Discharge Of Industrial Effluents Research Articles

Exploring the structural characteristics and dye removal capabilities of powder-, granule- and film- shaped magnetic activated carbon derived from Oleaster seed.

Dye pollution in water caused by excessive discharge of industrial effluent has become a major environmental problem in recent decades because of its irreversible effects on human health. In this study, low-cost carbon-based adsorbents synthesized from Oleaster seed (OS) were prepared in three forms of powder (PAC), film (FAC), and granule (GAC) and used for the removal of methylene blue dye. The properties of the synthesized adsorbents were characterized by SEM-EDX, BET, XPS and FTIR analyses. The maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) of PAC, FAC, and GAC adsorbents were obtained as 68.49, 32.25, and 15.10 mg/g, respectively at the optimum experimental conditions of pH = 10, adsorbent dosages of 0.5, 1, and 2 g/l, contact times of 60, 90, and 120 min, dye concentration of 10 mg/L, and temperature of 25°C. The Langmuir isotherm well described the equilibrium data for all three adsorbents. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model provided the best fit with the adsorption data obtained from all three adsorbents. Adsorption occurred spontaneously through a combination of chemical and physical mechanisms, with a thermodynamically exothermic process. The desorption experiments demonstrated that all the adsorbents have substantial potential for recovery. The novel activated carbon/alginate composite films are proposed as more promising biosorbents to remove MB dye from the aquatic environment compared to GAC adsorbents.

Occurrence of toxic elements in river areas along drains and groundwater resources: source of contamination and associated health risk.

The objective of the current research was to examine the water quality of the River Ravi and the River Sutlej, with a specific focus on potentially toxic elements (PTEs). Additionally, we sought to monitor the sources of pollution in these rivers by gathering samples from the primary drains that carry industrial and municipal waste into these water bodies. Furthermore, we aimed to evaluate the impact of PTEs in surface water on groundwater quality by collecting groundwater samples from nearby populated areas. A total of 30 samples were collected from these three sources: rivers (6 samples), drains (9 samples), and groundwater (15 samples). The analysis revealed that the levels of PTEs in the samples from these three resources having a mean value: arsenic (As) 23.5µg/L, zinc (Zn) 2.35mg/L, manganese (Mn) 0.51mg/L, lead (Pb) 6.63µg/L, and chromium (Cr) 10.9µg/L, exceeded the recommended values set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Furthermore, PTEs including (As 84%), (Zn 65%), (Mn 69%), (Pb 53%), (Cr 53%), and (Ni 27%), samples were beyond the recommended values of WHO. The results of the Principal Component Analysis indicated that surface water and groundwater exhibited total variability of 83.87% and 85.97%, respectively. This indicates that the aquifers in the study area have been contaminated due to both natural geogenic factors and anthropogenic sources. These sources include the discharge of industrial effluents, wastewater from municipal sources, mining activities, agricultural practices, weathering of rocks, and interactions between rocks and water. Spatial distribution maps clearly illustrated the widespread mobilization of PTEs throughout the study area. Furthermore, a health risk assessment was conducted to evaluate the potential adverse health effects of PTEs through the ingestion of drinking groundwater by both children and adults. Health risk assessment result show the mean carcinogenic values for As, Cr, Pb and Ni in children are calculated to be (1.88E-04), (2.61E-04), (2.16E-02), and (5.74E-05), respectively. Similarly, the mean carcinogenic values for the above mentioned PTEs in adults were recorded to be (2.39E-05), (3.32E-05), (1.19E-03), and (7.29E-06) respectively. The total hazard index values for As, Zn, Cr, Pb, Mn, Cu, and Ni in children were observed to be (9.07E + 00), (9.95E-07), (4.59E-04), (5.75E-04), (4.72E-05), (2.78E-03), and (5.27E-05) respectively. The analysis revealed that As has an adverse effect on the population of the study area as compared to other PTEs investigated in this study.

Case Study of Deterioration of Mansar Lake and Comparative Study of FAB and SBR Technologies in Sewage Treatment Plant

The deterioration of Mansar Lake, a significant tourist attraction and a vital water resource in India, has become a matter of concern due to the discharge of untreated sewage and industrial effluents. The present study aims to investigate the factors leading to the degradation of Mansar Lake and the effectiveness of two advanced sewage treatment technologies, Fixed Activated Beds (FAB) and Sequencing Batch Reactors (SBR), in treating sewage waste. The study begins with a comprehensive analysis of the factors contributing to the degradation of Mansar Lake, including the inflow of untreated sewage, industrial effluents, and agricultural runoff, as well as the impact of climate change and anthropogenic activities. The research then moves on to the comparative study of FAB and SBR technologies, evaluating their performance in terms of pollutant removal efficiency, energy consumption, and operational costs. The results of the study show that both FAB and SBR technologies are effective in treating sewage waste, with SBR technology having a slight edge in terms of pollutant removal efficiency. However, FAB technology is more cost-effective and energy-efficient, making it a more viable option for developing countries with limited resources. The study concludes with recommendations for the implementation of FAB technology in the sewage treatment plant serving Mansar Lake, as well as the need for stricter regulations and enforcement to prevent the inflow of untreated sewage and industrial effluents into the lake. The study also emphasizes the importance of public awareness and education in preserving the lake's ecological balance and promoting sustainable tourism practices. Mansar Lake, sewage treatment, FAB technology, SBR technology, pollutant removal efficiency, cost-effectiveness, energy efficiency, sustainable tourism.

A modification of the dimethylglyoxime method for Nickel determination: Application in bioremediation processes

BackgroundEnvironmental contamination with nickel is increasing due to the discharge of industrial effluents and other anthropogenic activities. Therefore, the improvement of methods for monitoring nickel concentration is of great value. The dimethylglyoxime (DMG) method is used to determine the nickel concentration in aqueous solutions. This method requires the oxidation of Ni(II) to Ni(IV) by bromine water before adding DMG, which is necessary to complete color development. The original method uses more than 50 mL of final reagent volume per sample. In this study, a volume reduction of the DMG method was performed. ResultsA volume reduction of 1 mL per sample was successfully achieved for the DMG method. The working range was 0 - 10 mg Ni(II) L−1. The specified limits of detection and quantification (LOQ and LOD) were 1.18 and 0.41 mg L−1 respectively. A comparative analysis with atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) showed no significant differences between both methods for nickel determination. The modified DMG method was effective for the measurement of nickel in experimental samples from a bioremediation assay. ConclusionThe modified DMG method offers considerable advantages. The modified method reduces the volume of reagents used from 50 mL to just 1 mL. The requirement of smaller volume of each reagent is economically favorable, and consequently the amount of passive waste generated is reduced. It is easily reproducible in a laboratory with access to a spectrophotometer and simple reagents. In addition, the possibility to measure samples from bioremediation assays is an advantage.

Exploitation of Agricultural Groundwater for Urban Areas

Ground water is the most accessed source of water for domestic, industrial, and agricultural purposes. Significant social and economic repercussions could result from a declining water table and the depletion of groundwater resources that are economically accessible. Domestic water supply is given top emphasis in both National and State water policy formulation. Recently, there has been a rise in water transfers to satisfy the needs of the industrial and residential sectors. With the success of the state water supply, many are heralding groundwater transfer as the quickest, least expensive and most environmentally benign solution to large cities water supply and reliability problem. In order to satisfy urban domestic and industrial water demand, the majority of water transfers concentrate on buying water from farmers who are prepared to sell it to them. The present study was undertaken mainly to study the impacts of economic and environmental gains and losses related to the groundwater transfer in Tiruppur district. Without doubts groundwater transfer from agriculture to industrial uses would benefit individual sellers, buyers and the Nation as whole. The adverse direct economic impact in groundwater selling or water transferring areas to total revenue in agriculture was Rs. 54.32 lakhs per every crop season. Scarcity of water resulted in shifting of irrigated agriculture to rainfed agriculture and labour intensive to labour less intensive crops. The total employment lost per hectare of land was 198.33 man-days. Secondly, another adverse indirect economic and environmental impact of water transfer is discharge of large quantum of industrial effluent water. Moreover, there is indirect economic and environmental impact on effluent receiving areas due to highly polluted industrial effluent discharge into open lands and river/streams could cause a Rs. 22,296 net personal income loss for every hectare of land. At larger perspective impacts of groundwater transfer could be considered insignificant.

Evaluation of phytoconstituents in marigold effluent for their antifungal activity against plant pathogens.

The current study placed an intense emphasis on the excess discharge of agro-based industrial effluent and the use of plant extract antimicrobials to inhibit the growth of pathogens in crop plants. An effluent (treated and untreated) from the marigold flower processing industry has been identified for the presence of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, and a total of 18 in treated effluent and 23 in untreated effluent were found using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A total of 13 classes were identified, which include carboxylic acid, phenols, esters, alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, cyanide, heterocyclic, flavonoids, aldehydes, polycyclic aromatic, cycloalkanes, and cycloalkenes. A principal component analysis with varimax rotation was applied to discern the abundance of identified compounds under each class. An in vitro antifungal bioassay was conducted using effluents at three different concentrations against plant pathogens (Alternaria alter nata, Sclerotium rolfsii, Rhizoctonia solani, Pythium aphanidermata, Fusarium oxysporum, and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides). The study proved that treated and untreated effluents clearly inhibited the growth of fungal pathogens by 10 to 32% and 37 to 92%, respectively. The findings suggest that marigold flower effluent can be a promising resource for developing new plant protection methods that are effective against pathogenic fungi.

Synthesis of chitosan and gum arabic functionalized silver nanocomposite for efficient removal of methylene blue and antibacterial activity

AbstractThe discharge of industrial effluent has a harmful effect on the aquatic ecosystems and surrounding environment. The unprocessed discharge of organic dyes into the aquatic environment is a significant contributor to the aquatic pollution. Hence, it is imperative to ensure the proper disposal of organic colorants and their derivatives before their discharge into wastewater. The present study aimed to synthesis silver (Ag) nanocomposite using gum arabic (GA) and chitosan (CS) by an environment‐friendly and sustainable method. The formulated Ag nanocomposite was characterized using UV–visible, FTIR, TEM coupled with EDS. The FTIR analysis demonstrated the existence of polymers that have a crucial role in the formation of nano‐Ag‐composite. TEM revealed that the synthesized Ag nanocomposite had a spherical nanostructure, with diameters ranging from 18 to 95 nm. Further studies were conducted on Ag nanocomposite to analyze the breakdown of Methylene Blue (MB) under visible light irradiation. The synthesized Ag nanocomposite demonstrated a removal efficiency of 93.3% for MB after 60 min. Furthermore, the reusability of the Ag nanocomposite was studied, and it demonstrated substantial photocatalytic activity after three consecutive cycles. In addition, Ag nanocomposite (100 μg/mL) demonstrated potential inhibition against Escherichia coli (20 mm) and Staphylococcus aureus (18 mm). Finally, our findings showed that the synthesized nanocomposite can be employed as an outstanding photocatalyst and also bactericidal agent in both industrial and clinical sectors.

Evaluation of groundwater quality for irrigation purposes in hard rock terrain of Southern India using water quality indices modelling

Industrial effluent discharge threatens both agricultural productivity and drinking water quality by depleting groundwater, contaminating surface water and demanding high-quality irrigation water. This study evaluates the influence of urbanization and agricultural activities on the groundwater quality in Perundurai, focusing on its suitability for both drinking and agriculture. A total fourty samples of groundwater were randomly taken from bore wells. The principal cations and anions were analyzed revealed their dominance order: Na Ca > Mg > K and Cl > SO4 > F > NO3. The water quality index (WQI) analysis found that around 89% samples are unsuitable for drinking. The PI value indicates that 2% samples have poor permeability and elevated risk of waterlogging make it unsuitable for field use. Analysis of the Piper diagram reveals the dominance of alkaline earth cations (Ca, Mg) over alkali metals (Na, K) and weak acids (HCO3, CO3) over strong acids (Cl, SO4), indicating specific hydrogeochemical facies. From the US salinity diagram (USSL), C4S1 samples (30%) exhibit low alkalinity but a hazardous high salinity which impairs their capacity to retain water. Wilcox classification identified that 27% samples exhibit potential limitations for irrigation due to elevated sodium content. Contamination of groundwater due to ion leaching, sewage discharge and runoff is a significant environmental concern with potential health implications.

Kinetics and Thermodynamics of Heavy Metal Adsorption using Activated Carbon Developed from Doum Palm Seeds

The increase in human population which prompted the need for the construction of industries has led to indiscriminate discharge of industrial effluent by these industries into our environment. This discharges most times contain heavy metal which adversely affected the ecosystem. This research evaluates the adsorption behaviour of activated carbon prepared from Hyphaenethebaica nut shells treated with K2CO3 for the treatment of heavy metal contaminated water. The characterization was carried out using FTIR and SEM. The batch adsorption technique was employed and the optimum adsorption was observed at adsorbent dose of 0.6g, initial concentration of 60 ppm, temperature of 60℃. and at contact time of 30 minutes. Optimum adsorption pH for the Heavy Metal adsorption was found to be 2. The adsorption isotherms indicated that the Langmuir isotherm model showed a better correlation (R2 ≥ 0.9) for the Heavy Metals compared to Freundlich and Temkin isotherm model. The Pseudo second order adsorption model best described the adsorption kinetics of the Heavy Metals on the adsorbent. The value for the experimental adsorption capacity for Cu2+, Pb2+, Fe2+ and Zn2+ are 3.83, 4.27, 3.92 and 3.15 respectively corresponded to the calculated adsorption capacity for the pseudo-second-order model for the heavy metals Cu2+,Pb2+,Fe2+ and Zn2+ calculated as 3.61, 3.71, 2.99 and 2.13 respectively and were closer to the experimental adsorption capacity than the calculated adsorption capacity for the pseudo-first-order model. The correlation coefficient, R2 values for the pseudo-second-order adsorption model for the heavy metals Cu2+,Pb2+,Fe2+ and Zn2+ are 0.39, 0.66.0.51 and 0.33 respectively. The ∆H° for the heavy metals Cu2+,Pb2+,Fe2+ and Zn2+ with positive values of 24.99, 25.09,24.53 and 25.00 indicates that the adsorption was endothermic and and the ∆S for the heavy metals Cu2+,Pb2+,Fe2+ and Zn2+ with values of 79.70, 80.16,78.66 and 79.79 expresses the affinity of the adsorbent for the heavy metal ions in the adsorbate. The negative values of the ∆G° indicated that the adsorption of heavy metal is spontaneous at the temperature under investigation. Thus, activated carbon from K2CO3 treated Hyphaenethebaica nut shells could therefore be used effectively for the remediation of heavy metals from industrial waste water

An integrated buoy-satellite based coastal water quality nowcasting system: India's pioneering efforts towards addressing UN ocean decade challenges

The Indian coastal waters are stressed due to a multitude of factors, such as the discharge of industrial effluents, urbanization (municipal sewage), agricultural runoff, and river discharge. The coastal waters along the eastern and western seaboard of India exhibit contrasting characteristics in terms of seasonality, the magnitude of river influx, circulation pattern, and degree of anthropogenic activity. Therefore, understanding these processes and forecasting their occurrence is highly necessary to secure the health of coastal waters, habitats, marine resources, and the safety of tourists. This article introduces an integrated buoy-satellite based Water Quality Nowcasting System (WQNS) to address the unique challenges of water quality monitoring in Indian coastal waters and to boost the regional blue economy. The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has launched a first-of-its-kind WQNS, and positioned the buoys at two important locations along the east (Visakhapatnam) and west (Kochi) coast of India, covering a range of environmental conditions and tourist-intensive zones. These buoys are equipped with different physical-biogeochemical sensors, data telemetry systems, and integration with satellite-based observations for real-time data transmission to land. The sensors onboard these buoys continuously measure 22 water quality parameters, including surface current (speed and direction), salinity, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, phycocyanin, phycoerythrin, Coloured Dissolved Organic Matter, chlorophyll-a, turbidity, dissolved methane, hydrocarbon (crude and refined), scattering, pCO2 (water and air), and inorganic macronutrients (nitrite, nitrate, ammonium, phosphate, silicate). This real-time data is transmitted to a central processing facility at INCOIS, and after necessary quality control, the data is disseminated through the INCOIS website. Preliminary results from the WQNS show promising outcomes, including the short-term changes in the water column oxic and hypoxic regimes within a day in coastal waters off Kochi during the monsoon period, whereas effluxing of high levels of CO2 into the atmosphere associated with the mixing of water, driven by local depression in the coastal waters off Visakhapatnam. The system has demonstrated its ability to detect changes in the water column properties due to episodic events and mesoscale processes. Additionally, it offers valuable data for research, management, and policy development related to coastal water quality.

Facile construction of multifunctional xNiCo2O4/BiVO4 heterojunction with accelerated charge transfer for efficient photocatalytic treatment of Cr (VI), MB and TC under visible light

The release of industrial effluents, comprising of organic dyes, antibiotics, and heavy metals poses substantial environmental and ecological threats. Among the different approaches, the utilization of heterogeneous photocatalysis based on semiconducting metal oxides is of paramount important to removal of organic ( MB dye and TC antibiotic) and inorganic pollutants ( Cr (VI) ) in wastewater. In this work, a new approach for creating type-II heterojunction photocatalysts named xNiCo2O4/BiVO4 or BNC is suggested. The as-prepared samples were thoroughly examined by means of several sophisticated analytical tools to investigate their physicochemical properties. These composites were utilized in the decomposition of MB dye, TC drug and the reduction of Cr (VI) under visible light irradiation. According to the findings, the creation of type-II heterojunction at BiVO4–NiCo2O4 interface greatly improved charge transportation while successfully preventing electron-hole recombination. Among the various composites studied, BNC-2 demonstrated an enhanced photocatalytic activity towards degradation of MB and TC, which were found to be 91 % over a period of 150 min and 95 % within only 60 min, respectively. Moreover, the photocatalytic reduction of Cr (VI) was accomplished 96 % within just 25 min. Additionally, it is discovered that BNC-2 displayed promising photostability and recyclability with a retention of >90 % after five consecutive cycles. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of BNC-2 is evidently attributed to the expedited separation and transfer of charges, as proven by photocurrent measurement, photoluminescence and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analyses. Hence, the current amalgamation of NiCo2O4 and BiVO4 heterojunction composite has paved novel paths towards photocatalytic removal of organic as well as inorganic contaminants.

Evaluation of the Irrigation Water Quality of a Canal Contaminated with Textile Dyeing Industry Effluent

The textile dyeing industries discharge untreated effluent into nearby surface water bodies and introduce large numbers of inorganic, organic toxic compounds containing suspended solids, color, etc., which pose a threat to use for irrigated agricultural lands and human health. The study aimed to assess the irrigation water quality of textile dyeing industry effluent-contaminated canal water. The canal water samples were collected from several locations, analyzed for various physicochemical parameters, and assessed for water quality using multivariate statistical analysis and several water quality indices. The analysis results illustrated that the high levels of electrical conductivity (EC), total suspended solids (TSS), turbidity, Na+, NO3-, PO43-, HCO3-, BOD, and COD in the wastewater samples exceeded the DoE-BD standard limits, indicating a higher level of pollution of the canal water. Concerning heavy metal concentrations, Pb was found to be at a higher level in the water. Moreover, irrigation water quality indices such as permeability index (PI), Kelly’s ratio (KR), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), and magnesium adsorption ratio (MAR) were found to be higher than the standard limits. The multivariate cluster analysis showed that the two clusters were found among the eighteen sampling sites that included heavily contaminated sites. The discharge of industrial effluent into canal water has a detrimental effect on agricultural products. The study observed that the canal water is not suitable for irrigation purposes, and thus the textile dyeing industrial effluent must be treated by installing an environmentally friendly effluent treatment plant (ETP) before being dumped into surface water bodies, which will help reduce environmental pollution as well as develop sustainable surface water resource management.

Ternary magnetic silica–graphene oxide composite for remediation of textile dyes from aqueous environment and real samples

Abstract Inadequate wastewater treatment infrastructure is a substantial worldwide concern, with implications for both the environment and public health. Specifically, the discharge of industrial effluents containing organic pollutants such as dyes represents a significant challenge due to their hazardous characteristics. Among these dyes, Bromophenol Blue (BPB) and Malachite green (MG) are extensively utilized in the industrial sector, contributing to environmental deterioration. In the current study, ternary-magnetic-silicate–graphene oxide [Fe3O4@SiO2–GO] was synthesized using the co-precipitation method and applied for the treatment of wastewater containing BPB and MG dyes. The point of zero charge and surface area of the adsorbent was estimated to be 5.7 and 253.8 m2 g−1, respectively. Energy dispersive X-ray was performed and the presence of iron, silicon, carbon, and oxygen was confirmed. The XRD analysis of GO, Fe3O4, and ternary Fe3O4@SiO2–GO composites were also performed to confirm the crystallinity of the composite. The SEM analysis showed a rough morphology with sheet-like appearance. The ternary composite was then applied for the adsorption of BPB and MG dyes. The maximum adsorption capacity for BPB and MG was 97.35 mg/g and 92.63 mg/g at pH 3 and 5, respectively. The results of the kinetics analysis showed that the pseudo-second-order kinetics model best explained the adsorption data for MG dye while pseudo-first-order kinetics for the BPB dyes. While the data best fitted the Langmuir adsorption isotherm with R 2 values of 0.994 and 0.998 for BPB and MG, respectively. These results demonstrate that Fe3O4@SiO2–GO serves as a promising adsorbent for the efficient removal of Bromophenol Blue (BPB) and Malachite Green (MG) from environmental water samples. Additionally, this adsorbent is environmentally friendly and chemically benign, and it can be reused efficiently for up to five cycles.

Assessment of treatability of the Tietê River through a process of coagulation-flocculation associated with hydrodynamic cavitation and ozonation.

As it flows through the city of São Paulo, the Tietê River receives heavy discharges of industrial effluents and domestic sewage, resulting from the city's continuous urban expansion and the inadequacy of its sanitary sewage system. This study focused on an analysis of the efficiency of PGα21Ca and quaternary ammonium tannate, water purification products, based on coagulation-flocculation and sedimentation tests, followed by treatment with a hydrodynamic cavitation reactor associated with ozonation in the treatment of Tietê River water. The removal of turbidity, apparent color, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were evaluated. Jar testing assays were conducted, and the best turbidity removal rates were obtained with a concentration of 300 mg L-1 for PGα21Ca and 150 mg L-1 for quaternary ammonium tannate. The coagulation-flocculation treatment removed approximately 93% of turbidity for both coagulants. After combining coagulation-flocculation with hydrodynamic cavitation with ozonation, the final COD removal rate applying PGα21Ca was 47.63% in 1 hour of reaction, while that of quaternary ammonium tannate was 40.13% in 2 hours of reaction. Although the results appear to indicate the superior performance of PGα21Ca, it should be noted that the treatment with quaternary ammonium tannate also provided good results in reducing turbidity, COD, and apparent color, using a smaller dose of this coagulant and that its use may be more advantageous from an environmental point of view, due to its natural composition.

RETRACTED: Exploring Groundwater Quality Assessment: A Geostatistical and Integrated Water Quality Indices Perspective

Groundwater is an important source of freshwater. At the same time, anthropogenic activities, in particular, industrialization, urbanization, population growth, and excessive application of fertilizers, are some of the major reasons for groundwater quality deterioration. Therefore, the present study is conducted to evaluate groundwater quality by using integrated water quality indices and a geospatial approach to identify the different water quality zones and propose management strategies for the improvement of groundwater quality. Groundwater quality was evaluated through the physicochemical parameters (pH, chloride (Cl−), fluoride(F−), iron (Fe−2), nitrate (NO3−1), nitrite (NO2), arsenic (As), total hardness, bicarbonate (HCO3−), calcium (Ca+2), magnesium (Mg+2), color, taste, turbidity, total dissolved solids (TDS)) and microbiological parameters including total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and Escherichia coli of samples collected from the water and sanitation agency (WASA) and urban units. Irrigation parameters crucial to the assessment, including (electrical conductivity (EC), residual sodium carbonates (RSC), and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR)), were also collected at more than 1100 sites within the study area of upper and central Punjab. After collecting the data of physicochemical parameters, the analysis of data was initiated to compute the water quality index for groundwater quality, a four-step protocol in which the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to determine the weights of selected parameters by generating a pairwise matrix, on the relative importance of parameters using the Satty scale. The index was then classified into five classes for quality assessment of drinking water (excellent, good, medium, bad, and very bad) and four classes for irrigation water quality assessment (excellent, good, permissible, and unsuitable). After computing the index values for drinking as well as irrigation purposes, the values were interpolated, and various maps were developed to identify the status of groundwater quality in different zones of the study area. Mitigation strategies for water pollution involve source control, such as monitoring industrial discharge points and managing waste properly. Additionally, treating wastewater through primary, secondary, or tertiary stages significantly improves water quality, reducing contaminants like heavy metals, microbiological agents, and chemical ions, safeguarding water resources. The findings highlight significant regional variations in water quality issues, with heavy metal concerns concentrated notably in Lahore and widespread emerging microbiological contamination across all studied divisions. This suggests a systemic problem linked to untreated industrial effluents and poorly managed sewerage systems. The computed indices for the Lahore, Sargodha, and Rawalpindi divisions indicate water quality ranging from marginal to unfit, underscoring the urgency for remediation. Conversely, other divisions fall within a medium class, potentially suitable for drinking purposes. Notably, microbiological contamination at 27% poses a major challenge for water supply agencies, emphasizing the critical need for pre-disposal primary, secondary, and tertiary treatments. These treatments could potentially rehabilitate 9%, 35%, and 41% of the study area, respectively, pointing toward tangible, scalable solutions critical for safeguarding broader water resources and public health. With the current pace of water quality deterioration, access to drinking water is a major problem for the public. The government should prioritize implementing strict monitoring mechanisms for industrial effluent discharge, emphasizing proper waste management to curb groundwater contamination. Establishing comprehensive pre-disposal treatments, especially primary, secondary, and tertiary stages, is imperative to address the prevalent heavy metal and microbiological issues, potentially rehabilitating up to 41% of affected areas. Additionally, creating proactive policies and allocating resources for sustainable groundwater management are crucial steps for ensuring broader water resource security and public health in the face of deteriorating water quality. Therefore, urgent regional action is needed to address escalating anthropogenic threats to groundwater, emphasizing the crucial need for proactive measures to safeguard public health and ensure sustainable water resources.

Analysis of physicochemical and tribological properties of nano alumina-based gear oil developed from effluent of lube oil blending plant

Industrial wastewater, also known as effluent has been identified as one of the leading sources of environmental pollutions worldwide. The establishment of lube oil blending plants in Nigeria has led to a continuous discharge of industrial effluent in densely populated areas. This threatens the well-being of humanity, plants, aquatic lives and construction soils. This research paper focused on developing a nano alumina-based effluent gear oil from effluent of lube oil blending plants as an alternative means of mitigating its threats on the environment. Nano lubricant are used in gearboxes for better thermal, friction and anti-wear properties. This is due to the small size and high specific surface area to volume ratio of the nanoparticles. Furthermore, due to their excellent mechanical and thermal properties, easy dispersal in most fluids, inexpensiveness, ease of manufacture, and aspect ratio, the Al2O3 nanoparticles are recently being used by researchers as an additive in gear oils to improve tribological properties, increase power efficiency, extend equipment lifetimes, and lower operating cost. In this work, the alumina nanoparticle was synthesized using co-precipitation method, after which it was characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysers. After the development of Al2O3-based gear oil from the effluent, the physicochemical and tribological properties of the alumina-based effluent gear oil samples were investigated with varied weight percentages of Al2O3 nanoparticles. The Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) thermal analyses of nano alumina-based gear sample was investigated after obtaining the suitable sample among the sample blends developed. The dispersion of the nanoparticle in the effluent oil improved the specific gravity and pour point whereas a slight reduction was observed in kinematic viscosity at 100 °C, viscosity index and flash point. However, viscosity index and flash point values are conforming to the minimum requirements of API EP 85W90 and ISO 100 standard values. The anti-wear property was observed to significantly improved by 26.14%, at 0.4 wt% nanoparticles concentration. The results showed that, the pure effluent oil recovered is more thermally stable than the 0.4 wt% nano alumina-based effluent gear oil sample, whereas the nano gear oil sample has a higher thermo-oxidative stability than the pure effluent oil. Finally, temperature profiles from the simulation results also ensured a better performance of the 0.4 wt% alumina-based effluent gear oil developed, at 1500 rpm speed of rotation by 6.7% and 8.9% and at 4000 rpm is by 5.9% and 7.8% than the API EP 85W90 and pure effluent oil samples respectively. Hence, based on the results obtained, the study indicated that the effluent oil from lube oil blending plants can be used as gear oil with the dispersion of alumina nanoparticles.

Integrated Assessment and Geostatistical Evaluation of Groundwater Quality through Water Quality Indices

This study undertook an assessment of 24 physiochemical parameters at over 1094 sites to compute the water quality index (WQI) across the upper and central Punjab regions of Pakistan. Prior to the WQI calculation, an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was employed to assign specific weights to each water quality parameter. The categorization of WQI into distinct classes was achieved by constructing a pairwise matrix based on their relative importance utilizing Saaty’s scale. Additionally, the groundwater quality status for irrigation and drinking purposes across various zones in the study area was delineated through the integration of WQI and geostatistical methodologies. The findings revealed discernible heavy metal issues in the Lahore division, with emerging microbiological contamination across the entire study region, potentially attributed to untreated industrial effluent discharge and inadequately managed sewerage systems. The computed indices for the Lahore, Sargodha, and Rawalpindi divisions fell within the marginal to unfit categories, indicating water quality concerns. In contrast, the indices for other divisions were in the medium class, suggesting suitability for drinking purposes. Scenario analysis for developing mitigation strategies indicated that primary treatment before wastewater disposal could rehabilitate 9% of the study area, followed by secondary (35%) and tertiary (41%) treatments. Microbiological contamination (27%) emerged as the predominant challenge for water supply agencies. Given the current trajectory of water quality deterioration, access to potable water is poised to become a significant public concern. Consequently, government agencies are urged to implement appropriate measures to enhance overall groundwater quality for sustainable development.

Monitoring of anthropogenic impact on the Port Qasim coastal area, Karachi, Pakistan

The present study was undertaken to investigate the extent of pollution load at Port Qasim coastal area, the second largest port in the country. The samples of sea water were collected from 23 locations, including the samples from Bundal Island situated in the Port Qasim area. Samples were analyzed for physico-chemical characteristics to determine the extent of pollution load. Samples were also analyzed for heavy metals including As, Cr, Cu, Cd, Pb and Ni. The investigation revealed that the Port Qasim Area is grossly polluted from inorganic and organic loads mainly coming from the nearby industrial setup. Extensively high organic load was found at the site receiving the wastewater from the Landhi Cattle colony. PQ-6 receives untreated wastewater from oil industries as exhibited by its high oil content. PQ-14 is receiving untreated industrial discharges from the nearby chemical industries and represents a very high pollution load. The sites closed to Bundal Island are relatively less polluted. The mangroves in the area are constantly under threat owing to the indiscriminate discharge of both domestic and industrial effluents. The concentration of DO although not on higher side but at least prevents the anoxic condition in the area. Out of all the heavy metals the concentration of Cr and Pb was exceptionally higher. The distribution of heavy metals demonstrated a typical diffusion pattern from the land to the sea. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis of the data showed the major gradients, similarities of localities and the variables of importance in terms of overall variability in the pollution characteristics. It is concluded that the level of pollution is increasing at an alarming rate, which is detrimental to the biodiversity of the coastal area.

Assessment of untreated wastewater pollution and heavy metal contamination in the Euphrates river

ABSTRACT This study investigates the impact of untreated wastewater on a section of the Euphrates River in Al-Diwaniyah, Iraq. The unregulated discharge of sewage and industrial effluents has caused severe pollution in this area. The research measures electrical conductivity, turbidity, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, total hardness, biological oxygen demand and heavy metals (Ni, Cr, Pb, Co, Cd, Cu, Fe) using Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry. Approximately 40 water sampling stations were selected for analysis and the Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI) was used to assess water quality. The study employed Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) tool, to predict HPI values and their spatial distribution. The accuracy of prediction maps was evaluated using regression analysis by comparing observed values with predicted values from the maps. The study emphasizes the excessive pollution levels in the Euphrates River, specifically exceeding Iraqi standard thresholds for Ni, Fe, and Cd concentrations.

High-performance petal-like nickel organic framework for efficient dye sequestration

Discharge of industrial effluents, with organic dye as a major component, is an important contributor to water pollution which requires efficient techniques for removal. Here, a mesoporous nickel-based metal organic framework (Ni-MOF) with flowerlike morphology was synthesized using 2-methyl imidazole as ligand via solvothermal method. The product formed was applied for Coomassie brilliant blue (CBB) dye removal through physical adsorption. The influence of four parameters (adsorbate dosage, adsorbent dosage, pH and contact time) on the dye adsorption capacity of the Ni-MOF was then examined with the result showing that the rate and efficiency of adsorption is dependent on these parameters. At a minimum adsorbent dosage of 10 mg, complete dye removal was achieved for 100 mg/mL adsorbate at pH of 4.0 within 60 min contact time, with an adsorption capacity of ∼19.9 ± 0.1 mg/g. Adsorption kinetics and adsorption isotherm studies also revealed that CBB adsorption by the Ni-MOF is a spontaneous physisorption process with pseudo-second order kinetics and Langmuir isotherm model producing the best fit, respectively.