64842 - Waste Management

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student will be aware of the social and regulative problematic of management of waste materials and of their disposal. She/he will know the most important methodologies to reuse products at their end of life and to recycle waste materials. The student will be aware of the principal methodologies to treat and reuse waste waters. The student is expected to be able to: propose recycling and reuse of waste materials from both industrial and generic origin; 2. propose good solution for the tratment of waste waters in the perspective of thier reuse; 3. assess the respect by the processes implemented of of waste materials regulations

Course contents

This CU is composed of three modules which are taught autonomously:

(1) Waste materials regulations:

What is hazardous waste. High level principles for management of hazardous waste: waste hierarchy. Hazardous chemical waste management: treatment methods. Strategies for recycling and reuse chemical waste materials. European strategy about hazardous materials. Relevant EU directives and regulations: Waste Framework Directive (WFD), Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive (IPCC), Landfill Directive (LFD), Waste Acceptance Criteria (Council Decision 2003/33), Waste Shipments Regulations. Relevant Non-EU Regulations: USA, Brazil, China, Japan.

(2) Chemical and biological treatment of wastewater

Terminology commonly used in the field of wastewater treatment. Wastewater: Health and environmental concerns. Wastewater sources and constituents: Physical and chemical constituents (inorganic non-metallic, metallic and organic constituents) and microorganisms found in surface waters and wastewaters. Constituents of concern in wastewater treatment. Role of analytical tools on wastewater characterization and treatment and common analysis used to assess the constituents found in wastewaters and the processes efficiency. Brief overview of the impact of regulation on wastewater treatment. Wastewater treatment: The treatment levels (preliminary, primary, secondary, tertiary and advanced). An overview of physical unit operations, chemical unit processes and fundamentals of biological treatment (microbial metabolisms and biological processes). Current status. New challenges and concerns on wastewater treatment. Wastewater reclamation and reuse and biosolids and residuals management.

(3) Recycling and Recovery

In this module, students learn the difference between the two terms (recycling and recovery) and the main processes to employ to treat and valorise by-products, waste and residues, according to the hierarchy suggested by the European Union.

Readings/Bibliography

Lecture notes and selected papers will be available for students.

Recommended reading:

Tchobanoglous, G; Burton, F.L. e Stensel, H.D., “Wastewater Engineering – Treatment and reuse”, Metcalf & Eddy Inc., 4th ed. Rev., McGraw-Hill, USA, 2003.

John Pichtel, “Waste Management Practices. Municipal, Hazardous, and Industrial”, II ed., CRC Press, 2014.

Teaching methods

Expositive lectures presenting the basic concepts and state of the art in the field, and exercise seminars.

Assessment methods

Students will be evaluated by written tests, group reports on a given case study, or individual presentations to class.

Office hours

See the website of Maria Clara Semedo Da Silva Costa

See the website of Victor Garrido Mateo

See the website of Fabrizio Passarini