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UNIVERSITY OF AALBORG, SEPTEMBER 2009“ERASMUS TEACHING STAFF VISIT” - INTRODUCTION

Salvatore Nicosia, Assoc. Prof. in Environmental EngineeringDIIAA, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Idraulicaed Applicazioni Ambientali, Università di Palermo Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo(nicosia@idra.unipa.it)

THE DEGREE COURSE THE DEGREE COURSE IN ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERINGIN ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

AND THE SUPPORT OF THE RELEVANT AND THE SUPPORT OF THE RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS IN THE FRAME OF THEDEPARTMENTS IN THE FRAME OF THE

UNIVERSITA’ DEGLI STUDI DI PALERMO, UNIVERSITA’ DEGLI STUDI DI PALERMO, ITALYITALY

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The University as a whole The University as a whole

• Two centuries of life behind it; articulated in 12 Faculties and 80 Departments, it covers the most important fields of humanities, science and technology. • Indeed, a drive has been given by the Chancellor (Rettore) in charge towards the merging of smaller Departments into bigger, interdisciplinary entities. Typical updated size: 40 to 80 researchers + staff.• Palermo is still what is said a general University. In fact, the courses currently offered consist of about 160 Degree Courses (first and second level in the two-tier, i.e. 3 + 2 system) and some fifty Master courses. • Palermo University is also the seat of … Courses of Doctorate (3-years after the 2nd level degree).

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The Degree Courses in Environmental EngineeringThe Degree Courses in Environmental Engineering Environmental engineers design systems, processes and equipment for air, water and soil quality control; solid waste disposal; and the remediation of contaminated soil and water.

It is customary for environmental engineers to work with environmental scientists, as well as with other specialists and with lawyers; not rarely in dialog with environmentalist Associations.

For a graduate (3-years) program in Environmental Engineering, students have to pass examinations in Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Environmental systems, Hydraulics, Structure Mechanics, Soil Mechanics, Drawing, Survey and Mapping, and Sanitary Engineering. They also prepare group projects.

For a post-graduate (3+2-years) program students attend also courses in Mathematical Modelling; River and Shore Dynamics; Contaminated Soils; Urban drainage; Gaseous effluents treatment; Energy Resources Management; GIS; and EIA and LCA.

Both curricula conclude themselves with a Dissertation before a Board of Professors.

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The support given by the 9 contributing Departments : the main areasThe support given by the 9 contributing Departments : the main areas

Mathematics

Physics, Basic and Applied (i.e. Energy Management, Indoor Climate Control, Electricity, …)

Chemistry, Basic and Applied

Structures, Geology & Soil Mechanics

Hydrology, Hydraulics & Environmental Engineering

Surveying, Mapping & Drawing

Yard Management & Safety

Land and Urban Planning.

5555

Focus: research work ongoing at DIIAA (*) in the area of Environmental EngineeringFocus: research work ongoing at DIIAA (*) in the area of Environmental Engineering

A)A)  Wastewater TreatmentWastewater TreatmentSampling and analysis, simulation and assessment of Sampling and analysis, simulation and assessment of

processes, diagnosis of improper work.processes, diagnosis of improper work. OOn-site measurement of transport phenomena such as n-site measurement of transport phenomena such as

oxygen transfer and Hydraulic Retention Time.oxygen transfer and Hydraulic Retention Time.Operation of pilot plants placed in the wastewater Operation of pilot plants placed in the wastewater

municipal treatment plant of Palermo.municipal treatment plant of Palermo.B)B)    Solid WasteSolid Waste andand Contaminated SoilsContaminated Soils

Estimate of waste production rates; Laboratory measure of Estimate of waste production rates; Laboratory measure of biological degradation; On-site measure of gas production; biological degradation; On-site measure of gas production; Mathematical modelling.Mathematical modelling.C)C)  Surface water, Surface water, drainage systems, and seadrainage systems, and sea

Environmental measures, sampling and analysis + Environmental measures, sampling and analysis + hydrological hydrological data data integrated knowledge.integrated knowledge.

(*) Dipartimento di Ingegneria Idraulica ed Applicazioni Ambientali

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Research work with DIIAA: Landfills and contaminated soils, 1 Research work with DIIAA: Landfills and contaminated soils, 1 Measuring methane emissions from a landfill using a flux-box

Desk studyDesk studyDesk studyDesk study

Walkover surveyWalkover surveyWalkover surveyWalkover survey

Are methane Are methane emissions low?emissions low?Are methane Are methane emissions low?emissions low?

Design and plan Design and plan flux box surveyflux box surveyDesign and plan Design and plan flux box surveyflux box survey

Action planAction planAction planAction plan

RemediationRemediationRemediationRemediation

NoNo

YesYes

Flow-chart for a field measurements campaign

7777

Landfills and contaminated soils , 2Landfills and contaminated soils , 2

Monitoring locations

Monitoring locations

Number of monitoring locations Number of monitoring locations for a single zone: a function for a single zone: a function

of the zone sizeof the zone size

Larger than Larger than

5,000 m5,000 m22

Less than Less than

5,000 m5,000 m22

n= 6+0.15n= 6+0.15√Z√Z n= (Z/5,000)*16 n= (Z/5,000)*16 (six locations (six locations min)min)

Case study: the MSW landfill of the town of

Palermo, Italy

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Landfills and contaminated soils , 3Landfills and contaminated soils , 3

Flux boxFlux box FID (Flame Ionization FID (Flame Ionization Detector) for methaneDetector) for methane

The box is placed with the open end downwards The box is placed with the open end downwards and the bottom contour edge is temporarily sealed and the bottom contour edge is temporarily sealed onto the groung during the monitoringonto the groung during the monitoring

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Organic waste degradation, 1Organic waste degradation, 1

Determining the biologicalDetermining the biological stability using the stability using the respirometric method to measure oxygen uptakerespirometric method to measure oxygen uptake

What a Respirometer enables What a Respirometer enables to do:to do:

Quality control tests with Quality control tests with Dynamic Respiration Index (DRI)Dynamic Respiration Index (DRI)

The DRI represents the O2 required by microorganisms to degrade a volatile solid unit (VS) in a time unit (h), under optimal conditions.

Bio-drying testsBio-drying tests Bio-stabilization tests.Bio-stabilization tests.

Respirometer Respirometer manufactured by Costech manufactured by Costech International S.p.A.International S.p.A.

1010

Case Study: The MSW biodrying plant near the town Case Study: The MSW biodrying plant near the town of Agrigento, Italy of Agrigento, Italy

Organic waste degradation, 2Organic waste degradation, 2

Organic waste degradation, 3Organic waste degradation, 3

The biological stability is being assessed using the The biological stability is being assessed using the Dynamic Respiration Index (DRI) on samples of Dynamic Respiration Index (DRI) on samples of OFSW at different stabilization stagesOFSW at different stabilization stages

Monitored aerated slag-Monitored aerated slag-heapheap Laboratory work for a Laboratory work for a

dissertationdissertation

12121212

Waste water, 1: pilot plants for membrane treatmentWaste water, 1: pilot plants for membrane treatment

• Analysis of flocculation and de-flocculation phenomena;• Study of hydraulic fouling development during membrane filtration;

• Investigation of the relationships between fouling and extra-cellular polymers (EPs) production in biomass.

foam

Waste water, 2- Main research topicsWaste water, 2- Main research topics

Experimental station at Palermo WWTP Experimental station at Palermo WWTP (site Acqua dei (site Acqua dei Corsari)Corsari)

Waste water, 3- Department’s pilot plants siteWaste water, 3- Department’s pilot plants site

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Water treatment basins: determination of Retention Time Distribution and Mass Transfer coefficients

Water treatment basins: determination of Retention Time Distribution and Mass Transfer coefficients

0,686

0,786

0,886

0,986

1,086

1,186

1,286

1,386

1,486

1,586

0 300 600 900 1200 1500 1800 2100 2400 2700 3000 3300 3600 3900

Co

nd

uci

bil

ità

(mS

/cm

)

tempo (secondi)

Impulso NaCl - Vasca "2000 L"Q = 4,572 m3/h

TDIteor = 21 min

tP = 59 min = 3540 s

Immissione Impulso

Response to pulse injection.

Tests on a series of factory-built de-greasing tanks (after Norm UNI EN 858-1:2006)

• The Norm dictates the dimensions, the principles applied, the efficiency levels and the verification procedure for the plants aimed at separating light liquids.

• Residual oil in exit water is determined through a simplified GC analytical method.

Classe

Contenuto massimo

ammiss. di olio residuo

Classe I 5,0 mg/l

Classe II

100 mg/l

Determination of Retention Time, 1Determination of Retention Time, 1

Determination of Retention Time, 2Determination of Retention Time, 2

The experimental bench

SCARICO IN MARE DI ACQUE REFLUE

SULLA COSTA

A BORDO DEL BATTELLO IN NAVIGAZIONE NEL GOLFO

MISURA DELLA VELOCITA’ DELL’ACQUA IN 3 DIREZIONI

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MAPPA DELLA SALINITA’ A (-2) M MAPPA DELLO O.D. A (-2) M

Surface watersSurface waters

The Laboratory of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering in routine work

Responsabile scientifico:prof. ing. Salvatore NicosiaStruttura di riferimento:

Dipartimento di Ingegneria Idraulica e Applicazioni ambientali

Laboratorio di Ingegneria Sanitaria

Why not to join us to prepare a Degree dissertation?

Why not to join us to prepare a Degree dissertation?

2020

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgementsAcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Contributions to this presentation came from: Alida Cosenza, Rosa D’Addelfio, Gaetano Di Bella, Daniele Di Trapani, Placido A. Lanza, Alessandro Marco, Antonino Maltese, Michele Torregrossa, Gaspare Viviani.

UNINETLABPALERMO