Stabilization and utilization of hospital waste as road and asphalt aggregate

This article reports the operational results of the effective utilization of hospital waste molten slag produced using a high-temperature melting system, and being operated at a hospital in Selangor, Malaysia. The hospital waste is incinerated and subsequently melted at 1200°C. Scanning election microscope (SEM)/EDX results showed that the slag produced after melting contained amounts of SiO₂, CaO, and Al₂O₃ in excess of 53%, 9%, and 16%, respectively. The results from a leaching analysis on the slag produced proved that the melting process had successfully stabilized the heavy metals. The use of this slag as an alternative material to replace conventional aggregates for road construction was studied. The results from aggregate and asphalt mix tests showed that the slag produced fulfills all the requirements of an alternative aggregate. The average asphalt content, or the optimum asphalt content to be mixed with hospital waste molten slag, was found to be about 5.53%.     

Chemical and process mineralogical characterizations of spent lithium-ion batteries: An approach by multi-analytical techniques

Mineral processing operation is a critical step in any recycling process to realize liberation, separation and concentration of the target parts. Developing effective recycling methods to recover all the valuable parts from spent lithium-ion batteries is in great necessity. The aim of this study is to carefully undertake chemical and process mineralogical characterizations of spent lithium-ion batteries by coupling several analytical techniques to provide basic information for the researches on effective mechanical crushing and separation methods in recycling process. The results show that the grade of Co, Cu and Al is fairly high in spent lithium ion batteries and up to 17.62 wt.%, 7.17 wt.% and 21.60 wt.%. Spent lithium-ion batteries have good selective crushing property, the crushed products could be divided into three parts, they are Al-enriched fraction (+2 mm), Cu and Al-enriched fraction (?2 + 0.25 mm) and Co and graphite-enriched fraction (?0.25 mm). The mineral phase and chemical state analysis reveal the electrode materials recovered from ?0.25 mm size fraction keep the original crystal forms and chemical states in lithium-ion batteries, but the surface of the powders has been coated by a certain kind of hydrocarbon. Based on these results a flowsheet to recycle spent LiBs is proposed.     

Computing sustainable manufacturing index with fuzzy analytic hierarchy process

The growing industrial interest in adopting sustainability programmes has ushered in studies regarding sustainability indicators which have continually flourished in current literature. However, limited attention is given to the development of priority ranking, which is an important input for any adopting firm. This paper presents a hybrid multi-criteria approach in determining priority areas in sustainable manufacturing (SM). Using fuzzy analytic hierarchy process to address uncertainty in hierarchical decision-making, this paper determines SM priority strategies and eventually identifies even lower level strategies. The computed sustainable manufacturing index is presented at both the organizational and operational levels for a real case study of an industrial plastic manufacturing firm. This work provides a detailed and transparent hierarchical decision-making approach based on SM framework, the use of which could be valuable to practicing managers across industries in their pursuit of greater sustainability.     

Applying network theory to prioritize multispecies habitat networks that are robust to climate and land‐use change

Designing connected landscapes is among the most widespread strategies for achieving biodiversity conservation targets. The challenge lies in simultaneously satisfying the connectivity needs of multiple species at multiple spatial scales under uncertain climate and land‐use change. To evaluate the contribution of remnant habitat fragments to the connectivity of regional habitat networks, we developed a method to integrate uncertainty in climate and land‐use change projections with the latest developments in network‐connectivity research and spatial, multipurpose conservation prioritization. We used land‐use change simulations to explore robustness of species’ habitat networks to alternative development scenarios. We applied our method to 14 vertebrate focal species of periurban Montreal, Canada. Accounting for connectivity in spatial prioritization strongly modified conservation priorities and the modified priorities were robust to uncertain climate change. Setting conservation priorities based on habitat quality and connectivity maintained a large proportion of the region's connectivity, despite anticipated habitat loss due to climate and land‐use change. The application of connectivity criteria alongside habitat‐quality criteria for protected‐area design was efficient with respect to the amount of area that needs protection and did not necessarily amplify trade‐offs among conservation criteria. Our approach and results are being applied in and around Montreal and are well suited to the design of ecological networks and green infrastructure for the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services in other regions, in particular regions around large cities, where connectivity is critically low.     

PLC控制系统在钢渣热焖工艺中的应用

利用PLC控制系统,实现在钢渣热焖工艺中的恒压供水和钢渣热焖定时定量喷水的自动控制要求,具有国际先进水平,取得了良好的经济效益、社会效益和环境效益.     

容积负荷对ABR-MBR工艺反硝化除磷性能的影响

采用连续流ABR-MBR组合工艺处理生活污水,研究不同容积负荷(volume loading rate,VLR)对该工艺反硝化除磷性能的影响,获得最佳工艺参数.试验考察ABR进水容积负荷(以COD计,下同)分别为0.76、1.01、1.51和2.27 kg·(m~3·d)~(-1)时系统去碳脱氮除磷的性能,并在各ABR容积负荷条件下考察MBR容积负荷对MBR反应器硝化性能的影响.结果表明,在ABR进水容积负荷为1.51 kg·(m~3·d)~(-1)的条件下,系统A2隔室COD去除量最大,并在MBR容积负荷为0.462 kg·(m~3·d)~(-1)时,MBR反应器中实现了短程硝化,系统NH_4~+-N和TN去除率分别达到90%和72%以上,厌氧释磷量为7.41 mg·L~(-1),缺氧吸磷量达到15.42 mg·L~(-1),出水PO_4~(3-)-P浓度低于0.5 mg·L~(-1),这表明短程硝化更有利于强化ABR-MBR系统的反硝化除磷性能.     

β-In2S3的制备及其太阳光下降解土霉素

利用水热反应法制备β-In2S3纳米颗粒光催化剂,并利用SEM、TEM和XRD等对其进行分析表征;采用土霉素溶液模拟四环素类抗生素废水,探讨In2S3对土霉素的降解效果.结果表明,β-In2S3为立方相纳米颗粒结构,该纳米颗粒由纳米片组成,直径约15~30 nm.以太阳光为辐射光源,In2S3对土霉素具有良好的光催化降解效果,在4 h内对初始浓度为30 mg·L-1的土霉素降解率可达98%以上.降解土霉素后的催化剂在无水乙醇中清洗并烘干,经4次循环利用后,β-In2S3的降解能力仍能达到85%以上,表明β-In2S3光催化剂具有良好的稳定性以及光催化活性.     

高含氮印染废水强化脱氮处理组合工艺

为考察UASB-A/LO/O（缺氧/低氧/好氧）组合工艺的实际应用效果,将该工艺应用到规模为6 000 t/d的实际工程中,考察其对高含氮印染废水处理效果,同时采用微生物高通量测序对A/LO/O工艺中的微生物菌群结构进行解析.结果表明:在前处理废水进水流量为100 m3/h,染色废水进水流量为150 m3/h,同时A/LO/O工艺污泥回流比为50%左右情况下,COD_Cr、NH₃-N和TN的去除率分别达到91.6%、95.5%和73.5%;染色和前处理废水在改良UASB内均实现了高效厌氧氨化,染色废水厌氧出水中ρ（NH₃-N）/ρ（TN）保持在80%以上,前处理废水厌氧出水保持在85%以上;调节UASB运行参数可对VFAs（挥发性脂肪酸）进行有效调控,从而为后段反硝化工艺提供高品质碳源,实现高效脱氮;A/LO/O系统对COD_Cr、NH₃-N、TN有较好的去除效果,其脱氮性能主要靠变性菌门（Proteobateria）发挥作用,该系统中低氧池的微生物种类最为丰富且发生短程硝化反硝化,对污染物去除贡献最大,当低氧池△ρ（COD_Cr）/△ρ（TN）在18.6左右时,TN去除率最高,达到82%.研究显示,该组合工艺对工程中高含氮印染废水的脱氮效果良好.      

危险废物焚烧厂环境污染控制与风险管理水平评价指标体系研究与应用

采用德尔菲法、层次分析法和五分制综合评分法,构建了危险废物焚烧厂环境污染控制与风险管理水平评价指标体系。从选址、技术和管理的角度,制定了31个评价指标,并归纳为8个准则层指标群,通过计算权重和对评价指标的赋分,实现对危险废物焚烧厂环境污染控制与风险管理水平的量化评价。应用结果表明:华南某市两家危险废物焚烧厂的环境污染控制与风险管理水平分值分别为3.34和4.38,分别处于良好和先进的水平。