Domestic Wastewater Treatment Research Articles

A whole process study of dual microalgae cultivation coupled to domestic wastewater treatment and wheat growth.

The multiple microalgal collaborative treatment of domestic wastewater has been extensively investigated, but its whole life cycle tracking and consequent potential have not been fully explored. Herein, a dual microalgal system was employed for domestic wastewater treatment, tracking the variation in microalgal growth and pollutants removal from shake flask scale to 18L photobioreactors scales. The results showed that Chlorella sp. HL and Scenedesmus sp. LX1 combination had superior growth and water purification performance, and the interspecies soluble algal products promoted their growth. Through microalgae mixing ratio and inoculum size optimized, the highest biomass yield (0.42±0.03g/L) and over 91 % N, P removal rates were achieved in 18L photobioreactor. Harvested microalgae treated in different forms all promoted wheat growth and suppressed yellow leaf rate. This study provided data support for the whole process tracking of dual microalgal system in treating domestic wastewater and improving wheat growth.

A comparative study on the treatment of kitchen grey water using microalgae consortia and microalgae-synthesized silver nanoparticles.

Comparative study on the potential of microalgae consortia and green-synthesized silver nanoparticles using microalgae (M-AgNP) consortia for the treatment of kitchen grey water was investigated in this study. The microalgae consortia consisting of four species, viz., Chlorella sp., Scenedesmus sp., Coelastrum sp., and Pediastrum sp. were isolated from a local fish pond and the silver nanoparticles were synthesized with the same. Thus, synthesized silver nanoparticles exhibited a distinctive yellowish-brown colour and spherical morphology. Extensive qualitative and quantitative characterization techniques were employed to determine their size and morphology. Both microalgae consortia and M-AgNP were used separately for the treatment of kitchen grey water under experimental conditions. The synthesized silver nanoparticles demonstrated promising potential for domestic wastewater treatment, leading to substantial reductions in various parameters: total dissolved solids (29.6%), conductivity (49.4%), chemical oxygen demand (64.6%), and heavy metals (arsenic-63.5%, zinc-45.6%, cadmium-88%, copper-60.52%, and lead-80.82%). Notably, microalgae exhibited superior removal efficiency for nitrate (83.1%), sulphate (70.3%), and phosphate (96.5%) compared to microalgae-synthesized silver nanoparticles. This study underscores the effective utilization of both microalgae and microalgae-synthesized silver nanoparticles for wastewater treatment applications.

Enhancing Domestic Wastewater Treatment: A Study on the Efficacy of Tiered Filtration and a Combined Photocatalytic Ozonation Methods

This study aimed to construct an optimized reactor using photocatalytic ozonation, and its effectiveness was determined using PermenLHK No. 86/2016. The Tanjung Uma housing estate in Batam city was selected as the study sample site for domestic wastewater because of its role as a significant water body that receives liquid waste from a majority of activities across the city. The experiment employed a quantitative research approach and a true experimental approach, testing variables (catalyst weight, UV irradiation time, and ozonation duration) in a laboratory setting (25°C and 40-70% Humidity). The study found that the optimized parameter (a combination of 2 h of irradiation, with 2 g of TiO2 along with 5 min of ozonation) resulted in a significant difference in water quality parameters compared to before treatment with 92% effectivity. It can be concluded that this Reactor prototype was highly successful in reducing environmental impacts based on its effectiveness

Enhancing wastewater remediation in microalga Euglena gracilis: The role of trivalent cerium (Ce³⁺) as a hormonal effect factor and its metabolic implications

This study explored the effects of trivalent cerium (Ce³⁺) as a hormonal effect factor on microalga Euglena gracilis in domestic wastewater treatment. It was discovered that 12.50 mg/L Ce³⁺ markedly enhance E. gracilis dry weight (by 63.44%, P < 0.05) and boost its efficiency in extracting key water quality indicators such as total nitrogen (TN) by 66.08% (p < 0.05), total phosphorus (TP) by 37.17% (p < 0.05), ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N) by 39.90% (p < 0.05), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) by 97.17% (p < 0.05) from wastewater. Metabolomic analysis revealed that Ce³⁺ treatment significantly alters E. gracilis's metabolic profile, notably in lipid metabolite synthesis. This treatment increased the production of essential membrane lipid metabolites like phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidic acid, vital for cellular membrane integrity. Additionally, Ce³⁺ stimulated the synthesis of certain antioxidant dipeptides, reducing wastewater-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. This treatment improved not only nutrient removal efficiency from wastewater by E. gracilis but also its conversion to high-value metabolic products, such as paramylon and lipids. These findings highlight Ce³⁺'s pivotal roles in augmenting E. gracilis's wastewater treatment efficacy and environmental resilience, offering significant insights for microalgae's use in environmental management and bioenergy.

Immobilized enzymatic membrane surfaces for biocatalytic organics removal and fouling resistance

This research reported on the immobilization of environmentally friendly enzymes, such as horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and laccase (L), along with the hydrophilic zwitterionic compound l-DOPA on nano-filtration (NF) membranes. This approach introduced biocatalytic membranes, leveraging combined effects between membranes and enzymes. The aim was to systematically assess the efficacy of the enzymatic modified membrane (HRP-NF) in degrading colors in the wastewater, as well as enhancing the membrane resistance toward organic fouling. The enzymatic immobilized membrane demonstrated 96.3 ± 1.8% to 96.6 ± 1.9% removal of colors, and 65.2 ± 1.3% to 67.2 ± 1.3% removal of TOC. This result was underpinned by the insights obtained from the radical scavenger coumarin, which was employed to trap and confirm the formation of PRs through the reaction of enzymes and H2O2. Furthermore, membranes modified with enzymes exhibited significantly improved antifouling properties. The HRP-NF membrane experienced an 8% decline in flux, while the co-immobilized HRP-L-NF membrane demonstrated as low as 6% flux decline, contributed by the synergistic effect of increased hydrophilicity and biocatalytic effects. These findings confirmed that the immobilized enzymatic surface has added function of degrading contaminants in addition to separation function of nanofiltration membrane. These l-DOPA-immobilized enzymatic membranes offered a promising hybrid biocatalytic membrane to eliminate dyes and mitigate membrane fouling, which can be applied in many industrial and domestic water and wastewater treatment.

Schoenoplectus americanus as a potential phytoremediator: in vitro assessment of its ability to remove contaminants in domestic and tannery wastewater

ABSTRACT Growing industrialization and urbanization have led to increased water pollution due to the inadequate treatment and disposal of domestic wastewater (DW) and wastewater produced by industries such as tanneries (TW). These wastewaters are characterized by high concentrations of organic matter, nutrients, sulphates, chlorides and high microbial load. TW also contains phenols and chromium, which disturb and harm the ecosystem the local. The decontamination of wastewater prior to their discharge through biological tools, especially the use of species that are native to the site in need of treatment, has been described as effective and advantageous. This study evaluated the ability of Schoenoplectus americanus, a native plant species from Cordoba (Argentina), to phytoremediate local DW and TW samples at a laboratory scale. The aim was to ascertain whether this system could potentially be considered for the remediation of wastewater in real-world scenarios. S. americanus was able to tolerate pure DW and a 1/20 (v/v) dilution of TW for 30 days under hydroponic conditions. Removal rates ranging from 50% to 89% were obtained for residual organic matter (determined as chemical oxygen demand or COD), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP). Significant removal of total chromium (TCr) and total phenols (TPhs) was also observed in TW (85% and 98%). The number of total coliforms (TC), was reduced by about 96% and 99%. These results indicate that S. americanus is a good candidate for the phytoremediation of regional DW and TW. For this reason, it may be considered for full-scale applications in the future.

Evaluation of traditional and machine learning approaches for modeling volatile fatty acid concentrations in anaerobic digestion of sludge: potential and challenges.

This study evaluates models for predicting volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations in sludge processing, ranging from classical statistical methods (Gaussian and Surge) to diverse machine learning algorithms (MLAs) such as Decision Tree, XGBoost, CatBoost, LightGBM, Multiple linear regression (MLR), Support vector regression (SVR), AdaBoost, and GradientBoosting. Anaerobic bio-methane potential tests were carried out using domestic wastewater treatment primary and secondary sludge. The tests were monitored over 40days for variations in pH and VFA concentrations under different experimental conditions. The data observed was compared to predictions from the Gaussian and Surge models, and the MLAs. Based on correlation analysis using basic statistics and regression, the Gaussian model appears to be a consistent performer, with high R2 values and low RMSE, favoring precision in forecasting VFA concentrations. The Surge model, on the other hand, albeit having a high R2, has high prediction errors, especially in dynamic VFA concentration settings. Among the MLAs, Decision Tree and XGBoost excel at predicting complicated patterns, albeit with overfitting issues. This study provides insights underlining the need for context-specific considerations when selecting models for accurate VFA forecasts. Real-time data monitoring and collaborative data sharing are required to improve the reliability of VFA prediction models in AD processes, opening the way for breakthroughs in environmental sustainability and bioprocessing applications.

An Integrated Modified Anaerobic/Slow Sand Filter Tertiary Treatment System for Domestic Wastewater Treatment at a Single Family Level

An Integrated Modified Anaerobic/Slow Sand Filter Tertiary Treatment System for Domestic Wastewater Treatment at a Single Family Level

Sewage Sludge Plasma Gasification: Characterization and Experimental Rig Design

The treatment of wastewater worldwide generates substantial quantities of sewage sludge (SS), prompting concerns about its environmental impact. Various approaches have been explored for SS reuse, with energy production emerging as a viable solution. This study focuses on harnessing energy from domestic wastewater treatment (WWT) sewage sludge through plasma gasification. Effective syngas production hinges on precise equipment design which, in turn, depends on the detailed feedstock used for characterization. Key components of plasma gasification include the plasma torch, reactor, heat exchanger, scrubber, and cyclone, enabling the generation of inert slag for landfill disposal and to ensure clean syngas. Designing these components entails considerations of sludge composition, calorific power, thermal conductivity, ash diameter, and fusibility properties, among other parameters. Accordingly, this work entails the development of an experimental setup for the plasma gasification of sewage sludge, taking into account a comprehensive sludge characterization. The experimental findings reveal that domestic WWT sewage sludge with 40% humidity exhibits a low thermal conductivity of approximately 0.392 W/mK and a calorific value of LHV = 20.78 MJ/kg. Also, the relatively low ash content (17%) renders this raw material advantageous for plasma gasification processes. The integration of a detailed sludge characterization into the equipment design lays the foundation for efficient syngas production. This study aims to contribute to advancing sustainable waste-to-energy technologies, namely plasma gasification, by leveraging sewage sludge as a valuable resource for syngas production.

Enhancing pollutant removal efficiency in urban domestic wastewater treatment through the hybrid multi-soil-layering (MSL) system: A case study in Morocco

Abstract This paper evaluates the performance and potential of a full-scale hybrid multi-soil-layering (MSL) system for the treatment of domestic wastewater for landscape irrigation reuse. The system integrates a solar septic tank and sequential vertical flow MSL and horizontal flow MSL components with alternating layers of gravel and soil-based material. It operates at a hydraulic loading rate of 250 L/m2/day. Results show significant removal of pollutants and pathogens, including total suspended solids (97%), chemical oxygen demand (COD) (88.57%), total phosphorus (TP) (79.93%), and total nitrogen (88.49%), along with significant reductions in fecal bacteria indicators (4.21 log for fecal coliform and 3.90 log for fecal streptococci) and the pathogen Staphylococcus sp. (2.43 log). The principal component analysis confirms the effectiveness of the system in reducing the concentrations of NH4, COD, TP, PO4, fecal coliforms, fecal streptococci, and fecal staphylococci, thus supporting the reliability of the study. This work highlights the promising potential of the hybrid MSL technology for the treatment of domestic wastewater, especially in arid regions such as North Africa and the Middle East, to support efforts to protect the environment and facilitate the reuse of wastewater for landscape irrigation and agriculture.

Microbial community structure and diversity attached to the periphyton in different urban aquatic habitats.

Periphyton is a complex community composed of diverse prokaryotes and eukaryotes; understanding the characteristics of microbial communities within periphyton becomes crucial for biogeochemical cycles and energy dynamics of aquatic ecosystems. To further elucidate the community characteristics of periphyton across varied aquatic habitats, including unpolluted ecologically restored lakes, aquaculture ponds, and areas adjacent to domestic and industrial wastewater treatment plant outfalls, we explored the composition and diversity of prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities in periphyton by employing Illumina MiSeq sequencing. Our findings indicated that the prokaryotic communities were predominantly composed of Proteobacteria (40.92%), Bacteroidota (21.01%), and Cyanobacteria (10.12%), whereas the eukaryotic communities were primarily characterized by the dominance of Bacillariophyta (24.09%), Chlorophyta (20.83%), and Annelida (15.31%). Notably, Flavobacterium emerged as a widely distributed genus among the prokaryotic community. Unclassified_Tobrilidae exhibited higher abundance in unpolluted ecologically restored lakes. Chaetogaster and Nais were enriched in aquaculture ponds and domestic wastewater treatment plant outfall area, respectively, while Surirella and Gomphonema dominated industrial sewage treatment plant outfall area. The alpha diversity of eukaryotes was higher in unpolluted ecologically restored lakes. pH and nitrogen content ( , , and TN) significantly explained the variations for prokaryotic and eukaryotic community structures, respectively. Eukaryotic communities exhibited a more pronounced response to habitat variations compared to prokaryotic communities. Moreover, the association networks revealed an intensive positive correlation between dominant Bacillariophyta and Bacteroidota. This study provided useful data for identifying keystone species and understanding their ecological functions.

Solar-powered single-stage distillation and complex conductivity analysis for sustainable domestic wastewater treatment.

This study investigates the efficacy of a solar-powered single-stage distillation system for treating domestic wastewater, supplemented with complex conductivity analysis. Domestic wastewater samples were collected from a municipal manhole in El Jadida, Morocco, over a 24-h period. The single-stage distillation system, designed for domestic wastewater treatment, utilizes heat to vaporize the wastewater, followed by condensation to produce pure liquid water. The system demonstrated increased distilled water production with rising temperatures, with domestic wastewater outperforming seawater as a feed water source. Physical and chemical testing of the treated water revealed significant improvements in water quality, meeting, or exceeding Moroccan irrigation water standards. Reductions in parameters such as biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), suspended matter, and heavy metals underscored the effectiveness of the distillation process. Complex conductivity analysis provided insights into the electrical properties of untreated wastewater and distilled water. Deconvolution of complex conductivity data using an equivalent electrical circuit model elucidated the electrochemical processes during treatment, highlighting the efficiency of the distillation process. The integration of solar energy addresses water scarcity while promoting environmental sustainability. Complex conductivity analysis enhances process understanding, offering avenues for monitoring and control in wastewater treatment.

Pilot–scale vertical continuous–flow reactors applied to treat rural domestic wastewater at low temperature via aerobic granular sludge

A pilot–scale vertical–flow continuous flow reactors (VF–CFR) was investigated for the treatment of rural domestic wastewater in the cold areas of Northeast China. VF–CFR helps in the creating of aerobic granular sludge (AGS), which improves the sludge concentration and removal efficiency of pollutants. VF–CFR achieved a high removal efficiency of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Ammonia Nitrogen (NH3−N), Total Nitrogen (TN) and Total Phosphorus (TP) with 90 %, 94 %, 75 % and 93 % under the condition of sharp fluctuation of influent quality and temperature. The high–throughput sequencing analysis of the AGS revealed that Flavobacterium was a functional bacterium in the AGS process that had the function of heterotrophic nitrification and denitrification. The field–scale experiment confirmed the superiority of VF–CFR in wastewater treatment efficacy and stability. During the experiment, the concentrations of COD, TP and NH3–N in effluent at different temperatures were well met with the first–class A discharge standard of China (GB 18596–2001). However, there was a risk of exceedance exists in the reduction of TN removal under low temperature conditions.

A comparative study with vermifilter and geofilter for domestic wastewater treatment and its Phyto-toxicity efficacy

The present study investigated the role of earthworms in pollutant removal and toxicity assay of domestic wastewater. An indigenous reactor (vermigratings as an active layer) was set up for 60 days with a hydraulic loading rate of 1 m3 / m2 -d and hydraulic retention time of 3.5 h to evaluate its performance. Removal of total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, and sulfate was found to be 92 %, 93 %, 89 %, 86 %, and 63.43 %, respectively. The Phyto-toxicity test reveals a higher germination rate and plant growth with vermifilter effluent than with geofilter effluent and raw wastewater. Additionally, vermifilter achieved heterotrophic bacteria removal by 1.54-fold. Hence, treated effluent can be used for irrigation purposes. Overall, this study will establish a potential alternative to the conventional wastewater treatment system and achieve Sustainable Development Goals 6.

The Radiation Graft Copolymerization of Allylmethacrylate to Polyvinylidene Fluoride to Prepare of Membrane and Its Affordability for Domestic Wastewater Treatment

The Radiation Graft Copolymerization of Allylmethacrylate to Polyvinylidene Fluoride to Prepare of Membrane and Its Affordability for Domestic Wastewater Treatment

The Domestic Wastewater Treatment Installation's Performance Study of Technical Aspects in Cahaya Abadi Housing, Palembang City

&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;The comprehensive treatment of rural water pollution was pioneered by developed countries, and many nations now have a variety of sewage treatment facilities and process technology that are suitable for their rural features. Domestic sewage is handled differently at sewage treatment facilities in cities than it is in rural areas. Its distributed drainage sites make it difficult to collect. The Indonesian government is implementing domestic wastewater treatment (DWWT) to reduce water pollution in areas without separate residential waste processing. The results of this analysis show that an extensive amount of maintenance is needed to ensure that the DWWT and its distribution system run as efficiently as possible. The Cahaya Abadi Housing in Sri Mulya Village, Sematang Borang District, Palembang City, is where the study is being carried out. DWWT Cahaya Abadi processes domestic liquid waste from household activities, although even though the facility has room for 169 dwellings, only 31 homes use it. As a result, capacity is not being used. The results of identifying the technical factors show that the use of pumps results in differences in flow discharge that affect the outcomes of the DWWT output. The extremely rapid pump that is being used has an impact on the processing process and the current detention time.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Domestic wastewater treatment by Pistia stratiotes in constructed wetland

The objective of the study was to evaluate the performance of Pistia stratiotes for treatment of domestic wastewater in a free surface water flow constructed wetland. The objective of the study was to evaluate contaminants removal efficiency of the constructed wetland vegetated with P. stratiotes in treatment of domestic wastewater against Hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 10, 20 and 30 days was investigated. This asks for newer and efficient low-cost nature-based water treatment system which along with cost takes into consideration the sustainability of the ecosystem. Five constructed wetland setups improved the wastewater quality and purify it significantly by reducing the TDS by 83%, TSS by 82%, BOD by 82%, COD by 81%, Chloride by 80%, Sulfate by 77%, NH3 by 84% and Total Oil and Grease by 74%. There was an increase in pH of about 11.9%. Color and odor of wastewater was also improved significantly and effectively. It was observed that 30 days’ HRT was optimum for the treatment of domestic wastewater. The final effluent was found to be suitable as per national environmental quality standards and recycled for watering plants and crop irrigation but not for drinking purposes. The treatment in constructed wetland system was found to be economical, as the cost of construction only was involved and operational and maintenance cost very minimal. Even this research was conducted on the sole purpose of commuting the efficiency of pollutant removal in short span time.

［Joint Seminar by Younger Researcher's Associations at JSMCWM and SECE］ Design of Onsite Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems toward Decarbonization

［Joint Seminar by Younger Researcher's Associations at JSMCWM and SECE］ Design of Onsite Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems toward Decarbonization

Effects of competitive cations and dissolved organic matter on ammonium exchange and up-concentration properties of ion exchangers from domestic wastewater under multicycle exchange - regeneration operation

This study aimed to investigate the impact of competitive cations and dissolved organic matter (DOM) on ammonium exchange and up-concentration properties of ion exchangers for domestic wastewater treatment during the multicycle exchange - regeneration operations. Three ion exchangers, including zeolite, strong acid cation resin and 4A molecular sieve (MS), all showed good NH4+ separation and up-concentration properties in 30 exchange - regeneration cycles. The exchange capacities of zeolite, resin, and MS decreased by 8.2 %, 10.4 %, and 4.8 % in the presence of Ca2+ and Mg2+, while DOM only impaired the exchange ability of zeolite. The up-concentration factors of zeolite, resin, and MS were 5.1, 11.5, and 5.0, respectively. Isothermal tests and breakthrough curves confirmed that long-term salt regeneration slightly reduced the exchange capacity, and the presence of competitive cations and DOM shortened the breakthrough time. Elemental mass balance further demonstrated that Ca2+ and Mg2+ were easily trapped by ion exchangers and could be released into the regeneration solution, which should be precipitated to avoid accumulation for long-term cyclic operation. Morphological analysis indicated that the presence of Ca2+ and Mg2+ would cause the resin to crack. Overall, for domestic wastewater treatment, the resin exhibited the highest NH4+ capture ability and up-concentration properties with low resistance to Ca2+ and Mg2+ contamination, while silicate exchangers with a regular and compact structure had higher durability but lower up-concentration properties.

Feasibility of sulfated BPA and BPS as wastewater-based epidemiology biomarkers: Insights from wastewater and reported human urine analysis

In wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE), the selection of appropriate biomarkers presents a significant challenge. Recently, sulfated bisphenols have garnered attention as potential WBE biomarkers due to their increased stability in wastewater compared to glucuronide conjugates. This study aims to comprehensively assess the feasibility of employing sulfated BPA and BPS as WBE biomarkers by analyzing both WBE and human biomonitoring data. To conduct this research, wastewater samples were collected from six domestic wastewater treatment plants in Guangzhou, China, and urinary concentration of BPA and BPS were obtained from peer-reviewed literature. The results revealed that mean urinary concentrations of BPA and BPS, calculated using Monte Carlo simulations, significantly exceeded those reported in human biomonitoring studies. Furthermore, the per capita mass load ratio of sulfated BPA and BPS in human urine to the mass load in wastewater was found to be below 10 %. This outcome suggests that the excretion of BPA-S and BPS-S in urine does not make a substantial contribution to wastewater, hinting at the existence of other notable sources. Consequently, our study concludes that sulfated BPA-S and BPS-S are not suitable candidates as WBE biomarkers. This work provides a referenceable analytical framework for evaluating the feasibility of WBE biomarkers and emphasizes the necessity for caution when utilizing WBE to assess human exposure to chemicals.