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A comparative economic and life cycle based analysis of five management scenarios for the solid waste generated in the island of Syros was conducted. The LCA part was performed with the LCA – IWM software. The four on-site waste management scenarios were: i) source separation of recyclable materials in combination with landfill disposal of the residuals (existing situation), ii) aerobic, windrow type, biological treatment (composting) with landfilling of residues, iii) anaerobic biological treatment (digestion) with landfilling of residues iv) aerobic mechanical biological treatment (MBT) and landfilling of residues. The off-site management scenario examined the transportation of the whole commingled wastes off the island for processing and disposal to the main mechanical and biological pretreatment plant in Athens. The results of analysis showed that the optimum waste management scenario in terms of environmental burdens (based on six environmental impact categories) and economics was off-site transportation, even when the specific landfill tax is included in calculations. The second best scenario in terms of environmental performance included the on-site aerobic MBT plant while the worst scenario was direct landfilling with mixed dry recyclables’ recycling. On-site anaerobic digestion had less environmental burdens and was more expensive than open windrow composting. Threshold distances were calculated below which the transportation of municipal solid wastes from a small island is financially and environmentally beneficial.

In order to make assessments in understanding of physiological and genotoxic effects of imposing cadmium (Cd) on photosynthetic pigment contents along with the changes occurring in genetic material of Kalanchoe plants were used in relation to various Cd-treatments. Young plantlets were originated from a single host plant as clones, and developed in vitro. Developed clones were grown in standard pots with daily watering of Hoagland solution (20 ml) containing different concentrations of cadmium chloride for two months. Cd concentrations of the collected samples were measured by employing ICP-OES and RAPD-PCR technique was applied for detecting the genotoxic effects of Cd. After two month of experimental period, the comparisons between unexposed and exposed Kalanchoe clone groups revealed reductions in photosynthetic pigment contents, especially at the highest level of Cd exposure and a genomic instability when application of Cd concentration increases. RAPD-PCR analyses demonstrated the distinguishable banding pattern in number and band intensities between Cd-treated and control groups. In addition, progressive Cd accumulations in leaves, stems and roots of plant samples were observed when the application of exposure level increased. 

Ozone initiated oxidation of 2-chloro,4-bromophenol, (CBP) in aqueous system catalyzed by 1, 2.5 and 5% loadings of 1:1 molar ratio of Ce-Zr oxide on TiO₂ were studied. The synthesized catalysts were characterized via BET, ICP, PXRD, TPD, TEM, SEM, and FT-IR analysis. The powder XRD data revealed that Ce-Zr exists in three different phases on titania. SEM and SEM-EDX confirmed well dispersed metal oxides on titania surface. ¹H NMR, IR and GC-MS positively confirm hydroxyfumaric acid (HFA) and oxalic acid (OA) as reaction products. 5% Ce-Zr/TiO₂ showed best performance with100 % conversion in 4 h.