
María Elena Rodrigo-ClaveroPolytechnic University of Valencia | UPV · Department of Hydraulic Engineering and Environment
María Elena Rodrigo-Clavero
Ph. D.
About
84
Publications
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236
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Introduction
Education
September 2014 - September 2016
September 2002 - July 2011
Publications
Publications (84)
Flood modelling in snow-fed river basins is critical for understanding the impacts of climate change on hydrological extremes. The Zhabay River in northern Kazakhstan exemplifies a basin highly vulnerable to seasonal floods, which pose significant risks to infrastructure, livelihoods, and water resource management. Traditional flood forecasting in...
The global water crisis, which intensifies each year, underscores the urgent need for accurate assessment and sustainable management of freshwater resources. Lakes, as significant components of surface water systems, are particularly vulnerable to human activities and climate change due to their slow renewal rates. Western Kazakhstan, a region affe...
Microplastic pollution poses a significant threat to environmental and human health. This study investigated the toxicological and genotoxic effects of various microplastic types (polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene (PE)) on plant and animal models. Aqueous extracts of microplastics in different...
Hydrological droughts occur as a result of various hydrometeorological conditions, such as precipitation deficits, reduced snow cover, and high evapotranspiration. Droughts caused by precipitation deficits and occurring during warm seasons are usually longer in duration. This important observation raises the question that climate change associated...
Municipal solid waste (MSW) management in Spain, particularly in the Valencian Community, heavily relies on mechanical–biological treatment (MBT) plants followed by landfill disposal. These MBT facilities utilize mechanical processes like shredding, screening, and sorting to segregate recyclables (metals, plastics, paper) from organic material and...
This study investigated the elemental composition of soils in Kyzylorda and Turkestan (southern Kazakhstan), an area rich in natural resources but facing potential environmental threats from industry and agriculture. The goal was to establish baseline geochemical values and assess soil contamination risks. Soil samples were collected from across th...
Water management strategies in the Ile River basin (Republic of Kazakhstan) have traditionally relied on historical data without fully considering the potential impacts of climate change. This gap can lead to underestimating the changes in temperature, precipitation patterns, and runoff, hindering effective water resource management. This study aim...
This paper presents a novel definition of the Weighted Environmental Index (WEI) specifically adapted to integrate with the official land use and land cover (LULC) cartographic historical database employed in Andalusia. This adapted WEI framework was applied to investigate land use changes within municipalities surrounding the Doñana area (South of...
This study investigates the presence of microplastics in tap drinking water and evaluates the efficacy of various sorbents for their removal in the context of Kazakhstan's water treatment system. Water samples taken in the cities of Kokshetau and Krasny Yar (Akmola region) were analyzed. Microplastics were detected in all samples, with concentratio...
In the context of valorizing the organic fraction of urban solid waste (OFMSW) in megacities, dark fermentation emerges as a central strategy alongside composting and anaerobic digestion. This article focuses on assessing the environmental, technical, and energy viability of dark fermentation using life cycle assessment (LCA) and circular economy p...
This article examines and calculates the annual flows of rivers in the Buktyrma River basin in connection with changing climatic conditions affecting runoff formation. An analysis of climatic characteristics, based on data from meteorological stations of the hydrometeorological service of Kazakhstan, indicates intense warming and a moderate increas...
This paper provides a detailed description of the findings and methodology related to the monitoring of microplastics in three lakes and one river of the Akmola Region in Kazakhstan. The concentration of microplastic particles and the analysis of water and sediment quality of the Yesil River and Kopa, Zerendinskoye, and Borovoe lakes have been anal...
Glyphosate is a herbicide of a wide spectrum that alters the production of amino acids in plants, leading to their death. Due to its properties, it is used to eliminate weeds that interfere with human activity. The intensive use of this herbicide in the past decades has led to its frequent encounter in the environment as it has been detected in wat...
The geographical location of Kazakhstan, situated in the central part of the Eurasian continent, has played a crucial role in shaping a distinctly continental climate. This positioning has led to Kazakhstan facing a significant challenge in terms of water resource availability. The country’s water resources are highly vulnerable to the dual pressure...
The article presents the outcomes of an assessment of changes in the hydrographic network within the Almaty city, utilizing GIS technology and Earth remote sensing data. Two gauge stations were selected along the main rivers within the Almaty city. To identify distinctive alterations in these rivers, hydrological data series encompassing the maximu...
The impact of hydrocarbon spills in the unsaturated zone is a significant environmental concern, particularly in locations where contamination arises from leaks in underground fuel storage tanks (USTs). This paper presents the outcomes achieved through the utilization of VLEACH, a finite-difference numerical model, to assess the concentrations of o...
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in effectively managing agro-industrial waste. One promising approach that has gained attention is exploring this waste to develop new composite materials, especially polymeric materials, with diverse applications across various industries. This study focuses on comprehending the physical and therm...
This study explores the potential application of the HBV model for simulating water inflow into the Astana reservoir in Kazakhstan. The Astana reservoir, with an area of 60.9 km 2 and a capacity of 411 million m3 , serves as a vital hydro-technical structure for the regulation of long-term water resources. Positioned on the Esil River, this reservo...
Citation: Salikova, N.S.; Rodrigo-Ilarri, J.; Rodrigo-Clavero, M.-E.; Urazbayeva, S.E.; Askarova, A.Z.; Magzhanov, K.M. Environmental Assessment of Microplastic Pollution Induced by Solid Waste Landfills in the Akmola Region (North Kazakhstan). Water 2023, 15, 2889. Abstract: This paper presents the outcomes derived from an environmental assessment...
This paper shows the results of a study on the morphometric, hydrophysical, and hydrochemical indicators of Lake Burabay, North Kazakhstan. The Burabay Protected Area, also known as Burabay National Park or Kokshetau National Park, is a protected natural area located in the north of Kazakhstan. It encompasses a diverse landscape characterized by la...
The need to use solid waste generated in cities after crops are transformed into final consumer products motivates efforts aimed at creating alternatives and strategies for this purpose. Usually, the largest component of municipal waste is the organic fraction which is often not properly reused. This fact results in significant negative environment...
The development of methodologies to support decision-making in municipal solid waste (MSW) management processes is of great interest for municipal administrations. Artificial intelligence (AI) techniques provide multiple tools for designing algorithms to objectively analyze data while creating highly precise models. Support vector machines and neur...
The M-GRCT model, main product developed in this research, aims to promote better environmental practices for the management of usable solid waste in disadvantaged municipal contexts (municipalities with depressed economies). It is an important tech-nical instrument that provides support for municipal waste management with a focus on promoting the...
The increasing amount of municipal solid waste is one of the most urgent problems for many countries in the world, including Kazakhstan. In 2021, a new environmental code was adopted in the country. In accordance with this code, some types of garbage (such as plastic, paper, cardboard or glass) are not accepted at sanitary landfills. Besides this,...
This research analyzes the impact on land use induced by urban solid waste landfills using the Weighted Environmental Index (WEI). The methodology used to analyze the environmental value of the landfill’s areas of influence is based on the analysis of the space-time variations of the WEI inside them. The application of this methodology allows identify...
This research analyzes the impact on land use induced by urban solid waste landfills using the Weighted Environmental Index (WEI). The methodology used to analyze the environmental value of the landfill’s areas of influence is based on the analysis of the space-time variations of the WEI inside them. The application of this methodology allows identify...
The Acequia del Rey is an artificial channel built in 1803 by order of King Carlos IV with the aim of draining the old Villena lagoon (Alicante, Spain), directing its waters towards the Vinalopó River, freeing these lands for agricultural use. The historical use of the Acequia del Rey de Villena, also called Canal del Rey, has always been to help d...
This article analyzes the implementation of a circular economy model for the management of reusable solid waste in the Colombian municipalities of Arbeláez (province of Cundinamarca) and Tibasosa (province of Boyacá). The analysis is conducted using M-GRCT, a circular economy decision support model for the design of recyclable waste management syst...
This article analyzes the implementation of a circular economy model for the management of reusable solid waste in the Colombian municipalities of Arbeláez (province of Cundinamarca) and Tibasosa (province of Boyacá). The analysis is conducted using M-GRCT, a circular economy decision support model for the design of recyclable waste management syst...
Predicting pesticides' behavior in the environment is necessary to anticipate and minimize their adverse effects. Despite the use of pesticides in Spain is increasing, the implementation and use of predictive mathematical models is seldomly done in practice due to the lack of available data. In this original work, the Pesticide Root Zone Model vers...
Currently, implementing strategies to minimize the impacts caused by solid waste is a priority that is integrated into environmental policies and development plans worldwide. Agro-industrial waste is one of many types of waste. This waste is an environmental problem, given that if it is not properly disposed of or reused, it can alter different nat...
Currently, implementing strategies to minimize the impacts caused by solid waste is a priority that is integrated into environmental policies and development plans worldwide. Agro-industrial waste is one of many types of waste. This waste is an environmental problem, given that if it is not properly disposed of or reused, it can alter different nat...
Current population growth has generated an increase in the food and culinary industry production, which has resulted in an increase in the consumption of vegetable oils on large restaurant chains as well as on small food stalls. This situation justifies the increasing generation of large amounts of residual vegetable oils that lead to serious probl...
Solid waste management produced in megacities is usually being transformed under a linear treatment scheme which considers the circular economy model guidelines (waste reduction, reuse and recycling). The comprehensive solid waste management plan (PGIRS 2020) proposed for the city of Bogotá (Colombia) implements this circular economy approach throu...
The effect of municipal solid waste landfills over the surrounding environment is often understood to be highly critical, even greatly modifying the existing land use. However, objective evaluations of this environmental impcts are seldom being performed. This work shows results obtained when evaluating the land use change induced by MSW landfills...
One of the primary environmental problems connected to the growth of cities is the proportional increase of solid waste production and the corresponding leachate generation in the final disposal sites. A research line on the definition of technical systems that facilitate the proper treatment of these leachates to minimize groundwater, surface wate...
This article introduces M-GRCT, a circular economy decision support model for the design of recyclable waste management systems in low-income municipalities. The model allows for performing calculations on a set of two scenarios integrating a sociocultural dynamics assessment, this being a characteristic feature of this type of municipalities. The...
Understanding the groundwater chemical regime on irrigated lands is relevant for assessing hydrogeological and reclamation processes. Water chemistry, natural and climatic conditions, and drainage characteristics define the complex hydrochemical connections which are formed between irrigation waters, soil, and water of the unsaturated zone and groun...
En el presente trabajo se muestra una aplicación de BIOLEACH, un nuevo modelo de soporte a la decisión desarrollado en la UPV para la gestión a tiempo real de vertederos de residuos sólidos urbanos que permite la simulación conjunta de la producción de lixiviados y biogás como procesos acoplados. La estimación de la producción de lixiviados se real...
En el presente trabajo se exponen los resultados obtenidos a partir de la red de monitorización existente en un vertedero de residuos sólidos urbanos situado en una cuenca mediterránea desde 2012 hasta la actualidad. Desde el punto de vista hidrogeológico, en el área del emplazamiento pueden distinguirse al menos dos zonas: (i) zona centro-meridion...
Leachate management is one of the most important economic costs during the daily operations of a municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill. Classical landfill management techniques may produce a great volume of leachate that needs to be transferred to external wastewater treatment facilities which are usually located a great distance from the landfill s...
For the first time in scientific literature, this work addresses the current situation of the Ishim River water quality in the Akmola Region (Northern Kazakhstan). This work uses environmental monitoring techniques to analyze the current state of surface waters in the river. The content of main ions, biogenic and inorganic ions, heavy metals, organ...
For the first time in the scientific literature, this research shows an analysis of the implementation of circular economy techniques under sustainable development framework in six municipalities with a depressed economy in Colombia. The analysis is based on solid waste data production at a local scale, the valuation of the waste for subsequent rec...
Chlorpyrifos, Bromacil and Terbuthylazine are commonly used as insecticides and herbi-cides to control weeds and prevent non-desirable growth of algae, fungi and bacteria in many agricultural applications. Despite their highly negative effects on human health, environmental model-ing of these pesticides in the vadose zone until they reach groundwat...
For the first time, this paper introduces and describes a new Weighted Environmental Index (WEI) based on object-oriented models and GIS data. The index has been designed to integrate all the available information from extensive and detailed GIS databases. After the conceptual definition of the index has been justified, two applications for the reg...
Municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills are one of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Biogas is formed under anaerobic conditions by decomposition of the organic matter present in waste. The estimation of biogas production, which depends fundamentally on the type of waste deposited in the landfill, is essential when designing the gas captu...
This thesis introduces BIOLEACH, a new decision support model for the real-time management of municipal solid waste bioreactor landfills that allows estimating the leachate and biogas production. Leachate production is estimated using an adaptation of the water balance equation which considers every hydrological component and the water consumed by a...
The use of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) systems is essential to ensure the sustainability of plans, programs and policies. This works shows, for the first time in the scientific literature, a joint vision of the current situation of SEA systems in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama and the Dominican Republic. The analysis has be...
Terbuthylazine is commonly used as an herbicide to control weeds and prevent non-desirable grow of algae, fungi and bacteria in many agricultural applications. Despite its highly negative effects on human health, environmental modeling of this kind of pesticide in the vadose zone till reaching groundwater is still not being done on a regular basis....
Municipal solid waste landfills are one of the most relevant soil and groundwater pollution sources. Monitoring networks should be designed on the preliminary phases to guarantee that groundwater quality control is performed periodically over both the operation and post-closure phase of the landfill. This work shows the results of a groundwater qua...
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management activities are an important tasks of both national and municipal governments as they can induce significant impacts on the environment, the economy and the living quality of the population involved. The optimal design of a MSW management plan depends greatly on the waste production values and its distribution...
In this work a new environmental indicator for the analysis of land use change over time (ENV-IND) is presented. The ENV-IND indicator has been defined and assigned to every land use included on the SIOSE, the official Information System on Land Occupation of Spain. The methodology is based on assigning an ENV-IND value for every polygon considered...
This paper introduces BIOLEACH, a new decision support model for the real-time management of municipal solid waste bioreactor landfills that allows estimating the leachate and biogas production. Leachate production is estimated using an adaptation of the water balance equation which considers every hydrological component and the water consumed by a...
One of the main environmental issues to address in large urban areas is the ever-increasing generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) and the need to manage it properly. Despite significant efforts having been made to implement comprehensive solid waste management systems, current management methods often do not provide sustainable alternatives whi...
Land use in the nearby of a Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) landfill can be strongly affected by the waste man-agement tasks (transport, landfilling and closure). Effects extend from the phases prior to the construction of the landfill until years after the completion of the landfilling process in areas located beyond the perimeter of the plot occupied by...
This work shows the results obtained when applying VLEACH, a simple one-dimensional finite-difference model, to analyze the contamination caused by a BTEX spill coming from a set of underground storage tanks located on a new fuel station in Valencia. Specific studies of the impact of fuel spills on the vadose zone are currently required when trying...
Groundwater and soil quality can be strongly affected by leachate spills coming from municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. Leachate production is a physical process linked with biogas production, being this one of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere. BIOLEACH model, developed at IIAMA-UPV, allows for the joint prediction...
In the design of medium and long-term management alternatives for urban waste generated in cities, precisely forecasting urban solid waste generation rates in order to minimize its resulting environmental impacts is of the utmost importance. This paper presents a comparative analysis of three artificial intelligence modeling tools to forecast solid...
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) landfilling is currently the only waste disposal technique available in Valencia Region (Spain). The natural environment can be strongly affected by the waste management tasks (transport, landfilling and closure) and their effects extend from the phases prior to the construction of the landfill until years after the comp...
El impacto del vertido de hidrocarburos en la zona no saturada es uno de los aspectos medioambientales a evaluar en multitud de localizaciones donde la contaminación se produce a partir de fugas en tanques de almacenamiento subterráneo de combustible. La utilización de modelos de flujo y transporte en zona no saturada se plantea como una herramienta...
The impact of fuel spills on the unsaturated zone are one of the main environmental issues when licensing new fuel stations or industrial facilities where Underground Storage Tanks (UST) are used. The development and use of fate and transport models of organic pollutants (BTEX) on the vadose zone can therefore be used to understand the behavior of...
Some complex environmental problems are caused by the increase in the generation of solid urban waste in megacities. This work analyses the case of the city of Bogotá (Colombia) where the urban waste management is currently done by disposing the waste in a sanitary landfill while maximizing the recovery of re-usable materials. Some projects have be...
Leachate and biogas production are two critical environmental issues on the operation of municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. From the hydrogeological point of view, leachate is one of the most important sources of groundwater pollution related with landfill operations. The estimation of the leachate production under realistic conditions is criti...
Pesticide application has currently been identified as one of the most relevant soil contamination sources on agricultural areas. Understanding the fate and transport of pesticides in the vadose zone is critical to predict the impact assessment of agricultural activities over the soil. This work show the application of two different USEPA numerical...
This work presents the results obtained when considering climate change condi tions over a synthetic bioreactor solid waste landfill. The joint prediction of leachate and biogas production is numerically obtained using mass balance techniques. The model allows for the recirculation of leachate volumes maximizing the biogas production. Leachate and...
Pesticide application has currently been identified as one of the most relevant soil contamination sources on agricultural areas. However, little effort has been done so far to understand the fate and transport of pesticides in the vadose zone. This work shows the application of two different USEPA numerical models to simulate the fate and transpor...
Specific studies of the impact of fuel spills on the vadose zone are currently required when trying to obtain the environmental permits for new fuel stations. The development of One-Dimensional mathematical models of fate and transport of BTEX on the vadose zone can therefore be used to understand the behaviour of the pollutants under different sce...
The management and disposal of urban solid waste (MSW) is one of the most serious environmental problems in modern societies. despite the efforts of the administration to promote recycling and energy recovery techniques, the majority of MSW is still disposed in sanitary landfills. During the operation and post-closure maintenance phases of any MSW...
This book contains selected contributions presented at the 10th International Geostatistics Congress held in Valencia from 5 to 9 September, 2016. This is a quadrennial congress that serves as the meeting point for any engineer, professional, practitioner or scientist working in geostatistics. The book contains carefully reviewed papers on geostati...
Abstracts from Valencia GEOSTATS2016 Vol. 1
Example of a simple use of geostatistical techniques to determine the extension of a future landfill
Preliminary analysis of geological data for the potential location of a future landfill
According to the current EU environmental legislation, groundwater protection is one of the key issues to be addressed when new industrial activities have to be authorised. This work shows a simple methodology that could be used by local and environmental authorities in order to analyse the potential risk caused by an industrial spill on a natural...
La producción de residuos se encuentra en continuo aumento, y la actividad económica
vinculada a ellos alcanza cada vez mayor importancia, tanto por su envergadura como por su
repercusión directa en la sostenibilidad del modelo económico. Este artículo recoge el estado
del arte actual de las técnicas de valorización y eliminación de residuos sólido...