Life cycle assessment and sustainable engineering in the context of near net shape grown components: striving towards a sustainable way of future production

Technical product harvesting (TEPHA) is a newly developing interdisciplinary approach in which bio-based production is investigated from a technical and ecological perspective. Society‘s demand for ecologically produced and sustainably operable goods is a key driver for the substitution of conventional materials like metals or plastics through bio-based alternatives. Technical product harvesting of near net shape grown components describes the use of suitable biomass for the production of technical products through influencing the natural shape of plants during their growth period. The use of natural materials may show positive effects on the amount of non-renewable resource consumption. This also increases the product recyclability at the end of its life cycle. Furthermore, through the near net shape growth of biomass, production steps can be reduced. As a consequence such approaches may save energy and the needed resources like crude oil, coal or gas. The derived near net shape grown components are not only considered beneficial from an environmental point of view. They can also have mechanical advantages through an intrinsic topology optimization in contrast to common natural materials, which are influenced in their shape after harvesting. In order to prove these benefits a comprehensive, interdisciplinary scientific strategy is needed. Here, both mechanical investigations and life cycle assessment as a method of environmental evaluation are used.     

Photocatalytic ozonation of terephthalic acid: a by-product-oriented decomposition study

Terephthalic acid (TA) is considered as a refractory model compound. For this reason, the TA degradation usually requires a prolonged reaction time to achieve mineralization. In this study, vanadium oxide (V_xO_y) supported on titanium oxide (TiO₂) served as a photocatalyst in the ozonation of the TA with light-emitting diodes (LEDs), having a bandwidth centered at 452 nm. The modified catalyst (V_xO_y/TiO₂) in combination with ozone and LEDs improved the TA degradation and its by-products. The results obtained by this system were compared with photolysis, single ozonation, catalytic ozonation, and photocatalytic ozonation of V_xO_y/TiO₂ with UV lamp. The LED-based photocatalytic ozonation showed almost the same decomposition efficiency of the TA, but it was better in comparison with the use of UV lamp. The oxalic acid accumulation, as the final product of the TA decomposition, was directly influenced by either the presence of V_xO_y or/and the LED irradiation. Several by-products formed during the TA degradation, such as muconic, fumaric, and oxalic acids, were identified. Besides, two unidentified by-products were completely removed during the observed time (60 min). It was proposed that the TA elimination in the presence of V_xO_y/TiO₂ as catalyst was carried out by the combination of different mechanisms: molecular ozone reaction, indirect mechanism conducted by ·OH, and the surface complex formation.     

Spectroscopic Raman study of sulphate precipitation sequence in Rio Tinto mining district (SW Spain)

Acidic waters and sulphate-rich precipitates are typical by-products of mining activity such as in Rio Tinto (Huelva, SW Spain). This river drains pyrite mines situated in the Iberian Pyrite Belt which have been in operation since the Bronze Age and probably constitutes the oldest continuously operating mining activity over the world. In the present work, we have used Raman spectroscopy to study a wide range of natural mineral samples collected at Rio Tinto which origin is related to evaporation and mineral transformation processes in a wet and extreme acidic environment. In addition, we simulated the phenomenon of mineral precipitation in controlled conditions by using a simulator developed at the laboratory evaporating natural water collected at Rio Tinto. Also, a series of experiments using the same waters as small droplets have been carried out using micro-Raman technique. The droplets were placed on substrates with different chemical composition and reactivity. The results reveal that the precipitation sequence occurred in Rio Tinto mainly comprises copiapite and coquimbite group minerals followed by several other low hydrated iron sulphates. The experiments carried out on droplets allow estimating with higher accuracy the precipitation sequence.     

Multivariant statistical analysis of PCDD/FS in sewage sludges from different areas of the Valencian Community (Spain)

The levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in 31 sewage sludges from different wastewater treatment plants corresponding to rural, urban and industrial areas in the Valencian Community (Spain) were analysed. Values of 5.1-346.2 ng I-TEQ kg(-1) (dry weight) were detected for sewage sludge with the highest value in one sample from an industrial area. Therefore the majority of the samples did not exceed the limit proposed (100 ng I-TEQ kg(-1)) by the [EU, 2000. Working document on sludge, 3rd draft. Brussels. Available from: http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/waste/sludge/sludge_en.pdf] for use in agriculture. The dominant congeners for each family of compounds were 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD and OCDD from PCDDs, and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDF and OCDF from PCDFs. The total concentrations of PCDD/Fs were evaluated statistically through SPPS 11.0 for Windows. The principal component analysis (PCA) was used to extract two PCs as a linear combination of the original variables, one of them associated to urban+highly industrial areas and the other one to urban+low industrial areas. The linear regression method was applied and an efficient correlation was obtained between the total I-TEQ values for each sample and two of most abundant congeners (OCDF and OCDD). This expression was obtained with the results of the 31 samples analysed and a variety of data from other authors. Furthermore, several bilateral correlations between the different congeners completed the statistical analysis.     

Planning hydrological restoration of peatlands in Indonesia to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions

Extensive degradation of Indonesian peatlands by deforestation, drainage and recurrent fires causes release of huge amounts of peat soil carbon to the atmosphere. Construction of drainage canals is associated with conversion to other land uses, especially plantations of oil palm and pulpwood trees, and with widespread illegal logging to facilitate timber transport. A lowering of the groundwater level leads to an increase in oxidation and subsidence of peat. Therefore, the groundwater level is the main control on carbon dioxide emissions from peatlands. Restoring the peatland hydrology is the only way to prevent peat oxidation and mitigate CO₂ emissions. In this study we present a strategy for improved planning of rewetting measures by dam constructions. The study area is a vast peatland with limited accessibility in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Field inventory and remote sensing data are used to generate a detailed 3D model of the peat dome and a hydrological model predicts the rise in groundwater levels once dams have been constructed. Successful rewetting of a 590 km2 large area of drained peat swamp forest could result in mitigated emissions of 1.4–1.6 Mt CO₂ yearly. This equates to 6% of the carbon dioxide emissions by civil aviation in the European Union in 2006 and can be achieved with relatively small efforts and at low costs. The proposed methodology allows a detailed planning of hydrological restoration of peatlands with interesting impacts on carbon trading for the voluntary carbon market.     

江苏省2014年上半年颗粒物PM2.5、PM10污染特征分析研究

根据2014年1月1日～6月30日江苏省13地级市监测PM2.5,PM10的数据,分析其污染特征.结果表明:全省PM2.5和PM10污染较严重,全省PM2.5,PM10超标率都分别达到78.33％,66.11％以上,尤其是细颗粒物的污染占主导地位;PM2.5/PM10的比值范围达到0.461 9～0.687 2,全省PM2.5和PM10之间存在显著的线性关系;PM2.5,PM10浓度时空分布特征为PM2.5:1月＞3月＞2月＞5月＞6月＞4月,PM10:1月＞5月＞3月＞6月＞2月＞4月;苏北＞苏中＞苏南.     

Quantitative tools for implementing the new definition of significant portion of the range in the U.S. Endangered Species Act

In 2014, the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and National Marine Fisheries Service announced a new policy interpretation for the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA). According to the act, a species must be listed as threatened or endangered if it is determined to be threatened or endangered in a significant portion of its range (SPR). The 2014 policy seeks to provide consistency by establishing that a portion of the range should be considered significant if the associated individuals’ “removal would cause the entire species to become endangered or threatened.” We reviewed 20 quantitative techniques used to assess whether a portion of a species’ range is significant according to the new guidance. Our assessments are based on the 3R criteria—redundancy (i.e., buffering from catastrophe), resiliency (i.e., ability to withstand stochasticity), and representation (i.e., ability to evolve)—that the FWS uses to determine if a species merits listing. We identified data needs for each quantitative technique and considered which methods could be implemented given the data limitations typical of rare species. We also identified proxies for the 3Rs that may be used with limited data. To assess potential data availability, we evaluated 7 example species by accessing data in their species status assessments, which document all the information used during a listing decision. In all species, an SPR could be evaluated with at least one metric for each of the 3Rs robustly or with substantial assumptions. Resiliency assessments appeared most constrained by limited data, and many species lacked information on connectivity between subpopulations, genetic variation, and spatial variability in vital rates. These data gaps will likely make SPR assessments for species with complex life histories or that cross national boundaries difficult. Although we reviewed techniques for the ESA, other countries require identification of significant areas and could benefit from this research.