The ever-growing consumption and improper disposal of non-biodegradable plastic wastes is bringing worrisome perspectives on the lack of suitable environmentally correct solutions. Consequently, an increasing interest in the circular economy and sustainable techniques is being raised regarding the management of these wastes. The present work proposes an eco-friendly solution for the huge amount of discarded polyethylene terephthalate (PET) wastes by addition into soil-cement bricks. Room temperature molded 300 × 150 × 70 mm bricks were fabricated with mixtures of clay soil and ordinary Portland cement added with up to 30 wt.% of PET waste particles. Granulometric analysis of soil indicated it as sandy and adequate for brick fabrication. As for the PET particles, they can be considered non-plastic and sandy. The Atterberg consistency limits indicated that addition of 20 wt.% PET waste gives the highest plasticity limit of 17.3%; moreover, with PET waste addition there was an increase in the optimum moisture content for the compaction and decrease in specific weight. Standard tests showed an increase in compressive strength from 0.83 MPa for the plain soil-cement to 1.80 MPa for the 20 wt.% PET-added bricks. As for water absorption, all bricks displayed values between 15% and 16% that attended the standards and might be considered an alternative for non-structural applications, such as wall closures in building construction.
During its operation, the Nuclear Fuel Factory of the Nuclear Industries of Brazil (FCN/INB) may generate and disseminate particulate material. Therefor, aiming occupational control, a system of air exhaustion is installed equipped witha system of automatic detection of release of radionuclides into the environment. The present work aims to evaluate the radionuclides released by FCN, in terms of total release and activity concentration (AC). Along 2016, the amount of 4.14∙106 Bq was released, which means a mean of 3.45∙105 Bq.month-1. The largest mean for AC was 4.03 mBq∙m-3. The release data was almost an order of magnitude lower than the annual release limit established by the regulatoryagency, fixed at 1.2∙107 Bq.y-1, proving the adequacy of the atmospheric effluents to the licensing requirements. The largest magnitudes of the two variables (AC and release) were observed in August while the smallest ones, in January.
This study evaluates the stability and transport behaviors of hazardous nanoparticles into soil landfills using experimental procedures to simulate the effects of natural silica nanoparticle suspensions during their percolation into the soil layers of municipal waste landfills. For this, we prepared stabilized suspensions of nanoparticle oxides containing silicon (NPSiO 2 ), titanium (NPTiO 2 ), copper (NPCuO) and zinc (NPZnO), which are recognized as hazardous to the environment, and we conducted leaching experiments within the soil column by simulating landfills layers and simulating the capture and attenuation of nanomaterials into municipal waste landfills. The results demonstrated that the presence of NPSiO 2 in suspensions increases the stable concentrations of copper, zinc and titanium oxides and strongly decreases soil layer effectiveness. In contrast, NPZnO improves effectiveness due to its ability to promote agglomeration and setting conditions, allowing further complexation.
This paper presents the experimental and numerical results for soil contamination profiles by leachate with and without the presences of a geomembrane. Soil samples of the Rio das Ostras Landfill were assessed and examined. The batch tests were carried out with local virgin soil and with leachate. Molecular diffusion tests with and without the presences of a geomembrane were compared with the virgin soil of the sanitary landfill of Rio das Ostras (Brazil) and its leachate. The studies focused on the chloride and sodium ions. The model MPHMTP (Multi Phase Heat and Mass Transfer Program) was used in the computer simulations to estimate the diffusion coefficients through the compacted soil and geomembrane over a layer of compacted soil to forecast ion migration and predict the performance of the system in long term operation. The geomembrane used was a 2 mm of the high density polyethylene (HDPE). The results showed that the presence of the geomembrane strongly reduced the ion concentrations in the soil during the experiments carried out.
A destinação inadequada dos Resíduos Sólidos Urbanos (RSU) representa um grave problema socioambiental. Um dos possíveis caminhos para o enfrentamento deste problema é a educação ambiental crítica. O presente estudo tem como objetivo implantar um projeto de educação ambiental para sensibilizar os estudantes em relação a realidade socioambiental do município de Cabo Frio-RJ. Foram realizadas quatro oficinas pedagógicas com 12 (doze) estudantes do 3º ano do Instituto de Educação Professora Ismar Gomes de Azevedo (IGA), colégio estadual. Ao final, percebeu-se que a educação ambiental crítica propicia aos estudantes a construção de uma prática educativa e reflexiva sobre seus comportamentos em relação ao meio ambiente e também em relação à sociedade.
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