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Despite numerous studies, the ‘Porter Hypothesis’ (PH), which states well-designed regulations can compel manufacturers to develop innovations with both economic and environmental benefits, remains unsettled. We examine two significant cases for which PH claims were once made: the British alkali industry and the (Tennessee) Copper Basin smelting operations. Our conclusions are: (1) the PH is based on a flawed understanding of how ‘win win’ innovations spontaneously emerge in competitive settings, (2) regulatory pressures were only one (and typically minor) factor, and (3) “strict and well designed” environmental regulations are unlikely to deliver superior outcomes to traditional property rights-based approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of black liquor replacement cooking (BLRC) on wheat straw soda-anthraquinone (AQ) pulps and their lignin structures were investigated by using different black liquor replacement ratios (BLRR) and alkaline nitrobenzene oxidation and ozonation. The residual AQ, alkali, and dissolved lignin, as well as carbohydrates in the wheat straw black liquor, greatly influence wheat straw soda-AQ cooking. The influence could be controlled by different BLRR. The BLRC with around 60% BLRR resulted in superior delignification selectivity. The residual AQ and dissolved carbohydrates in the black liquor are beneficial to delignification selectivity, while the dissolved and degraded lignin can slow the delignification rate. No obvious differences were found in the lignin condensation and ß-O-4 structure degradation by the BLRC at different BLRR compared to control soda-AQ cooking. The BLRC technology has potential application because it reduces chemical charge and chemical recovery load and results in higher yield and quality of pulp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a resources -- rich country of trona, China has a long history of exploiting trona deposits and the ancient Chinese were familiar with various kinds of trona. The booming trona industry in modem China was built on the basis of long -- term exploration. However, the Chinese trona industry had been defeated when competing with the transnational giant ICI Alkali Company. ICI's status with near -- monopoly was achieved by effective localization. Fortunately, ICI withdrew from Far East market temporarily during the World War I for the sudden cut off sea transportation between Europe and Asia. All types of technologies, including the Leblanc process, the Solvay process and salt electrolysis, flourished during the important strategic opportunity period. However, when ICI re -- entered Chinese market at the end of the World War 1, local alkali companies bankrupted one after another and the Solvay process had become the last hope for Alkali industry in modem China [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Application of greenwaste compost to brownfield land is increasingly common in soil and landscape restoration. Previous studies have demonstrated both beneficial and detrimental effects of this material on trace element mobility. A pot experiment with homogenised soil/compost investigated distribution and mobility of trace elements, two years after application of greenwaste compost mulch to shallow soils overlying a former alkali-works contaminated with Pb, Cu and As (∼900, 200 and 500 mg kg−1, respectively). Compost mulch increased organic carbon and Fe in soil pore water, which in turn increased As and Sb mobilization; this enhanced uptake by lettuce and sunflower. A very small proportion of the total soil trace element pool was in readily-exchangeable form (<0.01% As, <0.001% other trace elements), but the effect of compost on behaviour of metals was variable and ambiguous. It is concluded that greenwaste compost should be applied with caution to multi-element contaminated soils. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses the study which examines the effects of impregnation time in a commercial-scale pulp mill that produce fully bleached birch hardwood kraft pulp. The study finds that impregnation time has significant effect on consumption of effective alkali in the impregnation stage but total alkali consumption was unaffected when cooking kappa number is constant. Also mentions is the reduced impregnation time requires higher cooking temperature to maintain kappa number and quality.

The current mercury concentrations in moss Hypnum cupressiforme, in forest floor humus and in oak and pine bark were determined in a 10-km radius around a chlor-alkali plant affected by a flood in 2002. Similar distribution patterns of Hg had accumulated in four bio-indicators, irrespective of different Hg concentrations in the analysed biological matrices. No accumulation of extremely Hg-contaminated materials was found in the flooded parts. The bio-indicators, used alone or in combination, can be recommended for effective and reliable determination of Hg contamination levels around Hg sources. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Focuses on the import of Levantine products in Europe. Supply of raw material for soap and glass making; Importance of the industry in trade import; Expansion of the soap and glass industries.