ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

Author: RODRÍGUEZ MUÑOZ FRANCISCO JAVIER.
Year: 2002.
University: ROVIRA I VIRGILI [www.urv.cat].
Place of defense: INGENIERÍA QUÍMICA DEQ ETSEQ.
Place of preparation: INGENIERÍA QUÍMICA.

Summary: The big increase in industrial activity during the last century, has led to the grouping of population and industry around urban centers and industrial parks increasingly large. The need for water supply throughout this production system, the water has become a scarce commodity and the high amount of sewage produced, in one of the major environmental problems of our society. In recent years, concern over environmental protection has increased worldwide, and this environmental awareness has translated into more restrictive legislation and contains juna series of measures to control pollution. These measures are forcing industries to finish adequate treatment of their discharges pollutants, miniminar its environmental impact. The methods of treatment of these effluents are heavily dependent on the substances to be removed. This research work is aimed at studying the feasibility of using the catalísis heterogeneous in the field of purification of industrial effluents. Specifically using the method of oxidation catalyst in aqueous phase (CWAO) operating in two reactor types: a reactor semibatch and a reactor packed three-phase contract drip (trickle bed). It is now accepted by all the research groups working in this line of research, that the key to implementing the CWAO is industrially obtaining a catalyst, which besides being active against the oxidation of various organic compounds present in the effluent, is stable operating conditions (presence of water, high temperature and acidic environment). Another determining factor for the proper functioning of the reagent system is the type of reactor used. As described in the literature, which can be seen as products of polymerization on the surface of the catalyst desactivándolo, when using batch reactor type, but on the other hand has the advantage that allows different tests catalytic activity in a relatively short time . According to the preliminary work carried out in our laboratory, it was found that the type of reactor used in this research work, packed three-phase reactor operating under the drip, prevents the formation of polymerization products. This is due to the high ratio of the mass of catalyst and the volume of liquid reaction. So in this direction, this research work is aimed at obtaining new formulations of catalysts that are active and stable in the oxidation reaction of aqueous solutions of phenol and 2-clorofenol. Evidence of catalytic activity will be carried out in two reactor types: a slurry reactor semibatch type, and a trickle bed reactor, using air as oxidizing agent and an aqueous solution of phenol or 2-clorofenol of 5g / l concentration in the effluent as treat. The reaction conditions for all reactors will 140Â ° C temperature and pressure of 45 bar. The first step has been the study of structural characterization of the catalysts based CuO/gamma-Al2O3, and other mixed metal oxides with main base in copper oxide MaOb/CuO/gamma-Al2O3, (where M is Co., Mn, Fe and Zn) and NiO/gamma-Al2O3 used ent rabajos earlier in our lab, and the identification of processes that have suffered disabling these catalysts. The results show that the deactivation of these catalysts is caused po the solubilization of the active phase (CuO) and l 8 os others here must oxides added. It has also been observed that this process is solubilisation slows the formation of a precipitate of oxalate copper on the surface of the catalyst, and that the formation of this oxalate copper depends on the surface area of alumina departure and the initial pH the phenolic solution. Particularly the catalyst NiO/gamma-Al2O3 shown more stable solubilization process, but are less active than copper but have supported having a higher selectivity for obtaining carbon dioxide and water. Based on these results, have synthesized new catalysts with active phases type aluminanto copper / nickel and / or zinc using different preparation techniques, different roasting temperatures and different compositions of copper / nickel and / or zinc connection aluminum. The method coprecipitación, obtaining intermediate type hidrotalcita has enabled the obtaining of catalysts másicos aluminate copper / nickel and / or zinc with a high surface area and a high degree of dispersion. He then has been studied stability and catalytic activity of various catalysts aluminate copper / nickel and / or zinc preparations, making the catalytic activity and stability in a catalytic reactor semibatch, and evidence of life of these materials in a reactor Trickle bed. The study leads to the conclusion, q ue catalysts aluminate copper aluminate and copper / nickel are the most active in the oxidation reaction of phenol or 2-clorofenol in aqueous phase using the two types of reactors. With regard to the stability of the same has been observed that the type of catalyst and reaction system regarding these factors is decisive, and conducting various tests of catalytic activity in the oxidation of phenol or 2-clorofenol in a reactor semibatch catalysts aluminate copper lose stability for the formation of polymer products while the aluminate copper / nickel are stable and assets subject to the same working conditions. However, if the test is conducted on a system of activity continuously, all presented stability and activity towards the oxidation of phenol or 2-clorofenol since it has not been observed the formation of polymeric products on the surface of the catalyst. In tests in a continuous trickle bed reactor has been achieved high conversions for aluminates copper and copper / nickel, particularly for the oxidation of phenol has been conversions of 55-75%, respectively, while for oxidation 2-chlorophenol were conversions of 75-92% respectively during long periods of proof (15 days). All prepared catalysts have been characterized before and after testing of catalytic activity. Characterization techniques used were: Porosimetría and BET surface area, Diffraction of rayosX (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), temperature programmed reduction (TPR), scanning electron Microscopy (SEM). The reaction products were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and tuilizando the technique of atomic absorption was detected solubilisation of the active phase in the reaction medium.

Author: ROMERA GARCÍA DOLORES ESTHER.
Year: 2003.
University: COMPLUTENSE DE MADRID [www.ucm.es].
Place of preparation: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS QUÍMICAS.

Summary: In this PhD thesis examined the adsorption capacity of six different algae (Spirogyra insignis, Codium vermilara, Asparagopsis armata, Chondrus crispus, Ascophyllun nodosum and Fucus spiralis) using solutions diluidad Ion cadmium, nickel, zinc, copper and lead. We studied the optimum pH and concentration of biomass for each system monometálico. With these conditions, the Langmuir isotherm allowed to obtain the maximum adsorption capacities (qmax) each biomass for each metal, as well as the equilibrium constant (b) the reaction that takes place between the two, being Fucus spiraleis which presented values satisfactorios.Más afternoon, we studied the behavior experienced such biomass systems bimétalicos and trimetálicos representing the adsorption isotherms and determining appropriate values qmax and b for each case. On the other hand, it was also simulated the process of bioadsorción using two computer programs: Algae and PHREEQCI proving to be very effective tools. The studies were completed with four tests and five metals simultaneously and mixing biomass observed that the program PHREEQCI was also capable of predicting the behavior of biomass into more complex systems.

Author: GARCIA LEYTON LUIS ALBERTO.
Year: 2003.
University: POLITÉCNICA DE CATALUÑA [www.upc.edu].
Place of defense: ETSEIB.
Place of preparation: ETSEIB, EDIFICI H PLANTA 10 CAMPUS SUD.

Summary: The main purpose of this thesis is working weigh the feasibility of the implementation of multi analysis and fuzzy logic in the environmental impact assessment as an aid to decision-making environment, begins with a review of the historical development and legal environmental impact assessment and a revision to the European situation of how they have been incorporated into the laws of its member states directives, and the way in which the Community Environmental Programs have influenced the domestic political environment with an emphasis particularly in the case of Spain and Catalonia. There is also a brief analysis of the situation in the Americas. One chapter is devoted to methodologies for evaluating environmental impacts for the purpose of providing an overview of the most commonly used methods, and later give rise to the method proposed in this paper with the incorporation of fuzzy techniques. It deserves special attention valuation of the natural environment, the main ideological barriers, procedural and methodological available for the selection, integration and weighting of the evaluation criteria selected and the uneven quality of the information available. This assessment is carried out through a variety of techniques and methods that have in common the fact based on objective and subjective factors hardly separable and require the help of a mathematical technique that can reconcile it with qualitative quantitative. The application analysis and multi fuzzy logic to the EIA updates and improves the use of traditional methods and generally accepted, with the advantage of allowing simultaneously manage qualitative and quantitative information without the problems of aggregation that are filed with the crisp system (conventional) as the semantic model on which it is based, is provided by the theory of fuzzy sets he has shown in other areas of knowledge a better approximation to reality, to admit that nature has nuances and that decisions are taken in terms of a wide range of possibilities and approaches at times contradictory or in conflict, all equally valid. Finally, three projects in the island of Majorca considered in the Sector Master Plan for the Management of Urban Waste for a range, located in Son Reus, are subject to a method of assessing environmental impacts that assimilates and fuzzy techniques analysis multi called AIEIA, these projects are: Plant Incineradora of RSU, a Plant Metanizadora biodegradable waste and Composting Plant. The use of software AIEIA (full implementation of EIA) developed by a group of researchers from the University of Granada, Spain headed by Dr. Armando Blanco Moron with the collaboration of Dr. Jose Manuel Martin Ramos and others, is an extremely useful and practical tool that integrates the process of environmental impact assessment (EsIA) and decision making multi diffuse, its assessment has been part of this work, with very satisfactory results that enable us to it is feasible to say that the implementation of these mathematical techniques in the assessment of environmental impacts. The results are comparable to other methods with the benefits of providing information in both absolute and relative terms of the environmental impacts, by activity, group activities, environmental factors, environmental groups and overall evaluation of the project, in terms lingüsticos, in numerical terms and fuzzy numbers, and also allows the analysis of alternatives.

Author: ALTMAJER VAZ DEISI.
Year: 2003.
University: GRANADA [www.ugr.es].
Place of defense: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS.
Place of preparation: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS.

Summary: In the present work Doctoral Thesis has taught an experimental device that enables the study of the process of washing hard surfaces as well as the development of detergent formulations for specific applications. Such systems has been called Baño-Substrato-Flujo (BSF) since modify different alementos that actuán in the process detersivo (substrate, dirt and bathroom) and the condicinoes hydrodynamic, which allows to simulate the operation of industrial washing systems . As a component of detergent, have been tested. 1. Tesioactivos commercial non-ionic: alquilpoliglucósidos, ethoxylated fatty alcohols and monifenol etoxilado. 2. Anionic Surfactant commercial, acid dodecilbenceno sulphonic (LAS), 3. Agents sequestrants ions and calcium ions dispersion of dirt, acid pliacrilico and acid copolymer and malético. 4. Agents Anti-foaming agents, pliporlenglicol and proceeds Dow Coming DSP Antifoam Emulsion  ®. 5. The enzyme lipolítica lipolase 100l ®. Concentrations utlilizadas this singredientes correspond to the empladas currently in commercial detergents. The experimental results derived from tests on the device washing BSF show that it can be successfully used to design detergent formulations, as it is sensitive to modificacines imposed process variables (temperature, flow recirculation, concentration of detergent, dirt etc.) and the variables formaulación (composition of detergent). In addition, under terms of reproducibility, using this sitema determna results which are consistent with the information acutalmente available literature on detegencia of dirt fat. Using the methodology of statistical design of experiments in conjunction with the system enabled BSF, after completion of a minimum number of experiments to identify the relevance of the different variables that intevienen in the process detersivo. This methodology provides for a minimum plan to conduct experiments to analyze the influence of different variables on the detergency and results can be utilizdoas to develop mathematical models that predict the empirical detergency within the domain pilot investigated. Another scope of the device BSF is the etudio of mechanisms for the mechanisms by which produces washing, the possibility of changing operational conditions of the process allowed propose mechanistic models that explain the changes observed in the detergency. These models take into account. 1. The balance is established between the mass of dirt adhering to the surface of substrrato and available in the bathroom washing. 2. The balance between the masses of dirt adhering to the surface of the substrate, emulsified in the bathroom washing and adherence to surfaces of the device BSF.

Author: TAYIBI HANAN.
Year: 2004.
University: COMPLUTENSE DE MADRID [www.ucm.es].
Place of defense: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS GEOLOGÍCAS.
Place of preparation: FACULTAD DE CC.GEOLÓGICAS.

Summary: The aluminum powder is a waste generated in the secondary steelmaking aluminum and considered dangerous because of its high reactivity in the presence of humidity. Owing to the entry into force of the new European Directive on landfills as the implementation of the Directive on Integrated Control and Prevention of Pollution (IPPC), which requires hazardous waste in transforming inert material prior to storage, it becomes necessary development processes pretreatment prior to disposal of this waste in the landfill. We have developed two procedures stabilization of aluminum powder: namely Hydrolysis and the Process of Stabilization / solidification with yeso.Estos procedures have led to the acquisition of materials that can be brought to landfills inert or used in other industrial applications .

Author: RODRÍGUEZ MOYA JOSE ANTONIO.
Year: 2004.
University: POLITÉCNICA DE MADRID [www.upm.es].
Place of defense: ETSI DE CAMINOS, CANALES Y PUERTOS.
Place of preparation: ETSI DE CAMINOS, CANALES Y PUERTOS.

Summary: The Strategic Environmental Assessment looms as an instrument of great potential to promote sustainable development and the integration of environmental considerations into the preparation and adoption of plans and programs that may have an impact on the environment. Directive 2001/42/EC, which was to be transposed into Spanish legal framework before July 21, 2004, represents a significant change in approach to environmental assessments, and lays the groundwork for a uniform treatment throughout the European Union. This research focuses on the regulatory situation and methodological SEA, analyzing first treatment given to the strategic assessment in documents on Sustainable Development, with special foretell those relating to the sustainability of transport. It examines the legal framework of the Strategic Environmental Assessment in different geographical areas, stressing that while in Spain at the national level there are no legal requirements for environmental assessment of plans and programes, it is in some regions, including the Comunidad de Madrid , which by Act 2 / 2002, regulates a strategic evaluation process very close to the SEA Directive. Since the Strategic Environmental Assessment procedure arises integrated into decision-making processes, procedures are reviewed planning and strategic assessment, as well as their mutual relations. One of the objectives of the SEA is to improve the planning process, this should be part of the procedure for drafting the plan or program from the initial stages of it. Finally, we investigated the potential of Geographic Information Systems in the evaluation of strategic issues related to Environment and Physical Planning. Similarly, there is a GIS-based method that allows the evaluation of multi-for a single purpose, especially oriented to the strategic assessment on Transport Infrastructure at the regional level. The proposed method is applied to the evaluation of roads RedSur de la Comunidad de Madrid.

Author: SÁNCHEZ DE MEDINA GARRIDO ALVARO.
Year: 2004.
University: POLITÉCNICA DE MADRID [www.upm.es].
Place of defense: ESCUELA TÉCNICA SUPERIOR DE INGENIEROS DE MONTES.
Place of preparation: E.T.S.I. DE MONTES.

Summary: It has developed a methodology for classifying the different structures of forest beech burgalés in some types or groups characteristic, through dasométricos and validating data classification using discriminant analysis. It has proposed a specific treatment for each type structural seeking targets of stability and sustainability of the estate.

Author: MARTÍNEZ ALEGRÍA LÓPEZ ROBERTO.
Year: 2004.
University: VIGO [www.uvigo.es].
Place of defense: E.T.S DE INGENIEROS DE MINAS.
Place of preparation: ETSI MINAS DE LA UNIVERSIDAD DE VIGO.

Summary: In this dissertation, develops and implements an operational methodology for the analysis and spatial discretization of environmental risks associated with the transport of dangerous goods by road. The method is useful as an aid in the planning and management of emergencies of this origin, but also applies the early detection of potential hot spots in the road network. And the risk maps can be utilizdos in from the planning and land use planning. The risk factors have been considered the probability of occurrence of an accident in involving dangerous goods, and the seriousness estimated by the potential consequences for humans and the environment. The probability of occurrence, has been obtained from the density of traffic and accident statistics. The severity is estimated based on the type of accident, physical chemical properties of the goods transported, and the vulnerable exposed on the stage where the accident. Environmental factors have been considered hybrid surface and underground, vegetation, land use, population and protected areas. Asignándoles to each of them values of fragility and vulnerability relative to each group of products concerned. It has scheduled a calculation application that works on graphics and variable alphanumeric and bring about rapid results in the form of hazard maps, severity, vulnerability and likelihood of occurrence. The study area over which it has been applied this methodology has been the geographical area of the Autonomous Region of Catilla and lion, which by extension, diversity and strategic geographic position as a hub of communications in the Iberian Peninsula, has enough representation to assess the reliability of the method developed.

Author: DARBRA ROMAN ROSA MARIA.
Year: 2004.
University: POLITÉCNICA DE CATALUÑA [www.upc.edu].
Place of defense: ETSEIB, PACELLÓ G 2ÂMa. PLANTA,SALA D'AUDIOVISUALS.
Place of preparation: ETSEIB, EDIFICI H PLANTA 10 Campus SUD.

Author: GARCÍA ARRESE ANA M..
Year: 2004.
University: SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA [www.usc.es].
Place of defense: FACULTAD DE BIOLOGÍA.
Place of preparation: DEPARTAMENTO DE EDAFOLOGÍA Y QUÍMICA AGRÍCOLA.

Summary: The use of the wind resource has been a common practice and relatively widespread in the coastal mountains of Galicia. Rather, the implementation of modern wind farms for obtaining electricity is a very innovative technological application in our geographical area, although supported by decades of experience in several countries in northern Europe. This report is developed with the primary aim of collecting and disseminating the experience accumulated over the seven years of conducting studies for environmental impact assessment of windfarms (EsEIA); From 1995 until December 2001 in the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry first and later in the Environmental Technology Laboratory of the Institute of Technological Research of the University have been developing Studies Environmental Impact Assessment (EsEIA) and Environmental Effects (EsEEA) of around 60 windfarms projected in coastal hills (Capelada, Barbanza, Montes da Lagoa, Paxareiras, Viveiro and Vicedo) and the interior of Galicia (Serras do Xistral gives Loba, do Cando, do Faro, Forgoselo, Corsicada, Montes do Buio, Bustelo, etc.. ). The structure of the Report of Doctoral Thesis corresponds to a EsEIA, although it has collected all the alternatives that have been introduced gradually, which includes environmental studies from conventional to a more general assessment studies details considering environmental units subject a strict conservation. It consists of a total of six chapters: Chapter I understood the first part reviews the concept introductory d environmental impact, its social, political and scientific, and analyzes energy policy and on the environment of the European Union, since the oil crisis of the early seventies until the year 2001. In this chapter reflects the evolving process of policy instruments in the field of EIA during the study period referred to above, without prejudice to its modernization in the areas of greatest impact on the work done. Chapter II is devoted to the study of the resource, to a description of the use of traditional and recent developments in modern facilities. The last part deals with the description of wind park projects, encompassing all stages of implementation from the evaluation of the resource and design of the park to its construction, commissioning and operation phase of abandonment. In chapter III addresses first methodology of the study environment, which has proved quite different depending on the value of diversity and natural habitats existing estates likely to use wind. Subsequently it has been selected as an area of special consideration unique environmental Serra do Xistral. In this regard, it should be noted that this area has been subject to an environmental assessment process to the adaptive nature, which involves extensive knowledge of environmental variables key natural system. Chapter IV deals generically stages comprising the process of impact assessment and the methodology used in the EIA critical of wind farms for better adjustment to the weight of abnormal environmental components studied. Then Chapter V contains a description of the impacts generated by the use of wind and the corrective measures that have been proposed and implemented in each case to preserve the natural values of the areas of installation. Finally, in chapter VI raised so generic Plans Monitoring and Environmental Monitoring, as systems audit of the EsEIA for indicators capable of processing and if necessary, Effectiveness Plans to corroborate the adequacy of the corrective measures proposals.

Author: SERRANO BERNARDO FRANCISCO ANTONIO.
Year: 2004.
University: GRANADA [www.ugr.es].
Place of defense: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS.
Place of preparation: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS.

Summary: The Sierra Nevada mountain range is one of the alpine ecosystems with the greatest biodiversity and number of endemic plant species. The construction of the ski resort has caused over the past aós, a major disruption of ecosystem health care and the loss of large masses of vegetation. The restoration of the vegetation cover and integration landscape is regarded as one of the management policies of the medium antural Current most important. One of the restoration techniques most relevant is the pre-germinación seed for later planting in the areas most affected. Arenaria tetraquetra subsp. Amabilis, genista Versicolor, hormathopylla spinosa, reseda complicated and thymus sepylloides. We have developed a series of experiments germination of different temperatures, pH, light and different sutartos solid and among them, some soils of the Sierra Nevada. In addition, emillas have been dealt with some exogenously regulators growth hormone concentrations and at different times imhibición. The results obtained. They have shown very positive effects of these fitorreguladores on the germination and growth of the seed. Progress has also been made in the knowledge of temperature, and pH conditions lumínicas best germination of each species. Finally, an analysis was conducted at the cellular level of the different seeds after the exogenous application of fitorreguladores, interpretantdo their behavior and their relationship with the processes geminativos and growth. Ultimately, this research opens up numerous new lines of work and the Sierra Nevada mountain range, which may be the basis for future studies, not only the restoration of the vegetation cover and integration landscape, but also Recovery plans threatened flora and management other forest areas altered by anthropogenic action.

Author: GUZMÁN MARES LUCIO.
Year: 2005.
University: POLITÉCNICA DE VALENCIA [www.upv.es].
Place of defense: Dep. Proyectos de Ingenieria.
Place of preparation: Universidad Politécnica de Valencia.

Summary: This dissertation presents a method that makes it possible to integrate the environmental factor in product design and in the process, through the management system, in the furniture industry; particularizando the furniture sector in the state of Jalisco. The overall objective has been addressed through the achievement of various studies and field work that has been tried in different thematic areas which divides the doctoral thesis. So in the first block introduction, detailing the necessary commitment of the industry with Sustainable Development and the concept of Industrial Ecology, addressing the major environmental problems faced every day throughout society. The third chapter examines the concept of classic design and ecodesign, extending its scope to the entire product life cycle, changing its goals to increase their security effectiveness and adapting to the new models of product development. It stresses the importance of the role of engineering, between the functions of a company, to carry out the activities that will integrate environmental factor in the design of products and processes. The next chapter is characterized the furniture industry in the state of Jalisco through field studies such as Outlook and Technology Relationship Management System with the Ecodesign, in its aim to analyze the relationship between companies that have some management system and ecodiseñan. Following paragraph studying management models that currently looking for the mainstreaming of environmental factors with social, political and economic. Based on the results of the tests carried out in blocks earlier, proposes a methodology for the organizational system of each company with the aim of improving environmentally products and processes offered to the market. This methodology has taken a synthesis of structure

Author: MEDINA PALOMERA AMALIA.
Year: 2005.
University: POLITÉCNICA DE VALENCIA [www.upv.es].
Place of defense: PROYECTOS DE INGENIERIA.
Place of preparation: UNIVERSIDAD POLITÉCNICA DE VALENCIA.

Summary: The focus of this work is focused on the implementation of the model potential location, this provides for the consideration of different types of variables, such as: alternative location, location factors, spatial scales reference location, time scales Reference location and economic activities. For each of these are looking for information in the region that are interested in locating the plant, these are organized under the name of "locators simple." Subsequently, an analysis to determine the most appropriate indicator for each factor, conveniently standard is called "indicator homogenous." Then, the weight of importance of each factor is assigned location to each indicator homogeneous obtaining the value of the indicator homogeneous corrected. Finally, the sum of the indicators homogeneous corrected provides the potential for locating a site. The methods and tools in this investigation to model potential locations are: Delphi for the collection of information from experts on location, test goodness adjustment for calculating indicators location, analytic hierarchy process (AHP ) for determining the weight of the importance of factors, the process of taking analytical networks (PNA) with the alternative of AHP, and a geographic information system (GIS) platform as indicators of location and subsequent calculations in the form of geographic layers. The information resulting from the application of the model potential location is obtained in graphical format. A range of values for each potential location is assigned a color, and thus the visual outcome allows the taking of decisions more easily assess the overall situation of the area of interest to locate a business.

Author: HOSPIDO QUINTANA ALMUDENA.
Year: 2005.
University: SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA [www.usc.es].
Place of defense: ESCUELA TÉCNICA SUPERIOR DE INGENIERIA.
Place of preparation: ESCUELA TÉCNICA SUPERIOR DE INGENIERÍA.

Summary: The Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) is aimed at assessing the environmental aspects and potential impacts over the life of a product or service, from the acquisition of raw materials through the production stages, until reaching its use and ultimate disposal of waste associated. This doctoral thesis explored the application of the methodology of LCA food sector. Specifically we selected two sectors: the dairy sector and the canning industry, because of its economic importance in the industrial fabric galician. Thus, the milk example of staple food, and canned tuna, model food pantry, constitute core memory. Moreover, since a large part of productive activities are associated with a generation of wastewater must be treated before discharge to water channels, included a third case study on the wastewater treatment they need to be addressed before disposal of water channels, included a third case study on the wastewater treatment and the post of sludge. The objectives of this work are focused on the systematic acquisition of inventory data, quantification of environmental impacts associated with the life cycle, identification of system elements that contribute most to the impact and the development of a scientific basis for definition of improvement actions that result in less damage on the environment. Thus, the two case studies relating to the food sector identified obtaining the main raw material (milk production in the farms and tuna fishing on the high seas) as primarily responsible for the environmental impact throughout the life cycle: Thus, in contrast to the more traditional environmental management focusing on the industrial process (clean production technologies, end of line, â |), the results obtained counsel directing the efforts waters arribas of processing facilities (dairies and canning). The analysis carried out in the Sewage Treatment Plants revealed that an environmentally positive as wastewater treatment, also has a negative side because of the associated energy and material consumption, and the generation of waste and other polluting emissions. Specifically, the production of a large amount of sludge has a particular impact on the impact on the environment and sustainable use of this current recovery would both power and energy containing nutrients, a combination that is not always possible.

Author: HERRERA SANCHO JOSE ANTONIO.
Year: 2005.
University: POLITÉCNICA DE CATALUÑA [www.upc.edu].
Place of defense: SALA D'ACTES EPSEM.
Place of preparation: EUPM, EDIFICI MN1 Campus MANRESA.

Author: POIRRIER GONZÁLEZ PAOLA.
Year: 2005.
University: SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA [www.usc.es].
Place of defense: ETSE.
Place of preparation: ETSE.

Summary: Deficiency of nitrogen, were formed stable after adding calcium in the diet. This biomass presents a profile similar to that of sedimentation sludge metanogénicos used as inoculum. During the operation with gelatin, but the formation of aggregates is emerging, which could be seen conglomerates match aggregate immature kernels, mixed with large flóculos looking more or less compact. The addition of calcium in this case also is favorable. The relationship protein / sugar in the total extracted EPS is higher (2-4) in non-granular sludge as for the biomass aggregate (0.8-1).

Author: GULARTE HERNANDEZ FEDERICO.
Year: 2005.
University: OVIEDO [www.uniovi.es].
Place of defense: FACULTAD DE QUIMICA.
Place of preparation: UNIVERSIDAD DE OVIEDO.

Summary: This paper has studied the process of bioremediation "ex situ" in sandy soils contaminated with phenol compounds (phenol, 2-clorofenol and 2,4-diclorofenol) through the bioestimulación and bioaumento reactor discontinuous. During the pilot phase has been evaluated variables (salinity, temperature, pH, conductivity, chemical composition, surface area, polarity, solubility, concentration of micro-and macronutrients, concentration of surfactants, growth factors, alternative sources of carbon, microbial strains ( pure and mixed) and biological stress) related to the phenomena of adsorption and biodegradation to be conducted in a process of bioremediation "ex situ" soil in mono and multicomponent systems. The experimental development allowed to determine optimum operating conditions related to mathematical simulation, microbial metabolism and physicochemical conditions of the system, significantly increasing the speed of natural biodegradation.

Author: PEREZ RINCON MARIO ALEJANDRO.
Year: 2005.
University: AUTÓNOMA DE BARCELONA [www.uab.es].
Place of defense: INSTITUTO DE CIENCIA Y TECNOLOGÍAS AMBIENTALES (ICTA).
Place of preparation: INSTITUTO DE CIENCIA Y TECNOLOGÍAS AMBIENTALES (ICTA).

Summary: From the perspective of the Ecological Economics, International Trade is not a positive-sum game where all participants gain from trade, but it is a zero-sum game, where there are winners and losers in the ecological aspects. Under this aspect, international trade plays a leading role as a new "vector environmental" distributed asymmetrically environmental costs among countries trading, as the countries with abundant natural resources that are the losers in this trade. The static comparative advantages are that these countries are specialized in the production and export of goods natural-intesivos and imported goods capital-intensivos. This pattern of ecological specialization entails higher costs because resources do not include exported in export prices loss or depreciation of environmental assets. In turn, the terms of exchange in international trade, along with the unequal power relations between North and South, which are increasingly required to export more and exploit natural resources in order to obtain the same amount of goods imported. This is what is known as the heir ecologically unequal exchange of the different versions of the theory of dependency. But in addition, the pattern of specialization of the various economies not only of the application of the "law of comparative advantage", but also correspond to an international division of labor or the World Economic System, in which resource-rich countries natural play the role of suppliers of raw materials (commodities) and some luxury goods of primary origin (preciosities) for developed countries. Or, said in terms of the Ecological Economics, play the role of suppliers of material resources and energy to the metabolic process of the North can be done. While also providing goods to meet their needs "postmateriales." This calls for the need to look to the United realities rather than as isolated but as part of a wider gear at the international level at both the economic and political as well as the ecological. This is the conceptual and theoretical picture on which this doctoral research, with the aim to examine the various interrelationships and impacts of foreign trade on the Colombian environment along much of the contemporary economic history of the country, seeking to demonstrate the environmentally unequal exchange. To that end, the doctoral work was divided into eight specific objectives, in addition to using a range of techniques and methods that allowed quantification biophysics of the environmental impacts of economic activity and international trade. Specific objectives were: A-Know biophysical bases of foreign trade Colombian analyzing the trends of environmentally unequal exchange in the period 1970-2004. B-Identify the role that the flow of capital (debt and foreign investment) has had as a tool to preserve the paternal development natural-intensivo dela Colombian economy in the same period. C-Identify changes in the use and coverage of agricultural land associated with the dynamics of international trade (1961-2004). D-Know the behavior of the energy efficiency of Colombian agricultural system during 1961-2003, through the analysis of their energy balance (output / input), in connection with their patterns of production specialization. E-Identify changes in the amount of water used by agriculture Colombian associated with the dynamic economic and agricultural its international trade during the period 1961-2004. F-Identify the effects on land use and water in a region and specific area of the country, there have been changes in the pattern of production specialization driven by the International Trade (1960-2004). In this case, we work on the department of Valle del Cauca and 8 the cuen 631 ca River Basin Bolo in the same department. G-Identify and illustrate with specific cases ecological distributive conflicts associated with the International Trade implicitly drawn protests against unequal exchange in environmentally Colombia. The final results of this investigation found strong evidence of environmentally unequal exchange that characterizes the Colombian foreign trade in the period in question, which is facilitated and promoted by an institutional structure and power relations associated with the global economic system. This exchange ecologically and economically unequal transferred to regions and localities also generate specific ecological distributive conflicts between export sectors and communities that traditionally have benefited from the use of these natural resources and their environmental services.

Author: PEÑA ARMENDARIZ JOSÉ ANGEL.
Year: 2005.
University: PAÍS VASCO [www.ehu.es].
Place of defense: ESCUELA TÉCNICA SUPERIOR DE INGENIERÍA.
Place of preparation: ESCUELA TÉCNICA SUPERIOR DE INGENIERÍA.

Summary: The purpose of the study is to examine the rules governing the assessment of chemical risks and the market for them. The thesis examines the current regulations for dangerous substances and preparations in the European Union, since regulations on classification of the same until the regulation of the marketing and use. It examines both the current rules as planned modifications arising from the new political strategy for this area (draft legislative amendment called REACH). The ultimate aim of the thesis is to present an assessment of the impact of multi-entry into force of the new regulatory system planned for chemicals also make progress and improvements to the viability of legislation that is more effective in the evaluation and control of chemical risks . It analyzes different valuation studies of the impact and feasibility of the new regulatory system (REACH) in several areas: cost, competitiveness and innovation indutrial. Control and prevention of chemical risks; Changing techniques for the evaluation of risks and improving access and information systems. In analyzing the feasibility of achieving the objectives of REACH, we are focusing on the potential of alternative methods (such as techniques (Q) SARs) to complete risk assessments, as well as an analysis of different strategies risk assessment.

Author: TRIGUEROS TORNERO EMILIO JESÚS.
Year: 2005.
University: VIGO [www.uvigo.es].
Place of defense: ESCUELA TÉCNICA SUPERIOR DE INGENIEROS DE MINAS.
Place of preparation: ESCUELA TÉCNICA SUPERIOR DE INGENIEROS DE MINAS.

Summary: In this thesis provides the methodology for the preliminary study projects inside extraction of marble. Through a series of projects studied were prepared some economic models used for calculating the profitability allow a preliminary analysis on the profitability of a holding ground. The application for a number of quarries has also yielded some general criteria decision. From the data geológicos-mineros a set of farms has geomechanics --- classification of the layers of marble, has been defined mining lower with the size of the cameras, a description of operations and planning for each mining typology layer. Data processing quarry in economic models and subsequent treatment of the results lead to some conclusions applicable to the corporate sector.