O modo de vida da humanidade demanda novas alternativas às fontes energéticas fósseis, precisa garantir a produção de alimentos e energia para uma população que já ultrapassa 7 bilhões, além de ter de gerir seus Resíduos Sólidos (RS) e efluentes (esgoto), em que grande parte dos primeiros, são enterrados em aterros sanitários e/ou lixões, gerando problemas sanitários e ambientais e desperdício de nutrientes para a agricultura. Parte dessa tripla solução energética/alimentar/sanitária pode vir dos recursos contidos nos Resíduos Biodegradáveis (RB), ou como dito na Lei Brasileira Nº 12.305 - "Resíduos Orgânicos" (RO), que podem ser biometanizados para gerar gás combustível, metano, CH4 e/ou gás hidrogênio, H2 e posterior uso do sólido e líquido resultante na forma de substrato para a agricultura, ou processos fotossintéticos aquáticos mediados por microalgas e macrófitas. Paralelamente ao tratamento anaeróbio, se os RO forem tratados aerobicamente, via compostagem e/ou vermicompostagem, não se gera nenhum gás combustível que possa ser usado em outro momento e local, apenas calor. Diante desse quadro, se propõe uma alternativa para o tratamento de resíduos biodegradáveis e efluentes domésticos em zonas rurais e periurbanas, por meio da proposta de uma pequena central de tratamento de resíduos orgânicos composta por uma lagoa facultativa com geração e coleta de biogás, associada com um sistema de hidrolisação de resíduos sólidos orgânicos e de tratamento de biogás, havendo a separação do CO2 em fase aquosa para alimentação de carbono e alcalinidade ao sistema de bacia de fotossíntese de microalgas e macrófitas do gênero lemna. Foram realizados balanços de água, nutrientes, eletricidade e monetário para aferir a consistência teórica para futura aplicação dos projetos e suprir as três demandas/soluções citadas. Foi possível aferir que o custo do metro cúbico de gás metano gerado ficou em torno de 0,5- 4 R$.m-3 de gás metano. Foi possível propor um projeto para se caminhar no sentido de poder dar base a trabalhos futuros, que desenvolvam métodos inovadores de gestão de resíduos para serem aplicados no Brasil, com o fim de descentralizadamente adequar os municípios ao PNRS, ao mesmo tempo em que se cria na nação o conceito de biorrefinaria, integrando-a ao saneamento básico e ambiente, em prol da soberania individual energética/alimentar/hidrológica dos brasileiros. / People's way of living demands alternatives to fossil energy, needs to produce food for a population that has already reached more than seven billion and has to deal with waste generation, namely solid wastes and sewage, while most of the first are buried in landfills or even dumped, generating sanitary and environmental problems while wasting nutrients for agriculture. Part of that triple energy/food/sanitation solution can come from biodegradable wastes, or like the way is said on Brazilian Law Nº12.305 - &#34Organic Wastes", that can be converted into biogas, methane or hydrogen gas, and subsequent use of solid and liquid digestate for agriculture, or aquatic photosynthetic processes mediated by microalgae and macrophytes. Paralel to anaerobic treatment, if organic wastes are aerobically treated, by compoting and/or wormcomposting, not any renewable gas will be generated for later use, it just generates heat. By this cenario, this master thesis propose and evaluate, technological alternatives for biodegradable waste and wastewaters in cities vicinities and/or rural areas nearby urban areas by proposing a small biodegradable waste treatment plant composed of a facultative lagoon with biogas generation on its bottom, associated with a system of solid waste hydrolysis built inside a shed which realizes biogas treatment as well, with carbon dioxide gas liquid separation for carbon and alkalinity feeding the multispecies photosynthesis bowl, half consisted of dispersed microalgae and the other half composed of macrophyte of lemna genera. Water, nutrients, electricity and money balances were done in order assess the theoretical consistency for future development of those projects and quench the three cited demands/solutions. It was possible to affirm that the cost of a cubic meter of methane gás is around 0,5 – 4 R$.m-3. Projects were proposed, that can develop innovative methods for biodegradable waste management to be done in Brazil, with the ultimate goal of adequating towns to the National Solid Waste Policy (Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos – PNRS in portuguese) in a decentralized manner, meanwhile it helps to create alog the nation the biorefinery concept, integrating itself into waterworks, sanitation and the environment, feeding individuals energy, food and hydrological sovereignity of brazilians.

During pulp and papermaking process a huge amount of water is used. The wastewater contains a large amount of pollutants and has to be treated before it reaches the recipient. In March 2004 a new bleaching plant was started up at SCA Graphic Sundsvall AB, Ortviken’s paper mill using peroxide. The production of bleached thermo mechanical pulp and thus the load to the wastewater plant increased. During bleaching substances dissolve from the pulp and the amount of COD in the wastewater increase. To keep the efficiency of chemical and biological oxygen demand (COD, BOD) removal, the aerated lagoon is supplied by liquid oxygen. In November the same year a new pre-step including a pre-aeration, carrier and selector step was added to the existing wastewater plant. The COD-loading to the lagoon decreased and the supply of liquid oxygen was reduced. This master thesis has been carried out at SCA Graphic Research AB, Sundsvall. The aim was to chemically characterize the wastewater with focus on the composition of carbohydrates, lignin and extractives and its influence on the biodegradability. Measurements have been carried out on total samples, suspended solids, colloidal and dissolved substances using GF/A and ultra filtration. Measurements were performed on process water from the bleaching plant and on water during the wastewater treatment process. The results show that the chemical composition of dissolved substances has a larger impact on the biodegradability than the total amount of COD. A large amount of lignin will make the wastewater harder to degrade. Suspended solids have lower biodegradability compared to the dissolved fraction. Analyzes of suspended material from the bleaching plant show a relative composition of around 41 % lignin. Analyzes done before on the dissolved fraction show a composition of 29 %. It seems that a larger amount of lignin is represented in suspended solids compared to the dissolved fraction. This can explain the low biodegradability, combined with the theory that the suspended solids are less accessible for the microorganisms. To reduce the outgoing COD the incoming flow of dissolved lignin and suspended solids to the active sludge plant has to decrease. COD in the outgoing wastewater to the recipient consists of around 90 % lignin. Extractives as saturated fatty acids, palmitic and stearic acid plus lignans (which is interpreted as a byproduct from lignin degradation) do not degrade remarkable during wastewater treatment. Flocculation of COD is one way to reduce the discharge to the recipient. Addition of 2,6 g/l PAX-18 (a high charged aluminum complex) to the wastewater from the bleaching plant gives a reduction of 40 % COD and 50 % lignin in laboratory scale and it is recommended to study further. Time related studies of BOD show that the microorganisms need five days to degrade organic material and the hydraulic retention time in the aerated lagoon has to be guaranteed. / Vid massa- och pappersframställning åtgår stora mängder vatten. Det processberörda avloppsvattnet innehåller mycket föroreningar varför det måste renas innan det släpps ut till recipienten. I mars 2004 startades ett nytt väteperoxidblekeri vid SCA Graphic Sundsvall AB, Ortvikens pappersbruk varvid produktionen av blekt termomekanisk massa ökade och den biologiska reningen belastades hårdare. Blekning löser ut vedämnen från massan och bidrar således till ökad mängd syreförbrukande ämnen i avloppet. För att upprätthålla reduktionen av syreförbrukande ämnen (COD, BOD) tillförs ren syrgas till den luftade dammen. I november samma år utökades den externa reningsanläggningen med ett biologiskt försteg, en s.k. multibioanläggning bestående av ett frisimmarsteg, ett bärarsteg samt ett selektorsteg. COD-belastningen in till den luftade dammen minskade och tillförseln av ren syrgas kunde reduceras. Examensarbetet har utförts vid SCA Graphic Research AB, Sundsvall med syftet att kemiskt karaktärisera avloppsvattnets sammansättning av kolhydrater, lignin och extraktivämnen och dess inverkan på vattnets grad av biologisk nedbrytbarhet. Analyser har gjorts på totalprov, suspenderande ämnen samt kolloidalt och löst material via fraktionering med hjälp av GF/A- och ultrafiltrering. Analyser gjordes dels på processvatten från blekerierna och dels på avloppsvatten under reningsprocessen. Resultaten visar att den kemiska sammansättningen hos löst material har större inverkan på avloppsvattnets grad av nedbrytbarhet än den absoluta halten av syreförbrukande ämnen. En hög andel lignin ger ett mer svårnedbrytbart vatten. Suspenderat material är vidare mer svårnedbrytbart än de lösta fraktionerna. Analys av suspenderande substans hos blekpressat visar att andelen lignin är omkring 41 % medan arkiverade analysresultat på den lösta fasen visar ett innehåll på omkring 29 %. Det tyder alltså på en betydligt högre andel lignin i den partikulära fasen jämfört med den lösta, vilket i kombination med att materialet inte är lika lättillgängligt för mikroorganismerna kan förklara den låga bionedbrytbarheten. Om COD-utsläppet ska minskas bör inkommande flöde av löst lignin och suspenderande substans till den biologiska reningen reduceras. COD-halten i utgående avloppsvatten till recipienten utgörs av omkring 90 % lignin. De extraktivämnen som inte bryts ned är mättade fettsyror, exempelvis palmitin- och stearinsyra samt lignan, vilket antas bildas som restprodukt vid degradering av lignin. Flockning av syreförbrukande ämnen är ett sätt att gå till väga för att minska utsläppet av dessa till recipienten. Genom tillsats av 2,6 g/l PAX-18 (ett högladdat aluminiumkomplex) till blekeriavloppet kunde 40 % COD och 50 % lignin reduceras. Flockningsförsöket är gjort i laboratorieskala vid rumstemperatur och ytterligare utvärdering rekommenderas. Tidsstudier av BOD visar att mikroorganismerna behöver fem dagars uppehållstid för att hinna bryta ned organiskt material i avloppsvattnet, varför omloppstiden i den luftade lagunen inte bör understiga denna tidsrymd.

In the process of making carton boards into Skoghall Mill, are great quantities of water being contaminated. This water has to be treated before it is possible to release into the recipient, Kattfjorden. One of the contaminations that is important to extract from the wastewater, is organic carbon (measured as TOC-total organic carbon) because microbiological breakdown can lead to the bottom becomig free of oxygen. The wastewater treatment at Skoghall Mill is done through an external wastewater treatment that is located at the factory. The biological treatment (aerated lagoon) is a 140 000 m3 water pool with surface aerator, which is give oxygen to the water. In the lagoon live microorganisms who performs the biggest part of the TOC-reduction. One problem with the lagoon is that the treatment of TOC is considerably worse during wintertime than during summertime. The reduction is during wintertime only 40 %, while during summertime it is about 70-80 %. This seasonal variation can to a large extent be explained by, that the water temperature in the lagoon decreases wintertime. The low water temperature does that the biological activity in the lagoon is reduced, which reduces the TOC-reduction. A second reason can also be that the microorganisms do not have enough bioavailable nutrients that is needed for growth of a new biomass. In this thesis the need of nutrient has been examined. In two test pools, addings of nutrient were being done, to come to the conclusion of a good dosage of nutrient which would lead to a larger reduction of TOC, without enlarged quantities of nitrogen/phosphorus in the outgoing water. One of the test pools hold a summer temperature (30°C), and the other test pool hold a winter temperature (10°C). The test was performed this way to see if there would be any difference in the need of nutrient between summertime and wintertime. The most important conclusion was that a nutrient dosage to the Skoghall aerated lagoon, rise the TOC-reduction wintertime. It was also concluded that it was foremost the nitrogen that contributed to the raised TOC-reduction, and nitrogen is thereby considered to be the growth restraining element wintertime. It seemed like phosphorus had been overdosed during the tests, while enlarged halts of the substance could be seen in the outgoing water, and an optimal dosage of phosphorus could not be done. The recommendation that came as a results from the tests, was that during wintertime add nitrogen and phosphorus according to TOC:N:P-quota 100:0,75:0,10. To the summer pool was no considerable improvement of the TOC-reduction seen, as a result of the nutrient addings. It is also no reason to dosage nutrients in summertime. / Vid tillverkning av kartong och pappersmassa på Skoghalls Bruk förorenas stora mängder vatten, som därmed måste renas före utsläpp till recipienten, Kattfjorden, en vik i Vänern. En av de föroreningar som är viktig att avlägsna ur avloppsvattnet är organiska kolföreningar (TOC-total organic carbon) eftersom det vid mikrobiologisk nedbrytning av TOC åtgår syre vilket kan leda till att sjöbotten blir syrefri. Rening av avloppsvatten på Skoghall Bruk sker genom en extern reningsanläggning som är placerad på bruket. Det biologiska reningssteget i reningsanläggningen är en s.k. luftad damm. Detta är en 140 000 m3 stor vattenbassäng med ytluftare som syresätter vattnet. I dammen lever mikroorganismer vilka utför den största delen av TOC-reduktionen i brukets reningsanläggning. Ett problem med dammen är att reningen av TOC är betydligt sämre vintertid än sommartid. Reduktionen av det till dammen inkommande TOC, är vintertid endast ca 40 % medan den sommartid ligger kring 70-80 %. Denna årstidsvariation kan till stor del förklaras av att vattentemperaturen i dammen sjunker vintertid. Den låga temperaturen medför att den biologiska aktiviteten i dammen sjunker, vilket hämmar TOC-reduktionen. En annan orsak till en låg TOC-reduktion kan vara att det för mikroorganismerna råder brist på biotillgängliga närsalter (kväve och fosfor) som behövs för tillväxt av ny biomassa. I detta examensarbete har det undersökts behovet av närsalter för att höja TOC-reduktionen. I två laborationsdammar (ca 20 l) skedde doseringar av närsalter i syfte att finna en bra doseringskvot som innebar en ökad reduktion av TOC, utan att det blev förhöjda kväve-/fosforhalter i utgående vatten. En av laborationsdammarna höll sommartemperatur (ca 30°C) och en höll vintertemperatur (ca 10°C) vilket gjordes för att undersöka om det var skillnad av närsaltsbehovet mellan sommar och vintertid. Den viktigaste slutsatsen av försöken var att en närsaltsdosering till Skoghalls luftade damm höjer TOC-reduktion vintertid. Det konstaterades att det var kvävet som främst bidrog till den ökade TOC-reduktionen och kväve anses därmed vara det tillväxtbegränsande ämnet vintertid. Fosfor tycktes ha överdoserats under försöken, då det sågs förhöjda halter i utgående vatten, och en optimal dosering av fosfor kunde inte avgöras. Den rekommendation som föll ut av de laborativa försöken var att vintertid dosera kväve och fosfor enligt TOC:N:P-kvot 100:0,75:0,10. Till sommardammen sågs inte någon förbättring av TOC-reduktionen till följd av närsaltstillsatserna, vilket innebär att närsaltsdoseringar sommartid är obefogat. Vidare sågs tendenser till att slammets sedimentationsegenskaper, hos framförallt vinterdammen, blev bättre till följd av närsaltsdosering, men brist på mätdata medför att det är svårt att dra slutsatser om det verkligen varit så.

Water scarcity is a global concern that impacts many developing countries, forcing people to depend on unclean water sources for domestic, agricultural, and industrial needs. Wastewater is an alternative water source that contains nutrients needed for crop growth. Wastewater reuse for agriculture can cause public health problems because of human exposure to pathogens. Pathogen monitoring is essential to evaluate the compliance of wastewater with established World Health Organization (WHO) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wastewater reuse guidelines. Indicator organisms are commonly used to detect pathogens in water and wastewater because they are quick and easy to measure, non-pathogenic, and have simple and inexpensive methods of detection. The objective of this research was to develop a modified double agar layer assay method that can be conducted in the field to quantify bacteriophage to assess the quality of wastewater for agricultural reuse. Results from the modified double agar layer assay were used to investigate the potential of somatic coliphage as an indicator organism for assessing the potential presence of enteric viruses in developing world treated wastewater, and to use the criteria of a good indicator organism to compare the potential of two commonly used indicator organisms, somatic coliphage and fecal coliforms, as an indicator of enteric viruses in wastewater. A modified EPA double agar layer method was developed and deployed in a developing world rural community to effectively quantify the concentration of somatic coliphage in a community managed wastewater treatment system composed of a Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactor followed by two maturation lagoons. The modified method served as a good indicator of enteric viruses in the water. Somatic coliphages were easily detected and quantified in the field setting using a modified double agar layer method. Somatic coliphage was found to be a potential indicator for enteric viruses rather than fecal coliforms because of their similarity in characteristics and resistances to wastewater treatment. The concentration of somatic coliphage was only reduced by 1.05 log units across the two series maturation lagoon system. Previous literature suggested removal would range from 2.1 to 4.6 log units. Influent wastewater (previously treated by an UASB reactor) had a concentration of 4.38 E+06 PFU/ 100 mL (standard deviation = ±3.7E+06, n = 9) and the treated effluent contained 3.90 E+05 PFU/100 mL (standard deviation = ± 4.5E+05, n = 8) of somatic coliphages. Results suggest that somatic coliphage is a good potential indicator for enteric viruses in wastewater but further research needs to be done.

Προσομοίωση της υδάτινης κυκλοφορίας και της θερμοαλατικής συμπεριφοράς της λιμνοθάλασσας Κοτυχιού που βρίσκεται στη δυτική Πελοπόννησο. Το Κοτύχι είναι μια πολύ ρηχή λιμνοθάλασσα (μέσο βάθος 40 εκ) που χρησιμοποιείται σαν ένα φυσικό ιχθυοτροφείο εδώ και αιώνες. Είναι ένας βιότοπος πολύ μεγάλης οικολογικής και οικονομικής αξίας και προστατεύεται από τη διεθνή συνθήκη Ramsar. Δυστυχώς, η λ/θ Κοτυχιού έχει υποβαθμιστεί σημαντικά κατά την διάρκεια των 50 τελευταίων χρόνων εξαιτίας έντονων αγροτικών δραστηριοτήτων στις πλησίον περιοχές, ενώ η κατασκευή του φράγματος του Πηνιού στα τέλη του 60’ προκάλεσε σημαντικές προσχωματικές καταστροφές. Η μοντελοποίηση των φυσικών και οικολογικών διεργασιών στο Κοτύχι θα μπορούσε να αποτελέσει ένα πολή σημαντικό διαχειριστικό εργαλείο στα χέρια των ερευνητών που επιθυμούν να προτείνουν λύσεις σε οικολογικά προβλήματα παρόμοιας φύσης. Πρωταρχικός σκοπός της παρούσας διπλωματικής είναι να στήσει ένα αξιόπιστο υδροδυναμικό μοντέλο μέσα από την επιτυχημένη βαθμονόμηση και επιβεβαίωσή του. Αυτό το μοντέλο θα αποτελέσει τη βάση για προσομοιώσεις της διάχυσης της αλατότητας και της θερμοκρασίας, οι οποίες ομοίως θα λάβουν χώρα. Η βαθμονόμηση του μοντέλου πραγματοποιήθηκε με τη βοήθεια των μετρήσεων τριών μόνιμων σταθμών παρατήρησης (της ΤΕΔΚ Αχαΐας), οι οποίες φιλτραρίστηκαν κατάλληλα. Οι δύο σταθμοί βρίσκονταν στο εσωτερικό της λ/θ και ο τρίτος στο εσοδευτικό στόμιό της. Μετά από την επιτυχή βαθμονόμηση, τα αποτελέσματα του μοντέλου βρίσκονται σε πολύ καλή συμφωνία με τις χωρικές κατανομές που κατασκευάστηκαν με δειγματοληψία πεδίου προηγούμενων ημερών. Έπειτα, μετεωρολογικά και υδροδυναμικά δεδομένα ποικίλων θερινών και χειμερινών περιόδων χρησιμοποιήθηκαν για την πρόβλεψη των υδροδυναμικών και θερμοαλατικών συνθηκών στη λιμνοθάλασσα. Μια εκτεταμένη μελέτη του θερμικού ισοζυγίου μεταξύ νερού και ατμόσφαιρας επίσης έλαβε χώρα με αποτελέσματα που συμφωνούν με τις υπαίθριες μετρήσεις. / Two dimensional modeling methods are applied to simulate the water transport, temperature and salinity in Kotychi Lagoon, Western Peloponnese, Greece. Kotychi is a very shallow lagoon (average depth 40 cm) that is used as a natural fish farm since centuries. It is a biotope of great ecological and financial importance and is protected by the Ramsar International Convention. Unfortunately, it has been severely degraded and transformed during the past 50 years due to agricultural activities in the surrounding areas and watercourse alteration after the construction of Pinios river dam in the late 60’s. Modeling of physical and ecological processes in Kotychi lagoon could be a great managerial tool for researchers who wish to propose solutions at such ecological problems. The main purpose of the present study is to set up a reliable hydrodynamic model, by successfully calibrating and validating it. This model will be the base for simulations of the temperature and salinity dispersions which will also be carried out.The calibration of the model has been performed against the filtered measurements of three tide gauges, two of them located inside the Lagoon and one at its mouth. After calibration, model output shows a very good agreement with a set of data referring to a period of average winds and with spatial distributions created by field measurements at particular days. Meteorological and hydrological data are then used to set up a week long simulations that model the temperature and salinity of various winter and summer periods. An extended study of the water-air heat exchange of the lagoon has also been carried out with success.

Ο σκοπός της εργασίας αυτής είναι η πραγματοποίηση μιας περιβαλλοντικής μελέτης για την ευρύτερη περιοχή του συμπλεγματος λιμνοθαλασσών Μεσολογγίου - Αιτωλικού με τη χρήση Γεωγραφικών συστημάτων Πληροφοριών. Στην ερσασία αυτή γίνεται μια προσπάθεια χαρτογράφησης με την βοήθεια των ΓΣΠ με τους ακόλουθους στόχους¦ 1. Τη δημιουργία μιας βάσης σύγκρισης για τον συσχετισμό γεωλογικών και εδαφολογικών στοιχείων,και 2. Την εύρεση προτεινώμενων περιοχών, όπου μπορεί να αναπτυχθεί ένα μοντέλο οργανωμένης Οικιστικής Ανάπτυξης που θα πληρεί όλες τις προϋποθέσεις που θέτει το Υ.ΠΕ.ΧΩ.ΔΕ / The purpose of this work is an environmental study of the lagoons system of Mesolongi - Aitoliko with te use Geographycal Information Systems,with the two following directions: 1. To create a base of comparison between the geological and the soil data,and 2. To show an area where a new city could take place that follows all the instractions of Y.ΠΕ.ΧΩ.ΔΕ

Η εργασία αυτή φιλοδοξεί να εκτιμήση την περιβαλλοντική κατάσταση της κεντρικής λιμνοθάλασσας Μεσολογγίου. Προσδιορίσθηκαν οι συγκεντρώσεις των βαρέων μετάλλων του οργανικού άνθρακα, των φυσικών ραδιονουκλιδίων και του Cs-137. 17 δειγματοληπτικές πυρηνοληψίες που εκτελέσθηκαν σε επιλεγμένα σημεία οδήγησαν στον καθορισμό υψηλών συγκεντρώσεων των μετάλλων Zn, Fe.Σε ότι αφορά στα φυσικά ραδιονουκλίδια και το Cs-137 οι τιμές ειδικής ραδιενέργειας ήταν σχετικά υψηλές παρουσιάζοντας σαφείς κατανομές με το βάθος. / This present research estimates the environmental situation of central lagoon Mesolonghi. The concentrations of heavy metals, organic carbon, natural radionuclide and Cs-137 were determined. 17 cores were collected. Geochemical analysis determined high concentrations of metals Zn, Fe. Regarding to natural radionuclides and Cs-137 the concentrations were relatively high presenting explicit distributions with depth.

Σκοπός της παρούσας εργασίας είναι η εκτίμηση των περιβαλλοντικών και υδρογεωλογικών συνθηκών της ευρύτερης περιοχής του Μεσολογγίου, η εκτίμηση της ποιότητας νερών και πηλών στης περιοχές ενδιαφέροντος όσον αφορά τους ιαματικούς φυσικούς πόρους της περιοχής και τέλος η διερεύνηση των πιθανών πηγών ρύπανσης της περιοχής και ειδικότερα των παραπάνω θέσεων ενδιαφέροντος. Από τα αποτελέσματα της παρούσας εργασίας προκύπτει ότι τα υπόγεια νερά της περιοχής παρουσιάζουν αυξημένη αλατότητα όπως αυτό ερμηνεύεται από τις πολύ υψηλές τιμές της ηλεκτρικής αγωγιμότητας που παρουσιάζουν. Λόγω του ασήμαντου ρυπαντικού τους φορτίου δεν καθιστούν πηγή ρύπανσης των θέσεων ενδιαφέροντος. Από της άλλη μεριά τα νερά και οι πηλοί που συλλέχθησαν από ρέματα της περιοχής που καταλήγουν στην λιμνοθάλασσα, παρουσίασαν αυξημένες τιμές βαρέων μετάλλων που οφείλονται κατά κύριο λόγο στις ανθρωπογενείες δραστηριότητες της περιοχής, ενδέχεται να επιβαρύνουν τους πηλούς κυρίως σε βαρέα μέταλλα. Το μεγαλύτερο μέρος της συγκέντρωσης των βαρέων μετάλλων που ανιχνεύτηκε στους πηλούς της περιοχής δεν συνιστά πηγή δευτερογενούς ρύπανσης. Από τα αποτελέσματα της μεθόδου διαδοχικής εκχύλισης BCR-SEP φάνηκε ότι το μεγαλύτερο μέρος των βαρέων μετάλλων είναι ισχυρά συνδεδεμένο με το ίζημα (συνδεδεμένα με το κρυσταλλικό πλέγμα των ορυκτών των ιζημάτων) και ένα μικρό μέρος μπορεί να διαφύγει και να προκαλέσει ρύπανση της υδάτινης στήλης. Οι πηγές ρύπανσης των θέσεων ενδιαφέροντος είναι ο Βιολογικός Καθαρισμός του Δήμου Μεσολογγίου, οι ανεξέλεγκτες χωματερές που γειτνιάζουν με την λιμνοθάλασσα, η πόλη του Μεσολογγίου (κυρίως στο βόρειο τμήμα της Δυτικής Κλεισοβας) και τέλος οι διάφορες ανθρωπογενείς δραστηριότητες της περιοχής απόβλητα των οποίων ρίχνονται στα ρέματα και μέσω αυτών καταλήγουν στην λιμνοθάλασσα. / The aim of this thesis was the assessment of environmental and hydro geologic conditions of Mesolonghi’s area, the assessment of the quality of water and sediments in the areas in question regarding their medicinal natural resources and finally the estimation of possible sources of pollution. According the results of that thesis all groundwater samples present an increased salinity (increased rates of Electrical conductivity). Due to their of no importance pollution load it is believed that groundwater do not affect areas in question. On the contrary the surface samples of water and sediments collected from flumes shows that this water which ends up in Kleisova lagoon may affect the areas mostly with heavy metals. Great part of heavy metals concentration found in sediments does not threaten areas as ectypal source of pollution. Results from sequential extraction procedure showed that heavy metals are being highly associated with minerals crystalline lattice of sediments. Sources of pollution at areas in question are the wastewater treatment plant of Mesolonghi’s Municipality, many incontrollable refuse dumps which are neighboring on Kleisova lagoon, the Mesolonghi’s city and finally the surface water of flumes which ends up in lagoon and carries an high amount of heavy metals.

Phytosterols are steroid chemicals produced by plants for the purposes of membrane function and hormone production. Phytosterols can cause endocrine disruption in aquatic species at very low concentrations and are suspected of contributing to endocrine disruption linked to pulp and paper effluent. Wastewater from the pulp and paper industry is often treated biologically in aerated stabilization basins (ASBs) that expose phytosterols to a range of redox zones. Phytosterol removal in ASBs varies and stigmasterol has even been shown to increase across the treatment system. Little is known about the microbial processes that occur within ASBs and their effect on phytosterol removal. The objective of this research was to assess the biotransformation potential of phytosterols in a simulated ASB treatment system and to improve understanding of the processes that occur within the various redox zones and their impact on the removal of phytosterols. To assess the biotransformation of phytosterols under aerobic conditions, three assays were conducted using a stock aerobic culture fed with pulp and paper wastewater. The assays tested three conditions: phytosterols present as a sole added carbon source, phytosterols with dextrin as an added carbon source, and phytosterols with ethanol as a solubilizing agent and added carbon source. Phytosterol biotransformation was found to be limited by low phytosterol solubility. When solubilized, phytosterol removal occurred in two phases: an initial near-linear removal, followed by accelerated removal during the culture's stationary stage, possibly due to the release of extracellular cholesterol oxidase. The anoxic and anaerobic biotransformation of phytosterols was examined through a series of three semi-batch cultures maintained under nitrate-reducing, sulfate-reducing and fermentative/methanogenic conditions, all developed from stock cultures fed with pulp and paper wastewater. Phytosterol removal was significant in the nitrate-reducing culture, although microbial activity and phytosterol removal declined in later stages. Phytosterol removal was also observed in the sulfate-reducing culture, although there was a significant lag period before removal occurred. No phytosterol removal was observed in the fermentative/methanogenic culture. Phytosterol biotransformation was also examined in the context of a lab-scale ASB fed continuously with pulp and paper wastewater. The steady-state ASB effluent and sediment characteristics were examined over three hydraulic retention times (HRTs). Effluent quality was not significantly affected by a change in HRT but sediment characteristics were significantly affected and, at shorter HRTs, phytosterols accumulated in the sediment. Wastewater bioassays demonstrated the release of phytosterols during the breakdown of solids. This research improves the understanding of biological processes within ASBs and their effect on phytosterol removal.

Η μελέτη που έγινε για να εκτιμηθούν οι περιβαλλοντικές συνθήκες στην λιμνοθάλασσα Πρόκοπου έδειξε ότι: υπάρχει άμεση σχέση με τις επικρατούσες συνθήκες και τις επιπτώσεις από τις κλιματικές αλλαγές στην βιωσιμότητα των οργανισμών (χλωρίδα- πανίδα) στην λιμνοθάλασσα, όσο και του ίδιου ευαίσθητου συστήματος της λιμνοθάλασσας σε σχέση με το υπόλοιπο οικολογικό σύστημα της ευρύτερης περιοχής. Γι’ αυτό τον λόγω μετρήθηκαν κλιματολογικά στοιχεία της περιοχής σε συνδυασμό με φυσικοχημικές παραμέτρους της λιμνοθάλασσας( PH, αλατότητα, στάθμη κ.α.). Η εντατική και εκτατική χρήση της γεωργίας στην ευρύτερη περιοχή έχει άμεση σχέση με την ρύπανση της λιμνοθάλασσας και με την σειρά τους αποτελούν παράγοντες που αλληλεπιδρούν στις φυσικοχημικές ιδιότητες του συστήματος. Από πίνακες και γραφικές παραστάσεις δίνονται αυτές οι επιδράσεις και γίνεται και περιγραφή των βιοτικών και αβιοτικών παραγόντων της λιμνοθάλασσας. / The study that became in order to appreciate the environmental conditions in the lagoon Prokopos showed that: exists direct relation with the prevailing conditions and the repercussions from the climatic changes in the viability of organisms (flora - fauna) in the lagoon, as the same sensitive system of lagoon concerning the remainder ecological system of wider region. For this reason were measured climatic elements of region in combination with physics and chemical parameters of lagoon (PH, salinity, level etc.). The intensive and extensional uses of agriculture in the wider region have direct relation with the pollution of lagoon and with their line they constitute factors that interfere in the physics and chemical attributes of system. By tables and graphic representations are given these effects and become also description of the biotic and abiotic factors of lagoon.