Resource Waste Management Research Articles

Cradle to cradle solution to problematic waste materials from mine and coal power station: Acid mine drainage, coal fly ash and carbon dioxide

During mining, minerals such as FeS2 are exposed to O2, H2O, and microorganisms resulting in the oxidation and generation of acidic water. The acidic water causes chemical weathering of the adjacent rocks and leaching of potentially toxic metals and the resultant water is often termed acid mine drainage (AMD). Coal power stations produce an alkaline aluminosilicate waste material called fly ash (CFA). Modern waste resource management emphasises finding useful applications of waste generated from processes to achieve a green economy. CFA was, with additional lime and Al(OH)3 used to treat AMD at a 80L pilot scale. Most of the physical and chemical parameters of the treated water were within South African target water quality range (TWQR) for irrigation. Carbonation of the water after treatment with CFA, lime and Al(OH)3 produced water that was within the TWQR for irrigation with respect to all parameters and resulted in the sequestration of 15–123L of CO2 per 80 L of AMD treated at standard ambient temperature and pressure. CO2 reacted with Ca ions in the water and solid residues to form CaCO3. Carbonation improves the ease of disposal of CFA, the AMD quality as well as reducing the amount of CO2 emissions by coal power plants through mineral carbonation. The solid residues from the overall process are suitable for the back filling of mine voids thereby preventing AMD generation by excluding air and water. This is an innovative cradle to cradle solution for the disposal of waste materials from coal mines and power stations.

The efficacy of an anaerobic digester-based biogas production from various feedstocks

ABSTRACTThe management of municipal solid waste has always been a problem for both developed and developing countries. The proper management of waste resources can improve resource efficiency as well as develop a suitable substitute for fossil fuels. A number of management options are available, but biogas recovery using anaerobic digestion is often recommended as an attractive option. Biogas production potential varies from source to source. This work focuses on wastewater sludge, organic fraction municipal solid waste (OF-MSW), and co-digestion of both wastewater sludge and OF-MSW. The digestion was performed at an optimum temperature of 36°C. The primary objective of this study was to determine and evaluate different factors such as temperature, pH, and nitrogen concentration and its influence on biogas production.

Opportunities for Switzerland to Contribute to the Production of Algal Biofuels: the Hydrothermal Pathway to Bio-Methane.

Microalgae have a significant potential to be a sustainable source of fuel and thus are of interest in the transition to a sustainable energy system, in particular for resource-dependent countries such as Switzerland. Independence of fossil fuels, considerable reduction of CO(2) emissions, and abandoning nuclear energy may be possible with an integrated system approach including the sourcing of biofuels from different types of biomass. Today, a full carbon-to-fuel conversion is possible, and has been recently demonstrated with an advanced hydrothermal technology. The potential to develop algal biofuels is viewed as high thanks to the possibility they offer to uncouple bioenergy from food production. Nevertheless, technological breakthroughs must take place before commercial production becomes a reality, especially to meet the necessary cost savings and efficiency gains in the algae cultivation structure. In addition, an integrated management of waste resources to promote the nutrient recovery appears today as imperative to further improve the economic viability and the environmental sustainability of algal production. We provide here a review that includes the global technological status of both algae production and their conversion into biofuels in order to understand first the added value of algal energy in general before we focus on the potential of algae to contribute specifically to the Swiss energy system to the horizon 2050. In this respect, the hydrothermal conversion pathway of microalgal biomass into synthetic natural gas (SNG) is emphasized, as research into this technology has received considerable attention in Switzerland during the last decade. In addition, SNG is a particularly relevant fuel in the Swiss context due to the existing gas grid and to the opportunity it offers to cover a wide spectrum of energy applications, in particular cogeneration of heat and electricity or use as a transport fuel in the growing gas car fleet.

Resources Conservation and Waste Management Practices in Construction Industry

Changing people’s wasteful behaviour can make a significant contribution for sustainable growth. This is because wastes are often hazardous in nature thereby making them potentially hazardous to human health and/or the environment. Sustainable livelihood within the environment where the presence of wastes has become a phenomenon makes efforts at addressing this menace a central issue. In the light of this, a strategic solid waste resource management planning approach has been identified as capable of enhancing plausible solutions to take care of its menace. Such planning has to take into cognizance a comprehensive strategy that can remain flexible in light of changing economic, social, material (products and packaging) and environmental conditions. In relation to the present study, the need for resource conservation in order to minimise the rate of waste generation is being emphasized. The necessity of this revolves around the environmental benefits inherent in such efforts and economic gains it will bestow on the construction industry and other stakeholders within the society. This paper investigates the management of wastes generated from construction and demolition activities that has wide-ranging impacts on the environment. Waste management is perceived as a low project priority, and there is an absence of appropriate resources and incentives support it. A theory of waste behaviour is proposed for the construction industry, and recommendations are made to help managers improve workers’ attitudes towards waste. Keyword: Resource Conservation, Waste Management, Construction Industry

An assessment of the relationship between shared solid waste management services and effectiveness in service delivery in Kampala Capital City Authority, Uganda

This manuscript assesses the effectiveness of KCCA in management of solid waste in Uganda through a theoretical framework of ‘social welfare’, ‘standardization’, ‘effectiveness’, ‘efficiency’, ‘equity’, ‘economies of scale and scope’, ‘cost’, ‘quality’ and ‘quantity’ (SSEEEECQQ). This study attempted to assess the relationship between sharing and the effectiveness of solid waste management services without considering other variables listed in the framework domain. The main instrument used to collect data was a questionnaire though informal discussions were included to supplement quantified results. Two categories were investigated i.e., (a) staff of KCCA at operational and senior level, and (b) town dwellers. The overall results indicate that sharing solid waste services significantly affects the implementation process, the supervision, trust between the community members and partnerships since the p –values are all less than 0.05. Moreover, the approach of sharing waste management resources among divisions i.e., (a) refuse trucks, (b) casual workers, and (c) heavy equipments has helped to improve service delivery in waste management. Hopefully the findings will help dwellers appreciate a shared responsibility of maintaining a clean city and policy makers will appreciate the need to draft a policy that will guide shared service operations which model can be replicated in many municipalities in Uganda to nurse the desire of achieving a competent and enterprising public service at the same time maintaining a clean city.

Briefing: Waste management in Manchester, UK – planning for success

The Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority in the UK set out in 2003 to make a significant move up the waste hierarchy. With a population of over 2·27 million people and an annual municipal waste volume of up to 1·5 Mt across nine local authorities, Europe’s largest ever public sector waste procurement project was an ambitious programme from the start. The plans included the development of a range of new facilities which would process Greater Manchester’s municipal waste for the next 25 years and lead the way in intelligent waste resource management.

Study on Agricultural Waste Management Information System

This paper analyzes the characteristics of waste resources and utilization status, information technology the role and utilization status in the waste resources management, put forward using 3S technology (GIS, RS, GPS), Internet technology, data sharing technology and a variety of statistical and management software to establish the Waste Resource Management Information System, this system covers the waste resources information which about the waste resources from the "cradle" to "grave" life cycle,so as to improve waste resources management level, and provide support for its utilization.Solve the problem in the course of waste resources convert into energy. Provide information support for the waste resources conversion technology large-scale commercial application, accelerate the commercial development process.Provide up-to-date information on the opportunities for growing crops for energy and using farm residues, achieve to modernization of waste resource management, improve the level of waste resource management,provide independent information and advice to agriculture, academia, Government, industry, the media and the public.

Briefing: Overview of the work of the Sue waste consortium

he Sue waste consortium was funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) under its sustainable urban environment (Sue) programme to carry out an integrated, multi-disciplinary programme of research into waste resource management in the urban environment. The consortium aimed to address some of the most pressing issues facing modern-day waste management practitioners and policy makers. This briefing provides an overview of the background, mode of operation and outputs of the consortium, which have yielded potential benefits both for UK research capabilities and the waste management industry. It has advanced the knowledge base in a way that should enable more informed policy and decision making. This will in turn contribute to the ultimate goal of sustainability in urban waste resource management.

The Potential of Hydrolitic Enzymes (Pectinases, Cellulases and Hemicellulases) for Green Biotechnology Applications. Case Study: Apple Skin Hydrolysis.

SUMMARY Enzymes are large proteins present in all living organisms (plants, animals, microorganisms). Enzymes play important roles in food and beverage industry and have already been recognized as valuable catalysts for o rganic transformations and production of fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Enzymatic methods have already replaced some conventional chemical processes. Biocatalytic route s in combination with chemical synthesis are finding increased use in the synthesis of novel polymeric materials. The discovery of new and improved enzymes and their use in various processes and products will create new market opportunities for enzymes and solve environmental problems. At present, the most commonly used enzymes in biotechnology are hydrolytic ones which catalyze the breakdown of larger biopolymers into smaller units. Such enzymes cataly ze hydrolytic reactions in a selective manner, not only regio- but also stereoselectively and have been used both for asymmetric synthesis and racemic resolutions. Pectinases (P) or pectinolytic enzymes catalyze the degradation of pectinic substances. The biotechnolo gical potential of pectinolytic enzymes from microorganisms has drawn a great deal of atten tion for use as biocatalysts in industrial processes, but also their main role in the extract ion and clarification of fruit juices is well established, pretreatment of pectic wastewater, cof fee and tea fermentation. Cellulases (C) catalyze the hydrolysis of the β-1, 4 linkages, acting as glucoside hydrolases. Cellulases are curently the third large st industrial enzymes, used mainly in cotton processing, but also in paper recycling, as deterge nt enzymes, in juice extraction and as animal feed aditives. However, cellulases will beco me the largest volume industrial enzyme, if ethanol, butanol, or some other fermentation pro duct of sugars, produced from biomass, becomes a major transportation fuel, as seems likel y. Hemicellulases (HC) catalyze the degradation of hemicelluloses, found in many fruits , with many applications in industrial processes. Hemicellulases are routinely used for th e improvement of animal feed, in the pulp and paper industry for biobleaching and biopulping, and for processing flour in the bakery. The most challenging application is the development of an economic process for the solubilization of lignocellulose material to serve as a carbon source for renewable energy. We review here the main applications of these enzymes in improving food/agriculture waste resource management (valorization of apple residues , sugarbeet, wood) and some preliminary results on the (UV-VIS, FTIR) spectroscopy investigation of P, C, HC activity and efficiency on apple skin substrate.