AbstractMicrobial flora is an indicator of the environmental potential of allowing the air-transmitting infections. The paper presents the determination of micro-flora from public indoor spaces and hospital wards in an urban zone. There were used the following sampling and insemination methods: harvesting by sedimentation (Koch method) and harvesting by aspiration, filtration methods, barbotage method, impact method, electro-precipitation method and biotest Hycon. Air micro-flora determinations ...
Autori: Capatina Camelia, Cristinel Racoceanu, Gheorghe Lazăr
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25139

AbstractAs answer to European Community politics, in Romania the researches for waste reworking and ecological treatment are developing. The researches are focusing on wood wastes for its recovery in energy purposes. The purpose is the enlargement of superior coal utilization area obtained from Jiu Valley coal field, for increasing the efficiency of heating installations for domestic consumption, concordantly to European and Romanian pollutions regulations.Combined utilization of the fuel compos...
Autori: Camelia Bădulescu, Eugen Traistă, Gheorghe Lăzăroiu, Maria Orban, Valeriu Plesea
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25267

AbstractThe paper approaches studies of projections of future climate change that use a hierarchy of coupled ocean/atmosphere/seaice/ land-surface models to provide indicators of global response as well as possible regional patterns of climate change. It is evidenced that, after the global warming, a new phenomenon that occurs in the terrestrial atmosphere has drawn the attention of the scientific community. It is called global dimming - the decrease of the solar beams capacity (infrared, visibl...
Autori: Catrinel-Raluca Giurma-Handley, Constantin-Marin Antohi, Ioan Crăciun, Ion Giurma
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25285

? Denitrifying activity of activated sludge in suspension and in biofilm? Denitrifying potential of an activated sludge derived consortium? Biosorption of hexavalent chromium based on modified Y zeolites obtained by alkali-treatment? Identifying anaerobic digestion models using simultaneous batch experiments? Olive mill wastewater as a renewable resource? Influence of innoculum acclimation in the biodegradation rate and estimated biodegradbility of cow manure, food waste and oil? Studies on the ...
Autori:
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25378

AbstractThe paper discusses some aspects concerning the utilization of biomass as a bioenergy resource worldwide and in Romania, since  biomass is considered a sustainable, potentially environmentally sound and a replenishable resource. The biomass categories for bioenergy are analyzed, considering the factors which influence its availability. Biomass energy potential and current use in different regions as well as in Europe is accounted. Also, biomass power as an important alternative for ...
Autori: Maria Gavrilescu
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25298

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to investigate the immobilization of denitrifying bacteria on microbial cellulose (MC) for biological denitrification. A novel denitrifying bacterium, Pseudomonas stutzeri, was immobilized in microbial cellulose and introduced into an up flow packed bed reactor in order to remove nitrate from synthetic influent. The MC presented the high biomass concentration throughout the experiment, achieving 3.4 mg biomass/g support. The efficiency of the system for deni...
Autori: Abbas Rezaee, Hatam Godini, Hossein Bakhtou
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25302

AbstractA greenhouse experiment was conducted to determine the phytotoxic effect of heavy metals such as Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn on the growth of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus): on the seed germination, root/shoot growth and uptake of metals in soil-vermicompost media. The selected metals were dosed at various concentrations ranging from 0, 5, 10, 20, 40 and 50 ppm separately in soil - vermicompost media (3:1) in pot experiment. The seed germination, root and shoot growth were found significantly a...
Autori: Chhotu D. Jadia, Madhusudan H. Fulekar
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25306

AbstractDark fermentation hydrogen production from a mixture of food components using two different methods of methanogenic inhibition (autoclaving and BES) and three different temperatures (37, 60, and 70 Â?C) was examined in batch assays for two different mixed anaerobic cultures - one suspended sludge (S) obtained from an anaerobic digester and one granular sludge (G) obtained from a brewery wastewater treatment plant. In general, BES-inhibition of sludge was more robust when compared against...
Autori: Angela A. Abreu, Anthony S. Danko, Francisco Pinheiro, Maria Madalena Alves
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25308

Include urmatoarele articole:� Biomass - A source of chemicals and energy for sustainable development � Equilibrium study of Pb(II) and Hg(II) sorption from aqueous solutions by moss peat� Wood-based epoxy resins and the ramie fiber reinforced composites� Studies on the interaction between birch veneer and compounds with biocide potential action� Effect of methanogenic inhibitors, inocula type, and temperature on biohydrogen production from food components� Energy from biomass in pul...
Autori:
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25313

AbstractIndia possesses a diverse and rich cultural heritage and is renowned as a 'land of festivals'. These festivals attract massive community involvement paving way to new materials such as 'Plaster of Paris' being used for 'modernizing' the representation of idols with very little thought given to the issues of toxicity and environmental impacts. Another dimension to the whole issue is the plight of the artisans and the workers involved in the trade. Owing to the unorganized nature of the in...
Autori: Nanda B. S. Kumar, Raghunath Babu Are, Santosh M. Avvannavar, Shrihari Surathal
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25349

AbstractPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are included in the European Community (EC) and in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) priority pollutant list due to their mutagenic and carcinogenic properties. PAHs emissions from automobile traffic and industry activities were shown to influence the PAHs levels and profiles in vegetables grown nearby. The levels of 15 PAHs were determinate in samples of pepper (Capsicum Annuum) and tomato (SolanumLlycopersicum) in different stages of plan...
Autori: Alina Soceanu, Dan Tiberius Epure, Gabriela Stanciu, Simona Dobrinas, Valentina Coatu
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25360

Abstract The paper presents the capacity of biodegradation of selected microorganism, cultivated on liquid culture media to which diesel was added in different amounts, to determine petroleum products and process efficiency. The optimum necessary conditions for development of microbial strains (pH, temperature, the quantities petroleum product / inoculum) have been established with the help of an experimental optimization program, SIMPLEX....
Autori: Dana-Camelia Cocut, Cornel Cojocaru, Mariana Diaconu, Matei Macoveanu
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25414

Abstract The paper presents a case study developed within the Danube Environmental Center from the Romanian University â€?Gheorghe Cristea?? of Bucharest. This center is targeted toward linking the material science with the sustainable development concepts, in order to move the awareness of the community alongside sustainable development, as a leading concept of the European development, which becomes essential for the new members as well, in the environmental education field, the geopo...
Autori: Lidia Cristea
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25489

Abstract In the last decades human society came to realize that pollution and irrational use of resources diminish the capacities for future generations to satisfy their needs. That is why policies regarding environment protection start being implemented at city level with the participation of local authorities and the support of citizens. Moreover, such policies are beginning to have results, at environmental level. The example of the city of Ploiesti is commented upon in this paper. The cit...
Autori: Augustin Mitu, Catalin Popescu, Daniela Uta
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25554

Abstract Organic matter is ubiquitous in every type of aquatic system and due to the influence that it has on their ecological health, can be used as a useful water quality indicator. Fluorescence spectroscopy has been efficiently used in the past decades to determine and characterize organic matter, and its link to function and chemical water quality. In this paper, fluorescence fingerprints are presented in order to evidence the anthropogenic influence on different aquatic systems. Using f...
Autori: Elfrida M. Carstea, Luminita Ghervase, Gabriela Pavelescu, Dan Savastru
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25576

Abstract The Jajrood River watershed is one of the main drinking water resources of Tehran, the capital city of Iran. In addition it provides many recreational usages. However, a variety of microbial pollutions is commonly perceived in the Jajrood River, among them a high concentration of coliform group bacteria that has caused strong concerns. In this article, different aspects of microbial pollution as well as the main microbial pollution sources in the region are discussed. Coliform group ...
Autori: Mahdi Jamshidi, Mahdi Maghrebi, Masoud Tajrishy
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25627

Abstract Two different inocula - acclimated and non-acclimated to fat- were used to evaluate the methane production of cow manure, food waste and oily waste in batch assays. The inoculum adapted to fat had a better performance in the methanisation of substrates with significant lipids content. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that an increase in the ratio inoculum/substrate can enhance the initial methane production rate of oily waste when using a non-adapted inoculum, improving also the ultim...
Autori: Lucia Neves, Maria Madalena Alves, Raquel Ferreira, Rosario Oliveira
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25634

? GREEN SYNTHESIS OF SYMMETRICAL CARBONATE FT-IR STUDY ? SINTERED BASALT AS A PROMISING SUSTAINABLE MATERIAL IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING ? DESIGN OF BUILDINGS INCLUDING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ? ANALYSIS METHODS FOR PYRAZINE-2,3-DICARBOXYLIC ACID SYNTHESIZED USING ELECTROCHEMICALLY REGENERATED KMnO4 ? RESEARCH ON NaCl SALINE AEROSOLS II. NEW ARTIFICIAL HALOCHAMBER CHARACTERISTICS ? DETERMINATION OF AEROSOLS POLLUTANTS ON MEMBRANES. 1. MEMBRANES PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATIO...
Autori:
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25660

? STUDY OF BIODIESEL PRODUCTION FROM OILSEED PLANTS II. EVALUATION OF BIODISEL PRODUCTION FROM SOME CULTIVARS OF RAPES ? STUDY OF BIODIESEL PRODUCTION FROM OILSEED PLANTS I. EVALUATION OF THE GENETIC SIMILARITY OF SOME Brassica Napus CULTIVARS USING RAPD MARKERS ? STRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION AND IN VITRO CYTOTOXIC POTENTIAL OF COAL DUST IN A ROMANIAN POWER PLANT ? MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN BENGHAZI (LIBYA): CURRENT PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES ? COMPARATIVE ENVIRONM...
Autori:
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25661

? POST-DARCY FILTRATION THROUGH RIGID PERMEABLE MEDIA ? BIOSORPTION OF Cr(VI) FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS ONTO Hydrilla verticillata WEED: EQUILIBRIUM, KINETICS AND THERMODYNAMIC STUDIES ? IMPACT OF BUILDING A TIDAL GATE ON THE YONGJIANG RIVER IN CHINA ? MONITORING OF THE HYDROTECHNICAL TORRENT CONTROL STRUCTURES: A STATISTICAL APPROACH ? RESEARCH ON SOIL PROPERTIES CONSERVATION DURING THE PREPARATION OF GERMINATION BEDS IN GREENHOUSES ? MANAGEMENT OF THE POTATO CROPS FOR MIN...
Autori:
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25664

Rhizobag incubation experiments were conducted to study microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), soil respiration and enzyme activity (urease and phosphatase) in the rhizosphere soil of three different wetland plants and its influence on the removal of total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN). MBC, MBN, soil respiration and enzyme activity were higher in the rhizosphere than in the non-rhizosphere soil of the wetland plants. Microbial activity in the rhizospher...
Autori: Defu Xu, Hua Fang, Xianghua Xu, Xiaoli Zhao, Yingxue Lihttp://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25679

Our investigation in 2007 revealed that the concentration of microcystin (MC-LR) in Miyun reservoir was 0.224 μg L-1, below the safety limit of surface drinking water in China (1.0 μg L-1). The phytoplankton community in Miyun reservoir was composed of 8 divisions and 84 species (including genera and varieties). The density of phytoplangkton was 393.71?—104 cells L-1 including 24.6% of Chlorophyta, 32.5% of Cyanophyta and 15.3% of Bacillariophyta. The toxin-producing cyanobacteria incl...
Autori: Huimin Li, Guisen Du, Yumei Wu, Dianwei Wu, Jingshi Wanghttp://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25691

Abstract:In this paper, the effect of the ultraviolet light on various pathogen microbial strains present in drinkable groundwater samples (wells) from Constanţa County, Romania (localities Moviliţa, Topraisar, M. Kogălniceanu) was analyzed. The investigations were conducted in an original UV-C irradiation prototype installation for water samples. The efficiency of this prototype in destroying the pathogen agents present in drinkable groundwater was established by monitoring the p...
Autori: Bogdan Negreanu-Pîrjol, Elena Gorun, Remus Zăgan, Sabina Zăgan, Ticuţa Negreanu-Pîrjol
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25802

Abstract:The insufficient waste collection service and scarcity of studies about municipal solid waste (MSW) generation in rural communities from developing countries has negatively influenced how MSW is managed by residents and authorities. This has brought about pollution and affected the quality of life of the residents from those communities. This study aims to determine the quantity and type of household waste generated, as well as to know the perception of the community on MSW management i...
Autori: Carolina Armijo, Paul Taboada-González, Quetzalli Aguilar-Virgen, Sara Ojeda-Benítez
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25810

Chromium and cadmium are heavy metals that occur naturally in the environment and especially in soils. Their toxic effect is more pronounced at high concentrations and it depends on the oxidation states. While Cr (III) is considered an essential trace element for the metabolism of living organisms, Cr (VI) has a higher mobility and is easily soluble in soils and can be leached into surface water or groundwater, and taken up by plants. That leads to a toxic and carcinogenic effect to humans via i...
Autori: Dumitru Bulgariu, Florian Statescu, Maria Gavrilescu, Mariana Diaconu, Vasile Lucian Pavel
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25866

Two experimental periods have been undertaken to investigate the biodegradability of sewage streams (mainly regarding the organic substances) produced by a gas cartridge production, filling and distribution company. A sequencing batch reactor (SBR) was used for the laboratory examinations launched with municipal sewage sludge with a concentration of approx. 3 g MLSS/L. The various conditions in the reactors followed each other cyclically (fill, anoxic, aerobic, settle, draw) three times a day. T...
Autori: Bence Fazekas, Karoly Reich, Krisztian Varga, Viktoria Pitas, Viola Somogyi, Zsuzsanna Banyai
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25902

Abstract A one-stage aerobic moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) (Reactor A) and a combined reactor (Reactor B) involving an anoxicgravel-bed biofilm reactor (GBBR) and an aerobic MBBR were applied to the treatment of heavily polluted river water. Reactorperformance was investigated throughout the experiment for almost 200 days and molecular techniques including PCR-DGGE,FISH/CLSM and FISH/FCM were used to reveal the evolutions of bacteria community, abundance of nitrifying bacteria and their...
Autori: Linyun Gu, Xiangchun Quan, Yin Qian, Yuansheng Pei, Zhifeng Yang
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25942

AbstractPartial nitrification for the biological nitrogen removal (BNR) via nitrite has recently gained interest for treating high-strengthammonium wastewater with low organic matter content. However, stability of partial nitrification is still a challenge in activatedsludge system. In the present study, the technique of aerobic granulation was developed to produce granules for stable nitritation,treating ammonia-rich inorganic influent with 400 mg NH4+-N/L. The morphology, physical properties, ...
Autori: An-Jie Li, Xiang-Chun Quan, Xiao-Yan Li, Zhi-Feng Yang
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25947

AbstractVegetable waste was used as the fuel of a two-chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC) for simultaneous power recovery and wastedegradation. Effects of ultrasonic pretreatment, organic loadings, anolyte pH adjustment on the MFC performance wereinvestigated. Results showed that higher power generation and organic compounds removal efficiency were achieved in theMFCs with the vegetable waste pretreated with ultrasonication at >1.0W/mL compared to the un-pretreated control. A maximumvoltage of ...
Autori: Kun Tao, Xiangchun Quan, Yanping Quan
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25953

AbstractThis paper reports the effects of COD:sulfate ratio on sulfate removal and electricity generation from oil shale retort watertreatment using microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Field-collected retort water was augmented with organics to obtain a range of initialCOD:SO42- ratios (0.5:1 to 2:1), and treated in two different MFC designs (tubular and two-chambered). The two-chamberedMFCs exhibited COD and sulfate removal 1 to 2 orders of magnitude higher than those of the tubular MFCs. The tubular ...
Autori: Ho Il Park, Lian-Shin Lin
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25954

“The Exploratory Workshop „Progress inEnvironmental Engineering, Biotechnology andManagement in The Frame of Knowledge-BasedSustainable Economy” took place in the contextwhen worldwide research shows that the currentindustrial system supports a population that useresources and generates waste, consuming the Earth'ssupply, but who’s biocapacity is far outweighed bythe increased demand of products for a developmentsystem that often works on unsustainable bases.Today’s challenge is the integration ...
Autori:
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25969

AbstractThe slag and the ash, resulted after the lignite burning in the boilers of Thermal Power Plant located at Timisoara South(Romania), are hydraulically evacuated at the storage facility for slag and ash near village Utvin. Fine ash from compartments ofslag and ash deposits that are not covered by water can be driven by air currents, causing pollution. After admission of Romaniain European Community, the rules for environmental protection are strictly applied. This paper presents the review...
Autori: Emilian Stefan Valea
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26081

AbstractA new approach to environmental protection management is the aerobic microbial digestion of food industry wastewaters byusing those waters as substrate, while the pollutants contained work also as oxygen-vectors. In biotechnology, oxygen masstransfer is a key parameter involved in the design and operation of mixing–sparging bioreactors and it can be analyzed by meansof the oxygen mass transfer coefficient (kLa). The influence of a second liquid phase with higher oxygen affinity (in this ...
Autori: Elena Folescu
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26097

AbstractThere are a quite large number of studies published in the last decade, dealing with the possible pass of the human society to thehydrogen-based energy. The efforts made by researchers all around the world, in order to bring technical solutions, seemremarkable, but at global level only minor progresses were made toward this major change. Furthermore, most of studiespredicted a fuel crisis, but not a possible economical crisis with significant effects on the developing renewable energytec...
Autori: Ştefan Stanciugelu
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26099

Mother Earth Investments AG, is actively working onthe development 2nd generation bioenergy feedstocks.In this book, Mr. Jansen generously shares hisknowledge in the field, in particular, regarding thechallenges and opportunities in development ofbiomass-derived fuels. This essential guide toinvesting in bioenergy commodities details secondgeneration biofuels from a scientific, technical andeconomic perspective, and discusses their globalenvironmental, political and financial impact.The book is ...
Autori: Roland A. Jansen
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26100

The book edited by Haibo Xie and NicholasGathergood focuses on one of the most importantscientific issues of the 21 century which is thereplacing fossil fuel with sustainable alternatives suchas biomass. Fossil fuels are conventional rawmaterials for many industrial sectors includingchemical and energy production. Usage of fossil fuelis limited by their availability, price and carbonfootprint. Biomass is a renewable resource globallyavailable, cheaper and carbon sequestering. Step bystep shiftin...
Autori: Adrian Catalin Puitel
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26101

The ELSEDIMA International Conference on “Environmental Legislation, Safety Engineering and Disaster Management” held its 9th edition in 2012. This edition was organized by the “Babeş-Bolyai” University of Cluj-Napoca - Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, together with the Ministry of Administration and Interior - General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, the Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative for South – Eastern Europe and S.C. I...
Autori:
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26102

Abstract Environmental degradation is today one of the great problems of mankind. Not only the need to exploit, but also the necessity to protect and preserve the natural environment have led to the adoption of specific rules for the prevention and remediation of environmental damages, according to EU standards. Taking into account that any human intervention on the natural and anthropogenic environment can lead to ecological risk diversification, occurrence of accidental pollut...
Autori: Aurica Grec
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26130

Abstract In a world of uncertainty, the only constant is change and rapid change produces a multitude of diverse facts. Risk is an integral part of life. While no country in the world is entirely safe, the lack of capacity to limit the impact of hazards remains a major burden for all countries and while the world has witnessed an exponential increase in human and material losses due to natural disasters, there is a need to reverse trends in vulnerability to earthquakes. Available d...
Autori: Gheorghe Mărmureanu
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26140

AbstractIn the conventional water flooding process of Daqing Oilfield in China, the occurrence of abundant sulfate-reducing bacterialpopulations has substantially affected the industrial production. This study was conducted from the perspective of ecologicalsuppression by operating anaerobic ABR reactors and dosing ecological inhibitors in a continuous-flow experiment. The practicaloperating efficacy was investigated and associated dynamic bacterial population succession was analyzed. Results sh...
Autori: Bin-song Wang
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26165

AbstractWith the rapid development of the city, people feel increasingly great pressure. Community Parks are playing more significantroles in people’s daily life. Community Parks with the theme of leisure and recreation provide communication platforms forresidents and have enriched their outdoor activities. The parks not only ease people’s life and work pressure, but also improvecommunication among neighbours. An excellent Community Park not only needs to satisfy residents’ utility requirements,...
Autori: Wenting Wu
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26176

AbstractThe aim of this work consists of presenting the need to improve the tributary regulation in order to stimulate the suitablemanagement of the water in the process of production of the wine. In this sense, it is analyzed the influence of the cost of thewater and the different taxes associated with the discharge of wastewater in order to encourage the system implantation of water recycling in the wine-producing Spanish industry. For that, it is studied the actual case of a winery, of its ne...
Autori: Isabel M. Román-Sánchez
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26193

AbstractExcess biomass produced in the degradation processes of organic pollutants is creating environmental challenges for wastewatertreatment plants. The A+OSA system, a modification of the anoxic / oxic (A/O) process via insertion of a sludge holding tankinto a sludge return line, has been demonstrated to be capable of achieving simultaneous nutrient removal and sludge reduction.Here we report the results of an investigation aimed at evaluating the impact of the sludge holding tank on the bio...
Autori: Li Jia
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26207

AbstractThe current literature on SMEs presents a range of factors that influence their decisions regarding the adoption of environmentalmanagement practices. In particular, some common factors are the pressure from stakeholders, the awareness of environmentalissues, the level of local authorities’ support, the benefits arising from the adoption of such practices and the role ofenvironmental regulations. This paper examines some of these factors through a case study research methodology on two G...
Autori: Ioannis E. Nikolaou
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26213

AbstractKohonen Self-organizing map (KSOM) modeling have been applied increasingly for analysis, estimation and prediction ofseveral water quality processes, which are embedded with high complexity, dynamism and non-linearity. KSOM or unsupervisedneural networks were applied to microbial data (Escherichia coli, faecal streptococci, and total coliforms) from the effluent of atwo year data set (2008-2010) on two permeable (pervious) pavement systems used to treat storm water runoff contaminated wi...
Autori: Kiran Tota-Maharaj
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26226

AbstractWastewater sludges are organic and nutrient-rich materials that could be used to improve soil tilth. However, the land applicationof sludge needs to be properly managed to avoid the detrimental effects on micro and macroorganisms in the soil. Earthwormsare one of the most important soil macroorganisms. Addition of sludge to the soil environment may impact earthworm activity,and in turn, soil productivity and health. In this study, sludge from the canned food industry was added to soil mi...
Autori: Efsun Dindar
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26238

AbstractThe applications of biofilm treatment technologies for domestic wastewater are being increased in many parts of the world. Theaim of the study is to assess a compacted aerobic attached growth fix-film unit (termed Bio-cache) for treatment of small volumedomestic wastewater. The system consists of the miniature plastic packing matrix, which provides a large surface area of 300m2/m3, so as to maintain the high rate growth of viable organisms responsible for organic degradation. The study o...
Autori: Alireza Valipour
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26266

AbstractThe efficiency of solar disinfection (SODIS) was evaluated and enhanced by concentrating sunlight at low pH values in a solar collector disinfection (SOCODIS) system at different sunlight intensities and is highlighted in the author’s earlier findings. In order for further improving the rainwater disinfection, simple technique like wrapping the PET bottles with heat-resistant plastic bags (Wp) were used for enhancing the thermal/synergistic effects of solar radiations. An analysis of the...
Autori: Abdulrahman Ali Alazba, Mooyoung Han, Muhammad Nasir Amin, Muhammad Tahir Amin
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26298

AbstractThe monitored natural attenuation (MNA) of groundwater contamination is in many cases considered to be a cost-effective andappropriate strategy to manage the remediation of contaminated aquifers. A prerequisite for the public acceptance of such NAremediationapproaches is that the efficiency of the presumed NA-processes should be proven. This proof must be based on anextensive hydrogeological and in-situ characterization of the ongoing aquifer processes. Additional investigations of aquif...
Autori: Achim Möller, Anja Berning, Anne Berghoff, Bernd Mahro, Christoph Wortmann
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26312

AbstractA township consists of diversified communities, and communities are the basic units of local infrastructure. The public buildings,public lighting equipment, private buildings, and community residents are the normal-state energy consuming aggregates. Ascommunity organizations have great influences, the promotion of community energy-saving policy under the organizationalinfluence, along with the concepts of direction, evaluation, and subsidy, can help to realize the community energy-saving...
Autori: Sung-Lin Hsueh
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26374

AbstractA lab-scale packed-bed biofilm channel reactor that operates as a plug-flow system equipped with top aeration modules wasconstructed and evaluated. To assess the reactor performance a microbial community able to degrade linuron was used. Changingthe fluid flow rates and the linuron concentrations in the inflowing medium the volumetric loading rates of linuron (BV,L) weregradually increased from 0.29 to 14.93 mg/Lh. During the operation of the reactor, an airflow rate of 0.15 ą 0.05 L/min...
Autori: Erick Marrón-Montiel
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26465

AbstractFluorescence spectroscopy and parallel factor (PARAFAC) form a powerful tool in separating different fluorophores and maybe useful in detecting the fluorescent signature of dissolved organic matter (DOM). Despite the large number of studies onfluorescence and PARAFAC it is still uncertain if this combination is capable to separate DOM from different water types byanalyzing the presence of specific components and their spectral shape. This paper presents a preliminary study on thefluoresc...
Autori: Elfrida M. Carstea
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26495

AbstractEnhanced nitrogen inputs to both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems affects biodiversity at all its levels. Grasslands provide acomplex range of functions, due to their wide representation throughout terrestrial ecosystems. Numerous studies demonstratesoil acidification, eutrophication and species richness reduction as a result of elevated reactive nitrogen availability. The presentstudy aims to assess soil nitrogen stocks and transformations for two Romanian grasslands during November 2...
Autori: Carmen Postolache
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26497

AbstractThis study, analyzes the benthic macroinvertebrates community structure and composition in order to assess the ecological statusas required by the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Macroinvertebrates are the appropriate indicators to describe habitatheterogenity and the water bodies ecological status by turning the allochtone material into biomass, which is then transferred tothe upper trophic levels. Moreover, the macroinvertebrates have the capacity to integrate in their structure the e...
Autori: Catalina Stoica
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26502

AbstractThe aim of the present work is to study the performance of a constructed wetland for domestic wastewater depuration alsoworking as a microbial fuel cell (MFC) under two different subsurface flow modes in the upper cathodic compartment (horizontalflow, HF, or vertical flow, VF), and to compare the efficiency under both situations. A pilot-scale subsurface constructed wetlandtreating domestic wastewater was used, and the installation also included the electrodes and devices needed to work ...
Autori: José Villaseńor Camacho
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26574

Abstract Toxic chemical nature of tannery wastewater makes it difficult to be treated by routine biological treatment processes. Microbes, already present in tannery wastewater can adapt to these conditions and degrade the organics in tannery wastewater. In the present contribution, three bacterial electrogenic strains, tolerant to tannery environment, were isolated from soil contaminated with tannery waste and named as BS1, BS2, and BS3. Tannery wastewater was treated with these pure and mi...
Autori: Abhilasha Singh Mathuriya
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26588

Abstract The degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) including fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene and pyrene were investigated under thermophilic and mesophilic anaerobic-methanogenic conditions. By using central composite design, the impact of PAH concentration and soil to inocula ratio were systematically studied for their influence on PAH removal and biogas production. During the first 30 days, PAH concentration decreased in all samples indicating that the ino...
Autori: Tahseen Sayara
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26629

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin on diosmin, substance from the flavones category with important pharmacological properties. We carried out solubility studies, calculating the solubility constant of the complex formed between diosmin and hydroxypropyl-cyclodextrin at various temperatures (20, 25 and 37 0C) and in the presence of increasing cyclodextrin concentrations. AL type curves were obtained which suggest the format...
Autori: Constantin Ciobanu
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26643

Abstract The development strategy of the European Union until the year 2020, Europe 2020, militates for an intelligent economy, sustainable and favorable to inclusion. Following these principles, each Member State establishes its targets and action plans at a national level. On the other hand, the rural zones benefit from diverse forms of renewable energy which can assure their development and energetic autonomy, bringing important advantages to the rural community: the diminishing of energy...
Autori: Liliana Topliceanu
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26644

Abstract Drinking water treatment using activated carbon (AC) decontamination offers effective methods for removing some organic compounds, tastes and odors, but it is not so efficient for metals, nitrates, microbial contaminants and other organic and inorganic contaminants. In the last years, nanotechnologies introduced several types of nanomaterials for organic, inorganic and biological removal of contaminants in drinking water, such as: sorption, filtrations and catalytic processes. In th...
Autori: Elena Radu
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26671

Abstract In the process of chitin extraction, shrimp shell powder was treated by Lactobacillus plantarum culture. The efficiency of microbial demineralization (DM) under aerobic and anaerobic conditions was investigated. The shrimp shell powder was incubated at 30 °C for 6 days with L. plantarum. In order to prepare microbial culture, inoculums size was 5% for culture inoculation. Date syrup with total reduce sugar concentration of 30 g.L-1 was used. The value of pH in anaerobic conditio...
Autori: Marjan Khorrami
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26692

Abstract In this study we report the preparation and evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of a new hybrid material based on chitosan (CH), magnetite (Fe3O4) and phytocomponents from the Eugenia carryophyllata aqueous extract (AE). CH/Fe3O4 was prepared by chemical precipitation of Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions in aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide and CH. E. carryophyllata’s dried buds were hydrodistilled under microwave conditions. The AE was separated in three equal parts, one for the chl...
Autori: Ion Anghel
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26707

Abstract Social perception is a tool widely used in the environment research, due to the emphasis put on the one hand on the human component, as an important factor in the development of society, and on the other hand on the man-environment interaction of the past decades. The aim of the present study is to assess the population concern about the environment, and particularly about the use of asbestos (a material partly forbidden in Romania since 2007), for construction purposes. The case st...
Autori: Elena Matei
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26734

Abstract Along with nowadays growth of urban areas and population, it is more and more important to have better water resources management, especially regarding drinking water supply. Maintaining a good state of a water distribution network poses challenges that are addressed by research community. Two of the main challenges in management of water distribution systems are the reduction of energy consumption due to the high pumping requirements in some systems and/or reduction of water losses...
Autori: Mario Castro Gama
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26747

Abstract Extensive use of plastics leads to the increase of non biodegradable wastes that have to be recycled due to both dramatically decrease of natural resources to producing them and to their increasing need as well as due to environmental issues. Most of goods made by materials based on wastes have to be commonly used by people. Antibacterial character of those is necessary to avoid epidemics. This paper deals with determination of antimicrobial character of materials based on polymeric...
Autori: Florica Silvia Cristina Patachia
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26751

Abstract Waste management does not try to dispose waste anymore but is searching for the best solution to manage valuable and scarce resources and reduce the negative impact on the environment. Preoccupation in Germany with regard to optimization of waste recuperation and valorization increases and separate collection systems for different waste fractions are taken into consideration. Within this study a pilot project was set up and its results are presented below. The investigation evaluate...
Autori: Mihaela Berechet
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26758

Abstract The link between the spread of diseases and the geographical environment has been made by scientists since a long time. Every element has an entire spectrum of possible effects on a community. One of the main reasons of studying the environment is the understanding of the way the environment conditions influence the human health and the identification of the modalities through which the negative effects of some external factors on this universal good of the society can be reduced. T...
Autori: Călin-Cornel Pop
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26760

Abstract The increasing diffusion of Hi-tech complex products has raised the attention of scientific community towards their End of Life (EoL) treatment, both in terms of assuring an appropriate disposal, to avoid the dispersion of harmful substances, and at the aim of their exploitation as valuable sources of raw materials. Within this study an integrated approach for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) end of life treatment is proposed based on the integration of hydrometallur...
Autori: Claudia Brunori
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26777

Abstract The use of non-conventional water resources including treated municipal wastewater has been increasing in the Mediterranean regions over the last decades to cope with water shortages and uneven rainfalls due to climate change. The aim of this paper is to present the first results from two years of experimental field activities carried out in two different demo-places in Southern Italy: the municipal wastewater treatment plants of Noci and Castellana Grotte (Apulia region). In these ...
Autori: Antonio Lonigro
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26787

Abstract Hydrolysates of Arundo donax, a crop offering high productivity in contaminated or salinized soils with no inputs of irrigation and agrochemicals, were used in a discontinuous fermenter to grow the oleaginous yeast Lipomyces starkey, to obtain microbial oils potentially useful for the production of 2nd-generation biodiesel. A mixture of fermentable sugars was obtained by steam-explosion and subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis of the lignocellulosic materials. The concentration of Ni2+ ...
Autori: Domenico Pirozzi
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26789

Abstract This paper discusses end-of-life (EoL) modeling issues in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), through the application to a domestic cooker hood. Two EoL approaches are applied and discussed, namely the avoided burden and the one recommended by the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) Guide, presently under testing. While no case studies on PEF application have been published yet, to the best of our knowledge, the scientific community is questioning the robustness and relevance of some me...
Autori: Francesca Reale
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26790

Abstract To make sustainability transitions happen, it is crucial not only to have strategic planning processes committed by the top management, but also to encourage community engagement, approaching and promoting a bottom-up process. In the specific case of a University Campus, that means the involvement of the students not only as consumers, but with a leading role in the sustainability process. DICAM department of University of Bologna has recently started the implementation of some prac...
Autori: Sara Rizzo
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26798

Abstract In this paper, the structure and working principles of a microbial fuel cell (MFC) are analysed, and a mathematical simulation model of MFCs is established based on the electrochemical equation, kinetic equation and material balance equation of a MFC. A simulation analysis and discussions are conducted in a MATLAB environment to investigate the effect of acetate concentration, influent flow and external resistance on the performance of a MFC system. The simulation model is demonstra...
Autori: Aimin An
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26803

Abstract Waste engine oil contains hydrocarbons which are potentially carcinogenic. The objective of this study was to determine if organic wastes, specifically cow dung (T1) and poultry manure (T2) can improve the microbial degradation of the hydrocarbons. A questionnaire survey to determine generation, management and disposal of waste engine oil was carried out. A Complete Randomized Design, with two treatments and three replications was used to set up plots at Makerere University Agricult...
Autori: Richard Elijah Ssonko
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26820

Abstract Water Distribution Networks (WDN) are large-scale systems whose management is a complex task, with increasing environmental and socio-economic implications worldwide, and with a renewed considerable attention by all stakeholders: local authorities, regulators, environmental groups and the scientific community. WDM managers need to reliably estimate the water demand in the short-term (typically 1 day ahead), in order to operate their reservoirs and treatment plants appropriately to ...
Autori: Antonio Candelieri
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26830

Abstract Isotopic composition and electrical conductivity (EC) of groundwater were analyzed to trace the source and transport of pathogenic microbes in shallow and deep groundwater wells over a depth range from 9 m to 75 m below land surface (bls). Stable isotopic composition was used for the identification of the source of water while environmental tritium contents were used to estimate the time elapsed since the recharge of the groundwater. The results revealed that drain water contaminate...
Autori: Anju Pant
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26851

Abstract The traditional industrial parks (TIPs) in China has been rapidly developed in the past 30 years, which have contributed to stable and continuing GDP growth, but also caused severe pollution. In order to solve the conflict between local economic development, environmental pollution and resource shortage, the TIPs in China should be transformed to eco-industrial parks (EIPs). However, the eco-transformation of China's TIPs is still at an exploratory stage. So, the paper studies e...
Autori: Jiang Wang
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26855

Abstract In the present study, several selected formulations based on recycled (rPP) or virgin polyolefins (vPP) and lignocelluloses were prepared and subjected to microorganism attack. Biodegradation tests were performed with microbial strains belonging to fungal genera, like Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium. The initiation of biodegradation was demonstrated by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) micrographs showing the colonization of surface samples by microbial strains. The crystalli...
Autori: Luiza Jecu
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26879

Abstract Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) is the most widely used material for the production of medical devices such as intravenous fluid bags and tubing, enteral feeding, dialysis equipment and catheters. Despite of their numerous advantages, the plastic medical devices are non biodegradable and prone to microbial colonization causing biofilm associated infections which are difficult to treat and tend to chronicisation. A possible solution to surpass these limitations could be the fabrication of...
Autori: Petruța Stoica
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26894

Ranunculus rionii and Ceratophyllum demersum develop aquatic dense stands, which lately started to represent a major ecological concern for all the ponds and/or lakes in Romania. The potential relationships between the phytochemical compounds detected in these plant extracts (acids, phenols, heterocycles, alcohols, hydrocarbures) and the allelopathic properties against Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial strains and microalgal cultures were investigated and discussed in the current stud...
Autori: Mariana Lupoae
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26971

In the present study, the effects of two methods for thermal sanitization of soil, by oven and by autoclave, and two non-ionizing radiation sterilization methods, UVC and microwave on pH, conductivity, dry weight, total number of germs and respiration of samples from neutral commercial soil were evaluated, using international standard methods. Also, the infrared and UV-VIS spectroscopy were applied for the determination of chemical properties and structural characterization of humic acid and ...
Autori: Dumitra Raducanu
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26985

Our study aims to analyse soil quality based on the concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in natural or slightly modified anthropogenic soils, technosols and landfill deposits in Iasi. The pollution level analysis based on lognormal distribution plot allows the differentiation of elements coming from the parent material (Mo, Cd, Ni and As) of those with anthropogenic origin (Pb, Zn and Cu). The enrichment factor (EF) calculated based on manganese (Mn) as reference in the parent ...
Autori: Cristian Vasilica Secu
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26991

The effects of reconnecting three oxbow lakes to the Słupia River (northern Poland) on the fish community were analysed on the background of environmental factors. The ecological effects of restoring the hydrological connectivity of the river-floodplain system (RFS) were analysed in an intermediate time span (from 2008 to 2012). Oxbow lakes that were cut off from their mother river were characterised by a low abundance and relatively low diversity (Shannon index, H’) but high speci...
Autori: Krystian Obolewski
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27055

In the context of sustainable development and the impact of human activity on the environment, the Faculty of Geodesy – Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest has developed an accredited new curricula at the Master’s degree level. As basis of the curriculum design and content subjects were considered fundamental notions needed by surveyor specialists to work successfully in interdisciplinary teams to and identify and solve environmental problems. The presentation of t...
Autori: Dumitru Onose
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27057

Corporate Social Responsibility activities bring organizations closer to the community they operate in, up to the level of making them a citizen of that community. Currently, companies invest in CSR all around the world, the phenomena being of great importance in any businesses activity. Most of the Romanian studies on the subject are performed at management level, targeting the perspective it has on the concept, the investment value they put into social activities and the general developing ...
Autori: Ionel Bostan
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27066

This paper aims at identifying the specific and phytocenotic diversity, as well as assessing the conservation status of habitats across the Protected Natural Area Racâş-Hida - Site of Community Interest from Romania (ROSCI 209), located in the Sălaj County. The target is to identify taxa and types of natural habitat whose conservation requires them designation as special conservation areas, as well as to identify solution for the sustainable management of the range. As a resul...
Autori: Aurica Grec
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27067

In studies of biochemical methane production (BMP) researchers often collate a large number of samples at the same time for a sample archive. The samples are often frozen to avoid microbial transformation, further homogenized by grinding. We studied the influence of subfreezing/thawing and drying/milling of energy crop on BMP and anaerobic biodegradability (BD). Relative standard deviation (RSD, %) between the BMP of controls and of the subfrozen was in the range 2.1–9.0%, and of the d...
Autori: Jin Mi Triolo
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27079

We examined the effluent from a municipal (Nyíregyháza, Hungary) wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) on hydrophysicochemical properties and on diversity, community structure, and stability of fish assemblages at the recipient low flow channel system during a two-year period. The WWTP outflow increased significantly the nutrient concentrations (e.g. NO2 and NO3 concentrations increased to 4x and 8x respectively), and the regime (with the permanent ~0.23m3/s load) at the recipient c...
Autori: Péter Takács
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27082

This study proposes a modified fractional fuzzy simulation (MFFS) method to predict the toluene and oxygen concentrations in aquifers under microbial attenuation conditions. The method integrates the modeling of groundwater flow contaminant transport and fuzzy parameters analysis within a general framework. Compared to conventional fractional fuzzy simulation (FFS), decreased interior points of fuzzy parameters need to be used, thus reducing the simulation time. The method is applied to an a...
Autori: Li He
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27106

Biological control relying on soil microorganisms may offer feasible and sustainable perspectives in many agrosystems for management of soil pests such as root-knot nematodes (RKNs, Meloidogyne spp.). The rhizosphere environment shows a complex of soil microbial communities, including beneficial organisms such as specialized bacterial pathogens and/or of rhizosphere fungi. New advanced technologies like Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) may enlarge our knowledge about the biodiversity and rol...
Autori: Aurelio Ciancio
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27109

Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs), the bioelectrochemical devices for conversion of waste into electricity through bacterial metabolic activity can use substrates with different complexity and strength. Wastewaters with moderate to high organic content can be exploited as MFC substrates. In this study, four different industrial wastewaters (from a chemical company, milk industry, soyabased food and soft-drink company and laundry) with different compositions were used as substrates in identical MFCs...
Autori: Deepak Pant
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27117

Waste frying oil (WFO) is a complex and heterogeneous waste collected mainly from restaurants and, to a lesser extent, from food processors and households. In the last decades, interest for this waste has deeply grown and a strong competition in grabbing this raw material has begun. About 90% of WFOs collected in Europe is recycled for biodiesel production, being the high free fatty acids (FFAs) concentration in WFOs one of the main drawback limiting the yield of the conversion process. In th...
Autori: Cinzia Pezzella
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27130

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are bioelectrochemical reactors that directly convert the chemical energy stored in chemical bonds of organic substrates, to electrical energy. Saccharomyces cerevisiae was implemented as biocatalyst in the anaerobic anode compartment of an MFC using glucose as carbon source and methylene blue as electron mediator. Our results showed the effect of methylene blue on the microbial metabolism and the reversibility of the redox reaction of the shuttle mediator in the p...
Autori: Ruggero Rossi
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27131

The aim of the present study was to prepare environmentally friendly silver-based materials using Cornus mas L. fruits extract. For this purpose, silver nanoparticles (Cornus mas-AgNPs) were green synthesized using this plant extract. The bioreduction of silver ions was analyzed by UV–VIS and ATR-FTIR spectroscopic studies. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed the formation of spherical phyto-nanosilver particles with size ranging between 12 and 40 nm. Different amounts ...
Autori: Ioana-Raluca Suica-Bunghez
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27139

Antibiotic pollution has become one of the most important emerging soil contamination types, and has received great attentions in recent years. Understanding the microbial functional processes of soil ecosystems under antibiotic contamination is of critical importance for ecological risk assessment and pollution control. In this study, the responses of soil microbial respiratory activity and ammonification were studied under different concentrations of tetracycline, chlortetracycline, and nor...
Autori: Liangyin Yi
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27151

Today, different tools are associated with environmental protection context, which ca include, among others: environmental programmes, objectives and targets, training, incentive schemes, audit frequency, site inspections, administration and community relations. The assessment of different aspects of environmental quality and protection, in a qualitative or quantitative manner is based on various indicators, addressing the three components of sustainability: economic, social, environmental. ...
Autori: Mihnea Costoiu
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27163

Safe utilization of fly ash (FA) and reclamation of sodic soils are important environmental problems. In this study a field experiment was carried out with Vigna radiata L. crop using fly ash (FA) and phosphogypsum (PGY) as amendments in sodic soil during 2011 at Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. V. radiata L. was sown in sodic soil amended with press mud (10 t ha-1) considered as control. Besides, 10 and 20 t ha-1 doses of FA and PGY were considered as other four treatments, respectively. The grow...
Autori: Kripal Singh
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27180

There has been a growing amount of work on microbial fuel cells (MFCs) in the last years, both on the microbiological issues and on the engineering ones, which managed to increase power outputs by an order of magnitude. However, they are technically still far from attaining acceptable levels of power output. Therefore, it is necessary to go deeper in understanding the mechanisms involved in electricity production with MFCs and use this new knowledge to achieve significant increases in power outp...
Autori: Vânia Oliveira
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27187

In this work, the effect of cyclic anaerobic/aerobic conditions on the biodegradative capability of the mixed microbial culture for the azo dye Acid Red 18 was investigated in the sequencing batch reactors. For this purpose, five anaerobic/aerobic sequencing batch reactors were operated under the same operation conditions at different anaerobic/aerobic reaction times. The whole reaction time was 22-h with anaerobic/aerobic periods of 6/16, 10/12, 14/8, 18/4 and 22/0 (h/h) in An/ASBR1 to 5, respe...
Autori: Mohammad Hakimelahi
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27191

Any modern enterprise, with focus on marketing and management success have to be based on market principles, pursuing the main objectives, of increasing production and services in terms of sustainable development. In this context, rural tourism and agritourism, with a high rate in rural areas, is a major factor, with direct consequences on local development and meeting the consumption needs of tourists. There are several advantages of the agritourism which had been described previously such as: ...
Autori: Elena Leonte
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27206

The mixed microbial culture, isolated from the aerobic sludge was used to study biodegradation of 1,1-DCE as the sole carbon source in batch flasks. 1,1-DCE initial concentration in the medium was varied from 100μg/L to 1000μg/L. The maximum removal rate of 1,1-DCE was 89.2% obtained at 400μg/L 1,1-DCE concentration in the medium. The biodegradation kinetics of 1,1-DCE was found to follow three-half-order model at all initial 1,1-DCE concentrations with regression values greater than 0....
Autori: Shizong Wang
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27219

In this study, the oleaginous yeasts cultured in tomato waste hydrolysates (TWH) to produce microbial lipids that offer a suitable alternative to vegetable oils as feedstock for the biodiesel synthesis. The TWH were prepared by acid hydrolysis (2.5% H2SO4). To obtain higher growth rates, as well as higher lipid contents, Lipomyces starkeyi were cultured under original nitrogen content (TWHON), lower nitrogen content (TWHLN), attained by alkaline precipitation of TWHON followed by centrifugation ...
Autori: Abu Yousuf
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27226

The pharmaceutical compounds are emerging pollutants for which the international scientific community has paid special attention in recent years, because these substances can have adverse effects on living organisms in the aquatic environment. In this paper we developed a chromatographic method for the quantification of trace class of analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs in river water. The present method is a simple and economical way to perform a preliminary screening of eight widely used pha...
Autori: Vasile Ion Iancu
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27227

Rotifers are known as cosmopolitan organisms, found in high density in most waters, often representing the dominant group in terms of species diversity and abundance in the zooplankton community. Since the functionality of an ecosystem is closely related to the diversity of communities, analysis of rotifers assemblage may be a useful tool in understanding the mechanisms of the spatial and temporal changes on this level. Data were collected from 2008 until 2010, in distinct areas of Danube, Sf...
Autori: Larisa Florescu
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27247

Non-availability of good quality water in sufficient quantities and the environmental impacts of used water discharges have led to the treatment and reuse of the aquaculture water contaminated with dissolved organics and ammonia rather than discharging it. This paper explores the effectiveness of in-situ sediment microbial fuel cell (MFC) for aquaculture water treatment along with generation of electricity. A sediment microbial fuel cell (SMFC) was designed and the efficiency of stainless steel ...
Autori: Thypparampil Karunakaran Sajana
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27261

The present paper focuses on the environmental pillar of a new and innovative framework for sustainability assessment of VET - Vocational Education and Training - providers. By employing case study methods on a research sample of 6 VET providers in the Mures County, Romania, we have determined the sustainable development challenges that VET providers face. The results are used to elaborate the core subjects of the framework in accordance with existing practices at VET providers. The framework is...
Autori: Liviu Moldovan
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27294

The purpose of this paper is to integrate recent results on the remediation of organic contaminated soils, and introduce a physical remediation method—thermal desorption technology. There are mainly four kinds of thermal desorption technology, which include rotary kiln, fluidized bed, microwave and vacuum strengthen far-infrared thermal desorption. Through comparing with four kinds of remediation methods, rotary kiln and fluidized bed are more mature technologies, which have high treatment...
Autori: Zhongxin Tan
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27310

A possible prediction methodology for the concentration of pollutants wave in aquatic environment using Rough Set Theory is presented. The issue is of increasingly importance especially for early pollution risk warning. The hydro-morphologic complex characteristics of surface water bodies should be taken into account when pollution dispersion models are designed. However, when more characteristics/multi-criteria are taken into account, including pollutants physical-chemical ones and their enviro...
Autori: Georgeta Mădălina Aramă
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27319

Conversion of natural ecological systems has been one of the greatest human impact on terrestrial ecosystems. The expansion of anthroposphere altered virtually all biogeochemical cycles of elements. Nitrogen holds a key place in sustaining life and presents unique traits such as broad chemical speciation and mobility within the environmental compartments. With historically adapted ecosystems to low bioavailable nitrogen, understanding the complexity of the nitrogen disruption is a continuous cha...
Autori: Andreea Csolti
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27329

To evaluate the effects of seasonal fluctuations, soil types, land use and management inputs on the abundance and composition of soil bacteria, twenty soils types from Moldavia region located in north-eastern Romania were compared. Changes in soil microbiota are an early and sensitive indicator of soil pollution and can be used to predict long-term trends in soil quality. The use of microbial properties as indicator of soil pollution is easily measured and can also be measured accurately across ...
Autori: Eugen Ulea
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27333

In this pilot study, exposure to airborne microorganisms in solid recovered fuel (SRF) plants has been measured. Different steps in SRF production processes such as separation and size reduction can cause generation of airborne microorganisms. Exposure to these biological agents can cause some health problems, so their levels should be measured to assess the potential risks. Therefore, exposure to airborne total bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi were measured in the runn...
Autori: Şenol Yildiz
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27373

The kinetics of azo dye reduction based on combined effect of biochemical reduction by anaerobic mixed culture and chemical reduction with hydrogen sulfide was investigated. Hydrogen sulfide was produced by sulphate reducing bacteria existing in the anaerobic mixed culture. The effect of initial anaerobic biomass, initial substrate, and initial dye (Reactive Orange 107) concentrations on reduction kinetics were studied with batch assays. The municipal waste sludge was used as electron donating s...
Autori: Umay Gokce Ozkan-Yucel
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27386

• EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF TEMPERATURE EFFECTS ON THE PARAMETERS OF PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS    • CONCENTRATIONS OF CHROMIUM, CADMIUM AND NICKEL IN TWO CONSUMED FISH SPECIES OF PERSIAN GULF, IRAN    • IMPROVING THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS BY USING A DRAIN WATER HEAT RECOVERY SYSTEM    • ASSESSMENT OF METAL CONTAMINATION AND ECOLOGICAL RISK IN URBAN SOILS SITUATED NEAR A METALLURGICAL COMPLEX    • FINANCIAL DE...
Autori:
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27398

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF TEMPERATURE EFFECTS ON THE PARAMETERS OF PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS    • CONCENTRATIONS OF CHROMIUM, CADMIUM AND NICKEL IN TWO CONSUMED FISH SPECIES OF PERSIAN GULF, IRAN    • IMPROVING THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS BY USING A DRAIN WATER HEAT RECOVERY SYSTEM    • ASSESSMENT OF METAL CONTAMINATION AND ECOLOGICAL RISK IN URBAN SOILS SITUATED NEAR A METALLURGICAL COMPLEX    • FINANCIAL DEVELOPME...
Autori:
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27399

The Rural Development Plan (RDP) represent the most important source of contributions and support for the agro-food sector companies in Italy. The European Community planning tool based on a European Structural and Investment Fund (SIE) allows the agricultural and forestry entrepreneurs to undertake projects and investments for the improvement of their companies. During the 2014-2020 RDP program, the Emilia-Romagna region (Italy), promoted a rewarding mechanism to support those companies car...
Autori: Enrico Gerboni
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27404

The anaerobic digestion (AD) of fat-containing waste is often prolonged in time and problematic. Differences in AD performances could rely in a different probability for microorganisms to access the substrate. The aim of this study was to study the AD of waste cooking oil (WCO) with a biophysical approach. Two laboratory experiments were carried out using model systems consisting of WCO + hydration medium (HM) in 100 mL, static, in-batch reactors. In the first experiment, we assumed the WCO to H...
Autori: Francesca Fiume
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27409

A worldwide trend is leading the international community to explore the possible paths for the transition from a linear to a circular economic model. Recent studies identified the main enabling factors to facilitate this transition, among which closed loop logistics models and new service-based and function-oriented business models play a significant role. The diffusion of new business models relating to the use of a product rather than its ownership can indeed reduce material consumption and th...
Autori: Maria Grazia Gnoni
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27418

One of the environmental problems caused by the large-scale livestock industry in China is odor pollution. Using the microbial strains with high deodorization efficiency is a feasible strategy to handle this problem. In this study, a Lactobacillus strain A2 with high efficient deodorization was isolated. To find the optimal deodorization conditions of strain A2, the deodorization efficiencies at different temperatures and inoculation quantities were tested. Our result showed that suitable tem...
Autori: Zhiying Yan
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27447

The present study deals with the production of biogas from post-harvest wastes of pineapple such as peels, leaves, mixture of peels and leaves with the two different types of inoculum viz., Cow Manure (CM) and Novel microbial Consortia (NC). The results between the two types of inoculum were compared to find out their efficiency. Among the different substrate-inoculum combinations, the biogas production potential was evaluated which resulted that NC was more efficient compared to CM. All assays ...
Autori: Mukesh Kumar
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27496

This work describes the variations in nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) removal performances and bacterial population dynamics in response to different influent C/N and C/P ratios in a novel BNR-IC process combining biological nutrients removal (BNR) with induced crystallization (IC). A good nutrients removal performance was achieved at 7.8 of C/N ratio and 23.3 of C/P ratio, where P and TN removal efficiencies were 94.0±2.4% and 90.5±4.3%, respectively. Moreover, significant changes...
Autori: Haiming Zou
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27523

An anaerobic-aerobic (An-Ox) sequencing batch reactor (SBR) was operated for the growth of phosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs), while an anaerobic-anoxic (An-Ax) SBR was used for the growth of denitrifying PAOs (dPAOs). Both reactors exhibited successful enhanced biological phosphorous removal (EBPR) performance. The sludge P contents in the two reactors increased from approximately 2% at the beginning of the operation to 9.1% (An-Ox SBR) and 7.3% (An-Ax SBR) after 140 d. The results of the...
Autori: Hansaem Lee
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27525

The study provides information about separation and identification of natural bioactive compounds from beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) bark with potential therapeutic applications such as antibacterial activity against human pathogens. Beech is a common material used in the wood industry, but its bark is separated from the wood and is considered a by-product. In this study, natural compounds with biological activity were obtained from beech bark by hot water extraction. The high-performance liquid ch...
Autori: Corneliu Tănase
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27561

The performance and microbial community of an anoxic-aerobic sequencing batch reactor (SBR) treating saline wastewater were investigated at different influent COD/N ratios. The average COD removal efficiencies at steady states were 87.46%, 73.75%, 64.87% and 88.34% at the COD/N ratios of 20, 10, 6 and 30, respectively. The average NH4+-N removal efficiencies were 79.74%, 74.34%, 64.55% and 89.29% at the COD/N ratios of 20, 10, 6 and 30, respectively. No obvious accumulation of NO2--N and NO3--N ...
Autori: Sen Wang
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27592

A coal-fired steam power plant, located near an open pit coal mine in Mae Moh, Lampang, a province in the north of Thailand, has been in operation since 1978, with a generating capacity of 2,400 megawatts, and lignite consumption of 40,000 tons/day. A maximum hourly concentration of SO2 of 3,418 μg/m3 was measured and an emission of 150 tons/hour of SO2 from the power plant was estimated. In order to mitigate the impacts of the emission on human health, crops and livestock, several measures h...
Autori: Athikom Bangviwat
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27621

The growth of a non-axenic Phormidium bigranulatum-dominated mat was tested under a range of chemical parameters and types of substrate. Total biomass yield (in term of mg chlorophyll a) of mats grown on muslin cloth (0.64 mg) and cotton mesh (0.62 mg) were significantly higher than those on other substrates, such as, nylon net (0.50 mg), sands of river Sone (0.43 mg) and river Ganga (0.30 mg), rice husk (0.38 mg) and saw dust (0.21 mg). The Phormidium mat would be easy to handle in bioremdation...
Autori: Dhananjay Kumar
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27635

The performance of microbial fuel cells (MFC) employing an earthen plate as a membrane separator is compared to that using Nafion 117 in an identical up-flow dual-chambered cylindrical cell configuration. The MFC configuration is of a cylindrical outer cathode chamber separated by the membrane from a concentric rectangular inner anode chamber. The fuel cells, operated under continuous mode at hydraulic retention time of 12 hr, achieved average chemical oxygen demand removal efficiency of 60% and...
Autori: Partha Sarathi Jana
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27649

Five indigenous soil microbes were isolated from chickpea rhizosphere soils of different location of Jaunpur, Mirzapur, Varanasi and Azamgarh district of eastern Uttar Pradesh. The microbial strains were identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa BHUPSB01, Pseudomonas putida BHUPSB04, Bacillus megaterium BHUPSB14, Paenibacillus polymyxa BHUPSB16 and Mesorhizobium sp. BHURC05 by biochemical and molecular characterization. The isolated strains were tested for their plant growth promoting properties....
Autori: Jay Prakash Verma
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27654

Inadequate sanitation and poor infrastructure for waterborne sanitation are common in many developing countries. The anaerobic/aerobic baffled reactor (AABR) is a sustainable option for water sanitation in developing countries. In the present study, a 2.50 m3 AABR reactor working with real municipal wastewater was monitored. Four sequenced chambers, the first three being anaerobic and the fourth aerobic composed the AABR reactor. AABR efficiency and performance were examined during four diff...
Autori: Gustavo Henrique Ribeiro da Silva
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27656

The main objective of this research was to evaluate the environmental impact generated by municipal solid waste during its collection, transportation, treatment and processing in the south-west region of the department of Norte de Santander, Colombia, by means of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Three strategies for waste management were considered: the current baseline situation, wherein 100% solid waste was taken to the landfill; plus, an optimistic and a pessimistic scenario in which solid was...
Autori: Oscar Orlando Ortiz-Rodriguez
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27665

The performance of cathode affects the overall performance of a microbial fuel cell (MFC), and cathode configuration affects the fabrication cost of this bioelectrochemical system in a large way. Various modifications in cathode structures have been observed in MFCs. Among them air-cathode MFCs are considered to be the most efficient and sustainable option due to elimination of aeration, as required in aqueous cathodes which consumes energy and increases operating cost of MFCs. An air cathode us...
Autori: Pritha Chatterjee
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27680

The objectives of this study were to investigate: a) whether the duration of organic farming influences the dimension, shape and geometry (fractal dimension) of soil micropores (<50μm) and b) for relationships of morphometric traits with certain chemical and biochemical soil variables (microbial biomass, N- and C-mineralization rates, NH4+, NO3-, organic C and N, extractable P, Mg+2, K+, Ca+2). We compared soil micromorphometric traits (area, perimeter, compactness, solidity, eccentricity)...
Autori: Nikolaos Monokrousos
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27682

Though Scirpus triqueter plays an important role in protecting the ecological functions of Yangtze River estuary wetland which is frequently contaminated by petroleum, knowledge is limited about the mechanisms involved. In this study, comparative analysis of soil properties, microbial community structure and soil enzymes in the rhizosphere of S. triqueter and bulk soil was conducted throughout one year to provide an insight into the phytoremediation mechanism in the field. The total petroleum hy...
Autori: Jing Wei
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27697

Salt tolerance was studied in eight upland cotton cultivars (CIM-446, CIM-473, CIM-496, CIM-499, CIM-506, CIM-554, CIM-707 and SLH-284) under four NaCl salinity concentrations (50, 100, 150 and 200 mM) and control. Significant (p≤0.01) variations were observed among cultivars, salinity concentrations, and cultivar by salinity interactions for various growth traits and ions (K+ and Na+) accumulation in dry shoot and root tissues. As compared to control, the growth variables were decreased by i...
Autori: Zarina Bibi
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27778

Gaseous toluene biofiltration as affected by ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) roots was investigated in this study. The results revealed that the populations of bacteria, actinomycetes were larger in the ryegrass rhizosphere than in the bulk soil since ryegrass provided root exudates as major nutrients available for the microorganisms. An increase in the microbial populations in a ryegrass-growing biofilter would significantly stimulate toluene biodegradation in comparison with a vegetation-free bio...
Autori: Zhongjun Xu
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27772

Until now, humanity has strived to makes efforts for warranting the economic development on a sustainable way for well-being improvement, simultaneously with resource preservation and environmental protection. The industrial production processes, which generate added value and ensure people welfare are in connection with the environment regarding resource consumption and waste generation. In order to work on a sustainable basis, industry should attain a balance between economy, ecology and comm...
Autori: Elena - Diana Comăniță
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27759

The Water Safety Plan (WSP) model provides a completely new, cross-cutting and multidisciplinary approach for the risk assessment of drinking water pollution. The concept of “control” of the drinking water supply system (DWSS) is replaced by the concept of “under control”, in order to protect human health. The key factor of the WSP approach is the identification and mitigation or, if possible, the elimination of all factors that may cause a chemical, physical, microbial a...
Autori: Maria Cristina Collivignarelli
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27790

The present study describes the results of air quality analysis and surfaces inside the Orthodox Church in Oradea City, Romania, a wooden monument (BH-II-m-B-20958), originally built in the village Letca from Sălaj County and displaced in 1991 to the campus of the University of Oradea. The paper focuses on the degree of microbial and fungal contamination of surfaces and air inside the wooden church. It also identifies various microbial species with potential risk on the health of parishione...
Autori: Dorina Camelia Ilieș
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27858

Tunisian fish-processing industries generates large amounts of by-products. Their disposal is an increasing environmental and health problem. For an economic utilization, these by-products may be used in producing higher value-added products such as protein hydrolyzates. In this study, protein hydrolyzates with different degrees of hydrolysis (12%, 20% and 26%) were prepared from heads and viscera of Sardinella aurita using crude protease of Bacillus licheniformis NH1. The obtained hydrolyzates ...
Autori: Nabil Souissi
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27852

In this study, nine microbial strains with oil-degrading function were isolated from oil-contaminated soil near four oil wells in the 0.6 km2 area of the Jinnan Oil Field, Huaian, Jiangsu, China (32°57′ N, 119°02′ E). Based on morphological observations, physiological and biochemical responses, and molecular identification, we confirmed that the nine strains belong to five genera: Pseudomonas, Raoultella, Lysinibacillus, Escherichia, and Klebsiella. The degradation capacity o...
Autori: Yujia Liu
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27848

A study on the biodegradability of several formulations based on poly[vinyl alcohol] (PVA) and wood flour has been carried out. Basically, all formulations are based on PVA and wood flour, and the influence of starch, glycerol and/or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) incorporated in some of them was investigated. Biodegradation was performed by incubation of the composites with a selected Aspergillus niger strain able to act as an polymer biodegrading agent. The composites biodegradation was evaluated...
Autori: Luiza Jecu
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27886

In order to reduce Cr(VI) and Cr(III) simultaneously, a double microbial fuel cell (MFC) system was employed to treat Crcontaining wastewater. Cr(VI)-MFC used Cr(VI) as a catholyte to supply the generated power to Cr(III)-MFC, while the latter MFC functioned as an external load resistor of the former one. Buffer characteristics of the catholyte greatly affected the reduction of chromium ions. At an initial pH of 2.0, Cr(VI) removal increased from 49.9% to 99.9% when KH2PO4 was added. Keeping ...
Autori: Fang Li
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27896

A system dynamics (SD) process-based simulation model was developed using an object-oriented environment to simulate phosphorus (P) transformations in a two-stage pilot scale Dewatered Alum Sludge Cake (DASC) based Constructed Wetlands (CW), which is operated from February 2009 to January 2010 to treat relatively high concentration animal farm wastewater. Structural Thinking Experiential Learning Laboratory and Animation (STELLA v9.1.4) conceived on the principles of SD was used for the deve...
Autori: Lordwin Jeyakumar
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27907

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by plants is a simple, non-toxic and eco-friendly method. The purpose of this study was to develop a method for obtaining silver nanoparticles with biological properties. For reducing the silver ions, an extract of Tilia cordata (linden) flowers was used. Some parameters were investigated to optimize the synthesis method. Thus, the conditions of reaction were varied, such as pH, concentration of silver salt, different ratio of plant extract and silver sa...
Autori: Andreia Corciova
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27977

The present paper is a multidisciplinary investigation of the indoor air quality inside the Multipurpose Hall of the University of Oradea, based both on specific monitoring and questionnaire-based survey to identify people’s perception in this regard. The monitoring, carried out during October-November 2016 when the heating did not work, was focused on: relative air temperature and humidity (Thermohygrometer data logger Klimalogg Pro), carbon dioxide (CO2) (Extech Instruments CO250 model a...
Autori:
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27981

This study presents the influence of the storage recipients’ material and of the use and the type of stirring on the drinking water quality. The kinetics of drinkable water quality alteration under stationary conditions and under magnetic and sonical stirring have been monitored for a two weeks period. The microbiological parameters (total number of germs developed at 37°C and 22°C, lactose-positive and lactose-negative bacteria, coliform bacteria and Echerichia coli), as well a...
Autori: Laura Damian
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27999

Common centaury, Centaurium erythraea Rafn., represent the best known and the most investigated medicinal plant species of genus Centaurium. Centaury has been used for centuries in traditional medicine. Secondary metabolites such as bitter secoiridoid glucosides (gentiopicrin, swertiamarin and sweroside), xanthones (eustomin and demethyleustomin), and phenolic acids are the main constituents responsible for the therapeutic properties of centaury. Previous investigation showed that overexpression...
Autori: Milana Trifunović-Momčilov
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=28068

The embedment of circular economy principles in cities is an opportunity to reduce the urban waste production and resource consumption towards closed-loop systems. In particular, the adoption of circular economy strategies as regeneration, optimization, sharing and loops can overcome waste and inefficiencies of linear economy. This paper presents some circular economy practices bringing an integration of circular strategies at urban scale. This work was funded by the Research into Electrical Sys...
Autori: Francesca Cappellaro
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=28076

This study is an attempt to monitor the indoor microclimate and the microbiological contamination of some indoor objects inside a wooden Orthodox church. Standard microbiological techniques were used for the isolation and identification of the fungi present in the dust of the superficial surface of the paintings chosen to be investigated for biodeterioration. Samples were taken from approximately 1 cm2 of the surface of the analysed paintings (cotton canvas, wood, on primer) using the cotton swa...
Autori: Dorina Camelia Ilieș
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=28114

In this study we present time-related 3D ERI models for a site that was contaminated using waste automobile engine oil. The pristine geo-electrical characteristics of the site were recorded before the contamination was carried out. The purpose of the study was to progressively monitor the geo-electrical responses of the site for possible natural bio-transformations on the waste oil. Data were acquired once every two weeks for a period of three months using eight parallel 2D resistivity profiles....
Autori: Bokani Nthaba
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=28118

Soils are influenced by stand composition and hydrological regime as well as by stress abiotic factors, including forest fires. As such, this study analyzed three stands affected by fires of different severities. Soil samples were gathered during the spring of 2017 from three sample areas in Vrancea County, eastern part of Romania. For each area studied, soil profiles were studied in 3 areas affected by fires and in control areas located close to each other. The soil respiration was determined b...
Autori: Aurelia Oneț
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=28120

The anthropic impact, having various forms, negatively changes the parameters of water quality and disturbs the living environment of benthic macroinvertebrates. The purpose of the present study is to present how the main sources of pollution influence the way of life of the benthic macroinvertebrates community. 20 quantitative benthic samples were collected from different benthic areas of the Bega River water during from June 2014 to February 2017. In addition to identify all the changes that o...
Autori: Adina Horablaga
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=28178

Biological ammonium removal from wastewater requires coupling of nitrification and denitrification processes in respective aerobic and anaerobic conditions. This difference in environmental requirements pose a big challenge in the design of systems intended to effect both nitrification and denitrification processes. Alcaligenes faecalis strain No. 4, however, has both heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification abilities in aerobic conditions, eliminating the need to provide anaerobi...
Autori: Hung-Soo Joo
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=28186

Water shortage is one of the most worrisome issues around the globe, especially with the increase in the human population. Nowadays, attention has been drawn towards the reuse of greywater because of its large volume and low contaminants. In the present research, greywater samples were collected from different sources including; households, restaurants, mosques, laundries, guest houses and sport clubs in Mansoura city, Egypt. The counts of total coliforms, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus sp., Ps...
Autori: Samir Radwanhttp://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=28221

Techniques such as composting, a controlled process of decomposition of organic materials, have become fundamental to minimize the problems associated with the organic fraction of urban solid waste, as the potential to cause damage to public health, the environment and, consequently, to economic and administrative aspects can be related to this kind of waste. Microbial activity is also highlighted as a relevant factor since the microorganisms are fundamental in the degradation of organic matter...
Autori: Priscila da Costa
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=28222

Space exploration requires reliable, rapid, significant and safe methods for preventing, monitoring and controlling biocontamination risk in water loops and humid areas in manned Space habitats. Water is one of the most important resources of our everyday life. Its microbiological control in houses, public water dispensers and special conditions (e.g.: epidemics, catastrophes, isolation) is crucial. The presented solution is automated, compact and portable, and above all “integrated&rdquo...
Autori: Vincenzo Guarnieri
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=28298

In order to study the influence of different rainfall processes on the total pollutant load of non-point sources and pollutant load reduction rate of the low-impact development facilities, this paper took a Low Impact Development (LID) community of Tianfuheyuan, Fengxi new city, Xixian new district in Shaanxi, China as an example, and constructed the storm water management model (SWMM) of the study area. The computed results demonstrate that the storm patterns have obvious effects on the polluta...
Autori: Yu Tong
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=28321

The spread of antibiotic resistant organisms and those producing extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) has become a health care problem worldwide in communities and hospitals, as it leads to more complicated infections, longer duration of treatment, and increases in patient mortality. In the present study, we analyzed 226 clinical samples in order to assess the spread of ESBLproducing Enterobacteriaceae. 196 Enterobacteriaceae were identified and classified as members of the genera Pantoea...
Autori: Abdelbasset Mechai
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=28331