Options for the Swedish steel industry - Energy efficiency measures and fuel conversion

The processes of iron and steel making are energy intensive and consume large quantities of electricity and fossil fuels. In order to meet future climate targets and energy prices, the iron and steel industry has to improve its energy and resource efficiency. For the iron and steel industry to utilize its energy resources more efficiently and at the same time reduce its CO₂ emissions a number of options are available. In this paper, opportunities for both integrated and scrap-based steel plants are presented and some of the options are electricity production, fuel conversion, methane reforming of coke oven gas and partnership in industrial symbiosis. The options are evaluated from a system perspective and more specific measures are reported for two Swedish case companies: SSAB Strip Products and Sandvik AB. The survey shows that both case companies have great potentials to reduce their CO₂ emissions.     

Observed and unobserved heterogeneity in stochastic frontier models: An application to the electricity distribution industry

In this study we combine different possibilities to model firm level heterogeneity in stochastic frontier analysis. We show that both observed and unobserved heterogeneities cause serious biases in inefficiency results. Modelling observed and unobserved heterogeneities treat individual firms in different ways and even though the expected mean inefficiency scores in both cases diminish the firm level efficiency rank orders turn out to be very different. The best fit with the data is obtained by modelling unobserved heterogeneity through randomizing frontier parameters and at the same time explicitly modelling the observed heterogeneity into the inefficiency distribution. These results are obtained by using data from Finnish electricity distribution utilities and the results are relevant in relation to electricity distribution pricing and regulation.     

Dietary effects on growth,liver peroxides,and serum and lipoprotein lipids in rats fed a thermoxidised and polymerised sunflower oil

The effect on food intake, weight gain, liver lipid peroxides, lipemia and lipoprotein composition was determined in rats fed a diet with 15% sunflower oil used repeatedly for frying and containing ∽19% polar material (group 2). These dietary effects were compared over a 4 week study period with those found in rats fed a control diet that contained 15% unused sunflower oil with ∽5% polar material (group 1). Both groups had similar food and nutrient intakes (except for linoleic acid, significantly lower (P<0·01) in group 2), yet the final weight gain and food efficiency and protein efficiency ratios were significantly lower in group 2. As a consequence of thermoxidised oil ingestion, liver homogenates from group 2 presented higher (P<0·02) levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) Liver TBARS levels were significantly correlated (P<0·01) with the amount of thermoxidised substances ingested. No treatment effect was found on VLDL lipid composition. However, the LDL fraction of group 2 animals appears enriched (P<0·05) in total and free cholesterol. In group 2 rats, phospholipids, and total and esterified cholesterol were significantly increased (P<0·05) in HDL. As a consequence of the changes in the lipoprotein composition, the amount of all forms of serum cholesterol, and serum phospholipids was significantly higher (at least P<0·05) while the amount of serum triacylglycerols remained unchanged in rats fed the used oil. HDL-phospholipids were significantly correlated (P<0·02) with the amount of thermoxidised compounds ingested. The increase in serum cholesterol and phospholipids, and in HDL-cholesterol and HDL-phospholipid concentration seens in group 2 rats may be a protective mechanism against the peroxidative stress produced by the ingestion of used sunflower oil. © 1998 SCI.     

Effects of gibberellic acid (GA3) on strawberry PAL (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase) and TAL (tyrosine ammonia-lyase) enzyme activities

Gibberellic acid (GA₃) treatments (30 and 60 μg litre⁻¹) were applied to young plants (Fragaria ananassa cv Chandler). Fruits were harvested at various developmental stages (14, 21, 28 and 35 days from fruit set). Weight and size, phenolic compounds (total polyphenols and anthocyanins) and enzyme activities, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and tyrosine ammonia-lyase (TAL) were determined. Our aim was to obtain detailed information about PAL and TAL activities related to the strawberry colour during development and ripening processes and to determine the effects of exogenous treatments of GA₃ on PAL and TAL activities. Exogenous treatments of GA₃ improve weight, size and colour of strawberry fruits, and affect PAL and TAL activities. We found that the anthocyanin content and PAL activity are enhanced by the exogenous treatment of GA₃ in the range of 30 μg litre⁻¹. However, with the higher GA₃ treatment, only the anthocyanin content is affected in that way. These findings suggest that gibberellic acid effect on PAL, TAL and ultimately anthocyanin enhancement is dosage related and saturation of the response occurs at 30 μg litre⁻¹. © 1998 SCI.     

Effect of environmental daily temperature fluctuations over one year storage on the prediction of non-enzymatic browning in reduced-moisture foods stored at “ambient” temperature

Non-enzymatic browning predictions in reduced-moisture foods stored over one year at “ambient” temperature, were made using, (a) realistic environmental daily (and seasonal) temperature fluctuations, and (b) a constant mean temperature. Daily temperature records taken every 6 h from January 1st to December 31st (1460 temperature data) in four selected cities from Argentina, were used.

The predicted amount of browning over one year storage was different depending whether the annual mean temperature (T_am), the monthly mean temperature (T_mm) or the daily temperature fluctuations (T_df) were used for the predictions. Predicted browning over one year was generally higher when realistic storage conditions (i.e., daily/seasonal temperature fluctuations) rather than mean values (annual or monthly), were used instead.     

Development of a real-time PCR assay for the detection of cow and donkey milk

A real-time PCR allelic discrimination TaqMan assay based on the analysis of a single nucleotide polymorphism enabling the differentiation of cow (Bos taurus) and donkey (Equus asinus) milk was developed. Specific primers and probes were designed on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene. The primers were designed upstream and downstream the chosen diagnosis site in a conserved region. Two probes were designed to specifically hybridise to B. taurus and E. asinus sequences. The test allowed the discrimination of bovine and donkey DNA in all blood and pure milk samples giving an unambiguous result plot of rapid and easy interpretation. The detection threshold was 2?% of cow milk in donkey milk. The applicability of the method to matrices containing degraded DNA was demonstrated by analysing samples of raw donkey and cow milk autoclave-treated (121?°C for 15?min). Finally, the assay when applied to milk samples collected from the retail trade has confirmed the species indicated in the label. Furthermore, the assay represents a potentially valuable diagnostic tool for species identification in dairy products for allergic people.     

Identification and quantification of phenolic acids and flavonol glycosides in Tunisian Morus species by HPLC-DAD and HPLC–MS

The total polyphenol and flavonoids in leaves of Morus alba var. alba, Morus alba var. rosa and Morus rubra were determined and identification of their components was carried out. The total content of phenolics varied between 345.20 and 631.53 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 g dry weight (DW) basis. The total amount of flavonoids ranged between 193.87 and 398.33 mg rutin equivalents (RE)/100 g DW. Thirteen compounds were isolated by chromatography, and their structures determined to be mainly flavonol glycosides and phenolic acids. Three novel components were identified as kaempferol-7-O-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-β-glucoside-7-O-α-rhamnoside and quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside-7-O-glucoside, for the first time from mulberry leaves. Others known compounds were also identified.     

Oxidation Processes in Sicilian Olive Oils Investigated by a Combination of Optical and EPR Spectroscopy

Abstract: Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is recognized as one of the healthiest foods for its high content of antioxidants, which forestall and slow down radical formation. Free radical‐initiated oxidation is considered one of the main causes of rancidity in fats and oils. As a consequence, reliable protocols for the investigation of oil oxidation based on selective, noninvasive, and fast methods are highly desirable. Here we report an experimental approach based on UV‐Vis absorbance, steady‐state fluorescence, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy for studying oxidation processes induced by temperature for a period up to 35 d on Sicilian EVOO samples. We followed the decrease in β‐carotene content during incubation time and observed changes in polyphenols and tocopherols during the oxidation processes, focusing on the time scale of those changes. Using EPR spectroscopy, the free radical formation in different oil samples is reported, providing a fingerprint for both the antioxidant content and temporal features of the oxidation process at its early stage. Practical Application: We monitor β‐carotene and chlorophyll in an auto‐oxidation process. A protocol based on spectroscopic measurements is presented and can be used for the quality control process of commercial olive oil.     

High‐temperature conditioning induces chilling tolerance in mandarin fruit: a cell wall approach

BACKGROUND: High‐temperature conditioning (3 days at 37 °C and 95% relative humidity), which protects ‘Fortune’ mandarins from chilling injury (CI), manifested as pitting in the outer part of the peel (flavedo), was applied prior to cold storage (2 °C) in order to investigate the involvement of cell wall composition in the chilling tolerance of mandarins. RESULTS: Both low‐temperature storage and high‐temperature conditioning barely modified the alcohol‐insoluble substance (AIS) content or the degree of pectin esterification in the flavedo. Water‐soluble pectins (WSP) were higher in heat‐conditioned than in non‐conditioned fruits at the onset of CI. In addition, the heat‐conditioning treatment was able to increase chelator‐soluble pectins (CSP) after short cold storage periods. Covalently bound polyuronides in alkali‐soluble pectins (ASP) increased only in fruits with high incidence of CI. Cellulose and hemicellulose increased at 2 °C in both conditioned and non‐conditioned fruits, indicating that these polysaccharides may be altered by low temperature but are not related to chilling‐induced damage. CONCLUSION: High‐temperature conditioning may reduce chilling‐induced flavedo pitting in ‘Fortune’ mandarin fruit by maintaining normal levels of WSP and increasing putative sites for calcium bridge formation within the cell wall, but not by inducing changes in other matrix cell wall components. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry