Inert anodes for AI smelters: Energy balances and environmental impact

This paper assesses the energy and environmental consequences of retrofitting aluminum electrolysis cells with inert anodes. The energy consumption and the CO₂ emissions are calculated based on assumptions of what the cell voltage may be. It is crucial not to ignore the cell voltage increase that may be necessary to maintain the heat balance of the cell, and also the sources of electrical energy that would provide the incremental power. Thus, a global environmental analysis of the impact of retrofitting cells with inert anodes is needed. For more information, contact Halvor Kvande Hydro Aluminium Metal Products, N-0240 Oslo, Norway; +47-22-53-9155; fax +47-22-53-7778; e-mail halvor.kvande@hydro.com.     

Validation of the EUROP system for lamb classification in Norway; repeatability and accuracy of visual assessment and prediction of lamb carcass composition

The EUROP classification system is based on visual assessment of carcass conformation and fatness. The first objective was to test the EUROP classification repeatability and accuracy of the national senior assessors of the system in Norway. The second objective was to test the accuracy of the trained and certified abattoir EUROP classifiers in Norway relative to EU Commission's supervising assessors. The third and final objective was to test the accuracy of the EUROP classification system, as assessed by the National senior assessors, for prediction of lean meat, fat and bone percentage and lean meat in relation to bone ratio. The results showed that the repeatability and accuracy of the national senior assessors was good, achieving high correlations both for conformation and fatness. For the abattoir assessors, there were some systematic differences compared to EU Commission's assessors, but these differences were within limits accepted by EU Commission. The relationship between abattoir and national senior assessors was good, with only small systematic differences. This may suggest that there also is a systematic difference between the national senior assessors of the system and EU Commission's assessors. The EUROP system predicted lean meat percentage poorly (R(2)=0.407), with a prediction error for 3.027% lean. For fat and bone percentage, the results showed a fairly good prediction of fat percentage, but poorer for bone percentage, R(2)=0.796 and R(2)=0.450, respectively. The prediction error for fat and bone percentage was 2.300% and 2.125%, respectively. Lean: bone ratio was predicted poorly (R(2)=0.212), with a prediction error of 0.363 lean: bone ratio.     

Effect of low copper content and heat treatment on intergranular corrosion of model AlMgSi alloys

Certain 6000-series extrusions may develop susceptibility to intergranular corrosion (IGC) by improper heat treatment, especially if copper is present as an alloying element. Although occurrence of IGC in such cases is documented, the underlying mechanisms are not adequately explained. We present corrosion data for two model alloys, having different Cu content and Mg:Si ratio, showing that the susceptibility to IGC depended primarily on the Cu content and secondly on thermal processing. Low Cu samples (0.0005 wt.% Cu) were essentially resistant to IGC. High Cu samples (0.12 wt.% Cu), which were air cooled after extrusion, exhibited significant IGC. However, IGC susceptibility was reduced significantly as a result of artificial aging to peak strength. Water quenched high Cu samples were essentially resistant to IGC. However, slight IGC susceptibility was introduced after aging. Electron optical characterisation revealed Al₄Mg₈Si₇Cu₂ (Q-phase) grain boundary precipitates on all the variants susceptible to IGC. The susceptibility was attributed to microgalvanic coupling between Q-phase grain boundary precipitates (noble) and the adjacent depleted zone (active).     

Retrofitting older aluminum reduction cell lines—A way to extend productive life

Retrofitting older alumina reduction cell lines may be an alternative to a complete line shutdown and replacement with new, modern cells. This may, in turn, extend the time that aging cell lines remain cost effective and profitable, and may also help meet today’s more stringent environmental protection regulations. In this article, practical examples of improvements achieved by cell retrofitting are discussed.     

The effect of heat treatment on the gouging abrasion resistance of alloy white cast irons

A series of heat treatments was employed to vary the microstructure of four commercially important alloy white cast irons, the wear resistance of which was then assessed by the ASTM jaw-crusher gouging abrasion test. Compared with the as-cast condition, standard austenitizing treatments produced a substantial increase in hardness, a marked decrease in the retained aus-tenite content in the matrix, and, in general, a significant improvement in gouging abrasion resistance. The gouging abrasion resistance tended to decline with increasing austenitizing tem-perature, although the changes in hardness and retained austenite content varied, depending on alloy composition. Subcritical heat treatment at 500 ° following hardening reduced the retained austenite content to values less than 10 pct, and in three of the alloys it caused a significant fall in both hardness and gouging abrasion resistance. The net result of the heat treatments was the development of optimal gouging abrasion resistance at intermediate levels of retained aus-tenite. The differing responses of the alloys to both high-temperature austenitizing treatments and to subcritical heat treatments at 500 ° were related to the effects of the differing carbon and alloying-element concentrations on changes in theM _s temperature and secondary carbide precipitation.     

Initial proteolysis of milk proteins and its effect on formation of ACE-inhibitory peptides during gastrointestinal proteolysis: a bioinformatic, in silico, approach

Angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory peptides are encrypted in milk protein sequences. They may express an antihypertensive effect if they are released by proteolysis in foods and/or during gastrointestinal digestion. A bioinformatic, in silico, approach was developed to evaluate how systematic initial proteolysis, i.e. cleavage after one specific type of amino acid (C-end) at a time in milk proteins, influence the formation of ACE-inhibitory peptides by subsequent gastrointestinal proteolysis. Computer simulation was done and a peptide QSAR model was used to estimate the combined ACE inhibition by digested proteins. Initial proteolytic cleavage at the C-end of amino acids isoleucine and proline gave, based on calculations, increased effect of ACE-inhibitory peptides after gastrointestinal proteolysis of milk proteins. Cleavage after most other amino acid residues had little or no effect. Results indicate that initial proteolysis in foods have to be specific in order to increase formation of bioavailable ACE-inhibitory peptides during gastrointestinal digestion.     

Treatment of depression in low-income older adults.

The purpose of this study was to compare cognitive-behavioral group therapy (CBGT), clinical case management (CCM), and their combination (CBGT + CCM) to treat depression in low-income older adults (60+). Sixty-seven participants with major depressive disorder or dysthymia were randomly assigned and entered into 1 of the 3 treatment conditions for 6 months. They were followed for 18 months after treatment initiation on depression and functional outcomes. CCM and CBGT + CCM led to greater improvements in depressive symptoms than CBGT, but CBGT led to greater improvements in physical functioning. All 3 conditions resulted in similar reduction of needs. Findings suggest that disadvantaged older adults with depression benefit from increased access to social services either alone or combined with psychotherapy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)