1. Yearlong variability of oxidative potential of particulate matter in an urban Mediterranean environmentD. Paraskevopoulou, Aikaterini Bougiatioti, Iasonas Stavroulas, T. Fang, Maria Lianou, Eleni Liakakou, Evangelos Gerasopoulos, R. Weber, Athanasios Nenes, Nikolaos Mihalopoulos, 2019, original scientific article Abstract: The oxidative potential (OP) of fine and coarse fractions of ambient aerosols was studied in the urban environment of Athens, Greece. OP was quantified using a dithiothreitol (DTT) assay, applied to the water soluble fraction of aerosol that was extracted from 361 fine and 84 coarse mode of 24-h and 12-h filter samples over a one-year period. During the cold period, samples were collected on a 12-h basis, to assess the impact of night-time biomass burning emissions from domestic heating on OP. The chemical characteristics of aerosols were measured in parallel using an Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitoring (ACSM) and a 7-wavelength Aethalometer. A source apportionment analysis on the ACSM data resulted in the identification of organic aerosol (OA) factors on a seasonal basis. A good correlation of OP with NO3−, NH4+, BC (Black Carbon), Organics and LV-OOA (low volatility oxygenated OA) was found during winter, revealing the importance of combustion and aging processes for OP. During the summertime, a good correlation between OP and SO4−2 and NH4+indicates its association with regional aerosol – thus the importance of oxidative aging that reduces its association with any characteristic source. Multiple regression analysis during winter revealed that highly oxygenated secondary aerosol (LV-OOA) and, to a lesser extent, fresh biomass burning (BBOA) and fossil fuel (HOA) organic aerosol, are the prime contributors to the OP of fine aerosol, with extrinsic toxicities of 54 ± 22 pmol min−1 μg−1, 28 ± 7 and 17 ± 4 pmol min−1μg−1, respectively. In summer, OP cannot be attributed to any of the identified components and corresponds to a background aerosol value. In winter however, the regression model can reproduce satisfactorily the water soluble DTT activity of fine aerosol, providing a unique equation for the estimation of aerosol OP in an urban Mediterranean environment.
Keywords: oxidative potential, reactive oxygen species, DTT assay, particulate matter, urban aerosol
Published in RUNG: 13.05.2024; Views: 113; Downloads: 0
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2. Intra- and inter-city variability of ▫$PM_2.5$▫ concentrations in Greece as determined with a low-cost sensor networkKonstantinos Dimitriou, Iasonas Stavroulas, Georgios Grivas, Charalampos Chatzidiakos, Georgios Kosmopoulos, Andreas Kazantzidis, Konstantinos Kourtidis, Athanasios Karagioras, Nikolaos Hatzianastassiou, Spyros N. Pandis, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Measurements of PM2.5 concentrations in five major Greek cities over a two-year period using calibrated low-cost sensor-based particulate matter (PM) monitors (Purple Air PA-II) were combined with local meteorological parameters, synoptic patterns and air mass residence time models to investigate the factors controlling PM2.5 spatiotemporal variability over continental Greece. Fourteen sensors nodes in Athens, Patras, Ioannina, Xanthi, and Thermi (in the Metropolitan Area of Thessaloniki) were selected out of more than 100 of a countrywide network for detailed analysis. The cities have populations ranging from 65k to 3M inhabitants and cover different latitudes along the South-North axis. High correlations between the daily average PM2.5 levels were observed among all sites, indicating strong intra- and inter-city covariance of concentrations, both in cold and warm periods. Higher PM2.5 concentrations in all cities during the cold period were primarily associated with low temperatures and stagnant anticyclonic conditions, favoring the entrapment of residential heating emissions from biomass burning. Anticyclonic conditions were also connected to an increased frequency of PM2.5 episodes, exceeding the updated daily guideline value (15 μg m−3) of the World Health Organization (WHO). During the warm period, nearly uniform PM2.5 levels were encountered across continental Greece, independently of their population size. This uniformity strongly suggests the importance of long-range transport and regional secondary aerosol formation for PM2.5 during this period. Peak concentrations were associated mainly with regional northern air flows over Greece and the Balkan Peninsula. The use of the measurements from dense air quality sensor networks, provided that a robust calibration protocol and continuous data quality assurance practices are followed, appears to be an efficient tool to gain insights on the levels and variability of PM2.5 concentrations, underpinning the characterization of spatial and seasonal particularities and supporting real-time public information and warning.
Keywords: particulate matter, PM2.5, biomass burning, low-cost sensors, purple air PA-II, concentration weighted trajectory, potential source contribution function
Published in RUNG: 10.05.2024; Views: 110; Downloads: 2
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3. Biopolymers produced by treating waste brewer’s yeast with active sludge bacteria : the qualitative analysis and evaluation of the potential for 3D printingGregor Drago Zupančič, Anamarija Lončar, Sandra Budžaki, Mario Panjicko, 2022, original scientific article Keywords: brewers’ yeast, active sludge bacteria, anaerobic digestion, biogas potential, biopolymer, 3D printing
Published in RUNG: 01.08.2022; Views: 1648; Downloads: 24
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4. REGIONAL POTENTIAL FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SUPPLY IN CROATIA : MASTER'S THESISStefan Subotić, master's thesis Abstract: The master thesis aims to find the optimal model for a new energy company that considers regional potential, supports sustainable development, and fits the circular economy concept in a region. The idea of sustainable development is crucial today when we have more city areas and less countryside around the globe. Increased global population, industrial trends and modern living style are some of the reasons why the burden on our environment is more significant than ever in the history of humanity. The idea is to launch the new company in the Croatian region Osijek-Baranja, which is less developed and not attractive to tourists. A newly established company will produce electric energy from renewable energy sources. The multi-criterion decision support methods were used to determine the optimal energy source between wind, biogas and sun. Results show that the biogas has the most significant sustainable potential in chosen boundary conditions. The cash flows and other economic indicators are shown for a farm of 500 milking cows in the chosen region as a source of biogas. The risk assessments method estimated the boundaries of the company success and adaptability to possible changes. One of the critical aspects of the project is the company's organizational structure, where a vertical hierarchy with a flexible and fluid, circular organization model with network culture was proposed. Clear communication about the project will help establish trust with the local community. Based on the biogas plant, the proposed company reduces biodegradable waste in the green energy production process. It is shown quantitatively that besides being economically sustainable, it also suits the region's potential, supports energy self-supply, and involves local people - it aims to the long-term sustainable growth of the region, rather than short-term capital growth.
Keywords: Circular economy, sustainable development, regional potential, renewable energy sources, company structure, communication
Published in RUNG: 18.02.2022; Views: 2560; Downloads: 67
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5. Experimental and Theoretical Photoemission Study of Indole and Its Derivatives in the Gas PhaseO. Plekan, H. Sa'adeh, A. Ciavardini, C. Callegari, G. Cautero, C. Dri, M. Di Fraia, K.C. Prince, R. Richter, R. Sergo, L. Stebel, M. Devetta, D. Faccialà, C. Vozzi, L. Avaldi, P. Bolognesi, M.C Castrovilli, D. Catone, M. Coreno, F. Zuccaro, E. Bernes, G. Fronzoni, D. Toffoli, 2020, original scientific article Keywords: Binding energy, Calculations, Core levels, Electronic structure, Ionization of gases, Ionization potential, Molecular orbitals, Photoelectron spectroscopy, Photoelectrons, Photoemission, Photoionization, Photons, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, X rays
Published in RUNG: 21.01.2022; Views: 1924; Downloads: 0
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7. ASSESSMENT OF THE DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL OF FOREST-WOOD PROCESSING CHAINSlavica Ilc, 2016, master's thesis Abstract: Slovenia is the third most forested country in Europe. Nevertheless, in the last twenty five years this natural wealth did not get the adequate role in national development strategies, which unnecessary reduced their sustainability potential and lead the Slovenian forest-wood industry in a very bad situation. The forest-based sector in Europe is in a period of profound structural changes, which requires reassessment of the wood-chain products outlook.
In the master’s thesis, the importance of integration of forestry and wood industry has been evaluated with the meaningful connection of different analytical methods: material flow analysis (MFA), SWOT analysis and life cycle assessment (LCA). With comparison of the roundwood and sawnwood material flow in Slovenia, Italy and Austria, the critical points in the Slovenian forest-wood chain were identified. In contrast to Austria and Italy, where wood is intensively reworked, Slovenia exports large amounts of untreated roundwood. As a consequence, the gross value added (GVA) per employee of wood sector in Slovenia reaches only 40 % of GVA in Austria and 50 % of GVA in Italy. Not only MFA, but also the SWOT and LCA analyses show, that wood processing into finished products is important both in terms of the value added and the environmental impact, as well as for more decisive shift of the economy towards a low-carbon society.
Slovenian economy could take advantage of its sustainable development potential to a great extent by increasing the level of raw material self-sufficiency and energy independency. It is essential to re-establish forest-wood processing chain, to rework wood at home into products with the highest added value, and to use wood residues as renewable feedstock in green chemistry industry and for transformation into energy with novel technologies. Slovenian vision of sustainable economy has great potential, but requires enhanced cross-sectoral integration of forestry, wood processing, construction, chemistry and energy.
Keywords: sustainability, forest-wood processing chain, development potential, material flow analysis (MFA), SWOT analysis, life cycle assessment (LCA)
Published in RUNG: 30.09.2016; Views: 7724; Downloads: 279
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