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Copyright of Proceedings of the International Congress on Process Engineering - Processing is the property of Union of Mechanical & Electrotechnical Engineers & Technicians of Serbia (SMEITS) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The main purpose of the publication was to show the differences in revenues, costs and profits when using manure directly as a fertilizer (after storage) or as a substrate for a biogas plant equipped with a cogeneration unit, and then using the digestate for fertilization purposes. The comparison includes cost, revenue and profit streams throughout the year. It also takes into account the introduction of additional co-substrates in order to increase the yield of biogas (biomethane), and thus the profits from the future investment. Forecasts of the profitability of biogas investments were presented, taking into account the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, i.e. methane and nitrous oxide, which are several dozen or even almost 300 times more harmful to the atmosphere than carbon dioxide The economic, energy and ecological accounts of manure management can serve as guidelines for pre-investment analysis when considering investments in biogas plants. In addition, the published data indicate that the energy management of cow manure is of great importance when estimating the carbon footprint of the entire dairy production. It should be expected that in the near future such solutions will become more and more popular almost all over the world. Input parameters of substrates, gaseous emissions and biogas (and biomethane) yields were obtained from own research (cow manure samples were taken from a working farm) and from literature sources, e.g. these were international and national IPCC (Intergovermetal Panel on Climate Change) protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the work was to present the role of composting as one of the simple and cheapest methods to reduce GHG emissions from cow manure - conclusions from the MilKey and MELS projects. The article contains both the results of some studies analyzed within the above projects, as well as the methodology of conducting composting studies. The method of managing animal waste by composting or co-composting has been known for a long time and used in many places around the world. However, this is not always done in an appropriate way, both economically and ecologically. Improper storage of manure, its holding time, the way it is applied to the field and finally its use as fertilizer are quite significant for ammonia and greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. These types of issues are typical of areas of intensive animal production, where farmers use natural fertilizers (slurry, manure) to increase the humus layer on agricultural fields. Most developing or still underdeveloped countries (including Poland) are undergoing intensive changes in the area of sustainable processing of natural fertilizers. The modern rules of the new Common Agricultural Policy of Poland, defined for 2021-2027, provide for the transition of farmers to sustainable agricultural production. One of the key elements for Polish farmers will be the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from farms by introducing agricultural techniques (e.g. through appropriate nutrition or agrotechnical treatments). In addition, increasing market pressure is expected due to consumer expectations to confirm the sustainability of animal production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union (EU) is hurrying towards a climate-neutral economy, which includes increasing the use of renewable resources, including wood for heating. This direction means that the use of wood is increasing every year in the EU and beyond. The by-product of this activity, biofuel ash, is correspondingly increasing, so its further use should be considered a long-term issue. Energy producers face the challenge of making the best use of ash and often landfill it, thus moving countries further away from the EU Directive target. EU Directive 1999/31/EC and the National Waste Management Plan 2021-2028 require the amount of municipal waste landfilled (% of municipal waste generated) in 2035 will not exceed 10%. Otherwise, EU countries may face significant penalties. The energy produced from renewable energy sources (RES) In 2019, the total consumption of renewable energy sources (RES) in Latvia was 75.5 petajoules (PJ), according to the Central Statistical Office (CSO). In the five years 2015-2019, RES consumption increased by 16.7%. The decrease in RES consumption in 2019 was driven by a decrease in hydropower (HPP) generation, due to lower rainfall than in 2018. The main types of RES in Latvia are fuel wood (firewood, wood residues, fuel wood chips, wood briquettes, and wood pellets) and hydropower. Since 2010, the use of wood fuels for heat supply in Latvia has been increasing rapidly. Increasing the consumption of domestic energy sources reduces energy dependence on imported energy sources from 63.9% in 2005 to 44.3% in 2018. Fuel wood accounts for 82% of RES energy consumption. The share of fuel wood in total RES consumption was 82% in 2019 (80.7% in 2018). Biogas (landfill gas, sewage sludge gas, other biogas) consumption in 2019 was 3.4 PJ, 7.3% less than in 2018 (3.6 PJ), with a decrease of 8.1% or 0.3 PJ over the five years. The study aims to help solve the problems of district heating companies by preventing waste generation and reducing the costs for companies in its disposal. In addition, it can reduce, albeit slightly, the tariffs of heating users for the heat supplied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fertilizer is one of the most important things in agriculture. One of the biggest companies that produce fertilizer in Indonesia is PT. Petrokimia Gresik that is located in Gresik. In the last two years, Indonesia is facing a lack of fertilizer stock to meet the needs of Indonesian farmers. One of the root causes is the high production cost needed for making urea fertilizer. This paper discusses the use of Material Requirements Planning (MRP) to improve production cost efficiency in the PT. Petrokimia Gresik. The right MRP will minimize the product cost, so PT. Petrokimia Gresik can produce more products with efficient costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing global population drives up food demand which means crop production needs to increase. To achieve that, fertilizer is used. Many industries, including the fertilizer industry, are feeling the impact of COVID 19. This paper presents the implementation of cost leadership strategy in Indonesia fertilizer company, the effect of COVID 19 on the fertilizer industry, and how the strategy is used to achieve competitiveness. This paper also discusses the impact of the implementation of cost leadership strategy to the company's financial performance. Based on the result, the five components of the cost leadership strategy can be fulfilled by the company. However, for the component that consumers have the power to bargain the price is not in accordance with the fertilizer industry. This is generally due to the fact that fertilizer prices in Indonesia depend on and affect world fertilizer prices. The impact of the implementation of the cost leadership strategy is carrying out effectiveness such as operational costs, managing inventory, and the use of raw materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to examine the application of technology-based corn-soybean cropping patterns with chemical and biological fertilizers on land productivity and income of farming systems along with environmental considerations. The research method is experimental. The research was conducted in Polaman Hamlet, Wareng Village, Wonosari District, Gunungkidul Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta. The research was conducted on-farm by involving local farming communities in rainfed rice fields covering 1.68 ha. The treatment in this study consisted of 6 garden patterns combined monoculture and intercropping patterns. Analysis of the data with analysis of variance with the 5% TARAF RCBD test using the SAS version 9.0 application, measuring the feasibility of farming using the revenue to cost ratio known as R/C and technological feasibility analysis indicators Marginal Benefit-Cost Ratio (MBCR) value. The results showed that the conventional monoculture (M-C4) cropping pattern had significantly different maize yields because the intercropping system had a higher maize population. Applied technology of monoculture corn cropping pattern with 5-row spacing and intercropping. Chemical fertilizer Urea NPK 15:15:15 and agrophyte biofertilizer. Both applied technologies used have income feasibility based on economic analysis of farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study presented in this paper is related to the extraction of humic lignite substances and the separation of fulvic acids in order to introduce them into a fertilizing matrix and to evaluate the effect on tomato culture. Fulvic acids have biostimulatory effect on agricultural crops and have significant uses in agriculture. For the characterization of fulvic acids (FA), the total acidity and content of carboxylic groups were determined. The separate fulvic acids were introduced into a matrix containing nutrients with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK). The final product containing mineral (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) and organic substances (fulvic acid), coded NPK-FA, was applied foliar to tomato crop in vegetation pots. In order to evaluate the effect of fulvic acids on the quality of the tomato crop, the liquid product obtained (NPK-FA) was applied foliar in 2 concentrations (1% and 2% NPK-FA) and the obtained results were related to the control fertilizer treated only with the solution containing nutrients with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK). To evaluate the effect of application, the determinations were carried out for all variations of the content of nitrogen fertilizer, phosphorus and potassium in tomato leaves and were observed the increases in the nitrogen content between 11.4% (1% NPK-FA) and 14.1% (2% NPK-FA) compared to variant control (NPK). The application of fertilizers with fulvic acid also had an influence on photosynthesis processes, evidenced by the increase of pigment content by 8.2% and 11.3% compared to the control variant (NPK). Also, the amount of dry matter of fruits treated with NPK-FA (2%) increased by 9.8% compared to the control variant (NPK). From the experiments reported for tomato crop, it was observed that the addition of the fulvic acids extracted from lignite led to the increase of the nutrient content of the leaves and of the pigment content of the leaves. From the data obtained it can be concluded that fertilizing products containing fulvic acid extract can improve the quality of tomatoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Septage management is a serious challenge in most of the low and middle-income nations. In this study, the conversion of septage into fertilizer through thermophilic composting was investigated. The complementary materials, essential for effective septage co-composting were identified through self-heating study, prior to in-vessel composting. The study revealed that the composting of septage was enhanced and the compost quality was improved by the addition of mixed organic waste (MW), due to the presence of readily available carbon and nitrogen in MW. The micropollutants, mainly personal care products (PCPs) and pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) present in the septage that cause serious environmental threats, can also be degraded through effective septage co-composting. Among several bulking agents investigated, coir pith enhanced the composting because of its high air-filled porosity and water holding capacity. In-vessel co-composting of septage with MW and coir pith resulted in higher temperature (>55°C) for more than 3 days. This is essential to meet the regulatory criteria for pathogen destruction. Moreover, the MW addition improved the final compost quality in terms of nutrient content. More than 80% of the micropollutants degraded through in-vessel cocomposting. A nutrient content of above 4% dry weight and a seed germination index of above 80% favoured the potential application of ripened compost as fertilizer for plants growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of environmentally friendly and biodegradable fertilizers is an area of great interest throughout the world. One such fertilizer is biochar, obtained by the method of biomass pyrolysis (manures, green mass, and mushrooms). Biochar obtained from chicken manure is discussed relatively rarely in the literature; however, it seems to be a good fertilizer because of its significant nutrient content. Moreover, preparation of biochar from chicken manure solves another serious environmental problem: its utilization. The main objective of this work was to research the effect of biochar derived from chicken manure on crop yields in a field experiment. Biochar was prepared by heating manure to 400 ⁰C for 4 h in a 200-L rotary pyrolysis machine. Two plant cultures were used in the experiment: spring barley Hordeum vulgare and spring wheat Triticum aestivum. Biochar was applied at a dose of 30 t ha-1 . Soil treated with a conventional complex mineral fertilizer was used as a positive control (fertilizer containing 6% nitrogen, 15% potassium, and 15% phosphorus was applied at a dose of 0.4 t ha-1 ). Untreated soil was used as a negative control. In the case of barley, the yield increased by 49% with fertilizer as compared with the negative control, while in the case of wheat, no positive effect was observed. Biochar application led to 46% and 41% increases in the yields of barley and wheat, respectively. Moreover, a positive synergetic effect was observed for barley when biochar was used along with fertilizer: 71% as compared with the control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent investigations are focused on the characterization of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles obtained via addition or substitution processes with different cations or molecules. These nanoparticles can be used for developing fertilizers that can be applied in sustainable agriculture. Hydroxyapatite (HA) has multiple uses in agriculture: as a source of phosphorus, to obtain slow-release fertilizers as well as for removing and / or immobilizing heavy metals. Synthesised hydroxyapatite (HAE) gives the advantage of using a phosphorus source without elements that can cause soil, water and plant pollution. The experiments were carried out in vegetation pots and the results exhibited a 6% yield increase in wheat biomass after hydroxyapatite application compared to the unfertilized control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selection of effective slow release and low-cost fertilizers for bioremediation purpose was carried out by testing four different fertilizers and control. A slow-release fertilizer imports (Osm, a product of USA) and three others were produced locally in Indonesia (Gr, TMM and MLT). The three of locally produced fertilizers were never tested before for this purpose. Microcosm approach was performed in triplicates for 28 days with 6 different sampling times, using 50 mL Falcon tube as a reactor. The reactor contains a mixture of 10 g contaminated sediment (100 mg crude oil g-1 sediment), 15 mL sea water and fertilizer, but no fertilizer in control. All fertilizers were applied as a stimulant in the same concentration which was 1500 µg N g-1 sediment. Parameters measured were oil concentration, bacterial density and environmental condition. The result showed that addition of slow release fertilizer has increased oil reduction rate. The enhancement of oil depletion in treated reactors have significantly different (p <0.05) compared with control. Oil depletion naturally (in control) occurred for 31.21% during 28 days. Whereas, the oil depletion in treatment was increased variedly between 40 – 62.4% which was in the average rate of 13.4 to 20.6 mg days-1 or 1.3 - 2 times higher than the control. The order of treatment affectivity was Gr, MLT, TMM and Osm. These results suggested that slow-release fertilizers that locally manufactured were better than imported slow-release fertilizer for oil degradation purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper develops a mathematical economic optimization for urea solution tie-in system in the urea fertilizer plant. The urea solution tie-in system can be used as an effective strategy to increase the urea production and the company revenue as well. The relevant data for the model are obtained from Pupuk Kaltim Fertilizer Company in Indonesia. The mathematical formulation of the model is solved using the General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS) software. A sensitivity analysis has also been conducted on the optimal solutions of the model. It is concluded that, with the present model, decisions can be made with different strategies and their influence on company revenue. Furthermore, this model will be highly useful for corporate decision making to achieve maximum profit while meeting certain production targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Municipal waste sludge belongs to a specific type of wastes formed in a process of mechanical, biological and chemical treatment of wastes. The sewage sludge, due to its variable content, constitutes a big problem with respect to optimum and safe sludge management. There is no single correct way to treat sewerage sludge. One needs to remember that the selection of the management method of the formed sludge is individual and depends to a large extends on the size of particular waste treatment plant. A subject of tests was physicochemical analysis of the municipal waste sludge in the light of optimum use in the place of its formation. The analysis was carried out for waste treatment plant of capacity of RLM = 310 750. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Congreso Internacional de Investigacion Academia Journals is the property of PDHTech, LLC and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Because wood ash resulted from furnace facilities destined to solve the problem of wood debris, are cumulated in large amounts, the problem of an alternative to their storage is increasingly important. A using possibility, if free of harmful constituents, is their administration as soil fertilizer/amendment may be taken into consideration. This experiment was conducted in order to emphasize the effect of using ash resulted from oak debris burning in facilities destined to this aim, as soil fertilizer, administered within an apple tree nurseries, on apple stocks. The trial was developed in the Vâlcele village, County of Cluj, during 2013-2016. The developmental evolution of apple stocks was recorded (diameter, height, slenderness index), function of fertilization and phytosanitary treatment with one conventional product solutions, together with main climatic data (air temperature, relative humidity, and wind velocity). Ash composition was analyzed at the National Research - Development Institute for Industrial Ecology Bucharest, by XRF spectrometry. The IBM-SPPS Statistics 20 was used for raw data processing. Our results show that best output of our trial, concerning the development of physiological traits of the apple stocks, resulted when unconventional fertilization with ash, was administered. The differences between some of the experimental traits were statistically assured at the statistical threshold of 1%. When analyzing the pathogens attack, we find best solution for the experimental variant where phytosanitary treatment was applied, and conventional fertilization was administered, the differences between experimental variants being statistically assured at different statistical thresholds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Runaway increase of prices for combustive-lubricating materials, mineral fertilizers, agricultural machines, intensification of competition between commodity producers of livestock products require new approaches in the issues of forage production at low cost, including the productivity of hayfields and pastures subject to variability of habitat of plants inside fields. In this regard, article discusses promising areas of application of GIS technologies in agriculture, which allows to solve topical issues of agriculture not only in Tatar Republic and the Russian Federation as a whole. Proposed technology provides differentiated application of mineral fertilizers, in order to optimize placement of seeds of perennial grasses in a soil space, to completely eliminate skips and overlaps when adjacent passes of the aggregates, which ultimately leads to a saving of seed, fertilizer, chemicals and fuel and lubricants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to highlight the importance of applying and administering fertilizers to wheat production at national level. As far as the territory of our country is concerned, the regions on which the most important wheat production has been registered, along with the amount of fertilizers administered in the respective areas, as well as their type (nitrogenous, phosphatic, potassium, natural) fertilizers. Thus, using statistical models such as the Pearson correlation coefficient, Spearman's correlation coefficient, we can see concretely the link between the two variables analyzed (the production obtained and the quantity of applied fertilizer) and the nature of its intensity (low, medium, high). It is also desirable to know the most efficient types of fertilizer in order to increase wheat yield per hectare at national level in the context of the other key factors, components of the farm's macroeconomics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to develop the mechanical chemical process for the preparation of modified sorbents from glauconite with the addition of sodium dihydrogen phosphate (NaH2PO4), and to determine their physical, and chemical properties. Structural and morphological characteristics, physical, and chemical properties of the Sokolov-Saribay glauconites the Republic of Kazakhstan were identified. The effect of mechanical treatment on the structure and composition of glauconite and the effect of additive salt on the properties of the sorbent were studied. Glauconite and glauconitic concentrate were used as main materials. The mixture of glauconite and sodium dihydrogen phosphate with different composition (1:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1) were modified structurally by thermal annealing, and were mechanically activated in a planetary mill in order to obtain the sorbent. Mechanically activated products were evaluated by different methods. The differences of glauconite and modified glauconite were observed by TG and DSC. The degree of sorption for Mn2+, Cu2+, Ni2+ and Zn2+ were analyzed as solutions of MnSO4, CuSO4, NiSO4 and ZnSO4 in concentrations of 60 to 1000 mg/l and decreased from Zn2+ (α=94.9%) > Mn2+(86.2%) > Cu2+(85.6%) > Ni2+(48.9%). The practical use of the modified glauconite could be applied in development technologies for cleaning of natural water of heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical properties of commercial fertilizers play important role from precision application point of view. Granulometric evaluation is usually performed by sieve separation according ČSN 01 5030 standard. The main subject of this work is the presentation of separation results when vertical airflow is used with NPK 20-8-8 and Dolophos fertilizers. The sample was divided into 8 individual specimens of 0.5 kg weight that was measured repeatedly. Every class of the specimen was than sieved on the sieves with holes 2 mm, 3.5 mm, and 5 mm resulting four new subclasses characterized by the sieve mesh dimension. It was achieved by statistical evaluation that relative frequencies are in agreement with N-distribution. It is clear from achieved values that in NPK 20-8-8 fertilizer samples there are 92.25% of particles with dimension from 3.15 to 5 mm and 7.0% with dimension from 2 to 3.15 mm. In fertilizer Dolophos there are 50.87% of particles with dimension from 3.15 to 5 mm and 47.54% with dimension from 2 to 3.15 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deals with testing vermicomposting as an option in processing a material that is difficult to biodegrade, i.e. digestate from biogas stations. Vermicomposting is grounded in the exploitation of the potential of certain earthworm species to convert fresh organic matter into high-quality compost. Vermicompost is a high quality fertilizer containing a high amount of humic acids and growth controllers. The research predominantly focuses on the observation of hazardous elements contained in the feed materials in relation to the quality of the formed vermicompost. The results point at the applicability of the material as a fertilizer as it complies with the valid legislation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Conference Proceedings of the International Symposium on Innovative Technologies in Engineering & Science is the property of Sakarya University, Department of Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Spent bleaching earth (SBE) is a solid waste generated from the bleaching process in palm oil industry. This solid waste is currently disposed directly in landfills without treatment, causing severe water and air pollution. Recently, dumping of SBE in landfills or public disposal sites has been prohibited in most countries. Meanwhile, high costs associated with the large area of land needed for storage of the residue has lead to the interest in regenerate SBE. Thus, a recent novel approach has been carried out on the utilization of SBE in agriculture as an alternative method for disposal. In this study, a field experiment was conducted at an experimental plot in Plant House National University Malaysia to evaluate the effect of SBE on the growth and quality of eggplant. Growth and quality parameters of eggplant including total fruit yield, total biomass, macronutrients concentration of leaf were studied through close monitoring and assessment. Field trials conducted showed that SBE is effective in promoting eggplant growth and nutrient uptake compared to the control treatment under field conditions. Therefore, with the proper and effective ways in handling SBE through conversion of SBE into beneficial bio organic fertilizer, this material which is a waste in the past will become an advantage in agriculture as a substitute for commercial fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agrochemicals mainly include: (1) fertilizers, (2) pesticides, (3) herbicides, and (4) fungicides. The use of agrochemicals has been critical to the raising crops for food. However, some of these chemicals cause substantial environmental and ecological damage, greatly reducing their benefits. Excessive use of fertilizers has led to the contamination of groundwater with nitrate, a chemical compound that in large concentrations is poisonous to humans and animals. In addition, the runoff of fertilizers into streams, lakes, and other surface waters can increase the growth of algae, leading to the death of fish and other aquatic animals. Some older pesticides, like the powerful insecticide DDT, remain active in the environment for many years, contaminating virtually all wildlife, well water, food, and even humans with whom it comes in contact. Although many of these pesticides have been banned, some newer pesticides still cause severe damage. The knowledge of these impacts has prompted researchers to search for non chemical methods of enhancing soil fertility and dealing with pests. This article would update the deleterious effects of these chemicals on biota viz., plants, earthworms and soil microflora, honey bees, natural enemies of insect pests, birds, marine fauna, wildlife and human beings and thus create concern over the conservation of the planets' biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The industrial production of pulp and paper generate large amounts of solid and liquid residues, particularly sludge from wastewater treatment and ash from the biomass furnace, requiring economical and environmental methods of disposal. These residues are usually incinerated, landfilled or applied to soil, but other are uses are increasing in Europe. Several studies have demonstrated that soil application in forestry is an economically viable practice and promotes soil quality and forest productivity. However, soil application must be done according to an implementation plan in the order guarantee the best environmental practices and legal requirements, always taking into consideration forest productivity. Composting of pulp and paper industry residues is an environmental sound option to the direct application of those residues to the soil. However, the costs of the composting process require a sustainable management plan. This management plan must be based on field data, in order to determine composting conditions requirements and the final compost quality. To obtain this data, a mix of residues from pulp and paper industry using eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus Labill.) was prepared with: primary sludge (46% v/v), secondary sludge (46% v/v), fly ashes (2% v/v) and, as bulking agent, milled eucalyptus bark (6% v/v). This mix, with an initial C/N ratio of 2, was composted in a 1.2m³ insulated plastic container, with mechanical turning, to simulate the conditions normally occurring in a windrow composting process. Temperature, moisture, pH and electrical conductivity were regularly controlled. Mechanical turning provided aeration and the homogenization of the mix. The raw materials, the composting mix and the final compost were chemically, physically and biologically characterized. The composting process, carried out during 3 months, reduced the initial volume of the mix by roughly 60%. The mature compost obtained showed no phytotoxicity or bad odor, was easier to handle than fresh sludge, presented a low level of heavy metals, and showed good potential as organic fertilizer (organic matter 44g 100 g-1; pH 7.6; electrical conductivity 0.54 dS m-1; total nitrogen 1.7 g 100 g-, phosphor 1.0 g 100 g-1). An economical evaluation, comparing the application of fresh residues to their compost to the soil, was developed for a region in the southwest of Portugal (Palmela and Montijo). This study indicated that composting is an economical option for pulp and paper industry residues treatment if the process costs are below 8.05 € t-1. Moreover, composting increases the end uses of the residues (more uses for compost than for the untreated residues) and reduces the possible adverse environmental effects from fresh residues application, while reducing environmental impacts associated to fossil fuels consumption for their transport and soil application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulation of municipal waste in Dhaka city has given rise to waste management problems. A large component of this waste is organic which produces biomethane by anaerobic digestion. Also load-shedding is a daily misery in Dhaka. But the good thing is that biomethane can be used as fuel for producing electricity. If properly utilized this bio-fuel can reduce both waste management and power management problems. In this paper we aim at establishing a renewable energy power plant that uses biomethane as its primary fuel source. The generator used for producing electricity works on the principle of magneto hydrodynamics (MHD). But the combustion of biomethane emits harmful CO2. To reduce emissions substantially, an algae pond is proposed where the exhaust carbon dioxide is sequestered by the algae. But algae has other attributes- it is potential producer of biodiesel and biomethane; so it secondary renewable energy source for our power plant. Input to our MHD generator is thus the thermal energy obtained from combustion of biomethane& biodiesel. The installation cost of our unique power plant is high, but it offers two big advantages-significant reductions in fuel cost and secondly substantial revenue earned from selling fertilizer. Our studies show that if the MHD generator works at 60% thermal efficiency, over 80MW power can be produced throughout the day. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In Finland, the burning of wood pellets and briquettes has become more common in recent years. These biomass-derived fuels are well suited for industrial and small-scale district heating applications, as well as for home heating in secondary heating systems such as stoves and fireplaces. In Finland, the new limit values for maximal allowable concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, Cr, Zn, As, Ni and Hg in forest fertilizers came into force in March 2007. The limit values are based on European Union (EU) directives and regulations. In this study we show that, due to the low total heavy metal concentrations, wood pellet ash from a small-scale (100 kW) grate-fired boiler at the district heating plant is a potential forest fertilizer and soil conditioning agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radioactivity of 6 fertilizer samples, 7 china clay samples and 5 china glaze samples, which are commonly used in Japan, was measured using a NaI(Tl) scintillation spectrometer. Potassium activity of fertilizer was almost 540–740 Bq/kg, and the highest activity was 9,100 Bq/kg. Activity of fertilizer was 10 times higher for potassium than for uranium-series. Furthermore, these activities were 25 times for potassium and 18 times for uranium-series in comparison with those in natural soil. In china clay, activities of potassium, uranium-series nuclides and thorium-series nuclides were 543–823 Bq/kg, 74.6–94.3 Bq/kg, and 86.3–128 Bq/kg, respectively. These were 1.5–2.2, 2.1–2.6 and 2.3–3.5 times higher than activity of common soil. Activity of glaze was almost equal to that of china clay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marble dust is formed in huge amounts in marble cutting and polishing. It represents an ecological and a health hazard. In this paper, marble dust, obtained from a factory south of Cairo, was characterized by determining its chemical and mineralogical analyses, the particle size distribution, true and bulk densities, solubility in water and nitric acid, settling characteristics and filter cake properties. This dust was then used in two industrial applications: Preparation of calcium nitrate fertilizer and fired wall tiles. In both cases the properties of the final product were found to abide by accepted industrial standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Certain wastes from metallurgical industries such as pickling liquor from steel industry and copper tailings from copper ore refineries are characterized as hazardous wastes according to Environmental Protection Act (EPA) and Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 1989. The possibility of utilizing industrial wastes such as copper tailings and pickling sludge was explored. The copper tailings and the sludge generated by spent pickling liquor treated with Calcium hydroxide were used as fertilizing agents. The results showed that the samples with copper tailings confer complemented plant growth whereas pickling sludge caused less growth. A combination of the copper tailing and pickling sludge was also found to have the potential to be used as a fertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of ecologically reasoned fertilizer rates in Zemgale soil region is topical both following the intensity of management in the region and in connection with the increased risk of getting plant food elements into water bodies. Unwanted excess of nitrogen and phosphorus in soils which are rich in humus and available phosphorus is formed when the amount of these plant food elements incorporated into soil with fertilizer is exceeding the amount which is removed with a part of yield harvested from the field. The goal of the research was to clarify the effect of the nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer rates on plant nutrient removal as well as NPK balance in soil in spring wheat crop. Field experiments were conducted (1998−2006) in LLU Study and research farm Peterlauki in crop rotation long-term field experimental plots of the Institute of Soil and Plant Sciences on a heavy loam (sM1) sod-pseudogley soil (GLx) with spring wheat varieties 'Eta' and 'Vinjett'. For both the varieties the nitrogen removal constituted averagely 89.0−122.5 kg ha−1, that of phosphorus and potassium − 34.7−48.8 and 21.7 −26.0 kg ha−1, respectively. It was significantly affected by meteorological conditions of the definite year, which directly influenced the yield and chemical composition of grain, and fertilizer rates for the variety 'Eta' as well. Fluctuations in the nitrogen and phosphorus balance for the variety ´Eta´ under the influence of fertilizer were higher than those in the removal: averagely from −89.0 kg ha−1 up to −2.5 kg ha−1 N, and from −41.7 to 47.4 kg ha−1 P2O5, but the potassium balance from 21.7 to 66.7 kg ha−1 K2O. For the variety 'Vinjett', in its turn, NPK balance was respectively from −100.8 to 9.0 kg ha−1 N, from 40.9 to 51.8 kg ha−1 P2O5, and from −20.4 to 73.1 kg ha−1 K2O. The nitrogen balance was significantly affected only by the nitrogen fertilizer rate, but the phosphorus balance − by the phosphorus fertilizer rate. Removal with 1 tonne of the main product for the variety 'Eta' was averagely 22.0 − 24.8 kg N, 8.7 − 10.0 kg P2O5, and 5.3 − 5.5 kg K2O, but for the variety ´Vinjett´: 20.5 − 23.7 kg N, 7.2 − 8.6 kg P2O5 and 3.5 − 4.3 kg K2O. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]