All posts by simiecoind

Abstract:
The natural water usually contents a series of the metallic ions, such as: Ca2+, Mg2+, K+ and Na+ that confer the test and quality of water, and also some heavy metals in trace like Ni2+, Al3+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Cu2+ etc that determine the toxicity of water. For obtaining potable water with quality according to European legislation is necessary to apply adequate methods to remove the heavy metals. Water pollution by toxic metals remains an important environmental issue having a major impact on the public health and the economy. This paper present a comparative study of Ca2+ and Ni2+ ions sorption from aqueous solutions on S 930 ion exchange resin. The ion exchange capacity toward Ca2+ and Ni2+ ions depends on the pH values of the aqueous solution, increasing with the increase of pH value in the range of 2 – 6.5 pH unities. Simultaneous sorption on S 930 E of Ca2+ and Ni2+ ions from their binary mixed solutions was studied, the weight ratios between the two metals in the binary systems being 1:2, 1:1; 2:1 and 5:1, by the means of batch experiments performed at 20.0 0.1o C, at different pH values. Among the studied systems, Ni seems to have the strongest affinity for S930 ion exchange resin.

Abstract:
There are presented the results obtained on the degree of transformation of organic and inorganic substances in water units have been performed on laboratory modeling of natural surface waters, particularly small rivers, which often serve as receptors of wastewater discharged. Decomposition of dissolved substances in water under normal conditions takes place under the action of complex processes in chemical and biochemical data. Particular importance is assigned biochemical processes related to the vital activity of microorganisms that can take place both in the presence of oxygen (aerobic conditions) and in his absence (anaerobic). Flowing water, loaded (polluted) with so many residues cannot be treated in a natural way, and optimal conditions for microorganisms in river water based on the principle filtration and oxygenation were created in laboratory conditions. For enrichment of the samples with oxygen was done on artificial aeration by bubbling air at additional time intervals (3 hours). The results show that supplementary oxygen enrichment increases the biochemical oxidation of organic matter and ammonium ions contained in the water, settling organic matter content decrease by approx. 74% after an aeration period of 6 hours and ammonia approx. 86%.

Abstract:
Groundwater extraction provides an important source of water supply. However, human development has been causing major pressures over the aquifers, requiring the identification and monitoring of both water quantity and quality, in order to define management strategies directed to protect water resources. The paper presents a general overview of groundwater monitoring techniques and a summary of sampling procedures.

Abstract:
This contribution relates to application of nanoscale zerovalent iron (NZVI) for the subsurface remediation. Results of experiments focused on objective comparison of both migration properties of various types of the NZVI in porous media and reactivity of NZVI with various contaminants are presented. Obtained results indicate that it might be a problem to keep good migration properties of NZVI in porous media together with its high reactivity. Reactivity of NZVI up to two orders of magnitude higher than reactivity iron particles of normal size (chips, shavings) has been proven. Original design of mixing apparatus for NZVI aqueous suspension preparation and injection into the subsurface was developed and successfully tested. Furthermore, results of NZVI in-situ application on chlorinated hydrocarbons contaminated site are presented. Chlorinated hydrocarbons concentrations were substantially lowered in groundwater after NZVI injection, however, rebound effect was observed. NZVI application can be recommended as an efficient method for in-situ remediation mainly at less-contaminated sites where source of contamination

Abstract:
Plants that grow on heavy metals polluted sites, resulting from human activities, as well as in the surrounding areas contain large amounts of these metals. Given the fact that laying a vegetal layer over the fly ash disposal site would attract birds and wild animals, this study aims to establish an in situ revegetation strategy and assess the level of heavy metal accumulation within the aerial part of the vegetal layer. The addition of a mixture consisting of modified volcanic tuff and biosolids lowers the heavy metal content within the aerial part of Lolium perenne by 20-26% and for Onobrychis viciifolia the decrease is three times higher. Despite this finding, the amounts of accumulated heavy metals within plants are remarkable. By using this kind of treatment, the heavy metal (chromium, copper, nickel and lead) accumulation within Onobrychis viciifolia is up to 14.6 – 20.4 mg/kg dried matter. This result requires the continuation of the studies in order to identify other materials that are able to abate the metal accumulation within plants or to remove the bioaccumulation species.

Abstract:
The paper presents several perimeters used for illegal storage of obsolete chlorinated pesticides in Central Asia. Eight of these perimeters are considered very dangerous because of the polluted surrounding areas and the degree of pollution impact on all environmental factors, especially on soil. The amounts of POPs-type pesticides that must be managed properly until elimination and then eliminated according to the BAT technologies are the following: about 4,000 tons of obsolete pesticides and 20,000 tons of soil of various contamination degrees in the main illegal perimeter and about 8,000 tons of pesticides and 100,000 tons of contaminated soil in the other illegal storage areas. Four alternatives for pesticide elimination and soil depollution have been suggested. They deal with the issue totally or partially, comprising eight technologies for the elimination of chlorinated pesticides that can be applied, at least in theory, in Central Asia. This paper ai ms at evaluating these alternatives, namely the applicable elimination technologies. The evaluation is based on objective technical and economic criteria used for the selection of the best solutions to the specified environmental issue. Given the current conditions in Central Asia, these solutions should involve low costs.

Abstract:
This work shows the results up to date of the biodegradation experiments started at ECOIND in April on soil samples collected from Turda and Oltchim sites, within Eurostars E!5164 – POPELIM project. The project partners are: Dekonta, ECOIND and DFR System SRL. Initial analyses showed contamination of Turda soil with HCH isomers (particulary β-HCH) of hundreds of μg/kg d.m. and with DDT of tens of μg/kg d.w. Initial analyses of Oltchim samples showed the pollution of soil with tens of mg/kg d.w. of HCH isomers and tens of μg/kg d.w. of DDX. The purpose of the biodegradation experiments was to demonstrate the performance of stimulation of indigenous soil bacteria to degrade pesticides (HCH and DDT) and to isolate bacterial strains with such degrading capacities.

Abstract:
In Suplacu de Barcau area the pollution with oil have very serious effects upon environment and the human population. The implementation of this technological method could provide a useful and profitable solution to solve the problems caused by the pollution. During the process of thermal desorption volatile products could be removed very efficiently, the base of this process is the physical separation of the components, being a remediation technology which use heat in order to increase the volatility of the components so these components could be removed by the solid matrix (inorganic soil components). Beside treating the wastes contaminated by oil products, this technology offer the possibility of oil recovery.

Abstract:
Mine water from closed sites throughout the main Romanian mining areas represents a significant vector for water pollution. Those mine water, especially from non-ferrous mines have a high variability of chemical-physical characteristics (pH, conductivity, ORP, heavy metals, alkaline and alkaline earth ions, sulphate and chloride). There are significant challenges for the treatment of these types of water, including the removal of sulphate and alkaline-earth metals ions. For the sulphate removal, the biological reduction is one of the possible technical alternatives. This paper presents some results for a lab-scale trial for the evaluation of the potential of passive system for the biological sulphate reduction from mine waters.

Abstract:
The monoindustrial developed areas (such as the mining areas, machine construction areas, etc.) have been subjected to qualitative and quantitative changes that strongly influenced both the whole economy and the human factor. The reorganization of these industries has triggered a series of, cost-related problems especially from an economic and social point of view (unemployment is one of these problems, especially in those areas where the economy totally relies on one industry. Subsequently, this paper tries to settle the main stages necessary to draw up the strategies for a sustainable development of monoindustrial areas in process of reorganization, social and economic implications of this reorganization. The paper also intends to presents the efforts made at national, regional and local levels to mitigate the adverse effects and most important, the paper tries to identify the main economic options that should generate a sustainable development. This study is a start that tries to analyse the broad issue of sustainability, underlining the importance of substitution of the production factors during the sustainable development for the investment strategy in monoindustrial areas, considering the phenomenon of globalization and knowledge-based society.

Abstract:
Having the goal to actually increase the quality of life of our society, several industrial activities and applications have been developed in different fields. But in the meantime it has been very clear that these industrial activities and applications can have beside positive direct and desired effects, also negative, undesired and sometimes unthinkable effects on the environment and society. In this context the concept of sustainable development of our society is nowadays very much discussed on different levels. Taking into account the sustainability of our society it is necessary to evaluate industrial processes or generally economic activities not only from economic and technological points of view but from environmental and social ones as well. In the last years the new discipline called Technology Assessment grew up. The discipline bases on several instruments and methods to carry out technology assessment studies but especially for assessing environmental impacts of industrial activities. For such environmental impact assessment studies scientists often use analytical methods and instruments. There are several methods and instruments used in this regard. Presently the most discussed one on an international level is the life cycle assessment (LCA). In the present paper some general notions regarding these tools and application possibilities will be presented. The energetic use of biomass in the form of different bioenergy concepts is a newer technological application. Possible concepts in this regard can be biogas plants, which are operated by electric service providers or a single biogas plant owned by one farmer.

Abstract:
The Responsible Care Initiative of the American Chemical Council, generated by the chemical industry sector in order to minimize the public damage produced by several catastrophic incidents (Bhopal, Seveso, EXXON Valdez, etc.) is a voluntary step taken by managers, going towards stakeholders, to prove them the commitment to make the chemical industry environmentally friendly, safer for human individuals and communities health. It also aims at observing, monitoring and assisting industrial products from cradle to grave, along all their life cycle. The Initiative was endorsed by the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) as well as thousands of chemical industrial platforms on all continents. Up to now, the Responsible Care Initiative did not find its way in Romania. The present paper describes the experience of implementing the Responsible Care Initiative in a machinery manufacturing company. It is found to be similar to ISO 9001, ISO 14001 or OHSAS 18001 certification though many dissimilarities are mentioned. Finally, the Responsible Care Initiative is inserted in the sustainable enterprise strategy, using the Sustainability Balanced Scorecard developed by the authors.

Abstract:
In conditions in which the market economy is running on the law of supply and demand, operators are interested to employ qualified personnel with experience in the eventually field. To come to support both employers and the workers in the European Union has adopted an European model of qualifications and a comparison system of qualifications based on the results of learning. This can assess and certify skills acquired through any form: in the formal system, informal or non-formal. In Romania was founded NATB – National Council for Adult Vocational Training – the structure in charge of vocational training of adults. This structure works by 24 sectoral committees which include and CSFPM – Sectoral Committee training in environmental protection. The European model of professional competence involves developing qualifications as units of competence described in the Occupational Standards. Assessment and certification system of professional competences acquired other than in formal evaluation takes place in CNFPA authorization based on units of competence described in the occupational standards. Until now, environmental protection, have been developed and approved 25 occupational standards. In side of the project POS DRU PROMEDIU led by UNIMED – Employers Association of Equipment Manufacturers and Users of Environmental Protection, the INCD ECOIND was a partner, developed and authorized the first center for environment professional competence assessment in Romania, for two qualifications: Environmental Auditor and Manager of environmental management systems In this project the team INCD ECOIND: develop documents and procedures for operation of the center for evaluation; develop assessment tools for occupation environmental Auditor; performed by two evaluators five professional competenceevaluation for each qualification; obtained the NATB certification for the two evaluators of professional competence. Through another project SOP HRD PRO COMPETENT led by CSFPM and that INCD ECOIND is also a partner, in the institute will develop and authorize a professional competence centers for the evaluation for Responsible environmental qualification.

Abstract:
The integrated management of resource flows is reproducing the functioning of the ecosystems, which are using the by-products of one species and are transforming them in raw materials for some other ones. Identification of by-products and secondary energy sources are stopping the pollutants’ discharges into the environment, considerably reducing both waste quantities and waste treatment costs, thus contributing to reduction of climate change, by use of residual energy. The cost of materials and energy of economic units are subsequently reduced. Cooperation generates better results and provides opportunities for economic units to increase production without increasing the consumption of energy, water and raw materials. The idea behind such symbiotic approach is that units are using each other’s residual and by-products on commercial basis (Kalundborg symbiosis institute, 2011). These ideas have been incorporated in a LIFE+ Project (ECOREG), active since February 2009. The Project is financed by the EU and tries to implement the industrial symbiosis approach to the Suceava County (ECOREG, 2011). The paper is presenting a methodology for implementation of industrial ecosystems within small communities, developed by INCD ECOIND based on the experience gained in industrial symbiosis projects. The main steps of the proposed methodology are: identification of possible focal points (economic units), characterization of their residual flows, identification of the possibilities to interconnect the units (identification of possible synergies between the economic units), assessment of the interconnection results from the environmental, economic, social point of view, development of the implementation plan. As a case study an implementation plan for an industrial ecosystem developed for local small communities is also presented.

Abstract:
The concept of a knowledge-based European Society, with all its shortcomings and weaknesses, creates nevertheless a mainframe that could accommodate, for the time being, projects limited to a specific geographic area, projects trying to put in practice such a generous idea. The work details experience of implementing the knowledge – based development paradigm in a number of communes located in the Suceava County, Romania. Options for KBD are presented, classified using a Pareto-type analysis and results are detailed in 2 major areas for interest for local communities: energy and environment. In addition, efforts were made to present to local specialists new and performing methods for management, namely, the Sustainable Balanced Scorecard.

Abstract:
One of the modern point of views in analysing a business is the value network (VNM, 2011). This a perspective that describes social and technical resources within and between businesses. The nodes in a value network represent people (or roles). The nodes are connected by interactions that represent tangibles and intangible deliverables. The paper stresses the role of intangible deliverables that take the form of knowledge, technical expertize, reputation, personal touch, transparency, tradition, openness to change, innovation potential and capacity, etc. All these are more and more part of the value added by a company and they account more and more substantially for the overall worth of products and services generated by a specific business. Checklists including potential intangible costs are presented and the classical structure of environmental management costs (Jasch, 2006), completed.

Abstract:
The new Industrial symbiosis approach to business can be defined as a way of sharing services, utilities, expertise and knowledge, production capacities, and by-product resources among diverse industrial actors in order to add value, reduce costs and improve the environment footprint of anthropic activities. The concept has been incorporated in a LIFE+ Project (ECOREG), financed by EU and active since Feb 2009 in the Suceava County. (ECOREG, 2011). Specific activities included the creation of a Project Advisory Group, including most important business managers and authorities in the area, the organization of several Workshops each gathering managers form 40-50 organizations and leading to the identification of resources that can circulate among partners (wooden waste, demolition waste, oil waste, production capacities, transport facilities, laboratory expertize, etc.). A large data base was set up with the aid of the UK Partner in the Project (ISL-UK). Results of the Project include more than 500,000 tons of materials diverted from landfill, important areas of virgin forests saved, important reduction in GHG emissions, ca 40 new jobs, important quantities of fossil fuel spared, re-commissioning of some existing equipment.

Abstract:
A special program of the Norwegian Government, namely INNOVATION NORWAY, tries to transfer know-how and create cooperation and partnerships in various domains (social assistance, resource valuation, environmental protection, industrial competence, etc.). The paper details the results obtained in a specific project dedicated to Environmental Solutions Development (ESD). The Project joined SINTEF-Trondheim, INCD-ECOIND Bucharest and four SME from around Romania: ProAirClean – Timisoara, RITMIC – Suceava, DIREX-Bucharest, PRODINCOM – Suceava. The Project included support of the four partners to acquire state of the art equipment needed in their activities. ProAirClean Timisoara acquired a GC-MS system enabling monitoring of PCBs, DIREX-Bucharest bought a state-of-the-art car painting workshop together with other smaller equipment (lifting, oil-extracting, wheel removal), RITMIC-Suceava bought a greiffer for collecting wooden waste from remote forested areas, a splitter for large wooden logs, a press for plastic waste and a station for domestic waste sorting in view of recycling, PRODINCOM acquired a state of art heat recovery incinerator for animal waste. SINTEF and INCD-ECOIND provided assistance to all SME partners: help in identifying and deciding upon the correct equipment needed chemical analysis of water, ash generated, material and energy balance derivations, economic, social and environmental benefits assessment, etc. INCD-ECOIND and SINTEF assisted the partners in aligning their strategies to the sustainability paradigm and recommended future actions to keep the momentum.

Abstract:
This study was aimed at testing a possibility of using a biotrickling filter with a moving bed for simultaneous treatment of waste air and waste water. For those purposes a laboratory biotrickling filter with a moving bed was constructed. After inoculating of the laboratory biotrickling filter long-term organic load tests were performed aimed at finding the maximum organic load of biotrickling filter which the biotrickling filter is operated with with high efficiency. The aim of the second test was testing the possibility of simultaneous removal of some odour compounds from waste air and waste water treatment. On the basis of operating parameters of the laboratory biotrickling filter and results of the long-term organic load tests two pilot biotrickling filters with a moving bed were designed and constructed. Subsequently they were installed in operating conditions in production of driving wheels and in a farm. The efficiency of removal of organic compounds for organic load (OL 35 resp. 30 gc.m-3filtre media.h-1) in laboratory resp. operating conditions was about 96%. Simultaneous waste air and waste water treatment increased stability of the biotrickling filter and enabled removal of ammonia from the waste air whereas the efficiency removal of organic pollution waste water expressed as COD achieved 90%. The results confirmed suitability of using the biotrickling filter with moving bed for simultaneous waste air and waste water treatment.

Abstract:
Heavy metals are toxic substances which, at certain concentrations have serious impact upon water treatment plants. This leads to impaired biological processes of activated sludge, changes in composition of biocenosis and, eventually, no biological activity. The purpose of lab experiments was to test the influence of some heavy metals (cadmium, copper, zinc and nickel) at different concentrations, in batch bioreactors, with a retention time of wastewater of 24 hours. The inoculum was biological sludge and the bioreactors were fed with municipal wastewater supplemented with heavy metals. The community of ciliates is an indicator of the activity of biological sludge, therefore these were predominantly monitored throughout the experiment. The experimental results indicated that of all tested metals, cadmium at a concentration of 0.5-1 mg/l was mainly toxic, while zinc and nickel were less toxic, even at concentrations of 1.5-2.5 mg/l. The most sensitive species of protozoans to heavy metals were Chilodonella uncinata and Oxytricha sp., while the most resistant were the attached ciliates, like Opercularia coarctata and Vorticella microstoma. The attached ciliates resistant to high metal concentrations underwent morphological changes, like legthening of stem or forming buoyant individual cells or colonies. The study emphasized the presence and survival of ciliates in activated sludge in the presence of heavy metals at concentrations exceeding the admitted limits in WWTP influents.

Abstract:
The low-pressure system, also known as vacuum system or vacuum sewer system contains closed pipeline networks without manholes. Vacuum sewer systems are essentially mechanized systems of wastewater transport. Unlike typical gravity sewers, it uses differential air pressure to transport the wastewater and all the sewer mains are under vacuum (under negative pressure). The high transport velocity of the air/water-mixture in the vacuum pipelines prevents sediments. An outlet of wastewater is excluded due to the vacuum occurring inside the system. The system is more economical and efficient compared to the classical gravitational sewage network. Normally the drainage procedure serves as a collection of wastewater in separate systems. Though, vacuum sewer line may be laid in the same trench together with water supply lines and storm water drainage according to the German guideline DWA-A 116-1. In this case, there shall be no physical connections between a public or private potable water supply system and a sewer. The vacuum technology is a special drainage procedure which might – under certain circumstances – be considerably cheaper than the conventional gravity lines sewage system. Investments costs can be considerably lower in comparison with other drainage procedures.

Abstract:
The wastewater results from different foods industry are generally characterized by a high organic load, far above limits discharge referred to legislation. In particular the wastewater results from different technological phases of milk industry processing, contain high quantities of organic compounds, especially proteins (caseine, β-lactoglobuline, α-lactalbumine, serumalbumine, immunoglobuline), lipide (mono, di and triacilglicerides, free fat acids, phospholipids) and disaccharides class (especially lactose). In the treatment processes, the membrane techniques – microfiltration, ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis – are frequently used for their advantages: are continuous processes, the energetic consumption is very low, not implies temperature and phase changes, not uses chemicals adjuvant, occur in modular equipment. The paper present the experimental results obtained in the ultrafiltration process of a wastewater from milk industry processing- washing the reactors from production of yoghurt. The aim of the experiments was to studied the correlation between the membrane characteristics and the reduction of the organic compounds from the wastewater. 2 composite ultrafiltration membranes were used, polysulphone-polyaniline types, different by monomer used on policondensation chemical reaction in porous structure of the base polymer. The experimental setup that has been used was the KMS Laboratory Cell CF-1 (Koch-Membrane – Germany) ensuring a tangential flow mode in separated process. The following indicators were analyzed from the water samples (the feed wastewater, the permeate and the concentrate): TOC, BOD, COD, total nitrogen, protein contents, conductivity. In the same time were studied the hydrodynamic, electroconductive and structural characteristics of the membranes. Relevant in these experiments were: – reduction the proteine contents in permeate to 42% – higher reduction of the DOC contents in permeate to 92% The BOD/COD ratio in the permeate samples was above 0,3, which indicate the remanent biodegradable characteristics. In this case its possible to introduce the water on the biological treatment setup improving their performances.

Abstract:
The technology for processing waste plant material for their further use as food or dietary products “Lignin-Cellulose Sorbents” and functional foods “CELISORB” was developed. It was studied the organoleptic and physicochemical parameters of these materials and was shown that they were promising materials for use in medicine and food industry as (entero)sorbents, antioxidants and dietary supplements, which could solve many problems of internal ecology of organism (endoecology) and health of people. Integrated radiometric, laboratory and clinical research were carried out. Clinical studies were done to assess the therapeutic and decorporative efficacy relative to 137Cs for children aged 7-17 residing in territories contaminated with radionuclides.