The influence of particles recycling on the geochemistry of sediments in a large tropical dam lake in the Amazonian region, Brazil

The influence of particles recycling on the geochemistry of sediments in a large tropical dam lake in the Amazonian region, Brazil. Article in Journal of South American Earth Sciences 72 · December 2016 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsames.2016.09.012 1st Rita Fonseca 16.85 · Universidade de Évora 2nd Catarina Pinho 3rd Manuela Oliveira 22.6 · Universidade de Évora Abstract As a result of over-erosion of soils, the fine particles, which contain the majority of nutrients, are easily washed away from soils, which become deficient in a host of components, accumulating in lakes. On one hand, the accumulation of nutrients-rich sediments are a problem, as they affect the quality of the overlying water and decrease the water storage capacity of the system; on the other hand, sediments may constitute an important resource, as they are often extremely rich in organic and inorganic nutrients in readily available forms. In the framework of an extensive work on the use of rock related materials to enhance the fertility of impoverish soils, this study aimed to evaluate the role on the nutrients cycle, of particles recycling processes from the watershed to the bottom of a large dam reservoir, at a wet tropical region under high weathering conditions. The study focus on the mineralogical transformations that clay particles undergo from the soils of the drainage basin to their final deposition within the reservoir and their influence in terms of the geochemical characteristics of sediments. We studied the bottom sediments that accumulate in two distinct seasonal periods in Tucuruí reservoir, located in the Amazonian Basin, Brazil, and soils from its drainage basin. The surface layers of sediments in twenty sampling points with variable depths, are representative of the different morphological sections of the reservoir. Nineteen soil samples, representing the main soil classes, were collected near the margins of the reservoir. Sediments and soils were subjected to the same array of physical, mineralogical and geochemical analyses: (1) texture, (2) characterization and semi-quantification of the clay fraction mineralogy and (3) geochemical analysis of the total concentration of major elements, organic compounds (organic C and nitrogen), soluble fractions of nutrients (P and K), exchangeable fractions (cation exchange capacity, exchangeable bases and acidity) and pH(H2O).

Relationship between occurrence of Panama disease in banana trees of cv. Nanicao and nutrients in soil and leaves

Relationship between occurrence of Panama disease in banana trees of cv. Nanicao and nutrients in soil and leaves The objective of the present work was to verify if the incited symptoms in banana trees cv. Nanicao, belonging to the subgroup Cavendish, in Vale do Ribeira, are related to levels of nutrients in soil and leaves. Sixteen areas in Vale do Ribeira were selected, one half with symptomatic plants and the other with healthy plants. In those areas the third leaf of five plants and the soil near those plants were collected, at depths from 0 to 20 cm and from 20 to 40 cm. At both depths of the sampled soil, levels of Ca, Mg, PO(4)(-3), S and cationic exchange capacity (CEC) were significantly different among the areas, and the low values of these elements were present in the areas containing symptomatic plants. At both depths, Mg, Al and H in relation to CEC were significantly different among the areas, and the low values of Mg and high of Al and H were present in the areas with symptomatic plants. The N, K and S in the leaves were significantly different among the areas. These elements showed low values in the areas containing symptomatic plants. Despite the fact that some amounts of macronutrients of the soil and of the leaves are present only in the areas containing plants of Nanicao with symptoms similar to fusariosis, proof of a possible occurrence of race of the pathogen should be looked for in Vale do Ribeira.

Evaluation of foamed bitumen efficiency in warm asphalt mixtures recycling

The recycling of pavements is nowadays a very important question to the road paving industry. With the objective of incorporating higher percentages of reclaimed asphalt (RA) materials in recycled asphalt mixtures, new techniques have been developed in the last years. The use of foamed bitumen is normally associated with the production of cold asphalt mixtures, which usually show lower quality standards. However, the objective of the work presented in this paper is to assess the use of foamed bitumen as the binder of warm asphalt mixtures incorporating 30% RA, which have quality standards similar to those of conventional mixtures. Thus, five mixtures have been produced with 30% RA, one of them with a conventional bitumen (control mix) and the others with foamed bitumen at different production temperatures. The mixtures were tested for compactability and water sensitivity and the results show a possible reduction of 25 ºC in the production temperatures, while the water sensitivity test results were kept close to 90 %.

Decomposition of Arachis pintoi and Hyparrhenia rufa litters in monoculture and intercropped systems under lowland soil

Tropical grasslands under lowland soils are generally underutilized and the litter of forage legumes may be used to recover these degraded pastures. The objective of this work was to study the dynamics of litter decomposition of Arachis pintoi (pinto peanut), Hyparrhenia rufa (thatching grass) and a mixture of both species in a lowland soil. These treatments were analyzed in three areas: grass monoculture, legume monoculture and legume intercropped with the grass during the dry and wet seasons. Litter bags containing the legume, grass or a mixture of both species were incubated to estimate the decomposition rate and microorganism colonization. Decomposition constants (K) and litter half-lives (T1/2) were estimated by an exponential model whereas number of microorganisms in specific media were determined by plate dilution. The decomposition rate, release of nutrients and microorganisms number, especially bacteria, increased when pinto peanut was added to thatching grass, influenced by favorable lignin/N and C/N ratios in legume litter. When pinto peanut litter was incubated in the grass plots, 50% N and P was released within about 135 days in the dry season and in the wet season, the equivalent release occurred within 20 days. These results indicate that A. pintoi has a great potential for nutrient recycling via litter and can be used to recover degraded areas.

Biochemical treatment of brown grade rejects in recycling process

Ruskeisiin kierrätysmassoihin kuuluu kulutuksen kannalta tärkeimpänä laatuna OCC (old corrugated containers). OCC sisältää noin 70-100% aaltopahvia eli pääasiassa se koostuu valkaisemattomasta kemiallisesta massasta. OCC uusiomassan ensisijainen käyttökohde on aaltopahvin valmistus. OCC:n kierrätyskuituprosessissa syntyy merkittäviä määriä rejektiä. Rejektin määrä riippuu paljolti kierrätettävän materiaalin laadusta ja puhtaudesta, mutta myös tulevan massan käyttötarkoituksesta sekä prosessiolosuhteista. OCC-prosessissa rejektoituvan aineksen määrä voi nousta korkeaksi, mikäli kierrätettävä materiaali sisältää märkälujaliimoja tai muuten raskaasti liimattuja komponentteja sekä runsaasti kontaminantteja, kuten muoveja, teippejä ja metalleja. Keskimäärin OCC-rejekti sisältää 30-60% kiinteää ainesta, 30-90% (kuivapaino) kuituja, 5-70% (kuivapaino) muoveja ja 1-10% (kuivapaino) tuhkaa. Syntynyt rejekti voidaan polttaa energiaksi tai käyttää maantäyttöaineena. Harvinaisempia sovelluksia rejektin käsittelyssä ovat rejektin kuitujen talteenotto uudelleenprosessointia varten tai alkoholin ja levuliinihapon tuottamiseen. Rejektin asianmukaisella käsittelyllä voidaan vähentää kaatopaikkakustannuksia, sekä parantaa kierrätysprosessin tuottavuutta. Tämän työn tarkoituksena oli tutkia biokemiallisen käsittelyn mahdollisuudet OCC-rejektin hajotuksessa. Alustavissa laboratoriomittakaavan kokeissa etsittiin sopiva käsittelytapa, joka toteutettiin sitten pilot plant -mittakaavassa. Tulokset osoittavat, että biokemiallisen käsittelyn avulla rejekti voidaan hajottaa jolloin jätteenkäsittelykustannukset pienenevät ja kierrätyskuituprosessin taloudellisuus paranee.

Optimal Recycling Combination of Ash in South-East Finland

The present world energy production is heavily relying on the combustion of solid fuels like coals, peat, biomass, municipal solid waste, whereas the share of renewable fuels is anticipated to increase in the future to mitigate climate change. In Finland, peat and wood are widely used for energy production. In any case, the combustion of solid fuels results in generation of several types of thermal conversion residues, such as bottom ash, fly ash, and boiler slag. The predominant residue type is determined by the incineration technology applied, while its composition is primarily relevant to the composition of fuels combusted. An extensive research has been conducted on technical suitability of ash for multiple recycling methods. Most of attention was drawn to the recycling of the coal combustion residues, as coal is the primary solid fuel consumed globally. The recycling methods of coal residues include utilization in a cement industry, in concrete manufacturing, and mine backfilling, to name few. Biomass combustion residues were also studied to some extent with forest fertilization, road construction, and road stabilization being the predominant utilization options. Lastly, residues form municipal solid waste incineration attracted more attention recently following the growing number of waste incineration plants globally. The recycling methods of waste incineration residues are the most limited due to its hazardous nature and varying composition, and include, among others, landfill construction, road construction, mine backfilling. In the study, environmental and economic aspects of multiple recycling options of thermal conversion residues generated within a case-study area were studied. The case-study area was South-East Finland. The environmental analysis was performed using an internationally recognized methodology — life cycle assessment. Economic assessment was conducted applying a widely used methodology — cost-benefit analysis. Finally, the results of the analyses were combined to enable easier comparison of the recycling methods. The recycling methods included the use of ash in forest fertilization, road construction, road stabilization, and landfill construction. Ash landfilling was set as a baseline scenario. Quantitative data about the amounts of ash generated and its composition was obtained from companies, their environmental reports, technical reports and other previously published literature. Overall, the amount of ash in the case-study area was 101 700 t. However, the data about 58 400 t of fly ash and 35 100 t of bottom ash and boiler slag were included in the study due to lack of data about leaching of heavy metals in some cases. The recycling methods were modelled according to the scientific studies published previously. Overall, the results of the study indicated that ash utilization for fertilization and neutralization of 17 600 ha of forest was the most economically beneficial method, which resulted in the net present value increase by 58% compared to ash landfilling. Regarding the environmental impact, the use of ash in the construction of 11 km of roads was the most attractive method with decreased environmental impact of 13% compared to ash landfilling. The least preferred method was the use of ash for landfill construction since it only enabled 11% increase of net present value, while inducing additional 1% of negative impact on the environment. Therefore, a following recycling route was proposed in the study. Where possible and legally acceptable, recycle fly and bottom ash for forest fertilization, which has strictest requirements out of all studied methods. If the quality of fly ash is not suitable for forest fertilization, then it should be utilized, first, in paved road construction, second, in road stabilization. Bottom ash not suitable for forest fertilization, as well as boiler slag, should be used in landfill construction. Landfilling should only be practiced when recycling by either of the methods is not possible due to legal requirements or there is not enough demand on the market. Current demand on ash and possible changes in the future were assessed in the study. Currently, the area of forest fertilized in the case-study are is only 451 ha, whereas about 17 600 ha of forest could be fertilized with ash generated in the region. Provided that the average forest fertilizing values in Finland are higher and the area treated with fellings is about 40 000 ha, the amount of ash utilized in forest fertilization could be increased. Regarding road construction, no new projects launched by the Center of Economic Development, Transport and the Environment in the case-study area were identified. A potential application can be found in the construction of private roads. However, no centralized data about such projects is available. The use of ash in stabilization of forest roads is not expected to increased in the future with a current downwards trend in the length of forest roads built. Finally, the use of ash in landfill construction is not a promising option due to the reducing number of landfills in operation in Finland.