The role of advanced waste-To-energy technologies in landfill mining

Publicado en: WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, Volume 224, Issue 1, 20 September 2017, Pages 403-409Recently, the European Parliament has decided to include a specific reference to "Enhanced Landfill Mining" (ELFM) in the Landfill Directive proposing a regulatory framework for ELFM so as to permit the retrieval of secondary raw materials that are present in existing landfill sites. Recent studies are supporting ELFM since they consider that landfill mining would be economically feasible only if combined with energy recovery (i.e., waste-To-energy, WtE) and if a wide range of materials are recovered (i.e., waste-To-materials, WtM). In this study, a combined material (landfill mining) and energy (advanced WtE) recovery is proposed where the excavated waste (MSW refuse) can be directly recycled or pretreated and used in the production of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) for an advanced (gasification-based) WtE plant producing power and heat. Both material and energy recovery are challenging in the circular economy since contributes to a loop-closing objective in human activities. An exhaustive assessment of each particular landfill site must be carried out in order to determine the profitability of the ELFM.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad ENE2012-31598Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades CTM2016-78089-RUniversidad de Sevilla Contrato de Acceso al Sistema Español de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (VPPI-US

Fatores que influenciam a decisão de usar anestesia peridural para mulheres

Justificación: La inmigración en España es un fenómeno de gran importancia que repercute en el área de la salud. Objetivo: Investigar la relación entre la elección de la anestesia epidural y la nacionalidad de la mujer, y a su vez, observar si influyen además otros factores en esta decisión. Diseño y Metodología: Estudio cuantitativo, transversal y descriptivo con una muestra de 634 mujeres que han dado a luz en el Hospital del Noroeste de la Región de Murcia. Las variables seleccionadas fueron: antecedentes obstétricos, edad, tipo de anestesia, nacionalidad de la mujer y motivo por el rechazo de la anestesia epidural. Resultados: El 8,51% de las mujeres que dieron a luz en el hospital del Noroeste de la Región de Murcia durante el año 2010 fueron inmigrantes. En cuanto a la nacionalidad, el 20,37% de las mujeres inmigrantes no han utilizado ningún tipo de anestesia. Se ha encontrado una significante diferencia con las mujeres no inmigrantes españolas en las que sólo el 4,31% la rechazó (P<0,001). En relación a los abortos, las mujeres que no prefieren ningún tipo de anestesia son aquellas que sí han tenido abortos (P<0.05). Las edades más jóvenes de las mujeres, de 16 a 25 años, se relaciona con el no uso de la anestesia epidural (P<0,05). Conclusión: Las mujeres inmigrantes hacen menos uso de la anestesia epidural. Es un reto para la enfermera aprender las diferentes culturas ya que realiza su trabajo en una sociedad cada vez más multicultural.Justification: Immigration in Spain is a very important phenomenon which reverberates in the field of the health. Objective: To investigate the relation between the choice of epidural anesthesia and the nationality of the women, and in turn, to observe if other factors also influence this decision. Design and Methodology: Quantitative, cross-sectional and descriptive study of 634 women who have given birth at the Northwestern Hospital in the Region of Murcia. The variables selected were: obstetric history, age, type of anesthesia, the nationality of women and reasons of rejection of epidural anesthesia. Results: The 8, 51% of women who have given birth in the Northwestern Hospital in the Region of Murcia in 2010 were immigrants. As for nationality, 20, 37% of women immigrants have not used any type of anesthesia. We found a significant difference with the Spanish immigrant women in which only 4, 31% rejected (P< 0,001). In relation to abortions, women who do not prefer any anesthesia are those who do have abortions (P<0, 05). Younger ages for women, 16 to 25 years, is associated with no use of epidural anesthesia (P<0, 05). Conclusion: Immigrant women make less use of epidural anesthesia. It is a challenge for nurses to learn the different cultures and to carry out work in an increasingly multicultural society.Justificação: Imigração na Espanha é um fenômeno muito importante que afeta a área da saúde. Objetivo: Investigar a relação entre a escolha de anestesia peridural ea nacionalidade da mulher, e por sua vez, para ver se outros fatores também influenciam esta decisão. Projeto e Metodologia: quantitativa, o estudo descritivo transversal de uma amostra de 634 mulheres que deram à luz no Hospital da Região Noroeste de Múrcia. As variáveis selecionadas foram: história obstétrica, idade, tipo de anestesia, as mulheres nacionais e motivos da recusa da anestesia epidural. Resultados: 8,51 % das mulheres que deram à luz no hospital da Região Noroeste de Murcia em 2010 eram imigrantes. Em relação a nacionalidade, 20,37% das mulheres imigrantes não usei nenhuma anestesia. Encontramos uma diferença significativa com nenhuma mulher imigrante espanhol em que apenas 4,31% rejeitados (P < 0,001). No que diz respeito ao aborto, as mulheres que não preferem qualquer anestesia são aqueles que têm abortos (P < 0,05). Jovens mulheres com idades entre 16 a 25, não estava relacionado com o uso de anestesia epidural (P < 0,05). Conclusão: As mulheres imigrantes fazem menos uso de anestesia epidural. É um desafio para a enfermeira aprender diferentes culturas e obter o seu trabalho em uma sociedade cada vez mais multicultural

Proving the climate benefit in the production of biofuels from municipal solid waste refuse in Europe

The non-recyclable fraction of municipal solid waste (MSW refuse) represents over half of the total MSW production in Europe, with an energetic potential of 1250 PJ/year, a similar quantity to the current potential for energy production from agricultural residues. Currently, there are no alternative uses for MSW refuse other than landfilling or incineration. Thus, it represents an important untapped resource for biofuel production in Europe. Standard attributional LCAs have not been able to capture some of the bioenergy interactions with the climate system and neither to properly assess the climate change mitigation potential of bioenergy technologies. This study aims to fill this gap and properly assess the impact of the production of biofuels from MSW refuse on climate change by applying several methodological improvements in a time-dependent assessment, i.e., an explicit consideration of biogenic carbon flows using a dynamic LCA and an absolute formulation of the cumulative and instantaneous climate metrics. Two diverging examples of current MSW management systems are selected as references against which to assess the potential climate benefit of biofuel production: with or without dominant landfill disposal and with high or low GHG emissions from the power generation sector. The results show that in countries with current negligible landfilling, the production of biofuels would lead to a clear climate benefit. For landfill-dominant countries, the climate benefit would only be temporarily achieved in the medium term as the impact of landfills on climate decreases in the long term. However, considering a progressive banning of landfilling promoted by other policies for environmental protection and resource efficiency, the results would become positive for both countries with climate change mitigation guaranteed by using MSW refuse for biofuel production.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad ENE2012-3159

Rewarding of extra-avoided GHG emissions in thermochemical biorefineries incorporating Bio-CCS

The incorporation of Bio-CCS, which involves an increase in investment and operating costs, would not be of interest in thermochemical biorefineries unless some economic benefit were provided. The rewarding of extra-avoided emissions encourages larger savings of GHG emissions in thermochemical biorefineries incorporating Bio-CCS. Therefore, there is a need for policies which reward of Bio-CCS incorporation, and in a broader sense, all extra-avoided emissions. In this study, we analyze how the geological storage of already captured CO₂ (i.e. the incorporation of Bio-CCS) could be rewarded, taking different policy scenarios in the EU into consideration. Since thermochemical biorefineries achieve a GHG saving above the minimum target in the EU, the sale of all extra-avoided GHG emissions (not only from the geological storage of captured CO₂) from energy carriers and chemicals is analyzed. Two different configurations of thermochemical biorefineries are analyzed: a biorefinery producing an energy carrier and a biorefinery co-producing an energy carrier and chemicals. Considering the sale of CO₂ allowances in the European Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS), current prices (5–15 €/t) would not make Bio-CCS incorporation profitable. However, it would be profitable compare with current sequestration costs for conventional power plants (50–100 €/t). If the sale of extra-avoided emissions from the production of energy carriers were included in the EU-ETS, the CO₂ sequestration cost would be reduced, although not enough to enhance the process economy. If chemicals were included, the sequestration cost would decrease significantly

Balance and saving of GHG emissions in thermochemical biorefineries

In this study, a simplified methodology for the calculation of the balance of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and corresponding saving compared with the fossil reference is presented. The proposed methodology allows the estimation of the anthropogenic GHG emissions of thermochemical biorefineries (net emitted to the atmosphere). In the calculation of the GHG balance, all relevant factors have been identified and analyzed including multiproduction, emissions from biogenic carbon capture and storage (Bio-CCS), co-feeding of fossil fuels (secondary feedstock) and possible carbon storage in biomass-derived products (chemicals). Therefore, it is possible to calculate the balance of GHG emissions of a hypothetical thermochemical biorefinery considering different alternatives of land-use, biomass feedstock, co-feeding of fossil fuels, Bio-CCS incorporation and final use of the products. The comparison of the estimated GHG balance with the corresponding fossil reference for each product is of special relevance in the methodology since it is the parameter used in European regulation for the fulfillment of sustainability criteria in biomass-derived fuels and liquids. The proposed methodology is tested using a previously assessed set of different process concepts of thermochemical biorefineries (techno-economic analysis). The resulting GHG balance and saving are analyzed to identify uncertainties and provide recommendations for future regulation. In all process concepts, the GHG savings are above the minimum requirement of GHG emissions for 2018. In the case of incorporating Bio-CCS, cradle-to-grave negative GHG emissions are obtained. However, in order to assess the role of chemical co-production from biomass, they need to be included in future regulation

Explorando la regeneración de la mordenita en la reacción de carbonilación de dimetiléter

Dimethyl ether carbonylation (DME) to produce methyl acetate (MA) over mordenite catalysts is attracting much attention because of its high selectivity. However, acidic mordenite suffers from a fast deactivation (coking) that has not been properly studied. In the present work, we study the regeneration of the catalyst in several cycles aiming to help the future industrial application of mordenite catalysts in MA production. Both diluted and pure air have been successfully tested for the regeneration of the catalyst. The results show that 1) there is no negative effect after several regeneration cycles and 2) there is a slight improvement of catalyst productivity after the first regeneration cycle. A possible explanation to these results, which is highlighted in this work, is that the catalyst structure is not affected during regeneration while there is an initial migration of Al from the mordenite structure to extra-framework positions.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, BIOTER project, Proyecto I+D Retos ENE2012-31598Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Universidad de Sevilla, Juan de la Cierva IJCI-2017-3283

A simulation study on the health concerns derived from GSM base station placement

In the last years a great concern has raised among population due to the placement of the base stations (BS) of cellular systems in urban areas. In some cases, it has been addressed with the (re)installation of BSs in far suburban areas. However, in these cases, mobile stations (MS) must raise transmission power. Thus, users may -potentially- suffer a higher radio exposure. In this paper we quantified the variation of the transmission power in this application scenario. The study has been done by means of the OPNET/GSM framework simulation tool. Suitable propagation models and the GSM power control algorithm have been added to the model, in order to compute the MS transmission power in a real environment. Results reveal a significative increment of the MS transmission power when the BS is relocated to suburban areas. Therefore, we conclude that it is necessary to introduce modifications in the GSM network architecture to solve this issue together with the BS placement problemThis work has been funded by the Spanish Economy, Industry and Innovation Council under the SOLIDMOVIL project (2I04SU044), by Fundación Séneca (Región de Murcia, Spain) ARENA project (00546/PI/04) and by the Spanish Research Council under the ARPaq project (TEC2004-05622- C04-02/TCM). The authors are also indebted to OPNET Technologies Inc. for granting licenses under the OPNET University program

Guía de la exposición Juan Andrés y la Escuela Universalista

La Biblioteca Histórica de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid inicia el año 2017 con la exposición "Juan Andrés y la Escuela Universalista Española", con la que se conmemora el bicentenario de la muerte de Juan Andrés (1740-1817), autor de la primera "Historia universal y comparada de las Letras y las Ciencias" con el título de "Origen, progresos y estado actual de toda la literatura". Es Andrés cabeza o figura principal, junto con Lorenzo Hervás y Antonio Eximeno, de la Escuela Universalista Española del siglo XVIII, constituida por una treintena de autores, más otros tantos vinculados y diversos precursores que en su conjunto delinean una tradición humanística ininterrumpida hasta el acceso a esta Ilustración brillante, sólo tardíamente determinada, cuya emergencia modifica la faz de la cultura española y occidental moderna

Data for the modelling of the future power system with a high share of variable renewable energy

Energy and power system models have become necessary tools that provide challenges and technical and economic solutions for integrating high shares of Variable Renewable Energy. Models are focused on analysing strategies of power systems to achieve their decarbonisation targets. The data presented in this paper includes the model algorithm, inputs, equations, modelling assumptions, supplementary materials, and results of the simulations supporting the research article titled “Facing the high share of variable renewable energy in the power system: flexibility and stability requirements”. The analysis is based on data from the system operator of one of the European Union member states (Spain). The developed model allows making projections and calculations to obtain the power generation of each technology, the international interconnections, inertia, emissions, system costs and flexibility requirements of new technologies. These data can be used for energy policy development or decision making on power capacity and the balancing needs of the future power system.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación PID2020-114725RA-I00Universidad de Sevilla VI PPIT-USPlan nacional I+D+I CTM2016-78089-RJunta de Andalucía P18-RT-451

Assessing the potential of olive residues for energy valorization in Western Andalusia

Utilisation of waste biomass is crucial for tackling the current energy crises and meeting the different targets set for it, from a global to a regional level, as highlighted in the United Nations 2030 agenda for sustainable development. To achieve these goals, proposals must be established to enable the use of local waste biomass as a source of clean and sustainable energy. Another key aspect of this transition includes the recent commitment to green hydrogen as a substitute for fossil fuels. Hydrogen is a compound that has already been used in industry for decades (e.g., refineries), which guarantees i) the existence of a current demand and ii) a know-how that guarantees a certain degree of confidence for the large-scale use of this vector. To unify both aspects, this work addresses the analysis and quantification of agricultural residues, specifically from olive industry, and its possible potential to produce green hydrogen in Western Andalusia. Therefore, this study helps providing the basis for the implementation of a roadmap for the decarbonisation of the selected area using local biomass sources. The results obtained show that hydrogen generation can reach a peak of up to 592.2 tonnes in the month of January from biomass waste from the olive industry, highlighting the great potential of this residues in Western Andalusia and providing a new perspective for the future development of bioenergy in the region