Sonochemical reduction of the antioxidant activity of olive mill wastewater

The use of ultrasonic irradiation to reduce the antioxidant activity of olive oil mill wastewaters (OMWs) originating from two-phase and three-phase decanters was examined. Sonication of diluted OMW samples was conducted at ultrasonic frequencies of 24 and 80 kHz, an applied power varying between 75 and 150 W, and liquid bulk temperatures varying between 25 and 60 degrees C. At the conditions in question, the reduction in antioxidant activity was found to increase with decreasing temperature and increasing power and frequency. Addition of NaCl in the samples also appeared to enhance reduction. Antioxidant activity of OMW samples was assessed using the recently developed Co(II)/ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-induced luminol chemiluminescence analytical protocol, while the total phenolic load was measured according to the Folin-Ciocalteu method.     

重庆市“禁磷”绩效评估

国内外研究表明，水体中的磷16％左右来自使用含磷洗涤用品。为保护三峡水库水环境,防止库区水体富营养化，重庆市政府决定，从2003年１月１日起，在全市范围内禁止销售和使用含磷洗涤用品。含磷洗衣粉的磷含量平均为4%，无磷洗衣粉的磷含量平均为0.013%，“禁磷”后洗衣粉的磷削减率平均为99.7%。监测结果表明，“禁磷”前后主城区城市污水排放口总磷浓度平均降幅为15.12%、中等城市为18.36％、县城为33.66％；禁磷前，城市居民洗衣粉磷排放量占城市污水总磷的13.77％，禁磷后只占0.05％；禁磷前，农村居民洗衣粉磷排放量占农村生活污水总磷排放量的30.53％，禁磷后只占0.01％。按城市综合污水总磷浓度变化计算（考虑到城市公建商贸行业的洗涤剂用量），则禁磷后城镇削减磷排放量1 056.2 t/a；农村居民按洗衣粉实际使用量计算，入河生活污水削减磷1 203.8 t/a；城镇和农村共削减总磷排放量2 260 t/a，占重庆市磷污染负荷总量的6.0％。     

The closed-loop cycle for industrial wastewater: The future pollution solution

The paper discusses the trend in all the U.S. industries toward increased water recycling and reuse. Also presented are the water use demands by various industries, and the water use by functions. Data are given on industrial water quality in use for various functions among selected high water using industries. Presented is an over-all system designed for a closed-loop cycle for industrial wastewater. This will be practical for industry to implement by 1985 or soon thereafter if the required technology is properly developed. Research and development needs to achieve this closed-loop system are identified. Rather than a discussion of economics with typical costs based on amount of water treated or on the specific processes employed, the paper presents data on the total cost of removal of controlling factors from a hypothetical wastewater.Future demands and restrictions on industrial wastewater are stated and ten references are cited.     

OPTIONS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY OF THE CRUDE PALM OIL INDUSTRY IN THAILAND THROUGH ENHANCEMENT OF INDUSTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS

The crude palm oil industry plays an important role in the economic development of Thailand and in enhancing the economic welfare of the population. Despite obvious benefits of this industrial development, it also significantly contributes to environmental degradation, both at the input and the output sides of its activities. On the input side, crude palm oil mills use large quantities of water and energy in the production process. On the output side, manufacturing processes generate large quantities of wastewater, solid waste/by-products and air pollution. Current industrial wastes and recoverable materials are empty fruit bunches, fibers, shells and ash. It is estimated that in 2003, a total of 2.1 million ton of solid wastes/by-products and 2.5 million m³ of wastewater were generated. The concept of the industrial ecosystem points at the potential of industrial waste recycling resembling food chains, food webs and nutrient cycles of nature. Following the notion of industrial ecology crude palm oil mills can develop a number of waste recycling and reuse systems. This paper analyzes the nature of these industrial ecosystems, divided in in-plant ecosystems (clean technology options) and external waste exchange between crude palm oil industries and other economic activities in Thailand.     

The use of plant seeds in toxicity tests of phenolic compounds

Three types of plant seeds-millet, radish, and velvetleaf-were used for toxicity tests of phenolic compounds. Preliminary tests using deionized water indicated that the seed assay was simple, and the toxicity tests of various phenolic compounds showed that results were reproducible. Among the three types of seeds, millet was most sensitive in most cases. The drawback for seed toxicity tests is that plant seeds appear to be less sensitive than other bioassay organisms; however, their simplicity and accuracy should not be overlooked.     

Treatment of oily refinery wastes using a dissolved air flotation process

Refinery wastewater from Moustorod oil refinery, Cairo, Egypt, was treated by chemical coagulation. This step was followed by rapid solid-liquid separation using flotation under pressure of 4 atm. A flotation tank was designed for this purpose. Gas liquid chromatography was used for determination and identification of hydrocarbon compounds in refinery wastewater. The treatment technique proved to be very promising for reducing the hydrocarbon compounds, as well as other pollutants, to a very low concentration. The results obtained showed that some of the hydrocarbon compounds were completely removed.     

Phytoremediation of aquaculture wastewater for water recycling and production of fish feed

Five plants were examined for their ability to remove nutrients from aquaculture wastewater and suitability as fish feed: alfalfa, white clover, oat, fall rye, barley. The seeds were first germinated in water in a hydroponic system, and the plants were fed wastewater from Tilapia production facility. Clover and alfalfa seeds were infected with fungus shortly after germination, and their roots were completely destroyed by day 14. Oat, rye and barley had the fastest growth and showed greater tolerance to fungal disease compared with alfalfa and clover. Although substantial amounts of soluble and insoluble substances were released by the seeds during the germination period, the plants were able to remove all the pollutants in wastewater and significant portions of those released substances. The total reductions in total solids, COD, NO3-N, NO2-N, phosphate and potassium ranged from 54.7% to 91.0%, 56.0% to 91.5%, 82.9% to 98.1%, 95.9% to 99.5%, 54.5% to 93.6% and 99.6% to 99.8%, respectively. Oat, barley and rye grow well in this type of hydroponic system and can be used as a fish feed after being supplemented with fat, Ca, Na, Mn and Fe. Oil seeds and the chlorides of these elements could be added to these plants when formulating the fish feed. For a continuous operation, a two-unit system could be configured to allow for one week germination and one week cleaning and startup in one unit while the other unit is in operation.     

Parameters affecting biological phosphate removal from wastewaters

This paper reviews some of the key wastewater composition parameters, which influence the biological removal of phosphate from wastewaters, such as COD content, volatile fatty acid (VFA) content, cation concentration, phosphorus load, pH and food to microorganism ratio. The discussion also focuses on operational parameters affecting successful nutrient removal in wastewater treatment plants, such as temperature, sludge quality, sludge settlement, dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration, anaerobic P-release and secondary P-release. The aim of this review is to compile an updated document for researchers and operators of biological nutrient removal (BNR) systems. In addition, the article will provide a good foundation for readers with no prior knowledge of the process.     

Risk management of viral infectious diseases in wastewater reclamation and reuse: Review

Inappropriate usage of reclaimed wastewater has caused outbreaks of viral infectious diseases worldwide. International and domestic guidelines for wastewater reuse stipulate that virus infection risks are to be regulated by the multiple-barrier system, in which a wastewater treatment process composed of sequential treatment units is designed based on the pre-determined virus removal efficiency of each unit. The objectives of this review were to calculate representative values of virus removal efficiency in wastewater treatment units based on published datasets, and to identify research topics that should be further addressed for improving implementation of the multiple-barrier system. The removal efficiencies of human noroviruses, rotaviruses and enteroviruses in membrane bioreactor (MBR) and conventional activated sludge (CAS) processes were obtained by a systematic review protocol and a meta-analysis approach. The log₁₀ reduction (LR) of norovirus GII and enterovirus in MBR were 3.35 (95% confidence interval: 2.39, 4.30) and 2.71 (1.52, 3.89), respectively. The LR values of rotavirus, norovirus GI and GII in CAS processes were 0.87 (0.20, 1.53), 1.48 (0.96, 2.00) and 1.35 (0.52, 2.18), respectively. The systematic review process eliminated a substantial number of articles about virus removal in wastewater treatment because of the lack of information required for the meta-analysis. It is recommended that future publications should explicitly describe their treatment of left-censored datasets. Indicators, surrogates and methodologies appropriate for validating virus removal performance during daily operation of wastewater reclamation systems also need to be identified.     

Effect of NOM characteristics on brominated organics formation by ozonation

In this study, organic fractions, namely, humic acid, fulvic acid, hydrophobic base and neutral, and hydrophilic acid, base, and -neutral, were extracted from source water. First, the characteristics of the organic fractions, such as carboxylic acidity, phenolic acidity, ultraviolet absorbance, and aromatic content, were analyzed. Further, a systematic study was carried out to the by-products obtained when organic fractions, to which various amounts of bromide had been added, were oxidized with ozone. Samples after ozonation were analyzed for several brominated organics. The results indicate that the characteristics of the aquatic organic matter, including carboxylic/phenolic acidity, aromatic/aliphatic content, and ultraviolet absorbance, appear to affect the formation of halogenated organics. In general, hydrophobic organics having higher phenolic acidity, aromatic content, and ultraviolet absorbance have higher ozone consumption and produce higher concentrations of brominated organics than hydrophilic organics. It was also found that humic acid demonstrated the highest bromoform (CHBr(3)), dibromoacetic acid (DBAA), and 2,4-dibromophenol (2,4-DBP) formation, whereas hydrophilic neutral produced less CHBr(3) and 2,4-DBP than the rest of the organic fractions but produced the highest amount of dibromoacetone (DBAC) and dibromoacetonitrile (DBAN).     

Analysis of priority pollutants at a primary aluminum production facility

This paper investigated the source of priority pollutants, assessment of the wastewater treatment plant, and priority pollutant removal efficiency for a single Soderberg-type primary aluminum plant.Forty-eight hour composite samples were collected from the following streams: (1) plant intake water; (2) wastewater from the primary air pollution control system (gas stream cooling water and wet ESPs); (3) secondary air pollution control system (room ventilation wet scrubber liquor); (4) paste plant briquette cooling water; and (5) final effluent after the wastewater treatment plant.Wastewater from the primary air pollution control system entered a conventional chemical coagulation (using slacked lime) — clarification plant. Clarified water from the clarifier was combined with the other three wastewater streams and flowed into a settling lagoon with a 20-h hydraulic retention time. Clarified lagoon water was finally discharged to the river.The principal source of organic compounds in the wastewater was from the primary and secondary air pollution control systems and results from the volatilization of petroleum coke and pitch in the Soderberg anode. Wastewater treatment plant removal efficiencies of greater than 85% were achieved for the majority of the organic priority pollutant species detected.     

中国经济发展与水环境压力脱钩态势评价与展望

在对经济发展的水环境压力概念进行合理界定基础上,建立经济发展与水环境压力的脱钩指标体系。通过国内外相关文献研究与数据收集,构建了中国经济发展与水环境压力的脱钩潜力评价与时态分析模型,评价1986~2010年水利发展不同阶段中国经济总量增长与废水排放的脱钩潜力与脱钩时态、以及经济总量增长与工业废水化学需氧量的脱钩时态。在此基础上,根据水环境库茨涅茨曲线变化趋势,对我国废水排放总量的自然发展趋势进行预测,并根据国家发展规划对废水排放总量预测结果进行修正。同时,结合国家发展规划和环境保护规划,对水环境压力脱钩进行展望。结果表明,我国经济发展与废水排放总量总体处于弱脱钩发展态势、与工业废水化学需氧量排放总量总体处于强脱钩发展态势。预计2020年左右,我国经济发展与水环境压力有望保持绝对脱钩的发展态势,水环境得到彻底改善与净化     

Solid-state controller for an IAG-based stand-alone wind energy conversion system

This paper deals with an implementation of voltage and frequency controller (VFC) for isolated asynchronous generator-based three-phase autonomous wind energy conversion system. The focus of the proposed work is to provide a feasible solution for rural communities to serve their electricity needs. The least mean square algorithm is used for the extraction of active and reactive power components of the load currents. A three-leg voltage-sourced converter with a battery energy storage system is used as a VFC. The control algorithm is implemented using a digital signal processor. The steady-state and dynamic performances of VFC are demonstrated through test results under static and dynamic loads.     

Treatment of wastewater by natural systems

Experimental results from a pilot-scale constructed wetland (CW) treatment plant have been described. The study was conducted at two different systems: continuous and batch. In the continuous system, the treatment yields were monitored in different loading conditions in 1-year period. The pilot plant consists of two serially connected tanks settled up with fillers; Cyperus was used as treatment media and wastewater between the two tanks was recycled periodically. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) and suspended solid (SS) removal efficiencies were obtained as 90% and 95%, respectively. The effluent COD concentration at an average loading of 122 g COD/m2 day was satisfactory for the Turkish Water Pollution Control Regulation. This means that a 0.8 m2 of garden area per person is required. Other removal values for the same conditions were as follows: total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) was 77%, total nitrogen (TN) was 61%, and PO4(3-) -P was 39%. The batch experimental systems consist of 12 pairs of serially connected tanks, with each pair having a surface area of 1 m2. Each set was filled with sewage once a day, and the wastewater between the paired tanks was recycled periodically by the pump. Each pair of tanks was filled with materials such as gravel, peat, and perlite. Seven of them were vegetated with Phragmites, Cyperus, Rush, Iris, Lolium, Canna, and Paspalum, while the other five were not seeded. The best performances were obtained by Iris for COD (% 94), by Canna for ammonia nitrogen (% 98), and by Iris for total nitrogen (% 90) and phosphorus (% 55) removal.     

Estimation of sources of total phosphorus in a river basin and assessment of alternatives for river pollution reduction

The methodology of material flow analysis is presented and applied to developing a phosphorus balance in a river basin and evaluating different scenarios for pollution reduction. The method is based on the balance principle: inputs and outputs of each phosphorus-related subsystems were balanced. The application of the methodology strategies was illustrated by means of a case study of the Krka River, Slovenia. The results showed that besides effluents from wastewater treatment plants, agriculture contributed significantly to the total annual phosphorus load. After establishing the present levels of phosphorus balance, different scenarios were considered: different stages of wastewater treatment as well as management of agricultural activities. The present emission of phosphorus is estimated to be 81.8 tons/year; after implementation of measures, it would be 48.6 tons/year, a total reduction of 40%. Besides reduction of point sources by means of wastewater collection and implementation of nutrient removal technology, managing agricultural phosphorus to protect water quality should become a major challenge in the Krka river basin.     

Microbial degradation of hydrocarbons in Ismailia canal water

The biodegradation of hydrocarbons was performed in refinery wastewater obtained by natural microbial flora in Ismailia canal water. About 87% of hydrocarbons were degraded after 9 days under simulated natural conditions. It was found that the addition of fuel oil to the canal water, which already contained significant amounts of refinery wastewater, retarded biological degradation. Percentage of degradation was found to be 67%. This increase in the hydrocarbons concentration affects dramatically on the generation rate of microorganisms present naturally in canal water.     

The use of the oxidative stress responses as biomarkers in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) exposed to in vivo cadmium contamination

Water contaminants have a high potential risk for the health of populations. Protection from toxic effects of environmental water pollutants primarily involves considering the mechanism of low level toxicity and likely biological effects in organisms who live in these polluted waters. The biomarkers assessment of oxidative stress and metabolic alterations to cadmium exposure were evaluated in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. The fish were exposed to 0.35, 0.75, 1.5, and 3.0 mg/l concentrations of Cd2+ (CdCl2) in water for 60 days. Fish that survived cadmium exposure showed a metabolic shift and a compensatory development for maintenance of the body weight gain. We observed a decreased glycogen content and decreased glucose uptake in white muscle. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine phosphokinase (CK) activities were also decreased, indicating that the glycolytic capacity was decreased in this tissue. No alterations were observed in total protein content in white muscle due to cadmium exposure suggesting a metabolic shift of carbohydrate metabolism to maintenance of the muscle protein reserve. There was an increase in glucose uptake, CK increased activity, and a clear increase of LDH activity in red muscle of fish with cadmium exposure. Since no alterations were observed in lipoperoxide concentration, while antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were changed in the liver and the red and white muscle of fish with cadmium exposure, we can conclude that oxygen free radicals are produced as a mediator of cadmium toxicity. Resistance development is related with increased activities of antioxidant enzymes, which were important in the protection against cadmium damage, inhibiting lipoperoxide formation.     

Treatment of sugar industry wastewater using a combination of thermal and electrocoagulation processes

Sugar industries require a large amount of water for processing, and also generate large amounts of high-degree polluted wastewater. To maintain the water balance in the industry, it is imperative that effective treatment methods need to be devised to treat the wastewaters. The main aim of the present work is to treat the sugar industry wastewater by combined thermal and electro-oxidation methods with a metal and a catalyst based on ferrous material. Results showed a reduction of 75.6% of COD and 79.2% of colour content with thermal treatment, and 97.8% of COD and 99.7% of colour with combined thermal and electrocoagulation treatments under optimum conditions. These reduction levels are adequate for recycling limits.     

Influence of olive mill wastewater in composting and impact of the compost on a Swiss chard crop and soil properties

The suitability of olive mill wastewater (OMW) for composting was studied by the addition of this liquid waste to a mixture of cotton gin waste and sewage sludge, and its composting was compared with that of another pile of similar composition, but without olive mill wastewater. Both piles were composted by the Rutgers static pile system in a pilot plant. To study the effects of both composts on plant yield and soil properties, a plot experiment was carried out with Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L. var. cicla). Five treatments were applied: mineral fertiliser and two doses (30 and 60 tons ha(-1)) of both composts. The olive mill wastewater addition produced a compost with lower organic matter and nitrate concentrations, higher electrical conductivity, and a stabilised and humified organic matter similar to that of the compost produced without olive mill wastewater. The olive mill wastewater compost application to soil did not injure plants, producing a similar plant yield to both compost without olive mill wastewater and inorganic fertiliser. Also, the accumulation of potentially toxic heavy metals in plants cultivated with organic or mineral fertilisers did not reveal significant differences. The olive mill wastewater compost application to soil also improved the chemical and physicochemical properties of the soil.     

Disinfection of wastewater with peracetic acid: a review

Peracetic acid is a strong disinfectant with a wide spectrum of antimicrobial activity. Due to its bactericidal, virucidal, fungicidal, and sporicidal effectiveness as demonstrated in various industries, the use of peracetic acid as a disinfectant for wastewater effluents has been drawing more attention in recent years. The desirable attributes of peracetic acid for wastewater disinfection are the ease of implementing treatment (without the need for expensive capital investment), broad spectrum of activity even in the presence of heterogeneous organic matter, absence of persistent toxic or mutagenic residuals or by-products, no quenching requirement (i.e., no dechlorination), small dependence on pH, short contact time, and effectiveness for primary and secondary effluents.Major disadvantages associated with peracetic acid disinfection are the increases of organic content in the effluent due to acetic acid (AA) and thus in the potential microbial regrowth (acetic acid is already present in the mixture and is also formed after peracetic acid decomposition). Another drawback to the use of peracetic acid is its high cost, which is partly due to limited production capacity worldwide. However, if the demand for peracetic acid increases, especially from the wastewater industry, the future mass production capacity might also be increased, thus lowering the cost. In such a case, in addition to having environmental advantages, peracetic acid may also become cost-competitive with chlorine.