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Summarization: This article describes the detoxification of pure chrysotile (Chr) asbestos by following an acid leaching treatment with oxalic acid dihydrate (Oxac) (H2C2O4·2H2O). Oxac was chosen due to its low environmental impact (or toxicity) and cost. We demonstrate the effectiveness of different concentrations of Oxac as proposed formulations. The results from FTIR, XRD and optical microscopy analyses indicated that all the applied treatments destructed the Chr structure while a new biomaterial, Glushinskite (Gls) was formed by the reaction between Oxac with the outer Brucite (Brc) (MgO2) layer surface of Chr. Oxac 0.05 M was selected as the optimal concentration for an eight-day treatment for the detoxification. The heating of the supernatant of the above-treated solution at 480 °C, yielded MgO in a considerable concentration (8.29% w/w). According to the energy consumption study the whole applied procedure is viable with an economic profit up to 4.3% and a low cost method of detoxification on the operation of a potential asbestos waste management site. Presented on: Journal of Hazardous Materials

This study focuses on the use of microwave heating as a pretreatment for lignocellulosic agroindustrial waste prior to anaerobic digestion for methane production. Four materials were investigated, namely winery waste, cotton gin waste, olive pomace and juice industry waste. Results showed different effects of microwave heating on the solubilization and methane potential of the studied substrates. The variations were attributed to the specific characteristics of each substrate combined with the pretreatment conditions. In the cases of winery waste and juice industry waste, microwave pretreatment resulted in relatively high solubilization levels for both materials. Nevertheless, the portion retained on the solid fraction after pretreatment was larger and less biodegradable for winery waste, while for juice industry waste it was smaller but with a higher biodegradability degree. As far as cotton gin waste and olive pomace are concerned, microwave pretreatment seems not to cause high organic matter solubilization, while it most likely induced structural changes in the materials matrices. This resulted in methane production levels that indicate the presence of recalcitrant or/and inhibitory compounds on the pretreated samples. Moreover, the increased moisture and hydrogen contents for pretreated samples suggested that additional changes were made to the substrates. Ultimately, although microwave pretreatment did not improve methane production, results indicated that at temperatures between 125 and 150 °C, such a process could eventually provide samples which are more suitable for methane production. Moreover, an improved energy balance could be obtained by combining these temperatures with lower exposure times and higher solid to liquid ratios.

Summarization: The content of this special issue reflects some the latest trends in WEEE recycling, under the prism of urban mining. Some papers focus on specific WEEE streams management, while others consider policies and strategies adopted to achieve the goals set on WEEE recycling. Presented on

Summarization: Due to the variability of additives and polymer types used in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), and in accordance with the European Directive 2012/19/EU, an implementation of sound management practices is necessary. This work focuses on assessing the content of tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBPA) in acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC) and their polymer blends (i.e. PC/ABS). A total of 36 plastic housing samples originating from microwave ovens, electric irons, vacuum cleaners and DVD/CD players were subjected to microwave-assisted-extraction (MAE) and/or ultrasound-assisted-extraction (UAE). Maximum mean concentration values of TBBPA measured in DVD/CD players and vacuum cleaners ranged between 754−1146 μg/kg, and varied per polymer type, as follows: 510−2515 μg/kg in ABS and 55−3109 μg/kg in PP. The results indicated that MAE was more sufficient than UAE in the extraction of TBBPA from ABS. To optimize the UAE procedure, various solvents were tested. Higher amounts of TBBPA were obtained from ABS and PP using a binary mixture of a polar-non-polar solvent, isopropanol:n-hexane (1:1), whereas the sole use of isopropanol exhibited incomplete extraction. Παρουσιάστηκε στο: Journal of Hazardous Materials

Summarization: End-of-Life (EoL) photovoltaic (P/V) modules, which are recently included in the 2012/19/EU recast, require sound and sustainable treatment. Under this perspective, this paper deals with 2nd generation P/V waste modules, known as thin-film, via applying chemical treatment techniques. Two different types of modules are examined: (i) tandem a-Si:H/μc-Si:H panel and, (ii) Copper-Indium-Selenide (CIS) panel. Panels’ pretreatment includes collection, manual dismantling and shredding; pulverization and digestion are further conducted to identify their chemical composition. A variety of elements is determined in the samples leachates’ after both microwave-assisted total digestion and Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP test) using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) analysis. The analysis reveals that several elements are detected in the two of panels, with no sample exceeds the TCLP test. Concentrations of precious and critical metals are also measured, which generates great incentives for recovery. Then, further experiments, for P/V recycling investigation, are presented using different acids or acid mixtures under a variety of temperatures and a stable S/L ratio, with or without agitation, in order to determine the optimal recycling conditions. The results verify that chemical treatment in P/V shredded samples is efficient since driving to ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) resin's dissolution, as well as valuable structural materials recovery (P/V glass, ribbons, cells, P/V intermediate layers). Among the solvents used, sulfuric acid and lactic acid demonstrate the most efficient and strongest performance on panels’ treatment at gentle temperatures providing favorably low energy requirements. Presented on: Waste Management

The present work focused on evaluating the electrokinetic (EK) treatment of real contaminated sediments with toxic metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), using a big laboratory EK cell, periodic voltage and recently tested non-ionic surfactants. The results indicated that the “day on-night off” application mode of voltage, in conjunction with the selected solubilising agents, favoured the overall EK process. Arsenic, nickel and chromium exhibited the highest removal percentages, obtaining 83%, 67% and 63%, respectively, while zinc and lead attained 54% and 41% at the maximum. Furthermore, in the experiments where the non-ionic surfactants were introduced in the electrolyte chambers, there was a major uniformly removal of PAHs from the entire sediment across the EK cell, indicating the high solubilisation capacity of the enhancing agents. Essentially, transport and in some cases removal of PAHs (particularly from sections adjacent to the electrolyte compartments) also occurred in the unenhanced EK run, mainly due their negative charge, their potential weak bonds to the soil matrix and to the periodic application of voltage. Maximum removal was obtained by the use of Nonidet P40 where app. 1/3 (ca. 6498 μg out of 20145 μg) of the total initial amount of PAHs were removed from the cell.

Summarization: The scope of this study is to evaluate the use of laboratory-scale landfill-bioreactors, operated consecutively under anaerobic and aerobic conditions, for the combined treatment of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) with two different co-substrates of lignocellulosic nature, namely green waste (GW) and dried olive pomace (DOP). According to the results such a system would represent a promising option for eventual larger scale applications. Similar variation patterns among bioreactors indicate a relatively defined sequence of processes. Initially operating the systems under anaerobic conditions would allow energetic exploitation of the substrates, while the implementation of a leachate treatment system ultimately aiming at nutrient recovery, especially during the anaerobic phase, could be a profitable option for the whole system, due to the high organic load that characterizes this effluent. In order to improve the overall effectiveness of such a system, measures towards enhancing methane contents of produced biogas, such as substrate pretreatment, should be investigated. Moreover, the subsequent aerobic phase should have the goal of stabilizing the residual materials and finally obtain an end material eventually suitable for other purposes. Presented on: Waste Management

This study focuses on evaluating the influence of different substrate to inoculum ratios (SIR) and inoculum types on the methane potential of four solid agroindustrial waste, namely winery waste (WW), cotton gin waste (CGW), olive pomace (OP) and juice industry waste (JW). To this purpose, Biochemical Methane Potential (BMP) assays were conducted, in which four SIR, i.e. 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 (on a volatile solids (VS) basis) were tested and three different inocula, namely anaerobic sludge, landfill leachate and thickened anaerobic sludge, were compared. All four materials were proved viable substrates for anaerobic digestion. Furthermore, anaerobic sludge was found the most adequate inoculum among tested samples, and due to its high availability it may be considered a manageable choice in real-scale applications. Contrarily, using landfill leachate and thickened anaerobic sludge for the same purpose showed lower efficiencies. The optimum SIR for determining the methane potential of the studied substrates were of 0.5 for WW and JW, yielding 446.23 and 445.97 NmLCH4/gVSsubstrate, respectively, and of 0.25 for CGW and OP, yielding 267.96 and 258.65 NmLCH4/gVSsubstrate, respectively. Higher SIR delayed methane production, indicating process inhibition. Experimental methane potentials were lower than theoretical, suggesting that eventual pretreatments prior to anaerobic digestion might be worth investigating. The association of different SIR with 2- and 3-parameter kinetic models manifested the complexity of the anaerobic digestion of the studied substrates. Moreover, a different modeling approach, assuming the occurrence of multiple-stages, appeared to be more suitable for describing the behavior of the experimental data.

Summarization: Until the complete transition to a renewable energy sources based economy, the potential environmental hazards associated with petroleum refinery industries affecting water, air and soil seek sustainable solutions. In the present study contaminated soil from a refinery is used as an alternative source for producing useful building materials by geopolymerization. To this end, soil remediation by thermal desorption was initially applied. Thermal treatment was performed between 60 and 250 °C for short time intervals (10–30 min) in order to remove organic pollutants (Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons, TPHs and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, PAHs). Physical, chemical analyses, mineral phase composition, as well as thermogravimetric analysis were employed to characterize the sample. Moreover, removal efficiency of TPHs and PAHs was evaluated. Subsequently, the treated soil presenting the maximum elimination of TPH and PAHs was used in geopolymer mortar formation aiming to stabilize the toxic metals (TMs) and produce a possible profitable material. For geopolymer synthesis the substitution of metakaolin (MT) by treated soil at 0, 50, 70 and 100% was tested. The produced specimens were evaluated based on the 28 day compressive strength and metals leaching. Results showed that the geopolymer constructed by 50% MT-50% remediated soil at 250 °C for 30 min, had negligible content of organic pollutants, TMs were immobilized and exhibited increased strength thus giving significant recycling benefits. Valorisation of industrial residues to produce building materials is a promising solution for sustainable waste management. Presented on: Journal of Environmental Management

Summarization: The circular use of critical raw materials is regarded as a topic of contemporary interest stimulating continuous research and development to reduce primary resource use and waste production. However, due to the low mass share of such materials in waste streams, the industrial sector mainly focuses on the recovery of bulk components (e.g. base metals). Even in laboratory-scale studies, the fate of critical raw materials through the recycling chain, and the important role of pre-concentration prior to selective recovery have not been sufficiently addressed. To this scope, this study evaluates the mass flow of Ag and In during the treatment of waste polycrystalline silicon and monocrystalline silicon, as well as copper indium selenide photovoltaic panels in order to produce valuable pre-concentrates of these metals. The treatment routes, used in various combinations, are (a) thermal treatment and gravimetric separation, (a) mechanical crushing, sieving and thermal treatment, as well as (c) chemical and thermal treatment of the panels. The pre-concentration yield was investigated assessing the content of Ag or In (mg/kg) in the treated mass share (%) as compared to the initial content and photovoltaic mass used. Then, the selective recovery of Ag or In from the produced treated fractions, which are enriched in Ag or In, was studied through acid leaching and precipitation. Thermal treatment and gravimetric separation resulted in intact target-components and optimal pre-concentration yield of Ag and In (91.42 and 94.25% for crystalline panels, and 96.10% for copper indium selenide panel). A maximum leaching capacity of Ag and In was obtained using HNO3 and H2SO4 solution, respectively. Pure silver chloride (AgCl) was recovered using HCl as precipitating agent and pure indium hydroxide (In2O3) using NH4OH. Overall, the study pointed out that waste photovoltaic panels are new and complex products that can be considered as secondary sources to recover Ag and In, when a suitable combination of treatment processes is applied. Presented on: Journal of Cleaner Production

Summarization: The objective of this research is to develop new ceramic materials using hazardous serpentine asbestos extraction dust waste (45–70 wt%), clay-sand mix (30–50%) and glass waste (0–5%). The raw materials and ceramics were characterized by XRD, XRF, SEM/EDS and LAMMA analyses. The ceramic bodies were formed by axial pressing, drying and sintering in an electric oven at temperatures of 950°, 1000°, 1050°, 1100°, 1150°, 1200°, 1250° and 1300 °C. The flexion resistance values of the ceramics varied in the range of 2.85–56.97 MPa, the water absorption rate ranged from 0.28 to 17.61% and linear shrinkage, between 5.80 and 11.66%. These values of the mechanical properties were achieved due to the chemical interaction of the raw materials and syntheses of mainly glass formations with inclusions of enstatite and forsterite. Using the present findings at the industrial level will provide an opportunity to solve a serious ecological problem of serpentine dust wastes contamination, to recover the ecological situation in the areas of serpentine mining and to avoid the accumulation of serpentine wastes. Presented on: Construction and Building Materials

The purpose of Directive 2012/19/EU which is related to WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment), also known as “e-waste”, is to contribute to their sustainable production and consumption that would most possibly be achieved by their recovery, recycling and reuse. Under this perspective, the present study focused on the recovery of valuable materials, metals and metalloids from LCDs (Liquid Crystal Displays). Indium (In), arsenic (As) and stibium (Sb) were selected to be examined for their Leaching Capacity ( R ) from waste LCDs. Indium was selected mainly due to its rarity and preciousness, As due to its high toxicity and wide use in LCDs and Sb due to its recent application as arsenic’s replacement to improve the optimal clarity of a LCD screen. The experimental procedure included disassembly of screens along with removal and recovery of polarizers via thermal shock, cutting, pulverization and digestion of the shredded material and finally leaching evaluation of the aforementioned elements. Leaching tests were conducted under various temperatures, using various solid:liquid ( S / L ) ratios and solvents (acid mixtures), to determine the optimal conditions for obtaining the maximum leaching capacities. The examined elements exhibited different leaching behaviors, mainly due to the considerable diversity in their inherent characteristic properties. Indium demonstrated the highest recovery percentages (approximately 60%), while the recovery of As and Sb was unsuccessful, obtaining poor leaching percentages (0.16% and 0.5%, respectively).

The present study focuses on the comparison of two materials, compost from municipal solid waste and natural zeolite for the simultaneous removal of petroleum hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes – BTEX) and toxic metals from groundwater. First, batch experiments were conducted to identify the optimal removal conditions. All of the kinetic experiments were fitted to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model; equilibrium was reached within approximately 8 h for the zeolite and 12 h for the compost. An increase in the adsorbent dose and the pH value as well as a decrease in the initial concentration enhanced the pollutants' removal. The removal selectivity of both materials with slight differences follows the order Cd > Zn & toluene > ethylbenzene > m- & p-xylene > o-xylene > benzene. According, to the results derived from the continuous flow experiments the maximum adsorption capacity of the compost (90%) referred to Cd (0.88 mmol/g) whereas the minimum refers to benzene (65%) with a capacity up to 0.065 mmol/g. Zeolite had lower efficiencies for the studied pollutants with a higher performance corresponding to Cd (0.26 mmol/g), whereas the minimum zeolite capacity (63%) corresponds to toluene (0.045 mmol/g). Thus, this paper provides evidence that compost, a low cost material produced from waste, is capable for the simultaneous removal of both organic and inorganic pollutants from wastewater, and its performance is superior to zeolite.

This study aims to evaluate dried olive pomace derived biochar as a potential soil amendment for cadmium and nickel immobilization. Biochar was produced through pyrolysis under oxygen-limited conditions, at 400 °C (BC400) and 700 °C (BC700). Batch sorption/desorption experiments were conducted, investigating different agitation times (30–1440 min), initial metal concentration in the solution (100–3000 μM) and desorption pH (2–7). Results showed that by amending soil with biochar at increasing rates, enhanced sorption and decreased desorption of both metals were observed. In fact, biochar addition resulted in increased soil pH, possibly enhancing not only metal adsorption on soil surfaces (minerals or oxides), but also metal precipitation. Modeling results concerning sorption equilibrium corroborated this statement. Amended samples showed higher metal retention even at low pH values. Both biochars enhanced the ability of soil to immobilize cadmium and nickel, however in most cases BC700 was proven to be more efficient.

The present study aimed at investigating the anaerobic digestion of four agroindustrial waste, namely cotton gin waste, winery waste, olive pomace and juice industry waste, in semi-continuous mode, conducting mono-digestion and co-digestion assays, using an artificial organic fraction sample as co-substrate. These assays were divided into two groups, in which different conditions were applied. Group I investigated the variation in two operational parameters, i.e. the organic loading rate (OLR) and the hydraulic retention time (HRT), while in Group II, the assays were fed with different substrates in a sequential order. Results showed more elevated specific methane yields for co-digestion assays compared with mono-digestion assays. Maximum yields were achieved at an OLR of 1.0gVS/(L·d) and a HRT reduced to half of the initial. Further reduction of the HRT coupled to an increase of the OLR generally caused a significant decrease of specific methane yields, as well as one case of severe overloading, i.e. the mono-digestion of juice industry waste, which resulted in instability and ultimately system failure. Sequential feeding with different substrates led to a more equilibrated operation, especially for co-digestion systems, with higher specific methane yields being observed during the phases corresponding to winery waste and juice industry waste substrates. Overall more positive results were obtained in the cases in which the latter substrates were fed to the reactors at process startup.

Summarization: The objective of the present study is to evaluate the use of animal by-products (ABP) as substrates for anaerobic digestion, aiming at methane production. Specifically, four ABP of Category 2 and 3, namely (i) stomach and rumen, (ii) stomach contents, (iii) breasts and reproductive organs and (iv) bladders and intestines with their contents, were selected. The methane potential of each ABP was initially determined, while the feasibility of anaerobic co-digestion of ABP with two agroindustrial waste, i.e. orange peels and olive leaves was also studied. To this purpose, Biochemical Methane Potential (BMP), as well as semi-continuous assays were respectively conducted. In the latter, the effect of the variation in the organic loading rate (OLR) on methane production was investigated. Results obtained from BMP assays showed that the samples containing breasts and reproductive organs, bladders and intestine, and stomach and rumen, had higher methane potentials of 815, 787 and 759 mLCH4,STP/gVS, respectively. Moreover, according to the results of the semi-continuous assays, maximum methane yields between 253 and 727 mLCH4/gVSfed were obtained at an OLR of 0.8 gVS/L/d. The only case in which methanogenesis inhibition phenomena, due to increased ammonia concentrations, were observed, was the assay being fed with a mixture of breasts and reproductive organs and orange peels, at the highest OLR. This inhibition phenomenon was attributed to an inappropriate C/N ratio. Παρουσιάστηκε στο: Waste Management

This study focused on the determination of the toxic metal content of Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) present in various Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). The main objective was the identification and quantification of toxic metals detected in LCD panels. An experimental procedure which involved dismantling, shredding, pulverization, digestion and chemical analysis was followed for the sorting, separation and analysis of LCD monitors from various electronic devices that are currently on the market. Nine selected devices were examined, originated from four different types of e-waste (WEEE); TVs, computers, mobile phones and tablets. Eleven metals were measured in all examined samples. In addition, concentration values of chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) were compared with the respective limits set by the RoHS 2002/95/EC Directive that was recently renewed by the 2012/19/EU recast. The comparison revealed that the examined toxic metals on LCD panels did not exceed the limits set by the European Union (EU). Furthermore, when results were compared to the TTLC regulatory limits it was revealed that in three samples As concentrations were higher than the limit. Finally, when the TCLP test was implemented the aforementioned samples did not exhibit proportionally elevated values in their leachates.

In the present work, bottom and fly ash, generated from incinerated medical waste, was used as a raw material for the production of geopolymers. The stabilization (S/S) process studied in this paper has been evaluated by means of the leaching and mechanical properties of the S/S solids obtained. Hospital waste ash, sodium hydroxide, sodium silicate solution and metakaolin were mixed. Geopolymers were cured at 50 °C for 24 h. After a certain aging time of 7 and 28 days, the strength of the geopolymer specimens, the leachability of heavy metals and the mineralogical phase of the produced geopolymers were studied. The effects of the additions of fly ash and calcium compounds were also investigated. The results showed that hospital waste ash can be utilized as source material for the production of geopolymers. The addition of fly ash and calcium compounds considerably improves the strength of the geopolymer specimens (2–8 MPa). Finally, the solidified matrices indicated that geopolymerization process is able to reduce the amount of the heavy metals found in the leachate of the hospital waste ash.

Summarization: In this study we investigated the physical and mechanical properties of cement mortars, partially replaced with plastic (recycled plastic aggregate, RPA) recovered from WEEE (namely, “e-plastics”). The plastic housing of 14 LCD screens was sampled and, subsequently, compositionally and elementally analysed. Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), being the most commonly found polymer in WEEE, was used as aggregate in the cement mortar. The replacement percentages (RPs) used were 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, 10% and 12.5%, while the water to cement (w/c) ratio was maintained constant at 0.5 in all tests. The basic properties (e.g. compressive strength (CS), modulus of elasticity (MoE), density (ρ), porosity (Φ) and water absorption (WA)) of the created specimens were investigated. The obtained results, for all RPs, (especially those of 7.5% and 10%) exhibited an increase in the CS of the specimens by 15.4% and 7.8%, respectively, with the MoE decreased in both cases by 18.1% and 23.8%, respectively. The rest of the examined specimens’ physical properties measured (ρ, Φ, and WA) indicated, also, greater strength but lower ductility than the reference (standard) specimen. Concluding, the use of recovered plastics from WEEE as recycled aggregates (RAs) in cement could potentially be proved a useful downcycling alternative for waste plastics. Παρουσιάστηκε στο: Journal of Hazardous Materials

Zhu, W.; Zhang, M.; Yu, G.; Petukhov, V.; Mymrin, V., and Gidarakos, E., 2020. Flow resistance in dredged soil under a vacuum preloading system with vertical drainage boards. Journal of Coastal Research, 36(2), 327–338. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.Vacuum preloading combined with prefabricated vertical drains is one of the most widely applied methods to improve soft-ground loading capacity in coastal engineering projects. The resistance of solid particles to the pore-water flow in vacuum-preloaded soil plays an important role in the soil consolidation and pore-water dissipation. However, the flow resistance is still not clearly known during the vacuum drainage process. It is not clear whether the formulae for calculating the flow resistance factor for flow in uniform non-deformational porous media are applicable for flow in vacuum-preloaded soils or not. Because of a lack of knowledge on flow resistance in the vacuum-preloaded soil, coastal engineers only rely on their experience to select vacuum pumps. In this paper, the hydraulic resistance to flow in vacuum-preloaded soils was investigated. Energy conservation in the vacuum preloading system during the drainage process was analyzed. Sixteen laboratory tests were conducted, in which the vacuum pressure, flow rate, seepage velocity, and particle Reynolds number were observed or calculated. Results showed that particle size, uniformity coefficient, and porosity of the soil have important effects on resistance in dredged soils under vacuum preloading condition. The flow resistance in the vacuum-preloaded soil behaved quite differently from that in uniform porous medium. The formulae for calculating the flow resistance factor for flow in uniform packed beds were not applicable for flow in vacuum-preloaded soils. A new formula was proposed to calculate the flow resistance factor in vacuum-preloaded soils with acceptable accuracy. Because the vacuum preloading system with fixed pump power consumes much energy, new vacuum preloading systems with low energy consumption are necessarily developed in future work.

Real contaminated sediments often come with the simultaneous existence of heavy metals and PAHs requiring, thereby, appropriate choice of flushing agents when subjected to electroremediation. The application and efficiency evaluation of the innovative non-ionic surfactants octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol (Nonidet P40) and 2-methyloxirane (Poloxamer 407), in comparison with the already known Tween 80 and HPCD cyclodextrin, were examined during enhanced electrokinetic remediation of surficial sediments, mainly from PAHs. Heavy metal removal was also assessed. The results indicated a removal efficacy for SUM PAHs of approximately 48% and 43% with the use of Nonidet P40 and Poloxamer 407 respectively, which was far better than the ones taken from both the cyclodextrin and Tween 80. Furthermore, removal percentages for individual PAHs, e.g. fluorene and chrysene, reached almost 83% or 92%, respectively. As far as heavy metals are concerned, unenhanced treatment was the only one demonstrating a removal efficacy in all metals examined, however, giving “poor to medium” percentages (5% for Zn to 43% for Cr). On the other hand, the enhanced runs exhibited sufficient removal only in some of the metals examined, e.g. Zn and As, indicating that although surfactants favor the removal of PAHs are not suitable for all heavy metals.

In the “Sea Diamond” shipwreck, it is estimated that almost 1.7 tons of batteries/accumulators and approximately 150 cathode ray tube technology televisions have gone to the bottom of the sea. Under these circumstances, all the aforementioned materials will eventually undergo severe accelerated corrosion. Consequently, a variety of heavy metals will either be released in seawater or precipitate in the form of salts resulting in contamination of the sea sediments. According to the ship data, and the aforementioned quantities of batteries and televisions, it is estimated that approximately 75–80 g of mercury, 630–1,050 g of cadmium and 1.14–1.26 tons of lead exist in the wreck only due to the electrical and electronic equipment present in the ship, not to mention the significant amount of heavy metals such as copper, nickel, ferrous and chromium that exist in the hulk. Four series of seawater sampling (n = 85) were conducted in different stations surrounding the wreck area in order to assess the overall impact from the release of heavy metals in the surrounding aquatic environment. The analysis indicated that there were stations where lead, zinc and cadmium were present in concentrations higher than the permissible limits set by the Unites States Environmental Protection Agency for seawater. Furthermore, the analysis of three series of sediment sampling (n = 31) from the wreck area showed elevated but expected concentration values for ferrous and manganese, considering the geological background of the area and contamination with lead, copper and cadmium.

This work presents the efficiency of organic materials, such as compost (fresh and mature) from municipal solid waste and sewage sludge (untreated and digested), from the Wastewater Treatment Plant of Chania Prefecture, Crete in the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons present in groundwater. In this study, all samples were characterized for various contents such as heavy metals, organic compounds, toxicity, phytotoxicity and bacteria population. Mature compost was the least phytotoxic obtaining a Germination Index of up to 95%, in two of the studied seeds, whereas digested sludge exhibited the highest phytotoxicity, with a Germination Index ranging from 0 to 15% for three types of seeds. Additionally, compost samples demonstrated higher bacteria content (10 7 CFUs/dry sample) than sludge (10 6 CFUs/dry sample). A series of batch experiments were conducted in order to determine the optimal operating conditions for sorption processes. Mixtures of BTEX (10 ppm) and solid samples (compost/sludge), in a ratio of 1:10 (w/w), were studied. Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry analysis was used for the evaluation of BTEX removal rate via the reduction of BTEX concentration. According to the results, mature compost appeared to be the best adsorbent for BTEX, obtaining a maximum removal percentage of up to 90%. Equilibrium was reached within 12 h, for compost samples and within 24 h for sludges.

Τhe present research investigates the partitioning of six selected toxic metals (Ni, Cr, Pb, Zn, Cu, and As) in eight sediment samples; half of them were collected from Elefsis Gulf, and the other half were taken from Koumoundourou Lake, Athens, Greece. Each one of them was treated by applying Tessier's five-step sequential extraction procedure. Regarding gulf sediments, the results indicated that Cu exhibits a strong affinity to the organic matter with percentages ranging from 65 to 78 %. Considerable amount of Zn (32-40 %) is bound to the Fe-Mn fraction and the non-residual fraction, while Cr and Ni are bound to the organic fraction, an observation that suits all toxic metals examined. Regarding lake sediments, Pb is the predominant metal bound to Fe-Mn (48-51 %). It is also noteworthy that the percentage of Zn bound to carbonated fraction (5-15 %), indicating biological availability. In conclusion, the application of several ecological risk indicators demonstrated that Elefsis Gulf sediments correspond to a moderate pollution level, with Pb and Ni being less bioavailable than in the lake's samples, in contrast to Zn which is more bioavailable. Finally, Koumoundourou Lakes' basin is characterized of "low risk."

Summarization: The present study evaluates the influence of alkaline (NaOH) pretreatment on anaerobic digestion of olive pomace. Batch hydrolysis experiments with different NaOH dosages, process durations and temperatures were conducted, in which the variation of olive pomace solubilization in the liquid phase was investigated. The effect of pretreatment on anaerobic digestion was studied through biochemical methane potential assays. The results demonstrated the effectiveness of the NaOH pretreatment in improving olive pomace solubilization as well as its biodegradability. Maximum specific methane yields were achieved at different NaOH dosages depending on the pretreatment temperature. Consequently, it was concluded that the two operating parameters of the pretreatment stage (NaOH dosage and temperature) may exert a joint effect on substrate biodegradability and methane yields. The highest methane yield (242 NmL CH4/gVS) was obtained for the material pretreated at 90 °C, at a dosage of 1 mmol/gVS (4% of VS). Presented on: Waste Management

Summarization: In this study, the adsorption of Cu(II) from aqueous solutions by agricultural by-products, such as rice husks, olive pomace and orange waste, as well as compost, was evaluated. The aim was to obtain sorbent materials (biochars) through hydrothermal treatment (300 °C) and pyrolysis (300 °C and 600 °C). The effect of adsorbent dose, pH, contact time and initial Cu(II) concentration in batch-mode experiments was investigated. The optimum Cu(II) adsorption conditions was found to occur at 5-12 g/L adsorbent dose, initial pH 5-6, and reaction time 2-4 h. Furthermore, the adsorption kinetics were best described by the pseudo-second order model for all the tested materials, while the adsorption equilibrium best fitted by the linear and Freundlich isotherms. Comparing rice husks and olive pomace, the higher adsorption capacity resulted after pyrolysis at 300 °C. With respect to the orange waste and compost, the highest adsorption capacity was observed using biochars obtained after hydrothermal treatment and pyrolysis at 300 °C. Presented on: Journal of Environmental Management

The electrochemical oxidation of stabilized landfill leachate with 2960 mgL(-1) chemical oxygen demand (COD) over a Ti/IrO2-RuO2 anode was investigated in the presence of HClO4 as the supporting electrolyte. Emphasis was given on the effect of electrolysis time (up to 240 min) and temperature (30, 60 and 80 °C), current density (8, 16 and 32 mAcm(-2)), initial effluent's pH (0.25, 3, 5 and 6), HClO4 concentration (0.25 and 1M) and the addition of NaCl (20 and 100 mM) or Na2SO4 (20 mM) as source of extra electrogenerated oxidants on performance; the latter was evaluated regarding COD, total carbon (TC), total phenols (TPh) and color removal. Moreover, the anode was studied by scanning electron microscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The main parameters affecting the process were the effluent's pH and the addition of salts. Treatment for 240 min at 32 mAcm(-2) current density, 80 °C and the pH adjusted from its inherent value of 0.25 (i.e., after the addition of HClO4) to 3 yielded 90% COD, 65% TC and complete color and TPh removal at an electricity consumption of 35kWhkg(-1) COD removed. Comparable performance (i.e. 75% COD reduction) could be achieved without pH adjustment but with the addition of 100mM NaCl consuming 20 kWhkg(-1) COD removed.

An enhanced electrokinetic process for the removal of cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) from contaminated soils was performed. The efficiency of the chelate agents nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) and diaminocycloexanetetraacetic acid (DCyTA) was examined under constant potential gradient (1.23 V/cm). The results showed that chelates were effective in desorbing metals at a high pH, with metal–chelate anion complexes migrating towards the anode. At low pH, metals existing as dissolved cations migrated towards the cathode. In such conflicting directions, the metals accumulated in the middle of the cell. Speciation of the metals during the electrokinetic experiments was performed to provide an understanding of the distribution of the Cd, Ni and Zn. The results of sequential extraction analysis revealed that the forms of the metals could be altered from one fraction to another due to the variation of physico-chemical conditions throughout the cell, such as pH, redox potential and the chemistry of the electrolyte solution during the electrokinetic treatment. It was found that binding forms of metals were changed from the difficult type to easier extraction type.

This work examines four essentially different and widely established methods for the treatment of sewage sludge and determines the applicability of each one of them in the economical, geographical and environmental settings of the island of Crete in Greece. Under these conditions, the combination of lime stabilization and solar drying appears to be the optimum solution for sewage sludge management. For each of the treatment technologies considered, cost indicator spreadsheets were developed that enabled the automatic calculation of the total cost. Τhe cost of the lime stabilization–soar drying combined treatment is comparable to the cost of composting or thermal drying alone. The judgment criteria and the economical parameters used for the evaluation of the methods may be a useful tool for other wastewater treatment plants in various Mediterranean islands.

An integrated experimental program was conducted to remove Cd, Pb and Cu from contaminated soil. The chelate agents nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) and ethyleneglycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA) were used as washing solutions under different pH conditions and concentrations. Results showed that the extraction efficiency for Cd in decreasing order was NTA > EGTA > DTPA, while for Pb and Cu it was DTPA > NTA > EGTA. The use of higher chelate concentrations did not necessarily result in greater extraction efficiency. Electrokinetic remediation was applied by conditioning anolyte-catholyte pH to neutral values in order to avoid any potential alterations to the physicochemical soil properties. The removal efficiency for Cd was 65-95%, for Cu 15-60%, but for Pb was less than 20%. The phytotoxicity of the treated soil showed that the soil samples from the anode section were less phytotoxic than the untreated soil, but the phytotoxicity was increased in the samples from the cathode section.

Summarization: Light non-aqueous phase liquids (LNAPLs) represent a great category of soil contaminants that can become a persistent, secondary and long-term source of contamination. In order to successfully confront with LNAPL pollution, their infiltration and distribution in the subsurface must be studied. The purpose of this article is to present the investigation results for the flow and distribution of two typical LNAPL (Soltrol 220 and Diesel Fuel) in two different types of unsaturated porous media (sand). Four LNAPL transient spills were simulated in an experimental sand matrix, using two different sand configurations. Photographs were frequently taken under stable conditions and the movement of the liquid was defined by an image analysis technique, producing saturation profiles. As it was proved, LNAPL move slower in the fine sand than in the coarse sand, due to its small coefficient of permeability. LNAPL saturation was estimated to be 80–100% mainly in the interface of the two sand layers, where vertical movement is limited and horizontal dominates, indicating that the interface of fine and coarse layer is able to act as a capillary barrier, which prevents LNAPL infiltration in the coarse layer. Presented on: Desalination

The presence of hazardous substances and preparations in small waste electrical and electronic equipment (sWEEE) found in the residual household waste stream of the city of Dresden, Germany has been investigated. The content of sWEEE plastics in heavy metals and halogens is determined using handheld X-ray fluorescence analysis (HXRF), elemental analysis by means of atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and ion exchange chromatography (IEC). Mean value of results for heavy metals in samples (n = 51) by AAS are 17.4 mg/kg for Pb, 5.7 mg/kg for Cd, 8.4 mg/kg for Cr. The mass fraction of an additive as shown by HXRF (n = 161) can vary over a wide range. Precise deductions as regards sWEEE plastics content in hazardous substances and preparations cannot be made. Additional research would be expedient regarding the influence of hazardous substances to recycling processes, in particular regarding the contamination of clean fractions in the exit streams of a WEEE treatment plant. Suitable standards for calibrating HXRF for use on EEE plastics or complex electr(on)ic components do not exist and should be developed.

Summarization: Subcritical water was used at laboratory scale to reveal information with respect to the degradation mechanism of TNT on contaminated soil. Highly contaminated soil (12% TNT) was heated with water at four different temperatures, 150, 175, 200 and 225 °C and samples were obtained at appropriate time intervals. At the same time, similar experiments were performed with TNT spiked on to clean soil, sand and pure water in order to compare and eliminate various factors that may be present in the more complex contaminated soil system. Subcritical water was successful at remediating TNT-contaminated soil. TNT destruction percentages ranged between 98 and 100%. The aim of this work was to study the soil–water-contaminant interaction and determine the main physical parameters that affect TNT degradation. It was shown that the rate-limiting step of the process is the extraction/diffusion of TNT molecules from the soil core to the soil surface, where they degrade. Additionally, it was determined that the soil matrix also catalyses degradation to a lesser extent. Autocatalytic effects were not clearly observed. Presented on: Journal of Hazardous Materials

The aim of this study was the characterization of samples of petroleum spills that were derived from the oily free-phase zone in the subsurface of a petroleum refinery and the identification of the leakage origin. Principal component analysis and k-means clustering were applied on a simplified and easily obtained gas chromatographic data set. It was established that these methods are capable of discriminating among samples that exhibit similar composition and of identifying the refinery fractions that exist in the spills. The proposed methodology can be employed as a rapid and reliable screening tool in environmental studies dealing with oil spills, where mixed sources of leakage are expected.

Air sparging represents an innovative groundwater remediation technology, which has been proved to be capable of restoring aquifers that have been polluted by volatile and (or) biodegradable contaminants, such as petroleum hydrocarbons. This paper presents the design, the installation, and the pulsed operation of an in-well air sparging system at the site of a Greek petroleum refinery. The geographical position, the hydrologeoly, and the contamination features of the chosen study area develop special conditions that, along with the fact that the existing refinery is still active, greatly determine the applicability and the effectiveness of the specific technology. The area that was used for the application of the technology covered almost 600 m2 and included five air injection wells and four additional monitoring wells. The pulsed operation of the installed system lasted about 5 months and the results of frequent groundwater sampling and analysis indicate an important decline in total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and benzene–toluene–ethylbenzene–xylene (BTEX) concentrations (up to 99%). However, prior to any attempt to expand the application of air sparging within the facilities of the refinery, special attention should be given to the eccentricities of the site and the ability of the technology to confront more persistent contaminants, such as methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE).

The evaluation of a chemical (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS) and a natural (humic acid) surfactant, in order to enhance the electrokinetic removal of cadmium from contaminated soil has been investigated in this study. SDS was used either for soil washing as well as purging solution. When SDS was used as purging solution in the electrode compartment, there was no cadmium solubility, since SDS can not migrate in the soil specimen. On the contrary, using SDS as washing solution more than 90 % of cadmium removal was achieved. Humic acid was applied on the contaminated soil at various concentrations, while 1M acetic acid was used as purging solution in the cathode compartment. Under acidic conditions humic acid was complexed with cadmium forming relatively weak bonds. This explains the results obtained, since as it was proved that the extraction efficiency of cadmium was not affected by the increase of humic acid concentration.

The existing data regarding the quality of the environment in the asbestos mine of northern Greece (MABE) region related to the presence of asbestos are insufficient to determine the current pollution problem. In the present work, a first approach to this problem has been taken through a toxicity risk assessment. The environmental quality of an open air asbestos mine was evaluated over a long period of time by measuring and monitoring the concentration of asbestos fibres in air, soil and water. Air measurements were made to determine the concentration of asbestos fibres in the atmospheric air of the mine, the depositions and the nearby villages. The asbestos fibre concentration was also specified inside the building facilities of MABE. Analyses of soil, dust and water samples were carried out showing the presence of enormous quantities of chrysotile asbestos. The concentration of asbestos fibres in the atmospheric air was compared to older measurements that were taken at the same sampling points during the operation of the mine. The results of this work, in conjunction with individual researches that have been carried out in the past and with the evaluation of international standards of scientific and experience-based findings, provide a reliable framework with which to estimate the threat of MABE to its surrounding environment, and help to determine a basic criterion for the remediation and rehabilitation of the region. In addition, mathematical models based on human and animal studies were used to estimate the probability of a person developing cancer from breathing air containing asbestos fibres in the wider vicinity of the mine in order to define appropriate procedures for evaluating asbestos-related risk.

This study was primarily imposed by the ever increasing need for detoxification of asbestos and asbestos containing materials (ACM), with potential application onsite. The present work investigates potential detoxification of pure chrysotile (Chr) asbestos via a combined treatment of oxalic acid dihydrate (Oxac) (Η2C2Ο4·2Η2Ο) with silicates, such as tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) (SiH20C8O4) and pure water glass (WG) (potassium silicate) (K2SiO3). These reagents used in the experimental procedure, do not cause adverse effects on the environment and are cost effective. The results of FTIR, XRD, optical and scanning microscopy coupled with EDS analyses indicated that all of the applied treatments destructed the Chr structure and yielded silica of amorphous phase and the biomaterial glushinskite from the Oxac reacted with brucite [Mg(OH)2] layer. Each of the proposed formulations can be applied for the detoxification of asbestos, according to priorities related to the specific products of the recovery treatment. Therefore, Oxac acid leaching followed by the TEOS addition is preferred in cases of glushinskite recovery; TEOS treatment of asbestos with subsequent Oxac addition produced amorphous silica production; finally Oxac acid leaching followed by WG encapsulated the asbestos fibers and can be used in cases of onsite asbestos and ACM detoxification.

The feasibility of using chelate agents to enhance the electrokinetic remediation of heavy metal contaminated soils has been investigated in this study. Chelate agents were used as washing solutions as well as purging solutions at the electrode compartments. The pH value of the soil significantly affects the removal of heavy metal ions. Due to electrolysis reaction pH increases near the cathode. Without conditioning of the pH value metals precipitate as hydroxides. This problem is solved by the addition of an acid in the cathode compartment. The heavy metals that are dissolved will move to either the cathode or the anode, depending on their charges. This paper presents the results of electrokinetic extraction of cadmium using acetic acid, citric acid and pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (PDA) as washing and purging solutions, and the removal of zinc using ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and sodium metabisulfite (Na2S2O5) as washing and purging solutions, respectively. The results showed that the increased experimental time induced a higher removal efficiency of cadmium and zinc.

Summarization: A one-year survey was conducted in the greater region of Crete (located at the lower region of the Aegean Sea) for the purpose of identifying waste composition (including chemical and physical characterization), as well as any seasonal variation. The investigation was carried out repeatedly at seven landfills and one transfer station in Crete, in four phases. Each sampling phase corresponded to a season (autumn, winter, spring, summer). ASTM D5231-92(2003) standard method and RCRA Waste Sampling Draft Technical Guidance were used. Hand sorting was used for classifying the collected wastes into the following categories: plastics, paper, metals, aluminium, leather–wood–textiles–rubbers, organic wastes, non-combustibles and miscellaneous. Further analysis included proximate and ultimate analysis of combustible materials. Metals such as lead, cadmium and mercury were also investigated. The results show that there has been a significant decrease of organic wastes during the last decade due to the increase of packaging materials, as a result of a change in consumption patterns. Three main waste categories were determined: organic wastes, paper and plastics, which combined represent 76% of the total waste in Crete. Furthermore, a high fraction of glass and a seasonal variation of aluminium indicate a strong correlation of waste composition with certain human activities, such as tourism. There is also a variation between the municipal solid waste (MSW) composition in the region of Crete (2003–2004) and MSW composition suggested in the National Solid Waste Planning (2000) [National Solid Waste Planning, 2000. Completion and particularization of Common Ministerial Act 113944//1944/1997: National Solid Waste Planning, June 2000]. The results of this survey are to be utilized by the regional solid waste authorities in order to establish an integrated waste treatment site, capable of fulfilling the regional waste management demands. Presented on: Waste Management

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the combination of electrokinetic remediation and soil washing technology in order to remove cadmium from contaminated soil. This paper presents the results of an experimental research undertaken to evaluate different washing and purging solutions to enhance the removal of cadmium from a real contaminated soil during electrokinetic remediation. Two different experimental modules were applied in the laboratory. Soil was saturated with tap water, while acetic and hydrochloric acids, as well as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) were used as purging solutions in the first module. Results show that there was a decrease of cadmium concentration near anode, but a significant increase in the middle of the cell, due to the increasing pH. Citric, nitric and acetic acids were used for soil washing and purging solutions in the second module. In this case, an 85% reduction of cadmium concentration was achieved. Therefore, results indicate that soil pH and washing solutions are the most important factors in governing the dissolution and/or desorption of Cd in a soil system under electrical fields.

In the present work, the efficiency evaluation of electrocoagulation (EC) in removing toxic metals from a real industrial wastewater, collected from Aspropyrgos, Athens, Greece was investigated. Manganese (Mn), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) at respective concentrations of 5 mg/L, 5 mg/L and 10 mg/L were present in the wastewater (pH = 6), originated from the wastes produced by EBO-PYRKAL munitions industry and Hellenic Petroleum Elefsis Refineries. The effect of operational parameters such as electrode combination and distance, applied current, initial pH and initial metal concentration, was studied. The results indicated that Cu and Zn were totally removed in all experiments, while Mn exhibited equally high removal percentages (approximately 90%). Decreasing the initial pH and increasing the distance between electrodes, resulted in a negative effect on the efficiency and energy consumption of the process. On the other hand, increasing the applied current, favored metal removal but resulted in a power consumption increase. Different initial concentrations did not affect metal removal efficiency. The optimal results, regarding both cost and EC efficiency, were obtained with a combination of iron electrodes, at 2 cm distance, at initial current of 0.1 A and pH = 6. After 90 min of treatment, maximum removal percentages obtained were 89% for Mn, 100% for Cu and 100% for Zn, at an energy consumption of 2.55 kWh/m3.

This study focused on the sequential application of a chelating agent (citric acid) followed by a surfactant in the simultaneous electroremediation of real contaminated sediments from toxic metals and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). Furthermore, the efficiency evaluation of two innovative non-ionic surfactants, commercially known as Poloxamer 407 and Nonidet P40, was investigated. The results indicated a removal efficacy of approximately 43% and 48% for the summation of PAHs (SUM PAHs), respectively for the aforementioned surfactants, much better than the one obtained by the use of Tween 80 (nearly 21%). Individual PAHs (e.g. fluorene) were removed in percentages that reached almost 84% and 92% in the respective electrokinetic experiments when these new surfactants were introduced. In addition, the combined-enhanced sequential electrokinetic treatment with citric acid improved dramatically the removal of Zn and As, compared to the unenhanced run, but did not favor the other toxic metals examined. Since no improvement in metal removal percentages occurred when Tween 80 was used, significant contribution to this matter should also be attributed to the solubilization capacity of these innovative, in electrokinetic remediation, non-ionic surfactants.

In a passenger ship, the existence of EEE is obvious. In time, under shipwreck's conditions, all these materials will undergo an accelerated severe corrosion, due to salt water, releasing, consequently, heavy metals and other hazardous substances in the aquatic environment. In this study, a laboratory-scale reactor was manufactured in order to simulate the conditions under which the “Sea Diamond” shipwreck lies (14 bars of pressure and 16 °C of temperature) and remotely observe and assess any heavy metal release that would occur, from part of the EEE present in the ship, into the sea. Ten metals were examined and the results showed that zinc, mercury and copper were abundant in the water samples taken from the reactor and in significantly higher concentrations compared to the US EPA CMC (criterion maximum concentration) criterion. Moreover, nickel and lead were found in concentrations higher than the CCC (criterion constant concentration) criterion set by the US EPA for clean seawater. The rest of the elements were measured in concentrations within the permissible limits. It is therefore of environmental benefit to salvage the wreck and recycle all the WEEE found in it.

Eight different surface sediment samples (K1–K8) were collected from two separate areas of Lake Koumoundourou and two samples (E1 and E2) from one area of Elefsis Bay, Athens, Greece. The level of pollution attributed to heavy metals was evaluated using several pollution indicators. Degree of Contamination, Modified Contamination Degree and Geoaccumulation Indexes were applied in order to determine and assess the anthropogenic contribution of the selected six elements (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As and Pb). Moreover, the adverse effects of the sediments to aquatic organisms, from both heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), were determined by using Sediment Quality Guidelines. The results indicated that Lake Koumoundourou is contaminated with heavy metals in a moderate degree and almost 50 % of the sediments are associated with frequent observation of adverse effects, when it comes to Ni and occasional observation of adverse effects, when it comes to Cu, Zn and Pb. As far as PAHs are concerned, around 60 % of the samples can be occasionally associated to toxic biological effects according to the effect-range classification for phenanthrene, benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene and pyrene. Finally, samples taken from the north side of the lake are more contaminated with PAHs than the ones taken from the east side probably due to the existence of the water barrier which acts as a reservoir of PAHs.

Summarization: The removal of BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethyl-benzene and m-,p-,o-xylenes), MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether) and TAME (tertiary amyl methyl ether) from aqueous solutions by raw (L(raw)) and thermally treated lignite at 250 C, 550 °C and 750 °C (L250, L550 and L750, respectively) was studied, through batch experiments. Selected physical characteristics of both raw and treated lignite such as surface area and pore volume distribution were determined. Competitive adsorption effects were also explored. It was proved that the examined lignite samples were quite effective in removing BTEX, MTBE and TAME from aqueous solutions, with sample treated at 750 °C being the most effective. Among the contaminants, BTEX appeared to have the strongest affinity, based on mass uptake by lignite samples. BTEX presence was found to significantly prevent MTBE and TAME adsorption on lignite (up to ∼55%). In all cases, equilibrium was achieved within 3h. The kinetics data proved a closer fit to the pseudo second order model, while the isotherm experimental data were a better fit to the Freundlich model, producing in some cases values of the isotherm constant 1/n less than one, indicating favorable adsorption. Respective batch experiments using commercial activated carbon (AC) were also conducted for comparison. Presented on: Journal of Hazardous Materials