This page has only limited features, please log in for full access.
Full Professor at the University of Insubria in 2008. Research interest: Wastewater Treatment: Trace pollutants removal, Advanced treatment. Solid waste: Integrated management and planning, Composting, Anaerobic digestion, Incineration, Sanitary landfilling. Contaminated land: Bioremediation. Air Pollution: Odour management and treatment, incineration flue gas treatment, industrial emissions treatment. Author of more than 90 papers. Member of organizing and scientific committees of national and international congresses. Teaching experience: Teacher of the university courses about: Sanitary-Environmental engineering, Treatment plants of Sanitary-Environmental engineering, Pollution phenomena, Contaminated land remediation, Air pollution, Waste management, Fire Engineering. Teacher in many upgrade courses for technicians and professionals Director of six editions of Master course about "Environment, safety and health integrated management in industry". Past Head of the Theoretical and Applied Sciences Dept.
The experimentation plant, based on a sub-surface horizontal flow phytodepuration (SSHFP) unit with a pre-treatment by an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor, proved valuable in treating the sewage of a small rural community located in north Brazil. During a six-month trial, the plant achieved an average removal efficiency of 98.2% (1.74 log removal) for fecal coliforms (FC) and 96.0% (1.40 log removal) for Enterococci (EN), as well as 95.6% for BOD5, 91.0% for COD,00 and 95.4% for suspended solids (SS). The contribution of the UASB reactor to this overall performance was very significant as, alone, it achieved a yield of 62.7% for FC and 60% for EN, in addition to 65.2% for BOD5 and 65.0% for SS. EN was chosen, in addition to FC, because of its higher specificity and strong environmental persistence, leading to an increased risk to human health. In fact, the experimental results confirmed its lower removal efficiency compared to FC. The mechanical and biological mechanisms that led to such a removal efficiency of the two fecal indicators (FIs) are outlined in the article. The same mechanisms led to a good level of equivalence between the removal efficiency of the two FIs with the removal efficiency of SS and BOD5, for both the whole plant and the UASB reactor alone. The research demonstrated the close correlation between the concentrations of EN and FC for the plant effluent. This correlation can be explained by the following mathematical expression of the regression line Log EN = 0.2571 Log FC + 3.5301, with a coefficient of determination R2 = 0.912. This implies that the concentration of the more specific indicator EN could be calculated, with acceptable approximation, from the simple analysis of FC and vice versa. The experimental plant brought important health benefits to the local population. In particular, there were no significant odor emissions; moreover, the risk of fecal pathogenic diseases was drastically reduced; finally, there was no proliferation of insects and other disease vectors, due to the absence of stagnant or semi-stagnant water exposed to the atmosphere.
Fabio Conti; Elena Cristina Rada; Paolo Viotti; Massimo Raboni. Removal and Survival of Fecal Indicators in a Constructed Wetland after UASB Pre-Treatment. Sustainability 2021, 13, 9302 .
AMA StyleFabio Conti, Elena Cristina Rada, Paolo Viotti, Massimo Raboni. Removal and Survival of Fecal Indicators in a Constructed Wetland after UASB Pre-Treatment. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (16):9302.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFabio Conti; Elena Cristina Rada; Paolo Viotti; Massimo Raboni. 2021. "Removal and Survival of Fecal Indicators in a Constructed Wetland after UASB Pre-Treatment." Sustainability 13, no. 16: 9302.
The life cycle assessment (LCA) of municipal solid waste (MSW) systems in developing countries is a matter of research. Obtain reliable results is challenging since field data and local databases are not always available. The research presented in this paper explores this issue in La Paz (Bolivia), where six environmental impact categories were assessed. The LCA, related to the formal MSW management system of the city, involves a sensitivity analysis of ten parameters and the scenario assessment in relation to the increase of the recycling rate. Results report that the environmental impacts are mostly sensitive in relation to landfill gas collection efficiency, use of plastic bags, the transportation distances of collected waste, and the replacement rate of virgin materials. Global warming potential is the impact category most variable (341.38–551.95 kg CO2-eq tMSW−1), although it is not considerably reduced by recycling, which contributed mostly to the human toxicity and freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity. Doubling the amount of MSW recycled, from 235 t to about 473 t per year, human toxicity potential reduces of about 18% while freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity of about 12%. This research contributes for evaluating the most sensitive parameters in an MSW–LCA and to support policymakers towards waste recycling and sustainable development in Latin America developing cities.
Navarro Ferronato; Luca Moresco; Gabriela Edith Guisbert Lizarazu; Marcelo Antonio Gorritty Portillo; Fabio Conti; Vincenzo Torretta. Sensitivity analysis and improvements of the recycling rate in municipal solid waste life cycle assessment: Focus on a Latin American developing context. Waste Management 2021, 128, 1 -15.
AMA StyleNavarro Ferronato, Luca Moresco, Gabriela Edith Guisbert Lizarazu, Marcelo Antonio Gorritty Portillo, Fabio Conti, Vincenzo Torretta. Sensitivity analysis and improvements of the recycling rate in municipal solid waste life cycle assessment: Focus on a Latin American developing context. Waste Management. 2021; 128 ():1-15.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNavarro Ferronato; Luca Moresco; Gabriela Edith Guisbert Lizarazu; Marcelo Antonio Gorritty Portillo; Fabio Conti; Vincenzo Torretta. 2021. "Sensitivity analysis and improvements of the recycling rate in municipal solid waste life cycle assessment: Focus on a Latin American developing context." Waste Management 128, no. : 1-15.
The biological denitrification process is extensively discussed in scientific literature. The process requires anoxic conditions, but the influence of residual dissolved oxygen (DO) on the efficiency is not yet adequately documented. The present research aims to fill this gap by highlighting the effects of DO on the specific denitrification rate (SDNR) and consequently on the efficiency of the process. SDNR at a temperature of 20 °C (SDNR20°C) is the parameter normally used for the sizing of the denitrification reactor in biological-activated sludge processes. A sensitivity analysis of SNDR20°C to DO variations is developed. For this purpose, two of the main empirical models illustrated in the scientific literature are taken into consideration, with the addition of a deterministic third model proposed by the authors and validated by recent experimentations on several full-scale plants. In the first two models, SDNR20°C is expressed as a function of the only variable food:microrganism ratio in denitrification (F:MDEN), while in the third one, the dependence on DO is made explicit. The sensitivity analysis highlights all the significant dependence of SDNR20°C on DO characterized by a logarithmic decrease with a very pronounced gradient in correspondence with low DO concentrations. Moreover, the analysis demonstrates the relatively small influence of F:MDEN on the SDNR20°C and on the correlation between SDNR20°C and DO. The results confirm the great importance of minimizing DO and limiting, as much as possible, the transport of oxygen in the denitrification reactor through the incoming flows and mainly the mixed liquor recycle. Solutions to achieve this result in full-scale plants are reported.
Massimo Raboni; Paolo Viotti; Elena Cristina Rada; Fabio Conti; Maria Rosaria Boni. The Sensitivity of a Specific Denitrification Rate under the Dissolved Oxygen Pressure. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2020, 17, 9366 .
AMA StyleMassimo Raboni, Paolo Viotti, Elena Cristina Rada, Fabio Conti, Maria Rosaria Boni. The Sensitivity of a Specific Denitrification Rate under the Dissolved Oxygen Pressure. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17 (24):9366.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMassimo Raboni; Paolo Viotti; Elena Cristina Rada; Fabio Conti; Maria Rosaria Boni. 2020. "The Sensitivity of a Specific Denitrification Rate under the Dissolved Oxygen Pressure." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 24: 9366.
Soils contaminated with organic substances is an important issue across Europe: In some areas, these are the main causes of pollution, or the second after contamination from waste disposal. This paper included an experimental application that compared three methods of remediation of contaminated sites, based on electric fields: A single treatment (electroremediation); and two combined treatments, phyto-electrochemical and electrooxidation (a combination of chemical treatment and a DCT-direct current technology). The contaminated soil was taken from a former industrial area devoted to oil refining, located between two roads: The one national and the other one for industrial use. Nine soil samples were collected at two depths (0.2 and 0.4 m). The initial characterization of the soil showed a density of 1.5 g/cm³ and a moisture of about 20%; regarding grain size, 50% of the soil had particles with a diameter less than 0.08 mm. The electrochemical treatment and electrooxidation had an efficiency of 20% while the two combined methods had efficiencies of 42.5% for electrooxidation (with H2O2) and 20% for phyto-electroremediation (phyto-ER) with poinsettias.
Elena Cristina Rada; Gianni Andreottola; Irina Aura Istrate; Paolo Viotti; Fabio Conti; Elena Romenovna Magaril. Remediation of Soil Polluted by Organic Compounds Through Chemical Oxidation and Phytoremediation Combined with DCT. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2019, 16, 3179 .
AMA StyleElena Cristina Rada, Gianni Andreottola, Irina Aura Istrate, Paolo Viotti, Fabio Conti, Elena Romenovna Magaril. Remediation of Soil Polluted by Organic Compounds Through Chemical Oxidation and Phytoremediation Combined with DCT. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2019; 16 (17):3179.
Chicago/Turabian StyleElena Cristina Rada; Gianni Andreottola; Irina Aura Istrate; Paolo Viotti; Fabio Conti; Elena Romenovna Magaril. 2019. "Remediation of Soil Polluted by Organic Compounds Through Chemical Oxidation and Phytoremediation Combined with DCT." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16, no. 17: 3179.
This paper deals with waste management in the tourism sector, specifically in the agro-tourism structures. Two regions of Romania and Italy have been considered as case studies in order to promote good practices and actions for sustainable municipal solid waste management. Specific criteria to adopt for the sustainable consumption of beverages and food and for the sustainable use of packaging of various types have been analyzed and suggested. The adoption of an indicator at the level of the single tourist structure has been proposed to help self-analysis that is aimed at setting the priorities of intervention for improving its environmental sustainability.
Ramona Giurea; Ilaria Precazzini; Marco Ragazzi; Moise Ioan Achim; Lucian-Ionel Cioca; Fabio Conti; Vincenzo Torretta; Elena Cristina Rada. Good Practices and Actions for Sustainable Municipal Solid Waste Management in the Tourist Sector. Resources 2018, 7, 51 .
AMA StyleRamona Giurea, Ilaria Precazzini, Marco Ragazzi, Moise Ioan Achim, Lucian-Ionel Cioca, Fabio Conti, Vincenzo Torretta, Elena Cristina Rada. Good Practices and Actions for Sustainable Municipal Solid Waste Management in the Tourist Sector. Resources. 2018; 7 (3):51.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRamona Giurea; Ilaria Precazzini; Marco Ragazzi; Moise Ioan Achim; Lucian-Ionel Cioca; Fabio Conti; Vincenzo Torretta; Elena Cristina Rada. 2018. "Good Practices and Actions for Sustainable Municipal Solid Waste Management in the Tourist Sector." Resources 7, no. 3: 51.
The presence of emerging organic micropollutants (such as pharmaceuticals) in sewage has been, for a long time, an issue of great concern within the international scientific debate. This item represents one of the main challenges related to a sustainable development, with particular concern to the public health control. While most of the work has been concentrated on their detection and the evaluation of their average level, little is known about the spatial and temporal variability of concentrations of these compounds in the effluent and its capability to affect the concentrations in time of the receiving water body. In this study, three sampling campaigns were carried out at two different wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Varese area (Northern Italy) with the aim of monitoring the occurrence of some pharmaceuticals to evaluate their removal efficiency. The detected pharmaceuticals were: Ofloxacin, Ibuprofen, Atenolol, Bezafibrate, Carbamazepine, Salbutamol, Cyclophosphamide and Hydrochlorothiazide. The results obtained, together with the analysis of the characteristics of the chemicals and of the two WWTPs, allowed evaluating the factors affecting the spatial and temporal concentration variability in effluent waters and the potential influence of this variability in driving the exposure of the aquatic ecosystems in the receiving water body.
Cristiana Morosini; Milena Marsoni; Vincenzo Torretta; Fabio Conti; Marco Ragazzi; Elena Cristina Rada; Gabriela Cioca. Factors Affecting Spatial and Temporal Concentration Variability of Pharmaceuticals: Comparison between Two WWTPs. Sustainability 2017, 9, 1466 .
AMA StyleCristiana Morosini, Milena Marsoni, Vincenzo Torretta, Fabio Conti, Marco Ragazzi, Elena Cristina Rada, Gabriela Cioca. Factors Affecting Spatial and Temporal Concentration Variability of Pharmaceuticals: Comparison between Two WWTPs. Sustainability. 2017; 9 (8):1466.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCristiana Morosini; Milena Marsoni; Vincenzo Torretta; Fabio Conti; Marco Ragazzi; Elena Cristina Rada; Gabriela Cioca. 2017. "Factors Affecting Spatial and Temporal Concentration Variability of Pharmaceuticals: Comparison between Two WWTPs." Sustainability 9, no. 8: 1466.
The paper retraces the implementation of a biogas energy programme within the Best Ray project run in Tanzania 2008–2011. The objective of the Best Ray project was to empower rural communities by providing them with modern and renewable energy technologies to better tackle Millennium Development Goals. An important activity of the project was the construction of a biogas system in secondary school solve a sanitation problem and provide the school with a free and reliable energy supply. After a field assessment, the project directed the resources to small domestic biogas installation rather than large institutional ones as future sustainability seemed to be better granted. Best Ray merged the Tanzanian Domestic Biogas Programme. Trainings were organized and 25 biogas plants constructed. The technology is simple and the design effective, but still the cost seems high for a rural context. Final beneficiaries are appreciating the technologies for reasons that were not predictable by those who ideated the project.
Vincenzo Torretta; Fabio Conti; Matteo Leonardi; Gianluca Ruggieri. Energy Recovery from Sludge and Sustainable Development: A Tanzanian Case Study. Sustainability 2012, 4, 2661 -2672.
AMA StyleVincenzo Torretta, Fabio Conti, Matteo Leonardi, Gianluca Ruggieri. Energy Recovery from Sludge and Sustainable Development: A Tanzanian Case Study. Sustainability. 2012; 4 (10):2661-2672.
Chicago/Turabian StyleVincenzo Torretta; Fabio Conti; Matteo Leonardi; Gianluca Ruggieri. 2012. "Energy Recovery from Sludge and Sustainable Development: A Tanzanian Case Study." Sustainability 4, no. 10: 2661-2672.