This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of commercially available engineered iron oxide nanoparticles coated with a surfactant (ENPFₑ₋ₛᵤᵣf) on effluent water quality from a lab-scale sequencing batch reactor as a model secondary biological wastewater treatment. Results showed that ∼8.7% of ENPFₑ₋ₛᵤᵣf applied were present in the effluent stream. The stable presence of ENPFₑ₋ₛᵤᵣf was confirmed by analyzing the mean particle diameter and iron concentration in the effluent. Consequently, aqueous ENPFₑ₋ₛᵤᵣf deteriorated the effluent water quality at a statistically significant level (p < 0.05) with respect to soluble chemical oxygen demand, turbidity, and apparent color. This implied that ENPFₑ₋ₛᵤᵣf would be introduced into environmental receptors through the treated effluent and could potentially impact them.

The proposed on-site zero-water discharge system was comprised of four main components: anaerobic tank, aerobic bioreactor, activated soil filter and water-collecting well. The results demonstrate that at 350 m³ day⁻¹ of hydraulic load, the system can effectively remove pollutants from the wastewater, e.g., 86% removal of COD; 87% removal of SS; 80% removal of TP and 71% removal of TN. The growth states of the grasses, macrophytes and arbors in the activated soil filter were better than the control. The life of the activated soil filter was estimated to be ∼12–15 yrs, based on the laboratory microcosm studies. However, humic acid contents and soil porosity have suggested that the activated soil filter was able to regenerate itself and thereby prolonging its life by reducing clogging of the pores. The results suggest that the zero-water discharge system was a promising bio-measure in treating diffuse village wastewater and benefiting community afforestation.

Mature landfill leachate contains some macromolecular organic substances that are resistant to biodegradation. The photocatalytic process helps to enhance biodegradability of landfill leachate. Batch experiments were employed to determine the optimum conditions for removal of organic matter by UV-TiO2 photocatalysis. Under optimum conditions, the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), biological oxygen demand (BOD), and color was determined. Moreover, gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to analyze the organic matter in the treated leachate before and after treatment by the photocatalysis. The experimental results indicated that the removal of COD, DOC, and color by UV-TiO2 photocatalysis could reach above 60%, 70% and 97%, respectively. Under optimal conditions, the ratio of biological oxygen demand (BOD)/chemical oxygen demand (COD) was elevated from 0.09 to 0.39, representing substantial improvement in biodegradability. GC/MS analysis revealed that 37 out of 72 kinds of organic pollutants in the leachate remained after 72 h treatment. Esters were produced during photocatalytic process and ketones, hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, hydroxybenzenes, and acids were easier to be degraded during photocatalytic oxidation processes. The UV-TiO2 photocatalysis systems proposed may be a cost-effective approach for pre-treatment of landfill leachate.

The levels of fluctuating asymmetry [random differences between symmetric organismal traits, fluctuating asymmetry (FA)] in the fourth instar of Chironomus spp. larvae inhabiting an agrochemical polluted river [Permatang Rawa River (PRR)] in the Juru River Basin, northeastern peninsular Malaysia, were measured. The PRR receives waters primarily from adjacent rice fields which are exposed to fertilizer and pesticide residues. Samples of larvae, water, and sediments were collected monthly from November 2007 to June 2008. In situ measurements of water pH and dissolved oxygen were made at three sampling locations along the river. Monthly water and benthic sediment collections were also conducted for the following laboratory water analyses: biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), and ammonium-N content. Non-residual metals in the sediment samples were also analyzed. The water quality index (WQI) of the PRR was also calculated. This study attempted to relate FA levels based on selected traits of Chironomus spp. larval head capsule (mentum width and first and second antennal segment length) to water quality and sediment heavy metal contamination in the PRR. All monthly measurements of FA levels including transcriptors (FA10a, FA4a, ME3, and ME1) and indices [FA, absolute asymmetry (AbsFA), and composite fluctuating asymmetry (CFA)] were calculated. The ordination model of redundancy analysis showed that the dissolved oxygen and water quality in the river expressed as WQI were negatively correlated with all FA indices (FA, AbsFA, and CFA) of the larval mentum width and length of antennal segments I and II. The water pH, BOD, and COD and sediment Cu positively influenced the FA incidence in the larval mentum. The FA indices of the antennal segment I were positively correlated with the increase in the levels of water pH, ammonium-N, BOD, and COD. The FA indices, especially CFA, were sensitive to the water pH and ammonium-N and sediment contaminated by Mn, Cu, and Zn. The FA levels calculated as FA indices of the larval antennal segment II length were positively correlated with water TSS and sediment Mn, Cu, Zn, and Ni. This study revealed that the river water quality and heavy metal contamination affect developmental stability in Chironomus spp. larvae. The FA indices of different structures in the Chironomus spp. larval head capsule could be used as bioindicators for water and sediment pollution.

Constructed wetlands have recently received considerable attention as low cost and efficient means of cleaning up many different types of wastewaters at secondary and tertiary levels. This is an environmentally sound method of wastewater treatment that does not use hazardous chemicals, and is based on the high productivity and nutrient removal capability of the wetland that strongly relies on its intricate ecosystem structure and function. Research work was conducted on a tropical constructed wetland to establish its capability to treat wastewater during the dry season. A comparison of its efficacy with that of conventional wastewater treatment plants was made on the basis of the measured water quality parameters. Temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and conductivity were measured in situ. Total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD), phosphorus, ammonia, and nitrites were analyzed in the laboratory. Fecal coliforms were enumerated and Escherichia coli counts were determined. The TSS values reduced from a mean of 102 mg/l at the influent point to 16 mg/l at the effluent point, depicting a reduction of 84.3%. Influent TDS averaged 847 mg/l, while the effluent averaged 783 mg/l. Dry season BOD5 levels were reduced from an average of 286 at the inlet point to 11 mg/l at the outlet representing a reduction efficiency of 96.2%. COD levels were reduced from a mean of 2,002.5 to 47.5 mg/l depicting a removal efficiency of 97.6%. Phosphorus was reduced from a mean of 14 to 11 mg/l representing a percentage removal of 21.4%. Levels of ammonia reduced from a mean of 61 at the influent point to 36 mg/l at the effluent point representing a percent reduction of 41.0%. There was a 99.99% reduction for both the fecal coliforms and E. coli counts. Conductivity of wastewater increased from 1.08 to 1.98 mS, while the pH increased from 6.23 at the inlet point to 7.99 at the outlet of the system. Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements showed a diurnal variation. The dry season wastewater heavy metal concentrations were in the following ranges: Pb (0.7–6.9 ppm), Cr (0.2–0.5 ppm), Zn (0.1–2.3 ppm), Ni (0.1–1.3 ppm) with Cd and Cu not being detected in the wastewater streams. Overall, tropical constructed wetlands are effective in treating wastewater streams and they perform a lot better than the popularly used waste stabilization ponds. This paper recommends that they can be widely used within the tropics.

Sulphuric acid-modified bagasse has been used as low-cost adsorbent for the removal of methylene blue (MB) dye from aqueous solution. In order to remove organic compounds that contribute to chemical oxygen demand (COD), pretreatment with thorough washing of adsorbent using boiling distilled water was performed instead of conventional washing using distilled water at room temperature only. This has resulted in the highest efficiency of color removal of 99.45% and COD reduction of 99.36% for MB dye solution at pH 9. Effects of initial pH, dye concentration, adsorbent dosage, temperature, and contact time have been studied. The adsorption of MB dye was pH dependent. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were tested on the adsorption data. The kinetic experimental data were analyzed using pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, and the intraparticle diffusion model in order to examine the adsorption mechanisms. The adsorption process followed the Langmuir isotherm as well as the Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The process was found to be endothermic in nature.

Wastewaters from pulp and paper mills are highly toxic and around 250 xenobiotic compounds have been reported in the effluents. Tannic acid degrading bacterium, Enterobacter sp. was isolated from soil by tannic acid enrichment. This isolate was used for bioremediation of pulp and paper mill effluents. Parameters like temperature, agitation, inoculum size and treatment duration were optimized by using Qualiteck-4 software. Reduction in lignin 73% and colour up to 82% was also observed. Encouraging results were observed is reduction of COD, BOD with 16-h retention time in batch culture.

In this study, the photocatalytic degradation of commercial azo dye (Remazol Red 133) in the presence of titanium dioxide (TiO2) suspensions as photocatalyst was investigated. The effect of various operational parameters, such as pH of dye solution and catalyst concentration on the photocatalytic degradation process, was examined. The mineralization of dye was also evaluated by measuring the chemical oxygen demand of the dye solutions. The extent of photocatalytic degradation was found to increase with increasing TiO2 concentration. For the Remazol Red dye solutions, a 120-min treatment resulted in 97.9% decolorization and 87.6% degradation at catalyst loading of 3 g/L. Experiments using real textile wastewater were also carried out. Textile wastewater degradation was enhanced at acidic conditions. The decolorization and degradation efficiencies for textile wastewater were 97.8% and 84.9% at pH 3.0, catalyst loading of 3 g/L, and treatment time of 120 min.

Subsurface-flow constructed wetlands technology (SSFW) has been used successfully for treating sanitary wastewater throughout North America and Europe. However, treatment wetland technologies have not been used extensively in the tropics. To advance tropical studies, a pilot-scale SSFW was constructed on the campus of the University of the Atlantic in Barranquilla, Colombia. The systems performance was monitored from January to July of 2009. The treatment system consisted of a 760-L septic tank followed by three mesocsom-scale subsurface-flow constructed wetlands in parallel arrangement. Clarified wastewater was batch loaded to each unit at a rate of 53 L/m2/day to affect a hydraulic retention time of approximately 3 days. One of the treatment units served as a non-planted control (gravel only), while the other two treatment units were planted with either Eriochloa aristata or Eleocharis mutata. The objective of this study was to evaluate the comparative efficacy of the treatment units (planted vs. unplanted), with respect to their abilities to augment treatment of septic tank effluent (sanitary wastewater). Monitored parameters included plant biomass, oxidation–reduction potential, chemical oxygen demand (COD), temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, ammonia–nitrogen (NH4 +–N) nitrate– and nitrite–nitrogen (NO3–N, NO2–N), phosphates (PO4 −), and coliform bacteria. Total biomass (dry matter) was 2.84 and 0.87 Kg/m2 for E. aristata and E. mutata, respectively. Redox potential in the plant rizospheres averaged −172 mV (±164.1) in E. aristata, 29 mV (±251.1) in E. mutata, and 32 mV (±210.5) in the unplanted control. COD removal was superior in planted vs. non-planted systems (>75% vs. 47%). Ammonia and total phosphorus removal averaged 69% and 85%, respectively, in planted systems versus 31% and 59% in the unplanted system. Removal of total and fecal coliforms averaged 96%. Results of this pilot study revealed that SSFW technology in the tropics can provide significant removal of organic matter, nutrients, and bacteria from clarified sanitary wastewater.

Comamonas sp. UVS was able to decolorize Reactive Blue HERD (RBHERD) dye (50 mg L−1) within 6 h under static condition. The maximum dye concentration degraded was 1,200 mg L−1 within 210 h. A numerical simulation with the model gives an optimal value of 35.71 ±â€‰0.696 mg dye g−1 cell h−1 for maximum rate (Vmax) and 112.35 ±â€‰0.34 mg L−1 for the Michaelis constant (Km). Comamonas sp. UVS has capability of decolorization of RBHERD in the presence of Mg2+, Ca2+, Cd2+, and Zn2+, whereas decolorization was completely inhibited by Cu2+. Metal ions also affected the levels of biotransformation enzymes during decolorization of RBHERD. Comamonas sp. UVS was also able to decolorize textile effluent with significant reduction in COD. The biodegradation of RBHERD dye was monitored by UV–vis spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, and HPLC.