Developing an experimental setup for Thunder Bay waste pollution control plant (WPCP) to evaluate UV lamp performance

An automated experimental setup was developed to measure the spectral irradiance of new low pressure (LP) ultraviolet lamp (UV). The experimental analysis was performed by the measurement of the UV intensity along the length of the lamp to evaluate the variation in UV output during preliminary 5% lifespan of the UV lamp. The automation of the experimental setup has executed with the Arduino-LabVIEW interfaced computer program to maintain sequential collaboration among the setup components. The new LP UV lamp had a non-uniform output with the unexpected rise and drop in the UV intensity at certain locations along the length. The lamp showed predominant ageing signs at the electrode, which was confirmed by the visual observation after the appearance of the darken quartz sleeve near the electrode and further reduction in UV output was verified by the experimental analysis as a result of the obstructed transmittance of the UV radiation through the quartz sleeve. Initially, UV output of the new lamp was uniform; however, as the lamp was aged analysis noticed non-uniform output along the length of the lamp though the lamp was operated for same working conditions throughout the entire experimental phase. The non-uniform temperature profile of the UV lamp was studied with the implementation of the thermal imaging IR camera to confirm variable temperature gradient inside the quartz sleeve and at the surface of the quartz sleeve. The thermal analysis recognized the overheating of the lamp electrode. Further, as amp aged the temperature profile at the lamp electrode raised significantly. The experimental analysis proved that the lamp ageing was more noticeable at lamp ends than the middle part of the lamp, which was confirmed after evaluation of the UV intensity along the length of the lamp as well as after performing the output stability test at electrode for corresponding lamp operating cycle

Disinfection By-products Formation after Coagulation of Algal Extracellular and Intracellular Organic Matters

Algal organic matter (AOM) is found in high concentration during algal bloom season in drinking water systems, which is generally categorized into extracellular organic matter (EOM) and intracellular organic matter (IOM). These compounds are not well removed in traditional water treatment methods such as coagulation, and are the precursors of subsequent disinfection by-products (DBPs) during chlorination of water. In this study, EOM and IOM content of four different algae were quantified measuring dissolved organic carbon (DOC), UV absorbance at 254 nm and turbidity. Coagulation using alum (Al2(SO4)3•16H2O)was used to remove the algal matters. UV radiation and post-UV chlorination were used to determine the DBPs formation potential of the algal matters. The DBPs such as trihalomethanes (THMs) and Haloacetic acids (HAAs) were analyzed after disinfection treatment. The DBPs formation decreased in coagulated algae. Compared with EOM, IOM produced more DBPs because of higher content of protein and aromatic organic matters

Optimization of Oleosin 30G Production for Echocardiography

Provided they are uniform in size, monodisperse microbubbles behave as contrast agents to enhance echocardiographic imaging. Compounds like Oleosin 30G with surfactant-like properties help stabilize microbubbles - thereby ensuring their uniform size. Designed herein is an industrial-scale plant to produce medical-grade Oleosin 30G with a process consisting of three steps: 1) upstream production via recombinant E. coli in an integrated batch bioprocessing model, 2) downstream purification, and 3) processing by microfluidic manifolds. Ultimately Oleosin 30G-coated microbubbles are manufactured, ready for injection within one month. Owing to its unique properties and cost-effective production, Oleosin 30G has the potential to outcompete current market leader Definity®. Altogether, overall yield of Oleosin 30G constitutes 7.39 kg/year to provide for 100% market saturation. Financial analysis indicates pursuing Oleosin 30G for echocardiography applications is very profitable with a 296% return on investment and holds potential for production expansion should the market demand increase

Best Environmental Management Practice in the Tourism Sector

The tourism sector has a large potential to reduce its environmental impacts and many measures are already effectively implemented by companies of this sector. This document describes what are the best practices employed by frontrunners in all aspects under their direct control or on which they have a considerable influence. They cover cross-cutting issues, destination management, tour operators and travel agents, water and energy consumption and waste production in accommodation, restaurant and hotel kitchens, and campsites management. The document also contains sector-specific environmental performance indicators and benchmarks of excellence. These can be used by all the actors involved in the tourism sector to monitor their environmental performance and to benchmark it against the performance of frontrunners in each given specific area. Overall, this document aims at supporting all actors in the tourism sector who intend to improve their environmental performance and seek for reliable and proven information on how best to do it.JRC.J.5-Sustainable Production and Consumptio

Industrial-Scale Manufacture of Oleosin 30G for Use as Contrast Agent in Echocardiography

In ultrasound sonography, microbubbles are used as contrasting agents to improve the effectiveness of ultrasound imaging. Monodisperse microbubbles are required to achieve the optimal image quality. In order to achieve a uniform size distribution, microbubbles are stabilized with surfactant molecules. One such molecule is Oleosin, an amphiphilic structural protein found in vascular plant oil bodies that contains one hydrophobic and two hydrophilic sections. Controlling the functionalization of microbubbles is a comprehensive and versatile process using recombinant technology to produce a genetically engineered form of Oleosin called Oleosin 30G. With the control of a microfluidic device, uniformly-sized and resonant microbubbles can be readily produced and stored in stable conditions up to one month. Currently, Oleosin microbubbles are limited to the lab-scale; however, through development of an integrated batch bioprocessing model, the overall product yield of Oleosin 30G can be increased to 7.39 kg/year to meet needs on the industrial-scale. An Oleosin-stabilized microbubble suspension as a contrast agent is in a strong position to take a competitive share of the current market, capitalizing on needs unmet by current market leader, Definity®. Based on market dynamics and process logistics, scaled-up production of Oleosin 30G for use as a contrast agent is expected to be both a useful and profitable venture

Design for amelioration : leveraging a human-centered approach in designing a sustainable product-service system for Jakarta’s urban poor.

This research is an investigation into sustainable product-service systems in addressing the problems of the poor. The focus of this research is the poor population of Jakarta that live in slums located close to river banks, canals, and drainage areas. This study is built upon relevant literature on design for the base of the pyramid, design for sustainability, and sustainable design guidelines and tools. The main objective of this research is to understand how human-centered design, combined with sustainable product-service system design, can help ameliorate some of the issues experienced by the poor. The methodology is predominantly modelled on the approach of human-centered design (HCD). Participatory methods, being important aspects of the human-centered design methodology, are central to this research. The key participatory aspect of this study was the partnership with the Indonesian Street Children Organization Foundation, a non-governmental organization already active in many slum areas in Jakarta. A pilot study to test the methods and confirm the feasibility of the study was conducted before proceeding with the actual fieldwork. The fieldwork itself was conducted over six months, in situ in Jakarta. Participants comprise different groups of the slum community: adolescents, parents, and community workers. The fieldwork was conducted in three stages; adhering to the human-centered design process. First, a series of semi-structured interviews with the assistance of visual tools, to gain insights into slum inhabitants’ living situations as well as their aspirations. Second, a co-creation session was conducted collectively with the inhabitants, where they actively participated in the design process of generating a solution. The co-designed solution took the form of a clean water service that offered an alternative payment of recyclable materials. The prototype was then deployed and tested in the community itself for a period of time. Finally, in the third session, a live prototyping session was conducted, followed by a focus group discussion and product usability interview with the servicepersons who operated the prototype and performed the water service during the testing period. The last session was a platform where participants offered suggestions on ways to improve the solution. Upon discovering the inadequacies of available sustainable design tools, a new framework of a more comprehensive sustainable design tool called the Design for Amelioration was devised. This proposition, which represents an integration of human-centered design methodology and design for sustainability principles, was then used to assess the solution generated in the fieldwork as well as the design process as a whole. Lastly, the Design for Amelioration framework was then further developed to be an appropriate approach that can tackle the challenges of designing for communities

Proceedings of the 6th International Conference EEDAL'11 Energy Efficiency in Domestic Appliances and Lighting

This book contains the papers presented at the sixth international conference on Energy Efficiency in Domestic Appliances and Lighting. EEDAL'11 was organised in Copenhagen, Denmark in May 2011. This major international conference, which was previously been staged in Florence 1997, Naples 2000, Turin 2003, London 2006, Berlin 200h9a s been very successful in attracting an international community of stakeholders dealing with residential appliances, equipment, metering liagnhdti ng (including manufacturers, retailers, consumers, governments, international organisations aangde ncies, academia and experts) to discuss the progress achieved in technologies, behavioural aspects and poliacineds , the strategies that need to be implemented to further progress this important work. Potential readers who may benefit from this book include researchers, engineers, policymakers, and all those who can influence the design, selection, application, and operation of electrical appliances and lighting.JRC.F.7-Renewable Energ

Improving transparency, consistency and efficiency of ecotoxicological teaching: development of an open online textbook Environmental Toxicology

Although several textbooks are available, teaching environmental toxicology in general seems to suffer from a lack of a well-elaborated, up-to-date and consistent textbook that covers all aspects of the field. As a consequence, every university is developing its own training materials in addition to a textbook, but only little of this material is available online. And if materials are online, they are not consistent, lack novelty or do not cover the entire field. A Dutch consortium therefore took the initiative to develop an open online textbook on Environmental Toxicology that should cover the field in its full width, including aspects of environmental chemistry, ecotoxicology, toxicology and risk assessment. The initiative is sponsored by the Netherlands Ministry of Education. The project aims at developing an online open access book on Environmental Toxicology that is useful for training at BSc, MSc and higher levels. The book will be designed in a modular way, each module having a clear training goal/attainment level and flagged with a number of keywords. The book will also contain tools for self-study and training, like exercises and questions. With the book, we aim at improving quality, continuity and transparency of the education in environmental toxicology. We also want to make sure that fundamental insights on fate and effects of chemicals gained in the past are combined with recent approaches of effect assessment and molecular analysis of mechanisms causing toxicity. To guarantee quality of the book and associated training materials, we aim at having 1-2 authors for each module and also 1-2 reviewers from outside the team of authors. In addition, an advisory board will be involved in supervising the project, as well as educational advisors, while the project team will serve as an editorial board. The project team, consisting of environmental toxicologists and chemists from six Dutch universities, does not possess all expertise to cover the width of the field. We therefore solicit contributions from as many colleagues as possible from within the SETAC community. With that, we hope we can produce a book that is written and supported by SETAC, that is covering the entire field, and is useful for training within e.g. the SETAC Europe Certified Risk Assessor (CRA) programme. The publication as an open online book will allow continuous updating of the book, providing a possible role of SETAC in sustaining the book