Waste Dumpsite Research Articles

Use of a plant-based coagulant in coagulation–ozonation combined treatment of leachate from a waste dumping site

In this study, Ocimum basilicum L. has been evaluated as an active natural coagulant to be used in combination with alum for leachate pre-treatment. Leachate samples were collected from a municipal solid waste open dumping site with COD of 4000mgl−1 and color of 4500 PCU. Response surface methodology (RSM) based on a three-variable-five-level central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was employed to study and optimize the coagulation–flocculation (CF) process. A quadratic polynomial model was fitted to the data with an R2 of 0.92. The effect of three parameters including contact time, pH, and alum–O. basilicum ratio on the color and COD reduction were analyzed. At the optimal conditions of 15min, pH 7 and alum:O. basilicum ratio of 1:1, 64.4% COD and 77.8% color removal were obtained in the pretreatment stage. Ozonation process was applied to leachate after coagulation. The optimal reaction time for the post-ozonation by 0.2gO3l−1h−1 was 30min. The integrated technique consisted of CF and ozonation was proved to be an efficient process for the treatment of leachate with 92% color removal and 87% COD reduction.

Biodegradation of low density polyethylene (LDPE) modified with dye sensitized titania and starch blend using Stenotrophomonas pavanii

Plastic goods including plastic shopping bags, which are generally made from low density polyethylene (LDPE), are a cause of considerable environmental nuisance. Development of a material that would degrade, due to simple factors i.e. sunlight and/or biotic factors, in the open environment, is therefore, of considerable interest. Biodegradation of photodegraded and non-photodegraded LDPE films, modified with food grade dye sensitized titania (TiO2) nanoparticles and starch blend, was evaluated under laboratory conditions. Bacterial strains were isolated from solid waste dump site using enrichment culture and two step screening procedure for their ability to degrade LDPE. Bacterial strains capable of growing in the LDPE-Titania environment were further screened for their ability to form biofilm on LDPE films, salt aggregation test (SAT) and cell surface hydrophobicity. The potential bacterial strains were then identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CA9), Burkholderia seminalis (CB12), and Stenotrophomonas pavanii (CC18) (GenBank accession number KR738718, KR738720 and KR738722, respectively) based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence homology. The strain CC18 showed highest biofilm, hydrophobicity and growth rate. The LDPE films of 3 × 3 cm were incubated with CC18 in mineral salt media (MSM) for 56 days. The viability tests of the isolates grown on LDPE surface were performed which also correlated with the protein density of biomass (R2 = 0.98). LDPE films were characterized using SEM, TGA, XRD and FTIR before and after incubation. Biodegradation of LDPE was confirmed by an increase in the Keto Carbonyl, Ester Carbonyl and Vinyl Bond Index compared to control. The results conclusively demonstrated the potential of the LDPE-titania-starch blend for production of shopping bags which may easily be degraded in open environment after use.

Occurrence patterns of pharmaceutical residues in wastewater, surface water and groundwater of Nairobi and Kisumu city, Kenya

Emerging organic contaminants have not received a lot of attention in developing countries, particularly Africa, although problems regarding water quantity and quality are often even more severe than in more developed regions. This study presents general water quality parameters as well as unique data on concentrations and loads of 24 pharmaceuticals including antibiotic, anti(retro)viral, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and psychiatric drugs in three wastewater treatment plants, three rivers and three groundwater wells in Nairobi and Kisumu. This allowed studying removal efficiencies in wastewater treatment, identifying important sources of pharmaceutical pollution and distinguishing dilution effects from natural attenuation in rivers. In general, antiretrovirals and antibiotics, being important in the treatment of common African diseases such as HIV and malaria, were in all matrices more prevalent as compared to the Western world. Wastewater stabilization ponds removed pharmaceuticals with an efficiency between 11 and 99%. Despite this large range, a different removal is observed for a number of compounds, as compared to more conventional activated sludge systems. Total concentrations in river water (up to 320 μg L−1) were similar or exceeded concentrations in untreated wastewater, with domestic discharges from slums, wastewater treatment plant effluent and waste dumpsites identified as important sources. In shallow wells situated next to pit latrines and used for drinking water, the recalcitrant antiretroviral nevirapine was measured at concentrations as high as 1–2 μg L−1. Overall, distinct pharmaceutical contamination patterns as compared to the Western world can be concluded, which might be a trigger for further research in developing regions.

Role of different stakeholders in trading of reusable/recyclable urban solid waste materials: A case study

This study aimed to investigate the role of different actors/stakeholders in informal waste recycling/trading system in the Dehradun city, India. An extensive survey on waste recycling/trading system was conducted through a defined methodology and framework of material flow was prepared. Results suggested three operation levels of collection/segregation of recyclable waste articles: (i) household, commercial points and shops, (ii) community waste dumping points and, (iii) municipal waste dump site of the city. The major stakeholders in waste trading system of the city identified as: households, itinerant buyers (Pheriwala), waste pickers, middleman (small dealers), large dealers, and remanufacturing industries. A variety of direct value waste articles (e.g., old news papers and books/magazines, wooden furniture, cardboard/cartons, plastic scrap/polythene bags, iron and non-ferrous metal scrap, glass scrap, rubber, electrical/electronic articles) are being traded in this waste trading network and estimated quality of this material is about 362.4t per month. The end users in this network are poor house-dwellers and remanufacturing industries. Results suggest that remanufacturing industries are the main buyer of these direct-value materials (paper, iron, rubber, non-ferrous metals, empty liquor/wine bottles etc.). The sharing of benefit/margins by different stockholders in this waste trading system depends upon a variety of political, social and economic factors. The study revealed that informal waste recycling is not only a waste reduction practices but also creates opportunities for urban poors as livelihood earning. Informal waste cycling thus can be promoted as sustainable approach to design a community based solid waste management program for developing cities in low and middle income countries.

Response of Pseudomonas species from Contaminated Soils to Selected Organic (Synthetic) Pesticides

Growth response profile of three species of Pseudomonas isolated from pesticide contaminated soils within Uyo, Nigeria was studied using standard microbiological and analytical techniques. The ability of the isolates to tolerate varying concentrations of commercially available pesticides namely; Decis, DD force and Cyperforce was assessed over a 96 hour period. Selective enrichment cultures with graded concentrations of the pesticides were used to assay their growth response profile and the absorbance determined using CO75 digital colorimeter. The results showed that the Pseudomonas species differed biochemically. Their growth response at pesticide concentrations 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10% v/v differed significantly (P<0.05) at 24 hours interval for four days. At 10% concentration of Decis pesticide over 96 hour, the absorbance were 0.20, 0.23 and 0.30 for Pseudomonas from Agriculture research farm, hospital dumpsite and municipal waste dump site respectively. This ability therefore offers a veritable tool for use in the bioremediation and ultimate restoration of pesticide contaminated soils but however requires further evaluation.

The Impact of a Municipal Solid Waste Dumpsite on Soil and Groundwater Using 2-D Resistivity Imaging Technique

The Impact of a Municipal Solid Waste Dumpsite on Soil and Groundwater Using 2-D Resistivity Imaging Technique

Global Warming Potentials of Municipal Solid Waste Dumpsites in Calabar Metropolis, Cross River State

Global Warming Potentials of Municipal Solid Waste Dumpsites in Calabar Metropolis, Cross River State

Production, Purification, and Biochemical Characterization of Thermostable Metallo-Protease from Novel Bacillus alkalitelluris TWI3 Isolated from Tannery Waste.

Protease enzymes in tannery industries have enormous applications. Seeking a potential candidate for efficient protease production has emerged in recent years. In our study, we sought to isolate proteolytic bacteria from tannery waste dumping site in Tamilnadu, India. Novel proteolytic Bacillus alkalitelluris TWI3 was isolated and tested for protease production. Maximum protease production was achieved using lactose and skim milk as a carbon and nitrogen source, respectively, and optimum growth temperature was found to be 40°C at pH 8. Protease enzyme was purified using ammonium sulfate precipitation method and anion exchange chromatography. Diethylaminoethanol (DEAE) column chromatography and Sephadex G-100 chromatography yielded an overall 4.92-fold and 7.19-fold purification, respectively. The 42.6-kDa TWI3 protease was characterized as alkaline metallo-protease and stable up to 60°C and pH 10. Ca(2+), Mn(2+), and Mg(2+) ions activated the protease, while Hg(2+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+), and Fe(2+) greatly inhibited it. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) inhibited TWI3 protease and was activated by Ca(2+), which confirmed that TWI3 protease is a metallo-protease. Moreover, this protease is capable of dehairing goat skin and also removed several cloth stains, which makes it more suitable for various biotechnological applications.

Assessment of Ambient Air Quality with Special Reference to NO2 in the Waste Dump Site at Osisoma Ngwa LGA, Nigeria

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is the only widely prevalent coloured pollutant in the atmosphere. The assessment of ambient air quality with special reference to NO2 was carried out in this study at the waste dump site in Osisioma Ngwa Local government Area in Nigeria during the morning and Evening hours of the dry season. Average Air Quality Index (AQI) Pollutant values obtained where within the moderate level as values ranged from Umuigwe Station during morning reading as NO2 (0.04) AQI (86.588); Umujima Station {NO2 (0.05) AQI (89.598)}; Niger Stone Station {NO2 (0.08) AQI (89.838)}; Uratta Amaise Station {NO2 (0.06) AQI (86.894)}; Eyimba market {NO2 (0.06) AQI (79.999)}; Owerrita {NO2 (0.04) AQI (12.36)}; Asaema {NO2 (0.04) AQI (81.580)}. Values obtained from Owerrita Station according to Standards where described to be good and others where described to be moderate. However, with results from PSI for NO2, overall assessment was described as unhealthy for general health condition of the people around that area since values obtained from morning and evening period ranged from 0.02 to 0.09 ppm.

Quantification and Characterization of Size-segregated Bioaerosols at Municipal Solid Waste Dumping Site in Delhi

Size-segregated aerosol samplings were carried out during 2013-14 at Okhla landfills, Delhi, which is a municipal solid waste dumping station. Aerosol samples were collected on quartz filters using an Andersen impactor sampler having 9-stages with cut-off diameter >9.0, 9.0-5.8, 5.8-4.7, 4.7-3.3, 3.3-2.1, 2.1-1.1, 1.1-0.65, 0.65-0.43, <0.43μm at flow rate 28.3 lpm. Additionally, a low-volume handy sampler was also used to measure total culturable microbial concentrations operates at flow rate of 2 lpm. The culturable total bacterial and fungal concentrations across the seasons ranged from 8.3×105-1.8×107 cfu/m3 and 1.2×103-2.5×105 cfu/m3, respectively and also varied across the impactor stages. Major concentration peaks found during winter could be associated with high particulate matter concentration and favourable meteorological conditions in Delhi. On the other hand, comparatively lower concentrations were observed in summer. This is possibly because of microbial lethal effects of adverse meteorological conditions (high temperature and solar radiation) which are more prominent than that of release of microbial flux due to solar ground heating effect in summer. Size distribution analysis shows that bacteria were mostly abundant in fine particle sizes, i.e. <0.43-2.1μm, but few peaks were also observed in size ranges between 5.8->9.0μm. Fungal spores mostly peaked in coarse sizes (2.1-5.8μm) and showed unimodal size distribution. Predominant identified bacterial strains were mostly belonged to Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Klebseilla and Escherichia genera. Most of the identified fungal spores are known for adverse health effects causing numerous allergic and pathogenic inflammations. These results suggest that the open-solid waste dumping sites are a major source of bioaerosols, and residents living in the nearby areas of landfills are at high health risks.

Geospatial and Statistical Assessment of Groundwater Contamination Due to Landfill Leachate—A Case Study

This study was conducted to measure the impact of a municipal solid waste landfill on groundwater quality around Njelianparamba, a solid waste dumping site in Kozhikode district, Kerala state, India. One of the major problems associated with dumping of municipal solid waste landfill is the release of leachate and its impact on surrounding groundwater. In this study, physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters of groundwater samples collected from the region surrounding the leachate area during the pre- and post-monsoon seasons were analysed. The majority of the groundwater samples contained contaminants at a level beyond the permissible limit set by the Bureau of Indian Standards for drinking water quality. The Geographic Information System software of the Environmental Systems Research Institute, (USA) ArcMap 10.1 was used to prepare spatial distribution maps of different parameters and Leachate Pollution Index and Water Quality Index in the study area were applied to assess the overall quality of groundwater. Characterisation of leachate and groundwater samples revealed that, water in the domestic wells has been deteriorated in response to the percolation of leachate. Additionally spatial and correlation analysis revealed that contamination was present maximum within 300 m radius around the landfill site.

Assessment of Groundwater Quality in and around the Jawaharnagar Municipal Solid Waste Dumping Site at Greater Hyderabad, Southern India

Rapid urbanization and population growth are largely responsible for exponentially increasing rate of solid waste in the urban areas. The proper management and recycling is a major problem of Municipal Corporation which is great concern of human health and environment. The purpose of this study is to assess groundwater contamination in and around of Jawaharnagar Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) dumping site due to heavy metals and its relationship between hydrochemical data. Groundwater samples were collected from the wells located in the vicinity of the dumping site and its surrounds in a watershed. The samples were analyzed for physicochemical properties as well as for major ion concentrations such as Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, CO32ˉ, HCO3ˉ, Clˉ, NO3ˉ, Fˉ and SO42ˉ using ion chromatograph. Results suggest the high concentrations of major ions such as Ca2+, Mg2+, and F− is observed in groundwater indicating differential weathering of minerals present in granite rocks in the study area. A good number of samples are showing higher values for NO3ˉ than that of World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water guideline values. This demonstrates the oxidation of ammonia and similar sources from lechates originating from municipal solid waste of the study area. Further, heavy metals such as Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn are analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer. The data revealed elevated concentrations of Arsenic (0.04-0.36 ppb), Cadmium (0.00-0.09 ppb), Chromium (24.0–28.0 ppb), Copper (0.61–2.9 ppb), Iron (11.99-35.26 ppb), Manganese (1.04-107.2 ppb), Lead (0.19-1.32 ppb) and Zinc (1.49 –49.59 ppb). The present study demands proper management of landfill site and municipal solid waste to reduce further groundwater contamination via percolation of toxic substances.

Exploring a Waste Dump Site Failure – Possible Causes and Prevention Measures

Construction wastes are normally stored in areas away from urban cities. If the pile of the dumped wastes becomes too high, there will be a stability concern in addition to environmental issues. As an example to address this concern and to avoid possible failure of a waste site, this paper explores the recent slide failure of a construction waste dump site near a city in southern China. Information is gathered from online sources, news reports and Google earth images. Based on the available information, the pre-failure profile of the waste site is re-constructed. The stability of the waste pile is analyzed with numerical modelling based on simplified models of various scenarios. The intention is to explore the most influential factors which may cause failure on a dump site and to provide suggestions for prevention of failure in similar conditions. The analysis identified slope angle and height of a waste pile and water condition onsite as the most influential factors. General prevention measures are recommended.

Temporal Assessment of NO2 Pollution Levels in Urban Centers of Pakistan by Employing Ground-Based and Satellite Observations

ABSTRACTThis study presents the assessment of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution within the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi by using car MAX-DOAS (Multi Axis-Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy) instrument during two different scenarios of with and without the availability of CNG (compressed natural gas) fuel. Information perceived from this study can be used to get an idea about recent air quality conditions of twin cities and its repercussions on ecological and human health. International air quality monitoring field campaigns were conducted during November 2012 and December 2013. Results showed different concentrations of NO2 (68.2, 74.25 and 93.65 ppb) at various locations of Islamabad and Rawalpindi cities, exceeded the Pak-NEQS levels of 42.5 ppb. High NO2 concentrations can be attributed to emissions from an oil refinery, traffic congestion and solid waste dump site along IJP road, and due to non-availability of CNG during December 2013. Results compared with OMI satellite observations exhibited that NO2 columns from OMI observations are largely underestimated.

Studies on the Level of Contamination of Leachates from Municipal Solid Waste Open Dumpsite in Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria

Leachates are known to contain dissolved or suspended solid materials which may be toxic when it finds its way to water bodies or land meant for agricultural purposes. The study however investigated the physicochemical properties, anions and heavy metal composition of leachates from the solid waste dumpsite at Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria so as to ascertain the level of contamination by comparing values obtained with the FEPA/WHO standards. Analyses were carried out using leachates obtained from two portions of the sites marked active site and abandoned site (withdrawing dumpsite). The result of the physicochemical analysis revealed that there was significant increase at p<0.05 of mean values of Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solid (TDS), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Total Hydrocarbon Content (THC) of the active site when compared to values from the abandoned site. Analysis has shown that leachate from the active site is a potential source of heavy metal poisoning and a source of pollution with potential effect on the environment and neighboring underground water if the present trend is not controlled.

Landfill Mining as a Remediation Technique for Open Dumpsites in India

The study hereby is an attempt to evaluate the process of landfill mining as a remediation technique for Municipal Solid Waste dumpsites, which are an inherent feature of each city of note, in the developing countries. These dump sites, more often than not, nothing more than a piece of land where all of the city's refuse is collected, are threats to the environment and consume valuable land, which could otherwise be converted into a revenue generating asset. Many cities are extremely short on land and some are also facing the negative impacts of these dumps in terms of water contamination, air pollution and land degradation to name a few. Encouraged by the positive outcomes of studies carried out earlier, this study was aimed at applying the idea on a broader scale in terms of encompassing a number of cities across the country. The solid waste characterization for the cities taken into the study was obtained and the amount of solid waste deposited in the landfills of these cities was estimated. Based on these, various revenue generating fractions were identified. From the current market cost of the land used as dumpsite and the material salvaged by the landfill mining operation, the benefit-cost scenario was judged. It was found that for most of the scenarios the overall operation of mining the landfills was economical in terms of cost, but the intangible benefits, which cannot be monetized, are expected to be far greater than the rest.

Geo-electrical Evaluation of the Effects of Waste Dump Sites on Groundwater in Eneka, Rivers State, Nigeria

This study aims at investigating the effects of waste dumps on the groundwater in Eneka using resistivity method. Two dump sites and a dump-free site were investigated in the area. The investigation involved seven horizontal resistivity profiling and four vertical electrical soundings. The result of the investigation revealed that the surrounding soil and water in the waste dumpsites have been contaminated to depths below 20 meters which is within the aquifer system of the area. This was evident in the attendant low resistivity values of 0.04 ohm.m 60.07 ohm.m around the dumpsites relative to the high resistivity values greater than 500 ohm.m in the dump free areas. The results of the investigation are serious considering the negative implications on public health and the ecosystem of the area if not checked, monitored and managed.

Application of two geophysical methods to characterize a former waste disposal site of the Trabzon-Moloz district in Turkey

Radionuclide variations, the vertical and lateral extent of a waste mass in the former Trabzon municipal solid waste dumpsite were investigated by combining in situ gamma-ray spectrometric measurements with 2D resistivity imaging methods. In the first step, the natural radioelement concentrations on the surface of dumpsite were measured using a portable gamma-ray spectrometer. The average activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K in the dumpsite are 42.68, 49.88 and 417 Bq/kg, respectively. In addition, radiation hazard parameters were calculated and compared with the international standard values. As a result of the evaluation of the radiological data, it was found that there are no significant radiologic hazards for humans and the environment. In the subsequent stage, 2D electrical resistivity method, using Wenner array, was carried out in this area. The survey was conducted using a multi-electrode resistivity instrument and the measured resistivity profiles were interpreted using RES2DINV program. Electrical resistivity values were obtained from three parallel lines. Results of the resistivity survey show that the waste masses in the study area reach to depths of about 18 m, with very low resistivity values less than 20 Ωm. According to the 2D inverted resistivity sections, low resistivities ( 160 Ωm) in profiles B and C are associated with non-degradable waste materials, medical wastes and buried construction materials. Also, very high resistivity zone (874 and 2636 Ωm) in profile A are interpreted as landfill gases.

Assessment of Soil Contamination around Municipal Solid Waste Dumpsite

Physicochemical and heavy metals characteristics of the municipal solid waste dumpsite, Perungudi, India were investigated. The concentration of heavy metals were analyzed at different depths and distances. The concentration is found to be higher in the top soil upto a depth of 5.5 m as the top soil is a sandy clay layer. Fe, Zn and Cu continue the trend upto a depth of 5.5 m and a change was observed at 6.5 m and the concentrations follow similar values upto 13 m. The concentration decreases with increasing soil depth, which is an indication of their low mobility. It is evident that the variation in the concentration of the heavy metals at various depths in the soils shows that the influence of the dumping activities plays a major role when compared to the geology of the area.

Parametric Evaluation of Digestability of Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste for Biogas Production

Municipal solid waste was collected from Varanasi’s municipal solid waste dumpsite and sorted for organic fraction present in it. Current work showed the consequences of calcium hydroxide or lime digestion on organic fraction of municipal solid waste of Varanasi, India. The organic fraction of municipal solid waste sample was digested with desired amount of calcium hydroxide. The different concentrations (0.1, 0.2, and 0.5%) of calcium hydroxide was blended separately to substrates (10% total solid) at 30-35 °C in 3 different beakers denoted by A1, A2 and A3, respectively of 2 L capacity. Experiments of hydrolysis step were conducted on all three samples for evaluation of chemical oxygen demand, pH and volatile fatty acids content in sample. The parameters measured during experiments were chemical oxygen demand, biogas production, total solid, volatile solids, total Kjeldahl nitrogen and total organic carbon. Rate enhancement of anaerobic digestion and biogas production were occurred for calcium hydroxide digested samples. Therefore calcium hydroxide can be used as an effective alkali for the digestion of organic fraction of municipal solid waste.