Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been identified as a major source of groundwater contamination worldwide. However, assessing the potential exploitation of a contaminated phreatic aquifer has been somewhat limited in the past, especially because integrated monitoring activities are required to elucidate the dynamics of vadose zone processes and their interactions with the atmosphere. The present paper presents and discusses the findings of a pilot study carried out in a contaminated site, where poplar trees were cultivated for phytoremediation purposes, to evaluate the efficacy of two irrigation systems in reducing VOC concentrations in groundwater exiting an irrigation well. The dynamics of unsaturated zone processes within a 1.0-m-deep soil profile were monitored by measuring soil-water contents and matric heads. Geophysical techniques provided high-resolution 2D and 3D time-lapse images of subsurface soil electrical resistivity, extending down to a depth of 10 m below ground. The monitoring of VOC concentrations in the aquifer and outgoing nozzle waters, as well as in the air above the study area, proved to be of the utmost importance. Vegetation responses during the experimental period were obtained indirectly through the use of an electronic dendrometer. The integrated monitoring activities presented in this study have demonstrated how valuable information can be obtained today at affordable costs, providing a comprehensive perspective of the complex contamination processes in an agroecosystem. The use of these datasets has been exemplified by their implementation in simulating the transport processes in soil associated with two growing seasons of maize irrigated with a drip system fed by groundwater contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE). This simulation was performed using the Hydrus-1D model.

Research has been increasingly focusing on the preservation of the biodiversity of vegetable crops under sustainable farming management. An experiment was carried out in southern Italy on Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis, landrace Gigante di Napoli, to assess the effects of two transplanting times (9 September and 7 October), in factorial combination with five nitrogen–potassium ratios (0.6; 0.8; 1.0; 1.2; and 1.4) on plant growth, yield, and quality of cauliflower heads. A split-plot design was used for the treatment distribution in the field, with three replications. The earlier transplant and the 1.2 N:K ratio led to the highest yield, mean weight, and firmness of cauliflower heads which were not significantly affected by both transplanting time and N:K ratio in terms of colour components. The 1.2 N:K ratio led to the highest head diameter with the earlier transplant, whereas the 1.0 ratio was the most effective on this parameter in the later crop cycle. The highest nitrate, nitrogen, and potassium concentrations in the heads were recorded with the earlier transplanting time. Antioxidant activity, ascorbic acid, and polyphenol content increased with the rise of the N:K ratio. The element use efficiency was constantly negative with the N:K increase for nitrogen and was augmented until the 1.2 ratio for potassium. The results of our investigation showed that the optimal combination between transplanting time and N:K ratio is a key aspect to improve head yield and quality of the cauliflower landrace Gigante di Napoli, under the perspective of biodiversity safeguarding and valorisation.

The use of peat, the standard substrate used for soilless cultivation of horticultural crops, is becoming of increasing concern as peat is a non-renewable resource and its extraction can degrade wetland ecosystems, creating a strong environmental impact. For this reason, the search for organic materials that can totally or partially replace peat has become increasingly important. In this research, three types of composts (C1, C2, C3), derived from cardoon biomass mixed in different volumes with woody and/or fruit wastes, were utilized as the constituents of growing media, at two dilution rates with peat (60:40 and 30:70 v:v), to assess their effect on the growth and quality of baby leaf lettuce in a greenhouse trial. The two cultivars Imperiale and Verde d’Inverno, belonging to the butterhead and romaine lettuce types, respectively, were employed. Plant performance and yield were unaffected or were positively affected by compost-containing growing medium compared to the control. The cultivars responded differently to the growing medium; the Imperiale showed the highest yield with C1 compost at a 60% rate while the Verde d’Inverno with the C2 was at 30%. The total chlorophyll, carotenoids, and ascorbic acid were found higher in the Verde d’Inverno than in the Imperiale variety while the total polyphenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity were lower. Also, the content of chlorophylls as well as of antioxidant compounds and antioxidant activity were differently affected by the growing medium, depending on the lettuce cultivar. The results obtained indicate that cultivated cardoon waste-based compost is a promising constituent of the growing media for baby leaf production. The specific varietal response observed should be considered to optimize both yield and product quality.

The present study aimed to test a multipurpose sustainable tobacco farming system allowing more efficient use of production factors (e.g., mineral N fertilizer) thanks to larger commercial yields, albeit diversified (smoke products, bioactive compounds for nutraceutical and cosmeceutical uses, energy), per unit of land area. Three tobacco types (dark air-cured, IBG; light air-cured, Bu; dark fire-cured, Ky) were grown in the field in 2021 on three different soils (sandy clay loam, SCL; sandy loam, SL; clay loam, CL). The total waste biomass (WB, kg dry weight, d.w. ha−1) was measured. Commercial leaves yield (CLY, kg d.w. ha−1), N agronomic efficiency (NAE, kg d.w. kg−1 N), total polyphenols content (TP, mg kg−1 d.w.), antioxidant activity (ABTS, DPPH and FRAP, mmol Trolox Equivalent, TE, kg−1 d.w.) and yield of polyphenols (PY, kg ha−1) were determined. The calorific value (CV, MJ kg−1 d.w.), volatile matter (VM, %) and ash contents (%) were also measured, and biomass energy yield (BEY, GJ ha−1 yr−1) was then calculated. Very high percentages (>40%) of total biomass produced by the different tobacco types were pre-harvest waste. NAE increased by 2- to more than 8-fold thanks to a greater potential commercial biomass produced with the same amount of N fertilizer used. Four main components were found in the tobacco polyphenols profile, namely 3-O-CQA, luteolin 7 rutinoside, rutin and quinic acid, which accounted for more than 80% of TP. BEY ranged between 122.3 GJ ha−1 yr−1 (Bu) and 29.9 GJ ha−1 yr−1 (Ky). Both polyphenols yield and energy potential per unit land area and/or per growing season appeared competitive with those from other herbaceous crops. The proposed multipurpose system appeared as a production circuit characterized by a virtuous and sustainable flow of resources.

The use of plant-based compost has been increasing within environmentally sustainable crop systems, as its incorporation into soil improves its structure and implies a slow release of nutrients to the plants. Due to the limited literature regarding compost application to industrial crops and the important role of the soil type, research was conducted on the industrial tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) hybrid Coronel F1 at the Department of Agricultural Sciences of Naples, University Federico II, in 2019 and 2020. The study was based on the factorial combination of three fertilization types (compost, compost + mineral, and mineral) and three soil textures (clayey, loamy, and sandy). The highest crop yield was observed in loamy soil with mineral fertilization (+12.7% compared to clayey and loamy soils; +12.1% and +60.3% compared to compost + mineral and compost, respectively). Compost application increased plant dry weight (+23% compared to mineral fertilization), while sandy soil had a lower dry residue (−3%). The combination of loamy soil and compost exhibited the highest fruit dry matter percentage (approximately 7%). These findings suggest that applying compost to industrial tomato plants, alone or with mineral fertilizers, improves fruit quality and promotes crop system sustainability, and the optimal strategy depends on the target crop and soil type.

Although the biodegradability of compostable bioplastic bags (CBBs) is well ascertained, concerns arise about the possibility of treating a massive quantity of compostable materials in composting facilities of all sizes and configurations. These concerns are even greater in small-scale composting where the biodegrading conditions may be milder that those in industrial composting. In this work, 7–15 lightweight CBBs were disposed of, together with organic food waste, in an electromechanical composter (EMC), every day for about 2 months. For the bulking agent, fragments and twigs of golden wattle wood were used instead of the recommended wood pellets. The composting process was carried out for 3 months in the EMC, and for further 4 months in a heap, in order to complete the maturation. During the process, critical issues in general, and any due to the presence of the CBBs, were reported: high temperatures, up to 72 °C, were constantly reached both in the ECM and in the heap, while critical anaerobic pockets were not detected. After 7 months, when the temperature and pH of the heap were equal to the ambient temperature and to 7.4, respectively, and were constant over time, the process was stopped and the compost produced underwent chemical, physical and biological analysis, in order to evaluate its quality. The CBBs did not produce any visual contamination of the final compost with bioplastic residues. Finally, all the stability, environmental and agronomic parameters were in compliance with the reference values established by law. This work shows how lightweight CBBs are perfectly managed by the EMC, at least with a CBB/organic waste mass ratio that is consistent with a normal use of CBBs as the collector of organic waste.

Photovoltaic (PV) technology is a low-carbon and efficient option to produce electricity with an expected growing market. In the next years, end-of-life PV panels (EoL PV) will generate a new type of waste whose management implies environmental concerns but also opportunities to recover secondary raw materials. As part of a European project, a 1,500 panels/year capacity pilot plant to recover valuable resources from EoL PV panels using hydrometallurgical processes was operated in real environment. It represents the first time that a hydro-metallurgical treatment was applied, at industrial scale, to EoL PV panels. This study focuses on the specific topic of treating the wastewater generated by the end of the hydrometallurgical process. Different chemical and physical tests were tried in laboratory on such streams loaded with metal species. The experimental results indicated that induced precipitation by adding strong acid or alkaline solutions allows obtaining high metal removal rates (greater than 95%). The optimal pH was around neutrality. Results suggested testing whether mixing the two wastewater at different rates could result in similar decontamination effects. pH neutrality was again the optimal condition. A further test at industrial scale was carried out by using a treatment plant specially assembled for the purpose. The study showed as the approach allowed to: 1) achieve a final supernatant to be reused within the recycling panel process; 2) avoid the use of lab-made high-grade solutions to modify pH; 3) minimize the production of waste (less than 60%) avoiding costs for the final out-side treatment and disposal.

In order to improve environmental sustainability of tomato cultivation and the quality of the harvested fruits, we tested (a) the digestate from anaerobic fermentation of buffalo slurries as partial replacing of NP fertilizers and (b) the biodegradable mulching to improve the nutrients and water availability for crop and to control weeds. In 2017–2018, a private farm of Campania region hosted a trial with four treatments deriving from the combination of two experimental factors: (1) fertilization strategy (standard farm NPK fertilization vs. digestate combined with reduced rates of NP fertilizers); (2) soil mulching (biodegradable mulching vs. no mulching). We measured fresh and dry aboveground biomass (fruits and stem + leaves), yields, fruits quality. Results pointed out: (1) combination of digestate with reduced rates of NP fertilizers did not decrease yields compared to complete mineral fertilization; (2) yields were improved in 2017 by synergic effects of soil mulching and combination of digestate and reduced rates of NP fertilizers; (3) in both the years, digestate combined with reduced rates of NP fertilizers and soil mulching determined the significant improving of fruits quality parameters interesting the processing industry, namely, fruit color, and firmness, total soluble solids, titratable acidity while antioxidant activity, contents of ascorbic acid, polyphenols, flavonoids, and lycopene showed responses variable with year or cultivar.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the current status of contamination due to the heavy metal and organic substances (PAHs, HC >12, organotin compounds, PCB, DDD, DDE, DDT) pollution of the sediments from the coastal area of the Bagnoli brownfield (Naples, Italy) and draw some hypotheses on the origin and trends of industrial and also geogenic contamination. Surface sediments and cores were collected and analysed. The results showed remarkable concentrations of heavy metals, PAHs, and other substances that are significantly higher than the national guideline values of sea sediment quality. Correlation analyses and spatial distribution analyses showed that generally the inorganic and organic pollutants have similar patterns, confirming the common origin from the industrial activity, but also that some of the studied metals have some natural contribution originated from the geologic setting of the area. The distribution of most of the heavy metals (especially Cd, Hg, Pb, Cu, Zn, partially Cr and Ni) and PAHs are similar, and the highest concentrations were recognised between and just off the piers, but a diffuse contamination is widespread up to the external areas of the site perimeter, rising concern on the diffusion of contaminants to the whole Gulf of Pozzuoli.

Groundwater contamination is one of the major environmental problem throughout the world. This is partly because groundwater can transport a substance quite easily and even extensively toward a receptor. Agriculture is a weak link in this context since, for example, fresh produce irrigated with low-quality water is a major factor contributing to some human diseases. Apart from pathogenic microorganisms, a gross source of groundwater contamination is by volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In this paper, we present and discuss a monitoring activity of transport processes in the soil-vegetation-atmosphere continuum to evaluate the effectiveness of a sprinkler irrigation system specifically-designed to reduce the VOCs concentrations in a contaminated site. For phytoremediation purposes, this test site is planted with poplar trees.

UV-C assisted disinfection processes are among the well-known tertiary processes for water reuse, wastewater reclamation and domestic water disinfection. However, treated wastewaters normally contain several organic compounds and pollutants that can be partially degraded under UV-C irradiation to different by-products, often more toxic than their parent compounds, and/or, for longer treatment times, completely mineralized. For this reason, kinetic modeling of pollutants degradation in UV-C assisted processes is of crucial importance in plants design. This work aims to the characterization of a reactor configuration consisting of 6 lamps placed following a symmetric hexagonal geometry. Specifically, a mathematical model is proposed to estimate the mean optical length and degradation kinetics for UV-C and UV-C/H2O2 processes. The model has been tested with different reference organic compounds and represents a significant characterization of a modular geometric unit used in a great variety of applications. Finally, the characterized reactor was used to estimate the quantum yield of direct photolysis at 254 nm (Phi(CPC)(254) = (8.04 +/- 0.36).10(-3 )mol.ein(-1)) and kinetic constant of reaction with hydroxyl radical of cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) ((1.11 +/- 0.0778).10(9)L.mol(-1).-s(-1)), an emerging pollutant of wide interest.

In the arid and semi-arid areas such as those in southern Europe, the correct management of water is of fundamental importance as well as the estimation of water consumption associated with human activities. Considering a temporary river catchment, the Water Footprint (WF) methodology allows direct and indirect estimation of water consumption required for the production of a given product. Furthermore, the WF estimation often involves the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) that allows to process climate, land use and soil type data. With the intent of strengthening existing methodologies applied at basin scale, this study deals with the estimation of WF in a temporary river catchment combining GIS and FAO’s (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) crop water productivity model. In detail, with reference to each municipality in the Candelaro catchment area (2330 km2, Southern Italy), the blue and green component of WF was calculated for the agricultural products. Additionally, the role of treated wastewater, intended as a strategy of water deficit compensation at basin scale, was addressed. Results showed a WF of 686 Mm3/year with a greater contribution from the green than the blue component. The wheat was the cultivation that required the largest quantity of rainwater while tomato was the product that contributed to the increased demand for irrigation water, which accounted for about 50% of the blue component. The other agricultural products that contributed to the demand for blue water were grapes and olive trees. Finally, the treated wastewater can substantially contribute to covering the water deficit; results showed a contribution of 30%–40% of water savings.

Nel triennio 2012-2014, nell’ambito del progetto Carisma (Caratterizzazione (chimico, fisica, ecotossicologica) ed Analisi RIschio ecologico di biocidi antivegetativi nel Sud del Mar Adriatico), e stata realizzata una campagna di monitoraggio multidisciplinare lungo le coste italiane (Puglia) ed albanesi. Lo scopo del progetto era di misurare il livello di contaminazione ambientale da parte di alcuni biocidi antivegetativi (TBT, Irgarol 1051 e Diuron) e di valutarne il rischio per gli organismi acquatici non-target. Le analisi chimiche sono state integrate con saggi ecotossicologici per valutare gli effetti esercitati dall’insieme dei contaminanti presenti, inclusi quelli non analizzati. Le concentrazioni rilevate sono state confrontate con gli standard di qualita ambientale (SQA) fissati dalle Direttive 2008/105/EC e 2013/39/EC, per ottenere informazioni sui potenziali pericoli a cui sono esposti gli organismi acquatici. Inoltre, e stata realizzata un’Analisi di Rischio Ecologico (ERA) per una valutazione sito-specifica dei potenziali effetti negativi derivanti dai biocidi antivegetativi. La minaccia maggiore e costituita dal TBT, che supera quasi sempre il limite stabilito per la massima concentrazione ammissibile (0,62 ng Sn/L), in entrambe le aree investigate, con picchi fino a 37 ng Sn/L. Livelli di Irgarol al di sopra della concentrazione media annuale (SQA-AA, 2,5 ng/L) si misurano spesso in Puglia, mentre, in Albania, cio accade molto meno frequentemente. Inoltre, in Puglia, le concentrazioni di Irgarol superano, talvolta, anche la concentrazione massima ammissibile (SQA-MAC, 16 ng/L). Per il Diuron si riscontra una situazione meno critica in quanto le quantita misurate sono sempre inferiori alla concentrazione massima ammissibile (SQA-MAC: 1800 ng/L) e solo occasionalmente superano il limite SQA-AA (200 ng/L). L’ERA indica un rischio basso per gli organismi marini esposti all’Irgarol ed al Diuron anche se tale rischio risulta non trascurabile in alcune localita piu inquinate della Puglia. D’altra parte, per il TBT si ottiene un’elevata probabilita (>70%) che si verifichino effetti avversi per la popolazione acquatica, in quasi tutte le localita investigate. Infine, i saggi ecotossicologici mostrano un rischio da medio ad alto, per entrambe le aree esaminate.

Photocatalytic degradation of atenolol in aqueous suspensions using specifically synthetized mesoporous based TiO2 materials as photocatalysts under UVC (254 nm) irradiation was investigated. A batch reactor and a UV lamp 16 W power were used to test the ATL removal with several initial concentrations of ATL (4.5 - 30 mg/L) and four synthetized TiO2 photocatalysts, characterized by different BET surface areas and average pore sizes. Moreover, the effect of solution pH (4.8 - 9.0) and of the oxygen presence were investigated. The performances of the synthetized photocatalysts were compared with commercial Degussa P25. The atenolol degradation was studied using different concentration of catalyst (50 and 1000 mg/L) showing a maximum removal efficiency of 65%. Although the new catalysts showed a lower efficiency when compared to commercial P25, they can be easily recovered from water being in the form of micro-aggregate, and then reused without remarkable changes. The experimental data were fitted using a pseudo first order kinetic model.

The knowledge of the mechanisms regulating the concentration of nutrients in rivers is of fundamental importance in maintaining the ecological functioning of streams. In particular, in the riverbed sediments, where the biogeochemical activity is enhanced, the study of retention mechanisms becomes crucial in order to determine the restoring capacity of a watercourse. In case of groundwater inflow, hot-spots in the recycling of nutrients within the riparian and hyporheic zones can be observed, influencing the nutrient load transported into the stream depending on retention mechanisms. Hence, the study of biotic and abiotic factors affecting retention and transport of nutrients in a riverine ecosystem at different spatial scales ( from reach to catchment) becomes fundamental to understand the mechanisms regulating the concentration of nutrients, and in particular nitrates, in streams. The present work is developed within the framework of the IAEA Coordinated Research Project ( CRP) "Environmental Isotopes and Age Dating Methods to Assess Nitrogen Pollution and Other Quality Issues in Rivers". The main scope is to find a reliable methodology to, spatially and temporally, quantify groundwater inflows to a river in order to study nitrates contamination of a groundwater dependent river ecosystem. In particular, the overall objectives of the proposed project are: i) the identification and quantification of spatio-temporal variation of the connectivity between groundwater and surface water; ii) the identification of the nitrate contamination sources of shallow groundwater; iii) the study of the nitrates retention and recycling mechanisms in riverbed sediments in critical effluent river reaches ( key sites) in order to determine the importance of hyporheic and riparian zones. Here, the preliminary results of the hydrogeological, chemical and isotopic ( Rn-222, delta O-18, delta D) monitoring are presented and discussed.

Gli impianti elettromeccanici rappresentano una tecnologia impiantistica, scala pilota, dedicata al trattamento/recupero della frazione umida contenuta nei rifiuti urbani. Sono impianti utilizzati nell’ambito delle attivita di recupero previste nel compostaggio di comunita e/o prossimita che rappresenta un settore intermedio collocato tra il compostaggio industriale e quello domestico; il loro utilizzo consente il trattamento di scarti organici prodotti in quantita limitata da piccole comunita, mense scolastiche, comuni decentrati ecc. che conferiscono i propri scarti umidi direttamente in questi impianti ed utilizzano in loco il compost ottenuto. Avviata nei paesi del nord Europa, questa tecnologia si sta ampiamente affermando anche in Italia grazie alle caratteristiche demografiche-territoriali quali contesti montani ed insulari, piccoli comuni, case unifamigliari ecc.. in cui la frazione umida puo essere gestita a km 0, con relativo riscontro economico derivante dal mancato costo di raccolta, trasporto e trattamento fuori sito della frazione umida dei rifiuti urbani.

Recently the potential environmental hazard of photovoltaic modules together with their management as waste has attracted the attention of scientists. Particular concern is aroused by the several metals contained in photovoltaic panels whose potential release in the environment were scarcely investigated. Here, for the first time, the potential environmental hazard of panels produced in the last 30 years was investigated through the assessment of up to 18 releasable metals. Besides, the corresponding ecotoxicological effects were also evaluated. Experimental data were compared with the current European and Italian law limits for drinking water, discharge on soil and landfill inert disposal in order to understand the actual pollution load. Results showed that less than 3% of the samples respected all law limits and around 21% was not ecotoxic. By considering the technological evolutions in manufacturing, we have shown that during the years crystalline silicon panels have lower tendency to release hazardous metals with respect to thin film panels. In addition, a prediction of the amounts of lead, chromium, cadmium and nickel releasable from next photovoltaic waste was performed. The prevision up to 2050 showed high amounts of lead (30t) and cadmium (2.9t) releasable from crystalline and thin film panels respectively.

In a greenhouse pot experiment, lettuce plants (Lactuca sativa L.) were grown in a Hg-contaminated sandy soil with and without inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) (a commercial inoculum containing infective propagules of Rhizophagus irregularis and Funneliformis mosseae) amended with different rates of a humic acid (0, 1, and 2 g kg−1 of soil), with the objective of verifying the synergistic effects of the two soil treatments on the Hg tolerance of lettuce plants. Our results indicated that the plant biomass was significantly increased by the combined effect of AMF and humic acid treatments. Addition of humic matter to soil boosted the AMF effect on improving the nutritional plant status, enhancing the pigment content in plant leaves, and inhibiting both Hg uptake and Hg translocation from the roots to the shoots. This was attributed not only to the Hg immobilization by stable complexes with HA and with extraradical mycorrhizal mycelium in soil and root surfaces but also to an improved mineral nutrition promoted by AMF. This work indicates that the combined use of AMF and humic acids may become a useful practice in Hg-contaminated soils to reduce Hg toxicity to crops.

The presence of bromide ions in waters treated with ozone can lead to bromate ions and brominated compounds formation, potentially carcinogenic. This poses a need to remove the bromates through other treatment, as UV. In this work the effects of the water composition, and the corresponding variation due to oxidation, on the UV efficiency for the reduction of bromate to bromide ions in groundwater (GW) were investigated. For this purpose an experimental apparatus was specifically designed and experimental tests with ozone and with a UV lamp 6 W were performed. The experimental results show that the reduction of the bromates to bromides by UV is max 41% in GW, depending on ozone dose and initial bromate concentration. The experimental data were fitted with a first order model and the kinetic constant determined. The effects of the ozone and UV treatment on others groundwater components, as TOC and inorganic nitrogen, were taken into account and the corresponding influence on the bromate removal efficiency was evaluated. To this aim, comparative tests with UV in purified water (PW) (reagent grade) and GW spiked with controlled amount of bromates were performed. It was verified that the removal efficiency of bromate by UV increases with increasing of ammonia concentration, but decreases with increasing of TOC and when intermediate bromide species, produced by ozonation, are presents. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.