Biagio F. Giannetti

Developing eco-technologies: A possibility to minimize environmental impact in Southern Brazil

Abstract This article discusses the need to integrate scientific research with the concept of Industrial Ecology, acting as support for the development of Eco-technologies. In order to proceed with the discussion, an initial section presents the concepts. A new and more accurate position concerning the extension of Eco-technologies in the context of Industrial Ecology is proposed. Emphasis on the role of academic scientific research as a way to propose and support specific solutions for local problems. Thus, alternative solutions based on the application of non-conventional technologies, which explore the unique regional characteristics of a Brazilian region, are examined. The sharing of waste streams generated by two polluting industries, mining and leather tanning, can lead to lower environmental impact if compared with separate management of their wastes. A comprehensive bibliographic review of non-conventional technologies related to heavy metal attenuation is included.

The electrochemical behavior of pyrite–pyrrhotite mixtures

Abstract To assess the response of common sulfide minerals to oxidizing conditions, a methodology to immobilize mechanically solid particles on carbon surfaces (voltammetry of microparticles, VMP) was employed, to define the influence of the pyrrhotite content in pyrite–pyrrhotite mixtures. The influence of the galvanic interactions and local pH on the oxidation reaction of pyrite was also investigated. With this purpose, artificial two-mineral electrodes were constructed, ranging in weight from 20 to 80% pyrrhotite. The resulting cyclic voltammograms were analyzed and relative quantities of oxidation products were evaluated. The goal of this work was to define the boundary conditions, in terms of pyrrhotite content in the mixture, that determine the SO 4 2− /S ratio obtained and to describe some parameters which influence this ratio: local pH and galvanic interactions.

Cleaner production initiatives and challenges for a sustainable world

A medium size agribusiness located at Sao Sebastiao do Paraiso, Minas Gerais, Brazil, is evaluated in order to determine the effects of the integrated production process in its productivity. Results are compared with those obtained for agribusiness without integration. The farm is composed by an integrated production of corn, eggs, pigs and milk. Emergy accounting is applied to evaluate the energy and materials flows driving the production process. The farm total emergy is 1,23 x 10 seJ/ano. The values obtained for eggs, pigs and milk are, respectively, 24, 5 e 6 times higher than the results observed in literature for traditional production systems. Global productivity values for the three by-products are indicate that integrated production processes are more environmentally efficient.

Sustainable transportation strategies for decoupling road vehicle transport and carbon dioxide emissions

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify research priorities to guide transportation stakeholders in their practice, education, and research. Design/methodology/approach – A literature review of published, conference proceedings, agency reports, books, and web site documents was conducted, aiming at the identification of the diverging strategies and practices undertaken by transportation stakeholders in order to be able to generate initial meaningful insights about a sustainable transportation system. Findings – Sustainable transportation systems are in certain way a new paradigm where a business-as-usual approach is not possible. Vehicle makers produce more energy efficient vehicles. Nevertheless, fossil fuel is still the predominant source of energy. Regarding the level of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, non-motorized transport modes are preferable over motorized transport modes, and public transportation modes preferable to private transportation modes. It is also import to include environmen...

Ferramenta para Tomada de Decisão Considerando a Interação dos Sistemas de Produção e o Meio Ambiente

Ternary diagrams are presented as graphic tools to assist environmental accounting and environmental decision-making based on emergy analysis. Besides the unquestionable advantages of graphic interpretation over table analysis, the use of ternary diagrams, widely used for physical chemistry evaluation of three components systems, or three components phase diagrams, permits the use of phase diagrams properties to assess the dependence of the system upon renewable and non renewable inputs, the environmental support for dilution and abatement of process emissions and the system efficiency. The prompt visualization of the emergy accounting data makes possible to compare processes and systems with and without ecosystem services, to evaluate improvements and to follow the system performance over time. With the aim of ternary diagrams, aspects such as the interaction between systems and the interactions between systems and the environment can be readily recognized and evaluated.

Primary evidences on the robustness of environmental accounting from emergy

Agricultural systems operate in the interface between environment and human economy, combining the use of natural and purchased resources in food production. With the aid of the ternary diagram, data of agricultural systems taken from literature are organized in order to evidence the influence of the type of culture and of the analyst’s criteria on the results of environmental accounting in emergy. All the systems represented in the ternary diagram determine a qualitatively well-defined region, less or more extended according to the case. Points defined for the emergy coordinates were localized in defined regions observed in the diagram. Emergy accounting is presented as a method able to environmentally characterize production systems in a robust way, even with variations in analyst’s criteria and data nature or origin. It is shown that the results of environmental accounting obtained with the use of the emergy methodology are only slightly influenced by the analyst’s criteria. On the other hand, the ternary diagram appears as an interesting graphical tool to determine finding and checking robustness of emergy accounting. The robustness of emergy methodology is remarkable.

Inventário de ciclo de vida da manufatura de seringas odontológicas

Among the methods proposed to environmental management of productive activities, Life Cycle Assessment is one of the most integrated, complete and efficacious. The product assessed is the dental carpule syringe. The aim of this work is to to perform a Streamlined Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) to quantify the electric energy consumption and the solid waste release from dental carpule syringes manufacture. The methodological structure is based on NBR ISO 14.040 and ISO 14.040 series. The LCI covers the syringe life cycle from mining to disposal. The limits of the system include the stages of copper and zinc mining and ore beneficiation; the production of polyethylene used for carpule and needle packing, the production of the steel for needles and syringe coils; and the use of the whole set by dentists. The functional unit was defined as 10 6 (one million) applied anaesthesies. During improvement assessment, the proposed solutions allow reducing the electric energy consumption at about 20% in the manufacture stage. The solid waste quantity may be reduced nearly 40% in the manufacture stage, corresponding to approximately 6.50 % of the total solid waste released during the whole life cycle of the dental carpule syringe.

An evaluation of a MSW-to-energy system using Emergy synthesis

This paper presents a biophysical understanding of the MSW-to-energy facility located at the Sao Joao landfill in Sao Paulo using Emergy synthesis. Accounting for the material inputs and the biogas accumulation Emergy-based indices are calculated to evaluate the environmental load and sustainability level of the concerned biogas project. The study was conducted by combining the analysis of transformities, Emergy indicators and the net Emergy yield ratio to establish long-term sustainability and measure global environmental stress. The implementation of a project for environmental compensation in fulfilment of state’s requirements was also assessed. The findings reveal that the Emergy investment to the use of biogas is quite low and, therefore, advantageous. Transformities show that the global productivity of the MSW-to-energy plants can compete with traditional plants. The conclusions justify the effort invested in developing MSW-to-energy plants and are relevant for policy makers in a highly sensitive sector to accomplish sustainability goals.

Aplicações do diagrama emergético triangular na tomada de decisão ecoeficiente

Emergetic ternary diagrams and emergy accounting are used as support tools for decision making. The graphical representation of emergy analysis permits to compare systems, products and services taking into account the environmental support, to evaluate improvements and to follow systems performance with time. The graphic tool is versatile and can ce applied to represent the performance of products, processes and even countries, within a given period or along the time. To illustrate the use of emergetic ternary diagrams to support decision making, examples taken from the literature were employed. It is shown that the diagram properties help evaluating systems efficiency, their dependence on renewable and non renewable resouces and on environmental services to absorb pollutants. With the aid of emergetic ternary diagrams, the interactions between systems and between these systems and the environment can be readly verified and evaluated.

Implementação de Eco-Tecnologias rumo à ecologia industrial

This work displays a reflection on conceptual changes of the development/implementation of EcoTechnology from an Industrial Ecology perspective. Initially, the fundamentals of the concepts Cleaner Technology and Eco-Technology are discussed. An extensive bibliographic review of non-conventional technologies is presented for positioning Production in a strategic context. Drawing on examples fromThis work displays a reflection on conceptual changes of the development/implementation of Eco-Technology from an Industrial Ecology perspective. Initially, the fundamentals of the concepts Cleaner Technology and Eco-Technology are discussed. An extensive bibliographic review of non-conventional technologies is presented for positioning Production in a strategic context. Drawing on examples from heavy metal attenuation, such as chromium from tannery industry, this work discusses the need of including scientific research on the concept of Industrial Ecology, by means of the development of Eco-Technologies. This paper brings to discussion a clear definition of Eco-Technology employing a proposition for application of these technologies to industrial sectors in South Brazil. The work attributes great responsability to professionals who may estimulate sinergistic actions in industries, regarding the disposal and effluent treatment, as alternative to the present isolated practices.