• Energy Research
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A non-selective disposal of the overburden layer in the opencast mines of the ’Kolubara’ Mining Basin resulted in the occurrence of mixed ’tailing’ material - in pedology termed ’deposol’ - on the surface layer. The basic characteristics of deposol are very variable physical-chemical properties, a reduced microbiological activity and a devastated structure along the depth of pedological profile. A sample plot was established on this substrate, with a view to investigating possibilities for establishing poplar and willow plantations for biomass production, as well as using coal sludge for treatment of seedlings. The sample plot was established on the location of ‘Kolubara Usluga’ d.o.o. seedling nursery in Baroševac, in the proximity of the town of Lazarevac. Cuttings of two clones of Euro-American black poplar (Populus × euramericana (Dode) Guinier): I-214 и M-1) and a cutting of the willow clone Inger (Salix triandra x Salix viminalis) were used for establishing the sample plot and conducting research. The planting of cuttings was conducted in the spring of 2013, on a previously prepared layer. The planting density was 13.333/ha in the single-row plantation and 14.814/ha in the double-row plantation. The sample plot was established in accordance with the Randomised Complete Block Design principle, with repetitions within rows. Within the repetitions, the treatments were distributed randomly, according to the system of random numbers, using the Research Randomiser 4.0 Tool (Urbaniak and Plous 2013). The following treatments were applied on the poplar and willow rooted cuttings, at the beginning of the second growing season: 1) 5 kg of coal sludge per seedling; 2) 10 kg of coal sludge per seedling; 3) 15 kg of coal sludge per seedling; 4) 0,2 kg of NPK fertiliser (16:16:16) per seedling; 5) Cutback of non-treated seedlings... Неселективним одлагањем откривке на површинским коповима ПД РБ Колубара на површини се јавља измешани „јаловински“ материјал, који је у педологији означен као депосол. Основне особине депосола су веомa вaријaбилне физичко-хемијске кaрaктеристикe, смaњена биогеност и рaзорена структура по дубини педолошког профилa. На таквом супстрату постављен је оглед са циљем истраживања могућности оснивања плантажа топола и врбе за призводњу биомасе, као и примене угљеног муља за прихрану садница. Оглед је основан на локалитету расадника „Колубара Услуга“ д.о.о. у Барошевцу, у близини Лазаревца. За постављање огледа и истраживање коришћене су резнице двa клонa еуроaмеричке црне тополе (Populus × euramericana (Dode) Guinier): I-214 и M-1) и резнице врбе клона Ингер (Salix triandra x Salix viminalis). Садња резница извршена је у пролеће 2013. године, нa претходно припремљеној површини. Густина садње резница топола била је 13.333/ha у једноредном засаду, а врбе 14.814/ha у дворедном засаду. Оглед је постављен у складу са принципима случајног блок дизајна RCBD (Randomized Complete Block Design) са понављањима у редовима. Унутар понављања, третмани су случајно распоређени, по систему случајних бројева, употребом алата Research Randomizer 4.0 (Urbaniak and Plous 2013). На ожиљеницама тополе и врбе, на почетку друге сезоне раста примењени су следећи третмани: 1) 5 kg угљеног муља по садници; 2) 10 kg угљеног муља по садници; 3) 15 kg угљеног муља по садници; 4) 0,2 kg ђубрива NPK (16:16:16) по садници; 5) чеповање неприхрањиваних садница...

Biodiesel, an alternative to fossil fuels, consists of alkyl, usually methyl, esters of fatty acids (FAME). Conventionally, it is mostly obtained by homogeneous base catalyzed methanolysis of edible oils. Despite the significant advantages, the main drawbacks of this process are the high requirements in terms of the quality of the raw materials and environmentally unfavorable processes of catalyst separation and products purification. For these reasons, the researches of biodiesel synthesis are aimed at developing new processes that are economically and environmentally acceptable. In this paper processes of FAME synthesis, their advantages, disadvantages and opportunities for improving are analyzed, in order to develop processes suitable for industrial applications. The main aim was to present an overview of the researches in developing biodiesel synthesis providing a high FAME yield, which are environmentally-friendly and economically acceptable. Heterogeneously catalyzed process has most often studied, aiming at developing catalytic active, stable and cheap catalysts as well as at process improvement. The developments of enzyme and noncatalytic processes are mainly aimed at reducing production costs and increasing the FAME yield under mild reaction conditions, respectively. Generally, the perspectives of biodiesel synthesis include the use of continuous processes and suitable reactor systems.

This paper provides an overview of the most important elements of the Chinese and the European Union policies (EU) in the field of environment. The first part of the paper points to some characteristics of the environmental situation in China, the strategic framework and basic regulations of China in the environmental field. In particular, it emohasizes the main elements of importance for understanding the position of China in contemporary policies in the area of climate change. The second part of the paper analyzes the development and the basic elements of EU policy in the field of environment and climate change. The third part is devoted to the international legal aspects of contemporary policies in the field of environ­ment and the status of China, i.e. the EU and other countries in the most important international treaties in the environmental field. The main objective of this paper is to determine the similarities and differences in the policies of China, i.e. of the European Union in the field of environment and climate change. Criteria for the comparison include several elements: environmental assessment and contribution to global climate change, the historical development of policy and environmental law, policy objectives, the structure of the existing regulations in the field of environment, attitude towards international obligations and membership in international treaties of the global character, etc. The thesis is considered that the common elements of the policies of China and the EU in the field of environment are primarily determined by processes at the international level, the recognition of the need for solving global environmental problems and memberships in the relevant international treaties. In this regard, it is noted that there are certain elements that could be considered as a common policy for China and the EU in the field of environment, but that there were significant differences depending on the special social and economic development and the overall position in the international community.

The doctoral dissertation presents basic information on the Sun and the solar radiation, photovoltaic conversion of solar radiation, solar cells, temperature and output parameters of the solar modules and PVGIS-CMSAF program. In addition, dissertation presents the results of theoretical and experimental calculation of the amount of electrical energy generated by differently oriented solar modules in Nis and their energy efficiency. Special attention was paid to the results of simultaneous measurements of the climatic parameters, the solar modules temperature and the electrical parameters of differently oriented solar modules for 12 sunny days in the period from 2014 - 2016. At the end of the dissertation examples of practical applications of differently oriented integrated PV systems for electricity generation at a family home and ten-story residential building in Nis and estimation of CO2 emission reduction by using differently oriented integrated PV systems on residential buildings in Nis are given.

It is estimated that by the middle of this century, nearly two-thirds of the world’s population will live in cities. These processes of accelerated urbanization carry considerable social and environmental problems, especially evident in developing countries. Some estimates suggest that cities account for as much as 80% of worldwide energy consumption (OECD, 2010; UN-Habitat, 2018). This corresponds to the enormous CO2 emission (approximately 70%) arising mainly from the transport and residential sectors (OECD, 2010). Due to the extremely high transaction costs, the reduction of negative transport environmental effects has proved to be very complicated, compared to stationary sources of pollution (industry and buildings). In terms of sustainable urban development, the urban form of cities plays a major role, primarily because of the strong interdependence that exists between it and urban transport. Cities characterized by high population densities, spatial compactness, mixed urban land use and, ultimately, favoring the concept of accessibility are significantly more energy efficient and thus contribute less to changing global climate. Therefore, the orientation to sustainable urban development is largely based on the revise of the built-up area and transport patterns, as well as on the true understanding of their complex interdependence. Urban planning plays a key role in achieving these goals. Do sredine XXI veka gotovo dve trećine ukupnog svetskog stanovništva će živeti u gradovima. Ovi procesi ubrzane urbanizacije nose sa sobom značajne društvene i ekološke probleme koji su posebno istaknuti u zemljama u razvoju. Procenjuje se da udeo gradova u potrošnji ukupne svetske proizvedene energije ide čak i do 80% (OECD, 2010; UN-Habitat, 2018). Tome korespondira ogromna emisija CO2 (približno 70%) koja potiče najvećim delom iz saobraćaja i rezidencijalnog sektora (OECD, 2010). Usled izuzetno visokih transakcionih troškova smanjenje negativnih ekoloških efekata u sferi saobraćaja se pokazalo veoma komplikovanim, u poređenju sa stacionarnim izvorima zagađenja (industrija i zgrade). U pogledu održivog urbanog razvoja veliku ulogu igra sama urbana forma gradova, prvenstveno zbog jake međusobne zavisnosti koja postoji između nje i gradskog saobraćaja. Gradovi koje karakterišu visoke gustine naseljenosti, prostorna kompaktnost, izmešani gradski sadržaji i, u krajnjoj liniji, favorizovanje koncepta pristupnosti su značajno energetski efikasniji i pritom manje doprinose izmeni globalne klime. Stoga, orijentacija na održivi urbani razvoj se u velikoj meri zasniva na izmeni izgrađenog područja i saobraćajnih tokova, kao i na istinskom razmevanju njihove kompleksne međuzavisnosti. Кljučnu ulogu u postizanju ovih ciljeva ima urbano planiranje.

Green energy has become an essential piece of any sustainable development analysis. Furthermore, renewable energy must be recognized as an area with the greatest potential for reducing the overall pollution in the Republic of Serbia. The goal of this paper is to show the benefits of the investment in solar energy use and to determine the economic justification of the photovoltaic system implementation on the roof of houses in the AP of Vojvodina.

Within this paper, a multi-criteria decision-making model for evaluating the energy efficiency of building construction measures for new or existing buildings will be presented. The proposed model observes the optimization process simultaneously through the four most important aspects of energy efficiency: economic aspect, energy consumption, environmental impact and indoor comfort, taking into account factors that may occur in the building environment during its operation, such as inflation and currency depreciation/appreciation. The model introduces dynamic thermal parameters of the wall that reflect a thermal accumulation of the building envelope and its ability to provide thermal comfort in time-varying atmospheric conditions in the building environment.

Food and beverage industry, as an important global branch of industry, consume considerable amounts of energy. This sector predominantly uses energy for the recuperation of thermal processes in which the significant amounts of energy are irreversibly wasted as waste heat. The identification of potential sources of waste heat and the estimations for their possible utilization can be an extremely challenging undertaking. Also, the relatively small share of energy costs with respect to total production costs, in addition to high initial investments, are the main reason for the low implementation of a waste heat utilization technology. In this regard, the doctoral dissertation aims at defining the methodology for determining waste heat potentials in food industry and for the selection of an optimal technology for its utilization based on desired goal functions. The dissertation develops a new methodology that is based upon the comprehensive energy audit of production facility and the application of mathematical optimization in the selection of an optimal technology for waste heat utilization. The audit follows the ISO 50002 standard and is conducted aiming at the collection of data on energy and raw material flows in a facility and at mapping waste heat sources and their potentials. The mathematical model applied here is originally developed for the purposes of this dissertation and it completely based on multivariate mixed integer nonlinear programming. The mathematical model incorporates the equations of the most commonly used technologies for waste heat utilization that are suitable for the temperature levels of waste heat sources in food industry. The equations describe the economic and ecological indicators of investment justification. The maximization or minimization of any among these indicators most commonly represents a goal function. The methodology developed here is tested on a case study, a facility operating within the milk and dairy production sector. According to the results obtained in this study, in both basic scenarios and with multiple different goal functions, the best way to use waste heat is its direct utilization whenever possible. Also, the most beneficial scenario for the analyzed dairy, in addition to the direct utilization of process heat, is the implementation of a mechanical compression heat pump for the utilization of waste heat from the condensers of refrigeration equipment.

Climate change, caused by anthropogenic factor, is one of the biggest global challenges. Universal interest for slowing climate change by adequate reduction of global emission of greenhouse gases and universal interest that all nations become capable to overcome effects of global change is beyond dispute. Global and local allocation of expenses of realization of the mentioned interests is a matter of global and local disputes. The Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is searching for new formula of equitable distribution of the expenses that would be acceptable for all. The formula should reconcile efficient reduction of global emissions and securing sustainable development for all. International protection of human rights offers a possibility to turn attention to interests of individuals in the context of climate change.

Predmet istraživanja doktorske disertacije je ekologija i biologija invazivne vrste Aster lanceolatus Willd. complex (fam. Compositae). U okviru ovog predmeta, definisani su ciljevi planiranih istraživanja: da se utvrde kvantitativni odnosi vrste A. lanceolatus i drugih cenobionata na staništima koja su zahvaćena invazijom ove vrste; da se utvrde i objasne mehanizmi kojima vrsta utiče na procese u istraživanim ekosistemima; da se utvrdi uloga generativnog i vegetativnog razmnožavanja u procesu širenja vrste A. lanceolatus; da se utvrde kauzalni odnosi između regionalnog klimatskog modela i predikcije rasprostranjenja vrste i da se izvrši analiza rizika od vrste A. lanceolatus. Istraživanja su sprovedena na terenu i laboratoriji po utvrđenoj metodologiji. Rezultati istraživanja su pokazala da vrsta A. lanceolatus naseljava staništa na kojima su izražene različite vrste poremećaja, da je dominantna na većini istraživanih lokaliteta i da potiskuje druge vrste u zajednicama i staništima na kojima se nalazi, čime je i potvrđena prva postavljena hipoteza. Postavljena hipoteza da vrsta A. lanceolatus utiče na osobine zemljišta i tako doprinosi svojoj kompetitivnosti nije u potpunosti potvrđena. Sa druge strane, hipoteza ne može da bude ni odbačena, jer su određene promene u zemljištu konstatovane. Gajenjem biljaka u hidrokulturi je utvrđeno da vrsta A. lanceolatus ima snažan vegetativan rast, da u početnoj fazi rasta alocira resurse u podzemni deo, da pri interspecijskoj kompeticiji često nadjačava vrstu Achillea millefolium L., kao i da ima veliki potencijal za vegetativno razmnožavanje. Rezultati dobijeni gajenjem biljaka u hidrokulturi i ispitivanjem klijavosti semena potvrđuju hipotezu da je i vegetativno i generativno razmnožavanje značajno za proces širenje vrste A. lanceolatus. Uz rezultate sprovedenih bioloških testova, identifikacija i kvantifikacija 14 fenolnih jedinjena u biljnim organima vrste A. lanceolatus predstavljaju potvrdu alelopatskog dejstva ove vrste, čime je i potvrđena postavljena hipoteza. Hipoteza da klimatske karakteristike utiču na širenje invazivne vrste A. lanceolatus je potvrđena, jer su rezultati primenjenog modela pokazali, da će sa povećanjem temperature rasti i potencijal širenja ove vrste. This dissertation sets out to investigate the ecology and biology of invasive species Aster lanceolatus Willd. complex (fam. Compositae). The aim of this study was: to determine the quantitative relations of A. lanceolatus with other coexisting species in invaded habitats; to identify and explain the mechanisms by which this species influences the processes in ecosystems; to determine the role of generative and vegetative reproduction in the A. lanceolatus invasion success; to determine the causal relationship between the regional climate model and a prediction of a species distribution and to conduct the risk analysis of A. lanceolatus. The study was conducted in the field and laboratories by the established methodology. The results have shown that A. lanceolatus inhabits the disturbed habitats suppressing other species in communities and thus the first hypothesis was confirmed. It was hypothesized that the species A. lanceolatus affect soil properties, contributing to its competitiveness. This hypothesis was not fully confirmed since the results were variable. However, certain changes ascertained. Research has shown that the species A. lanceolatus has a strong vegetative growth. Initially, it allocates resources to the underground vegetative parts. In addition, it has great potential for vegetative reproduction and outcompetes Achillea millefolium in hydroponic culture. The results obtained by growing plants in hydroponic culture and seed testing showed that vegetative and generative reproductions have the same importance in the expansion of A. lanceolatus range. From the present study, it can be concluded that allelochemicals are present in the aqueous extracts of A. lanceolatus and in the soil infested with this plant. In addition 14 phenolic compounds were identified and quantified in A. lanceolatus tissue. The results confirmed the allelopathic effects of A. lanceolatus, and thus confirmed given the hypothesis. The hypothesis that climatic characteristics influence the spread of invasive species A. lanceolatus was also confirmed, since the results of the applied species distribution model showed that the potential spread of this species would rise with increasing temperature.