Papers by Massimiliano Fabbricino
Fermentation
The aim of the present paper is the improvement of dark fermentative hydrogen production from pro... more The aim of the present paper is the improvement of dark fermentative hydrogen production from problematic substrates. In detail, the study is aimed at (i) investigating the inhibiting effect of two problematic biomasses (i.e., of olive mill wastewater, containing recalcitrant/toxic compounds and cheese whey, lacking pH buffering capacity) on the dark fermentation process, (ii) as well as verifying the possibility to apply a co-fermentation strategy to enhance the process. To investigate the inhibiting effect of the substrates, two experimental sets were conducted using olive mill wastewater and cheese whey alone, under different food-to-microorganism ratios (i.e., 1, 2.5, and 5). Further experiments were conducted to verify the possibility of improving hydrogen production via the co-fermentation strategy. Such experiments included two tests conducted using different volumetric percentages of olive mill wastewater and cheese whey (90% olive mill wastewater + 10% cheese whey and 80% o...
Fermentation
Every year, about one-third of food is wasted through the food supply chain, generating many econ... more Every year, about one-third of food is wasted through the food supply chain, generating many economic, environmental and social issues [...]
Atmosphere
Air pollution is still one of the biggest environmental threats to human health on a global scale... more Air pollution is still one of the biggest environmental threats to human health on a global scale. In urban environments, exposure to air pollution is largely influenced by the activity patterns of the population as well as by the high spatial and temporal variability in air pollutant concentrations. Over the last years, several studies have attempted to better characterize the spatial variations in air pollutant concentrations within a city by deploying dense, fixed as well as mobile, low-cost sensor networks and more recently opportunistic sampling and by improving the spatial resolution of air quality models up to a few meters. The purpose of this work has been to investigate the use of properly designed mobile monitoring campaigns along the streets of an urban neighborhood to assess the capability of an operational air dispersion model as SIRANE at the district scale to capture the local variability of pollutant concentrations. To this end, an IoT ecosystem—MONICA (an Italian ac...
Global NEST International Conference on Environmental Science & Technology
In the present work, an anaerobic bioremediation treatment was investigated for reclamation of po... more In the present work, an anaerobic bioremediation treatment was investigated for reclamation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contaminated soil. The PAHs contaminated soil was artificially prepared and seven different contamination conditions were tested. In particular, four soils were contaminated solely by naphthalene (A), anthracene (B), pyrene (C) and benzo[a]pyrene (D), respectively, whereas, three soils were contaminated by benzo[a]pyrene coupled with one of the other investigated PAHs (i.e. A+D, B+D, and C+D tests). Such conditions were tested in order to study the possible degradation kinetic for the single involved PAH (with aromatic rings ranging from 2 to 5) as well as for PAHs mixed with a 5-aromatic rings contaminant (i.e. benzo[a]pyrene). The investigated treatment was carried out in bioaugmented condition through two microbial inocula obtained from anaerobic digestion tests on lignocellulosic substrate. In more detail, the two inocula were differently enriche...
Microorganisms
Rare earth elements (REEs) are essential components of modern technologies and are often challeng... more Rare earth elements (REEs) are essential components of modern technologies and are often challenging to acquire from natural resources. The demand for REEs is so high that there is a clear need to develop efficient and environmentally-friendly recycling methods. In the present study, freeze-dried cells of the extremophile Galdieria sulphuraria were employed to recover yttrium, cerium, europium, and terbium from quaternary-metal aqueous solutions. The biosorption capacity of G. sulphuraria freeze-dried algal biomass was tested at different pHs, contact times, and biosorbent dosages. All rare earths were biosorbed in a more efficient way by the lowest dose of biosorbent, at pH 4.5, within 30 min; the highest removal rate of cerium was recorded at acidic pH (2.5) and after a longer contact time, i.e., 360 min. This study confirms the potential of freeze-dried cells of G. sulphuraria as innovative ecological biosorbents in technological applications for sustainable recycling of metals f...
Plants
The lanthanides are among the rare earth elements (REEs), which are indispensable constituents of... more The lanthanides are among the rare earth elements (REEs), which are indispensable constituents of modern technologies and are often challenging to acquire from natural resources. The demand for REEs is so high that there is a clear need to develop efficient and environmentally-friendly recycling methods. In the present study, living cells of the extremophile Galdieria sulphuraria were used to remove four REEs, Yttrium, Cerium, Europium, and Terbium, from single- and quaternary-metal aqueous solutions. Two different strains, SAG 107.79 and ACUF 427, were exposed to solutions buffered at pH 2.5, 3.5, 4.5, and 5.5. Our data demonstrated that the removal performances were strain and pH dependent for all metal ions. At lower pH, ACUF 427 outperformed SAG 107.79 considerably. By increasing the pH of the solutions, there was a significant surge in the aqueous removal performance of both strains. The same trend was highlighted using quaternary-metal solutions, even if the quantities of meta...
Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering, 2021
Atmospheric fine particulate pollutant affects seriously the human health but also the passage of... more Atmospheric fine particulate pollutant affects seriously the human health but also the passage of light through the lower atmosphere, reducing the solar radiation reaching the ground as well as the PV panels. In this study, the solar insolation reduction due to air pollution has been investigated in the city of Naples (Italy). Analyzing local long term field data, we have obtained that the solar insolation reduction is exponentially correlated to the PM2.5 concentration. By using the derived empirical relation, for Naples it was estimated that the solar insolation was reduced around 5% or 66.20 kWh/m −2 within one-year period (May 2018-May 2019), due to air fine particulate pollution. This study provides the theoretical basis to design successful solar PV systems to be mounted on building rooftops or in other suitable sites, taking into account also the local air pollution condition.
npj Clean Water, 2021
Membrane fouling is a major challenge in membrane bioreactors (MBRs) for wastewater treatment. Th... more Membrane fouling is a major challenge in membrane bioreactors (MBRs) for wastewater treatment. This study investigates the effects of disturbance and solid retention time (SRT) on quorum-quenching (QQ) MBRs relative to antifouling efficacy and microbial community change. The fouling rate increases with the applied disturbance at a short SRT, counteracting the antifouling effect of QQ; however, it decreases with QQ at a long SRT. The microbial community appears to be responsible for such MBR behaviors. Several bacterial species belonging to the biofilm-forming group are dominant after disturbance, resulting in substantive membrane fouling. However, the balance between the bacterial species plays a key role in MBR fouling propensity when stabilized. Koflera flava becomes dominant with QQ, leading to reduced membrane fouling. QQ makes the MBR microbial community more diverse, while lowering its richness. QQ with long SRT would be a favorable operational strategy for effective MBR fouli...
Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology, 2021
Although poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) is the most promising biopolymer for... more Although poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) is the most promising biopolymer for petroleum-based plastics replacement, the low processes productivity as well as the high sale price represent a major barrier for its widespread usage. The present work examines comparatively the existing methods to enhance the yield of the PHBV co-polymer biologically produced and/or reduce their costs. The study is addressed to researchers working on the development of new biological production methods and/or the improvement of those currently used. At this aim, the authors have considered the analysis of some crucial aspects related to substrates and microorganism’s choice. The production strategies have been individuated, presented and discussed, either based on a single aspect (type of substrate or microorganism) or based on combined aspects (type of substrate and microorganism). Process operating conditions have been discussed as well. The analysis indicates that the addition of 3...
Atmosphere, 2020
Urban air pollution continues to represent a primary concern for human health, despite significan... more Urban air pollution continues to represent a primary concern for human health, despite significant efforts by public authorities for mitigating its effects. Regulatory monitoring networks are essential tools for air pollution monitoring. However, they are sparse networks, unable to capture the spatial variability of the air pollutants. For addressing this issue, networks of low cost stations are deployed, supplementing the regulatory stations. Regarding this application, an important question is where these stations are installed The objective of this study was to generate a site suitability map for the development of a network of low cost multi-sensor stations across a city for a spatially dense urban air quality monitoring. To do that, a site suitability analysis was developed based on two geographical variables properly selected for representing the impact of urban pollutant sources and urban form on the pollutant concentrations. By processing information about emissions patterns...
Processes, 2020
Digestate, as an urban solid waste, was considered as an innovative adsorbent for colorant pollut... more Digestate, as an urban solid waste, was considered as an innovative adsorbent for colorant polluted wastewater. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out using digestate as an adsorbent material to remove various dyes belonging to different categories. The removal rate and adsorption capacity of dyes were evaluated and the dose of digestate, contact time, and initial dye concentration were studied. The maximum removal rate was approximately 96% for Methylene Blue. The equilibrium time for the Methylene Blue was 4 h, while for other dyes, a longer contact time was required to reach the equilibrium. The suspicion of colloidal matter release into the solution from solid fraction of the digestate led to the investigation of the consequence of a washing step of the digestate adsorbent upstream the adsorption experiment. Washed and not washed adsorbents were tested and the differences between them in terms of dye removal were compared. Moreover, experimental data were fitted by pseudo...
Bioresource Technology, 2021
The aim of this work was to study the biological catalysts and possible substrate conversion rout... more The aim of this work was to study the biological catalysts and possible substrate conversion routes in mesophilic dark fermentation reactors aimed at producing H2 from olive mill wastewater. Bacillus and Clostridium were the most abundant phylotypes during the rapid stage of H2 production. Chemical analyses combined with predictive 2 functional profiling of the bacterial communities indicated that the lactate fermentation was the main H2-producing route. In fact, during the fermentation process, lactate and acetate were consumed, while H2 and butyrate were being produced. The fermentation process was rich in genes that encode enzymes for lactate generation from pyruvate. Lactate conversion to butyrate through the generation of pyruvate produced H2 through the recycling of electron carriers via the pyruvate ferredoxin oxydoreductase pathway. Overall, these findings showed the synergy among lactate-, acetate-and H2-producing bacteria, which complex interactions determine the H2 production routes in the bioreactors.
Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 2020
This work provides a comprehensive review of research on the cold-bonding pelletization process u... more This work provides a comprehensive review of research on the cold-bonding pelletization process used to produce lightweight aggregates (LWAs) using waste materials, to valorise the waste and, at the same time, minimize risks related to disposal. Research investigating various aspects of the cold-bonding process highlight: i) feasible mix-designs for pellet production; ii) the most relevant operating parameters affecting the process; and iii) the potential applications of the LWAs produced. The analysis gives a wide overview of the fundamental key-points that control the cold-bonding process. Data comparison provides a useful way to identify the optimal process conditions to allow development of optimum products. This involves the selection of the correct mix-design, including suitable binders and potential additives, and the selection of appropriate operating conditions, which are a function of the waste investigated, and/or waste mix characteristics. The review proposes an optimised approach to experimental studies on cold-bonding processes that has potential to enhance future process performance. Moreover, the present work provides a complete framework useful for decision-making for both manufacturers and researchers working to use this promising technique.
Journal of Cleaner Production, 2019
The paper presents an experimental study aimed at investigating the mechanism responsible for Bis... more The paper presents an experimental study aimed at investigating the mechanism responsible for Bisphenol A adsorption on natural cork, and the role played on process kinetics by the organic matter released from the cork. Obtained data show that natural cork has a good affinity toward Bisphenol A, with removal efficiency being as high as 75% in less than 24 h. The adsorption process is characterized by a fast-initial rate which tends to reduce progressively, and follows a pseudo second order model equation. Statistical physical analysis allows for obtaining a molecular description of the adsorption, which is shown to take place through a single anchorage point, perpendicularly to the adsorbent surface. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and florescence analysis reveal that the colloidal organic matter released from the cork interacts with Bisphenol A; it also plays a relevant role in the slowing down of the adsorption rate, as it competes with cork adsorption sites for Bisphenol A. Organic matter is found to be highly heterogenous, presenting at the same time carbohydrates, aromatic and aliphatic domains. Such moieties interact stably with the contaminant in the solution probably due the establishment of dispersive forces (e.g. π-stacking) which sequestrate Bisphenol A into the inner hydrophobic core of the organic matter three-dimensional structure.
Sustainability, 2019
The paper investigates mixed-culture lactate (LA) fermentation of cheese whey (CW) in order to ve... more The paper investigates mixed-culture lactate (LA) fermentation of cheese whey (CW) in order to verify the possibility of using waste materials as feedstock to produce a product with high economic potential. The fermentation performance of two reactors operating in repeated-batch mode under uncontrolled pH conditions and various hydraulic retention time and feeding conditions was evaluated in terms of LA production. Five experimental phases were conducted. The hydraulic retention time (HRT) was varied from 1 to 4 days to verify its effect on the process performance. The best results, corresponding to the maximum LA concentration (20.1 g LA/L) and the maximum LA yield (0.37 g chemical oxygen demand (COD)(LA)/g COD(CW)), were reached by feeding the reactors with cheese whey alone and setting the HRT to 2 days. The maximum productivity of lactic acid (10.6 g LA/L/day) was observed when the HRT was decreased to 1 day.
Journal of Soils and Sediments, 2018
Purpose Selenium (Se) toxicity or deficiency disorders are chiefly associated with Se concentrati... more Purpose Selenium (Se) toxicity or deficiency disorders are chiefly associated with Se concentration and speciation in soils. Elevated soil Se content may lead to contamination of water bodies and groundwaters due to the leaching caused by rainfall and irrigation. This study is focused on Se removal by in situ (biostimulation and bioaugmentation) and ex situ (soil washing) bioremediation as well as on its recovery. Materials and methods In this research, in situ bioremediation of Se-rich soil collected from rice fields in Ludhiana, Northwest India was studied in microcosms. The effect of biostimulation was determined by amending soil with different organic sources (fermentable, non-fermentable, and non-hydrolysable electron donors). The effect of bioaugmentation was determined by adding anaerobic granular sludge to the microcosms. With regard to ex situ bioremediation, the Se-rich soil was leached with water and the resulting leachate was biologically treated in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor using lactate as electron donor. The UASB reactor was operated for 78 days in different conditions of lactate (electron donor) dosing to achieve maximum Se removal and recovery as elemental Se(0) on the granular sludge. The effluent of the UASB reactor was regularly analyzed to determine Se removal efficiencies. Results and discussion The effect of biostimulation and bioaugmentation showed no significant difference in terms of Se reduction profiles in the microcosms. This suggested that the indigenous Se-reducing microorganisms and oxidizable organic carbon present in the soil are sufficient for in situ soil bioremediation. During treatment of soil leachate in the UASB reactor, 90% Se removal was achieved irrespective of the lactate dosing and mineral salt medium composition of the reactor influent. Analysis of the granular sludge using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and powder X-ray diffraction (P-XRD) confirmed the presence of elemental Se on the granular sludge. The total Se concentration in the anaerobic granular sludge amounted to 43.5 (± 0.7) μg Se per gram of granular sludge. Conclusions In situ bioremediation achieved Se reduction in the Se-rich soil investigated. However, risk of Se re-oxidation and leaching into groundwater after in situ remediation cannot be disregarded. In contrast, during ex situ treatment, effluent from the UASB reactor contained less than the USEPA guideline value 5 μg L −1 Se. This study showed biological treatment of Se-rich soils is suitable for cleaning the soil, Se recovery, and environmentally acceptable effluent discharge of the soil washing leachate treatment.
International journal of environmental research and public health, Jan 18, 2018
This paper presents the results of an experimental study aimed at investigating the effect of ope... more This paper presents the results of an experimental study aimed at investigating the effect of operative parameters on the efficiency of a soil flushing process, conducted on real contaminated soil containing high amounts of Cu and Zn. Soil flushing tests were carried out with Ethylenediamine-,'-disuccinic acid (EDDS) as a flushing agent due to its high biodegradability and environmentally friendly characteristics. Process parameters such as Empty-Bed Contact Time (EBCT) and EDDS solution molarity were varied from 21-33 h and from 0.36-3.6 mM, respectively. Effects on the mobility of cations such as Fe and Mn were also investigated. Results showed that very high performances can be obtained at [EDDS] = 3.6 mM and EBCT = 33 h. In these conditions, in fact, the amount of removed Cu was 53%, and the amount of removed Zn was 46%. Metal distribution at different depths from the top surface revealed that Cu has higher mobility than Zn. The process results were strongly dependent on the...
Euro-Mediterranean Journal for Environmental Integration, 2016
The removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from a spiked OECD (Organisation for Econo... more The removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from a spiked OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) artificial soil was investigated. Laboratory-scale thermally insulated bioremediation reactors were used to implement biostimulation strategy of composting. The selected PAHs included anthracene, chrysene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, and benzo(a)pyrene with an initial concentration of 658 mg of USEPA 16 PAHs kg-1 soil (d/w). The contaminants' removal was improved by amending the contaminated soil with four different types of fresh organic waste. After 140 days of incubation, the removal of three-ring and fourring PAHs in all reactors was higher than five-ring PAHs. The reactor displaying a mesophilic phase during bioremediation ended with a removal of 89 and 59 % for threering and four-ring PAHs, respectively. In contrast the reactor displaying a thermophilic phase ended with 71 and 41 % removal for three-ring and four-ring PAHs, respectively. The highest five-ring PAH removal was obtained for reactors with buffalo manure and sewage sludge amendments (40 and 33 %, respectively), while food and kitchen waste and fruit and vegetable waste amendments showed less efficiency (26 and 8 %, respectively). Microtox Ò test data indicated lower toxicity in reactor amended with sewage sludge considering that this setup reached the highest PAH removal and DHA (dehydrogenase activity) compared to others.
Sustainability, 2016
The mobility of selected heavy metals in trace concentrations was investigated in a standard OECD... more The mobility of selected heavy metals in trace concentrations was investigated in a standard OECD soil irrigated with the effluent of a real municipal wastewater treatment plant. While Cd, Cu and Ni accumulation-migration patterns were mainly influenced by the mobility of colloids generated from soil organic and inorganic matter, Zn mobility was more influenced by the wastewater content of dissolved organic matter and by its salinity. Metal accumulation caused by interaction with colloids resulted in contamination peaks both in different zones of the soil column and in the leaching solution. The release of metals in the leachate was correlated to the contemporary release of silicates from kaolinite and dissolved organic matter, identified through UV absorbance and chemical oxygen demand monitoring. The hypothesized colloidal mobilization was confirmed by spectroscopic studies. The highly heterogeneous complexes of organic and inorganic molecules responsible for metal transport through soil appeared to be structured in highly stable micellar aggregates.
Desalination and Water Treatment, 2016
The paper investigates and compares the characteristics of sludges produced by membrane Bio-React... more The paper investigates and compares the characteristics of sludges produced by membrane Bio-Reactor (MBR) and Conventional Activated Sludge (CAS) systems. Stability and dewaterability of full-scale MBR and CAS treatment plants are measured and compared. Obtained results show that specific methane production is higher in CAS sludge compared to MBR sludge because of the higher solid retention time of the MBR. Nonetheless MBR sludge results to be characterized by a non-negligible biometanation potential (BMP). Methane production measured during BMP tests is around 250 NmL/gVS for MBR sludge, equaling 2/3 of methane production obtained, in similar condition, for CAS sludge. Dewaterability is evaluated by Specific Resistance to Filtration (SRF), Capillary Suction Time (CST) and Time To Filter (TTF) tests. Data obtained before and after the anaerobic digestion of the sludges show that the stabilization process affects much more the resistance to filtration of CAS sludge than the resistance to filtration of MBR sludge. The same trend is observed, for the other measured parameters. This is attributed to the variation of the rheological characteristics of the two sludges during the stabilization process, and to the different initial rheological properties of them due to the different selection process of the biomass deriving from the different biomass retention methods of MBR and CAS systems.
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Papers by Massimiliano Fabbricino