Remedia����o de efluentes derivados da ind��stria de papel e celulose: tratamento biol��gico e fotocatal��tico

The contribution of the industrial activities to the environmental contamination phenomena is evident. Great efforts are dedicated to the establishment of methodologies which permits an adequate treatment of the produced effluents, as a manner of minimizing the environmental impact of these wastes. The methodologies based on photocatalytic processes are very promise alternatives, because permits degradation of a great number of chemical substances of high toxic potential, without the use of other chemicals. The present work is an overview about the principal environmental aspects related with the paper and cellulose industry and the main alternatives employed for the reduction of environmental impact produced for its residues. The principal results of the photocatalytic treatment of this kind of effluents using metallic semiconductors is also showed.

Avaluaci�� de les emissions de gasos d��� efecte hivernacle a la ciutat de Girona i propostes de reeducaci��

En els ��ltims 30 anys, la comunitat internacional ha anat agafant consci��ncia dels efectes que pot tenir l��� increment de les emissions de gasos d��� efecte hivernacle (GEH). ��s per aquest motiu, entre d��� altres que es fan inventaris d��� emissions de GEH a nivell estatal i a gran escala. Aquest projecte t�� com a principal objectiu determinar i quantificar les emissions de GEH a escala local del municipi de Girona. Per tal de poder dur a terme aquest treball ha calgut buscar metodologies i softwares, que s��� han hagut d��� adaptar a la singularitat que t�� Girona, sobretot pel que fa al transport. Finalment es fan propostes que s��� adapten a la problem��tica del municipi

Maritime transportation in the Gulf of Finland in 2007 and in 2015

The Gulf of Finland is said to be one of the densest operated sea areas in the world. It is a shallow and economically vulnerable sea area with dense passenger and cargo traffic of which petroleum transports have a share of over 50 %. The winter conditions add to the risks of maritime traffic in the Gulf of Finland. It is widely believed that the growth of maritime transportation will continue also in the future. The Gulf of Finland is surrounded by three very different national economies with, different maritime transportation structures. Finland is a country of high GDP/per capita with a diversified economic structure. The number of ports is large and the maritime transportation consists of many types of cargoes: raw materials, industrial products, consumer goods, coal and petroleum products, and the Russian transit traffic of e.g. new cars and consumer goods. Russia is a large country with huge growth potential; in recent years, the expansion of petroleum exports has lead to a strong economic growth, which is also apparent in the growth of maritime transports. Russia has been expanding its port activities in the Gulf of Finland and it is officially aiming to transport its own imports and exports through the Russian ports in the future; now they are being transported to great extend through the Finnish, Estonian and other Baltic ports. Russia has five ports in the Gulf of Finland. Estonia has also experienced fast economic growth, but the growth has been slowing down already during the past couples of years. The size of its economy is small compared to Russia, which means the transported tonnes cannot be very massive. However, relatively large amounts of the Russian petroleum exports have been transported through the Estonian ports. The future of the Russian transit traffic in Estonia looks nevertheless uncertain and it remains to be seen how it will develop and if Estonia is able to find replacing cargoes if the Russian transit traffic will come to an end in the Estonian ports. Estonia���s own import and export consists of forestry products, metals or other raw materials and consumer goods. Estonia has many ports on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, but the port of Tallinn dominates the cargo volumes. In 2007, 263 M tonnes of cargoes were transported in the maritime traffic in the Gulf of Finland, of which the share of petroleum products was 56 %. 23 % of the cargoes were loaded or unloaded in the Finnish ports, 60 % in the Russian ports and 17 % in the Estonian ports. The largest ports were Primorsk (74.2 M tonnes) St. Petersburg (59.5 M tonnes), Tallinn (35.9 M tonnes), Sk��ldvik (19.8 M tonnes), Vysotsk (16.5 M tonnes) and Helsinki (13.4 M) tonnes. Approximately 53 600 ship calls were made in the ports of the Gulf of Finland. The densest traffic was found in the ports of St. Petersburg (14 651 ship calls), Helsinki (11 727 ship calls) and Tallinn (10 614 ship calls) in 2007. The transportation scenarios are usually based on the assumption that the amount of transports follows the development of the economy, although also other factors influence the development of transportation, e.g. government policy, environmental aspects, and social and behavioural trends. The relationship between the development of transportation and the economy is usually analyzed in terms of the development of GDP and trade. When the GDP grows to a certain level, especially the international transports increase because countries of high GDP produce, consume and thus transport more. An effective transportation system is also a precondition for the economic development. In this study, the following factors were taken into consideration when formulating the future scenarios: maritime transportation in the Gulf of Finland 2007, economic development, development of key industries, development of infrastructure and environmental aspects in relation to maritime transportation. The basic starting points for the three alternative scenarios were: ��� the slow growth scenario: economic recession ��� the average growth scenario: economy will recover quickly from current instability ��� the strong growth scenario: the most optimistic views on development will realize According to the slow growth scenario, the total tonnes for the maritime transportation in the Gulf of Finland would be 322.4 M tonnes in 2015, which would mean a growth of 23 % compared to 2007. In the average growth scenario, the total tonnes were estimated to be 431.6 M tonnes ��� a growth of 64 %, and in the strong growth scenario 507.2 M tonnes ��� a growth of 93%. These tonnes were further divided into petroleum products and other cargoes by country, into export, import and domestic traffic by country, and between the ports. For petroleum products, the share of crude oil and oil products was estimated and the number of tanker calls in 2015 was calculated for each scenario. However, the future development of maritime transportation in the GoF is dependent on so many societal and economic variables that it is not realistic to predict one exact point estimate value for the cargo tonnes for a certain scenario. Plenty of uncertainty is related both to the degree in which the scenario will come true as well as to the cause-effect relations between the different variables. For these reasons, probability distributions for each scenario were formulated by an expert group. As a result, a range for the total tonnes of each scenario was formulated and they are as follows: the slow growth scenario: 280.8 ��� 363 M tonnes (expectation value 322.4 M tonnes) <li>the average growth scenario: 404.1 ��� 465.1 M tonnes (expectation value 431.6 M tonnes) <li>the strong growth scenario: 445.4 ��� 575.4 M tonnes (expectation value 507.2 M tonnes) Three alternatives scenarios were evaluated to realize most likely with the following probability distribution: <li>the slow growth scenario: 35 % <li>the average growth scenario: 50 % <li>the strong growth scenario: 15 %. In other words, expert group evaluated the average growth scenario to be the most likely to realize, second likely was the slow growth scenario, and the strong growth scenario was evaluated to be the most unlikely to realize. In sum, it can be stated that the development of maritime transportation in the Gulf of Finland is dominated by the development of Russia, because Russia dominates the cargo volumes. Maritime transportation in Finland is expected to be more stable and, in any case, such a growth potential cannot be seen in Finland. The development of maritime transportation in Estonia is rather challenging to forecast at the moment but, on the other hand, the transported tonnes in the Estonian ports are relatively small. The shares of export and import of the maritime transportation are not expected to change radically in the reference period. Petroleum products will dominate the transports also in the future and the share of oil products will probably increase compared to the share of crude oil. In regard to the other cargoes, the transports of raw materials and bulk goods will probably be replaced to some extend by cargoes of high-value, which adds especially to the container transports. But in overall, substantial changes are not expected in the commodity groups transported by sea. The growth potential of the ports concentrates on the Russian ports, especially Primorsk and Ust-Luga, if investments will come true as planned. It is likely that the larger ports do better in the competition than the small ones due to the economies of scale and to the concentration of cargo flows. The average ship sizes will probably grow, but the growth potential is rather limited because of geographical conditions and of the maritime transportation structure in the Gulf of Finland. Climate change and other environmental aspects are becoming more central e.g. in transportation politics. These issues can affect the maritime transportation in the Gulf of Finland through, for instance, strict environmental requirements concerning the emissions from shipping, or the port investments. If environmental requirements raise costs, it can affect the demand of transportation. In the near future, the development of the maritime transportation in the Gulf of Finland is mainly dependent on the current economic instability. If it will lead to a longer lasting recession, the growth of the transported tonnes will slow down. But if the instability does not last long, it can be expected that the economic growth will continue and along with it also the growth of transported tonnes.

ET��_04_AMPOSTA: habitatges a Amposta, Tarragona

Postprint (published version)

Ydinvoimalaitoksen elinkaaren ymp��rist��n��k��kohdat ja rakentamisvaiheen ymp��rist��johtaminen

Ymp��rist��asiat ovat nousseet merkitt��v��n tarkastelun kohteeksi yhteiskunnan kaikissa toiminnoissa. Yritysten ymp��rist��johtamisen v��lineeksi on kehitetty ymp��rist��j��rjestelmi��, joiden l��ht��kohtana on toiminnan ymp��rist��n��k��kohtien ja -vaikutusten tunnistaminen. Ty��n tavoitteena on luoda perusta Fennovoiman ymp��rist��j��rjestelm���� varten ja l��yt���� keinoja ydinvoimalaitoksen rakennusty��maan ymp��rist��n��k��kohtien ja -vaikutusten hallitsemiseksi. Ty��n teoriaosassa keskityt����n tarkastelemaan ISO 14001 -standardin mukaisen ymp��rist��j��rjestelm��n toteuttamiseen ja yll��pitoon liittyvi�� perusasioita, kuten ymp��rist��n��k��kohtien ja -vaikutusten tunnistamista, p����m����ri�� ja tavoitteita sek�� jatkuvan parantamisen periaatetta. Ty��n tutkimusosassa tarkastellaan ydinvoimalaitoshankkeen elinkaaren ymp��rist��n��k��kohtia ja -vaikutuksia sek�� kartoitetaan keinoja rakentamisvaiheen ymp��rist��johtamiseksi kahden eri rakentamisvaiheen toteutusmallin tapauksessa. Avainasemassa ovat m����ritellyt tavoitteet, tiedonkulku ja yhteisty�� eri osapuolten v��lill��

S��hk��-, elektroniikka- ja tietoteollisuusalalla toimivan yrityksen ymp��rist��asioiden hallinnan kehitt��minen

T��m��n diplomity��n tavoitteena oli p��ivitt���� s��hk��-, elektroniikka- ja tietoteollisuusalalla toimivan pk-yrityksen tiedot ymp��rist��s����d��sten tuomista velvoitteista sek�� kehitt���� ymp��rist��asioiden hallintaa valmistelemalla materiaalia ISO 14001 -standardiin pohjautuen. Ty��ss�� tarkasteltiin my��s henkil��kunnan sitouttamista ymp��rist��j��rjestelm��n k��ytt����nottoon. Yrityksen ymp��rist��asioiden hallinnan kehitt��mist�� varten k��ytiin l��pi lains����d��nn��n velvoitteet ja niiden toteutuminen yrityksess��. Ty��ss�� toteutettiin ISO 14001 -standardin mukainen ymp��rist��j��rjestelm��n suunnitteluvaihe, miss�� selvitettiin ymp��rist��asioiden hoidon nykytilanne, tunnistettiin toiminnan ymp��rist��n��k��kohdat ja -vaikutukset sek�� arvioitiin merkitt��vimm��t ymp��rist��n��k��kohdat. Merkitt��vien ymp��rist��n��k��kohtien perusteella m����ritettiin ehdotus ymp��rist��politiikasta, -p����m����rist�� ja -tavoitteista sek�� laadittiin ymp��rist��ohjelmaehdotuksia. Ymp��rist��j��rjestelm��n k��ytt����noton toteuttamisesta laadittiin vain periaatteellinen etenemissuunnitelma, koska yritys ei ota t��ss�� vaiheessa ymp��rist��j��rjestelm���� k��ytt����n vaan sitoutuu ainoastaan lakis����teisten velvoitteiden t��ytt��miseen. K��yt��ss�� olevan laatuj��rjestelm��n toteuttamisen ja k��ytt����nottoon liittyvien kokemusten pohjalta laadittiin suunnitelmaa ymp��rist��j��rjestelm��n k��ytt����nottoon nimenomaan sitouttamisen, koulutuksen ja viestinn��n n��k��kulmasta.

Impacto ambiental previsto en la explotaci��n de gravas en la zona de concurso medio del riu Fluvi�� (Girona)

The main environmental impacts related to the gravel pits in the medium course of the Fluvi�� river have been assessed. In order to compute the global impact and index based on the numerical values of different impacts has been defined. This index is applied to different areas and the results reveal that the environmental impact expected for a gravel pit is high or moderate close to the main streams and low in the rest of the territory

Building wood debris piles benefits avian seed dispersers in burned and logged Mediterranean pine forests

Salvage logging is a common practice carried out in burned forests worldwide, and intended to mitigate the economic losses caused by wildfires. Logging implies an additional disturbance occurring shortly after fire, although its ecological effects can be somewhat mitigated by leaving wood debris on site. The composition of the bird community and its capacity to provide ecosystem services such as seed dispersal offleshy-fruited plants have been shown to be affected by postfire logging. We assessedthe effects of the habitat structure resulting from different postfire management practices on the bird community, in three burned pine forests in Catalonia (western Mediterranean). For this purpose, we focused on the group of species that is responsible for seed dispersal, a process which takes place primarily during the winter in theMediterranean basin. In addition, we assessed microhabitat selection by seed disperser birds in such environments in relation to management practices. Our results showed a significant, positive relationship between the density of wood debris piles and the abundance of seed disperser birds. Furthermore, such piles were the preferredmicrohabitat of these species. This reveals an important effect of forest management on seed disperser birds, which is likely to affect the dynamics of bird-dependent seed dispersal. Thus, building wood debris piles can be a useful practice for the conservation of both the species and their ecosystem services, while also being compatible with timber harvesting

Is Microtox R toxicity related to potentially harmful algae proliferation in Mediterranean salt marshes?

Mediterranean salt marshes are ecosystems that are highly influenced by sea changes and freshwater inputs from runoff. In these ecosystems, toxic and non-toxic algae blooms often produce large and unpredictable biomasses of phytoplankton. The Microtox R test has been described as a successful, quick method for detecting toxicity in various phytoplankton taxa. Ourstudy sought to test the efficiency of Microtox R in detecting toxic HAB in Mediterranean salt marshes. The results showed that the Microtox R test was able to detect toxic substances in the particulate matter of several lagoons in the Empord�� salt marshes. This Microtox R toxicity coincided with periods when potentially harmful cyanobacteria, dinoflagellates andhaptophytes had a high biomass. The results suggest that potentially harmful phytoplankton cannot be ruled out as a source of Microtox R

Tarkkuuselektroniikkatuotteen elinkaariarviointi tuotesuunnittelun tueksi

T��m��n diplomity��n tarkoituksena oli tutkia tarkkuuselektroniikkatuotteen ymp��rist��n��k��kohtia elinkaariarvioinnin avulla. Ty��n osana tehtiin elinkaariarviointi (LCA) kahdelle tarkkuuselektroniikkatuotteelle. LCA:ssa keskityttiin elinkaaren kehdosta-asiakkaalle-vaiheisiin. Ty��n tavoitteena oli tuottaa m����r��llist�� ja laadullista tietoa valittujen tuotteiden ymp��rist��vaikutuksista. Selvitys tehtiin yrityksen tuotesuunnittelun tueksi. LCA:n inventaarioanalyysiin ker��ttiin prosessikohtaista tietoa selvityksen aikana. My��s kaupallista LCA-ohjelmaa ja sen tarjoamia tietopankkeja hy��dynnettiin elinkaariarvioinnin toteuttamisessa. Teoriaosassa esitell����n LCA-menetelm��. Lis��ksi tarkastellaan elinkaariarviointiin liittyvi�� tuotekohtaisia ymp��rist��kysymyksi��. Ty��ss�� eritell����n my��s yleisesti tarkkuuselektroniikkatuotteen eri osien elinkaareen vaiheita ja niihin liittyvi�� ymp��rist��n��k��kohtia. Kokeellisessa osassa kuvataan kahdelle tuotteelle tehty�� LCA-tapaustutkimusta. Elinkaariarvioinnin inventaariotiedon l��hteet kuvataan. Inventaarioanalyysin ja vaikutusarvioinnin avulla tuodaan esille tuotteiden ymp��rist��kuormaan merkitt��vimmin vaikuttavat prosessit ja elinkaaren vaiheet. Lis��ksi tarkastellaan miten tapaustuotteiden ymp��rist��kuormaa voitaisiin pienent���� kahden esimerkin avulla. Lopuksi annetaan suosituksia jatkotoimenpiteist�� tuotesuunnitteluun ja tiedonkeruuseen.

Change of Electricity Distribution Industry: Drivers and Opening Business Opportunities

As a result of the recent regulatory amendments and other development trends in the electricity distribution business, the sector is currently witnessing radical restructuring that will eventually impact the business logics of the sector. This report represents upcoming changes in the electricity distribution industry and concentrates on the factors that are expected to be the most fundamental ones. Electricity network companies nowadays struggle with legislative and regulatory requirements that focus on both the operational efficiency and the reliability of electricity distribution networks. The forces that have an impact on the distribution network companies can be put into three main categories that define the transformation at a general level. Those are: (1) a requirement for a more functional marketplace for energy, (2) environmental aspects (combating climate change etc.), and (3) a strongly emphasized requirement for the security of energy supply. The first point arises from the legislators��� attempt to increase competition in electricity retail markets, the second one concerns both environmental protection and human safety issues, and the third one indicates societies��� reduced willingness to accept interruptions in electricity supply. In the future, regulation of electricity distribution business may lower the threshold for building more weather-resistant networks, which in turn means increased underground cabling. This development pattern is reinforced by tightening safety and environmental regulations that ultimately make the overhead lines expensive to build and maintain. The changes will require new approaches particularly in network planning, construction, and maintenance. The concept for planning, constructing, and maintaining cable networks is necessary because the interdependencies between network operations are strong, in other words, the nature of the operation requires a linkage to other operations.

De res��duo a insumo: a constru����o do caminho para uma qu��mica mais limpa atrav��s de um projeto de ensino

The discussion among teachers, students, and technicians about the destination of residues from chemistry laboratories led to a research project whose results were incorporated into a course in its daily practices. The treatment of the residues from argentimetric practices allowed us to establish cognitive relations of technological basis and of those related to the rising of the level of awareness about environmental aspects and social responsibility of chemistry professionals. The techniques and the results, from the economic point of view, namely that of value aggregation (metallic silver) and the conversion of the residue into input (potassium chromate solution) are shown.

Ecodesign-direktiivi ja sen vaikutukset Suomessa

Direktiivi 2005/32/EY energiaa k��ytt��vien tuotteiden ekologiselle suunnittelulle asetettavien vaatimusten puitteista annettiin 6.7.2005. Direktiivin puitteissa Euroopan komissio tulee antamaan tuoteryhm��kohtaisia asetuksia, joissa m����ritell����n tuoteryhm��kohtaisesti ymp��rist��vaatimukset. Direktiivin tarkoituksena on integroida ymparist��nakokohdat ja elinkaariajattelu tuotesuunnitteluvaiheessa. T��ll�� direktiivill�� pyrit����n parantamaan ymp��rist��suojelun tasoa ja tuotteiden energiatehokkuutta. T��m��n diplomity��n tarkoituksena on esitell�� Ecodesign direktiivi�� ja selvitt���� sen puitteissa annettujen asetusten vaikutusta Suomessa. Ty��ss�� tutkitaan hehkulamppujen maahantuonnin kielt��v��n asetuksen vaikutuksia kotitalouksiin, ymp��rist����n ja s��hk��markkinoihin. Lisaksi ty��ss�� on tutkittu s��hk��moottoreita koskevan asetuksen vaikutuksia Suomen teollisuudessa. Lopuksi ty��ss�� arvioidaan Suomen ilmasto ja energiapolitiikan tavoitteiden ja velvoitteiden tuomien toimenpiteiden vaikutuksia. Ty��ss�� esitet����n esimerkkitarkasteluja siit��, millaisia saastoja s��hk��nkulutukseen voitaisiin saavuttaa eri tuoteryhmiss�� direktiivin pohjalta annetuilla asetuksilla. Tarkasteluun valitut tuoteryhm��t olivat kotitalouksien valaistus ja s��hk��moottorit.

Can salvage logging affect seed dispersal by birds into burned forests?

The recovery of vegetation in Mediterranean ecosystems after wildfire is mostly a result of direct regeneration, since the same species existing before the fire regenerate on-site by seeding or resprouting. However, the possibility of plant colonization by dispersal of seeds from unburned areas remains poorly studied. We addressed the role of the frugivorous, bird-dependent seed dispersal (seed rain) of fleshy-fruited plants in a burned and managed forest in the second winter after a fire, before on-site fruit production had begun. We also assessed the effect on seed rain of different microhabitats resulting from salvage logging (erosion barriers, standing snags, open areas), as well as the microhabitats of unlogged patches and an unburned control forest, taking account of the importance of perches as seed rain sites. We found considerable seed rain by birds in the burned area. Seeds, mostly from Olive trees Olea europaea and Evergreen pistaches Pistacia lentiscus, belonged to plants fruiting only in surrounding unburned areas. Seed rain was heterogeneous, and depended on microhabitat, with the highest seed density in the unburned control forest but closely followed by the wood piles of erosion barriers. In contrast, very low densities were found under perches of standing snags. Furthermore, frugivorous bird richness seemed to be higher in the erosion barriers than elsewhere. Our results highlight the importance of this specific post-fire management in bird-dependent seed rain and also may suggest a consequent heterogeneous distribution of fleshy-fruited plants in burned and managed areas. However, there needs to be more study of the establishment success of dispersed seeds before an accurate assessment can be made of the role of bird-mediated seed dispersal in post-fire regeneration

Din��mica del heleoplancton en relaci��n a las fluctuaciones hidrol��gicas en aiguamolls de l���Empord�� (NE de la pen��nsula Ib��rica). Propuesta de un m��todo sencillo de monitorizaci��n basado en la abundancia de grupos taxon��micos

Monitoring of the 'ecological water quality' in 'Aiguamolls de l���Empord��' Natural Park was carried out between September 1996 and August 1997 . The aim of this sampling programme was to design a simple method for rapid detect changes in water quality due to human activity. These include flow regulation by the Park management, nutrient entries from effluents of a nearby wastewater treatment plant or agricultural fertilising. The proposed method is based on the analysis of the abundance of characteristic taxonomic groups of aquatic invertebrates (heleoplankton). The simplicity of the method is ensured by the use of large taxa which are easier to recognise than species. The functioning of aquatic systems has been modelled by means of correspondence analysis between samples and taxa. Results can be summerized in five environmental conditions with a regular community structure. Dominated by one taxon: cladocerans, ostracods, calanoids, cyclopoids and harpacticoids. The dynamics of both freshwater and brackish lagoons can be modelled as displacements between these five groups of environmental conditions. Nevertheless, the ���calanoids situation��� and the ���harpacticoids situation��� occur mainly in brackish lagoons, whereas the ���cladocerans situation��� occurs mainly in freshwater. The four principal axes of data variation have been respectively identified as nutrient turnover rate, hypertrophy, degree of mineralization of the organic matter and eutrophy. The use of these taxa has been validated by comparison with a model obtained from the species. We conclude that in a highly fluctuating system such as the one here, only persistent situations of eutrophy or hypertrophy must be equated to low 'ecological water quality'