Ricerc@Sapienza

The 2016 Mw ≥ 6.0 Amatrice-Norcia earthquakes (central Apennines, Italy) and the related seismic sequence were associated with increases in arsenic and vanadium concentrations recorded in groundwater springs a few months before the earthquakes occurred. To evaluate these signals as reliable seismic precursors and effective predictive tools, we studied the geochemical processes that caused these anomalies.

A fully biological Microbial Electrolysis Cell (MEC) aimed at biogas upgrading has been operated under different operating conditions in order to enhance CO2 removal from a synthetic biogas. Specifically, CO2 reduction into CH4 occurred at the MEC biocathode with the oxidation of organic substrates in the anodic chamber partially sustaining the energy demand of the process. In the cathode chamber, methane formation was the main driver of current generation which, in turn, sustained alkalinity generation and related CO2 sorption.