The wastewater of leather industry which is one of the most widespread industries having large am... more The wastewater of leather industry which is one of the most widespread industries having large amount of water consumption and very high pollution loads, may be characterized by several key parameters including toxic pollutants exhibiting toxicity. Therefore the effluent of leather tanning industry must be handled carefully during both treatment plant design and operation. The aim of this study was
ABSTRACT It has been said that Palermo is short of available water. However, nothing could be mor... more ABSTRACT It has been said that Palermo is short of available water. However, nothing could be more wrong. Well-documented Arab sources and narrative chronicles reported an abundance of groundwater resources in Palermo Plain since the Middle Ages. The scarcity of sources and surface water in the Palermo Plain, compared to the groundwater abundance, led the inhabitants to use groundwater both for irrigation and domestic usage through a complex and sustainable hydraulic system. Vertical and horizontal (qanāts) wells, conveyed water towards gardens and public fountains making the Arabic Bal’harm (Palermo) a flourishing town. When visitors walk through the streets of Palermo’s historical center, among Arab ruins and Baroque architecture, they hardly imagine that there is a wide and varied cultural heritage of underground cavities hidden in the basements where water flows in intricate networks fed from a numerous springs. Only in recent years was a part of this system brought to light. Moreover, the city still has a wide and fascinating water distribution system consisting of irrigation basin (gebbie), ingenious hydraulic machines named senie, and distribution chessboard of irrigation (saje) and drinking water (catusi) canals. The medieval water collection and distribution systems and their various components in the Palermo Plain are reviewed together with the influence of the Arab water management on environment.
The occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the marine environment has attracted... more The occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the marine environment has attracted the attention of the scientific community, as these compounds are frequently detected in seawater and sediments at increasing levels and can have adverse health effects on marine organisms and humans. Several PAHs are potential human carcinogens and are included in the priority list of the European Union’s
Due to stringent discharge limits, various pollutants (xenobiotics, biorecalcitrants, persistent)... more Due to stringent discharge limits, various pollutants (xenobiotics, biorecalcitrants, persistent) need to be handled carefully. A class of chemicals synthesized for tanning or retanning purposes in the leather tanning industry is collectively termed synthetic tannins (syntans, ST), resins (acrylic), oils (OLs), etc. The literature on tannins is focused on individual chemical species, e.g. tannic or gallic acid, thus providing only
... G. Lofrano (*) and V. Belgiorno Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, I-841... more ... G. Lofrano (*) and V. Belgiorno Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, I-84132, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy Phone 0039 089969337, Fax number 0039 089969620, e-mail: glofrano@unisa.it A. Nikolaou and M. Kostopoulou Department of Marine Sciences, Faculty of ...
Although much has been written about the history of water supply systems, there is a lack of corr... more Although much has been written about the history of water supply systems, there is a lack of corresponding information on wastewater management. This is surprising since the lack of sanitation affects human development to the same or even greater extent as the lack of clean water. While there may be an added stigma to discussing waste treatment, sanitation is widely perceived as meriting a significant claim on financial and political resources as well on the evolution of mankind. A literature review is presented on the evolution of wastewater management through the ages and its concurrent impact on human health and environment. Hopefully this information will improve the awareness of the past with a view to impacting future policies and technical developments. The review highlights the connection of environmental contamination with the ability to measure it, as well as the ways pollution control has been changed by advances in scientific knowledge. Attention is also drawn to the effects of political and societal events on wastewater management. A sanitation timeline has been constructed pointing out significant developments in the treatment of wastewater and improvements in analytical environmental chemistry. This review has been written in the belief that historical research showing the collective experience and "philosophy of sanitation" can provide inspiration to face future challenges.
The wastewater of leather industry which is one of the most widespread industries having large am... more The wastewater of leather industry which is one of the most widespread industries having large amount of water consumption and very high pollution loads, may be characterized by several key parameters including toxic pollutants exhibiting toxicity. Therefore the effluent of leather tanning industry must be handled carefully during both treatment plant design and operation. The aim of this study was
ABSTRACT It has been said that Palermo is short of available water. However, nothing could be mor... more ABSTRACT It has been said that Palermo is short of available water. However, nothing could be more wrong. Well-documented Arab sources and narrative chronicles reported an abundance of groundwater resources in Palermo Plain since the Middle Ages. The scarcity of sources and surface water in the Palermo Plain, compared to the groundwater abundance, led the inhabitants to use groundwater both for irrigation and domestic usage through a complex and sustainable hydraulic system. Vertical and horizontal (qanāts) wells, conveyed water towards gardens and public fountains making the Arabic Bal’harm (Palermo) a flourishing town. When visitors walk through the streets of Palermo’s historical center, among Arab ruins and Baroque architecture, they hardly imagine that there is a wide and varied cultural heritage of underground cavities hidden in the basements where water flows in intricate networks fed from a numerous springs. Only in recent years was a part of this system brought to light. Moreover, the city still has a wide and fascinating water distribution system consisting of irrigation basin (gebbie), ingenious hydraulic machines named senie, and distribution chessboard of irrigation (saje) and drinking water (catusi) canals. The medieval water collection and distribution systems and their various components in the Palermo Plain are reviewed together with the influence of the Arab water management on environment.
The occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the marine environment has attracted... more The occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the marine environment has attracted the attention of the scientific community, as these compounds are frequently detected in seawater and sediments at increasing levels and can have adverse health effects on marine organisms and humans. Several PAHs are potential human carcinogens and are included in the priority list of the European Union’s
Due to stringent discharge limits, various pollutants (xenobiotics, biorecalcitrants, persistent)... more Due to stringent discharge limits, various pollutants (xenobiotics, biorecalcitrants, persistent) need to be handled carefully. A class of chemicals synthesized for tanning or retanning purposes in the leather tanning industry is collectively termed synthetic tannins (syntans, ST), resins (acrylic), oils (OLs), etc. The literature on tannins is focused on individual chemical species, e.g. tannic or gallic acid, thus providing only
... G. Lofrano (*) and V. Belgiorno Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, I-841... more ... G. Lofrano (*) and V. Belgiorno Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, I-84132, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy Phone 0039 089969337, Fax number 0039 089969620, e-mail: glofrano@unisa.it A. Nikolaou and M. Kostopoulou Department of Marine Sciences, Faculty of ...
Although much has been written about the history of water supply systems, there is a lack of corr... more Although much has been written about the history of water supply systems, there is a lack of corresponding information on wastewater management. This is surprising since the lack of sanitation affects human development to the same or even greater extent as the lack of clean water. While there may be an added stigma to discussing waste treatment, sanitation is widely perceived as meriting a significant claim on financial and political resources as well on the evolution of mankind. A literature review is presented on the evolution of wastewater management through the ages and its concurrent impact on human health and environment. Hopefully this information will improve the awareness of the past with a view to impacting future policies and technical developments. The review highlights the connection of environmental contamination with the ability to measure it, as well as the ways pollution control has been changed by advances in scientific knowledge. Attention is also drawn to the effects of political and societal events on wastewater management. A sanitation timeline has been constructed pointing out significant developments in the treatment of wastewater and improvements in analytical environmental chemistry. This review has been written in the belief that historical research showing the collective experience and "philosophy of sanitation" can provide inspiration to face future challenges.
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