Recovery of rare earth elements (Nd and Dy) by using carbon-based adsorbents from spent tire rubber.

Two samples of spent tire rubber (rubber A and rubber B) were submitted to thermochemical conversion by pyrolysis process. A450, B450 and A900, B900 chars were obtained from rubber A and rubber B at 450 °C and 900 °C, respectively. The chars were then applied as recovery agents of Nd and Dy from aqueous solutions in mono and bicomponent solutions, and their performance was benchmarked with a commercial activated carbon.

Simultaneous removal of multiple metal(loid)s and neutralization of acid mine drainage using 3D-printed bauxite-containing geopolymers.

The mining industry is one of the largest sources of environmental concern globally. Herein we report for the first time the application of highly porous 3D-printed sorbents containing high amounts (50 wt%) of red mud, a hazardous waste derived from the alumina industry, for the remediation of acid mine drainage (AMD). The sorption capacity of the inorganic polymers was initially evaluated for the simultaneous removal of five metal(loid) elements, namely Cu(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Cd(II) and As(V) in synthetic wastewater.

Conversion of quinoa and lupin agro-residues into biochar in the Andes: An experimental study in a pilot-scale auger-type reactor.

In the last decades, the cultivation of quinoa and lupin became an important source of income for Andean farmers due to the demand for high nutrient-density foods from the Global North. The increase in the cultivation intensity caused by this exogenous demand led to the overexploitation of local ecosystems and a decrease in soil fertility. As an alternative to recover and improve soil quality, this work uses a pilot-scale auger pyrolysis reactor, implemented in the Andes, to assess the conversion of the agro residues generated in the post-harvesting processes of quinoa and lupin into biochar for soil amendment.

Valorization of Kraft Pulp and Paper Mill Slaker Grits and Biomass Fly Ash as Fillers in a Commercial Screed Mortar Formulation.

Slaker grits (SG) and biomass fly ash (BFA), two waste streams generated in the pulp and paper industry, are commonly disposed of in landfills, a practice with a high economic and environmental burden. In this work, their individual valorization as fillers in a commercial screed mortar formulation was evaluated in order to achieve a more sustainable management practice. The waste streams were characterized in terms of true density, particle size and morphology, and chemical and mineralogical composition.

Granulated biomass fly ash coupled with fenton process for pulp and paper wastewater treatment.

The work describes the combination of granulated biomass fly ash (G) with Fenton process to enhance the removal of adsorbable organic halides (AOX) from pulp bleaching wastewater. At optimal operating conditions, wastewater's chemical and biochemical oxygen demand (COD and BOD, respectively) and colour were also quantified, and operating cost of treatment assessed. For the first time, raw pulp bleaching wastewater was used to granulate BFA, instead of water, reducing the water footprint of the treatment.

Stabilization of biomass ash granules using accelerated carbonation to optimize the preparation of soil improvers.

After the revision of the Fertilizer Regulation (EC 2019/1009), biomass ash can be used as component material for soil improvers to be placed on the EU market. This provides opportunities for large scale recycling of biomass ash. However, this material cannot be directly applied to soil without stabilization by carbonation, which also creates an opportunity for CO capture and storage.

Biomass ash formulations as sustainable improvers for mining soil health recovery: Linking soil properties and ecotoxicity.

There is a growing need to recover degraded soils to restore their essential ecosystem services and limit damages of anthropic activities onto these systems. Safe and sustainable solutions for long-term recovery must be designed, ideally by recycling existing resources. Using ash from combustion of residual forest biomass at the pulp and paper industry is an interesting and sustainable strategy to recover mining soils.

Role of waste-based geopolymer spheres addition for pH control and efficiency enhancement of anaerobic digestion process.

In anaerobic digestion processes, pH has a vital role due to the direct impacts on the microbial community. An eco-friendly approach has been applied to control pH in anaerobic bioreactors, using waste-containing fly ash geopolymer spheres (GS) instead of powdered chemical compounds, to promote continuous alkalis leaching. The influence of GS porosity and concentration on the behavior of anaerobic sequential batch reactor treating cheese whey was evaluated.

Economic analysis of a shared municipal solid waste management facility in a metropolitan region.

Municipal solid waste (MSW) management in dense urban areas is a challenge for municipalities, especially in developing countries, which commonly have deficient waste management. For example, the metropolitan region of Goiás State, Brazil, has 19 municipalities that dispose of about 72.5% of total MSW in unlicensed MSW final disposal facilities.

Life cycle assessment of woody biomass ash for soil amelioration.

The increasing use of forest biomass as a fuel for power plants due to environmental concerns will certainly increase the amount of woody biomass ash produced. Because of the environmental problems derived from woody biomass ash disposal, an important aspect for the sustainable development of the energy sector is the implementation of effective ash management strategies. The purpose of this study is to assess the environmental impacts of woody biomass ash landfarming for soil amelioration through a Life Cycle Assessment.

Use of wastes from the pulp and paper industry for the remediation of soils degraded by mining activities: Chemical, biochemical and ecotoxicological effects.

Fly ash (FA) from biomass combustion and biological sludge (S), both wastes from the pulp and paper industry, were granulated in different proportions (90% FA+10% S, and 70% FA+30% S w/w, dry weight basis, dw) and used to recover the functionality of soils affected by mining activities (Aljustrel, Iberian Pyrite Belt), with and without the application of municipal solid waste compost (MSWC). Application doses of both mixtures were 2.5, 5.

Life cycle assessment of wood pellets and wood split logs for residential heating.

Wood-fuelled systems are commonly used all over the world for residential heating, and recently wood pellets have been replacing traditional firewood. This article presents an environmental life cycle assessment of five wood-based combustion systems for residential heating: i) a pellet stove using maritime pine pellets; a wood stove using ii) eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus Labill.) and iii) maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.

Mineralogical, chemical and leaching characteristics of ashes from residential biomass combustion.

Four types of pellets and three agro-fuels were chemically characterised and burned in a pellet stove. To assess the influence of the material composing the firebox and the combustion efficiency of distinct biomass heating devices in the composition of the bottom ashes, three of the pellets were also burned in a conventional woodstove and in a fireplace. Ashes were analysed for their C, H and N contents by an elemental analyser, whilst major and trace elements were quantified by inductively coupled plasma atomic-emission spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, respectively.

Use of a geographic information system to find areas for locating of municipal solid waste management facilities.

Municipal solid waste (MSW) management is a pressing concern for Goiás State, Brazil. Of the state's 246 municipalities, only 16 send their waste to licensed landfills. This means that 93% of the cities in Goiás dispose of their MSW inappropriately, in dumps or unlicensed landfills.

Effect of industrial and domestic ash from biomass combustion, and spent coffee grounds, on soil fertility and plant growth: experiments at field conditions.

An experimental study was conducted at field conditions in order to evaluate the effect of application of ash from biomass combustion on some soil fertility characteristics and plant growth. Application of 7.5 Mg ha industrial fly ash (IA), domestic ash (DA), and a 50:50 mix of domestic ash (DA) and spent coffee grounds (SCG) was made in different soil parcels.

Ashes from fluidized bed combustion of residual forest biomass: recycling to soil as a viable management option.

Although bottom ash (BA) [or mixtures of bottom and fly ash (FA)] from clean biomass fuels is currently used as liming agent, additive for compost, and fertilizer on agricultural and forest soils in certain European countries, in several other countries most of the ashes are currently disposed in landfills. This is due to both a lack of a proper classification of the materials and of regulatory barriers.Chemical characterization including analysis of an array of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) proved that over 100,000 tons of BA currently landfilled every year in Portugal actually complied with legal limits for PTEs for soil fertilizers applied in other countries.

Characteristics of ash and particle emissions during bubbling fluidised bed combustion of three types of residual forest biomass.

Combustion of residual forest biomass (RFB) derived from eucalypt (Eucalyptus globulus), pine (Pinus pinaster) and golden wattle (Acacia longifolia) was evaluated in a pilot-scale bubbling fluidised bed reactor (BFBR). During the combustion experiments, monitoring of temperature, pressure and exhaust gas composition has been made. Ash samples were collected at several locations along the furnace and flue gas treatment devices (cyclone and bag filter) after each combustion experiment and were analysed for their unburnt carbon content and chemical composition.

Emissions from the combustion of eucalypt and pine chips in a fluidized bed reactor.

Interest in renewable energy sources has increased in recent years due to environmental concerns about global warming and air pollution, reduced costs and improved efficiency of technologies. Under the European Union (EU) energy directive, biomass is a suitable renewable source. The aim of this study was to experimentally quantify and characterize the emission of particulate matter (PM2.

Critical aspects of biomass ashes utilization in soils: Composition, leachability, PAH and PCDD/F.

Bottom and fly ashes streams collected along a year in several biomass thermal plants were studied. The bulk composition of ashes and other chemical characteristics that may impact soil application showed a high variability depending on the ash stream, combustion technology and ash management practice at the power plants. The acid neutralization capacity (ANC) and metal's availability for leaching at fixed pH 7 and 4 was performed according with EA NEN 7371, as a quick evaluation method to provide information on the long-term behavior of ashes, regarding heavy metals and also plant nutrients release.

Atmospheric Emissions from Forest Biomass Residues to Energy Supply Chain: A Case Study in Portugal.

During the past decades, pressures on global environment and energy security have led to an increasing demand on renewable energy sources and diversification of the world's energy supply. The Portuguese energy strategy considers the use of Forest Biomass Residues (FBR) to energy as being essential to accomplish the goals established in the National Energy Strategy for 2020. However, despite the advantages pointing to FBR to the energy supply chain, few studies have evaluated the potential impacts on air quality.

Impact of forest biomass residues to the energy supply chain on regional air quality.

The increase of the share of renewable energy in Portugal can be met from different sources, of which forest biomass residues (FBR) can play a main role. Taking into account the demand for information about the strategy of FBR to energy, and its implications on the Portuguese climate policy, the impact of energy conversion of FBR on air quality is evaluated. Three emission scenarios were defined and a numerical air quality model was selected to perform this evaluation.

Emission factors from residential combustion appliances burning Portuguese biomass fuels.

Smoke from residential wood burning has been identified as a major contributor to air pollution, motivating detailed emission measurements under controlled conditions. A series of experiments were performed to compare the emission levels from two types of wood-stoves to those of fireplaces. Eight types of biomass were burned in the laboratory: wood from seven species of trees grown in the Portuguese forest (Pinus pinaster, Eucalyptus globulus, Quercus suber, Acacia longifolia, Quercus faginea, Olea europaea and Quercus ilex rotundifolia) and briquettes produced from forest biomass waste.

Characterisation and use of biomass fly ash in cement-based materials.

This paper presents results about the characterisation of the biomass fly ashes sourced from a thermal power plant and from a co-generation power plant located in Portugal, and the study of new cement formulations incorporated with the biomass fly ashes. The study includes a comparative analysis of the phase formation, setting and mechanical behaviour of the new cement-fly ash formulations based on these biomass fly ashes. Techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), thermal gravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and environmental scanning electron spectroscopy (ESEM) were used to determine the structure and composition of the formulations.

A case of pervasive developmental disorder with chromosomal translocation 1-4.

We describe a 5-year-old girl with pervasive developmental disorder associated to chromosome 1-4 translocation, an association that has not been described in specialized literature until this moment.

Urea hydrogen peroxide determination in whole blood using europium tetracycline probe.

We introduce the use of a lanthanide complex, tetracycline-europium, for the clinical diagnosis of urea hydrogen peroxide in human whole blood. The values obtained agree with the urea concentration variation verified in 49 patients, including 12 predialysis, 12 peritoneal, and 15 dialysis subjects, and 10 controls. This method is noninvasive and can help in the identification of renal and cardiac diseases.