tation properties. The developed compositions might be used forfloors and tile in acids production, road building and building ma-terials.

060*

Application of Life Cycle Assessmentfor Environmental Evaluation ofDifferent Variants of the SodiumChromate Production

Z y g m u n t K o w a l s k i

C z e s ø a w M a z a n e k

Institute of Chemistry and Inorganic Technology, Cracow Uni-versity of Technology, Warszawska 24, 31±015, KrakoÂw, Poland

This article presents the results of life cycle assessment for sodiumchromate production comparing the dolomite method used till 1999and the implemented method with chromic mud recycling. The eva-luation of the impact of sodium chromate production on the naturalenvironment is based on the complex quality method and othermethods used in Poland for the assessment of production sys-tems. The index of the relative decrease of the hazard to the naturalenvironment WZZ was 60.2% for new implemented method W2 (fordolomite method it was 100%). The LCA analysis showed furtherpossibilities for reducing the impact of sodium chromate produc-tion on the natural environment through the implementation ofnew technological solutions, especially those concerning the de-crease of energy consumption in technological processes.

061*

Achieving Sustainability through theCombined Application of BiochemicalEngineering and Nanotechnology

G r a h a m S t r e e t

University of Teesside, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom, TS1 3BA

The environmental, technological aspects of sustainability and theconsequent delivery to satisfy the regulations imposed by legisla-tion, such as the UK's Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control,requires the development and implementation of the best availabletechnology. The two developing technologies of biotechnology andnanotechnology should form the basis for the innovation of newand novel processes that this implies. If these are facilitatedthrough the application of the principles of biochemical engineer-ing science, then sustainability should be a more achievable goal.Not only can these technologies be used to help clean up existingpollution but they can lead the way to reduce chemical inputs intoagriculture, intensify and integrate processes through the use ofbiocatalysts, provide biological solutions to waste management,aid the production of green products and take a lead in the protec-tion of the ecosystem.

062*

Melting Process for the Treatment ofToxic Ashes and Slags from WasteIncineration

M . M o d i g e l l

J . P r oÈ l û

Lehr- und Forschungsgebiet Mechanische Verfahrenstechnik(IVT), RWTH Aachen, Germany

Ashes and slags from waste incineration can usually not be recycledwithout pre-treatment owing to high concentration of noxious com-ponents. The most effective treatment is the melting process. Or-ganic substances are destroyed and heavy metals are vaporized.The product is a glassy material which is mostly resistant to leach-ing. Though the melting process has been known for years, it is notutilized since it is not yet sufficiently well understood for use in anoptimized operating strategy. In particular, the minority compo-nents' activities in the multi component mixtures, necessary to cal-culate the vaporization process, are not known.

Activity and mass transfer coefficients of minority com-ponents in synthetic slags were determined by a modified tran-spiration method using a top-blowing reactor. Different experi-ments were carried out in which slag composition, oxygen partialpressure and temperature were varied. Additionally the slag leach-ing resistance was tested. Aim of the project is the development of abasis for a melting process operating calculation.

Figure.Apparatus for partial pressure determination.

607E n v i r o n m e n t a l E n g i n e e r i n gChemie Ingenieur Technik (73) 6 I 2001