3rd NEWSLETTER
The LIFE DIANA project just reached the second year, with a steady progress and important outcomes! The 3rd Newsletter will provide with information on the main and most recent technical outputs and dissemination activities.
In the framework of the LIFE DIANA project, the key idea is that the petroleum refinery sludges (PRS), resulting from crude oil refining, will be stabilized with industrial minerals and then re-used in other application.
LAB-SCALE STABILIZATION EXPERIMENT RESULTS
The LIFE DIANA PRS stabilization process aims at reducing the environmental impact of the Petroleum sludge. This is a key chemical reaction as it renders the petroleum sludge to be re-used and re-inserted in the economy in a different material type with extra added value. The PRS with the use of minerals is converted into a stable matter, the so – called Engineered Soil, which can be further used in landfills. However, the most important aspect is that the PRS waste is transformed into another material that is useful and has reduced environmental impact as compared to its pre-cursor entity. The PRS stabilization is two-step chemical process which involves an initial mixing of the hazardous refinery sludge with the stabilizing mineral, followed by a drying step of the produced mixture.
The stabilization experiments were carried out at the Laboratory of Metallurgy of NTUA which examined the performance of specific silicate minerals and theirs blends, as stabilizers of the PRS. The stabilizers with the highest performance were highlighted and underwent partial substitution by other chemical compounds, to further improve the yield of the stabilization process. It is important to mention that the main criterion for the effective stabilization of the PRS is the leachability/extractability test ELOT EN 12457.02. Determination of the most appropriate stabilizers was followed by a detailed flowsheet that describes the optimum process for the PRS stabilization and Engineered soil production.
The produced Engineered Soil (ES) is anticipated to find application in the landfilling both as daily cover and bottom insulation material as well as for vegetation purposes. Thus, a chemical analysis was conducted proving that the ES originating from the MOH refineries meet the acceptance criteria for non-hazardous waste, hence can be used in the landfills. According to the Greek legislation a soil can be used as insulating layer under the strict condition that its permeability level is below 10-9. The ES produced in the NTUA lab environment met the above criteria, rendering ES compatible to be used as both daily cover and/or insulating layer of the landfill bottom when combined with a GCL liner.
Regarding the next steps of the stabilization process, the LIFE DIANA project will move forward to a pilot-plant scale at MOH premises. The preparation of the pilot unit is ongoing while the main equipment has been defined and will be installed according to the agreed work-frame.
LIFE DIANA PLENARY MEETINGS
Part of the LIFE DIANA project is the continuous update on ongoing and future actions of the project and thus plenary meetings have been organized. Three plenary meetings were held during the last year (M12-M24), one in September at MOH premises, the second in November 2018 also at MOH premises and the third one in April 2019 at MOH refineries. All three meetings were productive, with open discussion regarding the most important activities of the project, the project progress was reviewed and analyzed and ultimately all partners became aligned towards the forthcoming actions and activities.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES
LIFE DIANA WEBSITE
The LIFE DIANA website (www.lifediana.eu) has been updated with the most recent information regarding the tasks and deliverables that have been implemented or are in progress.
TWITTER/LINKED-IN
Twitter and LinkedIn accounts have been created and will facilitate the spread of LIFE DIANA project’s progress, ensure networking and share across all dissemination activities.
JUNE 2019 “PROJECT OF THE MONTH” – GREEN FUND
The Greek Green Fund nominated the LIFE DIANA project as June 2019 “project of the month”. The Greek LIFE Task Force, has uploaded the overview of the LIFE DIANA project including its objectives, best practices and outcomes.
More information can be found in the following link:
http://lifetaskforce.gr/en/life/life-project-of-the-month/june-2019
PRESENTATION OF THE LIFE DIANA PROJECT AT THE GREEN FUND
LIFE DIANA project was invited to the Presentation and Networking Meeting event of LIFE projects organized by the Greek Task Force and took place at the offices of the Green Fund (Villa Kazouli, 241 Kifissias Avenue, Kifissia, 14561, Attica) on Tuesday 2 July 2019.
The meeting was organized in the framework of the cooperation and relations strengthening between the Greek and Cypriot National Contact Points (NCP) of the LIFE Programs.
Greek LIFE Projects with a Common Theme (Climate or Environment) were presented to the Cypriot National Contact Point. This networking meeting aimed to exchange experiences and know-how, as well as explore possible future synergies between the Greek and Cypriot bodies.
LIFE DIANA 1st WORKSHOP
The LIFE DIANA 1st NEEMO Meeting was organized by NTUA and was held on the 2.04.2018 at NTUA premises at Zografou. All partners attended the meeting with the presence of NEEMO.
All actions, deliverables and an overview of the technical and financial project’s progress were presented and discussed. The highlight of the meeting was the guided tour across the laboratories of NTUA where the participants got the chance to see the relevant equipment and to be informed about the role of NTUA in the LIFE DIANA project.
TECHINICAL MEETINGS – VISITS
2nd NEEMO VISIT
The LIFE DIANA 2nd NEEMO Visit was organized by MOH and held on the 10.04.2019 at Motor Oil Refineries in Corinth. All partners attended the meeting with the presence of NEEMO.
All actions, deliverables and both technical and financial project’s progress were presented and discussed. Focus was given to the designs of the two pilot sites (pilot 1 – MOH refineries and pilot 2 – RAFIMUN) which will be ready and operational in the upcoming months. Following the meeting, a guided tour across the MOH pilot site took place where all participants had the opportunity to see parts of the equipment already delivered and the site.
