Landfill mining option: MBT role and landfill potential danger

The use of landfills for the disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) has many technical and regulatory limits. An interesting solution is to recover the bales that have been pre-viously stored in a landfill. After specific mechanical biological treatments (MBT), the contents of the bales can be used to produce a solid recovered fuel (SRF) that can be used for energy purposes. The possibility of producing SRF fuels from a landfill in north-ern Italy has been studied and is presented in this paper. The MSW extracted from the landfill, the bio-dried material produced by the waste hypothetically treated in a plant for bio-drying, and the SRF obtained after the extraction of inert materials, metals and glass from the bio-dried material have been characterized. Assessed the waste nature, the potential environmental impact of dioxin release from a possible landfill fire has been analysed, applying the Austal2000 model syste

Combustione della legna trattata e vergine: aspetti ambientali

An issue of fundamental importance is the waste management, trying to find solutions that can be sustainable. This necessity imposes, when possible, economic profitability of the process and the minimization of environmental pressures. The present work concerns an application conducted on semi-treated wood made in more layers bonded to each other with non-chlorinated organic adhesives. In this way, also the processed waste contains a quantity, even if limited, of adhesive. This situation, according to the existing rules, does not make possible the use of such waste as fuel for energy recovery through combustion. This study evaluates different types of wood waste, virgin and semi-treated, plywood products from carpenters and submit them to a specific experimental activity, defined comparatively to check if the wood for building semi-treated with the use of non-chlorinated organic adhesives, has emissions that differ appreciably from those of virgin wood if used as fuel for a heat-generation plant. Tests have shown that the quality of the emissions was influenced more by the conduction of the combustion instead of by the characteristics of the fuel, in relation to the possible presence of small quantities of glue (vinyl with hardener or polyurethane)

Unconventional reducing gases monitoring in everyday places

Air pollution, be it indoors or outdoors, is a major environmental health concern as it can lead to serious health effects, such as respiratory diseases, including asthma and lung cancer. Much progress has been made in Europe in improving outdoor air quality and limit values have been set for several pollutant. However, indoor air quality also requires attention because this is where we spend most of our time. Measurements at appropriate spatial and temporal scales are essential for understanding and monitoring heterogeneous environments with complex and highly variable emission sources, such as in urban areas. However, the costs and complexity of conventional air quality measurements methods means that measurement networks are generally extremely sparse. Low-cost, easy-to-use sensors to monitor air quality are exploded in recent years. They can be considered the \u201cnext-generation air monitors\u201d. The data collected might be used to improve communities and, eventually, affect how air quality is monitored and regulated. They are marketed as tools to empower citizen to learn about the air they breathe and to use their findings to take actions. Therefore, the development of low-cost air quality sensors, an increasingly aware and engaged public, and a government more willing to accept and help citizen collect data could mark a turning point in how air pollution is monitored and addressed in the country. In this study, measures of reducing gases were taken in indoor and outdoor unconventional environments, poorly investigated in the past. The levels of these gases were investigated by means of a SensordroneTM low-cost multi-sensor in a household kitchen and in three different gas stations. The results highlight that these sensors well interpret the qualitative behavior of the oxide - reduction reactions. Future technologies could link reducing gas\u2019 concentrations with value of electrical resistance. These developments will allow a better control of human exposure to air pollution also in other sectors as biological treatments of waste and industrial sectors where fugitive emissions are still a problem.Air pollution, be it indoors or outdoors, is a major environmental health concern as it can lead to serious health effects, such as respiratory diseases, including asthma and lung cancer. Much progress has been made in Europe in improving outdoor air quality and limit values have been set for several pollutants. However, indoor air quality also requires attention because this is where we spend most of our time. Measurements at appropriate spatial and temporal scales are essential for understanding and monitoring heterogeneous environments with complex and highly variable emission sources, such as in urban areas. However, the costs and complexity of conventional air quality measurements methods means that measurement networks are generally extremely sparse. Low-cost, easy-to-use sensors to monitor air quality are exploded in recent years. They can be considered the next-generation air monitors. The data collected might be used to improve communities and, eventually, affect how air quality is monitored and regulated. They are marketed as tools to empower citizen to learn about the air they breathe and to use their findings to take actions. Therefore, the development of low-cost air quality sensors, an increasingly aware and engaged public, and a government more willing to accept and help citizen collect data could mark a turning point in how air pollution is monitored and addressed in the country. In this study, measures of reducing gases were taken in indoor and outdoor unconventional environments, poorly investigated in the past. The levels of these gases were investigated by means of a Sensordrone(TM) low-cost multi-sensor in a household kitchen and in three different gas stations. The results highlight that these sensors well interpret the qualitative behavior of the oxide - reduction reactions. Future technologies could link reducing gas concentrations with value of electrical resistance. These developments will allow a better control of human exposure to air pollution also in other sectors as biological treatments of waste and industrial sectors where fugitive emissions are still a problem. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd

Dioxin contamination after a hypothetical accidental fire in baled municipal solid waste storage

Landfill management usually entails dealing with the production of leachate and the formation of biogas, with the related environmental and public health concerns. One element that tends not to be investigated, is the risk of a fire with the consequent emission of toxic substances, especially dioxins. This study focuses on the case of an existing landfill in which the waste is placed in cylindrical wrapped bales, and where for the purposes of this study, the burning of the waste mass was hypothesized. The Austal2000 model system was used in order to estimate the average air concentrations and the deposition values of PCDD/F.The analysis showed that a landfill may be at risk in terms of fire potential with the consequent release of dioxins. Storage in bales, for various reasons, increases this risk. The analysis of the effects show that the environment and public health would be very seriously compromised. The recovery of the chosen landfill is therefore necessary, especially given the potential dioxin release. The presented analysis wants to be a warning for decision makers who could choose to implement large bale storages without an adequate attention to fire prevention.Landfill management usually entails dealing with the production of leachate and the formation of biogas, with the related environmental and public health concerns. One element that tends not to be investigated, is the risk of a fire with the consequent emission of toxic substances, especially dioxins. This study focuses on the case of an existing landfill in which the waste is placed in cylindrical wrapped bales, and where for the purposes of this study, the burning of the waste mass was hypothesized. The Austa12000 model system was used in order to estimate the average air concentrations and the deposition values of PCDD/F.The analysis showed that a landfill may be at risk in terms of fire potential with the consequent release of dioxins. Storage in bales, for various reasons, increases this risk. The analysis of the effects show that the environment and public health would be very seriously compromised. The recovery of the chosen landfill is therefore necessary, especially given the potential dioxin release. The presented analysis wants to be a warning for decision makers who could choose to implement large bale storages without an adequate attention to fire prevention

Biochemical methane potential assays to test the biogas production from the anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge and other organic matrices

8sinoneThe present paper shows the results of some anaerobic digestion batch assays carried out with the objective to test the biochemical methane potential of a sewage sludge taken from a wastewater treatment plant in Varese (Northern Italy). In order to optimize the waste treatment and consequently to increase the energetic yield of the process, some biological and chemical pre-treatments were applied to enhance the hydrolytic step. These pre-treatments mainly consisted of adding external enzymes or a nutrient solution able to create the optimal conditions for the reaction start-up. In addition, different organic matrices were added to sewage sludge with the aim of testing the benefits achievable by using co-digestion. The method used to check the biochemical methane potential was based on a volumetric test, which converted the displacement of a liquid barrier into the measure of biogas production. In order to do so, each assay was developed by using three different positions running in parallel.restrictedMorosini, C.; Conti, F.; Torretta, V.; Rada, E.C.; Passamani, G.; Schiavon, M.; Cioca, L.I.; Ragazzi, M.Morosini, Cristiana; Conti, Fabio; Torretta, Vincenzo; Rada, E. C.; Passamani, G.; Schiavon, M.; Cioca, L. I.; Ragazzi, M

Methodological critical issues for the assessment of the environmental impacts from transport of marble; a case study

The marble mining is very important for the Italian economy and has important traditions, especially in some areas of the Country. Among these, the area of the Dolomites in Val Venosta, located in Trentino, one of the North-East italian regions. In many cases, these quarries are very old and often are located in areas with high natural value. This work regards two quarries, which are located within an important national park. The need to reduce the environmental effects related to the traffic of trucks used for the transport of marble from the quarries to the processing plants, has led us to make assessments on the methodology to be applied. This paper presents the methodological approach identified to determine the best technical solution among several alternatives regarding the transport of marble. The validation of the methodology has its natural outlet in the application of a real case