Regeneration of industrial district wastewater using a combination of Fenton process and ion exchange—A case study

Regeneration studies of wastewater effluent from an organized industrial district (OID) for possible reuse in textile industry as process water was investigated. Advanced treatment methods including Fenton process, polyaluminium chloride (PAC) coagulation and ion exchange were applied on OID effluent. In Fenton process removal efficiencies for suspended solids (SS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), SAC₄₃₆ (spectral absorption coefficient), SAC₅₂₅ and SAC₆₂₀ were determined 61%, 36%, 35%, 49% and 67%, respectively. After Fenton process, wastewater samples were coagulated with PAC. Optimum removal efficiencies for SS, COD, Fe ion, SAC₄₃₆, SAC₅₂₅ and SAC₆₂₀ were determined 83%, 18%, 93%, 32%, 36% and 58%, respectively. Ion exchange experiments were conducted on chemically coagulated wastewater samples to improve the quality of wastewater. Optimum dosage of resins was determined. The experiments revealed that 1:1 resin ratio (20 mL H-type resin:20 mL OH-type resin) gave the best removal rates for the parameters considered in this study. Study results indicated that quality of the wastewater was suitable for the process water characteristics of textile industry and unit wastewater treatment cost was determined as 2.54 €/m³.     

Growth and macronutrient removal of water hyacinth in a small secondary sewage treatment plant

Studies have been made of the growth characteristics of water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms, and its ability to remove N, P and K, in a secondary settling pond of a small secondary sewage treatment plant serving both the academic and residential blocks of the Swire Marine Laboratory, University of Hong Kong. The treatment plant consists of, in series, a primary settling tank, a trickling filter compartment and a secondary settling pond from which part of the treated wastewater is recycled to the primary settling tank while the remaining effluent (1 to 2 m³ daily) mixes with and hence is diluted by the outflowing seawater from the aquarium system of the Swire Marine Laboratory before discharge to the sea. Samples of wastewater have been taken regularly from the primary sedimentation pond, the outflow of the trickling filter, the secondary settling pond and the effluent of the treatment plant (before mixing with aquarium outflow) since January, 1992. Physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the samples have been determined and are typical of secondary effluents, with a mean pH of about 7.5, total solids 1200 mg L⁻¹, suspended solids 45 mg L⁻¹, conductivity 2000 μS cm⁻¹, salinity 1 ppt, dissolved oxygen 2 mg L⁻¹, BOD₅ 45 mg L⁻¹, Kjeldahl-N 30 mg L⁻¹, NH₄,-N 25 mg L⁻¹, NO₃-N 4 mg L⁻¹, total P 10 mg L⁻¹, K 35 mg L⁻¹ and total coliforms of less than 10⁵ colonies 100 ml⁻¹.Water hyacinth plants have been stocked in the secondary settling pond as an integral part of the treatment plant so as to improve the quality of, as well as to retrieving and recycling nutrient elements from, the wastewater. The plants are periodically harvested to maintain an active growing crop. The growth rate, standing crop biomass, tissue nutrient composition, nutrient storage and accumulation rate of two growth cycles, one from February 25 to March 18 (mean temperature 17.6°C) and the other from 22 April to 12 May (24.8°C) are reported. The water hyacinth assumed a relatively high standing crop biomass of 10 kg m⁻² (5 to 6 t DM ha⁻¹), and growth rates of 48 and 225 g m⁻² day⁻¹, respectively, for the first and second growth period. Nutrient storage capacities were relatively high, at about 20, 7.5 and 16.5 g m⁻² for N, P and K, respectively. The nutrient composition was very high, reaching 5.42% for N, 1.97 for P, and 4.57 for K. Both the stem and lamina accumulated high levels of N, while the petiole had the highest level of P and K. Apart from nutrient removal, the water hyacinth also helped to decrease the suspended solids, BOD₅ value and total coliforms of the wastewater.It is concluded that water hyacinth improves the quality of wastewater in such small-scale sewage treatment plants and it is recommended that frequent harvests of water hyacinth would increase the treatment efficiency, especially during the active growing season with high temperatures coupled with intense solar radiation.     

Investigating the quantitative and qualitative status of effluent in the wastewater treatment plant in Iran Central Iron Ore

The aim of present study was to investigate the quality of the produced effluent from different units of the Iran Central Iron Ore in Bafq city and comparison of effluent with the standards. This study presents the physicochemical and biological parameters data of effluent of three Sequencing batch reactors (SBR) with a capacity of 160 m³?d^?1. Most common parameters include pH, total suspended solids (TSS), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅), chemical oxygen demand (COD), heavy metals, and total coliforms and fecal coliforms as biological indicators. Then, for each SBR system, the average of each parameter was determined, and results were compared with the standard recommended by the Iranian Environmental Protection Agency. Based on the results, some of the parameters, including BOD₅, COD, and TSS in the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent, are higher than the permitted amount for discharge to the surface water. Considering the BOD₅, COD, and TSS concentration in WWTPs, the treated wastewater is only suitable for agricultural and irrigation use. Therefore, wastewater produced by Iran Central Iron Ore Co. will need additional treatment to achieve standard quality of water before discharge in surface water and adsorbent well.     

Closing the water cycle for industrial laundries: An operational performance and techno-economic evaluation of a full-scale membrane bioreactor system

To reduce the consumption of freshwater in the laundry industry, a new trend of closing the water cycle has resulted in the reuse/recycling of water. In this study, the performance of a full-scale submerged aerobic membrane bioreactor (9 m³) used to treat/reuse industrial laundry wastewater was examined over a period of 288 days. The turbidity and total solids (TS) were reduced by 99%, and the chemical oxygen demand (COD) effluent removal efficiencies were between 70% and 99%. The levels of COD removed by the membrane were significantly greater than the levels of biodegraded COD. This enabled the bioreactor to sustain COD levels that were below 100 mg/L, even during periods of low wastewater biodegradation due to bioreactor sludge. An economic evaluation of the membrane bioreactor (MBR) system showed a savings of 1.13 € per 1 m³ of water. The payback period for this system is approximately 6 years. The energy and maintenance costs represent only 5% of the total cost of the MBR system.     

Polyurethane rotating disc system for post-treatment of anaerobically pre-treated sewage

The performance of polyurethane rotating discs (RBC-1) versus polystyrene rotating discs (RBC-2) for the treatment of an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor effluent fed with domestic wastewater was investigated. Both RBC units were operated at the same organic loading rate (OLR) of 10.5 gCOD/m² d. and a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 2.5 h. The residual values of COD fractions (COD_suspended, COD_colloidal and COD_soluble) in the treated effluent of RBC-1 and RBC-2 were similar. However, the removal efficiency of ammonia in the RBC-1 (87 ± 4%) was significantly higher than that found for RBC-2 i.e. 24 ± 6%. Moreover, RBC-1 achieved a substantial removal efficiency of 99.0 ± 1% for Escherichia coli (E. coli), while RBC-2 removed 91.2 ± 0.3%. Based on these results, optimization of RBC-1 treating UASB reactor effluent was extensively performed. The RBC-1 was operated at an OLR's of 4.0, 11 and 23 gCOD/m² d. The results obtained showed that increasing the OLR from 11.0 to 23.0 gCOD/m² d and decreasing the HRT from 2.5 to 1.25 h significantly declined the effluent quality of COD_total and ammonia. However, the residual values of COD_total and ammonia remained unaffected when increasing the OLR from 4.0 to 11.0 gCOD/m² d and by decreasing the HRT from 5 to 2.5 h. Bacteriological examination showed that the mean residual count of E. coli remained at a level of 10⁴/100 ml, in the effluent of RBC-1 independent on the imposed HRT. Accordingly, it is recommended to operate RBC-1 for treatment of anaerobically pre-treated sewage at an OLR of 11 gCOD/m² d and an HRT of 2.5 h.A feed-less (ammonia limitation) period of 9.0 days followed by 9.0 days feeding with high OLR of 26 gCOD/m² d. (raw sewage) was investigated to elaborate, if the nitrifiers of the RBC-1 are capable to convert ammonia to nitrate after totally 18 days when retuning back to the normal operating conditions. The results of the experiment clearly show a strong and immediate detrimental effect of imposing high OLR of 26 gCOD/m² d on the nitrification process in the nitrifying RBC unit. However, after returning back to the original OLR of 10.6 gCOD/m² d, the nitrification efficiency in the RBC unit was recovered within 2–3 days.     

Antibacterial behavior of silver-modified clinoptilolite-heulandite rich tuff on coliform microorganisms from wastewater in a column system

The water disinfecting behavior of silver-modified clinoptilolite–heulandite rich tuff (ZSAg) as an antibacterial agent against coliform microorganisms from water in a continuous mode was investigated. Silver recovery from the disinfected effluents by the sodium-modified clinoptilolite–heulandite rich tuff (ZSNa) was also considered. Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739) and total coliform microorganisms, as indicators of microbiological contamination of water, were chosen to achieve the disinfection of synthetic wastewater or municipal wastewater. Ammonium (NH₄⁺) and chloride (Cl⁻) ions were added to the synthetic wastewater as an interfering chemical species on the disinfection processes. The antibacterial activity of the ZSAg as a bactericide was measured by the coliform concentration as evaluated by the APHA method. The amount of silver in the disinfected effluents was determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The inactivation of the ZSAg was calculated from the breakthrough curves based on the model reported by Gupta et al. It was found that when the silver concentration in the effluent is less than 0.6 μg/mL, the bacterial survival percentage increased and the volume of disinfected water diminished. The total silver amounts found in the effluent at the end of the disinfection processes varied depending on the water treated (synthetic or municipal wastewater). The presence of NH₄⁺ ions in synthetic wastewater influent notably improved the disinfected water volume (zero NVC/100 mL), in comparison to the disinfection of the same influent without NH₄⁺ ions. A contrary water disinfection behavior was observed in the presence of Cl⁻ ions. The silver recovery does not depend on the mass of the sodium zeolitic bed according with the wastewater to be treated (synthetic or municipal wastewater) and the presence of NH₄⁺ or Cl⁻ ions in the influent also influenced the silver recovery from wastewater. The ZSNa did not have antibacterial activity. Therefore the amount of bactericide agent (silver-modified natural zeolite), coliform microorganisms from water (E. coli or consort of coliform microorganisms) as well as the water quality (synthetic wastewater or municipal wastewater) influenced both the disinfection process and the silver recovery in a column system.     

Flavour Industry Wastewater Management Case Study

Summary This study is carried out to propose an appropriate treatment technology for wastewater discharged from a flavor production factory. Industrial wastewater discharged from this factory ranges between 50–70 m³/d with an average value of 60 m³/d. The major source of pollution in this factory is due to cleaning of the vessels therefore the treatment has been carried out on the end-of pipe wastewater. The wastewater is characterized by high values of COD, BOD, TSS and Oil and grease 4646, 2298, 1790 and 626 mg/l respectively. Primary sedimentation of the wastewater for four hours reduced the COD, BOD, TSS and Oil and grease by 43, 47, 80 and 74%, respectively. For the treatment of the produced wastewater, the biological treatment process such as activated sludge, rotating biological contactor (RBC), up-flow anaerobic sludge bed reactor (UASB) have been selected. The results from each treatment process proved to be efficient for the treatment of such wastewater. The treated wastewater characteristics are in compliance with the Egyptian law which regulates the discharge of industrial wastewater to the sewerage system. The RBC was selected and installed by the factory as it has the advantage of low operating and maintenance costs. The factory RBC performance was monitored; characteristics of the treated effluent in terms of oil and grease, COD, BOD and TSS were 27, 362, 139 and 95 mg/l, respectively.     

Nitrate Dynamics in Two Streams Impacted by Wastewater Treatment Plant Discharge: Point Sources or Sinks?

We examined nitrate processing in headwater stream reaches downstream of two wastewater treatment plant outfalls during low streamflow. Our objectives were to quantify nitrate mass flux before and after effluent discharge and to use field and laboratory techniques to assess the mechanism of nitrate uptake. Microcosm experiments were utilized to determine the location of nitrate processing, and molecular biomarkers were used to detect and quantify microbial denitrification. At one site, downstream nitrate mass flux was significantly (p = 0.01) lower than sum of upstream and wastewater effluent fluxes, indicating rapid stream assimilation of incoming nitrate in the vicinity of the point source. Microcosm experiments supported the theory that nitrate processing occurs in sediments. Molecular assays for denitrifcation‐associated functional genes nosZ, nirS, and nirK, provided evidence that effluent contained enriched denitrifying communities relative to ambient stream water. Nitrate loss at the site with greater uptake was correlated with sulfate loss (p < 0.01; r² = 0.86), suggesting a possible link between sulfate reducing bacteria and denitrifying bacterial communities. Results suggest there is an opportunity to better understand nitrate dynamics in cases where point sources may act as point sinks under specific sets of conditions.     

REUSE OF DOMESTIC WASTEWATER FOR IRRIGATION IN ARID ZONES: A CASE STUDY1

ABSTRACT: The domestic sewage of the city of Beer-Sheva, Israel, which is located in an arid region, is treated in a series of facultative ponds. The treated effluent is stored temporarily in an open surface earthen reservoir (about 0.5 ± 10⁶ m³ in volume) and then used for irrigation. The effluent is applied via sprinkler and trickle irrigation systems. The main crops irrigated are cotton, wheat, alfalfa, and corn. Total cotton yield is over 5500 kg/ha, and the wheat grain yield is over 7500 kg/ha. The amount of effluent applied is about 6500 m³/ha for cotton (including preplant irrigation), and the wheat receives about 4500 m³/ha via irrigation and an additional 2000 m³/ha from precipitation. Due to the nutrient content in the effluent, the above yields are obtained without any additional fertilization.     

Nutrient Removal and Loading Rate Analysis of Louisiana Forested Wetlands Assimilating Treated Municipal Effluent

The relationship between nutrient removal and loading rate was examined using data from five forested wetlands in Louisiana that have received secondarily treated effluent from 3 to 60 years. Loading rates ranged from 0.65 to 26.80 g/m²/yr for total nitrogen and 0.18 to 8.96 g/m²/yr for total phosphorus. At loading rates below 20 g/m²/yr, total nitrogen concentrations in surface waters of Louisiana forested wetlands were reduced to background concentrations (i.e., ≤3 mg/l). Similarly, at loading rates below 2 g/m²/yr, total phosphorus concentrations were also generally reduced to background concentrations (i.e., ≤1 mg/l). These data demonstrate that freshwater forested wetlands can reduce nutrient concentrations in treated effluent to background concentrations present in relatively undisturbed wetlands. An understanding of the relationship between loading rates and nutrient removal in natural wetlands is important, particularly in Louisiana where discharges of fresh water are being used in ecosystem restoration.     

Evaluation of the efficiency of some sediment trapping methods after a Mediterranean forest fire

Forest fires are common in Mediterranean environments and may become increasingly more frequent as the climate changes. Destruction of the forest cover and litter layer leads to greater overland flow and increased erosion rates. The greatest risk occurs during the first rainstorms following a major fire, so local authorities must act quickly to put erosion control methods in place in order to avoid excessive post-fire sediment loads in river channels. Deciding on which methods to use requires accurate knowledge of their impact on sediment load and an estimate of their cost efficiency. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of Log Debris Dams (LDDs) and a sedimentation basin for their effectiveness in trapping sediments. Paired sub-catchments were studied to quantify the amount of sediments trapped in stream channels by a series of LDDs and a sedimentation basin. Cost efficiency was evaluated for each of the measures as a function of the cost per unit volume of sediments trapped. In addition, grain size analyses were performed to characterise the nature of the sediments trapped. A third sediment trapping method, Log Erosion Barriers (LEBs) was evaluated more superficially than the first two and conclusions regarding this method are tentative. LDDs trapped a mean volume of 1.57 m³ per unit (median = 1.28 m³); mean LDD height was 105.4 cm (std. dev. = 21.9 cm), and mean height of trapped sediments was only 50.0 cm (std. dev. = 22.9 cm), showing that the traps were only half filled. Sediment height was limited by the presence of gaps between logs or branches that allowed runoff to flow through. Comparison of the textural characteristics of slope and trapped sediments showed distinct sorting: particles greater than 20 mm were not mobilised from the slopes during the study period, sediments in the medium to coarse sand size fractions were trapped preferentially by the LDDs, and sediments in the sedimentation basin were enriched by clay and silt sized (<0.050 mm) particles as coarser sediments were trapped upstream by the LDDs. Cost efficiency of LDDs was estimated at about 143 € m⁻³ for the LDDs and 217 € m⁻³ for the sedimentation basin at the time of sampling. The LDDs are therefore a cost effective method of trapping sediments, but they can only be used when pine trees or straight-trunked trees are locally available. In this case, they should be combined with LEBs, which had a cost efficiency estimated at about 250 € m⁻³. Installation of the LEBs had not been optimised and they have the advantage of trapping sediments on the slopes where they can continue to play an ecological role, so this method can give better results with more care. Sedimentation basins can be emptied if necessary and are useful in areas where pine trees are not available and where the site can be secured.     

Three Egyptian industrial wastewater management programmes

A pre-treatment programme for wastewater from factories, representing three main industrial sectors in Egypt, has been developed. The first case study was a factory producing potato-chips. Wastewater discharged from this factory was characterized by high values of BOD, SS and oil and grease (6000 mgO₂ l^–1, 6577 mg l^–1 and 119 mg l^–1 respectively). Chemical treatment using lime and lime aided by polyelectrolyte achieved good results. Residual values of BOD and SS after treatment were 97 mg l^–1 and 49 mg l^–1, respectively. Oil and grease concentrations were reduced by 91 percent. Treatment via activated sludge at a detention time of 4 hrs produced good quality effluent. The second case study was an automobile company, representing the metal finishing industry. Analyses of wastewater samples from the degreasing, phosphating and painting departments, as well as the end-of-pipe effluent were conducted. The end-of-pipe effluent contained high concentrations of oil and grease (366 mg l^–1), phosphorous (111 mg l^–1) and zinc (81 mg l^–1). Chemical treatment of end-of-pipe wastewater using ferric chloride aided by lime, produced high quality effluent. The third sector was the chemical industry. For this purpose a paint factory was selected. Characteristics of raw wastewater varied widely according to the production rate. Average values of COD and BOD were 1950 mg l^–1 and 683 mg l^–1. Oil and grease ranged from 63 to 1624 mg l^–1. Chemical treatment using ferric chloride in combination with lime at the optimum operating conditions achieved good results. Residual values after treatment of COD, BOD and oil and grease reached 120, 36 and 8.6 mg l^–1, respectively. An engineering design for each case study has been prepared.     

Performance assessment of a wastewater treatment plant producing effluent for irrigation in Egypt

A conventional activated sludge treatment facility was the subject of this study. The assessment was directed at determining the characteristics of the raw wastewater, the quality of the treated effluent and the efficiency of the various treatment units. Furthermore, the water quality along the effluent irrigation canal was monitored. The assessment of the quality of the treated effluent for irrigation is based on the guidelines established by the World Health Organization and the Egyptian decree 9/89 for the use of wastewater in agriculture. The results of the study indicated that the concentration of the raw wastewater was considered moderate. The mean values of the COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand), BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand) and total suspended solids (TSS) were around 250, 102 and 142 mg l–1, respectively. This was attributed to the high quantities of wastewater from industrial sources. The overall efficiency of the treatment facility was good. The mean residual COD, BOD and TSS were 25, 8 and 21 mg l–1 and the corresponding percentage removal values were 90, 92 and 85%, respectively. The maximum percentage removal of oil and grease was 84% with a mean residual concentration of 24 mg l–1. The total viable count (22°C and 37°C), faecal coliform and aecal streptococci were reduced by 99.9% compared to only 99.5% for Salmonella. Bacteriological examination of the dried sludge indicated a reduction of nine logs of faecal coliform and faecal streptococci, as compared to thickened sludge. Analysis of the Ni, Cu, Pb and Cr in the dried sludge indicated that their concentrations are within the permissible limits. Zinc exceeded the consent standards by 50%. The results of the analyses of samples collected at the beginning of the irrigation canal indicated insignificant changes from the characteristics of the final effluent. Samples collected at a distance of 2km along the irrigation canal showed mean reductions in the COD and BOD of 28.6 and 47%, respectively, which could be attributed to sedimentation and/or a self-purification effect. An increase in the total nitrogen, total phosphorus and total viable count was also recorded, which could be due to seepage from the agricultural land. From the data available it is evident that the treated wastewater could be used for restricted irrigation. The design and implementation of a monitoring programme is recommended.     

Biomass production for bioenergy using recycled wastewater in a natural waste treatment system

Bioenergy production from biomass is proposed as a method to solve part of the nation's energy problem. However, biomass and bioenergy production is questioned as an environment-friendly approach due to the potential increase of water pollution and the potential decrease of available water resource. A conceptual model of an integrated natural waste treatment system that produces biogas and biomass for bioenergy, treat waste and wastewater, conserve fresh water, and decrease the potential water pollution is presented. The potential biomass production from water hyacinth, duckweed, cattail, and knotgrass was investigated using recycling wastewater from an integrated natural waste treatment system from 2005 to 2008. Although the biomass production from recycling wastewater was not controlled for maximum production, this research identified the large potential impact that could be made if these systems were implemented. The overall average water hyacinth growth rate was high to 0.297 kg wet wt./m²/day during a research period of over 500 days, including both the active and non-active growing seasons. The average daily growth rates of duckweed, cattail, and knotgrass were 0.099-0.127, 0.015, and 0.018 kg wet wt./m², respectively. This research illustrated that water hyacinth was a more promising aquatic plant biomass for bioenergy production when wastewater effluent was recycled as water and nutrient sources from an integrated natural waste treatment system.     

Morphologie effects of channelization: the case of the Neebing-McIntyre floodway,Thunder Bay,Ontario, Canada

The Neebing-McIntyre floodway in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, has been constructed with a relatively straight and uniform trapezoidal channel, compared with the prechannelized sinuous reaches of the Neebing and the McIntyre rivers. The flow regime of the floodway also contrasts significantly with the prechannelized regime, because of the combination of discharges from these rivers into a new channel and the regulation of flows by a diversion structure. The maximum channel capacity of the floodway is about 284 m³ s^–1 (175-year regional flood), compared with about 40 m³ s^–1 and 60 m³ s^–1, respectively, for the Neebing and the McIntyre. According to regime theories, the construction of a straight and trapezoidal channel has upset the equilibrium of the stream system and therefore should lead to some accelerated erosion and sedimentation processes in the new channel immediately after construction. Erosion potential is particularly high during higher discharge events, when flow velocities are expected to be greater than the prechannelized velocities of the Neebing and the McIntyre. The overall sediment yield of the watershed is low (71t km^–2 yr^–1), compared with other documented watersheds of North America, but the rates of deposition in the floodway are relatively high, mainly due to the backwater effect of Lake Superior. Unless maintained by constant channel work, the floodway will tend to fill up with sediment, until a postconstructional equilibrium is reestablished.     

Anaerobic/aerobic treatment of meat processing wastewater

The meat processing industry is believed to produce highly polluted wastewater. Analysis of such wastewater indicated that the waste was highly contaminated with organic compounds as indicated by COD (1544mgO2l–1), BOD (646mgO2l–1), and TSS (1155 mgl–1). Moreover, oil and grease concentrations reached 144mgl–1 treatment of raw wastewater using Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) followed by Rotating Biological Contactors (RBC) was studied. Efficiency of the UASB for the removal of CODtotal, BODtotal, TSS, and oil and grease was 56%, 56%, 85%, and 58%, respectively. The quality of the UASB effluent barely complies with the regulatory standards for discharging wastewater into the sewerage network. UASB effluent was subjected for further treatment using a RBC unit to improve the quality of the treated effluent for reuse in irrigation purposes. Residual COD, BOD, TSS, and oil and grease, following RBC, was 132mgO2l–1, 40mgO2l–1, 44mgl–1, and 10mgl–1 respectively. The overall efficiency of the treatment units provided good quality effluent. The overall percentage removal of COD, BOD, TSS, and oil and grease was 91.5%, 94%, 96%, and 91%, respectively. Based on the quality of the treated effluent and guidelines recommended for wastewater reuse, it may be concluded that a slight to moderate restricted irrigation is applicable to reuse the treated effluent in the green belt around the factory. Disinfection should be applied to ensure the safety of such a process.     

EFFECTS OF PLACER GOLD MINING ON PRIMARY PRODUCTION IN SUBARCTIC STREAMS OF ALASKA1

ABSTRACT: Turbidity, total residues, settleable solids, vertical light extinction, and primary production were measured in mined and unmined streams located in the interior highlands of Alaska. Undisturbed streams had low turbidities (< 1 NTU), total residue concentrations averaging 120 mg 1^?1, and undetectable settleable solids. During active mining, turbidity, total residues, and settleable solids levels in a moderately mined stream averaged 170 NTU, 201 mg 1^?1, and < 0.1 ml 1^?1, respectively. In a heavily mined stream, turbidity and total residues were two orders of magnitude higher than in unmined streams and settleable solids nearly always exceeded 0.2 ml 1^?1. Vertical extinction coefficients and turbidity were positively correlated. In undisturbed streams gross primary productivity (g-O₂m^?2d^?1) ranged from 0.20 shortly after spring breakup to a maximum of 1.20 in early fall. Productivity in the moderately mined stream was reduced by 50 percent while photosynthetic efficiency doubled. Primary production was undetectable in a heavily mined stream. Maximum standing crops of periphyton measured as chlorophyll a occurred in fall in an undisturbed stream after 13 weeks of exposure and ranged from 4.5 to 11.8 mg-chl a m^?2. The highest chlorophyll a densities recorded in the moderately mined stream was 3.8 mg m^?2, and no chlorophyl a was detected in the heavily mined stream.     

Operation strategy of a sequencing batch reactor for simultaneous removal of wastewater organic matter and nutrients

The Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) system employing activated sludge process is an alternative wastewater treatment technology. A cycle of the conventional SBR system generally consists of five periods, with complete aeration during the React period to oxidize the organic matter and nitrify the ammonium-nitrogen of wastewater. Laboratory-scale reactors were used to evaluate the feasibility of incorporating alternative aerobic-anoxic-aerobic stages within the React period for simultaneous removal of organic matter, N and P. Two cycles of SBR process per day were maintained.Under the operation strategy of 0.75-h fill, 8-h react (with continuous aeration), 3.25-h settle, draw and idle periods, the treatment performance became consistent after running the system for two to four cycles (1–2 days). The percentages of both BOD₅ and COD removal were around 94% from Cycle 2 onwards, the BOD₅ content dropped from initial 251 mg L⁻¹ to less than 14 mg L⁻¹ in the final effluent. A steady nitrification (about 97%) was obtained from Cycle 4 onwards, with 1 mg NH₄⁺-N L⁻¹ and 25 mg NO₃⁻-N L⁻¹ present in the final effluent. This suggested that the time required for SBR system to acclimate and reach an equilibrium state was relatively short when compared with the time needed for continuous flow activated sludge system. The findings also show that 4-h aeration during the react period was long enough to achieve more than 90% nitrification. With the incorporation of a 3-h anoxic stage after the initial 4-h aeration of the react period, a satisfactory denitrification process was observed, with nitrate level dropped from 27 to around 8 mg L⁻¹ within 3 h. The second aeration stage did not cause significant change in wastewater nitrogen content. The wastewater phosphate content declined rapidly during the initial 4-h aeration and P-release was not observed during the anoxic stage. A slight reduction of P was found in the second aeration stage suggesting that more P-uptake occurred in this stage. A 12-h cyclic SBR system with the incorporation of 4-h aerobic, 3-h anoxic and final 1-h aerobic stages into the 8-h react period was demonstrated to be able to remove C, N and P simultaneously.     

Assessment of the Microbiological Quality of Clarias gariepinus Exposed to an Industrial Effluent in Nigeria

The microbiological impact of a detergent and soap industries effluent on Clarias gariepinus was assessed under laboratory conditions. The heterotrophic bacterial count obtained from fish surfaces ranged from 1.2 × 10²−2.0 × 10²cfu/ml amongst the control, while values of 4.8× 10⁶−8.6 × 10⁶ cfu/ml were obtained for the experimental fish exposed to the industrial effluent (0.025 ppm). The fungal count for the controls ranged from 1.2× 10²−1.2 × 10³ cfu/ml; while a range of 1.0 × 10⁶−2.0 × 10⁶ was obtained for the fish exposed to the industrial effluent. While twelve bacterial species were isolated from the fish exposed to the industrial effluent, only two were isolated from the parts of the control fish used in the study. The bacterial species are those in the genera Staphylococcus, Proteus, Streptococcus, Micrococcus, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Serratia, Enterobacter, and Escherichia. The fungal isolates include Saccharomyces, Aspergillus, Rhodosporium, Candida, Alternaria, and Fusarium. The resistance of the bacterial isolates to the commonly used antibiotics showed that 100% were resistant to Augmentin, Amoxycillin and Cloxacillin, 85.71% to Tetracycline, 80.95% to Cotrimoxazole, 71.43% to Erythromycin, 33.33% to Chloramphenicol, and 28.57% to Gentamicin. Among the eight antibiotics tested, five patterns of multiple drug resistance were obtained, with the number of the antibiotics ranging from 4–8. The public health implications of these observations are discussed.     

In-stand scenic beauty of variable retention harvests and mature forests in the U.S. Pacific Northwest: The effects of basal area, density, retention pattern and down wood

Tensions between amenity- and timber-based economies in the U.S. and Canadian Pacific Northwest motivated a study of scenic beauty inside mature forests and timber harvests. A diverse sample of regional forests, measures of forest structure, and large, representative samples of photographs and public judges were employed to measure scenic beauty inside un-harvested mature and old-growth forests, and timber harvests. The latter varied systematically in down wood levels and retention level and pattern. Scenic beauty tended to be optimized at a basal area of 110–155 m³/ha and/or 700–900 trees/ha. Older forests and those with larger trees were perceived to be more beautiful. In harvests, greater retention levels, less down wood, and dispersed rather than aggregated retention patterns contributed to aesthetic improvements. Green-tree retention harvests offer considerable potential gains in perceived scenic beauty compared to perceived very ugly clearcuts, particularly at higher retention levels. These gains are more reliable from dispersed retention patterns. The silvicultural parameters studied change strength in affecting scenic beauty with changes in retention level. These interactions are explored in relation to a range of scenic quality objectives as an aid to planners, visual impact analysts, and silviculturists.