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Sustainable Management and Remediation of Contaminated Sites

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Pollution Prevention, Mitigation and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2023) | Viewed by 18210

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering and Computer Science Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
Interests: contaminated sites; risk assessment; innovative techniques for monitoring soil contamination; remediation of contaminated sites; modeling of contaminant fate and transport in the subsurface
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Soil is an essential and limited resource and represents the main foundation of life for humans, animals, and plants. Over the last few decades, human activities (e.g., industrial activities, mining, agricultural chemicals or improper disposal of wastes) have progressively contaminated soil. Soil contamination is a worldwide problem with direct impacts on human health and the environment. Significant advances have been achieved in monitoring, assessing, and remediating contaminated soils. In this context, this issue is focused on innovative sustainable approaches for the assessment and remediation of contaminated soils. Case studies are welcome when authors indicate the wider applications of their insights or techniques. Numerical and experimental studies aimed at understanding the fate and transport of contaminats are also welcome.

Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Experimental and computational investigations on the contaminant fate and transport in the subsurface (e.g., volatilization, vapor intrusion, leaching to groundwater, natural attenuation, natural source zone depletion);
  • Development or application of sustainable tools for monitoring the extent of soil contamination in the subsurface (e.g., high-resolution characterization, high-frequency analysis, passive sampling);
  • Advances in health and environmental risk assessment (e.g., bioavailability, bioaccessibility, exposure models);
  • Sustainable techniques for the in situ remediation of contaminated sites (e.g., biological, physical, chemical, or nature-based solutions).

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Iason Verginelli
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • contaminated sites
  • innovative monitoring techniques
  • risk assessment
  • mathematical modeling
  • sustainable remediation of contaminated sites

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 2405 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Electroosmotic Permeability Using Different Models and Investigation of Its Effect on Chromium Removal
by Xi-Yin Liu and Yan-Feng Zhuang
Sustainability 2023, 15(17), 12706; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151712706 - 22 Aug 2023
Viewed by 625
Abstract
Electroosmotic permeability is an important parameter in the electrokinetic remediation (EKR) of heavy-metal-contaminated soil. This study focuses on the applicability of electroosmotic permeability models and the relationship between electroosmotic permeability and heavy metal removal efficiency. The electroosmotic permeability models of ion hydration and [...] Read more.
Electroosmotic permeability is an important parameter in the electrokinetic remediation (EKR) of heavy-metal-contaminated soil. This study focuses on the applicability of electroosmotic permeability models and the relationship between electroosmotic permeability and heavy metal removal efficiency. The electroosmotic permeability models of ion hydration and the ion hydration–friction model were developed and investigated. Moreover, 11 EKR experiments were conducted in the laboratory to remediate Cr6+-contaminated soil. The results showed that the electroosmotic permeability calculated by the H-S model was 3–7 times larger than the measured value, and it was 65–90% of the measured value as calculated by the ion hydration model. However, the ion hydration–friction model, which combined the ion hydration and Spiegler friction theories, predicted the electroosmotic permeability more accurately compared to the H-S and ion hydration models. In addition, the parameters in the ion hydration–friction model were determined easily, meaning that the ion hydration–friction model is of good applicability. The experimental results showed that the soil properties changed and the electroosmotic flow rate decreased when acid was added to the soil, and the Cr6+ removal efficiency improved. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management and Remediation of Contaminated Sites)
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18 pages, 3867 KiB  
Article
Biosorption Potential of Desmodesmus sp. for the Sequestration of Cadmium and Lead from Contaminated Water
by Rooma Waqar, Sultana Rahman, Javed Iqbal, Muhammad Kaleem, Lubna Anjum Minhas, Nabi Ullah, Farzana Kausar, Wadie Chalgham, Fahad A. Al-Misned, Hamed A. El-Serehy and Abdul Samad Mumtaz
Sustainability 2023, 15(15), 11634; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151511634 - 27 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1074
Abstract
Industrialization, urbanization, and natural processes have potentially accelerated the pace and level of heavy metals in the aquatic environment. Recently, modern strategies for heavy metal treatment in wastewater have received the specific attention of the scientific community. The present study aimed to assess [...] Read more.
Industrialization, urbanization, and natural processes have potentially accelerated the pace and level of heavy metals in the aquatic environment. Recently, modern strategies for heavy metal treatment in wastewater have received the specific attention of the scientific community. The present study aimed to assess the amorphous biomass of Desmodesmus sp. as a low-cost adsorbent to remove the cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) from aqueous solutions. It involved the optimization of pH, contact time, initial concentration of metal ions, and the dosage of biosorbent. Data collation revealed that an optimum contact time for both metals was 60 min, with an adsorption capacity of 63% for Cd and 66% for Pb. Different models were applied to the equilibrium data. The pseudo 2nd order described the best adsorption of Cd and Pb. The equilibrium data were computed with various isotherms. Langmuir isotherms better suit the adsorption of the above-mentioned metals. Hence, the maximum adsorption capacity of Desmodesmus sp. for Cd and Pb was 64.1 and 62.5 mg/g, respectively. The mechanism of biosorption was validated through a comparative FT-IR and Scanning Electron Microscopy of raw and metal-loaded algal biomass based on cell morphological changes. In order to study the reusability of adsorbent, adsorption-desorption of Cd and Pb ions was repeated three times using HCl. These results did not noticeably change in adsorption capacity during the three cycles. Using HCl (0.1 M), desorption of both metals was achieved up to 90% in three cycles. This work presented a long-term bioremediation approach for heavy metal pollutants in wastewater. This research could be seen as an interdisciplinary approach to large-scale heavy metal remediation. In addition, growing microalgae in wastewater produces animal feed and biodiesel. When compared to other conventional methods for environmental remediation and the manufacture of valuable products, the use of microalgae is a more efficient and cost-effective method. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management and Remediation of Contaminated Sites)
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16 pages, 1737 KiB  
Article
Bioremediation of Heavy Metals from Industrial Effluents Using Bacillus pakistanensis and Lysinibacillus composti
by Ramzan Ali, Kashif Bashir, Saeed Ahmad, Amin Ullah, Said Farooq Shah, Qurban Ali, Humaira Yasmin and Ajaz Ahmad
Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7591; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097591 - 05 May 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1928
Abstract
Aquatic pollution is one of the main problems due to rapid development in industrialization. The remediation of industrial wastewater (IWW) by microorganisms is an environmentally friendly technique. This study was conducted to assess pollution load in IWW and to use Bacillus pakistanensis and [...] Read more.
Aquatic pollution is one of the main problems due to rapid development in industrialization. The remediation of industrial wastewater (IWW) by microorganisms is an environmentally friendly technique. This study was conducted to assess pollution load in IWW and to use Bacillus pakistanensis and Lysinibacillus composti individually and in a consortium for bioremediation. The IWW was obtained from Hayatabad Industrial Estate and evaluated for physicochemical parameters and metal concentration. The pH, color, electrical conductivity (EC), turbidity, temperature, sulfide, fluoride, chloride, biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), calcium hardness, magnesium hardness, and total hardness were noted as 6.82, 440 TCU, 1.195 mS/cm, 54.65 mg/L, 26.8 °C, 5.60 mg/L, 3.6 mg/L, 162 mg/L, 85.5 mg/L, 921 mg/L, 232 mg/L, 794 mg/L, 590 mg/L, 395 mg/L, and 985 mg/L, respectively. The metals such as manganese, copper, chromium, cadmium, cobalt, silver, nickel, calcium, magnesium, and lead were also analyzed as 1.23 mg/L, 0.81 mg/L, 2.12 mg/L, 0.18 mg/L, 0.151 mg/L, 0.24 mg/L, 1.12 mg/L, 0.113 mg/L, 14.5 mg/L, and 0.19 mg/L, respectively. A pot experiment was performed for two weeks to evaluate the efficiency of the selected species. The IWW and tap water (control) were treated with selected species, individually and in a consortium. After treatment, a considerable reduction was noted in the color 87.3%, EC 46.5%, turbidity 84.1%, sulfide 87.5%, fluoride 25.0%, chloride 91.3%, BOD 96.4%, COD 86.5%, TSS 90%, TDS 45.0%, Ca hardness 42.3%, Mg hardness 77.2%, and total hardness 52.2%. After the experiment, samples of water were also analyzed for metal concentrations by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The selected species removed 99.3% of Mn, 99.6% of Cu, 97.8% of Cr, 94.4% of Cd, 46.3% of Co, 85.1% of Ag, 88.4% of Ni, 98.8% of Ca, 91.5% of Mg, and 90.5% of Pb. The t-test analysis showed that the treatment with the selected species significantly decreased the metal concentrations in the IWW (p ≤ 0.05). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management and Remediation of Contaminated Sites)
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12 pages, 3116 KiB  
Article
Copper Phytoextraction Using Phyllostachys pubescens
by Ezio Ranieri, Gianfranco D’Onghia, Francesca Ranieri, Jose Alberto Melian Herrera, Luigi Lopopolo, Vincenzo Luigi Spagnolo and Ada Cristina Ranieri
Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 5238; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065238 - 15 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1019
Abstract
The Phyllostachys pubescens macrophyte, known also as Moso Bamboo, was evaluated in laboratory conditions for its potential to renovate copper-polluted soil. Pot experiments were conducted to determine Phyllostachys pubescens’ growth, tolerance and phytoextraction potential capacity to restore copper-contaminated soil in Mediterranean conditions. Data [...] Read more.
The Phyllostachys pubescens macrophyte, known also as Moso Bamboo, was evaluated in laboratory conditions for its potential to renovate copper-polluted soil. Pot experiments were conducted to determine Phyllostachys pubescens’ growth, tolerance and phytoextraction potential capacity to restore copper-contaminated soil in Mediterranean conditions. Data collected evidenced that the Phyllostachys pubescens evolution rate was 0.47 cm/day on average, with a 1.644 mm/d irrigation flow. Moso Bamboo tolerance was tested over a twelve-week irrigation period, while adding copper-polluted water. Copper removal from soil was 51.4% and the quantity of copper per gram of root/rhizome was equal to 1.18 mg Cu/g, while the amount of copper per gram of stem/leaves was 0.50 mg Cu/g, after 12 weeks. The conducted laboratory experiments show that environmental restoration using the phytoextraction technique, and using Phyllostachys pubescens, should be considered for the restoration of copper-contaminated soils. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management and Remediation of Contaminated Sites)
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16 pages, 3873 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Adsorbent Material Prepared by Soft Alkaline Activation of Spent Coffee Grounds: Characterisation and Adsorption Mechanism of Methylene Blue from Aqueous Solutions
by Marco Cuccarese, Sergio Brutti, Angela De Bonis, Roberto Teghil, Francesco Di Capua, Ignazio Marcello Mancini, Salvatore Masi and Donatella Caniani
Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2454; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032454 - 30 Jan 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2132
Abstract
Dyes are emerging as hazardous pollutants, which are the primary challenges for environmentalists. Dye removal from effluents is urgently needed. Adsorption technology has been widely employed in this context as an effective method for removing colours from the aqueous phase, and adsorption with [...] Read more.
Dyes are emerging as hazardous pollutants, which are the primary challenges for environmentalists. Dye removal from effluents is urgently needed. Adsorption technology has been widely employed in this context as an effective method for removing colours from the aqueous phase, and adsorption with the use of low-cost adsorbents has been shown to be more successful on a larger scale than other methods. In this study, spent coffee grounds (SCGs) were used as the precursor for the preparation of a low-cost activated carbon through the chemical activation with NaOH. The SCG sample was impregnated with NaOH and carbonised at 300 °C for three hours. Its morphological and physical-chemical properties were assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy analyses. The performance of the treated SCG as an adsorbent material for methylene blue (MB) was evaluated by analysing the effect of the initial pH ionic strength on the adsorption capacity and by evaluating the kinetics and the mechanisms of the process (using adsorption isotherms). The effect of the initial concentration (500 and 250 mg L−1) of MB on the kinetics of the process and the impact of the initial pH (7.5 and 6) on the adsorption isotherm were evaluated. The obtained results show that the pseudo-second order model controls the process for both the investigated initial concentration and the adsorption capacity, which are 142.8 and 113.6 mg L−1, respectively. The results indicate that the pH value influences the adsorption isotherm model that regulates the process. Specifically, this process is regulated by the Temkin’s model with a pH of 7.5 and by the Langmuir’s model with a pH of 6. The thermodynamics of the process were also determined. The results show that SCG, treated and carbonised by soft alkaline activation, is a promising low-cost adsorbent material as its performance is comparable to that of conventional active carbon materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management and Remediation of Contaminated Sites)
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19 pages, 1688 KiB  
Article
Remediation of the Alluvial Aquifer of the Sardas Landfill (Sabiñánigo, Huesca) by Surfactant Application
by Joaquín Guadaño, Jorge Gómez, Jesús Fernández, David Lorenzo, Carmen M. Domínguez, Salvador Cotillas, Raúl García-Cervilla and Aurora Santos
Sustainability 2022, 14(24), 16576; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142416576 - 10 Dec 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1026
Abstract
Sardas Landfill at Sabiñánigo Huesca is polluted with Dense Non-Aqueous Liquid Phases (DNAPLs) composed of a complex mixture of chlorinated organic compounds (COCs). This DNAPL was produced as liquid waste from lindane production being dumped decades ago in the unlined landfills close to [...] Read more.
Sardas Landfill at Sabiñánigo Huesca is polluted with Dense Non-Aqueous Liquid Phases (DNAPLs) composed of a complex mixture of chlorinated organic compounds (COCs). This DNAPL was produced as liquid waste from lindane production being dumped decades ago in the unlined landfills close to the lindane factory. This DNAPL migrated by gravity through the subsurface and accumulated in the contact between the alluvial and marls layers (about 15 m b.g.l.). Seven injections of an aqueous emulsion of a biodegradable non-ionic surfactant (E-Mulse 3®) were carried out at the most polluted areas of the Sardas alluvial. Injections were carried out between April and November 2021 using different surfactant concentrations (6.7, 20, 25 and 50 g/L), injection volumes (0.2 to 7 m3) and injection flow rates (0.08–0.85 m3/h). Injected fluids were extracted in the same well or surrounding wells, and the time elapsed between surfactant injection and extraction varied between 24 and 72 h. A total of 22 m3 were injected into the alluvial, and more than double this injected volume was extracted. Injection and extraction points were in the contact between the marls and the alluvial layer. Extracted fluid accumulated in tanks, and phases separated. DNAPL recovered here was mobilized rather than solubilized and managed as toxic waste. The aqueous supernatant was treated in a wastewater treatment plant with physicochemical treatment (including adsorption in activated carbon) before being discharged into the environment. The transport of the injected fluids was monitored by conductivity profiles using bromide (260–538 mg·L−1) as a conservative tracer. High radial dispersion of the injected fluid was found. Surfactant losses by adsorption in the alluvial and absorption in DNAPL were noticed, and both surfactant and contamination did not escape from the capture zone. Monitoring since 2018 of the COCS in groundwater and the DNAPL presence in the contact between alluvial and marls layers showed a significant reduction of COCs in the treated zone with the surfactant injections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management and Remediation of Contaminated Sites)
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22 pages, 2347 KiB  
Article
Evaluating Different Soil Amendments as Bioremediation Strategy for Wetland Soil Contaminated by Crude Oil
by Raphael Butler Jumbo, Frédéric Coulon, Tamazon Cowley, Ikeabiama Azuazu, Emmanuel Atai, Imma Bortone and Ying Jiang
Sustainability 2022, 14(24), 16568; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142416568 - 10 Dec 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1548
Abstract
This study evaluated the efficacy of using Tween 80 surfactant (TW80) and food-waste anaerobic digestate fibre (FWAD) as soil amendments for the remediation of wetlands contaminated by crude oil. A 112-day mesocosms experiment was carried out to simulate hydrocarbon degradation under typical acidified [...] Read more.
This study evaluated the efficacy of using Tween 80 surfactant (TW80) and food-waste anaerobic digestate fibre (FWAD) as soil amendments for the remediation of wetlands contaminated by crude oil. A 112-day mesocosms experiment was carried out to simulate hydrocarbon degradation under typical acidified wetland conditions. Soil was spiked with 50,000 mg kg−1 crude oil and TW80 and FWAD were added to mesocosms at 10%, 20% and 30% w/w. The soil basal respiration, microbial community dynamics, environmental stress, alkanes, and PAHs degradation were monitored throughout the mesocosm experiment. Amending the mesocosms with FWAD and TW80 enabled the recovery of the soil microbial activities. This was evidenced by soil basal respiration which was the highest in the 30% FWAD and 30% TW80 mesocosms and translated into increased degradation rate of 32% and 23% for alkanes, and 33% and 26% for PAHs compared to natural attenuation, respectively. Efficient total hydrocarbon degradation was achieved in soil mesocosms with 30% FWAD and 30% TW80 at 90% and 86.8%, respectively after 49 days. Maize seed germination results showed significant improvement from 29% to over 90% following the FWAD and TW80 treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management and Remediation of Contaminated Sites)
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15 pages, 1786 KiB  
Article
Keu Contamination in Tuscany: The Life Cycle Assessment of Remediation Project as a Decision Support Tool for Local Administration
by Alessio Castagnoli, Francesco Pasciucco, Renato Iannelli, Carlo Meoni and Isabella Pecorini
Sustainability 2022, 14(22), 14828; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142214828 - 10 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1556
Abstract
In this study, a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was conducted on a project to clean up a heavy metals-contaminated site located in central Italy (Tuscany) in order to define the less impactful solution. The study evaluated the contamination in the soil, derived from [...] Read more.
In this study, a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was conducted on a project to clean up a heavy metals-contaminated site located in central Italy (Tuscany) in order to define the less impactful solution. The study evaluated the contamination in the soil, derived from the leaching of backfill materials composed of quarry aggregates and sintered granules referred to as “Keu”, a waste derived from the pyrolization of sewage sludge from the Tuscan tannery district, rich in chromium. Three action scenarios were compared, namely the no-action scenario, an excavation and landfill disposal scenario, and a permanent material capping and sealing scenario. The LCA results show the lowest impact for soil capping operations due to the high impacts of heavy metal emissions and landfilling of materials for the first and third scenarios. The third scenario has the lowest impact for ten of the eleven categories analyzed by the CML-IA baseline method. The only exception is the ozone layer depletion category due to the binder synthesis process used for the pavement to protect the membrane. Future studies could be devoted to the study of Keu, through extensive characterization, as well as a study of the fate of this material in landfills to define an appropriate process for future LCA analysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management and Remediation of Contaminated Sites)
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20 pages, 4395 KiB  
Article
Coupled Hydrogeochemical Approach and Sustainable Technologies for the Remediation of a Chlorinated Solvent Plume in an Urban Area
by Paolo Ciampi, Carlo Esposito, Ernst Bartsch, Eduard J. Alesi, Christian Nielsen, Laura Ledda, Laura Lorini and Marco Petrangeli Papini
Sustainability 2022, 14(16), 10317; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141610317 - 19 Aug 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2314
Abstract
The presence of chlorinated solvents polluting groundwater in urbanized areas poses a significant environmental issue. This paper details a thoughtful approach to remediate a tetrachloroethylene (PCE) plume in a district that is characterized by a complex hydrological context with a limited accessibility. Through [...] Read more.
The presence of chlorinated solvents polluting groundwater in urbanized areas poses a significant environmental issue. This paper details a thoughtful approach to remediate a tetrachloroethylene (PCE) plume in a district that is characterized by a complex hydrological context with a limited accessibility. Through a geodatabase-driven and coupled hydrogeochemical approach, two distinct remediation technologies were chosen for the management of a contaminant plume. On one hand, coaxial groundwater circulation (CGC) wells coupled with air sparging (AS) aspire to promote the in-situ transfer of PCE from the contaminated matrices into a gaseous stream that is then treated above ground. On the other hand, reagent injection has the goal of enhancing chemical reduction combined with in situ adsorption, creating contaminant adsorbent zones, and stimulating dechlorinating biological activity. The development of an integrated conceptual site model (CSM) harmonizing geological, hydrochemical, and membrane interface probe (MIP) data captures site-specific hydrogeochemical peculiarities to support decision-making. The hydrochemical monitoring reveals contamination dynamics and decontamination mechanisms in response to treatment, quantifying the performance of the adopted strategies and investigating possible rebound effects. The estimation of masses extracted by the CGC-AS system validates the effectiveness of a new and sustainable technique to abate chlorinated solvents in groundwater. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management and Remediation of Contaminated Sites)
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18 pages, 8496 KiB  
Article
Synthesis and Characterization of Zero-Valent Fe-Cu and Fe-Ni Bimetals for the Dehalogenation of Trichloroethylene Vapors
by Clarissa Settimi, Daniela Zingaretti, Simone Sanna, Iason Verginelli, Igor Luisetto, Antonello Tebano and Renato Baciocchi
Sustainability 2022, 14(13), 7760; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14137760 - 25 Jun 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1709
Abstract
In this study, zero-valent iron-copper (Fe-Cu) and iron-nickel (Fe-Ni) bimetals were prepared by disc milling for the dehalogenation of trichloroethylene vapors. For both Fe-Ni and Fe-Cu, three combinations in terms of percentage of secondary metal added were produced (1%, 5%, 20% by weight) [...] Read more.
In this study, zero-valent iron-copper (Fe-Cu) and iron-nickel (Fe-Ni) bimetals were prepared by disc milling for the dehalogenation of trichloroethylene vapors. For both Fe-Ni and Fe-Cu, three combinations in terms of percentage of secondary metal added were produced (1%, 5%, 20% by weight) and the formation of the bimetallic phase by milling was evaluated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The disc milled bimetals were characterized by a homogenous distribution of Ni or Cu in the Fe phase and micrometric size visible from scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) analysis and by a relatively low specific surface area (0.2–0.7 m2/g) quantified by the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method. The reactivity of the produced bimetals was evaluated by batch degradation tests of TCE in the gas phase with 1 day of reaction time. Fe-Ni bimetals have shown better performance in terms of TCE removal (57–75%) than Fe-Cu bimetals (41–55%). The similar specific surface area values found for the produced bimetals indicated that the enhancement in the dehalogenation achieved using bimetals is closely related to the induced catalysis. The obtained results suggest that ZVI-based bimetals produced by disc milling are effective in the dehalogenation of TCE vapors in partially saturated conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management and Remediation of Contaminated Sites)
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12 pages, 5458 KiB  
Article
Life Cycle Risk Assessment Applied to Gaseous Emissions from Crumb Rubber Asphalt Pavement Construction
by Maria Chiara Zanetti and Angela Farina
Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5716; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095716 - 09 May 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2017
Abstract
Asphalt mixtures for road pavements are produced and laid at high temperatures, producing gaseous emissions that contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds that paving workers are exposed to. This paper aims to combine the effects of gaseous emissions on human health [...] Read more.
Asphalt mixtures for road pavements are produced and laid at high temperatures, producing gaseous emissions that contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds that paving workers are exposed to. This paper aims to combine the effects of gaseous emissions on human health with the life cycle impacts of wearing courses. The results of sanitary-environmental risk analysis and life cycle assessment were combined in an integrated approach, the life cycle risk analysis, to evaluate the environmental performance of road pavements and local cancer and toxicological effects on workers. Two asphalt mixtures modified with crumb rubber (CR) from end-of-life tires (gap and dense graded) were compared to standard, unmodified asphalt mix. Air samples were collected at the screed and the driver’s seat of a paver during the construction of a full-scale trial section in Turin, Italy. The CR wearing course with a higher asphalt binder content (gap-graded) had a cancer effect on workers 3.5 and 2.9 times higher than the CR mixture with a lower asphalt binder percentage (dense-graded) and the standard mixture, respectively. Instead, the toxicological effects were 1.3 and 1.2 times higher for the gap-graded mixture than the dense-graded and the standard mix, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management and Remediation of Contaminated Sites)
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