Analysis and Management of Specific Processes From Environmental Engineering and Protection Based on Sustainability Indicators

Abstract

This paper describes the scientific framework established within doctoral and postdoctoral programs designed to contribute to a thorough understanding of the specific processes involved in environmental engineering and protection, as to improve the environmental management and performance in an efficient and sustainable way. A coherent conceptual framework is developed for the analysis and management of some specific approaches in engineering and environmental protection (pollution phenomena, decontamination processes/remediation, reactive and proactive advances), evaluated by applying a set of sustainable development indicators, able to compare, evaluate and develop a set of methods and approaches based on concepts and scientific methods, which will make process analysis solid. The study includes some groups of activities such as: selection and processes analysis considering pollution/remediation based on the behaviour of environmental contaminants, considering the source-pathwayreceptor chain, starting with process baseline, target and projection; selection of the most relevant sustainability indicators for the evaluation of prevention, control and remediation of environmental components processes; performance evaluation, thresholds, causal loops, model construction and scenario analysis. Various approaches are applied to provide a systematic categorization of socioeconomic , environmental and natural resource information under four headings: pressure (stresses or agents of environmental change), state (resources assets, environmental quality), impact and societal response. Indicator integration is also addressed as a means by which individual and quite different indicators in a framework can somehow be viewed together to provide a global view of sustainable development. Sustainability diagrams, as well as indices would ensure clarity for users offering a high level of prominence.

Modeling and Optimization of Heavy Metals Biosorption by Low-Cost Sorbents Using Response Surface Methodology

“…The five independent variables (Table 7) were studied at five levels, designated as −α, −1, 0, 1, α. The matrix of the experimental program was the one corresponding to a full rotatable central composite design 2 5 , with 45 experiments, of which 3 were in the central point (Table 8). Experimental data processing was performed in the Design-Expert software environment.…”

“…Table 8. Experimental matrix of the full rotatable central composite design 2 5 (coded values) (independent variables are presented in Table 7).…”

“…They provide raw materials, energy, food, water, and soil, as well as environmental and social services. Therefore, humanity is faced with two challenges: ensuring the sustainable consumption of natural resources and preventing the pollution of the environment [4][5][6].…”