Greenlist(tm) Bulletin 05/30/2008
This is the weekly bulletin of the TURI Library, reporting a selection of recently published titles we have acquired. Our pledge is to keep the bulletin relevant to your work and brief -- no more than 10 titles. You are welcome to send a message to jan@turi.org if you would like more information on any of the articles listed here.
Titles here, abstracts below:
- New magnesium hydroxides enabling low-smoke cable compounds
- Innovations review: making green the new business as usual
- Pumpkin plants pick up particles
- Green electronics design and manufacturing: implementing lead-free and RoHS-compliant global products
- Toxicity of lithium to humans -- a literature review
- The wheat sheet: a new era of papermaking in Canada
- One small step for a laboratory science, one green leap for mankind
- Report: energy use down, costs increasing
- Lead exposure in children linked to violent crime
- Electrifying polymers
1. New magnesium hydroxides enabling low-smoke cable compounds
Author: Chen, Tong; Isarov, Alex
Source: Wire & Cable Technology International, January 2008, pp44-48
Abstract: With continuously rising industry-wide interest to favor the low-smoke and/or zero-halogen cable compositions, wire and cable producers are paying increased attention to the need for having easy access to certain types of fire retardant chemicals that are considered as environmentally friendly. The metal hydroxide family, which primarily consists of of alumina trihydrate (ATH) and magnesium dihydroxide (MDH) has been among those groups of desirable fire retardants due to their chemical nature of being nontoxic and noncorrosive both during their use and throughout cable service life. Unlike other common fire retardants that are based on bromine or phosphorus, the metal hydroxides would provide fire performance via both flame (heat) reduction and smoke suppression, i.e., a dual-functionality FR additive.
One well-known performance trade-off of using the metal hydroxide for formulating flame retardant cable compounds is the requirement for high loading levels of the hydroxide, typically ranging from 4- to 70 percent by weight in order to satisfy the fire performance. The high hydroxide loading often results in reduced material mechanical properties as well as less favored compounding or extrusion efficiency due to increased processing viscosities. Such disadvantages associated with the metal hydroxides have from time to time outweighed the benefit of producing environmentally friendly cables, especially when cable designs are geared toward lighter and more compact construction while higher cable production throughput becoming more of an expectation than a desire.
This article discusses the characteristics of Vertex-brand synthetically-produced magnesium hydroxide fire retardants, and their performance benefits for use in formulating low-smoke and/or zero-halogen wire and cable compounds.
WWW: http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/wcti/wcti0108/index.php?startid=48
2. Innovations review: making green the new business as usual
Source: Environmental Defense Fund, 2008
Abstract: Environmental sustainability is no longer the purview of boutique eco-brands. And it is no longer just about compliance with regulations or securing positive press coverage.
It’s about driving cost savings through efficiencies, creating new markets and securing competitive advantage. Smart companies realize that what is good for the environment
is also good for business.
But after taking care of the basics—like switching to energy-saving lighting, buying recycled office supplies and printing double-sided—what is the next step? With this new annual review, Environmental Defense Fund aims to showcase some of the most promising new trends and best practices. Our goal is to provide a variety of actionable ideas and some inspiration for more dramatic change.
The new processes, products and technologies highlighted in this report were selected based on four key criteria: good for business, good for the environment, ready to be implemented and innovative.We did not include ideas that are still in the R&D stage or those that have already been widely implemented or documented. In some cases, we selected innovations that have already been fully tested and put into commercial use; in other cases, we chose to highlight promising early-stage ideas.
The categories included in this first report are areas in which Environmental Defense Fund has significant expertise (such as packaging, energy and transportation) or where there are substantial opportunities for innovation (such as IT and insurance).We anticipate covering different categories in future editions.
Within each category, we attempted to provide a range of ideas: from incremental changes to more radical, business-model innovations; and from those that offer quick implementation and a short payback period to longer-term, more involved “gamechangers.”
Additional resources and links are available on our website.
WWW: http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagid=1594
3. Pumpkin plants pick up particles
Source: RSC Publishing, May 29, 2008
Abstract: US scientists have shown that plants can absorb nanoparticles from their environment - meaning that the particles could find their way into the human food chain, the researchers claim.
Yan Jin and colleagues at the University of Delaware, in Newark, found that pumpkin plants can take up nanoparticles through their roots and that the particles are transported around the plant. The study is part of an effort to assess nanoparticles' environmental and biological fate if they are released into soil or groundwater, says Jin.
Jin and her team grew their pumpkin plants in a medium containing magnetite - magnetic iron oxide - nanoparticles. They then used a vibrating sample magnetometer, which detects weak magnetic signals, to measure the magnetite content in samples from different plant parts. Their studies showed that the plants had taken up significant amounts of particles which accumulated mainly in the roots and the leaves.
WWW: http://www.rsc.org/Publishing/Journals/cb/
Volume/2008/7/pumpkin_plants_pick-up_particles.asp
4. Green electronics design and manufacturing: implementing lead-free and RoHS-compliant global products
Author: Shina, Sammy G.
Imprint: McGraw Hill, 2008
Abstract: This book brings together contributions by a team of experts from the total electronics supply chain who show how to master the strategy, design, test and implementation issues of meeting global environmental regulations.
Edited by the founder of the New England Lead-Free Consortium and filled with over 130 detailed illustrations, Green Electronics Design and Manufacturing features:
* Guidance for lead-free conversions while maintaining quality and reliability for printed circuit board production and rework of surface mount technology and palted through holes
* Restriction of hazardous substances (RoHS) compliance for hex-chrome and future halogen free issues
* Detailed coverage of global environmental regulations and their impact on manufacturing and design processes
* Techniques for managing corporate strategy and project design teams for green products
* Proven methods for testing and analyzing green products
* Proven methods for dealing with the adverse results of green production such as tin whiskers and finish interactions
Contents include:
• Basics, Test Methods, and Experimental Techniques for Green Quality and Reliability • Electronics Industry Global Environmental Regulations • Managing Corporate Strategy, Design Projects, and Teams for Green Products • Converting to Lead-Free Electronics Manufacturing, Including Rework, for SMT, BGA, and PTH • Conversion Issues with Design Changes, Laminates, IC Packages, and Printed Circuit Boards • Adverse Consequences of Lead-Free, Including Tin Whiskers and Finish Interactions • Nanotechnology and Its Future in Electronics Applications
5. Toxicity of lithium to humans -- a literature review
Authors: Aral, Hal; Vecchio-Sadus, Angelica
Source: Ecotoxicity and Environmental Safety, July 2008, pp 349-356
Abstract: Lithium concentrations in the surface and underground waters may be higher than general environment in places where lithium-rich brines and minerals occur, and in places where lithium batteries are disposed of. This review has indicated that lithium is not expected to bioaccumulate and its human and environmental toxicity are low. Lithium is not a dietary mineral for plants but it does stimulate plant growth. Large doses of lithium (up to 10 mg/L in serum) are given to patients with bipolar disorder. At 10 mg/L of blood, a person is mildly lithium poisoned. At 15 mg/L they experience confusion and speech impairment, and at 20 mg/L Li there is a risk of death. A provisional recommended daily intake of 14.3 mg/kg body weight lithium for an adult has been suggested.
6. The wheat sheet: a new era of papermaking in Canada
Source: Markets Initiative, May 2008
Abstract: The Wheat Sheet is the first paper made with wheat straw in North America, marking a new era in papermaking. This new wheat-based paper helps safeguard our climate and our forests and provides new economic opportunities for local communities in Canada and across North America. The Wheat Sheet is the result of a partnership between Markets Initiative, Canadian Geographic magazine, the Alberta Research Council, NewPage and Dollco Printing.
The Wheat Sheet is an environmental landmark in North American paper production. Many crops can be used as paper fibres, including kenaf, hemp, bamboo, and cotton, but these crops require land allocated for their growth. An environmentally preferable option is the use of agricultural residues such as wheat straw, a waste product from agricultural harvest. What’s more, this fibre is harvested in vast quantities in the Canadian Prairies and the American Mid-West.
Agricultural pulps take less time to cook than wood pulps, and require far less energy, water and chemicals. Agricultural fibres also have a significantly lower land-use footprint, and pulps made from wheat waste have an overall lower ecological footprint than pulp derived from wood.
WWW: http://www.marketsinitiative.org/uploads/MI-wheatsheet-bg2.pdf
7. One small step for a laboratory science, one green leap for mankind
Source: American Friends of Tel Aviv University, May 27, 2008
Abstract: “Environmentally friendly” is not a phrase normally used to describe a chemistry lab. But thanks to a groundbreaking discovery at Tel Aviv University, the chemical industry is a step closer to being green.
Prof. Arkadi Vigalok from the School of Chemistry at Tel Aviv University has discovered a way to use water to make certain steps of a complicated chain of chemical reactions more environmentally-friendly.
Prof. Vigalok’s solution replaces chemical solvents, which can pollute the environment, with water. Though chemists have long thought it possible, Prof. Vigalok’s approach has only rarely been even attempted. His discovery was recently reported in the journal Angewandte Chemie, International Edition.
“Ten to twenty chemical reactions may be done to make a single medicine, and in each step organic solvents are used,” Prof. Vigalok says. “If we can cut out their use by applying water instead, this could amount to a substantial advance.” Prof. Vigalok noted that 100 kilograms (about 220 pounds) of solvents and materials might be used to produce 1 kilogram (about 2 pounds) of medicine.
In his new approach, water is mixed with organic compounds called aldehydes. Prof. Vigalok discovered that an oxidation reaction needed to convert the materials to a new product, carboxylic acid, can be achieved without the use of solvents. Moreover, the oxygen for this reaction is consumed directly from air.
Because aldehydes don’t mix with water, they effectively “float” on the surface, where the reaction takes place. This method can be applied to a few key stages in the reaction process. The used water can then be easily recycled.
WWW: http://www.aftau.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=7065
8. Report: energy use down, costs increasing
Source: Environmental Protection, May 22, 2008
Abstract: Led by a dramatic increase in utility costs, the overall cost of running a facility is 10 percent higher than it was just four years ago, according to results from a recent International Facility Management Association research report.
The study, Benchmarks V: Annual Facility Costs, shows that utility costs — which include electricity, gasoline, fuel oil, steam water, and sewage — have jumped 19 percent compared to similar data from 2006.
While the increase in utility costs may come as no surprise; it is happening when energy consumption is down. When compared to the association's 2006 benchmarking figures, average electricity consumption — measured in kBTUs per square foot — has dropped from 93 to 81, while gas consumption has remained constant at 35 kBTUs per square foot. This decrease in energy usage could be attributed to companies implementing energy conservation practices, lighting improvements, and equipment upgrades at their facilities.
Based on a survey of 1,032 facility professionals across North America, the new report covers various costs, including lease, maintenance, housekeeping, security, environmental, recycling, waste disposal, and space planning. The costs are on an annual basis and are displayed as dollars per square foot. Many of the costs are further broken down by industry, facility type, and geographic region.
WWW: http://www.eponline.com/articles/62914
9. Lead exposure in children linked to violent crime
Author: Maugh, Thomas H. II; Cone, Marla
Source: Los Angeles Times, May 28, 2008
Abstract: The first study to follow lead-exposed children from before birth into adulthood has shown that even relatively low levels of lead permanently damage the brain and are linked to higher numbers of arrests, particularly for violent crime.
Earlier studies linking lead to such problems used indirect measures of both lead and criminality, and critics have argued that socioeconomic and other factors may be responsible for the observed effects.
But by measuring blood levels of lead before birth and during the first seven years of life, then correlating the levels with arrest records and brain size, Cincinnati researchers have produced the strongest evidence yet that lead plays a major role in crime.
The researchers also found that lead exposure is a continuing problem despite the efforts of the federal government and cities to minimize exposure.
The average lead levels in the study "unfortunately are still seen in many thousands of children throughout the United States," said Philip J. Landrigan, director of the Center for Children's Health and the Environment at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.
The link between criminal behavior and lead exposure was found among even the least-contaminated children in the study, who were exposed to amounts of lead similar to what the average U.S. child is exposed to today, said Landrigan, who was not involved in the study.
WWW: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/
la-sci-lead28-2008may28,0,2054735.story
10. Electrifying polymers
Author: Mapleston, Peter
Source: Plastics Engineering, March 2008, pp15-20
Abstract: Not so long ago, any discussion about plastics in electronics didn’t get much beyond epoxy resins for circuit boards. But times have changed. Today, the talk is about flexible displays and sensory walls, almost completely made from polymer technology, including the electronics. And on a slightly less mindboggling scale, the market for what sometimes is called 3D circuit boards, but which in fact is injectionmoulded interconnect devices, is growing sharply.
Polymerbased electronics, or polytronics, are likely to form the basis for a completely new range of applications across a broad set of markets including electronic consumer goods, automotive, aerospace, energy, retailing, food packaging, imaging, health care, and fashion.
UK consultant IDTechEx forecasts that polytronics will be a $30billion industry by 2015, and could reach as much as $250 billion by 2025.
Germany’s Fraunhofer Institut is one of many research institutes across Europe working on polytronics. The Institut’s Gerhard Klink says early applications are taking aim at the market for extremely cost-effective, ubiquitous electronics, inaccessible for traditional silicon-based electronics because of the costs of assembly and interconnection. “The fabrication processes for polymer electronics must therefore be developed in the direction of high production volumes, extremely low fabrication costs, and largely free-of-assembly steps,” he says.
Organic light-emitting diodes, or OLEDs (flat, thin, luminous construction elements made of organic semiconductor materials), form an important part of polytronic technology. They are likely to find use not only as substitutes for conventional LEDs in lighting systems, but also in completely new types of displays. They are often based on polymers, and are also referred to as P-OLED or PLED (other OLED versions rely on nonpolymeric organic chemistry). Benefits include brighter, clearer displays; simpler construction offering the potential for cheaper, more robust display modules; and ultra-fast response times.
WWW: http://www.spe-stx.org/Newsletters/Apr08ExtruderOnline/index.htm#techart
You are welcome to send a message to jan@turi.org if you would like more information on any of these resources. Also, please tell us what topics you are particularly interested in monitoring, and who else should see Greenlist. An online search of the TURI Library catalog can be done at http://library.turi.org for greater topic coverage.
This page updated Friday May 30 2008