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Wastewater treatment plants receive influent wastewater that is contaminated with bacterial pathogens which may be released into the environment if the plant effluent is inadequately treated. In this study, next-generation sequencing was used to perform a 16S rDNA-based survey of bacterial populations in the influent and effluent from a treatment facility in the North-West Province (SA). In total, 3638 and 3872 effective DNA reads were obtained for the influent and effluent, respectively. Sequence analysis revealed the detection of a diverse bacterial constituency in both the influent and effluent samples. The phyla: Proteobacteria (49.82% and 52.04%), Firmicutes (14.06% and 13.14%) and Actinobacteria (5.00% and 9.99%) were found to be taxonomically abundant in the influent and effluent, respectively. This translated to the detection of biological treatment-, fecal coliform-, and disease-associated bacterial groups that are classified under the following genera: Escherichia spp., Serratia spp., Aeromonas spp., Legionella spp., Pseudomonas spp., Mycobacterium spp., Clostridium spp., Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp., Comamonas spp., Nitrosomonas spp., Acinetobacter spp., Rhodobacter spp., Paracoccus spp., Hyphomicrobium spp., and Desulfovibrio spp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been identified as a source of microplastics, an emerging contaminant class of increasing concern, to the environment. Three WWTPs in the Canterbury region, New Zealand, were sampled bi-monthly from winter (June) to summer (December), to assess the variability of the abundance, morphology and polymer type of microplastics present over time. Microplastics were isolated from effluent via wet-sieving (300 μm and 1 mm) and wet peroxide oxidation (WPO) digest, and the polymer types determined using micro-Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (μ-FTIR). Confirmed microplastics were detected at an average concentration of 1.3 ± 0.6 particles/L in effluent, with fragments comprising 58% of all morphotypes. Dominant polymer types detected were polyester, polyethylene, and polypropylene (26%, 22%, and 15%, respectively). The results of this study were comparable with those reported in international studies. An estimated 2.4 × 105 microplastics enter the receiving coastal environment daily from the discharge of effluent from the three WWTPs studied. No trends in microplastic concentration, morphotype and polymer type were observed in effluent samples from each WWTP, suggesting a common and continual source of microplastics into WWTPs. Further sampling is required to identify the factors that determine the variability of microplastics in WWTP influents and effluents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the microbial examination of bacteria isolates in beef sold in Opolo market Yenagoa metropolis, Bayelsa State Nigeria using standard microbial techniques. The research was carried out for a period of four (4) months. Total viable counts of beef samples obtained from the market ranges from 7.3 X 10² cfu/ml to 9.9 X 10² cfu/ml for vendors a, b and c on nutrient agar and 6.4 X 10² cfu/ml to 8.0 X 10² cfu/ml on cetrimide agar for vendors A, B and C for the three vendors. Beef samples from Vendor B had the highest bacterial count 9.9 X 10² cfu/ml on nutrient agar while the sample from Vendor C had the highest bacterial count 8.0 X 10² cfu/ml on cetrimide agar. The Bacteria encountered in the beef samples were Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium and Bacillus cereus. The percentage of occurrence of bacteria isolates present in beef samples from Opolo Market showed Micrococcus luteusas the highest occurring bacteria isolate with 55% occurrence and Salmonella typhimuriumas lowest occurring bacteria isolate with 5% occurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many contaminants such as heavy metals, dyes and hydrocarbon compounds are annually generated by industrial activities and discharged into water sources. They have destructive impacts on the environment. To eliminate these toxic contaminants from aqueous media, sorption can be considered a proper and efficient process, as it has indicated high efficiency for removing organic contaminants. This paper entails a comprehensive evaluation of different organic pollutants, pros and cons of the sorption process in removing these pollutants, comparing different types of adsorbents and investigating the recyclability of different types of composites. Moreover, the sorption mechanism and kinetic behavior of organic contaminants are investigated using biocomposites and nanocomposites. Moreover, the future perspectives of biocomposites and nanocomposites in eliminating organic compounds are discussed. Based on investigations, a large number of nanocomposites have been utilized for removing organic contaminants with high performance so far, including SiO2/MnFe2O4/ZIF-8 MOF, magnetite/MWCNTs, nano zerovalent iron, barium/Cobalt/polyethylene glycol (PEG), graphene oxide/Fe3O4, kaolin/CuFe2O4 and Fe3O4@UiO-66. Moreover, polyaniline/sodium alginate/Oscillatoria filamentous cyanobacterium biomass, cow bones/zeolite/coconut biocomposite and AC derived from melamine and sucrose are excellent biocomposites in the removal of organic pollutants. Moreover, the reusability study shows that poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)/Fe3O4 and corn stalk biomass/chitosan/Fe3O4 biocomposites have significant stability compared to other composites in the elimination of organic pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impacts of Co nanoparticles (NPs) on the anaerobic digestion (AD) of cow dung were investigated using kinetic models (modified Gompertze, logistic, and first-order) and experimental measurements. The deviation between the predicted and measured data for biogas yield with modified Gompertze and logistic models were 0.66–2.26% and 1.43–4.19%, respectively. The addition of Co NPs (1–3 mg/L) improved the hydrolysis rate (K) value by 66.66–144% compared with the control. Furthermore, the fertilizer efficiency of effluent with Co NPs was comparable to that of commercial NPK compound fertilizer. The combination of kinetic models and experimental measurements can effectively quantify the impact of Co NPs on AD performance and provide an informed choice for industrial production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID‐19 pandemic exerted complex pressures on the nephrology community. Despite multiple prior reviews on acute peritoneal dialysis during the pandemic, the effects of COVID‐19 on maintenance peritoneal dialysis patients remain underexamined. This review synthesizes and reports findings from 29 total cases of chronic peritoneal dialysis patients with COVID‐19, encompassing 3 case reports, 13 case series, and 13 cohort studies. When available, data for patients with COVID‐19 on maintenance hemodialysis are also discussed. Finally, we present a chronological timeline of evidence regarding the presence of SARS‐CoV‐2 in spent peritoneal dialysate and explore trends in telehealth as they relate to peritoneal dialysis patients during the pandemic. We conclude that the COVID‐19 pandemic has underscored the efficacy, flexibility, and utility of peritoneal dialysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Newly synthesized resins are used for sustainable development with an eco-friendly nature. Extensive study on productivity and application aspects of these resin has attracted the attention of the scientific community. With this aim, the present work reports the newly synthesized mango seeds-based resin. The developed resins are useful for elimination of toxic heavy metal ions. A newly synthesized mango seed starch 6-amino hexanoic acid (MSSAHA) resin has been studied and found to have potential for elimination of industrial effluents. The influence of pH on adsorption has been studied. The newly synthesized MSSAHA resin was further diagnosed by SEM, TGA and FTIR spectral analysis. Metal ion distribution coefficient (Kd values at pH 7) for Fe2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Cd2+ and Pb2+ are 86.66, 60.95, 69.42, 49.44 and 45.65, respectively. Metal ions removal from waste water for Fe2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Cd2+ and Pb2+ are 89.65%, 85.90%, 87.40%, 83.17% and 82.03%, respectively. these Heavy metal ions have selectively separated by MSSAHA resin. The resin has been also examined for removal of Fe2+, Cd2+, Pb2+, Cu2+, Zn2+ in different solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water contamination is primarily caused by effluent from the textile sector. The highly toxic and non-biodegradable nature of pollutants in the effluent makes it challenging to remove these compounds, which therefore poses harm to the environment. An effective technology, biosorption, may be a viable method for mineralizing hazardous contaminants from wastewater. Water hyacinth is one of several inexpensive adsorbents that is a fast-growing, widely accessible plant with high removal rates. A catalyst called cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide was used to activate the biosorbent. By using the central composite design of response surface methodology and the adsorbate as a synthetic wastewater, ideal conditions of significant parameters, including temperature, pH, sorbent dosage, and contact duration were obtained. The real textile effluent was subjected to the ideal conditions and adsorption efficiency of 92.88 ± 0.5% was attained. Chemical oxygen demand of the effluent was reduced by 50% after the biosorption. The attribution of functional groups in the adsorbent to different wavenumbers was made evident through the Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy analysis, and the morphology and porous structure of the biosorbent were shown through scanning electron microscopy. In order to potentially act as an adsorbent for the biosorption of pollutants from textile effluents, surface-modified water hyacinth root powder could be employed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An energy-autonomous and portable pilot unit was designed and manufactured. The unit was placed on a wheeled support consisting of a photovoltaic panel, four (4) metallic photo-reactors, each equipped with 6 W UV-A lamps, two (2) peristaltic pumps of 5 W, and an external recirculation tank. The annular space of reactors was packed with ZnO-coated Duranit spheres. The pilot unit was assessed with regard to the degradation capacity of phenol solution and effluents collected from wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Measurements of the UV-light intensity were combined with the 2-flux radiation model to determine the radial profile of UV-radiant flux across the annular photoreactor. The experimentally measured transient responses of phenol concentration, total organic, and inorganic carbon were fitted with one-dimensional (1D) numerical models to estimate the apparent 1st order kinetic constant of photo-degradation processes. On average, the energy demand of the unit was counterbalanced by the electric power generated by the photovoltaic panel. The repeated use of the same photocatalysts in all experiments confirmed the long-term energy efficiency of the unit. The apparent kinetic constants of phenol, intermediates species, and total organic carbon (TOC) degradation were found to be governed by the corresponding mass-transfer coefficients of relevant species from the bulk liquid to the active catalyst surface. At early times, the total inorganic carbonates (TIC) concentration increases, and at late times the fast mass-transfer of dissolved CO 2 to gas phase compensates for the production of inorganic carbon. Preliminary tests showed that the photocatalytic unit is capable of reducing the COD and TOC of WWTP effluents and occasionally, the concentration of nitrates and ammonia may also decrease. [Display omitted] • An energy-autonomous and portable photocatalytic unit was manufactured and tested. • The energy efficiency of unit was stable after several cycles of operation. • A model capable of predicting the transient responses of TOC and TIC was developed. • The apparent kinetic constants were affected by the external mass-transfer rate. • COD & TOC of effluent of wastewater treatment plant were reduced by more than 50%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African coastal waters provide important socioeconomic functions to littoral settlements; however, progressive nutrient enrichment of the waters has impacted negatively on them. This study identified the dynamics influencing eutrophication in Lagos coastal waters. The water column was sampled at two depths (5 cm and 2 m) and sediment samples were collected from 26 locations from November–December 2019 to January–March and August–October 2020. The various phosphorus species were determined by molybdenum blue spectrophotometry. Chlorophyll a was determined using pigment extraction -spectrophotometry. Phosphate mineralogy of sediment was determined using X-ray diffraction. The results showed that reactive P concentration ranged from 0.02 to 0.40 mg L−1 across the water layers, while chlorophyll a was between 10.7 and 57.4 µg L−1. Sediment bioavailable P was 2.61 to 43.4 mg kg−1, while berlinite-P ranged from 17.3 to 96.6 g kg−1. The high level of bioavailable P, above the threshold for plant growth, showed that sedimentary P might act as a source of internal loading and that the berlinite mineral (AlPO4) content of sediments influenced the ability of sediment to act as a sink or source of P in the coastal water system. The results also showed that nutrient availability and release from sediment were influenced by water physicochemical conditions The significance of the positive associations between the green algae and the water -column P species was more prominent in the wet season. There is a need to develop regulatory tools to reduce human perturbations in these waters, which will in turn enhance the recovery and regeneration of the biodiversity of these waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural activity, as practised in the lowlands of the city of Yaoundé, gives rise to many concerns about the site of operation and the dubious quality of the water used. This work has the aim to assess the possibilities of using effluent from a wastewater treatment plant for hydroponic cultivation of lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L. ;) in urban agriculture. The experimental set-up was a completely randomised block design with three replications. The treatments applied to the lettuces were: raw effluent (T1), effluent diluted to 50% (T2) and 75% (T3), a solution of chemical fertilizer (T4) Maxigro 10-5-14 at a dose of 100 g for 50 l of tap water considered as a positive control and tap water considered as a negative control (T5). The growth parameters (plant height, number of leaves and leaf area) of the lettuces were evaluated along with their chlorophyll, fibre and protein content. The results show that T3 and T4 significantly improved (P<0.05) the growth parameters (18.96 cm and 16.37 cm for plant height, 9.87 and 11.65 for leaf length, 7.41 and 7.49 for number of leaves, 68.33 cm2 and 47.51 cm2 for leaf area, respectively). T3 and T4 showed the greatest improvement in chlorophyll a, protein and fibre content, with 36.54 and 25.90 ppm for chlorophyll a, 26.85 and 26.21% for protein and 1.53 and 1.34% for fibre, respectively. T3 obtained the best physiological and organo-mineral parameters after T4. The results obtained show that treated wastewater and hydroponics have significant potential that could be of interest to farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to investigate the levels of heavy metals and physicochemical properties of surface water from the Mbaa River in Inyishi Town, Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria using appropriate standard methods. Data obtained show that concentrations of most of these heavy metals were much higher than the maximum permissible limits. Pb and Al were found to be at highly elevated levels as they ranged from 0.37 mg/l to 0.69 mg/l and 3.86 mg/l to 10.36 mg/l respectively. Cr and zinc were below their respective WHO and SON standard guidelines. Probable sources of these metals could be the aluminium processing industry domiciled within the vicinity of the study area. It could be recommended that appropriate water treatment facility be provided in the study for sustainable agricultural and environmental practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation shows that behavioural activities of the sugar factory effluent exposed fish, Clarias batrachus were changes and symptoms dictated like irregular, erratic and darting swimming movements, hyper excitability, capsizing, attaching to the surface, restlessness, difficulty in breathing and loss of equilibrium and the relative growth rate of the effluent exposed fishes also decreases slowly up to 15 days of time period. The significant changes in haematological parameters of effluent exposed fishes indicated that effluent may weaken the immune system. The findings of the present investigation demonstrated that effluent is harmful and that this has caused fish physiology to change. However, the exact mechanism through which this is achieved needs to be studied further. Therefore, it is suggested that prior to release the waste/effluent into water body it should be treated well to conserve water bodies or aquatic ecosystem and diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, denim is in trend. To achieve visually appealing results, various washing processes are applied to denim. For washing denim, a variety of methods are available, and they all produce distinct kinds of waste. These methods have various environmental effects. This study aims to examine the environmental impact of various denim washing effluents. Here, six different washes desizing, enzyme, stone, bleach, acid, and random wash are performed. In order to compare how washing affects both the environment and the fabric, effluent tests are carried out. Since enzymes are unique by nature, enzyme wash demonstrated the greatest GSM. They don't affect the fibre composition; they just break down the color that is on the surface of the cellulose. Shrinkage is the cause of the general rise in GSM. However, the thickness, pilling, and elongation % of the cloth were unaffected by the washing. Due to the alkaline nature of the washing procedure, which results in minimal harm to the cloth, the enzyme and desize wash exhibit high strength. The fabric's rigidity decreases when stone, bleach, and acid wash damage it, which raises the angle at which the crease recovers. Due to the use of enzyme and desize wash produces effluent with a reduced TDS. In these procedures, the indigo hue on the denim surface is diminished, which causes the fading to occur. This process results in less polluted water that is simpler for wastewater treatment plants to process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Slaughterhouses and their effluents could serve as a "hotspot" for the occurrence and distribution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the environment. This study aimed to understand the distribution of tetracycline resistance genes in Escherichia coli isolated from the floor surface and effluent samples of pig slaughterhouses in Banten Province, Indonesia. Materials and Methods: Ten samples, each from floor surface swabs and effluents, were collected from 10 pig slaughterhouses in Banten Province. Escherichia coli strains were isolated and identified by referring to the protocol of the Global Tricycle Surveillance extended-spectrum beta-lactamase E. coli from the WHO (2021). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to detect the tet genes. Results: The tetA, tetB, tetC, tetM, tetO, and tetX genes were distributed in the isolates from the floor surface samples, and the tetA, tetC, tetE, tetM, tetO, and tetX genes were distributed in the isolates from the effluent samples. The tetO gene (60%) was the most dominant gene in the isolates from floor surface samples, while the tetA gene was the dominant one in the isolates from the effluent samples (50%). The tetA + tetO gene combination was the dominant pattern (15%) in the E. coli isolates. Conclusion: The high prevalence and diversity of the tet genes in floor surface and effluent samples from pig slaughterhouses in Banten Province indicated that the transmission of the tet genes had occurred from pigs to the environment; thus, this situation should be considered a serious threat to public health.

Abstract Tannery industries’ effluent contains a high concentration of Cr (VI) which has the potential to affect the environment and public health. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the optimization of Cr (VI) adsorption by activated carbon (AC) derived from Eichhornia crassipes from an aqueous solution. The adsorbent was activated with dilute sulfuric acid followed by thermal activation. AC was characterized using proximate analysis, SEM, FTIR, X-ray diffraction, and the BET method. The Cr (VI) removal optimization process was performed using a central composite design under the response surface methodology. The proximate analysis showed that the moisture content, volatile matter, ash content, and fixed carbon of the activated carbon were 5.6%, 18.2%, 14.4%, and 61.8% respectively. The surface areas of the Eichhornia crassipes before activation, after activation, and after adsorption were 60.6 g/m2, 794.2 g/m2, and 412.6 g/m2 respectively. A highly porous structure with heterogeneous and irregular shapes was observed in the SEM micrograph. In the FTIR analysis, different peaks are indicated with various functional groups. The intensity of XRD peaks decreased as 2 theta values increased, which indicates the presence of an amorphous carbon arrangement. The point of zero charge (pHpzc) of the activated carbon was found to be 5.20. A maximum Cr (VI) removal of 98.4% was achieved at pH 5, contact time 90 min, adsorbent dose 2 g, and initial Cr (VI) concentration of 2.25 mg/L. Statistically significant interactions (P

Abstract The tannery industry inevitably generates toxic and catastrophic wastewater, which results in a huge threat to public health and water resources. Therefore, this work aimed to synthesize parthenium hysterophorus-based biochar–Fe3O4 composite for removal of Cr(VI) from tannery wastewater under 34 full factorial experimental designs of the Box–Behnken, which was analyzed using response surface methodology under four independent factors of pH (3, 6, and 9), initial Cr(VI) concentrations (40, 70, and 100 mg/L), contact times (30, 60, and 90 min), and adsorbent doses (20, 60, and 100 mg/100 mL). This composite adsorbent was described by a high BET surface area of 237.4 m2/g, XRD prominent peaks, SEM morphology corroborate and FTIR multifunctionalities of O–H at 3296 cm−1, the vibration of ketone C–OH at 1240 cm−1, and the vibration of C–O–C at 1147 cm−1 and Fe–O stretching at 542 cm−1. The maximum Cr(IV) removal efficiency of 91.8% was recorded at an initial Cr(VI) concentration of 40 mg/L, pH of 3, adsorbent dose of 100 mg/100 mL, and a contact time of 90 min, whereas the minimum Cr(VI) removal of 17.3% was observed at an initial Cr(VI) concentration of 100 mg/L, 20 mg/100 mL of adsorbent dose, pH of 9, and contact time of 30 min. The concentration of Cr(VI) in real wastewater was determined to be 85.13 mg/L and its remediation was found to be 81.8%. Langmuir’s model was the best fit with experimental data at R 2 0.99 and qmax 400 mg/g, showing that the adsorption process was homogenous and monolayer. In conclusion, the adsorption results were encouraging, and biochar–Fe3O4 appears to be a potential candidate for Cr removal from wastewater.

Natural fiber as adsorbents is an emerging trend in effluent treatments as the fibers are environmental friendly, abundantly available and superior to polymeric-based materials. In this study, fiber extracted from the banana pseudostem was tested as an adsorbent. The lead (Pb (II)) removal was assessed with various parameters, namely, pH, agitation speed, adsorbent dosage and contact time. Removal efficiency was found maximum in alkaline conditions (pH 10) with a contact time of 140 min. Its efficiency was further optimized for adsorbent dosage and agitation speed. Between the isothermic model and Temkin isotherm model predicted the conditions better by providing the highest respective coefficient of determination (R2 – 0.9942). Similarly, the kinetics for adsorption was fitted well with pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Banana pseudostem fiber (BPF) could be a promising source and low-cost adsorbent to remove toxic heavy metals in industrial effluents.

Abstract Due to the water crisis, effluent reuse is an effective method in order to supply crop water requirements. In order to study the impact of treated and magnetic effluent on the soil properties, this research was conducted in randomized complete block design with three irrigation treatments; including "effluent", "magnetic effluent" and "normal water" in four replications. Soil samples were taken from two surface and subsurface soil layers and at the upper and the downstream of each furrow. Evaluating the apparent specific gravity of soil in different water quality treatments showed that this soil property was increased effectively at the upstream part of the furrow. Similar results were also observed in the field capacity but more fluctuations were observed. Simultaneously, effluent treatment showed decreasing effects on soil water holding capacity during the time, which can be attributed to the increasing of soil organic matters. It seems that the high fluctuations between different design blocks are related to the gravelly nature of soil. However, intensification or weakening effect of these changes was not even found by magnetic.

Abstract Due to the water crisis, wastewater utilization is an effective way to meet the water needs of plants and also reduce environmental pollution. In order to know the effect of treated and magnetic wastewater on Manning roughness coefficient, a study was conducted in the form of randomized complete blocks with three irrigation treatments with "wastewater outlet", "magnetic effluent" and "normal water" in four replications. Statistical analysis on the relative changes of the roughness coefficient in the design did not show a significant difference. At the same time, a decreasing trend was observed during the irrigation season in the roughness coefficient, which was expected due to the smoothing of the flow path and the effect of organic matter of the effluent on the bed. The magnetic field was not affected by the magnetism. Manning roughness values with more irrigation with effluent and magnetic effluent, in most cases had a decreasing trend, but due to the use of water, an increasing trend was observed in them. However, the increase in normal water treatment could not be analyzed according to the information of this project. There was no statistically significant difference between the treatments of the project.

Abstract One of the most important techniques for converting complex organic waste into renewable energy in the form of biogas and effluent is anaerobic digestion. Several issues have been raised related to the effectiveness of the anaerobic digestion process in recent years. Hence nanoparticles (NPs) have been used widely in anaerobic digestion process for converting organic wastes into useful biogas and effluent in an effective way. This review addresses the knowledge gaps and summarizes recent researchers’ findings concentrating on the stability and effluent quality of the cattle manure anaerobic digestion process using single and combinations nanoparticle. In summary, the utilization of NPs have beneficial effects on CH4 production, process optimization, and effluent quality. Their function, as key nutrient providers, aid in the synthesis of key enzymes and co-enzymes, and thus stimulate anaerobic microorganism activities when present at an optimum concentration (e.g., Fe NPs 100 mg/L; Ni NPs 2 mg/L; Co NPs 1 mg/L). Furthermore, utilizing Fe NPs at concentrations higher than 100 mg/L is more effective at reducing H2S production than increasing CH4, whereas Ni NPs and Co NPs at concentrations greater than 2 mg/L and 1 mg/L, respectively, reduce CH4 production. Effluent with Fe and Ni NPs showed stronger fertilizer values more than Co NPs. Fe/Ni/Co NP combinations are more efficient in enhancing CH4 production than single NPs. Therefore, it is possible to utilize NPs combinations as additives to improve the effectiveness of anaerobic digestion. Article highlights Single NPs (e.g., Fe, Ni, and Co NPs) in low concentrations are more effective in increasing CH4 production than reducing H2S production. Optimal Fe, Ni, and Co NP concentrations enhance anaerobic digestion process performance. Addition of Fe, Ni, and Co NPs above tolerated concentration causes irreversible inhibition in anaerobic digestion. Effluent with Fe, Ni, and Co NPs showed stronger fertilizer values. Nanoparticle combinations are more effective for increasing the CH4 production than signal NPs.

Landfill leachate is an effluent characterized by a great heterogeneity in its composition, and may contain the most diverse types of organic and inorganic contaminants. Therefore, the leachate needs an efficient treatment before being released into the environment. For this, a lot of treatment processes are being developed and studied, such as simple distillation. To evaluate the efficiency of the treatment, the use of ecotoxicological assays with fish is a useful tool to determine the effects on the aquatic environment of the residual compounds present after the treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the simple distillation process in a landfill leachate. For this, in addition to the physical-chemical characterization, the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOC), metals, pharmaceuticals, hormones, and pesticides in the raw (RL) and distilled raw leachate (DRL) was evaluated. Finally, biochemical biomarkers were evaluated in Danio rerio fish exposed to different concentrations of RL and DRL. High concentrations of chemical (COD) and biochemical (BOD) demand for oxygen, nitrogen compounds, sulfates, and chlorides were detected, in addition to fatty acids, long-chain alkanes, alcohols and esters, heavy metals, and six pharmaceuticals. After the distillation process, most of these compounds were reduced by more than 90% and some were removed completely. The biomarkers showed greater changes in the groups exposed to LR and were influenced by the exposure concentration. Thus, the treatment of simple distillation of the leachate proved to be efficient because, in addition to reducing/removing the contaminants, it also reduced the toxicity in D. rerio. [Display omitted] • Landfill leachate contains pharmaceuticals, metals, and volatile organic compounds. • Simple distillation process is efficient in landfill leachate treatment. • Simple distillation treatment reduces toxicity in Danio rerio fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livestock is an important source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can cause odor nuisance and pollution. The main sources of these VOCs in livestock are effluents and their management system. In this study, the applicability of headspace-solid phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) for VOC characterization in effluent samples in both laboratory and field tests was evaluated. In the laboratory test, the VOC profile of different farm effluents (cattle dung, slurry and chicken droppings) was measured as well as the influence of the presence of litter material on their release. In the field test, a comparison was made between the VOC profile of two manure pits that had undergone treatment or not to assist in effluent management. The results presented here show that the HS-SPME-GC-MS technique allows one to quantify a wide spectrum of VOCs responsible for olfactory nuisances (177 and 73 VOCs in total for the laboratory and field tests, respectively) in a simple, fast, and economic way. This technique could be further developed to monitor olfactory nuisance markers and predict the evolution of different effluent materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consumption of pharmaceuticals has rapidly increased on a global scale due to the serious increase in Covid-19, influenza and respiratuar sinsityal virus, which is called "triple epidemic" in the world. The use of non-prescription analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs (AAIDs), especially paracetamol, is higher compared to pre-pandemic. This increased the AAIDs load discharged to the aqueous media through sewerage treatment plant (STP). Therefore, simple and effective treatment options for removing AAIDs from STP effluents are needed. The aim of the study was to remove AAIDs (paracetamol, acetylsalicylic acid, codeine, diclofenac, ibuprofen, indomethacin, ketoprofen, mefenamic acid, naproxen, and phenylbutazone) from STP effluents by nearly pure natural clay Na-montmorillonite. The Na-montmorillonite taken from the Ordu region in the northern part of Turkey. Surface area of the Na-montmorillonite is 99.58 m2/g and CEC is 92.40 meq/100 g. The removal efficiencies of AAIDs using Na-montmorillonite were between 82 ± 5% (ibuprofen) and 94 ± 4% (naproxen). Paracetamol was used as a model compound in kinetic and isotherm model studies. Freundlich isotherm model and the pseudo second order kinetic model were the best-fit using the obtained experimental data. Film diffusion governed its rate mechanism. The paracetamol adsorption capacity was acquired as 244 mg/g at 120 min contact time at pH 6.5 at 25 °C. With this study, it could be shown that montmorillonite can be used effectively to eliminate paracetamol from STP effluent. Natural clay can be used as a simple, inexpensive and effective adsorbent for removing AAIDs from STP effluents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bio-derived materials are becoming increasingly sought-after as a sustainable alternative to petrochemical-derived polymers. In the present pilot-scale study, a hemicellulose-rich compression screw pressate, obtained from the pre-heating stage of thermo-mechanical pulping (TMP) of radiata pine, was purified by treatment with adsorbent resin (XAD7), then ultrafiltered and diafiltered at 10 kDa to isolate the high-molecular weight (MW) hemicellulose fraction (yield 18.4% on pressate solids), and, finally, reacted with butyl glycidyl ether to plasticise the hemicelluloses. The resulting light brown hemicellulose ethers (yield 102% on the isolated hemicelluloses) contained ca. 0.5 butoxy-hydroxypropyl side chains per pyranose unit and had weight- and number-average MWs of 13,000 Da and 7200 Da, respectively. The hemicellulose ethers may serve as raw material for bio-based products such as barrier films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of the application of organic fertilization and safety for health from the point of view of food quality in the agro-industrial process, has been little studied in research and reported in scientific and non-scientific publications, which is currently becoming a problem for the health of our country and why not, for the world, due to the deficit and high costs of mineral fertilizers and the inappropriate use of water and residual products. The objective of this work is to expose the results of investigations carried out with swine residuals and sediments from reservoirs with vegetable crops under organoponic conditions, demonstrating the effectiveness and safety of these two residuals, used as a substrate in organoponic, to which chemical and microbiological analyzes were carried out to verify their use as organic fertilizers. The organic residuals from pig farms are rich in organic matter and appreciable amounts of mineral elements (N, P, K, Ca and Mg). The sediments have to be combined with organic fertilizers due to their low nutrient content compared to pig residuals. These results are of great importance from the social, environmental and safety point of view, risk reduction and prevention of food borne diseases, due to the positive effect of effluents and sediments in terms of soil preservation, its use as an organic substrate, and its safety due to the absence of pathogenic organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degradation of the chemotherapeutic drug cyclophosphamide in artificial urine was evaluated by Electrochemical Advanced Oxidation Processes (EAOP). The system consisted of an electrochemical flow reactor with a commercial DSA® electrode (nominal composition Ti / Ru0,3Ti0,7O2) and Ti-mesh cathode. In order to assess the best parameters, the effect of current density, time and flow rate were analyzed using an initial 23 factorial design. The chosen response variable was the energy efficiency to produce free chlorine species (HClO/ClO−). After obtaining the most significant factors, the Central Composite Design (CCD) was performed, where the optimum conditions were determined for the current density range (11.714 mA cm−2 and 66.57 mA cm−2), flow rate (31.33 mL min−1) and time range (19 and 37 min). Under an optimized condition, the efficiency of other combined methods (photo-assisted electrochemical, photochemical, sonoelectrochemical and photo-assisted sonoelectrochemical) was evaluated. The efficiency of degradation processes was determined by removal of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), creatinine and urea. Analysis by HPLC demonstrates that the cyclophosphamide was substantially removed during the treatment process of ∼77%. Based on these results, it can be observed that the coupling between electrochemical and photochemical processes is a promising alternative for the treatment of this effluent, as a marked reduction of organic matter is observed (63, 94% of creatinine, 29.62% of urea, 39.1% of TOC) and a low treatment cost ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of nano-nutrients can be stimulatory for the anaerobic digestion (AD) of hardly degradable wastes and thus enhance process performance. One of the essential trace elements, nickel (Ni), is involved in multiple important enzymes necessary for efficient AD. This study investigated the effects of Ni nanoparticles (NPs) with different concentrations on cattle manure AD performance and effluent chemical composition. The results showed that the highest specific biogas production was attained with 4 mg/L Ni NPs (p<0.05) and was 792.00 mL/g VS compared with cattle manure-only which yielded only 589.20 mL/g VS. Moreover, the addition of 2 mg/L Ni NPs significantly increases the methane yield (p<0.05) by 70.46% compared with cattle manure-only. Besides, H2S production decreased by 16.50%, 90.47%, and 51.89% compared with cattle manure-only when the cattle manure was treated by 1, 2, and 4 mg/L Ni NPs, respectively. The supplementation of bio-digester with 2 mg/L Ni NPs improved the total and volatile solids removal efficiencies by 19.2% and 12.1% and maintained pH at a suitable level (6.8–7.3). FTIR spectrum of effluent presented the addition of Ni NPs changed the intensity and shift of peaks compared with cattle manure-only peak. Moreover, all of the effluent samples from the AD systems using Ni NPs showed stronger fertilizer values, as well as the effluent with 2 mg/L Ni NPs, had the highest sulfide content (31.2%, increase), leading to higher H2S removal efficiency by 47.5%. A first-order kinetic model showed an increase up to 1.88-fold in the hydrolysis rate constant (K), in 4mg/L Ni NPs compared to cattle manure-only, leading to higher biogas yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromium is a harmful heavy metal that is often found in tannery effluent. It is potentially toxic in nature and also acts as an anthropogenic source, so chromium ion is considered to be an environmental contaminant. The toxic effluents are generally treated in the process of remediation by using micro or macro-algae called "Phycoremediation" and it has shown effective cleanup approaches. The present study deals with the phycoremediation of chromium ion polluted effluent in Ambur tanneries. The isolated microalgae were collected from the estuary near the industrial site, which was observed for the preliminary metal tolerance activity then morphologically identified with the help of a compound microscope and they are named SMA1, SMA2, and SMA3. The taxonomical examination reveals that SMA1 is found to be 98.66% similar to Chlamydomonas moewusii, SMA2 was 99.24% similar to Scenedesmus sp., and SMA3 was 98.88% similar with Auxenochlorella pyrenoidosa. The identified microalgae were growing in the specific growth media BG11 and tannery effluent was supplemented along with the culture media to determine the growth rate, biomass production, and total protein content, which also regulates the potential bio-sorption and absorption rate of Cr(VI) ion. The activity of biosorption was seen to be 90% for C. moewusii (SMA1), 65% for Scenedesmus sp. (SMA2), and 80% for A. pyrenoidosa (SMA3), which showed the potential activity in phycoremediation process. Adsorption mechanism is studied by kinetic modeling of data experimentation which is bound with pseudo-first-order kinetics and pseudo-second-order kinetics; this mechanism exposed the adsorption capability of microalgae. The outcome of this study shows that the microalgae species are considered to be the most effective biosorbents for removing Cr(VI) ions from the tannery effluent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study twelve samples were collected from industrial effluent from drains in Doaba Region of Punjab. Some physico-chemical characteristics namely pH, electrical conductivity, temperature, sulphates, chloride, DO, BOD, COD, TSS, TDS were analyzed using standard procedures. The results indicate that the drains are carrying heavily loaded water which needs to be checked to combat the rising crisis of environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to investigate the potential of oil-free-cake dry seed kernels of desert date (Balanites aegyptiacus (L.) Delile) for simultaneous removal of Pb (II), Cu (II) and Cd (II) ions from Battery Industry Effluent using standard methods in a batch sorption process.. The battery effluent was mimicked by dissolving known concentration of metal ions in distilled water. The optimum conditions for the simultaneous removal of Pb (II), Cu (II) and Cd (II) ions were: pH (6), contact time (105 min) and adsorbent dosage (6.5 g). The results obtained showed that the biosorbent was effective for the simultaneous removal of Pb (II), Cu (II) and Cd (II) ions with removal efficiencies of up to 87.7%, 78.6% and 61.6% respectively. The consistency of the model-predicted optimum conditions were confirmed by conducting experiments under those conditions. It was found that the experimental removal efficiencies under optimum conditions were very close (less than a 5% error) to the model-predicted value. The three parameter isotherm equations (Redlich-Peterson and Sips) provide better fitting than the two-parameter isotherm equations (Freundlich and Langmuir), which can be explained by the fact that these have three adjustable parameters. The best fitted was achieved with the Redlich–Peterson equation. The results of the sorption kinetic study showed that the data fitted well with the pseudo-second order model for Pb (II), Cu (II) and Cd (II) ions. In conclusion, desert date oil-free cake exhibits great potential as an efficient sorbent for removal of metal ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To control the production cost, utility ( water, steam and power) cost control is required and important. In a well-disciplined organisation, the utility cost to produce 1 kg of the textile should be properly monitored and controlled as per proposed benchmark standards. Among these three utilities, water is a very important utility as it is impacting on the production cost as well as the environment also. To optimize water consumption and hence effluent generation, the water conservation audit in the process house is a required and recommended activity. In this paper, a case study of a water conservation audit in one of the textile woven processing units is discussed with facts and figures based on the actual production data. The illustration of water monitoring and preparing a water balance, estimation of processes water consumption and machine/process is a wise effluent generation with opportunities for hot water recycling to reduce the water footprint is discussed in the paper. As an audit outcome, at least a 15% reduction in the water footprint in the process house was found to be possible. Textile processing mills can avail of this BTRA expert services for their unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the authors obtained samples of biological fertilizer by thermophilic fermentation of substrates of different compositions. Two types of effluent were studied in the experiment: food plant waste with the addition of cattle manure and liquid pig manure with litter cattle manure. To activate the process of obtaining fertilizer, the Agrarka biological preparation was added containing a complex of microorganisms and bacteria that accelerate the decomposition process. A detailed chemical analysis of the liquid and solid fractions of the raw materials and the obtained products was carried out for the content of total phosphorus (P), carbon (C), potassium (K), nitrogen (N), ammonium nitrogen (NH4 +), organic matter, dry matter, cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), and arsenic (Ar). The indicators of acidity and ash content were determined and microbiological analysis was carried out. The obtained results showed that the thermophilic temperature regime of fermentation accelerated the decomposition process, positively affected the total content of the main nutrients in the studied substrates, and negatively affected the vital activity of microorganisms. In two types of effluents, there was a significant increase in the level of ammonium nitrogen by up to 60%, a decrease in the total carbon content by 15-30%, and dry and organic matter by 10-12% in both liquid and solid phases. However, in the effluent from food plant waste with the addition of cattle manure, the indicators increased by 13% in total carbon and by 8.2% in dry matter, and the ash content was 3 times lower than in the second effluent. Thus, thermophilic fermentation obtained two types of effluents with high-quality indicators corresponding to environmental and sanitary standards, since the content of microorganisms and heavy metals did not exceed the permissible limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to investigate the feasibility of using seawater-neutralized red mud—a waste-based byproduct from bauxite refining to produce alumina—for the removal of Pb(II) from a battery manufacturing wastewater. The results showed the ability of the neutralized red mud to sorb Pb(II) from model aqueous solutions and battery manufacturing wastewater. The highest Pb(II) removal was obtained at pH 5, a dose of 0.5 g adsorbent per 50 mL solution, and a contact time of 30 min, while the maximum sorption capacity for Pb(II) was calculated as 49.5 mg/g. The formation of inner-sphere complexes and precipitation are considered the main processes of Pb(II) removal. The presence of various monovalent and divalent competing ions did not cause a significant reduction in the Pb(II) removal efficiency. The sorption isotherm (L-type) showed a favorable affinity of Pb(II) toward the red mud. The Pb(II) sorption was rapid and the process kinetics was well fitted with the pseudo-second-order model, suggestive of chemisorption as the main mechanism of Pb(II) removal by the red mud. The experiments conducted on real battery industry wastewater showed that at least 91% of initial Pb(II) was sorbed by the red mud and the pH of the treated wastewater raised up to permissible pH = 6.2 according to Iran regulations. In conclusion, the neutralized red mud can be considered an efficient adsorbent product for the depuration of Pb-rich battery industry wastewaters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is a potential approach for determining the viral prevalence in a community. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers have begun to pay close attention to the presence of SARS-COV-2 RNA in various wastewaters. The potential for detecting SARS-CoV-2 RNA in hospital sewage could make it an invaluable resource for epidemiological studies. In this regard, two specialized hospitals dedicated to COVID-19 patients were chosen for this investigation. Both hospitals utilize the same wastewater treatment systems. The influent and effluents of the two hospitals were sampled in May and June of 2021, and the samples were evaluated for their chemical properties. According to the findings of this study, the wastewater qualities of the two studied hospitals were within the standard ranges. The sewage samples were concentrated using ultrafiltration and PEG precipitation techniques. The E and S genes were studied with RT-qPCR commercial kits. We found E gene of SARS-CoV-2 in 83.3% (5/6) and 66.6% (4/6) of wastewater samples from hospital 1 and hospital 2, respectively, using ultrafiltration concentration method. Wastewater samples taken after chlorine treatment accounted for 16.6% of all positive results. In addition, due to the small sample size, there was no significant correlation (p > 0.05) between the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater and the number of COVID-19 cases. Hospitals may be a source of SARS-CoV-2 pollution, thus it is important to monitor and enhance wastewater treatment systems to prevent the spread of the virus and safeguard the surrounding environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Industrial effluent comprising reactive violet 5 azodye (V5R) discharged into clean water bodies induces adverse health hazards on our ecosystem and throughout our food chain. This study investigates the adsorption capacity of biochar derived from bamboo stem (B500) and calabash (C500), respectively. The biochar samples were prepared by pyrolysis at 500 ℃ and characterized by FT-IR, SEM, and the nitrogen (N2) adsorption-desorption isotherm. The BET specific surface areas of the B500 and C500 were measured to be 174. 67 and 44.78 m2/g, respectively. The biochar samples were found to be mesoporous, with mean pore diameters of 21.1 and 26.5 nm for B500 and C500, respectively. Overall, the B500 sample exhibited better adsorption capacity than C500 towards the removal of V5R dye species at both the 0.02 and 0.36 g doses examined. According to kinetic studies, the adsorption process followed the pseudo-second order kinetics. Further, the isotherm studies revealed that the V5R dye adsorption followed the Langmuir adsorption model. The proposed mechanism of adsorption is either by hydrogen bonding, π-π stacking interactions of the aromatic groups, or surface coordination. The study shows that the adsorbent dose has a significant influence on adsorption capacity since adsorbent dose of 0.02 showed higher adsorption capacity than the 0.36 g dose. The equilibrium adsorption capacity of 15.083 and 0.016 mg/g at Co = 50 mg/L and adsorbent dose of 0.02 g was obtained for B500 and C500 biochar, respectively.

The objective of this paper is to investigate the levels of heavy metals and physicochemical properties of surface water from the Mbaa River in Inyishi Town, Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria using appropriate standard methods. Data obtained show that concentrations of most of these heavy metals were much higher than the maximum permissible limits. Pb and Al were found to be at highly elevated levels as they ranged from 0.37 mg/l to 0.69 mg/l and 3.86 mg/l to 10.36 mg/l respectively. Cr and zinc were below their respective WHO and SON standard guidelines. Probable sources of these metals could be the aluminium processing industry domiciled within the vicinity of the study area. It could be recommended that appropriate water treatment facility be provided in the study for sustainable agricultural and environmental practices.

Surface water pollution caused by the discharge of effluents from industrial estates has become a major concern for Dhaka (Bangladesh). This study aims to have a concise look at the severe river water pollution, mainly from effluents discharged from the tannery village. Effluent samples were collected from five ejected points, including the central effluent treatment plant (CETP), twenty adjacent river water, and two pond water nearby Hemayetpur, Savar. Thirty-one parameters have been observed at these sampling points for three seasons, from April 2021 to January 2022. The results obtained from water quality indices, i.e., water quality index (WQI), entropy water quality index (EWQI), and irrigation water quality index (IWQI), show that most studied surface water samples ranked “unsuitable” for consumption, irrigation, and anthropogenic purposes. The highest health risk was observed downstream of Hemayetpur city at the Savar CETP discharge site, indicating higher levels of heavy metal in the river water following the tannery village. Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic human health risks could be triggered mainly by water consumption as concentrations of arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb) exceeded the upper benchmark of 1 × 10−4 for adults and children. The results of the carcinogenic risk assessment revealed that children were more vulnerable to health hazards, and quick corrective action is required to control the increased levels of heavy metals at all sample locations. Therefore, through bioaccumulation, human health and the environment are affected in these areas. Using river water for consumption, household work, or even irrigation purposes is not advisable. This study's result highlighted that properly implementing compatible policies and programs is required to improve effluent treatment methods and provide biodegradability to the Dhaleshwari River.

Much emphasis has been given to algal biomass growth in dairy farm wastewater. Most of the systems examined require productive land to be converted and/or freshwater use to dilute high concentrations of nutrients found in dairy effluent. A rotating algal biofilm (RABR) provides the capacity to grow algae without sacrificing productive land or freshwater. In theory, this system would overcome some of the economic and environmental challenges that other systems have. A combination of theoretical information, nutrient uptake formulas, and economic formulas were used to calculate the potential of biogas production from algae grown in an RABR with dairy effluents. The average nutrient uptake was 0.8 mgN/m2 per day and 0.1 mgP/m2 per day. The maximum methane production from the anaerobic digestion of algae was 112 m3/RABR·year. The minimum and maximum economic scenarios resulted in gross profits of NZD −2101 and −1922. After evaluating this system for the first time in the New Zealand dairy farming context, it was found that biogas production from an RABR is not a feasible option for New Zealand dairy farmers.

The pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus had a great impact on the population of patients treated with peritoneal dialysis (PD). This study demonstrates the impact of infection and vaccination in 66 patients treated with PD and their outcomes during a 6-month follow-up. This is the first research that has studied the dynamics of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG in serum and effluent. In our research, 57.6% of PD patients were vaccinated, predominantly with Sinopharm (81.6%), which was also the most frequently administered vaccine in the Republic of Serbia at the beginning of immunization. During the monitoring period, the level of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in the PD patients had an increasing trend in serum. In the group of vaccinated patients with PD, anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies had an increasing trend in both serum and effluent, in contrast to non-vaccinated patients, where they decreased in effluent regardless of the trend of increase in serum, but statistical significance was not reached. In contrast to vaccinated (immunized) patients who did not acquire infection, the patients who only underwent the COVID-19 infection, but were not immunized, were more prone to reinfection upon the outbreak of a new viral strain, yet without severe clinical presentation and with no need for hospital treatment.