Search results for "Waste"

Nitrate removal microbiology in woodchip bioreactors : a case-study with full-scale bioreactors treating aquaculture effluents

2020

Woodchip bioreactors are viable low-cost nitrate (NO3−) removal applications for treating agricultural and aquaculture discharges. The active microbial biofilms growing on woodchips are conducting nitrogen (N) removal, reducing NO3− while oxidizing the carbon (C) from woodchips. However, bioreactor age, and changes in the operating conditions or in the microbial community might affect the NO3− removal as well as potentially promote nitrous oxide (N2O) production through either incomplete denitrification or dissimilatory NO3− reduction to ammonium (DNRA). Here, we combined stable isotope approach, amplicon sequencing, and captured metagenomics for studying the potential NO3− removal rates, a…

Heterogeneous fenton oxidation using magnesium ferrite nanoparticles for ibuprofen removal from wastewater: optimization and kinetics studies

2020

In this study, the catalytic properties of Fenton-like catalyst based on magnesium ferrite nanoparticles for IBP degradation were examined. Structural and morphological studies showed the low crystallinity and mesoporous structure for the catalyst obtained via a glycine-nitrate method. The influences of catalyst dosage, oxidant concentration, and solution pH on the pollutant degradation were investigated. The pseudo-first-order model describes kinetic data, and under optimal condition (catalyst dose of 0.5 g L-1, H2O2 concentration of 20.0 mM, and pH of 8.0), apparent rate constant reached 0.091 min-1. It was shown that Fenton reaction was mainly induced by iron atoms on the catalyst surfac…

ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT REDUCTION FOR WASTEWATER TREATMENT BY MULTI-OBJECTIVE OPTIMIZATION AND MODELLING

2020

The current challenge faced by researchers and managers is minimize the environmental footprint of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). To accomplish this goal, other than respect legal requirements, WWTPs must provide better responses regarding consumption of energy and resources, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, among others. The research hereby presented is based on the application of mathematical modelling with the aim to propose a framework for the minimization of WWTP’s environmental footprint towards optimization techniques. A literature review was held to gain knowledge regarding the main decision support systems (DSS) that are applied to WWTPs since they allow selecting the most app…

Examining the critical factors that influence the success of construction and demolition waste reverse logistics operations

2022

The reverse logistics (RL) performance of construction and demolition waste (C&DW) differs significantly between countries. Although some countries are successfully circular, other countries are still far behind; with C&DW being largely directed to landfills or being illegally dumped. There is a lack of guidelines on the requirements for transitioning countries towards C&DW diversion, and little attention has been given to the factors that influence the success of C&DW RL and increased circularity. This study aims to develop a framework that helps in structuring and assessing the success of C&DW RL on a regional level and serves as a guide for transitioning developing co…

Power Production from Produced Waters via Reverse Electrodialysis: A Preliminary Assessment

2022

Wastewaters generated by crude oil extraction processes, called “produced waters” (PWs), are complex solutions that contain organic compounds, mainly hydrocarbons, and often exhibit high salinity. The large amounts of PWs represent a global issue because of their environmental impact. An approach widely used in the oil industry is the reinjection of this wastewater into the extraction wells after a suitable treatment. The high salt concentration of such solutions may be used in salinity gradient technologies to produce green electricity. Among these technologies, reverse electrodialysis (RED) is one of the most promising. In this work, the application of RED for energy generatio…

Environmental context determines pollution impacts on ecosystem functioning

2023

Global change assessments have typically ignored synthetic chemical pollution, despite the rapid increase of pharmaceuticals, pesticides and industrial chemicals in the environment. Part of the problem reflects the multifarious origins of these micropollutants, which can derive from urban and agricultural sources. Understanding how micropollutants harm ecosystems is a major scientific challenge due to asymmetries of stress across trophic levels and ecological surprises generated by multiple drivers interacting in human-impacted landscapes. We used field assays above and below municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in 60 sampling locations across 20 Swiss streams to test how micropoll…

Occurrence of pharmaceuticals in municipal wastewater treatment plants and receiving surface waters in Central and Southern Finland

2016

The presence of five selected pharmaceuticals, four anti-inflammatory drugs, diclofenac, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen, and an antiepileptic drug carbamazepine, was determined at four municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and in the receiving waterway near the city of Jyväskylä, in central Finland and also in the River Vantaa. First, an analytical method was developed including a pretreatment and purification followed by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in the multiple reaction monitoring mode. The studied pharmaceuticals were detected from influents and effluents of four municipal WWTPs and from surface water of eight locations along the water …

Effect of different co-solvents on biodiesel production from various low-cost feedstocks using Sr–Al double oxides

2020

The main objective of the present paper comprises the investigation of biodiesel production from low-cost feedstock such as lard oil and waste cooking oil (WCO) using Sr-Al double oxides. Nanocatalyst was characterised FTIR, XRD, SEM, TEM, BET and XPS. The Sr:Al with 3:1 molar ratio showed the best catalytic activity in the conversion of both oils to fatty acid methyl ester. The effect of acetone and tetrahydrofuran (THF) as a co-solvent for transesterification were compared and the best result was obtained with 5 % THF. The mutual effect of the nanocatalyst and co-solvent on biodiesel production was investigated. The characterisation of biodiesel synthesised from lard oil and WCO was perfo…

Occurrence and control of selected antibiotics and antiretroviral drugs in urban hydrological cycles

2018

A technological approach towards integrated solid waste management in developing countries

2017

This research is grounded in the planning concept of Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM). ISWM was developed to promote sustainability in the waste management for developing countries. Waste managers and policy makers in developing countries have been adopting the principles of ISWM into their waste strategies for several decades. But despite their many efforts, still important problems remain, as is the case of low collection coverage, lack of proper treatment of the different waste types, high dependency on final disposal sites and even in some cities uncontrolled dumping is still accepted as the only way to handle the waste. For that reason, waste management in developing countries …