bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is Greece greener than the data shows? Calculation of Green GDP and comparison with neighboring countries
Authors: Stjepanović Saša , Škare Marinko , Tomić Daniel
Published: November 2022

Is Greece greener than the current economic indicators show? GDP is used as the leading economic indicator of economic growth and progress. GDP as a measure, among other things, lacks an environmental component. In this paper, we have developed a Green GDP for Greece and neighboring countries and compared them with each other, precisely to compensate for the shortcomings of environmental components in GDP. Green GDP consists of classic GDP minus the costs of pollution, overexploitation of resources, and CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. In this way, or with this calculation method, we have obtained a more detailed and precise presentation of economic growth at the expense of ecology. The paper’s main objective is to show whether Greece and neighboring countries, which have the same geographical position, have the same or different environmental policies and how much this policy affects economic development and vice versa. Excessive pollution or exploitation of resources shows a more real economic growth that is sure to pay off in the future for future generations. In this way, we can calculate how much our progress today is a burden for our children or their children in the future, and we can assess whether today’s economic growth is worth it in such a way.
Comparison of the continuous fermentative hydrogen production efficiency from cheese whey in suspended and attached-biomass growth systems
Authors: ANTONOPOULOU GEORGIA , ALEXANDROPOULOU MARIA , LYBERATOS GERASIMOS
Published: November 2022

In the present study, comparison of dark fermentation (DF) efficiency from cheese whey (CW) in an anaerobic UpFlow Column Reactor (AUFCR), filled with a support material for biomass attachment and a Continuous Stirred Tank reactor (CSTR), was assessed. The process efficiency and stability as well as the effect of the operational parameters, such as the initial carbohydrates concentration (dilution factor) and the hydraulic retention time (HRT) were assessed. The experiments showed that DF of CW in a CSTR led to higher hydrogen production yields compared to the AUFCR, which was 0.36 mol of H2 per mol of consumed carbohydrates at the HRT of 12 h with initial carbohydrates concentration of 30 g/L, respectively.
Lisbon – European Green Capital 2020: the allotment gardens contribution
Authors: Batista Desidério , Matos Rute , Simões Paula
Published: November 2022

The main objective of this paper is to define the role and the importance of the urban allotment gardens in the consideration of Lisbon as the European Green Capital in 2020. In the first part of the paper, we seek to trace the historical evolution of vegetable gardens in the context of city development. In the second part, one proceeds to its mapping and its identification and characterization considering the multiple functions that allotment gardens play both to improve the quality of the urban environment and to improve the quality of human life. In this sense, the different ecosystem services that allotment gardens provide to the society are addressed, as well as their contribution to the qualification of Lisbon's urban landscape and urban food systems. For this, we used a research methodology that crossed the field work (the survey of the vegetable gardens), with bibliographic and documentary sources. The present diachronic and diatopic study about urban allotment gardens in Lisbon aims to legitimize the historical model of urban development based on the deeply intricate relationships between the city and the agriculture as a strategy to be adopted in the context of the long-term development of both Society and Nature.
Influence of the addition of M2+ (M: Co, Cu, Zn) on the properties and activity of W-TiO2 and Mo-TiO2 photocatalysts for water remediation
Authors: Poulopoulos Stavros , Mergenbayeva Saule , Grilla Eleni , Vakros John , Mantzavinos Dionissios
Published: November 2022

In this study, ternary systems of M1M2TiO2 (M1:Co, Cu, Zn) M2 (WO3, MoO3) were prepared and tested for the photocatalytic degradation of sulfamethoxazole. It was found that W-oxo species can be used without significant alteration of the TiO2 activity, while only Cu is a possible candidate for the ternary system either due to its chemical hardness and/or its p-type semiconducting nature.
Penetration of tritium into ground water in the Czech Republic
Authors: Juranová Eva , Sedlářová Barbora , Marešová Diana , Pohlová Irena
Published: November 2022

Tritium (3H), the radioactive hydrogen, can form naturally by interaction of the cosmic radiation with the atmosphere, or it can be produced by human activities. In recent, tritium occurs distributed in environment in low concentrations, which means no significant health risk, but it can be used for tracing purposes. In the Czech Republic, tritium was monitored in ground water samples together with the samples of precipitation, using the method of liquid scintillation analysis with electrolytic enrichment. The average value of the tritium concentration in ground water was 0.57 Bq/l, which is lower than the average value evaluated for precipitation (0.97 Bq/l). This is caused by the radioactive decay of tritium in ground water, where the connection with the surface is limited. The results of this tritium monitoring can be used for estimation of the surface influence onto the ground water and for the assessment of ground water vulnerability.
New polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based porous carbons for the removal of industrial wood dyes from aqueous solutions
Authors: González-Álvarez J. , Domínguez-Ramos L. , Tejado I. , Gómez-Díaz D. , Freire S. , Lazzari M.
Published: November 2022

Synthetic dyes degradation is a difficult task due to their complex aromatic structure, although its elimination by adsorption is effective. The aim of this research is to produce porous carbons derived from polyacrylonitrile (PAN) as wood dyes adsorbents. PAN is a nitrogen-rich precursor transformed at high temperature into highly porous carbonaceous structure with uniform and size-tunable pores useful for the adsorption of bulky molecules such as dyes. Three types of porous carbons were synthesized: N-doped carbon (P-C), N-doped activated carbon with 4-fold excess of KOH (P-ACT) and N, S-co-doped carbon with sulfur in a 1:1 weight ratio (P-S). Synthesis was performed in two stages: oxidation (280ºC) and carbonization (800ºC). Carbon characterization was performed by different techniques (BET, SEM, EDX, XPS, RAMAN, and pHPZC). Adsorption experiments were conducted on batch mode to study the effect of pH (2, natural and 12), solid/liquid ratio (0.5 and 2 g L-1) and initial concentration (23-27 and 230-285 mg L-1) on the adsorption of a red dye used industrially for preparing dyed wood veneers. Adsorption data were analyzed and well fitted by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. P-ACT showed the best results of dye removal capacity at all concentrations and pH´s.
Energy Communities: A Significant Factor to alleviate Energy Poverty
Authors: Lamprousis Georgios , Golfinopoulos Spyros
Published: November 2022

At the end of the 20th century, one of the phenomena that affect humanity on a social, economic, political, and environmental level is the energy poverty, a concept that is still misunderstood. It is a distinct form of poverty associated with a range of adverse effects for people’s health and wellbeing. Energy poverty is often described as the inability to keep homes adequately warm.
In the late of 20th and especially in the early of 21st century, the protection of the environment and the developing capacity of economy, through sustainable development, set the vision for the innovation of distribution networks and production of energy, through renewable energy sources.
To optimize energy production and to reduce production costs, the socio-technological system envisages optimal results through decentralized systems, and smart grid cities. It offers to consumers the power to be producers of the energy that they consume. The new concept of prosumer (the ability to be both consumer and producer) involves the production of the energy from renewable sources and its consumption in a social context. This new institution is called “energy community” and constitutes the key to transition to a decarbonized economy and society and it is considered as a significant step in tackling climate change.
The aim of this research is to evaluate the intervention of energy communities in the efficiency of the energy consumption sector and their social impact, based on the subjective indicators of energy poverty.
Development of Advanced Electrokinetic Separation for Sulfur-Containing Hot Spring Discharge with High Acidity
Authors: Pan Shu-Yuan , Lin Yu-I , Tseng Po-Chih , Fan Chen-Shiuan
Published: November 2022

Hot springs at the Beituo district, Taiwan are well-known for containing a significant amount of white or blue sulphur. With strong acidity and high conductivity, the used hot springs water did not meet the effluent water quality standards of the sewerage system. Discharging without appropriate treatment has adversely deteriorated the water quality of nearby Huang Gang rivers and agricultural irrigation ditch. Electrokinetic separation, an advanced water treatment technology with the concept of “circularity of resources”, can separate and concentrate ions from water through an electric field. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of ions removal and neutralization from hot spring water by two different stacks of Electrokinetic separation. Stack A can successfully remove and recover ions from hot spring discharge with the concentrate of sulfate <72 mg/L in 30 min and promote pH to 3.5 in 60 min while Stack B with bipolar membrane has better performance for neutralization. With the obtained results, we evaluated the productivity and energy consumption of each system. Lastly, we compared the process performance of two electrokinetic separation systems from the aspects of engineering and economy.
Risk analysis of pathogenic organisms during soil-aquifer treatment: application to a coastal aquifer in Cyprus
Authors: Panagiotou Constantinos , Karaolia Popi , Papanastasiou Panos , Sprenger Christoph
Published: November 2022

A quantitative microbial risk analysis of Ezousa (Cyprus) Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) site is presented herein to evaluate the health risks associated with the pathogenic fraction of three microorganisms: the bacterium Escherichia Coli (E. Coli), the Rotavirus and the protozoan Giardia duodenalis. At Ezousa, raw wastewater from the urban area is subject to wastewater treatment followed by soil-aquifer filtration prior reaching the end-users, who are mainly farmers. The removal efficiency standards of wastewater treatment processes are determined according to World Health Organization (WHO) reports, whereas two extreme end-user exposure scenarios are considered. The first scenario refers to a situation commonly encountered in industrialised countries, where farmers use tractors and associated farming equipment and are expected to wear protective gloves during their activities. The second scenario describes farming practices in developing countries, in which tractors and gloves are rarely used. The results suggest that all three pathogens are likely to infect individuals for both exposure scenarios. Regarding Scenario 1, around 25 % of the samples for E. Coli exceed the target values, whereas the highest health risks are found for Rotavirus and Giardia, in accordance with existing reports. As expected, the risk analysis for Scenario 2 provided much higher values for the health parameters compared to Scenario 1, suggesting that all pathogens possess a high risk for human health under the "worst-case" scenario. Finally, the Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) was used to predict the required microbial removal after subsurface filtration of treated wastewater, in order to meet health-based targets. For E. Coli, the total performance requirement for Scenario 1 and Scenario 2 is found to be 5.5 〖log〗_10 and 7 〖log〗_10 units removal, respectively. These values are consistent with the findings of existing reports, suggesting that the removal efficiency of the soil-aquifer passage plays a crucial role under circumstances such as a heavy microbial load or technical failures.
Investigation of BVOC levels in a coastal urban environment: The Piraeus Port in Greece
Authors: Liakakou E , Panopoulou A , Grivas G , Gerasopoulos E , Sauvage S , Mihalopoulos N
Published: November 2022

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC) constitute organic species of high reactivity, influencing thus the composition of the atmosphere through participation in various reactions leading to the formation of secondary pollutants. Despite their well established origin from vegetation, focus is given recently on the role of the anthropogenic emission sources. Monoterpenes, which are under investigation in the current work, have been measured in environments affected by traffic, shipping, biomass burning and industrial activities. Monitoring of monoterpenes (α-pinene and limonene) during 2019 was implemented at the recently established Atmospheric Pollution Monitoring Station of the Municipality of Keratsini-Drapetsona located close to the Piraeus Port in Greece. An automatic gas chromatograph with flame ionization detector on 30 minutes time resolution was used to measure a wide range of non methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) from 6 to 12 carbon atoms. The seasonal variability of α-pinene and limonene demonstrated slightly higher values during summer and winter respectively. The correlations with other pollutants of anthropogenic origin indicated the impact of non-natural emission sources on their levels. Their potential to form ozone and aerosol was estimated and compared with already published data obtained at the urban background environment of Athens.
A model-based study on the impact of different tree configurations on the thermal conditions of an urban square
Authors: Pantavou K. , Tseliou Areti , Koletsis Ioannis , Thoma Eleni , Proutsos N , Lykoudis S. , Tsiros I.X.
Published: November 2022

The number of studies on mitigation and adaptation strategies aiming at the improvement of the urban microclimate increased remarkably during the last decades. Most studies are focusing on the impact of various design layouts, on thermal environment and pedestrians’ thermal sensation. The present study examines the effect of shading trees with different leaf area densities (LAD) on the microclimate and thermal sensation in an urban open area, namely the Syntagma square, Athens, Greece. The microclimatic model ENVI-met was applied to simulate thermal conditions during a summer day when a field monitoring survey has taken place in that square. The Physiologically Equivalent Temperature index (PET) was employed to estimate thermal conditions in the square and the nearby areas. Model results showed that dense vegetation (LAD above 2) has a greater cooling effect compared to sparse vegetation (LAD between 1 and 1.5 and LAD between 0.5 and 1.0) resulting thus to a decrease in daily air temperature and PET at around 0.7 oC and 4 oC, respectively, in areas under tree canopies. Further analysis quantified the effects of various vegetation leaf densities on thermal conditions and thus the importance of the existence of dense vegetation in urban squares under Mediterranean climate conditions.
Development of a tool for calculating ship air emissions
Authors: Ventikos Nikolaos , Stamatopoulou Eirini Asimina , Kalogeropoulos Ioannis , Louzis Konstantinos
Published: November 2022

This paper describes the development of a ship air emissions calculator, which will be part of the ECOMARPOL platform of the Intelligent Research Infrastructure for Shipping, Supply Chain, Transport and Logistics (EN.I.R.I.S.S.T.). The tool developed with the Python programming language and is based on a variant of the Bottom-up method. The input parameters are the main particulars of one or more ships and produces results in the form of tables and diagrams for the analysis of ship air emissions by ship type, emission type, speed and age. The tool may be used for different vessels and calculates air emissions including: carbon dioxide (CO2), sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM). Furthermore, this paper presents two illustrative applications that showcases the potential of the developed tool. The first one used departure and arrival data of 100 ships within the European Economic Area (EEA) in 2018, while for the second, Automatic Identification System (AIS) movement data of a Bulk Carrier in the Baltic Sea for 24 hours were collected. The development of such tools is considered important as they can contribute to establish appropriate measures for reducing air emissions and help the shipping industry to comply with existing regulations.
Electro-bioremediation of nitrate contaminated saline groundwater
Authors: Puggioni G. , Carucci A. , Dessì E. , Pous N. , Puig S. , Unali V. , Milia S.
Published: November 2022

Sustainable exploitation of coastal aquifers is often hindered by the presence of contaminants and high salinity levels. This study proves for the first time the electro-bioremediation of nitrate contaminated saline groundwater. Two 3-chamber bioelectrochemical systems (BES) were operated in potentiostatic mode for the treatment of a synthetic medium mimicking saline groundwater from the Nitrate Vulnerable Zone of Arborea (Sardinia, Italy). This groundwater is characterised by high nitrate concentrations (>33 mgNO3--N/L) and conductivity (>3.5 mS/cm). The electrochemically active microbial community grown on the surface of the biocathode was able to achieve nitrate removal rates and efficiencies of 6.8±0.4 mg/L·d and 87±2%, respectively. Conductivity significantly decreased (from 4.11±0.2 to 0.17±0.2 mS/cm) by enhancing the electromigration of ions from the middle chamber to the peripheral anodic and bio-cathodic chambers. Under the applied conditions, WHO (World Health Organization) drinking water threshold limits for nitrate (11.3 mgNO3--N/L) and conductivity (2.5 mS/cm) were satisfied. Moreover, high chloride migration was observed (63±7 mg/L·d), suggesting its possible recovery as chlorine in the anodic chamber using a specific electrode (Ti-MMO), within a circular economy-based approach. The results pave the way to the potential development of a new electro-bioremediation technology for water recovery (i.e., simultaneous denitrification and desalination) and sustainable chemicals production (i.e., chlorine).
Potential location of early Neolithic sites in Crete and Cyprus: A GIS-based regional potamological approach
Authors: Depraetere Christian , Moutsiou Theodora
Published: November 2022

This study aims to identify key locations for the potential unearthing of Early Holocene archaeological sites in the interior of Cyprus and Crete, two large islands in the Eastern Mediterranean. We apply geographic information system (GIS) methods, based on assumptions of environmental suitability and geographical accessibility. The core assumption is that the first farmers colonizing almost pristine islands had a fair empirical knowledge of morphopedological conditions suitable for their Mediterranean farming practices. Here we use the SRTM digital elevation model (DEM) to establish the primary factor of access to water resources calibrated on the hydrogeomorphological context of known archaeological sites on the two islands. Test zones on the central part of Crete (pre-ceramic Knossos, 9000-6500 BP) and the foothills of the Troodos mountains in Cyprus (Khirokitia culture) suggest potential suitable localities situated on specific terraces, ledges or footslopes perched above the flood plains of major rivers or smaller streams. The final aim is to establish a methodology for the discovery of new archaeological sites that is expected to contribute new data to the fragmented archaeological record of both islands. Although this study focuses on bridging existing gaps in the early Neolithization processes in the Eastern Mediterranean, our "potamological" (Pardé, 1949) approach is of value for any mountainous region where hydrological resources are a key factor at the early stage of neolithization.
Climatology of the impact of atmospheric circulation on surface meteorological conditions over Greece
Authors: Philippopoulos Kostas , Tzanis Chris G. , Deligiorgi Despina , Alimissis Anastasios
Published: November 2022

Large-scale atmospheric circulation is a critical factor that controls the surface climatic conditions of a specific region. The scope of this work is to examine this relationship for different climatic regions over Greece and provide a detailed descriptive statistical analysis for multiple parameters related to heat and drought. The atmospheric circulation patterns are provided using a neural network approach and the surface climatic parameters are extracted from 17 surface meteorological stations for a 30-year period. In detail, for each circulation pattern the maximum and minimum temperature, the diurnal temperature range along with the precipitation amount are assessed. The 32 identified regimes describe effectively the large-scale atmospheric circulation and they are found to affect significantly the climatic parameters variability. Interesting statistical aspects are extracted for each climatic region and specific atmospheric circulation patterns are found to be associated with extreme heat and drought in the region. The persistence of atmospheric circulation is examined and associated with unusual episodes. The quantification of the large-scale effect on climatic parameters anomalies is demonstrated and is also discussed in terms of the effect of local topography and urbanization in each site.
Marine litter monitoring: the case study of Paros island
Authors: Krasakopoulou Eva , Marmara Dimitra , Kontomanoli Zana , Cevello Stella , Ragkousis Michael , Kelaidoni Artemis
Published: November 2022

Marine litter have been characterized as one of the main threats for societies, while among them, plastics have been found in various marine ecosystems. A monitoring project on marine litter, based on beach visual-surveys started in 2019, on Paros Island in the Aegean Sea, under the Clean Blue Paros initiative. Four main sandy beaches with different characteristics were primarily selected for seasonal sampling. Among the findings, Plastics were the most abundant litter category, covering 80.45% of the total items, followed by Food Waste and Textiles (7.3% and 5.2%, respectively). Among the beaches, only 3 items covered more than half of the total, namely cigarette butts and filters, ropes and small plastic bags. In a primary analysis, significant differences were found in the mean values of collected items between the two sampling years (2019 and 2020) in Martselo beach (p < 0.05, ANOVA test). In an effort to locally connect marine litter with their sources, a scoring matrix technique was applied for each beach, highlighting beach visitors as the primary input source, followed by fishing-related activities. On-going monitoring and additional awareness actions have been implemented to further support the overall effort of plastic pollution mitigation in the island.
Planar Mixing Tool for Enhanced Performance of Covered Anaerobic Pond Systems
Authors: Brück Felix , Velten Hermann , Pingsmann Marcel , Meyer Dirk , Weigand Harald , Linnenberg Carsten , Theilen Ulf
Published: November 2022

Pond systems are the simplest and most widespread technology for the treatment of high-strength wastewater containing biodegradable suspended solids. When covered, they offer significant advantages such as odour control, intensification of the decomposition process, and the potential to capture methane as a bioenergy fuel. However, process performance is challenged by occurrence of unmixed (dead) zones, as well as the formation of floating and sinking layers lowering residence times, degradation rates, and biogas yields. Here we aimed at the integration of a novel mixing concept for covered anaerobic pond systems to overcome these problems. A lab-scale pond (V = 330 L) was manufactured from transparent PVC. The effect of the substrate’s apparent viscosity (1, 100 and 1,000 mPa s; at 1 s-1), hoist speed (6 and 12 cm/s) and three alternative mixing tool designs on the mixing process was evaluated in dye and conductivity tracer experiments. Results show that mixing time strongly increases with increasing substrate viscosity and could be reduced (factor 4) by doubling the hoist speed of the mixing system. The design of the mixing tool largely affects the flow conditions and needs to be adjusted to the viscosity of the substrate.
Research on vegetable farming in vertical hydroponic system
Authors: Ciuta F , Tudor A , Lagunovschi V
Published: November 2022

Vertical farming is the practice of growing plants in a multi-layer system. This often includes agriculture in a controlled environment, whose purpose is the optimisation of plant growing, together with soil-free agricultural techniques, such as hydroponics, acquaponics and aeroponics. Some of the structures used for setting-up the vertical farming systems are: buildings, ship containers, underground tunnels and mine shafts.
This paper presents the study of several vegetable cultivars grown in a vertical hydroponic system, with a vegetation period of 7 to 18 days. The analysed species were: green mizuna, red mustard, green pak choi, red radish, green peas. At the end of the established vegetation period, the plants were cut, then mixed in a tasty fresh salad. Besides the explosion of tastes and special nutritional intake, this relatively new agricultural concept was proven to have a higher yield compared to the conventional farming techniques. This yield is given by the following factors: high productivity, water consumption reduced up to 70%, decrease of pesticides consumption by creating an ideal growing environment, perfectly controlled according to the requirements of each species, possibility to use such a system anywhere, even in non-agricultural areas (areas with disused agricultural land, mountain areas or even directly within shops).
The water tariff structure in the new Convergence Regulatory Scheme
Authors: Macchiaroli Maria , Dolores Luigi , De Mare Gianluigi
Published: November 2022

The most recent innovation in the regulation of the Italian Urban Water Management is the introduction of the Convergence Regulatory Scheme. The new tariff preparation method introduced by the Italian Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks, and Environment (ARERA) aims to simplify the mechanism for identifying the water tariff for those managements characterized by enduring critical issues regarding investment planning and management of the Urban Water Management. The application of the Convergence scheme provides for the estimate of parametric costs to be considered in the construction of the water tariff, considering different cases depending on the management information available. But the same convergence mechanism also provides obligations for the Managers, including the structuring of tariff classes in compliance with the provisions of the ARERA resolutions. The initial point for defining the user's tariff structure is the Manager's Revenue Constraint, estimated based on a reference benchmark. This study proposes a mathematical programming model that allows, in compliance with the constraints dictated by the ARERA resolutions, to define the tariff structure for users in the application of the Convergence Regulatory Scheme, thus supporting in the complex decision process all those Operators that present serious problems in the management of the water service.
The effect of incorporating biosolids on soil quality after cotton crop management
Authors: Giannakopoulos Evangelos , Makrygianni Effrosyni , Evangelou Eleftherios , Salachas Georgios
Published: November 2022

pilot sewage sludge (also known as “biosolids”, BS) application of 7,000 kg/ha (dry weight) was performed in the area of Lamia prefecture, central Greece, in two fields cultivated with Cotton. BS was very rich in organic matter (75%) and had high concentrations of nutrients, with all heavy metals below the limits set for use in agricultural soils. Soil samplings before BS applications and after cotton cultivation for 1 and 2 years for the first and second pilot respectively, revealed the positive effect of BS use to soil quality. Soil organic matter increased from 0.9 and 0.8% to 3.8 and 3.3% respectively. Soil P content increased only to the pilot sampled one year after BS applications. BS increased significant the concentration of Mg, Mn and Fe at both pilots farms. Heavy metals in the soil was kept in acceptable levels at both pilots after BS use except Cr that exceeds the upper limits set by Common Ministerial Decision at both pilots. In conclusion, the results of the study underline the positive effect of BS in soil quality if we could control toxic heavy metals concentrations in the soils by analyzing and organizing proper application rates for each soil case separately.
Understanding the EU ETS Market Structure Using Transactions of Core Participants
Authors: Dimos Sotirios , Evangelatou Eleni , Fotakis Dimitris , Mantis Andreas , Mathioudaki Angeliki
Published: November 2022

European Union Emission Trading System (EU ETS) is a key instrument of EU’s climate policy and the largest international cap-and-trade system. Every allowance transaction is recorded in an electronic registry, called European Union Transaction Log (EUTL). Utilizing the vast amount of EUTL data, we exploit the EU ETS transaction network as a means for understanding in depth the allowance market structure. We observe that the network follows the core-periphery structure and identify a small subset of core transactors. We provide strong evidence that despite its small size, the part of the network built around core transactors captures all the key properties of the entire EU ETS transactions network. Moreover, due to high and more regular trading, the transactions of the core members lack the “noisy” behaviour typically appearing in the periphery. Through extensive evaluation, we demonstrate that the core transactions can provide better results in explaining and forecasting the allowance price. Our work provides a compact and useful tool which can be used not only towards understanding a large and complex allowance market, but also towards evaluating one of the most prominent environmental policy instruments, the EU ETS.
Anaerobic biodesulfurization in different inoculums
Authors: Agapiou Agapios , Stylianou Marinos , Samanides Charis , Vyrides Ioannis
Published: November 2022

Sulfur compounds in liquid fuel are undesirable and the level of these compounds in diesel fuel is strictly regulated in the last 15 years by the European Union. These stringent regulations are imposing an urgent requirement for fuel terminals to produce fuels having ultra-low sulfur content. A promising Eco-Technology is to employ Biodesulfurization (BDS), a process where the bacteria (liquid phase) are mixed with oil at ambient temperature and pressure to selectively remove organosulfur components from oil fractions without degrading the carbon skeleton of the compounds. Most of the studies have examined the BDS under aerobic conditions using pure cultures or mix inoculum, and the main byproducts remain in the liquid phase. However, the present study explored a new proof of concept; BDS under anaerobic conditions using inoculums from various anaerobic sources. The enrichment in each inoculum took place several months and electron donors were used. In addition, the microbial profile over time was examined at the end of the BDS using next generation sequencing. The BDS of oil under anaerobic conditions profits of aeration cost, as well as the advantage of releasing H2S in the gas phase, which can be easily treated using the existing H2S technologies.
Implementing Circular Economy in Wineries: The Case of Greece
Authors: Kounani Aristea , Sotiropoulou Evangelia , Seleventi Maria
Published: November 2022

Grape is considered one of the largest fruit crops in the world, since its 2017 production, the vast majority of which was used in winemaking, reached 74 MT globally and 24 MT in the EU. The main target of this paper is to highlight the urgent need for transforming the linear model into a circular one in the case of agriculture, and especially in wine production. According to the International Organization of Vine and Wine, Greece held 1.3% of the total European wine production in 2018 (300,031 tons of wine), while at the same time it was ranked in the twelfth place in terms of wine production on a global scale. Therefore, it is of great significance to implement the circular economy model in Greek wineries. After an extensive literature review, this paper aims to examine whether a circular economy could be implemented in wineries adequately. Last but not least, it presents some of the valuable products that can be obtained from grape marc not only in the food industry but also in cosmetics, phyto-pharmaceutic sector, and in the animal feeding or bio-fertilizers.
Investigation of the establishment and dynamics of black pine in the fir zone of Tymphristos mountain under climate change
Authors: Pantera Anastasia , Papadopoulos Andreas , Katsaiti Chara
Published: November 2022

The establishment and dynamics of black pine in comparison to fir on the Tymphristos mountain, Greece, was investigated based on their growth behavior and the ecological factors governing the area. Specifically, from a black pine stand, derived from reforestations and which presently contains also fir individuals, tree-ring cores were obtained up to the pith from both species. Subsequently, the tree-rings width was measured, followed by the analysis of radial growth in relation to site conditions and vegetation zone. The results show the incapacity of black pine to compete fir due to the local bioclimatic conditions which partly explains the absence of the species in the area. However, this condition may be altered by the transition to a drier bioclimatic type due to the evolution of climate change
Detoxification of molasses and production of mycelial mass and polysaccharides from Morchella conica mushroom.
Authors: Diamantopoulou Panagiota , Dedousi Marianna , Diamantis Ilias , Melanouri Eirini , Fourtaka Katerina
Published: November 2022

The impact of molasses on the fungal mass, valuable secondary metabolites’ production and quality characteristics of the edible wild ascomycetous Morchella conica, strain AMRL78 was examined in this study. Morchella mycelium were produced in submerged, static and agitated cultures and the C/N ratio of the medium was determined to ~20. Evaluation included determination of the dry mycelial mass (X, g/L), endopolysaccharides synthesized (IPS, g/L), the consumption of total sugars (TS, g/L) and molasses’ phenolic-reduction and decolorization. The influence of agitation conditions was also evaluated. Results showed that M. conica appeared a significant production of dry mycelial mass (up to 16 g/L) and agitation had some impact upon X formation. A simultaneous high consumption of TS appeared both in agitated and static cultures. Maximum values of ~ 4.5 g/L IPS were recorded. M. conica reduced satisfactory phenolic compounds and the color of the molasse substrate (up to 46% and 20%, respectively). It is concluded that M. conica is a fungus of higher importance, amenable for simultaneous molasses detoxification and production of added-value compounds.
Biotechnological treatment of oil mill waste-water to produce high value-added mycelial products.
Authors: Diamantopoulou Panagiota , Diamantis Ilias , Dedousi Marianna , Melanouri Eirini , Fourtaka Katerina
Published: November 2022

Several trials with Pleurotus pulmonarius mushroom were carried out in liquid state cultures, in synthetic media containing commercial glycose and olive mill wastewater (OMW) with phenolics concentration adjusted to 10% and 30% v/v. Results demonstrated that at the end of fermentation period the phenolic content reduction was very high (93-95%), as well as substrate decoloration, with values ranging from 70% to 85% (medium containing 10 and 30% v/v phenolic compounds respectively), indicating the great capability of Pleurotus strains for OMW detoxification. Moreover, the highest phenolic concentration (30% v/v) affected positively biomass and intra-cellular polysaccharide (IP) production, reaching 30.61 g/L and 4.30 g/L, respectively. On the other hand, although lower values of biomass and IP in absolute values were synthesized in the medium with 10% v/v phenolic compounds (22.66 and 3.92 g/L respectively), the amount of IP in relative values was as high as 20 w/w. The maximum anti-oxidant activity (expressed as total phenolic compounds) of 0.4 g/L was also determined in P. pulmonarius biomass produced in the medium with 10% v/v phenolics. In conclusion, the examined mushroom species could be used with great success as a mean of biological treatment of OMWs with simultaneous production of high nutritional value products (biomass, polysaccharides, phenolic compounds).
Carbon Capture Utilization Potential in Malaysia
Authors: Angelis-Dimakis Athanasios , Pieri Tryfonas , Nicacio Ingrid , Vyrkou Antonia , Arampatzis George , Dedousis Panagiotis , Liew Zhi Bin , Sim Chieh Ying , Yusup Suzana
Published: November 2022

Under the Paris agreement, Malaysia has set its target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030 (35% of which is on an unconditional basis), having 2005 as the base year. Carbon capture and utilization, together with an increased use of renewable energy sources, will be one of the main pillars of the national policy towards achieving this goal. Malaysia produces on an annual basis more than 100 million tons of biomass and is the second largest palm oil producer in the world. Thus, the focus of this study is the biogenic sources of carbon dioxide, and more specifically biomass power plants and palm oil mill effluent-based biogas power plants, operating at different scales across the country. Our objective is to map the existing carbon sources as well as the potential carbon receivers as many as possible (in both regions, East and West Malaysia), estimate the annual amount of produced carbon dioxide and identify the most economically viable business models for the development of symbiotic schemes based on the capture and reuse of carbon dioxide.
Solid Waste Reuse in the Balkan-Mediterranean Region
Authors: Angelis-Dimakis Athanasios , Arampatzis George , Alexopoulos Andreas , Pantazopoulos Andreas , Angelis Vasilis
Published: November 2022

The wide implementation of circular economy and industrial symbiosis in the Balkan and Mediterranean region lags behind most of the other European countries. The economic crisis has had a significant impact to the local businesses, eliminating new investments. Regarding specifically solid waste, which is the type with the highest increase in terms of annual generation over the last decade, the situation is aggravated by the lack of national or regional strategies. In this paper, taking into consideration the results of the implementation of SWAN research project, which led to the design and development of a digital solid waste reuse platform for the Balkans, our objectives are: (a) to compare the current state of solid waste management in four different countries (Albania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece), (b) analyse the opinions of various directly involved actors on solid waste management issues and on their familiarisation with new concepts such as circular economy and urban/industrial symbiosis; and (c) compare the feasible business models in all four countries, in terms of their quantitative and qualitative characteristics.
Assessment of particulate pollution in a medium sized Greek city - the effect of biomass burning and COVID-19 lockdown
Authors: Diamanti Vagioula , Triantafyllou Athanasios , Garas Stelios
Published: November 2022

Airborne particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter of 10μm or less has severe negative effects on human health. In many European urban environments, small residential heating appliances contribute significantly to the degradation of air quality by generating a substantial quantity of PM. In the present work, trends of PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 have been evaluated in a medium – sized European city, Ioannina, NW Greece. We analyze the most recent available surface concentration observations for the period 2014 – March 2021. The analysis showed that even if there is a strict legislation at EU and national level, PM emissions from residential combustion processes contribute significantly to air pollution during wintertime in Ioannina. Local topography, local-scale meteorological conditions and local sources impose a local plan of action to monitor air pollution. The analysis highlights the need for coordinated actions in local and national scale.
Microalgae biomass cultivation and harvesting optimization in biological carbon capture and utilization systems for biofuels production
Authors: Senatore Vincenzo , Zarra Tiziano , Oliva Giuseppina , Buonerba Antonio , Napodano Paolo , Belgiorno Vincenzo , Naddeo Vincenzo
Published: November 2022

The boosting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into the atmosphere due to anthropogenic activity contributes significantly to climate change. According to the Green Deal by 2050, net zero greenhouse gas emissions must be achieved. Therefore, actions are needed in order to control GHG emissions. The research presents and discusses the optimization of the microalgae biomass cultivation phase and the harvesting process in an advanced membrane photobioreactor (mPBR) with the aim to improve its production for green fuel generation. Experimental activities are carried out by considering Chlorella vulgaris microalgae as photosynthetic microorganism. A dark/light cycle of 12/12 hours was implemented by varying the light intensity from 100 to 300 μmol m-2 s-1. Different L/G rate, by keeping the gas flow rate (G) constant at 100 ml/min and increasing the liquid flow rate recirculation (L) from 500 to 1500 L min-1, has been tested to boost up the productivity of microalgae. Results highlight optimal production of microalgae biomass concentration up to 1.45 g L-1. Then a dynamic membrane module was implemented for the harvesting of the biomass. The work contributes to the field of climate change mitigation actions, by providing useful information to improve green energy production from algae biomass.
Life cycle assessment of microalgal membrane photobioreactors
Authors: Zarra Tiziano , Senatore Vincenzo , Lazzarini Francesca , Oliva Giuseppina , Buonerba Antonio , Belgiorno Vincenzo , Naddeo Vincenzo
Published: November 2022

The exploration of new biomass sources for energy purposes is increasing. Cultivation of algal biomass for biofuels production through photobioreactor represents an attractive and useful way to obtain clean energy, also thanks to the contribution that the system makes on the reduction of climate change through the recovery and reuse of CO2. However, to prove the complete sustainability of a system the application of a holistic assessment, like Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, is necessary. To date LCA is applied through different methodologies, which make evaluations and systems difficult to compare and evaluate. Furthermore only few studies are present in the scientific literature that highlight the parameters used for the evaluation of membrane photobioreactors (mPBR). The research presents and discusses the state-of-the-art of the adopted LCA methodologies to assess mPBR, pointing out strengths and weaknesses. Knowledge gap, uncertainties and recommendations are highlighted. Furthermore, a case study LCA application on an advanced mPBR for the CO2 capture and biomass production is presented. The study provides important information to the different scientists involved in the microalgae production sector in a holistic and proactive view in order to maximize its environmental sustainability.
Application of cutting-edge environmental technologies for the development of resilient and sustainable cities
Authors: Senatore Vincenzo , Giaquinto Domenico , Zarra Tiziano , Oliva Giuseppina , Buonerba Antonio , Belgiorno Vincenzo , Naddeo Vincenzo
Published: November 2022

The development of resilient and sustainable cities emerged as a solution to tackle the several challenges arising from the exponential growth of urban areas population worldwide. The implementation of environmental technologies represents a solution to minimize negative impacts of crowded cities on the environment and human health. The research presents and discusses the applications of advanced and innovative cutting edge technologies to develop sustainable, green and resilient cities. The study is carried out by distinguishing environmental technologies (ETs) on four principal sectors: water and greywater, air pollution, municipal solid waste and mobility. For each technology the strengths and weaknesses are analysed and pointed out. The application of the principal technologies evaluated with reference to real cases study of metropolitan area were highlighted. The work contributes to the development of sustainable cities, providing useful information to support urban planners and policymakers in order to minimize environmental pressures and improve the way they operate.
Chemical And Isotopic Characterization Of The Thermal Fluids Emerging From Nestos River Delta Basin in North Greece
Authors: Karalis Petros , Tassi Maria , Dalampakis Paschalis , Spyridonos Evangelos , Diamantopoulos Georgios , Dotsika Elissavet , Pagonis George
Published: November 2022

In this work we study the isotopic and hydrochemical properties of waters emerging from Nestos river delta basin (Erasmio, Eratio and Myrodato), which is forming the continental margin of the broader graben type basin of Prinos that includes the Nestos delta and the offshore extension between Thassos island and the main land around Kavala bay. Our scope is the identification of the procedures that are related to the waters composition as well as their origin. Some of our samples are characterized by low Cl¯ which excludes the marine contribution while the others present high Cl¯ and Br¯ which indicated marine participation. In addition, the low values of B and Li+ show that these elements derive from seawater, which is more or less diluted by fresh water with no water-rock interaction. This assumption is, also, confirmed by the δ18O and δ34S isotopic values. Finally, we use isotopic geothermometers for the evaluation of reservoir temperature and we conclude to the existence deep geothermal field of low to middle enthalpy, with the exception of one sample which has middle to high enthalpy.
National-scale environmental data analysis for shipping and transport: The National Research Infrastructure EN.I.R.I.S.S.T.
Authors: Pagoni Ioanna , Polydoropoulou Amalia , Thanopoulou Helen , Tsirimpa Athena , Tsouros Ioannis , Lekkas Demetris Francis , Klontza Eleftheria , Zervakis Vassilis , Tragou Elina , Koutsoubas Drosos , Ventikos Nikolaos , Lyridis Dimitrios , Anaxagorou Pantelis , Manos Nikolaos , Parinos Constantine , Gogou Alexandra , Hatzianestis Ioannis , Skylaki Ester
Published: November 2022

This paper presents the state-of-the-art research conducted as part of EN.I.R.I.S.S.T. regarding the emerging impact of shipping and transport to the environment. More specifically, it presents the digital platforms and services that are developed as part of the research infrastructure and are related to environmental sciences. The first is the “EcoMarpol Platform”, which caters for collecting and analyzing pollution-driven data as well as calculating the environmental imprint (atmospheric emissions, waste production, chemical pollution of marine waters and sediments) of maritime activities. This platform additionally includes the online monitoring of in-port emissions from shipping and pollution from ship-to-ship transfer operations or accidents and the environmental risk assessment management. The other platform is the “Passenger Sustainable Travel Platform”, as part of which a tool for calculating aircraft emissions (CO2 and air pollutants) will be developed and applied in the Greek airspace and airports.