Antonis A ZorpasOpen University of Cyprus · Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences
Antonis A Zorpas
(PhD) Environmental Engineer, (B.Ch.E, M.SCh.E) Chemical Engineer
Director Sustainable Environmental Engineering Master
Head of Lab of Chemical Engineering & Engineering Sustainability
About
307
Publications
183,189
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Introduction
> 600 publications
Editor in several Scientific Journals e.g Chemical Engineering Journal
Consulting Engineer on behalf of several industrial activities
Advisory Committee on governmental Authorities
World's top 2% scientist Stanford&Elsevier reports
Experts on the EURASHE Committee, European Defence Agency, with EU-since 2008 (DG Environment)
Research: Strategic Panning Development in the Framework of Waste Management, Circular Economy & Bioeconomy, End of Waste Criteria, zero waste approach.
Additional affiliations
January 2016 - November 2016
Publications
Publications (307)
Membrane filtration processes have demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in wastewater treatment, achieving high contaminant removal and producing high-quality effluent suitable for safe reuse. Membrane technologies play a primary role in combating water scarcity and pollution challenges. However, the need for more effective strategies to mitigate...
Worldwide, over half of all preschool-aged children and two-thirds of non-pregnant women of reproductive age suffer from hidden hunger. This situation may worsen due to the expected increase in the world population and the effects of climate change. The objective of this paper is to conduct a review of the relationship between soil, plants, and hum...
The challenges of balancing environmental sustainability with economic and social growth are intensifying, with unsustainable consumption and production patterns posing significant risks on a global scale (i.e., resource scarcity, raw material consumption, waste production etc.). Projections indicate a sharp increase in municipal solid waste and as...
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been detected in soils worldwide, suggesting that soil serves as a substantial reservoir for these compounds. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the origin of PFAS contamination in soil and sediment, as well as the environmental impacts associated with the distribution of PFAS in these me...
Food loss (FL) and food waste (FW) have become severe global problems, contributing to resource inefficiency and environmental degradation. Approximately 6% of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) are derived from FW, which is usually discarded in landfills, emitting methane, a gas that is 28 times more harmful than CO2. Diverting the path of FW towards...
Cities, crucial cultural hubs, mould individual and group identities. The global urban expansion, with over half the population in urban areas, presents interconnected challenges such as pollution, poverty, inequality, ageing infrastructure, resource overconsumption, land use changes, biodiversity impact and climate change. Addressing these demands...
Circular fashion aims to reduce the environmental impact of the fashion industry by creating a closed-loop system where waste is minimized and materials are reused, recycled, refurbished, remanufactured etc. Consumer behavior is crucial for this movement as individuals have the potential to utilize circular economy initiatives (i.e., reuse, second...
The authors would like to make the following corrections to the published paper [...]
In recent years, the alarming surge in resource consumption has heightened global environmental awareness, prompting a critical examination of consumer behavior and production practices. The
realization of the potentially catastrophic implications of these patterns on sustainability has led to a growing recognition of impending ecological challenge...
Plastics are widely used in agricultural practices, although recently they have been recognized as a new emerging risk in soils. Polyethylene (PE), is commonly used by farmers to cover agricultural practices; geotextile, is used mainly for ground and crop covering; and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is considered the main material contained in irrigation...
Energy Performance Certification (EPC) systems are pivotal in addressing the global energy challenge, particularly in the building sector. This study evaluates the efficacy of the EPC offered by the Simplified Building Energy Model interface designed to indicate compliance with the Cypriot building regulations, widely known as iSBEM-Cy Version 3.4a...
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions due to increasing energy demand have raised the need to identify effective solutions to produce clean and renewable energy.
Biotechnologies are an effective platform to attain green transition objectives, especially when synergically integrated to promote health and environmental protection. In this context, micro...
This study constitutes a comprehensive investigation centred on comprehending the behaviour and characteristics of recycled polyvinyl chloride (PVC) powders. The overarching objective is to successfully conclude the initial research phase, during which PVC-coated fabric offcuts undergo a transformation into PVC powder while achieving complete separ...
Food waste (FW) has become a global concern, with an estimated 1.3 billion tonnes lost annually, costing about $1 trillion. Environmental and social consequences of FW are significant, contributing to 6% of European Unions’ greenhouse gasemissions and affecting global food security. FW occurs is a complex issue occurring at various stages of the fo...
This comprehensive document explores the multifaceted implications of food overproduction on soil sustainability, encompassing environmental, societal, and economic aspects. It delves into the global landscape of food production, highlighting key statistics and the leading countries in this domain. The European Union’s directives, strategies, and a...
Environmental pollution caused by microplastics has evolved into a global concern; however, limited knowledge exists about microplastics in soils due to the absence of standardized extraction methods. This research aimed to develop an inexpensive, rapid method with user-friendly and environmentally sustainable outcomes for microplastics retrieval....
Globally waste is driven by population and economic growth, and urbanization. One important instrument to meet this increasing demand and to decrease the pressure on food production is to minimize food loss, food waste, green waste, recycling waste and other wastes etc. It has been estimated that globally one third of the edible parts of food desti...
The global population is experiencing rapid growth, leading to various economic, environmental, and social implications such as congested roads, increased traffic demands, and longer travel times for essential services. Projections indicate that over two-thirds of the world's population will reside in urban areas by 2050. The concept of the 15-minu...
The fashion industry is the world’s third most polluting industry. The environmental ramifications of the industry have expanded in the previous decade as a result of consumer waste and raw material depletion from producers. Furthermore, there is a major influence on all three sustainability pillars, including environmental (emissions, energy, wate...
The textile industry is a major contributor to global waste, with millions of tons of textiles being discarded annually. Material and energy recovery within circular economy offer sustainable solutions to this problem by extending the life cycle of textiles through repurposing, recycling, and upcycling. These initiatives not only reduce waste but a...
Managing large animal mortalities becomes challenging and potentially inappropriate, particularly within a livestock unit, due to the methods employed. These methods are not environmentally friendly, have the potential to spread diseases to both humans and animals, and do not align with the principles of promoting a circular economy within livestoc...
Dear Colleagues,
Recently, one of the most contentious environmental issues has been the investigation of microplastics’ (MPs’) detrimental consequences in natural and water resources worldwide. In this regard, it is critical to, firstly, track the ways in which MPs are considered as key anthropocentric pollutants in terms of ecological risk and t...
The linear economy of today's society conflicts with many environmental, social, and economic challenges. Therefore, the implementation of the Circular Economy model is prioritized by policymakers and the research community. The European Union is in accord with the smooth transition towards a Circular Economy through the Circular Economy Strategy,...
Lake Koronia in Greece, a wetland of ecological significance, benefits from dual protection under the Ramsar Convention and the Natura 2000 network and serves as a thriving habitat for diverse plant and animal species. Regrettably, this crucial European biotope has experienced a substantial decline in environmental quality over the last 30 years, p...
Considering the main objectives of a circular economy, Lemnaceae plants have great potential for different types of techniques to valorize their biomass for use in biofuel production. For this reason, scientific interest in this group of plants has increased in recent years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of salt stress on the gr...
Environmental obligations of scientists, engineers and members of the research community have evolved further than the quantifiable control of emissions and waste of production. The environmental consciousness of communities as well as individual responsibility for the development of sustainable waste management strategies increased in demand, from...
Animal mortalities management is a challenging and ecologically concerning issue in Agro-Silvo-Pastoral systems. Conventional methods used are not environmentally friendly, are likely to disperse disease to human and animals and do not promote the circularity of livestock units. The absence of national and European legal frameworks further compound...
The Space Race in the second half of the 20th century was primarily concerned with getting there and back. Gradually, technology and international collaboration opened new horizons, but human activity was mostly restricted around Earth’s orbit, while robotic missions were sent to solar system planets and moons. Now, nations and companies claim extr...
As the demand for materials continues to increase and building lifespans shorten, the construction industry faces mounting pressure to reduce its material and environmental impacts. Mismanagement of construction and demolition waste (CDW) can have severe environmental consequences. To address this, material recovery and circular economy approaches...
This study aims to present an overview of incorporating the Water Framework Directive into Italian law through Law 152/06. Subsequently, it will focus on a case study involving 34 rivers in the Salerno Province, utilizing data obtained from ARPA Campania. This work analyses the macro pollution indicators of the observed rivers using two aggregated...
There are several sustainability issues that the linear economy of today's society cannot adequately tackle (i.e. resource depletion, waste treatment, etc.). As a result, the scientific community and policymakers give high priority to the implementation of the circular economy concept. The sustainable development goals of the United Nations are in...
Wastewater treatment plants play a significant role in minimizing environmental pollution by treating wastewater and reducing the release of contaminants into the environment. However, their operation can still have an environmental footprint. Therefore, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of wastewater treatment provides a comprehensive framework to quant...
The current study investigated the performance of a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR), when adding 3D-printed biocarriers fabricated with 13X and bentonite (MBBR 3D), when using K1 commercial biocarriers (MBBR K1) and when not adding biocarriers at all (control MBBR). For the evaluation of the MBBR efficiency, various physicochemical parameters wer...
Potato is the most popular non-grain food crop in the world, known for its high yield, water efficiency and nutritional
30 value and consequently it can play a vital role in food security. Yet, the examination of the environmental impact
31 associated with potato production represents a gap in the field of agricultural production. The purpose of th...
Sustainability’s growth, year after year, continues to be staggering, becoming a reference point for those working on these issues. There are 65,433 papers in the Scopus database, of which 61,016 (93%) are articles. The year 2022 proposes 16,996 papers, 21% more than the previous year (14,053 papers). The comparison is even more significant compare...
The increasing urban population and the restructuring of urban economies are the main aspects that determine urban development in the twenty-first century. Rapid urbanization is among the most significant anthropogenic factors that impact ecosystems and sustainability. Urbanization is a “double-edged sword.” Even though it contributes to economic p...
In the present work, a comparative evaluation of an MBBR unit performance was carried out for the following cases: when adding 3D-printed biocarriers fabricated with 13X and bentonite, when using K1 commercial biocarriers and when not adding biocarriers at all. For the evaluation of the MBBR efficiency, various physicochemical parameters were measu...
The construction industry led by the real estate sector plays a significant role in the environmental performance. Excavation, construction, and demolition waste are important waste generators in Europe. Many of the materials are recyclable or reusable, however rates of reuse and recycling vary greatly across Europe. The objective of this prelimina...
Urbanization trends and environmental concerns are interconnected due to the increased demand of natural resources, waste production and greenhouse gas emissions. One of the most important anthropogenic factors affecting ecosystems and sustainability is the rapid growth of cities in both size and complexity. According to United Nations as at mid-20...
The fashion industry constitutes the third most polluting industry in the world. The environmental implications of the fashion industry have grown in the last decade due to the throw away habits of consumers as well as depletion of raw material from producers. Furthermore, there is significant impact on all three sustainability pillars with environ...
In the last ten years of economic and fiscal crisis, Non-Profit organizations across Europe provide a very important service through volunteering in relation to environmental education. Their role is mainly attributed to the use of non-formal education practices, which take place in schools and in local communities. Non-formal environmental educati...
The linear economy of today’s society conflicts with many environmental, social, and economic challenges (i.e. resource depletion, waste treatment, emissions, etc.). Therefore, the implementation of the Circular Economy (CE) model is prioritized by policymakers and the research community. The European Union is in accord with the smooth transition t...
Population growth leads to an increase in the demand for energy, water, and food as cities grow and urbanize. However, the Earth's limited resources are unable to meet these rising demands. Modern farming practices increase productivity, but waste resources and consume too much energy. Agricultural activities occupy 50 % of all habitable land. Afte...
The Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East (EMME) region is already experiencing the negative effects of increased temperatures and the increase in prolonged drought periods. The use of organic fertilization could be a valuable tool to meet the main challenges of climate change and maintain the productivity, quality, and sustainability of rainfed ag...
Energy is one of the most important aspects of urban development and technological advancements. As its production and consumption are connected to several environmental, social, and economic issues covering all three sustainability pillars, strategic and targeted energy planning is vital to the smooth transition towards a more efficient and greene...
Tomato pomace was slowly pyrolyzed at 350 and 550 °C (under an N2 flow of 50 l/h) at a rate of 6 °C/min and a residence time of 1:30 h to produce two biochars named B350 and B550, respectively. In addition, the two biochars were chemically activated with ΚΟΗ (at a ratio of 1:10 w/v) at 800 °C to produce two new materials named BA350 and BA550. The...
Greenhouse gas emissions (i.e., carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide) produced by agriculture contribute to global warming and climate change. Various practices followed by farmers in different environmental conditions contribute to the increase in the phenomena, and there is a need for immediate measures. The current study examines the environme...
Humanity’s three main components are energy, food and clothing. Each of us, individually and collectively, contributes to climate change and CO 2 emissions, natural resource consumption, and social attitudes and behaviour. Global fashion trends are expected to increase in value from 1.5 trillion dollars in 2020 to around 2.25 trillion dollars by 20...
Member States of the European Union must ban burning arable stubble by 2023 and improve the recycling of organic waste into fertilizers and organic farming practices by 2030. The current lack of nutrients from soils and crops leads to food insecurity, human malnutrition and diseases. Consequently, innovative solutions are required, as technosols ar...
As environmental management is becoming increasingly complex, adequate assessment techniques must be utilized to forecast environmental impact trends. The current study aims to investigate the effectiveness of the evaluation system in Greece regarding environmental impact assessment (EIA) concerning projects. Data were extracted from literature and...
Soil nutrient imbalance is a global threat to food security and ecosystem sustainability but adding organic residues or constructing anthropogenic soils and technosols can optimize it. However, FAO considers organic residues not “risk-free”, mainly due to their heavy metal content. Despite the fact that applying pruning residues to soil is a worldw...