Neutralization of sludge and purification of wastewater from Sindos industrial area of Thessaloniki (Greece) using natural zeolite

Η ανάμειξη λάσπης από τη βιομηχανική ζώνη Σίνδου Θεσσαλονίκης με υψηλής ποιό- τητας φυσικό ζεόλιθο τύπου-HEU (τόφφος με 86 %κ.β. κλινοπτιλόλιθο-ευλανδίτη) σε ίσες ποσότητες, έδωσαν άοσμη και συνεκτική ζεολάσπη. Επίσης, η κατεργασία υγρών αποβλήτων pH 7,8 από την ίδια βιομηχανική ζώνη με υψηλής ποιότητας φυσικό ζεό- λιθο τύπου-HEU (88 %κ.β. κλινοπτιλόλιθο-ευλανδίτη), έδωσε διαυγές νερό pH 7,3, ελεύθερο από οσμές και βελτιωμένες τις ποιοτικές παραμέτρους κατά 60% για τα NO3 -, 76% για το χημικά απαιτούμενο οξυγόνο (COD), 100% για τα P2O5 και το Cr. Ταυτόχρονα, προέκυψε άοσμη και συνεκτική ζεολάσπη ως ίζημα. Η άοσμη και συνε- κτική ζεολάσπη που προέκυψε είτε από την ανάμειξη της λάσπης με τον φυσικό ζεόλι- θο, είτε ως ίζημα από την κατεργασία των βιομηχανικών υγρών αποβλήτων με φυσικό ζεόλιθο και κροκιδωτικά, είναι κατάλληλη για ασφαλή απόθεση, επειδή η καθήλωση των επιβλαβών συστατικών στους μίκρο/νάνο-πόρους του ζεόλιθου τύπου-HEU κα- θώς και στους μέσο- και μάκρο-πόρους του φυσικού ζεόλιθου, αποτρέπει την έκπλυσή τους από το νερό της βροχής, προστατεύοντας έτσι την ποιότητα των εδαφών, επιφανειακών και υπόγειων υδάτων.The commixture of sludge from Sindos industrial area of Thessaloniki with high quality HEU-type natural zeolite (tuff with 86 wt.% clinoptilolite-heulandite) in equal proportions, resulted in odourless and cohesive zeosludge. Also, the treatment of wastewater of pH 7.8 from the same area with high quality HEU-type natural zeolite (88 wt.% clinoptilolite-heulandite) resulted in production of clear water of pH 7.3, free of odours and improved quality parameters by 60% for the NO3 - content, 76% for the chemical oxygen demand (COD), 100% for P2O5 and Cr contents. Simultaneously, a precipitate of odourless and cohesive zeosludge was produced. The odourless and cohesive zeosludge produced either by the commixture of sludge with the natural zeolite or as precipitate from the treatment of industrial wastewater with the natural zeolite and coagulants, is suitable for safe deposition, since the fixation of the hazardous components in the micro/nano-pores of the HEU-type zeolite, as well as the meso- and macro-porous of natural zeolite, prevents their leaching by the rain water, protecting thus the quality of soils, surface and ground waters

The role of nano-perovskite in the negligible thorium release in seawater from Greek bauxite residue (red mud)

We present new data about the chemical and structural characteristics of bauxite residue (BR) from Greek Al industry, using a combination of microscopic, analytical, and spectroscopic techniques. SEM-EDS indicated a homogeneous dominant “Al-Fe-Ca-Ti-Si-Na-Cr matrix”, appearing at the microscale. The bulk chemical analyses showed considerable levels of Th (111 μg g−1), along with minor U (15 μg g−1), which are responsible for radioactivity (355 and 133 Bq kg−1 for 232Th and 238U, respectively) with a total dose rate of 295 nGy h−1. Leaching experiments, in conjunction with SF-ICP-MS, using Mediterranean seawater from Greece, indicated significant release of V, depending on S/L ratio, and negligible release of Th at least after 12 months leaching. STEM-EDS/EELS & HR-STEM-HAADF study of the leached BR at the nanoscale revealed that the significant immobility of Th4+ is due to its incorporation into an insoluble perovskite-type phase with major composition of Ca0.8Na0.2TiO3 and crystallites observed in nanoscale. The Th LIII-edge EXAFS spectra demonstrated that Th4+ ions, which are hosted in this novel nano-perovskite of BR, occupy Ca2+ sites, rather than Ti4+ sites. That is most likely the reason of no Th release in Mediterranean seawater

New insights into hydrothermal vent processes in the unique shallow-submarine arc-volcano, Kolumbo (Santorini), Greece

We report on integrated geomorphological, mineralogical, geochemical and biological investigations of the hydrothermal vent field located on the floor of the density-stratified acidic (pH , 5) crater of the Kolumbo shallow-submarine arc-volcano, near Santorini. Kolumbo features rare geodynamic setting at convergent boundaries, where arc-volcanism and seafloor hydrothermal activity are occurring in thinned continental crust. Special focus is given to unique enrichments of polymetallic spires in Sb and Tl (6Hg, As, Au, Ag, Zn) indicating a new hybrid seafloor analogue of epithermal-to-volcanic-hosted-massive-sulphide deposits. Iron microbial-mat analyses reveal dominating ferrihydrite-type phases, and high-proportion of microbial sequences akin to "Nitrosopumilus maritimus", a mesophilic Thaumarchaeota strain capable of chemoautotrophic growth on hydrothermal ammonia and CO2. Our findings highlight that acidic shallow-submarine hydrothermal vents nourish marine ecosystems in which nitrifying Archaea are important and suggest ferrihydrite-type Fe31-(hydrated)-oxyhydroxides in associated low-temperature iron mats are formed by anaerobic Fe21-oxidation, dependent on microbially produced nitrate

Paleogeography of the Eosahabi River in Libya: New insights into the mineralogy, geochemistry and paleontology of Member U1 of the Sahabi Formation, northeastern Libya

A large paleo-river of Miocene age traversing Libya from south to north has been previously demonstrated by seismic, stratigraphic, paleontological, and remote sensing data. The depositional environment of As Sahabi Formation in north central Libya is this large and now extinct Eosahabi River. However, the source of this major African river has remained controversial. Dark-colored sedimentary material with magnetic properties suggested a source from the basaltic Haruj as Aswad massif in south central Libya. To test this hypothesis, mineralogical and geochemical study of clayey sediments from three localities, P25, P28 and P96c, from fossiliferous Member U1 of the As Sahabi Formation, were carried out. Results strongly indicate very mature and re-processed sediments of continental origin, and felsic sources with no basaltic contribution. Thus the origin can be traced to an upland area of outcrop of rocks of Precambrian continental origin in northeastern Chad. An alternative scenario is that the Sahabi sediments originated from Precambrian outcrops in Ethiopia through an east-west river connection with the Nile. We consider this hypothesis unlikely, since it is based only on remote sensing data, and lacks any time control or geological supporting evidence. The abundant vertebrate fauna from the Sahabi Formation shows strong similarities with penecontemporaneous fossil faunas in Chad and is supportive of an origin of the Eosahabi River in Neogene mega-Lake Chad. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd

Ischemic preconditioning versus intermittent vascular inflow control during major liver resection in pigs

Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) and intermittent vascular control (IVC) have been shown to reduce the number of ischemia/reperfusion injuries during liver resections with the Pringle maneuver. Our study aimed to compare the beneficial effect of these two modalities in relation to the duration of normothermic liver ischemia. A group of 24 Landrace pigs with a mean body weight of 25 to 30 kg were subjected to extended liver resection of more than 65%. Although, 12 animals underwent IPC (10 minutes of ischemia and 10 minutes of reperfusion), and subsequently the Pringle maneuver was applied for 90 minutes (n= 6) or 120 minutes (n= 6). Another 12 animals underwent liver resection by IVC (20 minutes of ischemia alternated with 5 minutes of reperfusion) for 60 minutes (n = 6) or 120 minutes (n = 6) of inflow vascular control. At 90 minutes of liver ischemia, the IPC group demonstrated lower levels of asportate aminotransferase (AST) (173 +/- 53 vs. 265 +/- 106 IU; p =0.089) and malondialdehyde (NIDA) (2.60 +/- 1.03 vs. 5.33 +/- 2.25 mu mol/L; p =0.022) and higher liver tissue cAMP (200 +/- 42 vs. 146 +/- 40 pmol/g wet wt, p = 0.04) compared to the IVC group. However, no pathologic differences were observed between the two groups. By contrast, at 120 minutes of liver ischemia, IVC proved to be more beneficial, reflected by lower levels of AST (448 +/- 135 vs. 857 +/- 268 IU; p = 0.006) and MDA (8.33 +/- 1.75 vs. 12.7 +/- 4.31 mu mol/L; (p = 0.045), a higher cAMP level (127 +/- 10 vs. 97 31 pmol/g wet wt p = 0.045), and eventually less cellular necrosis (necrosis score 1.66 +/- 0.51 vs. 2.85 +/- 1.16; p = 0.04) compared to the IPC group. It appears that IPC should be employed when liver ischemia is anticipated to last less than 90 minutes, followed by IVC when the liver ischemia is expected to last 120 minutes

Using synchrotron radiation to study iron phases in Saharan dust samples from Athens skies

<p>A poster presented at HNPS2012 held in NCSR "Demokritos" 24-25.05.2012</p

Using synchrotron radiation to study iron phases in Saharan dust samples from Athens skies

<p>A poster presented at HNPS2013 (http://nuclpart.phys.uoa.gr/HNPS/HNPS2013) held in Athens 31.05-01.06.2013</p

New insights into hydrothermal vent processes in the unique shallow-submarine arc-volcano, Kolumbo (Santorini), Greece

We report on integrated geomorphological, mineralogical, geochemical and biological investigations of the hydrothermal vent field located on the floor of the density-stratified acidic (pH ~ 5) crater of the Kolumbo shallow-submarine arc-volcano, near Santorini. Kolumbo features rare geodynamic setting at convergent boundaries, where arc-volcanism and seafloor hydrothermal activity are occurring in thinned continental crust. Special focus is given to unique enrichments of polymetallic spires in Sb and Tl (±Hg, As, Au, Ag, Zn) indicating a new hybrid seafloor analogue of epithermal-to-volcanic-hosted-massive-sulphide deposits. Iron microbial-mat analyses reveal dominating ferrihydrite-type phases, and high-proportion of microbial sequences akin to Nitrosopumilus maritimus , a mesophilic Thaumarchaeota strain capable of chemoautotrophic growth on hydrothermal ammonia and CO2. Our findings highlight that acidic shallow-submarine hydrothermal vents nourish marine ecosystems in which nitrifying Archaea are important and suggest ferrihydrite-type Fe3+-(hydrated)-oxyhydroxides in associated low-temperature iron mats are formed by anaerobic Fe2+-oxidation, dependent on microbially produced nitrate