On 9 May 2024, a group of 15 students from the Master’s Degree Course in Environmental and Territorial Engineering at the University of Naples Federico II participated in an educational visit to Bagnoli, Naples. The course is coordinated by Prof. Francesco Pirozzi of the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering. The visit was organized as part of the reclamation of the Site of National Interest (SIN), managed by Invitalia. Among the various topics presented to the students, the LIFE SEDREMED project stood out as an innovative initiative aimed at decontaminating coastal sediments.
The visit to Bagnoli offered the students a unique opportunity to see the field application of the skills they acquired during their course of study. The Master’s Degree in Environmental and Territorial Engineering prepares students to design, manage and control environmental protection and restoration interventions, management of territorial and energy resources, and treatment of water and polluting emissions.
The Bagnoli plain, located in the Campi Flegrei area, has a history of industrial development which has had a significant impact on the local environment. The area was home to industries such as the LeFevre glass factory and other steel, asbestos, cement, fertilizer and pesticide manufacturing operations, which have left a legacy of environmental contamination. Currently, the area is the subject of a major remediation project to reduce the presence of contaminants such as aliphatic hydrocarbons, PCBs, dioxins and heavy metals.
The aim of the project is to demonstrate the effectiveness of an innovative methodology for the in-situ remediation of coastal sediments. The idea behind the project is to develop a prototype for the application of microorganisms in sediments and the use of electric current to stimulate bioremediation. This is intended to reduce the concentration of organic contaminants and the bioavailability of heavy metals. To achieve the objectives it is essential to implement an innovative monitoring plan to control the results of the remediation.
We are pleased to announce that, given the positive experience of this visit to Bagnoli, we will organize another visit in autumn to explore innovative technologies and progress in environmental remediation in the field. Further details and dates will be communicated soon.
LIFE SEDREMED is a EU-funded project involving a multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral partnership made up of 7 partners from 4 European countries. The project is coordinated by the Anton Dohrn Zoological Station and the partner Invitalia – the implementing body for the reclamation of Bagnoli. Other partners include two technology providers from Belgium and Finland, two academic partners for monitoring, and a startup dedicated to project communication.
For further information on the LIFE SEDREMED project and its progress, we invite you to get in touch or register the newsletter below.
