I.-S. Antonopoulos

Vitrification of lead-rich solid ashes from incineration of hazardous industrial wastes

Lead-rich solid industrial wastes were vitrified by the addition of glass formers in various concentrations, to produce non-toxic vitreous stabilized products that can be freely disposed or used as construction materials. Toxicity of both the as-received industrial solid waste and the stabilized products was determined using standard leaching test procedures. The chemically stable vitreous products were subjected to thermal annealing in order to investigate the extent of crystal separation that could occur during cooling of large pieces of glass. Leaching tests were repeated to investigate the relation between annealing process and chemical stability. X-ray, scanning and transmission electron microscopy techniques were employed to identify the microstructure of stabilized products before and after thermal treatment. Relation between synthesis and processing, chemical stability and microstructure was investigated.

Modelling of a downdraft gasifier fed by agricultural residues.

A non-stoichiometric model for a downdraft gasifier was developed in order to simulate the overall gasification process. Mass and energy balances of the gasifier were calculated and the composition of produced syngas was predicted. The capacity of the modeled gasifier was assumed to be 0.5 MW, with an Equivalence Ratio (EQ) of 0.45. The model incorporates the chemical reactions and species involved, while it starts by selecting all species containing C, H, and O, or any other dominant elements. Olive wood, miscanthus and cardoon were tested in the formulated model for a temperature range of 800-1200°C, in order to examine the syngas composition and the moisture impact on the supplied fuel. Model results were then used in order to design an olive wood gasification reactor.

Marginalised social groups in contemporary weee management within social enterprises investments: A study in Greece.

This paper deals with the creation of appropriate conditions aimed at developing social services for reuse and recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), by the inclusion of handicapped and Roma people in the workforce. Application areas for the project are the Hellenic (Greek) regions of Thessaly and North Aegean, where these groups suffer from professional and social exclusion. The efforts to reduce unemployment in the two aforementioned groups, together with the efforts to implement related Greek and European legislation for sustainable WEEE management, are examined here. Furthermore, networking and cooperation at local, regional and central levels between small enterprises, entrepreneurships and local authorities are examined, so that these social enterprises and their corresponding investments may support the development of the Greek alternative WEEE recycling system.

Transportation cost analysis of the Hellenic system for alternative management of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment

This work presents an ex post analysis of the reverse logistics system for the alternative management of WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) in Greece, in view of the system’s initiation in 2004. The aim was to predict how this system would provide guidelines concerning facility locations for WEEE collection and to calculate the transportation costs for WEEE management. A mathematical mixed integer linear programming model of the system was developed on the basis of both extensive survey of international cases and careful considerations of both the national EEE market, as well as the national and local waste management conditions, practices and possibilities.

Adopting rational waste management schemes: The case of Preveza municipality

The amount of both Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) that is landfilled and of the industrial waste illegally dumped is still in high levels in most regions of Greece. Despite a number of measures that have been adopted during the last years, no significant landfill diversion has been achieved. The present study aims at developing an integrated zero-waste management system in order to reduce the amount of MSW delivered for further treatment or landfilling, while utilizing the diverted waste. MSW and industrial symbiosis will be generated by interacting the MSW management and the operating industries while transferring resources from waste management in order to be used in the industry sector. This strategy includes a balanced set of multiple parallel initiatives and measures that will act as drivers of economic activity and sustainable development trough the achieved eco-efficiency. The development of this waste management plan includes the involvement and participation of the general public so as to obtain consensus and achieve a minimum level of common understanding. This study is focused on the municipality of Preveza in the Hellenic region of Epirus and the potential industrial and MSW symbiosis achieved in the area. Multiple scenarios regarding solid waste generation, local management and co-management options, as well as downstream fate regarding the households as well as the companies and enterprises operating in the area were developed for the next two decades. The results of the study have shown the effectiveness and efficiency of the implementation of the selected rational waste management especially these of the recycling scheme. The output for the municipality of Preveza for the next decades will be very positive in terms both of the waste management cost reduction and the elimination of the negative environmental impacts in the greater of the municipality area.

Open dumps in the Hellenic prefecture of Laconia: statistical analysis of characteristics and restoration prioritization on the basis of a field survey

This study presents an assessment of the current status of open dumps in Laconia prefecture of Peloponnese in southern Greece, where all open dumps are targeted for closure by 2008. An extensive field survey was conducted in 2005 to register existing sites in the prefecture. The data collected included the site area and age, waste depth, type of disposed waste, distance from nearest populated area, local geographical features and observed practices of open burning and soil coverage. On the basis of the collected data, a GIS database was developed, and the above parameters were statistically analysed. Subsequently, a decision tool for the restoration of open dumps was implemented, which led to the prioritization of site restorations and specific decisions about appropriate restoration steps for each site. The sites requiring restoration were then further classified using Principal Component Analysis, in order to categorize them into groups suitable for similar restoration work, thus facilitating fund allocation and subsequent restoration project management.

Indicators and options towards sustainability in industrial areas

The industrial sector is traditionally considered as responsible for negative environmental impacts. Nowadays, sustainable strategies approach both in industrial areas and in individual small-and-medium sized enterprises plays a key role in regional economies, providing and fostering capacity, innovation and competitiveness in various fields, including energy, construction and environmental technologies per sector. Eco-industrial development is a recent policy development that seeks to integrate economic, social and environmental considerations into physical, adaptable sustainability models. This paper presents an integrated procedure for industrial areas towards sustainability in social, economic and environmental aspect. The structure of the proposed procedure is based on the results from SWOT analysis, which was performed for 15 Hellenic industrial areas. The industrial areas management and operation was divided in four thematic categories, where specific processes towards sustainability steps are in detail suggested. Finally the developed procedure was certified by integration of indicators, covering environmental, economical and social issues.

Clinical topographical anatomy of the gastro-oesophageal junction in the cat:

Objectives The purpose of the present study was to describe histologically the gastro-oesophageal junction in the cat and interrelationships of this region. Our hypothesis was that cats are devoid of abdominal oesophagus. Methods Three centimetres of the terminal oesophagus, the phreno-oesophageal membrane with 1–2 cm margins of the diaphragmatic crural muscle and the proximal 3 cm of the gastric cardia were obtained from nine domestic shorthair cats and one domestic longhair cat that were euthanased for reasons other than digestive tract pathology. Longitudinal samples were examined histologically. Evaluated parameters included the location of the phreno-oesophageal membrane with reference to the transition between the oesophageal and gastric mucosa, the thickness of the circumferential smooth muscle of the muscular layer of the distal oesophagus at points 3 mm and 6 mm cranial to the mucosa transition, and the thickness of the circumferential smooth muscle layer at the mucosa transition level. Median differences in the thickness of the smooth muscle layer were compared by performing non-parametric statistical analysis using the Mann–Whitney U-test. Results The transition of the oesophageal to gastric mucosa was abrupt and corresponded to the point of insertion of the phreno-oesophageal membrane at the diaphragm level in all cats. The mean thickness of the circumferential smooth muscle layer at the point of oesophageal to gastric mucosa transition was significantly greater than the mean thickness of the oesophageal circumferential smooth muscle layer at 3 mm and 6 mm cranial to the mucosa transition (P ⩽0.05). The increased muscle thickness at the gastro-oesophageal junction correlates with the accepted location of the high-pressure zone, reflecting the caudal oesophageal sphincter. It seems that the whole oesophagus was situated within the thoracic rather than the abdominal cavity. Conclusions and relevance No distinct abdominal oesophagus was observed in nine domestic shorthair cats and one domestic longhair cat. These findings might have implications for the pathophysiology of hiatal hernia in cats.