No description available.

No description available.

This study aims to undertake a comprehensive analysis of different waste management systems for the wastes produced in Östersund municipality of Sweden with an impact assessment limited to greenhouse gas emissions and their total environmental effects in terms of global warming potential, acidification potential, and eutrophication potential. A life cycle assessment methodology is used by integrating knowledge from waste collection, transportation, waste management processes and the product utilization. The analytical framework included the definition of functional unit, system boundaries, complimentary system design, waste management, and partial use of the energy. Three different municipal solid waste management scenarios, incineration, composting, and digestion were considered for the study. All wastes from Östersund municipality were classified into biodegradable and combustible and thereafter treated for energy and compost production. Greenhouse gas emissions and total environmental impacts were quantified and evaluated their corresponding benefits compared to three different types of marginal energy production system. The results showed that the major greenhouse gas carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide emissions are greater in composting scenario, whereas methane emission is greater in digestion scenario. Composting scenario that uses additional coal fuel has greater global warming potential and acidification potential compared to other scenarios. Composting scenario using wood fuel additional energy has greater eutrophication potential. The highest reduction in global warming potential is achieved when digestion scenario replace coal energy. The greater reduction in acidification and eutrophication potential achieved when digestion scenario replaced coal energy, and wood fuel respectively. Based on the assumptions made, digestion scenario appears to be the best option to manage solid waste of Östersund municipality if the municipality goal is to reduce total environmental impact. Although there may have plentiful of uncertainties, digestion and incineration scenario results are competitive in reducing environmental effects, and based on the assumptions and factors used for the analysis, the results and conclusions from this study appear to be strong. Key words: Solid waste, incineration, composting, digestion, total environmental effect, wood fuel, biogas.

Carbon dioxide emissions have long proven to be one of the greenhouse gases that affect our planet's climate and environment. With the upcoming EU targets and Sweden's own net zero targets, the construction and real estate sector is required to work with climate-smart materials to construct the buildings of the future. The net zero target for year 2045 requires a joint pool of power from all companies to find innovative solutions to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The purpose of this study was to investigate how conscious and active the construction and real estate sector is for climate-smart concrete through a survey and comparison of different typ of concretes EPDs. The work aims to investigate how far the development has taken place and to investigate how the market has adopted the new products that are available. The purpose was also to investigate which alternative additives are most common and the advantages and disadvantages of the climate-smart concrete. Climate smart is a term for concrete that contains a lower percentage of Portland cement clinker than the traditional concrete. A questionnaire was created to answer the purpose of the study. The survey sent out involved questions about how companies view the new environmental target for year 2045. As well as investigating how the construction and real estate sector works together to achieve the goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 85% less than in year 1990. A comparison was made between three different EPDs of climate-smart concrete and two reference concrete with ordinary Portland cement clinker. Reference concrete one is a standard value derived from previous studies made and reference concrete two is an EPD value. This was done to investigate the amount of carbon dioxide they emit at the production stage. A reference building was used to calculate the amount of concrete. The result shows that the comparison between reference concrete one with the standard value and the three climate-smart concrete from Svensk Betong, Betongindustrin and Swerock gives a carbon dioxide reduction of 29.3%. And the comparison with reference concrete two with the associated EPD value received a percent climate reduction of only 2.8%. The future will require the construction and real estate industry to invest time and training to work with climate-smart concrete. More in-depth work could be explored and mapped as to which are the major obstacles in construction projects. How companies can work to get the entire value chain to work together for a climate-smart thinking and primarily to get the developer to invest in improved concrete with less climate impact.

The use of amalgam separators in dental clinics In dentistry, amalgam has been used for a long time. Due to the fact that amalgam contains mercury, it has been found to be toxic and bioaccumulative in the environment. The use of amalgam has been prohibited as a dental filling material, but many individuals still have amalgam fillings in their teeth today. The purpose of this report was to examine the usage and maintenance of amalgam separators in various dental clinics. The report also aimed to address whether there are any differences among municipalities within the same region, as well as among private and regional dental clinics. The report also focuses on improvement measures regarding usage and maintenance. The method employed was a web-based survey that was sent to all dental clinics within the Västernorrland region. Due to the low and uneven response rates among the municipalities within the region, no concrete differences could be drawn from the use and maintenance of amalgam separators between the different types of dental clinics. The majority of the responding dental clinics had no knowledge about the frequency of inspections conducted on their operations. However, among those who had some form of regular inspections, the majority were regional clinics. Approximately 80% also utilized some type of recycling company to handle the waste generated from the amalgam separator. Due to the potential future implications of amalgam in the environment, mandatory oversight should be implemented in dental care facilities.

This thesis analyses long term and short term environmental effects on geothermal power plant performance and discusses adaptive ways to improve performance. Mokai 1 geothermal power plant has been used as a case study for this investigation. Mokai 1 is a combined cycle plant where the binary cycles are air-cooled. The plant performance of an air-cooled binary cycle geothermal power plant is dependent on the environment (resource characteristics as well as weather conditions). For modelling such a power plant, two time scales are of interest: the yearly basis for aggregate plant performance for design and operations; and the daily basis for hourly plant performances for an accurate dispatch prediction. Adaptive methodology for long term performance improvement has been introduced in this work which would save money and effort in the future by keeping the provisions to adapt to changes in resource characteristics based on geothermal reservoir modelling. The investigation was carried out using a steady state computer simulator of Mokai 1 geothermal power plant. The steady sate simulator was built specifically for this work. The deviation in performance of various components is less than 5% compared to the original plant design. The model is very generic and it can be used for other plants with simple adaptation or can be used for future plant design. One of the main contributions of this work is an iterative method for modelling the environmental effect on short term performance on the air-cooled organic Rankine cycle. The ambient temperature is identified as the most influencing parameter on short term performance which influences the performance of the whole cycle in two ways. Firstly, by changing the equilibrium pressure inside the condenser, the turbine outlet pressure changes and hence, the turbine pressure ratio also changes. The turbine pressure ratio is a major parameter determining power generated by a turbine; therefore, the plant output is affected. Secondly, by changing the condenser outlet temperature with the ambient temperature, the pump inlet and outlet condition and consequently vaporizer equilibrium temperature and pressure are influenced. The developed method sought the equilibrium conditions of both condenser and vaporizer iteratively. In short, ORC cycle shifts on the T-s plane depending on the ambient temperature. This method iteratively seeks the shifted ORC on the T,s plane. Two case studies have been carried out to demonstrate the method. The developed method shows robustness and converges exponentially. The model is effective for cycles that use saturated vapour as well as superheated vapour. The model essentially assumes steady state operation of the power cycle. The possible unit time where this model can be applied is bounded by the time required by a system to come into steady state. The saturated vapour cycle yielded average error 4.20% with maximum error 9.25% and the superheated vapour cycle yielded average error 2.12% with maximum error 5.60%. The main advantage of the developed method is that it requires a minimum number of inputs: condenser (p,T), vaporizer (p,T), condenser heat load, turbine efficiency (overall), pump work and the extremum conditions of all the components. These inputs should represent typical operating conditions of a plant. The model can predict the appropriate plant performance depending on the system heat input (geothermal fluid flow in this case) and the heat sink temperature. As the method is based on basic thermodynamics rather than empirical or semi-empirical approaches, this method is widely applicable. The main focus of this work is on the ORC but the developed method is applicable to any closed Rankine cycle. In addition, application of the developed iterative method to predict plant performance based on mean yearly weather data is also discussed in the thesis. Water-augmented cooling system and optimization of plant operating point parameters have been proposed as adaptive measures to improve short term performance. Developed iterative method has been used for the short term performance analysis. The water-augmented cooling system is specifically suitable to mitigate the reduced power output during the summer. The simulated average gain in power during the summer (Jan, Feb, Nov and Dec) of an ORC of Mokai 1 geothermal power plant by incorporating a water-augmented cooling system was 2.3% and the average gain for the whole year was 1.6% based on the weather data of Taupo for the year 2005. A cost benefit analysis showed that water-augmented cooling system is more economical compared to other alternative renewable energies considered to meet summer peak demand. From the green house gas emissions perspective, water-augmented cooling is a better option than the gas fired peaking plants. Adaptive approach for short term performance improvement by optimizing operating point parameters of an air-cooled binary cycle has huge potential with possible maximum improvement in power output by about 50%. The optimization takes in to account the effects of the geothermal resource characteristics and the weather conditions. The optimization is achieved by manipulating cycle mass flow rate and vaporizer equilibrium condition. Further study on the optimizing operating points to achieve improved short term performance has been recommended for future work.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T13:44:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_mateus_olivo.pdf: 1542852 bytes, checksum: eef3fce232cc6f42fdeb4c704bc87040 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-07-24 / Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the third most produced worldwide cereal. In Brazil more than half of the consumed wheat is imported. The species has hexaploid genome, which gives good adaptation to different environmental conditions and tolerance to abiotic stresses. Among the main factors that cause stress can be highlighted the problem of drought and soil salinity. Water deficit is the low availability of water to plants, affecting their growth and development caused death when drastic. The salinity is the high salt concentrations in the soil. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of 14 wheat genotypes when subjected to salt stress and water deficit during the germination phase. To simulate the salt stress were used three solutions with different NaCl concentrations (44.83, 89.66 and 134.49mM NaCl) and a control treatment, pure water. To water deficit were used three solutions with different concentrations of polyethylene glycol 6000 plus pure water control treatment, providing four different osmotic potentials (0.0, -0.2, -0.4 and -0.6MPa). Germination, first count of germination, speed of germination index, shoot dry matter, root dry matter, shoot length and root length were reduced due to the increase of NaCl concentration and osmotic potential more negative. The Marfim genotype was shown to be more tolerant to salt stress and also the stress by water deficit. The CSR test is a potential indicator for identification of genotypes tolerant to salt stress and water deficit. The test GERM is a potential indicator to identify genotypes tolerant to water stress. / O trigo (Triticum aestivum L.) é o terceiro cereal mais produzido no mundo. No Brasil mais da metade do trigo consumido é importado. A espécie possui genoma hexaplóide, que lhe confere boa adaptação a diferentes condições edafoclimáticas e tolerância a estresses abióticos. Dentre os principais fatores que ocasionam estresse pode ser destacado o problema de déficit hídrico e salinidade do solo. O déficit hídrico consiste na baixa disponibilidade de água para as plantas, prejudicando seu crescimento e desenvolvimento, ocasionado à morte quando drástico. A salinidade consiste na alta concentração de sais presentes no solo. Com isso o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o comportamento de 14 genótipos de trigo quando submetidos a estresse salino e déficit hídrico durante a fase de germinação. Para simular o estresse salino foram utilizadas três soluções com diferentes concentrações de NaCl (44,83; 89,66 e 134,49mM de NaCl) e o tratamento controle, água pura. Para o déficit hídrico foram utilizadas três soluções com diferentes concentrações de polietileno glicol 6000 mais o tratamento controle água pura, propiciando quatro diferentes potenciais osmóticos (0,0; -0,2; -0,4 e -0,6MPa). Germinação, primeira contagem da germinação, índice de velocidade de germinação, matéria seca da parte aérea, matéria seca do sistema radicular, comprimento da parte aérea e comprimento do sistema radicular sofreram reduções em função do aumento da concentração de NaCl e potenciais osmóticos mais negativos. O genótipo Marfim foi a que se mostrou mais tolerante ao estresse salino e também ao estresse por déficit hídrico. O teste de CSR é um potencial indicador para identificação de genótipos tolerantes a estresse salino e tolerantes ao déficit hídrico. O teste de GERM é um potencial indicador para identificação de genótipos tolerantes a estresse hídrico.

Stora mängder receptbelagda- och receptfria läkemedel brukas årligen. Farmaceutiska föreningar såsom exempelvis preventivmedel, antibiotikum och smärtstillande läkemedel når reningsverk via urin och fekalier. Traditionella reningsverk saknar förmågan att helt reducera dessa föreningar och de släpps ut via det utgående vattnet till en recipient där de kan medföra en negativ påverkan i miljön. Duvbackens reningsverk i Gävle har en traditionell uppbyggnad och det behandlade spillvattnet släpps ut i Inre Fjärden. Syftet med denna studie är att utifrån Duvbackens avloppsreningsverks förhållanden föreslå en rekommenderad kompletterande reningsmetod för att reducera läkemedelsrester ifrån spillvattnet.   För att kunna föreslå en kompletterande reningsmetod har en provtagning efter läkemedelssubstanser på det inkommande och det utgående spillvattnet genomförts i Duvbackens reningsverk. Detta för att se vilka substanser reningsverket reducerar och vilka som släpps ut i Inre Fjärden.  En litteraturstudie har genomförts där aktivt kol och ozons reduktionsförmåga av läkemedelsrester granskats, samt vart i reningsverket de bör implementeras. Kostnader av aktivt kol och ozon har ställs i förhållande till varandra genom en ekonomisk undersökning.   Duvbackens reningsverk är dimensionerat för 100 000 personekvivalenter och är beläget mellan stadsdelarna Brynäs och Bomhus i Gävle. Reningsverket använder sig av mekanisk, biologisk och vid behov kemisk rening. Resultaten från provtagningen visade att av de 22 läkemedelssubstanser vilka granskats reducerades sex substanser med mindre än 45 % och två substanser fick en förhöjd halt efter de passerat Duvbackens reningsverk.   Både ozon och aktivt kol har i tidigare pilotförsök visat god förmåga att reducera läkemedelssubstanser från avloppsvatten. Variation av reduktionsgrader har visats bero på kolförbrukning och dosering av ozon. En skillnad mellan de kompletterande reningsmetoderna är att aktivt kols reduktionsförmåga försämras med tiden medan ozon har en mer konstant reduktion av läkemedelssubstanser.   Ozon bör implementeras efter slutsedimenteringen följt av ett sandfilter för att reducera reaktiva biprodukter. Vid användning av aktivt kol bör reningsmetoden implementeras efter slutsedimenteringen, då det är av stor vikt att spillvattnet inte har för höga halter av suspenderade ämnen som mättar kolet. När aktivt kol och ozons kostnader jämförts under samma förhållanden har aktivt kol visats vara marginellt dyrare. Energikostnader utgör de stora kostnaderna för ozonrening medan kolförbrukningen visats utgöra den stora kostnaden för rening med aktivt kol. / Large amounts of prescription- and non-prescription pharmaceutical drugs are used annually. Pharmaceutical compounds such as contraception, antibiotics and analgesic drugs end up in sewage treatment plants via urine and feces. The traditional sewage treatment plant lacks the ability to completely reduce pharmaceutical compounds and they are emitted via efflux to a recipient, where they can have a negative impact on the environment. The sewage treatment plant Duvbacken in Gävle has a traditional structure and the treated effluent end up in Inre Fjärden. The purpose of this study is to recommend a complementary treatment method to reduce pharmaceutical compounds based on the sewage treatment plant Duvbacken’s circumstances.   In order to recommend a complementary treatment method samples of the incoming and outgoing efflux have been tested for pharmaceutical substances. The samples were taken to see what substances the sewage treatment plant reduces and what substances end up in Inre Fjärden. A literature review was conducted to examine activated carbon and ozone’s ability to reduce pharmaceutical compounds, it also researched where the treatment methods should be implemented. An economical investigation was done to show the costs for activated carbon and ozone in relation to each other.   The sewage treatment plant Duvbacken in Gävle is constructed for 100 000 persons and is located between the suburban areas Brynäs and Bomhus. The sewage treatment plant uses mechanical, biological and if necessary chemical treatment. The results from the samples of the 22 substances that were examined showed that six pharmaceuticals were reduced by less than 45 % and two substances had an increased concentration after treatment in the sewage treatment plant.   Both ozone and activated carbon have in previous studies shown good ability to reduce pharmaceutical substances from the municipal efflux. Variations in the ability to reduce pharmaceuticals depends on carbon consumption and ozone dosage. One difference between the complementary treatment methods are that activated carbons ability to reduce pharmaceuticals decreases with time, while ozone has a more constant reduction.   Ozone should be implemented after the traditional treatment followed by a sand filter to reduce reactive byproducts. Activated carbon should also be implemented after the traditional treatment due to an efflux with high content of suspended substances can saturate the carbon. When the costs of activated carbon and ozone are compared under the same circumstances it has been shown that activated carbon is marginally more expensive. The energy use represents the major costs for ozone treatment while carbon consumption has shown to be the major cost for activated carbon.

Community composition of floricolous insects, beetles (Coleoptera) and bees and wasps (aculeate Hymenoptera) at six sites in Podyjí National Park was studied using four different colours of Moericke (pan) traps. Effects of different trap colours, forest habitats, and environmental variables in traps vicinity on the number of species and species composition were analysed. Influence of different conditions on trap catch is discussed.

Producing desirable firmness is important in manufacturing tofu from soybeans. This study’s objective was to explore the environmental impact (location and year) on soybean chemical components and identify the correlations between chemical composition and the firmness of tofu made from soybeans planted in three locations over two years. Seventeen soybean Plant Introductions (PI) from the USDA Soybean Germplasm Collection and eight check varieties were planted in Mississippi, Virginia and Missouri in 2017 and 2018. Protein subunit composition, protein secondary structure, phytic acid content, Ca2+ and Mg2+ content were determined. The result showed that A3 subunit content was strongly correlated with tofu firmness. Environmental factors had a significant influence on some chemical components in soybean seeds as well as tofu texture. The current study confirmed the validity of using A3 peptide as a criterion for estimating tofu firmness in both tofu manufacturing and food-grade soybean trade.