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To date, energy recovery from biological sewage sludge (BSS) by anaerobic digestion has been very popular. However, it can often happen that anaerobic reactors are volumetrically undersized, thus reducing performance in terms of biogas production. A continuous-flow pilot-scale plant was used to investigate, for the first time, the effects of mesophilic anaerobic co-digestion (MACoD) of sewage sludge and aqueous residue (AR) from a biosolids treatment plant (BTP) on methanogenic activity under low hydraulic retention time (HRT) conditions (to simulate the undersizing of the reactor). The results showed that the digestate is always more rapidly biodegradable than the matrices fed, while particulate COD hydrolyzed (12 ± 1.3%) is independent of the quantity of AR dosed. Feeding over 35% of soluble OLR, the total VFAs in the system strongly decreased, despite the low HRT. In correspondence with higher dosages of AR, the percentage of CH4 increased up to 77–78% and the CO2 CH4−1 ratio decreased to 0.25 ± 0.2. Specific methane production increased from 0.09 ± 0.01 m3CH4 kgCODremoved−1 with BSS alone to 0.28 ± 0.01 m3CH4CH4 kgCODremoved−1 in the case of BSS co-digested with AR. Moreover, co-digestion with AR from a BTP allowed continuous specific methanogenic activity to be enhanced from 1.76 ± 0.02 m3CH4 tVSS−1 d−1 to 6.48 ± 0.88 m3CH4 tVSS−1 d−1. Therefore, the MACoD of BSS and AR from a BTP could be a good solution to enhance methanogenic activity in a volumetrically undersized anaerobic digester with reduced HRT.
Vincenzo Torretta; Athanasia Tolkou; Ioannis Katsoyiannis; Francesca Caccamo; Marco Miino; Marco Baldi; Maria Collivignarelli. Enhancement of Methanogenic Activity in Volumetrically Undersized Reactor by Mesophilic Co-Digestion of Sewage Sludge and Aqueous Residue. Sustainability 2021, 13, 7728 .
AMA StyleVincenzo Torretta, Athanasia Tolkou, Ioannis Katsoyiannis, Francesca Caccamo, Marco Miino, Marco Baldi, Maria Collivignarelli. Enhancement of Methanogenic Activity in Volumetrically Undersized Reactor by Mesophilic Co-Digestion of Sewage Sludge and Aqueous Residue. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (14):7728.
Chicago/Turabian StyleVincenzo Torretta; Athanasia Tolkou; Ioannis Katsoyiannis; Francesca Caccamo; Marco Miino; Marco Baldi; Maria Collivignarelli. 2021. "Enhancement of Methanogenic Activity in Volumetrically Undersized Reactor by Mesophilic Co-Digestion of Sewage Sludge and Aqueous Residue." Sustainability 13, no. 14: 7728.
To date, the management of high-strength wastewater represents a serious problem. This work aims to evaluate the performance on chemical pollutants and on sludge production of one of the two full-scale thermophilic membrane bioreactors (ThMBRs) currently operational in Italy, based on monitoring data of the last two and a half years. Removal yields on COD, N-NOx, non-ionic and anionic surfactants (TAS and MBAS), increased with the input load up to 81.9%, 97.6%, 94.7%, and 98.4%, respectively. In the period of stability, a very low value of sludge production (0.052 kgVS kgCOD−1) was observed. Oxygen uptake rate (OUR) tests allowed us to exclude the possibility that mesophilic biomass generally exhibited any acute inhibition following contact with the aqueous residues (ARs), except for substrates that presented high concentrations of perfluoro alkyl substances (PFAS), cyanides and chlorides. In one case, nitrifying activity was partially inhibited by high chlorides and PFAS concentration, while in another the substrate determined a positive effect, stimulating the phenomenon of nitrification. Nitrogen uptake rate (NUR) tests highlighted the feasibility of reusing the organic carbon contained in the substrate as a source in denitrification, obtaining a value comparable with that obtained using the reference solution with methanol. Therefore, respirometric tests proved to be a valid tool to assess the acute effect of AR of ThMBR on the activity of mesophilic biomass in the case of recirculation.
Maria Collivignarelli; Marco Carnevale Miino; Francesca Caccamo; Marco Baldi; Alessandro Abbà. Performance of Full-Scale Thermophilic Membrane Bioreactor and Assessment of the Effect of the Aqueous Residue on Mesophilic Biological Activity. Water 2021, 13, 1754 .
AMA StyleMaria Collivignarelli, Marco Carnevale Miino, Francesca Caccamo, Marco Baldi, Alessandro Abbà. Performance of Full-Scale Thermophilic Membrane Bioreactor and Assessment of the Effect of the Aqueous Residue on Mesophilic Biological Activity. Water. 2021; 13 (13):1754.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaria Collivignarelli; Marco Carnevale Miino; Francesca Caccamo; Marco Baldi; Alessandro Abbà. 2021. "Performance of Full-Scale Thermophilic Membrane Bioreactor and Assessment of the Effect of the Aqueous Residue on Mesophilic Biological Activity." Water 13, no. 13: 1754.
Northern Italy was the most affected by CoViD-19 compared to other Italian areas and comprises zones where air pollutants concentration was higher than in the rest of Italy. The aim of the research is to determine if particulate matter (PM) has been the primary cause of the high CoViD-19 spread rapidity in some areas of Northern Italy. Data of PM for all the 41 studied cities were collected from the local environmental protection agencies. To compare air quality data with epidemiological data, a statistical analysis was conducted identifying the correlation matrices of Pearson and Spearman, considering also the possible incubation period of the disease. Moreover, a model for the evaluation of the epidemic risk, already proposed in literature, was used to evaluate a possible influence of PM on CoViD-19 spread rapidity. The results exclude that PM alone was the primary cause of the high CoVid-19 spread rapidity in some areas of Northern Italy. Further developments are necessary for a better comprehension of the influence of atmospheric pollution parameters on the rapidity of spread of the virus SARS-CoV-2, since a synergistic action with other factors (such as meteorological, socio-economic and cultural factors) could not be excluded by the present study. Graphical abstract
Maria Cristina Collivignarelli; Alessandro Abbà; Francesca Maria Caccamo; Giorgio Bertanza; Roberta Pedrazzani; Marco Baldi; Paola Ricciardi; Marco Carnevale Miino. Can particulate matter be identified as the primary cause of the rapid spread of CoViD-19 in some areas of Northern Italy? Environmental Science and Pollution Research 2021, 28, 33120 -33132.
AMA StyleMaria Cristina Collivignarelli, Alessandro Abbà, Francesca Maria Caccamo, Giorgio Bertanza, Roberta Pedrazzani, Marco Baldi, Paola Ricciardi, Marco Carnevale Miino. Can particulate matter be identified as the primary cause of the rapid spread of CoViD-19 in some areas of Northern Italy? Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 2021; 28 (25):33120-33132.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaria Cristina Collivignarelli; Alessandro Abbà; Francesca Maria Caccamo; Giorgio Bertanza; Roberta Pedrazzani; Marco Baldi; Paola Ricciardi; Marco Carnevale Miino. 2021. "Can particulate matter be identified as the primary cause of the rapid spread of CoViD-19 in some areas of Northern Italy?" Environmental Science and Pollution Research 28, no. 25: 33120-33132.
Among the critical issues that prevent the reuse of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) effluents in a circular economy perspective, the microbiological component plays a key role causing infections and diseases. To date, the use of conventional chemical oxidants (e.g., chlorine) represent the main applied process for wastewater (WW) disinfection following a series of operational advantages. However, toxicity linked to the production of highly dangerous disinfection by-products (DBPs) has been widely demonstrated. Therefore, in recent years, there is an increasing attention to implement sustainable processes, which can simultaneously guarantee the microbiological quality of the WWs treated and the protection of both humans and the environment. This review focuses on treatments based on ultraviolet radiation (UV) alone or in combination with other processes (sonophotolysis, photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis with both natural and artificial light) without the dosage of chemical oxidants. The strengths of these technologies and the most significant critical issues are reported. To date, the use of synthetic waters in laboratory tests despite real waters, the capital and operative costs and the limited, or absent, experience of full-scale plant management (especially for UV-based combined processes) represent the main limits to their application on a larger scale. Although further in-depth studies are required to ensure full applicability of UV-based combined processes in WWTPs for reuse of their purified effluents, excellent prospects are presented thanks to an absent environmental impact in terms of DBPs formation and excellent disinfection yields of microorganisms (in most cases higher than 3-log reduction).
Maria Cristina Collivignarelli; Alessandro Abbà; Marco Carnevale Miino; Francesca Maria Caccamo; Vincenzo Torretta; Elena Cristina Rada; Sabrina Sorlini. Disinfection of Wastewater by UV-Based Treatment for Reuse in a Circular Economy Perspective. Where Are We at? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2020, 18, 77 .
AMA StyleMaria Cristina Collivignarelli, Alessandro Abbà, Marco Carnevale Miino, Francesca Maria Caccamo, Vincenzo Torretta, Elena Cristina Rada, Sabrina Sorlini. Disinfection of Wastewater by UV-Based Treatment for Reuse in a Circular Economy Perspective. Where Are We at? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 18 (1):77.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaria Cristina Collivignarelli; Alessandro Abbà; Marco Carnevale Miino; Francesca Maria Caccamo; Vincenzo Torretta; Elena Cristina Rada; Sabrina Sorlini. 2020. "Disinfection of Wastewater by UV-Based Treatment for Reuse in a Circular Economy Perspective. Where Are We at?" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 1: 77.
The hepatotoxin microcystin-LR (MC-LR) represents one of the most toxic cyanotoxins for human health. Considering its harmful effect, the World Health Organization recommended a limit in drinking water (DW) of 1 µg L−1. Due to the ineffectiveness of conventional treatments present in DW treatment plants against MC-LR, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are gaining interest due to the high redox potential of the OH• radicals. In this work UV/H2O2 was applied to a real lake water to remove MC-LR. The kinetics of the UV/H2O2 were compared with those of UV and H2O2 showing the following result: UV/H2O2 > UV > H2O2. Within the range of H2O2 tested (0–0.9 mM), the results showed that H2O2 concentration and the removal kinetics followed an increasing quadratic relation. By increasing the initial concentration of H2O2, the consumption of oxidant also increased but, in terms of MC-LR degraded for H2O2 dosed, the removal efficiency decreased. As the initial MC-LR initial concentration increased, the removal kinetics increased up to a limit concentration (80 µg L−1) in which the presence of high amounts of the toxin slowed down the process. Operating with UV fluence lower than 950 mJ cm−2, UV alone minimized the specific energy consumption required. UV/H2O2 (0.3 mM) and UV/H2O2 (0.9 mM) were the most advantageous combination when operating with UV fluence of 950–1400 mJ cm−2 and higher than 1400 mJ cm−2, respectively.
Sabrina Sorlini; Carlo Collivignarelli; Marco Carnevale Miino; Francesca Maria Caccamo; Maria Cristina Collivignarelli. Kinetics of Microcystin-LR Removal in a Real Lake Water by UV/H2O2 Treatment and Analysis of Specific Energy Consumption. Toxins 2020, 12, 810 .
AMA StyleSabrina Sorlini, Carlo Collivignarelli, Marco Carnevale Miino, Francesca Maria Caccamo, Maria Cristina Collivignarelli. Kinetics of Microcystin-LR Removal in a Real Lake Water by UV/H2O2 Treatment and Analysis of Specific Energy Consumption. Toxins. 2020; 12 (12):810.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSabrina Sorlini; Carlo Collivignarelli; Marco Carnevale Miino; Francesca Maria Caccamo; Maria Cristina Collivignarelli. 2020. "Kinetics of Microcystin-LR Removal in a Real Lake Water by UV/H2O2 Treatment and Analysis of Specific Energy Consumption." Toxins 12, no. 12: 810.
Northern Italian regions have been the most affected from CoViD-19 compared to other Italian areas and are also the zones where air pollutants concentration has been higher than in the rest of Italy. The aim of the research is analysing possible correlations between air pollutants PM10 and PM2.5 and the rapidity of the spread of the infection caused by CoViD-19 in Northern Italy. PM10 and PM2.5 data for all the 41 studied cities were collected from the local environmental protection agencies. In order to compare air quality data with epidemiological data (Td), a statistical analysis was conducted identifying the correlation matrices of Pearson and Spearman, considering the possible incubation period of the disease. The results exclude a strong direct correlation between PM in the air and the diffusion rate of CoViD-19. Further developments are necessary for a better comprehension of the influence of atmospheric pollution parameters on the rapidity of spread of the virus SARS-CoV-2, since a synergistic action with other factors, such as meteorological factors, could not be excluded.
Maria Cristina Collivignarelli; Alessandro Abbà; Francesca Maria Caccamo; Giorgio Bertanza; Roberta Pedrazzani; Marco Baldi; Paola Ricciardi; Marco Carnevale Miino. CoViD-19 outbreak in Northern Italy: Did particulate matter really play a key role? 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleMaria Cristina Collivignarelli, Alessandro Abbà, Francesca Maria Caccamo, Giorgio Bertanza, Roberta Pedrazzani, Marco Baldi, Paola Ricciardi, Marco Carnevale Miino. CoViD-19 outbreak in Northern Italy: Did particulate matter really play a key role? . 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaria Cristina Collivignarelli; Alessandro Abbà; Francesca Maria Caccamo; Giorgio Bertanza; Roberta Pedrazzani; Marco Baldi; Paola Ricciardi; Marco Carnevale Miino. 2020. "CoViD-19 outbreak in Northern Italy: Did particulate matter really play a key role?" , no. : 1.
The critical issue generated by foaming in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is a problem that is currently very common and shared, but which to date is treated mainly only at the management level. In this work, an experimental study with foam tests on real and synthetic waters was conducted using a laboratory scale plant and foaming power indices were calculated. To date, the estimation of foaming potential is mainly based on these indices which give information only on height/volume of foams but not on the type of foams, in terms of consistency and therefore stability. Tests showed that foaming power indices were highly variable with the same water: it was not possible to identify a single foaming potential value for each water. Two models were proposed to estimate the percentage increase in height of chemical foams produced following the introduction of air below the surface of a liquid. In terms of determination coefficient, the results obtained from the complex model were better: R2 was 0.82 for the simple linear model and 0.90 for the complex one. This approach has allowed to underline some critical aspects of foaming potential as it is determined today and the possible improvements applicable for a more objective evaluation.
Maria Cristina Collivignarelli; Marco Carnevale Miino; Francesca Maria Caccamo; Marco Baldi. Evaluation of foaming potential for water treatment: limits and developments. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 2020, 27, 27952 -27960.
AMA StyleMaria Cristina Collivignarelli, Marco Carnevale Miino, Francesca Maria Caccamo, Marco Baldi. Evaluation of foaming potential for water treatment: limits and developments. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 2020; 27 (22):27952-27960.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaria Cristina Collivignarelli; Marco Carnevale Miino; Francesca Maria Caccamo; Marco Baldi. 2020. "Evaluation of foaming potential for water treatment: limits and developments." Environmental Science and Pollution Research 27, no. 22: 27952-27960.
Fluorides represent a significant problem in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In fact, this ion is essential for human health but, if taken in excess, it can cause dental and skeletal fluorosis. In LMICs, the pollution of groundwater from fluorides is of natural origin. Therefore, if providing alternative sources for drinking water (DW) supply is not possible, the use of specific processes for the removal of fluorides becomes essential. The adsorption on alternative materials, such as agro-food residues, can be a valid treatment for the removal of fluorides in the LMIC considering: (i) their optimal removal yields, (ii) the high availability, and (iii) the low cost. In recent years, the interest on the use of palm residues (PRs) becomes significant. Optimal pH, temperature, adsorbent dosage, and possible combination with metals to increase adsorption performances were deeply investigated. The activated PRs also present two other advantages: (i) very high surface area, and (ii) very low reduction in uptake capacity when regenerated. However, all tests were conducted with synthetic waters in laboratory-scale reactors while application on real-scale are absent. This makes other studies on this type of alternative adsorbent material still necessary.
Maria Cristina Collivignarelli; Alessandro Abbà; Marco Carnevale Miino; Vincenzo Torretta; Elena Cristina Rada; Francesca Maria Caccamo; Sabrina Sorlini. Adsorption of Fluorides in Drinking Water by Palm Residues. Sustainability 2020, 12, 3786 .
AMA StyleMaria Cristina Collivignarelli, Alessandro Abbà, Marco Carnevale Miino, Vincenzo Torretta, Elena Cristina Rada, Francesca Maria Caccamo, Sabrina Sorlini. Adsorption of Fluorides in Drinking Water by Palm Residues. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (9):3786.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaria Cristina Collivignarelli; Alessandro Abbà; Marco Carnevale Miino; Vincenzo Torretta; Elena Cristina Rada; Francesca Maria Caccamo; Sabrina Sorlini. 2020. "Adsorption of Fluorides in Drinking Water by Palm Residues." Sustainability 12, no. 9: 3786.
The formation of persistent foams can be a critical problem in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) as it could lead to a series of operational problems, especially the reduction of the overall system performance. To date, the effects of foaming in the WWTPs are a problem that is currently very common and shared, but which to date is treated mainly only at the management level and still too little studied through a globally shared scientific method: the complexity of the phenomenon and the systems have led to numerous partially contradictory descriptions and hypotheses over the years. The goal must be to suggest future research directions and indicate promising strategies to prevent or control the formation of foams in WWTPs. This study examines and investigates the problem of foams by a methodological approach of research through a review on the state of the art: the factors influencing the formation of foams are described first (such as surfactants and/or extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs)), then the known methods for the evaluation of foaming, both direct and indirect, are presented, with the aim of identifying the correct and best (from the management point of view) control and/or prevention strategies to be applied in the future in WWTPs.
Maria Cristina Collivignarelli; Marco Baldi; Alessandro Abbà; Francesca Maria Caccamo; Marco Carnevale Miino; Elena Cristina Rada; Vincenzo Torretta. Foams in Wastewater Treatment Plants: From Causes to Control Methods. Applied Sciences 2020, 10, 2716 .
AMA StyleMaria Cristina Collivignarelli, Marco Baldi, Alessandro Abbà, Francesca Maria Caccamo, Marco Carnevale Miino, Elena Cristina Rada, Vincenzo Torretta. Foams in Wastewater Treatment Plants: From Causes to Control Methods. Applied Sciences. 2020; 10 (8):2716.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaria Cristina Collivignarelli; Marco Baldi; Alessandro Abbà; Francesca Maria Caccamo; Marco Carnevale Miino; Elena Cristina Rada; Vincenzo Torretta. 2020. "Foams in Wastewater Treatment Plants: From Causes to Control Methods." Applied Sciences 10, no. 8: 2716.