Xenobiotic persistent organic pollutants are ubiquitous in the environment (air, water, soil, biota), and this is the origin of the rising concern about their potential impact. Recent advances in chemical analysis at trace levels and a lack of knowledge about the fate and transport of reference compounds lead to a strong research demand in this area. In this context, special attention is focused on control technologies in water and wastewater involving the application of advanced technologies to minimize their environmental release. After presenting the environmental and sanitary impacts associated with the main classes of persistent xenobiotic compounds, this article focuses on endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), a class of chemicals interfering with the endocrine systems of mammals and lower animals. In the second part of this article, the basic principles of the advanced technologies used for EDC control in water and wastewater are critically discussed with specific reference to their engineering aspects.
A granulated porous recycled waste glass (RWG), namely Poraver, derived from the differential separation of municipal solid waste, was used as aggregate in concrete formulations. On account of the intrinsically highly porous cellular structure of the reference materials, the concrete structures appeared particularly light and refractory to thermal effects. The use of this type of glass has been focused on the production of lightweight concrete that is able to improve thermal insulation in addition to demonstrating good mechanical properties. In this context, the thermal insulating properties of RWG-based cement conglomerates were analysed and compared with equivalent conglomerates produced by the use of expanded clays. Very promising results were obtained from the concrete prepared from a mixture of the recycled waste glass and expanded clays, in terms of the high mechanical resistance attributed to the clays coupled with lower thermal conductivity of expanded glass.
Heavy metals retention [Pb2+, Cd2+, Ni2+, and Cr(VI)] on recycled waste porous glass (RWPG) from solid wastes sorting operations was carried out. To the purpose metals containing solutions in the concentration range 2–4 mg/L, reproducing the average concentration present in, e.g., solid waste leachate from landfills or industrial effluents, were percolated onto columns loaded with RWPG beads with particle size in the range 0.35–1.0 mm and flow-rates between 0.23 and 0.75 L/h. Metals retention mechanism was associated with ion exchange with overall capacities in the following order: Pb2+ > Cd2+ > Ni2+ > Cr(VI) in consideration of the hydrated ion radius and free energy of hydration of the metal ions. The rate controlling step was identified with the ions interdiffusion in the Nernst liquid film around particles. The metals exhausted beads were embedded into cement conglomerates as inert materials thus minimizing metals release in the environment. The prepared mortar specimen showed improved thermal properties as compared to conventional (sand based) composites.
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