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- Solid Waste Valorisation for Wastewater Treatment ProcessesPublication . Cartaxo, Marco; Rosa, Manuel; Nogueira, Isabel; Nunes, Valentim; Pinho, Henrique J. O.; Mateus, D. M. R.The present work was part of a research project, which pursued the treatment and reuse of urban and industrial wastewaters as well as solid waste. Its main goal was the development of modular systems for wastewater treatment based on constructed wetlands (CWs). The project involves the concept of circular economy and the rationale of "using waste to treat waste", exploring the possibility of the treatment systems being composed of solid waste and by-products from significant industrial sectors. The work thereof presented describes the physical and chemical characterization of five waste solids, which were used as lab-scale fillers. Optical microscopy observations, μFRX and FTIR-ATR analyses were conducted to characterize the solid wastes before and after use in the CWs treating urban type wastewater. Results indicated that, among the five solid wastes studied, limestone fragments from construction showed favorable conditions to biofilm growth, and coal slags from power plants and cork granulates showed the highest indication of adsorption of organic compounds.
- Portuguese Hemp Plant as Raw Material for PapermakingPublication . Baptista, C.; Santos, Natércia; Rosa, ManuelThe objectives of this study were the physical and chemical characterization of Portuguese industrial hemp and the assessment of its suitability to produce kraft pulp. A comparison was established with a reference eucalyptus pulp, obtained by the same chemical process. Handmade paper sheets were prepared in the laboratory using hemp pulp, eucalyptus pulp and a blend of both fibres in order to compare final paper properties. The unbleached pulp was produced by batch kraft cooking (NaOH + Na2S) and the evaluation of pulp bleachability was carried out under a D0E0D1E1D2 sequence. The physical properties of laboratory papers prepared with different compositions (100% hemp, 100% eucalyptus, hemp/eucalyptus 50:50) were assessed according to International Standards. Hemp fibres present two fractions, bast and core (33% and 67% of the total stem mass, respectively) with distinct biometric characteristics and cell composition. The hemp plant allowed cooking yield overlapping the wood reference, with lesser uncooked fractions. The pulp exhibited a good bleachability, even better than the reference. Hemp plant allowed a pulp with a higher gain of brightness and lower loss of intrinsic viscosity than eucalyptus. Hemp pulp also showed a better beatability, superiority in tearing resistance and a lower air permeability. The paper sheets obtained with the hemp/ eucalyptus mixture showed interesting properties, which predicts a suitable combination of these two raw materials for papermaking.
- Participation of students in the project Valorbio: A case study to accelerate the implementation of sustainability principles in the curriculumPublication . Mateus, D. M. R.; Pinho, Henrique J. O.; Nogueira, Isabel; Rosa, Manuel; Cartaxo, Marco; Nunes, ValentimPurpose – The present work describes the case of the Valorbio research project, in which students of different high-level programs were involved in the experimental work and in the dissemination of results in collaboration with the research team. Design/methodology/approach – The inclusion in higher education curricula of content related to the sustainable development should be a preferred mechanism for the dissemination of good practices of sustainability. Another equally important way to achieve this is to involve students in research projects that seek solutions to the societal challenges related to sustainable growth. The Valorbio project aims to meet the needs for treating and reusing wastewater and solid waste. Its main goal was the development of modular systems for wastewater treatment based on constructed wetlands,exploring the possibility of the treatment systems being composed of solid waste and by-products from significant industrial sectors. Findings – The students’ contributionto the research workwas relevant, and simultaneously allowedthem to acquire skills on sustainable development. Additionally, the students contributed to the dissemination of the results. The Valorbio project can thus be considered a successful application of the concept of project-based learning,as a way to include sustainability issues content in the higher education curricula. Originality/value – The applied experimental work had an original approach regarding the equipment design, the waste materials valuation, as well as the integration of waste treatment processes in the circular economy paradigm.This paper is the first reported project-based learning experience involving students of short-cycle technical-professional programs in partnership with first and second-level students and a research team.