The food production system has been acknowledged as a problem that needs to be addressed in order to achieve a sustainable society. Hertwich and Peters (2009), estimate that 10-30% of an individual’s environmental impact is related to the industrial production and consumption of food. The problem is aggravated by the wastage of one third of the global food production. The consequences of the wastage of food are the loss of resources, such as energy, water, land and labour and unnecessary emissions of pollutants. In order to address this problem several actions have been proposed. The Sustainable Development Goal 12.3, which Sweden has committed to fulfil, aims to reduce by half the amount of food waste along the production and supply chain by 2030. Retail is an important player in the food supply chain. Its influence spreads both upstream to suppliers and downstream to consumers. Therefore, this research aims to contribute to reduction of the environmental impacts related to food waste in retail, by identifying products with high environmental impacts. The main goals of this study are 1) the quantification of food waste produced by the supermarket and 2) to examine the environmental impacts of selected products in order to assess the impacts generated by the waste production at the supermarket. The findings of the research revealed 1) the importance of not only measuring the food waste in terms of mass, but also in terms of environmental indicators and costs. The results indicate bread as an important contributor for the environmental footprint of the supermarket and a potential product for interventions 2) Sorting the organic content of the products from its packaging before sending it to the current waste treatment leads to a reduction in the carbon footprint. The research identified the following recommendations: 1) increasing supermarket personnel and consumers’ awareness regarding the environmental impact of food waste, 2) finding alternative routes for waste treatment and 3) improving logistic operations.

The number of batteries, namely accumulators, is growing. Consequently, their take-away and a need of recyclation is increasing too. It is thus necessary to find a suitable way to their optimalization that can lead to the establishment of new waste collection machineries. This study deals with the data analysis by ECOBAT s.r.o. company, data processing and a model construction (in five different versions). The output of the diploma thesis is a model of the batteries collection enabling closer look on take-away routes, The model is based on the distances of take-away routes based on a principle of the utility areas and a role of a transport. The data are obtained from ArcGIS 10.5 and subsequently handled in Microsoft Excel. The outputs are the map schemes issuing from five different versions. The first one is showing the current situation, The other one is showing the version of treating units in three largest towns of the Czechia, the third one treating units in all the towns with above 100 000 inhabitants. The forth on eis showing a possibility to have a collection point in each of the county seats. The last one has the same location, but the threating units have higher capacities. The model is general, there is therefore a possibility of using it for other similar situations.

O aumento da população nas áreas urbanas associada ao crescimento e mudança no padrão de consumo resulta numa maior geração de Resíduos Domiciliares (RD). A Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos prevê a obrigatoriedade dos municípios elaborarem Planos Municipais de Gestão Integrada de Resíduos Sólidos, os quais devem ter como um dos conteúdos mínimos a caracterização física dos RD. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi atualizar a gravimetria do município, para dar suporte à elaboração do Plano e identificação de potencialidades e fragilidades na gestão de resíduos sólidos. Além disso, este trabalho usou uma metodologia baseada na NBR 10.007 e normas internacionais para realizar a caracterização física dos RD no aterro sanitário. As análises para verificar a influência do clima e da presença de coleta seletiva foram feitas pelo teste Mann-Whitney, enquanto que a relação da gravimetria com aspectos socioeconômicos foi feita pela correlação de Spearman. Por fim, realizou-se a análise de agrupamento hierárquica aglomerativa para formar grupos de setores similares, e assim, estimar a gravimetria do município considerando um setor de cada grupo formado. A estimação da gravimetria de São Carlos em 2018 foi: 37,48% de Matéria Orgânica; 5,13% de Papel; 4,59% de Papelão; 6,51% de Plástico filme; 7,25% de Plástico rígido; 3,10% de Vidro; 1,73% de Metais; 1,46% de Embalagem longa vida; 4,72% Têxteis, couro e borracha; 0,68% Resíduo eletroeletrônico; 0,99% Medicamentos, curativos e embalagens de medicamentos e cosméticos; 0,47% Embalagens de tintas, esmaltes, aerossóis e inseticidas; 25,89% de Rejeitos. Concluiu-se que houveram mudanças no padrão de consumo da população se comparada com estudos anteriores e que a coleta seletiva se encontra em uma situação regular no município. Também constatou-se que não há evidências estatísticas de diferença da gravimetria entre as estações climáticas e entre os setores com e sem coleta seletiva. Contatou-se também que é possível estimar a gravimetria por menos e que a combinação ideal variou com a estação da coleta de dados. / The population growth in the urban areas associated to the increase and change in the consumption pattern results in a greater generation of Household Waste (HW). The National Solid Waste Policy foresees the obligation of the municipalities to elaborate Municipal Integrated Solid Waste Management Plans, which should have as one of the minimum contents the gravimetry of the HW. In this way, the objective of this work was to update the municipality\'s gravimetry, aiming the elaboration of the Plan and identification of potentialities and weaknesses in solid waste management. In addition, this work used a methodology based on NBR 10.007 and international standards to perform the physical characterization of HW in the landfill. The analyzes to verify the influence of the climate and the presence of selective collection were done by the Mann-Whitney test, whereas the relation of gravimetry with socioeconomic aspects was made by the Spearman correlation. Finally, agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis was performed to form groups of similar sectors, and in sequence make combinations considering one sector of each group, to propose a set of reduced sectors to facilitate monitoring or to determine future gravimetrics of the municipality. The estimation of the gravimetry of São Carlos in 2018 was: 37,48% of Organic matter; 5,13% Paper; 4,59% Cardboard; 6,51% Soft plastic; 7,25% Hard plastic; 3,10% Glass; 1,73% of Metals; 1,46% of Multilayers packaging; 4,72% Textiles, leather and rubber; 0,68% Electronic waste; 0,99% Medicines, packaging of medicines and cosmetics; 0,47% Packaging of paints, enamels, aerosols and insecticides; 25,89% of Rejects. It was concluded that there were changes in consumption pattern of the population compared to pasts studies and that the selective collection is in a regular situation in the municipality. It was also verified that statistically there is no difference evidence of the gravimetry between the climatic seasons and between the sectors with and without selective collection. In relation to gravimetry estimation by less sectors, it was verified that it is possible and that the ideal combination varied with the climatic season that the data was collected.

The objective through my PhD has been to investigate radiation damage effects in materials related to fusion and to safe encapsulation of nuclear waste, using Molecular Dynamics (MD) methods. Particularly, using MD, we acquire essential information about the multi-scale phenomena that take place during irradiation of materials, and gain access at length and time-scales not possible to access experimentally. Computer simulations provide information at the microscopic level, acting as a bridge to the experimental observations and giving insights into processes that take place at small time and length-scales. The increasing computer capabilities in combination with recently developed scalable codes, and the availability of realistic potentials set the stage to perform large scale simulations, approaching phenomena that take place at the atomistic and mesoscopic scale (fractions of m for the first time) in a more realistic way. High-energy radiation damage effects have not been studied previously, yet it is important to simulate and reveal information about the properties of the materials under extreme irradiation conditions. Large scale MD simulations provide a detailed description of microstructural changes. Understanding of the primary stage of damage and short term annealing (scale of tens of picoseconds) will lead to better understanding of the materials properties, best possible long-term use of the materials and, importantly, new routes of optimization of their use. Systems of interest in my research are candidate fusion reactor structural materials (iron and tungsten) and materials related to the radioactive waste management (zirconia). High-energy events require large simulation box length in order for the damage to be contained in the system. This was a limitation for previous simulations, which was recently shifted with my radiation damage MD simulations. For the first time high-energy radiation damage effects were simulated, approaching new energy and length scales, giving a more realistic view of processes related to fusion and to high-energy ion irradiation of material.

No description available.

: It is problematic from an environmental point of view when consumers have damaged or worn out textiles and need to dispose of them (Domina and Koch, 2002). Domina and Koch (2002) explain that unwanted consumer textiles that are not suited for donation to charity organizations, are simply thrown into the trash. Textiles are nearly 100 percent recyclable and according to Hawley (2006), nothing in the textile and apparel industry consequently should be wasted. It will be a major positive impact on the environment if we can reduce the amounts of textile waste through recycling. In addition, recycling will reduce the emissions arising from new manufacturing by making use of existing resources (Naturvårdsverket, 2013). Recycling signifies any recovery operation by which waste materials are re-processed into products, materials or substances (Tojo., et al. 2012). It is an ecosystem-inspired design approach where all waste from one component of the system becomes food for another (Fletcher, 2008). There is currently no large scale recycling of textiles in Sweden, nor is there any major export for recycling of Swedish textiles (Palm, 2011). But Swedish producers and retailers have started to consider the value of re- establishing a recycling plant within the country (Tojo et al., 2012). The future market of the textile industry faces an inevitable challenge. It is important to find materials that could replace the large amount of cotton used today and find solutions on how to produce synthetic fiber without increasing the yield of oil (Sandow, 2012). In addition, Consequently, there might be a greater demand for recycled textile fibers in the future. However, the issue of the implementation of a textile recycling system in Sweden is complex with many aspects to take into account. The aim for this report was to explore the areas of research in textile recycling, and by dint of seven experts, determine whether or not Sweden should implement a textile recycling system, and how that should be done. The essential factors for implementing a textile recycling system in Sweden was concluded to be: environmentally sustainable growth, better technology and chemistry, consumer responsibility, producer responsibility, supply of textiles for recycling, demand for recycled fibers, facilitating the voluntary organizations (optimizing reuse), pricing and profitability, sustainable and economical logistics, supporting policies, sustainable products that are easy to recycle, global collaborations. It was concluded that Sweden should implement a textile recycling system. The initial phase of the system (within ten years) should be to establish collecting arrangement for textiles in all conditions. The discarded textiles should be sorted in Sweden and exported for recycling. If the textile industry will shift to having a near-sourcing strategy and if synthetic cellulose fibers will revive the Swedish textile industry, Sweden could benefit from having a complete recycling system within 20 years. / Program: Applied Textile Management

Uppsatsnivå: D

Este trabalho de pesquisa foi elaborado com o objetivo de apresentar os resultados da recuperação e reciclagem de xileno, gerado em laboratórios de análises clínicas. É importante salientar a importância de um programa de gestão e gerenciamento de resíduos químicos, principalmente em instituições de ensino e pesquisa, de forma a contribuir para a preservação do ambiente e possibilitar a formação de profissionais conscientes, acostumados à práticas corretas de gestão e gerenciamento de resíduos químicos. A recuperação do resíduos de xileno foi feita por meio da técnica de destilação fracionada. Para a verificação da eficiência da recuperação do xileno, foram analisadas amostras do resíduo de xileno, do xileno recuperado e do xileno padrão, com o propósito de comparar os resultados obtidos destas amostras por meio das análises de Espectrofotometria de ultravioleta visível, (UVVis), Refratometria, Cromatografia Gasosa (CG) e Cromatografia Gasosa acoplada à Espectrometria de Massas (CG-EM). Os resultados desta pesquisa confirmam a eficiência da recuperação do resíduo de xileno, possibilitando que este retorne ao processo produtivo ou gerador, na forma de produto, refazendo assim, o ciclo por completo. A recuperação do resíduo do xileno e sua reciclagem traz benefícios ambientais e econômicos. / This research was elaborated with the objectives to present the results of recovery and recycling of xylene, generated in clinical analyses laboratories. It is essential to point out the importance of management and chemical waste management program, especially in education and research institutions, contributing to environment preservation and to making possible the qualification of conscientious professionals, used with correct practices of management and the chemical waste management. The xylene waste was recovered by fractional distillation technique. To verify the efficiency of the xylene recovery it was analyzed samples of waste xylene, recovered xylene and standard xylene, to compare the obtained data of these samples through the ultraviolet-visible Spectrophotometry (UV - Vis), Refractometry, Gas Chromatography (GC) and connected Gas Chromatography to the Spectrometry of Mass (GC-MS) analyses. The results of this work confirmed the efficiency of the xylene recovery, making possible its return to the productive or generator processes as a product, thus completing the entire cycle. The recovery of the xylene waste and its recycling has important ambient and economic benefits.

Underground mining is a mineral acquisition technique that is critical to global economies, and human technological advancements. As shallow resource reserves are depleted, mine depths are increasing to accommodate global mineral demand. Increases in mine throughputs and excavation depths pose increased environmental concerns. Tailings surface disposal, and underground mine support are two considerable environmental and geotechnical factors of concern in current day mining. Underground waste disposal has been adopted by the mining industry in many forms. Cemented paste backfill (CPB) is a common best management practice developed to tackle these two specific resource industry related issues worldwide. CPB is a cement-stabilized material composed of tailings, water, and hydraulic binder. Tailings disposal areas on the earth’s surface are reduced by disposing of tailings in subsurface stopes that have been previously excavated. This increases underground safety by providing structural support to the mine. There are also economic benefits to this practice, as the additional support allows for adjacent pillars to be excavated. Although CPB greatly reduces tailings exposure to atmospheric elements, there are still underground environmental factors that must be considered with respect to environmental performance. CPBs are porous media, meaning they are susceptible to leaching of naturally occurring metals that are no longer in a stable condition as they were when incorporated in the parent rock. Arsenic and lead are metals of concern due to their association with many ore bodies. Leaching of these unstable metals may be influenced by the backfill curing temperature and the chosen hydraulic binder. Curing temperatures may be influenced by geographic location, local stope geology and depth, hydration and transport, among others. Hydraulic binders are chosen based on availability, cost, and desired mechanical properties of the paste. In this research, the effect of curing temperature and binder composition on the leachability of CPB are studied. ASTM C 1308 leaching protocol is used to determine the leachability of six CPBs. In addition, microstructural techniques (Powder X-Ray Diffraction, Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry, and Scanning Electron Microscopy) are used to relate the microstructural properties of the CPB to the leaching characteristics. Results reveal that CPBs cured with ordinary Portland cement (OPC) leach significantly less than CPBs cured with an OPC/Blast furnace slag (Slag) binder (50% blending ratio) as a result of CH consumption in slag hydration. Both CH and C-S-H are responsible for immobilizing arsenic in cement stabilized materials. OPC-CPBs contain greater relative quantities of CH, which aids in arsenic immobilization. Between the range of 2°C and 35°C OPC-CPB performed better at lower curing temperatures. Lower curing temperatures are favoured in OPC-CPB because the pore surface greater than the threshold pore diameter is reduced. Alternatively, OPC/Slag-CPB exhibited a decrease in cumulative mass leached at higher curing temperatures. The difference in cumulative mass leached by the OPC/Slag-CPBs is also related to the pore surface, and threshold pore diameter.

Este trabalho tem como objetivo o estudo do reaproveitamento da parte metálica e a caracterização dos óxidos presente no resíduo de granito gerado na etapa de desdobramento. Inicialmente, foi feita a caracterização química e física do resíduo através de análise química, difração de raios-X, microscopia eletrônica de varredura e análise granulométrica. Após a caracterização do resíduo, foi dado inicio aos processos para a recuperação do Fe metálico que envolveram: separação magnética, mesa concentradora e ciclonagem. A separação magnética foi realizada em três etapas: a primeira onde se utilizou um separador magnético a úmido de alta intensidade, onde foi utilizado apenas o campo magnético remanescente do equipamento. Na segunda etapa, onde o material magnético obtido na primeira etapa foi submetido a uma nova separação magnética manual utilizando um imã de terras raras. Na terceira etapa, o material magnético obtido com o imã de terras raras foi submetido a uma separação magnética manual com um imã ferrítico. Nos ensaios de mesa concentradora, foram realizadas variações na inclinação da mesa, freqüência de oscilação e vazão de água de lavagem. Já nos ensaios de ciclone, o parâmetro variado foi à pressão de alimentação. Foram realizadas variações nos parâmetros dos equipamentos com o intuito de se aperfeiçoar e definir os melhores parâmetros para a recuperação do Fe metálico. Após cada ensaio, foi realizada a análise química volumétrica para a determinação do teor de Fe metálico obtido em cada produto. Pelos resultados obtidos, o método de separação magnética foi a que apresentou os melhores resultados, sendo possível a obtenção de um concentrado ferroso com 93% de Fe metálico e um concentrado granítico com 0,6% de Fe metálico. Já nos ensaios de mesa concentradora, o melhor resultado obtido foi um concentrado ferroso com apenas 13,7% de Fe metálico, e nos ensaios de ciclone foi possível à obtenção de um produto com apenas 7,2% de Fe metálico. A partir do concentrado ferroso e granítico obtido na separação magnética foi realizada a caracterização através de microscopia eletrônica de varredura, difração de raios-X e análise granulométrica. A partir do concentrado ferroso obtido, foram produzidos briquetes com uso de 2% de cal hidratada como aglomerante. Foram realizados testes de resistência mecânica a verde e a seco nos briquetes produzidos. Foi obtido uma resistência mecânica a verde de no máximo 1,02 kN e a seco de no máximo 3,59 kN. / The aim of this work is to study the reuse of the metallic part and the characterization of oxides present in the waste from granite sawing. First, the chemical and physical characteristics of the waste were analyzed by chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and size analysis. Procedures for the metallic iron recovery (magnetic separation, concentrator table, and cyclonic separation) were performed after the waste characterization. Magnetic separation was performed in three phases. First, using a high intensity wet magnetic separator, which only the remaining magnetic field of equipment was utilized. In the second phase, the magnetic material obtained in first phase was subjected to a new manual magnetic separation using rare earth magnets. In a third phase, magnetic material obtained with rare earth magnets was subjected to manual magnetic separation using ferrite magnets. In the experiments of concentrator table, were carried out changes in table inclination, oscillation frequency and wash water flow. For cyclone tests, the varied parameter was the water supply pressure. Variations in equipment parameters were performed in order to improve and decide the best parameters for recovery of metallic iron. After each experiment, volumetric chemical analysis was performed to determine the metallic iron content of each product. The results show that the magnetic separation method had the best results since it is possible to obtain a ferrous concentrated with 93.0 wt. % metallic iron and granite concentrated with 0.6 wt. % metallic iron. While for concentrator table tests, the best result presented a ferrous concentrated with only 13.6 wt. % metallic iron; and for cyclone tests, a product with only 7.2 wt. % of metallic iron was obtained. Ferrous and granite concentrated from magnetic separation were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and size analysis. Using the obtained ferrous concentrated, briquettes were produced with 2 wt. % hydrated lime as binder. Produced briquettes were tested using dry and wet mechanical strength test. Wet mechanical strengths of up to 1.02kN were obtained, and a maximum of 3.59kN was registered to dry mechanical strength.