Anastasios Zouboulis

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki | AUTH · School of Chemistry-Laboratory of Chemical & Environmental Technology

Chromite is formed in nature in ophiolitic layers and ultrabasic rocks through fractional crystallization. The corresponding mining technologies separate the ore from these ultrabasic rocks, which are considered to be tailings for the process but may be valorized in other applications. The need to utilize this material is due to the large quantitie...

The present research employs a pilot-scale selective electrodialysis system to treat liquid digestate, fractionating nutrient ions and exploring fertilizer creation via ammonia stripping and phosphorus precipitation, while studying pharmaceutical transport behavior and examining membrane fouling. The influence of diverse potentials was studied in s...

The major issue of raw materials’ depletion, and more specifically, of phosphorous (an important fertilizer) has currently become an emergent aspect due to expected depletion problems needing immediate handling. This was the reason for the implementation of the PhoReSe project that aimed to remove and recover phosphorus from the secondary (biologic...

In the current study, the genotypic characteristics such as antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes, and plasmid replicons and phenotypic characteristics such as biofilm formation and antimicrobial resistance of 87 extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli (ESBL-Ec) isolated from 7 water bodies in northern Greece were investiga...

The major issue of raw materials depletion and more specifically of phosphorous (an important fertilizer) has currently become an emergent aspect, due to expected depletion problems, needing immediate handling. This was the reason for the implementation of PhoReSe project that aimed to remove and recover phosphorus from the secondary (biologically...

A combination of membrane processes was applied to treat the digestate produced after the anaerobic treatment of pig manure in a biogas plant, aiming towards the recovery of nutrients and effective water treatment for potential reuse. Initially, coarse filtration (sieving and microfiltration) was used to remove particles larger than 1 µm, followed...

The present study evaluates the application of heterogeneous catalytic ozonation for the removal of micropollutants from wastewater effluent in a pre-industrial-scale unit, consisting of a post-filtration, an ozone dilution, a catalytic ozonation, and a final biological stabilization step. The important step of ozone dilution is optimized by the us...

A series of technologies have been employed in pilot-scale to process digestate, i.e. the byproduct remaining after the anaerobic digestion of agricultural and other wastes, with the aim of recovering nutrients and reducing the load of solids and organics from it, hence improving the quality of digestate for potential subsequent reuse. In this case...

Due to their unique properties, i.e., fluoroscopy response and inertness, noble metals and alloys are present in several widespread medical–technological products, such as catheters, guide-wires, and stents. Despite their value, these products serve as single-use consumables, following a fate of solid waste disposal and loss of their valuable metal...

Carbon dioxide (CO2), which results from fossil fuel combustion and industrial processes, accounts for a substantial part of the total anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHGs). As a result, several carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technologies have been developed during the last decade. Chemical absorption, adsorption, cryogenic separati...

Citation: Kalaitzidou, K.; Ntona, M.M.; Zavridou, E.; Tzeletas, S.; Patsialis, T.; Kallioras, A.; Zouboulis, A.; Virgiliou, C.; Mitrakas, M.; Kazakis, N. Water Quality Evaluation of Groundwater and Dam Reservoir Water: Application of the Water Quality Index to Study Sites in Greece. Water 2023, 15, 4170. https://doi. Abstract: To detect the degrada...

This is the first study to describe a novel, patented process for the on-site synthesis and subsequent direct utilisation of Polyferric Chloride (PFC) at low Fe concentration dosing, which aims to facilitate the potential replacement of Polyaluminium Chloride (PAC) during surface water treatment (e.g., from reservoirs) for drinking water production...

In the present work, the efficient removal of CO2 from CH4 for biogas upgrade is investigated, employing a commercial polyimide (PI) membrane (UBE Industries Ltd., Japan). The goal is to meet the requirements of high purity biomethane (>95%) for effective energy use (e.g., by connecting the CH4-rich gaseous stream into the natural gas grid) with si...

Limited research has been made so far regarding technological approaches for the recovery of precious metals such as Pt and Ir from single-use medical products such as electrophysiology catheters, with most, if not all, of their quantity being discarded as medical waste. In this study, we investigate a commercial diagnostic electrode catheter which...

Fluoride is present in several groundwaters due to natural or anthropogenic origins. Although it is necessary for physiological human functions (in small amounts, i.e., 0.5–1.2 mg/L), it could be very harmful when it exceeds the maximum permissible concentration limit of 1.5 mg/L (according to WHO). Among the numerous technologies for removing fluo...

Packing materials improve biological methanation efficiency in Trickle Bed Reactors. The present study, which lies in the field of energy production and biotechnology, entailed the evaluation of commercial pelletized activated carbon and Raschig rings as packing materials. The evaluation focused on monitoring process indicators and examining the co...

The present study evaluates the removal of micropollutants from water/wastewater contaminated sources through the application of a heterogeneous catalytic ozonation process, using a pilot-scale continuous operation unit, composed of a membrane module for the diffusion and effective dilution of ozone into the liquid phase to be treated and a plug fl...

Taking a circular approach to mining facilities requires the further exploitation of produced solid wastes, which are now considered as potential raw materials. This research aims to the re-utilization of specific mining wastes, containing mainly geologically degraded serpentinized minerals, produced during the minerals’ enrichment process of extra...

In the direction of sustainable mining solid waste management and eventually zero-waste production, the MagWasteVal research program aimed to achieve the proper handling of massive quantities of extractive mining waste originating from the magnesite mines after the enrichment process of useful ore. The main objectives of this project were both the...

There are several publications on heterogeneous catalytic ozonation; however, their conclusions and the comparisons between them are not always consistent due to the variety of applied experimental conditions and the different solid materials used as catalysts. This review attempts to limit the major influencing factors in order to reach more vigor...

This study reviews the major biogas upgrading technologies, with specific regard to recent progress in the field of membrane technology. More specifically, the objective of the present work is to provide the state-of-the-art of membrane-based processes for biogas upgrading, focusing primarily on the latest advances in membrane configurations/materi...

n the context of a circular economy/zero-waste, the conversion of extractive wastes into new products is of particular importance. At the Grecian Magnesite SA mine (Chalkidiki, N. Greece), millions of tons of waste accumulate in the operation field. To achieve these goals, the effect of caustic calcined magnesia (MgO) at 10, 15, and 20 wt.% was inv...

The reuse of nutrient-rich waste in order to create green fertilizers in a sustainable and efficient way is a new strategy for the transition to a circular economy. Digestate is produced as a by-product from anaerobic digestion plants in large amounts creating a major management issue both for storage, utilization or disposal. The current work focu...

The treatment of municipal wastewater is considered a cornerstone for the protection of public health and environment. However, a major issue derived from this process is the large quantities of produced sewage sludge. Although anaerobic digestion is a widely applied method in Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) aiming to stabilize the sludge and t...

High quantities of mining wastes (considered by-products) are stock-pilled in mines, and since zero-waste production is examined, as an important management concept for industrial activities (and also mines), it is of particular importance to find solutions for further exploitation of these wastes. Aiming to attain these targets, the optimum MgO ad...

Fine rejected fraction run of mine (ROM) material, which is rich in magnesite and cannot be further exploited, was mixed with mining wastes by-products of magnesite mine “Grecian Magnesites SA” (Gerakini, Chalkidiki, N. Greece), to produce refractories. The exploitation of the ROM in combination with mining wastes was investigated with the applicat...

Sewerage systems consist of several different parts, components and materials. Many of them are metallic structures, such as pumps, valves, ladders and wells, which are necessary for the proper operation of wastewater transport systems. Wastewater pipelines can be a highly corrosive environment, mainly due to the presence of biogenic sulfuric acid....

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between solid materials and micropollutants, aiming to enhance the removal of the latter during the application of the ozonation process. For that purpose, two solid materials (SiO2 and Al2O3) presenting catalytic activity were used for the removal of eight micropollutants from natural potabl...

Arsenic poisoning constitutes a major threat to humans, causing various health problems. Almost everywhere across the world certain “hotspots” have been detected, putting in danger the local populations, due to the potential consumption of water or food contaminated with elevated concentrations of arsenic. According to the relevant studies, Asia sh...

The removal of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) occurring in wastewater effluents, such as pharmaceutically active substances (PhACs) and personal care products, pose a big research challenge since they can be a major source of pollution for water bodies and a danger to public health. The objective of this work was to perform a comprehensive...

Electrochemical oxidation of trivalent chromium from leather tanning mud waste leachates (containing ca 6 g.L⁻¹ Cr(III)) to its hexavalent form was carried out using a PbOx/Pb anode electrode in a prototype small (0.4 L) cylindrical batch electrochemical reactor. The PbOx/Pb anode was prepared by electrochemical anodization at constant current (75...

Iron oxyhydroxides (FeOOHs) appear to be the optimal group of materials among inorganic adsorbents for the removal of phosphates from water, providing significant adsorption capacities. This research work presents a thermodynamic study of phosphate adsorption by examining five different FeOOHs sorbent nanomaterials. The otablebtained results indica...

The present study evaluates the separation performance of a commercially available polymeric membrane, when employed for the upgrade of biogas to enrich CH4 from a simulated binary gas mixture. For this purpose, a laboratory-scale membrane set-up device has been designed and assembled, aiming to achieve the production of high purity biomethane (>95...

The biogenic deterioration of large diameter concrete pipes constitutes a major problem in most sewerage systems. The protection of concrete against sulfuric acid produced in situ biogenically by certain microorganisms is of major interest. This study is focusing on the protection of concrete by applying relatively low-cost, magnesium-based coating...

Citation: Rekos, K.C.; Charisteidis, I.D.; Tzamos, E.; Palantzas, G.; Zouboulis, A.I.; Triantafyllidis, K.S. Valorization of Hazardous Organic Solid Wastes towards Fuels and Chemicals via Fast (Catalytic) Pyrolysis. Sustain. Chem. 2022, 3, 91-111. https://doi.org/10.3390/ suschem3010007 Academic Editor: Michael T. Timko

The present study focuses on the refractory upgrade and reuse of the mining wastes/byproducts of the magnesite mine “Grecian Magnesite SA” (Chalkidiki, N. Greece), by the addition of hematite (α-Fe2O3) nanomaterial. These by-products were also examined after the application of thermal pre-treatment, i.e., treated at 850 οC for 30 min, prior to sint...

The present work was conducted to assess whether the implementation of Supercritical Carbon dioxide Explosion (SCE) is an efficient approach for sewage sludge pre-treatment. In this context, SCE was optimized with the aim to develop a method attempting to increase the biodegradability of sewage sludge's organic matter content, and thus, to enhance...

Aiming to address the lack of harmonized requirements, the EU has recently prepared a legislative proposal (directive) regulating the minimum requirements for water reuse in agriculture. As Greece has been one of the few EU countries that implements regulations for the reuse of reclaimed water in agriculture for almost a decade now and on the basis...

This chapter summarizes the recent advances in the development and evaluation of biomass-derived nanocomposites consisting of a carbon-based network and inorganic nanoparticles distributed on it. The preparation routes and the typical properties of the raw, thermally treated, and modified biomass substances are first described and then, extended to...

Sewage solids can be separated into three main categories, i.e., the suspended solids, the sewer sediments and the respective biofilm. Each category can affect the sewer conditions, according to their corresponding characteristics, properties and specific processes (biotic or abiotic) taking place. The sulfides in the sewerage system are produced d...

Mercury is a highly toxic pollutant of major public health concern, and human exposure is mainly related to the aqueous phase, where its dominant form is methyl-mercury (MeHg). In the current work, two carbon-based adsorbents, i.e., a commercial activated carbon and a sunflower seeds’ biochar, were modified by the introduction of thiol-active group...

Grecian Magnesite S.A., located in Gerakini, Chalkidiki, N. Greece, is a magnesite mining company, which produces and commercializes several Mg-based products. For production purposes, water is applied in large quantities for several uses. As a result, 5 × 106–7 × 106 m3 of wastewater, consisting mainly of muddy water, is produced from the magnesit...

The efficiency of used materials for the construction of pipelines, usually build-up from concrete, is an important factor to ensure specific sustainability goals, such as proper sanitation conditions and prevention of environmental degradation. However, concrete in the sewer environment may suffer from severe deterioration, leading to structural a...

The corrosion of concrete sewer pipes, mainly due to biogenic sulfuric acid (bio-corrosion), may lead to the degradation of sewerage system. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the corrosion protection that the combined magnesium oxide/magnesium hydroxide coatings can offer to concrete substrates. Four coatings with different proportions of ma...

This study examines the removal of p-CBA via the application of heterogeneous catalytic ozonation in the presence of 13 minerals. The solids were used as raw materials or after hydrophilic/hydrophobic modification. The optimal minerals were zeolite, calcite, dolomite, and thermally treated talc. The kinetic study showed that the decomposition of oz...

Microbiologically induced corrosion (MIC) leads to the degradation/deterioration of concrete pipes, due to the formation of gypsum. Magnesium hydroxide powders may protect the concrete surface by maintaining alkaline pH values at the surface, or by neutralizing the biogenic produced sulfuric acid. An accelerated sulfuric acid spraying test in a cus...

The addition of alumina (Al2O3), chromite concentrate (CC) and ore (CO) and maghemite (Fe2O3) in the magnesite minerals enrichment wastes investigated, aiming to upgrade the refractory properties of products after thermal treatment at 1300◦ C. Firing shrinkage, water absorption, apparent porosity and bulk density, considered as the main relevant pa...

The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of PZC and wettability of the catalysts in heterogeneous catalytic ozonation process. For that purpose, 18 solid materials examined as potential catalysts for heterogeneous catalytic ozonation, regarding the degradation of small amounts (4 μΜ) of p-chlorobenzoic acid (p-CBA - typical micropollutant) at...

Circular economy is a relatively new concept that has gained increased attention in the global policy agenda [1], aiming at incorporating the spirit of sustainable development into the economy pillar [2]. Circular economy is conceptually related to sustainable development as a pre-required condition to sustainability, however the two terms present...

The aim of this study is to elucidate the mechanism of micropollutants’ removal in drinking water by the application of catalytic ozonation, using transition metals as appropriate catalysts. For that purpose, the degradation of 500 μg/L of p-chlorobenzoic acid (p-CBA) and benzotriazole with the addition of 2 mg/L of ozone in the presence of 1 mg/L...

Grecian Magnesite S.A. (GM) is a magnesite mining company, which produces and commercializes several Mg-based products, such as Caustic Calcined Magnesia (CCM), Dead-Burned Magnesia (DBM), magnesium carbonate (raw magnesite) and basic monolithic refractories. GM's major deposits and production facilities are in Gerakini, Chalkidiki, N. Greece. In t...

The aim of this work was the study of chemical and mineralogical characteristics of serpentinized peridotites, produced in the magnesite mines of Gerakini (Chalkidiki, Greece), and the impact evaluation of magnetic separation and of thermal treatment with the addition of oxides in specimens of solid wastes left after the mineral enrichment processe...

Magnesite ore deposits are the main source of Mg for the industry and are used in the production of various kinds of magnesia. They are closely associated to ophiolite geological contexts, and are usually hosted within variously altered harzburgites and dunites. Greece hosts exploitable ophiolite-related magnesite deposits in two areas, located in...

The Microbiologically Induced Corrosion (MIC) of concrete sewer pipes is a commonly known problem that can lead to the destruction of the system, creating multiple public health issues and the need for costly repair investments. The present study focuses on the development of a magnesium hydroxide coating, with optimized properties to protect concr...

Catalytic ozonation was applied for the removal of small concentrations (4 μM) of micropollutants benzotriazole, carbamazepine, p-CBA from aqueous solutions at pH 7. These compounds present different physicochemical characteristics and different kinetic rate constants, when reacting with ozone or hydroxyl radicals in range of <0.15–3 × 105, 5.2 × 1...

This is the first study that examines the effect of operating conditions on fouling of Membrane Bio-Reactors (MBRs), which treat municipal wastewater in field conditions, with specific regard to the controlled development of filamentous microorganisms (or filaments). The novelty of the present work is extended to minimize the dissolved oxygen (DO)...

The optimum dose of MgO, in mining wastes/by-products of magnesite mine "Grecian Magnesite SA" (Chalkidiki, N. Greece), containing mainly serpentine ores, was calculated in order to maximize the formation of desirable olivine (forsterite) after thermal treatment at 1300 o C, aiming to upgrade their refractory properties and find alternative uses un...

Several coatings and linings have been examined and used for the protection of sewer concrete pipes, against mainly biogenic-provoked corrosion due to the production of bio-sulfuric acid, leading to the degradation of the pipes’ structure and eventually, to their collapse and need for costly replacement. This study aimed to examine the potential di...

The research on selenium presence in water resources has revealed the need to determine the respective aquatic species. As selenium oxyanions SeO32− (SeIV) and SeO42− (SeVI) predominate in natural waters, their determination is essential, mainly due to different ecotoxicity properties, as well as to different removal options from relevant-polluted...