Search results for "Environmental engineering"
showing 10 items of 2674 documents
Understanding water energy nexus in drinking water provision: an eco-efficiency assessment of water companies
2022
Producción Científica
Estimation of biogas produced by the landfill of Palermo, applying a Gaussian model
2008
Abstract In this work, a procedure is suggested to assess the rate of biogas emitted by the Bellolampo landfill (Palermo, Italy), starting from the data acquired by two of the stations for monitoring meteorological parameters and polluting gases. The data used refer to the period November 2005–July 2006. The methane concentration, measured in the CEP suburb of Palermo, has been analysed together with the meteorological data collected by the station situated inside the landfill area. In the present study, the methane has been chosen as a tracer of the atmospheric pollutants produced by the dump. The data used for assessing the biogas emission refer to night time periods characterized by weak…
Economic feasibility study for intensive and extensive wastewater treatment considering greenhouse gases emissions
2013
Economic feasibility assessments represent a key issue for selecting which wastewater treatment processes should be implemented. The few applications that exist focus on the positive economic value of externalities, overlooking the existence of negative externalities. However, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) consume a significant amount of energy, contributing to climate change. In this context, as a pioneering approach, greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) have been incorporated as a negative externality of wastewater treatment. Within this framework, this study aims to compare the economic feasibility of five technologies, both intensive and extensive, for small communities. The results sho…
Compatibility of surfactants with activated-persulfate for the selective oxidation of PAH in groundwater remediation
2017
Abstract Surfactants foam technology can improve the in situ remediation of hydrophobic organic contaminants by enhancing their solubility and the delivery of remediation chemicals. However, the presence of surfactants may impair the effectiveness of the selective oxidation of those contaminants. To tackle the issue, kinetics and selectivity of phenanthrene (PHE) oxidation in aqueous suspensions and its affecting factors including surfactant concentration (CS) and nature, temperature and persulfate (PS) concentration were studied. Significant differences in selectivity were observed between surfactants, reflecting Coulomb interactions with the anionic oxidizers. Lauryl Betaine (LB) stood ou…
Development ofBifidobacterium lactis Bb 12 onβ-(2,6)-Linked Fructan-Containing Substrate
2004
β-(2,1)-linked fructan of plant origin (inulin) and the related oligosaccharides (FOS) as non-digestible carbohydrates, i.e., potent prebiotics, can stimulate the growth of various probiotic lactic acid bacteria, including a number of bifidobacteria strains. The related (3-(2,6)-linked fructans of microbial origin (levan and FOS), however, have scarcely been investigated in this respect. Therefore, the bifidogenic properties of various fructans, i.e., inulin, levan, fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and fructan syrup (FS), were tested as glucose substitutes in MRS media and were compared concerning their effect on the commercial strain Bifidobacterium lactis Bb 12. Although glucose was the prefe…
The effects of anthropogenic particulate emissions on roadway dust and Nerium oleander leaves in Messina (Sicily, Italy)
2003
Complementary studies on the inorganic chemical composition of Nerium oleander leaves collected in the town of Messina (Sicily, Italy) and seven grain-size fractions of local roadway dust have been carried out. Data and maps are presented to show that the particulate matter present in the air of Messina contains trace elements significantly in excess with respect to the average continental earth crust. The anomalies follow the outline of the urban area, the highest concentrations of trace elements being observed where traffic density is highest. Chemical and isotopic analyses of both road dust and Nerium oleander leaves indicate that Pb contamination still characterizes roads with heavy tra…
Agroecological engineering
2015
Earth has recently entered the new era of the Anthropocene, during which the rise of human activities are impacting for the first time ecosystems and climate on the global scale. Since the 1960s the green revolution has improved food production in quantity using industrially-designed agriculture, which has led to global pollution by pesticides and losses of food quality, biodiversity and soil carbon. As a consequence there is a need to implement agroecological practices in order to produce food safely and in a sustainable way. This virtual issue presents principles and applications of agroecological engineering, exemplified in 19 selected review articles from the journal Agronomy for Sustai…
Glyphosate-based herbicide has soil-mediated effects on potato glycoalkaloids and oxidative status of a potato pest
2020
Glyphosate is the most used herbicide worldwide, targeting physiological pathways in plants. Recent studies have shown that glyphosate can also cause toxic effects in animals. We investigated the glyphosate-based herbicide (GBH)-induced changes in potato (Solanum tuberosum) plant chemistry and the effects of a GBH on the survival rate and oxidative status of the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata). The beetles were reared on potato plants grown in pots containing soil treated with a GBH (Roundup Gold, 450 g/l) or untreated soil (water control). The 2nd instar larvae were introduced to the potato plants and then collected in 2 phases: as 4th instar larvae and as adults. The ma…
Neuroplasticity and environment: A pharmacotherapeutic approach toward preclinical and clinical understanding
2021
International audience; Emerging research in the field of behavioral neuroscience has demonstrated the fundamental role of the cerebral organization. For brain development, various important functions are required for instance synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis. This property is described in terms of neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity denotes the extraordinary ability of the brain for the recognition of its structure and function after an experience with some external stimuli and involves in the various behavioral processes of the brain such as cognitive functions. It has multiple factors that can range from gene alteration to environmental factors. Environmental factors exert both negative…
Start-Up of Chitosan-Assisted Anaerobic Sludge Bed Reactors Treating Light Oxygenated Solvents under Intermittent Operation
2021
Quality of the granular sludge developed during the start-up of anaerobic up-flow sludge bed reactors is of crucial importance to ensure the process feasibility of treating industrial wastewater such as those containing solvents. In this study, the microbial granule formation from suspended-growth biomass was investigated in two chitosan-assisted reactors. These reactors operated mimicking industrial sites working with night closures treating a mixture of ethanol, ethyl acetate, and 1-ethoxy-2-propanol. Each reactor operated under different hydrodynamic regimes typical from UASB (R1: <