Development of innovative system to contain the odourous impact of industrial plants

Il seguente progetto di dottorato si occupa dello sviluppo di sistemi innovativi per l'abbattimento delle emissioni odorose degli impianti industriali, concentrandosi su due settori industriali sviluppati nella Regione Marche: l'industria del legno e il riciclaggio dei rifiuti vegetali. L'impatto odorigeno delle attività industriali è un grave problema per le attività produttive stesse; anzi, spesso le autorità competenti per il controllo sono costrette ad agire. La causa principale di tali impatti non è sempre dovuta al superamento delle concentrazioni imposte dai limiti di legge; anzi, una pianificazione urbanistica inefficace in passato ha portato all'insediamento di stabilimenti industriali in prossimità di zone residenziali: le molestie olfattive diventano motivo di denuncia dei cittadini, che ostacolano lo svolgimento del lavoro delle aziende. In questo contesto è fondamentale lo sviluppo di sistemi innovativi efficaci, finalizzati al contenimento degli odori provenienti dai processi produttivi. Il presente progetto di ricerca di dottorato è stato cofinanziato da una società (Pan Eco srl), la cui missione è quella di supportare le diverse industrie presenti sul campo nel rispetto delle normative ambientali; in questo settore ottiene autorizzazioni e sviluppa progetti volti al rispetto di tutti i vincoli ambientali. Considerando lo scenario appena descritto e la mission aziendale, l'obiettivo generale del programma di ricerca è stato lo sviluppo di sistemi innovativi per il contenimento delle emissioni odorose in atmosfera da parte di diversi impianti industriali. L'obiettivo generale del progetto è stato raggiunto attraverso obiettivi e attività specifici: - definizione dello stato dell'arte dei sistemi attualmente applicati per l'abbattimento delle emissioni in atmosfera di composti organici, compreso il contesto legislativo. Attraverso la ricerca bibliografica è stata realizzata una sintesi delle principali tecniche di campionamento, analisi e abbattimento delle emissioni odorigene, anche facendo riferimento alle principali normative a livello nazionale ed europeo; - individuazione delle aziende marchigiane (almeno due) con problematiche legate all'impatto olfattivo della produzione industriale. Sono state individuate due società, una operante nel settore del legno e l'altra operante nel riciclaggio dei rifiuti organici; - progettazione e realizzazione di un sistema innovativo di abbattimento delle emissioni. In entrambi i settori presi in considerazione è stato individuato e implementato un innovativo sistema di abbattimento odori: verniciatura UV per il settore legno e vermicomposting per il riciclo dei rifiuti organici; - campionamento, caratterizzazione delle emissioni e valutazione degli eventuali miglioramenti. In entrambe le società è stato effettuato il campionamento delle emissioni utilizzando tecniche consolidate ed è stato valutato l'effettivo abbattimento delle emissioni odorigene con l'introduzione dei sistemi innovativi.This PhD project deals with the development of innovative systems for the abatement of odorous emissions from industrial plants, focusing on two industrial sectors developed in Marche Region: the wood industry and vegetable waste recycling. The odor impact of industrial activities is a serious problem for the production activities themselves; indeed, the competent authorities for control are often forced to take action. The main cause of such impacts is not always due to an overcoming of the concentrations imposed by the legal limits; indeed, an ineffective urban planning in the past has led to industrial plants located near residential areas: olfactory harassment becomes reason for citizens reports, that hinder the correct operation of companies. The problem of odorous emissions mainly concerns the following companies (Bertoni, 1993): - Companies in the industrial sector (wood industry, chemical industry, oil and gas refineries, foundries, plastic and paint production); - Agri-food companies (meat processing); - Companies that deal with waste and wastewater treatment (landfills and composting companies). In particular, the main odorous compounds are (Bertoni, 1993): - VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds): aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, phenols, aldehydes and ketons; - VSCs (Volatile Sulfur Compounds): hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and mercaptans (SH); - Nitrogen compounds: ammonia (NH3) and amines. The odorous emission from industrial facilities can be the cause of annoyance to the people living in the surrounding area. A long-term exposure may bring up serious damage to human health such as nausea, headaches and other related respiratory problems (Lebrero et al., 2011; Zarra et al., 2009b). In this context, the development of effective innovative systems is fundamental, aimed at containing odors from the production processes. The present PhD research project has been cofunded by a company (Pan Eco srl), whose mission is to support the various industries in the field compliance with environmental regulations; in this sector, it obtains authorizations and develops projects aimed at respecting all environmental constraints. Considering the scenario just described and the company mission, the general goal of the research program was the development of innovative systems for the containment of odorous emissions into the atmosphere by various industrial plants. The general goal of the project has been achieved through specific objectives and activities: - definition of the state of the art of the systems currently applied for the abatement of atmospheric emissions of organics compounds, including the legislative context. Through bibliographic research, a summary was made regarding the main techniques for sampling, analysis and abatement of odor emissions, also referring to the main laws at national and European level; - identification of companies in the Marche region (at least two) with problems associated with the odor impact of industrial production. Two companies have been identified, one operating in the wood industry and the other operating in the recycling of organic waste; - design and implementation of innovative emissions abatement system. In both sectors taken into consideration, an innovative odor abatement system was identified and implemented: UV painting for wood sector and vermicomposting for the recycling of organic waste; - sampling, characterization of emissions and assessment of the performance. In both companies, the sampling of emissions using consolidated techniques was carried out and the effective abatement of odor emissions was assessed

Sustainable Reduction of the Odor Impact of Painting Wooden Products for Interior Design

The construction and building field represents a key sector for the recent Circular Economy Action Plan (March 2020). Therefore, the production of low impact materials represents an essential step towards the implementation of a sustainable market. In this regard, the present paper focused on the production of painting wooden products for interior design. These industrial processes include an essential phase consisting of the reduction of odor emissions, which produce negative impacts on the environment and a persistent annoyance for the population close to the facilities. The main cause of the odor emissions in wood painting manufacturing is the production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In this context, the present research aimed to develop an innovative process able to combine the use of lower impact paints with a more efficient UV system for the abatement of the emissions

Antihypertensive treatment changes and related clinical outcomes in older hospitalized patients

Background: Hypertension management in older patients represents a challenge, particularly when hospitalized. Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the determinants and related outcomes of antihypertensive drug prescription in a cohort of older hospitalized patients. Methods: A total of 5671 patients from REPOSI (a prospective multicentre observational register of older Italian in-patients from internal medicine or geriatric wards) were considered; 4377 (77.2%) were hypertensive. Minimum treatment (MT) for hypertension was defined according to the 2018 ESC guidelines [an angiotensin-converting-enzyme-inhibitor (ACE-I) or an angiotensin-receptor-blocker (ARB) with a calcium-channel-blocker (CCB) and/or a thiazide diuretic; if >80 years old, an ACE-I or ARB or CCB or thiazide diuretic]. Determinants of MT discontinuation at discharge were assessed. Study outcomes were any cause rehospitalization/all cause death, all-cause death, cardiovascular (CV) hospitalization/death, CV death, non-CV death, evaluated according to the presence of MT at discharge. Results: Hypertensive patients were older than normotensives, with a more impaired functional status, higher burden of comorbidity and polypharmacy. A total of 2233 patients were on MT at admission, 1766 were on MT at discharge. Discontinuation of MT was associated with the presence of comorbidities (lower odds for diabetes, higher odds for chronic kidney disease and dementia). An adjusted multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that MT for hypertension at discharge was associated with lower risk of all-cause death, all-cause death/hospitalization, CV death, CV death/hospitalization and non-CV death. Conclusions: Guidelines-suggested MT for hypertension at discharge is associated with a lower risk of adverse clinical outcomes. Nevertheless, changes in antihypertensive treatment still occur in a significant proportion of older hospitalized patients

A multi-element psychosocial intervention for early psychosis (GET UP PIANO TRIAL) conducted in a catchment area of 10 million inhabitants: study protocol for a pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial

Multi-element interventions for first-episode psychosis (FEP) are promising, but have mostly been conducted in non-epidemiologically representative samples, thereby raising the risk of underestimating the complexities involved in treating FEP in 'real-world' services