Reducing the carbon footprint through textile reuse: the case study of a textile valuation company

After food, housing, and transport, textiles are the fourth most pressured category in terms of raw material and water use, and the fifth in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. In order to significantly reduce waste and the use of natural resources in the textile and clothing industry, and to reduce the environmental impact associated with the sector, thus contributing to sustainable development, there is a need to create business models based on the principles of circular economy, in which clothes, fabrics, and fibers re-enter the economy after their use. In environmental terms, we can say that reuse provides greater benefits than recycling because it reduces the impact generated by the life cycle of textiles, particularly in reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Currently, a few companies exist in the country to collect urban textile "waste" with the purpose of textile valuation. Ultriplo (U3) is a nationwide company that aims essentially at the valuation of collected textile waste by promoting reuse, contributing to sustainable development in its environmental, social, and economic dimensions. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the potential environmental benefits of reusing clothing at the end of product life, namely by reducing the carbon footprint associated with the textile industry. For this study, the company provided a database for the northern part of the country. The company's database is extensive and complex and can be described simplistically as a table that compiles and integrates all the information regarding all the textile collection routes. Furthermore, the database was limited to the first six months of the year 2021. In this study, only variables such as Id, Start, End, Schedule, Mileage (Km), Total Pickups, Contentores, Filing, Weighing, Id Contentor, Município, Filing contentor (%), and Weighing contentor (kg) were used. These variables were selected because they were required to evaluate the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) resulting from the textile reuse activity developed by U3. Each kilogram of clothing that is reused and not incinerated avoids the emission of 3.169 kg of CO2e, according to data from the European Commission. This value was used to acess the reduction in GHG emission reduction assessment methodology developed in this study. This methodology has allowed estimating the amount of CO2e not emitted to the atmosphere at the municipality scale. The results show that, for instance, for Santa Maria da Feira municipality, for the six months under study, a total of 330,61 tonnes of CO2e were not emitted to the atmosphere due to the total weight of clothes collected for reuse. The developed methodology has the potential to be replicated in other regions of the country

Quantitative analysis of financial indicators for municipalities: comparison between Portugal (Bragança district) and Slovenia

From the characterization of Local Authority financing models and structures in Portugal and Slovenia, a set of financial and generic budget indicators has been established. These indicators may be used in a comparative analysis considering, in Portugal, the Bragança District and, in Slovenia, municipalities of similar population size. The research identified significant differences, in terms of financing sources due to some discrepancy on financial models and competences of municipalities on each country

Financial indicatores for municipalities: a quantitative analysis

From the characterization of Local Authority financing models and structures in Portugal and Slovenia, a set of financial and generic budget indicators has been established. These indicators may be used in a comparative analysis considering the Bragança District in Portugal, and municipalities of similar population size in Slovenia. The research identified significant differences, in terms of financing sources due to some discrepancies on financial models and competences of municipalities on each country. The results show that Portuguese and Slovenian municipalities, in 2003, for the economy indicator, had similar ranking behaviour, but in 2004, they changed this behaviour

Screen printing of cotton fabric with hydrochromic paste: evaluation of color uniformity, reversibility and fastness properties

Smart textiles are promising for the future of the textile industry, providing natural fibers with attractive and interactive features. Within this context, it is possible to emphasize the chromic materials, as, for example, the hydrochromic, which alter their visual properties (color) through an external stimulus (water). The purpose of this work is to functionalize and characterize cotton knitted fabric with hydrochromic agent studying the reversibility and fastness properties of the print. It was observed that the particles are well dispersed and adhered to the natural fiber surface and did not display significant changes in the color after subsequent washing and rubbing fastness cycles.智能纺织品为纺织工业的未来带来了希望, 它提供了具有吸引力和互动功 能的天然纤维. 在这种情况下, 可以强调铬材料, 例如水变色材料, 通过外部 刺激（水）改变其视觉特性（颜色）. 本研究的目的是利用水致变色剂对 棉针织物进行功能化和表征, 研究印花的可逆性和牢度性能. 经观察, 这些 颗粒在天然纤维表面分散良好, 粘附在纤维表面, 在随后的洗涤和摩擦牢度 循环后, 颜色没有明显变化

Profile of Producers and Production of Dry-Aged Beef in Brazil

No information is currently available on the profile of producers and production process of dry-aged beef in Brazil, to the best of the authors’ knowledge. We surveyed 37 Brazilian companies that were producing dry-aged beef in 2020 to investigate this market. The absolute and relative frequency of responses was calculated to obtain the sum, average, minimum, and maximum values. From the respondents, dry-aged beef was first produced in 2009, and most producers are located in big cities. Most respondents control and monitor chamber temperature; however, humidity and air velocity only are monitored. The aging period (mostly between 22 to 60 days) was the main indicator of product readiness. The process losses (water loss and crust trimming) can reach 65%. Some producers perform microbiological analyses to ensure product safety and others use tools such as GMP and SOP. The results of this survey may help governmental institutions to develop a standardized industrial protocol for producing dry-aged beef in Brazil

Effect of industrial and domestic ash from biomass combustion, and spent coffee grounds, on soil fertility and plant growth: experiments at field conditions

An experimental study was conducted at field conditions in order to evaluate the effect of application of ash from biomass combustion on some soil fertility characteristics and plant growth. Application of 7.5 Mg ha-1 industrial fly ash (IA), domestic ash (DA), and a 50:50 mix of domestic ash (DA) and spent coffee grounds (SCG) was made in different soil parcels. Lolium perenne seeds were sown and the grown biomass was harvested and quantified after 60 days. Soil samples from each parcel were also collected after that period and characterized. Both soil and grown biomass samples were analyzed for Ca, Mg, Na, K, P, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Al contents. Soil pH was determined before and after amendment. All applications rose significantly soil pH. Domestic ash, whether combined with coffee grounds or not, proved to be efficient at supplying available macronutrients Ca, Mg, K, and P to the soil and also reducing availability of Al (more than industrial ash). However, it inhibited plant growth, even more when combined with spent coffee grounds. As regards to elemental abundance in plant tissue, both domestic ash treatments reduced Ca and enhanced Al contents, unlike industrial ash, which proved less harmful for the load applied in the soil. Hence, it was possible to conclude that application load should be a limiting factor for this management option for the studied materials.publishe

Correlated Mixture Between Adiabatic and Isocurvature Fluctuations and Recent CMB Observations

This work presents a reduced chi^2_nu test to search for non-gaussian signals in the CMBR TT power spectrum of recent CMBR data, WMAP, ACBAR and CBI data sets, assuming a mixed density field including adiabatic and isocurvature fluctuations. We assume a skew positive mixed model with adiabatic inflation perturbations plus additional isocurvature perturbations possibly produced by topological defects. The joint probability distribution used in this context is a weighted combination of Gaussian and non-Gaussian random fields. Results from simulations of CMBR temperature for the mixed field show a distinct signature in CMB power spectrum for very small deviations (~ 0.1%) from a pure Gaussian field, and can be used as a direct test for the nature of primordial fluctuations. A reduced chi^2_nu test applied on the most recent CMBR observations reveals that an isocurvature fluctuations field is not ruled out and indeed permits a very good description for a flat geometry Lambda-CDM universe, chi^2_930 ~ 1.5, rather than the simple inflationary standard model with chi^2_930 ~ 2.3. This result may looks is particular discrepant with the reduced chi^2 of 1.07 obtained with the same model in Spergel et al. (2003) for temperature only, however, our work is restricted to a region of the parameter space that does not include the best fit model for TT only of Spergel et al. (2003).Comment: Accepted for publication in Physical Review

Peritoneal protein loss, inflammation, and nutrition: refuting myths

Peritoneal protein loss (PPL) has been correlated with mortality, malnutrition and inflammation. More recently overhydration was brought to the equation. This study aims to review classic and recent factors associated with PPL. Prevalent and incident peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients were included. Dialysate and serum IL-6 was obtained during PET. Hydration and nutritional status were assessed by bio-impedance. Linear regression and Cox regression were performed. The 78 included patients presented median values of PPL 4.8 g/24 h, serum IL-6: 5.1 pg/mL, and IL-6 appearance rate 153.5 pg/min. Mean extracellular water excess (EWexc) was 0.88 ± 0.94 L, and lean body mass index (LBMI) 17.3 ± 2.4 kg/m2 . After mean follow-up of 33.9 ± 29.3 months, 12 patients died. Linear univariable analysis showed positive associations between PPL and small solute transport, body composition (LBMI and EWexc), comorbidities and performing CAPD (vs. cycler). PPL correlated positively with dialysate appearance rate of IL-6, but not with serum IL-6. Linear multivariable analysis confirmed positive association between PPL and EWexc (p = 0.012; 95%CI: 4.162–31.854), LBMI (p = 0.008; 95%CI: 1.720–11.219) and performing CAPD (p = 0.023; 95%CI: 4.375–54.190). In survival analysis, no relationship was found between mortality and PPL. Multivariable Cox regression showed Charlson Comorbidity Index (HR: 1.896, 95%CI: 1.235–2.913), overhydration (HR: 10.034, 95%CI: 1.426–70.587) and lower PPL (HR: 0.576, 95%CI: 0.339–0.978) were predictors for mortality. Overhydration, was a strong predictor of PPL, overpowering variables previously reported as determinants of PPL, namely clinical correlates of endothelial dysfunction or local inflammation. PPL were not associated with malnutrition or higher mortality, emphasizing the importance of volume overload control in PD patients.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A biorefinery from Nannochloropsis sp. microalga – Energy and CO2 emission and economic analyses

Are microalgae a potential energy source for biofuel production? This paper presents the laboratory results from a Nannochloropsis sp. microalga biorefinery for the production of oil, high-value pigments, and biohydrogen (bioH2). The energy consumption and CO2 emissions involved in the whole process (microalgae cultivation, harvest, dewater, mill, extraction and leftover biomass fermentation) were evaluated. An economic evaluation was also performed. Oil was obtained by soxhlet (SE) and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). The bioH2 was produced by fermentation of the leftover biomass. The oil production pathway by SE shows the lowest value of energy consumption, 177-245 MJ/MJprod, and CO2 emissions, 13–15 kgCO2/MJprod. Despite consuming and emitting c.a. 20% more than the SE pathway, the oil obtained by SFE, proved to be more economically viable, with a cost of 365€/kgoil produced and simultaneously extracting high-value pigments. The bioH2 as co-product may be advantageous in terms of product yield or profit