Cleaner Production Technologies Research Articles

A process-level water conservation and pollution control performance evaluation tool of cleaner production technology in textile industry

Industrial manufacturers are required to adopt water conservation and pollution control technologies because of increasingly serious water scarcity and water pollution, especially in textile industry. An effective performance evaluation tool for these technologies is greatly needed for textile manufacturers. However, the existing tools for textile industry can only evaluate on plant level and ignore pollution effect of water consumption. In order to help textile manufacturers know about water conservation and pollution control performance of technologies more systematically and comprehensively, we developed a process-level water conservation and pollution control performance evaluation tool of cleaner production technology in textile industry. The new tool includes three indicators: water withdrawal reduction, water consumption reduction and water assimilation reduction. Comparison between the new tool and old ones by evaluating the low-pollution-concentration effluent reuse technology in a polyester flannel fabric dyeing and printing plant demonstrates that the new tool can help textile manufacturers to not only understand operation mechanism of a technology on specific processes and then take specific improvement measures on different processes to optimize water conservation and pollution control performance, but also find out indiscoverable disadvantages of a technology and then adopt complementary technologies to reduce negative effect of the technology.

Influencia del vidrio, azufre y sales de metales alcalinos en la porosidad del aluminio reciclado

Los estudiantes del módulo de Metalurgia Aplicada de la Carrera de Química Industrial de la UNAH-VS del primer período de 2014, desarrollaron una investigación con el fin de buscar una mejora en la porosidad que presenta el aluminio reciclado de latas para diferentes tipos de bebidas.Para el desarrollo de este estudio se tomó como punto de partida la baja producción de aluminio que existe en nuestro país, siendo esta generada únicamente por procesos de fundición artesanales. Sin embargo, durante estos procesos el aluminio obtenido presenta baja dureza y, por tanto, un alto grado de porosidad, lo que impide la comercialización del aluminio reciclado en el extranjero. Es por ello que se decidió buscar una composición química adecuada para la producción de aluminio de alta dureza a partir del reciclaje de latas de este metal.Con el fin de llevar a cabo los diferentes experimentos, se fabricó un horno de fundición para elaborar diferentes aleaciones de aluminio conteniendo: azufre, vidrio, sal de mesa y bicarbonato de sodio en diversas combinaciones y proporciones; posteriormente, se realizó una determinación de sus densidades y durezas.Se hizo una comparación de las durezas y densidades obtenidas y se identificó una composición química que permita disminuir la porosidad del aluminio obtenido por reciclaje, con lo cual se espera obtener aluminio con un alto grado de pureza mediante la utilización de sales de metales alcalinos como fundente y aplicando una producción más limpia en la medida de lo posible.

Novel photo-reactor for fast screening of photo-catalytic systems

Photo-catalysis is an emerging technology for clean energy production, organic synthesis and environmental protection, etc. While there is a hydrogen of systems and schemes to attain these objectiv ...

Chemical Looping for Energy Technology: A Special Issue

Chemical Looping for Energy Technology: A Special Issue

Optimization of preparation procedure of liquid warm mix additive modified asphalt rubber

Warm mix asphalt (WMA) is an emerging clean production technology that alleviates the energy and environmental concerns of asphalt pavement industry. It is particularly suitable for asphalt rubber (AR) pavement, which provides longer service life and lower road-tyre noise but requires higher production temperature. Evotherm-DAT, a common liquid warm-mix asphalt (WMA) additive, can effectively improve the workability of AR binder, thus reducing the construction temperature of AR pavement. However, the properties of the Evotherm-DAT modified AR binders (Evo-AR) might be affected by the procedure of incorporating the WMA additive into AR, which unfortunately has not been fully studied yet. This study aims to address this issue by characterizing the rheological properties and chemical compositions of the Evo-ARs prepared by the following three procedures: 1) preparing AR first and then blending it with Evotherm-DAT (AR-E), the conventional approach; 2) mixing Evotherm-DAT and rubber first and then incorporating them to asphalt (ER-A); and 3) adding Evotherm-DAT during the mixing process of AR (REA). It was found that AR-E and REA had similar rheological properties. Besides, the workability of ER-A was slightly worse than those of AR-E and REA, but still much superior to that of AR without WMA additive. The anti-rutting performance of ER-A is better than those of AR-E and REA while no obvious difference was observed in the fatigue and low temperature cracking resistance among three types of Evo-ARs. Chemical characterization indicated that the preparation procedures affected the amount of epoxy groups in Evo-ARs, which possibly contributed to the difference in their rheological properties. Overall, it was concluded that incorporating Evotherm-DAT at an early stage has insignificant negative effect on the rheological properties of warm AR binder, but allows for more energy saving and emission reduction during the warm AR binder production process.

DEVELOPMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR FIRST GRADE SECONDARY INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE LIGHT OF A PROPOSED PROGRAM FOR CLEANER PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY BASED ON SYSTEMIC APPROACH

This current study drives at developing environmental responsibility among students of the first industrial secondary grade in light of a proposed program concerning cleaner production technology and based on the systemic approach. Study instruments include scale of environmental responsibility, the proposed program which axes include the environment's resources and its effect and value in achieving sustainable development, providing requirements of economic activities, the role of technological applications of cleaner production and renewable energy, presenting a safely use environment friendly product. The researcher uses the quasi-experimental method for examining impact of the proposed program as an independent variable in developing students' responsibility as a dependent variable through counting on (pre/post) binary experimental designing of the one experimental group. The study group is defined to be from fifty students of Al-Giza Secondary Electric School. The scale is pre/post applied, as there has been a noticed middle elevation post application of the program. Post statistical treatment, results indicate that: 1- There a significant statistical difference between averages scores of students on scale of environmental responsibility pre/post application of the program, in favor of the post application. 2- There is also a significant statistical difference in total scores of every dimension of the of environmental responsibility pre/post application of the program, in favor of the post application which indicate validity of the program in developing environmental responsibility among students and achieve research hypotheses. The study recommends including the cleaner production and its modern applications in the industrial education curricula, using as well the that will assist developing the learner's cognitive structure and his experiments in addition to all that he has of concepts and understanding in a way; developing as well his ability of creativity of solving environmental problems through interaction with them in a comprehensive integrated approach that may achieve understanding of those problems and their components, calling in turn the previous experiments and experiences that suit the situation in its cognitive structure and so, resolving problems and dealing easily with problems successfully. Using systematic evaluation is a necessity for measuring higher levels of (analysis – composition – creativity) as the most important outputs of education and learning process and not what a student reserves as in traditional processes.

A multi-regional input-output analysis of ozone precursor emissions embodied in Spanish international trade

Higher levels of ozone in the troposphere is a severe threat to both environment and human health. Many countries are concerned about the effects that critical levels of ozone have on them. Countries pollute to satisfy their domestic and external demand (production perspective) and, at the same time, these countries also generate emissions abroad indirectly via their imports and via their domestic production (consumption perspective). Spain is one of the EU countries with the highest pollution records in the emissions of tropospheric ozone precursor gases. A multiregional input-output model (MRIO) allows us to analyze the total emissions embodied in Spanish international trade in 35 sectors within the EU area and the rest of the world. MRIO models, are commonly chosen as they provide an appropriate methodological framework for complete emissions footprint estimates at the national and supranational level The results show that the most polluting sectors involved in Spanish trade are Agriculture, Basic Metals, Coke and Refined Petroleum Production. Some policy recommendations follow these results; for example, a higher number of environmental regulations focused on the Agricultural sector, such as the introduction of codes of good practices in the use of fertilizers and the promotion of cleaner production technologies might lead to less burden to the environment.

A parametric study for gasification of liquid fuels

ABSTRACTGasification is a clean technology for production of high caloric value syngas. In this study, a kinetic model of gasification of heavy oil is developed to investigate the influence of oxygen ratio and pressure on the quality of syngas and performance parameters. Results showed that the oxygen ratio improves the caloric value of syngas and gasification efficiency, and also found that the pressure has a minor effect on the process. The model was validated against experimental data and found to be in good agreement.

Towards sustainable energy. Generation of hydrogen fuel using nuclear energy

The increasing demand for sustainable energy results in the development of new technologies of energy generation. The key objective of hydrogen economy is the introduction of hydrogen as main energy carrier, along with electricity, on a global scale. The key goal is the development of hydrogen-related technologies needed for hydrogen generation, hydrogen storage, hydrogen transportation and hydrogen distribution as well as hydrogen safety systems. It is commonly believed that hydrogen is environmentally clean since its combustion results in the formation of water. However, the technology currently employed for the generation of hydrogen from natural gas, does in fact lead to the emission of greenhouse gases and climate change. Therefore, the key issues in the introduction of hydrogen economy involve the development of environmentally clean hydrogen production technology as well as storage and transport. The clean options available for hydrogen generation using nuclear energy; such as advanced nuclear fission and, ultimately, nuclear fusion, are discussed. The latter, which is environmentally clean, is expected to be the primary approach in the production of hydrogen fuel at the global scale. The present work considers the effect of hydrogen on properties of TiO2 and its solid solutions in the contexts of photocatalytic energy conversion and the effect of tritium on advanced tritium breeders.

Improving recognition of odors in a waste management plant by using electronic noses with different technologies, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry/olfactometry and dynamic olfactometry

Odor emissions from waste management plants have long been an environmental and economic issue, but only recently regional authorities in Italy are regulating this sector by imposing control and mitigation of the phenomenon. Electronic noses, initially developed as cheap, easy tools to detect volatiles, may have the required time-resolved coverage of the odor emission phenomenon in a cheap and feasible way with respect to chemical analysis of air. One crucial issue to resolve is to evaluate the discriminant capacity of a sensor array in-field and under working conditions. In this paper the authors have studied the responses of electronic noses of different technologies to odors emitted from a waste management plant, by integrating results obtained with dynamic olfactometry and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry/olfactometry, in the aim to implement a monitoring system and improve cleaner production technologies. Three most impacting odor sources in the waste management plant were detected: biogas, a by-product of mechanical treatment of municipal solid wastes, with low organic fraction and a sludge pressed and dehydrated from treatment of urban wastewater. The most odor impacting source was the sludge and the major responsible of the odor impacts were aromatics (in particular 1,3,5-trimethyl benzene), aliphatic hydrocarbons, terpenes and sulphur volatiles (methyl disulphide, carbon disulphide, dimethyltrisulphide). Ten Metal Oxide Semiconductors and 32 polymer/black carbon (Nano Composite Array) sensors in two electronic noses, were tested for discrimination source capabilities. Results of linear discriminant analysis and cross validation give 86.7% successful recognition for Metal Oxide Semiconductors, 53.3% for Nano Composite Array and 93.3% for a selection of sensors belonging to both technologies chosen according to the selectivity towards the odor active molecules. The containment of odors could also be achieved by spraying a specific product and monitoring the process using selected sensors of the arrays. The results of the in-field work demonstrate strengths and weaknesses of different construction technologies in the e-noses arrays, to characterize and monitor in-site and in real time odor emissions from waste management plants.

Adoption factors of cleaner production technology in a developing country: energy efficient lighting in Malaysia

To address the environmental impact of lighting systems, new technologies, such as light-emitting diodes, are gaining interest, as they are more energy efficient and result in lower carbon emissions than traditional lighting methods. However, adoption of new energy-efficient technologies is slow, resulting in delay in the decrease of ongoing damage to the environment. This study investigates factors that may play significant roles in successful adoption of light-emitting diodes-based lighting in Malaysia. In defining these factors the modified Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology is used. Relationships between factors for light-emitting diodes purchase decision were examined using path analysis, and a research model of influential factors is presented. Results from a survey of 221 respondents from multiple cities in Malaysia were used to test the model and hypotheses. The Partial Least Square test was chosen to quantitatively evaluate the impact of the key constructs of the modified Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology model: behavioral intention, effort expectancy, facilitating conditions, performance expectancy and social influence. The results confirmed that a modified Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology model could be used to determine behavioral intention of consumers and predict adoption of light-emitting diodes technology in Malaysia. Results show that Performance expectancy, Effort expectancy, Social influence, Facilitating conditions and Behavioral intention are the main factors in adoption of light emitting diodes-based lighting in Malaysia.

Turbokon scientific and production implementation company—25 years of activity

The main results of studies performed at ZAO Turbokon NPVP in cooperation with leading Russian scientific organizations during 25 years of its activity in the field of development of unique ecologically clean electric power and heat production technologies are described. They include the development and experimental verification using prototypes and full-scale models of highly efficient air-cooled condensers for steam turbines, a high temperature gas steam turbine for stationary and transport power engineering, a nonfuel technology of electric power production using steam turbine installations with a unit power of 4–20 MW at gas-main pipelines and industrial boiler houses and heat stations. The results of efforts in the field of reducing vibroactivity of power equipment for transport installations are given. Basic directions of further research for increasing the efficiency and ecological safety of home power engineering are discussed.

Hydrogel-polyurethane interpenetrating network material as an advanced draw agent for forward osmosis process

Water desalination and purification are critical to address the global issue of the shortage of clean water. Forward osmosis (FO) desalination is an emerging low-cost technology for clean water production from saline water. The lack of a suitable draw agent is one of hurdle for the commercialization of FO desalination technology. Recently, the thermoresponsive hydrogel has been demonstrated to be a potential draw agent for the FO process. However, the commonly used hydrogel powder shows a much lower flux than other kind of draw agent such as inorganic salts. In this work, a hydrogel-polyurethane interpenetrating network (HPIPN) with monolith form was prepared by controlling the radical polymerization of the monomers (N-isopropylacrylamide and sodium acrylate) in the macropores (∼400 μm) of commercial polyurethane foam (PUF). These HPIPN composites show a flux as high as 17.9 LMH, which is nearly 8 times than that of hydrogel powders (2.2 LMH). The high flux is attributed to the 3-D continuous hydrogel-polyurethane interpenetrating network, which can effectively enhance the water transport inside the monolith.

An approach for evaluating cleaner production performance in iron and steel enterprises involving competitive relationships

In recent years, many iron and steel enterprises (ISEs) have begun to implement cleaner production (CP) technologies in order to improve environmental performance and competitive advantage. We recognize that the evaluation of ISE CP performance is becoming more important than ever. It is for this reason that we propose an approach for evaluating such performance in this paper. Different from most of the traditional methods, our proposed approach directly involves the competitive relationship among ISEs in the context of the availability of big data today. On the basis of the evidential reasoning (ER) approach and the data envelopment analysis (DEA) cross-efficiency concept, we first construct a nonlinear programming model to portray the competitive relationship among ISEs, and obtain the optimal weight and the optimal utility value. Then, by applying the ER approach to the aggregate evaluation information, we obtain the ranking of the ISE CP performance. Finally, we use a numerical example to illustrate the detailed implementation process of the proposed approach and demonstrate its potential applications.

Ultrasound assisted chrome tanning: Towards a clean leather production technology

Nowadays, there is a growing demand for a cleaner, but still effective alternative for production processes like in the leather industry. Ultrasound (US) assisted processing of leather might be promising in this sense. In the present paper, the use of US in the conventional chrome tanning process has been studied at different pH, temperature, tanning time, chrome dose and US exposure time by exposing the skin before tanning and during tanning operation. Both prior exposure of the skin to US and US during tanning improves the chrome uptake and reduces the shrinkage significantly. Prior exposure of the skin to US increase the chrome uptake by 13.8% or reduces the chrome dose from 8% to 5% (% based on skin weight) and shorten the process time by half while US during tanning increases the chrome uptake by 28.5% or reduces the chrome dose from 8% to 4% (half) and the tanning time to one third compared to the control without US. Concomitantly, the resulting leather quality (measured as skin shrinkage) improved from 5.2% to 3.2% shrinkage in the skin exposed to US prior tanning and to 1.3% in the skin exposed to US during the tanning experiment. This study confirms that US chrome tanning is an effective and eco-friendly tanning process which can produce a better quality leather product in a shorter process time with a lower chromium dose.

The Perceptions of Management on the Benefits of Adopting an Environmental Management Accounting System as a Waste Management Tool

AbstractThe purpose of this paper is to ascertain the perception of management on the benefits of adopting an environmental management accounting (EMA) system as a waste management tool in a paper and pulp manufacturing company. This paper highlights the benefits of an EMA system and the role and importance of EMA as a decision-making tool in encouraging the adoption of cleaner production (CP) techniques and technologies. This research was based on a case study of a paper and pulp manufacturing company in KwaZulu-Natal. This research was both quantitative and qualitative in nature. Data collection instruments for the study included a Likert-type questionnaire and interviews with the environmental manager and cost accountant but the findings reported in this paper are based on the empirical evidence gathered from the questionnaire which identified that there was positive correlation between environmental performance and CP techniques and technologies. Environmental costs were hidden under general overheads and understated because the company was using a conventional costing system and not an EMA system; hence, environmental costs were not traced back to the products or processes responsible for those costs. It was evident from the qualitative data analysis that management regarded their environmental costs as too insignificant to justify implementation of an EMA system. The consequent reluctance of the company to adopt CP resulted in poor waste management and lower-quality environmental performance.

Feasibility of Cleaner Production for Vietnam Rice Processing Industry

On the international market, Vietnam's rice value is quite low while production costs are too high, especially in energy costs. Moreover, wastes and pollution have become one of the most imperative issues of rice processing industry, leading to waste resources, increase costs, reduce product quality, and adverse impact on the working environment and habitats as well as the reputation of the enterprises. From analyzing the current state of Vietnam rice processing industry and studying Cleaner Production, this research would study the feasibility of cleaner production technology for Vietnam rice processing industry. A roadmap to implement the cleaner production technology would be suggested. A case study on a rice processing factory belonging to Vietnam Southern Food Corporation would be done. It shows that there is a potential demand on cleaner production and it is possible to implement for Vietnam rice processing industry.

Gasification and pyrolysis of different biomasses in lab scale system: A comparative study

Gasification and pyrolysis are very promising technologies for clean energy production especially from low rank fuels. Biomass and wastes with high chlorine, alkali and even heavy metals content are fuels preferential for thermal utilization. However, several problems during combustion in conventional steam boilers occurs e.g. slagging, fouling, chlorine corrosion, boiler efficiency deterioration. New efficient and cost effective technologies are needed, even in small-scale applications. The main objective of this work was to compare the thermochemical behaviour and process parameters effects of different biomass under air gasification and pyrolysis conditions. Three important fuels for European power industry were selected: woody biomass and two residual biomass, such as oat straw and dried citrus wastes. In order to evaluate the possibility to use different feedstocks or to combine and/or integrate them in thermochemical processes, a comparison among typical and untypical feedstocks is needed. Tests performed on small scale fixed bed reactor show the gas yield, its composition and LHV parameter. The results were performed in Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Sweden during BRISK program (Biofuels Research Infrastructure for Sharing Knowledge).

Compromising Long-Term Sustainability for Short-Term Profit Maximization: Unethical Business Practice

Abstract The current environmental challenges caused by the dependence on nonrenewable energy, increased waste disposal, the toxic emissions created by operational activities, and also the scarce supply of water are so complex and important that it requires immediate attention. Strict environmental legislation, market pressures, and urgent need for sustainability have given businesses no option but to ensure that they do all that is possible to ensure that their business operations are sustainable. This paper addresses the underlying factors that determine the extent to which organizations adopt sustainable business practices and cleaner production techniques and technologies. It had been concluded that ethics is linked to sustainable business practices, because the objectives of both these concepts are to think about doing what’s right for others and the world, including the environment. According to the organizational corporate compliance regulations, a company’s commitment to ethical business and sustainable business practices should be detailed in their policy handbook and communicated to all employees within the company (Sustainability Report 2013/2014).

Uncertainty analysis of primary water pollutant control in China's pulp and paper industry

The total emission control target of water pollutants (e.g., COD and NH4–N) for a certain industrial sector can be predicted and analysed using the popular technology-based bottom-up modelling. However, this methodology has obvious uncertainty regarding the attainment of mitigation targets. The primary uncertainty comes from macro-production, pollutant reduction roadmap, and technical parameters. This research takes the paper and pulp industry in China as an example, and builds 5 mitigation scenarios via different combinations of raw material structure, scale structure, procedure mitigation technology, and end-of-pipe treatment technology. Using the methodology of uncertainty analysis via Monte Carlo, random sampling was conducted over a hundred thousand times. According to key parameters, sensitive parameters that impact total emission control targets such as industrial output, technique structure, cleaner production technology, and end-of-pipe treatment technology are discussed in this article. It appears that scenario uncertainty has a larger influence on COD emission than NH4–N, hence it is recommended that a looser total emission control target for COD is necessary to increase its feasibility and availability while maintaining the status quo of NH4–N. Consequently, from uncertainty analysis, this research recognizes the sensitive products, techniques, and technologies affecting industrial water pollution.