Líneas de
Investigación
CHARACTERIZATION, CONTROL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF INDUSTRIAL WASTES AND COASTAL SEDIMENTS
The research objectives are mainly three:
a) Application of standard
procedures and development of new methods for the
characterization of industrial wastes and coastal sediments.
b) Control procedures of
industrial wastes based on minimization,
reutilization/reuse/recovery and Solidification/Stabilization
technologies.
c) Environmental Assessment
of Industrial wastes and coastal sediments.
Specific Objectives:
1. Identification
and physico-chemical and ecotoxicological caracterization of
industrial wastes
Under this subject the research
group develop as main topics:
- Characterization of the
industrial activities by the study of unit operations of
the processes linked by the flows of materials and
energy, in order to obtain environmental parameters,
which lead to know the environmental assessment of the
activity. The study of the process under an chemical
engineering approach and the classification of industrial
wastes generated, lead to know the cleaner production
options.
- Develop and application of
basic characterization test in order to determine the
physico-chemical and hazard characteristics of the
industrial wastes. Development and application of
compliance lixiviation test for waste materials.
2. Cleaner
production and management of industrial hazardous wastes by
solidification/stabilization
The environmental strategies into
the industrial activities are focused to reduce the final
pollution by two approach, A) Minimization of wastes by
prevention focused actions as reduction at source and
recuperation, reuse and recycling, and B) Pollution control
actions by wastes management according to the minimum
environmental impact.
The research objectives are mainly:
- Analysis of the minimization
options in different industrial sectors, mainly SMEs. The
detailed study of the particular process lead to identify
the environmental problems which are priorized by
different citeria. The specific minimization options to
be applied are analyzed under economical, strategic,
technical-productive and human factors.
- Development of landfill
previous standards treatments, focused in the application
of Solidification/Stabilization technologies. The main
objective for this subject will be the development of
binder/additive/waste formulations (with and without
pre-treatment) and the evaluation of hazardous pollutants
in the final products in order to establish a minimum
environmental impact (according to the actual
regulations) in the disposal of industrial wastes.
- Study of the optimal
conditions for the incorporation and processing of wastes
in clay and cement type materials, in order to
reduce/eliminate ecotoxicity characteristics for the
whole with negligible or no important effects on the
properties of the final products. Study of the technical
parameters as pre-treatment of the wastes, mixing, curing
and/or cooking conditions.
- Determination of hazard and
use-oriented properties of the final products in order to
determine the optimum framework of reuse and/or landfill.
Development of leaching tests to determine the
physico-chemical and ecotoxicological properties of
leachates.
3. Integrated
environmental assessment of coastal sediments
The coastal zones represent one of
the most dynamic and complex natural environments in which
anthropogenic activities, ecology, economy and geomorphology
interact. These areas are particularly vulnerable and a better
knowledge of the inter-relationships between natural and
socio-economic variables is essential for sustainable coastal
zone management. From this point of view the recent sediments can
act as indicator of this relationships.
The research group lead since 1996
co-ordinated projects, with the participation of four research
groups, focused on the integrated characterisation of the coastal
sediments (Santander Bay - North Spain), from different
approaches: chemical analysis of heavy metals and PAHs, the
determination of the sedimentation rate and dating sediments, and
the determination of bioaccumulation and toxicity by bioassay in
organisms of the species oligochaeta sampled in the field.
The different approach of the
project will be useful to develop sediment quality criteria,
which could to guarantee a global protection of the aquatic
environment, leading to the knowledge of the sediment pollution
background and actual levels in the sediments. The co-ordinated
results of the overall project will be a useful tool to plan
remediation works, dredging material disposal or management and
rehabilitation programs on the studied areas.
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