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This article presents the results on the basis of which a new hybrid drilling washer fluid was designed. The use of fluid from such a drilling washer increases the mud-cake removal efficiency. Its operation is based on both chemical and mechanical removal of the mud cake. This article presents a group of agents and admixtures of various solid fractions, the appropriate selection of which enabled the design of a hybrid drilling washer fluid. The liquid has much better washing parameters than the drilling washers used so far. The tests were carried out in a drilling fluid flow simulator. A significant improvement in the scrubbing mud-cake removal efficiency resulted from the action of surfactants and fine-grained abrasive additives. Their proper concentration was also very important. The hybrid drilling washer fluid was designed on the basis of tests measuring the adhesion of the hardened cement slurry to the rock from which the previously produced mud was removed. In this way, the effectiveness of the washing liquids was determined. Upon analyzing the obtained results and correlating them with the reference samples, one can see a significant improvement in the efficiency of the removal of the drilling sediment by the hybrid drilling washer fluid. The hybrid drilling washer fluid is an innovative solution because it combines chemical and mechanical action in the removal of drilling fluid. Additionally, such a washing liquid has not been used so far.

This article presents the results on the basis of which a new hybrid drilling washer fluid was designed. The use of fluid from such a drilling washer increases the mud-cake removal efficiency. Its operation is based on both chemical and mechanical removal of the mud cake. This article presents a group of agents and admixtures of various solid fractions, the appropriate selection of which enabled the design of a hybrid drilling washer fluid. The liquid has much better washing parameters than the drilling washers used so far. The tests were carried out in a drilling fluid flow simulator. A significant improvement in the scrubbing mud-cake removal efficiency resulted from the action of surfactants and fine-grained abrasive additives. Their proper concentration was also very important. The hybrid drilling washer fluid was designed on the basis of tests measuring the adhesion of the hardened cement slurry to the rock from which the previously produced mud was removed. In this way, the effectiveness of the washing liquids was determined. Upon analyzing the obtained results and correlating them with the reference samples, one can see a significant improvement in the efficiency of the removal of the drilling sediment by the hybrid drilling washer fluid. The hybrid drilling washer fluid is an innovative solution because it combines chemical and mechanical action in the removal of drilling fluid. Additionally, such a washing liquid has not been used so far.

The study was based on saline soils with surface mineral layers impacted by the waste produced by the soda plant in Poland. The activity of selected enzymes (catalase CAT, alkaline AlP, and acid phosphatase AcP), pH in KCl, content of the clay, total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), total exchangeable bases (TEB), electrical conductivity (ECe), CaCO3, and concentration of available phosphorus AP were investigated in the soil next to the soda plant. Based on the enzyme activity, the following were calculated: enzymatic pH indicator AlP/AcP, the resistance index (RS), resilience index (RL), relative changes (RCh), and the time index (TI). The soil was sampled from the mineral horizon in spring and autumn from eight (S1–S8) soil sampling sites in the area of the soda plant and from the control point (C). Soil is characterized by alkaline reaction. Statistical analysis (ANOVA, η2 effect size) showed significant variation in parameters under the influence of different sites next to soda plant. The content of TOC ranged from 4.70 to 47.7 g kg−1, and TN from 19 to 4.36 g kg−1. ECe next to the soda plant ranged between 6.87 and 204 mS cm−1. The highest values were confirmed in the soil of S1 both in spring and autumn. Higher TEB values were noted in the soil in autumn. In the soil within the impact of the soda plant, the AP content decreased and in the soil from sites S1, S3, S6, and S8 (in spring), the lowest AP content was recorded at 1.20, 4.14, 5.98, and 0.99 mg kg−1, respectively. The highest activity of AlP in spring was noted at site S1 and in autumn at site S4. In the soil next to the soda plant, the activity of AcP decreased, as compared to the control which is seen from the negative values of the coefficient of relative changes (RCh). The analysis of RCh in the catalase activities showed that in the soil from sites S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5, the activity increased, as compared to the control. The lowest values of the resistance index (RS) for phosphatases were reported in the soil of S6. Research shows that the activity of enzymes and their indexes make it possible to conduct long-term monitoring and identify the processes in soil.

The study was based on saline soils with surface mineral layers impacted by the waste produced by the soda plant in Poland. The activity of selected enzymes (catalase CAT, alkaline AlP, and acid phosphatase AcP), pH in KCl, content of the clay, total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), total exchangeable bases (TEB), electrical conductivity (ECe), CaCO3, and concentration of available phosphorus AP were investigated in the soil next to the soda plant. Based on the enzyme activity, the following were calculated: enzymatic pH indicator AlP/AcP, the resistance index (RS), resilience index (RL), relative changes (RCh), and the time index (TI). The soil was sampled from the mineral horizon in spring and autumn from eight (S1–S8) soil sampling sites in the area of the soda plant and from the control point (C). Soil is characterized by alkaline reaction. Statistical analysis (ANOVA, η2 effect size) showed significant variation in parameters under the influence of different sites next to soda plant. The content of TOC ranged from 4.70 to 47.7 g kg−1, and TN from 19 to 4.36 g kg−1. ECe next to the soda plant ranged between 6.87 and 204 mS cm−1. The highest values were confirmed in the soil of S1 both in spring and autumn. Higher TEB values were noted in the soil in autumn. In the soil within the impact of the soda plant, the AP content decreased and in the soil from sites S1, S3, S6, and S8 (in spring), the lowest AP content was recorded at 1.20, 4.14, 5.98, and 0.99 mg kg−1, respectively. The highest activity of AlP in spring was noted at site S1 and in autumn at site S4. In the soil next to the soda plant, the activity of AcP decreased, as compared to the control which is seen from the negative values of the coefficient of relative changes (RCh). The analysis of RCh in the catalase activities showed that in the soil from sites S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5, the activity increased, as compared to the control. The lowest values of the resistance index (RS) for phosphatases were reported in the soil of S6. Research shows that the activity of enzymes and their indexes make it possible to conduct long-term monitoring and identify the processes in soil.

This review article addresses wastewater treatment methods in the red meat processing industry. The focus is on conventional chemicals currently in use for abattoir wastewater treatment and energy related aspects. In addition, this article discusses the use of cleaning and sanitizing agents at the meat processing facilities and their effect on decision making in regard to selecting the treatment methods. This study shows that cleaning chemicals are currently used at a concentration of 2% to 3% which will further be diluted with the bulk wastewater. For example, for an abattoir that produces 3500 m3/day wastewater and uses around 200 L (3%) acid and alkaline chemicals, the final concentration of these chemical will be around 0.00017%. For this reason, the effects of these chemicals on the treatment method and the environment are very limited. Chemical treatment is highly efficient in removing soluble and colloidal particles from the red meat processing industry wastewater. Actually, it is shown that, if chemical treatment has been applied, then biological treatment can only be included for the treatment of the solid waste by-product and/or for production of bioenergy. Chemical treatment is recommended in all cases and especially when the wastewater is required to be reused or released to water streams. This study also shows that energy consumption for chemical treatment units is insignificant while efficient compared to other physical or biological units. A combination of a main (ferric chloride) and an aid coagulant has shown to be efficient and cost-effective in treating abattoir wastewater. The cost of using this combination per cubic meter wastewater treated is 0.055 USD/m3 compared to 0.11 USD/m3 for alum and the amount of sludge produced is 77% less than that produced by alum. In addition, the residues of these chemicals in the wastewater and the sludge have a positive or no impact on biological processes. Energy consumption from a small wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) installed to recycle wastewater for a meet facility can be around $500,000.

This review article addresses wastewater treatment methods in the red meat processing industry. The focus is on conventional chemicals currently in use for abattoir wastewater treatment and energy related aspects. In addition, this article discusses the use of cleaning and sanitizing agents at the meat processing facilities and their effect on decision making in regard to selecting the treatment methods. This study shows that cleaning chemicals are currently used at a concentration of 2% to 3% which will further be diluted with the bulk wastewater. For example, for an abattoir that produces 3500 m3/day wastewater and uses around 200 L (3%) acid and alkaline chemicals, the final concentration of these chemical will be around 0.00017%. For this reason, the effects of these chemicals on the treatment method and the environment are very limited. Chemical treatment is highly efficient in removing soluble and colloidal particles from the red meat processing industry wastewater. Actually, it is shown that, if chemical treatment has been applied, then biological treatment can only be included for the treatment of the solid waste by-product and/or for production of bioenergy. Chemical treatment is recommended in all cases and especially when the wastewater is required to be reused or released to water streams. This study also shows that energy consumption for chemical treatment units is insignificant while efficient compared to other physical or biological units. A combination of a main (ferric chloride) and an aid coagulant has shown to be efficient and cost-effective in treating abattoir wastewater. The cost of using this combination per cubic meter wastewater treated is 0.055 USD/m3 compared to 0.11 USD/m3 for alum and the amount of sludge produced is 77% less than that produced by alum. In addition, the residues of these chemicals in the wastewater and the sludge have a positive or no impact on biological processes. Energy consumption from a small wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) installed to recycle wastewater for a meet facility can be around $500,000.

Thermal conductivity, hydraulics properties and potential use in low-enthalpy geothermal applications of single and double U geothermal probes enhanced with carbon fibre are discussed in this work. Although the efficiency of a shallow geothermal installation is chiefly based on chemical and physical characteristics of rocks and hydrogeological aspects of the subsurface, the total heat extracted from the subsoil also depends on the intrinsic thermal characteristics of probes. New configurations and solutions aimed at enhancing the performance of components are therefore of considerable interest in this field of research. As a consequence of the economic and versatility advantages of the components, geothermal probes have been generally developed with materials like polyethylene, which presents, however, isolating behaviour that does not allow ideal heat exchange in ground source heat pump systems (GSHP). Innovative combinations of different materials are therefore necessary in order to improve thermal conductivity and to preserve the exceptional workability and commercial advantages of the finest elements available on the market. This work presents results coming from experimental tests involving standard polyethylene geothermal probes integrated with radial rings of polyacrylonitrile-based carbon fibre (PAN). Our evaluations are aimed at finding the best solutions for thermal exchange and adaptability with respect to traditional systems. Hydraulic and thermal performances and the response in a geo-exchange system have been verified. The new solutions appear to be highly suitable as geothermal exchangers in shallow geothermal systems and contribute to significantly reduce the total costs pertaining to the drilling operations.