Background, aim, and scope An innovative stabilization/ solidification (S/S) process using high-performance additivated concrete technology was developed for remediating soil contaminated by metals from abandoned industrial sites. In order to verify the effectiveness of this new ex situ S/S procedure, an area highly contaminated by metallic pollutants (As, Cd, Hg, and Pb), due to the uncontrolled discharge of waste generated from artistic glass production on the island of Murano (Venice, Italy), was selected as a case study. The technique transforms the contaminated soil into an aggregate material suitable for reuse as on-site backfill. This paper reports the main results of the demonstration project performed in collaboration with the local environmental protection agency (ARPAV). Materials and methods An ex situ treatment for brownfield remediation, based on the transformation of contaminated soil into very dense, low porous, and mechanically resistant granular material, was set up and tested. Specific additives (water reducers and superplasticizers) to improve the stabilized material properties were developed and patented. A demonstration plant assembled on the study area to treat 6 m 3 h -1 was then tested. After excavation, the contaminated soil was screened to remove coarse material. The fraction Ø >4 mm (coarse fraction), mainly composed of glass, brick, concrete, and stone debris, was directly reused on site after passing through a washing treatment section. The highly polluted fraction Ø≤4 mm (fine fraction) was treated in the S/S treatment division of the plant (European patent WO/ 2006/097272). The fine fraction was mixed with Portland cement and additives defined on the basis of the high performance concrete technique. The mixture was then granulated in a rolling-plate system. After 28 days curing in an onsite storage area to allow for cement hydration, the stabilized material was monitored before its in situ relocation. The chemical, mechanical, and ecotoxicological reliability and performance of the treatment was checked. Metal leachability was verified according to four leaching test methods: Italian Environmental Ministry Decree (1998), EN 12457 (2002) tout court, amended only with MgSO 4 and, lastly, with artificial sea water. The mechanical properties were measured according to BS (1990) and AASHTO (1999) to obtain the Aggregate Crushing Value

No abstract

Sediment is an essential, integral and dynamic part of the hydrologic system. In natural and agricultural basins, sediment is derived from the weathering and erosion of minerals, organic material and soils in upstream areas and from the erosion of river banks and other in-stream sources. As surface-water flow rates decline in lowland areas, transported sediment settles along the river bed and banks by sedimentation. However, because sediments are the ultimate reservoir for the numerous potential chemical and biological contaminants that may be contained in effluents originating from urban, agricultural, and industrial lands and recreational activities, contaminated sediments in rivers and streams, lakes, coastal harbors, and estuaries have the potential to pose ecological and human health risks. The management of sediment quality and quantity in support of ecological and socioeconomic goals is a cause of extensive research, investment and regulatory and public scrutiny, both in Europe and internationally. This chapter examines the management of sediment from a European perspective. The first section discusses the role of sediment management in achieving European ecosystem objectives. Section two summarizes the findings of the EC-funded, demand driven European Sediment Research Network (SedNet). Section three describes a framework risk assessment and management in a major European region, the Venice Lagoon. The next three sections describe aspects of sediment management in an EC accession country, and the host country for this workshop - Slovakia. Section four describes river and lake sediment contamination and related legislation in Slovakia. Section five discusses the assessment and management of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), a major risk driver in Slovakia. Section six discusses a specific class of POPs - PCBS in sediments of a specific region of Slovakia. Finally, Section seven discusses some barriers to successful sediment risk assessment and management, and lists science and infrastructure needs to address these barriers. Whilst all the authors of this chapter are living and/or working in Europe, and the focus is on European perspectives, much work has benefited from international collaborations and we feel that many of the observations and recommendations will have relevance to a broader audience

No abstract

Membrane processes are widely used in wastewater treatment and for removal of contaminants from drinking water. Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) can be integrated into membranes structure to enhance their performance (e g, fouling mitigation and improvement of permeate quality). However, in order to ensure a sustainable use of nanoactivated membrane, the potential environmental impacts should be evaluated in an early stage of their development. In this study, we performed a cradle to gate life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate the environmental impacts due to the integration of titanium dioxide (TiO2) engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) in polyethersulfone (PES) membrane using the layer-by-layer (LbL) technology. The PES membrane manufacturing and electrostatic deposition of TiO2 ENPs on PES membrane were investigated in this case study. The results show that the LbL deposition stage of TiO2 ENPs on membrane has an insignificant effect on all selected impact categories, in comparison to PES membrane manufacturing stages investigated. The electricity use during the membrane production as well as the solvents and polymers needed for making PES membrane are the main contributions to the overall environmental impact