Search

This paper reports an innovative study that aims to address key issues in the efficient recycling of wastepaper cellulose. The research team utilized the temperature-responsive upper critical solution temperature (UCST) polymer P(NAGA-b-DMA) in combination with the LytA label's affinity for choline analogs. This innovative approach enabled them to successfully develop a novel soluble immobilized enzyme, P(NAGA-b-DMA)-cellulase. This new enzyme has proven highly effective, significantly enhancing the degradation of wastepaper cellulose while demonstrating exceptional stability. Compared with the traditional insoluble immobilized cellulase, the enzyme showed a significant improvement in the pH, temperature stability, recycling ability, and storage stability. A kinetic parameter calculation showed that the enzymatic effectiveness of the soluble immobilized enzyme was much better than that of the traditional insoluble immobilized cellulase. After the immobilization reaction, the Michaelis constant of the immobilized enzyme was only increased by 11.5%. In the actual wastepaper degradation experiment, the immobilized enzyme was effectively used, and it was found that the degradation efficiency of wastepaper cellulose reached 80% of that observed in laboratory conditions. This novel, thermosensitive soluble immobilized cellulase can efficiently catalyze the conversion of wastepaper cellulose into glucose under suitable conditions, so as to further ferment into environmentally friendly biofuel ethanol, which provides a solution to solve the shortage of raw materials and environmental protection problems in the paper products industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for high-performance bio-based materials towards achieving more sustainable manufacturing and circular economy models is growing significantly. Kraft lignin (KL) is an abundant and highly functional aromatic/phenolic biopolymer, being the main side product of the pulp and paper industry, as well as of the more recent 2nd generation biorefineries. In this study, KL was incorporated into a glassy epoxy system based on the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) and an amine curing agent (Jeffamine D-230), being utilized as partial replacement of the curing agent and the DGEBA prepolymer or as a reactive additive. A D-230 replacement by pristine (unmodified) KL of up to 14 wt.% was achieved while KL–epoxy composites with up to 30 wt.% KL exhibited similar thermo-mechanical properties and substantially enhanced antioxidant properties compared to the neat epoxy polymer. Additionally, the effect of the KL particle size was investigated. Ball-milled kraft lignin (BMKL, 10 μm) and nano-lignin (NLH, 220 nm) were, respectively, obtained after ball milling and ultrasonication and were studied as additives in the same epoxy system. Significantly improved dispersion and thermo-mechanical properties were obtained, mainly with nano-lignin, which exhibited fully transparent lignin–epoxy composites with higher tensile strength, storage modulus and glass transition temperature, even at 30 wt.% loadings. Lastly, KL lignin was glycidylized (GKL) and utilized as a bio-based epoxy prepolymer, achieving up to 38 wt.% replacement of fossil-based DGEBA. The GKL composites exhibited improved thermo-mechanical properties and transparency. All lignins were extensively characterized using NMR, TGA, GPC, and DLS techniques to correlate and justify the epoxy polymer characterization results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eucalyptus sawdust is a forest residue that, through a biorefinery approach, can be used to manufacture value-added products in the pulp and paper industries as well as to produce a biofuel. This study examines the suitability of a sequential thermochemical pretreatment that uses processes and reagents commonly utilized in the pulp and paper industry to separate valuable biomass components from eucalyptus sawdust and increase its enzymatic digestibility for ethanol production. The research strategy was based on a forest biorefinery that can be integrated into an existing industrial plant for the production of cellulose pulp. A combination of alkaline solutions was evaluated to obtain an extract rich in tannins and intended to be used in the formulation of wood adhesives. A second alkaline treatment was used to recover lignin and hemicellulose components and improve cellulose digestibility. The cellulose fraction was fermented using three commercial Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeasts (Thermosacc®, PE-2, and CAT). Different process configurations (separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF), pre-saccharification followed by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (PSSF), and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF)) at 16% (w/v) solid loading by Thermosacc® yeast were also studied. Thermosacc® yeast enabled higher ethanol production than the other strains but resulted in similar productivity. The two-stage alkaline pretreatment of eucalyptus sawdust was successful in recovering 34 g of tannins, 56 g of xylo-saccharides, 16 g of acetic acid, and 90 g of lignin and produced 152 g of ethanol from 1 kg of dry eucalyptus sawdust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, lignin was chemically modified to promote hydrogel degradation as a source of carbon and nitrogen for a bacterial consortium consisting of P. putida F1, B. cereus and, B. paramycoides. A hydrogel was synthesized using acrylic acid (AA), acrylamide (AM), and 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid (AMPS) and cross-linked with the modified lignin. The structural changes and mass loss in the hydrogel, as well as its final composition, were evaluated as functions of the growth of the selected strains in a culture broth with the powdered hydrogel. The average loss was 18.4% wt. The hydrogel was characterized using FTIR spectroscopy, scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), elemental analysis (EA), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) before and after bacterial treatment. FTIR showed that the carboxylic groups present in both the lignin and the acrylic acid of the hydrogel decreased during bacterial growth. The bacteria showed a preference for the biomaterial components of the hydrogel. SEM demonstrated superficial morphological changes in the hydrogel. The results reveal that the hydrogel was assimilated by the bacterial consortium while preserving the water retention capacity of the material and that the microorganisms carried out a partial biodegradation of the hydrogel. The results of the EA and TGA confirm that the bacterial consortium not only degraded the biopolymer (lignin), but also used the synthetic hydrogel as a carbon source to degrade its polymeric chains and modified original properties. This modification with lignin as a crosslinker (which is a waste product of the paper industry) is therefore proposed to promote hydrogel degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin, a naturally occurring biopolymer, is produced primarily as a waste product by the pulp and paper industries and burned to produce electricity. Lignin-based nano- and microcarriers found in plants are promising biodegradable drug delivery platforms. Here, we highlight a few characteristics of a potential antifungal nanocomposite consisting of carbon nanoparticles (C-NPs) with a defined size and shape containing lignin nanoparticles (L-NPs). Spectroscopic and microscopic studies verified that the lignin-loaded carbon nanoparticles (L-CNPs) were successfully prepared. Under in vitro and in vivo conditions, the antifungal activity of L-CNPs at various doses was effectively tested against a wild strain of F. verticillioides that causes maize stalk rot disease. In comparison to the commercial fungicide, Ridomil Gold SL (2%), L-CNPs introduced beneficial effects in the earliest stages of maize development (seed germination and radicle length). Additionally, L-CNP treatments promoted positive effects on maize seedlings, with a significant increment in the level of carotenoid, anthocyanin, and chlorophyll pigments for particular treatments. Finally, the soluble protein content displayed a favorable trend in response to particular dosages. Most importantly, treatments with L-CNPs at 100 and 500 mg/L significantly reduced stalk rot disease by 86% and 81%, respectively, compared to treatments with the chemical fungicide, which reduced the disease by 79%. These consequences are substantial considering the essential cellular function carried out by these special natural-based compounds. Finally, the intravenous L-CNPs treatments in both male and female mice that affected the clinical applications and toxicological assessments are explained. The results of this study suggest that L-CNPs are of high interest as biodegradable delivery vehicles and can be used to stimulate favorable biological responses in maize when administered in the recommended dosages, contributing to the idea of agro-nanotechnology by demonstrating their unique qualities as a cost-effective alternative compared to conventional commercial fungicides and environmentally benign nanopesticides for long-term plant protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

⑴ Background——There are few literatures on total factor productivity of forestry enterprises and its influencing factors from micro level. The performance of ESG includes the performance of enterprises in three dimensions: environment, social responsibility and corporate governance. It is an important indicator for the international community to measure whether an economic entity can achieve sustainable development. The discussion on the influencing mechanism of ESG performance on total factor productivity of forestry enterprises is of great significance for promoting high-quality economic development. ⑵ Methods——Based on the data of A-share listed forestry enterprises from 2011 to 2020,specific enterprises include forest cultivation industry, wood processing industry, furniture manufacturing industry, paper and paper products industry and other enterprises. Multiple linear regression model was used to analyze the impact of ESG performance on total factor productivity of forestry enterprises. And then, step-test procedure and bootstrap method were used to test the mediating role of innovation capability and internal control between ESG performance and total factor productivity in forestry enterprises. All the research data of forestry enterprises comes from the Wind, CSMAR,Straightflush and DIB database. ⑶ Results——The mean value of ESG performance and total factor productivity of forestry enterprises are 6. 302 and 8. 894 respectively. The total factor productivity of forestry enterprises with good, average and poor ESG performance are 9. 075,8. 808 and 8. 320 respectively. The results of One-way ANOVA show significant differences between groups at the 1% level. It shows that forestry enterprises with good ESG performance have higher total factor productivity. The regression coefficient of ESG performance on total factor productivity of forestry enterprises is 0. 1470（P=0. 01）,indicating that ESG performance has a significant positive impact on total factor productivity of forestry enterprises. ESG performance includes three dimensions: environment, social responsibility and corporate governance: Forestry enterprises’ undertaking environmental responsibility improves the utilization efficiency of forest resources and promotes the coordinated development of ecology and economy. Undertaking social responsibility helps to accumulate more social capital and form a harmonious internal and external environment. A perfect governance mechanism reduces agency costs and improves employees’ value creation ability, thus promoting the improvement of their total factor productivity. The result of the mediating effect model shows that forestry enterprises with good ESG performance can improve resource allocation efficiency by improving enterprise innovation capability and improve the internal control mechanism and reduce ESG risk so as to promote the improvement of total factor productivity. ⑷ Conclusions and Discussions——Good ESG performance of forestry enterprises is a key factor to improve total factor productivity. First, the government should improve the rules and regulations related to ESG,guide forestry enterprises to undertake ESG responsibilities through policy incentives and punishment mechanisms, encourage third-party organizations to participate in the credit rating of forestry enterprises ESG,promote them to improve the quality of ESG information disclosure. Second, forestry enterprises should attach importance to the idea of ESG,integrate ESG performance into their corporate strategies, and fulfill ESG responsibilities actively. Third, forestry enterprises should make full use of the mediating role of innovation capability and internal control, pay attention to the investment of innovation resources and the construction of internal control systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ever-increasing challenges related to water security and climate mitigation underscore the pressing need for forward-thinking systems planning tools to drive urban sustainability transitions. In this study, we propose a novel city-level multi-objective planning framework that explores the nexus between carbon trading and water management, with the aim of facilitating water-efficient urban industrial restructuring. The framework integrates cap-and-trade mechanisms into a two-layered optimization model, creating an integrated approach to optimizing carbon emissions and generating economic opportunities for improving water efficiency. To illustrate the potential application of this framework, we conducted a case study focusing on Dongguan City, a water-stressed industrial metropolis in southern China. The results illustrate potential synergies between water planning strategies and carbon trading schemes, which could be harnessed to enable targeted reductions in water usage and carbon emissions. Furthermore, our findings identify the textile, apparel, and paper products manufacturing industries as primary candidates for strategic production scale reduction, emphasizing the importance of sustained support for the development of the computer and electronic manufacturing sector as a catalyst for urban sustainability transitions. By pioneering this new nexus-based perspective, our study offers valuable insights into long-term strategic planning for a low-carbon and resource-efficient urban economy. • Synergizing carbon trading and water management within a novel integrated planning framework. • Implementing resource-efficiency-driven optimization for water- and carbon-intensive manufacturing sectors. • Gaining insights into the specific roles of key manufacturing sectors in water management and carbon trading. • Introducing carbon trading systems may help in promoting water-efficient industrial restructuring. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial wastewater discharge has become the main cause of water pollution in China. However, the spatial interaction mechanism between industrial structure and water pollution is still unclear. Accordingly, we evaluated and analyzed spatiotemporal changes of the agglomeration pattern of pollution-intensive industrial enterprises and the evolution of the water environmental pollution pattern, as well as the correlation between them. The study results show that the polluting industrial enterprises were located mainly along the Yangtze River and Taihu Lake Basin in southern Jiangsu in 2013 and 2018. However, we observed a spatial trend of pollution transfer to northern Jiangsu. The industrial water pollution discharge presents the distribution pattern of facing rivers, seas, lakes and cities. Papermaking and paper products industry are the leading factors of COD and NH 3 –N pollution, with explanatory power of 0.3666 and 0.6201 respectively. The spatial positive coupling effect between the concentration degree of polluting enterprises and the intensity of water environment pollution discharge is 94.95% of the region. The spatial agglomeration of polluting industrial enterprises is an important cause of water environment pollution. They promote and couple each other, proving the existence of "Pollution haven" and "Porter hypothesis". [Display omitted] • The polluting industrial enterprises are located mainly along the Yangtze River and Taihu Lake Basin. • Papermaking and paper products industry are the leading factors of COD and NH 3 –N pollution. • The spatial agglomeration of polluting industrial enterprises is a significant cause of water environment pollution. • This study proves the existence of "Pollution haven" and "Porter hypothesis". • This study fills the gap in the spatial response mechanisms of different industrial structures and pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the identification of the wood species used for the production of wooden tools in an ancient plant for manual paper production. After a quick historic contextualisation of the importance of the paper industry developed in the Pescia district (Tuscany, Italy), this paper describes the process of manual paper production and the different tools, mostly wooden, used by the workers. The historic plant "Le Carte" still preserves these tools, which were sampled to scientifically identify the timber species. Samples were drawn from any wooden component of the equipment involved in the whole manual paper making process. Sampling was performed on any portion of the artefact where the species of origin was not clearly and reliably identifiable by eye, or aided by a manual magnifying lens. In total, 1223 identifications were performed and 25 timber types observed. Most of timber identifications regard the large mould collection (434 artefacts, 1154 identifications, 17 timbers), while the equipment included fewer artefacts, identifications and timbers. Obtained results are then technologically discussed, considering the features of each species and the specific needs of each final use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Being the major renewable source of bio-aromatics, lignin possesses considerable potential for the chemical industry as raw material. Kraft lignin is a couple product of paper industry with an annual production of 55,000,000 ton/y and is considered the largest share of available lignin. Here we report a facile approach of Kraft lignin depolymerization to defined oligomeric units with yields of up to 70 wt.%. The process implies utilization of an aqueous base in combination with a metal containing catalyst and an alcohol under non-oxidative atmosphere at 300 °C. An advantage of the developed approach is the facile separation of the oligomer product that precipitates from the reaction mixture. In addition, the process proceeds without char formation; both factors make it attractive for industrialization. The suppression of the repolymerization processes that lead to char formation is possible when the combination of metal containing catalyst in the presence of an alcohol is used. It was found that the oligomer units have structural features found in phenol-acetaldehyde resins. These features result from the base catalyzed condensation of lignin fragments with in situ formed aldehydes. Catalytic dehydrogenation of the alcohol provides the latter. This reaction pathway is confirmed by the presence condensation products of Guerbet type reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmentally benign closure of water systems in paper mills leads to the problem of accumulation of dissolved and colloidal wood substances (DCS) in process water. Notably, pitch affects the pulp and paper production negatively and increases the demand for additional treatment of the process water. In the present article, the purification of thermomechanical pulping process water from the alkaline peroxide bleaching stage has been investigated, with the induced air flotation (IAF) in focus. The following parameters were considered concerning the IAF efficiency to remove detrimental substances: concentration of cationic foaming agent, pH value, calcium concentration, and temperature. The amounts and characteristics of residual DCS were determined by gas chromatography and turbidity measurements. Residual concentrations of the foaming agent dodecyltrimetylammonium chloride were determined by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Up to 90% of pitch was removed, whereas hemicelluloses, which are important in preventing pitch problems, remained in the waters. Up to 70% of the pectic acids accounted for the high cationic demand of the process waters were removed by optimization of the IAF parameters. The presented separation process gives new opportunities to a selective purification of the process waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider a one-dimensional cutting stock problem (CSP) in which the stock widths are not used to fulfill the order but kept for use in the future for the industrial-use paper production. We present a new model based on the flexible stock allocation and trim loss control to determine the production quantity. We evaluate our approach using a real data and show that we are able to solve industrial-size problems, while also addressing common cutting considerations such as aggregation of orders, multiple stock widths, and cutting different patterns on the same machine. In addition, we compare our model with others, including trim loss minimization problem (TLMP) and cutting stock problem (CSP). The results show that the proposedmodel outperforms the other two models regarding total flexibility and trim loss ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The focus of this article is on how to create books or other paper products that have a significantly reduced, if any, impact on the environment. To achieve this involves integrating the principles of the three Ds—dematerialization, detoxification, and decarbonization (or de-energizaiion)—and the three Rs—reduction, re-use, and recycling—into how products are designed, created, developed, and manufactured. The aim is to look at how businesses, and publishing in particular, are responding to the need for change, and at what they are doing to reduce the size of their environmental. footprint. This article was originally published as a chapter in The Green Design and Print Production Handbook (Ilex, 2013). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes the production of knowledge in the field of eco-innovation, checking its state of the art in order to discuss topics of future research. Specifically, it assesses the pulp, paper, and paper products industry in Brazil in order to examine the drivers of the adoption of eco-innovation strategies. The study is essentially a review of the literature, with a methodology based on exploratory research, and using the documental and bibliographical qualitative method. The empirical research was based on a quantitative approach using the strategy of a cross-sectional survey by means of a self-administered online questionnaire. It was verified that the studies related to eco-innovation are still preliminary and that the subject lacks specific research with empirical data from survey and in-depth case studies. The following topics were checked for studies on innovation in environmental issues on conceptual and theoretical discussion; models and indicators for evaluating the eco-innovation; types; and political arguments for their development, with the proposition of research lines within this context. The results of the empirical research allow us to conclude that factors such as environmental regulation, the use of environmental incentives and innovation, reputation effects, top management support, technological expertise, and environmental formalization in the context of domestic enterprises are crucial to the adoption of eco-innovation. Further, the higher the extent to which companies embrace an environmental and innovative culture, the greater the internalization of eco-innovative practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Paper production requires fibres to be refined, meaning mechanically treated to present sufficient bonding potential. As it is a highly energy consuming stage, various charges of cellulase as a pre-treatment were investigated to reduce the energy consumption and improve paper properties. The enzyme was added during pulp slushing and conditions of treatment were chosen to be compatible with an industrial application. Results obtained after low consistency disc refining of a softwood bleached kraft pulp were compared at a given drainage index. Enzymatically-treated samples showed a better development of fibrillation leading to a stronger paper. Moreover, fibre swelling was significantly improved. The impact of cellulase charge added to the pulp was identified. However, for all cellulase charges tested, fibre intrinsic resistance was lowered. Consequently fibres became shorter and tear index dropped. A solution was found by applying a milder treatment consisting in reducing refining intensity. This was a way to limit the intense fibre cutting at high refining levels. Moreover, by treating pulp with cellulase, it became possible to reduce refining intensity by 33%, keeping breaking length similar to control. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The main objective of this work is to evaluate the suitability of rice straw and soda–anthraquinone (soda–AQ) pulping process to produce pulp and paper. To reach this aim, it was used a central composite factorial design to study the influence of operational variables (temperature (155–185°C), cooking time (30–90min), soda concentration (10–20%), anthraquinone concentration (0–1%) and liquid/solid ratio (6–8)), in soda–anthraquinone cooking of rice straw on pulps and paper sheets properties obtained. Based on the yield values obtained, nearly one half of the raw material can be efficiently converted into cellulose pulp and paper sheets. Also, the Kappa number/viscosity ratio of the pulp facilitates its efficient bleaching. Finally, based on the values for above-described physical properties, the pulp can be used to obtain paper or board and recycled paper (as % virgin fibre). In Spain are produced annually 757,000t of rice straw. If we considered an average yield process of 45%, it would be possible to obtain 340,000 tons of pulp. These tons would be absorbed by the market taking into account the necessities in cellulosic pulp consumption. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) Statistical Assessment Tool (SAT) Decision Support System (DSS) has been developed to provide a user-friendly data analysis, display and decision support tool for Canada''s federal environmental effects monitoring program for the pulp and paper and mining industries. The target users include industries, consultants, regional EEM coordinators, National EEM Office and scientists involved in EEM-related research. The tool allows the assessment of the effects of effluent from industrial or other sources on fish and benthic populations. Effect endpoints, which are used as indicators of potentially important effluent effects, are measured at effluent-exposed sites and are compared statistically to measures at reference sites, in order to determine if changes have occurred and the magnitude of the changes. The main driver of the EEM-SAT DSS is its rule-based expert system. The results are used in assessing the adequacy of existing regulations for protecting aquatic environments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Paper sludge is a waste product from the paper and pulp manufacturing industry that is generally disposed of in landfills. Pyrolysis of paper sludge can potentially provide an option for managing this waste by thermal conversion to higher calorific value fuels, bio-gas, bio-oils and charcoal. This work investigates the properties of paper sludge during pyrolysis and energy required to perform thermal conversion. The products of paper sludge pyrolysis were also investigated to determine their properties and potential energy value. The dominant volatile species of paper sludge pyrolysis at 10°C/min were found to be CO and CO2, contributing to almost 25% of the paper sludge dry weight loss at 500°C. The hydrocarbons (CH4, C2H4, C2H6) and hydrogen contributed to only 1% of the total weight loss. The bio-oils collected at 500°C were primarily comprised of organic acids with the major contribution being linoleic acid, 2,4-decadienal acid and oleic acid. The high acidic content indicates that in order to convert the paper sludge bio-oil to bio-diesel or petrochemicals, further upgrading would be necessary. The charcoal produced at 500°C had a calorific value of 13.3MJ/kg. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper an integrated methodological approach is presented for the evaluation of the implementation of the Best Available Techniques (BAT) in facilities operated under Integrated Prevention Pollution and Control (IPPC) Directive, based on the development and application of a set of sub-indices. An aggregated form of sub-indices that could be used as a composite IPPC facility index is proposed. A sector specific index can be derived from facilities composite indices. This approach uses environmental performance data from European Polluting Emissions Register (EPER) reports, environmental permits and BAT Reference Documents, and gives a coherent and interesting picture of the degree of BAT implementation and an indication of IPPC obligations fulfilment. A specific application is demonstrated concerning the paper manufacturing sector in Greece. It is concluded for this sector that there is a measurable discrepancy from the BAT fulfilment obligations and that the most problematic sub-indices are the “Releases to Water” and “Releases to Air”. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper studies substitution between main categories of imported pulp and paper products and between imported and domestic pulp and paper products in the US market. A restricted translog subcost function approach was employed to derive the elasticity of substitution. The results suggest that Canadian pulp and paper products are competitive and have maintained their competitiveness in the US market, and therefore, the challenges faced by the Canadian pulp and paper industry are not because of the loss of its product competitiveness but are due to other reasons such as declining demand for paper products in the United States. It seems that if the Canadian pulp and paper industry wants to retain its dominant position in the world market place, it will have to create global reach and develop new markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastes from straw pulping in paper manufacturing can be used as soil amendments depending on their chemical composition. Polysaccharides and lignin, the major organic components of these products, are potentially important in soil aggregation. Incubation studies were conducted to determine (i) the extent of soil water-stable macroaggregate (WSM) formation following application of black liquor (BL) and fine fiber (FF) from KOH-based bluegrass pulping as soil amendments, and (ii) the relative importance of fungi and bacteria in the enhanced WSM formation. Soil respiration rates peaked 2 d after the addition of BL or FF, while maximum WSM formation occurred at 20 d of incubation. Compared with BLor FF-amended soils receiving no biocides, BLand FF-amended soils receiving fungicide had decreased WSM, while BLand FF-amended soils receiving bactericide had increased WSM, suggesting that fungal activity was more responsible than bacteria for the BLand FF-enhanced WSM. Dehydrogenase and β-glucosidase activities did not correlate with soil respiration in BLor FF-amended soils receiving biocides, suggesting that these enzymes may not be useful as indicators of soil microbial activity under these conditions. Additions of BL and FF at a rate of 1.5 g C kg-1 increased soil respiration dehydrogenase and β-glucosidase activities, and WSM, suggesting that both byproducts have potential as beneficial soil amendments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bleaching wastewater effluent from a pulp and paper mill (located in Tianjin, China) was treated with solar photo-Fenton process in a lab-scale reactor (22cm×15cm thermostatic dish). The mill used wastepaper as raw material and the effluent contained 332mgL−1 of total organic carbon (TOC) and 1286mgL−1 of COD. The treatment involved a constant intensity of irradiation (0.2kW/m2) with a solar simulator of 250W xenon lamp and various conditions of pH, temperature, and initial concentrations of H2O2 and Fe(II). The better treatment conditions were searched for in the ranges of initial Fe(II) concentration from 31 to 310mgL−1 (initial pH 3.0, 30°C), initial H2O2 concentration from 0.5 to 3Dth (1Dth=1883mgL−1 for TOC mineralization) (initial pH 3.0, 30°C), initial pH from 2.0 to 6.0 (1 and 2Dth, 10:1 of H2O2/Fe(II), 30°C), and temperature from 30 to 50°C (1Dth, 10:1 of H2O2/Fe(II), initial pH 2.8). TOC removal generally showed the initial fast increase stage within the first sampling time of 15min, followed by the gradual increase stage in the remaining sampling time of 180min experimental time course. The highest percentage of TOC removal in the first stage was about 60% when the initial pH was either 2.8 (H2O2 =1Dth, ratio=10:1, temperature=30–50°C) or 3.5 (H2O2 =2Dth, ratio=10:1, temperature=30°C). Also under the latter condition, the value reached 82% at 120min and was projected to reach 94% at 180min. According to the positive effect of temperature increase on TOC removal observed in this experiment, further increase above these maximum values is possible if the temperature of the above condition were increased from 30 to 40°C or 50°C. Furthermore, under most of the treatment conditions, the TOC removal reached or was projected to reach over 60% toward the end of the experiments. The result indicated that the solar photo-Fenton process has a potential to effectively remove TOC from the wastepaper pulp effluent on a large scale. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Describes lung function in correlation with information on exposure to dust and fibers in soft tissue paper-producing factories in Germany. Ambient monitoring for inhalable, respirable dust and fibers; Indication of high ambient dust concentrations; Observed adverse effects on lung function; Recommendation for the reduction of dust exposure and secondary preventive measures.

Turpentine, a mixture of terpenes obtained as a product from oleoresin distillation or as a side product from paper industry, can contribute to the production of oxygenated fuels from renewable sources with properties different from normal alcohols or typical esters. In the present work, the product of turpentine oxyfunctionalization (oxyturpentine), which is composed mainly of nopol, α-terpineol and α-pinene, is evaluated as diesel fuel component blended at 20% vol., by measuring the performance and emissions of a Euro 6 engine under a standard driving cycle. The results show a reduction in particulate number, particulate matter and nitrogen oxides (the tightest emissions from diesel engines), while carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions were increased. The emissions were influenced by the fuel properties and the changes in equivalence ratio and the EGR in the engine (derived from the fuel properties). These results show a high potential of oxyturpentine to be used as component of diesel fuel. • The oxyturpentine content affects both the EGR and the equivalence ratio in the engine. • NOx was decreased when diesel engine was fueled with diesel + oxyturpentine blend. • Oxygen content of oxyturpentine reduces particle mass and particle number emissions. • At cold-engine conditions, hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions increased sharply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanism of the environmental regulations affecting carbon emissions is complex, and for many years it has been a hot research topic for researchers. However, few of the previous studies have focused on whether or not environmental regulations can potentially influence carbon emissions through technical efficiency. Therefore, the present study chose to investigate the mediation effects of the technical efficiencies between environmental regulations and carbon emissions using the provincial panel data of energy-intensive industries for the period ranging from 2005 to 2015. The results were as follows: (i) In regard to the entire group of energy-intensive industries, it was found that environmental regulations could not only potentially directly reduce carbon emissions, but also indirectly reduce carbon emissions through technical efficiency. In other words, technical efficiency had played a partial mediation role between the environmental regulations and the carbon emissions; (ii) It was observed that for the different subdivided energy-intensive industries, the different levels of technical efficiency had shown various mediation effects. For example, the mediation effects of technical efficiency in the petroleum processing and coking (PPC) industry; papermaking and paper products (PPP) industry, and raw chemical materials and chemical products (RCMCP) industry, were found to be similar to those of the whole energy-intensive industries. Furthermore, the "Porter Hypothesis" had been verified in the nonmetal mineral products (NMP) industry. However, there were no mediation effects observed in the smelting and pressing of ferrous metals (SPFM) and smelting and pressing of nonferrous metals (SPNM) industries; (iii) In this study, in accordance with the regression results of the double-threshold models, it was found that for the energy-intensive industries as a whole, the carbon emission reduction effects of environmental regulations had become stronger with the increases in technical efficiency. For the PPP and RCMCP industries, there was an inverted U-shaped relationship observed between environmental regulations and carbon emissions when the technical efficiency was taken as the threshold variable. Therefore, based on the research conclusions achieved in this study, some policy recommendations were put forward. • Environmental regulation reduces carbon emission of the energy intensive industries of China. • Technical efficiency plays a partial mediation effect between environmental regulation and carbon emission. • The mediation effects of technical efficiency differ in the subdivided energy-intensive industries. • The "Porter hypothesis" is verified in Nonmetal Mineral Products (NMP) industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]