An increasing number of countries worldwide is becoming water-stressed, sub-Saharan Africa being one of the most recurrent regions within this discourse. Tanzania, one of the countries in the region, is no exception: large population growth has increased pressure on its precious water resources. The largest city, Dar es Salaam, has a poorly maintained and dimensioned water supply and wastewater system. However, as this system expands and more people are given access to the water network, the water consumption of the city is expected to increase. This is problematic for the whole city; however, peri-urban areas suffer the most from its consequences, e.g. periodical water shortages. This report seeks to investigate the potential for saving water in one of these peri-urban areas, Kibondemaji, by looking at fields of application and techniques for reuse of wastewater from showers. This is done via a literature review and interviews in the field in order to analyse and compare the different systems – reuse for tapwater, irrigation and toilet flushing. The interviews showed that there is wide acceptance within the community for water reuse for toilet flushing but not for tap water or irrigation. Reuse for toilet flushing also requires less treatment than other fields of application, thus being the most promising technique for implementation in Kibondemaji. / Vattenbrist är ett problem som drabbar allt fler länder och särskilt i subsahariska Afrika finns stora utmaningar inom vattenförsörjningen. Tanzania är ett av länderna i regionen som upplever detta, vilket delvis beror på att en stor befolkningstillväxt har givit upphov till ett ökat tryck på de värdefulla vattentillgångarna. Tanzanias största stad, Dar es Salaam, är inget undantag. Staden har ett illa underhållet och underdimensionerat vatten- och avloppssystem, något som inte blir bättre av att staden växer och vattenförbrukningen ökar. Detta är en utmaning för hela staden, men mest drabbade är de oplanerade områdena i stadens utkanter. Kibondemaji är ett sådant område, som bland annat lider av periodiska vattenunderskott. Denna studie har utrett möjligheterna för vattenbesparingar i Kibondemaji genom att undersöka användningsområden och tekniker för återanvändning av spillvatten från duschar. Detta har gjorts genom en litteraturstudie och intervjuer i Kibondemaji, för att analysera och jämföra de potentiella återanvändningsområdena: kranvatten, bevattning och toalettspolning. Intervjuerna visade att invånarna i Kibondemaji ställde sig positivt till vattenåteranvändning till toalettspolning, men inte för kranvatten eller bevattning. Återanvändning för toalettspolning är också det återanvändningsområde som kräver den enklaste reningsproceduren. Därmed utmynnar studiens resultat i att vattenåteranvändning för toalettspolning är den mest lovande tekniken för implementering i Kibondemaji.

No description available.

Large amount of water is used in the pulp-and-paper industry. Consequently, large amount of wastewater is produced in the various production processes. In general, the pollutants of concern involve organic compounds, nutrients, including nitrogen and phosphorous, suspended solids, and chlorinated compounds. Temporary effluents from the production processes often have increased concentrations of these contaminants and there is a risk of overloading the wastewater treatment, which then further increases the risk of discharge of insufficiently treated water to receiving water bodies. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect these temporary, temporary effluents from Kraft pulp mill processes have on the wastewater treatment, with the objective to develop an action plan with measures to address and remedy the problems that occur (to handle them in the best way possible in the future). This study has been conducted through interviews to collect the experiences from personnel working in Kraft pulp mills located in Sweden.  The results of the study from the interviews showed a total of 16 different types of temporary effluents. The results also showed that the most common incidents occurring in the mills were incidents connected to planned or unplanned maintenance stops, and the most common temporary effluents experienced were liquors from the different process steps and chlorate mainly from the bleaching plant. All results are compiled, in both Swedish and English for easier use. The most important measure for mitigating the effect of the temporary effluents was identified to be optimum conditions for the favorable microorganisms in the biological wastewater treatment, such as neutral pH, mesophilic temperature range (20 - 40°C), and sufficient oxygen and essential nutrients for the microorganisms to grow and reduce the contaminants. However, it should be considered that the measures for the different types of effluents can vary significantly depending on the incidents and the cause of the effluents, as well as the type of wastewater treatment implemented, and some measures are specific for each particular mill.

No description available.

Oil shale is a fine-grained sedimentary rock with the potential to yield significant amounts of oil and combustible gas when retorted. Oil shale deposits have been found on almost every continent, but only Estonia, who has the 8th largest oil shale deposit in the world has continuously utilized oil shale in large scale operations. Worldwide, Estonia accounts for 80% of the overall activity involving oil shale, consuming approximately 18 million tons while producing 5–7 million tons of oil shale ash (OSA) annually. Since the amounts are quite significant, Estonia has made the choice to store OSA outdoors as ash heaps, which currently average a height of 45m and overall cover an area of approximately 20 km2. Oil shale is primarily composed of organic matter (15%–55%), low–magnesium calcite (>50%), dolomite (<10%–15%), and siliciclastic minerals (<10–15%). When oil shale is combusted in thermal power plants (TPP), temperatures as high as 1500˚C are reached; calcining CaCO3 into CaO in the process. It is the high CaO content (30%–50%; Free CaO 8%–23%) along with trace elements that makes OSA a threat to the environment; it is mainly the CaO and to a lesser degree the trace elements found in OSA that are exploited in this thesis. Currently, only about 5% of the 5–7 million tons of OSA produced annually is being utilized as an alternative raw material, mostly in the construction industry for the production of Portland cement. Multiple studies have been conducted on OSA in the past by various institutions in an attempt to increase its use in industry and reduce the negative environmental effects of storing large quantities of the highly alkaline material. This thesis primarily focuses on the treatment of acid mine drainage (AMD) and the production of precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) using OSA. In Sweden, CaO is utilized in treating AMD in historical mine sites and in the production of PCC used in the paper industry. Oil shale ash has the potential to become a substitute for lime (CaO) utilized in various industries while Estonia transitions into renewable energy. The mining industry has been abundant in Sweden for hundreds of years, but the poor mining techniques of the past have led to a significant number of mines that require immediate AMD remediation. The Swedish EPA has declared that 600 mines currently need attention, which may cost approximately 2–3 billion SEK (232–350 million USD). 1:200, 1:500, and 1:1000. All ratios yielded a pH greater than 10, most likely inducing the formation and precipitation of secondary minerals such as Schwertmannite and Ferrihydrite. The reduction of metallic cations such as Cu (maximum reduction 99.9%), Pb (99.8%), V (95.5%), Cd (99.9%), As (88.7%), and Ni (99.9%) from AMD waters was observed. The previously mentioned metallic cations most likely adsorbed and co-precipitated to the negatively charged surfaces of Schwertmannite and Ferrihydrite minerals. Metals such as Ba, Cr, and Sb were observed to leach out of OSA, increasing their concentrations in the treated AMD waters, but still within Swedish regulatory limits. Acid mine drainage treatment with OSA significantly reduces heavy metal concentrations; transforming the polluted waters from hazardous to non-hazardous waste (below Swedish leaching limit values). Precipitated calcium carbonate is utilized in many industries, such as in the production of paper, sealants and adhesives, paint, food, and pharmaceuticals. In Sweden, it is common for paper producers to have satellite PCC plants in close proximity so that CO2 (from the paper facility) is used in the carbonation of Ca(OH)2 to form PCC. The CaO in OSA may be mixed with H2O to form the required Ca(OH)2 for PCC production. Potentially replacing raw CaO currently purchased for the production of PCC. The conducted PCC production experiments directly carbonized vacuum filtered OSA leachate with a steady flow of CO2 gas to yield PCC. Precipitate obtained yielded 94%–99% of CaCO3 theoretical values. Throughout the carbonation process; OSA leachate’s pH began >12 and continuously decreased with time, maximum PCC production occurred at pH 9–10, and stabilized at pH 8. Although, the polymorphism and purity of the PCC is not known, the conducted experiments and previous studies on the topic indicate the feasibility of producing high quality PCC from OSA to be used in industry. Additionally, oil shale thermal power plants have the potential to produce PCC and other minerals by injecting flue gases into the highly alkaline (Ca(OH)2) water used to hydraulically transport OSA from the furnaces to ash heaps; reducing or seizing the production of alkaline leachates and emission of gases that currently contaminate the environment. Other applications for OSA were also investigated and reviewed, such as the lucrative extraction and refinement of rare earth elements. Estonian oil shale ash was tested for Ce, Nd, Y and Sc using ICP-MS and compared to Chinese OSA and selected European REE ores. Estonian OSA had the lowest concentrations of REEs in the comparison, nevertheless, previous studies have shown up to 80%-90% REE recovery via an acid leaching process. Rare earth recovery from OSA may be successful in the future if a practical and cost-effective method is developed. Reducing Europe’s dependence on China for REE.

There has been an increased trend and awareness, during the past two decades, for global companies to assess their environmental impact. And when it comes to waste management, there are at this point few disarmaments that an increased awareness of companies’ resource-, and waste streams can have positive financial outcomes, if actions are taken. A lot of these ideas have already been implemented within Electrolux. By developing an energy and water management plan, Green Spirit, they have successfully improved their operations with reducing their energy intensity with 17% (2011-2015) and water intensity with 35% (2011- 2015) (Electrolux Sustainability, 2016). This study has the main objective how to improve and reduce waste in Electrolux´s production facilities, and to help Electrolux understand their waste streams. By assessing the waste performance at Electrolux, and by comparing environmental KPIs between Electrolux and a selection of competitors, a basis for decision was developed. Literature studies of legislative frameworks in geographical regions where Electrolux have a strong presence have helped to understand how companies can work with regulatory entities to solve greater issues. By joining forces with other companies and governments, Electrolux will be able to set an example of how waste performance and profitability can be achieved. By sharing best practice, and engaging with stakeholders and developers, Electrolux can help improve waste performance and save natural resources. This thesis has lead to the development of a new management system, a new reporting system, and a transparent way to rank and keep track of waste performance at Electrolux factories. A way to understand and address issues related to zero waste is also presented.

There has been an increased trend and awareness, during the past two decades, for global companies to assess their environmental impact. And when it comes to waste management, there are at this point few disarmaments that an increased awareness of companies’ resource-, and waste streams can have positive financial outcomes, if actions are taken. A lot of these ideas have already been implemented within Electrolux. By developing an energy and water management plan, Green Spirit, they have successfully improved their operations with reducing their energy intensity with 17% (2011-2015) and water intensity with 35% (2011- 2015) (Electrolux Sustainability, 2016). This study has the main objective how to improve and reduce waste in Electrolux´s production facilities, and to help Electrolux understand their waste streams. By assessing the waste performance at Electrolux, and by comparing environmental KPIs between Electrolux and a selection of competitors, a basis for decision was developed. Literature studies of legislative frameworks in geographical regions where Electrolux have a strong presence have helped to understand how companies can work with regulatory entities to solve greater issues. By joining forces with other companies and governments, Electrolux will be able to set an example of how waste performance and profitability can be achieved. By sharing best practice, and engaging with stakeholders and developers, Electrolux can help improve waste performance and save natural resources. This thesis has lead to the development of a new management system, a new reporting system, and a transparent way to rank and keep track of waste performance at Electrolux factories. A way to understand and address issues related to zero waste is also presented.

Smart Cities concern a variety of domains such as information, data, energy, transport, health, etc. The ‘Information Age’, which shifts from the Industrial Revolution to information computerisation, accesses to large volumes of data explored by sophisticated computer based analytics. ICT solutions interconnect businesses and customers through the cloud while driving the global economy and development of Smart Cities. This MSc thesis aims to investigate connections between Smart Cities and cloud-based Cognitive Computing, then demonstrate with instances how the combination of Watson cognitive system and Pepper humanoid robot can enhance living experience. The investigation is based on literature review in the area of Smart Cities and ICT focusing on Internet of Things, Cloud Computing, and Cognitive Computing, observation of services on Bluemix, and interview with consultants and engineers of IBM. The services of Watson cognitive computing system enable Pepper to process unstructured information and interact with humans. The results also contain use cases of the functionality of Watson-powered Pepper, which could be further implemented for public services.

Renewable energies had accomplish to become part of a new era in the energy development area, making people able to stop relying on fossil fuels. Nevertheless the environmental impacts of these new energy sources also require to be quantified in order to review how many benefits these new technologies have for the environment. In this project the use of a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) will be implemented in order to quantify the environmental impact of wave energy, an LCA is a technique for assessing various aspects with the development of a product and its potential impact throughout a product’s life (ISO 14040, 1997). Several renewables have been assessed for their environmental impact using this tool (wind power, biofuels, photovoltaic panels, among others). This project will be focused on the study of wave power, specifically devices called point absorbers.At the beginning this thesis offers a description of the Life Cycle Assessment methodology with a brief explanation of each steps and requirements according to the ISO 14000 Standard. Later a description of different wave energy technologies is explained, along with the classification of different devices depending on its location and its form of harvesting energy. After explaining the different types available at the moment, the thesis will focus on the point absorber device and explain an approach that can be taken in order to simplify the complexity of the whole system.Once the device is fully explained the thesis approaches the methodology pursued in order to evaluate the system in terms of environmental impact in the selected category, for this case global warming. After, an evaluation of the different modules from the wave energy converter in terms of its environmental impact and choosing the best conditions in order to reduce it has being done.At the end of the thesis an economical overview of building wave energy converters is considered among its monetized cost to the environment and a comparison of this new technologies among other renewables in the market is done, in order to have an overview of the potential this type of energy can have.The main research question to be answered by this master thesis is how competitive is wave energy among other renewable technologies available at the moment. Since at the moment wave energy is in its early stages a representation of how other renewables had advanced from its early stages until today is presented, and the potential of this type of energy is evaluated in environmental and economic figures showing competitive results that can further be improved.

Bioeconomy is an emerging term defined by the European Commission as ‘an economy based on biological,renewable resources to produce bioenergy, biobased products, services and food’. Unlike neighbouring countries Germany and Finland, Sweden lacks an official national bioeconomy strategy and the Swedish bioeconomical development is not mapped. Previous literature has not addressed the topic specifically and to do so, it was believed necessary to address relevant actors currently undergoing the bioeconomical development. It is investigated if the Swedish bioeconomical development is too slow and inefficiently regulated and if so, what measure can be taken. A literature study and 13 interviews with actors relevant to the bioeconomical transition were used to achieve the objective of the study. Concluded, the field of bioeconomy severely needs parameters to make its definition and quantification possible. Despite lacking a national bioeconomy strategy, Sweden’s bioeconomical development is not stalled. The government pursues the transition through specifically created institutions and big investments. Compared to Finland, Sweden performs well within the current bioeconomical sectors (biomass production and biobased sectors were assessed). Parameters must be established to enable a better mapping of the process and to complete the bioeconomical transition within Sweden. / Bioekonomi är ett nyligen etablerat begrepp som fick fäste genom att Europeiska kommissionen publicerade sin strategi for bioekonomi år 2012. Där definieras en bioekonomi som ’en ekonomi baserad på biologiska, förnybara resurser för att producera bioenergi, biobaserade produkter, tjänster och livsmedel’. Sverige visar på ambitioner att övergå från fossilbaserad till en bio-baserad ekonomi bland annat genom den ’Forsknings-och innovations strategi for en biobaserad samhällsekonomi’ som utkom från Formas 2012. Vidare har Sveriges regering initierat projektet ”Fossilfritt Sverige” med ambitionen att bli en av värdens första fossilfria nationer. Dessa ambitioner tar sig vidare uttryck i det strategiska innovationsprogrammet BioInnovation som utreds i denna studie och vars vision är att Sverige skall ha ställt om till en bioekonomi år 2050. Grannländer såsom Tyskland och Finland föregår dock Sverige i den bioekonomiska utvecklingen genom att nationella bioekonomiska strategier publicerats. Sverige saknar ännu en generell definition for begreppet ’bioekonomi’ samt en nationell bioekonomisk strategi. Branschorganisationen IKEM (Innovations och Kemiindustrierna i Sverige) hävdar att detta indikerar en omotiverat långsam och ineffektiv reglerad bioekonomisk utveckling, speciellt då Sverige innehar ett försprång form av sin skogstillgång. Vidare har inte den svenska bioekonomiska omställningen utvärderats, till stor del som följd av dess ännu korta existens och dess ännu odefinierade karaktär. För att åstadkomma en sådan utvärdering ansågs det nödvändigt att rikta frågan till aktörer som är del av organisationer som för närvarande genomlever den bioekonomiska övergången. En litteraturstudie samt 13 intervjuer med aktörer från departement, myndigheter och industriella sektorer som anses relevanta för den svenska bioekonomiska övergången har använts för att uppnå studiens syfte. Det kan konkluderas att ett starkt behov av parametrar genom vilka en bioekonomi kan definieras och dess utveckling mätas finns. Att sådana etableras är en förutsättning för att kunna mäta den svenska bioekonomiska utvecklingen samt hur väl denna förhåller sig till andra länders utveckling i Europa. Trots att det finns lång väg att gå innan Sverige ställt om till en bioekonomi, visar studien att Sverige inte ligger nämnvärt bakom Finland i den bioekonomiska utvecklingen trots att en svensk nationell bioekonomisk strategi saknas. Satsningar i rätt riktning görs och med termens fyraåriga existens i åtanke bedöms utvecklingen inte vara nämnvärt hindrad.