Creating Pollution Problems Research Articles

Sustainable and eco-friendly production of biodiesel from Chlorella vulgaris supplemented with biogenic calcium oxide nanoparticles derived from Ulva intestinalis and eggshell as precursors

Biodiesel derived from microalgae has the potential to be a sustainable fuel. Eggshell waste is rich in vital compounds, but still creates pollution problems, due to being discarded in the landfills without any treatment. This study aims to convert eggshells to CaCl2 and use CaCl2 derived from eggshells to biogenic CaO-NPs. Tested the impact of CaCl2, CaCl2 derived from eggshells, and biogenic CaO-NPs, as supplementation to the BG11 media on the growth and lipids yield of Chlorella vulgaris green alga. This study used Ulva intestinalis green alga to synthesize (Ui-CaO-NPs). The characterizations of Ui-Ca-ONPs were analyzed by EDS, XRD, zeta potential, FT-IR, and TEM. Chlorella vulgaris cultivated in modified BG11 media that was supplemented by different concentrations of CaCl2, CaCl2 derived from eggshell, and Ui-CaO-NPs as eggshell precursors (0.009, 0.018, and 0.036 g/L). The low concentrations of CaCl2 as eggshell precursors possessed high optical density, dry weight, and lipids contents of C. vulgaris. The best Chlorophyll a and b contents were obtained with Ui-CaO-NPs (0.018 g/L). The highest carotenoid content was obtained with alga grown in a medium containing 0.036 g/L CaCL2 the GC.Ms. analysis possessed the high-quality lipids profile obtained with C. vulgaris cultivated in media containing 0.018 g/L Ui-CaO-NPs. Eggshells can be used as sources of CaCl2 and CaO-NPs for different applications as eco-friendly and economical materials.

Multi-objective optimisation of a solar district heating network with seasonal storage for conditions in cities of southern Chile

Rapid urban growth and enhanced quality of life have significantly increased the demands for indoor heating, especially in the developing world. In Chile, this demand is provided largely through low quality biomass which creates pollution problems. Due to the medium to high solar resource in most of Chile, solar thermal networks with seasonal thermal storage should be considered. In this paper, we assessed the use of solar energy with seasonal thermal energy storage to provide domestic heating through a heat network. For this, we performed a simulation-based multi-objective optimisation of the system’s design with cost and greenhouse gas emissions as objectives for two locations in Chile. Our results show that solar thermal networks are cost-competitive with conventional alternatives. Furthermore, the inclusion of seasonal thermal storage could improve the system performance decreasing the emissions by around 90% while increasing the LCOE by less than 20% compared with a conventional gas-heated network or resistive electric heating. We found that for specific system configurations and locations solar district heating with long term storage could be cost-competitive with burning firewood if externalities such as the social costs of local pollution were considered in the economic analysis.

Estimación de las propiedades físico-químicas de residuos agroindustriales para el aprovechamiento como biocombustible


 In Ecuador maize (Zea mays L) it´s produced in the coastal, Andean and Amazon region, 45.521 hectares are harvested annually in Manabí. On the other hand, peanuts (Arachishypogaea) are another important crop in Manabí agriculture. Within the different agricultural or processing processes, heterogeneous waste, especially biomass, which represents an environmental problem due to the lack of techniques for its use, remaining in the field in the form of waste, which creates pollution problems. An assessment was made of the physicochemical properties that influence energy potential (humidity, ash, fixed carbon and volatile material) of these residues specifically of corn stalk (TM) and peanut shell (CM) for use in the development of a solid biofuel (péllet). CM's moisture content was 11.45% and TM 10.83%. The highest ash content in CM 18.93% and a lower content at TM=11.93%. The fixed carbon content in CM=15.78% and in TM=23.11%, similar values were obtained in the volatile material content between the two residues (CM=65.47% and TM=64.96%), these results indicate that the selected waste can be used for power generation as solid biofuels. In a pilot burner, pellets were burned for each selected agro-industrial waste reaching a maximum temperature of 751±39 °C for CM and 653±13 °C for TM in time of 9 and 4 minutes respectively.
 
 
 Index Terms— biomass, energy potential, solid biofuel.

Understanding Blame Politics in China's Decentralized System of Environmental Governance: Actors, Strategies and Context

AbstractDecentralized environmental governance theory suggests that decentralization can produce better environmental performance mainly because lower-level governments are closer to the people and environmental issues and are considered more legitimate than the national government. However, China's decentralized system of environmental governance has been often regarded as a key factor in creating pollution problems rather than in solving them. To explain this puzzle, this article, using Blame Avoidance Behaviour in government theory as a theoretical framework, examines how blame avoidance behaviour shapes China's decentralized system of environmental governance from three perspectives: first, actors and the chain of blame shaped by the hierarchical power structure among environmental policymakers and implementers; second, the strategies of discursive domination and decentralization for blaming environmental problems on local officials; and lastly, the contextual factor of “hierarchical governmental trust.” Drawing on documentary discursive analysis and extensive fieldwork, this article suggests that the dysfunction of China's decentralized environmental governance structure may in fact be an outcome of a blame-shifting game between central and local governments.

Contribution Des Activites Artisanales Et Industrielles A La Degradation De L’environnement Urbain De Daloa

The Emergence of crafts, sector of informal activities in Côte d'Ivoire and especially in Daloa is the result of the inability of industrial units to revive the urban economy alone and absorb a large and cheap workforce. Crafts, composed of various activities, plays the role industry could not play. Therefore, these two important sectors for the urban economy of Daloa are complementary. However, their practice created inconvenience and have a negative effect on the city. These activities cause significant waste more or less toxic creating pollution problems and exposing actors to various risks. This study aims to show crafts and industry as sources of urban environment degradation spotlighting the products used in the operation of these activities as well as the inconvenience caused by employees.

Sequestration of Metals from Coal Using Bacteria: Environmental Implications on Clean Coal Energy

Burning of coal in power plants generates a huge amount of ash containing heavy metals posing environmental pollution. These metals, when they enter into water, air, and soil, ultimately affect human health through the food chain and food web processes. The physicochemical methods available for the removal of minerals and trace elements from coal are not only costly but also generate secondary sludge and create pollution problems. A bacterial technique is successfully used to remove hazardous metals from coal through oxidation, acidification, and adsorption, thereby improving the fuel quality.

Response surface optimization of kraft lignin recovery from pulping wastewater through emulsion liquid membrane process

Kraft lignin (KL) represents a key sustainable source of biomass for transformation into biofuels and high-value specialty chemicals. Excess lignin in pulping wastewater creates pollution problems, hence affecting human. Thus, the KL recovery from pulping wastewater by emulsion liquid membrane was investigated and optimized using response surface methodology in this study. The liquid membrane was prepared by dissolving carrier tricaprylylmethylammonium chloride (Aliquat 336) and hydrophobic surfactant sorbitan monooleate (Span 80) in kerosene (diluent) with sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) as the internal stripping phase and 2-ethyl-1-hexanol as the modifier. The comparison between the experimentally optimized, and the RSM optimized values was accomplished by optimizing the following parameters: carrier and stripping agent concentration and treat ratio of emulsion to feed phase. The maximum KL recovery of 97% was obtained under the optimum condition at 0.012M of Aliquat 336, 0.32M of NaHCO3, and 1:4.8 of treat ratio.

Evaluation of the Performance of the Composite Bamboo/Epoxy Laminated Material for Wind Turbine Blades Technology

Global energy sources such as coal and oil are limited, and the burning of such fossil resources creates pollution problems. Wind energy offers one of several promising clean alternatives to carbon-based fuels. However, the composite materials currently available for producing wind turbine blades cannot accommodate the scale-up of wind energy due to their high price and disposal challenges (e.g., carbon fiber/epoxy laminated, fiber-reinforced plastics) or environmental costs (e.g., wood/epoxy laminate materials derived from large-diameter natural forest wood). The purpose of this study was to explore the advantages of the composite bamboo/epoxy laminated material as a more cost-effective, sustainable alternative. Applying the classical theory of composite laminated plates, this study tested a prediction model of the composite bamboo/epoxy laminated material's elastic modulus values. The model accurately predicted the end product's elastic modulus values according to the single bamboo board's elastic modulus values and its manner of assembly, without destroying the material’s basic structure and integrity. The composite bamboo/epoxy laminated material was judged to be less expensive than carbon fiber/epoxy laminated, fiber-reinforced plastics and to have advantageous mechanical properties relative to conventional wood/epoxy laminate materials.

Assessment of water quality due to Wolfram mining in Portugal

Water has an important role in creating pollution problems in the mining regimes influencing the surrounding surface environment. The purpose of this study is to make an assessment of groundwater quality in an underground mine site in Portugal with a view of determining the pollution potential of groundwater. In the corresponding surface area of this underground mine, intersections of four faults form rock blocks which delimit the surface subsidence influencing the flow pattern of the surface streams and the groundwater table resulting in inflow of groundwater and rainwater into mining excavations. When this water comes into contact with the virgin rock mass containing pyrites in presence of atmospheric air, acid mine water is formed. This acidic water reacts with the broken rock material dissolving metallic sulphides into solution and also carrying suspended solids. When discharged in the “Boldehao” River, these waters produce diverse environmental impact levels such as pH low and Zn high levels risk cause for irrigation, pH, Cu, Fe and Mn high level risk for consumption human, and pH, Cu and Zn cause high level for fishes.

Experimental and theoretical analysis of Friedel–Crafts acylation of thioanisole to 4-(methylthio)acetophenone using solid acids

4-(Methylthio)acetophenone is an important drug intermediate used for the synthesis of Vioxx (Rofecoxib), an NSAID, which has selective COX-2 inhibition. It is typically produced on industrial scale by Friedel–Crafts acylation using homogeneous corrosive and polluting acid catalysts such as aluminium chloride in more than stoichiometric amounts with acetyl chloride as the acylating agent. This process creates pollution problems related to the disposal of catalyst and treatment of acidic effluent and needs to be replaced by a green process. In the current work, a simple process was developed based on the use of heterogeneous catalysts. The activities of 20% w/w Cs 2.5H 0.5P 12W 40/K-10 clay, Amberlyst-15, Indion-190 and Indion-130 were studied in the acylation of thioanisole with acetic anhydride to prepare 4-(methylthio)acetophenone. Amberlyst-15, a cation exchange resin, was found to be the best catalyst. The effects of various parameters were studied using this catalyst. Dynamic adsorption studies were performed independently to get adsorption equilibrium constants for the reactants and products. A theoretical model was developed to account for kinetics and mechanism and the various constants were evaluated from the experimental data. Simulations were performed to validate the model against experimental data and there was a excellent agreement between theory and experiment.

Electrolytic recovery of zinc from zinc ash using a catalytic anode

AbstractThe process of galvanisation of steel generates zinc ash as the waste product, thus creating pollution problems. The recovery of zinc metal from zinc ash, with a zinc content of about 76% by leaching and electrowinning has been studied. The presence of chloride has been identified as the major problem area. A catalytic anode based on iridium dioxide (IrO2) was used as the anode material to overcome this problem. Catalyst loading was kept at an economically acceptable level. The catalyst's stability, energy consumption and efficiency of zinc recovery are discussed. The service life of the IrO2 active coating has been established by an accelerated polarisation test. The zinc deposit recovered from the zinc ash has been examined by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry

AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION AND URBAN AGRICULTURE

AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION AND URBAN AGRICULTURE

Utilization of waste material resulting from trout processing in gilthead bream (Sparus aurataL.) diets

Fish processing creates a large amount of waste of high nutrient content which, if not properly processed for use in human or animal nutrition, is likely to be deposited in the environment creating pollution problems. Waste parts from rainbow trout processing for smoking, consisting of heads, bones, tails and intestines, were used as feed ingredients for gilthead bream diets. Heads, bones and tails had similar compositions, their weighed mean indicating about 700 g kg−1 moisture, 150 g kg−1 protein and 110 g kg−1 fat. Intestines contained higher lipid (350 g kg−1) and lower moisture (560 g kg−1) and protein content (80 g kg−1). Seasonal changes in composition indicated significant differences. Three experimental diets were formulated having the same proximate composition on a dry weight basis. The control diet (A) contained fish meal as the main protein source and fish oil as the oil supplement. In diet B part of the protein and most of lipid was provided by trout waste and in diet C most of the lipid was provided by trout intestines. Gilthead bream fingerlings of 4 g initial weight were fed to apparent satiation for 72 days, at a temperature of 20 °C, to an average final weight of 19 g. All diets were fed in a dry form. The experiment was performed in duplicate. Growth and feed utilization data were high and similar among groups. The body composition of the resulting fish did not show any difference among dietary treatments. Differences in liver lipid and fatty acid content were found between all dietary treatments. The growth and body composition data from this preliminary experiment indicated that trout waste could be used successfully as a dietary ingredient of sea bream diets.

A Method to Simulate the Impact of Acid Mine Drainage on River Systems

AbstractAbandoned mines create pollution problems in rivers as minewater levels rise and discharges of metal‐rich acidic waters occur. Mines adjacent to rivers can cause serious pollution problems, reducing fish stocks and preventing restocking. A computer model has been used to simulate the impact of these discharges and to devise an optimal treatment strategy to meet river quality objectives. The use of this model, through application to two case studies, is described.

Poultry House Dust, Odours and Feathers—A Review

SummaryIntensive poultry production operations unless managed properly may create pollution problems from dust, odour and feathers. Inside houses with high density certain conditions may arise from the environment that will adversely affect the health of the poultry flock. The amount of airborne dust is much greater in the poultry litter house than in a cage house.If the manure contains enough moisture, the particles tend to settle and not be circulated by fan ventilation. On the other hand, if the moisture content is too high, flies may propagate in the manure. Integrated fly control for flies merits serious consideration by poultrymen.The odours of poultry manure have been separated using chromatographic techniques. The fatty acid content is correlated with the odour of liquid poultry manure. Because of around-the-clock production of fresh manure by chickens, the task of controlling odours by masking agents is made costly.With improper ventilation ammonia in poultry houses may become a problem. The ammonia is produced by bacterial action on the manure. Concentrations of 60 to 70 p.p.m. may cause kerato-conjunctivitis and reduced growth rates. Even less, from 20 to 50 p.p.m. may predispose the birds to certain respiratory diseases.The sheath cells of feathers are produced in large quantities in poultry house environment. Not only do these contribute to the particulate matter but may be responsible for the air transmission of Marek's and Newcastle diseases. Ventilation by means of filtered air under positive pressure may be a practical way of maintaining specific-pathogen-free poultry. When hens lose feathers in large quantities as in force moulting, manure handling problem may be increased. The large feathers from the wings and tail may clog drain pipes and float on the surface of liquid manure ponds. The lighter feathers may cause some trouble when the manure is dried with forced heated air.