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Joakim Haraldsson - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Taxonomy, Saving Potentials and Key Performance Indicators for Energy End-Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Aluminium Industry and Aluminium Casting Foundries
    'MDPI AG', 2021
    Co-Authors: Joakim Haraldsson, Simon Johnsson, Patrik Thollander, Magnus Wallén
    Abstract:

    Increasing energy efficiency within the industrial sector is one of the main approaches in order to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. The production and processing of Aluminium is energy and greenhouse gas intensive. To make well-founded decisions regarding energy efficiency and greenhouse gas mitigating investments, it is necessary to have relevant key performance indicators and information about energy end-use. This paper develops a taxonomy and key performance indicators for energy end-use and greenhouse gas emissions in the Aluminium Industry and Aluminium casting foundries. This taxonomy is applied to the Swedish Aluminium Industry and two foundries. Potentials for energy saving and greenhouse gas mitigation are estimated regarding static facility operation. Electrolysis in primary production is by far the largest energy using and greenhouse gas emitting process within the Swedish Aluminium Industry. Notably, almost half of the total greenhouse gas emissions from electrolysis comes from process-related emissions, while the other half comes from the use of electricity. In total, about 236 GWh/year (or 9.2% of the total energy use) and 5588–202,475 tonnes CO2eq/year can be saved in the Swedish Aluminium Industry and two Aluminium casting foundries. The most important key performance indicators identified for energy end-use and greenhouse gas emissions are MWh/tonne product and tonne CO2-eq/tonne product. The most beneficial option would be to allocate energy use and greenhouse gas emissions to both the process or machine level and the product level, as this would give a more detailed picture of the company’s energy use and greenhouse gas emissions

  • barriers to and drivers for improved energy efficiency in the swedish Aluminium Industry and Aluminium casting foundries
    Sustainability, 2019
    Co-Authors: Joakim Haraldsson, Maria Johansson
    Abstract:

    Industrial energy efficiency is important for reducing CO2 emissions and could be a competitive advantage for companies because it can reduce costs. However, cost-effective energy efficiency measur ...

  • energy efficiency in the supply chains of the Aluminium Industry the cases of five products made in sweden
    Energies, 2019
    Co-Authors: Joakim Haraldsson, Maria Johansson
    Abstract:

    Improved energy efficiency in supply chains can reduce both environmental impact and lifecycle costs, and thus becomes a competitive advantage in the work towards a sustainable global economy. View ...

  • Barriers to and Drivers for Improved Energy Efficiency in the Swedish Aluminium Industry and Aluminium Casting Foundries
    MDPI AG, 2019
    Co-Authors: Joakim Haraldsson, Maria T. Johansson
    Abstract:

    Industrial energy efficiency is important for reducing CO2 emissions and could be a competitive advantage for companies because it can reduce costs. However, cost-effective energy efficiency measures are not always implemented because there are barriers inhibiting their implementation. Drivers for energy efficiency could provide means for overcoming these barriers. The aim of this article was to study the importance of different barriers to and drivers for improved energy efficiency in the Swedish Aluminium Industry and foundries that cast Aluminium. Additionally, the perceived usefulness of different information sources on energy efficiency measures was studied. The data were collected through a questionnaire covering 39 barriers and 48 drivers, divided into different categories. Both the Aluminium and foundry industries considered technological and economic barriers as the most important categories. The most important category of drivers for the Aluminium Industry was organisational drivers, while the foundries rated economic drivers as the most important. Colleagues within the company, the company group and sector, and the trade organisation were considered the most useful information sources. Important factors for driving work with improved energy efficiency included access to knowledge within the company, having a culture within the company promoting energy efficiency, and networking within the sector. The policy implications identified included energy labelling of production equipment, the law on energy audit in large companies and subsidy for energy audits in small- and medium-sized companies, voluntary agreements that included long-term energy strategies, increased taxes to improve the cost-effectiveness of energy efficiency measures, and EUs Emission Trading System

  • review of measures for improved energy efficiency in production related processes in the Aluminium Industry from electrolysis to recycling
    Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2018
    Co-Authors: Joakim Haraldsson, Maria Johansson
    Abstract:

    The Aluminium Industry is facing a challenge in meeting the goal of halved greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, while the demand for Aluminium is estimated to increase 2–3 times by the same year. Ener ...

Maria Johansson - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

Mark R Cullen - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • layoffs and the mental health and safety of remaining workers a difference in differences analysis of the us Aluminium Industry
    Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 2019
    Co-Authors: Holly Elser, Ellen A Eisen, Eli Benmichael, David H Rehkopf, Sepideh Modrek, Mark R Cullen
    Abstract:

    Background Relatively few studies have examined the effects of layoffs on remaining workers, although the effects of layoffs and downsizing events may extend beyond those employees who lose their jobs. Methods We examined the effects of layoffs on mental healthcare utilisation and injury risk among workers at 30 US plants between 2003 and 2013. We defined layoffs as reductions in the hourly workforce of 20% or more at each plant. Using a difference-in-differences approach, we compared the change in outcomes during layoffs versus the same 3-month period 1 year previously, accounting for secular trends with control plants. Results Our study population included 15 502 workers and 7 layoff events between 2003 and 2013. Layoffs were associated with only minor decreases in injuries (−0.006, 95% CI −0.013 to 0.001). The probability of outpatient visits related to mental health increased by 1% during layoffs (0.010, 95% CI 0.003 to 0.017), and the probability of mental health-related prescriptions increased by 1.4% (0.014, 95% CI −0.0006 to 0.027). Among women, the increase in outpatient visits was more pronounced (0.017, 95% CI 0.003 to 0.031). Increased prescription utilisation appeared attributable primarily to opioid use (0.016, 95% CI 0.005 to 0.027). Conclusion Our results indicate an association between layoffs and remaining workers’ mental health and safety, although changes mental healthcare utilisation may reflect both changes in underlying mental health and changes in care-seeking. Future research on concordance of service utilisation and underlying health may yield valuable insight into the experiences employed workers in the wake of layoffs.

  • 0378 occupational pm2 5 exposures and pulmonary function decline an application of the parametric g formula in a us Aluminium Industry cohort
    Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2017
    Co-Authors: Andreas M Neophytou, Mark R Cullen, Sadie Costello, Daniel M Brown, Elizabeth M Noth, Katharine Hammond, Ellen A Eisen
    Abstract:

    Workers in the Aluminium Industry are widely exposed to particulate matter (PM) during several stages in the manufacturing process at exposure concentrations several orders of magnitude higher than environmental standards. In this study we investigate the relationship between occupational exposures to fine particulate matter (with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 µm PM 2.5 ) in a cohort of Aluminium workers, while adjusting for the time varying confounding by underlying health status, characteristic of the healthy worker survivor effect. To address this time-varying confounding, we applied the parametric g-formula to longitudinal pulmonary function data from 5271 actively employed Aluminium workers in the United States followed between 1996 and 2013. We adjusted for time-varying health status using a composite risk score based on health insurance claims. We simulated values for forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1 ) between ages 18 and 63, under hypothetical interventions on exposures to PM 2.5 ; we then compared the trajectory of FEV1 decline with age under each intervention to the observed natural course (that was actually observed). Under a hypothetical intervention limit for annual average daily exposures to PM2.5 of 175 μg/m 3 (corresponding to the 25 th percentile of observed exposures), the average FEV 1 at age 63 was 37.1 mL higher (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.8, 72.4) than that actually observed, corresponding to 1.2% of the average predicted FEV 1 . Our results suggest that occupational PM 2.5 exposure in the Aluminium Industry accelerates FEV 1 decline. Regulatory measures may mitigate loss of pulmonary function over time in the Industry.

  • hearing conservation in the primary Aluminium Industry
    Occupational Medicine, 2016
    Co-Authors: A M Donoghue, Neale Frisch, Christine Dixonernst, Barry J Chesson, Mark R Cullen
    Abstract:

    Background Noise-induced hear ing loss has been an intractable problem for heavy Industry. Aims T o report our experience in reducing the incidence of age-corrected confirmed 10 dB hearing shifts (averaged over 2, 3 and 4 kHz) in emplo yees in the primary Aluminium Industry in Australia over the period 2006–13. Methods W e analysed annual audiometric data to determine the number of permanent hearing shifts that occurred in employees in two bauxite mines, three alumina refineries and two Aluminium smelters. Annual hearing shift rates were calculated based on the number of employees tested per year. Hearing conservation initiatives undertaken during the study period are described. An assessment of similar exposure group noise exposures was also undertaken to determine the magnitude of noise exposure reduction during the study period. Results Across all opera tions, hearing shift rates declined from 5.5% per year in 2006 to 1.3% per year in 2013 (P < 0.001). The decline in shift rates was greater in mines and refineries, where baseline shift rates were higher, than in smelter workers. Modest reductions in noise exposure occurred during the study period. Conclusions W e observed a substantial decline in hearing shift rates during the study period. We describe the hearing conservation initiatives that were collectively associated with this decline. We suspect these initiatives could be deployed relatively easily and at modest cost in other industries with noiseexposed employees.

  • acoustic neuroma potential risk factors and audiometric surveillance in the Aluminium Industry
    Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2014
    Co-Authors: Oyebode A Taiwo, Deron Galusha, Baylah Tessiersherman, Sharon R Kirsche, Linda F Cantley, Martin D Slade, Mark R Cullen, Michael A Donoghue
    Abstract:

    Objectives To look for an association between acoustic neuroma (AN) and participation in a hearing conservation programme (HCP) and also for an association between AN and possible occupational risk factors in the Aluminium Industry. Methods We conducted a case–control analysis of a population of US Aluminium production workers in 8 smelters and 43 other plants. Using insurance claims data, 97 cases of AN were identified between 1996 and 2009. Each was matched with four controls. Covariates included participation in a HCP, working in an Aluminium smelter, working in an electrical job and hearing loss. Results In the bivariate analyses, covariates associated with AN were participation in the HCP (OR=1.72; 95% CI 1.09 to 2.69) and smelter work (OR=1.88; 95% CI 1.06 to 3.36). Electrical work was not significant (OR=1.60; 95% CI 0.65 to 3.94). Owing to high participation in the HCP in smelters, multivariate subanalyses were required. In the multivariate analyses, participation in the HCP was the only statistically significant risk factor for AN. In the multivariate analysis restricted to employees not working in a smelter, the OR was 1.81 (95% CI 1.04 to 3.17). Hearing loss, an indirect measure of in-ear noise dose, was not predictive of AN. Conclusions Our results suggest the incidental detection of previously undiagnosed tumours in workers who participated in the company-sponsored HCP. The increased medical surveillance among this population of workers most likely introduced detection bias, leading to the identification of AN cases that would have otherwise remained undetected.

  • 0223 marginal structural models in occupational epidemiology an application in the us Aluminium Industry
    Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2014
    Co-Authors: Andreas M Neophytou, Mark R Cullen, Sadie Costello, Elizabeth M Noth, Katharine Hammond, Daniel S Brown, Ellen A Eisen
    Abstract:

    Objectives To apply Marginal Structural Models (MSM) to address healthy workers survivor effect in a cohort study of active workers when time varying variables on health status and exposure are measured. Method We used Cox MSMs and inverse probability weighting to assess the effect of PM­ 2.5 exposure on incident ischaemic heart disease (IHD) in an active cohort of 11 966 US Aluminium workers. The outcome was assessed using medical claims data from 1998 to 2012. Quantitative exposure metrics of current exposure to PM 2.5 were dichotomized using different cutoffs and effects were assessed separately for smelters and fabrication. Risk score based on insurance claims was available as a time varying health status variable. Results Defining binary PM2.5 exposure by the 10th percentile cut-off, health status was affected by past exposure and predicted subsequent exposure in smelters, but not in fabrication. A Traditional cox model was appropriate for fabricators; the hazard ratio was 1.51(95% CI: 1.12 – 2.06) and was attenuated when considering higher exposure cutoffs. In smelters, Cox MSM Hazard Ratios for IHD comparing the effect of exposure in a population had everyone always been exposed to everyone always unexposed, using the 10 th percentile exposure cutoff was 1.83 (95% CI: 1.14 – 2.94). Higher exposure cutoffs also resulted in attenuated effects. Conclusions Marginal Structural Models can be used in active employment occupational cohorts to address time varying confounding. Results from the current study suggest that occupational exposure to PM 2.5 in the Aluminium Industry increases the risk of IHD in both smelters and fabrication.

Aurora Lopezdelgado - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • synthesis and characterisation of hydrotalcites produced by an Aluminium hazardous waste a comparison between the use of ammonia and the use of triethanolamine
    Applied Clay Science, 2015
    Co-Authors: R Galindo, Aurora Lopezdelgado, Isabel Padilla, M Yates
    Abstract:

    Abstract Hydrotalcite-like compounds were co-precipitated with diluted sodium hydroxide from an unconventional Aluminium source: the Aluminium waste generated by the tertiary Aluminium Industry, with the assistance of ammonia and triethanolamine at pH 10. These products were characterised by several techniques (XRD, FT-IR, UV–vis-NIR, SEM, DTA-TG and BET methods) to compare results. The characterisation of products confirmed significant differences depending on basic reagent selected. Products co-precipitated with ammonia showed less crystal growth, a more significant iron content in the structure and higher internal surface area. Products from triethanolamine showed the entry of organic molecules into the layered structure. These findings were important for the improvement of methods based on waste treatment, transforming an Aluminium hazardous waste into a value added product as layered double hydroxides.

  • recycling of hazardous waste from tertiary Aluminium Industry in a value added material
    Waste Management & Research, 2011
    Co-Authors: Laura Gonzalodelgado, Aurora Lopezdelgado, Francisco Jose Alguacil, F A Lopez, Sol Lopezandres
    Abstract:

    The recent European Directive on waste, 2008/98/EC seeks to reduce the exploitation of natural resources through the use of secondary resource management. Thus the main objective of this study was to explore how a waste could cease to be considered as waste and could be utilized for a specific purpose. In this way, a hazardous waste from the tertiary Aluminium Industry was studied for its use as a raw material in the synthesis of an added-value product, boehmite. This waste is classified as a hazardous residue, principally because in the presence of water or humidity, it releases toxic gases such as hydrogen, ammonia, methane and hydrogen sulfide. The low temperature hydrothermal method developed permits the recovery of 90% of the Aluminium content in the residue in the form of a high purity (96%) AlOOH (boehmite). The method of synthesis consists of an initial HCl digestion followed by a gel precipitation. In the first stage a 10% HCl solution is used to yield a 12.63 g L-1 Al 3+ solution. In the second ...

  • a hazardous waste from secondary Aluminium metallurgy as a new raw material for calcium aluminate glasses
    Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2009
    Co-Authors: Aurora Lopezdelgado, Hanan Tayibi, C Perez, Francisco Jose Alguacil, F A Lopez
    Abstract:

    Abstract A solid waste coming from the secondary Aluminium Industry was successfully vitrified in the ternary CaO–Al 2 O 3 –SiO 2 system at 1500 °C. This waste is a complex material which is considered hazardous because of its behaviour in the presence of water or moisture. In these conditions, the dust can generate gases such as H 2 , NH 3 , CH 4 , H 2 S, along with heat and potential aluminothermy. Only silica sand and calcium carbonate were added as external raw materials to complete the glasses formula. Different nominal compositions of glasses, with Al 2 O 3 ranging between 20% and 54%, were studied to determine the glass forming area. The glasses obtained allow the immobilisation of up to 75% of waste in a multicomponent oxide system in which all the components of the waste are incorporated. The microhardness Hv values varied between 6.05 and 6.62 GPa and the linear thermal expansion coefficient, α , varied between (62 and 139) × 10 −7  K −1 . Several glasses showed a high hydrolytic resistance in deionised water at 98 °C.

F A Lopez - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • recycling of hazardous waste from tertiary Aluminium Industry in a value added material
    Waste Management & Research, 2011
    Co-Authors: Laura Gonzalodelgado, Aurora Lopezdelgado, Francisco Jose Alguacil, F A Lopez, Sol Lopezandres
    Abstract:

    The recent European Directive on waste, 2008/98/EC seeks to reduce the exploitation of natural resources through the use of secondary resource management. Thus the main objective of this study was to explore how a waste could cease to be considered as waste and could be utilized for a specific purpose. In this way, a hazardous waste from the tertiary Aluminium Industry was studied for its use as a raw material in the synthesis of an added-value product, boehmite. This waste is classified as a hazardous residue, principally because in the presence of water or humidity, it releases toxic gases such as hydrogen, ammonia, methane and hydrogen sulfide. The low temperature hydrothermal method developed permits the recovery of 90% of the Aluminium content in the residue in the form of a high purity (96%) AlOOH (boehmite). The method of synthesis consists of an initial HCl digestion followed by a gel precipitation. In the first stage a 10% HCl solution is used to yield a 12.63 g L-1 Al 3+ solution. In the second ...

  • a hazardous waste from secondary Aluminium metallurgy as a new raw material for calcium aluminate glasses
    Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2009
    Co-Authors: Aurora Lopezdelgado, Hanan Tayibi, C Perez, Francisco Jose Alguacil, F A Lopez
    Abstract:

    Abstract A solid waste coming from the secondary Aluminium Industry was successfully vitrified in the ternary CaO–Al 2 O 3 –SiO 2 system at 1500 °C. This waste is a complex material which is considered hazardous because of its behaviour in the presence of water or moisture. In these conditions, the dust can generate gases such as H 2 , NH 3 , CH 4 , H 2 S, along with heat and potential aluminothermy. Only silica sand and calcium carbonate were added as external raw materials to complete the glasses formula. Different nominal compositions of glasses, with Al 2 O 3 ranging between 20% and 54%, were studied to determine the glass forming area. The glasses obtained allow the immobilisation of up to 75% of waste in a multicomponent oxide system in which all the components of the waste are incorporated. The microhardness Hv values varied between 6.05 and 6.62 GPa and the linear thermal expansion coefficient, α , varied between (62 and 139) × 10 −7  K −1 . Several glasses showed a high hydrolytic resistance in deionised water at 98 °C.