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Acid rain (or acid precipitation): rain with a pH of less than 5.6; results from atmospheric moisture mixing with sulphur and nitrogen oxides emitted from burning fossil fuels or from volcanic activity; may cause damage to buildings, monuments, car finishes, crops, forests, wildlife habitats, and aquatic life. (Lluvia ácida)
Activated sludge: sludge floc produced in raw or settled wastewater by the growth of zoogleal bacteria and other organisms in the presence of dissolved oxygen and accumulated in sufficient concentration by returning floc previously formed. (Lodos activos)
Activated carbon (also called activated charcoal or active carbon) is the more general term which includes carbon material mostly derived from charcoal. It denotes a material which has an exceptionally high surface area and includes a large amount of microporosity. Sufficient activation for useful applications may come solely from the high surface area, though often further chemical treatment is used to enhance the adsorbing properties of the material. Activated carbon adsoption is a common biogas upgrading treatment. (Carbón activo)
Aerobic: living or occurring in the presence of oxygen. (Aeróbico)
Aerobic process: any process that take place with the presence of air or oxygen. (Proceso aeróbico)
Aerosol: minute liquid droplets or solids of particle size up to 100 fm suspended in a gaseous flow or the atmosphere. Due to their small size, they can be readily dispersed. There are two types: condensation aerosols, formed when moisture-laden gases are cooled, and dispersion aerosols, formed from the break up of solids or atomization of liquids. (Aerosol)
Ammoniacal nitrogen: a measure of the nitrogen compounds present in solution as ammonia or ammonium ion, generally derived from biological activity. Concentrations above few mg/l may indicate pollution. (Nitrógeno amoniacal)
Anaerobic bacteria: any bacteria that can survive in the complete or partial absence of air. (Bacteria anaeróbica)
Anaerobic digestion: controlled biological de composition of organic material in the absence of oxygen to produce biogas and partially stabilized organic material. (Digestión anaeróbica)
Atmospheric transport: the movement of air pollutants from one region to another by wind; may be hundreds of miles. (Transporte atmosférico)
Autotroph: an organism that can make its own food (usually using sunlight). (Autótrofa)
Bacteria: Bacteria are single-cell microbes that grow in nearly every environment on Earth. They are used to study diseases and produce antibiotics, to ferment foods, to make chemical solvents, and in many other applications. (Bacteria)
Biodegradable: capable of being decomposed (broken down) by natural biological processes. (Biodegradable)
Biogas (landfill gas): gas produced under the decomposition of organic material under anaerobic conditions. It is composed primarily of methane and carbon dioxide. (Biogas)
Biogas upgrading: any physical, chemical or biological process that removes contaminants present in biogas in order to improve its quality so that it is possible to use it as a renewable energy.
Biological recovery: Organic waste processing technique using composting or methanisation techniques. (Recuperación biológica)
Biological treatment: any biological process that changes the properties of waste. (Tratamiento biológico)
Biosolids: solid materials resulting from wastewater treatment that meet government criteria for beneficial use, such as for fertilizer. (Biosólidos)
Carbon dioxide: (CO2) Gas produced by the complete combustion of carbonaceous materials, by decay organisms such as aerobic decomposers, by fermentation, and by the action of acid on limestone. (Dióxido de carbono)
Chemical sludge: sludge obtained by treatment of wastewater with chemicals. (Lodos químicos)
Clean technologies: production processes or equipment with a low rate of waste production. Treatment or recycling plants are not classed as clean technologies.
Co-generation (combined heat and power CHP): terms used to describe the joint production of heat (steam or water or both) and power /usually in the form of electricity) (Cogeneración)
Combustion: a process in with a substances reacts with oxygen to produces heat and light. (Combustión)
Compost: an aerobic mixture of decaying organic matter, such as leaves and manure, used as fertilizer. (Compost)
Composting: controlled biological decomposition of organic material in the presence of oxygen to produce a stable, pathogen free, humus-like soil amendment material called compost. (Compostaje)
Contaminant: an impurity, that causes air, soil, or water to be harmful to human health or the environment. (Contaminante)
Decomposition: the process of rotting and decay which causes the complex organic materials in plants and animals to break down into simple inorganic elements which can be returned to the atmosphere and soil. (Descomposición)
Degradable: capable of decomposition; chemical or biological. (Degradable)
Denitrification: reduction by bacterial action of nitrate to elementary nitrogen (Desnitrificación)
Desalinization: the purification of salt or brackish water by removing the dissolved salts. (Desalinización)
Dewatering: the removal of water from sludges or pulps (Deshidratación de lodos)
Digested sludge: sludge digested under either aerobic or anaerobic conditions until the volatile content has been reduced to the point at which the solids are relatively nonputrescible and inoffensive. (Lodos digeridos)
Digestion: decomposition of organic waste materials by the action of microbes; the process of sewage treatment by the decomposition of organic matter. (Disgestión/Descomposición)
Dioxin: Chemical compound resulting from the combustion of organic matter. 210 types of dioxin exist, 17 of which are considered to be harmful. (Dioxina)
Disposal: the final handling of solid waste, following collection, processing, or incineration. Disposal most often means placement of wastes in a dump or a landfill (Deposición)
Dissolved oxygen (DO): oxygen gas dissolved in water. (Oxígeno disuelto)
Dissolved solids: materials that enter a water body in a solid phase and dissolve in water. (Sólidos en suspensión)
DW (domestic waste): Waste resulting from household consumption and collected by traditional or selective collection. (Residuo doméstico)
Effluent: waste material, such as water from sewage treatment or manufacturing plants, discharged into the environment. (Efluente)
Emission: a substance discharged into the environment. (Emisión)
Energy-from-waste (EfW): The recovery of useful energy in the form of heat and/or power from the thermal treatment of waste. Generally applied to incineration, pyrolysis, gasification but can also include the combustion of landfill gas and gas produced from anaerobic digestion.
Energy Recovery: The recovery of useful energy in the form of heat and/or power from the thermal treatment of waste. Generally applied to incineration, pyrolysis, gasification but can also include the combustion of landfill gas and gas produced during anaerobic digestion. (Recuperación de energía)
Environment: the sum of all external conditions and influences affecting the development and life of organisms.(Medio ambiente)
Eutrophication: a naturally occurring change that take place after a water body receives inputs of nutrients, mostly nitrates and phosphates, from erosion and runoff of surrounding lands; this process causes an oxygen deficiency in water and it can be accelerated by human activities. (Eutrofización)
Fermentation: chemical reactions accompanied by living microbes that are supplied with nutrients and other critical conditions such as heat, pressure and light. (Fermentación)
Fertilizer: any one of a large number of natural and synthetic materials, including manure and nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium compounds, spread or worked into the soil to increase its fertility. (Fertilizante)
Filtration: the process of passing a liquid or gas through a porous article or mass (paper, membrane, sand, etc.) to separate out matter in suspension. (Filtración)
Fly ash: Residues from domestic waste inicneration fume cleansing. (Ceniza)
Fossil fuel: a hydrocarbon fuel, such as petroleum, derived from living matter of a previous geologic time. (Combustible fósil)
Gas, inert: a gas that does not react with materials with which it is in contact, e.g., nitrogen. (Gas inerte)
Gasification: an advanced thermal treatment process that converts carbonaceous materials through a process involving partial oxidation of the feedstock in a reducing atmosphere in the presence of steam at temperatures sufficient to convert the feedstock to synthesis gas; to convert inorganic matter in the feedstock (when the feedstock is a solid or semi-solid) to a glassy solid material known as vitreous frit or slag; and to convert halogens into the corresponding acid halides. (Gasificación)
Gradient: the degree of inclination, or the rate of ascent or descent, in a highway, road, river, etc. (Gradiente)
Greenhouse effect: A natural system of trapping the Earth's heat. Solar rays which penetrate the atmosphere to reach the Earth's surface are then partly re-radiated by this suface. Certain gases present in the atmosphere absorb these ascending rays and reflect them back to the surface as heat, which allows the Earth to be at a temperature of 15°C. Human activity contributes to the increase in content of these gases (carbon dioxide CO2, methane CH4 and chlorofluorocarbons CFCs) in the atmosphere, which in turn, raises the Earth's temperature. (Efecto invernadero)
Groundwater: water that infiltrates into the earth and is stored in usable amounts in the soil and rock below the earth's surface; water within the zone of saturation. (Agua freática/subterránea)
Hazardous waste: waste containing chemical compounds that are dangerous to human health and/or the environment. (Residuo peligroso)
Heterotroph: an organism that is not capable of making its own food. (Heterótrofo)
Humidity: the degree of wetness, especially of the atmosphere. (Humedad)
Hydrocarbons: substances containing only hydrogen and carbon, such as methane, alkane, or ethylene. (Hidrocarburos)
Hydrogen sulphide: (H2S) a colorless inflammable gas having the characteristic odor of bad eggs, and found in many mineral springs. It is produced by the action of acids on metallic sulphides, and is an important chemical reagent. At high concentrations, it is highly poisonous by inhalation. It is corrosive and when it is burnt it converts into SOx, the main responsible of acidic rain. In biogas, it must be removed to avoid corrosion in equipment and to avoid emission of contaminants. (Ácido sulfhídrico)
Incinerator : Facility subject to authorisation, designed to incinerate waste. More and more incinerators now rcover waste in the form of electricity or thermal energy. The by-products of incineration (bottom ash and fly ash) are processed with a view to controlling the impacts of this activity both on mankind and on the environment. (Incineradora)
Industrial waste: any solid or liquid waste from any industrial undertaking or organisation.
Inert waste: Waste which unlikely to evolve physically or chemically (non toxic, non biodegradable, very low solubility in water, non oxidizable), for example, backfill, rubble. (Residuo inerte)
Infiltration: the gradual downward flow of water from the surface of the earth into the soil.
Inflammable: Readily to set on fire, easily burnt. (Inflamable)
Inorganic Waste: waste composed of material other than plant or animal matter, such as sand, dust, glass, and many synthetics. (Residuo inorgánico)
Inorganic material: material derived from nonorganic, or nonliving, sources. (Material inorgánico)
Inorganic nitrogen: nitrogen not derived from organic matter. (Nitrógeno inorgánico)
Landfill: a large, outdoor area for waste disposal; landfills where waste is exposed to the atmosphere (open dumps) are now illegal; in "sanitary" landfills, waste is layered and covered with soil. (Depósito controlado)
Leachate: the liquid formed when water (from precipitation) soaks into and through a landfill, picking up a variety of suspended and dissolved materials from the waste. (Lixiviado)
Leachate treatment: a process to reduce the polluting potential of leachate. (Tratamiento de lixiviados)
Liner: a clay or plastic material placed between garbage and soil in a landfill to prevent rotting garbage from coming in contact with groundwater. (Revestimiento)
Litter: rubbish discarded in the environment instead of in trash containers. (Detritus)
Material recovery: Waste processing technique, allowing reemployment, reuse and recycling (eg: waste resulting from selective collection which is recycled, bottom ash recovered for use in toadway capping layers). (Material de recubrimiento)
Methane - an odourless, colourless, flammable, explosive gas, (CH4) resulting from the microbial decomposition of organic material under anaerobic conditions of from certain advanced thermal treatment processes. (Metano)
Microorganisms: organisms too small to be seen with the unaided eye, including bacteria, protozoans, yeasts, viruses, and algae. (Microorganismo)
Microturbine: equipment based in turbine techonology that produces electricity and thermal energy from a fuel, that can be either a fossil fuel, natural gas or renewable fuels like landfill biogas or sewage gas. Obtain electricity per unit is between 30 kW and 400 kw.
Municipal sewage: sewage originating from urban areas (not industrial). (Lodo municipal)
Municipal solid waste (MSW): municipal waste is that collected and disposed of by or on behalf of a local authority. It will generally consist of household waste, some commercial waste, and waste taken to civic amenity waste collection/disposal sites by the general public. (Residuos sólidos urbanos RSU)
Nitrification: oxidation of ammonium or ammoniac to nitrite and nitrate by means of bacterial activity. (Nitrificación)
Nitrates: used generically for materials containing this ion group made of nitrogen and oxygen; sources include animal wastes and some fertilizers; can seep into groundwater; linked to human health problems, including "blue baby" syndrome (methemoglobinemia). (Nitratos)
Nitric acid: a component of acid rain; corrosive; damages buildings, vehicle surfaces, crops, forests, and aquatic life. (Ácido nítrico)
Nutrient: an element or compound, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that is necessary for plant growth. (Nutriente)
Organic material: material derived from organic, or living, things; also, relating to or containing carbon compounds. (Materia orgánica)
Oxygen depletion: the reduction of the dissolved oxygen level in a water body.
Percolation: the passage of leachate through wastes in a mainly downward path. (Filtración)
Permeable: passable; allowing fluid to penetrate or pass through it. (Permeable)
pH: a measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution; the pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, where 7 is neutral and values less than 7 are acidic and values greater than 7 are basic or alkaline; pH is an inverted logarithmic scale so that every unit decrease in pH means a 10-fold increase in hydrogen ion concentration. Thus, a pH of 3 is 10 times as acidic as a pH of 4 and 100 times as acidic as a pH of 5. (pH)
Phosphate: used generically for materials containing a phosphate group; sources include some fertilizers and detergents; when wastewater containing phosphates is discharged into surface waters, these chemicals act as nutrient pollutants (causing overgrowth of aquatic plants). (Fosfato)
Photodegradable: plastic that will decompose into smaller pieces under certain kinds of radiant energy, especially ultraviolet light. (Fotodegradable)
Plasma: An electrically neutral, highly ionized gas composed of ions, electrons, and neutral particles. It is a phase of matter distinct from solids, liquids, and normal gases. (Plasma)
Plasma Gasification: a type of advanced thermal treatment process that uses extremely high temperatures in an oxygen-starved environment to completely decompose input waste material into very simple molecules. (Gasificación con plasma)
Pollutant: an impurity (contaminant) that causes an undesirable change in the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of the air, water, or land that may be harmful to or affect the health, survival, or activities of humans or other living organisms. (Contaminante)
Processing: Reduction, within controlled conditions, of the initial pollutant potential of waste and/or waste volumes before landfill. (Tratar)
Reclaim: to return to original condition. (Recuperar)
Recovery: Generic term encompassing the remployment, reuse, recycling or regeneration of waste. (Recuperación)
Recycling: Direct re-introduction of a waste type into the production cycle from which it originates as a total or partial replacement for a new material. For example, melting down broken bottles to make new ones. Newspapers, magazines and glass can be recycled if they are selectively collected. Textile products and fermentable materials cannot be recycled. (Reciclaje)
Regeneration: Physical or chemical procedure, which provides waste with the necessary characteristics needed to allow it to be used as a replacement for a new raw material. For example: recycled paper re-generated by de-inking.
Renewable resource: a resource or substance, such as a forest, that can be replenished through natural or artificial means. (Fuente renovable)
Residual waste: Waste, resulting or not from processing, which is no longer likely to be processed in the current technical and economic conditions. The recoverable fraction has either already been extracted or the waste's pollutant or hazardous nature been reduced (often, but not necessarily, "waste resulting from waste").
Reuse: the use of a product more than once in its original form, for the same or a new purpose. (Reutilización)
Salinity: an indication of the amount of salt dissolved in water. (salinidad)
Scrubber: emission control device used primarily to control acid gases, but also to remove volatile recyclable heavy metals. (Lavador)
Selective collection: Any collection which separates certain types of waste (for example, packaging, glass, paper…), with a view of recovering them. (Recogida selectiva)
Siloxane: Any of a class of organic or inorganic chemical compounds of silicon, oxygen, and usually carbon and hydrogen, based on the structural unit R2SiO, where R is an alkyl group. When present in biogas, siloxanes are very harmful for energy recovery equipment, so they must be previously removed. (Siloxano)
Sludge: solid matter that settles to the bottom of septic tanks or wastewater treatment plant sedimentation; must be disposed of by bacterial digA?estion or other methods or pumped out for land disposal or incineration. (Lodo)
Solid Waste Management: Solid waste management is defined as the systematic organization and administration of activities, which provide for the planning, financing, and operational processes for managing solid waste. Operational processes include storage, separation, collection, transport, treatment, separation, diversion for other management purposes, recycling, composting, combustion, and landfilling of solid waste (Tchobanoglous et al. 19931). The generation of solid waste is not a part of solid waste management. (Gestión de residuos sólidos)
Solid Waste Management Facility: transfer stations, composting facilities, materials recovery facilities and landfills that receive solid waste and/or recyclables for management. (Centro de gestión de residuos sólidos)
Sorting centre: Specific sorting and waste regrouping facility to which waste may be sent following collection. Also referred to as a Material Recycling Facility (MRF). (Centro de triaje)
Substrate: the substance acted upon by an enzyme or a fermenter, such as yeast, mold, or bacteria. (Substrato)
Thermal pollution: the increase in temperature of a body of water due to the discharge of water used as a coolant in industrial processes or power production; can cause serious damage to aquatic life. (Contaminación térmica)
Toxic: having the characteristic of causing death or damage to humans, animals, or plants; poisonous. (Tóxico)
Toxin: any of various poisonous substances produced by certain plant and animal cells, including bacterial toxins, phytotoxins, and zootoxins. (Toxina)
Treatment: a substance with which to treat water or a method of treating water to clean it. (Tratamiento)
Treatment plant: facility for cleaning and treating fresh water for drinking, or cleaning and treating wastewater before discharging into a water body. (Planta de tratamiento)
Turbine: a device in which a bladed wheel is turned by the force of moving water or steam; connected by a shaft to a generator to produce electricity. (Turbina)
Uncontrolled dump site: A landfill which receives all types of waste in conditions which do not respect the rules in force for controlled landfills. (Depósito incontrolado)
Void space: The space which still remains to be filled by waste in a landfill.
Waste: is defined as that which is descarded as supefluous and has no further use or value to its owner. (Residuo)
Waste-derived fuel: fuel produced from MSW that has undergone processing. Processing can include separation of recyclables and non-combustible materials, shredding, size reduction, and pelletizing. (Combustible procedente de residuos)
Waste-to-Energy: Waste-to-energy is defined as an incineration process in which the organic fraction of solid waste is combusted and the released heat is utilized to generate hot water, steam, and electric power, leaving the inorganic fraction (ash) as a residue. (Energía procedente de residuos)
Waste Reduction: minimizing waste generation through purchasing decisions (consumer) or through design (producer, distributor). (Reducción de residuos)
Wastewater: water that has been used for domestic or industrial purposes. (Agua residual)
Wastewater treatment: physical, chemical, and biological processes used to remove pollutants from wastewater before discharging it into a water body. (Tratamiento de agua residual)
