Das Projekt "Novel Concepts, Methods, and Technologies for the Production of Portable, EasytoUse Devices for the Measurement and Analysis of Airborne Engineered Nanoparticles in Workplace Air (NANODEVICE)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Institut für Umwelt & Energie, Technik & Analytik e.V. durchgeführt. Due to their unique properties, engineered nanoparticles (ENP) are now used for a myriad of novel applications with great economic and technological importance. However, some of these properties, especially their surface reactivity, have raised health concerns, which have prompted scientists, regulators, and industry to seek consensus protocols for the safe production and use of the different forms of ENP. There is currently a shortage of field-worthy, cost-effective ways - especially in real time - for reliable assessment of exposure levels to ENP in workplace air. In addition to the problems with the size distribution, a major uncertainty in the safety assessment of airborne ENP arises from the lack of knowledge of their physical and chemical properties, and the levels of exposure. A special challenge of ENP monitoring is to separate ubiquitous background nanoparticles from different sources from the ENP. Here the main project goal is to develop innovative concepts and reliable methods for characterizing ENP in workplace air with novel, portable and easy-to-use devices suitable for workplaces. Additional research objectives are - identification of relevant physico-chemical properties and metrics of airborne ENP; establishment of reference materials; - exploring the association between physico-chemical and toxicological properties of ENP; - analyzing industrial processes as a source of ENP in workplace air; - developing methods for calibration and testing of the novel devices in real and simulated exposure situations; and - dissemination of the research results to promote the safe use of ENP through guidance, standards and education, implementing of safety objectives in ENP production and handling, and promotion of safety related collaborations through an international nanosafety platform. Prime Contractor: Tyoeterveyslaitos; Helsinki; Finland.
Das Projekt "Recovered paper sorting with innovative technologies (SORT IT)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Papiertechnische Stiftung München durchgeführt. Objective: SORT IT aims at developing new technologies for a more efficient and profitable sorting of recovered paper and board from various collection systems. These include: - New sensors based on near infrared spectrometry, image analysis and colour measurement (WP 2) - New physical separation devices like robots (WP 3) - New sorting concepts (WP 4) The new sorting devices will be implemented into an industrial sorting chain. Full scale trials will be carried out including sorting of recovered paper from different sources and investigation on paper machines producing newspaper, resp. packaging paper (WP 5). Extensive life cycle studies will be carried out to assess the environmental, economic and social benefits (WP 1). The dissemination and communication plan (WP 6) includes conventional dissemination activities, introduction of new findings to the market and production of foreground for the development of the European environmental policy.
Das Projekt "Teilprojekt: Plattform für Ligninanalytik (Lignin platform)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität für Bodenkultur BOKU Wien, Department für Chemie (DCH), Abteilung für Chemie nachwachsender Rohstoffe (Chemie NAWARO) durchgeführt. The area s research framework combines expertise in analytical chemistry, pulp and paper chemistry, biomass pre-treatment and hydrolysis, organic synthesis, process technology, techno-economic analysis. The lignin platform comprises and crosslinks the interdisciplinary sub-projects, it is expected to significantly contribute to the knowledge base for products and processes that will enable a more efficient use of the lignin from existing pulp and paper plants. Development of advanced means to characterize different types of lignin from the project partners including lignin after different modifications within the project. The lignin platform will serve as support to determine parameters important for lignin quality control and reactivity. Lignins to be investigated comprise kraft lignins, process streams containing lignin (e.g. from mechanical pulp processing), lignosulfonates and organosolv lignins. Lignin characterization will focus on the development of advanced techniques using NMR, FFF, SEC, FTIR and others in combination with established techniques. Based on the samples available from project partners a lignin database will be generated.