Hunting for valuables from landfills and assessing their market opportunities A case study with Kudjape landfill in Estonia

Landfill mining is an alternative technology that merges the ideas of material recycling and sustainable waste management. This paper reports a case study to estimate the value of landfilled materials and their respective market opportunities, based on a full-scale landfill mining project in Estonia. During the project, a dump site (Kudjape, Estonia) was excavated with the main objectives of extracting soil-like final cover material with the function of methane degradation. In total, about 57,777 m3 of waste was processed, particularly the uppermost 10-year layer of waste. Manual sorting was performed in four test pits to determine the detailed composition of wastes. 11,610 kg of waste was…

On the way to ‘zero waste’ management: Recovery potential of elements, including rare earth elements, from fine fraction of waste

Abstract Existing schemes of solid waste handling have been improved implementing advanced systems for recovery and reuse of various materials. Nowadays, the ‘zero waste’ concept is becoming more topical through the reduction of disposed waste. Recovery of metals, nutrients and other materials that can be returned to the material cycles still remain as a challenge for future. Landfill mining (LFM) is one of the approaches that can deal with former dumpsites, and derived materials may become important for circular economy within the concept ‘beyond the zero waste’. Perspectives of material recovery can include recycling of critical industrial metals, including rare earth elements (REEs). The…

From the Beehives: Identification and Comparison of Physicochemical Properties of Algerian Honey

In this study, the authors aimed at characterizing 11 Algerian kinds of honey taken from various geographical locations (beehives located at Djelfa (Medjbara and Dzaira), Laghouat, Aflou, Medea, Tiaret, Sidi bel-Abbes, Tiaret, Ain-Safra, Mostaganem, El Bayadh, and Ghardïa). The authors investigated the physicochemical parameters of these honey samples, including density, water content, electrical conductivity, ash content, pH, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content, free acidity, and color. The physicochemical parameters obtained were found to be within acceptable ranges according to the international standards (Codex Alimentarius) for 9 out of 11 analyzed samples: density 1.38–1.50 g/cm3 (the…

Environmental Quality of Groundwater in Contaminated Areas—Challenges in Eastern Baltic Region

The lack of water in the future will force society to find more sophisticated solutions for treatment and improvement of groundwater wherever it comes from. Contamination of soil and groundwater is a legacy of modern society, prevention of contaminants spread and secondary water reuse options shall be considered. The aim of the book chapter is to give oversight view on problems and challenges linked to groundwater quality in Eastern Baltic region whilst through case studies explaining the practical problems with groundwater monitoring, remediation and overall environmental quality analysis. The reader will get introduced with case studies in industry levels as credibility of scientific fund…

Stabilization and Solidification Technology Implementation in Latvia: First Studies

Soil and groundwater are environmental compartments that are primarily affected by industrial development with increasing amount of industrial wastes and inadequate dumping of them. A special attention should be paid to heavy metal contamination at least 56 contaminated territories of National priority are known as contaminated with heavy metals in different amount and concentration in Latvia. The stabilization / solidification technology refers to binding of waste contaminants to a more chemically stable form and thus diminishing leaching of contamination. In order to choose the remediation method the pre-investigation in industrial case study area was done in stages: data analysis of prev…

Dual-purpose wheat technology: a tool for ensuring food security and livestock sustainability in cereal-based cropping pattern

Wheat cultivation under a dual-purpose (DP) system holds great potential to provide additional fodder for livestock with marginal grain reduction. This study explores the potential of wheat as a DP...

FeOOH and Mn8O10Cl3modified zeolites for As(V) removal in aqueous medium

BACKGROUND Arsenic in drinking water poses serious potential health risks in more than 30 countries with total affected population of around 100 million people. The present study is devoted to the development of innovative sorbents based on zeolite materials for As(V) sorption by modifying raw materials with iron oxyhydroxide and manganese oxychloride. Natural clinoptilolite and synthetic zeolite A were modified in order to obtain improved sorption of As(V). Sorption properties of newly developed sorbents were studied. Zeolites containing natural clinoptilolite are chosen due to relatively low cost and their broad use in industrial production as well as characteristic large surface area. RE…

Dataset of trace elements concentrations in snow samples collected in Jelgava City (Latvia) in December 2020

Abstract The data set provided in this article consist of two repeated data sets of chemical elements concentrations in snow samples. The snow samples were collected in Jelgava city at December 15th with 5 day exposition time. Snow samples were collected in 59 monitoring points in Jelgava city and in one sample in rural area monitoring point as control. The collected snow samples were melted, acidified with HNO3 and analysed with ICP-MS. The samples were analysed Aluminium (Al), Silicon (Si), Chrome (Cr), Manganese (Mn), Iron (Fe), Nickel (Ni), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Arsenic (As), Molybdenum (Mo), Cadmium (Cd), Barium (Ba), Tungsten (W), Lead (Pb). The collected data are with fundamental s…

Field-portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry as rapid measurement tool for landfill mining operations: comparison of field data vs. laboratory analysis

Landfill mining applied in reclamation at the territories of old dump sites and landfills is a known approach tended to global economic and environmental benefits as recovery of metals and energy i...

The Impact of Humic Substances as Remediation Agents to the Speciation Forms of Metals in Soil

Abstract Humic substances (HS) are the most widespread group of organic substances in natural environment and have high stability. The main terrestrial reserves are found in the form of naturally occurring ore, peat or lignite. The aim of this paper is to study possibilities to use HS as agents for remediation of contaminated with heavy metals soil and impacts of HS of metal speciation forms in it. It has been proved that HS are able to bind to metal ions and change their speciation forms in soils. The ability to form complexes with metal ions depends on the type of soil, type of metal, as well as concentrations of HS in soil. The study was carried out in experimental conditions and analyti…

Heavy metal remediation technologies in Latvia: possible applications and preliminary case study results / Technologie remediacji obszarów zanieczyszczonych metalami ciężkimi na Łotwie: możliwe zastosowania i wstępne wyniki badań

Abstract Environmental contamination with heavy metals as a result of anthropogenic activities is not a recent phenomenon. Contaminated sites with heavy metals can be found in functioning as well as abandoned industrial (brownfield) territories, landfills, residential areas with historical contamination, road sides and rarely in polluted sites by natural activities. Pollution data on its amount and concentrations is known from historical studies and monitoring nowadays, but it should be periodically updated for the use of territorial planning or in case of a change of the land use. A special attention should be paid to heavy metal contamination, because in many cases this contamination is m…

Bentonite-ionic liquid composites for Congo red removal from aqueous solutions

Abstract Clay-organic composites have attracted great interest due to their ability to remove various contaminants from wastewater. The surfactants are the most commonly used organic compounds for clay modification. However, cationic surfactants are toxic and can be environmentally hazardous. Ionic liquids are a new promising alternative to the cationic surfactants due to lesser toxicity and appropriate thermal stability. The research aim is to prepare an environmentally friendly new class of clay sorbents modified with ionic liquids for potential applications in wastewater treatment from the textile industry. Imidazolium-based ionic liquids with different lengths of alkyl chains were inter…

Valorization of Marine Waste: Use of Industrial By-Products and Beach Wrack Towards the Production of High Added-Value Products

Biomass is defined as organic matter from living organisms represented in all kingdoms. It is recognized to be an excellent source of proteins, polysaccharides and lipids and, as such, embodies a tailored feedstock for new products and processes to apply in green industries. The industrial processes focused on the valorization of terrestrial biomass are well established, but marine sources still represent an untapped resource. Oceans and seas occupy over 70% of the Earth’s surface and are used intensively in worldwide economies through the fishery industry, as logistical routes, for mining ores and exploitation of fossil fuels, among others. All these activities produce waste. The other sou…

FeOOH-modified clay sorbents for arsenic removal from aqueous solutions

The presence of arsenic (As) in natural and anthropogenic soils causes severe pollution of groundwater due to its harmful carcinogenic effects. The present work describes the research activities for searching of appropriate innovative sorbents based on clay material for As sorption using iron oxy-hydroxide modification. Natural and manufactured clay was chosen for comparison of modification efficiency in order to obtain best sorption results for As(V). The results of pilot testing were obtained and the sorption was studied as a function of initial arsenic concentration. Obtained results indicate that modification of clay with Fe compounds significantly improves the sorption capacity of a ne…

Thermal decomposition study of major refuse derived fuel components

Abstract Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) composed on biomass, paper, textiles, wood, synthetic polymers and other combustible materials is an alternative energy resource to implement Waste-to-Energy strategy. The aim of this study is to investigate the thermal decomposition characteristics of materials forming RDF by thermogravimetric analysis. Thermogravimetric (TG) analysis of RDF components demonstrates major differences in processes behind the thermal decomposition processes of waste components. Biomass decomposition can be divided into two distinct stages for wood, cotton, cotton wool and other biomass samples whereas three distinct stages can be distinguished for cardboard and paper samples…

Potential of biomethane from washed ashore algae in gulf of Riga

Contamination Remediation with Soil Amendments by Immobilization of Heavy Metals

Elektroniskā versija nesatur pielikumus

Small Scale Gasification Application and Perspectives in Circular Economy

Abstract Gasification is the process converting solid fuels as coal and organic plant matter, or biomass into combustible gas, called syngas. Gasification is a thermal conversion process using carbonaceous fuel, and it differs substantially from other thermal processes such as incineration or pyrolysis. The process can be used with virtually any carbonaceous fuel. It is an endothermic thermal conversion process, with partial oxidation being the dominant feature. Gasification converts various feedstock including waste to a syngas. Instead of producing only heat and electricity, synthesis gas produced by gasification may be transformed into commercial products with higher value as transport f…

Chemical speciation of metals from marine sediments : assessment of potential pollution risk while dredging, a case study in southern Sweden

Abstract Contamination associated with metals is a critical concern related to their toxicity, persistence, and bio-accumulation. Trace elements are partitioned into several chemical forms, which some are more labile during fluctuations in the environment. Studying the distribution of metals between the different chemical fractions contributes to assess their bioavailability and to identify their potential risk of contamination to surrounding environments. This study concerns the speciation of metals (Pb, Cr, Ni, Zn and Fe) from sediments coming out from Malmfjarden bay, Sweden. The aim was to assess the potential risk of metal pollution during present and future dredging as well as while u…

Renewable Energy Technologies for Economic Development

Indonesian villages are facing dangerous condition. Every year, young people are deserting the villages. To overcome this problem, Tangsi Jaya hamlet, West Java, has been provided with 18 kW micro-hydro to supply electricity both to the community and to Small Processing Center for ground coffee production. Results of cash flow analysis for ground coffee in Tangsi Jaya hamlet, with total investment of IDR 110 750 000 and discount rate of 18 % for 5 yr. Banyumeneng I hamlet, Yogyakarta with an investment cost IDR 95 000 000 and production cost of IDR 34 195 000 yr–1 and the interest rate of 14 % yr–1, the payback period was estimated to be 3 yr with ROI of 40 %. PEST analysics indicate that t…

Coastal Development of Daugavgrîva Island, Located Near the Gulf of Riga / Rîgas Lîèa Piekrastes Krasta Attîstîba Daugavgrîvas Salâ

Abstract Natural as well as anthropogenic processes impact greatly sensitive coastal areas all over the world. The spectrum of natural processes involved can be classified as meteorological, geological, marine, and lithodynamic. The Baltic Sea with its Gulf of Riga is an area in which combined sea erosion and accumulation processes, as well as alluvial processes, play significant roles in the coastal development. Major anthropogenic processes include impacts from ports and coastal protection structures, such as Riga Port hydraulic structures, fairway channels and coastal defence items. During summer also additional pressure of recreational activities has increased the effect on the coastal …

Devonian Clay Modification for the Improvement of Heavy Metal Sorption Properties

Contamination with heavy metals is an important problem as bioaccumulation effects of those are creating direct and indirect hazards to environment and human health. Contaminated soil remediation can be done by various technologies and using of soil amendments is the one. Clay modification experiments were done to study heavy metal sorption from spiked solutions and leaching from contaminated soils. The aim of this paper is to give an overview of Devonian clay modification possibilities in order to improve heavy metal sorption capacity and immobilization options. Modification was done by using Ca, Na salts, HNO 3 (protonated forms), Fe-oxyhydroxide. Research has shown better sorption due to…

Paradigms on landfill mining: From dump site scavenging to ecosystem services revitalization

For the next century to come, one of the biggest challenges is to provide the mankind with relevant and sufficient resources. Recovery of secondary resources plays a significant role. Industrial processes developed to regain minerals for commodity production in a circular economy become ever more important in the European Union and worldwide. Landfill mining (LFM) constitutes an important technological toolset of processes that regain resources and redistribute them with an accompanying reduction of hazardous influence of environmental contamination and other threats for human health hidden in former dump sites and landfills. This review paper is devoted to LFM problems, historical developm…

Levels and Potential Health Hazards of Chlorinated Pesticidesin Surface Water Samples of Charsadda Area of Pakistan Using SPME-GC-ECD Technique

In the present study, we determined the levels of chlorinated pesticide residues in surface water samples collected from the Charsadda district (KPK, Pakistan). SPME-GC-ECD with COMBI PAL CTC autosampler was used for extraction and analysis of 20 organochlorine pesticides in the collected water samples. For maximum efficiency of the SPME procedure, several parameters were studied, including the extraction and desorption time of the fiber, solution pH, agitation of samples, and stirring speed, etc. This method showed good liner response, with R2 values in the range of 0.9887 to 0.9999 for all pesticides. This method also provided good percent recoveries at 1 µg L−1 (87.5 to 106.0%) and at 2 …

Composite clay sorbents for immobilisation of biomolecules and cells