Analysis of bacterial community structures in two sewage treatment plants with different sludge properties and treatment performance by nested PCR-DGGE method

The bacterial community structures in two sewage treatment plants with different processes and performance were investigated by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis （DGGE） of nested polymerase chain reaction （nested PCR） amplified 16S rRNA gene fragments with group-specific primers. Samples of raw sewage and treated effluents were amplified using the whole-cell PCR method, and the activated sludge samples were amplified using the extracted genomic DNA before the PCR products were loaded on the same DGGE gel for bacterial community analysis. Ammonia-oxidizing bacterial and actinomycetic community analysis were also carried out to investigate the relationship between specific population structures and system or sludge performance. The two plants demonstrated a similarity in bacterial community structures of raw sewage and activated sludge, but they had different effluent populations. Many dominant bacterial populations of raw sewage did not appear in the activated sludge samples, suggesting that the dominant bacterial populations in raw sewage might not play an important role during wastewater treatment. Although the two plants had different sludge properties in terms of settleability and foam forming ability, they demonstrated similar actinomycetic community structures. For activated sludge with bad settling performance, the treated water presented a similar DGGE pattern with that of activated sludge, indicating the nonselective washout of bacteria from the system. The plant with better ammonium removal efficiency showed higher ammonia-oxidizing bacteria species richness. Analysis of sequencing results showed that the major populations in raw sewage were uncultured bacterium, while in activated sludge the predominant populations were beta proteobacteria.

Levels and distributions of polychlorinated biphenyls in sewage sludge of urban wastewater treatment plants

Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls （PCBs） have been measured in sewage sludge samples from 8 urban wastewater treatment plants in Beijing, China. The PCB congeners were analyzed by isotope dilution high resolution gas chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry method. The concentration of PCBs ranged from 65.6 to 157 ng/g dry weight （dw）, with a mean value of 101 ng/g dw. The dioxin-like PCB WHO-TEQs （World Health Organization-Toxic Equivalents） of the sludge were lower than 1 pg /g dw. Consequently, all the concentrations of PCBs in sludge samples were below the upper limit for land application according to the Chinese legislation law for agriculture use. The PCB homologue profiles in sludge samples were dominated by tri-CBs and tetra- CBs. Similar distributions have been found in one of the Chinese PCB commercial products. The patterns of dioxin-like and indicator congeners observed in this study were quite similar in all samples. The predominant congener for dioxin-like and indicator PCBs were PCB-118 and PCB-28, respectively, while PCB-126 had the highest TEQ value.

Effect of Alkali Treatment on Heavy Metals Adsorption Capacity of Sewage Sludge

Sewage sludge is the promising raw material for biosorbent preparation. In this work, we evaluated the heavy metals adsorption characteristics of alkali treated sewage sludge (ATSS) by equilibrium studies. The adsorption isotherms were fitted with Langmuir and Freundlich models. Comparing with untreated sewage sludge, the total adsorption capacity (qm) of ATSS (prepared with 0.125 mol/L NaOH) for Cd, Pb, Ni, increased by 0.51, 0.70 and 0.32 mmol/g, respectively. When the NaOH concentration for ATSS preparation increased from 0.125 mol/L to 0.25 mol/L, the qm of ATSS for Pb decreased from 1.05 mmol/g to 0.84 mmol/g. However, when the NaOH concentration increased from 0.25 mol/L to 7.5 mol/L, it showed increasing trend. According to the IR spectra data, the adsorption effect of biosorbent for heavy metals was mainly due to the complexation of -N-H groups and -COOH groups.

Analysis of Sludge Settling and Rising Behavior in Sewage Treatment Plant in Kuwait

All wastewater treatment plants in Kuwait utilize the activated sludge processes in the removal of organic matter and nutrients from domestic sewage.The efficiency of solid liquid separation in the activated sludge system is determined by the ability of sludge constituents to remain flocculated and to settle fast.In Kuwait’s wastewater treatment plants,solids separation problems may occur in activated sludge system,such as bulking sludge,which affects the quality of the secondary effluent.The main aim of this paper is to study and analyze sludge settling and rising behavior in the activated sludge process of Jahra sewage treatment plant.The results indicated that clarifier effluent has significant suspended solids carry-over,which is eventually removed in the sand filtration process.In addition,test results showed poor settlement of clarifier sludge.The poor sludge settling is related to insufficient oxygen level in the aerators.Suggestions were made to raise oxygen level particularly in the aeration unit.

Application of Whole Membrane Water Treatment Technology in Environmental Protection

In the current social development of our country,environmental protection has become a key content,and water treatment process is a key step to achieve environmental protection.This paper analyzes the application of whole membrane water treatment technology in environmental protection.It is hoped that this analysis can be helpful for the rational application of the whole membrane water treatment technology and the improvement of environmental protection quality.

Decentralized Treatment Technique in Rural Domestic Sewage in China

Nowadays,rural domestic sewage has had serious effects on the natural environment in rural areas such as the body of water and soil.In order to ensure rural water security and good health condition of farmers,it is urgent to treat the rural sewage.The theoretical principle,characteristics,deficiencies and application status of some decentralized disposal technologies for domestic sewage are introduced,which include high rate algal pond technology,subsurface infiltration treatment system,earthworm eco-filter,constructed wetland treatment technology and membrane bioreactor technology,so as to provide references for the rural sewage treatment.

Development of a novel modified EGSB reactor for municipal sewage treatment at ambient temperatures

A novel modified expanded granular sludge bed(EGSBm) reactor was developed for anaerobic treatment of municipal sewage with mixed liquid recirculation instead of effluent recirculation commonly adopted by a conventional EGSB(EGSBc) reactor.Performances of these two reactors were compared in treating municipal sewage at ambient temperatures ranging from 8 to 26 ℃.At an upflow liquid velocity(Vup) of 10.3 m/h,the mean concentrations of filtrated COD(CODfilt) and COD of the EGSBm effluent were determined to be 59.4 and 95.9 mg/L,respectively,which were significantly lower than those of the EGSBc effluent operated under identical experimental conditions.When the organic loading rate was suddenly increased from 1.2 to 7.2 kg COD/(m3·d),the EGSBm regained the removal efficiency of previous operation phase in 10 d.Hydrodynamic characteristics of the reactors were compared using the residence time distribution(RTD) model.It was found that the treatment efficiency of EGSBm kept increasing as the Vup increased.The polymerase Chain Reaction-Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis(PCR-DGGE) technique was used to analyze the microbial diversity in EGSBm.Fingerprinting pattern indicated that some species in the inoculating sludge were still reserved in the granular sludge of EGSBm,moreover,several new species occurred.

Improved Monitoring Protocol for Evaluating the Performance of a Sewage Treatment Works Based on Sensitivity Analysis of Mathematical Modelling

Extensive historical data of a sewage treatment works are required by numerical models in order to simulate the biological processes accurately. However, the data are recorded mostly for daily operational purpose. They are basically not comprehensive enough to meet the modelling’s requirements. A comprehensive sampling protocol to accurately characterise the influent is required in order to determine all model components, which is very time-consuming and expensive. In a project of evaluating a sewage treatment works in Chongqing by using BioWin 4.1 for mathematical modelling, sensitivity analysis was conducted to determine the most critical parameters for process monitoring. It was found that influent characteristics, wasted sludge flow rate, water temperatures, DO levels of the biological tanks and five bio-kinetic parameters were the most influential parameters governing the plant performance. Therefore, apart from monitoring the effluent quality, regular checking of the afore-mentioned influential parameters can help examine the performance of a sewage treatment works. Moreover, operators of the sewage treatment works can conduct “what-if” analysis to determine how these most influential parameters can be adjusted to improve the treatment performance of the sewage treatment works.

Advanced Technologies for Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Emission Treatment: An Overview

This paper presents a comprehensive overview of various advanced technologies employed in the treatment of volatile organic compounds(VOCs),which are crucial pollutants in industrial emissions.The study explores different methods,including direct combustion,thermal combustion,catalytic combustion,low-temperature plasma purification,photocatalytic purification,membrane separation,and adsorption methods.Each technology is critically analyzed for its operational principles,efficiency,and applicability under different conditions.Special attention is given to adsorption concentration and catalytic combustion parallel method,highlighting its efficiency in treating low-concentration,high-volume VOC emissions.The paper also delves into the advantages and limitations of each method,providing insights into their effectiveness in various industrial scenarios.The study aims to offer a detailed guide for selecting appropriate VOC treatment technologies,contributing to enhanced environmental protection and sustainable industrial practices.

Characterisation of Raw Sewage and Performance Evaluation of Al-Diwaniyah Sewage Treatment Work, Iraq

These days, water and wastewater treatment are one of the most important issues regarding to the human health. Wastewaters are one of the most environmental pollutants and a wide range of adverse effects linked to the effect of untreated wastewaters or wastewaters that treat improperly. The aim of this present study was to evaluate performance of the wastewater treatment plant at Al-Diwaniyah City according to the national standards. Therefore, data of the most common parameters (PH, BOD5, COD, TSS, PO4, NO3, Cl, and Oil and Grease) were collected from the wastewater treatment plant. The study revealed that the wastewater treatment plant was receiving medium to strong influent with a BOD5/COD ratio of between (0.4 - 0.7). Regression analysis was achieved to approximate the influent of BOD5 and TSS. While the effluent quality was exceeded the Iraq standards for disposing treated wastewater to the water bodies with a fluctuation in the ratio of BOD5to COD as a consequence of the operational problems. Therefore, these results would be of help to planners and policy makers in the City to combat such this problem and to take the necessary actions to reduce the impact of these pollutants.

Experimental Study on Anaerobic Digestion of Remaining Sludge in Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant

Along with the development and progress of environmental protection management,it is necessary to pay full attention to the disposal of excess sludge in the process of urban sewage treatment plant management.It is necessary to ensure effective integration of management mechanisms and management paths.To a certain extent,it can improve the actual efficiency of digestion and treatment work and lay a foundation for the optimal operation of environmental protection management.In this paper,the treatment of excess sludge in a sewage treatment plant is studied.The method and results of anaerobic digestion test of excess sludge in a sewage treatment plant are discussed for reference only.

Total concentrations and different fractions of heavy metals in sewage sludge from Guangzhou, China

Dewatered municipal sludge samples were collected from five municipal wastewater treatment plants （WWTPs） and one industrial WWTP in Guangzhou, China. A number of agricultural parameters and total metal concentrations in the sludge were determined. Metal speciation was also studied. The results showed that sewage sludge had high organic carbon, and was rich in such nutrients as N and P. The concentrations of Mn, Zn, and Cu were the highest, followed by Ni, Pb, and Cr, Cd had the lowest concentration. In addition, the concentrations of the aforementioned heavy metals in the sludge samples were higher than those recorded in the background data for crop soils. With the exception of Cu and Cd from site S1, and Ni from sites S1, $2, and $5, all other metal concentrations conformed to permissible levels prescribed by the national application standard of acid soil in China （GB 18918--2002）. The results of the BCR sequential extraction showed that the concentrations of Mn and Zn were predominant in acid-soluble/exchangeable and reducible fractions. Cu was principally distributed in oxidizable and residual fractions, whereas Cr was present in oxidizable and residual fractions, Pb was found in the state of residual fractions, and the distribution of Ni and Cd did not show significant characteristics.

Removal of heavy metals from sewage sludge by low costing chemical method and recycling in agriculture

Experiments were carried out to study the removal of heavy metals from municipal sewage sludge by proper method for land application. The sequential extractions for metal fractionation showed that the non digested sludge from Guangzhou contained Cu and Zn principally bound to carbonate and oxides and the metal sulfides were low. Among H 2SO 4, EDTA and NH 4HCO 3 extractant agents, H 2SO 4 was the most efficient and economic in removing the heavy metals, especially with the addition of the concentrated acid. Plant experiment in pots with Chinese cabbage ( Brassica Chinensis ) showed that the acidified sludges neutralized with alkaline amendments such as phosphate rock could increase significantly the plant yield and decreased the soil and plant contamination by heavy metals originated from sewage sludge.

Microplastics and Wastewater Treatment Plants—A Review

The emission of microplastics into nature poses a threat to aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Their penetration of the food chain presents a danger to human health as well. Wastewater treatment plants can be seen as the last barrier between microplastics and the environment. This review focuses on the impact of waste treatment plants in retaining microplastics. Studies show that no wastewater treatment method leads to a complete retention of microplastics, and so wastewater treatment plants themselves are viewed as point sources for the discharge of microplastics into the aquatic environment. Problems associated with the utilization of microplastic loaded sewage sludge are also discussed in the review.

Use of Sewage Sludge After Liming as Fertilizer for Maize Growth

The use of sewage sludge on agricultural land provides an alternative for its disposal. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of using industrial sewage sludge produced in Pakistan, as an agricultural fertilizer. The agricultural soil amended with 250 g kg^-1 sewage sludge with or without lime treatment was used for the growth of the common local grain crop, maize （Zea maize）. The mobility of the trace and toxic metals in the sludge samples was assessed by applying a modified BCR sequential extraction procedure. The single extraction procedure was comprised of the application of a mild extractant （CaCl2） and water, for the estimation of the proportion of easily soluble metal fractions. To check the precision of the analytical results, the concentrations of trace and toxic metals in every step of the sequential extraction procedure were summed up and compared with total metal concentrations. The plant-available metal contents, as indicated by the deionized water and 0.01 mol L^-1 CaCl2 solution extraction fractions and the exchangeable fraction of the sequential extraction, decreased significantly （P 〈 0.05） with lime application because of the reduced metal availability at a higher pH, except in the cases of Cd and Cu, whose mobility was slightly increased. Sludge amendment enhanced the dry weight yield of maize and the increase was more obvious for the soil with lime treatment. Liming the sewage sludge reduced the trace and toxic metal contents in the grain tissues, except Cu and Cd, which were below the permissible limits of these metals. The present experiment demonstrates that liming was an important factor in facilitating the growth of maize in sludge-amended soil.

Chrome free surface treatments for galvanized steels—present and future

As the galvanized steels used for electrical and office appliances has achieved a complete chrome-free production worldwide,surface treatment technologies have entered a new phase of development.Grenter effort will be made in exploring new frontier for future surface treatment technologies.A greater contribution will be made for environmental protection,energy-saving and resource-saving,to prevent globalwarming.

A Grey Water Dam Design for the Treatment and Reuse of Grey Water from Single and Multiple Households

An innovative design for the treatment and reuse of grey water is presented in the form of a grey water dam which is an outgrowth of the vertical grey water tower. A hydraulic equation has been formulated and is presented in this paper which is used to determine the seepage path within the grey water dam, and determine the dimensions of the dam components. The hydraulic equation model also helps in avoiding soil piping problems by keeping the phreatic line within the grey water dam. Vegetables are planted around the surface of the dam as a reuse option while helping recycling of water in the form of evapotranspiration. A successful pilot trial of this dam was run in Mnyamatsini area in Swaziland which can accept grey water from multiple households.

Utilizing Water Treatment Residuals to Reduce Phosphorus Runoff from Biosolids

Approximately 40% of biosolids （sewage sludge） produced in the U.S. are incinerated or landfilled rather than land applied due to concern over non-point source P （phosphorus） runoff. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of chemical amendments on WEP （water-extractable phosphorus） in applied treatments and DRP （dissolved reactive phosphorus） in runoff from biosolids-amended soils. Rainfall simulations were conducted in 2006 on field plots fertilized with biosolids that had been treated with alum [（A12804）3＂ 14H20], ferric chloride （FeC13） or an alum-based WTR （water treatment residual） at a rate of 20% （wt/wt） to reduce DRP in runoff. In 2007, rainfall simulations were conducted using WTR/biosolid blends of 15% and 30% （wt/wt） that were allowed to incubate for three weeks prior to application. Cumulative DRP runoff load observed for the 20% WTR treatment was not significantly different from other chemical treatments and resulted in a 45% reduction in DRP runoff as compared to the untreated biosolids application. Cumulative DRP runoff load in 2007 for the 15% and 30% WTR treatments resulted in significantly lower DRP loads compared to untreated biosolids and led to DRP runoff load reductions of 78% and 85% （compared to the untreated biosolids application）, respectively.