Institutional quality,financial development and sustainable economic growth among lower income countries

This article postulates strong endogenous relationships in lower income countries between institutional quality, financial development and sustained economic growth. These associations were investigated using the vector-error correction model (VECM) and Granger causality method for a sample of 79 countries from 2005 to 2022. The findings show that (1) these variables reinforce each other in the short run. (2) In the long run, both institutional quality and financial development can fuel economic growth. (3) The positive effect of institutional quality on economic growth is greater than that of financial development. Policy implications of these findings are that careful attention should be paid to co-development policies to enhance the institutional quality and the financial system in these economies. Policies should also consider economic growth strategies to enable sustainable economic growth rates.     

Physico-chemical characterization of Residual Household Waste for energy recovery in insular territories: Case study of Reunion Island

Waste-to-energy is a promising approach to face the current challenge of waste overproduction in Reunion Island, a French territory. In this particular context of an isolated and tropical territory, it is essential to study the properties of potential feedstocks to choose the most appropriate conversion process. This article reports on the composition of Residual Household Waste from Reunion Island and its physico-chemical parameters. Twelve representative samples of Residual Household Waste were subjected to thermal and elemental analysis. The results showed that their composition had a significant influence on the physico-chemical properties, including calorific value. Residual Household Waste from the selective sorting (rich in wood, plastic, and sanitary textiles) as well as dry mixed RHW are the most interesting for energy recovery. Due to their high volatile matter and high carbon content, and their low moisture content, these types of waste have a high calorific value exceeding 18 MJ/kg. Furthermore, the RHW sample comply with the environmental and health criteria applied by French regulations concerning halogen and heavy metal. Thus, it seems that Residual Household Waste can be an alternative to conventional fuels used in incineration or pyro-gasification processes. However, the study also points the need for a pre-treatment process for these wastes. Indeed, it is necessary to sort them correctly in order to avoid the risks of pollution and important maintenance. And more importantly, drying beforehand is unavoidable to improve combustibility and obtain optimal energy conversion.     

A multi-objective design optimisation of eco-friendly aircraft: the impact of noise fees on airplanes sustainable development

The current work deals with multi-objective optimisations including financial merit factors in the multi-disciplinary conceptual design of a commercial aircraft with a specific focus on noise social cost. The results of optimisations using financial and performance-oriented objective functions have been analysed and combined in a multi-objective optimisation problem using a three-dimensional objective vector. The main novelty of the present work is the analysis of social cost noise fees effectiveness integrated in financial models embracing a wider group of stakeholders’ interests. The foundations of this research lie on the air traffic increase envisaged in the next decades and the contextual growth of the urban areas nearby airport facilities. This scenario requires the aeronautical industry to handle the environment challenge taking into account all the social and economic effects. Indeed, the consolidated technology has approached a saturation point, therefore breakthrough concepts and configurations are mandatory. This matter is addressed as a highly multi-disciplinary problem within conceptual design framework. The financial model proposed is shown to highlight the need of appropriate noise fees as instruments to push all stakeholders towards a technology radical renewal and encourage the aeronautical industry towards a shared strategy in the development of an eco-friendly commercial aviation system.     

Community participation in cultural heritage and environmental policy formulation in Botswana

Cultural heritage does not have direct economic benefits. However, if properly managed it can stimulate social cohesions, improving the environment and have beneficial economic spin offs for the local communities. This paper discusses the role of communities in the formulation of the policies concerning their local environment. It argues that community engagement by policy makers is important in giving legitimacy and ownership of the policies. Furthermore, this paper discusses the potential of cultural heritage in diversifying the economy in Botswana. This paper recommends for the re-assessment of the relationship between the state and local communities which is critical in resuscitating the seemingly ailing community business organizations. In conclusion, it argues for the sustainable management of cultural heritage as a social and economic resource in the next 50 years of Botswana’s independence.     

酸碱度对生活垃圾焚烧厂沥滤液蒸发处理效果的影响

采用蒸发法处理城市生活垃圾焚烧厂垃圾沥滤液,着重考察了不同沥滤液初始pH值对蒸发去除COD和氨氮效果的影响,并采用GC-MS对蒸发冷凝液中有机物成分进行了分析鉴定.结果表明,生活垃圾沥滤液的初始pH对冷凝液中COD、氨氮含量及有机污染物分布产生了决定性的影响.沥滤液在酸性条件下(pH≤6)蒸发,随着pH的增加,冷凝液中COD的含量线性降低,而氨氮的含量线性增加.当沥滤液的初始pH值从6增加到11,冷凝液中COD的含量呈对数函数降低,而氨氮的含量表现出显著增加趋势.从冷凝液中鉴定出38种有机污染物,多为沸点较低的醇、酸、酚和酯类.在酸性条件下(pH=3),冷凝液中挥发性有机酸和低碳醇的相对丰度接近90％.在近中性条件下(pH=6.2),冷凝液中的有机污染物以酚、酸和杂环类化合物为主.在碱性条件下(pH =11),冷凝液中酚和杂环类化合物占比较高,而酸的含量极少.     

空气质量AQI实时发布的改进探讨

针对《环境空气质量指数(AQI)技术规定(试行)》(HJ 633-2012)中对空气质量AQI实时发布存在的欠缺,从增加颗粒物1 h浓度的AQI分级浓度限值及颗粒物24 h滑动平均值计算方法改进着手,解决PM2.5和PM10的24 h滑动平均值实时延迟、1 h平均值代替24 h滑动平均值偏高等问题。     

钻屑法测定煤层H_2S含量

为了测定煤层硫化氢(H2S)含量,防治矿井H2S涌出,提出一种通过钻屑法测定煤层H2S含量的方法。在未受采动影响的新鲜煤壁,采用钻屑法取样,通过测定煤样H2S解吸量、取样过程损失量和H2S残存量确定煤层H2S含量。根据溶于水中H2S的p H值和色谱分析解吸气体中H2S体积分数,确定H2S解吸量;根据煤样解吸规律和气样H2S体积分数,确定H2S损失量;根据色谱分析残存气体中H2S体积分数,确定其残存量。用此方法,对山西某矿H2S涌出煤层进行现场和实验室测定。研究表明,该矿H2S含量为(4.465~6.701)×10-3m3/t。钻屑法测定煤层H2S含量是可行的,可以为矿井H2S治理提供基础数据。     

Characteristics of stable biodiesel emulsion fuel with the aid of lipophilic surfactant,polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR)

ABSTRACT

Biodiesel emulsion fuel is reported as one of the most feasible options capable of generating lower NOx emission than that from fossil fuels. However, oil and water in the emulsion fuel are easily separated and unstable. The aim of the present study is to consider the production and stability of biodiesel emulsion fuel by using tetraglycerin ester (CR-310), i.e., one of lipophilic surfactant, polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) and biodiesel, i.e., Waste cooking Oil Methyl Ester (WOME) produced based on waste cooking oil. The corresponding heat rate, water content, and viscosity are measured. Emphasis is placed on the effects of water content and surfactant on biodiesel emulsions. It is found that: (i) stable emulsion fuel is obtained by adding at least 2.0% of CR-310 and is maintained over 1 month, (ii) there is no effect of water content on stable emulsion fuel if CR-310 is used over 2.0%, and (iii) the viscosity of emulsion fuels is higher than that of the biodiesel fuel and is gradually increased with an increase in the water content.     

苦味酸测定中关键问题的研究

目前测定苦味酸的国标方法为《生活饮用水标准检验方法有机物指标》(GB/T 5750.8—2006)中的衍生物-液液萃取-气相色谱法,在实际测试过程中,发现水样pH值和基质效应会影响苦味酸测定。当pH值为8~12时,生成的氯化苦响应强度变化不大;在pH约为13时,响应强度最大。水质中除腐殖酸、硝基甲烷及2,4,6-三硝基甲苯会影响苦味酸测定外,硝基酚类和甲基酚类同样起到正干扰作用,因此,国标方法不能全面和准确地测定水中的苦味酸含量。     

生态缺水条件下流域生态经济系统安全性分析

生态用水和社会经济用水的竞争状况使得研究水资源短缺地区的流域生态经济系统安全状况、有效进行生态缺水条件下流域生态经济系统的调控十分必要.从宏观角度出发,首先分析了流域生态经济系统演化的机制和影响因素,在此基础上,通过建立指标体系,提出了构建流域主要指标为状态变量的生态经济系统演化模型,并利用模型进行系统安全性分析.以潮白河流域为例,构建了人口数量、人均GDP、生态系统指数以及生态用水比例为状态变量的生态经济系统演化模型.模型模拟结果表明,如果不加以调控,该流域将无法提供生态经济系统的安全保障.提出了提高生态用水比例、控制经济增长速度和积极进行生态建设、控制水土流失的对策,为实现潮白河流域的生态经济系统安全保障服务.