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In low-income regions and small/medium communities, the use of conventional/mechanical methods for wastewater treatment is not always financially and technically feasible. Thus, nature-based solutions such as constructed wetlands (CW) appear as a more appropriate option. Additionally, there is limited application and reporting on the use and efficiency of this sustainable technology in arid and warm climates such as in the Middle East. In order to get a better insight into the feasibility of CWs under such climate and socio-economic context, a full-scale demonstration hybrid CW facility was built and monitored for the first time at a university campus in Iran for one year. The facility consists of an anaerobic baffled reactor, a vertical flow CW and a polishing horizontal subsurface flow CW and has a total area demand of 2.5 m2/pe. The goal was to evaluate the system's efficiency and investigate the need for one or two CW stages to reach the national effluent reuse standard. The CW were planted with local species (Arundo donax, Cortaderia selloana, Phragmites australis) and received 20 m3/day from a university dormitory at a hydraulic loading rate of 5 cm/day. The facility proved to be effective and removed 88.9%, 86.0%, 92.2%, 63.5%, 66.5%, and 65.7% of BOD5, COD, TSS, PO4-P, NH4-N, and NO3-N, respectively, while the effluent complied with the reuse standard. This study showed that hybrid CW can be effectively used under dry and warm climates using native plant species providing a technically feasible, cost-effective, and sustainable wastewater treatment solution.
Amir Gholipour; Alexandros I. Stefanakis. A full-scale anaerobic baffled reactor and hybrid constructed wetland for university dormitory wastewater treatment and reuse in an arid and warm climate. Ecological Engineering 2021, 170, 106360 .
AMA StyleAmir Gholipour, Alexandros I. Stefanakis. A full-scale anaerobic baffled reactor and hybrid constructed wetland for university dormitory wastewater treatment and reuse in an arid and warm climate. Ecological Engineering. 2021; 170 ():106360.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAmir Gholipour; Alexandros I. Stefanakis. 2021. "A full-scale anaerobic baffled reactor and hybrid constructed wetland for university dormitory wastewater treatment and reuse in an arid and warm climate." Ecological Engineering 170, no. : 106360.
Constructed wetlands (CW) are an attractive technology due to their operational simplicity and low life-cycle cost. It has been applied for refinery effluent treatment but mostly single-stage designs (e.g., vertical or horizontal flow) have been tested. However, to achieve a good treatment efficiency for industrial effluents, different treatment conditions (both aerobic and anaerobic) are needed. This means that hybrid CW systems are typically required with a respectively increased area demand. In addition, a strong aerobic environment that facilitates the formation of iron, manganese, zinc and aluminum precipitates cannot be established with passive wetland systems, while the role of these oxyhydroxide compounds in the further co-precipitation and removal of heavy metals such as copper, nickel, lead, and chromium that can simplify the overall treatment of industrial wastewaters is poorly understood in CW. Therefore, this study tests for the first time an innovative CW design that combines an artificially aerated section with a non-aerated section in a single unit applied for oil refinery wastewater treatment. Four pilot units were tested with different design (i.e., planted/unplanted, aerated/non-aerated) and operational (two different hydraulic loading rates) characteristics to estimate the role of plants and artificial aeration and to identify the optimum design configuration. The pilot units received a primary refinery effluent, i.e., after passing through a dissolved air flotation unit. The first-order removal of heavy metals under aerobic conditions is evaluated, along with the removal of phenols and nutrients. High removal rates for Fe (96–98%), Mn (38–81%), Al (49–73%), and Zn (99–100%) generally as oxyhydroxide precipitates were found, while removal of Cu (61–80%), Ni (70–85%), Pb (96–99%) and Cr (60–92%) under aerobic conditions was also observed, likely through co-precipitation. Complete phenols and ammonia nitrogen removal was also found. The first-order rate coefficient (k) calculated from the collected data demonstrates that the tested CW represents an advanced wetland design reaching higher removal rates at a smaller area demand than the common CW systems.
Mohammad-Hosein Mozaffari; Ehsan Shafiepour; Seyed Ahmad Mirbagheri; Gholamreza Rakhshandehroo; Scott Wallace; Alexandros I. Stefanakis. Hydraulic characterization and removal of metals and nutrients in an aerated horizontal subsurface flow “racetrack” wetland treating primary-treated oil industry effluent. Water Research 2021, 200, 117220 .
AMA StyleMohammad-Hosein Mozaffari, Ehsan Shafiepour, Seyed Ahmad Mirbagheri, Gholamreza Rakhshandehroo, Scott Wallace, Alexandros I. Stefanakis. Hydraulic characterization and removal of metals and nutrients in an aerated horizontal subsurface flow “racetrack” wetland treating primary-treated oil industry effluent. Water Research. 2021; 200 ():117220.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMohammad-Hosein Mozaffari; Ehsan Shafiepour; Seyed Ahmad Mirbagheri; Gholamreza Rakhshandehroo; Scott Wallace; Alexandros I. Stefanakis. 2021. "Hydraulic characterization and removal of metals and nutrients in an aerated horizontal subsurface flow “racetrack” wetland treating primary-treated oil industry effluent." Water Research 200, no. : 117220.
Agriculture is being negatively affected by the decrease in precipitation that has been observed over the last few years. Even in the Czech Republic, farmers are being urged to irrigate their fields despite the fact that sources of water for irrigation are rapidly being depleted. This problem might be partially solved via the reuse of treated wastewater in certain agricultural sectors. However, the public perception of the reuse of wastewater remains negative primarily due to unknown risks to the environment and public health. To overcome this barrier, a semi-operated irrigation field was established at Kostelec nad Ohří in the Central Bohemian region of the Czech Republic and planted with common garden crops such as tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum), potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) and lettuces (Lactuca sativa L.) irrigated with two different water sources, i.e., treated wastewater from a local nature-based treatment system, a hybrid constructed wetland (HCW), and local fresh water from well. The HCW was put into operation in 2017 and was reconstructed in 2018 and includes both horizontal and vertical flow beds; the trial irrigation field was added in the same year. The reconstruction of the facility significantly enhanced the removal efficiency with respect to all monitored parameters, e.g., biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD), N–NH4 +, total N and the suspended solids (TSS), except for total P. The HCW also ensured the significant removal of several observed pathogenic microorganisms (E. coli, intestinal enterococci and thermotolerant coliforms). During the 2018 and 2019 growing seasons, we observed the significantly enhanced growth of the crops irrigated with wastewater from the HCW due to the fertilizing effect. The risks associated with the contamination of crops irrigated with treated water are not negligible and it is necessary to pay sufficient attention to them, especially when introducing irrigation with wastewater into practice.
Michal Šereš; Petra Innemanová; Tereza Hnátková; Miloš Rozkošný; Alexandros Stefanakis; Jaroslav Semerád; Tomáš Cajthaml. Evaluation of Hybrid Constructed Wetland Performance and Reuse of Treated Wastewater in Agricultural Irrigation. Water 2021, 13, 1165 .
AMA StyleMichal Šereš, Petra Innemanová, Tereza Hnátková, Miloš Rozkošný, Alexandros Stefanakis, Jaroslav Semerád, Tomáš Cajthaml. Evaluation of Hybrid Constructed Wetland Performance and Reuse of Treated Wastewater in Agricultural Irrigation. Water. 2021; 13 (9):1165.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMichal Šereš; Petra Innemanová; Tereza Hnátková; Miloš Rozkošný; Alexandros Stefanakis; Jaroslav Semerád; Tomáš Cajthaml. 2021. "Evaluation of Hybrid Constructed Wetland Performance and Reuse of Treated Wastewater in Agricultural Irrigation." Water 13, no. 9: 1165.
The technology of constructed wetlands is well known for its multiple benefits in terms of cost-efficiency and environmental performance. The main advantage arises during the operational phase for which the related costs can be significantly lower compared to common conventional/mechanical solutions. One of the main limitations is, however, the higher area demand, which usually limits the application range of these systems to areas where adequate land is available. Over the last years, various modifications have been tested towards the optimization of the system design in terms of both pollutant removal efficiency and reducing area demands. The introduction of air using artificial means has gained significant attraction among researchers and engineers mainly due to the reduced area requirements. Furthermore, the implementation of such systems in arid and dry climates is always a technical and operational challenge. Bauer Nimr LLC designed and constructed in 2017–2018 a new constructed wetland facility in Oman using a novel combination of different wetland designs. The first stage is a vertical flow constructed wetland with integrated sludge accumulation and dewatering, and the second stage is an aerated horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland. This hybrid system is designed to treat 350 m3/day of domestic wastewater from a nearby residential area with approx. 1800 persons equivalent. This facility introduces not only an innovative design with minimum footprint (1.6 m2/PE), but it is also designed to provide a treated effluent quality that meets the strict national standards for irrigation reuse. This is the first hybrid wetland system of that design implemented in the GCC region under desert climatic conditions, which also acts as a first full-scale demonstration of the aerated wetland technology and the feasibility of these systems even in harsh environments.
Alexandros I. Stefanakis. A Two-Stage Constructed Wetland Design Integrating Artificial Aeration and Sludge Mineralization for Municipal Wastewater Treatment. Nanotechnology for Advances in Medical Microbiology 2021, 195 -211.
AMA StyleAlexandros I. Stefanakis. A Two-Stage Constructed Wetland Design Integrating Artificial Aeration and Sludge Mineralization for Municipal Wastewater Treatment. Nanotechnology for Advances in Medical Microbiology. 2021; ():195-211.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlexandros I. Stefanakis. 2021. "A Two-Stage Constructed Wetland Design Integrating Artificial Aeration and Sludge Mineralization for Municipal Wastewater Treatment." Nanotechnology for Advances in Medical Microbiology , no. : 195-211.
While our modern global society enjoys the benefits of an economic growth that was never seen before, at the same time, it is facing the existential threat of climate change. We now realize that the linear economic model cannot sustain our life standards indefinitely. A new circular approach is already suggested that will adjust our priorities and re-orient future infrastructure investments. In this context, we look back to nature to find the solutions we need to increase the resiliency of our societies, to protect and restore the ecosystems, and to maintain the necessary economic growth without further undermining the planet’s boundaries. Nature-based solutions serve exactly this ambitious and multi-factorial purpose due to their inherent ability not only to tackle climate change but also to provide a series of ecosystems services and social benefits. This opinion paper discusses the potential of nature-based solutions to stimulate a circular model of economic growth, their contribution to new circular strategies for climate change adaptation, the various benefits of such concepts, and the key actions needed to increase the awareness and attract more investments on nature-based approaches in the near future.
Alexandros I. Stefanakis; Cristina S.C. Calheiros; Ioannis Nikolaou. Nature-Based Solutions as a Tool in the New Circular Economic Model for Climate Change Adaptation. Circular Economy and Sustainability 2021, 1 -16.
AMA StyleAlexandros I. Stefanakis, Cristina S.C. Calheiros, Ioannis Nikolaou. Nature-Based Solutions as a Tool in the New Circular Economic Model for Climate Change Adaptation. Circular Economy and Sustainability. 2021; ():1-16.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlexandros I. Stefanakis; Cristina S.C. Calheiros; Ioannis Nikolaou. 2021. "Nature-Based Solutions as a Tool in the New Circular Economic Model for Climate Change Adaptation." Circular Economy and Sustainability , no. : 1-16.
The concepts of circular economy (CE) and sustainability (S) have lately gained momentum among scholars, theorists, academics, and practitioners. Although these concepts are considered necessary to solve many of the existing global environmental and social challenges (e.g., climate change, nature conservation and social equity), it seems there is no consistency relating to their content. Some scholars consider these two concepts identical, while others contemplate them as different. Several theoretical approaches have been presented to clarify the content of these two concepts and to provide effective ways to solve the social and environmental problems. The goal of this paper is to examine the existing literature regarding the content of CE and S based on a triple-level analysis (micro, meso, and macro level) across different scientific fields: economic/management and engineering/natural science. Our findings show many theoretical approaches with several relationships, similarities, and differences among CE and S at the micro, meso, and macro-levels within engineering and management scientific fields. Based on these findings, a future research agenda on CE and S is also proposed.
Ioannis E. Nikolaou; Nikoleta Jones; Alexandros Stefanakis. Circular Economy and Sustainability: the Past, the Present and the Future Directions. Circular Economy and Sustainability 2021, 1 -20.
AMA StyleIoannis E. Nikolaou, Nikoleta Jones, Alexandros Stefanakis. Circular Economy and Sustainability: the Past, the Present and the Future Directions. Circular Economy and Sustainability. 2021; ():1-20.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIoannis E. Nikolaou; Nikoleta Jones; Alexandros Stefanakis. 2021. "Circular Economy and Sustainability: the Past, the Present and the Future Directions." Circular Economy and Sustainability , no. : 1-20.
Green roofs are gaining interest as nature-based solutions (NBS) to counteract with several environmental and socio-economic problems associated to urban sprawl and climate change. The challenge is to transform the built environment through the inclusion of NBS. Taking advantage of the existing space in the top of the buildings, the integration of green roofs will support the cities’ transition towards circularity and resilience. They provide several ecosystem services and can act as multifunctional and decentralized units. In order to boost these services, green roofs need to be effectively incorporated and replicated in the urban landscape. Different configuration of systems may be considered depending on the challenges that the city foresees. To fully implement green roofs, it is important that (i) barriers are identified and overcome, (ii) standardization is set to grant liability, (iii) policies, incentives, and strategies are properly established, (iv) organizations delivering NBS services are leveraged, and (v) awareness and dissemination promotion, as investment in education, are considered. This paper intends to give an overview of the importance of green roof integration in the urban environment considering the dimensions of the building and the city, having underlined their contribution to circularity and cities’ resilience.
Cristina S. C. Calheiros; Alexandros I. Stefanakis. Green Roofs Towards Circular and Resilient Cities. Circular Economy and Sustainability 2021, 1 -17.
AMA StyleCristina S. C. Calheiros, Alexandros I. Stefanakis. Green Roofs Towards Circular and Resilient Cities. Circular Economy and Sustainability. 2021; ():1-17.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCristina S. C. Calheiros; Alexandros I. Stefanakis. 2021. "Green Roofs Towards Circular and Resilient Cities." Circular Economy and Sustainability , no. : 1-17.
Mohamed S. Gaballah; Khiary Ismail; Dominic Aboagye; Mona M. Ismail; Mostafa Sobhi; Alexandros I. Stefanakis. Correction to: Effect of design and operational parameters on nutrients and heavy metal removal in pilot floating treatment wetlands with Eichhornia crassipes treating polluted lake water. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 2021, 28, 25679 -25679.
AMA StyleMohamed S. Gaballah, Khiary Ismail, Dominic Aboagye, Mona M. Ismail, Mostafa Sobhi, Alexandros I. Stefanakis. Correction to: Effect of design and operational parameters on nutrients and heavy metal removal in pilot floating treatment wetlands with Eichhornia crassipes treating polluted lake water. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 2021; 28 (20):25679-25679.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMohamed S. Gaballah; Khiary Ismail; Dominic Aboagye; Mona M. Ismail; Mostafa Sobhi; Alexandros I. Stefanakis. 2021. "Correction to: Effect of design and operational parameters on nutrients and heavy metal removal in pilot floating treatment wetlands with Eichhornia crassipes treating polluted lake water." Environmental Science and Pollution Research 28, no. 20: 25679-25679.
Though having an economic and ecological impact on Marriott Lake management in Egypt, water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is an aquatic floating macrophyte with a known phytoremediation potential. In order to assess its remediation potential, pilot floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) with E. crassipes were built in duplicates to evaluate the removal of nutrients and heavy metals from the polluted lake water. The experimental design included units with different water depths (15, 25, and 35 cm; D15, D25, and D35, respectively) and plant coverage (90, 70, 50, and 0%; P90, P70, P50, and P0, respectively). The pilot FTWs were monitored over a 7-day operation cycle to identify the optimum combination of design (plant coverage, water depth) and operation (hydraulic retention time; HRT) parameters needed for maximum BOD5, TN, NH4-N, and TP removal. NH4-N removal reached 97.4% in the D25P50 unit after 3 days, BOD5 75% in the D15P90 after 3 days, TN 82% in the D25P70 after 4 days, and TP 84.2% in the D35P70 after 4 days. The open-water evaporation rate was higher than the evapotranspiration rate in the planted units, probably due to the warm climate of the study area. Metals were also sufficiently removed through bioaccumulation in plant tissues in the order of Fe > Pb > Cu > Ni (62.5%, 88.9%, 81.7%, and 80.4% for D25P50, D25P70, D25P50, and D25P90, respectively), while most of the assimilated metal mass was translocated to the plant roots. The biochemical composition of the plant tissue was significantly different between the shoot and root parts. Overall, the FTW with 70% E. crassipes coverage, 25-cm water depth, and an HRT of 3–5 days was identified as the optimum design for effective remediation of the polluted Marriott Lake in Egypt.
Mohamed S. Gaballah; Khiary Ismail; Dominic Aboagye; Mona M. Ismail; Mostafa Sobhi; Alexandros I. Stefanakis. Effect of design and operational parameters on nutrients and heavy metal removal in pilot floating treatment wetlands with Eichhornia Crassipes treating polluted lake water. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 2021, 28, 25664 -25678.
AMA StyleMohamed S. Gaballah, Khiary Ismail, Dominic Aboagye, Mona M. Ismail, Mostafa Sobhi, Alexandros I. Stefanakis. Effect of design and operational parameters on nutrients and heavy metal removal in pilot floating treatment wetlands with Eichhornia Crassipes treating polluted lake water. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 2021; 28 (20):25664-25678.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMohamed S. Gaballah; Khiary Ismail; Dominic Aboagye; Mona M. Ismail; Mostafa Sobhi; Alexandros I. Stefanakis. 2021. "Effect of design and operational parameters on nutrients and heavy metal removal in pilot floating treatment wetlands with Eichhornia Crassipes treating polluted lake water." Environmental Science and Pollution Research 28, no. 20: 25664-25678.
Sludge treatment reed beds (STRBs) are an established sludge treatment technology with multiple environmental and economic advantages in dewatering sludge generated during domestic wastewater treatment. However, little is reported regarding their appropriateness and efficiency for the treatment of sludge produced during industrial wastewater treatment and from water works. These sludge types may have significantly different quality characteristics than typical domestic sludge and may contain constituents that could affect their dewaterability. Therefore, the dewatering of these industrial sludge types is usually tested in small-scale pilot STRBs before the construction of full-scale systems. This paper presents and summarizes the state-of-the-art experience from existing pilot and full-scale STRB systems from various countries and climates treating sludge from various industrial sources, evaluates the suitability and the advantages of this sustainable treatment technology, and proposes the required dimensioning for efficient full-scale STRB operation and performance.
Steen Nielsen; Alexandros I. Stefanakis. Sustainable Dewatering of Industrial Sludges in Sludge Treatment Reed Beds: Experiences from Pilot and Full-Scale Studies under Different Climates. Applied Sciences 2020, 10, 7446 .
AMA StyleSteen Nielsen, Alexandros I. Stefanakis. Sustainable Dewatering of Industrial Sludges in Sludge Treatment Reed Beds: Experiences from Pilot and Full-Scale Studies under Different Climates. Applied Sciences. 2020; 10 (21):7446.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSteen Nielsen; Alexandros I. Stefanakis. 2020. "Sustainable Dewatering of Industrial Sludges in Sludge Treatment Reed Beds: Experiences from Pilot and Full-Scale Studies under Different Climates." Applied Sciences 10, no. 21: 7446.
Freshwater contamination by enteric pathogens is implicated in the high frequency of diarrhoeal diseases in low to middle income countries, typically due to poor wastewater management. Constructed Wetlands are a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to conventional/mechanical treatment technologies, but the pathogen removal mechanisms in Constructed Wetlands are not fully understood. This study investigated for the first time the internalisation of Salmonella spp. by Typha latifolia and Cyperus papyrus in hydroponic microcosms. Presence of Salmonella spp. within roots, rhizomes and shoots was assayed using agar-based methods over a period of 12 days. Concentration of Salmonella spp. in growth media showed 2.7 and 4.8 log unit reduction with T. latifolia and C. papyrus, respectively, and 1.8 and 6.0 log unit in unplanted units. Salmonella spp. was recovered from root and rhizome tissues of T. latifolia (up to 4.4 logCFU/g) and C. papyrus (up to 3.4 logCFU/g), and the bacteria were highly concentrated in the epidermis and cortex. However, Salmonella spp. was not detected in the stems and leaves of the two plant species. The present study demonstrates for the first time that these macrophytes internalise cells of Salmonella spp., which could be one pathogen removal mechanism employed by wetland plants. Highlights
Richwell Alufasi; Wilson Parawira; Alexandros Stefanakis; Phiyani Lebea; Ereck Chakauya; Walter Chingwaru. Internalisation of Salmonella spp. by Typha latifolia and Cyperus papyrus in vitro and implications for pathogen removal in Constructed Wetlands. Environmental Technology 2020, 1 -35.
AMA StyleRichwell Alufasi, Wilson Parawira, Alexandros Stefanakis, Phiyani Lebea, Ereck Chakauya, Walter Chingwaru. Internalisation of Salmonella spp. by Typha latifolia and Cyperus papyrus in vitro and implications for pathogen removal in Constructed Wetlands. Environmental Technology. 2020; ():1-35.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRichwell Alufasi; Wilson Parawira; Alexandros Stefanakis; Phiyani Lebea; Ereck Chakauya; Walter Chingwaru. 2020. "Internalisation of Salmonella spp. by Typha latifolia and Cyperus papyrus in vitro and implications for pathogen removal in Constructed Wetlands." Environmental Technology , no. : 1-35.
Alban Echchelh; Tim Hess; Ruben Sakrabani; Stephane Prigent; Alexandros Stefanakis. Towards agro-environmentally sustainable irrigation with treated produced water in hyper-arid environments. Agricultural Water Management 2020, 243, 1 .
AMA StyleAlban Echchelh, Tim Hess, Ruben Sakrabani, Stephane Prigent, Alexandros Stefanakis. Towards agro-environmentally sustainable irrigation with treated produced water in hyper-arid environments. Agricultural Water Management. 2020; 243 ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlban Echchelh; Tim Hess; Ruben Sakrabani; Stephane Prigent; Alexandros Stefanakis. 2020. "Towards agro-environmentally sustainable irrigation with treated produced water in hyper-arid environments." Agricultural Water Management 243, no. : 1.
Cork boiling wastewaters (CBW) are strongly coloured complex aqueous solutions with high organic load of biorecalcitrant and toxic nature. The feasibility and efficiency of a CBW treatment process combining ozonation as pre- and post-treatment of a horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland (HSFCW) was assessed. Over an extended monitoring period of 390 days, two lab-scale HSFCW units were tested; one planted with P. australis (CWP) and one unplanted-control (CWC) operated at average organic loads rates (OLR) of 5 and 10 g COD/m2/d. CWP always outperformed the control unit. The ozonation trials were run at pH values of 8.15–8.21 and 5.39–5.45 (without adjustment) at ozone to COD ratios of 0.25–0.29 and 0.24–0.59 when implemented as pre- and post-treatment, respectively. Average removals (calculated through mass balance basis) were 78–88%, 86–91%, 71–89% and 43–89% for COD, BOD5, Total Phenols (TPh) and colour when ozonation was implemented as post-treatment. For ozonation as pre-treatment, respective figures were 77–80%, 79–92%, 78–85% and 19–73%. Regardless of the treatment scheme and OLR, ozonation was very effective in biodegradability increase (i.e., BOD5/COD) from 0.18 to 0.42 when applied as pre-treatment, and decolourization after the HSFCW increased from 21% to 91% (post-treatment) with respective ozone consumed yields of 67–69% and 72–85%. The best results were obtained for the scheme CWP + Ozonation at OLR of 5.33 g COD/m2/d with COD reductions from 1950 mg/L to 81–88 mg/L in the effluent and TPh from 125 mg/L to 5–6 mg/L at limited ozone amounts of 0.21–0.45 g O3/m2/d.
Arlindo C. Gomes; Lúcia Silva; António Albuquerque; Rogério Simões; Alexandros I. Stefanakis. Treatment of cork boiling wastewater using a horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland combined with ozonation. Chemosphere 2020, 260, 127598 .
AMA StyleArlindo C. Gomes, Lúcia Silva, António Albuquerque, Rogério Simões, Alexandros I. Stefanakis. Treatment of cork boiling wastewater using a horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland combined with ozonation. Chemosphere. 2020; 260 ():127598.
Chicago/Turabian StyleArlindo C. Gomes; Lúcia Silva; António Albuquerque; Rogério Simões; Alexandros I. Stefanakis. 2020. "Treatment of cork boiling wastewater using a horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland combined with ozonation." Chemosphere 260, no. : 127598.
Many countries and regions around the world are facing a continuously growing pressure on their limited freshwater resources, particularly those under hot and arid climates. Higher water demand than availability led to over-abstraction and deterioration of the available freshwater resources’ quality. In this context, wastewater, if properly treated, can represent a new water source added in the local water balance, particularly in regions of Colorado, California, Australia, China and in the wide region of the Middle East, which is characterized as one of most water-stressed regions in the world. This article summarizes the status of wastewater treatment and management in the Middle East and discusses the challenges, the various barriers and also the opportunities that arise by introducing the sustainable technology of Constructed Wetlands in the region. Furthermore, the aim of the article is to provide a better insight into the possibility and feasibility of a wider implementation of this green technology under the hot and arid climate of Middle East by presenting several successful case studies of operating Constructed Wetlands facilities in the region for the treatment of various wastewater sources.
Alexandros I. Stefanakis. Constructed Wetlands for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment in Hot and Arid Climates: Opportunities, Challenges and Case Studies in the Middle East. Water 2020, 12, 1665 .
AMA StyleAlexandros I. Stefanakis. Constructed Wetlands for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment in Hot and Arid Climates: Opportunities, Challenges and Case Studies in the Middle East. Water. 2020; 12 (6):1665.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlexandros I. Stefanakis. 2020. "Constructed Wetlands for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment in Hot and Arid Climates: Opportunities, Challenges and Case Studies in the Middle East." Water 12, no. 6: 1665.
Modern agriculture utilises fertilisers and pesticides to secure high crop yields, which contribute to diffuse pollution. Agricultural runoff is the runoff of agrochemicals (fertilisers and pesticides) discharged into surface waters, and is the major NPS pollution source. The impact of agricultural runoff has profound adverse effects on wildlife, aquatic ecosystems, and human health via drinking water supply, thus contributing to surface and ground water deterioration, with severe environmental and economic consequences. With the unique advantages of cost-effectiveness and low energy consumption, constructed wetlands (CWs) are commonly used for treatment of agricultural runoff pollution. Over the last decades, CWs have gained increased popularity for treating agricultural runoff and agro-industrial wastewater. Constructed wetlands technology is an established green multi-purpose option for water management and wastewater treatment, with numerous effectively proven applications around the world and multiple environmental and economic advantages. Moreover, plants played pivotal role in enhancing nutrients efficiency and offer ideal conditions for microbial biodegradation for agricultural runoff mitigation. This chapter comprises the current knowledge on the mitigation capacity of CWs in terms of various agricultural runoff pollutants, explores the potential contribution of plants in contaminant removal, and assesses their overall efficiency.
Vassiliki Ioannidou; Alexandros I. Stefanakis. The Use of Constructed Wetlands to Mitigate Pollution from Agricultural Runoff. Contaminants in Agriculture 2020, 233 -246.
AMA StyleVassiliki Ioannidou, Alexandros I. Stefanakis. The Use of Constructed Wetlands to Mitigate Pollution from Agricultural Runoff. Contaminants in Agriculture. 2020; ():233-246.
Chicago/Turabian StyleVassiliki Ioannidou; Alexandros I. Stefanakis. 2020. "The Use of Constructed Wetlands to Mitigate Pollution from Agricultural Runoff." Contaminants in Agriculture , no. : 233-246.
Industrial wastewaters represent a serious threat to the environment due to their variable and complex composition. Though mostly mechanical systems are used for treatment of such wastewater, there is growing need for sustainable and cost-effective solutions, especially in low-income regions. In this study, a horizontal sub-surface flow Constructed Wetland (HSFCW) system was used for the first time to treat wastewater from a glass manufacturing industry in Iran. In order to de-risk the treatment approach, a pilot system consisting of a settling tank and a HSFCW was first tested for 4 months. The results of the pilot study were then used to build the full-scale CW system treating 10 m³/day. In general, the tested design proved to be very effective reaching high removal rates of BOD5, COD, and TSS (90, 90, and 99, respectively), as also for TN and TP (>90%). The high efficiency of the tested system allowed for the recycle and reuse of the treated effluent in the glass manufacturing processes, reducing this way the fresh water consumption in the glass industry and the related operational costs.
Amir Gholipour; Hamidreza Zahabi; Alexandros I. Stefanakis. A novel pilot and full-scale constructed wetland study for glass industry wastewater treatment. Chemosphere 2020, 247, 125966 .
AMA StyleAmir Gholipour, Hamidreza Zahabi, Alexandros I. Stefanakis. A novel pilot and full-scale constructed wetland study for glass industry wastewater treatment. Chemosphere. 2020; 247 ():125966.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAmir Gholipour; Hamidreza Zahabi; Alexandros I. Stefanakis. 2020. "A novel pilot and full-scale constructed wetland study for glass industry wastewater treatment." Chemosphere 247, no. : 125966.
Hydrocarbon contamination of water resources is a global issue. These compounds are generated and discharged into the environment in industrial areas from chemical and petrochemical plants, oil refineries, power plants, and so forth. Fuel hydrocarbons, namely, BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes) and MTBE (methyl tert-butyl ether), are commonly found in groundwater, posing environmental and health risks to humans and ecosystems. Nature-based technologies represent an alternative solution, providing high efficiency, an environmentally friendly character, simple operation, and cost efficiency, which are characteristics particularly desired by the international petroleum industry. This article discusses the use of the green technology of constructed wetlands to remediate water polluted with hydrocarbons. Although the number of related international experiences and studies is limited, the article presents the latest developments of wetland technology for the removal of MTBE and benzene-BTEX. The discussion includes the overall efficiency of the different wetland types that have been tested and used, the main transformation and removal processes that regulate the fate of BTEX and MTBE in constructed wetlands, and the potential for future investigations.
Alexandros I. Stefanakis. The Fate of MTBE and BTEX in Constructed Wetlands. Applied Sciences 2019, 10, 127 .
AMA StyleAlexandros I. Stefanakis. The Fate of MTBE and BTEX in Constructed Wetlands. Applied Sciences. 2019; 10 (1):127.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlexandros I. Stefanakis. 2019. "The Fate of MTBE and BTEX in Constructed Wetlands." Applied Sciences 10, no. 1: 127.
Nowadays, it is better understood that the benefits of green infrastructure include a series of ecosystem services, such as cooling, water storage and management, recreation and landscaping, among others. Green technologies are still developing to provide sustainable solutions to the problems that modern cities and peri-urban areas face at an ever-increasing rate and intensity. Constructed wetlands technology is an established green multi-purpose option for water management and wastewater treatment, with numerous effectively proven applications around the world and multiple environmental and economic advantages. These systems can function as water treatment plants, habitat creation sites, urban wildlife refuges, recreational or educational facilities, landscape engineering and ecological art areas. The aim of this article is to highlight the synergies between this green technology and urban areas in order to reconnect cities with nature, to promote circularity in the urban context and to apply innovative wetland designs as landscape infrastructure and water treatment solutions. This approach could be a step further in the effort to mitigate the current degradation process of the urban landscape. Following the concept of green infrastructure, the article presents and suggests ways to integrate wetland technology in the urban environment, namely: (i) stormwater and urban runoff management (storage and treatment of water during storm events) to provide protection from flood incidents, especially considering climate change, (ii) innovative low-impact infrastructure and design solutions for urban wastewater treatment, and (iii) wetland technology for habitat creation and ecosystem services provision.
Alexandros Stefanakis. The Role of Constructed Wetlands as Green Infrastructure for Sustainable Urban Water Management. Sustainability 2019, 11, 6981 .
AMA StyleAlexandros Stefanakis. The Role of Constructed Wetlands as Green Infrastructure for Sustainable Urban Water Management. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (24):6981.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlexandros Stefanakis. 2019. "The Role of Constructed Wetlands as Green Infrastructure for Sustainable Urban Water Management." Sustainability 11, no. 24: 6981.
The objective of this research was to evaluate the fate of aromatic compounds and organic matter in pilot constructed wetlands (CW) treating Pinus radiata and Eucalyptus globulus sawmill industry leachate. Six lab-scale surface flow CW were built and fed in batches. Three CW were fed with P. radiata leachate, while the other three CW were fed with E. globulus leachate. Each group of three CW included two CW planted with Phragmites australis and one unplanted CW as control unit. A stable hydraulic retention time of seven days was maintained in each CW. The organic loading rate was gradually increased in three phases in the CW fed with P. radiata leachate (i.e., from 12 to 19 g COD/m2/day) and with E. globulus leachate (i.e., from 14 to 40 g COD/m2/day). The operation of the six CWs lasted 98 days. The CW treating P. radiata and E. globulus leachate had a similar performance. The highest performance was obtained by the unplanted CW (approximately 10–20% higher than the planted CW), without significant differences observed between the P. radiata and E. globulus leachate treatment, regarding the removal efficiencies of organic matter and total phenolic compounds. The planted systems were probably affected by the high concentrations of these compounds applied, which probably created a toxic environment hindering the microbial community growth.
C. Muñoz; G. Gómez; A.I. Stefanakis; C. Plaza De Los Reyes; I. Vera-Puerto; G. Vidal. Aromatic Compounds and Organic Matter Behavior in Pilot Constructed Wetlands Treating Pinus Radiata and Eucalyptus Globulus Sawmill Industry Leachate. Applied Sciences 2019, 9, 5046 .
AMA StyleC. Muñoz, G. Gómez, A.I. Stefanakis, C. Plaza De Los Reyes, I. Vera-Puerto, G. Vidal. Aromatic Compounds and Organic Matter Behavior in Pilot Constructed Wetlands Treating Pinus Radiata and Eucalyptus Globulus Sawmill Industry Leachate. Applied Sciences. 2019; 9 (23):5046.
Chicago/Turabian StyleC. Muñoz; G. Gómez; A.I. Stefanakis; C. Plaza De Los Reyes; I. Vera-Puerto; G. Vidal. 2019. "Aromatic Compounds and Organic Matter Behavior in Pilot Constructed Wetlands Treating Pinus Radiata and Eucalyptus Globulus Sawmill Industry Leachate." Applied Sciences 9, no. 23: 5046.
M. Daee; Amir Gholipour; A.I. Stefanakis. Performance of pilot Horizontal Roughing Filter as polishing stage of waste stabilization ponds in developing regions and modelling verification. Ecological Engineering 2019, 138, 8 -18.
AMA StyleM. Daee, Amir Gholipour, A.I. Stefanakis. Performance of pilot Horizontal Roughing Filter as polishing stage of waste stabilization ponds in developing regions and modelling verification. Ecological Engineering. 2019; 138 ():8-18.
Chicago/Turabian StyleM. Daee; Amir Gholipour; A.I. Stefanakis. 2019. "Performance of pilot Horizontal Roughing Filter as polishing stage of waste stabilization ponds in developing regions and modelling verification." Ecological Engineering 138, no. : 8-18.