Methane fermentation of dung from litter-free reared domestic animals — an optimisation study

Data on the quantity (27 453 tons from litter-free reared animals in Bulgaria, only) and the chemical and energy characteristics of dung produced in intensive management farms for domestic animals suggests that technologies combining biogenic elements recycling with energy utilistation and dung decontamination are expedient to be applied on these types of farms. To this effect a fermenter was designed and a mathematical model (a Chen-Hashimoto model based computer programme) was applied, as a result of which the optimum methane fermentation parameters were determined. The technological methane output (Y_v) — indicator of biogas production efficiency (output/dm³ fermentor volume) showed an optimum at temperature 55°C and period of exchange 6 days. The methane output per unit mineralised organic matter in the substrate (B) — assumed as an indicator of ecological efficiency (maximum organic matter degradation) exhibited an optimum at 33°C for 15 days period of exchange.     

Removal of pathogens from greywater using green roofs combined with chlorination

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Greywater is an important alternative water resource which could be treated and reused in buildings, reducing the freshwater demand in drought...     

Phylogenetic diversity scaling in small mammal communities: The example of Nizhny Novgorod region of the Volga Basin

Traditional approaches to structural analysis of biotic communities, based on the data on species abundances, do not take into account phylogenetic relationships between these species. We propose a new approach to studying the scaling (scale dependence) of phylogenetic diversity by means of multifractal analysis in which the moments of phylogenetic diversity are used. The results of applying this approach to small mammal communities of Nizhny Novgorod region of the Volga Basin has shown that phylogenetic diversity scaling complies with the power law, which is indicative of the self-similarity of these communities. The multifractal spectra of phylogenetic diversity scaling markedly differ from the spectra of species diversity scaling, providing evidence that the proposed approach can provide novel information on the structure of biotic communities.     

Xenomict energy in cold solids in space

Minerals on earth whose crystalline order has been reduced by radioactive decay of contained atoms are termed “metamict.” They are rare and few because in most crystalline solids, atoms and vacancies are relatively mobile at terrestrial temperatures, and radiation damage tends to be self-annealing. This is not the case in the extreme cold of deep space. Below roughly 100 K, reduced vacancy mobility allows cosmic ray and solar wind induced lattice defects to endure and accumulate for eons, reaching energy densities of up to MJ kg⁻¹ in some materials. We examine the possible effects of the release of energy stored in cold deep-space materials when solid-state defects recombine upon warming due to impacts, gravitational infall, or perihelion. Dimensional analysis suggests energetic defect recombination in radiation-damaged “xenomict” solids in comets, and planetesimals may, in some circumstances, raise internal temperatures enough to melt ice and volatilize frozen gases. We speculate that this may account for some cometary outbursts and Deep Impact experiment results. Calorimetric experiments on appropriately irradiated natural and synthetic materials are needed to further quantify these mechanisms.     

New methodological strategies for detecting bacterial indicators

The development of monitoring strategies for the early warning of seawater pollution, with particular reference to faecal and hydrocarbon contamination, has been the specific goal of research carried out within the Cluster 10-SAM (Advanced Systems for Coastal Marine Monitoring) Project, funded by the Italian Ministry for University and Scientific Research. Advanced analytical approaches have been designed and applied to detect bacterial species that have been selected as potential indicators of pollution in seawater samples. We report the results obtained using the fluorescent antibody and enzymatic assays for the detection of Escherichia coli, and a real-time PCR protocol for monitoring marine areas for hydrocarbon pollution. Immunofluorescence and enzymatic methods revealed the occurrence of different faecal pollution levels, reaching 10⁵ E. coli cells 100 ml^?1 in the Straits of Messina. Real-time PCR results corresponded to the different degree of oil pollution of the analysed samples. The specificity and speed make these methods promising for the detection and evaluation of marine pollution.     

Risk Management of Sediment Stress: A Framework for Sediment Risk Management Research

Research related to the ecological risk management of sediment stress in watersheds is placed under a common conceptual framework in order to help promote the timely advance of decision support methods for aquatic resource managers and watershed-level planning. The proposed risk management research program relies heavily on model development and verification, and should be applied under an adaptive management approach. The framework is centered on using best management practices (BMPs), including eco-restoration. It is designed to encourage the development of numerical representations of the performance of these management options, the integration of this information into sediment transport simulation models that account for uncertainty in both input and output, and would use strategic environmental monitoring to guide sediment-related risk management decisions for mixed land use watersheds. The goal of this project was to provide a sound scientific framework based on recent state of the practice in sediment-related risk assessment and management for research and regulatory activities. As a result, shortcomings in the extant data and measurement and modeling tools were identified that can help determine future research direction. The compilation of information is beneficial to the coordination of related work being conducted within and across entities responsible for managing watershed-scale risks to aquatic ecosystems.     

Environmental policy implementation during the economic crisis: an analysis of European member state ‘leader-laggard’ dynamics

ABSTRACT

The long-standing debate on environmental policy ‘leaders’ and ‘laggards’ lends itself to a new analysis following with the advent of the 2008 economic crisis. This paper, therefore, asks the question to what extent do European Union (EU) member states have the capacity and willingness to implement EU environmental policy amid austerity, budget cuts, and rising costs over the period 2008–2014. Building upon previous studies, 26 interviews with European, Greek and United Kingdom participants and records of environmental infringements, the paper provides a contemporary picture of the environmental policy ‘leader-laggard’ dynamic in Europe. The findings demonstrate that the impact of the economic crisis seems contestable and varies amongst member states, while the reduction in environmental infringements appears to have a link with the decrease in economic activity. Although environmental policy ‘leaders’ maintain patterns of strong implementation, the improved implementation performance of some ‘laggards’ reflects a shift in their implementation patterns amid a period of intense political and economic controversies.     

Treatment of olive mill waste water with activated carbons from agricultural by-products

A series of activated carbons prepared by a two-step steam activation of olive stone and solvent extracted olive pulp (SEOP) have been used in an attempt to investigate the total phenol removal and chemical oxygen demand (COD) decrease in olive mill waste water (OMWW). The temperature of carbonization and activation were kept constant at 850 and 800 degrees C, respectively. One of the carbons was prepared by a single-step process at 800 degrees C. Activated carbons have been characterized by adsorption of N2 at 77 K and mercury porosimetry. Their iodine values were also determined. Surface oxides of activated carbons were determined using the Boehm's method. The porosity development and the surface chemistry of carbons were correlated to increasing removal ability of organic molecules. Kinetics of adsorption was evaluated by applying the Lagegren model while adsorption isotherm data were fitted to Langmuir model. Mesoporosity seems to be the key factor for total phenol removal while micoporosity controls the adsorption of total organics as expressed by the COD decrease in OMWW. For carbons with similar structure, the adsorption of phenols or total organics might be affected by the presence of carbonyls.