Valeria Mezzanotte

Kinetics of monomer biodegradation in soil

In modern intensive agriculture, plastics are used in several applications (i.e. mulch films, drip irrigation tubes, string, clips, pots, etc.). Interest towards applying biodegradable plastics to replace the conventional plastics is promising. Ten monomers, which can be applied in the synthesis of potentially biodegradable polyesters, were tested according to ASTM 5988-96 (standard respirometric test to evaluate aerobic biodegradation in soil by measuring the carbon dioxide evolution): adipic acid, azelaic acid, 1,4-butanediol, 1,2-ethanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, lactic acid, glucose, sebacic acid, succinic acid and terephthalic acid. Eight replicates were carried out for each monomer for 27-45 days. The numerical code AQUASIM was applied to process the CO₂ experimental data in order to estimate values for the parameters describing the different mechanisms occurring to the monomers in soil: i) the first order solubilization kinetic constant, K(sol) (d⁻¹); ii) the first order biodegradation kinetic constant, K(b) (d⁻¹); iii) the lag time in biodegradation, t(lag) (d); and iv) the carbon fraction biodegraded but not transformed into CO₂, Y (-). The following range of values were obtained: [0.006 d⁻¹, 6.9 d⁻¹] for K(sol), [0.1 d⁻¹, 1.2 d⁻¹] for K(b), and [0.32-0.58] for Y; t(lag) was observed for azelaic acid, 1,2-ethanediol, and terephthalic acid, with estimated values between 3.0 e 4.9 d.

Growth of microalgal biomass on supernatant from biosolid dewatering

The paper reports the results of an experiment to assess the feasibility of including a photobioreactor within the design of a wastewater treatment plant, growing microalgae on the centrate from anaerobic sludge dewatering. The growth of algal biomass would take advantage of the available nitrogen and provide a substrate for biogas production by anaerobic digestion. Tests were carried out by semi-continuously feeding a photobioreactor with a centrate-effluent blend and by increasing the fraction of centrate. The experimental results show that the centrate does not induce any toxicity and, on the contrary, can be well utilized by microalgae, whose average specific growth rate (μ), on centrate as such, was between 0.04 and 0.06 d(-1). The maximum biomass concentration in the photobioreactor effluent was 1.6 gSS/L at 10 days HRT (hydraulic retention time). Methane production tests led to biochemical methane production values of 335 ± 39, and 284 ± 68 mL 0°C, 1 atm CH4/g VS for the two tested samples, in agreement with literature values. Settling tests show that the settling capacity of microalgae, although satisfactory, could be effectively improved after mixing with activated sludge, confirming the potential to use the existing primary settler for microalgae thickening in order to feed microalgae for anaerobic digestion with primary/secondary sludge.

Colour removal and carbonyl by-production in high dose ozonation for effluent polishing

Experimental tests have been conducted to investigate the efficiency and the by-product generation of high dose ozonation (10-60 mg O3 L(-1)) for complete colour removal from a treated effluent with an important component of textile dyeing wastewater. The effluent is discharged into an effluent-dominated stream where no dilution takes place, and, thus, the quality requirement for the effluents is particularly strict. 30, 60 and 90 min contact times were adopted. Colour was measured as absorbance at 426, 558 and 660 nm wavelengths. pH was monitored throughout the experiments. The experimental work showed that at 50 mg L(-1) colour removal was complete and at 60 mg O3 L(-1) the final aldehyde concentration ranged between 0.72 and 1.02 mg L(-1). Glyoxal and methylglyoxal concentrations were directly related to colour removal, whereas formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acetone and acrolein were not. Thus, the extent of colour removal can be used to predict the increase in glyoxal and methylglyoxal concentrations. As colour removal can be assessed by a simple absorbance measurement, in contrast to the analysis of specific carbonyl compounds, which is much longer and complex, the possibility of using colour removal as an indicator for predicting the toxic potential of ozone by-products for textile effluents is of great value.

Predicting the constraint effect of environmental characteristics on macroinvertebrate density and diversity using quantile regression mixed model

Various factors, such as habitat availability, competition for space, predation, temperature, nutrient supplies, presence of waterfalls, flow variability and water quality, control the abundance, distribution and productivity of stream-dwelling organisms. Each of these factors can influence the response of the density of organisms to a specific environmental gradient, inflating variability and making difficult to understand the possible causal relationship. In our study, we used quantile regression mixed models and Akaike’s information criterion as an indicator of goodness to examine two different datasets, one belonging to Italy and one belonging to Finland, and to detect the limiting action of selected environmental variables. In the Italian dataset, we studied the relationships among five macroinvertebrate families and three physical habitat characteristics (water velocity, depth and substratum size); in the Finnish dataset the relationships between taxa richness and 16 environmental characteristics (chemical and physical). We found limiting relationships in both datasets and validated all of them on different datasets. These relationships are quantitative and can be used to predict the range of macroinvertebrate densities or taxa richness as a function of environmental characteristics. They can be a tool for management purposes, providing the basis for habitat-based models and for the development of ecological indices.

Determination of Serio River (Lombardy, Italy) ecosystem dynamics using macroinvertebrate functional traits

Abstract Structure and function of the Serio River (northern Italy) ecosystem have been evaluated analyzing macroinvertebrate community functional traits. Starting from traits such as Functional Feeding Groups (FFG), Functional Habit Groups (FHG), voltinism and drift behavior, we determined values that can integrate direct measurements of ecosystem attributes and can be used in restoration planning. We collected invertebrates and environmental data in eight sites representative of the longitudinal succession of Serio River environments. High values for most of the ecosystem attributes, indicating good functionality, were confined in three sites of the upstream alpine sector, while downstream the ecosystem was severely impaired and colonized by non-specialized, pioneer communities. The intrinsic information given by ecosystem attributes helped aid the understanding of the health of specific ecosystem functions, thus leading to evaluation of priorities in restoration efforts. This methodology can be a complementary tool in river quality assessment if macroinvertebrate quantitative data are available. Particularly, it can be used in accordance with the new quantitative sampling protocols being adopted in the European Union, and it can define new metrics in a multimetric evaluation system.

Effects of Future Climate Change on a River Habitat in an Italian Alpine Catchment

AbstractThe impact of prospective climate change on the hydrological and ecological status of the mountain stretch of the Serio river (ca. 300  km2) in the Northern Italian Alps was investigated. A hydrological model was used to mimic theflow regime, and experimental suitability curves were used to assess weighted usable area (WUA) for brown trout (Salmo trutta) in different stages (adult, young, and spawning), and four macroinvertebrates families (Leuctridae, Heptageniidae, Limnephilidae, and Limoniidae). Discharge-WUA curves were obtained using instream flow incremental methodology/physical habitat simulation system (IFIM-PHABSIM), and a seasonal WUA assessment was carried out. The future (until 2100) hydrological cycle was projected using outputs from two general circulation models from Assessment Report 5 of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The results display a potential for a large flow decrease yearly, until −60% at 2050 and −56% at 2090. Spring melt peaks will be largely dampe...

Monitoring biodegradation of poly(butylene sebacate) by Gel Permeation Chromatography, 1H-NMR and 31P-NMR techniques

The increasing use of new generation plastics has been accompanied by the development of standard methods for studying their biodegradability. Generally, test methods are based on the measurement of CO(2) production, i.e. the mineralization degree of the tested materials. However, in order to describe the biodegradation process, the determination of the residual amount of tested material which remains in the environment and its chemical characterization can be very important. In this study, the biodegradation in soil of a model polyester (poly(butylene sebacate)) was monitored. Gel Permeation Chromatography and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance ((31)P-NMR and (1)H-NMR) were used in order to obtain information about the polyester structure and the possible by-products that can be found in soil during and at the end of the incubation. The polyester mineralization (i.e. the CO(2) production) was tested according to ASTM 5988 standard method for 245 days. When the polyester mineralization was about 21% and 37% (after 78 and 140 days of incubation) and at the end of the process (63% of mineralization, 100% if compared to the cellulose used as reference material), the soil was extracted with chloroform (solvent of the tested substance) and the extracts were analyzed using GPC and NMR acquisitions. The analytical acquisitions showed high molecular weight polyester in soil during the incubation (78 and 140 days): the polyester concentration decreased but its structure remained almost the same with a slow decreasing in molecular weight. At the end of the test (245 days) no film of the polyester could be extracted from the soil: NMR acquisitions and GPC analyses of the extracts suggested a strong degraded structure of the residual polyester. Even if at the end of the process only 63% of carbon had been lost by mineralization, the whole of the added polyester seems to have disappeared after about eight months of incubation, suggesting substantial biomass formation.

Peracetic acid for secondary effluent disinfection: a comprehensive performance assessment.

The paper is a review of previous research on secondary effluent disinfection by peracetic acid (PAA) integrated with new data about the effect of a preliminary flash-mixing step. The process was studied at bench and pilot scale to assess its performance for discharge in surface water and agricultural reuse (target microorganisms: Escherichia coli and faecal coliform bacteria). The purposes of the research were: (1) determining PAA decay and disinfection kinetics as a function of operating parameters, (2) evaluating PAA suitability as a disinfectant, (3) assessing long-term disinfection efficiency, (4) investigating disinfected effluent biological toxicity on some aquatic indicator organisms (Vibrio fischeri, Daphnia magna and Selenastrum capricornutum), (5) comparing PAA with conventional disinfectants (sodium hypochlorite, UV irradiation). PAA disinfection was capable of complying with Italian regulations on reuse (10 CFU/100 mL for E. coli) and was competitive with benchmarks. No regrowth phenomena were observed, as long as needed for agricultural reuse (29 h after disinfection), even at negligible concentrations of residual disinfectant. The toxic effect of PAA on the aquatic environment was due to the residual disinfectant in the water, rather than to chemical modification of the effluent.

A multivariate approach to assess habitat integrity in urban streams using benthic macroinvertebrate metrics

Benthic macroinvertebrates are widely used as indicators of the health of freshwater ecosystems, responding both to water quality and to the hydromorphological integrity. In urban streams, evaluations can be tricky for the synergistic effects of multiple stressors and confounding factors. In these situations, the most broadly used multimetric indices can be used to assess the overall damage to the invertebrate community and, thus, the overall anthropogenic pressure, but they do not allow to understand the specific causal effects. Particularly, habitat loss due to morphological alterations can be difficult to evaluate, especially due to the often concurrent disturbance caused by water pollution. We used a multivariate approach to focus on the characteristics of the streams and rivers in an urban district and to define which macroinvertebrate metrics should be used to assess the influence of the different kinds of alteration in a severely damaged environment. Some metrics enabling the assessment of habitat loss (ratio of oligochaeta, ratio of filterers) were identified. These metrics may help to raise a better awareness in the evaluation of river restoration success and, thus, in the support of decision-making processes.

Leaf Packs in Impaired Streams: The Influence of Leaf Type and Environmental Gradients on Breakdown Rate and Invertebrate Assemblage Composition

The presence of different kinds of leaf packs (native or alien) and environmental gradients can affect the composition and abundance of macroinvertebrate assemblages in freshwater ecosystems, but little is known about the interactive effects. Here, we investigated (1) how environmental gradients could influence leaf packs macroinvertebrates and (2) which was the chief factor (among water quality, mass loss of leaf packs, and flow regime) affecting macroinvertebrate assemblages in impaired streams. We analyzed leaf packs in six sites in impaired streams, characterized by wastewater discharges and dominated by pollution-tolerant macroinvertebrate species. Using principal component analysis, we defined two environmental gradients as follows: a water quality gradient, related to anthropogenic alteration, and a hydromorphological gradient, mostly related to the catchment features. Our results pointed out that, in the tested conditions, biological metrics, such as functional groups and taxa richness, were chiefly influenced by the water quality gradient, while different leaf types in packs influenced the total taxa richness, but did not cause significant variation in the distribution and abundance of macroinvertebrate functional groups. On the contrary, the mass loss differed for different leaf types and was related to the stream and catchment features (mainly flow). This work showed that, in impaired streams, macroinvertebrate assemblages colonizing leaf packs are more influenced by water quality than by leaf types. Thus, the improvement of water quality should be the priority in restoration programs and should be achieved before any effort to restore native riparian vegetation.