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Abstract: Sand is an important component of many everyday items, and currently sand is the second most extracted resource on earth after water, but it is not sustainable: we are running out of sand! The black market is booming, and the sand mafia is mining sand at any price. Desert sand is unusable, even Dubai must import it. The smooth surface and iron impurities prevent its industrial use. In this study, bacteria in the bioleaching test attacked the surface of the mineral grains and dissolved impurities including iron through organic acids. Furthermore, the liquid residue containing dissolved iron, organic acids and bacteria stimulated the growth plant what can be a valuable biofertilizer and biostimulant for organic agriculture. Desert states have fertility problems. Despite this, Qatar, for example, is aiming for self-sufficiency in vegetables “in five years”. Results showed that bioleaching combined with magnetic separation resulted in iron removal of 73.23%. The sand after treatment can be suitable to produce clear flat glass, coloured container glass, insulating glass fibres or ceramics. The integrated technology based ecological study revealed overall as utilization potential of the desert sand and the liquid residue could support glass and food production in desert states.
Keywords: materials, sand, bioleaching, sustainable organic agriculture, desert states
Published in DiRROS: 31.01.2024; Views: 191; Downloads: 110
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Abstract: The refurbishment of the building stock is one of the key tasks for reducing the future environmental emissions in building sector. The assessment of the environmental impacts (EI) of refurbishments with LCA methodology remains a challenge. In the current practice, the refurbishment is threated as the beginning of the new lifecycle and all the impacts associated with the previous life cycle are generally neglected. The exclusion of materials and components used prior to the refurbishment produces a data gap at the end-of-life since information about materials that remained in the building after the refurbishment are missing. Furthermore, no information about what impacts have already been considered in the past bears the risk that some of the impacts are double-counted. In order to overcome these problems, an advanced methodology for the assessment of the embodied impacts in the case of refurbishment was developed that combines two sub-methodologies that can also be used separately. The first submethodology is used for remodelling the input data in order to make them time corresponding. The second sub-methodology is used for the assessment of the EI in the residual value of building materials and components and is including the allocation of EI between the life cycle before and after the refurbishment. The combination of the two sub-methodologies enables a more realistic and accurate assessment of the environmental impacts. The methodology is illustrated on the case on the case of a façade refurbishment. Five different allocation approaches are investigated and the residual value is calculated after a selected time period before and after the refurbishment. For all the inputs time-corresponding data is modelled and used. The study showed that for the life cycle before the refurbishment the EI and the residual value are generally higher if time-corresponding data is used since the EI of the electricity mix are higher. It turned out that the use of different allocation approaches is favouring either the use of recycled or reused materials or the recycling of the materials at the end. The PEF and the cut-off approach with module D are both enhancing the circular economy. It can be assumed that they are likely to prevail in the future.
Keywords: LCA, refurbishment, allocation, module D, dynamic LCA
Published in DiRROS: 31.01.2024; Views: 142; Downloads: 74
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Abstract: Fine particulate matter (PM2.5), a detrimental urban air pollutant primarily emitted by traffic and biomass burning, poses disproportionately significant health risks at relatively limited exposure during commuting. Previous studies have mainly focused on fixed locations when assessing PM2.5 exposure, while neglecting pedestrians and cyclists, who often experience higher pollution levels. In response, this research aimed to independently validate the effectiveness of bicycle-mounted low-cost sensors (LCS) adopted by citizens, evaluate temporal and spatial PM2.5 exposure, and assess associated health risks in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The LCS quality assurance results, verified by co-location field tests by air quality monitoring stations (AQMS), showed comparable outcomes with an average percentage difference of 21.29 %, attributed to humidity-induced nucleation effects. The colder months exhibited the highest air pollution levels (μ = 32.31 μg/m3) due to frequent thermal inversions and weak wind circulation, hindering vertical air mixing and the adequate dispersion of pollutants. Additionally, PM2.5 levels in all sampling periods were lowest in the afternoon (μ = 12.09 μg/m3) and highest during the night (μ = 61.00 μg/m3) when the planetary boundary layer thins, leading to the trapping of pollutants near the surface, thus significantly affecting diurnal and seasonal patterns. Analysis of exposure factors revealed that cyclists were approximately three times more exposed than pedestrians. However, the toxicological risk assessment indicated a minimal potential risk of PM2.5 exposure. The collaborative integration of data from official AQMS and LCS can enhance evidence-based policy-making processes and facilitates the realignment of effective regulatory frameworks to reduce urban air pollution.
Keywords: air pollution monitoring, PM2.5 exposure, citizen science, bicycle-mounted low-cost sensors
Published in DiRROS: 30.01.2024; Views: 181; Downloads: 72
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Keywords: recycling, alkalijsko aktivirani materiali, 3D print, mineralna volna
Published in DiRROS: 25.01.2024; Views: 239; Downloads: 117
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Abstract: In recent years many researchers have been involved in studies in the field of pre-treatment of various raw materials. Temperature treatment of materials results in several advantages, which have been already recognised and successfully applied in various fields of applications. Where at the same time, the practices has been adopted also in the field of 3D printing. Enhanced strength and stiffness, assuring desirable performance criteria of the 3D printed models, reflect the most important characteristics. 3D printing binder jetting technology is based on the application of liquid binders onto powdered material, where gypsum powders have been commercially used as a base raw material. As natural raw materials can be replaced by other materials, such as recycled industrial by products, the aim of this research work was to evaluate the potential usage of three synthetic gypsum powders from different industrial processes for 3D printing. The investigation covered (a) mineralogical and microstructural characteristics of gypsums from different origin and (b) the effect of pre-treatment of gypsum powders at different temperatures (up to 500 °C). On the basis of the results, the most promising temperature regime for each different waste gypsum powder treatment, reflecting in the most optimal setting time, was defined. Synthetic gypsums were characterized by X-ray diffraction (QXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA). The results showed that all three synthetic gypsums (calcium sulfate dihydrate, CaSO 4∙2H2O) thermally degrade into calcium sulfate anhydrite (CaSO 4) via an intermediate calcium sulfate hemihydrate (CaSO 4∙ ½H2 O, bassanite) phase. Microstructural and mineralogical differences were observed when temperature treated gypsums from different origins were compared. The detailed knowledge of gypsum powder properties at different temperature regime is important parameter for the assurance of 3D printing key parameters such as flowability, roughness and wettability, especially for determination of saturation levels and setting time. After all, these parameters define final mechanical properties of 3D printed structures. By using such approach, the understanding of material compatibility for 3D printing technology can be defined and improved if necessary.
Keywords: 3D print, additive manufacturing, gypsum, temperature
Published in DiRROS: 25.01.2024; Views: 188; Downloads: 125
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