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Environmental Valorization of Rice Waste as Adsorbent Material for the Removal of Nitrates from Water

Author

Listed:
  • Michela Mazzoccoli

    (Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering (DICCA), University of Genoa, Via Opera Pia 15A, 16145 Genoa, Italy)

  • Elisabetta Arato

    (Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering (DICCA), University of Genoa, Via Opera Pia 15A, 16145 Genoa, Italy)

  • Cristina Moliner

    (Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering (DICCA), University of Genoa, Via Opera Pia 15A, 16145 Genoa, Italy)

Abstract

An innovative water-treatment process consisting in reducing the nitrate concentration by using an active silica filter obtained from ashes produced during rice-straw thermal treatment has been developed by the LIFE LIBERNITRATE project. A life-cycle assessment (LCA) was carried out to evaluate the environmental impacts of this innovative process, from the production of ashes and extraction and activation of silica to the water treatment. These results were compared to the environmental impact derived from the use of bottled water, instead of tap water, where traditional water treatments (i.e., reverse osmosis) may not be available due to the high installation and operating costs. The comparison showed that the proposed innovative process could contribute to reducing the environmental impact in almost all analyzed impact categories (from 20% for photochemical oxidation to 90% for abiotic depletion) with respect to the use of bottled water. In addition, if conveniently optimized (for example reducing the amount of active silica used per day), the innovative process could further reduce the ecological footprint and be more eco-friendly than the use of bottled water and could be applied to treating water in small towns where reverse osmosis may not be installed. The LCA proved that the innovative process could contribute to reducing the environmental impact of water-treatment technologies resulting in lower environmental indicators with respect to the use of bottled water.

Suggested Citation

  • Michela Mazzoccoli & Elisabetta Arato & Cristina Moliner, 2022. "Environmental Valorization of Rice Waste as Adsorbent Material for the Removal of Nitrates from Water," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-12, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:7:p:2605-:d:785981
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cristina Moliner & Dario Bove & Elisabetta Arato, 2020. "Co-Incineration of Rice Straw-Wood Pellets: A Sustainable Strategy for the Valorisation of Rice Waste," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-14, November.
    2. Cristina Moliner & Roberto Teruel-Juanes & Carmem T. Primaz & Jose David Badia & Barbara Bosio & Pilar Campíns-Falcó & Carmen Molíns-Legua & Francesc Hernandez & Lorenzo Sanjuan-Navarro & Plàcid Madra, 2018. "Reduction of Nitrates in Waste Water through the Valorization of Rice Straw: LIFE LIBERNITRATE Project," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-12, August.
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