Polysulfone (Psf) and Cellulose acetate (Ac-Cel) based membranes were synthesized via immersion precipitation – phase inversion techniques, starting from initial polymeric solutions with concentrations of 8%, 10% and 12%. Each membrane was characterized from morphological point of view by scanning electronic microscopy and from compositional point of view by thermal analyses. Hydrodunamic characteristics were also determined for all membranes using both ultrapure water and real municipal wastewater. Obtained results proved that polysulfone and cellulose acetate based membranes are potential candidates to be used for advanced treatment of municipal wastewater using photocatalytic membrane reactors.

Ecosystems encompass a dynamic web of interactions between living organisms and their environment. This network includes everything from the smallest microorganisms to the largest mammals, and landscape. Ecosystems provide vital services, such as clean air, water, nutrient, climate regulation and all the related things. However, human activities have significantly impacted these systems, leading to habitat destruction, species extinction and disruption in delicate ecological balances. Human population growth increased the conversion of natural ecosystems for agricultural, industrial, and residential purposes, as well as the demand for ecosystem inputs like freshwater, fibre, and soil fertility. It also placed strain on the ability of natural ecosystems to sustain human populations. Growing agricultural, engaging in illicit fishing and hunting, and unplanned activities greatly impacted it. Future generations may face risk of starvation, thirst, illness, and catastrophe if we continue to lose biodiversity. It directly and indirectly contributes to many aspects of human life, such as security, the necessities for a happy life, health, positive social interactions, and the freedom to make decisions and take action. The article focused on effects of human activity on ecosystems and to evaluate how well-managed processes contribute to habitat conservation, in order to better understand the importance of ecosystems on living beings in this planet.

Today, the growth in textile consumption is influenced by the increasing population. This leads to the generation of a large volume of textile waste, which has a negative impact on the environment. Textile waste is mainly disposed of by landfill or incineration. To reduce the amount of textile waste disposed of, it can be recovered and transformed into valuable compounds, such as ethanol (bioethanol). This article describes how pre- and post-consumer textile waste is used as a feedstock for ethanol.

Nanoparticles differ significantly from their bulk counterparts in terms of their characteristics, and they have a wide range of scientific uses. The use of green nanoparticles have received considerable attention. Recent advances in green nanomaterial production have made it possible to utilize these materials in catalysis. Many techniques have been applied to treat the textile wastewater. In the current study, Alizarin Red S dye is photocatalytically degraded utilizing green synthesized NiO nanoparticles derived from green tea extract. Utilizing techniques such as FT-IR, UV-Visible spectroscopy, EDAX, SEM, and XRD, the synthesized nanoparticles were examined. The morphology of the nanoparticle was studied using the SEM images. The XRD analysis was used to find the size of the crystal. The formula developed by Debye Scherer was used to determine the crystallite size. It was seen that the crystallite size was 29.75 nm. Using EDAX, the existence of Ni was verified. FT-IR analysis was used to find the functional groups present in the nanoparticle. According to morphological research, the nanoparticles are flake-shaped and have a larger surface area. Systematically the impact of many parameters on dye degradation, including catalyst dosage, dye concentration, and pH was examined. The findings showed that NiO can be used as a good nanocatalyst to degrade organic dyes. The kinetics of photodegradation were studied. Antibacterial and antifungal activities carried out on the synthesized nanoparticle and the precursor green tea shows that they have good activity over bacteria and fungi. The right selection of operating conditions allows to degrade the pollutant effectively.

Mesh independence is a term used in numerical analysis and simulation to refer to a situation where the numerical solution of a problem is insensitive to changes in the size or density of the computational mesh used to discretize the problem domain. In other words, a numerical solution is said to be mesh independent if it remains stable and accurate even when the mesh is refined. This is important because the accuracy and stability of numerical simulations depend on the quality of the mesh used to discretize the problem domain. The shape, size and number of meshes used while performing numerical modeling in accordance with flow physics in the solution of hydraulic problems significantly affect the result. In this study, a total of 12 experiments were carried out for 4 different discharge values (Q=5 L/s, 10 L/s,15 L/s and 20 L/s) for sharp-crested weirs with three different weir heights (P=20 cm, 30 cm and 40 cm). Numerical models of each experimental setup with four different mesh sizes (m=1.25 mm, 2.50 mm, 5.00 mm and 10.00 mm) were created with the ANSYS-Fluent program. Numerical analyzes were performed using the grid resolution method to obtain a mesh size-independent result where the mesh size would not affect the results after the specified error rate.

The aim of the study was to develop alternative adsorbent materials based on pyritic ash, with high iron content, in order to retain phosphates from wastewater. Experimental studies of phosphate removal efficiency have shown that the phosphates removal from water using pyritic ash adsorbent materials is strongly influenced by some parameters such as: contact time, stirring speed, amount of adsorbent material or iron content. An increase of phosphate removal efficiency up to 53% could be observed for iron-rich adsorbent materials (PA1) by increasing the contact time to 6 hours and the stirring speed to 100 rpm. An increase of phosphate removal efficiency was also observed by increasing the amount of adsorbent material from 0.1 g to 0.5 g for all three adsorbent materials studied (PA1, PA2, PA3). The best efficiency was shown for PA1 (53.13%), while PA3 showed the lowest efficiency (19.74%).

Microplastics pollution represents a stringent global issue. Their accumulation in the aquatic environment remains complicated due to the abundance, distribution, and resulting environmental effects they induce. Recently, assessing the toxicity level on aquatic organisms has gained scientific interest. Due to the diverse types and sizes of polymers present in the environment, the detection and evaluation of their effects are still a challenging issue. Polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS) are the most commonly used polymers and are therefore predominantly detected in both marine and freshwater aquatic environments. This paper aims to evaluate the effects of Red Nile-stained PE and PS, tested in different particle sizes (PE 40-48, 125, >125 µm, and PS 20, 200, 430 µm) on Daphnia magna, and highlight them through microscopic analysis. Acute toxicity tests conducted over a 48-hours exposure did not reveal significant toxicity effects in terms of mortalities compared to the controls. Red Nile staining allowed the visualization of the shapes and sizes of the tested microplastics and their entry pathways into the Daphnia bodies. PS of 20 µm size was detected in the digestive tract of Daphnia, indicating as primary pathway of entry into the body of aquatic organisms. No acute toxic effects were recorded as a result of direct exposure to PE and PS particles. However, sub lethal effects such as feeding and growth disturbances, which could affect organisms in the long term, are suspected.

The current context of the increasing manifestation of climate change in the form of extreme weather phenomena prioritizes efforts to find solutions as quickly as possible to ensure adaptation to these new conditions and to achieve climate resilience. The phenomena are problematic, they usually cause much material damage, and therefore knowing the particularities of each urban or peri-urban environment where they occur can ensure the finding of viable and sustainable solutions in the long term. The current knowledge of the phenomena related to pollution and the variation of some climatic parameters, such as temperature and humidity, can bring valuable information for understanding the phenomena that appear against the background of the manifestation of climatic changes in urban environments and those adjacent to them. The analysis presented in this article refers to three cities in Romania, analyzed as case studies, for understanding climatic vulnerabilities in parallel with a quantification of the quality of environmental factors, in an integrated air, water, and soil approach. In these areas, the manifestation of natural factors, together with the anthropic footprint, particularly more evident in the urban environment, offers the possibility of an objective, quantifiable evaluation of the studied areas. The proposed comparisons will allow highlighting the vulnerabilities together with the zonal variability that is the basis of the influencing factors, as well as the way in which the quality of the monitored parameters will evolve in space and time.

The interaction of bridge piers and currents with each other is mutual. As a result of this interaction, it has been determined that one of the main causes of damage to bridges is the scouring of bridge piers. One of the factors on which the scouring procedure depends is the flow velocity. For this reason, in this study, the velocity distributions that occur before the bridge piers, which are positioned as single axis and double axis, were examined physically and numerically. In experimental studies, the reading values obtained by using ADV were compared with the results obtained from the ANSYS-Fluent package program used in numerical modeling. The performance of the model used and the effects of placing the piers as single axis and double axis were evaluated. As a result of the study, it was determined that the ANSYS used in determining the flow velocity area was very compatible with the experimental results and that the flow velocity acting in the system obtained by placing the bridge piers as a single axis is larger.

The study focused on odours generated by hydrogen sulphide (H2S) immissions from a municipal wastewater treatment plant in a city of 2 million people. Odour awareness was vital to monitor environmental pollution and human’s safety. H2S was released from decomposition of organic matter, sulphites (SO32-) and sulphates (SO42-) by anaerobic microorganisms used in the biological stage of wastewater treatment. H2S was responsible for odours coming from the treatment plant. Long exposure (8 hours) to 2-5 ppm causes headaches and watery eyes, and 50 ppm irritates the airways. Maximum permissible concentrations for H2S are 0.006 ppm (24 hours) and 0.011 ppm (30 minutes). In Romania there are no limits on the concentration of odours. The sludge pumping station from the wastewater treatment plant registered the highest odour concentration at 36.000 OUE/m3, with significant levels of H2S primarily found there. Nevertheless, the activated sludge aeration system effectively eliminated around 99% of the H2S through degradation and absorption processes. The correlation between H2S and odour has been proved by a direct proportional relationship with a ratio of 25.000. Experimental determinations and mathematical modelling, using the Aermod View program, contributed to a deeper understanding of the impact of odours on the environment and on sensitive receptors, showed maximum odour concentrations of 38.8 ouE/m3 at the site of the municipal wastewater treatment plant and 5 ÷7 ouE/m3 at receptors, but without affecting residential areas.

One of the main challenges regarding the transition to a circular economy at the European level is waste management and achieving specific objectives. By 2025, the recycling and reuse rate of municipal waste should reach 55% and the total volume of recycled packaging 65%, according to European Directives (Waste Directive 05/07/2018). Statistical data and EEA reports are not encouraging: most European countries will not be able to reach these targets until 2025. The current work aims to analyze European legislation regarding waste management but also the national transposition measures communicated by the Member States. The reference statistical data regarding the efficiency of waste management, are also analyzed, at the member states level and at national level, to determine to what extent Romania has reached the targets set by the European Commission regarding waste management, depending on the specific time horizon set by the reference legislative policies.

In this study, the area of a biofilter representing an active area source was sampled by taking 12 odour samples from the gaseous effluent and measuring the physical parameters of the source, so that we can obtain the odour emission rate (OER) specific to the source. The odour sampling process is a crucial step in the assessment and monitoring of odour pollution. Direct measurement of odour concentration in the ambient air is often not sufficient to determine whether an activity is responsible for producing olfactory discomfort to the receptors. To observe the contribution of the source to olfactory pollution and air quality by estimating the odour concentration in the ambient air, the odour emission rate (OER) was taken into account, which is expressed in odour units per second (ouE/s) and is obtained as the product of the odour concentration and the airflow rate associated with the source. The odour emission rate was entered into the dispersion program AERMOD for mathematical modeling. In order to estimate the odour concentration in the surrounding air in the adjacent areas to the sampled biofilter, 2 mathematical models were made to illustrate the odour concentration on the site and in its vicinity in the most unfavorable weather conditions „Highest values” and „98th Percentile” to illustrate the concentration in the surrounding air excluding the 2% unfavorable weather condition

The global issue of Food Loss and Waste (FLW) is gaining increased attention from both academic and policy circles. This challenge is progressively spreading, particularly in less developed and developing nations. This article aims to address the FLW concern within grape cultivation, proposing solutions for repurposing leftover materials from the crop. The paper will depict the current understanding of FLW, outline the supply and value chain of grape crops, and conduct an intricate analysis of production quantities, imports, exports, and processing. The study draws from the IPSUS project's research, which explores techniques for reclaiming plant and seaweed proteins through recycling raw materials. Additionally, it will explore the potential for upcycling and assess the quantity and quality of FLW at various points along the value chain. To evaluate FLW in viticulture, an IoT system will measure environmental parameters like air temperature, humidity, soil moisture, and precipitation. These measurements will help estimate harvest quality and quantity, pivotal aspects within the context of food loss and waste. The outcomes of this research will underscore the significance of repurposing grape crops, opening novel avenues for agricultural advancement in Romania.

The paper summarizes the research results on the development country country-specific emissions factors for the Greenhouse Gas Inventory (GHGI) for Source Category “5A Solid Waste Disposal on Land”, namely the degradable organic carbon (DOC), fraction of degradable organic carbon which decomposes (DOCf) and fraction of methane. The factors are determined based on the results of the survey on composition of municipal solid waste, which was investigated during one year in the Republic of Moldova: from spring 2023 to 2024. The obtained on morphological composition and results refer to three seasons: spring, summer and autumn and offer the opportunity to observe the variations among the seasons. After finalizing the survey on morphological composition, the final results will be used for estimation of country specific emission factors, which will allow to estimate accurately the emissions of methane from landfilling of waste in the Republic of Moldova, necessary for development of policy framework and tracking the progress in achievement of NDC. It will also improve the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) methodologies and Emission Factors for assessing the GHG emissions originated from waste sector.