Publisher's Synopsis
Efficient non-polluting use of resources by the chemical industries requires an integrated and cost effective approach that is both holistic and multimedia. Beneficial present and future resource use should be preserved with a focus on public health and environmental protection. These proceedings contain 59 papers selected both from the oral and poster presentations, representing the best contributions to a conference with the specific aim of evaluating technologies and sharing experiences for minimization and end of pipe treatment of wastes in the chemical/petrochemical industries. This distinctive multidimensional perspective is reflected in the topics covered: wastewater minimization and management; water and wastewater characterisation; physicochemical, aerobic, anaerobic and combined wastewater treatment processes; textile waste treatment; site restoration; and volatile organic compounds treatment. Attention is given to the interaction between source control and end of pipe treatment, where changes in the first often influence the performance of the second. Owing to increasingly stringent effluent requirements including toxicity limits and ecotoxicological concerns, source control is the preferred option for waste management. The opportunities for research and improvements in practical application, as well as the need of enhanced international cooperation between disciplines, are critical to addressing current multifaceted concerns and feature strongly in the high-quality work assembled here.
