Some ozone advanced oxidation processes to improve the biological removal of selected pharmaceutical contaminants from urban wastewater

Removal of nine pharmaceutical compounds¿acetaminophen (AAF), antipyrine (ANT), caffeine (CAF), carbamazepine (CRB), diclofenac (DCF), hydrochlorothiazide (HCT), ketorolac (KET), metoprolol (MET) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX)¿spiked in a primary sedimentation effluent of a municipal wastewater has been studied with sequential aerobic biological and ozone advanced oxidation systems. Combinations of ozone, UVA black light and Fe(III) or Fe3O4 constituted the chemical systems. During the biological treatment (hydraulic residence time, HRT = 24 h), only AAF and CAF were completely eliminated,MET, SMX and HCT reached partial removal rates and the rest of compounds were completely refractory. With any ozone advanced oxidation process applied, the remaining pharmaceuticals disappear in less than 10 min. Fe3O4 or Fe(III) photocatalytic ozonation leads to 35% mineralization compared to 13% reached during ozonation alone after about 30-min reaction. Also, biodegradability of the treated wastewater increased 50% in the biological process plus another 150% after the ozonation processes. Both untreated and treated wastewater was non-toxic for Daphnia magna (D. magna) except when Fe(III) was used in photocatalytic ozonation. In this case, toxicity was likely due to the ferryoxalate formed in the process. Kinetic information on ozone processes reveals that pharmaceuticals at concentrations they have in urban wastewater are mainly removed through free radical oxidation.The authors thank the Spanish CICYT and Feder funds for the economic support through project CTQ2009/13459/C05/05. Also, Chemical Engineer A. Espejo thanks Gobierno de Extremadura for providing her a FPI grant.Espejo, A.; Aguinaco, A.; Amat Payá, AM.; Beltrán, FJ. (2014). Some ozone advanced oxidation processes to improve the biological removal of selected pharmaceutical contaminants from urban wastewater. Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part A-Toxic/Hazardous Substances&Environmental Engineering. 49(4):410-421. https://doi.org/10.1080/10934529.2014.854652S410421494Moldovan, Z. (2006). Occurrences of pharmaceutical and personal care products as micropollutants in rivers from Romania. Chemosphere, 64(11), 1808-1817. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2006.02.003Bartelt-Hunt, S. L., Snow, D. D., Damon, T., Shockley, J., & Hoagland, K. (2009). The occurrence of illicit and therapeutic pharmaceuticals in wastewater effluent and surface waters in Nebraska. Environmental Pollution, 157(3), 786-791. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2008.11.025Santos, J. L., Aparicio, I., Callejón, M., & Alonso, E. (2009). Occurrence of pharmaceutically active compounds during 1-year period in wastewaters from four wastewater treatment plants in Seville (Spain). Journal of Hazardous Materials, 164(2-3), 1509-1516. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2008.09.073Sim, W.-J., Lee, J.-W., & Oh, J.-E. (2010). Occurrence and fate of pharmaceuticals in wastewater treatment plants and rivers in Korea. Environmental Pollution, 158(5), 1938-1947. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2009.10.036Sui, Q., Huang, J., Deng, S., Yu, G., & Fan, Q. (2010). Occurrence and removal of pharmaceuticals, caffeine and DEET in wastewater treatment plants of Beijing, China. Water Research, 44(2), 417-426. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2009.07.010Calza, P., Massolino, C., Monaco, G., Medana, C., & Baiocchi, C. (2008). Study of the photolytic and photocatalytic transformation of amiloride in water. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 48(2), 315-320. doi:10.1016/j.jpba.2008.01.014Camacho-Muñoz, D., Martín, J., Santos, J. L., Aparicio, I., & Alonso, E. (2010). Occurrence, temporal evolution and risk assessment of pharmaceutically active compounds in Doñana Park (Spain). Journal of Hazardous Materials, 183(1-3), 602-608. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.07.067Boyd, G. R., Reemtsma, H., Grimm, D. A., & Mitra, S. (2003). Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in surface and treated waters of Louisiana, USA and Ontario, Canada. Science of The Total Environment, 311(1-3), 135-149. doi:10.1016/s0048-9697(03)00138-4ROBERTS, P., & THOMAS, K. (2006). The occurrence of selected pharmaceuticals in wastewater effluent and surface waters of the lower Tyne catchment. Science of The Total Environment, 356(1-3), 143-153. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2005.04.031Kim, S. D., Cho, J., Kim, I. S., Vanderford, B. J., & Snyder, S. A. (2007). Occurrence and removal of pharmaceuticals and endocrine disruptors in South Korean surface, drinking, and waste waters. Water Research, 41(5), 1013-1021. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2006.06.034Yoon, Y., Ryu, J., Oh, J., Choi, B.-G., & Snyder, S. A. (2010). Occurrence of endocrine disrupting compounds, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products in the Han River (Seoul, South Korea). Science of The Total Environment, 408(3), 636-643. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.10.049Ternes, T. A., Stüber, J., Herrmann, N., McDowell, D., Ried, A., Kampmann, M., & Teiser, B. (2003). Ozonation: a tool for removal of pharmaceuticals, contrast media and musk fragrances from wastewater? Water Research, 37(8), 1976-1982. doi:10.1016/s0043-1354(02)00570-5Rosal, R., Rodríguez, A., Perdigón-Melón, J. A., Mezcua, M., Hernando, M. D., Letón, P., … Fernández-Alba, A. R. (2008). Removal of pharmaceuticals and kinetics of mineralization by O3/H2O2 in a biotreated municipal wastewater. Water Research, 42(14), 3719-3728. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2008.06.008Fatta-Kassinos, D., Vasquez, M. I., & Kümmerer, K. (2011). Transformation products of pharmaceuticals in surface waters and wastewater formed during photolysis and advanced oxidation processes – Degradation, elucidation of byproducts and assessment of their biological potency. Chemosphere, 85(5), 693-709. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2011.06.082Kasprzyk-Hordern, B., Dinsdale, R. M., & Guwy, A. J. (2009). The removal of pharmaceuticals, personal care products, endocrine disruptors and illicit drugs during wastewater treatment and its impact on the quality of receiving waters. Water Research, 43(2), 363-380. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2008.10.047Fernández, C., González-Doncel, M., Pro, J., Carbonell, G., & Tarazona, J. V. (2010). Occurrence of pharmaceutically active compounds in surface waters of the henares-jarama-tajo river system (madrid, spain) and a potential risk characterization. Science of The Total Environment, 408(3), 543-551. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.10.009Deblonde, T., Cossu-Leguille, C., & Hartemann, P. (2011). Emerging pollutants in wastewater: A review of the literature. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 214(6), 442-448. doi:10.1016/j.ijheh.2011.08.002Rosal, R., Rodríguez, A., Perdigón-Melón, J. A., Petre, A., García-Calvo, E., Gómez, M. J., … Fernández-Alba, A. R. (2010). Occurrence of emerging pollutants in urban wastewater and their removal through biological treatment followed by ozonation. Water Research, 44(2), 578-588. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2009.07.004Rodríguez, E., Fernández, G., Ledesma, B., Álvarez, P., & Beltrán, F. J. (2009). Photocatalytic degradation of organics in water in the presence of iron oxides: Influence of carboxylic acids. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 92(3-4), 240-249. doi:10.1016/j.apcatb.2009.07.013Rodríguez, E. M., Núñez, B., Fernández, G., & Beltrán, F. J. (2009). Effects of some carboxylic acids on the Fe(III)/UVA photocatalytic oxidation of muconic acid in water. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 89(1-2), 214-222. doi:10.1016/j.apcatb.2008.11.030Moore, W. A., Kroner, R. C., & Ruchhoft, C. C. (1949). Dichromate Reflux Method for Determination of Oxygen Consumed. Analytical Chemistry, 21(8), 953-957. doi:10.1021/ac60032a020Means, J. L., & Anderson, S. J. (1981). Comparison of five different methods for measuring biodegradability in aqueous environments. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 16(3), 301-315. doi:10.1007/bf01046911Stookey, L. L. (1970). Ferrozine---a new spectrophotometric reagent for iron. Analytical Chemistry, 42(7), 779-781. doi:10.1021/ac60289a016Bader, H., & Hoigné, J. (1981). Determination of ozone in water by the indigo method. Water Research, 15(4), 449-456. doi:10.1016/0043-1354(81)90054-3Petala, M., Kokokiris, L., Samaras, P., Papadopoulos, A., & Zouboulis, A. (2009). Toxicological and ecotoxic impact of secondary and tertiary treated sewage effluents. Water Research, 43(20), 5063-5074. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2009.08.043Tothill, I. E., & Turner, A. P. F. (1996). Developments in bioassay methods for toxicity testing in water treatment. TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 15(5), 178-188. doi:10.1016/0165-9936(96)80640-6Farré, M., & Barceló, D. (2003). Toxicity testing of wastewater and sewage sludge by biosensors, bioassays and chemical analysis. TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 22(5), 299-310. doi:10.1016/s0165-9936(03)00504-1Ten Berge, W. F. (1978). Breeding Daphnia magna. Hydrobiologia, 59(2), 121-123. doi:10.1007/bf00020772American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). 1987.Standard Guide for Conducting Renewal Life-Cycle Toxicity Tests with Daphnia Magna. Annual Book of ASTM Standards,Vol. E 1193, 765–781. Philadelphia: ASTM.Radjenović, J., Petrović, M., & Barceló, D. (2009). Fate and distribution of pharmaceuticals in wastewater and sewage sludge of the conventional activated sludge (CAS) and advanced membrane bioreactor (MBR) treatment. Water Research, 43(3), 831-841. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2008.11.043Lin, A. Y.-C., Lin, C.-A., Tung, H.-H., & Chary, N. S. (2010). Potential for biodegradation and sorption of acetaminophen, caffeine, propranolol and acebutolol in lab-scale aqueous environments. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 183(1-3), 242-250. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.07.017Yang, S.-F., Lin, C.-F., Yu-Chen Lin, A., & Andy Hong, P.-K. (2011). Sorption and biodegradation of sulfonamide antibiotics by activated sludge: Experimental assessment using batch data obtained under aerobic conditions. Water Research, 45(11), 3389-3397. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2011.03.052Ternes, T. A., Herrmann, N., Bonerz, M., Knacker, T., Siegrist, H., & Joss, A. (2004). A rapid method to measure the solid–water distribution coefficient (Kd) for pharmaceuticals and musk fragrances in sewage sludge. Water Research, 38(19), 4075-4084. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2004.07.015Stevens-Garmon, J., Drewes, J. E., Khan, S. J., McDonald, J. A., & Dickenson, E. R. V. (2011). Sorption of emerging trace organic compounds onto wastewater sludge solids. Water Research, 45(11), 3417-3426. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2011.03.056Dionisi, D., Bertin, L., Bornoroni, L., Capodicasa, S., Papini, M. P., & Fava, F. (2006). Removal of organic xenobiotics in activated sludges under aerobic conditions and anaerobic digestion of the adsorbed species. Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology, 81(9), 1496-1505. doi:10.1002/jctb.1561Byrns, G. (2001). The fate of xenobiotic organic compounds in wastewater treatment plants. Water Research, 35(10), 2523-2533. doi:10.1016/s0043-1354(00)00529-7Hyland, K. C., Dickenson, E. R. V., Drewes, J. E., & Higgins, C. P. (2012). Sorption of ionized and neutral emerging trace organic compounds onto activated sludge from different wastewater treatment configurations. Water Research, 46(6), 1958-1968. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2012.01.012Yang, S.-F., Lin, C.-F., Wu, C.-J., Ng, K.-K., Yu-Chen Lin, A., & Andy Hong, P.-K. (2012). Fate of sulfonamide antibiotics in contact with activated sludge – Sorption and biodegradation. Water Research, 46(4), 1301-1308. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2011.12.035Feng, W., & Nansheng, D. (2000). Photochemistry of hydrolytic iron (III) species and photoinduced degradation of organic compounds. A minireview. Chemosphere, 41(8), 1137-1147. doi:10.1016/s0045-6535(00)00024-2Rodríguez, E. M., Fernández, G., Álvarez, P. M., Hernández, R., & Beltrán, F. J. (2011). Photocatalytic degradation of organics in water in the presence of iron oxides: Effects of pH and light source. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 102(3-4), 572-583. doi:10.1016/j.apcatb.2010.12.041Beltrán, F. J., Aguinaco, A., García-Araya, J. F., & Oropesa, A. (2008). Ozone and photocatalytic processes to remove the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole from water. Water Research, 42(14), 3799-3808. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2008.07.019García-Araya, J. F., Beltrán, F. J., & Aguinaco, A. (2010). Diclofenac removal from water by ozone and photolytic TiO2 catalysed processes. Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology, 85(6), 798-804. doi:10.1002/jctb.2363Rivas, F. J., Beltrán, F. J., & Encinas, A. (2012). Removal of emergent contaminants: Integration of ozone and photocatalysis. Journal of Environmental Management, 100, 10-15. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.01.025Rivas, F. J., Beltrán, F. J., Gimeno, O., & Acedo, B. (2001). Wet Air Oxidation Of Wastewater From Olive Oil Mills. Chemical Engineering & Technology, 24(4), 415-421. doi:10.1002/1521-4125(200104)24:43.0.co;2-cGIMENO, O., CARBAJO, M., BELTRAN, F., & RIVAS, F. (2005). Phenol and substituted phenols AOPs remediation. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 119(1-3), 99-108. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2004.11.024Beltrán, F. J., Gimeno, O., Rivas, F. J., & Carbajo, M. (2006). Photocatalytic ozonation of gallic acid in water. Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology, 81(11), 1787-1796. doi:10.1002/jctb.1605Aguinaco, A., Beltrán, F. J., García-Araya, J. F., & Oropesa, A. (2012). Photocatalytic ozonation to remove the pharmaceutical diclofenac from water: Influence of variables. Chemical Engineering Journal, 189-190, 275-282. doi:10.1016/j.cej.2012.02.072Trovó, A. G., Pupo Nogueira, R. F., Agüera, A., Fernandez-Alba, A. R., & Malato, S. (2011). Degradation of the antibiotic amoxicillin by photo-Fenton process – Chemical and toxicological assessment. Water Research, 45(3), 1394-1402. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2010.10.029Trovó, A. G., Pupo Nogueira, R. F., Agüera, A., Fernandez-Alba, A. R., & Malato, S. (2012). Paracetamol degradation intermediates and toxicity during photo-Fenton treatment using different iron species. Water Research, 46(16), 5374-5380. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2012.07.015Hoigné, J., & Bader, H. (1983). Rate constants of reactions of ozone with organic and inorganic compounds in water—II. Water Research, 17(2), 185-194. doi:10.1016/0043-1354(83)90099-4Javier Rivas, F., Sagasti, J., Encinas, A., & Gimeno, O. (2011). Contaminants abatement by ozone in secondary effluents. Evaluation of second-order rate constants. Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology, 86(8), 1058-1066. doi:10.1002/jctb.2609Huber, M. M., Canonica, S., Park, G.-Y., & von Gunten, U. (2003). Oxidation of Pharmaceuticals during Ozonation and Advanced Oxidation Processes. Environmental Science & Technology, 37(5), 1016-1024. doi:10.1021/es025896hReal, F. J., Acero, J. L., Benitez, F. J., Roldán, G., & Fernández, L. C. (2010). Oxidation of hydrochlorothiazide by UV radiation, hydroxyl radicals and ozone: Kinetics and elimination from water systems. Chemical Engineering Journal, 160(1), 72-78. doi:10.1016/j.cej.2010.03.009Benner, J., Salhi, E., Ternes, T., & von Gunten, U. (2008). Ozonation of reverse osmosis concentrate: Kinetics and efficiency of beta blocker oxidation. Water Research, 42(12), 3003-3012. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2008.04.002Beltrán, F. J., Aguinaco, A., & García-Araya, J. F. (2009). Mechanism and kinetics of sulfamethoxazole photocatalytic ozonation in water. Water Research, 43(5), 1359-1369. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2008.12.015Johnson, P. N., & Davis, R. A. (1996). Diffusivity of Ozone in Water. Journal of Chemical & Engineering Data, 41(6), 1485-1487. doi:10.1021/je9602125Beltrán, F. J. (1995). Theoretical Aspects Of The Kinetics Of Competitive Ozone Reactions In Water. Ozone: Science & Engineering, 17(2), 163-181. doi:10.1080/0191951950854754

Italian Case Study: socio-economic impact analysis of a cyber attack to a power plant in an Italian scenario. Cost and benefit estimation of CIPS standard adoptions. A reduced version

RT 55; The Italian Case study is a comprehensive report in which a possible attack scenario to a thermoelectric power plant is described in the Italian electric grid context and an assessment of social-economic impact is evaluated. A cost-benefit analysis of the adoption of comprehensive CIP standards is estimated. This is a reduced version of a full report in order to have a public deliverable purged from sensitive and confidential informatio

Benefit analysis. Assessing the cost of blackouts in case of attack. Evaluation based on Italian and Polish case studies

RT 52; This report provides an economic quantification of the benefits of implementing security standards, expressed in terms of avoided costs of blackouts. The evaluation considers specifically the blackouts described in the Italian and Polish trials, employing a mixed methodology relying on the “production function” approach for the non-household sector, while an econometric method based on survey data (stated preferences) is used for household consumers. With reference to non-households, a separate evaluation is carried on for the electricity industry. The results show that the costs of blackout are substantial, either for household and non-household consumers, and largely exceed the damage suffered by the utilities ue to lost sales. Finally, since for non-households only losses in production are considered, we provide, in a separate section, three case studies demonstrating that some industries can suffer relevant additional blackout cost

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Procesos de ozonación fotocatalítica para eliminar contaminantes emergentes de aguas residuales urbanas

En este trabajo se ha estudiado la degradación de distintos contaminantes emergentes (CEs) añadidos a un agua residual urbana mediante procesos químicos integrados secuencialmente como etapa previa o etapa terciaria a un tratamiento biológico aerobio convencional por fangos activos. Los compuestos seleccionados son acetaminofeno, antipirina, bisfenol A, cafeína, carbamazepina, diclofenaco, hidroclorotiazida, ketorolaco, metoprolol, sulfametoxazol y testosterona. Estos CEs se eligieron ya que numerosos estudios indican su presencia en aguas residuales y en algunos casos también en aguas superficiales. Los procesos químicos estudiados han sido la ozonación simple, fotólisis con radiación natural (Sol) y artificial (lámparas de luz negra), fotocatálisis homogénea empleando un catalizador de Fe(III) en disolución con radiación natural o artificial y fotocatálisis heterogénea empleando magnetita como catalizador con radiación natural o artificial. Así mismo, en algunos casos con radiación solar únicamente, se ha utilizado un semiconductor como catalizador, TiO₂. En todas las situaciones, se ha estudiado la combinación del proceso de ozonación con la radiación en presencia (preferentemente) y ausencia (solo en algunos casos) de los catalizadores mencionados anteriormente (procesos de ozonación fotocatalítica y fotolítica). Además de evaluar la degradación de los contaminantes, también se ha seguido la calidad del efluente final estudiando la eliminación de materia orgánica disuelta a través de la evolución del carbono orgánico total (COT) y la demanda química de oxígeno (DQO). También se ha estudiado el cambio en la demanda biológica de oxígeno (DBO) y la toxicidad del efluente frente a Daphnia Magna, habitualmente empleado como indicador ecotoxicológico.In this work, various emerging contaminants (ECs) degradation has been studied from an urban wastewater through chemical processes sequentially integrated as a pretreatment or tertiary stage to a conventional aerobic biological treatment using activated sludge. Selected compounds are acetaminophen, antipyrine, bisphenol A, caffeine, carbamazepine, diclofenac, hydrochlorothiazide, ketorolac, metoprolol, sulfamethoxazole and testosterone. These ECs were chosen as many studies indicate its presence in wastewater and also in surface waters. The chemical processes have been studied were ozonation, photolysis with natural radiation (sun) and artificial radiation (black light), homogeneous photocatalysis using a solution of Fe (III) catalyst (natural or artificial radiation) and heterogeneous photocatalysis using magnetite as catalyst (natural or artificial radiation). Also, in some cases only by solar radiation, a semiconductor has been used as catalyst, TiO₂. In all situations, the combination of ozonation process with radiation in the presence (preferred) and absence (only in some cases) of the catalysts mentioned above (photocatalytic and photolytic ozonation processes) has been studied. In addition, the quality of the final effluent studied has also been considered through the evolution of total organic carbon (TOC) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Also, the change in the biological oxygen demand (BOD) and effluent toxicity against Daphnia Magna, usually used as ecotoxicological bioindicator, has been studied.Gobierno de Extremadura. Beca FPI, equipo de investigación "Trataguas", Departamento de Ingeniería Química y Química Física de la Universidad de Extremadura

Procesos de ozonación fotocatalítica para eliminar contaminantes emergentes de aguas residuales urbanas

En este trabajo se ha estudiado la degradación de distintos contaminantes emergentes (CEs) añadidos a un agua residual urbana mediante procesos químicos integrados secuencialmente como etapa previa o etapa terciaria a un tratamiento biológico aerobio convencional por fangos activos. Los compuestos seleccionados son acetaminofeno, antipirina, bisfenol A, cafeína, carbamazepina, diclofenaco, hidroclorotiazida, ketorolaco, metoprolol, sulfametoxazol y testosterona. Estos CEs se eligieron ya que numerosos estudios indican su presencia en aguas residuales y en algunos casos también en aguas superficiales. Los procesos químicos estudiados han sido la ozonación simple, fotólisis con radiación natural (Sol) y artificial (lámparas de luz negra), fotocatálisis homogénea empleando un catalizador de Fe(III) en disolución con radiación natural o artificial y fotocatálisis heterogénea empleando magnetita como catalizador con radiación natural o artificial. Así mismo, en algunos casos con radiación solar únicamente, se ha utilizado un semiconductor como catalizador, TiO₂. En todas las situaciones, se ha estudiado la combinación del proceso de ozonación con la radiación en presencia (preferentemente) y ausencia (solo en algunos casos) de los catalizadores mencionados anteriormente (procesos de ozonación fotocatalítica y fotolítica). Además de evaluar la degradación de los contaminantes, también se ha seguido la calidad del efluente final estudiando la eliminación de materia orgánica disuelta a través de la evolución del carbono orgánico total (COT) y la demanda química de oxígeno (DQO). También se ha estudiado el cambio en la demanda biológica de oxígeno (DBO) y la toxicidad del efluente frente a Daphnia Magna, habitualmente empleado como indicador ecotoxicológico.In this work, various emerging contaminants (ECs) degradation has been studied from an urban wastewater through chemical processes sequentially integrated as a pretreatment or tertiary stage to a conventional aerobic biological treatment using activated sludge. Selected compounds are acetaminophen, antipyrine, bisphenol A, caffeine, carbamazepine, diclofenac, hydrochlorothiazide, ketorolac, metoprolol, sulfamethoxazole and testosterone. These ECs were chosen as many studies indicate its presence in wastewater and also in surface waters. The chemical processes have been studied were ozonation, photolysis with natural radiation (sun) and artificial radiation (black light), homogeneous photocatalysis using a solution of Fe (III) catalyst (natural or artificial radiation) and heterogeneous photocatalysis using magnetite as catalyst (natural or artificial radiation). Also, in some cases only by solar radiation, a semiconductor has been used as catalyst, TiO₂. In all situations, the combination of ozonation process with radiation in the presence (preferred) and absence (only in some cases) of the catalysts mentioned above (photocatalytic and photolytic ozonation processes) has been studied. In addition, the quality of the final effluent studied has also been considered through the evolution of total organic carbon (TOC) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Also, the change in the biological oxygen demand (BOD) and effluent toxicity against Daphnia Magna, usually used as ecotoxicological bioindicator, has been studied.Gobierno de Extremadura. Beca FPI, equipo de investigación "Trataguas", Departamento de Ingeniería Química y Química Física de la Universidad de Extremadura

Quaderni Ircres numero 1/2016. Emerging costs deriving from blackouts for individual firms: evidence from an Italian case study

Among the costs deriving to firms from electric blackouts, emerging costs are the less studied ones. This work aims at shedding some light on the specific topic with an empirical approach. It performs in fact three case studies, describing blackout emerging costs for three firms of very different industries. Data obtained in the cases are described, and a cost function is tentatively sketched. Case studies show that emerging costs, though not prevailing in value over the lost production costs, may be relevant in some cases. At the end of the work, conclusions are drawn, and learned lessons are outlined