Sewage Treatment Station Research Articles

Preparation of a Map of Potential Areas For the Installation of a Sewage Treatment Plant in the Porto Murtinho/MS Region

Objective: The main objective is to prepare a thematic map to identify potential areas for the installation of a Sewage Treatment Station (ETE). Theoretical Framework: This study addresses the importance of selecting locations for the installation of ETEs, which prioritize environmental and social aspects, in which geotechnologies are presented as valuable tools for efficient and integrated analysis. Method: The methodology of this research was based on the acquisition and processing of geospatial and environmental data, complemented by the generation of thematic maps such as watercourses, areas subject to flooding, roads, land use and occupation, slope, soils and distances from the urban perimeter. Data integration through map algebra was performed in the QGIS software, in addition, WRPLOT View was used for the directional analysis of the winds in Porto Murtinho/MS. Results and Discussion: The results of this study indicate that the areas with the greatest potential for installation are mostly located within 1 (one) kilometer of the urban perimeter security strip. The analysis of the prevailing winds revealed that they form a corridor in the north/south direction, suggesting that the regions east of the city are more suitable for the implementation of the treatment system. Research Implications: The multifaceted approach, considering environmental and operational factors, makes it possible to identify suitable areas for ETEs. Originality/Value: This study was developed, highlighting that limiting factors are essential in identifying areas unsuitable for installing the structure, while non-limiting maps are essential for classifying the installation potential.

Fungi as a Sustainable Solution for Heavy Metal Removal in Wastewater Treatment

This study investigates the ability of non-living fungal biomass from Aspergillus terreus, Rhizopus oligosporus, and Rhizopus arrhizus to reduce heavy metal concentrations in wastewater. Using non-living fungal blocks, the experiment targeted the removal of lead (0.70 ppm), cadmium (0.110 ppm), and copper (0.80 ppm) from wastewater at the Al-Dur district sewage treatment station. Conducted under controlled conditions (25 degrees Celsius, pH 6.5-7.6) over a 24-hour period, the results demonstrated significant reductions in metal concentrations, with statistical significance at P<0.01. These findings suggest that non-living fungal biomass could be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative for heavy metal remediation in wastewater treatment. Highlights: Fungal biomass effectively reduces lead, cadmium, copper quickly. Results statistically significant, demonstrating reliability. Sustainable, cost-effective alternative to chemical treatments. Keywords: Heavy Elements, Aspergillus Terries, Rhizopus Oligosporium, Fungal Biosorption, Non-Living Biomass

Effluent treatment plants for activities with high pollutant-degradation potential: an analysis of compliance with legal requirements

Sewage treatment plants (STPs), despite being fundamental for controlling environmental pollution, are also potential causes of environmental impact, therefore requiring an efficient self-monitoring plan to verify compliance with legal conditions. In this context, this research investigated the situation of Sewage Treatment Stations of enterprises that develop activities with high polluting degrading potential, located in Juazeiro do Norte – CE, in relation to compliance with legal guidelines. To guide this analysis, conditions were considered in resolutions from the Ceará State Environmental Council and municipal laws and decrees that deal with the matter under consideration. At the Municipal Environmental Authority of Juazeiro do Norte (AMAJU), data were collected from licensed enterprises that carried out high PPD activities, from the treatment technologies for effluents generated in each activity, from the STPs self-monitoring programs, and the types and locations of bodies receivers and the operating condition and physical flow of the AMAJU monitoring sector. The processing of data relating to the delivery of self-monitoring reports was carried out using percentages of 50 and 75%. From the analysis of the results, 48 ​​enterprises were identified that carried out high PPD activities, of which 4 were located in areas that had restrictions on this type of use. It was also verified that there was an important battery of public water supply wells surrounded by such projects. It was found that there are 70 high PPD projects that are under the jurisdiction of AMAJU and that the quality of liquid effluents from their STPs is, under specific conditions, in compliance with the release standards established by COEMA Resolution Nº 02/2017. However, it was found that the majority of the enterprises surveyed were non-compliant regarding the quantity and frequency of sending self-monitoring reports to AMAJU. These weaknesses were attributed to the reduced technical staff of the environmental agency and the absence of its minimum infrastructure for the development of the actions necessary for the implementation of an efficient environmental monitoring system. To contribute to the improvement of this system, it was suggested to strengthen AMAJU's technical, financial and institutional support, in addition to establishing a distinction in relation to the requirements regarding the frequency of analyzes and the periodicity of delivery of liquid effluent self-monitoring reports, for enterprises. with different types and classes.

Study on the Effect of Two-Phase Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Rice Straw and Rural Sludge on Hydrogen and Methane Production

Hydrogen and methane, as chemical raw materials with broad application prospects in the future market, can be produced by the two-phase anaerobic co-digestion of rice straw and sludge. The study was carried out using a medium-temperature batch experiment with rice straw, a rural crop residue from Sichuan, and residual sludge from a sewage treatment station. The effect of the mixing ratio of rice straw and rural sludge on hydrogen and methane production from anaerobic digestion was investigated with a view to alleviating the energy crisis and efficient resource utilization. The experimental results showed that hydrogen production was most favorable when rice straw/sludge = 5:1, with a cumulative hydrogen yield as high as 38.59 ± 1.12 mL/g VSadded, while methane production was most favorable when 3:1, with a cumulative methane yield as high as 578.21 ± 29.19 mL/g VSadded. By calculating the energy yield, it was determined that 3:1 is more favorable for the two-phase anaerobic digestion capacity of rice straw and sludge, which is as high as 20.88 ± 1.07 kJ/g VSadded, and its conversion of hydrogen and methane is 0.75% and 78.19%, respectively. The hydrogen production pathway was dominated by the butyric acid type, whose hydrogen production phase pH (5.84 ± 0.13) was slightly higher than the optimal pH for hydrogen-producing bacteria, while the methanogenic phase could meet the optimal pH for methanogenic bacteria (6.93 ± 0.17).

Study on sewage characteristics in rural China and pollutants removal performance of biologically enhanced internal circulation treatment system

With rapid economic development and urbanization in China, rural wastewater treatment has become an important issue. This study investigated 63 rural sewage treatment stations in northern, central and southern Shaanxi, China for a 1-year period, 2021 to 2022. The main purpose of the research was to investigate the quality and discharge characteristics of rural sewage, along with current problems in rural wastewater treatment, in order to provide evidence for the optimal construction and operation of rural sewage treatment stations. We found that the biodegradability of rural wastewater is adequate, and BOD5/COD ratio in sewage was 0.4, which is suitable for biological treatment. It has obvious intermittent flow cut-off characteristics, and the range of cut-off duration of sewage was 6–16 h/d, which leads to poor pollutant removal efficiency (COD: 50.0 ± 29.2%, NH4+-N: 46.0 ± 26.1%, TN: 38.5 ± 24.9% and TP: 38.3 ± 23.8%) in sewage treatment stations. In response to the above characteristics, the rural sewage biologically enhanced internal circulation treatment (BEICT) system was constructed. After 97 days of operation, the system has a stable removal effect on TN and TP with an average removal rate of 77.42% and 89.69%, respectively, under the condition of influent interruption for 12 h per day. The activated sludge of system maintained good activity and stable sedimentation performance during the whole experiment, with MLVSS/MLSS and SVI of 0.72 and 128 mL/g, respectively. This study can provide the basis and technical support for the accurate design of rural sewage treatment facilities, and has important significance for guiding the treatment of rural domestic sewage in China.

The pollution of bioaerosols in hospital sewage purification process: Composition characteristics, seasonal variation and risk assessment

The hospital sewage contains many pathogenic bacteria, which may produce bioaerosol and spread diseases during the sewage treatment process. In this study, the characteristics, seasonal variation, and risk assessment of the bioaerosol in hospital sewage treatment stations (HSTS) were analyzed. The concentration of bacteria in bioaerosol generated from BRT (251 CFU/m3) was higher than that in the air at SG (75 CFU/m3). Summer (506 CFU/m3) and autumn (32 CFU/m3) showed the highest levels of bacterial and intestinal bacterial concentration in the air at BRT, respectively. The percentage of microorganisms attached to small particles (<2.1 μm) (SP) ranged from 22.64% to 66.66%, which was most prevalent in winter (66.66%). Brevundimonas (38.99%), Bacteroides (11.25%), Pseudomonas (49.48%), and Ochrobactrum (41.02%) were the dominant genera in spring, summer, autumn, and winter, respectively. The dominant bacterial genera of bioaerosol in BRT and SG showed obvious seasonal variations, Bacillus were present in each season. The hazard quotient (HQ) of males was higher than that of females (HQmales: 2.60 × 10−3, HQfemales: 2.18 × 10−3), and the inhalation risks of the bacteria were highest in summer (5.98 × 10−2). Temperature and relative humidity positively influenced intestinal bacteria in bioaerosols. The potentially pathogenic were highest in spring. One hour after the sampling point, the result of the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) mode showed that the diffusion area of bioaerosol in winter (182.03 km2) was the largest. This study focused on the bioaerosol produced by hospital sewage. The results effectively revealed the seasonal variation and risk characteristics of bioaerosols, which could serve as a theoretical foundation for the future control and reduction of bioaerosols in the process of purifying municipal water.

Evaluation of the presence of drugs in sewage treatment station sludge before and after the bioremediation process by composting

Resumo A presença de fármacos residuais no ambiente é um problema crescente e de abrangência global, com ampla quantidade de pesquisas visando sua quantificação. Porém, seu comportamento e efeitos, tanto no ambiente quanto para o ser humano, ainda não são bem conhecidos. Neste trabalho foram avaliados sete fármacos: Atenolol, Carbamazepina, Clonazepan, Ibuprofeno, Paracetamol, Sinvastatina e Fluoxetina, em amostras de lodo proveniente de uma estação de tratamento de esgotos do sistema público. A extração dos compostos na matriz foi baseada na sua lixiviação em água e a quantificação analítica foi determinada por um sistema de cromatógrafo líquido de ultra performance, acoplado ao espectrômetro de massas. Os resultados indicam a possível movimentação de alguns fármacos da fase aquosa para a sólida. Observou-se que a compostagem do lodo pode favorecer a biodegradação ou mobilização dos compostos, pois houve redução significativa nas concentrações, quando comparados os valores obtidos antes e após o processo de compostagem. A não detecção de um composto não significa necessariamente que ele tenha sido degradado por microrganismos, entretanto, estudos pretéritos chegaram a resultados semelhantes, o que corrobora para a adequação da proposta metodológica e dos procedimentos adotados, contribuindo para a produção de resultados confiáveis.

Risk Mapping of Water Supply and Sanitary Sewage Systems in a City in the Brazilian Semi-Arid Region Using GIS-MCDA

It is essential to visualize water scarcity as a result of an inappropriate process of appropriation and the use of natural resources. This understanding has been gaining more and more prominence in studies in Brazil and also in the world. In this context, this research aims to map the risk of water shortages and sewage insufficiency in a Brazilian semi-arid city using GIS-MCDA. The secondary data used in this research were collected from IBGE, Compesa, and the City Hall of Caruaru and were processed using the QGIS 3.12 Bucareşti software. The Pernambuco Tridimensional database and the Analytical Hierarchy Process method were used in the process to generate the maps. After collecting and analyzing the data, it was seen that, according to the water shortage risk map, seven neighborhoods had a “Very high” risk, in which the criteria with the greatest weight were the distance from distribution reservoirs, the main supply network and altimetry. The map of the degree of sanitary sewage insufficiency showed that four neighborhoods have a “Very high” degree; these neighborhoods are far from the main sewage network and from sewage treatment stations and have the lowest rates of households served by the system. Such characteristics need to be highlighted in the planning and implementation of water and sewage services. Thus, it is concluded that the use of high-resolution spatial databases for the planning of urban services, as carried out in the present work, provides a greater level of confidence for solutions that can be implemented in the expansion of service networks to the population.

Characteristics, non-carcinogenic risk assessment and prediction by HYSPLIT of bioaerosol released from Hospital and Municipal Sewage, China

Bioaerosol is a new type of pollutant, which is related to the spread of many diseases. In particular, the bioaerosol produced in the hospital sewage treatment process contains many pathogenic bacteria, which will impact patients and surrounding residents. In this study, the biochemical tank (BRT) of the hospital sewage treatment station (HSTS) and municipal wastewater treatment plant (MWTP) were used as sampling points. The results showed that the concentration of bacteria (1843 CFU/m3) in bioaerosol produced by BRT of HSTS was higher than that in the air at BRT of MWTP (1278 CFU/m3). The proportion of small-size bacteria (<3.3 µm) in the air of HSTS and MWTP was similar. However, the abundance of small-size pathogenic bacteria in HSTS was higher than that in MWTP, such as Acinetobacter and Arcobacter. The dominant bacteria in HSTS and MWTP were different under different particle sizes. The dominant bacterial genera of bioaerosol in HSTS under different particle sizes were similar (Acinetobacter, Arcobacter, Comamonas); There were significant differences in the dominant bacterial genera of bioaerosol in MWTP under different particle sizes. The dominant strains with particle sizes ranging from 0 ∼ 0.43 µm were Acinetobacter (23.22%). Kocuria (15.13%) accounted for a relatively high proportion in the aerosol of 0.43 µm ∼ 0.65 µm. The dominant strains with particle sizes of 0.65 µm ∼ 1.1 µm and 1.1 µm ∼ 2.1 µm were relatively single, and Exiguobacterium and Paenibacillus accounted for 51.51% and 60.15%, respectively. Source tracker showed that most of the pathogenic bacteria in bioaerosols came from sewage. One hour later, the concentration of particulate matter in the place 200 m away from BRT of HSTS (1 × 10−10 mg/m3) was higher than that in MWTP (1 × 10−11 mg/m3). The hazard quotient (HQ) of people around HSTS (HQmale: 1.70 × 10−1; HQfemale: 1.36 × 10−1) was higher than that of MWTP (HQmale: 1.18 × 10−1; HQfemale: 9.40 × 10−2). Pathogenic bacteria (Acinetobacter, Arcobacter) were detected in HSTS and MWTP and the BugBase phenotype prediction results showed potential pathogenicity. More attention should be paid to the protection of the people. It is suggested to strengthen the air sterilization treatment near HSTS according to the diffusion trajectory of bioaerosol, and the surrounding personnel should wear N95 and other protective masks.

New Sensors for Monitoring pH and Corrosion of Embedded Steel in Mortars during Sulfuric Acid Attack.

The sulfuric acid attack is a common form of degradation of reinforced concrete in contact with industrial wastewater, mine water, acid rain, or in sewage treatment stations. In this work, new pH-sensitive IrOx electrodes were developed for monitoring the pH inside mortar or concrete. To test their ability, the pH sensors were embedded in mortar samples at different depths and the samples were exposed to sulfuric acid solution. In another set of experiments, iron wires were placed at the same depths inside similar mortar samples and their corrosion was monitored as the acid attacked the mortar. Severe acid attack led to cement dissolution and formation of gypsum. The new pH sensors succeeded in measuring the pH changes inside the mortars. The pH gradient, from the high acid environment to the high alkaline mortar interior, occurred in a narrow region. Corrosion of the iron electrodes started only when the acidic solution was in their close vicinity.

Incorporation of the Sludge of Sewage Treatment Plant on Ceramic Bricks Manufacture

Treatment processes used in most sewage treatment stations generate as by-product a material named sludge. The amount of sludge grows proportionally with the increase in effluent collection and treatment services, which in turn must accompany population growth. The disposition of waste generated in an environmentally correct and economically viable way is one of the biggest challenges faced by companies that operate sanitation services. The ceramic industry presents a great potential for the use of this waste. The goal of this work was to evaluate the effect of the incorporation of the sewage sludge in the ceramic mass for the manufacture of solid bricks. The water absorption was lower for bricks with 10% sludge, but it increased for bricks with 15% sludge, resulting in products that presented water absorption slightly beyond of the limit of the standard NBR 15270. However, the results are promising because they show that additions of 10% or 15% sludge increased the compressive strength markedly.

Reconstruction Example of Buried Small Domestic Sewage Treatment Station

Reconstruction Example of Buried Small Domestic Sewage Treatment Station

Underestimated contribution of fugitive emission to VOCs in pharmaceutical industry based on pollution characteristics, odorous activity and health risk assessment

Fugitive emission has been becoming an important source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in pharmaceutical industry, but the exact contribution of fugitive emission remains incompletely understood. In present study, pollution characteristics, odorous activity and health risk of stack and fugitive emissions of VOCs from four functional units (e.g., workshop, sewage treatment station, raw material storage and hazardous waste storage) of three representative pharmaceutical factories were investigated. Workshop was the dominant contributor to VOCs of fugitive emission in comparison with other functional units. Extreme high concentration of VOCs from fugitive emission in unsealed workshop (94.87 mg/m3) was observed relative to sealed one (1.18 mg/m3), accounting for 31% and 5% of total VOCs, respectively. Fugitive emission of VOCs in the unsealed workshop mainly consisted of n-hexane, 1-hexene and dichloromethane. Odorous activity indexes and non-cancer hazard ratios of these VOCs from fugitive emission in the unsealed workshop were as high as that from stack exhaust. Furthermore, cancer risk of dichloromethane from fugitive emission and stack exhaust was up to (1.6-1.8) × 10−5. Odorous activity or health risk index of the VOCs from fugitive emission was up to 13 or 11 times of the corresponding threshold value, posing remarkable health threat on pharmaceutical workers. Our findings highlighted the possibly underestimated contribution of fugitive emission on VOCs in the pharmaceutical industry.

Analysis on the Influence of Constructing Sewage Treatment Stations on Hydrological Monitoring in the Upstream and Downstream of Hydrological Stations

Analysis on the Influence of Constructing Sewage Treatment Stations on Hydrological Monitoring in the Upstream and Downstream of Hydrological Stations

Achieving partial denitrification using organic matter in brewery wastewater as carbon source

To find a cost-effective carbon source for partial denitrification (PD), brewery wastewater was utilized to test the viability of initiating PD. The Sbre (sludge from the biological treatment tank of Tsingtao Brewery Plant sewage treatment station) and Slab (sludge from laboratory) were fed with brewery wastewater at CODCr/NO3−-N (C/N) ratios of 8.0–10.0 and 5.0 for 95 days at 25 ± 1 °C, respectively. The mean NO3−-N to NO2−-N transformation ratio (NTR) in long-term operation was 40.0% in the Sbre system and 83.2% in the Slab system. Batch tests with C/N ratio of 2.2–4.4 were conducted after 95 days incubation and the result suggested that C/N ratio of 4.3 ± 0.1 contributed more to NO2−-N accumulation in both systems. Thauera bacteria, known to be beneficial for NO2−-N accumulation, became the dominant community. The relative abundances of Thauera on day 95 in the Sbre and Slab system were 83.36% and 79.11%, respectively.

Water productivity in cultivating the cowpea under different production systems

The increase in irrigated areas and the water crisis in numerous regions have encouraged the use of irrigation systems and management that afford greater efficiency in the use of water. Wastewater is one option for maximising this efficiency. The aim of this study was to evaluate the indicators of water productivity in the cultivation of irrigated cowpea under different production systems. The study was carried out in the experimental area of the Sewage Treatment Station (ETE) located in Tianguá, Ceará. The experiment consisted of six production systems (treatments) in subdivided plots distributed in a completely randomised design (CRD) with fifteen replications in a (2 x 3) factorial scheme, i.e. two sources of water and energy: drinking water + electricity from the electrical grid (conventional system) and wastewater + solar photovoltaic energy (alternative system), and the different sources of fertiliser (mineral and organic), in addition to the control treatments. The water productivity indicator that expresses the relationship between the yield of the crop and the volume of water applied was determined, and the index in economic terms between crop yield and the volume of water applied. The system using wastewater and organic fertiliser showed better water productivity, 0.422 kg m-3, while the system that used drinking water with no fertiliser showed less efficiency, 0.188 kg m-3. Water use efficiency in the systems that used wastewater was higher in relation to the systems that used drinking water. Irrigation with treated domestic effluent increases water productivity and water use efficiency, in addition to being a strategy for agricultural exploitation under conditions of water scarcity

Shifts of acidogenic bacterial group and biogas production by adding two industrial residues in anaerobic co-digestion with cattle manure

Anaerobic biodigestion figures as a sustainable alternative to avoid discharge of cattle manure in the environment, which results in biogas and biofertilizer. The anaerobic bioconversion of biomass to methane via anaerobic biodigestion requires a multi-step biological process, including microorganisms with distinct roles. Here, the dynamics of acidogenic bacterial populations by classical microbiology, as well as biogas productivity by gasometer and chromatography, in the anaerobic co-digestion process were studied. This paper presents a performance evaluation of co-digestion systems for biogas production using cattle manure and wastes from the Sewage Treatment Station of a brewery and ricotta cheese whey. The search revealed that the type of substrate added in co-digestion with cattle manure, Carbon/Nitrogen ratio, and Ammonia Nitrogen were the most influential factors that explained many of the variations of the microbiota in the biodigesters fed. This study demonstrated a good potential for the use of ricotta cheese whey in the production of biogas and its further conversion into energy. These findings could provide some fundamental and technical information for the co-treatment of industrial derived wastes in centralized anaerobic biodigestion facilities in a sustainable manner with high process capacity and methane recovery.

EVALUATE AND RECTIFICATE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SPIRAL PUMP OF THE HOLLY KARBALA SEWAGE TREATMENT STATION

This paper evaluates the performance of the primary spiral (Archimedes) screw pump in the old sewage treatment station of the holly Karbala. This paper evaluates the pump according to its volumetric flow rate, determines the problems, diagnoses the defects, and finds the solutions. In addition, the paper suggests the optimum design for the pump. The results show a big effect of the side profile, pitch, and radius of the torque tube upon the discharge of the pump.

Tidal and Physicochemical Effects on Phytoplankton Community Variability at Tagus Estuary (Portugal)

The Tagus Estuary is one of the largest estuaries in Europe and merges large urban and industrial areas. Understanding phytoplankton community variability is key for an appropriate assessment of the estuarine ecological status. The objective of the present study was to assess the importance of the tidal influence over the phytoplankton community and to evaluate its main drivers of variation. Weekly sampling was performed at two stations on the Tagus Estuary with different anthropogenic pressures (Alcântara and Barreiro). The sampling covered periods with different tidal amplitude. Alcântara presented both the lowest and highest concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and orthophosphate concentration (DIP), depending on the tidal height. Such high variability in this sampling station is probably due to its proximity to a sewage treatment station outfall and to the estuary mouth. In the present study, both seasonal and tidal variations influenced the chlorophyll a concentration of which the tidal cycle explained up to 50% of the chlorophyll a variations. Chlorophyll a displayed a seasonal trend with two peaks of phytoplankton biomass between spring and mid-summer. The main drivers of chlorophyll a variation were radiation, water temperature, tidal amplitude, salinity, river discharge, and the inorganic nutrients DIN and DSi. The estuarine phytoplankton community was mainly dominated by Bacillariophyceae, especially at Alcântara. Bacillariophyceae were less important at Barreiro, where communities had a higher representation from other phytoplankton groups, such as Cryptophyceae and Prasinophyceae. The drivers of variability in the community composition were similar to those influencing the total biomass. In conclusion, the spring-neap tidal cycle strongly influenced the phytoplankton community, both in terms of biomass and community composition. Of the several tidal conditions, spring tides were the tidal condition that presented both higher biomass and higher Bacillariophyceae representativity in the community.

Simulating the migration and species distribution of Cr and inorganic ions from tanneries in the vadose zone

The pollution in soils and groundwater caused by the tannery have attracted public attention. However, few studies have been done on the migration and species distribution of Cr and coexisting ions produced by tanning in the vadose zone. In this paper, an in-production tannery and a suspended tannery were selected to compare the migration of Cr and other inorganic ions from tanneries in the vadose zone. Results showed that the sewage treatment station and the temporary waste storage site had the highest concentration of pollutants. Cr exhibited a cumulative effect in the middle soil layer (100–300 cm) in the suspended tannery. However, in the in-production tannery, the cumulative effect occurred only at the temporary waste storage site. The distribution of pollutants in the soils at different depths was fixed in the suspended tannery field. But in the in-production tannery field, it was closely related to daily production. Visual MINTEQ showed that the saturation index of a species of Cr was positive or negative simultaneously in the two sites, indicating that (1) the change of saturation index of Cr had no relationship with operation of tannery. (2) the influence of Cr precipitation or dissolution was related to the source strength, the coexisting ions, and pH. This study contributed to understanding the migration of characteristic pollutants caused by tanneries in the vadose zone under different external environments, and provided a reference for the quantification calculation of the source load of pollutants caused by industrial infiltration into the groundwater.