Giancarlo Barbiroli

A method for evaluating the overall technical and economic performance of environmental innovations in production cycles

Abstract As is demonstrated by a great deal of scientific literature on the subject, an ever-increasing number of businesses are adopting cleaner production as a strategy to minimise the impact of their activities and their products on the environment. However, the range of approaches which are grouped together and given the common name ‘cleaner production’ is quite broad and diversified and includes a variety of innovative solutions that lead to very different results. Indeed, varying results have been obtained; the improvements in that industry has achieved in its environmental performance, both on a single business basis and in the overall product life cycle, as well as in the financial and economic returns. The present study proposes a quantitative method of classification, cleaner production innovations based on technical and economic criteria. The method proposed here is based on improvements made to the environment and the economic benefits to both the single business and to the overall socio-economic system as well as on the inter-relations between these variables.

Polyethylene like polymers. Aliphatic polyesters of dodecanedioic acid 1. Synthesis and properties

A series of aliphatic polyesters has been synthesized starting from 1,12-dodecanedioic acid and aliphatic diols, bearing from 2 to 12 carbon atoms. These polymers, which were fully characterized in terms of chemical structure, molecular weight and thermal behaviour, were obtained as crystalline materials with melting points ranging from 70 to 90 °C and with a relatively high molecular weight. All the monomers used can be obtained from biomasses, as a consequence these materials can be an interesting alternative to synthetic polymers produced from petrochemical processes based on nonrenewable resources.

The elaboration of global performance indices for evaluating durable goods

Abstract This paper proposes a method which allows us to arrive at a global performance index (GPI) for durable goods such as automobiles, industrial vehicles, aircraft, farm machinery, electric household appliances and air conditioners. The procedure consists of determining (for each separate category of product) the property and performance factors requisite to an evaluation of the concrete qualitative efficiency of such goods. Clearly, it must also be possible to measure and to reproduce such properties on a world- wide scale. Then, intermediate performance indices must be obtained, and the pre-established properties logically paired off with these. This can be done by means of nomograms. The subsequent matching-up of the intermediate indices leads to a global index which is useful for carrying out comparisons and economic evaluations.

A proposal for a new method to develop synthetic quality indices for air and water

Abstract During the last decades, several methods have been proposed to obtain synthetic indices expressing the environmental quality of natural resources. Such methods differ from each other in many characteristics (environmental parameters, normalization functions, aggregation functions) in order to be made suitable for specific situations. Moreover, these indices have been accused of leading to a loss of information because of their excessively synthetic character. A new tree-structured method is proposed to obtain synthetic quality indices for air and water. Besides the final index, several intermediate indices are computed, allowing environmental managers to have indices at different degrees of aggregation. The aggregation functions proposed in the literature are compared and the arithmetic mean is suggested for use, as it is demonstrated to be the most neutral function.

New indicators for measuring the manifold aspects of technical and economic efficiency of production processes and technologies

Abstract The measurement and evaluation of the technical and economic efficiency of a production process and, consequently, of the technologies adopted, are of great importance in establishing the advantage of carrying on the production activity as it has been programmed, or of modifying it. Since productivity analysis, although important, does not wholly represent the many quantitative aspects that affect the economic results that can be achieved with the combination of production factors, a complex method has been conceived and set up, based on indicators that make it possible, with a high degree of precision, to measure the manifold phenomena connected with production activities at both technical and economic levels. Such phenomena refer, at least, to: materials and energy cycle efficiency; process, product, energy cycle environmental efficiency; product absolute and constant quality efficiency; equipment static and dynamic operating efficiency; product mix variability, product volume and input efficiency. The indicators proposed can be elaborated either at the end of the year or periodically during the year, and have been arranged so that they are comparable with similar and different production activities, as can be seen from the three real cases reported. Global technical efficiency varies from 0 to 1200 and the higher the value the more favourable it is; global economic efficiency varies from 1200 to 0 and the lower the value the higher the efficiency.

Factors influencing changes in energy consumption : The case of Italy, 1975-85

Abstract During the last years several authors have been studying the main factors influencing changes in energy consumption, ie production volume, production structure and energy intensity. Thus, a number of methods to quantify these factors have been suggested. In this paper one of those methods is partially modified and is applied to the Italian situation for the period 1975–85 in order to try to point out the role played by the various factors which have caused changes in energy consumption in Italy.

A new method to evaluate the specific and global advantage of a technology

Abstract A new method is proposed for assessing a new technology, with reference to either the specific (internal) or the socio-economic advantage. The method consists in the fixation of the parameters that must be used for the assessment and the algorithm for their synthesis. The fixed parameters are technical and economic. For the internal advantage they are process reliability, process capability, real potential, flexibility, added product value in relation to materials and energy, and added product value in relation to work and amortization. For the external (socio-economic) advantage they are added value of induced production, induced investment, changes in global employment levels, change in the intellectual employment, internal and external environmental protection and safety costs, and changes in balance of trade of base products and of technology. The algorithms proposed are graphic and algebraic. The graphic method, using nomograms, involves the pairwise coupling of the parameters, by obtaining intermediate (or sub-) indices of the first and second level. The algebraic method uses formulae that also give intermediate values of the first and second level, then the two indices referred to the internal and external advantages, and finally the global advantage index. The algebraic method is the more accurate because the graphic method is sensitive to the scale chosen. Variations may be introduced in the method, especially in the weight of each parameter.

A techno-economic analysis of the results of product diversification in household appliance durables--evaluating concreteness

Abstract The current tendency towards product differentiation in many areas of manufacturing is generally considered to be extremely positive. What we have attempted to do here is to verify the real degree of diversification that exists, by means of the measurement of the global performance of the most important household appliances, calculated using technical specifications available in the market. The figures enable us to evaluate the actual degree of diversification, and to calculate the Price/Global Performance ratio, a real measure of the relationship between the global technical performance of a product and its price, in order to get a critical understanding of the technical and economic results of diversification. Furthermore, we have also carried out an analysis of correlation designed to support “empirical” evidence.

Towards a definition and a dynamic measure of strategic technology

Abstract An original method to define and measure the degree of ‘strategic value’ of a technological pattern is described. The method consists, above all, in the statement of 16 parameters that contribute to the degree of strategic value, in the way of measuring them, and in the possible variation range. Subsequently, the parameters are combined in couples—according to a logical order—and are synthesized into eight first level sub-indices, and then, continuing the combination of couples, four second level and two third level sub-indices are obtained before reaching a final strategic index. In this way, a ‘relevance tree’ is obtained, through which, besides the final index, subsequent steps are built up, which together give origin to an organic framework, including all the phenomena that contribute to the degree of the ‘strategic value’. The subsequent calculation is made through the application of an algebraic method, which is illustrated in this article and successfully applied. This method, applied to six different cases, permits the comparison of different technologies and, consequently, the obtainment of specific information on the degree of strategic value of each technology. The main result of the proposed methodology is to offer the possibility of reaching a complex hut broad definition of strategic value and, furthermore, a dynamic measure of its status which is far more useful than the static one given to a few pre-fixed sectors.

Interaction between gliadins and anthocyan derivatives

The interaction of gliadins with some anthocyanins (e.g. myrtillin, malvin, keracyanin, callistephin) and anthocyanidins (e.g. delphinidin, pelargonidin, cyanidin) has been analysed in aqueous solution at pH condition of the stomach, in which these compounds are initially metabolized. NMR, FT-IR and UV-Vis spectroscopic methods have been employed to determine the anthocyanin binding mode. The spectroscopic data seem to indicate that anthocyans are located along the polypeptide chains of gliadins in a generical molecular interaction between the two moieties. Our data do not exclude that hydrogen bonding interaction too is operating. Anthocyan-gliadins complexes are very soluble in acidic conditions. The results provide new insights into anthocyan-protein interaction and may have relevance to human health.