RECONSTRUCTION OF EXISTING LIVESTOCK FEED PRODUCTION PLANTS BY ADDING A HYDRAULIC ADDER

Recipes determine the quality of livestock feed and the hydraulic adders are one of the elements determining if the given recipe will be carried out. Generally, construction of existing adders does not allow accomplishment of that aim i.e. they do not meet recipe requirements. Consequently, researches which determined deviations in ingredient adding present with existing adders and with the experimental hydraulic adder were conducted. The research was conducted for two years (2005 and 2006) in two livestock feed factories in the Republic of Croatia on samples of feed mixtures for pigs weighing up to 15 and 25 kilos. Relative error was the means for comparison of weighing deviations between the hydraulic adder and the adders powered by means of an electric motor. Research results indicate that none of the two observed livestock feed production plants in 30 repetitions for two kinds of feed mixture showed a feed mixture weighing that would correspond to the specifications in the recipe. Additionally, hydraulic adders showed a greater precision in adding fish meal, extruded soybean and soybean meal when compared with the adders powered by means of an electric motor. However, the adders powered by means of an electric motor showed greater precision in adding corn. Based on the research results it can be concluded that using hydraulic adders instead of the adders powered by means of an electric motor will result in more accuracy in dosing ingredients with fine and middle granularity, whereas this can not be applied to dosing coarse grained ingredients

USED MOTOR OIL – A HAZARDOUS WASTE?

Svjedoci smo svakoga dana sve većeg onečišćenja okoliša, koje se očituje onečišćenjem atmosfere, tla te podzemnih voda. Za sve je kriv čovjek i njegova nebriga o okolini. Prirodna bogatstva treba nastojati očuvati na razini kakvoće koja nije štetna za čovjeka, biljni i životinjski svijet. Treba izbjegavati svaki zahvat koji ima štetan učinak na biološku raznolikost te očuvati prirodni genetski sklad i sklad prirodnih zajednica, živih organizama i neživih tvari. Motorno ulje je specifična tvar potrebna energetskom stroju, na primjer traktoru zbog njegovog ispravnog rada, a nakon određenog vremena javlja se kao štetna tvar, odnosno opasan otpad. Dakle, postupanje s rabljenim motornim uljem kao potencijalnim zagađivačem okoliša mora biti krajnje oprezno. Njegovo gomilanje u tvorničkim dvorištima, poduzećima i privatnim gospodarstvima bez daljnjeg rješavanja istog, vremenom predstavlja prave eko bombe, poglavito ako se zbrinjava na neadekvatan i ilegalan način. Istraživanje je obavljeno na obiteljskim poljoprivrednim gospodarstvima u Osječko–baranjskoj i Vukovarsko-srijemskoj županiji, u cilju utvrđivanja ponašanja s rabljenim uljem iz motora i iz transmisije i ostale prateće ambalaže.Today we all are eyewitnesses of increasing pollution, which disappears in the atmosphere, soil, and underground water. The pollution is a result of men\u27s actions and their reckless attitute toward the nature. Natural resources should be preserved at the level which can provide substantial quality to men, animals, and plants. Any hazardous intervention upon the biological diversity should be avoided and both the genetic balance and the harmony of biological systems, live ogranisms, and dead matter should be preserved. Motor oil is a specific substance needed to facilitate the adequate operation of a machine (e.g. a tractor), but after some time it becomes hazardous, i.e. a hazardous waste. The deposit of the motor oil has to be done in the proper way since it is a potential source of contamination. Used motor oil is a potential environmental bomb in cases of its improper and illegal deposit, especially in the cases when it is carelessly left around the facilities of factories, companies and privately owned farms. A research was conducted on family farms in Osijek-Baranya County and Vukovar-Srijem County in order to determine the way of treatment of used motor oil generated from the engine, transmission, and the accompanying packaging materials

USED MOTOR OIL – A HAZARDOUS WASTE?

Svjedoci smo svakoga dana sve većeg onečišćenja okoliša, koje se očituje onečišćenjem atmosfere, tla te podzemnih voda. Za sve je kriv čovjek i njegova nebriga o okolini. Prirodna bogatstva treba nastojati očuvati na razini kakvoće koja nije štetna za čovjeka, biljni i životinjski svijet. Treba izbjegavati svaki zahvat koji ima štetan učinak na biološku raznolikost te očuvati prirodni genetski sklad i sklad prirodnih zajednica, živih organizama i neživih tvari. Motorno ulje je specifična tvar potrebna energetskom stroju, na primjer traktoru zbog njegovog ispravnog rada, a nakon određenog vremena javlja se kao štetna tvar, odnosno opasan otpad. Dakle, postupanje s rabljenim motornim uljem kao potencijalnim zagađivačem okoliša mora biti krajnje oprezno. Njegovo gomilanje u tvorničkim dvorištima, poduzećima i privatnim gospodarstvima bez daljnjeg rješavanja istog, vremenom predstavlja prave eko bombe, poglavito ako se zbrinjava na neadekvatan i ilegalan način. Istraživanje je obavljeno na obiteljskim poljoprivrednim gospodarstvima u Osječko–baranjskoj i Vukovarsko-srijemskoj županiji, u cilju utvrđivanja ponašanja s rabljenim uljem iz motora i iz transmisije i ostale prateće ambalaže.Today we all are eyewitnesses of increasing pollution, which disappears in the atmosphere, soil, and underground water. The pollution is a result of men\u27s actions and their reckless attitute toward the nature. Natural resources should be preserved at the level which can provide substantial quality to men, animals, and plants. Any hazardous intervention upon the biological diversity should be avoided and both the genetic balance and the harmony of biological systems, live ogranisms, and dead matter should be preserved. Motor oil is a specific substance needed to facilitate the adequate operation of a machine (e.g. a tractor), but after some time it becomes hazardous, i.e. a hazardous waste. The deposit of the motor oil has to be done in the proper way since it is a potential source of contamination. Used motor oil is a potential environmental bomb in cases of its improper and illegal deposit, especially in the cases when it is carelessly left around the facilities of factories, companies and privately owned farms. A research was conducted on family farms in Osijek-Baranya County and Vukovar-Srijem County in order to determine the way of treatment of used motor oil generated from the engine, transmission, and the accompanying packaging materials

Characteristics and drivers of forest cover change in the post-socialist era in Croatia: evidence from a mixed-methods approach

© 2016, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.Extensive forests in Croatia represent an important biological and economic resource in Europe. They are characterised by heterogeneity in forest management practices dating back to the socialist planned economy of the pre-1991 era. In this study we investigated the difference in rates of deforestation and reforestation in private- and state-owned forests during the post-socialist period and the causal drivers of change. The selected region of Northern Croatia is characterised by a high percentage of privately owned forests with minimal national monitoring and control. We used a mixed-methods approach which combines remote sensing, statistical modelling and a household-based questionnaire survey to assess the rates of forest cover change and factors influencing those changes. The results show that predominantly privately owned forests in Northern Croatia have recorded a net forest loss of 1.8 % during the 1991–2011 period, while Croatia overall is characterised by a 10 % forest cover increase in predominantly state-owned forests. Main factors influencing forest cover changes in private forests are slope, altitude, education structure, population age and population density. The results also show that the deforestation in private forests is weakening overall, mostly due to the continuation of the de-agrarisation and de-ruralisation processes which began during socialism

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOME HIBRYD RAPE OILSEED

Za vrijeme čuvanja u velikoj mjeri dolaze do izražaja fizikalna svojstva uskladištenih proizvoda. Poznavanje tih svojstava, koja se javljaju već za transporta, zatim u vrijeme dorade, a posebice za vrijeme uskladištenja uvjetuje poboljšanje kakvoće i daje mogućnost smanjivanja šteta koje nastaju pri skladištenju. Uljana repica je kultura koja predstavlja veliki potencijal za proizvodnju biodizelskoga goriva iz ulja, te proizvodnju energije iz biomase. Na temelju provedenih istraživanja fizikalnih svojstava sjemena tri hibrida uljane repice Baldur, Titan i Artus prije sušenja (w = 12,90 - 14,13%) kut prirodnog pokosa kretao se od 28,45o do 29,96o, kut trenja glavnine mase od 18,05o do 18,68o, specifični toplinski kapacitet od 1,948 do 1,968 kJ/kg K i toplinska vodljivost od 0,118 do 0,129 W/mK. Nakon sušenja (w = 6,02 – 6,30%) kut prirodnog pokosa kretao se od 24,02o do 24,38o, kut trenja glavnine mase od 11,60o do 12,24o, specifični toplinski kapacitet od 1,803 do 1,862 kJ/kg K i toplinska vodljivost od 0,106 do 0,112 W/mK.During storage period physical properties of stored products are considerably pronounced. Knowledge of the properties that already appear at the time of transport, in processing, and particularly, in the storage period cause improvement in quality and enable reduction of damage that occurs in storing. Oilseed rape has a great potential for production of biodiesel fuel, and for production of energy on the basis of biomass. In terms of investigated physical properties of hybrids of oilseed rape Baldur, Titan and Artus before drying (w = 12.9 – 14.13%) angle of natural decline ranged from 28.45o to 29.96o, friction angle of bulk mass ranged from 18.05o to 18.68o, specific heat capacity ranged from 1.948 to 1.968 kJ/kg K, and heat conductivity ranged from 0.118 to 0.129 W/mK. After drying (w = 6.02 – 6.30%) angle of natural decline ranged from 24.02o to 24.38o, friction angle of bulk mass ranged from 11.60o to 12.24o; specific heat capacity ranged from 1.803 to 1.862 kJ/kg K, and heat conductivity ranged from 0.106 to 0.112 W/mK

PRODUCTION OF BIOFUELS AND ITS IMPACT ON AGRICULTURE IN CROATIA

There is a large potential for the production of energy crops on agricultural land. Global demand for food is expected to double within the coming 50 years, and demand for transportation fuels is expected to increase even more rapidly. There is a great need for renewable energy supplies for biofuel production that do not cause significant environmental harm and do not compete with food supply. In addition, biofuel by-products can be utilized as livestock feed with a substantial revenue source and significantly increases the profitability of the production process. Food-based biofuels can meet but a small portion of energy needs despite recent advances in crop yields and increased biofuel production efficiency. Therefore, biofuels that are non food-based are likely to be of far greater importance over the longer term. Reasonable values on the external effects are in most cases not enough to make agriculture-based biomass energy competitive so that considerable government subsidies are needed. Biofuels such as cellulosic ethanol that can be produced on agriculturally marginal lands with minimum fertilizer, pesticide, and fossil energy inputs, or produced with agricultural residues have potential to provide fuel supplies with greater environmental benefits that either petroleum or current food-based biofuels

A comparison of waste education in schools and colleges across five European cities

The European Union produces over 200 million tonnes of municipal waste each year with 47% being recycled or composted. With the EU reuse and recycling targets set at 55% by 2025 and the introduction of the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan there has never been more importance placed on waste and recycling education. A three-year transnational project ‘An Erasmus+ Waste Education Initiative’ set out to investigate the level of waste and recycling education (WE) that is currently being delivered in five European cities with a view to develop a range of materials to be used in the classroom extracting the best practice from each. This paper highlights the responses from a questionnaire sent to schools and colleges to determine the baseline of WE currently being delivered in Bucharest, Hamburg, Manchester, Tallinn and Zagreb. Factors such as the local waste and recycling infrastructure and population density were also considered to determine the extent of their influence on the type and availability of WE in the classroom. The findings indicate a wide variation in the amount of WE currently being delivered in the five cities. Increased recycling rates and level of infrastructure have an inverse effect on the level of teacher engagement and involvement in waste management projects does not have an impact on the amount of WE that is present in the curriculum or number of registered Eco-Schools. Time constraints due to other curriculum topics, awareness and lack of resources were the main reasons for not including WE in the classroom

Oporaba visokorizičnog biorazgradivog otpada metodom alkalne hidrolize

Biodegradable waste is by defi nition degraded by other living organisms. Every day, meat industry produces large amounts of a specifi c type of biodegradable waste called slaughterhouse waste. Traditionally in Europe, this waste is recycled in rendering plants which produce meat and bone meal and fat. However, feeding animals with meat and bone meal has been banned since the outbreaks of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). In consequence, new slaughterhouse waste processing technologies have been developed, and animal wastes have now been used for energy production. Certain parts of this waste, such as brains and spinal cord, are deemed high-risk substances, because they may be infected with prions. Their treatment is therefore possible only in strictly controlled conditions. One of the methods which seems to bear acceptable health risk is alkaline hydrolysis. This paper presents the results of an alkaline hydrolysis effi ciency study. It also proposes reuse of the obtained material as organic fertiliser, as is suggested by the analytical comparison between meat and bone meal and hydrolysate.Biorazgradivi otpad defi nira se kao otpad koji razgrađuju živi organizmi. Klaonice i mesna industrija proizvode na dnevnoj bazi velike količine specifi čnoga biorazgradivog otpada poznatog kao otpad životinjskog podrijetla. Tradicionalno se u Europi taj otpad reciklira u kafi lerijama, pri čemu se proizvode mesno-koštano brašno i mast. No nakon pojave goveđe spongiformne encefalopatije (GSE) zabranjena je prehrana životinja mesno-koštanim brašnom. U potrazi za novim mogućnostima zbrinjavanja otpada životinjskog podrijetla razvijene su nove tehnologije oporabe i omogućena upotreba takvog otpada u energetske svrhe. Određeni dijelovi otpada životinjskog podrijetla, mozak i leđna moždina, pripadaju kategoriji visokorizičnog otpada zbog velike mogućnosti postojanja priona u njima. Njihova oporaba stoga je moguća samo u strogo kontroliranim uvjetima. Jedna od metoda koja se smatra prikladnom za oporabu visokorizičnih otpada jest metoda alkalne hidrolize. U radu su prikazani rezultati analiza mesno-koštanog brašna i hidroliziranog otpada te njegova uporaba kao organskoga gnojiva