Modeling for use of water in agriculture

The present paper examines and evaluates the results of a survey carried out to define the criteria for restoring the surface water of the karstic stream "Gravina" (Southern-Italy). The stream runs through a watershed including several agricultural areas. The stream shows an environmental heterogeneity which is of great value to the conservation of biodiversity. The analysis supports a more general water pollution control strategy aimed at safeguarding natural water quality in the urbanized watershed with the aim, also, to reuse partially the water in agriculture. The methodology was based on the surface water sampling, quality parameter analysis and simulation by modelling. The variation and compatibility of wastewater discharge and water stream quality were verified by using a model available in literature in function of biodegradable pollutant load and dissolved oxygen. Several scenarios based on the fixed yield of treatment plants were examined

The applicability of electrical current based treatment for the remediation of different types of polluted soils contaminated by organic compounds

2Environmental pollution is considered a serious problem in Europe, and it has been regulated by several directives and regulations, with the purpose to limit the amount of pollutants that reaches the environment. Five years ago, on the 1st of January 2007, Romania became one of the European Union members. In the next years Romania had to comply and apply with the EU directives in all areas but especially in the field of the contaminated sites. Presently the Romanian regulations regarding the contaminated sites are not very developed and must be enhanced. In this paper, a PhD research is presented. In the frame of a co-supervised doctorate, in 2007 an international scientific collaboration between the Politehnica University of Bucharest and the University of Trento, Italy, was signed in order to go on with the development of studies on remediation technologies for contaminated sites. The idea started from the need, especially, of the Romanian side, to identify alternative treatments for soils polluted mainly with petroleum products. The main objective of this paper is to present the results regarding the effect of electrochemical treatment applied on the contaminated soil. Three types of matrix and two types of contamination were tested.nonenoneRada, Elena Cristina; Istrate, Irina AuraRada, Elena Cristina; Istrate, Irina Aur

Municipal solid waste management in Italian and Romanian tourist areas

Tourism is a great source of employment and income in the economies of many regions, but also a source of environmental impacts. The main consequences are the increase of generation of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and the effects in their management. The tourist presence affects the territory in terms of amount produced of MSW, but also of quality of Selective Collection (SC). In this paper three case studies are analysed in order to see the possible criticality in waste management about these areas and also taking into account strategies of energy recovery from Residual Municipal Solid Waste (RMSW). The case studies concern a tourist area in the North of Italy and one in the South of Italy, while another one in a Romanian region. In the summer season (June-August) the increase in waste production is clearly visible according to the Italian data. The opposite behaviour is observed for percentage of SC. The tourists’ behaviour influences negatively the SC's efficiency, above all in the South Italy case

Noise and air pollution from urban traffic

Together with the atmospheric emission of pollutants, noise can affect the health of the population. In particular, urban traffic is important when considering population health, because of its proximity to the receptors. In comparison with other pollutants, the control of environmental noise has been hampered by insufficient knowledge of its effects on people and of dose-response relationships, as well as by a lack of defined criteria. Due to the high levels of external noise and interior noise, the difficulties are in communication and a series of nonspecific symptoms: irritability, headache, palpitations, sleep disorders, stress. Concerning air pollution, the health of the population is directly influenced by primary emissions or atmospheric transformation from motor vehicles. Few studies have characterized the spatial correlation between both factors, air pollutants and noise, thus this paper, based on urban noise measurements, presents preliminary data on noise levels in a European capital and a discussion where interactions with air quality are dealt with. Data demonstrates that the urban structure of the analysed city cannot guarantee an adequate protection of the population against noise, because of the interactions between neighbouring areas

Management of waste electric and electronic equipments in two EU countires: a comparison

The paper presents some data regarding waste electrical and electronic (WEEE) management in one of the founding countries of the EU, Italy, and in a recent entry into the EU, Romania. The aim of this research was to analyze some problems that countries entering the EU will have to solve with respect to WEEE management. The experiences of Italy and Romania could provide an interesting reference point. The strengths and weaknesses that the two EU countries have encountered can be used in order to give a more rational plan for other countries. In Italy the increase of WEEE collection was achieved in parallel with the increase of the efficiency of selective Municipal Solid Waste collection. In Romania, pilot experiences were useful to increase the awareness of the population. The different interests of the two populations towards recyclable waste led to a different scenario: in Romania all types of WEEE have been collected since the entrance into the EU; in Italy the "interest" in recycling is typically related to large household appliances, with a secondary role of lighting equipment

Trattamenti biologici e chimici combinati con DCT per terreni inquinati da composti organici

I suoli contaminati da sostanze organiche sono una problematica importante a livello europeo: in alcune aree rappresentano la principale causa d\u2019inquinamento, o la seconda dopo la contaminazione da smaltimento di rifiuti. In questo lavoro si presentano risultati di un\u2019attivit\ue0 sperimentale che confronta tre metodologie di bonifica dei siti contaminati, basate su campi elettrici. Un trattamento singolo (elettro-risanamento), e due trattamenti combinati: fito-elettrochimico e l\u2019elettro-ossidazione (combinazione di un trattamento chimico e uno a DCT). Il suolo trattato \ue8 stato prelevato da un\u2019ex area industriale dedicata alla raffinazione del petrolio, compresa tra due strade: una statale e una ad uso industriale. Sono stati prelevati nove campioni di terreno a due differenti profondit\ue0: 0,2 e 0,4 m. La caratterizzazione iniziale del terreno ha evidenziato una densit\ue0 di 1,5 g cm-\ub3 e un\u2019umidit\ue0 di circa il 20% mentre dal punto di vista della granulometria 50% del suolo aveva particelle con diametro minore di 0,08 mm. Il trattamento elettrochimico e quello di elettrossidazione sono stati sviluppati su un impianto pilota in grado di trattare circa 500 kg di terreno, mentre la prova di fito-elettrorisanamento \ue8 stata eseguita in un reattore in grado di trattarne 11 kg di terreno

Modelling for use of water in agricolture

The present paper examines and evaluates the results of a survey carried out to define the criteria for restoring the surface water of the karstic stream “Gravina” (Southern-Italy). The stream runs through a watershed including several agricultural areas. The stream shows an environmental heterogeneity which is of great value to the conservation of biodiversity. The analysis supports a more general water pollution control strategy aimed at safeguarding natural water quality in the urbanized watershed with the aim, also, to reuse partially the water in agriculture. The methodology was based on the surface water sampling, quality parameter analysis and simulation by modelling. The variation and compatibility of wastewater discharge and water stream quality were verified by using a model available in literature in function of biodegradable pollutant load and dissolved oxygen. Several scenarios based on the fixed yield of treatment plants were examined

Removal of Benzene from oil refinery wastewater treatment plant exchausted gases with a multi-stage biofiltration pilot plant

Benzene removal from exhausted gases is a tricky issue and is usually carried out by the means of chemical processes. Such systems require reactants, produce waste and are energy demanding. Biological systems can be a cost-effective solution. The paper presents the results obtained in a multi-stage biological system for benzene and other aromatics removal from exhausted gases of a wastewater treatment plant working with oil refinery pavement wastewaters. The system, based on a bioscrubber, two biotrickling filters and one biofilter, obtained removal efficiencies always over the 70%, also giving good results with fluctuating inlet concentrations

Tyres treatment and disposal: comparison between two situations in the EU

The treatment and disposal of tyres from vehicles has long been an issue of considerable importance to the environmental implications that may exist. The main element of difficulty consists in the mixed composition of the tyres. Studies have been made to modify the structure of the tyres, especially with reference to the percentage of incorporation granulated rubber, in order to improve their operating performances, but also reduce the environmental impact that they cause during the normal functioning (noise, particulates, etc.) and facilitate the process of recycling and final disposal. In the assessment of the environmental implications of different solutions on the composition of the tyres, two aspects result of fundamental importance: the feasibility to easily separate the different components, retrieving them to the recycling processes, and the behaviour on the End-of Life stage of the composite frame. Very different assessments can be made if the final disposal of such a waste finds its place in a landfill, or if it is combusted in a waste to energy combustion system or more. An adequate End-of Life planning can be an important issue when developing a sustainable product, since it can highly influence its overall life cycle performance. The present study aims to make a review on how the used tyres are treated and disposed of in two different countries of the EU, assessing the evolving trend and making comparisons between two important EU realities: Italy, as country with major industrial traditions, being part of the European Union since its inception, and Romania, as emerging country, whose economic and industrial development has had a major boost in recent years, with strong growth in waste production, together with the consumption, in particular in urban areas, and recent inclusion within the European community