Evaluation of human urine as a source of nutrients for selected vegetables and maize under tunnel house conditions in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

The introduction of ecological sanitation (ECOSAN) toilets in South Africa has created opportunities for safer sanitation and recycling of human excreta, as fertilizers, in rural and peri-urban areas. A study was carried out to evaluate the fertilizer value of human urine (0 to 400 kg N ha(-1)) for maize and tomato, compared to urea, in a tunnel house. Dry matter yield of both maize and tomato, harvested at 9 and 10 weeks after planting, respectively, increased with increasing N rate (both as urine or urea) up to 200 kg N ha(-1). Urea reduced soil electrical conductivity (EC) whereas urine increased it. Leaf tissue Na, in both crops, also increased with urine application. A follow-up study was carried out with two crops with contrasting sensitivity to salinity and using a wider range of N application (0 to 800 kg N ha(-1)). The results indicated increased root and leaf dry-matter yield of beetroot (tolerant to salinity) with increased urine rates up to the highest rate of 800 kg N ha(-1), whereas the leaf and root dry-matter yield of carrot, which is sensitive to salinity, peaked at the low urine application rate of 50 kg N ha(-1). Soil EC increased with urine application up to 4.64 and 13.35 mS cm(-1), under beetroot and carrot, respectively. Generally the results showed that human urine compared well with urea as a source of N for crops but optimum rates depend on the sensitivity of the crops to soil salinity, which should be monitored where human urine is regularly used for fertilizing crops.     

Biodegradable Polymer Composites as Coating Materials for Granular Fertilizers

The composites consisting of poly(vinyl alcohol), horn meal, rapeseed cake, glycerol and phosphogypsum were proposed for the encapsulation of mineral fertilizers. Poly(vinyl alcohol) was used as a binder. The other components making ca. 70% of the mass of the composites were waste materials or by-products. They contain phosphorus, nitrogen, calcium, potassium and sulphur, which are useful nutrients for plants. The effect of the amount of glycerol and of the composition of the mixture of the fillers on the mechanical, sorption properties, water vapour permeability, solubility in water, dimensional stability of the composite films was studied. The addition of phosphogypsum and increase of the concentration of glycerol in the composites lead to the decrease of the tensile strength, water vapour permeability and to the increase of elongation at break and of the solubility of the composite films in water. The composites prepared were used for encapsulation of fertilizers. It was established that encapsulation resulted in the increase of the time of release of the fertilizers. In addition, encapsulation improved mechanical properties of the fertilizers. The fertilizer granules were coated with composite films and tested in the cultivation of tomato sprouts. They showed considerable positive effect on the development of the roots of the plants.     

Release Characteristics of Nutrients from Polymer-coated Compound Controlled Release Fertilizers

Reliable information regarding release characteristics of nutrients from a polymer-coated controlled release fertilizer (CRF) is essential for beneficial agronomic and environmental results. Significant knowledge regarding nitrogen release from polymer-coated urea was gained while the information regarding the release of the different nutrients contained in polymer-coated compound N–P–K CRF remains limited. An experiment in which major factors affecting the differential release of nutrients from two coated compound CRF was performed in free water, water saturated sand and sand at field capacity. In general, nitrate release was the fastest, followed by ammonium and potassium whereas phosphate was significantly slower, with a rate of linear release in free water 45–70% slower than that of nitrate. Little differences were obtained for the lag periods of nitrate, ammonium and potassium release (2–10 days) under the experimental conditions, whereas for P they were one order of magnitude larger. The main factor slowing the release was assumed to be the lower solubility of ions with P being the least soluble. Release into free water was, expectedly, somewhat faster than that into saturated sand and significantly faster as compared to sand at field capacity and particularly so for P. Raising the temperature from 20 °C to 40 °C increased the rate of linear release of the different nutrients. The energy of activation, EA_rel, estimated for the linear release, of the different nutrients, was narrow ranging between 37 to 46 (KJ mol⁻¹) whereas the mean values obtained for the two CRF, differing by 50% in coating thickness, was non-significant. However, EA_rel was significantly different in different media. The complex effect of temperature on the lag period and nutrient interactions during release deserve further investigation.     

Biochar-Based Controlled Release Nitrogen Fertilizer Coated with Polylactic Acid

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - Conventional nitrogen (N) fertilizers tend to dissolve in the water quickly without allowing sufficient time for the plants to uptake the N nutrient. The...     

The variability in nutrient composition of Anaerobic Digestate granules produced from high shear granulation

This study investigates the production of organic fertilizer using Anaerobic Digestate (as a nutrient source) and limestone powder as the raw materials. A two-level factorial experimental design was used to determine the influence of process variables on the nutrient homogeneity within the granules. Increasing the liquid-to-solid ratio during granulation resulted in increased granule nutrient homogeneity. Increasing the processing time and the impeller speed were also found to increase the nutrient homogeneity. In terms of nutrients release into deionized water, the granules effectively released both potassium and phosphate into solution.     

A sustainable system for decontamination of cephalexin antibiotic using electrocoagulation technology and response surface methodology

The emergence of synthetic micropollutants in wastewater due to domestic and industrial use has presented new challenges for treatment processes. Among these pollutants, pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) are considered emerging contaminants due to their potential to enter drinking water sources. Antibiotics, in particular, are of significant concern due to their high consumption in veterinary and human applications. In this study, the electrocoagulation (EC) process is used as an efficient technique for the removal of cephalexin (CFX) from pharmaceutical wastewater. The study aims to explore the ability of the EC process to remove CFX and optimize its performance using the response surface method based on Central Composite Design (RSM-CCD). The effects of initial CFX concentration, electrolysis time, initial pH, and electrode type (non-insulated and insulated) were considered in the optimization process. This research is distinct as it examines the influence of key factors on the elimination of CFX. The results showed that electrolysis time had the most significant effect on CFX removal using the EC process. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was used to evaluate the importance of independent variables and their interaction. The optimal operating conditions for maximum removal efficiency (86.53%) were an initial CFX concentration, reaction time, and initial pH of 34 mg/L, 34.35 min, and 6.5, respectively, using an insulated electrode. Under these optimal conditions, predicted CFX removal was 93.54%. These findings demonstrate that RSM-CCD is a useful tool for optimizing electrochemical removal processes for micropollutants such as CFX from wastewater streams. The study highlights the importance of considering electrode type in optimizing EC processes for micropollutant removal from wastewater.     

Estimation of nutrient values of pig slurries in Southeast Spain using easily determined properties

The contents of available nutrients in pig slurries are not easy to quantify in situ without laboratory facilities, but chemical analyses using standard laboratory methods also take time and are costly and not practical for most farms. Thus, when animal slurries are applied to land, their fertiliser potential is often unknown. In addition, in the last years, the changes in the management of industrial piggeries has changed the nature of the pig slurries vg. decrease of the dry matter content, and consequently the methods and equations used for estimating the nutrient contents in these residues must be checked. In our study, slurry samples were collected from the storage tanks of 36 commercial farms in Southeast Spain. Samples were analysed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), redox potential (RP), specific density (D), total solids (TS), sedimentable solids (SS), biological oxygen demand (BOD(5)), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TKN), ammonium nitrogen (AN), organic nitrogen (ON), and total contents of phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium. Relationships between major nutrient levels of pig slurries and a range of physical and chemical properties were investigated. We also analysed the variability of pig slurries according to the production stage. TKN, AN and K were closely related to EC. The P content in slurries was related more closely to solids-derived parameters such as D. The use of multiple properties to estimate nutrient contents in pig slurries, especially for AN and K, seemed unnecessary due to the limited improvement achieved with an additional property. Therefore, electrical conductivity seemed to be the most appropriate single, easily determined parameter for estimation of total and ammonium nitrogen and potassium in pig slurries, with more than 83% of the variance explained. P seemed to be the worst key nutrient for estimation using any easily determined parameter.     

Economical and environmental implications of solid waste compost applications to agricultural fields in Punjab,Pakistan

Application of municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) to agricultural soils is becoming an increasingly important global practice to enhance and sustain soil organic matter (SOM) and fertility levels. Potential risks associated with heavy metals and phosphorus accumulations in surface soils may be minimized with integrated nutrient management strategies that utilize MSWC together with mineral fertilizers. To explore the economic feasibility of MSWC applications, nutrient management plans were developed for rice–wheat and cotton–wheat cropping systems within the Punjab region of Pakistan. Three-year field trials were conducted to measure yields and to determine the economic benefits using three management strategies and two nutrient doses. Management strategies included the application of mineral fertilizers as the sole nutrient source and application of mineral fertilizers in combination with MSWC with and without pesticide/herbicide treatments. Fertilizer doses were either based on standard N, P and K recommendations or on measured site-specific soil plant available phosphorus (PAP) levels. It was found that combining MSWC and mineral fertilizer applications based on site-specific PAP levels with the use of pesticides and herbicides is an economically and environmentally viable management strategy. Results show that incorporation of MSWC improved soil physical properties such as bulk density and penetration resistance. The PAP levels in the surface layer increased by the end of the trials relative to the initial status. No potential risks of heavy metal (Zn, Cd, Cr, Pb and Ni) accumulation were observed. Treatments comprised of MSWC and mineral fertilizer adjusted to site-specific PAP levels and with common pest management showed highest cumulative yields. A basic economic analysis revealed a significantly higher cumulative net profit and value-to-cost ratio (VCR) for all site-specific doses.     

Developing Water Stable Gliadin Films Without Using Crosslinking Agents

For the first time, gliadin films with excellent strength and water stability have been developed without using any crosslinking agents. So far, it has not been possible to obtain water stable gliadin films even after crosslinking. In this research, a novel method of using aqueous urea and ethanol has been developed to obtain highly water stable gliadin films without using crosslinking chemicals. The effects of concentrations of gliadin, urea and ethanol on the strength of the films and the stability of the films in water at high temperatures and various pH conditions has been studied. Gliadin films developed in this research have strength of about 30 MPa similar to the strength of previously reported gliadin films crosslinked with aldehydes and cysteine. Gliadin films obtained in this research were stable in pH 7.2 water at 50 °C for 20 days. The gliadin films did not dissolve in 70% ethanol which readily dissolves gliadin powder.     

Integrated effects of applied pressure,time, and polymer doses on alum sludge dewatering behaviour

In this study, combinations of applied pressure, pressing time and polymer dose were examined in an air pressure plate apparatus to explore their integrated influence on the dewatering of an alum sludge. Results of the investigation demonstrated that dewatering can be enhanced by increases in pressure and time. However, a point is reached at which continued increases in pressure and time offer little benefit. The data also confirmed that polymer affects the rate of water release rather than the extent of dewatering. Increased rates of water release due to increasing polymer dose can be attributed to the aggregation of sludge particles by polymer addition. It was also evident in this study that the initial sludge depth has a major impact on the average cake moisture content at a given dewatering time. It was apparent that once the initial sludge thickness exceeds about 2 cm, the water release follows a fairly similar pattern, which can be represented by a simple empirical model.     

Oxygen and Water Barrier Properties of Coated Whey Protein and Chitosan Films

Films of whey protein and chitosan acetic acid salt have lower oxygen permeability than, for example, ethylene-co-vinylalcohol under dry conditions, but water and water vapor seriously impair the gas barrier properties. To reduce the oxygen permeability at 90% relative humidity and the water-vapor transmission rate at 100% relative humidity, the films were coated with an alkyd, a beeswax compound, or a nitrocellulose lacquer. Permeability and transmission rate measurements were performed in accordance with standard methods and showed that the beeswax compound and the nitrocellulose were appropriate as water-vapor barriers. Overall migration to water was measured after 10 days exposure time, with the coated surface exposed to the water, showing that the alkyd-coated and the nitrocellulose-coated films were both below the safety limit for food contact. Water absorbency tests, performed by the Cobb method, showed that the films coated with the beeswax compound or with nitrocellulose lacquer exhibit lower absorbency than the alkyd-coated films.     

Controlled study of landfill biodegradation rates using modified BMP assays

Biochemical Methane Potential (BMP) assays, typically used to assess anaerobic biodegradability of liquid wastes with added nutrients and bacteria, were adapted to compare gas production rates from solid landfill samples taken at sites in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Colorado, U.S.A. The technique involved incubation of 25 g ground samples in triplicate or quadruplicate under controlled anaerobic conditions. For the landfill assays, unamended samples were run as controls and compared with assays with added water or water plus nutrients (no anaerobic innoculum). In assays with added water, consistently higher gas production rates were obtained over unamended controls. In assays of samples with high soil:refuse ratios (soil was calcareous glacial till) there was little benefit to the addition of an aqueous nutrient media over addition of water alone. Higher percent biodegradation after 200 days incubation was a function of lower volatile solids loading which, for the controls, was associated with samples of high water content and high soil-refuse ratios. With both water and aqueous nutrient media additions, variability in rates was decreased relative to the controls. Anaerobic sample handling did not result in faster onset of methanogenesis in assay bottles relative to samples given a controlled aeration. Results suggest that alteration of current landfill practice to permit addition of liquids would result in higher, more consistent gas production rates and faster landfill stabilization for alternative land uses.     

The adsorption characteristics of heavy metals by various particle sizes of MSWI bottom ash

The incineration rate of municipal solid waste (MSW) has been increased because of difficulty in securing a proper disposal site for MSW in Korea. The advantage of incineration is reduction of the volume of waste; however, significant amounts of bottom ash and fly ash were generated in the incineration process. Their treatment has attracted growing interest because of the potential toxicity of hazardous heavy metals. Generally, heavy metals are less released from bottom ash than from fly ash. In this study the adsorption characteristics of heavy metals were investigated using various particle sizes of MSWI bottom ash. Since bottom ash has a broad particle size distribution, it was sieved to size classes of +20, -20, -48, -80, -100 mesh. Cation exchange capacity (CEC) was analyzed by the ammonium acetate method to evaluate the potential as an adsorbent. The CEC values and surface areas increase as the range of particle size becomes finer. The adsorption experiment was conducted using synthetic (Cu and Ni) and plating rinse water as a function of reaction time (10-180 min), liquid/solid ratio (2-100) and particle size (+20 to -100 mesh), respectively. The adsorption rate increased with decreasing particle size and with increasing liquid/solid ratio; however, the removal efficiency of Cu was higher than that of Ni. In the case of plating rinse water, the adsorption rate decreased sharply at high liquid/solid ratio, and it showed over 80% of adsorption rates for Cu and Ni at an initial pH of 3.     

Biodegradation of Slow-Release Fertilizers (Methyleneureas) in Soil

The biodegradation of urea and condensation products thereof (ureaforms or methyleneureas), their nitrification, and their influence on the respiratory rate of soil was studied over periods of up to 100 days. The total methyleneurea content of the soil was determined after its acidic extraction, using a convenient colorimetric assay, and an HPLC protocol was established to analyze for specific components of methyleneureas. Urea, unfractionated methyleneureas, and hot-water soluble methyleneureas were rapidly metabolized to ammonium, which accumulated to high concentrations and was consequently oxidized to nitrate; an accumulation of nitrite was observed during urea but not during methyleneurea degradation. Hot water-insoluble methyleneureas were degraded much more slowly, and ammonium formed from these compounds was oxidized to nitrate without being released in significant amounts. These results suggest that the use of methyleneureas of optimized composition with regard to their water solubility may help to resolve problems such as the toxicity of ammonia to plant growth as well as nitrogen loss by leaching of nitrate, denitrification and volatilization.     

Comparison of leaching tests to determine and quantify the release of inorganic contaminants in demolition waste

The changes in waste management policy caused by the massive generation of waste materials (e.g. construction and demolition waste material, municipal waste incineration products) has led to an increase in the reuse and recycling of waste materials. For environmental risk assessment, test procedures are necessary to examine waste materials before they can be reused. In this article, results of column and lysimeter leaching tests having been applied to inorganic compounds in a reference demolition waste material are presented. The results show a good agreement between the leaching behaviour determined with the lysimeter unit and the column units used in the laboratory. In view of less time and system requirements compared to lysimeter systems, laboratory column units can be considered as a practicable instrument to assess the time-dependent release of inorganic compounds under conditions similar to those encountered in a natural environment. The high concentrations of elements in the seepage water at the initial stage of elution are reflected by the laboratory column leaching tests. In particular, authorities or laboratories might benefit and have an easy-to-use, but nevertheless reliable, method to serve as a basis for decision-making.     

Carbon speciation in ash, residual waste and contaminated soil by thermal and chemical analyses

Carbon in waste can occur as inorganic (IC), organic (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) each having distinct chemical properties and possible environmental effects. In this study, carbon speciation was performed using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), chemical degradation tests and the standard total organic carbon (TOC) measurement procedures in three types of waste materials (bottom ash, residual waste and contaminated soil). Over 50% of the total carbon (TC) in all studied materials (72% in ash and residual waste, and 59% in soil) was biologically non-reactive or EC as determined by thermogravimetric analyses. The speciation of TOC by chemical degradation also showed a presence of a non-degradable C fraction in all materials (60% of TOC in ash, 30% in residual waste and 13% in soil), though in smaller amounts than those determined by TGA. In principle, chemical degradation method can give an indication of the presence of potentially inert C in various waste materials, while TGA is a more precise technique for C speciation, given that waste-specific method adjustments are made. The standard TOC measurement yields exaggerated estimates of organic carbon and may therefore overestimate the potential environmental impacts (e.g. landfill gas generation) of waste materials in a landfill environment.     

Comparison of batch leaching tests and influence of pH on the release of metals from construction and demolition wastes

Construction and demolition wastes are suitable for use in road construction. However, leaching characterization of recycled materials is required to determine their pollutant potential and the consequence of their application in different scenarios. The motivation of this paper is derived from the increasing use of different leaching test methods. In Europe, the confusion resulting from the wide variety of tests used to evaluate environmental properties of construction materials implies that an evaluation of the current practices and the attempt to consolidate the approaches are required.Two equilibrium-based leaching tests (the Dutch test and the European standard) were conducted to assess the environmental impact of four recycled aggregates. Three natural limestone aggregates were used as controls. Both tests measure the potential release of hazardous elements under extreme conditions using different leaching parameters (L/S ratio, pH value and contact time). The results proved that pH is the most relevant factor on the assessment of the differences between leaching methods due to its strong control on the pollutant release.To classify the materials according to their environmental effects, the concentration limit values of the metals imposed by Council Decision 2003/33/EC were used as a reference. The comparison allowed the classification of the recycled aggregates as inert wastes, with the exception of the MR-2 aggregate, which was classified as non-hazardous material.     

The effects of aeration rate on generated compost quality, using aerated static pile method

To determine the most appropriate composting process in an active municipal solid waste system, an experiment was carried out using a nested design method with three aeration rates. During each aeration rate, parameters such as temperature, pH, EC, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, NO(3)-N, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous were measured and the efficiency of different composting processes was evaluated. The result of this study showed that the lower and medium aeration rates had a significant impact on nitrogen, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio and temperature profile, while higher aeration rates led to higher EC values. Furthermore, the thermophilic phase lasted 13, 9 and 4 weeks for the aeration rates of 0.4, 0.6 and 0.9 L min(-1)kg(-1), respectively. Accordingly, it was concluded that starting at a rate of 0.6 L min(-1)kg(-1) during first 2 months (about 9 weeks) of the process and continuing at a rate of 0.4 L min(-1)kg(-1)until the end of composting process would result in lower energy consumption.     

Potassium Release Kinetics and Water Retention of Controlled-Release Fertilizers Based on Chitosan Hydrogels

Controlled release fertilizer (CRF) hydrogels were prepared from poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(vinyl alcohol)/chitosan and chitosan using glutaraldehyde as a crosslinker. Intermolecular interactions of the CRF hydrogels were elucidated using FTIR. Water absorbency characteristics of the CRF hydrogels were also studied. It was found that the CRF hydrogels exhibited the equilibrium swelling ratio (SR) in the range 70–300%. The water retention of soil containing the CRF hydrogels was also examined. It was found that the CRF hydrogels increased the water retention of the soil. After 30 days, soil containing the PVA-, PVA/CS- and CS-hydrogels showed the water retention capacities of 25%, 10% and 4%, respectively. While the soil without the CRF hydrogel had already given off most of the water. The release behavior of potassium from the CRF hydrogels, both in deionized water and in soil, was investigated. In soil, the potassium release mechanism from the PVA- and PVA/CS-hydrogels were non-Fickian diffusion. On the other hand, the CS hydrogel showed, n value that was close to 1.0 corresponding to case II transport. In deionized water, all the CRF hydrogels showed small values of release exponent (n < 0.5) indicating a quasi-Fickian diffusion mechanism.     

A chemox treatment for urea‐ and ammonium‐contaminated groundwater

In a pilot project performed at a fertilizer manufacturing facility, a one‐step chemical oxidation technique successfully treated urea‐ and ammonium‐contaminated groundwater. The oxidation reaction occurred in an 1,100‐gallon batch reactor. The contaminated inflow was buffered by the metered addition of sodium bicarbonate solution and subsequently treated with sodium hypochlorite in an 8:1 weight ratio of Cl₂:N. In an instantaneous reaction, the urea and ammo‐nium‐N were completely oxidized to nitrogen gas that was vented to the atmosphere during mixing. The pH of the reactor discharge was ?6.5. Sodium sulfite was used to reduce residual hypochlorite in the reactor effluent to chloride to provide process water with characteristics suitable for discharge. Oxidation rates were similar with different strengths of hypochlorite; however, a 5 to 6 percent sodium hypochlorite (as Cl₂) solution was the most stable. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.