Search

A study was conducted to evaluate the nutrient removal capability of an existing and successfully operated overland flow and wetland wastewater treatment system following a waste stabilization pond. Seasonal temperature effects on performance were also investigated. The treatment system studied consists of a two-cell waste stabilization pond followed by an overland flow system and a wetland system. The influent and effluent samples were analyzed for BOD5, suspended solids (SS), pH, temperature, ammonia nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and total phosphorus. The results of the study indicate that the combined pond, overland flow and wetland system provided excellent treatment of municipal wastewater. The overall average BOD5 removal by the entire treatment system was about 90.0% and the overall average suspended solids removal was about 93.4%. The ammonia nitrogen and total phosphorus removal efficiencies of the entire treatment system were 90.7% and 84.2%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on development of aqueous flowable (suspension) formulations for Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) based biopesticides from wastewater sludge. Different inerts like sorbitol, sodium monophosphate, sodium metabisulphite, sorbic acid, propionic acid, Tween-80, Triton X-100 and glycerol were tested for formulations. Five different formulations for non-hydrolyzed (NH) secondary sludges were tried and the best combination selected on the basis of various physical parameters like viscosity, particle size, suspendibility, entomotoxicity, and microbiological purity tests. F5 formulations (for secondary sludge) comprising sorbitol, sodium monophosphate and sodium metabisulphite gave better physical and biological characteristics with a small effect on entomotoxicity and spore concentration after 120 days at pH 6, 6.5 and temperatures 40 and 50°C and viscosity change at 40 and 50°C. The formulations were more stable at pH 4.0 to 5.0 and temperatures 4 to 30°C whereas at pH 6.0 and 6.5 and temperatures 40 and 50°C, there was degeneration of the product. Lower proteolytic activity and physical factors like ionic strength and surface group changes at pH 6 and 6.5 were responsible for the instability of the formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Production of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) based biopesticide was studied using hydrolysed or raw wastewater sludge as a raw material. The sludge hydrolysis was carried out at different pH (2, 4 and 6). The sludge after hydrolysis was sterilised at 121°C for 30 minutes. The effect of temperature, pH and agitation speed on growth and toxin production was also investigated. The pH in the shake flask was controlled by adding 0.1 M TRIS buffer. The progress of the biopesticide production process was monitored by measuring viable cell count (VC), spore count (SC) and entomotoxicity (Tx). The entomotoxicity was measured against spruce budworm. Control of pH substantially increased the entomotoxicity of the final product. Increased agitation speed resulted in higher VC, SC and Tx values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The simultaneous production of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) based biopesticide and proteases was studied using synthetic medium and wastewater sludge as a raw material. The studies were conducted in shake flask and computer controlled 15-L capacity fermentors. Measuring viable cell and spore counts, entomotoxicity and protease activity monitored the progress of the biopesticide production process. A higher viable cell count and spore count was observed in synthetic Soya medium, however, higher entomotoxicity and protease activity were observed in wastewater sludge medium. Thus, the wastewater sludge is a better raw material than commercial Soya medium for the biopesticides and enzyme production. The maximum entomotoxicity and protease activity observed in the fermentor was 9,332 IU/µL and 4.58 IU/mL, respectively. The proteases produced by Bt were also characterised. Two types of proteases were detected; neutral proteases with pH optimum 7.0 and alkaline proteases with pH optimum 10-11. Further, two types of alkaline proteases were detected; one having a pH and temperature optimum at 10 and 50°C while the other at 11 and 70°C. The protease thermal stability was found to increase in the presence of CaCl2, indicating the proteases were metalloproteases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The MUC (Montreal Urban Community) treatment plant produces approximately 270 tons of dry sludge daily (270 tds/day) during the physico-chemical treatment of wastewater. Recently, this treatment plant endowed a system of drying and granulation of sludge for valorization as an agricultural fertilizer having a capacity of 70 tds/day (25% of the daily sludge production). However, the metal content (mainly Cu and Cd) of the sludge surpasses the norms for biosolids valorization. In order to solve this problem, a demonstration project, from the lab scale to the industrial pilot plant, was carried out to test the Metix-AC technology for the removal of metals. A strongly metal-loaded filtrate was generated during the sludge decontamination. Tests concerned the study of the metal recovery by total precipitation and selective precipitation, as well as the use of alternative products for the metal precipitation. Other works consisted to simulate the acid filtrate recirculation from the decontaminated sludge (25% of the total volume) in the untreated sludge (75% of the total volume) intended for the incineration. The total precipitation with hydrated lime appeared effective for the recovery of metals (87% Cd, 96% Cr, 97% Cu, 98% Fe, 71% Ni, 100% Pb, 98% Zn). However, this option entails the production of an important quantity of metallic residue, which should be disposed of expensively as dangerous material. The selective iron precipitation does not appear to be an interesting option because the iron in solution within the leached sludge was principally present in the form of ferrous iron, which cannot be precipitated at pH lower than five. On the other hand, the use of commercial precipitating agents (TMT-15, CP-33Z, CP-NB and CPX) without pH adjustment of filtrate gave good results for the recovery of Cu and, to a lesser degree for the recovery of Pb. However, the efficiency for the other metals' (Cd, Cr, Fe, Ni and Zn) recovery was weaker (< 25%). Finally, the acid filtrate recirculation containing solubilised metals in untreated sludge destined for incineration appears to be the most interesting option. Metals in solution in the acid filtrate, precipitate or adsorb effectively (97% Cd, 97% Cr, 99% Cu, 82% Ni, 100% Pb and 87% Zn) on the solids of the untreated sludge. Moreover, TCLP tests were done on ashes produced during the incineration of sludge mixed with the acid filtrate produced during sludge decontamination. These tests showed that there were no significant differences, as regards the extractability of metals, between such ashes and those produced during the untreated sludge incineration without addition of filtrate. Therefore, it was predictable that this method can respect the current environmental standards required by the different governmental authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activated sludge from different full-scale wastewater treatment plants (municipal, pulp and paper industry, starch manufacturing and cheese manufacturing wastewaters) was used as a source of microorganisms to produce biodegradable plastics in shake flask experiments. Acetate, glucose and different wastewaters were used as carbon sources. Pulp and paper wastewater sludge was found to accumulate maximum concentration (43% of dry weight of suspended solids) of polyhydroxy alkanoates (PHA) with acetate as carbon source. Among the different wastewaters tested as a source of carbon, pulp and paper industry and starch industry wastewaters were found to be the best source of carbon while employing pulp and paper activated sludge for maximum accumulation of PHA. High concentration of volatile fatty acids in these wastewaters was the probable reason.

Effect of surface active agents on the production of Bacillus thuringiensis based biopesticides using secondary wastewater sludge as a raw material was studied. The experiments were conducted in a shake flask and nine different commercial surface active agents were used at a concentration of 0.2% (v/v). The sludge samples after addition of surface active agents were sterilised at 121 degrees C for 30 min. The progress of biopesticide production was monitored by measuring viable cells and viable spores counts. The entomotoxicity was determined through bioassay against 3rd instar larvae of spruce budworm. ATPLUS 522, Tween 80 and Tween 85 increased the entomotoxicity potential in comparison to the control. The highest increase of 24% in entomotoxicity was observed when sludge was fortified with Tween 80.