M. Draghici, L. Popescu, Narcis Claudiu Spinu, Cǎtǎlin Manea, G. Serban
{"title":"Statistical evaluation of mineral water from Valcea County area through quality indices","authors":"M. Draghici, L. Popescu, Narcis Claudiu Spinu, Cǎtǎlin Manea, G. Serban","doi":"10.21698/rjeec.2021.109","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21698/rjeec.2021.109","url":null,"abstract":"Significant global consumption of mineral water is fueled by perceived therapeutic and medicinal qualities, cultural habits and taste. In Valcea County are several resorts with such mineral springs, which can have multiple benefits for human health. For this reason, it is important to investigate the level of their pollution with heavy metals. The aim of this study was to detect the level of heavy metals present in the studied mineral waters, to evaluate the analytical results using environmental statistical indices, and to compare the results with the legislation in force. Thus, mineral water samples were collected from three resorts of Valcea County (Baile Olanesti, Calimanesti-Caciulata and Baile Govora). The analyzed metals (Cd, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) were determined with the ICP-EOS technique and the obtained results were compared to enforce legislation. Statistical analyses were applied and two environmental statistical indices, namely the metal distribution coefficient (kd) and the total environmental risk index (IER) were evaluated. The calculated values for the total environmental risk index were below 0 (IER ≤ 0), which indicates that none of the studied water samples pose a risk for the environment. The low values of the distribution coefficient indicate a low ability to bind the metal in particles and therefore, insignificant toxicity. The distribution coefficient calculated for zinc (1.12 L/kg) and lead (0.68 L/kg) in Baile Olanesti indicates a high capacity of the metals to bind in particles, compared to other metals.","PeriodicalId":21370,"journal":{"name":"Romanian Journal of Ecology & Environmental Chemistry","volume":"18 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87510410","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Removal of crystal violet from aqueous solutions using an aerobic granular sludge system","authors":"C. Bumbac, E. Manea, O. Tiron","doi":"10.21698/rjeec.2021.107","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21698/rjeec.2021.107","url":null,"abstract":"The paper presents a set of comparative tests to evaluate the inhibitory effect of crystal violet on the respiration rate of microorganisms in conventional activated sludge and aerobic granular sludge. The tests were performed in similar conditions with the only variable of the type of sludge tested. The results emphasized that the aerobic granular sludge is less susceptible to the toxicity induced by crystal violet. The concentration of crystal violet that inhibits by 50% (CE50) the respiration rate of sludge microorganisms was determined to be, for the specific test conditions, 22.39 mg/L for the conventional activated sludge and 33.88 mg/L for the aerobic granular sludge. The paper also assesses the biodegradability potential of crystal violet from aqueous solution, in the presence of sodium acetate as co-substrate in a lab-scale sequential biological reactor with aerobic granular sludge. The experiments showed that most of the crystal violet is being initially absorbed in the matrix of the granules during the first minutes and subsequently is being removed with efficiencies above 95% within a treatment cycle of 8 hours.","PeriodicalId":21370,"journal":{"name":"Romanian Journal of Ecology & Environmental Chemistry","volume":"17 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88334446","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
I. Paun, F. Chiriac, V. Iancu, F. Pirvu, M. Niculescu, Nicoleta Vasilache
{"title":"Disinfection by-products in drinking water distribution system of Bucharest City","authors":"I. Paun, F. Chiriac, V. Iancu, F. Pirvu, M. Niculescu, Nicoleta Vasilache","doi":"10.21698/rjeec.2021.102","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21698/rjeec.2021.102","url":null,"abstract":"Chlorine is widely used in Romania and all over the world as a disinfectant of drinking water. During the chlorination process, the natural organic matter and inorganic ions react with chlorine forming disinfection by-products (DBPs). The predominant organic disinfection by-products are trihalomethanes (THMs) while the main inorganic disinfection by-products are chlorate and chlorite ions. THMs were detected in all investigated drinking water samples from Bucharest distribution system with values from 27.8 µg/L up to 75.1 µg/L, which are below the maximum concentration value admitted by Romanian drinking water legislation of 100 µg/L. Chloroform constitutes the major component in total THMs concentration found in all tested drinking water. Chlorate and chlorite anions were not detected in any of the investigated drinking water samples. THMs concentration was correlated with total organic carbon (TOC), residual chlorine and chloride.","PeriodicalId":21370,"journal":{"name":"Romanian Journal of Ecology & Environmental Chemistry","volume":"57 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73313020","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
V. Iancu, R. Scutariu, Gabriel Radu Lucian, M. Niculescu, C. Dinu, I. Paun, F. Chiriac
{"title":"Neonicotinoid insecticides as emerging contaminants in agricultural soil","authors":"V. Iancu, R. Scutariu, Gabriel Radu Lucian, M. Niculescu, C. Dinu, I. Paun, F. Chiriac","doi":"10.21698/rjeec.2021.105","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21698/rjeec.2021.105","url":null,"abstract":"Using an LC-MS-MS method for detection of 6 neonicotinoid insecticides (imidacloprid, dinotefuran, acetamiprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, nitenpyram) was developed a new performant extraction method based on sonication treatment of soil samples, which were previously dried, grounded, homogenized, sieved (2 mm) and subjected to the selective extraction process with acetonitrile. Then the obtained extracts were diluted with ultrapure water (ratio 1: 100) and subjected to purification by Strata C18 SPE extraction using cartridges loaded with 200 mg/6 mL of octa-dodecyl-silica adsorbent phase. The entire methodology allowed obtaining quantification limits at trace level that varied in the range 0.3-0.9 ng/g and recoveries between 71.4% and 109.6%. In the agricultural soil samples, taken from the lands cultivated with wheat, corn, sunflower, beans, located in Prahova and Giurgiu counties (Romania), only four neonicotinoids out of the total of six were quantified imidacloprid (0.38 ng/g-56.9 ng/g), acetamiprid (1.7-7.2 ng/g), thiamethoxam (1.05-6.7 ng/g), clothianidin (1.1-1.5 ng/g).","PeriodicalId":21370,"journal":{"name":"Romanian Journal of Ecology & Environmental Chemistry","volume":"34 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75146194","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Assessment of soil quality in the area of casting parts waste storage specific to cast iron activities","authors":"B. Stanescu, A. Cuciureanu","doi":"10.21698/rjeec.2021.110","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21698/rjeec.2021.110","url":null,"abstract":"The purpose of this paper was to present an environmental assessment specific to a case study with reference to the storage of sand waste from a cast iron foundry, a factory with a long period of operation located in Transylvania, Romania. The environmental assessment started from the need to achieve compliant conditions for long-term storage of waste specific to cast iron casting parts activities. The activities performed in the project were carried out in stages and in parallel with the activities of sand waste valorification from the non-compliant deposit. The collaboration of the factory owner with the local environmental authorities was able to effectively materialize the objectives of the soil evaluation and facilitated the obtaining conditions for new compliant deposit construction. The evaluation of the soil quality was performed in areas where the deposited material, respectively the sand waste from the casting of the cast iron was already valorificated and, in that case, access to the soil layer was facilitated. Thirty soil samples and a control sample were analyzed and interpretation of the results was performed in corelation to specific legislation. The conclusions of the study were provided to the beneficiary and, also to the environmental authorities in order to authorize future activities (capitalization of the remaining waste, arrangement of a new landfill).","PeriodicalId":21370,"journal":{"name":"Romanian Journal of Ecology & Environmental Chemistry","volume":"55 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83909513","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bianca-Vanesa Boros, D. Roman, V. Ostafe, R. Marković, V. Gardić, Z. Stevanović, A. Isvoran
{"title":"The effects on human health of non-metallic, semimetals and heavy metals compounds generated by mining activities along the Serbian-Romanian border","authors":"Bianca-Vanesa Boros, D. Roman, V. Ostafe, R. Marković, V. Gardić, Z. Stevanović, A. Isvoran","doi":"10.21698/rjeec.2021.108","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21698/rjeec.2021.108","url":null,"abstract":"This study makes an overview of the chemical pollutants, such as Be and its compounds, S and its compounds, P and its compounds, chlorine and chlorides, Na2O, K2O, Ti2O, CaO, MgO, CuO, SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, Cr2O3, As2O3, that were registered in the mining operations areas in the cross-border region of Romania and Serbia. In addition, their possible effects on human health were discussed. Among the oxides, SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3 are the most abundant. From all these pollutants, the most health effects were registered for the compounds of P, S and Ca and the lowest number of health effects was recorded for chlorine. Among the human health effects that have been observed for these compounds, the most common are related to skin, eye and respiratory irritations in the case of acute exposure, but chronic exposure may lead to diseases affecting all the human organs. This information is important for population living in this area, due to air, water and soil pollution, but especially for professional exposure as workers in the mining operations are exposed to higher concentrations of pollutants and for long time.","PeriodicalId":21370,"journal":{"name":"Romanian Journal of Ecology & Environmental Chemistry","volume":"92 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84121707","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
V. Mukhin, Nikolai Koroleov, V. Mednyak, T. Lupascu, Elena Culighin
{"title":"Preliminary evaluation of the role of activated carbon in soil/water remediation","authors":"V. Mukhin, Nikolai Koroleov, V. Mednyak, T. Lupascu, Elena Culighin","doi":"10.21698/rjeec.2021.101","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21698/rjeec.2021.101","url":null,"abstract":"This paper presents brief scientific information concerning the role of activated carbons (AC) in solving economic and ecological problems in our society. Data concerning synthesis and adsorption of new activated carbons, used for soil remediation and wastewater treatment are depicted. The findings of investigations aimed to compare the structure parameters and adsorption capacities of the newly obtained native activated carbons in comparison with several activated carbon marks known in the world are explained. It has been shown that currently synthesized activated carbons are competitive with foreign marks.","PeriodicalId":21370,"journal":{"name":"Romanian Journal of Ecology & Environmental Chemistry","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82357178","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
I. Patroescu, R. Dinu, M. Ștefănescu, V. Badescu, N. Cristea, C. Martin
{"title":"Application of ultrasonic disintegration to waste activated sludge for increasing\u0000of biogas production by anaerobic digestion","authors":"I. Patroescu, R. Dinu, M. Ștefănescu, V. Badescu, N. Cristea, C. Martin","doi":"10.21698/rjeec.2020.202","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21698/rjeec.2020.202","url":null,"abstract":"The municipal wastewater treatment is the source of significant amounts of primary and secondary sludge which is under the present legislation referring to quality and management aspects. It is estimated that a half of wastewater treatment plant costs are due to the sludge management. Anaerobically sludge stabilization, capitalization as energy source, in order to diminish the costs and sludge volume decreasing, are the aims of the main operational steps of sludge treatment, as a part of wastewater treatment plant. The improvement of sludge anaerobically stabilization process must be possible by acting in the rate limiting step - hydrolysis in order to rise the organic carbon solubilization. The increase of soluble carbon can be possible by adding a pretreatment step of waste biological sludge, ultrasonic disintegration being one option. This paper emphasized the experimental results regarding anaerobically stabilization of the thickened waste biological sludge by ultrasonication taking into account the results of blank test, without ultrasonication. Experimental tests show that ultrasonic disintegration of the sludge having initial dried substances content (d.w) 2.72% and soluble organic load COD of 598 mg O2/L led to soluble COD concentration of 4950-6710 mg O2/L after sonication with specific energy in the range of 3.06 - 14.24 kWh/kg d.w. Anaerobically stabilization during 25 test days at 36 0C of the mixture 40% disintegrated biological sludge and 60% digested sludge (inoculum) mixture led to 30-38.6% increase of biogas production comparing with parallel test with non-sonicated sludge.","PeriodicalId":21370,"journal":{"name":"Romanian Journal of Ecology & Environmental Chemistry","volume":"120 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87759165","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}