High Organic Matter Load Research Articles

Microalgae: A Biological Tool for Removal and Recovery of Potentially Toxic Elements in Wastewater Treatment Photobioreactors.

Potentially toxic elements (PTE) pollution in water bodies is an emerging problem in recent decades due to uncontrolled discharges from human activities. Copper, zinc, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and uranium are considered potentially toxic and carcinogenic elements that threaten human health. Microalgae-based technologies for the wastewater treatment have gained importance in recent years due to their biomass high growth rates and effectiveness. Also, these microalgae-bacteria systems are cost-effective and environmentally friendly, utilize sunlight and CO2, and simultaneously address multiple environmental challenges, such as carbon mitigation, bioremediation, and generation of valuable biomass useful for biofuel production. Additionally, microalgae possess a diverse array of extracellular and intracellular mechanisms that enable them to remove and mitigate the toxicity of PTE present in wastewater. Therefore, photobioreactors are promising candidates for practical applications in bioremediation of wastewater containing toxic elements. Despite the increasing amount of research in this field in recent years, most studies are conducted in laboratory scale and there is a scarcity of large-scale studies under real and variable environmental conditions. Besides, the limited understanding of the multiple mechanisms controlling PTE biosorption in wastewater containing high organic matter loads and potentially toxic elements requires further studies. This chapter provides a schematic representation of the mechanisms and factors involved in the remediation of potentially toxic elements by microalgae, as well as the main results obtained in recent years.

Sequential application of activated sludge and phytoremediation with aquatic macrophytes on tannery effluents: in search of a complete treatment.

Tannery effluents with a high organic matter load (indicated by their COD level) have to be treated before they are discharged, so as to minimize their negative impact on the environment. Using field mesocosm systems, this study evaluated the feasibility of treating such effluents through bioaugmentation with activated sludge, followed by phytoremediation with aquatic macrophytes (Lemnoideae subfamily). Regardless of its quality, the activated sludge was able to remove approximately 77% of the COD from effluents with a low initial organic load (up to 1500 mg/L). The macrophytes then enhanced removal (up to 86%), so the final COD values were permissible under the current legislation for effluent discharge. When the initial organic load in the undiluted effluents was higher (around 3000 mg/L), the COD values obtained after consecutive bioaugmentation and phytoremediation were close to the legally allowed limits (583 mg/L), which highlights the potential of phytoremediation as a tertiary treatment. This treatment also brought total coliform counts down to legally acceptable values, without plant biomass decreasing over time. Moreover, the plant biomass remained viable and capable of high COD removal efficiency (around 75%) throughout two additional reuse cycles. These findings indicate that the efficiency of the biological treatments assayed here depends largely on the initial organic load in the tannery effluents. In any case, the sequential application of activated sludge and aquatic macrophytes proved to be a successful alternative for remediation.

Phenolic compounds removal in table olive processing wastewater by column adsorption: conditions' optimization.

The annual production of wastewater from the olive table industry poses a serious problem owing to its high organic matter load, which is highly concentrated in phenolic compounds (PCs) and inorganic materials. This research used adsorption to recover PCs from table olive wastewater (TOWW). Activated carbon was employed as a novel adsorbent. The activated carbon was obtained from olive pomace (OP) and activated using a chemical agent (ZnCl2). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis (FTIR), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis (BET), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were applied to characterize the activated carbon sample. To optimize the biosorption conditions of PCs (adsorbent dose (A), temperature (B), and time (C)), a central composite design (CCD) model was used. An adsorption capacity was 1952.34mgg-1 for optimal conditions with an activated carbon dose of 0.569g L-1, a temperature of 39°C, and a contact time of 239min. The pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models as kinetic and isothermal mathematical models were proved to be more appropriate for the interpretation of the adsorption phenomenon of PCs. PC recovery was performed in fixed-bed reactors. The results of the adsorption of PCs from TOWW by activated carbon could be an effective process at a low cost.

PGPR Promotes the Recovery of Submerged Macrophytes via Indigenous Microbiome Modulations under Combined Abiotic Stress

The restoration of submerged macrophytes is commonly limited by abiotic stress. Here, we isolated PGPR strains from the rhizosphere of submerged macrophytes using ACC deaminase selective medium, and evaluated their growth promoting effects on Vallisneria natans (V. natans) under low light intensity and (or) high sediment organic matter load, and also explored the indigenous microbiome response of V. natans seedlings to PGPR inoculants. Ten isolates were chosen from the 252 isolated strains based on the ACC deaminase activity and the production of IAA and siderophore. M1 (Pseudomonas vancouverensis) and E15 (Enterobacter ludwigii) had the best growth promoting effects under low light stress and under double stress of low light and high sediment organic matter load, and the shoot height increased by 36% and 46%, respectively. The results of indigenous microbiome analysis showed that PGPR inoculants could regulate the relative abundance of unclassified_f_Enterobacteriaceae and improve the α-diversity of the rhizosphere bacterial community. Under high sediment organic matter load, inoculation of PGPR obviously shifted the β-diversity of rhizosphere bacterial communities to promote the early growth of V. natans. This study expands the application of plant–microbe interaction in the field of freshwater ecological restoration.

Treatment of wastewater from the production of meat and bone meal by the Fenton process and coagulation

Abstract Wastewater from the production of meat and bone meal, due to the high load of organic matter and suspended solids, is a significant problem in the process of its treatment. In this work, we examined the method of treating this wastewater using coagulation with hydrogen peroxide and the Fenton process. Treatment variants included the use of variable Fe2+/H2O2 ratios of 1:5–1:30, variable doses of 3–18.0 g/L H2O2, and 5–10 mL/L of coagulant PIX 113. The calculated reduction degrees showed that, regardless of the treatment variant used, the greatest reduction was obtained for turbidity (100%), phosphorus (99%), followed by color (97%), chemical oxygen demand (70%), and Kjeldahl nitrogen (48%). The proposed treatment options can be used as a preliminary stage in treating wastewater from the production of meat and bone meal.

Abatement of a complex mixture of dyes in the presence of chlorides by electrocoagulation and active chlorine-based photoelectro-Fenton-like processes

This paper presents an innovative hybrid water treatment process combining electrocoagulation (EC) and active chlorine-based PEF-like (PEF-like) methods to eliminate a complex mixture of tannery dyes. The solution contained Acid Blue 113 (AB 113), Acid Blue 29 (AB 29), and Brilliant Green (BG) dyes in concentrations between 300 and 750 mg L−1 COD in 2000 mg L−1Cl−, 638 mg L−1NH4+ and 1700 mg L−1SO42− at neutral pH (resembling wastewater). The influence of mean linear flow velocity (0.69 ≤ u ≤ 3.47 cm s−1), applied current density (6 ≤ j ≤ 22 mA cm−2), and initial COD on the EC removal efficiency and discoloration was systematically examined. EC removed 32–48% COD; this modest depletion is due to the high load of organic matter. On the other hand, the •OH and HClO produced in the PEF-like process were insufficient to mineralize the organic matter (52–76%) due to the high initial COD. The latter suggested that the PEF-like process requires a previous EC to reduce the COD. The synergy between EC + PEF-like (hybrid process) allowed the COD abatement. The dye removal efficiency followed the order EC < PEF-like < EC + PEF-like. The hybrid process fulfilled the Mexican standard (COD < 210 mg L−1, and 100% discoloration) with total treatment costs of 0.683–0.696 USD m−3. XRF, XRD, SEM-EDS, OEA, and FTIR analyses on iron flocs indicated that AB 29, AB 113, and BG dyes are removed by adsorption. HPLC techniques followed the maleic and malic acids and ammonium and sulfate ions during the incineration of the dyes. The hybrid technology is promising for treating real wastewater containing complex dye mixtures.

Softening with Ceramic Micro-Filtration for Application on Water Reclamation for Industrial Recirculating Cooling Systems.

There is a global need for optimizing the use of water that has resulted from increased demand due to industrial development, population growth, climate change and the pollution of natural water resources. One of the solutions is to use reclaimed water in industrial applications that do not require water of potable quality, such as cooling water. However, for cooling water, (treated) wastewater’s hardness is too high, apart from having a high load of suspended solids and organic matter. Therefore, a combination of softening with ceramic micro-filtration was proposed for treating wastewater treatment effluent containing fouling agents for potential use in industrial cooling systems. The effectiveness of the softening process on model-treated wastewater with calcium hydroxide in the presence of phosphate and sodium alginate was first evaluated using jar tests. Furthermore, membrane fouling was studied when filtering the softened water. The results showed that the inhibition of calcium carbonate precipitation occurred when inorganic substances, such as phosphate and organic compounds, were present in the water. The fouling of the membranes due to sodium alginate in water was only slightly negatively affected when combined with softening and phosphate. Therefore, this combination of treatments could be potentially helpful for the post-treatment of secondary effluent for cooling systems.

A novel bio-flocculation combined with electrodialysis process: Efficient removal of pollutants and sustainable resource recovery from swine wastewater

High organic matter load and nutrient concentration in swine wastewater could lead to soil and water pollution by inappropriate land irrigation. To solve the above problem, this study developed an eco-friendly bio-flocculation combined with electrodialysis (BF-ED) process, in which BF could effectively reduce the probability of ED membrane fouling and replaced subsequent biochemical treatment by ED process. High removal of TS (100 %), TP (100 %), and COD (95.68 %) from raw swine wastewater could be obtained via BF pretreatment, while high recovery efficiency of nutrient ions (98.8 % K+ and 84.3 % NH3-N) was achieved after ED process. Besides, dissolved organic matter was effectively removed after BF treatment, which was beneficial to reduce membrane fouling of ED reactor. Nutrient ions recovery from swine wastewater could be used as agricultural fertilizers. The proposed approach not only solve the problem of swine wastewater purification, but also realize the environmentally sustainable swine wastewater.

Clean Technologies for Production of Valuable Fractions from Sardine Cooking Wastewaters: An Integrated Process of Flocculation and Reverse Osmosis

The increase in environmental consciousness and stricter regulations has motivated industries to seek sustainable technologies that allow valorising wastewaters, contributing to the profitability of overall processes. Canning industry effluents, namely sardine cooking wastewater, have a high organic matter load, containing proteins and lipids. Their untreated discharge has a negative environmental impact and an economic cost. This work aims to design an integrated process that creates value with the costly sardine cooking wastewater effluent. The research strategy followed evaluates coagulation/flocculation technologies as pre-treatment of the sardine cooking wastewater followed by reverse osmosis. Two different added-value products were obtained: a solid fraction rich in proteins, lipids (above 20%), and aromas that might be used for feed/pet/aquaculture applications and, from the processing of the resultant aqueous stream by reverse osmosis, a natural flavouring additive, which can be applied in food/feed. Additionally, the permeate from reverse osmosis presents a much lower organic load than the original raw material, which may be reused in the overall process (e.g., as water for washings) or discharged at a lower cost, with environmental benefits and economic savings.

Evaluation of the Activation Procedure on Oxone Efficiency for Synthetic Olive Mill Wastewater Treatment

Wastewater from the olive oil industry is an environmental problem which is growing in the Mediterranean region. Presence of phenolic compounds and high organic matter load are characteristics of this effluent that make it difficult to treat. In this study, the applicability of sulfate radical based advanced oxidation processes (SRbAOPs), using peroxymonosulfate (PMS) as oxidant, was evaluated in the treatment of synthetic olive mill wastewater (OMW). Different procedures for PMS activation were studied such as activation by Fe(II), radiation (visible and UV-A) and ultrasounds. The operation conditions were optimized by testing pH values, Fe(II) and PMS loads. At optimal conditions ([PMS] = 1600 mg/L, [Fe2+] = 700 mg/L and pH = 5) 60 ± 2% COD removal was achieved. This process shows to be selective since complete degradation of 3,4,5-trimetoxybenzoic acid was obtained after 3 min of reaction. The addition of light, PMS/LED/Fe(II) and PMS/UV-A/Fe(II), did not increase the efficiency of organic matter removal, with 56 ± 2% and 58 ± 1% of COD removal, respectively, comparatively to PMS/Fe(II) (60 ± 2%). PMS activated by ultrasounds led to 52 ± 3% and 23 ± 2% removal of phenolic compounds and COD, respectively, after 60 min. Toxicity tests using Lepidium sativum showed that treatment with PMS/UV-A led to a treated sample with mild inhibition of plant growth.

Simultaneous water reclamation and nutrient recovery of aquaculture wastewater using membrane distillation

A large amount of aquaculture wastewater with high load of nutrients, organic matter, and microalgae will pollute receiving water body and needs to treat before discharge. In this work, membrane distillation (MD) with the ability to avoid non-volatile substances was used to purify water and simultaneously recover nutrients from aquaculture wastewater. Results showed that micro-structures have evenly distributed on the surface of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane using nylon taffeta substrate. Resultant membrane has surpassed superhydrophobicity benchmark. It achieved high water contact angle of 153.3° and low contact angle hysteresis of 8.4°. The continuous separation and treatment of fish farm wastewater showed a small and steady flux reduction of 1.4 kg/m2·h, indicating less fouling by the surface-printed membrane. In the batch process of feed concentration, the water recovery reached 86.3%. The retentate concentration of fish farm water is at least five times higher than initial concentration of ammonia (16.4 to 82.2 mg/L), phosphate (18.0 to 99.8 mg/L), and potassium (68.0 to 384.8 mg/L). This concentrated feed can use as primary nutrient of liquid fertilizer. In feed concentration process, except for ammonia (>86%), rejection of all selected inorganic substances is higher than 99%.

Inactivation of human norovirus by chlorous acid water, a novel chlorine-based disinfectant

IntroductionHuman norovirus (HuNoV) is a leading cause of infectious gastroenteritis. Since HuNoV shows resistance to alcohol, chlorine-based sanitizers are applied to decontaminate the virus on environmental surfaces. Chlorous acid water (CA) has been recently approved as a novel chlorine-based disinfectant categorized as a Type 2 OTC medicine in Japan. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the capability of CA to inactivate HuNoV. MethodsHuNoV (genogroups GII.2 and GII.4) was exposed to the test disinfectants including CA and sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), and the residual RNA copy was measured by reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) after pretreatment with RNase. In addition, the log10 reduction of HuNoV RNA copy number by CA and NaClO was compared in the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA), sheep red blood cells (SRBC), polypeptone, meat extract or amino acids to evaluate the stability of these disinfectants under organic-matter-rich conditions. ResultsIn the absence of organic substances, CA with 200 ppm free available chlorine provided >3.0 log10 reduction in the HuNoV RNA copy number within 5 min. Even under high organic matter load (0.3% each of BSA and SRBC or 0.5% polypeptone), 200 ppm CA achieved >3.0 log10 reduction in HuNoV RNA copy number while less than 1.0 log10 reduction was observed with 1,000 ppm sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) in the presence of 0.5% polypeptone. CA reacted with only cysteine, histidine and glutathione while NaClO reacted with all of the amino acids tested. ConclusionsCA is an effective disinfectant to inactivate HuNoV under organic-matter-rich conditions.

Combined fluorescence imaging and LA-ICP-MS trace element mapping of stalagmites: Microfabric identification and interpretation

Here, we map a series of stalagmites from Asturias, Spain, by laser ablation inductively-coupled-plasma mass spectrometry and confocal laser scanning (fluorescence) microscopy and discuss the origins of trace element and fluorescence variations. Seasonal banding is evident with both methods and may be attributed to lignins/humic acids based on fluorescence absorption and emission characteristics. Some lateral variations in fluorescence present as saw-tooth fluorescent “spires” and demonstrate disruptions of seasonal banding, corroborated by trace element variations (most prominently Mg and Na). Such features likely reflect the differential partitioning of trace elements by sectoral zoning as a result of low supersaturation and/or high organic matter load, combined with the effects of dissolved organic matter on the calcite growth surface and the association of each element with colloidal organic matter. The lateral variability of trace elements demonstrates the pitfalls of obtaining trace element information from one-dimensional transects without prior reconnaissance mapping. It is, however, possible that traditional drilling with ~1 mm holes homogenizes these features and provides reliable trace element estimates.

Assessment of the ecological status of the rivers of the city of Douala from Macrophyte communities: Case of Kondi and Tongo Bassa

Observations made in rivers of Douala showed that aquatic ecosystems receive little attention in terms of their environmental monitoring. The aim of this study was to assess the ecological status of Kondi and Tongo Bassa rivers at from their communities of macrophytes. Specifically, it was question to evaluate the physicochemestry environment of these rivers as well as the diversity of the macrophyte species. Then, the physicochemestry parameters were measured (about 50cm deep) between 08am and 11am. Concerning characterization of macrophytes, 03 transects of 400m length each were materialized. Then, 201 quadrats of 1m2 were realised to make a specific and quantitative inventory. The listed species were assigned an Abundance-dominance coefficient. Then, the diversity and resemblance indices, the abundance index, the average recovery, the Shannon index and the Piélou equitability index, the Sorensen similarity coefficient, the Shannon index and the Piélou equitability index were analysed. According to results, ammonia, orthophosphates and nitrates particularly influence the distribution of macrophytes in the Kondi and the Tongo Bassa rivers. These parameters show that the water include high organic matter loads indicating organic pollution. In addition, the plant communities encountered in these rivers were relatively rich, diversify and distributed according to a decreasing gradation of mineralization and trophy. Also, the Piélou index in these rivers was generally below 0.55 reflecting poorly diversified waters. Finally, the structure of the macrophyte reveals that it was generally dominated by a few species, including the Poaceae particulary Pennisetum purpureum species, characteristic of eutrophic environments.

Coagulation and biofiltration by Corbicula fluminea for COD and toxicity reduction of swine wastewater

The increase on pork meat demand is consequently leading to higher production of swine wastewater. These wastewaters are problematic due to their high organic matter load and nutrients content that can promote soil and aquatic sources contamination. The conventional effluents treatment technologies seem to be inefficient for total organic matter and contaminants removal while demanding high retention times. One of the steps considered for the swine wastewater treatment is solid-liquid separation. In this work, coagulation using polyDADMAC was evaluated and the effect of the coagulant concentration for this purpose was tested. This methodology was compared with an innovative approach involving biofiltration through the invasive bivalve Corbicula fluminea. The effects of the liquid to clam’s ratio was assessed as well as the mechanism of organic matter removal and the clams reuse capacity. The best chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal obtained was 51 % using 1 L of effluent per 150 clams. Moreover, it was possible to reuse the clams during 4 cycles without losing significant efficiency on the COD removal. Moreover, the toxicity of the treated wastewater was evaluated regarding Aliivibrio fischeri and Lepidium sativum. Aeration without clams reduced the toxicity levels. However, for Lepidium sativum germination index the best result was obtained for the wastewater treated by clams. Thus, C. fluminea presents potential for swine wastewater treatment.

An investigation of monthly variation of different physicochemical parameters of dairy industry effluent

ABSTRACT Industrialization no doubt enhances the productivity, but also results in release of toxic substances into the environment, creating health hazards. Dairy industry ranks as one of the most polluted industries in India. For cleaning and washing procedures, dairy industry plants generate large volumes of waste water, which is 2.5 times milk volume processed. Dairy effluent contains high load of organic matter. This study was aimed at assessing the monthly variation of different physicochemical parameters of effluent like pH, Temperature, Turbidity, Electrical Conductivity, Chemical Oxygen Demand, Biological Oxygen Demand, Total Solids, Total Dissolved Solids, Total Suspended Solids, Chlorides, Sulfates, Oil &amp; Grease, Proteins, Lipids etc. The pH was recorded for values between 7.3 to 8.2 whereas overall mean value was 7.7±0.37 (S.D.) in all month’s data collected which is ambient for the microbial population to grow. Maximum temperature was reported in May (33°C) while lowest value was reported in December (24°C). Mean value of turbidity was recorded as 762±207 NTU. Maximum EC value was reported in January (650 µS/cm) while minimum value was reported in May (354 µS/cm). BOD values reported were between 268 to 950 mg/lit. Maximum BOD values were reported in August and October while minimum was reported in the month of July. Mean value was recorded at 597±208 mg/lit. COD mean value was recorded at 2184±417 mg/lit. Maximum COD values were observed during August and September while minimum during February to April. TDS was noted down to be between 960 to 1362 mg/lit. TS mean value was around 1412 ± 108 mg/lit. TSS was found to be between 245 to 365 mg/lit during the year 2013-14. Maximum TSS value was reported in November and September while minimum in March. Maximum chloride value was reported in March (562 mg/lit) while minimum in September (256 mg/lit). Mean value of sulfate was 247 ± 98 mg/lit. Mean value for oil and grease was recorded as 163 ± 44 mg/lit. Maximum protein value was reported in November (260 mg/lit) while minimum in the months of May and September (154 mg/lit). Mean value of lipid was recorded to be 600±63 mg/lit indicating obvious variation during batches. The present study has been aimed at procuring dairy industry effluents &amp; characterizing them for different parameters in order to check the fluctuation in organic loads.

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria isolation from rhizosphere of submerged macrophytes and their growth-promoting effect on Vallisneria natans under high sediment organic matter load.

SummarySediment organic matter is a key stressor for submerged macrophyte growth, which negatively impacts the ecological restoration of lakes. Plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) were screened from the rhizosphere of submerged macrophytes and used due to their promoting effect on Vallisneria natans under a high sediment organic matter load. Root exudates were used as the sole carbon source to obtain the root affinity strains. Eight isolates were selected from the 61 isolated strains, based on the P solubilization, IAA production, cytokinins production and ACC deaminase activity. The analysis of the 16S rDNA indicated that one strain was Staphylococcus sp., while the other seven bacterial strains were Bacillus sp. They were all listed in low‐risk groups for safety use in agricultural practices. The plant height significantly increased after inoculation with PGPR strains, with the highest rate of increase reaching 96%. This study provides an innovative technique for recovering submerged macrophytes under sediment organic matter stress.

Spatial variability in heavy metal concentration in urban pavement joints – a case study

Abstract. Heavy metals are known to be among one of the major environmental pollutants, especially in urban areas, and, as generally known, can pose environmental risks and direct risks to humans. This study deals with the spatial distribution of heavy metals in different pavement joints in the inner city area of Marburg (Hesse, Germany). Pavement joints, defined as the joint between paving stones and filled with different materials, have so far hardly been considered as anthropogenic materials and potential pollution sources in urban areas. Nevertheless, they have an important role as possible sites of infiltration for surface run-off accumulation areas and are therefore a key feature of urban water regimes. In order to investigate the spatial variability in heavy metals in pavement joints, a geospatial sampling approach was carried out on six inner city sampling sites, followed by heavy metal analyses via inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP–MS) and additional pH and organic matter analyses. A first risk assessment of heavy metal pollution from pavement joints was performed. Pavement joints examined consist mainly of basaltic gravel, sands, organic material and anthropogenic artefacts (e.g. glass and plastics), with an average joint size of 0.89 cm and a vertical depth of 2–10 cm. In general, the pavement joint material shows high organic matter loads (average 11.0 % by mass) and neutral to alkaline pH values. Besides high Al and Fe content, the heavy metals Cr, Ni, Cd and Pb are mainly responsible for the contamination of pavement joints. The identified spatial pattern of maximum heavy metal loads in pavement joints could not be attributed solely to traffic emissions, as commonly reported for urban areas. Higher concentrations were detected at run-off accumulation areas (e.g. drainage gutters) and at the lowest sampling points with high drainage accumulation tendencies. Additional Spearman correlation analyses show a clear positive correlation between the run-off accumulation value and calculated exposure factor (ExF; Spearman correlation coefficients (rSP) – 0.80; p&lt;0.00). Further correlation analyses revealed different accumulation and mobility tendencies of heavy metals in pavement joints. Based on sorption processes with humic substances and an overall alkaline pH milieu, especially Cu, Cd and Pb showed a low potential mobility and strong adsorption tendency, which could lead to an accumulation and fixation of heavy metals in pavement joints. The presence of heavy metals in pavement joints poses a direct risk for urban environments and may also affect environments out of urban areas if drainage transports accumulated heavy metals. Finally, we encourage further research to give more attention to this special field of urban anthropogenic materials and potential risks for urban environments. Overall urban geochemical background values, and the consideration of run-off-related transport processes on pavements, are needed to develop effective management strategies of urban pavement soil pollution.

An investigation of monthly variation of different physicochemical parameters of dairy industry effluent

ABSTRACT Industrialization no doubt enhances the productivity, but also results in release of toxic substances into the environment, creating health hazards. Dairy industry ranks as one of the most polluted industries in India. For cleaning and washing procedures, dairy industry plants generate large volumes of waste water, which is 2.5 times milk volume processed. Dairy effluent contains high load of organic matter. This study was aimed at assessing the monthly variation of different physicochemical parameters of effluent like pH, Temperature, Turbidity, Electrical Conductivity, Chemical Oxygen Demand, Biological Oxygen Demand, Total Solids, Total Dissolved Solids, Total Suspended Solids, Chlorides, Sulfates, Oil &amp; Grease, Proteins, Lipids etc. The pH was recorded for values between 7.3 to 8.2 whereas overall mean value was 7.7±0.37 (S.D.) in all month’s data collected which is ambient for the microbial population to grow. Maximum temperature was reported in May (33°C) while lowest value was reported in December (24°C). Mean value of turbidity was recorded as 762±207 NTU. Maximum EC value was reported in January (650 µS/cm) while minimum value was reported in May (354 µS/cm). BOD values reported were between 268 to 950 mg/lit. Maximum BOD values were reported in August and October while minimum was reported in the month of July. Mean value was recorded at 597±208 mg/lit. COD mean value was recorded at 2184±417 mg/lit. Maximum COD values were observed during August and September while minimum during February to April. TDS was noted down to be between 960 to 1362 mg/lit. TS mean value was around 1412 ± 108 mg/lit. TSS was found to be between 245 to 365 mg/lit during the year 2013-14. Maximum TSS value was reported in November and September while minimum in March. Maximum chloride value was reported in March (562 mg/lit) while minimum in September (256 mg/lit). Mean value of sulfate was 247 ± 98 mg/lit. Mean value for oil and grease was recorded as 163 ± 44 mg/lit. Maximum protein value was reported in November (260 mg/lit) while minimum in the months of May and September (154 mg/lit). Mean value of lipid was recorded to be 600±63 mg/lit indicating obvious variation during batches. The present study has been aimed at procuring dairy industry effluents &amp; characterizing them for different parameters in order to check the fluctuation in organic loads.

Phytoplankton Species in Linkage to Water Quality and Landsat Data Indices at the Southern Part of Burullus Lake, Egypt

In aquatic ecosystems, phytoplankton assemblages are mostly affected by different water quality parameters. In March 2020, water and phytoplankton samples were collected from seven geo-referenced stations distributed along the southern part of Lake Burullus, in front of drains. Physio-chemical parameters (temperature T°C, pH, dissolved oxygen DO, Salinity, nitrite NO2 , phosphate PO4 , ammonia NH4 , and silicates SiO4 ) were analyzed in water samples. Phytoplankton samples were collected using a net mesh of a size of 20 µm. The most abundant classes are Chlorophyceae, Cyanophyceae, and Euglenophyceae in stations 7, 2, and 6, respectively. The difference between classes and species is based on the different discharge of wastes, the high load of organic matter, and salinity. Results of the average water quality index AWQI showed low water quality in front of drainage waters. The vegetative cover increases on the eastern side. Landsat images were acquired, treated, and processed for concluding three important indices along with the three sectors of the lake. These indices are normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), normalized difference water index (NDWI), and phytoplankton turbidity index (PTI). The NDVI showed that the vegetation-covered areas of about 11.3, 2.6, and 1.36 km2 , and NDWI showed water areas of about 105.09, 153.25, and 43.57 km2 for eastern, middle, and western parts, respectively. PTI indicated that nearly 55.3% of phytoplankton turbidities concentrated towards the western side of the lake, followed by 44.21% at the middle part and 25.14 % on the eastern side. It is concluded that water quality nearby drains are bad, where the phytoplankton turbidities as observed from Landsat images were increased towards the southwestern parts.