The goal of this research was to investigate the efficacy photocatalysis with natural solar radiation and artificial UV radiation for disinfecting total coliforms in biologically treated wastewater.   The effect of TiO2 dosage and irradiation time on total coliform inactivation as measured by log reduction values (LRV), removal of BOD, COD, turbidity, and effluent properties as measured by pH and conductivity was investigated. Two sets of experimental equipment were constructed, one for using solar UV light and the other for using artificial UV light. After four hours of irradiation with 60 mg/L TiO2, photocatalysis achieved LRVs of 1.4 and 1, respectively, under UV and solar radiation. COD and BOD were reduced by 67% and 50% respectively under UV and solar radiation after two hours of irradiation with 60 mg/L TiO2. Turbidity was reduced by 71%. Both conductivity and acidity of the effluent were reduced as TiO2 concentration was increased. Photocatalysis with natural solar radiation produced disinfection results that were comparable to that of efficient UV light exposure. Artificial UV light and natural solar radiation can be combined in photocatalysis process to form a hybrid process.

Natural quartz mineral was examined as a new sorbent for Hg(II) removal from synthetic wastewater systems. Batch adsorption experiments of Hg(II)  onto quartz mineral were conducted under various conditions such as solution pH, sorbent dosage, contact time, initial Hg(II)  concentration. Adsorption experiments results of Hg(II) by quartz mineral showed good achievement after 180 min with 1.0 g/L sorbent mass at pH of 2.0, agitation speed of 200 rpm and a temperature of 25°C. Moreover, the Hg(II) concentration was directly related to increases the adsorption capacity, the maximum Hg(II) uptake by quartz  sample was 16.52 mg/g for 80 mg/L (C0 (Hg(II)].  Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetics (R2 > 0.99) were found to be the most appropriate models to describe the adsorption of Hg(II) by quartz mineral. The intra-particle diffusion model and the calculated Dubinin–Radushkevich adsorption energy (Eads = 0.78 kJmol-1), confirms a physisorption adsorption reaction occurring in three stages.

Population’s exponential growth along with drought has increased water resources limitation, especially in arid and semi-arid area. Therefore, the use of non-conventional water is an important tool for water resource management. If unconventional water has no negative impact on soil properties and water, it can be used for irrigation coupled with desertification projects. So, this paper tries to present the effect of irrigation with municipal wastewater, salt water, brackish water, and combination of salty water and wastewater on some soil properties including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in Qom plain. Soil samples were taken from agricultural land treated by wastewater, saline water, brackish water, combination of salty water, and wastewater and range land as control in five treatments from depths of 0-30 and 60-90 centimeter. The results showed that wastewater has increased the amount of N, P, and K to other treatments and control area. The concentration of potassium in surface layer of area treated by combination of salty water and wastewater with amount of 459.39 ppm has the most significant difference to control and other treatments. Also, the maximum amount of nitrogen was observed in sub layer of saline and brackish water treatment with amount of 0.08 percent.

Constructed wetlands (CWs) are man-made systems designed to treat a range of residential, commercial, and industrial wastewaters. The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficiency of wastewater treatment systems using constructed wetlands. The effectiveness of removing chemical and physical pollutants was also evaluated. The setup consisted of a hybrid flow system composed of upflow constructed wetland and a horizontal flow constructed wetland connected in series that is used for primary treatment of the influent of domestic wastewater. Two systems were analyzed: one cultivated with the ornamental species Canna Indica, and one cultivated with the cattail Cymbopogon flexuosus. It consisted of two treatment sections consisting of two plant species Cymbopogon citratus (lemon grass – first CW) and Canna xalapensis Horan (Canna Indica – second CW). The water quality parameters i.e., BOD, COD, TSS were analyzed according to APHA (American Public Health Association) by daily sampling. The CW was monitored for the quality of wastewater inflows and outflows and nutrient accumulation in plants. Results showed that the maximum COD removal for Lemon Grass and Canna Indica beds were 75% and 70% respectively at 200mg/L COD loading in the CW setup over a six-month period respectively. The maximum BOD removal found in Lemon Grass and Canna Indica beds were 73% and 64% respectively at a feed concentration of 200mg/L COD. Both the CWs together as one unit showed similar rates of TSS removal irrespective of the type of wetland plant species and were more efficient in treating wastewater.

The applicability of Polyetheretherketone/polyvinylalcohol nanocomposite modified with zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesis for the removal of benzyl butyl phthalate from wastewater. Identical techniques, including BET, FT-IR, XRD, and SEM, have to characterize this unknown material. The investigation shows the applicability of adsorbent PEEK/PVA/ZnONPs, as an available, suitable, and low-cost adsorbent for adequately removing the benzyl butyl phthalate from wastewater. The impacts of variables, including benzyl butyl phthalate concentration, adsorbent, pH, and time (15 mgL-1, 0.3 g, 5.0, and 60 min). Based on the received data, the adsorption of benzyl butyl phthalate on the PEEK/PVA/ZnONPs adsorbent agrees well with the Langmuir adsorption model isotherm (qm = 34.24 mgg-1). The results of the thermodynamic parameter showed a negative enthalpy (-77.0 KJ/mol), a negative Gibbs free energy (-11.7 KJ/mol), and negative entropy (-274.0 J/K.mol). This led to the conclusion that the adsorption process is energetically possible, and exothermic was also spontaneous. This work indicates that the PEEK/PVA/ZnONPs, used as an ecologically adapted, adsorbent holds promise for eliminating benzyl butyl phthalate from wastewater.

Olive mill wastewater is the main by-product derived from olive mills using the three-phase extraction process,displaying a serious environmental risk due to its notable content in organics and phenolics Olive oil production, an agro-industrial of vital economic particularly in Mediterranean countries, is unfortunately associated with the generation of large quantities of OMW (Olive Mill Wastewater) and solid wastes. The OMW is considered a major environmental problem, it is a powerful pollutant rejected in nature without any prior treatment. This research work aims to study the treatment of OMW by a new ecological and economic system, which consists of the use of the following components: gravel, sawdust, soil, activated carbon, bamboo, and the valorization of the solid residues. HPLC analysis showed that hydroxytyrosol is the most abundant biophenol. Many other biophenols were identified (Tyrosol, gallic acid, and eleonic acid). The comparison between before and after filtration by the new system showed an essential degradation of phenolic compounds after treatment and found a new compound resulting from their degradation.

Lignin rich solid residues after saccharification during the production of ethanol from lignocellulosic substrates are major concern during past times. These solid residues left after the saccharification of Coir pith and Bit fiber waste are pyrolysed at 350 oC to yield biochar, which has been characterized and its potential for removal of Malachite Green, a dye present in the effluents from coir product manufacturing units are studied. FTIR and XRD spectra revealed the diverse functional groups present on the surface of biochar. SEM images showed the porous structure of the biochar. A maximum dye removal efficiency of 99.5% was achieved using Coir Pith Biochar (1 %) within 24 hours of treatment at a dye concentration of 100 mg/l. The removal efficiency was 99.4 % using Bit Fiber Biochar (0.8 %) in the same treatment period. The efficiency of removal was enhanced on adjusting the pH to 4 at which the dye removal of 99.6 % and 99.7 % was achieved using Bit fiber biochar and Coir pith biochar respectively. The residence time was significantly reduced to 2 and 4 hours respectively for bit fiber and coir pith biochar at pH 4 and hence the produced biochars are cost effective adsorbents for removal of dyeing effluents in wastewater. The adsorption fits into pseudo-second order kinetics and is well described by langmuir isotherm model. This would also facilitate the sustainable use of spent solid substrates left after lignocellulosic ethanol production in a more economical way.

This work investigates the possibility of using constructed wetland system for the management of municipal wastewaters with reuse strategies for the irrigation of landscapes in Ouled Djellal city of Biskra, Algeria. The design of this system was based on the characteristics (volume and physico-chemical properties) of wastewaters and the urban plan of the studied city. Results showed that studied effluent is easily biodegradable with COD/BOD5 of  1.84 (< 3), BOD5 (325 - 365 mg/L), COD (620-644 mg/L) and TSS (120-250mg/l). The peak of raw wastewater flow was found to be 32.4 m3 /h, which was used for the calculation of drip network for the landscape irrigation. The selected variant for the configuration of the CW system is HF-VF-HF, which occupies an area of 11.580 m2 and will reduce significantly the water pollution. The treated wastewater will be reused for the irrigation of landscapes via the dimensioned drip network. Results of this study showed that the proposed design for the system (treatment and reuse) would be effective in reducing pollution in the urban environment by ensuring possibility of the reuse of the treated water for irrigation. This gives also a great opportunity for using this strategy in small neighborhoods in other cities.

This paper is the first to report on the role of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Sari, as a source of microplastics (MPs) in the Caspian Sea. Composite 270-liter/24-hour samples were taken the treated effluent of the WWTP in winter and spring, two seasons with different levels of human activity. The effluent contained 380±52.5 and 423±44.9 MPs/m3 in winter and spring, respectively, with the total numbers of MPs/m3 not differing between the two seasons. The dominant type of MPs in the effluent was microfibers with 237±68.7 and 328±33.4 per m3 in winter and spring, respectively. In both seasons, fiber sizes of

Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) have been employed to degrade biorefractory organic matters. This study investigates the combination of classical Fenton reaction with electrochemical oxidation, the electro-Fenton process, for the treatment of semi aerobic landfill leachate, collected from Pulau Burung Landfill Site (PBLS), Penang, Malaysia. The investigation has been carried out in batch reactors with aluminum electrodes to establish the optimal treatment conditions. The effects of applied current, pH, reaction time, electrodes separation distance, H2O2/Fe2+ molar ratio, and H2O2 and Fe2+ concentrations, significant process parameters by themselves, have also been investigated. According to the obtained results, electro-Fenton process is very efficient for the treatment of landfill leachate. Optimum oxidation efficiency has been achieved when neither H2O2 nor Fe2+ are overdosed, so that the maximum amount of OH radicals is available for the oxidation of organic compounds. The highest COD and color removals have been 92% and 93%, respectively; obtained at initial pH=3, H2O2/Fe2+ molar ratio=1, applied current= 2A, treatment duration= 30 min, and electrodes separation distance= 3 cm. The current efficiency declines from 94% to 38% when the current rises from 0.5A to 2A.