Zeolite and limestone were tested for their capability of removing As and Fe from acidic water in batch and column experiments. Synthetic acidic water with 3 mg/L As and 50 or 100 mg/L Fe at pH = 2 was used in the column experiments. In the batch experiments, the As concentration, the mass of media, and the contact time were varied between 0.2 and 5 mg As/L, 0.5 and 50 g, and 0.25 and 42 h, respectively. Maximum As sorption capacity as indicated by the Langmuir model was 0.17 mg/g for zeolite and 1.3 mg/g for limestone, at 18-h contact time and 6.3 g/L medium concentration. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses revealed that As and Fe were retained in zeolite at the end of the batch experiments. The main factors affecting As and Fe removal efficiency and pH raising capacity were the contact time and the media concentration. This was confirmed in the column experiments, since zeolite and limestone columns presented 99% As removal, under a hydraulic loading rate of 21.8 mm/day. However, limestone columns presented a higher Fe removal: 99 versus 73% for zeolite. The results indicate that limestone could be more appropriate than zeolite when As and Fe are present under acidic conditions, given its higher capacity to remove both As and Fe and to raise pH.

Arsenate (As(V)) is an analog of phosphate (Pᵢ), and previous studies have shown that As(V) and Pᵢ are absorbed via the same transport systems in some organisms. However, little is known about which periplasmic phosphate-binding proteins (PBPs) of ABC-type Pᵢ transporters play major roles in As(V) uptake by cyanobacteria. In this study, the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 (Synechocystis) was chosen to study the ability of PBPs to discriminate between Pi and As(V). We found that As(V) and Pᵢ competed for uptake via Pᵢ transporters when Synechocystis was treated with As(V) and/or Pᵢ in short-term incubation. The As/P molar ratios of Synechocystis wild type (WT) and mutants (∆sphX, ∆pstS2, ∆sll0540, and ∆sphXpstS1) were measured, and they were significantly different with the order WT > ∆pstS2 > ∆sll0540 > ∆sphXpstS1 > ∆sphX. Furthermore, As(V) uptake by Escherichia coli strain Transetta expressing PBP genes, particularly sphX or sll0540, was significantly increased when PBP gene (pstS1, pstS2, sphX, or sll0540) was separately expressed in Transetta at the same level. Subsequent phylogenetic analyses of PBPs showed that SphX and Sll0540 belonged to the low-affinity PBPs, while PstS1 and PstS2 were clustered with the high-affinity PBPs. These results implied that As(V) was taken up via Pᵢ transporters, and the low-affinity PBPs, SphX and Sll0540, made a significant contribution to As(V) uptake.

This study evaluates the treatment efficacy and biogas yield of an integrated system composed of a plug-flow biodigester (with sludge recirculation) followed by polishing in a stabilization pond. The system was operated in real scale for 12 months at ambient temperature and under continuous flow. The volumetric yields of biogas varied according to the organic loads applied, between 114 and 294 Kg COD day⁻¹, reaching levels of 0.026 to 0.173 m³ m⁻³ day⁻¹, with concentrations of CH₄ between 56 and 70%. The monthly biogas productions were between 378.5 and 2186.1 m³ month⁻¹ equal to an energy potential of approximately 2070 to 19,168 KWh month⁻¹.The average yearly removals of BOD₅,₂₀ and COD by the integrated treatment system were 70 and 86%, respectively. The average annual removals of NH₄ and TKN were 88.5 and 85.5%, respectively. The pH values were always near neutral, and the alkalinity was in ranges propitious for anaerobic digestion. The results of this study indicate good efficacy in terms of removal of organic matter and nitrogen compounds, with the added benefits of generation of energy and use of the treated effluent as biofertilizer, enabling significant cost reductions to cattle farmers.

The current study investigates the impact of recharging of partially treated wastewater through an infiltration basin on the groundwater aquifer quality parameters. A monitoring program supported by a geographic information analysis (GIS) tool was used to conduct this study. Groundwater samples from the entire surrounding boreholes located downstream the infiltration basin, in addition to samples from the recharged wastewater coming from the Beit Lahia wastewater treatment (BLWWTP), were monitored and analysed between 2011 and 2014. The analysis was then compared with the available historical data since 2008. Results revealed a groundwater replenishment with the groundwater level increased by 1.0–2.0 m during the study period. It also showed a slight improvement in the groundwater quality parameters, mainly a decrease in TDS, Cl⁻ and NO₃ ⁻ levels by 5.5, 17.1 and 20%, respectively, resulting from the relatively better quality of the recharged wastewater. Nevertheless, the level of boron and ammonium in the groundwater wells showed a significant increase over time by 96 and 100%, respectively. Moreover, the infiltration rate was slowed down in time due to the relatively high level of total suspended solid (TSS) in the infiltrated wastewater.

Decomposition of aquatic plant might generate a significant influence on the receiving water body. In this study, decomposition of emergent aquatic plant (cattail) litter was investigated under different conditions to determine the influencing level of the decomposition process on the water quality. Different litter addition rates (0.1, 0.5, 1.0 g L⁻¹), temperature changes, sediment additions, and kinestates (static and dynamic conditions) were selected as the influencing factors for the decomposition process. The results suggested that the decomposition process could be all accelerated when conducted at a higher litter addition rate, under a cold condition, with sediment addition or on dynamic condition, respectively. Additionally, the maximum ratio of releasing carbon to nitrogen (C/N) was increased when the decomposition process was conducted with a higher litter addition rate, under a cold condition (31.0), with sediment addition (24.6) and on a dynamic condition (28.0), respectively, and the C/N ratios were all higher than that with only 0.5 g L⁻¹ litter addition (24.5), suggesting that lowering of water temperature, sediment addition, and increasing of oxygen might also enhance the C/N. The high C/N released during the decomposition process implied that the cattail litter might be utilized as the potential organic carbon source for nitrogen removal in the CW system.

Contaminant elution and tracer (CET) tests are one method for characterizing the impact of mass transfer, transformation, and other attenuation processes on contaminant transport and mass removal for subsurface systems. The purpose of the work reported herein is to explore specific well-field configurations for improving CET tests by reducing the influence of preferential flow and surrounding plume effects. Three injection-extraction well configurations were tested for different domain conditions using a three-dimensional numerical model. The three configurations were the traditional configuration with a single pair of injection-extraction wells, modified configuration I with one extraction well located between two injection wells, and modified configuration II with two pairs of injection-extraction couplets (one nested within the other). Elution curves for resident contaminant and breakthrough curves from simulated tracer tests were examined for specific landmarks such as the presence and extent of steady state (relatively high concentrations) and asymptotic (asymptotic decrease to low concentrations) phases, as well as distinct changes in slope. Temporal moment analysis of the breakthrough curves was conducted to evaluate mass recovery. Effective diffusion coefficients were obtained by fitting selected functions to the elution curves. Based on simulation results for a homogeneous domain, full isolation of the inner extraction well from the surrounding plume was obtained for the modified configuration II, whereas the extraction wells are impacted by the surrounding plume for the other two configurations. Therefore, configuration II was used for additional simulations conducted with layered and heterogeneous domains. Tracer test simulations for homogeneous and layered domains indicate 100% mass recovery for the inner extraction well. For the heterogeneous domain, decreasing the distance between the inner injection-extraction well couplet and adjusting the pumping rate distribution between the two extraction wells increased the mass recovery from 69 to 99%.

Currently, the use of nanotechnologies is in rapid expansion, which entails increasing risks of environmental contamination by nanoparticles. Many studies describe the toxic effects on human cells, but little is known about the possible adverse effects on plants. Currently, various nanoparticles are often detected in streams, wastewater, and sewage due to widespread nanoparticle uses. We studied the accumulation and the effect of metal oxide nanoparticles together with their bulk counter particles and soluble metal salts on the growth of a wetland plant species true fox-sedge (Carex vulpina L.). The concentration 100 mg/l of copper nanoparticles significantly affected the growth of the plants, roots characteristics, and content of the photosynthetic pigments in leaves, while the same concentration of iron nanoparticles did not reduced any of the measured items. Using the bulk materials, the effect was very similar.

Most bioremediation studies on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have focused on a single contaminant or its derived compounds and degraders have been identified under single contaminant conditions. Bioremediation of multiple contaminants remains a challenging issue. To identify a bacterial consortium that degrades multiple VOCs (dichloromethane (DCM), benzene, and toluene), we applied DNA-stable isotope probing. For individual tests, we combined a ¹³C-labeled VOC with other two unlabeled VOCs, and prepared three unlabeled VOCs as a reference. Over 11 days, DNA was periodically extracted from the consortia, and the bacterial community was evaluated by next-generation sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicons. Density gradient fractions of the DNA extracts were amplified by universal bacterial primers for the 16S rRNA gene sequences, and the amplicons were analyzed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) using restriction enzymes: HhaI and MspI. The T-RFLP fragments were identified by 16S rRNA gene cloning and sequencing. Under all test conditions, the consortia were dominated by Rhodanobacter, Bradyrhizobium/Afipia, Rhizobium, and Hyphomicrobium. DNA derived from Hyphomicrobium and Propioniferax shifted toward heavier fractions under the condition added with ¹³C-DCM and ¹³C-benzene, respectively, compared with the reference, but no shifts were induced by ¹³C-toluene addition. This implies that Hyphomicrobium and Propioniferax were the main DCM and benzene degraders, respectively, under the coexisting condition. The known benzene degrader Pseudomonas sp. was present but not actively involved in the degradation.

Although dilution of lake water has been used for improvement of water quality and algal blooms control, it has not necessarily succeeded to suppress the blooms. We hypothesized that the disappearance of algal blooms by dilution could be explained by flow regime, nutrient concentrations, and their interaction. This study investigated the effects of daily renewal rate (d), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentration, and their interaction on the domination between Microcystis aeruginosa and Cyclotella sp. through a monoxenic culture experiment. The simulation model as functions of the N:P mass ratio and dilution rate (D) (calculated from d) was constructed, and the dominant characteristics of both species were predicted based on the model using parameters obtained in a monoculture experiment and our previous study. Results of monoxenic culture experiment revealed that M. aeruginosa dominated in all conditions (d = 5 or 15%; N = 1.0 or 2.5 or 5.0 mg-N L⁻¹; P = 0.1 or 0.5 mg-P L⁻¹) and the predicted cell densities were substantially correspondent to experimental data. Under various N:P ratios and D values, characteristics of domination for each species were predicted, indicating that Cyclotella sp. tended to be dominant under high P concentrations (P ≥ 0.36 mg-P L⁻¹) when the N:P ratio was less than 7.0, and M. aeruginosa could not form algal blooms at the N:P ratio ≤ 7.0 (N ≤ 0.7 mg-N L⁻¹). It was also suggested that the dilution rate leading to the Cyclotella sp. domination required 0.20 day⁻¹ or higher regardless of the N:P ratios. Graphical Abstract • M. aeruginosa and Cyclotella sp. could be a superior competitor in nutrient-limited and nutrient-rich conditions, respectively. • The simulation model in this study indicated that the predicted cell density and nutrient concentration were substantially correspondent to experimental data. • The model predicted that Cyclotella sp. tended to be dominant at the P ≥ 0.36 mg-P L⁻¹ when the N:P ratio was less than 7.0, and M. aeruginosa could not form algal blooms at the N:P ratio ≤ 7.0 (N ≤ 0.7 mg-N L⁻¹).

A chelator, potassium dipropyl dithiophosphate, and humic acid were combined and used as a stabilizing agent to study the stabilization effect of the mixture on heavy metals in a contaminated sediment. The results indicated that the stabilization efficiencies for Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd in the sediment were up to 99.98, 90.66, 99.38, and 92.83%, respectively, and the unstable Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd fractions fell by 57.11, 54.74, 56.41, and 89.14%, respectively, when 5% potassium dipropyl dithiophosphate and 7% humic acid were added. This significantly reduced the bioavailability of the heavy metals. Under leaching caused by simulated acid rain (pH 3 and pH 5), the heavy metals mainly migrated from the solid phase to the liquid phase during the initial leaching period, and the Pb, Cu, Zn, and Cd leaching rates in the sediment after stabilization fell by 55–99%. Cu showed the greatest reduction. When the results for the sediment after stabilization were compared with the sediment before stabilization, the wheat stem height had increased by 53.62%, the dry weights of the leaves and roots increased by 86.25 and 34.85%, respectively, and Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd enrichment in the wheat roots and leaves fell by 40–88 and 73–95%, respectively.