Report (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. M.S. 1993. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 53-54). Also available via the Internet.

Report (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. M.S. 1991. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 75-76). Also available via the Internet.

<p>The systems engineering process has been applied to determine the feasibility of building a de-inking plant in Northern Virginia. This plant will recycle old newspapers and magazines into newsprint to be used by a local newspaper company in the production of their daily newspaper.</p> <p> A needs analysis establishes the local newspaper company's desire to obtain a reliable source of one-hundred percent recycled newsprint at a competitive cost. The analysis proposes building a de-inking plant to produce the required quantity and quality of recycled newsprint required to fulfill the local newspaper company's production needs. The analysis applies the engineering process to develop the system's high-level operational and maintenance requirements. This process establishes a system configuration used to evaluate the system's economic feasibility.</p> <p> The results of this analysis indicate that the de-inking plant system is feasible within the available technology and economic resources. The de-inking plant can provide a reliable source of 100% recycled paper at a cost that is below the present cost for similar recycled newsprint.</p> / Master of Science

<p>The systems engineering process has been applied to develop and evaluate a system that collects and processes scrapped catalytic converters to recover the platinum group metals retained by the converters' spent catalyst substrate.</p> <p> A needs analysis establishes a catalytic converter manufacturer's desire to reduce the cost of obtaining platinum group metals used to produce new catalytic converters. The analysis proposes a collection and processing system as an alternative to existing suppliers to provide these metals at a lower cost. The analysis applies the engineering process to develop the system's high-level requirements and devises its components, inter-relationships, and operation. This process establishes a system configuration used to evaluate the system's economic feasibility.</p> <p>The results of this analysis indicate that the collection and processing system is feasible within the constraints of available technology and economic resources.</p> / Master of Science

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves ).

Municipalities are increasingly facing solid waste disposal problems due to lack of sanitary landfill sites, high costs of landfill management and increasingly stringent environmental standards. Consequently, they are turning toward innovative disposal practices to alleviate these problems. However, very little comprehensive information is available to decision makers on the range of options available in resource recovery development and the factors that can influence choices. This thesis tests the hypothesis that there are a definable set of factors or circumstances that have led resource recovery developers to make specific decisions regarding ownership, operation, financing, system technology, and air pollution control technology. The thesis is divided into three stages: development of case studies on 9 resource recovery facilities in the state of Virginia; development and analysis of a nationwide survey to test the patterns illustrated in these case studies; and finally, the development of a guide for resource recovery developers that will serve as preliminary guidance in their choice of development options. / M. Arch.