84516 - Waste Analysis and Management

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student attains the fundamental knowledge of the management systems of municipal solid waste and special waste in the national and international context. The most widely used management and disposal systems in Europe will be presented: from examples of good practices / policies to reduce waste production to recycling processes, incineration, and landfill disposal. In addition, students will acquire the principal notions on sampling and characterization of waste in order to acquire, through some case studies, theoretical skills about the methodological approaches to waste recycling and recovery.

Course contents

An overview of the European and national policy in relation to waste management. Definition of waste, byproducts, raw materials and secondary materials, etc. Hierarchy in the integrated waste management system: prevention, reduction, recycling, energy recovery, waste disposal. The main technologies and operating conditions used in waste management: separate collection systems; heat treatment and incineration; landfill. Waste selection facility and recovery of materials and energy such as paper, glass, plastics. Recycling organic fraction and composting system. In-depth analysis of treatment technologies in terms of performance (mass and energy flows), pollutant emissions and costs. Waste Merchant Analysis and leaching tests for their characterization during disposal and management. Characterization of material to be sent to energy recovery: elemental analysis, upper and lower calorific power. Characterization of organic material to be initiated for enhancement. Examples of innovative waste recovery processes.

Prerequisites

- Elementary functions: powers, roots, exponential and logarithm. Algebraic equations (Course: Mathematics with exercises)

- Dimensional formulae and physical units; Calorific value, heat value (Course: Physics)

Nomenclature and structure of organic and inorganic compounds. Risk associated with organic and inorganic chemicals (Course Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry). Principal spectroscopic and separative techniques. (course: Analytical Instrumental Chemistry).

Structure and chemical-physical characteristics of the atmosphere. The main properties of water. Geosphere and soil system. Anthropogenic environmental contamination (Course: Environmental Chemistry)

Readings/Bibliography

Technical report ISPRA

Waste European legislation

Notes and slides are available on the webpage https://virtuale.unibo.it/

Teaching methods

Frontal lesson with PC presentation; reactions, examples and exercises will be explained at the blackboard.

The course could include seminars and conferences on specific subjects.

Assessment methods

The exam will be conducted through an interview designed to test knowledge of the topics presented during the course.

Registration for the exam through AlmaEsami is mandatory. Those who fail to register in time must notify the professor, who still has the right to admit them to the exam.

Teaching tools

Video projection, PC, dashboard, slide and notes from the lectures and other didactic material make available by the teacher.

Students who are affected by a learning disability (DSA) and in need of special strategies to compensate for it are kindly requested to contact the Teacher, to be referred to the colleagues in charge and get proper advice and instructions.

Office hours

See the website of Ivano Vassura

See the website of Cristian Torri