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Abstract The present analysis was conducted as the first study to investigate the biochemical methane potential of four different agro-industrial wastewaters originating from chocolate, slaughterhouse, gum, and beet sugar industries under the same anaerobic fermentation conditions. To the best of our knowledge, no previous study has specifically attempted to pinpoint a hybrid programming strategy for making a quantitative description of the anaerobic biodegradability of these waste streams. Thus, considering the scarcity of the literature in this field, a comprehensive study was conducted to evaluate the amount of bio-methane obtainable from the investigated organic wastes and to predict their kinetics using three different sigmoidal microbial growth curve models (modified Gompertz equation, transference function (reaction curve-type model), and logistic function) within the framework an original MATLAB®-based coding scheme. The results showed that methane productions started immediately after 4 h of incubation for all substrates and reached their maximum rates of 118, 116, 108, 34 mL CH4/g VS/day, respectively, for wastewaters from chocolate, slaughterhouse, gum, and beet sugar industries. The corrected mean steady state methane contents were 61.7%, 73.4%, 62.8%, and 62.1% in the respective order. The highest methane yield (943 mL CH4/g VS) was obtained from the slaughterhouse wastewater, and this value was 1.32, 1.58, and 4.56 times higher than those obtained in the anaerobic digestion of chocolate, gum, and beet sugar wastewaters, respectively. Among the three kinetic models tested, the logistic function best explained the behavior of the observed data of all substrates using a Quasi-Newton cubic line search procedure (R2 = 0.987–0.996) with minimum number of non-linear iterations and function counts. Deviations between the measured and the outputs of the best-fit kinetic model were less than 4.3% in prediction of methane production potentials, suggesting that the proposed computational methodology could be used as a well-suited and robust approach for modeling and optimization of a highly non-linear biosystem.

In this paper we evaluate two approaches for estimating CO2 emission reduction from electricity savings: one based on average CO2 intensities of electricity generation and another that relies on marginal CO2 intensities. It is found that the average CO2 intensity approach has a significant shortcoming when it comes to scenario-based approaches for CO2 emission reduction. This shortcoming lies in the chicken-egg problem created, where larger future electricity savings are actually big enough to change the CO2 intensity in such a way that it cannot be used anymore to estimate the CO2 emission reduction. We show that in these cases the marginal approach is preferred. To correctly apply this approach, it is important to determine the CO2 intensity of the future power mix which will not be built in order to avoid under or overestimation of the CO2 savings calculated. We propose a seven-step approach which can be used in scenario-based potential studies as guidance for estimating the CO2 emission reductions from not only electricity savings but also renewable electricity and mitigation options that consume electricity such as electric cars and heat pumps. Using our approach would avoid a disconnection of the CO2 reduction potential with the underlying reference scenario. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

SUMMARY INVESTIGATION OF HEAVY METAL EMISSIONS OF COALS DURING COMBUSTION FROM HOT WATER BOILER AND STOVE Coal is likely to become an increasingly important fuel for electrical energy production during the next two decades. This trend appears inevitable due to the decreased emphasis on the construction of nuclear plants and relatively minor short-term impact usually projected for alternate energy sources (solar and geothermai). The emissions of environmental concern from coal fired plants may be divided into four categories: (1) SO2 and SO3 (2) NO and NO2 (3) organic compounds and (4) inorganic compounds. The organic and inorganic compounds include both gas phase emissions (such PAH emissions and mercury vapor) and particulate emissions (e.g. soot and fly ash). While the chemistry associated with the formation and ultimate fate of coal sulphur and nitrogen has been fairly well-defined, until recently the chemical nature and fates of the remaining trace elements during and following combustion have attracted considerably less interest. The control of particulate emissions has been of concern for many years, but with emphasis being placed primarily on the visible stack emissions from the combustion facilities. Recent research into the nature of the inorganic emissions from coal-fired power plants, however, has given reason for renewed concern. These results indicate that particulate emissions may be greatly enriched in certain trace elements, and that these trace elements may be in chemical for physical forms, which have an enhanced impact upon man. To understand the complex chemistry involved in the trace element enrichment process during coal combustion one must know something of the chemical/or physical nature of these elements in coal. The majority of trace elements in coal are associated with the inorganic mineral matter present in all coals. This mineral matter consists primarily of clays (aluminosilicates), quartz (SİO2), carbonates, sulphides, sulphates and oxides. The trace elements may also be associated with the coal macerals, having been present in the original vegetation from which the coal was formed. While many trace elements, have primarily either organic or inorganic associations some trace elements show an affinity for both fractions. During combustion the mineral matter undergoes both decomposition and transformation reactions which may result in the release of the more volatile elements. The ultimate fate of the trace elements will largely depend oncontent and initial concentration of the trace elements in the coal combustion temperature of the facilities particle size of the ashes, operation temperature of the control systems. In recent years, attention has been directed rather more to the elemental composition of the dust rather than to its nuisance value with some stress on the trace elements likely to be present-particularly the heavy metals. Whereas the coal before combustion has on elemental composition broadly similar to soils and crustal rocks-and hence similar to the natural dust content of the atmosphere the combustion process acts to concentrate a number of elements into the ash and dust by a concentration factor of five or six. Beyond this, a number of the more volatile elements re-condense after combustion preferentially on to the finer particles-because of their greater specific surface area enhancing the concentration of these elements by on even greater factor. Elements may be divided into two groups on the basis of their concentration dependence upon particle size: those, which show no enrichment in the smallest particles, and those, which are enriched. The primary interest is with the enriched elements, since they are most likely to have a significant environmental impact. Results of analyses of fly ash as a function of particle size at laboratory indicate that the elements Mn, Ba, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Ga, Nd, As, Sb, Sn, Br, Zn, Se, Pb, Hg and S are volatilized to a significant extent in the combustion process. The elements Mg, Ti, Na, K, Mo, Ce, Rb, Cs and Nb appear to have a smaller fraction volatilized during coal combustion, or have significant variations in behavior between plants. The remaining elements, Si, Al, Fe, Ca, Sr, La, Sm, Eu, Tb, Py, Yb, Y, Sc, Zr, Ta, Na, Th, Ag and In, are either not volatilized, or may show minor trends which might be related to the geochemistry of the mineral matter. The most important phenomenon of the trace element distribution is that of the vaporisation-condensation, which is present in all stages of combustion process. That is why the combustion temperature has the most relevant role to play in the distribution of trace elements in combustion products, the ideal situation is to have an exact knowledge of the chemical form of the elements and the operating temperature of the boiler and of the control systems. Thus, it should be possible to determine the fate of the trace elements fairly exactly. The analytical results provide firm evidence that a volatilization-condensation process account for the trace element enrichment observed in the fly ash emitted from coal-fired power plants. The enrichment process results from condensation of volatilized material preferentially upon the smaller fly ash particles. A relationship in which the concentration is proportional to D`2 usually applies for particles larger than 1-15 um in diameter. For smaller particles, in situations where other particle formation mechanisms become, important, or where the thickness of the condensed material becomes appreciable, a more detailed approach appears to more correctly describe the concentration dependence upon particle size. In some cases, the concentration of volatilized elements becomes independent of particle size for particles as large as several microns in diameter. Some mechanisms have been postulated to explain these observations. xiIf the combustion conditions are always maintained the same and the coals used come from the same coal basin, which mean similar properties and rank of coal, a prediction of the trace elements destination in the final products, through correlations and the mathematical models, will be possible The volatilized elements, which condense upon, fly ash before particulate collection devices are often emitted into the atmosphere in greater abundance by a factor of up to 10 or more than elements not volatilized. These elements include As, Sb, Pb, Cd, V, Mo, Zn, Ga, Cr and U. These elements would typically have a 10-10 greater probability of pulmonary deposition upon respiration. Elements which are totally volatilized during combustion and which do not condense on particulate matter before the pollution control devices will often be emitted to the atmosphere in approximately 10 or greater abundance than elements not volatilized during combustion. These elements include the hologens, Hg, significant partions of the Se, B and perhaps-other elements such as Pb and Sb. These elements have 10 -10, or even greater, probability of pulmonary deposition upon respiration respiration than elements not volatilized during combustion. Further, these elements may be enriched by two to three orders of magnitute in the low temperature coal ash compared to their crustal abundance, leading to enrichment factors of 10 or greater for pulmonary deposition relative to the crustal abundance. The situation for the elements which are primarily in the gas phase at stack temperatures is similar to organic compounds, which include numerous mutagenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which also rapidly become associated with the fly ash after leaving the stack by either condensation or adsorption processes. There are still several major gaps in existing knowledge of the trace element chemistry during coal combustion processes. When these gaps are filled, it should be possible to predict (at least semiquantatively) the extent of trace element emissions for a certain coal in a given coal-fired power plant. As noted above, the major affecting the trace element emissions from coal-fired power plants is the volatility, of the element during the combustion process. This necessarily involves a more complete understanding of volatilization from complex mineral phases and the fate of `organically-associated` species during combustion. In addition to the volatility of trace elements, the particle size distribution plays a major role in determining the emission rates for elements, which condense before the particle collection devices. Shifting the size distribution to smaller sizes will increase the emission rates due to a drop in collection efficiency for nearly all devices for 0.1-1.0 jim diameter particles. The size distribution may be altered by the combustion conditions. Research is necessary to determine the size distribution of particles resulting from the bursting or fracturing process and the dependence on combustion conditions and coal composition. Since the major parameters are likely to be the heating rate and composition of the particle, this process may be amenable to quantative treatment Regardless, it is important to determine if increased combustion xutemperatures necessarily increase the abundance of submicron particles if so, this factor would have to be considered in evaluating the advantages of increased combustion temperatures (e.g. increased plant efficiency, lower emission rates for other pollutants, etc.). Research must also address questions concerning the rate particle growth during combustion. Other problems involve the nature of the diffusion and crystal growth of trace species in ply ash particles after formation. Increased efforts should also be applied to the development of techniques for actual sampling of the high temperature combustion region. Ideally, these techniques should analyze major, minor and trace species in the gas phase and the particle size distribution well in to the condensation nuclei range, as well as elemental concentrations in the particulate matter as a function of particle size. Knowledge of the size distributions and compositions of the particulate phase through a combustion facility will be vital 10 a complete understanding of the combustion process and fly ash formation. The impact of new combustion and pollution control technologies must be care fully evaluated. And, there is an obvious need for more extensive and careful measurements of trace element emissions and particle size distributions from the various types of coal- fired plants. For example, particulate sampling methods need to be developed which avoid the loss of components with high vapour pressures. To increase the usefulness of these measurements, the coal should be analyzed, and the affinities determined for important trace element. Attempts should also be mode to determine the particle size distribution before the pollution control devices, and in the plume after most species emitted in the gas phase have become associated with the particles. There is also a need to understand the chemical and physical processes which the rates and temperatures at which the volatile species become associated with fly ash. A drop in the operating temperatures of pollution control devices may significantly reduce the emissions of these species. The correlation of these data with plant design and combustion conditions con provide both valuable emprical data on other factors affecting trace element emission rates and the means of greatly limiting the atmospheric discharge of trace element. To emphasize the effect of domesting heating to the air pollution in Turkey, concentrations of heavy metals in gas phase and in particular phase emitted from some kinds of lignite which are combusted extensively using the boiler and the stove have been studied. Gas sampling was carried out by passing the flue gas, sampled by a pump, through a thimble to remove the solid particles and extracting the trace elements in impingers including 0.1 N nitric acid. The stack particulates were sampled isokinetically using Andersen Universal Stack Sampler for the boiler and the small system for the stove and collected in the thimble for both stove and boiler. xmAll samples were chemically analyzed using a number of techniques including atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Datas of the coal combustion have been compared with each other and limit values of `Air Quality Assurance Regulation`. xiv ÖZET Hava kirliliğinin ülkemizde, özellikle bazı büyük şehirlerde giderek arttığı ve tehlikeli sonuçlar meydana getirdiği görülmektedir. Bu noktada dikkatler gerek enerji üretimi ve gerekse endüstriyel ve evsel gereksinmeler için yaygın olarak kullanılan kömür üzerine çekilmelidir. Kömürlerin yaygın olarak kullanılması diğer kirleticilerle birlikte ağır metallerinden atmosferdeki taşınımını arttırmaktadır. Bu çalışmada 80 000 kcal/h kapasiteli, TSE belgeli, elle yüklemeli, ızgaralı, üstten yanmalı ve iki kapaklı sobada çeşitli kömür örnekleriyle yanma deneyleri gerçekleştirilmiştir. Kazan deneylerinde %37 nemli Yeniköy Ağaçlı, nemi %20 civarına getirilmiş Yeniköy Ağaçlı-Güney Afrika harman, nemi %20 civarlarında bulunan Yeniköy Ağaçlı-Sibirya harman kömür örnekleri, soba deneylerinde %37 nemli Yeniköy Ağaçlı, nemi %20 civarına getirilmiş Yeniköy Ağaçlı-Güney Afrika harman, nemi %21 civarlarına getirilmiş Yeniköy Ağaçlı, nemi %15 civarına getirilmiş Yeniköy Ağaçlı kömür örnekleri kullanılmıştır. Yanma deneylerinde gerçekleştirilen emisyon ölçümleri sonucunda her kömür için ağır metallerin toz ve gaz fazdaki atmosferik yayınımlarına yanma sistemlerinin ve kömür cinslerinin etkileri araştırılmış ayrıca elde edilen sonuçlar Türk ve Alman yönetmeliklerinde (Hava Kalitesinin Korunması Yönetmeliği ve TA-Luft) sınır değerlerle de mukayese edilmiştir. ıx 132

Revolutionary catalyst protection by single layer graphene capping, tremendous catalyst lifetime longevity and activity enhancement towards oxygen reduction reaction.

Fossil fuel substitution with biomass is one of the measures to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. This paper estimates the cost-effectiveness of raising industrial steam and producing materials (i.e. chemicals, polymers) from biomass. We quantify their long-term global potentials in terms of energy saving, CO2 emission reduction, cost and resource availability. Technically, biomass can replace all fossil fuels used for the production of materials and for generating low and medium temperature steam. Cost-effective opportunities exist for steam production from biomass residues and by substitution of high value petrochemicals which would together require more than 20 exajoules (EJ) of biomass worldwide in addition to baseline by 2030. Potentials could double in 2050 and reach 38-45 EJ (25% of the total industrial energy use), with most demand in Asia, other developing countries and economies in transition. The economic potential of using biomass as chemical feedstock is nearly as high as for steam production, indicating its importance. The exploitation of these potentials depends on energy prices and industry's access to biomass supply. Given the increasing competition for biomass from several economic sectors, more resource efficient materials need to be developed while steam production is already attractive due to its high effectiveness for reducing CO2 emissions per unit of biomass.

A indústria petrolífera, que tem como um dos produtos o plástico, e a do ferro e aço são das maiores emissoras mundiais de Gases com Efeito de Estufa (GEE). Assim, atualmente, com as crescentes preocupações ambientas da população, torna-se urgente estudar o impacte ambiental das fábricas produtoras de embalagens de plástico e metal. Desse modo, a presente dissertação foi realizada na Colep Packaging Portugal e teve como objetivo calcular a pegada de carbono da fábrica referente ao ano de 2022. A avaliação da pegada de carbono foi realizada tendo como linhas orientadoras a metodologia Greenhouse Gas Protocol e sempre que possível, foram utilizados os fatores de emissão de origem primária. A pegada de carbono é dividida em três âmbitos: o primeiro é referente às emissões diretas da empresa relatora; o segundo são emissões indiretas para a produção de energia; o terceiro refere-se a emissões que ocorrem como consequência da atividade da empresa relatora. É possível afirmar que este mesmo objetivo foi atingido, obtendo-se como resultado 7 408,235 t CO2 eq de âmbito 1 (7,03%), 2 846,705 t CO2 eq de âmbito 2 (2,70%) e 95 075,239 t CO2 eq de âmbito 3 (90,27%). Globalmente, o valor calculado foi 105 330,179 t CO2 eq. As categorias que mais contribuíram para este valor da pegada de carbono são os bens e serviços adquiridos, o fim de vida dos produtos vendidos e o consumo de gás natural. Estas três categorias emitiram, em 2022, 87 732,707 t CO2 eq, o que corresponde a 83,29% das emissões totais da Colep Packaging Portugal. Para calcular a pegada de carbono foi necessário realizar um inventário, em primeiro lugar, aos tipos de energia consumida. Nestes parâmetros estão incluídos o gás natural, propano, gasóleo, gasolina e líquidos refrigerantes para o âmbito 1 e a eletricidade para o âmbito 2. Foi também realizado um inventário para o âmbito 3 a todas as matérias-primas, serviços e bens capitais adquiridos, ao transporte a montante (de matérias-primas) e a jusante (de produtos vendidos), aos resíduos gerados no processo produtivo, às viagens de negócios e diárias dos colaboradores, aos bens alugados a montante (veículos de leasing e paletes) e a jusante (edifícios), ao processamento dos produtos vendidos e ao fim de vida destes. Também se analisou o uso dos produtos vendidos, os franchises da empresa e os investimentos, porém, estas categorias não registaram valores. De maneira a reduzir o valor da pegada de carbono sugere-se a realização de algumas medidas. Ao todo são 16 de onde se destacam a substituição dos veículos a combustão por elétricos, a utilização de camiões elétricos, a utilização de energia 100% renovável, a utilização de comboios para transporte superior a 250 km, a instalação de painéis solares, o aumento da eficiência energética e a incorporação de reciclado nas embalagens metálicas. Ao serem implementadas, as 16 medidas permitem reduzir em 54 262,702 t CO2 eq, o que corresponde a 51,52% do atual valor global.

O conceito Internet of Things, que é a ligação entre objetos do dia-a-dia através de tecnologias inteligentes, tem ganho bastante atenção nos últimos anos. Esta tecnologia apresenta diversas vantagens, tanto a nível social como económico, e visa resolver problemas de uma forma automatizada com recursos a dispositivos inteligentes. Um dos problemas atuais dos países desenvolvidos é o seu consumo de energias de origem fóssil, havendo uma corrida entre os países para cada vez depender menos dessas energias. As nações mais organizadas têm como objetivo tanto reduzir o consumo de energia, como as emissões atmosféricas de gases de efeito de estufa, isto através de eficiência energética e energias renováveis. A União Europeia afirmou que um dos maiores consumos de energia são os edifícios, atingindo por vezes 40% do consumo total. Este valor é de grande parte representativo do domínio termal, ou seja, aquecedores, ventilação e sistemas de ar condicionado. O projeto em que esta dissertação se enquadra visa ajudar neste problema. O projeto tem como objetivo desenvolver um chuveiro inteligente de forma a reduzir tantos os consumos de água como os consumos de energia. Esta dissertação é relativa a uma parte deste projeto, tendo como objetivo criar uma plataforma IoT capaz de receber mensagens de um conjunto de sensores, guardar e tratar os dados lidos, e por fim criar uma API capaz de ter uma ligação com uma APP mobile, externa a este relatório, de forma a haver interação dos dados com o utilizador do produto. Será então apresentado uma revisão de literatura com o fundamento teórico essencial para o desenvolvimento do trabalho desenvolvido, bem como a sua implementação, através da demonstração e explicação da arquitetura da plataforma em detalhe e o código desenvolvido desde a criação da base de dados necessária para o armazenamento dos dados até à criação da API e as suas rotas.

National net zero emission targets could, if fully implemented, reduce best estimates of projected global average temperature increase to 2.0–2.4 °C by 2100, bringing the Paris Agreement temperature goal within reach. A total of 131 countries are discussing, have announced or have adopted net zero targets, covering 72% of global emissions. These targets could substantially lower projected warming as compared to currently implemented policies (2.9–3.2 °C) or pledges submitted to the Paris Agreement (2.4–2.9 °C). Current pledges for emissions cuts are insufficient to meet the Paris Agreement temperature goal. The wave of net zero targets being discussed and adopted could make the Paris goal possible if further countries follow suit.