bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Hydrodynamic effects on the Geomorphology of Indus Delta (Pakistan) by land sat data
Authors: Mahar Gohar
Published: November 2022

A temporal study with the help of landsat satellite image has been carried out to assess the degree of the geomorphic degradation of different deltaic features. History of water flow of Indus River System (IRS) in the scenario of water storage for power generation and strengthening of irrigaion system reveals that the massive water divergent in the upstream have caused severe imbalance in the equilibrium between the fluvial and marine hydrodynamics in downstream. The dominance of the marine hydrodynamic conditions has caused irreversible damage to the physical environment due to the rapid landward sea invasion. Based on the landsat data results, geomorphic features like coastal line, creeks' network system, tidally influenced area, course near the mouth of Indus River and Indus Canyon were found under the severe degradation conditions.
Start-up farm: Skills for future ecofarmers
Authors: Klontza Eleftheria , Lekkas Demetris , Galogiannis Kostas , Gkoltsiou Katerina , Alexopoulos Charalampos , Cainadas Elias
Published: November 2022

A series of courses in environmental education, specialized in sustainable agribusiness, was given in the framework of the «Geo-ergon Paideia» project (in Greek: Γεωργών Παιδεία – Γεωργών Παιδιά). «Geo-ergon Paideia» was a transnational exchange program which aimed at training school students of the secondary level of education in becoming future eco-farmers. The main purpose of this work was to implement a sustainable strategic partnership between European universities -research centers, municipalities and schools in order to reinforce the concept of agricultural education and sustainable development in rural areas through an integrated interdisciplinary approach. It was addressed to students attending the second class of lower secondary school (gymnasium), who live in the selected rural areas in Greece and Romania. Apart from the students, the participants of the project (around 200) include farmers, the parents of the students, local and governmental authorities, young entrepreneurs, academic professionals, and researchers and stakeholders. Project implementation included learning/teaching activities and multiplier events and has led to the production of intellectual outputs with open courses and entrepreneurship guide for teachers amongst others. The intellectual outputs produced by the project will be available to the wider public through the e-learning platform, managed by the University of Aegean. An open access policy will be maintained throughout the duration of the project and at least two years after the completion of the project.
An overview of the plastic waste and recycling status in Qatar
Authors: Hahladakis (Chachladakis) John (Ioannis)
Published: November 2022

The State of Qatar has recently launched its national vision (QNV2030) underlining, therein, its full commitment to retain harmony between the main three pillars of sustainable development: economic growth, social development and environmental management. However, rapid development and "mega" construction projects, in view of the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2022, have set the country in an orbit that the majority of the waste and environmental experts would, possibly, deem as unsustainable. Moreover, the State seems to lack a proper recycling and waste management infrastructure whereas the public is not properly incentivized and/or aware of the overall existing solid waste status. It has been estimated that the average Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generation rate per capita in the Gulf Co-operation countries (GCC) is approx. 1.5 kg/person/d, with Qatar reaching almost 1.4 kg/person/d, as it was recently reported, thereby ranking the Gulf States in the top places of the most waste generating countries globally. Plastics, accounting for approx. 13–14% of the total MSW (in these countries), constitute both a significant amount and a valuable resource to be recovered. In the current work, an attempt is made towards delineating the plastic waste and recycling status of the country, based on recent governmental reports. The current recovery and recycling system of the State is also briefly analysed, outlining the main drawbacks, while concurrently highlighting the potential opportunities/benefits of developing the waste management infrastructure in the country.
Investigating the water, energy, marine land use, food, climate interlinkages in marine environment
Authors: Papadopoulou Maria , Vlachou Aristea
Published: November 2022

The conflicts observed in the marine environment between the installation of renewable energy production, aquaculture activities and tourism, highlight the need for a more coherent management. To this end, maritime spatial planning is being developed at the cross-sectoral level, so that human activities at the ocean could be carried out in an efficient, safe and sustainable way. Along these lines, this paper is focusing on identifying the interlinkages between water, energy, marine land use, food and climate in the marine environment (Marine NEXUS). For the marine environment of Greece, an analysis of the interlinkages and the complex pathways are qualitatively analyzed based on their impacts on all aspects of the marine environment.
Caffeine oxidation by sono-Fenton treatment
Authors: Villota Natalia , Lomas Jose M. , Ferreiro Cristian , Camarero Luis , Lombraña J. Ignacio
Published: November 2022

Oxidation of waters containing caffeine was conducted by a sono-Fenton treatment employing an ultrasound power of 720 W at pH=3.0 and T=25°C. The catalytic action of ferrous ion was studied in a range of [Fe]=0-100.0 mg/L and oxidant concentrations between [H2O2]=0-250.0 mM. The oxidation of caffeine was fitted to second order kinetic model, with the oxidation kinetic constant showing a linear dependence with iron dosage, obtaining removals of 98% when dosing 485 mol H2O2/mol C8H10N4O2. During the oxidation, the water acquired a strong brown colour at the same time as there was a strong increase in turbidity and degree of aromaticity. The interaction of (hydro)peroxo-iron complexes with the byproducts of caffeine degradation (1,3,7-trimethyluric acid, theobromine, paraxanthine, theophylline) generated supramolecular structures, being 116 mol H2O2/mol C8H10N4O2, the relationship that induced colour and aromaticity, while the formation of turbidity was favoured by using 29 and 116 mol H2O2/mol C8H10N4O2.
Oxidation of carbamazepine by photo-Fenton treatment
Authors: Villota Natalia , Lomas José , Ferreiro Cristian , Lombraña Jose
Published: November 2022

Oxidation of waters containing 50.0 mg L-1 of carbamazepine was conducted by a photo-Fenton reagent employing a UV lamp of 150W, at pH=3.0 and T=40°C. The oxidising action of hydrogen peroxide was studied in a range between [H2O2]0=0-15.0 mM. When applying stoichiometric ratios of 2 mol C15H12N2O: 20 mol H2O2:1.8 mol Fe2+, the maximum formation of colour (0.381 AU) is promoted. The colour may be generated by by-products of degradation of carbamazepine that have chromophore groups in its internal structure, such as oxo and dioxo-carbazepines, which would generate colour during the first minutes of oxidation, while the formation of acridones would slowly induce colour to the water.
Challenges and market trends in the offshore aquaculture industry
Authors: Evangelou Panagiotis , Lyridis Dimitrios
Published: November 2022

In this paper the global market trends and design challenges in the offshore aquaculture industry will be presented, focusing on the use of innovative materials for the construction of fish cages. Newly designed cages offer sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions for offshore cage systems, effectiveness in the intended environmental conditions, as well as advanced fish production compared to traditional coastal aquacultures, in order to satisfy the changes in the consumer preferences and the continuously growing feeding demands of the world population. At the end of this paper, a short presentation of the MATISSE project (Study of the appropriateness and the adequacy of modern materials for offshore fish cage and nets – numerical and experimental investigation in realistic loading conditions) and its key results will be performed.
Estimation of Evapotranspiration under the Effect of Climate Change in Egypt
Authors: Gado T. , Mohameden M. , Rashwan I.
Published: November 2022

Accurate estimation of evapotranspiration is important for water resources management. In this study, using historical meteorological data of 21 stations, the FAO Penman-Monteith method (FAO56-PM) was applied to predict the reference evapotranspiration (ETo) in Egypt during the late of this century (2071–2100) under the effect of the representative concentration pathways scenario (RCP4.5). The highest values of ETo were recorded in the southern part of the country with an average of 7.53 mm/day in Asyut. These values gradually decreased from south to north, where the lowest ETo was recorded in the northern part of the country with an average of 3.73 mm/day in Baltim. ETo is expected to increase at the late of the century throughout the country, and the highest values will occur in the Western Desert (53% in Kharga). On the other hand, the northern part of the country will witness a slight increase in ETo to a maximum of 8% in Baltim. Moreover, the increase of ETo in the summer season is more significant than in other seasons. These results would help in impact assessment and adaptation strategies of climate change impacts on evapotranspiration in Egypt.
Effects of nitrogen fertilizer on photosynthetic light energy transfer and use in hybrid fescue under drought stress
Authors: Januškaitienė Irena , Dikšaitytė Austra , Sujetovienė Gintarė , Žaltauskaitė Jūratė , Kacienė Giedrė , Miškelytė Diana , Juknys Romualdas
Published: November 2022

The aim of this study was to investigate the response of chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters of hybrid fescue (× Festulolium loliaceum (Huds.) P. Fourn.) under partly regulated environment and drought stress effect. The results showed that the increasing nitrogen content increased the values of the studied indicators. Meanwhile drought stress reduced them. At the highest fertilization level N90, the photosynthetic performance (PItotal) index increased by 89 % compared to N0, the effect of drought reduced this indicator by 50 %, but remained higher than PItotal of plants of N0 level. After the recovery period, these differences became even more pronounced. Similar regularities were found for other investigated parameters such as quantum yield of electron transport (phi(Eo)) and quantum yield for the reduction of end acceptors of PSI per photon absorbed (phi(Ro)). Total electron carriers per reaction center (Sm) also increased with increasing nitrogen content in the soil. The higher nitrogen content significantly increased the values of the mentioned indicators after the recovery period. These aforementioned changes in photosynthetic energy transfer also lead to higher plant biomass and lower losses due to drought stress.
Stakeholder Mapping & Analysis for Climate Change Adaptation in Greece
Authors: Nydrioti Ioanna , Katsiardi Pipina , Chioti Despina , Sebos Ioannis , Assimacopoulos Dionysios
Published: November 2022

Stakeholder mapping and analysis is essential in Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) projects to assess and identify the needs of stakeholders (SHs). For the mapping of actors involved in adaptation planning and implementation in Greece, a multi-criteria analysis is followed.
The SHs involved in CCA in Greece were divided into national and regional level stakeholders. The stakeholder analysis was based on the mapping of SHs identified through the organizational charts of relevant institutions and by other projects with a direct or indirect link to CCA. The relative importance of each stakeholder for the purposes of this analysis was assessed by evaluating their Power, Proximity and Urgency with respect to CCA and assigning specific weighting factors for each criterion, to calculate a single Priority Index. Based on the Priority Index value, SHs were classified as low, medium and high priority for CCA both at the national and regional level.
At the national level, ministerial directorates are assessed as high priority, followed by academic and research centers as medium priority. At the regional level, high index values were calculated for the Special Directorate of Environment and Spatial Planning. The General Directorate of Civil Protection and Directorate of European Programs are assessed as medium and low priority respectively.
Application of non-thermal Plasma as an Alternative for Purification of Bacterial Cellulose Membranes
Authors: Cubas Anelise , Bianchet Ritanara , Cesca Karina , Silva Julia
Published: November 2022

Innovation to mitigate environmental impact and alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals, encourages the cosmetic industry to explore new methodologies and materials. Biopolymers become attractive, such as bacterial cellulose that has biocompatibility, high crystallinity and wettability. During the production of cellulose, there is the purification process, which is essential for safety in the applicability, as it removes metabolites and bacterial cell debris. Currently, the most adopted methodology is the immersion of the membranes in NaOH solution, however, there is no concise methodology, causing, besides the generation of chemical residues, discrepancies between authors. In this sense, the proposed work aims to use cold plasma technology (NTP) to verify the action in the BC purification process. With the association of gases, after 15 minutes of treatment with NTP in membranes, no new membranes appeared when they were placed back in the culture medium. Attesting the potential of NTP in the BC purification process, optimizing time and avoiding the generation of aggressive chemical residues.
Affordable multi-spectral imaging system for the identification and classification of microplastics from the environment
Authors: Konde Srumika , Gonnade Vedant , Brackmann Stefan , Nguyen Johnny , Schneider Maximilian , Loeschel Lena , Lott Christian , Weber Miriam , Koch Martin
Published: November 2022

Studies on microplastic pollution commonly use expensive spectroscopic methods such as FTIR spectroscopy or Raman spectroscopy. Alternatively, studies could also employ cheaper methods such as optical microscopes, which are prone to errors. Here, we present an inexpensive and simple multi-spectral imaging system that is based on photoluminescence spectroscopy. The main components are a RGB camera, two light sources that have a wavelength of 365 nm and 405 nm and a set of bandpass filters (with a central wavelength ranging from 380 nm to 440 nm). Our study shows that the spectra acquired with both light sources are sufficient to distinguish plastics from natural materials and identify different plastic types. Considering the simplicity of the proposed system, this could be combined with methods to extract microplastics from the environment.
Fire-induced oxidation of Cr(III) in serpentine soils
Authors: Botsou Fotini , Vitzilaiou Sofia , Guerra Giuseppe , Valla Pulcheria , Kelepertzis Efstratios , Dassenakis Manos , Argyraki Ariadne
Published: November 2022

Ophiolite rocks and their weathering products are the major hosts of Cr(III)-bearing phases in the Earth’s crust. Trivalent Cr is rather benign, but risks arise because of its potential for oxidation to the toxic and carcinogenic hexavalent form. Manganese oxides are the most effective natural oxidants, whereas oxidation by atmospheric oxygen is, luckily, very slow. However, oxidation reactions under the highly oxidizing environment of wildfires is largely unexplored. Under this context, we examined the genesis of Cr(VI) by fire-induced heating of ultramafic rocks and serpentine soils. Total Cr(VI) contents of unheated soils ranged from 1.3 to 24 mg kg–1, while the water soluble fraction accounted for less than 2% of total Cr(VI). After heating the soil samples at 600°C for 1 h, total Cr(VI) contents increased by factors 2-41. The water soluble fraction accounted for 33–52% of total Cr(VI). Our results suggest that in fire-impacted areas, there is an increased risk of geogenic Cr(VI) contamination. Even though soil temperatures could exceed 700 °C, our preliminary results showed that Cr(VI) contents in a fire-impacted site did not change as dramatically as under laboratory conditions.
Determining the phenological stages of Nestos-Delta (Alnus glutinosa) riparian forest (Natura 2000 site) by using radiation transmittance data
Authors: Proutsos N. , Karetsos G. , Tsagari C.
Published: November 2022

Trees’ phenology is a key factor for most forests’ physiological processes. The precise definition of the start-end dates and the duration of each phenological stage is critical. In the present study, radiation data were used from pyranometers installed at the Alnus glutinosa riparian forest of Nestos-Delta (Natura 2000 site), within the implementation of LIFE-PRIMED project. The pyranometers were placed inside the stand (below the trees’ canopy) and also in a forest opening. The radiation transmittance coefficient τ (unitless) was estimated on a daily basis for the period October 2019 to December 2020. τ can be used for the forest’s phenological stages determination. Four stages were identified. The first concerns the development of leaves and starts at mid April until mid June, as τ decreases with a rate of about 0.0071 d-1. At the second stage (mid June to mid September) the canopy is fully developed and effective and τ presents almost stable low values (0.13). During the third stage (mid September to late December) senescence and gradual rejection of leaves occurs as τ increases with a rate of 0.0062 d-1. During the last stage of the leafless canopy (late December to mid April), τ becomes maximum (0.6) and stable.
The development of a Forest Canopy Density (FCD) model in Akamas National Forest Park in Cyprus, using Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 satellite data
Authors: Prodromou Maria , Danezis Chris , Gitas Ioannis , Hadjimitsis Diofantos
Published: November 2022

The canopy of trees plays a very important role in forest ecosystems and acts as a regulator, affecting the microclimate and the soil conditions. The density of the forest canopy is associated to the forest development and it can be used as an indicator of forest degradation. Additionally, forest density is one of the most important parameters, used in the design and implementation of programs for forest restoration, especially in cases of areas affected by fires. The main objective of this study is to determine the disturbance that occurred in the canopy density of the Akamas National Forest Park in Cyprus after the fire that occurred on November 13rd, 2019. For the purposes of this study, the Forest Canopy Density model (FCD model) was estimated using the Landsat-8 satellite data. Moreover, this study aimed to evaluate the FCD using Sentinel-2 data. The results from the two satellite sensors were validated and compared with each other. The results obtained from Sentinel-2 seem to be very promising and the calculation of the canopy density through this study is achieved in a better resolution, in contrast to the analysis available by the Landsat-8 satellite.
Thornthwaite's approach for assessing aridity changes during the last seven decades in the urban environment of Heraklion-Crete in Greece
Authors: Proutsos N. , Bourletsikas A. , Solomou A. , Tsagari K.
Published: November 2022

Changes in aridity, especially to more arid classes, can have a strong impact on vegetation development in urban environments affecting also the inhabitants’ health and quality of life. In this work, water related parameters (i.e. Potential evapotranspiration PET, water deficit D and surplus S) and aridity index AI were examined according to Thornthwaite's approach, in the city of Heraklion – Crete in Greece during the period 1955-2017. The decadal analysis of seven decades (1950s to 2010s) indicates that S remains negligible, however PET and D have increased values varying from 938mm in 1980s to 1007mm in 2010s for PET and from 396mm in 1960s to 568mm in 2010s for D, whereas precipitation has decreased presenting maximum in 1960s (579mm) and minimum in 2010s (422mm). Therefore, the recent decade (2010s) is more arid compared to the past, displaying the lowest AI value (0.42). During the previous decades, AI was much higher with values between 0.60 in 1960s and 0.44 in 1990s, indicating that the region was at the edge of the threshold (0.50) for changing aridity zone from sub-humid (SH) to semi-arid (SA), according to UNEP’s classification.
Prior electro-mechanical separation to improve metal recovery from ceramic-rich electronic waste using bioleaching
Authors: Baniasadi Mahsa , Farnaud Sebastien , Ray Daniel , Graves John , Bolton Robert , Renshaw Derek
Published: November 2022

PCBs, as one of the most valuable streams of e-waste, are a considerable source of precious metals, but also contain considerable amounts of plastic and ceramic. These non-metallic fractions interfere with and can inhibit the efficiency of metal recovery, particularly for precious and rare earth metals, which are present in e-waste in very low concentrations. In this work, electro-mechanical pre-treatment was applied in order to remove ceramic and plastic fractions from e-waste prior to the application of the bioleaching process. Metal content with and without mechanical separation, as well as metal dissolution and behaviour in the bioleaching process were compared. The results obtained illustrate the beneficial effects of separating the metallic from the non-metallic fraction prior the bioleaching process for the recovery of precious, rare earth and base metals from e-waste.
Kinetics study of the MO adsorption and photocatalytic degradation using an effectively engineered HF photocatalyst
Authors: Theodorakopoulos George , Katsaros Fotios , Papageorgiou Sergios , Romanos George
Published: November 2022

In this study, copper decorated photocatalysts (Degussa P25), were shaped in the form of ceramic hollow fibers (HFs) and their photocatalytic properties were investigated using Methyl Orange (MO), a prototype anionic pollutant. The abatement of the dye was tested in dark and under UV irradiation by means of batch experiments and a possible mechanism was proposed for the MO photodegradation.
The photocatalysts were subjected to a series of MO adsorption experiments at variable initial concentrations, while the adsorption data were interpreted using different models. In general, the data analysis implied favorable MO physisorption on photocatalyst under the conditions used in this work. Furthermore, the adsorption kinetics of the photocatalysts was studied using pseudo-first and pseudo-second order kinetic equations, as well as Bangham, Elovich and Weber-Morris kinetic models. For further elucidation of the photocatalytic mechanism, experiments were performed with either O2 or inert gas sparged MO solutions. It was concluded that the MO degradation rate followed the Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) model.
In order to explore the stability of the derived ceramic HFs, their photocatalytic efficiency was investigated in successive cycles of batch photocatalytic experiments. Finally, a simple regeneration process revealed that the efficient photocatalysts could be reused without severe deactivation of their performance.
Enhancing citizen engagement in water resources management
Authors: Rodrigues Carolina , Pinheira Ana , Silva Nuno , Falcão Susana , Martins Ricardo , Loureiro Isabel , Ribeiro Carlos
Published: November 2022

The world is currently facing serious water challenges that require an unprecedented global response. The present study proposes a multidisciplinary and dynamic approach to enhance citizen involvement in water resources management. It was conducted in Ave river, a medium-large sized river located in the Northwest region of Portugal, and the target groups were the inhabitants of Guimarães’ parishes crossed by Ave river (45.000 inhabitants), particularly students (aged 6 to 18), the green volunteers of each parish, and parish council mayors. For a year, the ecological quality and the biodiversity of Ave river was monitored at 11 sampling sites, and mitigation and restoration measures to be done with the citizens were promoted. Additionally, more than 120 environmental education theoretical and practical actions were carried out to empower target groups with tools to track freshwater quality, to debate opinions, and to standardize procedures among parishes (e.g., clean-up and rehabilitation actions). Actions also included discussions with citizens, researchers, local authorities, and governmental entities about citizens’ concerns, as well as proposing measures that reconnect citizens with local rivers. Citizens’ engagement in water resources management has fostered good environmental practices and has increased society's awareness of green policies.
Assessment of thermal indices applicability in Cyprus
Authors: Nikolopoulos Georgios , Pantavou Katerina , Giallouros George , Lykoudis Spyridon
Published: November 2022

Thermal indices are commonly used to assess outdoor thermal environments. This study aims to examine the applicability of popular thermal indices for the assessment of thermal sensation in Cyprus. Field surveys were conducted in outdoor public sites in five districts of the Republic of Cyprus. The surveys involved environmental monitoring and questionnaire-based interviews of pedestrians. The pedestrians reported their thermal sensation using a nine-point scale, the actual thermal sensation (ATS). Thermal sensation predicted by Discomfort Index, Heat Index, Humidex (HU), Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET), Predicted Mean Vote (PMV), Standard Effective Temperature, Universal Thermal Climate Index, and Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), was compared to ATS. Spearman’s rho, Goodman and Kruskal's gamma, percentage of correct predictions, and distribution of indices’ predictions per category of ATS were used to assess indices’ applicability and find the index that best predicts thermal sensation. The analysis was performed for participants living in Cyprus (locals) and for visitors (non-locals). The indices predicted successfully a low percentage of ATS ranging in locals between 9.6% (HU) and 20.7% (PMV), and in non-locals between 13.9% (WBGT) and 29.9% (DI). Overall, PET performed better predicting successfully 16.8% of ATS in locals and 27.3% in non-locals.
Development of an urban resilience indicator for Athens in the context of climate change
Authors: Polydoros Anastasios , Mavrakou Thalia , Cartalis Constantinos
Published: November 2022

Urbanization interacts with climate change through the way cities are organized and built (land cover/ land use, urban morphology). Increased energy consumption and consequently CO2 emissions, combined with emissions from city functions (urban metabolism, anthropogenic heat sources) intensify urban climate change. The effects from more frequent extreme weather events and natural disasters etc. are already observed in cities in multiple spatial and temporal scales. Especially for the Athens basin, there has been an urban expansion of 28% from 1987 to 2010, a burden on human thermal comfort and a deterioration of the thermal environment in the suburban areas leading to social and economic inequalities within the urban complex of Athens.
The above highlight the necessity to develop an Urban Resilience Indicator (URI) as well as its spatial and temporal mapping over the Athens Basin. The indicator is based on the use of Earth Observation and census data and it allows the identification of urban units that exhibit limited resilience to climate change and the related factors. Moreover, the URI mapping will allow the identification of specific interventions that enhance resilience to climate change and the drafting of comprehensive plans for adapting and mitigating urban climate change.
Material flow analysis applied to a waste treatment plant in Lombardy (Italy)
Authors: Castro Francine , Fabbri Michele , Vaccari Mentore , Cutaia Laura
Published: November 2022

Material flow analysis (MFA) allows to quantify inputs, outputs and stocks of a system and to communicate results visually. It can be used for calculating process effectiveness, losses and for identifying critical points within a system, being useful for strategically intervening in a corporative environment. When linked with environmental indicators, actions to promote sustainable development and circular economy can be defined. In this study, a waste treatment plant located in Lombardy (Italy) was selected for a case study. An inventory analysis for three consecutive years was conducted and the MFA of the whole plant was developed. In addition, 11 environmental indicators were calculated. During the period in study, the company processed 720x103 ± 4x103 t of materials, including metals, inorganic materials and others (e.g., plastic, cardboard, glass). The highest recovery rates were achieved for metals (98.40 ± 6.26%). The overall percentage of materials recovered in the plant equals 78.50 ± 1.81 %. The company showed high eco-efficiency (0.78 ± 0.01), low energy intensity (0.20 ± 0.01 GJ/t/y) and relatively low water input (4.65x104 ± 8.14x103 t/y). Indirect emissions due to energy consumption accounted for 5.79x103 ± 2.35x102 t-CO2eq, which can be reduced by adopting cleaner transportation services.
Technological solutions for giving a new life to power plants of alternative energy: social, economic, and environmental assessment of end of life scenarios
Authors: Ambrosino Carlo , Giaquinto Domenico , Maselli Gabriella , Nesticò Antonio , Zarra Tiziano , Belgiorno Vincenzo , Naddeo Vincenzo
Published: November 2022

The resources on the planet are not unlimited and special attention has been paid to alternative energies in recent years.
Alternative (or renewable) energy are all those energy sources that do not come from fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas). To date, wind and solar energy are the main sources of renewable energy on which huge investments has been made in recent years. However, many of these plants are no longer functional and need to be disused or upgraded.
The aim of the following study is to show a technical and economic analysis carried out on some alternative energy plants, focusing on the social, economic and environmental aspects.
In particular, the different possible scenarios were analyzed, in which the principles of reuse and recycling were applied, where the different plants from renewable sources were given a new life.
Shipyards and Ship breaking: Opportunities for utilization of steel under the prism of Circular Economy
Authors: Pournara A. , Sakkas V.
Published: November 2022

Among the activities that constitute the process of dismantling a ship is the obligation of proper management of hazardous materials. As almost the entire ship can be recycled, reused or even resold, the ship dismantling industry can also be considered a "green" industry. The steel used by the maritime industry complies with the quality standards of shipbuilding, presents high durability and is a valuable raw material for reuse by the industrial sector. Following the Circular Economy principles, the ship’s steel parts that haven’t lost their material value, might re-entry the supply chain and be reclaimed as raw material by the steel industry after being processed. In the present work, a Circular Economy model based on the operation of a hybrid shipyard is proposed. Taking advantage of the facilities and the equipment of a moderate shipyard, it is proposed to include the dismantling activities of specific vessels, focusing on the abandoned ones. The advantages that result with the operation of this hybrid plant include: the reduction of the environmental footprint of ship breaking, assurance of steel tracking in the industry, saving of natural resources and energy, the use of recycled raw materials adopting circular economy practices, cost reduction and more.
Effect of the forage maize-pasture rotation on the soil carbon storage in Galicia (NW Spain)
Authors: Ferreiro-Domínguez Nuria , Rigueiro-Rodríguez Antonio , Mosquera-Losada María Rosa
Published: November 2022

Galicia is a region in NW Spain with high economic dependence on dairy cattle where livestock feeding is mainly based on the production of forage maize. In this region, one of the major challenges for the forage maize production systems is to maximize the economic return while minimizing environmental pollution mainly associated with greenhouse gas emissions such as CO2. In this context, crop rotations influence not only crop growth, but also the soil chemical properties such as the amount of carbon storage in the soil. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the forage maize-pasture rotation on the carbon storage in the whole soil and each soil aggregate fraction (250–2000 μm; 53–250 μm and < 53 μm) under different climatic conditions in Galicia. In September 2020, a total of sixteen plots were selected in the interior and coastal areas of Galicia. In each area, four plots with a forage maize-pasture rotation and four plots without rotation with pasture were selected to collect composite soil samples. In the laboratory, the total soil carbon and the carbon storage in the different soil fractions were estimated. In this study, the crop rotation increased the amount of carbon storage in the soil in the long term.
Bioleaching of valuable elements from red mud using autochthonous biomass
Authors: Cozzolino A. , Cappai G. , Cara S. , Milia S. , Carucci A.
Published: November 2022

Red mud (RM) is the main residue produced by the alkaline extraction of aluminum from bauxite, and it contains valuable metals (e.g., iron, aluminum, titanium, silicon). Aim of this research was to investigate the biologically induced leaching of valuable elements from RM using autochthonous biomass, in order to simultaneously reduce RM polluting potential and extract metals for their subsequent recovery. Such approach is challenging, since high alkalinity and pH, as well as the absence of sulphides, constrain the use of traditional bio-hydrometallurgical techniques. Bioleaching tests were performed at different temperatures (22°C, 28°C) and solid to liquid ratios (S/L: 2%, 5%), using a leaching medium containing glucose, yeast extract and ethanol. The best results were achieved at 28°C and S/L ratio of 5%: pH rapidly dropped from 9.7 to 6.25 and remained constant till the end of the test. Metal concentrations in the liquid phase were 2%-Fe, 8%-Al and 1%-Ti. As expected, iron was less available to leaching at such pH, as it was mostly present as hematite in RM. Abiotic contribution to metals leaching was negligible. Results are promising, and further investigations are needed to favor pH drop to lower values, with a consequent increase in metals bioleaching.
The Quality Properties of Tire Tread With Adding Filler of a Sunflower Oil and Pinecone Powder
Authors: Akpinar Borazan A. , Alkan A.
Published: November 2022

This study, aimed to be developed economical and environmentally friendly tires by modifying commercial tire tread using pinecone powder and sunflower oil. Different additives were used in the blend formulations: stearic acid as an accelerator and softener supplement, zinc oxide to increase the elasticity of the tread and provide abrasion and tear resistance, 40 MS was used to provide fluidity under high temperature and pressure. In the tread mixture, TMQ was preferred to resist aging, Ozone Wax to extend the life of the tire, and IPPD to provide flexibility under high temperature and pressure. Powder sulfur was used as a curing agent. 3 types of accelerators, DPG, CBS, and TMTD, were selected as chemical accelerators for curing time. Tire tread mixtures were prepared as a control formula and 7 different test mixture recipes. Rheological tests before vulcanization and physico-mechanical tests after vulcanization (tensile strength, elongation at break, tear strength, modulus 300%, hardness, abrasion, and density) were applied to all prepared mixtures. All tests were carried out in accordance with the relevant ASTM D standard test procedure. According to the test results, rheological and physic-mechanical properties showed significant changes depending on natural fillers.
Variations of mean daily discharge of Danube river at 16 stations
Authors: Chapanov Yavor , Bournaski Emil
Published: November 2022

The river discharge is the main source of freshwater for large surface areas. Its deep minima are connected with drought events, while its maxima – with floods. The time series of river discharge consist of significant seasonal variations, modulated by long-term oscillations. The seasonal, interannual and decadal cycles of Danube river discharge are studied by time series of mean daily data from 16 stations. The data from Orsova station started in 1840. Three stations started in 1900, and the rest – in 20s of the last century. Time series of maximal discharge and seasonal amplitude are created. Their variations in narrow frequency bands are analyzed by the Method of Partial Fourier Approximation (PFA) and compared with the corresponding cycles of the solar activity. The amplitudes of seasonal harmonics from the PFA are compared for all stations. The time delay of the 11-year solar signals to the reaction of river discharge at used stations, are determined from the phase differences. Possible forecast of periods with maximal river discharge on the base of solar cycles is discussed.
SUITABLE PRACTICES OF DESIGN AND REPAIRMENT FOR REDUCING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF SMARTPHONES
Authors: Perula Alberto
Published: November 2022

Nowadays, smartphones are one of the most common devices in developed countries, as most citizens are owners of at least one. However, smartphone’s average lifetime is reported to be between 2 and 3 years by many studies, and the environmental impact of manufacturing, using and disposing of these products may grow to be a global issue in the years to come. This calls for a reformulation of our relationship with these devices, both from the user and design perspective, that allow us to extend their lives. With that purpose in mind, we first need to take a look at how this new way of thinking can greatly improve the sustainability of smartphones. This work shows how a change on new different kind of behaviors and habits can be a potential new path for diminishing the environmental impact of smartphones. It also reveals how easily, when faced with a component malfunction, consumers tend to replace their smartphone against the alternative of repairing them and what cost this has from a GWP perspective for the case of battery and/or display malfunctions. Finally, it estimates an average lifetime for every component and an average extended lifetime for every phone repaired.
Microplastics in marine biota of North Aegean Sea: Summarizing and comparing preliminary findings
Authors: Krasakopoulou Eva , Marmara Dimitra , Vogiatzis George , Christofidis Charis-Konstantinos , Stamelos Alexios
Published: November 2022

Rising scientific literature and legislation measures have highlighted the concern on plastic pollution and the issue of microplastics. In the context of this study, 3 marine species of commercial interest (bogues, Mediterranean mussels, blue crabs) were examined, concerning microplastics’ presence and characteristics. The abundance of the ingested items ranged between 1.22 and 3.30 items/individual. In total, 172 items were extracted from the samples, while only three items were categorised as mesoplastics. The most frequent size for all three species was particles smaller than 200 μm, while fragment was the most frequent type of microplastic (58.48%). In total, 12 colours were recorded, with blue being the most frequent one. Within the sampling areas, significant differences were determined (p <0.05, Kruskal-Wallis test). Specifically, samples collected at Lesvos were significantly different from those collected at Thermaikos Gulf (p <0.05, Dunn’s Multiple Comparison test), while no difference existed among the samples of the different species originating from Thermaikos Gulf. This study contributes to fill the gap of knowledge regarding microplastic contamination of the North Aegean marine biota. In addition, this effort records for the first time the presence of microplastics in blue crabs at the North Aegean region.
Modelling the operation of a Water Treatment Plant based on Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: GYPARAKIS STYLIANOS , TRICHAKIS IOANNIS , VAROUCHAKIS EMMANUEL , DIAMADOPOULOS EVANGELOS
Published: November 2022

The main purpose of this study is to model the operation of a Drinking Water Treatment Plant (DWTP) using its main operational and water quality parameters in a fast, easy and reliable way. This study is based on a large number of data from recent years (2019-2021). The DWTP has a maximum capacity of 110,600 m3/day and is located at Hersonissos, Crete in Greece. The methodology that was followed comprised of the development of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) in the MATLAB programming environment. Since the 1990s the ANN modelling approach has gained popularity for prediction and forecasting due to its ability to capture complex nonlinear relationships. Two models were developed with satisfactory results with regards to Mean-Square Error (MSE) and Regression Coefficient (R) values. The models were able to predict the main operational parameters such as the dosages of coagulants, flocculants and disinfection (O3, Cl2(g)) chemicals rendering them a useful tool for the DWTP operator. For future work a greater number of tests are planned to check different ANN input parameters and architectures with different numbers of hidden neurons.
Evaluation of Toxicity of Three Antibiotics to Germination and Early Growth of Trifolium alexandrinum Seeds
Authors: Fiaz Marium Fiaz , Arshad Muhammad
Published: November 2022

Antibiotics are one of the most important emerging contaminants as they have been detected in several environmental compartments including soil. Compared to the wide literature on the effects of antibiotics on aquatic organisms, knowledge and understanding of their potential effects on terrestrial environment is still scarce, especially when mixtures are taken into consideration. In this study, a screening-level phytotoxicity assay was used to evaluate the effects of three antibiotics (Oxytetracycline, Levofloxacin, Ampicillin) individually and in mixtures, on seed germination, root and shoot elongation of Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) After five days exposure time, the acute effects of individual antibiotics and their binary and ternary mixtures were assessed using three endpoints, namely percentage of seed germination, shoot length and root elongation. The results of the study indicated that plant germination was insensitive to the individually tested antibiotics, with no significant decreases up to the highest treatment concentration of 100 mg L-1. Root elongation was observed as the most sensitive end point in individual antibiotics. However, increase in the root and shoot elongation was observed in mixtures relative to the individual antibiotics. The results show the importance of evaluating the toxicity of antibiotic mixtures, since they might have distinct effects when compared to the individual compounds.
A New Method for Emission Control System Malfunction Detection During the Periodic Technical Inspection
Authors: Rešetar Marko , Pejić Goran , Ilinčić Petar , Lulić Zoran
Published: November 2022

The paper shows a new method for detecting emission control system malfunction during periodic technical inspection (PTI). The on-board diagnostic (OBD) test results were collected and processed during the PTI of vehicles in Croatia in 2020. The study included petrol and diesel passenger cars that passed the tailpipe test and for which an OBD test had also been performed. In 11.5% of the tested cars, at least one stored diagnostic trouble code (DTC) was found. Due to the significant number of vehicles with identified DTCs, a new and more efficient method for the detection of potentially defective vehicles has been suggested. The introduction of the OBD test mandatory for all vehicles equipped with a European on-board diagnostic (EOBD) system is proposed. In addition to the existing OBD data, it is recommended to introduce the number of DTCs as mandatory, and such data should be relevant for passing the roadworthiness test.
Implications of small-scale fisheries in Istrian waters on cartilaginous species
Authors: Iveša N. , Buršić M. , Gelli M. , Barić O. , Filipas R. , Castellicchio A. , Gavrilović A.
Published: November 2022

In small-scale fishing in the northern Adriatic region, a certain percentage of catches consists of cartilaginous fish, and is still considered as bycatch. Despite global concerns about their overfishing, they are still understudied. In order to obtain data on the presence of cartilaginous fish in catches, 13 fishing trials using trammel nets were carried out from October 2020 to March 2021 at three fishing locations along the Istrian coast (northern Adriatic): Umag, Poreč and Cape Kamenjak. Nets were set in the afternoon and hauling was performed the next day. The stretched mesh sizes of the bottom trammel nets were 80 and 140 mm and the total length of the nets was 30,700 m. Among the 33 species with 403 specimens recorded in the total catch, six species with 23 specimens were cartilaginous: Dasyatis pastinaca, Mustelus mustelus, Prionace glauca, Scyliorhinus canicula, Scyliorhinus stellaris, Torpedo marmorata. Since our preliminary results show that cartilaginous species are common in Istrian waters, we suggest more accurate record keeping of their catches, considering existing fisheries management strategies.
Presence and removal of Organic Micropollutants in 8 different Wastewater Treatment Plants and Risk Assessment of treated effluent
Authors: Di Marcantonio C. , Chiavola A. , Meccoli L. , Leoni S. , Calchetti T. , Gioia V. , Mancini M. , Frugis A. , Cecchini G. , Ceci C. , Spizzirri M. , Boni M.R.
Published: November 2022

Increasing attention has been paid in the recent years to the presence of Organic MicroPollutants (OMPs) in water, being considered a source of a high risk for public health and environment (Rodriguez-Narvaez et al., 2017). The present study belongs to a wide research activity carried out since 2018 and still ongoing having the aim to assess the occurrence with time and removal rate of OMPs in full-scale Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) (Di Marcantonio et al. 2020). The present paper shows the results of the monitoring activity conducted on the influent and effluent of 8 WWTPs focusing on 14 selected OMPs belonging to different classes (e.g. caffeine, illicit drugs, pharmaceuticals). The study activity included measuring in the same samples the traditional water quality parameters (e.g. COD, nitrogen species, TSS) to evaluate if there is any correlation between their removal and that of the selected OMPs. The investigated plants were chosen being representative of different treatment processes, of the type of final disposal of the treated water and the characteristics and extension of the area served by the sewage network. Finally, the environmental risk assessment was carried out based on the values of OMPs measured in the effluent of the plants.