The LIFE SEDREMED partnership is composed of a multidisciplinary and inter-sectoral group of 7 partners from 4 EU countries.
The project is coordinated by the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn and partners with the Site Manager, Invitalia, two technology providers from Belgium and Finland, 2 academic monitoring partners and 1 startup that manages the dissemination and communication aspects of the project.
LIFE SEDREMED will aim at demonstrating the efficiency of an innovative methodology for the in-situ remediation of coastal marine sediments. The intervention consists in developing a prototype for the application of microorganisms within the sediments and the transmission of electric current to stimulate bioremediation reactions. It will aim at reducing the critical concentration of several organic contaminants and the bioavailability of heavy metals. In addition, the project will develop an innovative monitoring plan that will serve as a control instrument for remediation results. The project will enable to showcase a new approach to avoid environmental risks and reduce financial costs incurred in dredging activities and ex-situ treatment of contaminated sediments.
Reduction in organic contaminant concentrations and heavy metal fixation
Sediments to be
decontaminated
Reduction of
decontamination costs
from conventional to
SEDREMED techniques
Bagnoli’s plain is located in the area of Campi Flegrei a vast zone of volcanic origin located north-west of the city of Naples and now fragmented into numerous municipalities. The area of the Bagnoli plain Bagnoli’s plain is part of the Campi Flegrei area, a vast zone of volcanic origin located north-west of the city of Naples and now fragmented into numerous municipalities. The Bagnoli plain was semi-deserted until the early 20th century, with only few agglomerations around the fishery village of Coroglio, the penitentiary on the island of Nisida and the natural thermal baths of Bagnoli.
The area of Bagnoli is characterised by the presence of significant concentrations of aliphatic hydrocarbons; polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs); dioxins (PCDDs); heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, zinc, cadmium and mercury; and residues of asbestos. The majority of these contaminants derive from the industrial activity of the steel, asbestos, cement, fertilisers and pesticides processing.
LIFE SEDREMED will demonstrate the efficient adaptation and combination of 2 technological applications to develop a holistic strategy for the decontamination of coastal marine sediments. The combination will be based on the adaptation of IDRABEL and EKOGRID technologies as described below.
Idrabel’s technology is based on the unique bio-fixation method, which allows immobilising different microorganisms on natural mineral supports. Bio-fixation allows for a longer lifespan of microorganisms, a better pollutant degradation efficiency and applications in an unconfined environment like superficial water bodies and sediments.
Idrabel has extensive experience in the application of microorganisms for treating organic contamination in sediments. The mineral supports used are of natural origin (marine calcium carbonate and zeolites), this feature in addition to allowing higher degradation efficiency ensures that no synthetic material is used in decontamination processes.
EKOGRID™ Electrokinetic Remediation solution cleverly utilizes certain electrokinetic and electrochemical reactions to enhance bioremediation and break down organic pollutants in soil, groundwater and sediment (in situ or ex situ). Optimized pulsed voltage patterns, essential for the proper functioning of this method, are transmitted by EKOGRID™ control unit, which programming is optimized to each site.
EKOGRID™ is an advanced in situ remediation technology which enhances natural processes and supports complementary remediation methods. EKOGRID™ utilizes electrochemical phenomena to generate chemical radicals on targeted matrixes particle surfaces and electrokinetic and
To assess the efficiency of the in-situ bioremediation technologies a robust and integrated monitoring strategy developed by UNIVPM and Isodetect will be implemented. Different sediment layers will be analysed for the determination of grain size, organic matter content and the concentration of the inorganic (i.e., metals/metalloids) and organic contaminants (PAH, aliphatic hydrocarbons and PCBs). Insights on the mobility of metals associated with
Chemical analysis will be integrated by a battery of ecotoxicological bioassays (using marine organisms e.g. embryotoxicity test using Paracentrotus lividus, inhibition of the bioluminescence of Vibrio fischeri, algal growth inhibition of Skeletonema costatum) to assess the ecotoxicological risk of the sediment. Cumulative Hazard Quotients for both chemicals and ecotoxicity tests will be calculated and then integrated through a Weight of Evidence (WOE) approach based on the quantitative
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All the deliverables and results of the project are available to the public in our library section. The documents can be downloaded and include the technical description of the technologies, the strategic communication plan, the project management activities, the scientific publications produced and the remediation results obtained.
The LIFE SEDREMED project is co-funded by the LIFE Programme of the European Union under contract number LIFE20 ENV/IT/000572.
The LIFE programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action. Since 1992, it has co-financed more than 5.500 projects including 120 projects for the protection, remediation and restoration of the marine environment. The LIFE programme represents a key instrument for the implementation of the EU Green Deal.
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LIFE SEDREMED will aim at demonstrating the efficiency of an innovative methodology for the in-situ remediation of coastal marine sediments. The intervention consists of the development of a prototype for the application of microorganisms within the sediments and the transmission of electric current to stimulate bioremediation reactions. It will aim at reducing the critical concentration of several organic contaminants and the bioavailability of heavy metals. In addition, the project will develop an innovative monitoring plan that will serve as a control instrument for remediation results. The project will enable to showcase a new approach to avoid environmental risks and reduce financial costs incurred in dredging activities and ex-situ treatment of contaminated sediments. The main objective is thus to contribute to the restoration of the original natural capital of the selected area and facilitate socio-economic development of the communities living around it.
Bagnoli’s plain is part of the Campi Flegrei area, a vast zone of volcanic origin located northwest of the city of Naples and now fragmented into numerous municipalities. The Bagnoli plain was semi-deserted until the early 20th century, with only a few agglomerations around the fishery village of Coroglio, the penitentiary on the island of Nisida and the natural thermal baths of Bagnoli.
The first industrial settlement in the area was the LeFevre glassworks, which was built in 1853. However, the concrete push towards industrial development starts in 1904 with the special Law for Naples through which the decision to build a large steelwork plant is taken. The choice of Bagnoli was determined by the vast space available and the absence of urban settlements. The steelworks then continuously develop, despite some crises caused by World Wars and the great depression, and in 1954, it reaches 7000 employees.
In the same period, other industrial plants are built such as Cementir (concrete), Eternit (asbestos) and Federconsorzi (fertilisers) making it the largest industrial hub of southern Italy. In 1962, the need for further expansion of the steelworks led to the construction of a platform in the sea – made mostly from waste from the factory itself – and long piers for unloading and loading ships.
In the following years, the increase in the availability of steel in the global market, the energy crisis and the investments in new larger plants such as the one in Taranto pushed towards the downsizing of the Neapolitan industry, slowly progressing towards the closure of the site. In the 1980s this process accelerates and despite significant investments for the refurbishing of the plant the blast furnace and the rest of the industries are closed in 1990.
The impact on the local population is very significant since more than 7.000 families are left without their main source of income, and additionally, the area surrounding Bagnoli is dramatically contaminated. This dynamic is characteristic of many ex-industrial cities around Europe. Therefore, the need for innovative decontamination techniques is urgent in order to restore territorial competitiveness and address the socio-economic crisis caused by deindustrialization.
The area of Bagnoli is characterised by the presence of significant concentrations of aliphatic hydrocarbons; polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs); dioxins (PCDDs); heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, zinc, cadmium and mercury; and residues of asbestos. The majority of these contaminants derive from the industrial activity of steel, asbestos, cement, fertilisers and pesticide processing.
In the marine area, pollution has accumulated in the sediments, because of waste discharge from the industries but also simply because of losses during the loading and unloading processes of raw materials and end-products. The contamination is thus very similar to the one present in the soils. Although the contaminated area at sea extends for over 14 km2 – and the sediments present high levels of contamination from the Bagnoli coastline to beyond the island of Nisida (reaching a bathymetric of -55m) – the remediation works to restore bathing conditions will not include interventions beyond the -7m bathymetric, concentrating therefore on the 50 hectares (0.5 km2) close to the coastline.
Unfortunately, the marine area not only suffers from industrial contamination but is impacted also by the continuous discharge of untreated urban wastewater. Therefore, in addition to the challenges of restoring the coastline and reclaiming the marine sediments, which are still in the planning stage, immediate action is needed to adapt the sewage systems. To this day, about 3 km of the Bagnoli coastline is not suitable for bathing. This pollution not only prevents the area from being used for social and economic purposes but also has a dramatic impact on the marine flora and fauna with potential repercussions on human health.
Another particular aspect that threatens the regeneration of the coastline is the presence of the platform at sea made up of industrial by-products and waste, the actions to remove the platform are still under analysis due to technical difficulties, the environmental risks involved and the need to identify an area for disposal. In 1993 the first transformation operations begin with the creation of the IDIS Foundation and the City of Science in the former glasswork warehouse on the sea-front. However, concrete decontamination activity did not start until the early 2000s with the creation of the public company Bagnoli Futura. Poor management and technical difficulties brought to the failure of the decontamination plan and to the dissolution of the company in 2014.
Since that year the management of the area has been assigned to Invitalia which is now coordinating the regeneration plan of the area with concrete results already obtained in the terrestrial portion and planning undergoing for the decontamination of the coastline and the marine area.
Idrabel’s technology is based on the unique bio-fixation method, which allows immobilising different microorganisms on natural mineral supports. Bio-fixation allows for a longer lifespan of microorganisms, a better pollutant degradation efficiency and applications in an unconfined environment like superficial water bodies and sediments.
Idrabel has extensive experience in the application of microorganisms for treating organic contamination in sediments. The mineral supports used are of natural origin (marine calcium carbonate and zeolites), this feature in addition to allowing higher degradation efficiency ensures that no synthetic material is used in decontamination processes.
Idrabel’s technology has been commercially implemented (TRL9) for the degradation of organic matter in sediments, thus enabling the reduction of sediments height through a process called bio-dredging. Idrabel has also applied its technology in sediments for the degradation of organic pollutants such as hydrocarbons and for the fixation of heavy metals applying it – albeit in relatively closed environments such as ports, canals and ponds.
LIFE SEDREMED represents the first application of Idrabel’s technology in an unconfined bay, thus enabling the verification of its efficiency in open environments. Idrabel will work closely with EKOGRID to develop a synergic in-situ decontamination strategy where electro-kinetics are used to enhance bioremediation of contaminants.
EKOGRID™ Electrokinetic Remediation solution utilises electrokinetic and electrochemical reactions to enhance bioremediation and break down organic pollutants in soil, groundwater and sediment (in situ or ex situ). Optimised pulsed voltage patterns, essential for the proper functioning of this method, are transmitted by EKOGRID™ control unit, which programming is optimised to each site.
EKOGRID™ is an advanced in situ remediation technology which enhances natural processes and supports complementary remediation methods. EKOGRID™ utilises electrochemical phenomena to generate chemical radicals on targeted matrixes particle surfaces and electrokinetic and electroosmotic phenomena to increase the availability of organic contaminants for bioremediation, chemical degradation or mechanical removal. EKOGRID™ patented products and technologies are cost-effective, simple to install, and safe to use both for the operators and the environment. With the correct settings made in the commissioning phase, the system maximises the remediation potential of contaminated matrixes.
Reactions will occur at the surface of each matrix particle, precisely where the pollution is and everywhere between the electrodes installed. As a result, no energy is wasted and the system will be significantly energy-efficient. The effect can be quickly seen in the form of reduced pollutant concentrations as well as stabilised oxidation-reduction potential and dissolved oxygen levels.
LIFE SEDREMED will test EKOGRID’s technology on marine sediments in an unconfined bay. EKOGRID’s installation will aim at boosting the pollutant degradation efficiency provided by the microorganisms of Idrabel and thus constant exchange of information and co-development of the installation is key to obtaining successful decontamination results.
To assess the efficiency of the in-situ bioremediation technologies a robust and integrated monitoring strategy developed by UNIVPM and Isodetect will be implemented. Different sediment layers will be analysed for the determination of grain size, organic matter content and the concentration of the inorganic (metals/metalloids) and organic contaminants (PAH, aliphatic hydrocarbons, PCDDs and PCBs).
Insights on the mobility of metals associated with different geochemical phases of the sediment will be obtained. Chemical analysis will be integrated by a battery of ecotoxicological bioassays (using marine organisms e.g. embryotoxicity test using Paracentrotus lividus, inhibition of the bioluminescence of Vibrio fischeri, algal growth inhibition of Skeletonema costatum) to assess the ecotoxicological risk of the sediment. Cumulative Hazard Quotients for both chemicals and ecotoxicity tests will be calculated and then integrated through a Weight of Evidence (WOE) approach based on the quantitative model Sediqualsoft, already applied in the Bagnoli-Coroglio bay.
A set of six methods will be also applied in order to prove and characterise the enhancement of natural attenuation by the proposed remediation approach:
Finally, to assess the ecological compatibility of the applied in-situ technologies and their potential benefits on benthic biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, surface sediment samples will be collected using a BACI (Before-After-Control-Impact) approach for the analysis of meio and macrofauna assemblages, which are commonly used for assessing the health status of the benthic ecosystem.