Amount Of Wastewater Research Articles

Fiber Solidification Treatment of River and Lake Wastewater and Sediments: Deformation Characteristics and Microscopic Mechanism Research

River and lake dredging projects inevitably produce significant quantities of wastewater and sediment. This accumulation results in dredged soil with high moisture content, characterized by low strength, rendering it unsustainable for use. To facilitate environmentally friendly utilization of wastewater and sediment, solidifying agents and basalt fibers are introduced to solidify the wastewater within the dredged sediment. This process transforms the wastewater, sediment, solidifying agents, and basalt fibers into a novel, strengthened material. This transformation allows for their application as stabilized soil for engineering endeavors. Indoor experiments and scanning electron microscope analyses were performed to examine the deformation characteristics of fiber-stabilized soil and analyze its micro-mechanisms. Research findings suggest that as the curing age increases, the curing agent’s reaction becomes more comprehensive. Fibers have the potential to ameliorate soil damage. The proposed binary-medium model’s applicability and accuracy were validated through the analysis of triaxial test results employing the reinforcement principle. These findings establish a theoretical foundation for the resourceful utilization of wastewater and sediment.

Simultaneous Electrochemical Detection of Cu2+ and Zn2+ in Pig Farm Wastewater.

In recent years, the rapid development of pig farming has led to a large quantity of heavy metal-polluted wastewater. Thus, it was desirable to develop a simple heavy metal detection method for fast monitoring of the wastewater from the pig farms. Therefore, there was an urgent need to develop a simple method for rapidly detecting heavy metal ions in pig farm wastewater. Herein, a simple electrochemical method for simultaneous detection of Cu2+ and Zn2+ was developed and applied to pig farm wastewater. With a glassy carbon electrode and anodic stripping voltammetry, simultaneous detection of Cu2+ and Zn2+ in water was achieved without the need for complicated electrode modification. Furthermore, it was found that the addition of Cd2+ can enhance the response current of the electrode to Zn2+, which increased the signal by eight times. After systematic optimization, the limit of detection (LOD) of 9.3 μg/L for Cu2+ and 45.3 μg/L for Zn2+ was obtained. Finally, it was successfully applied for the quantification of Cu2+ and Zn2+ with high accuracy in pig farm wastewater. This work provided a new and simple solution for fast monitoring of the wastewater from pig farms and demonstrated the potential of electrochemical measurement for application in modern animal husbandry.

Suitability of treated wastewater for irrigation and its impact on groundwater resources in arid coastal regions: Insights for water resources sustainability

Water scarcity threatens agriculture and food security in arid regions like Saudi Arabia. The nation produces significant quantities of municipal wastewater, which, with adequate treatment, could serve as an alternative water source for irrigation, thereby reducing reliance on fossil and non-renewable groundwater. This study assessed the appropriateness of using treated wastewater (TWW) for irrigation in a dry coastal agricultural region in Eastern Saudi Arabia and its impact on groundwater resources. Field investigations were conducted in Qatif to collect water samples and field measurements. A multi-criteria approach was applied to evaluate the TWW's suitability for irrigation, including complying with Saudi Standards, the Irrigation Water Quality Index (IWQI), the National Sanitation Foundation water quality index (NSFWQI), and the individual irrigation indices. In addition, the impact of TWW on groundwater was assessed through hydrogeological and isotope approaches. The results indicate that the use of TWW in the study area complied with the Saudi reuse guidelines except for nitrate, aluminum, and molybdenum. However, irrigation water quality indices classify TWW as having limitations that necessitate the use for salt-tolerant crops on permeable and well-drained soils. Stable isotopic analysis (δ2H, δ18O) revealed that long-term irrigation with TWW affected the shallow aquifer, while deep aquifers were minimally impacted due to the presence of aquitard layer. The application of TWW irrigation has successfully maintained groundwater sustainability in the study area, as evidenced by increased groundwater levels up to 2.3 m. Although TWW contributes to crop productivity, long term agricultural sustainability could be enhanced by improving effluent quality, regulating irrigation practices, implementing buffer zones, and monitoring shallow groundwater. An integrated approach that combines advanced wastewater treatment methods, community involvement, regulatory oversight, and targeted monitoring is recommended to be implemented.

Mechanisms of copper and zinc bioremoval by microalgae and bacteria grown in nutrient rich wastewaters

Swine farming produces large quantities of nutrient-rich wastewater, which often contains metals such as Cu and Zn, used as feed additives for pigs. These metals must be removed from the wastewater before discharge but their retention in the biomass can limit its subsequent utilization. Photobioreactors are a very promising alternative for swine wastewater treatment, as the consortium of microalgae and bacteria growing symbiotically in these reactors allows high nutrient and metal removal efficiency at moderate costs. This work studies the mechanisms of removal of Cu(II) and Zn(II) by the two types of microorganisms growing in these photobioreactors. A microalga commonly used in wastewater treatment (Scenedesmus almeriensis) and an activated sludge were kept in contact with synthetic wastewater containing 100 mg/L of Cu and Zn. After 72 h, Scenedesmus almeriensis removed 43% of Cu and 45% of Zn, while activated sludge removed 78% of Cu and 96% of Zn. Single and sequential extractions of the biomasses using different extracting reagents revealed that biosorption on protonable groups is the dominant removal mechanisms. Mild reagents solubilized 69% of Cu and 94% of Zn from the microalgae and 76% of Cu and 93% of Zn from the activated sludge. Low metal concentrations in the oxidizable and residual fractions evidenced minimal bioaccumulation inside the cells. FTIR and ESEM-EDX analysis confirmed biosorption by ion exchange and complexation as the main metal remediation mechanisms. The weak bonds of the biosorbed Cu and Zn ions are beneficial for the valorization of biomass and the obtaining of safe bioproducts.

468 https://doi.org/10.31881/TLR.2024.010 Decolourization of Synthetic Wastewater Related to the Textile Industry Using Photo-Fenton

The artisanal textile industry plays a vital role in the economy by providing a wide variety of products. However, this sector generates large quantities of wastewater containing a diversity of organic compounds, including dyes that, when released into the environment, contribute significantly to water pollution. In this research, samples of synthetic wastewater containing green aniline were subjected to decolourization using the photo-Fenton process. Synthetic textile wastewater was prepared at a concentration of 40 mg/L, and a calibration curve was established. During the treatment, ferrous sulfate (at concentrations of 50 and 150 mg/L) and H2O2 (at concentrations of 0.5 and 1.0 g/L) were added to 1 L of the synthetic effluent in a stirring medium (at 1000 rpm) and exposed to solar radiation for 1, 2, or 3 hours, while maintaining a pH of 3. To quantify the degree of decolourization, absorbance was measured at the beginning and end of the treatment using a colourimeter. The optimal conditions for Fe2+ concentration, H2O2 concentration, and treatment time, with an initial concentration of 40 mg/L, were found to be 150 mg/L, 1.0 g/L, and 3 hours, respectively. Under these conditions, the percentage of decolourization reached 97.546%. The study demonstrated that the concentration of Fe2+ and treatment time, as well as the interaction between Fe2+ concentration, H2O2 concentration, and treatment time, significantly influenced the degree of decolourization. Conversely, the concentration of H2O2 and other interactions did not exhibit significant influence.

Covalently construction of C-GSH-AuNCs@UiO-66-NH2 composites as an efficient turn-on fluorescence sensor for UO22+

Due to the continuous expansion of the nuclear power industry, the exploitation of uranium resources has led to the discharge of large quantities of uranium-rich wastewater into the environment, which poses a major threat to the environment and human health. Rapid detection of uranium in water bodies is of great significance for early warning of uranium contamination in the environment, safe discharge and real-time regulation of nuclear waste, and sustainable development of energy and ecological environment. Herein, we report a new “turn-on” fluorescent sensor for the detection of UO22+ in aqueous solutions. The fluorescent sensor was obtained by covalently bonding UiO-66-NH2 with gold nanoclusters GSH-AuNCs and showed a sensitive fluorescence enhancement response to UO22+ at low solid-liquid ratio, with a detection limit of 15.3 nmol L−1. With the advantages of intuitive visual detection, reusability and easy separation, the sensitive fluorescence sensor has great potential for the detection of UO22+ in aqueous solutions.

Effect of the number of Cyperus rotundus and medium height on the performance of batch-constructed wetland in treating aquaculture effluent

Increasing aquaculture cultivation produces large quantities of wastewater. If not handled properly, it can have negative impacts on the environment. Constructed wetlands (CWs) are one of the phytoremediation methods that can be applied to treat aquaculture effluent. This research was aimed at determining the performance of Cyperus rotundus in removing COD, BOD, TSS, turbidity, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and phosphate from the batch CW system. Treatment was carried out for 30 days with variations in the number of plants (10, 15, and 20) and variations in media height (10, 12, and 14 cm). The result showed that aquaculture effluent contains high levels of organic compounds and nutrients, and C. rotundus can grow and thrive in 100% of aquaculture effluent. Besides that, the use of C. rotundus in CWs with the effect of numbers of plants and media height showed performance of COD, BOD, TSS, turbidity, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and phosphate with 70, 79, 90, 96, 64, 82, 92, and 48% of removal efficacy, respectively. There was no negative impact observed on C. rotundus growth after exposure to aquaculture effluent, as indicated by the increase in wet weight, dry weight, and growth rate when compared to the control. Thus, adding aquaculture effluent to CWs planted with C. rotundus supports the growth and development of plants while also performing phytoremediation.

Perencanaan dan penghitungan pengolahan limbah tahu di Pabrik Tahu Banggle, Jombang

Background: The soybean processing industry into tofu has environmental impacts. This industry generates waste in the form of wastewater, which if discharged without prior management will cause damage and pollution to the environment. One of them is the Banggle tofu factory in Jombang. This study aims to create a plan and calculation of wastewater treatment installations at the factory. Methods: The research method is laboratory testing to determine the quantity of wastewater and direct observation to determine field conditions so that appropriate plans can be made according to the field conditions. Finding: This study found that the largest wastewater discharge is 18,000 L/day or 18 m3/day. Therefore, pipes are buried underground to avoid leakage. This research also produces the sizes that must be met by the wastewater treatment tank as a result of calculations. Conclusion: These sizes need to be considered in the installation of wastewater treatment facilities.

Wastewater generation model to predict impacts of urine separation on wastewater treatment plants.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are under increasing pressure to enhance resource efficiency and reduce emissions into water bodies. The separation of urine within the catchment area may be an alternative to mitigate the need for costly expansions of central WWTPs. While previous investigations assumed a spatially uniform implementation of urine separation across the catchment area, the present study focuses on an adapted stochastic wastewater generation model, which allows the simulation of various wastewater streams (e.g., urine) on a household level. This enables the non-uniform separation of urine across a catchment area. The model is part of a holistic modelling framework to determine the influence of targeted urine separation in catchments on the operation and emissions of central WWTPs, which will be briefly introduced. The wastewater generation model is validated through an extensive sampling and measurement series. Results based on observed and simulated wastewater quantity and quality for a catchment area of 366 residents for two dry weather days indicate the suitability of the model for wastewater generation and transport modelling. Based on this, four scenarios for urine separation were defined. The results indicate a potential influence of spatial distribution on the peaks of total nitrogen and total phosphorus.

Development of low-cost natural adsorbent for the abatement of pollution from tannery effluent – A green technology

Tanneries are known to be one of the most polluting industries due to the generation of harmful contaminants at various stages, from the beam house to finishing. Each day, significant quantities of tannery wastewater containing contaminants like chromium salts are released into open areas, farmlands, rivers and other corpses of water. This practice poses a severe threat to the environment health, leading to extensive soil and water pollution. In this study, a biological material (scales of fish Catla catla) is employed as an adsorbent for biosorption of contaminants from tannery effluent. Every day a considerable amount of fish scales is generated and thrown away from the local fish market, which burdens the environment and causes environmental pollution. The primary emphasis of this study is to reduce wastewater pollution and the environmental burden of fish waste disposal. Two adsorbents were prepared by treating the dried fish scales with NaOH and Orthophosphoric acid to enhance the adsorbent properties by creating pores and roughness of the surface. Then, it was characterized using FTIR, SEM, and TGA analyses. After characterization, adsorbents were subjected to the adsorption of a standard chromium solution to detect the ideal adsorbent dose, contact time, and pH conditions of adsorption. The study's findings showed that during adsorption, the maximum uptake capacity of acid-treated adsorbent is found at pH 4 with an adsorbent dose of 20 g/L for a 60-minute contact time. That base-treated adsorbent is obtained at pH 2.50 with an adsorbent amount of 20 g/L for 4 hours of contact time. Then, the adsorbents were used to treat tannery effluents, and it was discovered that they successfully removed pollutants like chromic oxide, total suspended solids (TSD), total dissolved solids (TDS), BOD, COD, and others. The results indicated that the acid-treated adsorbent achieved optimal removal percentages for chromic oxide, BOD5, COD, TDS, and TSS at 72.82%, 42.85%, 56.12%, 13.37%, and 35%, respectively. Thus, the study concluded that acid and base-washed fish scale adsorbents are affordable and straightforward to use adsorbents for removing pollutants from tannery effluent.

Potential Pollution of Liquid Waste from the Agro-Industry to Rivers in the Area Around Tanjung Api-Api

Due to its high regional significance, Tanjung Api-api, currently the mainstay of South Sumatra Province, serves as a focal point for agro-industrial development programs. This research aims to identify the potential for liquid waste pollution in rivers from agro-industries around Tanjung Api-api. This research was carried out through four stages: (a) collecting physical data on land, forests, and rivers in the ecosystem conditions around the industrial area of the Tanjung Api-api area. (b) analyzing data on the physical and chemical parameters of the Telang River, (c) analyzing several physical and chemical parameters of Telang River water, (d) obtaining data on the physical and chemical parameters of liquid waste in the influent and effluent of several WWTP agro-industries in the Gasing area that have been operating. Water quality measurements were conducted in the Telang and Gasing rivers. The parameters measured and observed were TSS, pH, BOD, COD, and fatty oil parameters, respectively, once in the afternoon and evening during high and low tide, at three points: downstream, middle, and upstream. The results showed that the physical, organic, and inorganic chemical parameters in the Telang River were still below the BMLC threshold. The quantity and quality of industrial wastewater in Gasing are still below the BMLC standard for each industry but are almost close to the established quality standards. It is recommended to utilize the sludge into something more valuable, considering that the TSS produced from sludge dewatering is relatively high.

Dynamic real-time forecasting technique for reclaimed water volumes in urban river environmental management

In recent years, the utilization of wastewater recycling as an alternative water source has gained significant traction in addressing urban water shortages. Accurate prediction of wastewater quantity is paramount for effective urban river water resource management. There is an urgent need to develop advanced forecasting technologies to further enhance the accuracy and efficiency of water quantity predictions. Decomposition ensemble models have shown excellent predictive capabilities but are challenged by boundary effects when decomposing the original data sequence. To address this, a rolling forecast decomposition ensemble scheme was developed. It involves using a machine learning (ML) model for prediction and progressively integrating prediction outcomes into the original sequence using complementary ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (CEEMDAN). Long short-term memory (LSTM) is then applied for sub-signal prediction and ensemble. The ML-CEEMDAN-LSTM model was introduced for wastewater quantity prediction, compared with non-decomposed ML models, CEEMDAN-based LSTM models, and ML-CEEMDAN-based LSTM models. Three ML algorithms—linear regression (LR), gradient boosting regression (GBR), and LSTM—were examined, using real-time prediction data and historical monitoring data, with historical data selected using the decision tree method. The study used daily water volumes data from two reclaimed water plants, CH and WQ, in Beijing. The results indicate that (1) ML models varied in their selection of real-time factors, with LR performing best among ML models during testing; (2) the ML-CEEMDAN-LSTM model consistently outperformed ML models; (3) the ML-CEEMDAN-LSTM hybrid model performed better than the CEEMDAN-LSTM model across different seasons. This study offers a reliable and accurate approach for reclaimed water volumes forecasting, critical for effective water environment management.

Comparison of the Work of Wastewater Treatment Plant “Ravda” in Summer and Winter Influenced by the Seasonal Mass Tourism Industry and COVID-19

Mass tourism puts enormous pressure on wastewater treatment plants due to its expansive growth during the summer months. To adapt to the fluctuations, the Ravda wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) uses innovative methods and technologies, allowing for “shrinking” and “expanding” of the facilities according to the season. This has been built in stages over the years, with two separate biological treatment lines adapting to different numbers of tourists and to the quantity of influent wastewater. The aim of this study is to make a comparative assessment of the work of WWTP Ravda in the summer and winter seasons and its effectiveness, as well as to compare them. In addition, it examines the years of the COVID-19 pandemic, when a much higher consumption of water per person was noted. Data were analyzed for the period of 2018–2022 inclusive, comparing influent and effluent BOD5 and COD in the summer and winter. Nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiencies were also tracked. The study shows that municipal wastewater treatment is effective, but much higher values, close to the maximum permissible discharge values, are observed during the tourist season. With the continued growth of the tourism sector, the Ravda wastewater treatment plant would not be able to cope with the discharge standards set by the Ministry of Environment and Water, so measures need to be taken promptly.

Synthesis of cellulose nanofibers from jute fiber by using chemomechanical method.

Jute fiber is one of the most versatile natural fibers that is widely used as a raw material for packaging, textiles, and construction; and as a reinforcement in composite materials for heavy-duty applications. In the past, acid hydrolysis and mechanical treatment via the ball milling method were common in the extraction of cellulose nanofiber (CNFs) from natural plant fibers. However, there are some drawbacks of using those methods where there will be a huge quantity of acidic wastewater generated when the acid hydrolysis method is performed. This study investigated the potential use of a combination of chemical and mechanical methods in the extraction of jute CNFs. Through this method, the jute fibers were first chemically treated using sodium hydroxide (NaOH), sodium chlorite (NaClO 2) and sulphuric acid (H 2SO 4) to remove the non-cellulosic elements followed by mechanical milling by using a planetary ball mill. The shape and size of the obtained CNFs were observed under a field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). This study revealed that jute CNFs were successfully extracted through the combination of chemical and mechanical treatment methods where the obtained CNFs reveal themselves in smooth fibrous morphology with a diameter of 23 nm and 150-200nm in length. Jute cellulose nanofibers were successfully drawn out from raw jute fibers by means of a combination of chemical and mechanical treatment. The results obtained confirmed that the chemomechanical method is an effective technique for isolating the CNFs and its potential use as reinforcement material was explained.

Durability Assessment of Recycled Aggregate Geopolymer Concrete Mixed with Wastewater

The advancement of an environmentally friendly setting is complex due to the significant carbon footprint of cement, substantial construction and demolition waste, and large quantities of industrial waste wastewater. This study aims to increase building sustainability by analyzing the long-term durability of recycled aggregate geopolymer concrete (RGC) manufactured using four different wastewaters. To evaluate each wastewater’s effect on sulfuric acid resistance and chloride ion migration (CIM) at various curing times, RGC was used in place of fresh water in the tests. The results revealed that, when it came to acid attack, RGC made with fertilizer industry wastewater had the highest mass loss (41% higher compared to control concrete) and CIM (29% higher compared to control concrete). According to statistical studies, using wastewater from textile, fertilizer, and sugar firms did not substantially alter mass loss from acid attack or CIM.

Biological Iron Removal and Recovery from Water and Wastewater.

Iron is a common contaminant in source water and wastewater. The mining and metallurgical industries in particular can produce and discharge large quantities of wastewater with high iron concentrations. Due to the harmful effects of iron on organisms and infrastructure, efficient technologies for iron removal from water and wastewater are needed. On the other hand, iron is a valuable commodity for a wide range of applications. Microorganisms can facilitate iron removal and recovery through aerobic and anaerobic processes. The most commonly utilized microbes include iron oxidizers that facilitate iron precipitation as jarosites, schwertmannite, ferrihydrite, goethite, and scorodite, and sulfate reducers which produce hydrogen sulfide that precipitates iron as sulfides. Biological iron removal has been explored in various suspended cell and biofilm-based bioreactors that can be configured in parallel or series and integrated with precipitation and settling units for an effective flow sheet. This chapter reviews principles for biological iron removal and recovery, the microorganisms involved, reactor types, patents and examples of laboratory- and pilot-scale studies, and full-scale implementations of the technology.

Reducing the Environmental Impact of Sewer Network Overflows Using Model Predictive Control Strategy

AbstractThis paper proposes a method for reducing the environmental impact of sewer network (SN) overflows. The main objective of the paper is to minimize the wastewater quantity and the pollutant loads that overflow from the SN. The proposed algorithm to achieve this goal is Model Predictive Control using Particle Swarm Optimization as optimization method. It was tested in simulation using a simplified model of the network based on Benchmark Simulation Modelsewer as prediction model, and a forecasted influent. Three cases have been considered: (a) the fitness function is defined as the global yearly overflow volume calculated using equal weights for each tank; (b) the fitness function uses different weights for each tank depending on the medium loads and (c) integrating a penalty term related to the system state at the end of the prediction horizon in the previous fitness function. The simplified model determined a significant reduction of the integration time minimizing the optimization time.

Graphene’s Role in the Clean-Up Act: Progress in Industrial Wastewater Treatment

Water scarcity and environmental pollution are the two pressing global challenges that demand innovative solutions. In recent years, graphene-based nanomaterials have emerged as promising candidates for revolutionizing the field of water purification, particularly in the treatment of industrial wastewater. This review article, the first part of a two-part series, comprehensively explores the applications, synthesis methods and mechanisms of graphene-based nanomaterials for industrial wastewater treatment. Industrial activities generate vast quantities of wastewater contaminated with a myriad of organic and inorganic pollutants, heavy metals and dyes. Traditional water treatment methods often fall short in efficiently removing these contaminants, leading to significant environmental repercussions. In contrast, graphene-based nanomaterials exhibit exceptional properties, including a high specific surface area, excellent electrical conductivity and superior mechanical strength, making them highly attractive for wastewater treatment applications. This article begins by providing an overview of the properties of graphene and its derivatives, such as graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), which form the foundation of graphene-based nanomaterials. Our discussion focuses on the many approaches to the synthesis of these nanomaterials, with particular attention paid to their scalability, cost-effectiveness, and influence on the environment. This review focuses on the various applications of graphene-based nanomaterials in the in the removal of organic pollutants and dyes through adsorption, coagulation and photocatalysis. The unique structural and chemical properties of graphene-based nanomaterials enable them to selectively adsorb pollutants, even in the presence of competing ions, making them highly efficient in complex wastewater matrices. Furthermore, we explore the mechanistic aspects of pollutant removal by graphene-based nanomaterials, elucidating the role of surface functionalization, intermolecular interactions and photocatalytic processes. In addition to their pollutant removal capabilities, graphene-based nanomaterials also exhibit remarkable regeneration potential, making them economically sustainable for long-term industrial wastewater treatment applications. The challenges associated with large-scale implementation, including cost considerations, environmental impact assessments and regulatory compliance are also discussed. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current state of research in graphene-based nanomaterials for industrial wastewater treatment. By critically evaluating the existing iterature, this review serves as a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners seeking to advance sustainable and effective strategies for the industrial wastewater treatment through the integration of graphene-based nanomaterials.

Wastewater management from municipal slaughterhouses in Mexico: quantities produced, existing legislation, treatment processes applied and future challenges

Wastewater from municipal slaughterhouses remains a persistent issue in the world, owing to its inherent characteristics it has been categorized as one of the most environmentally detrimental water sources. Mexico has 972 registered facilities dedicated to meat processing, so it is necessary to establish the best treatment options in order to achieve efficient control of the wastewater produced, reduce water consumption and enhance the utilization of natural resources. The objective of this study was to estimate the quantities of municipal slaughterhouse wastewater produced in Mexico and to provide information on the legislation applicable to the disposal and discharge of these effluents. It also presents the nature-based solutions that could be applied and that are technically and economically feasible, as well as future opportunities for the sustainable management of this type of wastewater. The state of Jalisco is the largest generator of wastewater and solid waste in the country, and significant progress has been made in the transition of public policies toward a sustainability model nationwide. These advancements are supported by legal foundations, institutional frameworks, and governmental bodies. The competitive advantages of nature-based solutions such as constructed wetlands over other treatment technologies include low operation and maintenance costs, ease of implementation, low energy consumption, and the fact that they are not harmful to nature and receiving bodies. While significant progress has been made in the management and sanitation of slaughterhouse wastewater, challenges persist with regard to the technologies employed (design and operation parameters, scaling up, biochemical processes involved, etc.) which in turn become excellent areas of opportunity for future research.

The Effect of Municipal Biosolids on the Growth, Physiology and Synthesis of Phenolic Compounds in Ocimum basilicum L.

The continuous development of drinking water networks is leading to the production of increasing amounts of waste water and sewage sludge. Secondary-treated sewage sludge is called biosolids and can be used as fertilizers in agriculture due to its rich nutrient content. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of biosolids mixed with an eroded soil on the morphology, physiology and synthesis of bioactive compounds in basil. The study was performed in pots under laboratory-controlled conditions. In total, four substrates were tested: S1 biosolids 100%, S2 biosolids 15% + eroded soil 85%, S3 eroded soil 100% and S4 control (commercial growing substrate). At the morphological level, a significant increase in plant height, number of branches, fresh biomass and dry biomass was found in the S2 variant. At the physiological level, photosynthesis and chlorophyll content did not vary significantly, but the quantum yield of PSII (ΦPSII) was significantly higher at S1 and S2. The oxidative status evaluated by determining the activity of SOD, POD and CAT enzymes was better in S2 and S3 compared to S3. Regarding the synthesis of bioactive compounds (rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid and gallic acid), it was stimulated in S1 and S2. In conclusion, biosolids application stimulated the stress response mechanisms in basil plants by increasing the quantum yield chlorophyll fluorescence and catalase activity, alleviating the negative effects of eroded soil.