Performance Targets in Production Processes (PT-PRO)

One of the main actions of the European Environmental Technologies Action Plan (ETAP) is: ¿Setting ambitious targets to improve the environmental performance of technologies within a given timeframe. This should encourage technological development while preparing the markets to accept and prepare for these high standard environmental technologies¿. On request of DG Environment, the JRC-IPTS launched a project on Performance Targets for Industry Processes (PT-PRO project), with the objective to further define concepts and to identify the conditions necessary to implement the concept of Performance Targets. The project was carried out with the help of ITA, ÖAW, GMV/IVL, FEA and TNO. This report provides a definition of the main elements of Performance Targets and an overview of the general principles for their implementation. Based on four case study sectors (the iron & steel, cement, pulp & paper and the textile industries), an illustration of these different elements is provided in relation with a range of industry sectors and their environmental challenges, existing regulations, technical potentials, market situations and organisational structure. The report also discusses the best conditions and limitations of setting Performance Targets for the industry and the possible value-added.JRC.J.2-Competitiveness and Sustainabilit

Återvinning av färghaltiga vatten från färgtillverkning

Vid tillverkning av färg uppstår vid tankrengöring vatten som innehåller färg. Vattnet måste behandlas innan den kan släppas ut respektive återanvändas. I den här rapporten beskrivs olika tekniker för behandling av färghaltiga vatten samt deras för- och nackdelar. Membranfiltrering undersöktes i praktiska försök för behandling av tvättvatten i laboratorieskala och pilotskala. Resultaten visar att det är möjligt att uppkoncentrera färgen från den undersökta tillverkningen hos Alcro-Beckers till en torrsubstanshalt på mer än 30 %. Permeatet kan, eventuellt efter förbehandling, återanvändas i processen och på så sätt minska färskvattenförbrukningen. För koncentratet är förbränning det mest intressanta alternativet för att utnyttja energiinnehållet i koncentratet och kunna deponera askan från förbränningen även i framtiden när det blir förbjudet att deponera organiskt material.Vid tillverkning av färg uppstår vid tankrengöring vatten som innehåller färg. Vattnet måste behandlas innan den kan släppas ut respektive återanvändas. I den här rapporten beskrivs olika tekniker för behandling av färghaltiga vatten samt deras för- och nackdelar. Membranfiltrering undersöktes i praktiska försök för behandling av tvättvatten i laboratorieskala och pilotskala. Resultaten visar att det är möjligt att uppkoncentrera färgen från den undersökta tillverkningen hos Alcro-Beckers till en torrsubstanshalt på mer än 30 %. Permeatet kan, eventuellt efter förbehandling, återanvändas i processen och på så sätt minska färskvattenförbrukningen. För koncentratet är förbränning det mest intressanta alternativet för att utnyttja energiinnehållet i koncentratet och kunna deponera askan från förbränningen även i framtiden när det blir förbjudet att deponera organiskt material

Integration of sustainability aspects in innovation processes - a survey as part of the SPIN project

This report is produced as part of the SPIN project. The aim of SPIN is enhancing Sustainable Production through Innovation in and from SMEs.  One part of the project has been to collect and assess information on the current status of how sustainability aspects can be integrated into innovation processes, especially in SME. This report provides a short overview of the situation and possible future actions for better integration of sustainability in innovation processes. Additional material can be found in separate documents, a list of tools and a more comprehensive thesis work.This report is produced as part of the SPIN project. The aim of SPIN is enhancing Sustainable Production through Innovation in and from SMEs.  One part of the project has been to collect and assess information on the current status of how sustainability aspects can be integrated into innovation processes, especially in SME. This report provides a short overview of the situation and possible future actions for better integration of sustainability in innovation processes. Additional material can be found in separate documents, a list of tools and a more comprehensive thesis work

Eco-Efficient Technologies for Improved Removal of Particulates from Surfaces. Results of the European Union project REPART

Industrial cleaning and rinsing procedures are often resource demanding and money consuming processes. Through closing up systems and minimising the water and chemicals used, economy as well as quality and environmental aspects can be improved in many cases. This report is a summary of studies made within the EU project REPART. In one part of the project different methods for separation of particles are compared technically and economically. Also cleaning formulations are tested regarding their treatment possibilities on membrane filtration. Calcium has been identified as a trouble causing parameters in membrane filtration of rinse water and investigations have been made to show how to avoid the problems. A small study for determination of the desired rinse water quality was made. There are often large profits to gain through closing up processes, but since almost each process is complex and unique, studies have to be made on-site before installing the new technique.Industrial cleaning and rinsing procedures are often resource demanding and money consuming processes. Through closing up systems and minimising the water and chemicals used, economy as well as quality and environmental aspects can be improved in many cases. This report is a summary of studies made within the EU project REPART. In one part of the project different methods for separation of particles are compared technically and economically. Also cleaning formulations are tested regarding their treatment possibilities on membrane filtration. Calcium has been identified as a trouble causing parameters in membrane filtration of rinse water and investigations have been made to show how to avoid the problems. A small study for determination of the desired rinse water quality was made. There are often large profits to gain through closing up processes, but since almost each process is complex and unique, studies have to be made on-site before installing the new technique

Metodutveckling för helhetsbedömning av förändringar i produktionsprocesser

Sustainability has become more important also for industrial production. Sustainability is difficult to measure and up to now no accepted method for sustainability assessment exists. The goal of the work for this report was to develop a method for comprehensive assessment of different process alternatives in production. The report consists of three main parts. In the first part different methods for assessment of sustainability found in literature are described. Some of the more important methods are LCA, ECO-Indicator, EEA and environmental key numbers. In the second part a method for sustainability assessment of environmental, social and economical characteristics of different production process alternatives is developed. The third part of the report shows a simple software in order to test the developed method. Both the developed method and the software implementation are assessed and issues for further development are givenSustainability has become more important also for industrial production. Sustainability is difficult to measure and up to now no accepted method for sustainability assessment exists. The goal of the work for this report was to develop a method for comprehensive assessment of different process alternatives in production. The report consists of three main parts. In the first part different methods for assessment of sustainability found in literature are described. Some of the more important methods are LCA, ECO-Indicator, EEA and environmental key numbers. In the second part a method for sustainability assessment of environmental, social and economical characteristics of different production process alternatives is developed. The third part of the report shows a simple software in order to test the developed method. Both the developed method and the software implementation are assessed and issues for further development are give

Investigations on methods for site specific determination of the partition coefficient - Kd, for contaminants in soilThesis work with additional comments

The aim of this work was to find a method for a site specific determination of the partition coefficient Kd, which describes whether a substance is situated in the soil particles or in the soil water. This coefficient is used to calculate guideline values for contaminants in soil. Currently, a theoretical coefficient and some basic assumptions regarding soil qualities are used in the calculations. The difficulty in determining a representative Kd-value is to measure contaminant concentrations in the soil water. A review is presented here where the advantages and disadvantages of existing methods is concluded from a perspective where the quality of the soil water extract is the most important parameter, followed by the parameters time and cost. Finally, centrifugal extraction was determined to be one appropriate method. Laboratory research aimed to solve these issues by wetting soil samples from the bottom in their centrifuge cylinders, which would keep sample yield at a maximum and assure that all cylinders were fully saturated. Investigations were performed on a sandy moraine contaminated with chrome, copper and arsenic.The aim of this work was to find a method for a site specific determination of the partition coefficient Kd, which describes whether a substance is situated in the soil particles or in the soil water. This coefficient is used to calculate guideline values for contaminants in soil. Currently, a theoretical coefficient and some basic assumptions regarding soil qualities are used in the calculations. The difficulty in determining a representative Kd-value is to measure contaminant concentrations in the soil water. A review is presented here where the advantages and disadvantages of existing methods is concluded from a perspective where the quality of the soil water extract is the most important parameter, followed by the parameters time and cost. Finally, centrifugal extraction was determined to be one appropriate method. Laboratory research aimed to solve these issues by wetting soil samples from the bottom in their centrifuge cylinders, which would keep sample yield at a maximum and assure that all cylinders were fully saturated. Investigations were performed on a sandy moraine contaminated with chrome, copper and arsenic

Rare Earth Elements - Purification, Separation and Recycling

The supply issue of rare earth elements (REE) has become an increasingly important issue both economically and politically. Their industrial importance continues to increase while most production is located China, which makes the supply potentially vulnerable. As REE are vital for many important electronic products such as electric motors and hard drives, many nations have started looking for alternative supplies of these elements. One potential source that has garnered much attention in developed regions is REE-containing waste, mainly scrapped electronics. In regions such as the EU, electronic waste could in theory cover a significant part of the demand for REE. In addition, recycling of REE should be an important part of a circular economy, especially considering the large resource demands and negative environmental impact of current REE production processes. Though much research has been performed in the area, REE recycling is still very limited. Of the numerous methods for REE recycling from various waste fractions only a few have been tested in a larger scale. These large-scale recycling processes are either hydrometallurgical processes similar to those used in regular REE production or specific methods used to recycle pure waste fractions within a production facility. Most recycling processes that do not use an already pure feedstock aim to produce a REE-containing concentrate that can be fed into existing, commercially available REE separation processes. The dominant separation method is multiple stage solvent extraction; the only other method in commercial use is ion exchange, which is employed where especially high purity is required. REE recycling faces a number of challenges, such as the presence of contaminants in the feedstock, deficiencies in waste collection and processes requiring large amounts of energy and chemicals. The combination of REE recycling with recovery of other valuables from secondary raw materials is a possible synergy.The supply issue of rare earth elements (REE) has become an increasingly important issue both economically and politically. REE recycling faces a number of challenges, such as the presence of contaminants in the feedstock, deficiencies in waste collection and processes requiring large amounts of energy and chemicals. The combination of REE recycling with recovery of other valuables from secondary raw materials is a possible synergy. This report describes methods and synergies

EcoWater report - Cross-comparison of Case-study Outcomes

The EcoWater project developed a method for using eco-efficiency indicators to compare various improvement options with the baseline situation at the meso level, i.e. in a systemic approach. The meso-level focus analysed interactions among heterogeneous actors in water-use systems, both in the current situation and for the implementation of potential eco-innovations. The method was applied to eight case studies spanning three water use sectors (agricultural, urban and industrial). Each case made methodological judgements about numerous aspects of eco-efficiency assessments. Through such assessments, each case study facilitated multistakeholder discussions on improvement options, on factors influencing their adoption and on policy implications. This report compares those methods, judgements and their results across the case studies. As these comparisons reveal, improvement options are case-specific, e.g. dependent on the context, the environmentally weakest stage, the potential forsystem improvement and data availability. The general method was adapted to each case, especially so that the meso-level boundary and indicators encompass potentialeffects of the eco-innovations being evaluated. In this sense the step-wise method is iterative, sometimes reconsidering previous steps. The meso-level analysis adds information about effects beyond a micro-level focus on an organisation’s internal processes, sometimes reducing or complicating the apparent benefits at that level. In each case study, few options would be ‘win-win’ by improving all environmental indicators, increasing total value added (TVA) and financially benefiting all valuechain actors. Selecting the most eco-efficient options entails tensions and trade-offs among various objectives, thus complicating eco-innovation as a win-win strategy. The potential to optimise meso-level eco-efficiency, alongside various trade-offs, highlights the value of sharing stakeholders’ different understandings through mesolevel discussion, in ways appropriate to each specific context. As shown by comparisons among diverse cases, the general method was robustly applied – to assess options for eco-efficiency improvements, to evaluate their relative meso-level benefits, and to facilitate multi-stakeholder discussion on optimising the system. So the method has wider relevance to any meso-level water-service system. The report is structured as follows: Introduction to the methodology (section 1), results of the cross-case comparison with overall conclusions (section 2), in turn referring to results of each case study (sections 3-10), and documentary references. This report is only available in English

Blandsyraåtervinning med elektrodialysteknik - Pilotförsök

Vid betning av rostfritt stål med blandsyra (HNO3 och HF) uppstår ett förbrukat betbad. För att öka livslängden av badet används syraretardation. Det leder till en biprodukt som innehåller fri syra. Laboratorieförsök i ett tidigare projekt visade möjligheten att återvinna syran med hjälp av elektrodialystekniken. I det här projektet genomfördes pilotförsök för att bekräfta resultaten och för att få data på återvinningsgrader i större skala. Försöken genomfördes vid KBR, Avesta Sheffield, Avesta med en elektrodialysanläggning hyrd från Osmota Membrantechnik GmbH. Under försöken uppstod problem pga läckage i elektrodsköljen och kort livslängd av anoderna. Flera olika anodmaterial testades, men ingen anod höll tillräckligt länge. Möjligtvis kan en elektrod med påvalsad platina fungera. Pga svårigheterna med anoderna kunde inte några längre försök genomföras, vilket försvårar utvärderingen. Membranen verkar dock klara miljön. Enligt försöken gav satsvisa försök en bättre återvinningsgrad (ca. 80% HNO3) än de kontinuerliga försöken (ca. 60% HNO3). Vid satsvis behandling av 1,5mn/h biprodukt krävs förmodligen en membranyta på 40m² anjonselektivt membran och 40m² katjonselektivt membran. Kostnaden för en sådan anläggning är mellan 1,3 och 2 MSEK. Driften kräver förmodligen cirka 2-2,5 kWh per återvunnen kg HNO3. För en säkrare bedömning av processen och bättre uppskattning av kostnaderna är försök med anoder som har tillräckligt livslängd nödvändiga.Vid betning av rostfritt stål med blandsyra (HNO3 och HF) uppstår ett förbrukat betbad. För att öka livslängden av badet används syraretardation. Det leder till en biprodukt som innehåller fri syra. Laboratorieförsök i ett tidigare projekt visade möjligheten att återvinna syran med hjälp av elektrodialystekniken. I det här projektet genomfördes pilotförsök för att bekräfta resultaten och för att få data på återvinningsgrader i större skala. Försöken genomfördes vid KBR, Avesta Sheffield, Avesta med en elektrodialysanläggning hyrd från Osmota Membrantechnik GmbH. Under försöken uppstod problem pga läckage i elektrodsköljen och kort livslängd av anoderna. Flera olika anodmaterial testades, men ingen anod höll tillräckligt länge. Möjligtvis kan en elektrod med påvalsad platina fungera. Pga svårigheterna med anoderna kunde inte några längre försök genomföras, vilket försvårar utvärderingen. Membranen verkar dock klara miljön. Enligt försöken gav satsvisa försök en bättre återvinningsgrad (ca. 80% HNO3) än de kontinuerliga försöken (ca. 60% HNO3). Vid satsvis behandling av 1,5mn/h biprodukt krävs förmodligen en membranyta på 40m² anjonselektivt membran och 40m² katjonselektivt membran. Kostnaden för en sådan anläggning är mellan 1,3 och 2 MSEK. Driften kräver förmodligen cirka 2-2,5 kWh per återvunnen kg HNO3. För en säkrare bedömning av processen och bättre uppskattning av kostnaderna är försök med anoder som har tillräckligt livslängd nödvändiga

EcoWater report - Populated Technology Inventory

This report presents the populated technology inventory, i.e. the database compiled after collecting information on the technologies relevant to the EcoWater Case Studies. In addition to the generic database information, the inventory holds data on technology economic parameters, technology environmental parameters and technology efficiency parameters. The actual technology inventory is delivered as an Excel workbook, holding one sheet per EcoWater Case Study. Each Case Study worksheet follows the same structure, but they differ in terms of which parameters are considered of importance to the technologies added. This technology inventory (Deliverable 1.3), has been populated with data from the Case Studies. This report also describes the theory around the water system and innovative technologies researched in the project, as well as the environmental midpoint impact categories used to assess the environmental performance of technologies in the Case Studies. This report is only available in English