Environmental Technology

The ultrasound-assisted oxidative desulphurization (UAOD) process of diesel fuel has gained growing attention due to the strict regulation of sulphur content in the fuel. The goal of the present study was to investigate the impact of ultrasound (US) application for oxidative desulphurization (ODS) of hydrocarbon fuels and for the subsequent treatment of produced wastewater, since sonochemical processes are a new and interesting area of research with wide application in the field of environmental engineering. For that purpose, the model diesel fuel with initial sulphur concentration of 1220-3976 mg l(-1) was used for ODS and UAOD tests, and hydrogen peroxide/acetic acid was applied as the oxidant/catalyst system, respectively. The comparison of the process performance revealed that US significantly reduced the oxidation reaction time. The conversions of dibenzothiophene during 30 min of ODS and UAOD tests were 36% and 87%, respectively. Moreover, subsequent extraction with acetonitri...

The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of, set out ideas around, and raise questions on the different elements of a deliverable on environmental goods and services (EGS) from the Trade and Environmental Sustainability Discussions (TESSD) in the World Trade Organization (WTO). This work has benefited from collaboration with and support from the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in Geneva and from comments shared by a group of various stakeholders at a meeting at Quaker House in Geneva on 2 September 2021. This is a work in progress and we welcome further comments. This is the second paper in the series on Trade and Environmental Sustainability, which also includes papers on the topics of circular economy, fossil fuel subsidy reform, and greening Aid for Trade.

The spread of aquatic invasive species through ballast water is a major ecological and economical threat. Because of this, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) set limits to the concentrations of organisms allowed in ballast water. To meet these limits, ballast water treatment systems (BWTSs) were developed. The main techniques used for ballast water treatment are ultraviolet (UV) radiation and electrochlorination (EC). In this study, phytoplankton regrowth after treatment was followed for six BWTSs. Natural plankton communities were treated and incubated for 20 days. Growth, photosystem II efficiency and species composition were followed. The three UV systems all showed similar patterns of decrease in phytoplankton concentrations followed by regrowth. The two EC and the chlorine dioxide systems showed comparable results. However, UV- and chlorine-based treatment systems showed significantly different responses. Overall, all BWTSs reduced phytoplankton concentrations to bel...

In Nigeria today the dream of an average man is to be a home owner. The various tiers of the Nigerian government have put in place different policies and programmes with the aim of achieving the vision 2020. The study aimed at evaluating affordable housing provision for the urban poor using Lafia as a study area. Through questionnaire survey, results revealed that personal savings and mortgage loan are the most preferred housing finance options by households and that the use of academic/professional certificates as collateral security and increment in workers' salaries so as to enable them build houses on their own has been found to be the most common strategies for improving affordable housing provision. The study therefore recommends that there should be well-developed mortgage institutions in Nigeria to assist developers and purchasers of the housing stock to obtain mortgage loans at low interest rates. Furthermore, policies are needed to increase access to appropriate affordable building materials; this will facilitate affordable housing supply by private developers to the expected housing needs.

This report focuses on the economic benefits from eco-innovation. It builds on the last EIO Annual Report, The Eco-Innovation Challenge: Pathways to a Resource-Efficient Europe (EIO 2011a), which made an environmental case for expanding and intensifying eco-innovation activities across the EU.We consider eco-innovation to be a chance for economic and environmental agendas to walk hand in hand. This report argues that eco-innovation in European companies is key to achieving systemic change of entire economies. This implies both reduced absolute consumption of natural resources and improved competitiveness of European businesses. We ask what types of policy measures Member States have implemented to support eco-innovation efforts and foster systemic changes.

... Biographical notes: Karel F. Mulder (1956) heads the Technology Dynamics and Sustainable Development Department of Delft University of Technology ... of the 1960s tyre manufacturers were not able to obtain a satisfactory adhesion between the polyester fibres and the rubber. ...

The anaerobic degradation of propionate in the presence of excess sulphate was studied in an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Bed reactor inoculated with granular sludge. A stable and efficient propionate degradation could be achieved (space load 5 kg COD m−3 day−1, VFA removal 96%). Only 23% of the added COD was recovered as sulphide in the effluent and biogas. H2S concentrations above approximately 100 mg 1−1 S caused a sharp drop of the VFA removal efficiency and resulted in process instability, possibly aggravated by propionate inhibition. Recovery took 3–4 weeks. Acetoclastic methanogenesis was not the rate limiting step under sulphide inhibition.

Batch experiments were carried out for the removal of cyanide in the effluent of plating industry by the application of advanced oxidation processes. Four systems with different modes of oxidation in combination of ultra violet (UV) light with hydrogen peroxide and/or ozone were investigated. Of all the applied systems, UV-light with two oxidants, i.e. O3 (32 mg min(-1)), and H2O2 (1.36 g l(-1)) was found successful in bringing down the amount of cyanide from 157.32 mg l(-1) to 1.0 mg l(-1), which is the limit set by the Ministry of Environment of Korea for cyanide-containing discharges. Other systems, however, could not bring the cyanide abatement to the targeted value even with higher dosage of oxidants and an extended period of reaction time. Regardless of the oxidation modes applied, all the heavy metal ions in the treated effluent were reduced to 90%. Ultra violet light with the combination of two oxidants had the economic preference over the other systems since a relatively lower dosage of UV-light (2484 W-S cm(-2)) was found effective at achieving the targeted level of cyanide removal.

Nanotechnology is a field of applied science, focused on the design, synthesis, characterization and application of materials and devices on the nano scale. Like other area, nanotechnologies have some important contribution in monitoring, restoration and conservation of environment. Recently some of the important explored areas where scientific community have acknowledged are monitoring of air and water pollutants, waste water treatment, remediation of some persistent air and water pollutants and production of eco friendly materials and exploration of alternative source of energy for future. Nano scale materials have the potential to improve the environment, both through direct applications of those materials to detect, prevent, and remove pollutants, as well as indirectly by using nanotechnology to design cleaner industrial processes and create environmentally responsible products. There are, however, many uncertainties regarding the fundamental features of this technology, which have made it difficult to engineer applications for optimal performance or to assess the risk to human or ecological health.

Nickel extraction from hazardous waste by sulphuric acid leaching has been investigated. This study was performed to assess the effects of different parameters such as reaction time, acid concentrations, solid-liquid ratio, particle size, stirring speed and reaction temperature on nickel extraction from zinc plant residue, with the aim of recycling this waste and reducing its environmental impact. It was shown that the nickel extraction increased with increasing reaction time, acid concentration and temperature, and decreasing solid:liquid ratio and particle size. Leaching residues were subjected to chemical analysis, XRD and SEM studies, and the results indicated that it is possible to extract more than 96% nickel content by optimization of leaching conditions. These results provided important data on the recovery of nickel from toxic hazardous waste, and leaching is a suitable method for this waste management. The results also showed that this waste can be used as a secondary resource for nickel extraction.

The actions to be taken on residential buildings of Italian urban Peripheries, with a view to the Agenda 2030 SDGs, need new tools, starting from the identification of contemporary quality architectures within the extended field of recent construction production. Although these buildings, from a historical-critical point of view, are fully included in the Cultural Heritage concept - and the listing in the Census of contemporary Architecture of Italian Ministry of Culture is an evidence - still there is no defined a technological and environmental operational strategy that adapts them to the needs and uses of contemporary society, compatibly with the "designing intentions", their quality and with respect to their recognized cultural value. The research approach to these buildings has looked only to functional, performance and perceptual improvement related to economic needs; the solutions evaluated only in relation to technological, energy, economic and functional priorities; proposed actions concern partial demolitions, addition and substitution, obtaining higher levels of performance but never oriented to a balanced strategy that could operate in respect of cultural value. Outlining the state of the art in the field of research within the requalification of residential buildings in Europe, the paper will examine some emblematic case that represent the two main approaches.
Starting from the deepening of case studies and research - Pilastro Neighborhood in Bologna (IT) and Le Vele Neighborhood in Firenze (IT) - that worked on a variety of strategies (COST ACTION TU 0701 “Improving the quality of suburban building stocks” (2008 – 2012)) and Park Hill in Sheffield (UK), the Cité du Lignon at Vernier (Switzerland) the Serpentin and the neighborhood Bleuets à Créteil (France) - that, evaluated as building heritage, have instead identified ad hoc strategies compatible with the author's declination of buildings, sustainable actions and procedures that can be replicated in other contexts will be identified, proposing a point of view for the requalification of contemporary residential architectures - evidences of the architectural culture of the historical period 1950-1980. The goal is to demonstrate how, starting from the analysis of the project quality of the settlements, it is possible to identify strategies capable of achieving significant performance standard in the search for a balance between sustainability - economic constraints and energy problems - and safeguarding existing qualities; looking for a requalification project "resistant, durable, permanent, courageous and all above honest".

From its origins, Paris has recognized the strength of dehor space construction as action that enhances places and the creation of social networks and integration: urban and landscape projects aimed at the design of the paths and in continuity with the city, of green spaces and environmental infrastructures for implementation of technologies in terms of renewable energy, water and waste management for biodiversity and the research for urban diversity through the heterogeneity of the inhabitants.