Synthetic polymers blend used in the production of high activated carbon for pesticides removals from liquid phase

For the activated carbon (AC) production, we used the most common industrial and consumer solid waste, namely polyethyleneterephthalate (PET), alone or blended with other synthetic polymer such polyacrylonitrile (PAN). By mixing PET, with PAN, an improvement in the yield of the AC production was found and the basic character and some textural and chemical properties were enhanced. The PET–PAN mixture was subjected to carbonisation, with a pyrolysis yield of 31.9%, between that obtained with PET (16.9%) or PAN (42.6%) separately. The AC revealed a high surface area (1400, 1230 and 1117 m2 g−1) and pore volume (0.46, 0.56 and 0.50 cm3 g−1), respectively, for PET, PAN and PET–PAN precursors. Selected ACs were successfully tested for 4- chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) and diuron removal from the liquid phase, showing a higher adsorption capacity (1.7 and 1.2 mmol g−1, respectively, for MCPA and diuron) and good fits with the Langmuir (PET) and Freundlich equation (PAN and PET–PAN blend). With MCPA, the controlling factor to the adsorption capacity was the porous volume and the average pore size. Concerning diuron, the adsorption was controlled essentially by the external diffusion. A remarkable result is the use of different synthetic polymers wastes, as precursors for the production of carbon materials, with high potential application on the pesticides removals from the liquid phase.

Economic feasibility analysis of the implementation of a high value-added molecule extraction system in an olive oil mill

The production of olive oil generates several by-products that can be seen as an additional business opportunity. Among them are the olive pits, already used for heat and/or electricity generation in some mills. They contain compounds that are commercially very interesting and, if recovered, contribute to the sustainability of the olive mills. The work presented in this paper is a preliminary evaluation of the economic feasibility of implementing a system based on a batch prototype with 1 m3 for the extraction of high value-added bioactive molecules from olive pits that are separated during the production of virgin olive oil. For the analysis, a small representative olive mill in Portugal was considered and the traditional Discounted Cash Flow Method was applied. Based on the assumptions made, the simple payback for implementation a system for the extraction of value-added molecules from the olive pits is around 7 years.

MDF and PB composites wastes used in the production of activated carbons by physical activation

O desenvolvimento de materiais de carbono continua a ser, na atualidade, uma das áreas de grande interesse junto das comunidades científica e industrial [1]. Especial atenção é dada à valorização de resíduos da indústria, de baixo valor económico, tentando desta forma resolver problemas de gestão de grandes quantidades de desperdícios [2]. De especial relevo destacamos os resíduos potencialmente perigosos, segundo os dados da FAO – Food and Agriculture Organization das Nações Unidas [3]. O desenvolvimento de novos materiais para a indústria do mobiliário, substitutos da madeira, tem gerado uma enorme diversidade de produtos mas também de resíduos. Os mais comuns no mercado são os materiais compósitos, entre eles o PB – ParticleBoard e o MDF – Medium Density Fibreboard, os quais registam um aumento de consumo na Europa de 1,3% e 4,3%, respetivamente, mesmo em período de crise económica como a que estamos a atravessar [3]. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo o estudo do potencial destes resíduos para a produção de carvões ativados (CA) em formas monolíticas, gerando um produto com um elevado valor acrescentado e com características inovadoras para a posterior aplicação em processos de adsorção.

Effect of autochthonous starter cultures in the production of "Paio", a traditional Portuguese dry- cured sausage

Traditional dry-cured sausages are highly appreciated in Mediterranean countries. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of different starter cultures in the sausages Alentejano pig meat was used to prepare drycured sausages in a local factory. Staphylococcus xylosus, Lactobacillus sakei and a yeast strain were inoculated at a concentration of 106 cfu/g meat batter both in separate and in mixed culture. Three independent batches with two replicates per treatment were produced. Samples were collected throughout the ripening process. pH and aw were determined according to the ISO standards. Microbiological counts of total mesophiles, total psycrotrophs, anaerobes, coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS), lactic acid bacteria (LAB), enterobacteria, yeasts and moulds and Listeria monocytogenes were done according to the respective ISO standards, as well as detection of Salmonella spp. Biogenic amines quantification was performed by HPLC as described by Roseiro et al. (1). The treatment with L. sakei alone was the most effective in reducing the contamination level both with Salmonella spp. and L. monocytogenes, however this effect seems to be lost in the mixed cultures. The presence of the yeast strain seems to increase the levels of phenylethylamine and histamine. The contents in cadaverine, putrescine and tyramine were generally lower in the inoculated sausages. Regarding tyramine, the treatments with L. sakei showed significantly lower values. No significant differences between treatments were observed for both spermine and spermidine.

Creative Practices Around the Production of Cork

Cork, as a natural product provided by the bark of the cork oak tree, is an important staple of the Portuguese economy and important to Portuguese culture. It is a sustainable product with a positive ecological footprint, from harvesting to industrial production, with the advantage of creating a local economic model through regional labour activity and distribution. Within the balance between nature-human-economy to create a sustainable system, cork production in Portugal represents a human and social dimension. By focusing on that dimension and by creating an awareness of the cultural and social impact of the activity and by re-appraising the meaning of the material within the culture, the study reframes a consideration of the actual place of labour and production. The human, geophysical, historical, social, economic, ecological and cultural aspects of the place are observed as regards their relation to work or labour in that physical space. A pilot study is being developed in the village of Azaruja in the district of Évora, Portugal. In this small locality, cork is very important in terms of the relationships between the physical subsistence of their residents and the local natural resources, because it structures the place in its cultural, social and economical dimensions. This paper outlines the theoretical foundations, the process and the outcomes of the participatory ecodesign project titled Creative Practices Around the Production of Cork which was initiated by a Portuguese artist/design researcher and developed further through the collaboration with the other two authors, one a Portuguese visual artist/researcher and the other a Turkish fashion designer/theorist. The investigation focuses on questions that expand the notion of place for artists and designers, filtered through the lenses of manual labourers in order to understand their physical, social, cultural and economic relationship with the environment. To create the process of interaction with the place and the people, a creative collaborative dynamic is developed between the authors with their range of artistic sensibilities and the local population. To adopt a holistic notion of sustainability and cultural identity a process of investigation is designated to: (1) analyse, test and interpret - through the dissemination of life stories, visual representation of the place and the creation of cork objects - the importance of culture related to the labour activity of a local natural resource that determines and structures the region; (2) to give public recognition to those involved, taking into account their sense of belonging to the place and in order to show the value of their sustainable labour activities related to local natural resources; (3) to contribute to the knowledge of the place and to its dynamism through an aesthetic approach to labour activities. With reference to fields of knowledge such as anthropology, the social arts and sustainable design, a practice-based research is conducted with collaborative and participatory design methods to create an open model of interaction which involves local people in the realization of the project. Outcomes of this research will be presented in the paper as a survey analysis with theoretical conclusions.