18 Energy conversion and recycling

02/01234 Process for the production of gaseous fuel from waste material Groszek, M. et al. PCT Int. Appl. WO 01 30,943 (Cl. ClOJ3/48), 3 May 2001, GB Appl. 1999/25, 199, 25 Ott 1999. 52. This paper describes the process for the production of a gaseous fuel from a waste material (e.g. sludge) and/or a premium fuel (e.g. coal). It comprises the following. (1) A processing chamber which contains outwardly radiating inclined vanes at a base, an inlet and an outlet. (2) A waste material and/or a premium fuel is introduced into the chamber through the inlet. (3) An upward flow of a heating fluid is generated through the vanes at the base of the chamber, where waste material and/or the premium fuel circulate about an axis of the chamber in a compact turbulent band. This is gasified and/or pyrolysed to produce a gaseous fuel stream, where the gaseous fuel stream exits the chamber through the outlet. (4) At least a portion of the gaseous fuel stream is then fed back into the chamber through an entry point adjacent to the vanes.

02/01235 Production of biomass for energy in post-mining landscapes and nutrient dynamics Bungart, R. and Hilttl, R.F. Biomass und Bioenergy, 2001.20, (3), 181- 187. Since the German reunification in 1990 lignite production in the Lusatian mining region has significantly been decreased as a result of substantial economic and structural changes. This development coincides with efforts of the government of the state of Brandenburg to enhance the production of biomass for energy use on arable set- aside and post-mining land. In this context, the goal is to obtain a share of 3% of the primary energy consumption from biomass. As a part of the ongoing recultivation activities in the post-mining landscapes, short-rotation tree plantations as a special form of energy forests have recently come into focus. Thus, in 1995 a 2.5 ha short-rotation plantation was established on clayey-sandy, nutrient-poor substrates in the Lusatian mining area Welzow-Stid in order to study the yield potential of fast-growing tree species under the prevailing site conditions. Even under unfavourable soil conditions with a low N and P supply, above-ground biomass production after 4 years ranged from 5.3 to 19.6 tons dry matter (DM) per hectare. Four-year-old plants of fast-growing tree species like clones of poplar and willciw and aspen progenies were marked by low mean N - (4.9 mg g Cl - (113 pg g- ’ DM), Cd - (0.8 pg g ’ DM) and Pb - 0.5 fig g ‘t%)j concentrations and a high ash softening temperature point of about 1680°C. For the biomass accumplated within this 4-year period, a calorific value of 42000 MJ ha a ’ has been calculated. The ash content of 2.4% allows this materials to be used for amelioration purposes. This recycling approach guarantees balanced phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium supply. To maintain adequate site productivity only for nitrogen a compensatory fertilization is required.

02/01236 Recycling of solid wastes from coking Saltanov, A.V. Ed al. Koks Khim., 2001, 1, 28-30. (In Russian) Solid wastes from chemical and tar processing and from phthalic anhydride production are used as additives for coal charges for coking.

02/01237 Soil biochemical activity and growth response of rice Oryza safiva in flyash amended soil Sarangi, P.K. et ~1. Eioresource Technolog_r, 2001, 76, (3), 199-205. Soil amended with different proportions of flyash, a solid waste generated from coal-fired thermal power plants, was evaluated as a soil conditioner and nutrient supplement during a field study on the growth of rice, Oryza sativa. Generally, pH and organic carbon (OC) content did not increase significantly (P > 0.05) in tlyash amended soil, but significant increases (P < 0.05) in soil conductivity (32%). available phosphorus (48%) and organic matter (OM, 29%) were observed during harvest at the 20 t ha ’ flyash application rate. Amylase, invertase, dehydrogenase and protease activities, and CO2 evolution increased in flyash amended soil over the control. The pigment (chl-a, chl-h, and carotenoid) content in rice plants did not vary significantly (P > 0.05) between different flyash amendments. Total plants biomass and aboveground biomass increased (P < 0.05) significantly (17% and 25%. respectively) at the 20 t ha ’ flyash application. However, there was a retarded growth of underground biomass. Grain and str:w yield increased by 21% and 18%, respectively, at 17.5 t ha flyash amendment when compared to the control. Although, a significant increase IP < 0.051 in olant biomass and erain vield in flvash amended

This paper attempts to characterise the water regime of reclaimed surface dumps in connection with their soil physical properties. The results of a research project based on field measurements of moisture content and hydraulic conductivity, supported by analyses of undis- turbed soil samples, led to recommendations regarding technological procedures for such dumps. A dielectric soil moisture meter, in an improved version, was successfully used for field monitoring and further evaluation of moisture content. Hydraulic conductivity was also measured in the field (by repeated borehole infiltration) using the Guelph permeameter method. Laplace-Gardner analysis was used for evaluating the field saturated hydraulic conductivity results.

02/01239 Temporary stabilizers from waste polyolefins for oil well and gas well drilling Ding, R. Faming Zhuanli Shenqing Gongkai Shuomingshu CN 1,267,701 (Cl. C09K7/02), 27 Sep 2001, Appl. 2,000,102,576, 21 Mar 2000. 5. (In Chinese) The stabilizers contain waste polyolefins 5-96, hydrocarbon fractions 0.1-83, surfactants 0.1-15, and water O.l-68%. The polyolefin is selected from homo- or co-polymers of ethylene, propylene, butene, isobutene, or styrene; and the hydrocarbon fractions are benzene, xylene, toluene, kerosene, diesel oil, lubricant, coal tar, base oil, heavy oil vacuum distillation residue, paraffin wax, earth wax, Vaseline, residual oil, and/or coal tar oil.

02/01240 The role of HRT and low temperature on the acid- phase anaerobic digestion of municipal and industrial wastewaters Maharaj, I. and Elefsiniotis, P. Bioresource Technolog,v, 2001, 76, (3). 191-197. Two identical completely mixed reactors with solids recycling capabili- ties were used to investigate the effects of hydraulic retention time (HRT) and low temperatures on volatile fatty acid (VFA) production. One reactor was fed with a 1:l ratio of diluted primary sludge and a starch-rich industrial wastewater, while the other was fed with diluted primary sludge alone. The VFA and soluble COD concentrations and specific production rates reached their highest values at 30 h HRT and at 25°C. Further increase in HRT (at 25°C) or decrease in temperature (at an HRT of 30 h) resulted in lower amounts of VFA and COD produced. All parameters related to VFA and COD production were significantly higher in the industrial-municipal reactor than in the municipal-only reactor. The VFA:COD ratios were very high, with values ranging from about 0.8 to 1.0 indicating that hydrolysis was the ratelimiting step. Degradation of proteins (measured by ammonia production) was inhibited by the starch-rich wastewater in the industrial-municipal reactor, while no evidence of inhibition was found in the municipal-only reactor. This study revealed that VFA production was feasible at low temperatures (down to 8”C), particu- larly in the presence of the industrial waste. Ultimately, the amount VFA produced was adequate, in most cases, to support subsequent biological nutrient removal (BNR) processes.

02/01241 Tree lantations for restoration of degraded lands and greening o P India: a case study of tree growers’ cooperatives Balooni, K. and Singh, K. Na/ural Resources Forum, 2001, 25, (l), 21- 32. India has over 100 m ha (million hectares) of village common lands. De jure, these lands are owned by the state but, de facto, they are used in common by villagers. Most of the village commons are degraded and denuded and are almost non-productive. Several attempts have been made in the recent past to restore them through planting of trees by governmental and non-governmental organizations. Tree Growers’ Co- operative Societies (TGCS), as an organizational innovation of relatively recent origin, have proved to be more cost-effective than other forms of organizations engaged in greening the village commons in India. This paper attempts to assess the financial viability of tree plantations carried out by three selected TGCS and to distil lessons of their experience useful for policy purposes. The study revealed that plantations founded by the sample TGCS were financially viable, and that the plantations had transformed the desolate village commons into ‘green wealth’. The authors conclude that the TGCS have a high potential as an instrument for promoting the afforestation of India’s degraded village common lands and thereby improving village economy and the quality of the environment.

, . soil is encouraging from the point of waste disposal and-management, elucidation of reasons for retarded growth in underground biomass will require additional research based on long-term studies.

02/01238 Soil properties and water regime of reclaimed surface dumps in the North Bohemian brown-coal region - a field study Kuraz, V. Waste Managemenr, 2001, 21, (2), 147-151.

02/01242 Using a roller press to compact your low- moisture by-products for recycling - part II. Schuelke, M. Powder Bulk Eng., 2001, 15, (3), 65566. 68, 71. Waste by-products from manufacturing plants, coal-burning power plants, and other operations can create bulky, costly, or even hazardous disposal problems. Agglomeration equipment can treat these by- products so they can be recycled - either by sending them back to the process or using them to make new products. This two-part article

152 Fuel and Energy Abstracts March 2002