‘Dynamic behavioral fingerprinting’: what drives the deployment of environmental information and communication capabilities?

This article investigates the impact of organizational drivers for the implementation of business process and network information and communication capabilities (ICCs) supporting cleaner production in the Dutch food and beverage industry. We do so with the intention to promote ‘dynamic behavioral fingerprinting’.Survey results show, that sub-sectors of this industry are driven to adopt environmental ICCs to a different level. Responses range from compliance-oriented (Slaughterhouses & meat sub-sector) to market-oriented (Bakery and biscuits sub-sector). Knowledge of key drivers and their impact offers opportunities to adjust the environmental policy and instruments to sub-sector specifics so that its effectiveness is improved. We therefore propose ‘dynamic behavioral fingerprinting’: mapping “typical” patterns of managerial response towards environmental issues, in order to improve the effectiveness of public–private interaction and cooperation.     

中国红色粘土型金矿成矿特征

中国的红色粘土型金矿是 90年代初发现并开始研究的 ,基本上产于南方特别是西南地区。由于特殊的地质构造条件和气候、地貌条件 ,该类型金矿与国外的红土型金矿存在明显的差异 :红色粘土型金矿剖面发育差 ,红土化程度低 ;对源岩依存度高 ;铁铝含量低、硅含量高 ;矿石处在富粘土矿物阶段 ,少见三水铝石 ,一般为伊利石和高岭石共存。金在红色粘土中以微细粒分散形式存在 ,且在红色粘土剖面中由于表生淋滤作用而发生活化、迁移和再沉淀。     

Approaches to correct for double counting in tiered hybrid life cycle inventories

This paper presents an approach for inventory compilation and adjustment of double counting in tiered hybrid life cycle inventories (LCIs). The combination of input–output and physical inventory data on coefficient level is a convenient way of constructing a hybrid LCI that has both good detail and completeness. The proposed approach formalizes how to deal with partially overlapping data in inventory compilation. This particular approach requires that the issue of double counting is resolved in a consistent manner. Algorithms for identifying and adjusting for double counting are developed. Identification is performed based on a structural path analysis (SPA). Two algorithms for adjustment are presented. The first method is relatively simple to implement but has limitations to its applicability when performing a detailed assessment. The second method is more complex to implement but provides results that allow for more comprehensive structural inventory analysis. Numerical examples are provided in Appendix.     

Eco-efficiency in the Australian minerals processing sector

The resources sector has come to accept that the global quest for sustainable development is one of the key shapers of its future development and business success. While much uncertainty remains regarding the full ramifications of sustainable development, it is uncontested that preventive environmental and resource productivity strategies, or eco-efficiency (EE), are conditional for the minerals industry's ability to progress in sustainable development. A customised framework for EE in minerals processing is proposed. It connects five prevention practices (process design; input substitution; plant improvement; good housekeeping; and reuse, recycling and recovery) with five resource productivity themes (resource efficiency; energy use and greenhouse gas emissions; water use and impacts; control of minor elements and toxics; and by-product creation). These are illustrated with practical examples from gold, base metals, alumina, aluminium and pigment operations in Australia. This illustrates that EE is possible from technical and operational perspectives, with implementation ultimately depending on the ability of project teams to build a convincing business case. Moreover, from a technology perspective, EE can be fostered at three distinct and mutually reinforcing innovation platforms: operations; plant design; and process technology.     

An environmental assessment method for cleaner production technologies

An environmental assessment method for cleaner production technologies enabling quantitative analysis of environmental impact is presented.The proposed method is based on material and energy flows and uses a set of profile indices, including raw material, energy, waste, product and packaging profiles that describe all material and energy flows related to the technology under investigation. The indices are used as a basis for determining an integrated index for overall environmental assessment of cleaner production technologies.The presented method can be employed to evaluate environmental nuisance of implemented, modernised and modified technological processes and products as well to perform comparative analyses of alternative technologies.     

Environmental aspects when manufacturing products mainly out of metals and/or polymers

The most fundamental aspect in the ISO 14001 standard Environmental management systems—Specification with guidance for use is to find out ways by which an organisation influences environment to a significant degree. This paper examines environmental data from companies manufacturing products mainly from metals and/or polymers. The data were collected in a uniform way by use of special guidelines. Weighting or valuation methods often used in life cycle assessments were used to quantitatively compare and rank environmental aspects. The study results suggest that, in general, the largest environmental impact in the investigated manufacturing sub-sector can be associated with product use and/or disposal phases. This in turn shows a need for more attention on environmental work on the design for environment than what the ISO 14001 standard requires. It is further suggested that weighting or valuation methods can aid in determining the significance of environmental impacts and aspects in the context of ISO 14001.     

典型土壤和沉积物中多金属形态分布特征

土壤和沉积物作为地表矿物岩石风化过程的重要产物,对金属元素的地球化学循环起着至关重要的作用。由于土壤和沉积物记录了矿物溶解、吸附、沉淀及生物吸收等综合地质过程的叠加作用,如何准确判定某个单一过程对金属地球化学的影响和贡献仍是当前研究难题。土壤和沉积物中金属的形态分布特征研究可帮助判定元素在地表风化过程中经历的特定过程。本文选择我国广泛分布的五种典型土壤类型(砖红壤、黄棕壤、棕壤、红壤、水稻土)、一种水系沉积物和一个玄武岩自然风化剖面土壤样品,运用改进的BCR形态提取法开展典型金属形态分布特征研究,明确了具有潜在生理毒性的Cr和Pb、代表性过渡金属Ni、Cu、Zn、V、Co以及相关研究较少的碱金属Cs、碱土金属Sr和难溶元素Zr在不同土壤、沉积物中的分布特征,刻画了这些金属在典型砖红壤风化剖面上的连续变化规律,初步判定了不同地质环境金属形态分布不同的控制因素。V、Zr和Sr受自身性质控制,在不同的地质样品中都表现出相似的形态分布,均以残渣态为主,而其他金属则表现出不同的形态分布趋势,其中,Ni、Zn、Cs、Pb和Cu的形态分布受它们的理化特性和外部环境共同影响,Co形态则可能受到锰矿物、TOC含量的影响。研究结果为进一步认识流域金属地球化学行为及其环境效应提供了基础数据。     

Mining life cycle modelling: a cradle-to-gate approach to environmental management in the minerals industry

It is common practise in mining Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies to use a predefined set of data to represent mining production systems. Besides this, very little is added to improve data quality, and essential mining process details which affect the ultimate environmental impacts is rarely taken into account. Some significant omissions include exploration and development work, mining method used, production, ore losses, location and the mining/processing method dependent factors that govern the nature of discharges to the environment. The mining system is often represented as a black-box, not lending itself to the interpretation of different processes used in minerals production. The generic data used are often inadequate for a mining LCA, and cannot be used as an accurate account of mining environmental burdens contributing to more complex systems “down-stream”, such as metals, building, chemical or food industries. Therefore, the main objective of the mining LCA model presented in this paper was to develop a tool that is able to represent the mining system in a comprehensive way. To attain this objective, the mining system was studied in more detail, as it is commonly practised during mine feasibility and design stages. It (LICYMIN) was developed as part of an international research project led by Imperial College London. The model integrates the mine production, processing, waste treatment and disposal, rehabilitation and aftercare stages of a mine's life within an LCA framework. The development work was carried out in collaboration with several industrial partners in Europe, including Bakonyi Bauxitbánya Kft. in Hungary. The model structure, database development and examples of field applications from industrial sites are presented.     

Integrating the environmental and sustainable development agendas into minerals education

Changing public perceptions of the environmental acceptability of mining and minerals processing facilities have changed the industry and mining schools have started to respond by adding environmental content to their minerals curricula. Proactive and preventive environmental strategies, including Cleaner Production and sustainable development, are preferred but mining and minerals processing companies and mining schools generally have limited know-how in those areas. Vice versa, Cleaner Production specialists generally have limited experience in the mining and minerals processing sectors, and should endeavour to employ their expertise and know-how to address the environmental and sustainable development challenges in those sectors. The critical task for mining schools is to educate environmentally literate graduates who are able to recognise potentially adverse impacts of mining and minerals processing on the environment and to contribute from a sound background in geology, mining or metallurgy, to the characterisation, minimisation and management of these environmental impacts. This paper focuses on integrating the environmental and sustainable development agendas in minerals tertiary education. It highlights trends in employers' recruitment criteria and in minerals curricula, and argues in favour of strengthening the environmental component of minerals curricula. The paper provides a framework for integrating the environmental and sustainable development agendas in minerals tertiary curricula. Integration of environmental aspects into core disciplinary courses, by means such as environmental examples, cases and problem-solving tasks, is critical to make environmental literacy programmes successful.     

Environmental management and life cycle approaches in the Mexican mining industry

Mexico ranks among the 11 major producer countries of minerals worldwide; its open pit and underground systems are 500 years old. This paper presents an overview of the Mexican mining industry from technological development, historical and economic perspectives. The efforts made by mining companies to address issues of environmental management and sustainable development expressed in national and international frameworks, as well as the Mexican environmental regulatory framework for the mining sector, are analyzed. Since, among others, life cycle assessment (LCA) has been recognized as a key topic to promote sustainable development in the Latin American and Caribbean region, this paper also examines the application of LCA in mining. Two life cycle approaches are presented: a national life cycle inventory for base metals, and an integral life cycle model for the management of mining processes.     

采煤塌陷区重金属污染水体修复技术探讨及展望——以唐山市南湖公园为例

以唐山南湖公园为例综述了采煤塌陷区水体重金属污染的来源、危害及修复技术,详细介绍植物修复技术,总结了采煤塌陷区重金属污染水体修复技术的发展趋势和方向.     

矿山环境重金属污染的事故树分析

有色金属矿产资源的开采与利用过程不可避免地伴随着矿物化学组成和物理状态变化、重金属污染向生态环境释放和迁移的过程。笔者从采矿过程的分析入手,应用事故树分析方法研究了矿山环境重金属污染物来源,结果表明矿山环境重金属污染物的主要来源是尾矿库,因此矿山环境重金属释放迁移规律和重金属的污染治理与控制研究重点应针对尾矿库。     

Trends in the small-scale mining of precious minerals in Ghana: a perspective on its environmental impact

Small-scale mining in Ghana is defined to include both the exploitation of mineral deposits (1) using fairly rudimentary implements and/or (2) at low levels of production with minimal capital investment. While the large-scale mining—of particularly gold—has become predominant, small-scale mining, which predates such operations, has continued to be an important economic activity, particularly within the remote and poorer areas of the country. The environmental impacts of such small operations have, however, varied, depending on methods and the scale of operation. The factors that have contributed to aggravating these environmental impacts are economic, technical, legal, and operational in nature. Although mitigation efforts have had a limited impact, it is expected that the measures now being considered for adoption will improve the efficacy of the Government of Ghana’s drive towards improving environmental management in resident small-scale precious metal mining operations.This paper examines the environmental impacts of small-scale mining in Ghana—with particular emphasis on precious minerals and metals extraction—and outlines a series of initiatives for improving environmental performance in the industry.     

Assessing the environmental impact of metal production processes

Evaluating both new and existing processes for primary metal production to assess their environmental impacts is often difficult due to the many inputs and outputs involved. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a methodology that can be used for such purposes to identify those parts of the metal production life cycle that have significant environmental impacts. LCA has been used by CSIRO Minerals to assess the “cradle-to-gate” environmental impacts of a number of metal production processes practised either currently or potentially in Australia. The metals considered included copper, nickel, aluminium, lead, zinc, steel, stainless steel and titanium, by both pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical routes in some instances. The environmental profile included greenhouse and acid rain gas emissions, solid waste emissions and gross energy consumption. The results for various metals are compared in this paper. New process technologies for primary metal production can be expected to reduce the environmental impacts of metal production, and estimates of likely reductions for technologies involving stainless steel, titanium and aluminium are also presented in this paper.     

Environmental impacts of cocoa production and processing in Ghana: life cycle assessment approach

Ghana is the world's second largest producer of cocoa beans. In addition to exporting raw cocoa beans, the country also processes some of its beans into finished and semi-finished cocoa products for both the local and international markets. This paper is aimed at providing a comprehensive picture of the environmental impacts associated with cocoa production and processing in Ghana by applying the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. The analysis considered the entire system required to produce and process 1 kg of cocoa bean. It included the extraction of raw materials (e.g. fossil fuels, minerals), the production of farming inputs (e.g. fertilizers and pesticides) and all agricultural operations in the field (e.g. tillage, fertilizer and pesticides application, harvest, etc.). Transportation of beans to processing factory and industrial processing of the beans into cocoa butter, liquor, cake and powder were also included. The study was conducted in accordance with the international ISO procedural framework for performing LCA in the ISO 14040–14043 series.The overall environmental impacts resulting from cocoa production and processing activities and improvement options towards the sustainability of the system studied are presented and discussed.     

Major environmental and ecotoxicological processes of heavy metals in Lean River polluted by discharges from mining activities

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Development of eco-efficiency indicators for the Canadian food and beverage industry

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is developing eco-efficiency indicators (EEIs) in an effort to build a framework for a sustainable production system for the Canadian food and beverage industry (FBI). This paper presents the rationale and the framework of the project currently under development addressing the following environmental issues: energy use, emission of greenhouse gases, water use and wastewater generation, organic residues, and packaging residues. Proposed EEIs are intensity indicators and recycling ratios, and include environmental pressure modulators. They will be developed based on collected data and estimated impact levels, and reported by FBI sub-sector, geographical location, and establishment size. Objectives and methodologies are outlined. Problems on getting quality and reliable data on selected environmental issues are emphasized. The methodology will be published in 2005 and first results are due by 2008. Benchmarking and linkage to specific processing operations and management practices will help regulators and industries in promoting and implementing cleaner production initiatives and will lead to operational cost savings, product innovation, and enhanced competitiveness.     

Gold mining in Australia: linking historical trends and environmental and resource sustainability

The mining of gold has been and continues to be an important aspect of Australian industry. Gold mining moved quickly from fossicking and alluvial sources in the 1850's to hard rock mining. This paper presents, arguably for the first time, a detailed historical compilation of Australian gold mining production data. This data is then analysed in the context of sustainability, focussing particularly on mineral resource sustainability and the broader aspects of environmental impacts now commonly reported by some mining companies in annual sustainability performance reports. The key trends which are demonstrated by the data include a long-term decline in ore grade, increased open cut mining, substantive increases in tailings and waste rock production, as well as showing the impact of new technologies and economics on available gold resources. The available environmental data on material and energy inputs to and pollutant emissions from gold production is also presented, showing a clear sensitivity to ore grade. In terms of sustainability, these relationships raise significant issues such as increasing greenhouse footprint per unit gold produced, potential impacts on energy and water consumption, as well as overall gold resource sustainability. The paper presents a unique case study of the resource and environmental sustainability of the Australian gold mining sector with major implications for sustainability policy and reporting.     

Life-cycle inventory for hydroelectric generation: a Brazilian case study

Representative Life-Cycle Inventories (LCIs) are essential for Life-Cycle Assessments (LCAs) quality and readiness. Because energy is such an important element of LCAs, appropriate LCIs on energy are crucial, and due to the prevalence of hydropower on Brazilian electricity mix, the frequently used LCIs are not representative of the Brazilian conditions. The present study developed a LCI of the Itaipu Hydropower Plant, the major hydropower plant in the world, responsible for producing 23.8% of Brazil's electricity consumption. Focused on the capital investments to construct and operate the dam, the LCI was designed to serve as a database for the LCAs of Brazilian hydroelectricity production. The life-cycle boundaries encompass the construction and operation of the dam, as well as the life-cycles of the most important material and energy consumptions (cement, steel, copper, diesel oil, lubricant oil), as well as construction site operation, emissions from reservoir flooding, material and workers transportation, and earthworks. As a result, besides the presented inventory, it was possible to determine the following processes, and respective environmental burdens as the most important life-cycle hotspots: reservoir filling (CO₂ and CH₄ emission; land use); steel life-cycle (water and energy consumption; CO, particulates, SO_x and NO_x emissions); cement life-cycle (water and energy consumption; CO₂ and particulate emissions); and operation of civil construction machines (diesel consumption; NO_x emissions). Compared with another hydropower studies, the LCI showed magnitude adequacy, with better results than small hydropower, which reveals a scale economy for material and energy exchanges in the case of Itaipu Power Plant.     

贵州晴隆锑矿尾砂中锑和砷的生物有效性及生态风险评价

为探明锑矿尾砂中锑(Sb)和砷(As)的形态分布特征及生态风险,选取贵州省晴隆锑尾矿库为研究对象,在尾砂剖面上(0~330 cm)采集样品33件,基于物相表征分析、冗余分析(RDA)及生态风险评价等方法,阐明了锑和砷在尾砂剖面上的形态分布及变化特征,并对其生态风险进行评价。结果表明:尾砂中主要以石英(SiO₂)、辉锑矿(Sb₂S₃)及方解石(CaCO₃)3种矿物存在;尾砂浸出液重金属浓度远低于毒性浸出标准;尾砂中Sb含量明显随深度增加而增加,而As含量在剖面上分布相对均匀。Sb各形态含量顺序为残渣态(1196.17 mg/kg)>可还原态(131.46 mg/kg)>弱酸提取态(54.07 mg/kg)>可氧化态(41.59 mg/kg),而As各形态含量顺序为残渣态(282.27 mg/kg)>可还原态(71.1 mg/kg)>可氧化态(42.06 mg/kg)>弱酸提取态(5.12 mg/kg);Sb和As的有效态含量分别占总量的16.94%和30.34%,其主要形态是可还原态。基于重金属总量的内梅罗综合污染指数评价法和潜在生态危害指数法的评价结果为存在重度污染和严重环境生态风险;基于重金属形态含量的风险评估编码法(RAC)和次生相原生相分布比值法(RSP)评价结果为低污染和低生态风险。基于重金属形态含量的评价方法可更客观准确地评价其可能对环境产生的潜在生态风险。