Paolo Viotti

Atmospheric urban pollution: applications of an artificial neural network (ANN) to the city of Perugia

Abstract Urban air pollution is a growing problem. Large cities in particular show, at some point of time, high concentrations of substances dangerous for human health. The difficulty in forecasting pollutants concentration trends with a reasonable error is still an open problem. In this paper, a new approach is proposed. An artificial neural network (ANN) is used to forecast short and middle long-term concentration levels for some of the well-known pollutants. The results seem to be in good accord with the monitored data and allow its use as the forecasting model on a 24–48 h basis requiring only the meteorological conditions and the traffic level.

Thermal process of fluff: Preliminary tests on a full-scale treatment plant

Until only recently fluff has been largely disposed of in controlled landfill sites. However, in Europe environmental regulations, including the EU Landfill Directive 1999/31/EC and ELV (End of Life Vehicle) Directive 2000/53/EC, have dramatically increased the pressure on all stakeholders to develop alternative solutions. As increasingly stringent legislation forces Shredder Residues (SR) to be diverted from landfilling, newly developed technologies will be in a position to compete for the market value of disposing of the waste. However, the fluff waste stream is so variable that it cannot be automatically assumed that processes developed for one type of fluff will prove to be suitable for other fluff streams. This situation has contributed towards convincing stakeholders to withhold investment funds or delay taking decisions as to how best to proceed; as a consequence, very few technologies have been fully developed on a commercial basis. It is of particular interest therefore that commercial alternatives to be used in dealing with this complex waste stream should be identified. The present paper illustrates the findings of a full-scale thermal treatment performed on SR samples obtained from various shredding plants. The outcome of the study provides an important contribution towards assessing the feasibility and reliability of the process, thus constituting a basic prerequisite for process performance evaluation. The full-scale plant, designed for the thermo-valorization of tyres, was purpose-modified to allow for fluff combustion. Three different fluff compositions (car fluff with different percentage of shredding, whites and 100% car fluff) were taken into consideration. Both the raw samples and solid products were thoroughly characterized. Combustion emissions were continuously analyzed during the test period, alternatively operating for tyre and fluff combustion. Classification of combustion residues for landfill disposal was carried out indicating only 2% (ashes) as hazardous waste. Preliminary results, obtained from a unsophisticated thermodynamic analysis of the process, indicated a value of 0.61 for energy efficiency parameter calculated in accordance with the Directive 2008/98/EC. To conclude, the thermal treatment investigated may be deemed an appropriate technique for use in managing fluff. Indeed, values obtained for all organic and inorganic contaminants released into the atmosphere were lower than legal limits prescribed, and a significant energy content was recovered from waste fractions.

Laboratory investigation of DNAPL migration in porous media

Laboratory experiments have been carried out with and without groundwater flow in a two-dimensional laboratory-scale tank to assess the influence of layered media and hydraulic gradient on DNAPL infiltration and redistribution processes. Hydrofluoroether has been used as DNAPL and glass beads have been utilized as porous medium. An image analysis procedure has been used to determine saturation distribution during infiltration and redistribution processes. This method allows quantitative time dependent full fields mapping of the DNAPL saturation, as well as the monitoring of DNAPL saturation variation. By means of performed experiments important information were obtained about the migration and redistribution process, the infiltration and migration velocity, the characteristics of migration body. The experimental results show that the hydraulic gradient promotes the infiltration process, increasing the infiltration rate. It hampers DNAPL spread and fingering bringing to a reduction of residual DNAPL and it also promotes the DNAPL redistribution, and it reduces the amount remaining at residual saturation. Furthermore the hydraulic gradient promotes downward and down-gradient migration. DNAPL migration in the direction of water flow, can be considered important due to significant errors in the location of sources in the case of high gradients and high aquifer thicknesses, and for high water flow velocities, such as those which can be expected during pumping actions in water supply or in remediation activities.

Genetic algorithms as a promising tool for optimisation of the MSW collection routes

Important advantages, including reductions in fuel consumption and labour cost, arise from the optimal design of solid waste (SW) collection routes. Further, optimal design can reduce vehicle maintenance expenditures and improve traffic conditions in urban areas. To date, optimal routes have been developed according to intuitive methodologies and field experience. However, increasing attention is being devoted to innovative approaches, such as those able to simulate complex collection systems. To analyse these complexities, operational research applications are used. They are typically based on the implementation of heuristic procedures allowing for high quality solutions to the problem at hand. From a computational point of view, however, heuristic procedures have a complexity which is o(n3), where n is the number of points which have to be visited during each route. This is a limit for an accurate representation of urban areas and for the quality of the calculated solutions. An alternative methodology, which is the subject of this paper, is based on a genetic algorithm. Also, an ad hoc algorithm, developed in the framework of a wider research, is illustrated. Results of a preliminary field test conducted for verification are also presented.

On the ASR and ASR thermal residues characterization of full scale treatment plant

In order to obtain 85% recycling, several procedures on Automotive Shredder Residue (ASR) could be implemented, such as advanced metal and polymer recovery, mechanical recycling, pyrolysis, the direct use of ASR in the cement industry, and/or the direct use of ASR as a secondary raw material. However, many of these recovery options appear to be limited, due to the possible low acceptability of ASR based products on the market. The recovery of bottom ash and slag after an ASR thermal treatment is an option that is not usually considered in most countries (e.g. Italy) due to the excessive amount of contaminants, especially metals. The purpose of this paper is to provide information on the characteristics of ASR and its full-scale incineration residues. Experiments have been carried out, in two different experimental campaigns, in a full-scale tyre incineration plant specifically modified to treat ASR waste. Detailed analysis of ASR samples and combustion residues were carried out and compared with literature data. On the basis of the analytical results, the slag and bottom ash from the combustion process have been classified as non-hazardous wastes, according to the EU waste acceptance criteria (WAC), and therefore after further tests could be used in future in the construction industry. It has also been concluded that ASR bottom ash (EWC - European Waste Catalogue - code 19 01 12) could be landfilled in SNRHW (stabilized non-reactive hazardous waste) cells or used as raw material for road construction, with or without further treatment for the removal of heavy metals. In the case of fly ash from boiler or Air Pollution Control (APC) residues, it has been found that the Cd, Pb and Zn concentrations exceeded regulatory leaching test limits therefore their removal, or a stabilization process, would be essential prior to landfilling the use of these residues as construction material.

Numerical analysis of the anaerobic co-digestion of the organic fraction from municipal solid waste and wastewater: prediction of the possible performances at Olmeto plant in Perugia (Italy).

Anaerobic digestion is mainly used for sewage sludge stabilization and for treatment of waste that has a high organic content. It also represents a powerful method for obtaining energy by means of natural gas production. Co-digestion particularly combines different organic substrates to generate a homogeneous mixture as input to the anaerobic reactor in order to increase process performance. Reactions kinetics and knowledge of process analysis represent the keys for good planning and correct management. In this paper a model to simulate the main reactions involved in anaerobic co-digestion is presented. The model was created to analyse the possible performance of the treatment plant in Olmeto, Marsciano (Perugia) in Italy. The plant is still in an experimental phase with regard to the co-digestion process and numerical simulations represent a useful tool during development of the correct management procedures for the operational phase and a good methodoly for addressing further pilot plant experiments.

Development and calibration of a mathematical model for the simulation of the biofiltration process

Abstract Biofiltration is gradually gaining popularity among biological wastewater treatment processes, becoming a valid alternative to the more widespread activated sludge system. In order to understand better the operating conditions that influence the efficiency of such a process, a mathematical model has been developed. It allows the calculation of the COD and N-NH 4 + profiles along the filter height and inside the biofilm and simulates filter clogging due to the biomass growth. The model output has been verified through a series of sensitivity tests and its results have been calibrated considering the results of an experimental campaign conducted on the Biostyr® biofiltration unit of the Rome southern municipal wastewater treatment plant. Such a model can be used to understand better the influence of variation of the operating conditions on the efficiency of the biofiltration process, furthermore representing a valid predictive tool for the management of existing wastewater treatment plants and for the design of new ones.

An integrated wastewater treatment system using a BAS reactor with biomass attached to tubular supports

This paper describes laboratory experiments aimed to develop a new wastewater treatment system as an alternative to a conventional domestic wastewater plant. A modified Biofilm Airlift Suspension reactor (BAS), with biomass attached to tubular supports, is proposed to address low organic loads (typical of domestic sewage) and low residence time (typical of compact reactors technology). Attached and suspended biomasses, coupled to the high dissolved oxygen (DO), allow high removal efficiencies (90% and 56% for COD and N-NH(4)(+) removal respectively) and high effluent quality to be reached. The experimental activity, divided into three parts, demonstrates the good efficiency of the process, and the reduction of the removal kinetics for the high operating pressure used in the technology. The occurrence of simultaneous nitrification-denitrification (SND) was also observed. When compared with the conventional BAS system, the present treatment shows comparable removal efficiencies and higher specific removal rates (80 mg COD/g VSS and 2.60 mg N-NH(4)(+)/g VSS). The experimental results were coupled with the development of a numerical model to aid in designing a full-scale treatment plant in Italy.

Improving biotreatment efficiency of hot waste air streams: experimental upgrade of a full plant

Biological methods as bio and biotrickling filtration are an energy-efficient and economical alternative to treat biodegradable odorants and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in order to obey stringent releases regulations that have arisen during the last few decades. In this work a plant upgrade case study, employing these techniques, is presented. It refers to a critical situation in which off air streams, characterized by medium odorous compounds loads and high temperatures, were treated using a biofilter only. In that context, sufficient removal efficiencies were not achieved. Therefore, it has been proposed to replace the existing biofilter by a biotrickling one implementing a minimal number of structural plant modifications.

Full scale treatment of ASR wastes in a modified rotary kiln.

A plant, designed for the thermo-valorisation of tyres, was specifically modified in order to treat Automobile Shredder Residue (ASR). Results from two full-scale combustion experiments, carried out on large ASR feeding lots (thousands of tons) indicate the proposed technology as a potential route to help the fulfilling of impending 95% reuse and recovery target set by the End of life Vehicle (ELV) Directive (January 2015). The paper describes the main operational troubleshot occurred during the first experiment (emissions at the stack out of regulatory limits and problems of clogging on the conveyer belt) and the consequent upgrading solutions (pre-treatment, introduction of waste double low-flow screw feeder and a cyclone prior to the main fan, modification of rotatory kiln inlet) adopted to allow, during the second long-term experiment, a continuous basis operation of the plant in full compliance with the discharge limit to the atmosphere. Characterization of both ASR and combustion residues allowed to quantify a 18% of combustion residues as not dangerous waste while only the 2% as hazardous one. A pre-treatment for the reduction of fines in the ASR was recommended in order to achieve the required energy recovery efficiency.