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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.
Construction and demolition waste (CDW) management in developing countries is a global concern. The analysis of scenarios and the implementation of life cycle assessment (LCA) support decision-makers in introducing integrated CDW management systems. This paper introduces the application of an LCA in La Paz (Bolivia), where CDW is mainly dumped in open areas. The aim of the research is to evaluate the benefits of inert CDW recycling in function of the selective collection rate, defined as the amount of waste (%wt.) sorted at the source in relation to the total waste amount produced, and the distances from the CDW generation to the material recycling facility. The outcomes of the research suggest that increasing the selective collection rates (5% to 99%) spread the importance of transportation distances planning since it affects the magnitude of the environmental impacts (1.05 tCO2-eq to 20.7 tCO2-eq per km traveled). Transportation limits have been found to be lower than about 40 km in order to make recycling beneficial for all environmental impacts and for all selective collection rate, with the eutrophication potential as the limiting indicator. The theoretical analysis suggests implementing LCA with primary data and involving statistics related to the transportation of virgin materials avoided thanks to recycling. The outcomes of the research support the implementation of CDW recycling in developing countries since it has been found that material recovery is always beneficial.
Navarro Ferronato; Gabriela Edith Guisbert Lizarazu; Marcelo Antonio Gorritty Portillo; Luca Moresco; Fabio Conti; Vincenzo Torretta. Environmental assessment of construction and demolition waste recycling in Bolivia: Focus on transportation distances and selective collection rates. Waste Management & Research: The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleNavarro Ferronato, Gabriela Edith Guisbert Lizarazu, Marcelo Antonio Gorritty Portillo, Luca Moresco, Fabio Conti, Vincenzo Torretta. Environmental assessment of construction and demolition waste recycling in Bolivia: Focus on transportation distances and selective collection rates. Waste Management & Research: The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy. 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNavarro Ferronato; Gabriela Edith Guisbert Lizarazu; Marcelo Antonio Gorritty Portillo; Luca Moresco; Fabio Conti; Vincenzo Torretta. 2021. "Environmental assessment of construction and demolition waste recycling in Bolivia: Focus on transportation distances and selective collection rates." Waste Management & Research: The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy , no. : 1.
This research aimed to identify a tool to objectively analyse the performance and the environmental contextualization of sewer systems (SwSs) and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This procedure performs assessment by calculating performance indices which could be subsequently applied to SwSs and WWTPs with different characteristics. The proposed tool can be applied conveniently over the years by managers of integrated urban water management systems for the analysis of different realities also allowing the evaluation of the effects of upgrades carried out during the management phases. The proposed analysis allows the optimization of SwSs and can profitably guide the choice and the priority among possible interventions for the sewerage infrastructure and WWTPs providing a a verification and evaluation protocol as well as a financial planning tool. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Maria Cristina Collivignarelli; Sara Todeschini; Alessandro Abbà; Paola Ricciardi; Marco Carnevale Miino; Vincenzo Torretta; Elena Cristina Rada; Fabio Conti; Giacomo Cillari; Silvia Calatroni; Giuseppe Lumia; Giorgio Bertanza. The performance evaluation of wastewater service: a protocol based on performance indicators applied to sewer systems and wastewater treatment plants. Environmental Technology 2021, 1 -18.
AMA StyleMaria Cristina Collivignarelli, Sara Todeschini, Alessandro Abbà, Paola Ricciardi, Marco Carnevale Miino, Vincenzo Torretta, Elena Cristina Rada, Fabio Conti, Giacomo Cillari, Silvia Calatroni, Giuseppe Lumia, Giorgio Bertanza. The performance evaluation of wastewater service: a protocol based on performance indicators applied to sewer systems and wastewater treatment plants. Environmental Technology. 2021; ():1-18.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaria Cristina Collivignarelli; Sara Todeschini; Alessandro Abbà; Paola Ricciardi; Marco Carnevale Miino; Vincenzo Torretta; Elena Cristina Rada; Fabio Conti; Giacomo Cillari; Silvia Calatroni; Giuseppe Lumia; Giorgio Bertanza. 2021. "The performance evaluation of wastewater service: a protocol based on performance indicators applied to sewer systems and wastewater treatment plants." Environmental Technology , no. : 1-18.
Developments in solid waste management (SWM) are challenging in low to middle-income countries. The cooperation among local and international actors can support the introduction of small-scale solutions in order to sustain the implementation of waste recycling systems. The objective of this paper is to present the steps forward in the submission of development projects focused on the execution of circular economy principles. The study was conducted in La Paz, Bolivia, where SWM indicators, interviews with local stakeholders and citizens, the analysis of the environmental impacts through life cycle assessment, and the implementation of small-scale selective collection systems were implemented for assessing local opportunities in recycling. The technical methods, the cooperation network, and the analysis conducted during four years of research are summarized and presented, introducing a case study novel in the scientific literature. Results reported that the cooperation among local and international stakeholders, together with the implementation of technical studies, allows drafting and submitting development projects for obtaining international funding that can be used for starting SWM pilot actions. The approach employed, here called NAVA-CE – Net Added Value Assessment of a Circular Economy – can be of interest to international actors involved in SWM and development cooperation for supporting a sustainable future.
Navarro Ferronato. Integrated analysis for supporting solid waste management development projects in low to middle income countries: The NAVA-CE approach. Environmental Development 2021, 39, 100643 .
AMA StyleNavarro Ferronato. Integrated analysis for supporting solid waste management development projects in low to middle income countries: The NAVA-CE approach. Environmental Development. 2021; 39 ():100643.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNavarro Ferronato. 2021. "Integrated analysis for supporting solid waste management development projects in low to middle income countries: The NAVA-CE approach." Environmental Development 39, no. : 100643.
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.
With more than 350 GWh per year and thousands of installations around the world, biogas is an appealing strategy in the field of energy production and industrial waste optimization. In this sense, it is of paramount importance to address the risk associated with such plants, as an increasing trend of accidents have been recorded in the last 20 years. In this work, a representative biogas production plant was considered, and a risk assessment was carried out through the combination of Recursive Operability Analysis and Failure Mode and Effects Criticality Analysis. The methodology is rigorous and allows for both the identification and the quantification of accidental scenarios due to procedural errors and equipment failures, which miss in the literature for the case of biogas. The analysis allows the automatic generation of the Fault Trees for the identified Top Events, which can be numerically solved. Results show that the most critical accidental scenario in the biogas plant here considered is the formation of an explosive air-biogas mixture, which can occur in both anaerobic digester and condensate trap. The calculated probabilities agree with the results available in literature on similar plants. Pumps and Distributed Control System were found to be the most critical components.
Marco Barozzi; Sergio Contini; Massimo Raboni; Vincenzo Torretta; Valeria Casson Moreno; Sabrina Copelli. Integration of Recursive Operability Analysis, FMECA and FTA for the Quantitative Risk Assessment in biogas plants: Role of procedural errors and components failures. Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries 2021, 71, 104468 .
AMA StyleMarco Barozzi, Sergio Contini, Massimo Raboni, Vincenzo Torretta, Valeria Casson Moreno, Sabrina Copelli. Integration of Recursive Operability Analysis, FMECA and FTA for the Quantitative Risk Assessment in biogas plants: Role of procedural errors and components failures. Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries. 2021; 71 ():104468.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarco Barozzi; Sergio Contini; Massimo Raboni; Vincenzo Torretta; Valeria Casson Moreno; Sabrina Copelli. 2021. "Integration of Recursive Operability Analysis, FMECA and FTA for the Quantitative Risk Assessment in biogas plants: Role of procedural errors and components failures." Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries 71, no. : 104468.
The present special issue collected articles that address the very important topic of innovative approaches in water and wastewater treatment technologies. Thirteen articles are published, ten research paper and three review articles. The papers can be divided in four major categories, namely, membrane treatment, adsorption studies, advanced oxidation processes and wastewater treatment optimization. In the editorial, a brief description of the findings of each paper is presented along with a critical assessment.
Ioannis Katsoyiannis; Vincenzo Torretta. Innovative Approaches for Drinking- and Waste-Water Treatment: An Editorial Review Summarizing and Assessing the Findings of the Special Issue. Applied Sciences 2021, 11, 2063 .
AMA StyleIoannis Katsoyiannis, Vincenzo Torretta. Innovative Approaches for Drinking- and Waste-Water Treatment: An Editorial Review Summarizing and Assessing the Findings of the Special Issue. Applied Sciences. 2021; 11 (5):2063.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIoannis Katsoyiannis; Vincenzo Torretta. 2021. "Innovative Approaches for Drinking- and Waste-Water Treatment: An Editorial Review Summarizing and Assessing the Findings of the Special Issue." Applied Sciences 11, no. 5: 2063.
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.
Solid waste open dumping is a big issue in the developing world. Environmental and social impacts due to this practice affect population health, increasing the spread of diseases and child mortality. The safe collection of waste is the first step for reducing these impacts. This research assesses households’ waste collection in a Bolivian developing city with the aim to find a solution to fostering waste safe disposal and recycling. The novelty of the study consists in implementing field analysis together with the use of geographic information systems and the life cycle assessment approach where the lack of data is challenging. Following the results of the research, the system optimization, compared to the current scenario, implies that: (1) collection distances increase by 8%, while the selective collection increases them by 27.8%; (2) the collection coverage increase from 51% to 94% and selective collection switch from zero to 6.7%; (3) about 75% of CO2-eq emissions are reduced, as well as the eutrophication potential (about 55%); (4) recycling reduces the human toxicity potential of 260% and depletion of abiotic resources of 30%; (5) finally, the cost per ton of waste collected reduces from 36.2USD t−1 to 26.5USD t−1, and rises to 39.7USD t−1 if the selective collection is applied. The research demonstrates how waste collection optimization can be implemented obtaining enormous benefits in developing cities. The methods and outcomes presented can be of reference for policymakers and stakeholders of the developing world for addressing safe collection toward sustainable development.
Navarro Ferronato; Grecia Paola Portugal Alarcón; Edith Gabriela Guisbert Lizarazu; Vincenzo Torretta. Assessment of municipal solid waste collection in Bolivia: Perspectives for avoiding uncontrolled disposal and boosting waste recycling options. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 2020, 167, 105234 .
AMA StyleNavarro Ferronato, Grecia Paola Portugal Alarcón, Edith Gabriela Guisbert Lizarazu, Vincenzo Torretta. Assessment of municipal solid waste collection in Bolivia: Perspectives for avoiding uncontrolled disposal and boosting waste recycling options. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 2020; 167 ():105234.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNavarro Ferronato; Grecia Paola Portugal Alarcón; Edith Gabriela Guisbert Lizarazu; Vincenzo Torretta. 2020. "Assessment of municipal solid waste collection in Bolivia: Perspectives for avoiding uncontrolled disposal and boosting waste recycling options." Resources, Conservation and Recycling 167, no. : 105234.
The concrete industry is a core element of the building sector, but it has to deal with the increasing attention on the environmental issues related to the production process: increasing energy efficiency and the adoption of alternative fuels or raw materials represent the most relevant solutions. The present work analyses physical, mechanical, and environmental performances of concrete incorporating residues derived from four main sources (construction and demolition waste, residues from waste treatment, metallurgical industry by-products, and others), as substitutes of either fine or coarse aggregates. Fine aggregates showed the highest number of alternatives and replacement level, with the relevant impact on concrete properties; coarse aggregates, however, always reach a complete replacement, with the exclusion of glass that highly affects the mechanical performance. Construction and metallurgical industry categories are the main sources of alternative materials for both the components, with ceramic and lead slag reaching a full replacement for fine and coarse aggregates.
Maria Collivignarelli; Giacomo Cillari; Paola Ricciardi; Marco Miino; Vincenzo Torretta; Elena Rada; Alessandro Abbà. The Production of Sustainable Concrete with the Use of Alternative Aggregates: A Review. Sustainability 2020, 12, 7903 .
AMA StyleMaria Collivignarelli, Giacomo Cillari, Paola Ricciardi, Marco Miino, Vincenzo Torretta, Elena Rada, Alessandro Abbà. The Production of Sustainable Concrete with the Use of Alternative Aggregates: A Review. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (19):7903.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaria Collivignarelli; Giacomo Cillari; Paola Ricciardi; Marco Miino; Vincenzo Torretta; Elena Rada; Alessandro Abbà. 2020. "The Production of Sustainable Concrete with the Use of Alternative Aggregates: A Review." Sustainability 12, no. 19: 7903.
The management of food waste has been considered an extremely important issue since the 1990s but finding efficient solutions for small and rural communities is still challenging. Anaerobic digestion (AD) may provide interesting opportunities in terms of carbon emissions and economic payback in the long term, but the choice of the correct technology and the spatial scale requires attention. The focus of this study is on a small rural municipality, which is selected as a case study to assess the environmental and economic sustainability of the application of two options for AD (a conventional and an alternative wet process) and two spatial scales (municipality and a consortium of municipalities). Both the AD configurations are examined in terms of biogas exploitation, through a combined heat and power generator, and in combination with a post-composting stage of the digestate. From economic and environmental perspectives, the consortium-scale application of the conventional wet process is expected to generate greater benefits in the long term, as it enables 80% more electric energy production and economic revenues/savings, and avoids carbon emissions. However, before selecting the technology, decision makers should consider the public acceptance of local communities (e.g., the susceptibility to the “not-in-my-backyard” syndrome), as the best technical-economical solution may not be the most appropriate to specific communities. The methodology developed in this paper and the discussion of the results will inform decision makers about how to identify the most appropriate alternative for their purposes.
Luca Adami; Marco Schiavon; Vincenzo Torretta; Luca Costa; Elena Cristina Rada. Evaluation of conventional and alternative anaerobic digestion technologies for applications to small and rural communities. Waste Management 2020, 118, 79 -89.
AMA StyleLuca Adami, Marco Schiavon, Vincenzo Torretta, Luca Costa, Elena Cristina Rada. Evaluation of conventional and alternative anaerobic digestion technologies for applications to small and rural communities. Waste Management. 2020; 118 ():79-89.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuca Adami; Marco Schiavon; Vincenzo Torretta; Luca Costa; Elena Cristina Rada. 2020. "Evaluation of conventional and alternative anaerobic digestion technologies for applications to small and rural communities." Waste Management 118, no. : 79-89.
In the last decades, the considerable improvements made on the mitigation of the environmental impacts from waste-to-energy (WtE) plants have let heavy metals emerge as the most concerning pollutants emitted from this sector. Heavy metals include a broad spectrum of compounds with very different toxicological effects on human health. However, in the European Union (EU), the current legislation does not consider the specific health effects of each heavy metal. In fact, with the only exception of mercury, the legislation sets an aggregated emission limit value for cadmium and thallium and an aggregated emission limit value for eight metals including total chromium (Cr). This simplification becomes even more critical when considering that total Cr includes hexavalent Cr (Cr VI), whose cancer potency is higher than other metals by > 2 orders of magnitude. The aim of this paper is to highlight and solve this critical legislation gap, and propose an innovative way to manage the emissions of Cr VI at the stack of waste incinerators. By analyzing the case study of a waste gasifier, the paper demonstrates that Cr VI to total Cr ratios higher than 10% may contribute to more than 95% of the total cancer risk in the nearby territory. In the view of cleaner strategies for energy production and waste management, a Cr VI concentration limit value of 0.005 mg/Nm3 at the stack level could be assumed in a first discussion phase to reduce the potential impacts from WtE plants.
Elena Cristina Rada; Marco Schiavon; Vincenzo Torretta. A regulatory strategy for the emission control of hexavalent chromium from waste-to-energy plants. Journal of Cleaner Production 2020, 278, 123415 .
AMA StyleElena Cristina Rada, Marco Schiavon, Vincenzo Torretta. A regulatory strategy for the emission control of hexavalent chromium from waste-to-energy plants. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2020; 278 ():123415.
Chicago/Turabian StyleElena Cristina Rada; Marco Schiavon; Vincenzo Torretta. 2020. "A regulatory strategy for the emission control of hexavalent chromium from waste-to-energy plants." Journal of Cleaner Production 278, no. : 123415.
The implementation of waste selective collection (SC) schemes in low-income countries is a challenge although it is one important way for improving environmental sustainability. The inclusion of the population is necessary for gaining effective results, and social surveys are support methods for understanding citizens’ involvement and behaviour. The aim of the research is to assess the support of the citizens concerning the formal and informal recycling in a low–middle income country. The study presents a questionnaire survey conducted in 2018 in La Paz, Bolivia, where 774 citizens were interviewed for evaluating their support to the formal and informal SC systems. Two questionnaires were submitted to two different users’ categories: users of the formal recyclable waste gathering points; and citizens of the neighbourhoods. Evidence of the survey shows that about 8% of the population supports the formal SC while about 48% are used to selecting their waste at home. About 79.2% of them bring the waste to the informal recycling shops or provide it to waste pickers, throwing the waste into or nearby the mixed containers in order to facilitate their collection. This research demonstrates how social inclusion is important for planning recycling systems within a developing big city, starting from the SC. Results suggest that the informal sector can be an effective means for improving the recycling behaviour of the citizens. The study can be of interest to stakeholders involved in introducing recycling policies in developing cities where the SC rate is still low, and informal waste collection exists.
Navarro Ferronato; Marcelo Antonio Gorritty Portillo; Gabriela Edith Guisbert Lizarazu; Vincenzo Torretta. Formal and informal waste selective collection in developing megacities: Analysis of residents’ involvement in Bolivia. Waste Management & Research: The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy 2020, 39, 108 -121.
AMA StyleNavarro Ferronato, Marcelo Antonio Gorritty Portillo, Gabriela Edith Guisbert Lizarazu, Vincenzo Torretta. Formal and informal waste selective collection in developing megacities: Analysis of residents’ involvement in Bolivia. Waste Management & Research: The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy. 2020; 39 (1):108-121.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNavarro Ferronato; Marcelo Antonio Gorritty Portillo; Gabriela Edith Guisbert Lizarazu; Vincenzo Torretta. 2020. "Formal and informal waste selective collection in developing megacities: Analysis of residents’ involvement in Bolivia." Waste Management & Research: The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy 39, no. 1: 108-121.
The optimization of municipal solid waste management requires the re-organization of niche sectors too. The sector of the university is not fully explored from the scientific point of view. The creation of networks among universities in order to face this issue allows an exchange of expertise also at an international level as demonstrated in this article, by three case studies: two Italian (University of Trento and University of Insubria) and one Russian (Ural Federal University) universities. This study highlights the pros and cons of each university in terms of waste management. Specifically, setting up communication campaigns, standard procedures, monitoring actions, pricing strategies that incentivize selective collection, and improving the collaboration within the university community are identified as crucial initiatives. The margins of improvement of the three universities analyzed are favored by the composition of the generated waste. The implementation of good practices can give economic advantages to the universities, besides improving their level of sustainability.
Elena Cristina Rada; Elena Romenovna Magaril; Marco Schiavon; Anzhelika Karaeva; Maxim Chashchin; Vincenzo Torretta. MSW Management in Universities: Sharing Best Practices. Sustainability 2020, 12, 5084 .
AMA StyleElena Cristina Rada, Elena Romenovna Magaril, Marco Schiavon, Anzhelika Karaeva, Maxim Chashchin, Vincenzo Torretta. MSW Management in Universities: Sharing Best Practices. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (12):5084.
Chicago/Turabian StyleElena Cristina Rada; Elena Romenovna Magaril; Marco Schiavon; Anzhelika Karaeva; Maxim Chashchin; Vincenzo Torretta. 2020. "MSW Management in Universities: Sharing Best Practices." Sustainability 12, no. 12: 5084.
Solid waste open dumping in developing countries is a global concern. To move towards sustainable development, mixed waste should be reduced, and recyclable waste recovered. The aim of the current research was to find appropriate solutions to disposable used baby-diapers recycling in Bolivia since it is a waste fraction widely produced and commonly disposed of in open dumps. Composting of the organic diaper hydrogel was assessed in five trials, adding components available locally: cow dung, activated bacteria, and Californian red earthworms (Eisenia fetida). It was observed that about 60 days were globally required for biomass decomposition with cow dung, activated bacteria, and earthworms, and more than 70 days for the treatment of the substrate mixed only with manure, while the diaper hydrogel did not degrade without cow dung. This research is the first that attempted to treat disposable used baby diapers with the vermicomposting process. In general, the outcomes of the research are promising: vermicomposting with cow manure can be a recycling option for disposable used baby diapers, introducing appropriate practices toward a circular economy in developing regions.
Navarro Ferronato; Máximo Lucio Nova Pinedo; Vincenzo Torretta. Assessment of Used Baby Diapers Composting in Bolivia. Sustainability 2020, 12, 5055 .
AMA StyleNavarro Ferronato, Máximo Lucio Nova Pinedo, Vincenzo Torretta. Assessment of Used Baby Diapers Composting in Bolivia. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (12):5055.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNavarro Ferronato; Máximo Lucio Nova Pinedo; Vincenzo Torretta. 2020. "Assessment of Used Baby Diapers Composting in Bolivia." Sustainability 12, no. 12: 5055.
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.
Organic dust explosions were and are still today a critical issue in the food, pharmaceutical, and fine chemical industry. Materials such as flour, corn starch, sugar and APIs represent a cause of severe accidents. In this framework, we investigated a modified version of Recursive Operability Analysis−Incidental Sequence Diagrams (ROA–ISD), called ROA Plus−ISD, specifically tailored to describe industrial processes involving organic combustible dusts. Compared to more classical techniques such as Hazard and Operability (HazOp), ROA−ISD allows for a direct generation of fault trees, providing a useful tool to connect Qualitative with Quantitative Risk Analysis (QRA). ROA Plus−ISD is very similar to ROA−Cause Consequence Diagrams (CCD), which has already proven to be an effective tool to perform both risk assessment on existing plants and reconstructing already occurred accidents, given its logical structure and width of the application fields. In this work, we modified specific parts of the standard ROA−CCD method: (1) the Failure Mode and Operability Analysis (FMEA) database has been structured in order to retrieve the well-known explosion pentagon (for dusts) and all the instruments, devices, apparatuses and controllers typical of industries which process organic dusts; (2) a new comprehensive list of process variables has been compiled. In this way, it is possible to tailor the information required for the generation of the fault trees concerning top events involving mainly dust explosions and fires. This method has been implemented in order to reconstruct the dynamics of the February 2008 Imperial Sugar refinery plant accident (Port Wentworth, GA, USA). Results demonstrated the applicability of the enhanced method by highlighting the criticalities of the process already showed by a previously detailed reconstruction performed by the Chemical Safety Board.
Marco Barozzi; Sabrina Copelli; Martina Silvia Scotton; Vincenzo Torretta. Application of an Enhanced Version of Recursive Operability Analysis for Combustible Dusts Risk Assessment. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2020, 17, 3078 .
AMA StyleMarco Barozzi, Sabrina Copelli, Martina Silvia Scotton, Vincenzo Torretta. Application of an Enhanced Version of Recursive Operability Analysis for Combustible Dusts Risk Assessment. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17 (9):3078.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarco Barozzi; Sabrina Copelli; Martina Silvia Scotton; Vincenzo Torretta. 2020. "Application of an Enhanced Version of Recursive Operability Analysis for Combustible Dusts Risk Assessment." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 9: 3078.
In the present paper, different types of pure and commercial plastic waste from different EU countries (UK, France, Italy, and Romania) were investigated for microstructure surface morphology and chemical properties by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS). The goal of the current investigation was to determine the chemical composition of selected packaging materials and compare these measurements with data obtained through a carbon-hydrogen-nitrogen-sulfur-oxygen (CHNS-O) elemental analyzer, which is conventionally used to characterize waste materials. The capabilities of the experimental approach are discussed in connection with their application to the study of waste sample materials and in comparison with alternative experimental methods such as elemental analysis. The CHNS-O comparison is made between the present data obtained with SEM-EDXS instrument and EA 3000 elemental analyzer used in previews studies conducted by the authors. Results show a difference of composition among packaging from different countries that can affect the treatment adopted for its valorization and the strategies of circular economy.
Elena Cristina Rada; Gabriela Ionescu; Navarro Ferronato; Marco Ragazzi; Mario Raspanti; Fabio Conti; Vincenzo Torretta. Zooming on light packaging waste differences by scanning electron microscopy. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 2020, 1 -7.
AMA StyleElena Cristina Rada, Gabriela Ionescu, Navarro Ferronato, Marco Ragazzi, Mario Raspanti, Fabio Conti, Vincenzo Torretta. Zooming on light packaging waste differences by scanning electron microscopy. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 2020; ():1-7.
Chicago/Turabian StyleElena Cristina Rada; Gabriela Ionescu; Navarro Ferronato; Marco Ragazzi; Mario Raspanti; Fabio Conti; Vincenzo Torretta. 2020. "Zooming on light packaging waste differences by scanning electron microscopy." Environmental Science and Pollution Research , no. : 1-7.
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.
Studies about the measurement of outdoor tobacco smoke (OTS) are limited to a few very recent studies. In many countries around the world, within public buildings, smoking is prohibited by law. However, these prohibitions often drive smokers to move to the border of the areas where smoking is forbidden, typically the entrances of buildings, in order to smoke. When many smokers stand outdoors near the entrances, a significant “wall” of smoke is generated. This condition exposes nonsmokers to smoke and contaminates the indoor environment too. Such a situation is amplified if the outdoor external area is covered. This paper presents a work carried out in a university campus, near building entrances, with the aim of studying the second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure in outdoor conditions. Measurements of particulate matter in specific environmental conditions are evaluated to estimate the OTS impacts on the students and the academic staff. The results showed that the exposure to tobacco can be very high and even comparable to values found when tests were carried out indoors, at the same distances from the smokers. A discussion about forbidding smoking near the entrances of public buildings is reported, including considerations about the environmental and public health concerns induced by SHS exposure and the smoking activity.
Vincenzo Torretta; Athanasia Tolkou; Ioannis Katsoyiannis; Marco Schiavon. Second-Hand Smoke Exposure Effects on Human Health: Evaluation of PM10 Concentrations in the External Areas of a University Campus. Sustainability 2020, 12, 2948 .
AMA StyleVincenzo Torretta, Athanasia Tolkou, Ioannis Katsoyiannis, Marco Schiavon. Second-Hand Smoke Exposure Effects on Human Health: Evaluation of PM10 Concentrations in the External Areas of a University Campus. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (7):2948.
Chicago/Turabian StyleVincenzo Torretta; Athanasia Tolkou; Ioannis Katsoyiannis; Marco Schiavon. 2020. "Second-Hand Smoke Exposure Effects on Human Health: Evaluation of PM10 Concentrations in the External Areas of a University Campus." Sustainability 12, no. 7: 2948.