Yeast Recovery by Cross-Flow Microfiltration: Evaluation of Cake Resistance-Related Parameters

A cross-flow microfiltration membrane module was used to recovery yeast cells and a method for estimating the yeast cake resistance was developed based on a simplified permeate flux model

Application and use of the ISEW for assessing the sustainability of a regional system: A case study in Italy

3noreservedThe Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare (ISEW) was introduced by Daly and Cobb in 1989 in order to integrate the information embodied in GDP. Since economic growth implies externalities and market failures, and a portion of it can be defined as "uneconomic", the ISEW method introduces some corrections and adjustments to the GDP calculation framework. The ISEW has been calculated for a number of nations but it has been rarely applied to sub-national systems. Its calculation at the local level is important especially in case of administrative decentralization, and autonomy and responsibility of local authorities in certain fields. For this reason, a more and more comprehensive knowledge of the characteristics and peculiarities of the territorial system they manage is necessary. This paper presents the results of the ISEW calculation for Tuscany, a region in central Italy, in the period 1971-2006. This is one of the few attempts to apply the ISEW in time series at the regional level. Final results show that a discrepancy between ISEW and GDP appeared in the 1970s. Social and environmental pressures increased during the period under study making the gap equal to about 30 percent of regional GDP in 2006. The ISEW can be used also as a tool for evaluating policies, but further adjustments in calculation of certain items are considered necessary for taking into account and evaluating punctual policies. A case of energy policy is presented. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.mixedPULSELLI, F.M.; BRAVI, M.; TIEZZI, E.Pulselli, F. M.; Bravi, M.; Tiezzi, E

Life Cycle Assessment of advanced technologies for photovoltaic panels production

The study, developed through a detailed analysis of available data in the international literature, aims to better understand the nature and the extent of risks related to all stages of photovoltaic panels life cycle, produced by the most advanced technologies. For example, the CdTe (Cadmium Telluride) thin film photovoltaic technology is very promising from an economic and energetic point of view, but it shows challenges and risks related to the presence of a potentially very dangerous heavy metal, whose utilization has been actually banned in many products. Currently, CdTe photovoltaic panels are not included in European regulations limiting elements considered dangerous and regulating their disposal. In terms of environmental impact, previous studies showed that the CdTe modules have similar or less impact than other photovoltaic technologies and have a lower energy consumption relative to the production stage. Indeed, these studies are developed on the only energetic return and EPBT (Energy Pay-Back Time) basis, and they do not take into account the effects related to heavy metals pollution. In this context, the CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium di-Selenide) and amorphous/micromorph MCPH thin-film silicon technologies showed to have an environmental impact comparable to that of CdTe and in some cases even less. The lack of ascertained data on the extent of risks associated with production, use and disposal stages of these panels and the fast technological progress of solar technologies make difficult, but necessary to outline a reliable framework and to assess a balance between risks and benefits in the use photovoltaic modules on a large-scale. It is also urgent to implement an efficient action for the recovery and recycling based on the precautionary principle

Life cycle assessment of a Micromorph Photovoltaic System

In this paper the results from a in-depth life cycle analysis of production and use of a novel grid-connected photovoltaic micromorph system are presented and compared to other thin film and traditional crystalline silicon photovoltaic technologies. Among the new thin film technologies, the micromorph tandem junction appears to be one of the most promising devices from the industrial point of view. The analysis was based on actual production data given to the authors directly from the PRAMAC Swiss Company and it is consistent with the recommendations provided by the ISO norms and updates. The gross energy requirement, green house gas emissions and energy pay-back time have been calculated for the electric energy output virtually generated by the studied system in a lifetime period of 20 years. A comparative framework is also provided, wherein results obtained for the case study are compared with data from literature previously obtained for the best commercially available competing photovoltaic technologies. Results clearly show a significant decrease in gross energy requirement, in green house gas emissions and also a shorter energy pay-back time for the micromorph technology

The prevalence of celiac disease in Europe: results of a centralized, international mass screening project

Introduction. Although the prevalence of celiac disease (CD) has been extensively investigated in recent years, an accurate estimate of CD frequency in the European population is still lacking. The aims of this study were: 1) to establish accurately the prevalence of CD in a large sample of the European population (Finland, Germany, Italy, and UK), including both children and adults; and 2) to investigate whether the prevalence of CD significantly varies between different areas of the European continent. Materials and methods. Samples were drawn from the four populations. All 29,212 participants were tested for CD by tissue transglutaminase (tTG) antibody test. Positive and border-line findings were further tested for serum endomysial antibodies (EMA). All serological determinations were centrally performed. Small-bowel biopsies were recommended to autoantibody-positive individuals. Previously diagnosed cases were identified. Results. The overall CD prevalence (previously diagnosed plus anti-tTG and EMA positives) was 1.0% (95% CI 0.9-1.1). In subjects aged 30-64 years CD prevalence was 2.4% in Finland (2.0-2.8), 0.3% in Germany (0.1-0.4), and 0.7% in Italy (0.4-1.0). Sixty-eight percent of antibody-positive individuals showed small-bowel mucosal changes typical for CD (Marsh II/III lesion). Conclusions. CD is common in Europe. CD prevalence shows large unexplained differences in adult age across different European countries