86,598 research outputs found
Innovating LTC: Policy Evidences from Italy in a European Perspective
No full textItaly is one of the countries with the oldest population in the world. In spite of that and of the alarming estimates about population ageing, Long- Term Care (LTC) policy in Italy is still struggling to be recognized as a relevant issue in the public, political, and institutional agendas. So far, policy inertia has instead been prevailing at the national level, leaving the question of how to take care of the growing number of the elderly people largely dependent on the abilities of shrinking families. While institutionalization rates are comparatively low and the provision of public home care services is often weak, the major national measure to support elderly people in need of care consists in a flat-rate, unconditional cash transfer. In this context, most families end up taking care of the elderly at home, either directly (through informal care) or indirectly (by hiring a caregiver or a helper) or both. Against this backdrop, due to the interplay between high functional pressures and low public effort compared to other social policy sectors, LTC policy constitutes a privileged context for investigating current and potential Social Innovation policy developments, especially at the local level. In sharp contrast with the frozen national scenario sketched above, in the last years new solutions in the field of LTC have indeed been experimenting in many territories – particularly in the Northern regions. This has been possible as a result of the entrance into the policy arena of new actors (nonprofit organizations, bank foundations, social partners, private companies, and so on) and of the building up of multi-stakeholder networks between them and local public institutions, also thanks to European funding. Building on this, this chapter aims at dealing with the most recent grey and academic literature on Social Innovation in order to illustrate and compare a set of selected innovative solutions implemented in Italy, paying particular attention to those which – falling in between full institutionalization and full family-based home care – appear as largely promising in terms of divergence from the national status quo
Biomethane potential of wine lees from mesophilic anaerobic digestion
No full textWine lees (WL) are undervalued residues from the wine-making process. Anaerobic digestion (AD) of WL is
highly challenging due to the acidic pH and high content of readily biodegradable compounds. This study
investigated the biomethane potential (BMP) of 3 WL samples through mesophilic batch tests fed with 2–3 %
total solids. The influence of wood-based biochar (BC), considering 2 different BCs and doses (3 and 10 g L- 1),
was also assessed. BMP values up to 1.257 Nm3 kgVS - 1 and 92–96 % soluble COD removal were recorded.
However, the inhibition of methanogenesis was observed due to organic acids accumulation exceeding 21–24 g
L- 1. BC addition didn’t improve biomethane production in the considered experimental conditions. This study
proved that WL is a highly attractive AD substrate, considering its high biodegradability and availability
throughout the year, although the process must be carefully operated
Addition of different biochars as catalysts during the mesophilic anaerobic digestion of mixed wastewater sludge
No full textBiochar (BC) recently gained attention as an additive for anaerobic digestion (AD). This work aims at a critical analysis of the effect of six BCs, with different physical and chemical properties, on the AD of mixed wastewater sludge at 37 °C, comparing their influence on methane production and AD kinetics. AD batch tests were performed at the laboratory scale operating 48 reactors (0.25 L working volume) for 28 days with the addition of 10 g L−1 of BC. Most reactors supplemented with BCs exhibited higher (up to 22%) methane yields than the control reactors (0.15 Nm3 kgVS−1). The modified Gompertz model provided maximum methane production rate values, and in all reactors the lag-phase was equal to zero days, indicating a good adaptation of the inoculum to the substrate. The potential correlations between BCs’ properties and AD performance were assessed using principal component analysis (PCA). The PCA results showed a reasonable correlation between methane production and the BCs’ O–C and H–C molar ratios, and volatile matter, and between biogas production and BCs’ pore volume, specific surface area, and fixed and total carbon. In conclusion, the physic-chemical properties of BC (specifically, hydrophobicity and morphology) showed a key role in improving the AD of mixed wastewater sludge
Nuevos indicadores para evaluar la calidad en procesos de identificación de parámetros de sistemas dinámicos
No full textFil: Giró, Juan F. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Estructuras; Argentina.Fil: Giró, Juan F. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Córdoba. Departamento de Ingeniería en Sistemas de Información; Argentina.Fil: Chiappero, Guillermo D. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Estructuras; Argentina.Fil: Giudici, Alejandro J. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Estructuras; Argentina.Este artículo es la continuación de un trabajo anterior en el que se proponen y evalúan indicadores destinados a verificar la calidad de los resultados en los procesos de identificación de parámetros de sistemas dinámicos. Aquí se presentan y analizan dos nuevos indicadores, que no utilizan valores de referencia, y su desempeño es confrontado con indicadores clásicos y otros que fueron propuestos con anterioridad. Para facilitar la comparación se utiliza el mismo caso de estudio del trabajo anterior, en el que se asume que la matriz de masas del sistema es conocida, y que también lo es el valor de la carga impulsiva aplicada. Finalmente se aprovechan los nuevos indicadores y el caso de estudio para sacar algunas conclusiones referidas a problemas habituales de los procesos de identificación.http://asamaci.org.ar/eventos/v-maci-2015-1-1Fil: Giró, Juan F. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Estructuras; Argentina.Fil: Giró, Juan F. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Córdoba. Departamento de Ingeniería en Sistemas de Información; Argentina.Fil: Chiappero, Guillermo D. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Estructuras; Argentina.Fil: Giudici, Alejandro J. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Estructuras; Argentina.Mecánica Aplicad
Semi-continuous anaerobic digestion of mixed wastewater sludge with biochar addition
No full textThis work analysed the effects of Biochar (BC) addition to the Anaerobic digestion (AD) of wastewater Mixed sludge (MS) in semi-continuous mode. A 3 L digester was operated at 37 °C for 100 days, feeding MS collected every three weeks in the same wastewater treatment plant, and 10 g L−1 of BC. The average performance of MS digestion (biogas 188 NmL d−1, 68% methane) improved in presence of BC (biogas 244 NmL d−1, 69% methane). According to the results of the multiple linear regression analysis performed on the experimental data, the 79% variation of the soluble COD in the MS was the driving factor for the 38% increase of biogas and methane yields. In conclusion, in the considered experimental conditions, the variability of the substrate's composition was the key factor driving the performances of the AD of MS, independently of the addition of BC
Investigation of the anaerobic digestion of cosmetic industrial wastes: Feasibility and perspectives
No full textThis study assessed the anaerobic digestion (AD) of wastes deriving from cosmetics production: sludge from onsite wastewater treatment plant (sWWTP), residues of shampoo/conditioner (RSC) and sludge from mascara production (MS), considered as single substrates and as mixture according to the produced amounts (54 %-wt sWWTP, 31 %-wt RSC, 13 %-wt MS, plus 2 %-wt food waste from the canteen, FW). Total COD (CODT) was 624–1436 g O2/kg VS, while soluble COD was 5–23 %-wt of CODT. AD tests at 35 °C achieved the following biogas yields: 0.10 Nm3/kgvs (70 %-v/v methane) for sWWTP; 0.07 Nm3/kgvs (62 %-v/v methane) for RSC; 0.04 Nm3/kgvs (67 %-v/v methane) for MS. The mixed substrates underwent physico-chemical pre-treatments (thermo-alkaline, TA: 120 min at 50 °C; thermo-alkaline-sonication, TAS: 15 min at 40 kHz and 80 °C, both based on the addition of 0.08 g NaOH per each g of total solid in the substrate), reaching 64–66% disintegration rate, and AD tests (5 %-wt dry substance) at 35 and 52 °C. Biogas yields were (for TA and TAS respectively): 0.22 and 0.20 Nm3/kgVS (62–70% methane); 0.21 and 0.19 Nm3/kgVS (66-66% methane) at 52 °C. At both temperatures, methane yields considerably improved (+71–100%), compared to mixed untreated substrates, and 5-8 %-wt total solids reductions were observed. A technical-economic scale-up assessment completed the research. The energy analysis highlighted the crucial role of TA pre-treatment in achieving the process energetic sustainability. The economic analysis showed that the AD of the considered cosmetic waste could be sustainable anyway, thanks to the savings related to the disposal of the digestate compared to current waste management costs
Analysis of the influence of activated biochar properties on methane production from anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge
No full textThis work describes the impacts of biochar (BC) addition to the anaerobic digestion (AD) of waste activated sludge (WAS). Three BCs, produced by pyrolysis at 550 °C of different waste biomasses (soft wood, sewage sludge and rice husk), then physically activated at 900 °C with CO2, were investigated as additives. AD tests were performed in batch mode at 37 °C, feeding 2% total solids and 10 g L−1 BC. While none of the considered BCs increased biogas yield compared to control digesters, the activated BCs with higher surface area, porosity and hydrophobicity (RH550a from rice husk and SS550a from sewage sludge) boosted methane yield (up to 105% for RH550a). The experimental methane production were: 0.037 Nm3 kgVS−1 for SWP550a, 0.081 Nm3 kgVS−1 for SS550a, 0.142 Nm3 kgVS−1 for RH550a and 0.069 Nm3 kgVS−1 for control reactors. CO2 adsorption (3.14 mmol g−1 for RH550a, 0.97 mmol g−1 SS550a) calculated from experimental data was consistent with literature (0.4–2.3 mmol g−1 BC). The fitting of experimental methane productions through the modified Gompertz equation showed an acceleration of methane production for all BCs, with a reduction of the lag phase compared to control reactors (0.5 days vs 2.6 days). This work, although confirming literature data about CO2 adsorption, brings new insights on the influence of specific physico-chemical properties of BC as additive in AD of WAS. Surface area, porosity, hydrophobicity and alkali and alkaline metals content in ashes were the most important BC properties affecting AD of activated sewage sludge
Technical, economic and environmental assessement of bioethanol biorefinery from waste biomass
No full textThis study presents a sequential three-steps methodology for the technical, economic and environmental assessment (TEEA) of bioethanol production from waste biomass. In EU the most abundant waste biomasses produced in 2018 could be ascribed to three main categories: lignocellulosic (329.41 Mt), starch (160 Mt) and sugar-based (58.56 Mt). The technical assessment compiled an inventory of the waste biomasses and subsequently designed their biological conversion into ethanol through integrated biorefinery processes by means of material flow analysis (MFA); the economic assessment was aimed at the definition of the cut-off size of the biorefinery plant necessary to achieve profitability; the environmental assessment was based on Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and energy balance (i.e. energy input consumption). For each of the three waste biomass categories, at least one that was significant as available amount and representative in terms of physico-chemical characteristics, was evaluated: sugarcane for sugar-based, potatoes for starch-based and rice straw, cattle manure and organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) for lignocellulosic biomasses. The technical assessment of the biorefinery routes lead to the following yields (kg of bioethanol per kg of biomass): 0.16, 0.17, 0.22, 0.19 and 0.14 respectively. The economic profitability was reached by all biorefineries and Net Present Value (M€) were: 0.85 for sugarcane, 0.11 for potatoes, 0.09 for rice straw, 0.11 for cattle manure and 0.39 for OFMSW. From the environmental perspective, cattle manure reached the highest reduction of climate change and acidification impacts compared to other biomasses, while sugarcane achieved the lowest energy input consumption (around 64%)
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