The particle size distribution, surface area and shape are fundamental characteristics of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs). Accurate measurement of these properties is required in computational efforts to model the hydration process, and the characterization of these parameters is also an important practical issue during the production and use of blended cements. Since there are no standard procedures specifically for the determination of physical properties of SCMs, the techniques that are currently used for characterizing Portland cement are applied to SCMs. Based on the fact that most of the techniques have been developed to measure cements, limitations occur when these methods are used for other materials than cement, particularly when these have lower fineness and different particle shape and mineralogical composition. Here, samples of fly ash, granulated blast furnace slag and silica fume were tested. Different results obtained using several methods for the determination of specific surface area are presented. Recommendations for testing SCMs using air permeability, sieving, laser diffraction, BET, image analysis and MIP are provided, which represent an output from the work of the RILEM Technical Committee on Hydration and Microstructure of Concrete with Supplementary Cementitious Materials (TC-238-SCM).

e Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) applied in the construction industry poses several disadvantages such as ammonia release to the air and nitric acid production. An alternative MICP from calcium formate by Methylocystis parvus OBBP is presented here to overcome these disadvantages. To induce calcium carbonate precipitation, M. parvus was incubated at different calcium formate concentrations and starting culture densities. Up to 91.4% ؎ 1.6% of the initial calcium was precipitated in the methane-amended cultures compared to 35.1% ؎ 11.9% when methane was not added. Because the bacteria could only utilize methane for growth, higher culture densities and subsequently calcium removals were exhibited in the cultures when methane was added. A higher calcium carbonate precipitate yield was obtained when higher culture densities were used but not necessarily when more calcium formate was added. This was mainly due to salt inhibition of the bacterial activity at a high calcium formate concentration. A maximum 0.67 ؎ 0.03 g of CaCO 3 g of Ca(CHOOH) 2 ؊1 calcium carbonate precipitate yield was obtained when a culture of 10 9 cells ml ؊1 and 5 g of calcium formate liter ؊1 were used. Compared to the current strategy employing biogenic urea degradation as the basis for MICP, our approach presents significant improvements in the environmental sustainability of the application in the construction industry. Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) is a wellknown process and has been extensively described in the past (1-3). In short, MICP produces carbonate minerals, e.g., calcium carbonate, as a result of alterations in environmental conditions. In nature, examples of MICP include calcite formation in soils (4), limestone caves (5), seas (6), and soda lakes (7). Four different key parameters that govern microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation are the: (i) concentration of nonprecipitated calcium, (ii) concentration of the total inorganic carbon, (iii) pH, and (iv) availability of nucleation sites for calcium carbonate crystal formation (3). Among the four parameters, bacterial activities mainly influence the pH of the environment (1).MICP is the basis for several biotechnological applications in the construction sector (for a review, see reference 1 and references therein). These include the use of calcium carbonate precipitate to protect concrete surface against the ingress of deleterious substances (e.g., chloride ions) (8) or to heal cracks in aging concrete (9, 10). Among the bacterial activities that can induce calcium carbonate precipitation, urea degradation by heterotrophic bacteria is typically used for applications on building materials. In biogenic urea degradation, urea is transformed to ammonia and carbonate ions to initiate precipitation (11). Bacillus spp. (e.g., B. sphaericus) is the most commonly applied urea degrader for MICP in the construction sector due to several advantages such as the high initial urea degradation rate by the strain and a highly negative potential ...

A large number of publications are available in the literature regarding olive mill wastewater treatment methods. However, none of the proposed methods can be considered as a best available method in terms of its effectiveness, and its environmental and economic impact. Using a literature survey, data were collected and evaluated in order for a sustainability and benchmarking analysis to be developed. Physicochemical, biological and advanced oxidation methods were evaluated and judged in terms of their effectiveness, environmental impact and cost. Effectiveness of each method was estimated in terms of COD and phenolic compounds reduction, environmental impact in terms of CO 2 production, while for the economic impact the operational costs were taken into account. Finally, a procedure is suggested for selection of the most appropriate method based on user preferences (in terms of effectiveness, environmental impact and cost). The present analysis showed that the most effective processes in terms of organics reduction are membrane filtration, electrolysis, supercritical water oxidation and photo-Fenton. Lower environmental impact was found with anaerobic digestion, coagulation and lime processes, while the lowest cost category involves biocomposting and membrane filtration, thanks to the exploitation of byproducts (biocompost and phenolic compounds, respectively).

The main supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs)

The extraction of olive oil generates huge quantities of solids and of high organic wastewaters with toxic constituents that have a great impact on land and water environments. Based on a membrane process, authors proposed an alternative method for treatment of olive mill wastewaters (OMWs). In the present paper, a technoeconomic analysis for the implementation of the proposed method in the entire Region of Western Greece (RWG) is presented. This paper takes into account fixed and operational costs, costs for the infrastructure, equipment, land, maintenance, and so forth, considering the treatment of 50,000 tons per harvesting period in the area of RWG. The study showed that the establishment of only one central treatment manufacture could reduce the uncontrolled disposal of OMW. Exploitation of the isolated fractions as manure in fertilizers (nutrients components) or as components in ecological herbicides (phenolics) can depreciate the total cost in a period of about five years.