Chemical recycling of municipal packaging waste by pyrolysis

[EN]The present doctoral thesis centers on studying pyrolysis as a chemical recycling technique for rejected packaging waste fractions coming from separation and sorting plants. The pyrolysis experiments have been carried out in a lab-scale installation equipped with a 3.5 L semi-batch reactor and a condensation and collection system for the liquids and gases generated. In the present thesis, an experimental study on the conventional pyrolysis process applied to the aforementioned waste fractions has been conducted, as well as the study of non-conventional or advanced pyrolysis processes such as catalytic and stepwise pyrolysis. The study of the operating parameters has been carried out using a mixed plastics simulated sample, the composition of which is similar to that found in real fractions, and subsequently the optimized process has been applied to real packaging waste. An exhaustive characterization of the solids, liquids and gases obtained in the process has been made after each experiment and their potential uses have been established. Finally, an empirical model that will predict the pyrolysis yields (% organic liquid, % aqueous liquid, % gases, % char, % inorganic solid) as a function of the composition of the initial sample has been developed. As a result of the experimental work done, the requirements have been established for an industrial packaging waste pyrolysis plant that aims to be sufficiently versatile as to generate useful products regardless of the nature of the raw material.

Tracking the evolution of waste recycling research using overlay maps of science

Tracking the evolution of research in waste recycling science (WRS) can be valuable for environmental agencies, as well as for recycling businesses. Maps of science are visual, easily readable representations of the cognitive structure of a branch of science, a particular area of research or the global spectrum of scientific production. They are generally built upon evidence collected from reliable sources of information, such as patent and scientific publication databases. This study uses the methodology developed by Rafols et al. (2010) to make a “double overlay map” of WRS upon a basemap reflecting the cognitive structure of all journal-published science, for the years 2005 and 2010. The analysis has taken into account the cognitive areas where WRS articles are published and the areas from where it takes its intellectual nourishing, paying special attention to the growing trends of the key areas. Interpretation of results lead to the conclusion that extraction of energy from waste will probably be an important research topic in the future, along with developments in general chemistry and chemical engineering oriented to the recovery of valuable materials from waste. Agricultural and material sciences, together with the combined economics, politics and geography field, are areas with which WRS shows a relevant and ever increasing cognitive relationship.

Paper unemployment: the irish experience

When asked to give a paper at this conference I choosee "Incentive to encourage youth employment" but very soon into my research I felt that the overall approach to unemployment by succesive Irish Governments offered more valuable insights into this serious problem and the lack of recognition of how serious this problem is. This is particulary so for small economies and regions on the periphery of the EU.

Estudio y proyecto de planta de tratamiento mecánico-biológico de RSU de acuerdo con la nueva normativa comunitaria

[ES]En el presente trabajo se llevará a cabo un análisis de los aspectos que se deben contemplar a la hora de realizar una planta de tratamiento mecánico biológico. Unido a la descripción del proceso, se dedicará parte del trabajo a estudiar el tratamiento de los olores que se generaran en las instalaciones. Se analizarán las distintas alternativas existentes para el desarrollo del proceso, viendo los distintos equipos que pueden estar implicados en el tratamiento mecánico y las diferentes posibilidades en el tratamiento biológico. A modo de justificación de estas instalaciones se describirán las ventajas ambientales y económicas del método propuesto. Además se realizará un estudio preliminar para la construcción de una planta diseñada para tratar los residuos generados por una determinada comunidad.

Kuznetsen kurba Euskal Autonomia Erkidegoko etxe-hondakinentzat

[EU ] [Lan honetan 2005 eta 2008 urteetarako Euskal Autonomia Erkidegoko 251 udalerrietan Kuznetsen hipotesia betetzen den ala ez aztertu da, Barne Produktu Gordinaren eta etxe-hondakinen arteko erlazioan zentratuz. Udalmap datu basea eta gretl programa ekonometrikoa erabili dira.]

Paper Art. Fibras papeleras en la Creación Artística. Producción y Edición

Nivel educativo: Grado. Duración (en horas): De 21 a 30 horas