Search

The Campine region in Flanders is well-known for its highly cadmium (Cd)-contaminated soils due to past anthropogenic activities. Enhanced Cd exposure can cause cellular damage in plants, and consequently reduces crop growth and plant quality (Jozefczak et al., 2014). Currently, few cost-effective and non-destructive remediation techniques exist (Tang and Ni, 2021). Therefore, alternative soil remediation techniques should be assessed. Biochar is a solid material that is produced by pyrolysis of biomass. Because of its functional surface, it can be used as a cost-effective adsorbent for various (in)organic pollutants in soils and waste waters (Sizmur et al., 2017). However, differences in biochar properties will affect their adsorption performance. Therefore, suitable biomass streams and biochar production conditions should be selected to increase adsorption efficiency. Biochars from eight biomass feedstocks (spent peat, green waste, chicken manure, coffee grounds, flax shives, insect frass, tree bark and apple wood) were subjected to pyrolysis at 450 and 600 °C (pilot-scale rotary kiln reactor) and evaluated for their Cd removal efficiency (CRE) in a buffered 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid (MES) solution (0.025 M Cd; pH = 6; 1:20 solid:liquid ratio) for ten days. The results show that CRE varied from 4 to 96 wt.% with the highest CRE by chicken manure biochars (94-96 wt.%). Insect frass biochar (produced at 450 °C) also had a high CRE (77 ± 4 wt.%). All the other biochars exhibited a CRE below 50 wt.%. A 10-day kinetic adsorption study in the MES solution was executed on four biochars (450 °C) (tree bark, spent peat, insect frass and chicken manure) due to their divergent adsorption performance. A 24-hr desorption step with 0.01 M Ca(NO3)2 was executed to investigate the leachability of the adsorbed Cd. Chicken manure biochar showed the fastest Cd removal rate with a removal of 93 ± 1 wt.% within one day, while the Cd removal of insect frass biochar started at 41 ± 2 wt.% and gradually increased to 77 ± 4 wt.%. Cd Leaching from the loaded biochar was limited (< 10 wt.%) but spent peat biochar leached approx. two times more Cd compared to chicken manure biochar. Future pot and large-scale plant growth experiments with these biochars will provide more insight on their performance in real-life scenarios. This will open new possibilities for the remediation of Cd-contaminated soils.

Brushless DC machines (BLDC), Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines (PMSM), Stepping Motors and Brushed DC machines (BDC) usage is ubiquitous in the power range below 1,5kW. There is a lot of common knowledge on these technologies. Stepping Motors are ideally suited for open loop positioning, BLDC machines are the most obvious candidate for high-speed applications, etc. However, literature lacks comprehensive research comparing these machines over a large range of applications. In this paper, more than 100 motors are considered. Their characteristics are compared and presented in a comprehensive way. These results support the common knowledge concerning the field of application of each technology and new insights follow from this quantitative comparison.

Public support of mussel farming in Greece is an important factor because of its financial viability. The profitability of the activity is seriously reduced in small farms (1-3 ha) as a result of their high production costs; however, small farms represent a major part of the industry. Mussel farming is an extensive activity, with space availability regulated by public administrators via licensing of marine cultivation area property rights. The available space, though, is limited and, consequently, impedes any future expansion, restricting the production capacity of small farms. Nevertheless, the cost of new establishments and the modernization of existing ones (suitable boats, grading equipment, and so on) is affordable only by the larger companies. For small farms, it seems harder to recruit the large labor teams needed to work on a seasonal basis because this is the optimum to effect least operational costs, as shown by sensitivity analyses. In conclusion, for financial sustainability this sector needs to be restructured and organized into larger schemes, such as with producer organizations or cooperatives, to achieve economies of scale.

Public support of mussel farming in Greece is an important factor because of its financial viability. The profitability of the activity is seriously reduced in small farms (1-3 ha) as a result of their high production costs; however, small farms represent a major part of the industry. Mussel farming is an extensive activity, with space availability regulated by public administrators via licensing of marine cultivation area property rights. The available space, though, is limited and, consequently, impedes any future expansion, restricting the production capacity of small farms. Nevertheless, the cost of new establishments and the modernization of existing ones (suitable boats, grading equipment, and so on) is affordable only by the larger companies. For small farms, it seems harder to recruit the large labor teams needed to work on a seasonal basis because this is the optimum to effect least operational costs, as shown by sensitivity analyses. In conclusion, for financial sustainability this sector needs to be restructured and organized into larger schemes, such as with producer organizations or cooperatives, to achieve economies of scale.

Bivalve production in Greece pertains to a vast extent of mussel farming and a few other species of fishery products. Mussel farming in Greece covers 375.5 ha primarily located in the northern part of the country. About 523 farms have been licensed since 1976, of which 218 are using the single long-line floating technique for a nominal production capacity of about 100 t/ha and a farming area of 1-2 ha on average. The total annual production (gross pergolari weight) increased to 36,000 t in 2008. Currently, there is a trend for further expansion by licensing new farming sites. Eighty percent of the farmed mussels are exported fresh and intact, primarily to Italy. One major problem seems to be the increasing number of harmful algal bloom incidents during the past decade. The future of the industry depends on the industrialization of production methods and the development of scale to suppress the production cost. Support of product branding and development of a quality scheme would further strengthen the sector.

This paper analyzes the short-run and steady state real effects of financial deregulation in an open economy which trades in commodities and securities. The emphasis is placed on what role these measures play in the physical capital accumulation, portfolio equilibrium, the economy's external indebtedness and in the transition from less than full employment to full employment. On this basis, an assessment is made of the potential effects of the 1992 liberalization of financial services for five European countries and concludes that the strong claims for beneficial effects of financial deregulation are supported by the results. Published in connection with a visit at the IIES.