Turbidity Research Articles

Time series forecasting of temperature and turbidity due to global warming in river Ganga at and around Varanasi, India.

The fluctuation in the river ecosystem network due to climate change-induced global warming affects aquatic organisms, water quality, and other ecological processes. Assessment of climate change-induced global warming impacts on regional hydrological processes is vital for effective water resource management and planning. The global warming effect on river water quality has been analyzed in this work. The river Ganga stretch near the Varanasi region has been chosen as the study area for this analysis. The air temperature has been predicted using the seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) and the Prophet model. The Prophet model has shown better accuracy with a root mean square percent error (RMSPE) value of 3.2% compared to the SARIMA model, which has an RMPSE value of 7.54%. The river temperature, turbidity, and nighttime radiance values have been predicted for the years 2022 and 2025 using the long short-term memory (LSTM) algorithm. The anthropogenic effect on the river has been evaluated by using the nighttime radiance imageries. The predicted average river temperature shows an increment of 0.58°C and 0.63°C for the city and non-city river stretches, respectively, in 2025 compared to 2022. Similarly, the river turbidity shows an increment of 1.21 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU) and 1.17 NTU for the city and non-city stretch, respectively, in 2025 compared to 2022. For future predicted years, the nighttime radiance values for the region situated near the city river stretch show a significant rise compared to the region that lies nearby the non-city river stretch.

Non-Carcinogenic Health Risk Evaluation of Elevated Fluoride in Groundwater and Its Suitability Assessment for Drinking Purposes Based on Water Quality Index.

Fluoride (F−) contamination in drinking groundwater is a significant human health risk in Pakistan. Moreover, high fluoride pollution in drinking water causes a variety of disorders, including dental, neurological, and skeletal fluorosis. The aim of this research was to evaluate the health risk of elevated fluoride in groundwater and its suitability assessment for drinking purposes. The total of (n = 37) samples were collected from community tube wells of Quetta Valley, Balochistan, Pakistan. The results show a mean pH value of 7.7, TDS of 404.6 mg/L, EC of 500 µs/cm, depth of 96.8 feet, and turbidity of 1.7 nephelometric turbidity units. The mean values of HCO3−, Ca2+, Mg2+, and Na+, were 289.5, 47.5, 30.6, and 283.3 mg/L, respectively. The mean values of SO42−, NO3−, K+, Cl−, and Fe2+, were 34.9, 1.0, 1.6, 25.6, and 0.01 mg/L, respectively. The F− concentration in the groundwater varied between 0.19 and 6.21, with a mean value of 1.8 mg/L, and 18 samples out of 37 were beyond the WHO recommended limit of 1.5 mg/L. The hydrochemical analysis results indicated that among the groundwater samples of the study area, 54% samples were Na-HCO3 type and 46% were mixed CaNaHCO3 type. The saturation indices of the mineral phases reveal that the groundwater sources of the study area were saturated with CaCO3 and halide minerals due to their positive (SI) values. Such minerals include calcite, dolomite, gypsum, and fluorite. The principal component analysis results reveal that the groundwater sources of the study area are contaminated due to geological and anthropogenic actions. The health risk assessment results of the F− concentrations show the ranges of ADDingestion for children, females, and males in the Quetta Valley, and their mean values were observed to be 0.093052, 0.068825, and 0.065071, respectively. The HQingestion mean values were 1.55086, 1.147089, and 1.084521 for children, females, and males, respectively. It was noticed that children had the highest maximum and average values of ADDingestion and HQingestion in the research area, indicating that groundwater fluoride intake poses the greatest health risk to children. The water quality index (WQI) analyses show that 44% of the samples belong to the poor-quality category, 49% were of good quality, and 8% of the samples of the study area belong to the excellent category.

Turbidity dynamics of large lakes and reservoirs in northeastern China in response to natural factors and human activities

The water environment has experienced prominent changes worldwide in recent decades, especially in inland waters. As an important lake region in China, the water turbidity of lakes/reservoirs in the Northeast Plain-Mountainous Region (NPLR) remains less understood, especially the influencing mechanisms of regional climatic conditions and human activities. To enhance the knowledge of turbidity dynamics and explanatory variables of NPLR water bodies, long-term turbidity estimates of lakes/reservoirs were derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)-Aqua observations between 2003 and 2019. The results show that most lakes/reservoirs became less turbid in NPLR during the study period, as indicated by a decreasing turbidity trend of 0.05–2.4 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU)/year. Overall, the decreased turbidity was mainly attributed to the decreased wind speed (from 2003 to 2012, r = 0.85, p < 0.01), but also to the increased normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) of the forest region (r = −0.80, p < 0.01), with the latter being a result of the forest protection efforts of the Chinese government. The increased snowmelt depth also contributed to a substantial turbidity decline in April. In addition, distinct seasonal patterns of turbidity were observed in the NPLR, with less turbid water in the wet season (i.e., from June to August) and turbid water in the dry season (i.e., October, November, and April in the next year). This result is attributed to the rapid seasonal dynamics of precipitation and runoff. This study provided a comprehensive analysis on the influencing mechanisms of turbidity dynamics in NPLR lakes; in particular, for the first time, revealed the impacts of the national policy-mandated forest development and the snowmelt depth on lake turbidity. These findings will provide vital information for government decision-making in water environment protection in NPLR and other similar areas with densely distributed lakes.

Machine learning-based estimation of riverine nutrient concentrations and associated uncertainties caused by sampling frequencies

Accurate and sufficient water quality data is essential for watershed management and sustainability. Machine learning models have shown great potentials for estimating water quality with the development of online sensors. However, accurate estimation is challenging because of uncertainties related to models used and data input. In this study, random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), and back-propagation neural network (BPNN) models are developed with three sampling frequency datasets (i.e., 4-hourly, daily, and weekly) and five conventional indicators (i.e., water temperature (WT), hydrogen ion concentration (pH), electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO), and turbidity (TUR)) as surrogates to individually estimate riverine total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), and ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N) in a small-scale coastal watershed. The results show that the RF model outperforms the SVM and BPNN machine learning models in terms of estimative performance, which explains much of the variation in TP (79 ± 1.3%), TN (84 ± 0.9%), and NH4+-N (75 ± 1.3%), when using the 4-hourly sampling frequency dataset. The higher sampling frequency would help the RF obtain a significantly better performance for the three nutrient estimation measures (4-hourly > daily > weekly) for R2 and NSE values. WT, EC, and TUR were the three key input indicators for nutrient estimations in RF. Our study highlights the importance of high-frequency data as input to machine learning model development. The RF model is shown to be viable for riverine nutrient estimation in small-scale watersheds of important local water security.

Implementation and Calibration of an IoT Light Attenuation Turbidity Sensor

Turbidity is an important characteristic of water quality that can indicate the presence of undesirable suspended particulate matter. Having access to an inexpensive and effective turbidity sensor unlocks numerous Internet of Things (IoT) possibilities for remote environmental monitoring. Optical light attenuation turbidity sensors operate on the premise of detecting signal degradation from a light source due to scattering from particles in a solution. This approach is technologically unpretentious and only requires a handful of inexpensive electronic components to construct. However, while this method is touted as “simple”, a significant challenge lies in sensor calibration. That is, converting an analogue signal into a meaningful and accurate digital reading in a known turbidity measurement standard (e.g., Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU)). This paper presents an IoT light attenuation turbidity sensor design and explores the calibration process to determine the sensor's range and accuracy. Sensor calibration is undertaken using Formazin turbidity standards and is cross-checked against a commercial turbidimeter. We provide a step-by-step procedure for determining the correct signal strength to use and a functional form for the sensor response to the Formazin standard. Finally, we specify an estimate of the accuracy of the sensor and suggest the next steps in the proposed turbidity sensor's development. Results indicate that the sensor achieves within 2%-10% of accuracy at higher ranges (100–4000 NTU), but its performance becomes significantly less reliable in low NTU ranges (< 100 NTU) where the error rate increases to 26%. The turbidity sensor is used as part of an IoT remote aquatic environmental monitoring platform.

Application of Cement Paste in Mining Works, Environmental Protection, and the Sustainable Development Goals in the Mining Industry

Cement paste is an already well-known material used in ore mining. It is mainly used to fill excavation areas and the tailings from the surface return to underground mines. In this way, the amount of deposited material and degradation of the surface of the terrain are reduced. The paste itself can be used as an artificial barrier between mining works and underground watercourses. Significant economic and environmental benefits can be expected from using cement paste, which would contribute to sustainable development. The basic materials that make up cemented paste backfill (CPB) are flotation tailings, cement, and water. For CPB to be adequately and safely applied to the filling of excavation spaces and indirectly to the protection of the groundwater, environment, and sustainable development of the mining industry, it must meet certain physical–mechanical, physicochemical, and deformation properties. This paper presents the results of synthesized and analyzed samples of different compositions based on flotation tailings (from the production of ZiJin Copper in Bor, Serbia), cement, and water. The methods used for chemical and mineralogical tests include inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and nephelometric turbidity units (NTUs; turbidimetry). The results prepared with CPB consisting of 5% cement, 24% water, and 71% flotation tailings were the most acceptable.

Quality of rainwater drained by a green roof in the metropolitan region of Recife, Brazil

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential non-potable uses that can be given to the water flowing from a green roof through the characterization of its quality using the parameters and reference values contained in the Brazilian Standard ABNT NBR 15527:2007. The research was carried out in the Garage Building of the Charles Darwin Business, for a period of five months. Fifteen samples were collected from three collection points (rainwater, irrigation, and drainage from the green roof) and evaluated. For the qualitative characterization of the waters, the physicochemical parameters hydrogen potential (pH), turbidity (TBD), apparent color (AC), free residual chlorine (FRC) and electrical conductivity (EC), in addition to the microbiological parameters total coliforms, Escherichia coli and number of heterotrophic bacteria (HB), were determined. Data were subjected to descriptive and multivariate statistical analysis. The results obtained show that the green roof contributed to the reduction of rainwater pH. The green roof drainage water had higher levels of AC and TBD due to the concentrations of suspended particles, which acted as a source of EC. The FRC values complied with the legislation in all treatments. Likewise, the microbiological parameters partially complied with the standards established by the legislation. Cluster analysis formed two distinct groups, G1 comprising HB and TBD, and G2 containing the variables pH, AC, EC, and FRC. Although the quality of the drainage water does not meet all the standards required by law, this water has the potential for reuse for non-potable purposes.

Simulated Y-site compatibility of atosiban acetate with selected intravenous drugs

ObjectiveThe physical compatibility of atosiban and selected drugs during simulated Y-site administration was evaluated. We also searched for any compatibility predictions regarding its physicochemical properties. Study designTest admixtures were prepared by mixing 5 mL of each study drug solution with 5 mL of atosiban solution in a 1:1 ratio to simulate Y-site infusion. Assessments were made immediately after mixing (baseline), and at 0.5, 1, and 3 h. Visual incompatibility was defined as a presence of haze or any visible particulate matter, gas formation, or colour change. Turbidity and pH variation of the admixtures were also assessed using instrumental methods. ResultsNone of the admixtures used with atosiban exhibited visual changes and no incompatibility regarding instrumental methods were observed, because no admixture had an increase of 0.5 nephelometric turbidity units, and no pH change was above one unit when compared to baseline. However, the pH of ampicillin and omeprazole admixtures fell outside of the atosiban stability range. ConclusionsOur study showed no physical incompatibility between atosiban and the test drugs in terms of visual changes or nephelometric and pH measurements. However, we recommend against atosiban and ampicillin or omeprazole coadministration until complementary compatibility studies are performed.

From Domestic Sewage to Potable Water Quality: New Approach in Organic Matter Removal Using Natural Treatment Systems for Wastewater

Natural treatment systems for wastewater (NTSW) allow us to not only reduce environmental pollution with sewage, but also to facilitate the reuse of water. This study presents almost 2.5 years of operation of a NTSW pilot plant, where the purpose of which was to purify domestic sewage from the building of the Institute of Applied Ecology (with three permanent residents and up to five employees) to the quality of drinking water. The NTSW consists of a septic tank, compost beds, and denitrification, phosphorus, and active carbon beds. With an active area of 3 m2 per person and a hydraulic residence time (HRT) of 6 days (excluding the HRT of the tank of 8 days), the NTSW allowed for a mean reduction of 99%, 95%, and 98% for the biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total suspended solids (TSSs), respectively. The renewed water was characterized by average concentrations of 2.2 mg O2/dm3, 17.8 mg O2/dm3, 2.1 mg/dm3, 4.9 mg O2/dm3, and 0.6 nephelometric turbidity units for BOD, COD, TSS, oxidation, and turbidity, respectively. Thus, it met Polish and European drinking water requirements in terms of oxidation and turbidity. This water can be reused for toilet flushing and irrigation.

Extraction of Polyphenols from Unripened Coffee (Coffea Arabica) Residues and Use as a Natural Coagulant for Removing Turbidity

The coffee agribusiness generates significant amounts of waste that becomes an environmental problem in producing countries. For example, synthetic coagulants have sustainability disadvantages. Immature coffee beans are collected together with mature beans, and their high polyphenol content makes them unsuitable for coffee production and commercialization. This paper aims to test the coagulant activity of polyphenols extracted from Coffea arabica residues in synthetic water samples to use them as raw material for producing a natural coagulant based on bioeconomy. It would thus allow immature coffee beans to recover, avoiding their inadequate disposition. An extract was obtained from residual green coffee beans using the ultrasound-assisted separation technique with a mixture of ethanol and water in a 1:1 ratio. The Folin–Ciocalteu method was applied for the total polyphenols quantification, resulting in a concentration of 73.54 ± 0.05 mg GAE (Gallic Acid Equivalent) per gram on a dry coffee basis (GAE/gDB). The synthetic water for the study was prepared with kaolin, showing initial turbidity of 520.90 ± 0.1 NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Units). First, the effect of pH was determined on the coagulant activity at a fixed dose of polyphenols 2.6 mg GAE/L. Second, the dose and pH results were evaluated using a multilevel factorial design with 5.20, 3.90, 2.60, and 1.30 mg GAE/L doses and pH at 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0. Third, the turbidity removal achieved was 99.94% at a dose of 3.9 ± 0.05 mg GAE/L and a pH of 2.5. Fourth, the result was compared with the turbidity removal of the aluminum sulfate dosed at a concentration of 3 mg/L on the same water type, with a pH variation between 5.5 and 8, obtaining 98.69% of turbidity removed. Finally, the research demonstrated that the polyphenols extracted from the residues of the Coffea arabica species possess a high electrochemical affinity that would allow removing turbidity by coagulation in waters at specific pH levels with similar removals to those obtained with aluminum sulfate.

Spatio-temporal variability of Turbidity over Ukai Reservoir, by using RS2/R2A LISS III Satellite datasets

Turbidity is an optical determination of water clarity. It is one of the most important optically active water parameter to assess the water quality through the remote sensing observations. Turbidity measurements come from suspension of sediment such as silt or clay, inorganic materials, or organic matter such as algae, plankton and decaying material. Turbidity and total suspended matter often overlap each other. However, it is not a direct measurement of the total suspended materials in water. Instead, as a measure of relative clarity, turbidity is often used to indicate changes in the total suspended solids concentration in water without providing an exact measurement of solids. Through remote sensing we can monitor the turbidity in large water bodies, rives, coastal areas etc. An algorithm has been developed to estimate the turbidity (in NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Unit) over inland waters (Ukai reservoir) using empirical relationship between normalized Green and Red bands (NDTI : Normalized Difference Turbidity Index) of Resourcesat-2 and Resourcsat-2A Linear Imaging Self Scanning-III (RS2 and R2A LISS-III) dataset. Derived algorithm shows a strong coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.97) with the in-situ turbidity measurements. The field measurements were carried out over Ukai reservoir on 27-28th March 2018, where synchronous in situ water leaving reflectance and turbidity were measured. Model was derived between in situ measured turbidity and NDTI derived from spectral reflectance of band 2 (Green) and band 3 (Red) of RS2 and R2A LISS-III. The model was applied to derive the turbidity maps of Ukai reservoir for pre-monsoon (March, April and May months) season during the period 2012 to 2018. Overall turbidity ranges from 1.47-20 NTU during the field data collection of pre-monsoon season and overall scene derived turbidity ranges are between 2 – 33 NTU. The highest observed turbidity value was more than fourteen times greater than the lowest value that shows the natural variability within the reservoir for the same season. Remotely sensed data sets can increase the abilities of water resources researchers and decision making persons to monitor waterbodies more effectively and frequently.

Evaluation of Drinking Water Quality and Bacterial Antibiotic Sensitivity in Wells and Standpipes at Household Water Points in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Water quality surveillance can help to reduce waterborne diseases. Despite better access to safe drinking water in Sierra Leone, about a third of the population (3 million people) drink water from unimproved sources. In this cross-sectional study, we collected water samples from 15 standpipes and 5 wells and measured the physicochemical and bacteriological water quality, and the antimicrobial sensitivity of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in two communities in Freetown, Sierra Leone in the dry and wet seasons in 2021. All water sources were contaminated with E. coli, and all five wells and 25% of standpipes had at least an intermediate risk level of E. coli. There was no antimicrobial resistance detected in the E. coli tested. The nitrate level exceeded the WHO’s recommended standard (>10 parts per million) in 60% of the wells and in less than 20% of the standpipes. The proportion of samples from standpipes with high levels of total dissolved solids (>10 Nephelometric Turbidity Units) was much higher in the rainy season (73% vs. 7%). The level of water contamination is concerning. We suggest options to reduce E. coli contamination. Further research is required to identify where contamination of the water in standpipes is occurring.

Prototype of Water Turbidity Measurement With Fuzzy Method using Microcontroller

Water is a source of much-needed living things such as daily needs and transportation routes, and also as a source of energy. Water is also essential as a water quality factor. Good water for treating cold-water ornamental fish with temperatures below 20o Celcius has a maximum water turbidity value of 10 NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Unit); if the turbidity level is above 10 NTU, the water will be declared cloudy and affect fish health. The object of this research is ornamental aquarium fish with the type of goldfish. The research method used is qualitative. The research flow begins with observing the problem, then designing and simulating the Arduino Uno as a place to process the measuring data. The prototype of this tool aims to show changes in the level of turbidity of water from the value of water turbidity. This prototype uses the fuzzy method to assist the testing process. This study's results for five days showed that 1 out of 5 tests indicated that the aquarium water was cloudy, namely on the fifth day. The results of this study are expected to be implemented in a prototype for measuring water turbidity using the fuzzy method using a microcontroller. The design of this water turbidity measuring instrument is expected to estimate the turbidity of water or liquid correctly, precisely, accurately, with a small error rate, and notify warnings for replacing ornamental fish aquarium water.

Effect of Ultraviolet-C Light-Emitting Diode Treatment on Disinfection of Norovirus in Processing Water for Reuse of Brine Water.

Processes in the food industry that use large amounts of water have been an important cause of waterborne disease outbreaks, as they expose individuals to risks for waterborne disease transmission. Developing technologies to ensure the hygiene and safety of food-processing steps is an urgent concern from an economic perspective. Furthermore, economic benefits can be derived if the processed water can be reused under microbiologically safe conditions. Among the major manufacturing processes in the kimchi industry, the brining process for salted kimchi cabbages requires a considerable amount of brine (approximately 2,000–2,500 l/1,000 kg of raw cabbage). The aim of this study was to establish virucidal conditions with ultraviolet-C light-emitting diodes (UVC LEDs) that can ensure the microbiological safety of brine water samples with various turbidities for reuse after disinfection. For quantitative analysis, first of all, magnetic bead separation (MBS) technique was used to capture and recover the human norovirus (HuNoV) virus particles; propidium monoazide (PMA) combined with RT-qPCR (PMA-RT-qPCR) was subsequently used to selectively detect infectious norovirus. Overall, as the turbidity of the brine water samples increased, the reduction in the HuNoV genogroup II genotype 4 (HuNoV GII.4) levels by UVC LED disinfection decreased. The derived inactivation rate constant (kinac) and inactivation curves (calculated using the log-linear model) were studied as a function of turbidity based on the exponential one-phase inactivation kinetics of HuNoV. Using an impeller system set at 100 rotations/min (rpm) with an eight-nephelometric turbidity unit (NTU) sample (the lowest turbidity studied), the kinact based on the levels of viral genomic RNA concentrations was approximately 2.15-fold higher than that observed without rotation (0 rpm). Moreover, the kinact increased 1.69-fold with a 56-NTU sample (the highest turbidity studied) when the impeller system was set at 100 rpm. UVC LED treatment decreased the HuNoV GII.4 population more effectively in conjunction with the impeller system (100 rpm) than without the impeller system. Our novel findings and model provide fundamental and scientific data that may help reuse brine water and ensure its microbiological safety through disinfection. Our study highlights the benefits of UVC LED treatment in successfully eliminating waterborne viruses in a prompt, resistance-reducing, and energy-efficient approach at the laboratory scale, which lays the foundation for future plant-scale studies of UVC LED-disinfection systems.

Research on COD Soft Measurement Technology Based on Multi-Parameter Coupling Analysis Method

This paper presents a soft measurement technique for COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) based on the multiparameter coupling analysis method. First, through mechanism analysis and correlation analysis of historical data during the measurement process, water quality parameters, such as hydrogen potential (PH), dissolved oxygen (DO), turbidity (TU), and electrical conductivity (EC), can be used to estimate COD values. To further improve the estimation accuracy of the water quality parameter model, we adopted a modeling method combining a BP neural network and support vector machine, which showed an average relative error of 6.13% and an absolute coefficient of up to 0.9605. Finally, experiments in a lake environment demonstrate that this method shows excellent performance, with highly reliable and accurate prediction results.

Comparison of wastewater coagulation efficiency of pre-polymerised zirconium and traditional aluminium coagulants

This study proposes pre-polymerised zirconium salts with different basicities as alternative coagulants for domestic wastewater treatment. We compared the efficiency of pre-polymerised zirconium coagulants and commercial aluminium coagulants (pre-polymerised polyaluminium chloride and aluminium sulphate) in simultaneously removing turbidity (TU), total suspended solids (TSS), and phosphates (OP) from synthetic wastewater. Increasing the basicity of the coagulants resulted in an increase in the removal rate of TSS and TU and a decrease in the removal rate of OP from wastewater. The zirconium coagulants demonstrated a higher efficiency of TSS, TU, and OP removal compared to the aluminium coagulants with comparable basicities. The maximum rates of TSS, TU, and OP removal by the zirconium and aluminium coagulants were 92.5% and 91.0%, 97.1% and 96.4%, and 97.6% and 93%, respectively. The maximum degree of binding of phosphate ions by metal ions was observed as 0.862 with non-pre-polymerised zirconium coagulant Zrp/ZrT, which was almost two times higher than with non-pre-polymerised aluminium coagulant Alp/AlT, calculated as 0.434. The analysis of thermodynamic data of the main reactions in the coagulation process indicated that the higher OP removal efficiency for zirconium coagulants was due to the greater reactivity of ions and hydroxo-complexes of zirconium with phosphate ions compared to aluminium hydroxo-complexes. Thus, zirconium coagulants are effective for domestic wastewater treatment. These findings highlight the potential of zirconium coagulants in the efficient treatment of domestic wastewater.

A real-time quantitative PCR assay using hydrolysis probes for monitoring scuticociliate parasites in seawater

Scuticociliatosis is a serious disease that affects flatfish during culture and against which no effective control measures have yet been developed. Monitoring parasite levels in the water may be a valuable way of establishing the risk of infection and enabling appropriate control measures to be taken, thus representing an advance in controlling the disease. To achieve this objective, we have designed a quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay using primers (f / r ITS2) and a hydrolysis probe that specifically amplify a region of the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) of the main aetiological agents of scuticociliatosis: Philasterides dicentrarchi and Miamiensis avidus. The slope (m), efficiency (E) and linearity (R2) determined from the standard curves generated are within the optimal values for qPCR. The high analytical sensitivity of the qPCR assay enables quantification of less than 120 pg of DNA per μL of reaction and detection of 1 ciliate per assay. The qPCR assay also exhibits high precision, with intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation (CV) of respectively 0.27 and 7.57%. The protocol developed for isolating and quantifying ciliates seawater samples it has a recovery efficiency greater than 75% when the ciliate levels are between 103 and 2 × 103 ciliates/L and the turbidity of the water does not exceed one nephelometric turbidity unit (NTU). The real-time qPCR assay developed is a useful and appropriate tool for the specific and sensitive monitoring of scuticociliates in the water used in flatfish farms, enabling the establishment of effective prevention and control programmes.

Design of Wastewater Filtration System for ‎Microcontroller and Smartphone-Based Hydroponic ‎Agriculture

The level of water pollution sourced from daily household waste needs to be watched out, especially ‎since the level of awareness of the Indonesian people is still relatively low in water treatment. Waste water ‎treatment plants are always synonymous with high installation costs and the complexity of maintenance and ‎management of the installation equipment.‎ Based on the above background, the authors make a household wastewater treatment installation ‎device in the Lirboyo Al-Mahrusiyah Islamic Boarding School Dormitory, Kediri City, into ready-to-use water ‎for urban agriculture using the hydroponic system method. This device is based on a microcontroller that is ‎connected to the Blynk Web Server which can be operated using a Smartphone. This system is also able to provide results of monitoring the quality of water quality standards resulting ‎from waste treatment in the Lirboyo Al-Mahrusiyah Islamic Boarding School Dormitory. This application can ‎also be applied as a remotecontrol tool by utilizing the internet network to determine the quality of household ‎wastewater quality standards with a water acidity level (pH) of 7.12 and a TDS (Total Dissolve Solid) value of ‎‎521 mg/L and turbidity of 5 NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Units) in real time.‎

An Environmental Study for Assessing the Efficiency of the Drinking Water Purification Plant Supplying Some Areas North of Tikrit

The current study is conducted to evaluate the efficiency of the drinking water pu-rification plant supplying for some areas north of Tikrit. The study samples were taken monthly, including a sample from the river outlet of raw water, a sample from the sedi-mentation basin, and the third sample from the drinking water line, starting from August of 2020 until March 2021. The study included, firstly, measuring some environmental factors, including (turbidity, pH, dissolved oxygen, Biochemical oxygen demand , calci-um hardness, magnesium hardness , chloride ion) and secondly, microbial factors (total aerobic plate count, total coliform). The study has recorded high values of turbidity in the winter season, reaching (162.4) nephelometric turbidity unit, while the pH values were tending to be basicity, as their levels ranged between (8.3-7.1). As for the dissolved oxy-gen concentration, it was high in the spring season, reaching (9) mg / Liter and the con-centration of the biochemical oxygen demand was high in the summer season due to the high temperatures, as its concentration reached (4. 3) mg / liter. The chloride ion concen-tration was conformity with compliance with international standards, it ranged between (55.6-32.7) mg / liter. The microbial study, it was found that the water is very polluted, especially in the spring season, as the values of the total number of aerobic bacteria ranged between (17.6-3) × 103 cells / ml, while the values of the total number of coliform bacteria were between (4-4) cells / 100 ml.

Electrocoagulation applied for textile wastewater oxidation using iron slag as electrodes.

The indigo blue dye is widely used in the textile industry, specifically in jeans dyeing, the effluents of which, rich in organic pollutants with recalcitrant characteristics, end up causing several environmental impacts, requiring efficient treatments. Several pieces of research have been conducted in search of effective treatment methods, among which is electrocoagulation. This treatment consists of an electrochemical process that generates its own coagulant by applying an electric current on metallic electrodes, bypassing the use of other chemical products. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential use of iron slag in the electrocoagulation of a synthetic effluent containing commercial indigo blue dye and the effluent from a textile factory. The quantified parameters were color, turbidity, pH, electrical conductivity, sludge generation, phenol removal, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total organic carbon (TOC). The electrocoagulation treatment presented a good efficiency in removing the analyzed parameters, obtaining average removal in the synthetic effluent of 85% of color and 100% of phenol after 25min of electrolysis. For the effluent from the textile factory, average reductions of 80% of color reaching 177.54mg Pt CoL-1, 91% of turbidity reaching 93.83 NTU (nephelometric turbidity unit), 100% of phenol, 55% of COD with a final concentration of 298.8mg O2 L-1, and 73% of TOC with a final concentration of 56.21mg L-1, in 60min of electrolysis. The reduced time for removal of color and phenolic compounds in synthetic effluent demonstrates the complexity of treating the real effluent since to obtain removals of the same order a 60-min period of electrolysis was necessary. The results obtained demonstrate the potential of using iron slag as an electrode in the electrocoagulation process in order to reuse industrial waste and reduce costs in the treatment and disposal of solid waste. Thus, the slag can be seen as an alternative material to be used in electrocoagulation processes for the treatment of effluents from the textile industry under the experimental conditions presented, its only limitation being the fact that it is a waste and therefore does not have a standardization in the amounts of iron present in the alternative electrodes.