Challenges when performing economic optimization of waste treatment: A review

Strategic and operational decisions in waste management, in particular with respect to investments in new treatment facilities, are needed due to a number of factors, including continuously increasing amounts of waste, political demands for efficient utilization of waste resources, and the decommissioning of existing waste treatment facilities. Optimization models can assist in ensuring that these investment strategies are economically feasible.Various economic optimization models for waste treatment have been developed which focus on different parameters. Models focusing on transport are one example, but models focusing on energy production have also been developed, as well as models which take into account a plant’s economies of scale, environmental impact, material recovery and social costs. Finally, models combining different criteria for the selection of waste treatment methods in multi-criteria analysis have been developed.A thorough updated review of the existing models is presented, and the main challenges and crucial parameters that need to be taken into account when assessing the economic performance of waste treatment alternatives are identified. The review article will assist both policy-makers and model-developers involved in assessing the economic performance of waste treatment alternatives.     

Faith-based climate action in Christian congregations: mobilisation and spiritual resources

This article seeks to explain how and why church congregations mobilise on environmental issues and what – if anything – is distinctive about that mobilisation. Building on and adapting Resource Mobilisation Theory (RMT), we develop the idea of “spiritual resources” to help explain how a collection of spiritual identities, values, symbols and narratives can facilitate distinctive collective action on environmental issues. Our analysis draws on data derived from an in-depth case study of climate active groups in Scotland. It includes content analysis of websites, news stories as well as ethnographic observation of selected church and secular groups engaged in climate activity. We find church groups do enjoy a distinct set of resources – comprising tradition, rituals and symbols shaped by theology and doctrine – which are not wholly captured by other explanations of climate mobilisation. While these spiritual resources do not directly translate into specific environmental or climate action they can, especially when combined with other resources, lead to environmental activities distinctly motivated, and distinctly practised at the individual and community level.     

Modelling future copper ore grade decline based on a detailed assessment of copper resources and mining

The concept of “peak oil” has been explored and debated extensively within the literature. However there has been comparatively little research examining the concept of “peak minerals”, particularly in-depth analyses for individual metals. This paper presents scenarios for mined copper production based upon a detailed assessment of global copper resources and historic mine production. Scenarios for production from major copper deposit types and from individual countries or regions were developed using the Geologic Resources Supply-Demand Model (GeRS-DeMo). These scenarios were extended using cumulative grade-tonnage data, derived from our resource database, to produce estimates of potential rates of copper ore grade decline.The scenarios indicate that there are sufficient identified copper resources to grow mined copper production for at least the next twenty years. The future rate of ore grade decline may be less than has historically been the case, as mined grades are approaching the average resource grade and there is still significant copper endowment in high grade ore bodies. Despite increasing demand for copper as the developing world experiences economic growth, the economic and environmental impacts associated with increased production rates and declining ore grades (particularly those relating to energy consumption, water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions) will present barriers to the continued expansion of the industry. For these reasons peak mined copper production may well be realised during this century.     

革新的UNITANK法处理城市污水的特性

对UNITANK法的传统运行模式做了改进。在此基础上，考察了水力停留时问、溶解氧浓度和泥龄等重要因素对处理效果的影响。结果表明，将系统控制在适宜的条件下，出水COD和NH3-N均可达到污水综合排放一级标准。提出了后续研究中改善除磷效果的措施。     

Utilization of prenatal cytogenetic diagnosis in women of advanced maternal age in Australia, 1979–1982

This paper reports the results of a complete national survey to measure utilization rates of prenatal cytogenetic diagnosis (P.C.D.) in women of advanced maternal age in Australia. P.C.D. has been available throughout Australia for the last decade. Every laboratory in Australia providing a P.C.D. service for the years 1979–1982 took part in this study. Utilization rates (both National and State rates) by ages of mothers, are presented. Big interstate differences exist. The 1982 National P.C.D. utilization rate for pregnant women who were 40 years of age and over was 38.8 per cent, and this rate has shown an average annual increase of 9 per cent. In those four States which offered P.C.D. to pregnant women of 35 years or over the median utilization rate was 20 per cent. These Australian rates indicate an under-utilization of P.C.D. services with (in 1982) 50–80 per cent of ‘at risk’ women not being tested. Factors which influence this are discussed.     

福建省经济增长的资源环境代价评估

本文应用“含资源与环境项目的社会会计矩阵”（简写为SAMRE）分析1991－1999年福建省资源净产值、环境净产值和真实储蓄值。计算结果显示，福建省资源净产值与环境净产值各年损失幅度为11．17－62．05亿元，平均占全省GDP的2．1％。真实国民储蓄比传统国民核算体系的净储蓄减少1．48－69．4亿元，占净储蓄的1．11％－12．0％。分析表明自然资源损失与环境污染成为福建省经济总量增长的重大代价。其发展呈弱可持续性特征。此外，分析结果也显示，近年来资源与环境净产值损失占全省GDP的比重总体呈下降趋势，真实储蓄比重趋向上升。     

中国城市环境综合整治定量考核的经验与理论研究

中国城市环境综合整治定量考核制度实质上是建立一种以城市政府为对象的激励机制,以推动城市政府更有效地改善城市环境质量.此项制度实行以来,城市环境质量得以稳定与改善,但其效果、成本等仍需进一步评价,其理论也需进一步探讨.     

混凝——水解——好氧活性污泥法处理造纸废水的研究

在实验室小试的基础上，对造纸废水提出了经济有效，切实可行的治理方案，并在现场进行了中间试验，结果表明，本工艺流程对造纸综合废水的治理是合适的。为了保证曝气法的去除效率，防止丝状状菌污泥膨胀，在废水中补氮可作为本工艺流程的常规操作。     

碱性锌酸盐镀锌废水处理与回用的实践

以７４６厂为实例，介绍了碱性锌酸盐镀锌废水处理与回用的工程实例．实例表明，含锌废水回用不仅能节约水资源，而且能取得良好的经济、环境和社会效益．该回用工程的投资省、回收期为２２个月．     

啤酒废酵母的综合利用

啤酒废酵母含有丰富的营养物质，许多啤酒厂并没有充分利用，而是作为废弃物排入啤酒废水，增加了啤酒废水的处理负荷和难度。针对这种情况，我们利用本厂啤酒废酵母进行了生产酵母抽提物及营养酱油的研究，取得了满意的效果。不仅获得了优质产品，而且大大降低了啤酒酵母的污染负荷。