Environmental and Biological Monitoring of Organochlorine Pesticides in the City of Salamanca, Mexico

The former Tekchem Industrial Unit located in the city of Salamanca, Mexico, constitutes an environmental liability in which the presence of high levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) has been reported. In the present study, levels of OCPs were quantified using gas chromatography – mass spectrometry in 52 soil samples and in 88 blood samples from school-age children in the city of Salamanca. A median concentration of 70.6 ng/g (6.93 - 3276) was obtained for total OCPs in soil, while for the total sum of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) the value was 49.6 ng/g (6.93 - 3276). In children, the median level of the total sum of OCPs was 390 ng/g lipid (7.34 - 14895), and for the total sum of DDT was 175 ng/g lipid (<LOD - 14802). The OCPs that resulted in highest concentrations in soil were DDT and its metabolites, as well as aldrin and heptachlor epoxide; while in blood the highest levels corresponded to 4,4’-DDT and its metabolites, followed by heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide. The spatial distribution of the concentrations of OCPs in soil shows that the facilities of Teckchem may be a significant potential source for the dispersion of these compounds towards the metropolitan area of Salamanca. The results obtained in the present study demonstrate the presence of OCPs in soil and in child population, providing important bases to study the problem from a broader perspective, while reiterating the importance of continuing efforts to generate resolute and precautionary measures with respect to the environmental liability of Tekchem.

INVESTIGATION OF THE PROCESS OF RESTORATION OF DAMAGED PIPELINE SURFACES BY THE METHOD OF SURFACE RIVETING

Представлены результаты экспериментальных исследований процесса восстановления поврежденных поверхностей трубопроводов различных диаметров методом поверхностного наклепа, реализующего явление поверхностного пластического деформирования, приводящее к изменению распределения напряжений по толщине, выполнено обоснование оптимальных режимов его проведения . При этом было осуществлено численное моделирование процесса накатки, определены оптимальные значения следующих параметров: глубины и силы ППД, скорости ППД, подачи ролика, формы рабочей поверхности используемого ролика. При анализе были учтены следующие физико-механические характеристики: глубина наклепа, величина остаточных напряжений, глубина распределения остаточных напряжений, время обкатки, нагрузка на ролик. Доказано очевидное преимущество роликов большего радиуса профиля - они позволяют обеспечить необходимое изменение шероховатости обрабатываемой поверхности при обкатке с большей подачей, что приводит к снижению времени технологического процесса. При этом в принятом диапазоне параметров режимов обкатки (нагрузка 2500÷3000Н, глубина вдавливания 0.04÷0.06мм) величины компонентов остаточных напряжений оказались практически идентичными для исследованных режимов всех рассмотренных роликов. Полученные результаты были положены в основу технологии восстановительного ремонта трубопроводов различного диаметра без остановки производственного процесса на Нововоронежской АЭС и создана промышленная установка с числовым программным управлением для реализации данной технологии Here we present the results of experimental studies of the process of restoration of damaged surfaces of pipelines of various diameters by the method of surface work hardening, which implements the phenomenon of surface plastic deformation, leading to a change in the distribution of stresses along the thickness. At the same time, we carried out a numerical simulation of the knurling process, we determined the optimal values of the following parameters: the depth and strength of the SPD, the speed of the SPD, the feed of the roller, the shape of the working surface of the roller used. The analysis took into account the following physical and mechanical characteristics: work hardening depth, residual stress value, residual stress distribution depth, running time, roller load. We proved the obvious advantage of rollers with a larger profile radius - they allow one to provide the necessary change in the roughness of the machined surface during rolling with a higher feed, which leads to a decrease in the time of the technological process. In this case, in the accepted range of parameters of the running modes (load 2500-3000N, indentation depth 0.04-0.06 mm), the values of the residual stress components turned out to be almost identical for the considered modes for all the considered rollers. We used the results as the basis for the technology of restorative repair of pipelines of various diameters without stopping the production process at the Novovoronezh NPP and an industrial unit with numerical control was created to implement this technology

Computational methods based on fuzzy control algorithms for operational control and identification of control systems in smart production

The problem of the functioning of complex technical systems is studied in this article. The authors consider the problem of structural and functional redundancy (the complexity of formalizing computational methods for dynamic and nonlinear systems used in modern industrial production). On the example of considering the structure of the climate control subsystem for a closed loop of an industrial unit, a fuzzy configurator model for controlling the operation of a refrigerator is formalized. It is reduced to: linearization of the reading of instantaneous temperatures from various loops of the considered control system, followed by fuzzification and antecedent analysis. Eventually this allows to implement a complex method of fuzzy control and calculation of structural redundancy in any configuration with a different probability ratio. The authors also raise the question of the comparability of the obtained data and application of the developed method as a tool for predictive analytics in technological processes of production management.

Effects of addition of swine skin on the technological characteristics of mortadella produced in an industrial unit

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of the addition of swine skin on the technological characteristics of mortadella formulations produced on industrial scale. The effects of concentrations of swine skin (1.5 to 5.5 %) and sodium chloride (2 to 3 %) on total protein, total fat, starch, moisture, water activity, sodium, pH and texture profile (hardness, adhesiveness, elasticity, cohesiveness and chewiness) were evaluated and compared to a mortadella formulation without swine skin addition. The mortadella formulations with addition of 3.5 to 5.5 % swine skin and 2 to 2.5 % sodium chloride are in accordance with Brazilian legislation and provided an increase of approximately 12 % in protein content, a decrease of 14 % in sodium content and a water activity less than 0.9488. The swine skin and sodium chloride provided stability to the mortadella and influenced its texture, mainly in hardness, elasticity and chewiness.

Heat Integration of an Industrial Unit for the Ethylbenzene Production

This paper presents both the results of a study of the existing heat exchanger network (HEN) of an industrial unit for ethylbenzene (EB) production by the alkylation of benzene with ethylene, and an analysis of four different HEN retrofit projects carried out using process integration methods. The project of modernization of HEN was carried out using classical methods of Pinch analysis. For this case, the value of ΔTmin is determined, which is limited by the technological conditions of the process. Additionally, two different heat pump (HP) integration options and the joint retrofit Pinch project with HP integration are under consideration. The economic analysis of each of the projects was carried out. It is shown that the best results will be obtained when implementing the joint project. As a result, steam consumption will be reduced by 34% and carbon dioxide emissions will be decreased by the same amount.

Experimental and Analytical Assessment of the Power Parameters of the Combined Rolling-Extruding Process Using a Round Billet from Alloy 01417 Obtained Using an Electromagnetic Mold

Analytical and experimental studies have been carried out, which made it possible to propose new technological modes of combined rolling-extruding for the production of rods from alloy 01417 for the further drawing of wire for electrical purposes. The force parameters on the rolls and the die are calculated when extruding a rod with a diameter of 5 mm on the laboratory unit CRE-200 and the industrial unit CRE-400. The obtained values of the forces on the rolls and the die do not exceed the permissible values of the power load of the units. Therefore the selected parameters are suitable for conducting experiments on the manufacture of prototypes of rods. To verify the conclusions made, experimental studies were carried out on the CRE-200 unit at a temperature of 320 oC and a drawing coefficient μ = 12.1. The results of experimental studies in comparison with the calculated data showed that the deviation of the calculated data does not exceed 15%.

Evaluation of the Environmental Risk of Contaminated Materials: Advice on the Most Appropriate Environmental Remediation Techniques

This work addresses the contamination of the sediments of an alluvial plain and riverbed of a tributary of the San Francisco River, in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, by potentially toxic elements from an industrial unit of metallic alloys production. This area was subdivided into four areas (A1, A2, A3, and A0 (background area)) where sediment samples have been collected followed by geochemical characterization and spatial distribution of the contaminants. This characterization was based on the (1) analysis of dissolved elements in the interstitial waters, (2) identification of exchangeable and carbonates bounded fractions, and (3) leaching tests using deionized water adjusted to the local pH. This analysis revealed high levels mainly in Cd, Pb, and Zn, in the interstitial waters and in the more soluble phases of sediments. The comparison between the levels of these elements in the leached extracts and the more soluble fractions corroborates the high capacity of these elements to be leached from the alluvium following precipitation episodes. The geochemical characterization and spatial distribution of the contaminants will allow, in the near future, a choice of the most appropriate environmental remediation technique(s) for the environmental requalification of this area.

SWAN platform: A web-based tool to support the development of industrial solid waste reuse business models

The SWAN platform is an integrated suite of online resources and tools for assessing industrial symbiotic opportunities based on solid industrial waste reuse. It has been developed as a digital solid waste reuse platform and is already applied in four countries (Greece, Bulgaria, Albania and Cyprus). The SWAN platform integrates a database with the spatial and technical characteristics of industrial solid waste producers and potential consumers, populated with data from these countries. It also incorporates an inventory of commercially implemented best practices on solid industrial waste reuse. The role of the SWAN platform is to facilitate the development of novel business cases. Towards this end, decision support services, based on a suitable matching algorithm, are provided to the registered users, helping them to identify and assess potential novel business models, based on solid waste reuse, either for an individual industrial unit (source/potential receiver of solid waste) or a specific region.