scholarly journals The Hungarian Wood-Based Panel Industry and its Impact on the Environment

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-172
Author(s):  
Gábor Laborczy ◽  
András Winkler
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Forest Products Industry ◽  
Round Wood

Abstract It is well known that worldwide deforestation has a negative impact on the global environment. Forests play an important role in producing oxygen as well as retaining gases that create the greenhouse effect. Forests primarily absorb carbon dioxide, the major air pollutant released by the industrial activities. Energy production is the major source of environmental contamination. In addition to reducing CO2 emissions, another issue this industrial sector must tackle is to decrease the use of fossil fuels by substituting them with renewable, environmentally friendly energy sources. One of the answers to these challenges is the utilization of biomass as energy sources. However, biomass-based fuels include short bolts, split round-wood, pulpwood, bark and by-products of sawmilling, which are the raw materials for the wood-based panel industry as well.Wood utilization of the forest products industry has a major impact on the delayed release of carbon dioxide stored in the wood. All over the world, just as in Hungary, the wood-based panel industry mainly uses low quality wood resources and turns them into value added products. The elongation of the life cycle of low quality wood materials decreases CO2 emissions, thus significantly contributing to environmental protection. Furthermore, it is assumed that raw material demand of the wood-based panel industry could be satisfied by focusing on sustainable forest management and well-planned reforestation. Additionally, special energy-plantations may provide extra wood resources, while waste and other non-usable parts of trees contribute to the effective and economic operation of biomass utilizing power-plants. This paper summarizes the current situation of the Hungarian wood-based panel industry and discusses the effects of the panel manufacturing processes on the environment. Also, it outlines the possible future of this important segment of the forest products industry.

The Effect of Mixing Coal with Biomass in Solid Fuel Briquettes

2013 ◽  
Vol 856 ◽  
pp. 338-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chin Yee Sing ◽  
Mohd Shiraz Aris
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emission ◽  
Palm Kernel ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Calorific Value ◽  
Fuel Properties ◽  
Biomass Fuel ◽  
Palm Kernel Shell

Burning fossil fuel like coal in power plants released carbon dioxide that had been absorbed millions of years ago. Unfortunately, excessive carbon dioxide emission had led to global warming. Malaysia, as one of the major exporters of palm oil, has abundant oil palm mill residues that could be converted into value-added product like biomass fuel briquettes. Fuel briquette with palm kernel shell and palm mesocarp fibre as its main ingredients showed satisfactory fuel characteristics and mechanical properties as a pure biomass fuel briquette. The effects of adding some coal of higher calorific value to the satisfactory biomass fuel briquette were focused in this study. Various coal-biomass fuel blends were used, ranging from 0wt% coal to 50wt% coal. The fuel properties and mechanical properties of pure biomass briquette and briquettes with different amount of coal added were compared experimentally. From the fuel properties tests, it was found that as the coal content in the briquette was increased, the carbon content and calorific value increased. Mechanical property tests on the fuel briquettes showed a mixture of results, with some favored higher portion of coal in the briquette for better handling, transport and storage properties while some favored greater amount of biomass.

Deactivation of Red Mud by Primary Aluminum Production Wastes

2021 ◽  
Vol 1040 ◽  
pp. 109-116
Author(s):  
V.Yu. Piirainen ◽  
A.A. Barinkova ◽  
V.N. Starovoytov ◽  
V.M. Barinkov
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Red Mud ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Waste Product ◽  
Primary Aluminum ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Aluminum Production ◽  
Environmentally Safe ◽  
Primary Aluminum Production ◽  
Knowledge Intensive

Current global environmental challenges and, above all, global warming associated with a change in the carbon balance in the atmosphere has led to the need for urgent and rapid search for ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, which primarily include carbon dioxide as a by-product of human activity and technological progress. One of these ways is the creation of industries with a complete cycle of turnover of carbon dioxide. Aluminum is the most sought-after nonferrous metal in the world, but its production is not environmentally safe, so it constantly requires the development of knowledge-intensive technologies to improve the technological process of cleaning and disposal of production waste, primarily harmful emissions into the atmosphere. Another environmental problem related to aluminum production is the formation and accumulation in mud lagoon of huge amounts of so-called highly alkaline "red mud," which is a waste product of natural bauxite raw material processing into alumina - the feedstock for aluminum production. Commonly known resources and technological methods of neutralizing red mud and working with it as ore materials for further extraction of useful components are still not used because of their low productivity and cost-effectiveness. This article describes the negative impact of waste in the form of "red" mud and carbon dioxide of primary aluminum production on the environment. The results showed that thanks to carbonization of red mud using carbon dioxide, it is possible to achieve rapid curing and its compact formation for safer transportation and storage until further use. Strength tests of concrete samples filled with deactivated red mud were also carried out, which showed the prospects of using concrete with magnesia binder.

scholarly journals THE USE OF ENVIRONMENTAL WASTE IN THE ISSUE OF GREEN ECONOMY OF THE REGIONS

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Opara ◽  
Natalia Azarova
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Green Economy ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Alternative Energy Sources ◽  
Solid Liquid ◽  
State Of The Environment

Currently, an urgent issue is the preservation of the environment, the cyclical use of waste for the production of new products, the preservation and multiplication of the planet’s natural resources. After all, the quality of life of each person directly depends on the state of the environment and the factors that affect its preservation. These factors are an integral part of the development of a green economy. This article discusses the possibility of producing alternative energy sources, such as biofuels of three generations.The first generation is solid, liquid, and gaseous biofuels. Second-generation fuel is obtained from the biomass of plant and animal material residues, or grown crops. As an example, such a type of fuel as biogas, which consists of carbon dioxide and methane, and with its further processing, namely the separation of carbon dioxide, you can get biomethane. In the same way, such fuels as biodiesel and bioethanol can be obtained from the biological mass. And the most unusual raw material for the production of third-generation fuel is biofuel from algae. Unfortunately, the development of the green economy in Russia is taking slow steps, but at present this issue is being paid more attention. The development of technologies for obtaining alternative energy sources will allow us to produce not only new types of energy, but also to preserve the environment of our priceless planet, through the use of raw materials and waste that are not in demand in everyday human life.

scholarly journals Optimal Municipal Energy System Design and Operation Using Cumulative Exergy Consumption Minimisation

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukas Kriechbaum ◽  
Thomas Kienberger
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
System Design ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Variable Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Exergy Consumption

In developed countries like Austria the renewable energy potential might outpace the demand. This requires primary energy efficiency measures as well as an energy system design that enables the integration of variable renewable energy sources. Municipal energy systems, which supply customers with heat and electricity, will play an important role in this task. The cumulative exergy consumption methodology considers resource consumption from the raw material to the final product. It includes the exergetic expenses for imported energy as well as for building the energy infrastructure. In this paper, we determine the exergy optimal energy system design of an exemplary municipal energy system by using cumulative exergy consumption minimisation. The results of a case study show that well a linked electricity and heat system using heat pumps, combined heat power plants and battery and thermal storages is necessary. This enables an efficient supply and also provides the necessary flexibilities for integrating variable renewable energy sources.

Simultaneous total and merchantable volume equations and a compatible taper function for loblolly pine

1987 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
John P. McTague ◽  
Robert L. Bailey
Keyword(s):  
Loblolly Pine ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Forest Products Industry ◽  
Santa Catarina ◽  
Breast Height ◽  
Taper Function ◽  
Volume Equation ◽  
Volume Equations ◽  
Special Case

Loblolly pine (Pinustaeda L.) is an important source of raw material for the forest products industry of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Data from 159 trees were used to develop a simultaneously estimated total and merchantable volume equation, which treats total volume as a special case of merchantable volume with Dm, the diameter limit, equal to zero. By imposing a restriction on the parameters of the total and merchantable volume equation, a compatible taper function was derived that predicts diameter at breast height when merchantable height equals 1.3 m. The taper function possesses an analytic point of inflection in the lower portion of the stem.

scholarly journals Heterogeneous catalytic hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol: recent advances and prospects

2020 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-67
Author(s):  
Shahla Firiddun Taghiyevа ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Catalytic Conversion ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Liquid Fuels ◽  
Industrial Chemicals ◽  
Heterogeneous Catalytic ◽  
Reduce Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide is the main source of the greenhouse effect, causing global warming and climate change. In this regard, in order to avoid more dangerous consequences, the United Nations Conference on Climate Change has emphasized the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by at least half their current value by 2050, aiming to limit the global increase in average temperature to a maximum of 2 °C. Carbon dioxide is emitted mainly from power plants (e.g., coal-based) and vehicles, and other industrial sources contribute to an increase in CO2 emissions. In recent years, the scientific community has begun to view CO2 not as a costly waste, but mainly as a potential carbon alternative to fossils. Therefore, future prospects for reducing carbon dioxide emissions will concern not only the development of more efficient carbon dioxide storage technologies, but also the development of new strategies for CO2 processing in the energetical direction and in chemical intermediate products. In this regard, the conversion of CO2 to methanol has received increased attention, since methanol (CH3OH) is a key raw material for industrial chemicals, which can later be converted to high molecular weight alternative liquid fuels. The review considers works published over the past 10 years on the heterogeneous catalytic conversion of CO2 to methanol. The characteristics of the used catalysts, reaction mechanisms, key technologies and problems of industrial use, prospects for the application of heterogeneous catalytic conversion of CO2 to hydrocarbons are discussed.

scholarly journals A Case Study to Determine Drivers and Barriers of Appalachian Forest Products in Central America

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (22) ◽  
pp. 40
Author(s):  
Scott W. Lyon ◽  
Henry Quesada-Pineda ◽  
Robert L. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Central America ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Wood Products ◽  
Forest Product ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Central American ◽  
Potential Market ◽  
Market Opportunities ◽  
The Government

The purpose of this research was to determine drivers and barriers of Appalachian wood product competitors in Central America. Potential market opportunities for Appalachian forest product companies in Central America were evaluated and strategies were developed to increase exports of Appalachian wood products to Central America. The findings support the claim that United States forest product companies have not put enough effort into marketing forest products to Central America. Forests in El Salvador, Panama, and Costa Rica are limiting harvests and the industry lacks support from the government, reducing the amount of raw material and production. Inconsistencies between Appalachian and Central American wood products industries (e.g., dimensions) act as a barrier to the efficient exchange of wood products. The best market strategies for Appalachian forest products companies to increase sales into Central America are: partner with local wholesalers, offer higher value-added products, and maintain similar pricing with competition. An outside source of wood is needed to meet the needs of growing regional infrastructure.

scholarly journals Biochar Technology as a Go Green Movement in Indonesia

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustan Pari
Keyword(s):  
Organic Fertilizer ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Rice Husks ◽  
Stem Height ◽  
Wood Vinegar ◽  
Terra Preta ◽  
Coconut Shells

Charcoal has long been known by the community in its use either as energy sources or for agriculture/forestry-related aspects.  Beginning from the discovery of the so-called Terra Preta, the role of charcoal in improving soil fertility and enhancing its productivity at agriculture as well as forestry lands has attracted remarkable attention internationally ever since.  Raw material for charcoal can be wood or other ligno-cellulosic stuffs (e.g. coconut shells, oil-palm shells, rice husks, wood sawdust, nut shells, etc).  Technology in charcoal manufacture commonly employed by the community comprises heaping-kiln, drum kiln, and dome-shaped kiln systems.  Such manufacture technology is simply carbonizing the ligno-cellulosic stuffs inside the kiln into charcoal.  The charcoal yield usually ranges about 20-25% (w/w), implying that as much 75-80% of the stuffs is lost as smoke that further escape to the air.  Environment concerns arise since such escaped smoke can pollute the atmosphere and hence contribute to the global warming.  Measures are urgently needed to reduce the amount of such escapes among others, as developed by the Center for Research and Development on Forestry Engineering and Forest Products Processing (CRDFEFPP, Indonesia) by cooling the smoke, during the carbonization of ligno-cellulosic stuffs, thereby condensing it into liquid smoke (popularly called as wood vinegar). Through intensive and tedious researches, it is found out that the wood vinegar (as charcoal by-product) could effectively function as bio-pesticides and bio-fertilizers.  Meanwhile, application of charcoal to the seedlings of forestry plant species reveals positive responses as shown by the increase in biomass weight of those plants on other positive plant-growth aspects (e.g. stem height and diameter).  Likewise, the use of charcoal combined with compost (i.e. organic fertilizer that results from bio-conversion of biomass stuffs) could enhance as much 2-3 times the production of vegetables plants as the control (untreated plants).  This in all strongly indicates the charcoal and wood-vinegar manufacture entirely called as essentially the bio-char technology, can convert biomass stuffs (previously regarded as not or less useful) into value-added or more useful products (charcoal and wood vinegar).

scholarly journals Does Investing in Renewable Energy Sources Contribute to Growth? A Preliminary Study on Greece’s National Energy and Climate Plan

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (24) ◽  
pp. 8537
Author(s):  
Dimitrios Stamopoulos ◽  
Petros Dimas ◽  
Ioannis Sebos ◽  
Aggelos Tsakanikas
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Monetary Shocks ◽  
Input Output ◽  
Phase Out

As more economies are transitioning away from fossil fuels for their electricity production and towards greener alternatives, many socioeconomic implications of this shift remain actively debated. The present paper attempts to assess the economic impact of investments in renewable energy sources (RESs) for Greece and whether the broader effects of this transition can offset the negative impact that will occur due to the targeted phase-out of lignite plants by 2028, which constitute the predominant power source for Greece. Our methodological approach builds on input–output analysis and the creation of composite RES industries for the estimation of the net effects of a series of monetary shocks that correspond to Greece’s phase-out investment plan, utilizing the most recent national input–output tables and satellite structural business statistics. We focus on the structural effects of these shocks on a series of socioeconomic indicators, including GDP, employment, wages, government income (through taxes), and capital formation. The results indicate that even though lignite power production still provides a significant contribution to the Greek economy, investing in renewables presents a significant opportunity for value added and job creation.

THE EFFECT OF DOMESTIC AIR POLLUTION MITIGATION AND FRACKING ON RETIREMENTS OF COAL POWER PLANTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (02) ◽  
pp. 1950008 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOSEPH G. SCHIAVO ◽  
ROBERT MENDELSOHN
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
Particulate Emissions ◽  
Natural Gas Prices ◽  
Coal Power Plants ◽  
Coal Power ◽  
Gas Plants

This paper quantifies the magnitude of multiple potential causes of coal-fired power plant retirements since 1997. The paper finds that although the low natural gas prices from fracking have increased retirements, the foremost cause of retirements has been the tightening of criteria air pollutant regulations. These pollution regulations encouraged significant mitigation investments to reduce sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and small particulate emissions. But the regulations also induced higher coal plant retirement rates which then reduced carbon dioxide emissions. Even accounting for the resulting increase in emissions from new natural gas plants, the regulations eliminated over a billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions. In this example, strict mitigation to protect domestic public health has led to sizable global co-benefits.

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