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Giordano Urbini
University of Insubria, Department of Biotechnologies and Life Sciences, via G.B. Vico 46, 21100 Varese, Italy

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Journal article
Published: 23 January 2015 in Sustainability
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The presence of dissolved oxygen (DO) in biological denitrification reactors determines inhibition effects on the denitrification rate. The article shows the results of an experimental study to control the DO concentration in the pre-denitrification stage by a post-anoxic reactor. The results demonstrate that the post-anoxic reactor is very effective in improving the nitrogen removal efficiency because it causes a considerable reduction of the DO content in the mixed liquor recycle sent to the pre-denitrification reactor. This reduction is influenced by both the retention time and the F:M ratio (referred to the denitrification and the oxidation-nitrification volume). In fact, a retention time and a F:M ratio equal to 1.5 h and 0.130 kgBOD5 kgMLVSS−1·day−1, respectively, allow to limit DO in the post-anoxic reactor at 0.31 mgO2·L−1. Such concentration determines a DO concentration of 0.11 mgO2·L−1 in the pre-denitrification reactor and, consequently, a denitrification efficiency of 91%. Moreover, the contribution of the endogenous denitrification to the whole denitrification efficiency was found negligible. The paper contributes to the progress in nitrogen removal from sewage, a fundamental issue for a sustainable management of water resources.

ACS Style

Giordano Urbini; Renato Gavasci; Paolo Viotti. Oxygen Control and Improved Denitrification Efficiency by Means of a Post-Anoxic Reactor. Sustainability 2015, 7, 1201 -1212.

AMA Style

Giordano Urbini, Renato Gavasci, Paolo Viotti. Oxygen Control and Improved Denitrification Efficiency by Means of a Post-Anoxic Reactor. Sustainability. 2015; 7 (2):1201-1212.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Giordano Urbini; Renato Gavasci; Paolo Viotti. 2015. "Oxygen Control and Improved Denitrification Efficiency by Means of a Post-Anoxic Reactor." Sustainability 7, no. 2: 1201-1212.

Research article
Published: 26 November 2014 in Waste Management & Research: The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy
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In this study, we report an extensive set of analytical results on the quality of the biogas produced by a landfill of automotive shredder residues. In particular, the investigation was directed towards the identification of a spectrum of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (16 compounds) and a wide range of volatile organic compounds (35 compounds). This article highlights the most important indications of toxicological concern for the detected compounds. Among the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, chrysene shows the highest concentration, followed by pyrene and benzo(b)fluoranthene. Dibenz(a,h)anthracene, the most carcinogenic of the tested compounds, displayed results below the limit of analytical detectability. Benzo(a)pyrene, another typical carcinogenic compound, was detected at low concentrations. With regard to volatile organic compounds, the survey revealed a relevant concentration of toluene (found in fuels and paint thinner) significantly higher than the other compounds. Noticeable amounts of hexane, trichloromethane, and acetone were also found.

ACS Style

Massimo Raboni; Vincenzo Torretta; Giordano Urbini; Paolo Viotti. Automotive shredder residue: A survey of the hazardous organic micro-pollutants spectrum in landfill biogas. Waste Management & Research: The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy 2014, 33, 48 -54.

AMA Style

Massimo Raboni, Vincenzo Torretta, Giordano Urbini, Paolo Viotti. Automotive shredder residue: A survey of the hazardous organic micro-pollutants spectrum in landfill biogas. Waste Management & Research: The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy. 2014; 33 (1):48-54.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Massimo Raboni; Vincenzo Torretta; Giordano Urbini; Paolo Viotti. 2014. "Automotive shredder residue: A survey of the hazardous organic micro-pollutants spectrum in landfill biogas." Waste Management & Research: The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy 33, no. 1: 48-54.

Journal article
Published: 09 October 2014 in Sustainability
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The paper presents the results of an experimental process designed for the treatment of the sewage generated by a rural community located in the north-east of Brazil. The process consists of a preliminary mechanical treatment adopting coarse screens and grit traps, followed by a biological treatment in a UASB reactor and a sub-surface horizontal flow phytodepuration step. The use of a UASB reactor equipped with a top cover, as well as of the phytodepuration process employing a porous medium, showed to present important health advantages. In particular, there were no significant odor emissions and there was no evidence of the proliferation of insects and other disease vectors. The plant achieved the following mean abatement efficiencies: 92.9% for BOD5, 79.2% for COD and 94% for Suspended Solids. With regard to fecal indicators average efficiencies of 98.8% for fecal coliforms and 97.9% for fecal enterococci were achieved. The UASB reactor showed an important role in achieving this result. The research was also aimed at evaluating the optimal operating conditions for the UASB reactor in terms of hydraulic load and organic volumetric loading. The achieved results hence indicated that the process may be highly effective for small rural communities in tropical and sub-tropical areas.

ACS Style

Massimo Raboni; Renato Gavasci; Giordano Urbini. UASB followed by Sub-Surface Horizontal Flow Phytodepuration for the Treatment of the Sewage Generated by a Small Rural Community. Sustainability 2014, 6, 6998 -7012.

AMA Style

Massimo Raboni, Renato Gavasci, Giordano Urbini. UASB followed by Sub-Surface Horizontal Flow Phytodepuration for the Treatment of the Sewage Generated by a Small Rural Community. Sustainability. 2014; 6 (10):6998-7012.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Massimo Raboni; Renato Gavasci; Giordano Urbini. 2014. "UASB followed by Sub-Surface Horizontal Flow Phytodepuration for the Treatment of the Sewage Generated by a Small Rural Community." Sustainability 6, no. 10: 6998-7012.

Journal article
Published: 26 June 2014 in Ambiente e Agua - An Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Science
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The article presents the results of a survey carried out in the European Union (EU) regarding the production and use of biogas from different sources. The EU is a world leader in the field of biogas, with a production of 10,085.8 ktoe y-1 (in 2011) in terms of primary energy, accounting for about 60% of the world's production. Germany is the EU country that has made the greatest progress in this field with a production of as much as 5,067.6 ktoe y-1, of which a share of 4,414.2 ktoe y-1 results from anaerobic digestion (and co-digestion) processes of selected organic matrices. UK is the second largest producer with 1,764.8 ktoe y-1, determined for 84% by landfill biogas and the remainder by biogas produced in sewage treatment plants (sludge digestion). Italy (1,095.7 ktoe y-1) and France (349.6 ktoe y-1) follow in the list of the largest producers. The trend of biogas production, in accordance with the action lines of the EU, is characterized by a progressive increase from anaerobic digestion (and co-digestion) of selected organic matrices and a progressive decrease from landfills. Production in 2020 is estimated at 28.0 Mtoe y-1 in accordance with the EU Renewable Energy National Plans. The uses of biogas are mainly directed to the production of electricity and heat. There are, however, several cases of conversion of biogas into biomethane injected into the natural gas grids or used as biofuel in vehicles. In this last direction, worthy of note are a few north-central EU countries which have implemented an effective policy to promote the use of biomethane for public and private transport.

ACS Style

Giordano Urbini; Massimo Raboni. Production and use of biogas in Europe: a survey of current status and perspectives. Ambiente e Agua - An Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Science 2014, 9, 191 -202.

AMA Style

Giordano Urbini, Massimo Raboni. Production and use of biogas in Europe: a survey of current status and perspectives. Ambiente e Agua - An Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Science. 2014; 9 (2):191-202.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Giordano Urbini; Massimo Raboni. 2014. "Production and use of biogas in Europe: a survey of current status and perspectives." Ambiente e Agua - An Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Science 9, no. 2: 191-202.

Journal article
Published: 09 April 2014 in Sustainability
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Pollution control of surface water bodies requires stringent checks on wastewater treatment plants performances. The satisfactory operation of biological treatment, commonly performed by means of activated sludge processes, requires a number of controlling and monitoring procedures. Suitable respirometric techniques for the determination of the kinetic parameters that regulate biological processes have been implemented in order to achieve this aim. This paper describes the results of an experimental research carried out in a conventional Italian municipal wastewater treatment plant. Particularly, the research has been finalized to both evaluate the biological process for the removal of biodegradable pollutants, such as carbonaceous substrates and ammonia nitrogen, and to collect data in order to evaluate a possible plant upgrade. Heterotrophic and autotrophic biomass kinetic parameters have been examined using respirometric techniques based on oxygen uptake measurements. The research performed makes a valuable contribution toward verifying the reliability of the values proposed in the literature for some kinetic parameters, which have been commonly used for a long time.

ACS Style

Vincenzo Torretta; Marco Ragazzi; Ettore Trulli; Giovanni De Feo; Giordano Urbini; Massimo Raboni; Elena Cristina Rada. Assessment of Biological Kinetics in a Conventional Municipal WWTP by Means of the Oxygen Uptake Rate Method. Sustainability 2014, 6, 1833 -1847.

AMA Style

Vincenzo Torretta, Marco Ragazzi, Ettore Trulli, Giovanni De Feo, Giordano Urbini, Massimo Raboni, Elena Cristina Rada. Assessment of Biological Kinetics in a Conventional Municipal WWTP by Means of the Oxygen Uptake Rate Method. Sustainability. 2014; 6 (4):1833-1847.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vincenzo Torretta; Marco Ragazzi; Ettore Trulli; Giovanni De Feo; Giordano Urbini; Massimo Raboni; Elena Cristina Rada. 2014. "Assessment of Biological Kinetics in a Conventional Municipal WWTP by Means of the Oxygen Uptake Rate Method." Sustainability 6, no. 4: 1833-1847.

Journal article
Published: 23 December 2013 in Sustainability
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This paper reports the results of two sewage treatment tests in a community of 15,000 inhabitants. The sewage treatment plant is subject to strong fluctuations in load (BOD5, COD, TKN), and in particular in the BOD5/TKN ratio. These fluctuations adversely affect the biological denitrification, as demonstrated by many pilot and real-scale plants. The plants we tested were subjected to two treatment types: anoxic-aerobic and simultaneous denitrification. Both processes are designed for complete mixing conditions in the reactors in order to level the fluctuations in the load and thus improve the denitrification efficiency. The results prove that an average denitrification efficiency of up to 80% can be achieved with the sludge loading close to 0.1 kg BOD5 (d∙kgMLVSS)−1. The effect of the sludge loading and dissolved oxygen on the denitrification efficiency is highlighted.

ACS Style

Massimo Raboni; Vincenzo Torretta; Paolo Viotti; Giordano Urbini. Pilot Experimentation with Complete Mixing Anoxic Reactors to Improve Sewage Denitrification in Treatment Plants in Small Communities. Sustainability 2013, 6, 112 -122.

AMA Style

Massimo Raboni, Vincenzo Torretta, Paolo Viotti, Giordano Urbini. Pilot Experimentation with Complete Mixing Anoxic Reactors to Improve Sewage Denitrification in Treatment Plants in Small Communities. Sustainability. 2013; 6 (1):112-122.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Massimo Raboni; Vincenzo Torretta; Paolo Viotti; Giordano Urbini. 2013. "Pilot Experimentation with Complete Mixing Anoxic Reactors to Improve Sewage Denitrification in Treatment Plants in Small Communities." Sustainability 6, no. 1: 112-122.

Journal article
Published: 20 December 2013 in Ambiente e Agua - An Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Science
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ACS Style

Giordano Urbini; Massimo Raboni; Vincenzo Torretta; Paolo Viotti. Experimental plant for the physical-chemical treatment of groundwater polluted by Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) leachate, with ammonia recovery. Ambiente e Agua - An Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Science 2013, 8, 1 .

AMA Style

Giordano Urbini, Massimo Raboni, Vincenzo Torretta, Paolo Viotti. Experimental plant for the physical-chemical treatment of groundwater polluted by Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) leachate, with ammonia recovery. Ambiente e Agua - An Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Science. 2013; 8 (3):1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Giordano Urbini; Massimo Raboni; Vincenzo Torretta; Paolo Viotti. 2013. "Experimental plant for the physical-chemical treatment of groundwater polluted by Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) leachate, with ammonia recovery." Ambiente e Agua - An Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Science 8, no. 3: 1.

Evaluation study
Published: 01 December 2013 in Waste Management
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In Brazil, and mainly in the State of Bahia, crude vegetable oils are widely used in the preparation of food. Street stalls, restaurants and canteens make a great use of palm oil and soybean oil. There is also some use of castor oil, which is widely cultivated in the Sertão Region (within the State of Bahia), and widely applied in industry. This massive use in food preparation leads to a huge amount of waste oil of different types, which needs either to be properly disposed of, or recovered. At the Laboratorio Energia e Gas-LEN (Energy & Gas lab.) of the Universidade Federal da Bahia, a cycle of experiments were carried out to evaluate the recovery of waste oils for biodiesel production. The experiences were carried out on a laboratory scale and, in a semi-industrial pilot plant using waste oils of different qualities. In the transesterification process, applied waste vegetable oils were reacted with methanol with the support of a basic catalyst, such as NaOH or KOH. The conversion rate settled at between 81% and 85% (in weight). The most suitable molar ratio of waste oils to alcohol was 1:6, and the amount of catalyst required was 0.5% (of the weight of the incoming oil), in the case of NaOH, and 1%, in case of KOH. The quality of the biodiesel produced was tested to determine the final product quality. The parameters analyzed were the acid value, kinematic viscosity, monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides, free glycerine, total glycerine, clearness; the conversion yield of the process was also evaluated.

ACS Style

Ednildo Andrade Torres; Gilberto S. Cerqueira; Tiago. M. Ferrer; Cristina M. Quintella; Massimo Raboni; Vincenzo Torretta; Giordano Urbini. Recovery of different waste vegetable oils for biodiesel production: A pilot experience in Bahia State, Brazil. Waste Management 2013, 33, 2670 -2674.

AMA Style

Ednildo Andrade Torres, Gilberto S. Cerqueira, Tiago. M. Ferrer, Cristina M. Quintella, Massimo Raboni, Vincenzo Torretta, Giordano Urbini. Recovery of different waste vegetable oils for biodiesel production: A pilot experience in Bahia State, Brazil. Waste Management. 2013; 33 (12):2670-2674.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ednildo Andrade Torres; Gilberto S. Cerqueira; Tiago. M. Ferrer; Cristina M. Quintella; Massimo Raboni; Vincenzo Torretta; Giordano Urbini. 2013. "Recovery of different waste vegetable oils for biodiesel production: A pilot experience in Bahia State, Brazil." Waste Management 33, no. 12: 2670-2674.

Conference paper
Published: 07 November 2013 in Proceedings of The 3rd World Sustainability Forum
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Biofuels production is strongly supported all over the world as a renewable energy source for reducing the dependence with respect to the unstable market of oil import. Bioethanol, the main biofuel produced in the world, is widely used for mobility in Brazil, and also in USA, but with little differences with respect to its sustainability. In Brazil it is produced from a by-product of the sugarcane industry; while, in USA it is manufactured from food crops. Biogas and biodiesel productions are growing fast but lesser than that of bioethanol. The European Union is looking at this issue with great interest and, in 2011, it adopted an extensive strategy to reduce carbon dioxide emissions related to transport by 60% within 2050. In order to achieve this result, a transformation of the current European transport system will be necessary. The ambitious goal will imply complex measures including the fossil fuels limitation in favor of renewable fuels. This program opens several possibilities concerning the development of biofuels (i.e. biogas, bioethanol and biodiesel) and their related technologies, which are still on trial (mainly regarding the bioethanol production) as well as object of economic and social sustainability analysis. The paper deals with the use of biofuels for transport in the European framework, showing that its sustainability could rise relevant negative social effects mainly due to the use of land for energy crops (e.g. change of food price and world food shortage).

ACS Style

Massimo Raboni; Vincenzo Torretta; Giordano Urbini. The Future of Biofuels for a Sustainable Mobility. Proceedings of The 3rd World Sustainability Forum 2013, 1 .

AMA Style

Massimo Raboni, Vincenzo Torretta, Giordano Urbini. The Future of Biofuels for a Sustainable Mobility. Proceedings of The 3rd World Sustainability Forum. 2013; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Massimo Raboni; Vincenzo Torretta; Giordano Urbini. 2013. "The Future of Biofuels for a Sustainable Mobility." Proceedings of The 3rd World Sustainability Forum , no. : 1.

Journal article
Published: 28 August 2013 in Sustainability
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The great diurnal variation in the quality of wastewater of small communities is an obstacle to the efficient removal of high nitrogen with traditional activated sludge processes provided by pre-denitrification. To verify this problem, the authors developed a pilot plant, in which the domestic wastewater of community of 15,000 inhabitants was treated. The results demonstrate that average and peak nitrogen removal efficiencies of over 60% and 70%, respectively, are difficult to obtain because of the strong variations in the BOD5/NO3-N ratios and the unexpected abnormal accumulation of dissolved oxygen during denitrification when the BOD5 load is low. These phenomena cause inhibitory effects and BOD5 deficiency in the denitrification process. The results demonstrate the need for a more complex approach to designing and managing small wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) provided with denitrification than those usually adopted for medium- and large-size plants.

ACS Style

Massimo Raboni; Vincenzo Torretta; Giordano Urbini. Influence of Strong Diurnal Variations in Sewage Quality on the Performance of Biological Denitrification in Small Community Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs). Sustainability 2013, 5, 3679 -3689.

AMA Style

Massimo Raboni, Vincenzo Torretta, Giordano Urbini. Influence of Strong Diurnal Variations in Sewage Quality on the Performance of Biological Denitrification in Small Community Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs). Sustainability. 2013; 5 (9):3679-3689.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Massimo Raboni; Vincenzo Torretta; Giordano Urbini. 2013. "Influence of Strong Diurnal Variations in Sewage Quality on the Performance of Biological Denitrification in Small Community Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs)." Sustainability 5, no. 9: 3679-3689.

Journal article
Published: 03 April 2013 in Sustainability
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Membrane Bio Reactors (MBRs) are mainly used for industrial wastewaters applications where their costs can be more easily afforded. High costs are basically due to energy consumption and membrane cleaning or replacement. Membrane fouling is responsible for reducing treated water production and increasing maintenance as well as operation costs. According to previous researches, the addition of Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC) in high dosages could reduce membrane fouling; but such concentrations are economically unsustainable for operative conditions. A MBR pilot plant, fed by mixed liquor of a full-scale activated sludge process from a municipal wastewater treatment plant, was operated dosing low PAC concentrations (0, 2, 5, 10 and 20 mg·L−1, respectively). Experiments were also carried out at two different temperatures corresponding to summer and winter conditions. Results indicated that PAC addition was effective at the low dosages (2 and 5 mg·L−1) by reducing the permeate flux loss (from 16 up to 27%, respectively) while higher PAC concentrations turns out in a useless cost increase.

ACS Style

Vincenzo Torretta; Giordano Urbini; Massimo Raboni; Sabrina Copelli; Paolo Viotti; Antonella Luciano; Giuseppe Mancini. Effect of Powdered Activated Carbon to Reduce Fouling in Membrane Bioreactors: A Sustainable Solution. Case Study. Sustainability 2013, 5, 1501 -1509.

AMA Style

Vincenzo Torretta, Giordano Urbini, Massimo Raboni, Sabrina Copelli, Paolo Viotti, Antonella Luciano, Giuseppe Mancini. Effect of Powdered Activated Carbon to Reduce Fouling in Membrane Bioreactors: A Sustainable Solution. Case Study. Sustainability. 2013; 5 (4):1501-1509.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vincenzo Torretta; Giordano Urbini; Massimo Raboni; Sabrina Copelli; Paolo Viotti; Antonella Luciano; Giuseppe Mancini. 2013. "Effect of Powdered Activated Carbon to Reduce Fouling in Membrane Bioreactors: A Sustainable Solution. Case Study." Sustainability 5, no. 4: 1501-1509.

Journal article
Published: 01 January 2013 in Environmental Engineering and Management Journal
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ACS Style

Vincenzo Torretta; Massimo Raboni; Sabrina Copelli; Giordano Urbini. APPLICATION OF A DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM TO THE TRANSPORT OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS. Environmental Engineering and Management Journal 2013, 12, 2031 -2039.

AMA Style

Vincenzo Torretta, Massimo Raboni, Sabrina Copelli, Giordano Urbini. APPLICATION OF A DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM TO THE TRANSPORT OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS. Environmental Engineering and Management Journal. 2013; 12 (10):2031-2039.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vincenzo Torretta; Massimo Raboni; Sabrina Copelli; Giordano Urbini. 2013. "APPLICATION OF A DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM TO THE TRANSPORT OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS." Environmental Engineering and Management Journal 12, no. 10: 2031-2039.