shape of the material significantly influenced behavior in the fluidizing bed.     

Thermodynamic analysis of the energy recovery from the aerobic bioconversion of solid urban waste organic fraction

Waste management is of the utmost importance for many countries and especially for highly developed ones due to its implications on society. In particular, proper treatment before disposal of the solid urban waste organic fraction is one of the main issues that is addressed in waste management. In fact, the organic fraction is particularly reactive and if disposed in sanitary landfills without previous adequate treatment, a large amount of dangerous and polluting gaseous, liquid and solid substances can be produced. Some waste treatment processes can also present an opportunity to produce other by-products like energy, recycled materials and other products with both economic and environmental benefits. In this paper, the aerobic treatment of the organic fraction of solid urban waste, performed in a biocell plant with the possibility of recovering heat for civil or industrial needs, was examined from the thermodynamic point of view. A theoretical model was proposed both for the biological process of the organic fraction, as well as for the heat recovery system. The most significant results are represented and discussed.     

Utilization of red mud as catalyst in conversion of waste oil and waste plastics to fuel

The aim of this study was to investigate the possibilities of using a by-product (red mud) from alumina production as a catalyst for recovery of waste. The conversion of waste mineral oil (WMO) and waste mineral oil/municipal waste plastic (WMO/MWP) blends over red mud (RM), a commercial hydrocracking catalyst (silica–alumina), and a commercial hydrotreating catalyst (Ni–Mo/alumina) to fuel has been studied. The effect of the catalyst and the temperature on the product distribution (gas, liquid, and wax) and the properties of liquid products were investigated. In the case of hydrotreatment of WMO, the liquids obtained over RM at both 400° and 425°C had larger amounts of low-boiling hydrocarbons than that of thermal or catalytic treatment with hydrotreating catalyst. Gas chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of the liquid products showed that RM had hydrogenation and cracking activity in hydrotreatment of WMO. In coprocessing of WMO with municipal waste plastics, temperature had an important effect as well as the amount of MWP in the blend and the catalyst type. The hydrocracking at 400°C produced no liquid product. In hydrocracking at 425°C, the product distribution varied with catalyst type and MWP amount. The commercial hydrocracking catalyst had more cracking ability in the conversion of WMO/MWP to liquid and gas fuel than RM. In the case of hydrocracking over RM, the largest amount of liquid having satisfactory quality was obtained only from the blend containing 20% MWP.     

Optimization of microwave treatment for dewaterability enhancement of electroplating sludge

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - In this study, the dewaterability characteristics of electroplating sludge have been investigated after treatment with microwave irradiation. While...     

Spectroscopic Analysis of Ultraviolet Lamps for Disinfection of Air in Hospitals

In order to have feasibility study of ultraviolet lamps for air disinfection in hospitals, a number of lamps were studied spectroscopically. It was required to understand if these lamps really emitted 253.7 nm. Was the radiation intense enough to disinfect the surrounding air in the hospital? And to know about the percent transmission of the UV rays through the glass of the lamps. The intensity and UV dose were calculated at various distances in air from the lamps. While putting 1-min exposure time in the reciprocity law, the intensity/distance and dose/distance graphs were drawn for various lamps. From the trend line of the graph the distance at which the lamp emitted 10 μW/cm² was calculated. In this study the 1-min exposure time was considered, using the Riley’s designed upper room air disinfection data for 90% kill rate. In the light of the results these lamps were considered fit to be installed either in the air ducts or in the upper room at certain distances for air disinfection, and suggestions were given for the improvement of the system proposed.     

Petroleum biodegradation in soil: The effect of direct application of surfactants

The direct application of surfactants to petroleum-contaminated soil has been proposed as a mechanism to increase the bioavailability of insoluble compounds. Solubilization of hydrophobic compounds into the aqueous phase appears to be a significant rate limiting factor in petroleum biodegradation in soil. Nonionic surfactants have been developed to solubilize a variety of compounds, thus increasing the desorption of contaminants from the soil. In this study, laboratory scale land treatment scenarios were used to monitor the bioremediation of petroleum contaminated soils. In efforts to achieve the lowest levels of residual petroleum hydrocarbons in the soil following biotreatment, 0.5 and 1.0% (volume/weight) surfactant was blended into soils under treatment. Two soil types were studied, a high clay content soil and a sandy, silty soil. In both cases, the addition of surfactant (Adsee 799®, a blend of ethoxylated fatty acids, Witco Corporation) stimulated biological activity as indicated by increased heterotropbic colony forming units per gram of soil. However, the increased activity was not correlated with removal of petroleum hydrocarbons. The results suggest that the application of surfactants directly to the soil for the purpose of solubilizing hydropbobic compounds was not successful in achieving greater levels of petroleum hydrocarbon removal.     

Comparison of leaching tests to determine and quantify the release of inorganic contaminants in demolition waste

The changes in waste management policy caused by the massive generation of waste materials (e.g. construction and demolition waste material, municipal waste incineration products) has led to an increase in the reuse and recycling of waste materials. For environmental risk assessment, test procedures are necessary to examine waste materials before they can be reused. In this article, results of column and lysimeter leaching tests having been applied to inorganic compounds in a reference demolition waste material are presented. The results show a good agreement between the leaching behaviour determined with the lysimeter unit and the column units used in the laboratory. In view of less time and system requirements compared to lysimeter systems, laboratory column units can be considered as a practicable instrument to assess the time-dependent release of inorganic compounds under conditions similar to those encountered in a natural environment. The high concentrations of elements in the seepage water at the initial stage of elution are reflected by the laboratory column leaching tests. In particular, authorities or laboratories might benefit and have an easy-to-use, but nevertheless reliable, method to serve as a basis for decision-making.     

Effects of Acidification and its Mitigation with Lime and Wood Ash on Forest Soil Processes: A Review

Anthropogenic acid deposition causes forest soil acidification and perturbation of the soil forming processes. The impact of soil acidification on tree growth is discussed in view of the role of mycorrhizal fungi in weathering and nutrient uptake. A review has been carried out of experiments involving treatments of forest soil by lime and wood ash, where soil properties and soil solution composition have been investigated. Results from these experiments in Europe and North America are summarized. In general, the content of C in the mor layer decreased as a result of treatment due to higher microbial activity and soil respiration as well as increased leakage of DOC. In addition, the content of N in the mor layer, in general, decreased after treatment and there are occasional peaks of high NO₃concentrations in soil solution. In nearly all reviewed investigations the pH of the deep mineral soil solution decreased and Al, SO₄and NO₃concentrations increased after treatment. These effects are probably due to the high ionic strength and increased microbial activity as a consequence of the treatments. In the soil, pH, CEC and base saturation increased in the upper horizons, but decreases in the upper mineral soil are also reported. In general, there was no increase in tree growth as a result of these treatments. The positive effects of the treatments on soil processes and tree growth are therefore questionable. In view of these conclusions, an investigation was carried out on the soil and soil solution chemistry and the role of mycorrhizal fungi in a spruce stand treated with two doses of lime and another treated with lime/ash in southern Sweden. The results of this investigation is reported in this volume.     

Effect of Decalin Solvent on the Thermal Degradation of HDPE

The thermal cracking of HDPE in presence of different amounts of decalin was studied and compared with the reaction carried out in the absence of solvent. The decalin favours the mass and heat transfer during the reaction. In addition, it modifies the thermal degradation mechanism, which facilitates the formation of specific products. The use of decalin substantially increases the C₅–C₃₂ yield in comparison with the solventless reaction. In all cases, linear hydrocarbons such as n-paraffins, α-olefins and α,ω-dienes were detected. Increasing the decalin/plastic ratio led to enhanced α-olefin and n-paraffins yields, but the increase was more significant in the case of α-olefins, which are valuable compounds useful as raw chemicals. A reaction mechanism was proposed to explain the results obtained in presence of decalin. In these reactions, intramolecular radical transfer, secondary radical β-scission and hydrogen transfer from both decalin to intermediate radicals and from the polymer chain to regenerate the decalin play a significant role in determining the plastic conversion and the relative amounts of each product.     

The importance of chemical buffering for pelagic and benthic colonization in acidic waters

In poorly buffered areas acidification may occur for two reasons: through atmospheric deposition of acidifying substances and – in mining districts – through pyrite weathering. These different sources of acidity lead to distinct clearly geochemistry in lakes and rivers. In general, the geochemistry is the major determinant for the planktonic composition of the acidified water bodies, whereas the nutrient status mainly determines the level of biomass. A number of acidic mining lakes in Eastern Germany have to be neutralized to meet the water quality goals of the European Union Directives and to overcome the ecological degradation. This neutralization process is limnologically a short-term maturation of lakes, which permits biological succession to overcome two different geochemical buffer systems. First, the iron buffer system characterizes an initial state, when colonization starts: there is low organismic diversity and productivity, clear net heterotrophy in most cases. Organic carbon that serves as fuel for the food web derives mainly from allochthonous sources. In the second, less acidic state aluminum is the buffer. This state is found exceptionally among the hard water mining lakes, often as a result of deposition of acidifying substances onto soft water systems. Colonization in aluminum-buffered lakes is more complex and controlled by the sensitivity of the organisms towards both, protons and inorganic reactive aluminum species. In soft-water systems, calcium may act as antidote against acid and aluminum; however, this function is lost in hard water post mining lakes of similar proton concentrations. Nutrient limitations may occur, but these do not usually control qualitative and quantitative plankton composition. In these lakes, total pelagic biomass is controlled by the bioavailability of nutrients, particularly phosphorus.     

Environmental evaluation of reuse of by-products as road construction materials in Sweden

Reuse of by-products in road construction is most often environmentally evaluated from the narrow perspective of the material itself, i.e. the material level. In this article, we argue that the current mainstream environmental evaluation of reuse of by-products in road construction should use wider system boundaries. In order to illustrate the importance of system boundaries to the final result, three additional levels that complement the material level, are applied to the environmental evaluation of reuse of by-products. In total these four levels of evaluation are, firstly, the material itself, mainly studied by leaching tests, secondly, the road environment studied by substance flow analysis, furthermore, a narrow life-cycle perspective and, finally, the industrial system level that addresses the reuse of by-products in a broader sense. Methods and tools applied to different levels emphasise different environmental aspects and consequently they are appropriate for addressing different questions. However, especially for the evaluation of environmental aspects on the industrial system level, there is a need to develop the methods. To apply these four levels to the evaluation would broaden the knowledge about the environmental impacts of the reuse of by-products. We argue that current leaching tests have to be complemented by the broader system boundaries used in substance flow studies and in life-cycle assessments in order to discuss the use of resources and environmental impacts from a wider perspective.