INDICATORS FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CASE STUDY: PAPER MANUFACTURING

The paper describes a framework for promoting sustainability by using indicators for sustainable production. The concept of sustainable production is described as it is viewed by various organisms actions involved in the analysis of the sustainable industrial systems.The measure of sustainability is approached considering indicators of sustainable production, addressing both their dimensions and qualitative and quantitative features.The proposed framework refines the sustainability dimension for a case study which envisages sustainability in paper manufacturing. The analysis takes into account the life cycle analysis for the considered process since the environmental impact is seen as an essential sustainability indicator. Paper recycling and reuse is associated environmental and social costs, as a preferred alternative in waste minimization hierarchy in the manufacturing of non-trees eco-friendly paper.Proactive initiatives to improve the environmental performances of production process are considered as powerful tools for improving the paper manufacturing environmental footprint

Artificial neural network applied in forecasting the composition of municipal solid waste in Iasi, Romania

Neural network time series (NNTS) tool was used to predict municipal solid waste composition in Iasi, Romania. The nonlinear input output (NIO) time series model and nonlinear autoregressive model with external (exogenous) input (NARX) included in this tool were selected. The coefficient of determination (R2) and root mean square error (RMSE) were chosen for evaluation. By applying NIO, the optimum model is 4-11-6 artificial neural network (ANN, R2 = 0.929) in the case of testing as for the validation, with all 0.849 and 0.885, respectively. Applying NARX, the suitable model became 4-13-6 ANN model, with R2 = 0.999 for training, 0.879 for testing, and 0.931, respectively 0.944 for validation and all. The resulted RMSE is zero for training and 0.0109 for validation in the case of this model which had 4 inputs, 13 neurons and 6 outputs. The four input variables were: number of residents, population aged 15–59 years, urban life expectancy, total municipal solid waste (ton/year). The suitable ANN model revealed the lowest root mean square error and the highest coefficient of determination. Results indicate that NNTS tool is a complex instrument, NARX is more accurate than NIO model, and can be used and applied easily

The role of Arthrobacter viscosus in the removal of Pb(II) from aqueous solutions

The aim of this paper was to establish the optimum parameters for the biosorption of Pb(II) by dead and living Arthrobacter viscosus biomass from aqueous solution. It was found that at an initial pH of 4 and 26 °C, the dead biomass was able to remove 97% of 100 mg/L Pb(II), while the living biomass removed 96% of 100 mg/L Pb(II) at an initial pH of 6 and 28 ± 2 °C. The results were modeled using various kinetic and isotherm models so as to find out the mechanism of Pb(II) removal by A. viscosus. The modeling results indicated that Pb(II) biosorption by A. viscosus was based on a chemical reaction and that sorption occurred at the functional groups on the surface of the biomass. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (SEM-EDX) analyses confirmed these findings. The suitability of living biomass as biosorbent in the form of a biofilm immobilized on star-shaped polyethylene supports was also demonstrated. The results suggest that the use of dead and living A. viscosus for the removal of Pb(II) from aqueous solutions is an effective alternative, considering that up to now it has only been used in the form of biofilms supported on different zeolites.This paper was elaborated with the support of: BRAIN ‘Doctoral scholarships as an investment in intelligence’ project ID 6681, financed by the European Social Found and Romanian Government and Romanian National Authority for Scientific Research, CNCS – UEFISCDI grant PN-II-IDPCE- 2011-3-0559, Contract 265/2011. It was also supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684) and Bio- TecNorte operation (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004) funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte 2020 - Programa Operacional Regional do Norte.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Decolorization of aqueous effluents using agro waste

In this study, the potential of agrowaste for a food dye sequestration from aqueous effluents was investigated. Initially, four local agrowaste waste namely pumpkin seed hull, bean null, oat straw and nut shells, were tested in natural condition. Bean hull (BH) revealed the best uptake capacity for Food Red 14 (FR14). The agro waste was characterised before and after dye sorption process using SEM and FTIR techniques. Those analyses were conducted in order to identify the principal connections contributing to the sorption process. The point of zero charge of BH surface, pHpzc was assessed at 4.6, which indicated a mostly acidic surface, favorable for dye adsorption at pH<6, when the sorbent is positively charged. The dye removal efficiency of the adsorbent has been established in relation to some factors, such as: pH, amount of adsorbent, dye initial concentration, contact time and temperature. In order to make the sorption process predictable, four empirical isotherms and four kinetics models were applied to the experimental data so as to enact the nature of the sorption process. Attempts have also been made for sorbent viability by testing different solvents for FR14 desorption. FTIR spectra reveal the main bands in FR14 sorption process: that at 1450 cm-1 corresponding to C=C bond from the aromatic ring appears greatly diminished for FR14-BH after the sorption process and suggests a horizontal orientation of the molecules. The movement of the band at 3442 cm-1, corresponding to -OH groups, to lower wave number suggests lower involvement of these groups in the sorption process. The others band movement from BH spectra after the sorption process is due to physical interactions (hydrogen bond, van der Waals force) that occur between functional groups of sorbent and dye. The present study shows that the agro-waste bean hull is very effective as biosorbent for Food Red 14 removal from aqueous solutions, from a large range of dye concentration in aqueous solutions (5-400 mg L-1) in batch system. Since the agricultural wastes used in this study are friendly, abundantly and locally available, the sorbents are economically viable for aqueous effluents decolorization

Costs analysis of municipal solid waste management scenarios: IASI – Romania case study

Effective management of solid waste has become environmentally and economically mandatory due to the increase of environmental problems. In this context, the evaluation of economic aspects is imperative since the implementation of a solid waste management system is connected with considerable investment and operating costs. The goal of this study is to assess and report the performance of various waste management scenarios in terms of costs and to determine the most suitable alternative. For this purpose, we analyzed a case study in a typical Romanian urban area, in terms of the economic impacts of four waste management scenarios. The economic evaluation was performed based on a cost structure, which we have elaborated to analyze the waste management scenarios from a cost perspective. The results indicated that the most suitable alternative for implementation from economic viewpoint in the studied area is scenario which included the following treatment/elimination methods: sorting, composting and landfilling

Recent advances in biosorption of heavy metals: support tools for biosorption equilibrium, kinetics and mechanism

Heavy metals are increasingly present in industrial wastes and effluents, which can generate serious concerns for environmental quality and human health. Consequently, there is a continuous expansion of researches for new approaches and developments to guarantee environmental cleaning-up. Although there are some physico-chemical established methods for the removal of heavy metals from various environmental compartments, biosorption gains further confidence as a reliable alternative compared to classical technologies, which are expensive and sometimes unreliable. This paper aims to analyze the biosorption as a biotechnological strategy for the decontamination of aqueous effluents containing heavy metal ions, in terms of its potential for metal immobilization and uptake. The paper also focuses on the most important parameters affecting the removal of heavy metals by various categories of biosorbents both living and non-living forms of biomass and provides new alternatives for modeling and optimization of process equilibrium and kinetics. A special attention was paid to biosorption mechanism, as a factual challenge for process optimization and scale-up. The potential benefits and problems associated to metal removal by biosorption are highlighted.Roumanian National Authority for Scientific Research, CNCS – UEFISCDI, project number PN-II-ID-PCE-2011-3-0559”, Contract 265/2011

Bioremediation: an overview on current practices, advances, and new perspectives in environmental pollution treatment

[Excerpt] Environmental pollution generated the need to search for new environmentally friendly, low-cost, and more efficient environmental clean-up techniques for its removal or reduction. Bioremediation, a branch of environmental biotechnology, is nowadays considered as one of the most promising alternatives. This technology uses the amazing ability of microorganisms or plants to accumulate, detoxify, degrade, or remove environmental contaminants. Bioremediation provides the transformation and/or even removal of organic and inorganic pollutants, even when they are present at low concentration. Continuous efforts are still made to understand the mechanisms by which microorganisms and plants remove or transform environmental pollutants. Thus, the purpose of this special issue was to explore different visions on bioremediation, while addressing recent advances and new ideas in the perspective of efficient process scale-up in view of application at larger scales. Authors’ contributions cover various topics with a range of papers including original research and review articles spanning studies in remediation of different environments which outline new findings in the biotechnology field. This special issue contains five papers including one review article and four original research articles. A brief description of these five manuscripts is detailed below. [...]We would like to extend our gratitude to all the authors who submitted their work for consideration in our special issue and to reviewers for their critical feedback. Contributions of Raluca Maria Hlihor and Maria Gavrilescu to this special issue were supported by a grant of the Romanian National Authority for Scientific Research,CNCS-UEFISCDI (Project no. PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2016-0683, Contract no. 65/2017). Teresa Tavares’ contribution is supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the research project PTDC/AAG-TEC/5269/2014, the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684), and BioTecNorte operation (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004) funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the scope of NORTE 2020 (Programa Operacional Regional do Norte).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Solid waste management in Romania

Pollution and health risks generated by improper solid waste management are important issues concerning environmental management in developing countries including Romania. In most cities, the use of open dumps in common for the disposal of wastes, resulting in soil and water resource contamination by leachate in addition to odors and fires. Solid waste management infrastructure and services in developing countries are far from achieving basic standards in term of hygiene and efficient collection and disposal. The paper presents an overview of current solid waste management (SWM) practices in Romania and suggests solutions to some of the major problems. Urban and rural waste management is considered and collection, transport, processing, recycling or disposal of waste materials is discussed relative to the National Waste Management Strategy and the National Plan for Waste Management, as well as European and national legislative framework. It was showed that land disposal will continue to be a disposal option but due to stricter regulation. Local and regional authorities are heavily and increasingly involved in the management of waste. In most cases, they are responsible for developing and implementing municipal waste management plans based on the medium to long term. Due to an increase in population and changes in lifestyle, the quantity and quality of MSW in Romania has changed. Lack of infrastructural, suitable planning and public awareness are the main challenges of MSW management in Romania

Metale grele: o sursă de contaminare pentru plantele medicinale şi posibile implicaţii asupra sănătăţii umane

Due to the antioxidant properties of medicinal plants and their beneficial effects on human health, theyare used and consumed as natural medical sources. Despite this, due to the current pollution of environmental compartments (soil, water, air), they can be contaminated with various pollutants. Heavy metals are a category of toxic compounds of great interest, due to the negative action on the environment and human health. Although some heavy metals are important in maintaining the proper functioning of plants, in high concentrations, they can become toxic. In the context of heavy metal pollution of the environment and possible contamination of medicinal plants with these pollutants, the need for chemical analysis of toxic plant compounds is necessary. This paper approaches results from literature which show that medicinal plants can be subjected to contamination with heavy metals, and this has the consequence of altering the normal functions of medicinal plants. Moreover, following consumption through the food chain (soil -plant -human or soil -plant -animal -human), human health may be endangered. This paper also investigates the toxic action of heavy metals in plants, represented, in principle, by the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), enzyme inhibition and damage to antioxidants

Monitoring pesticides degradation in apple fruits and potential effects of residues on human health

The behaviour of 12 pesticides used in the treatment of a variety of apples in areal conditions from a Romanian orchard is studied, considering recommended dosages, different stages of fruit development, environmental and atmospheric conditions. Five treatments were applied in recommended dosage considering the phenological growth phases, at 23 days intervals between treatments. Pesticides degraded quickly in apples during the first days, when 30–50% from the initial concentration is lost. Pesticides residues at harvesting were below the Maximum Residue Level (MRL) in European Union, excepting tebuconazole and chlorothalonil. The estimated lifetime exposure dose was calculated based on pesticide concentrations in apples at harvesting, and average fruit consumption of 197.08 g/ person/day in EU-27 during 2011. These doses for adults and children were below the reference dose (RfD) for each pesticide, suggesting a negligible risks for consumers. Hazard indices below 1 demonstrate that the studied pesticides do not generate health risks to humans. First published online: 18 Mar 201