Water Treatment Facilities Research Articles

Improving the technology of drinking water purification at the water treatment facilities of the Chernorechensk reservoir during the flood period

The paper considers the natural and technical aspects that contribute to the supply of substandard quality water to the water treatment facilities of the city of Sevastopol during the flood period, which caused repeated shutdown of water treatment facilities. Options for retrofitting the existing water supply and purification scheme are considered, with the determination of the enlarged cost. The paper presents a technological justification for the application of a two-stage sedimentation scheme, which can be implemented within the framework of existing equipment and a small technological re-equipment.

Enhancing Expert Decision-Making for Wastewater Treatment Plants with Seidel Laplacian Energy and Cosine Similarity Measure in Intuitionistic Fuzzy Graphs

Wastewater treatment facilities’ main goal is to protect the public and environment from the hazardous and poisonous materials found in wastewater. Water treatment facilities were developed to speed up the natural process of cleansing water. A novel cosine similarity measure across intuitionistic fuzzy graphs has been proven to be more effective than certain present ones in group decision-making issues using example verification. This paper provides a unique approach for calculating expert-certified, well-known scores by finding the ambiguous information of intuitionistic fuzzy preference relations as well as the regular cosine similarity grades from one separable intuitionistic fuzzy preference relation to another. The new technique considers both "objective" and "subjective" information provided by experts. Using intuitionistic fuzzy preference relations, we provide workable techniques for judging experts’ eligible reputational ratings. This can be used to raise or decrease the relevance of the stated criteria in an evaluation that takes into account several competing elements. We give a solution to a decisional problem by using two effective methods: the newly constructed cosine similarity measure and the Seidel Laplacian energy (SLe+) of an intuitionistic fuzzy graph. Finally, two working procedures and circumstances are offered to show the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed techniques.

Monitoring and maintaining quality in the paediatric haemodialysis unit.

Chronic kidney disease in children is being increasingly recognised and reported worldwide, and the focus of paediatric dialysis planning has changed from acute care alone to encompass chronic care. In many parts of the world, haemodialysis for children is performed in adult units and is based on standards established for adults. This review proposes standards for paediatric haemodialysis, incorporating special requirements for children while simultaneously drawing from the adult experience. We discuss the optimum requirements, including space utilisation, equipment needed, water treatment facilities, disposables, safety standards, staffing needs, monitoring and maintenance, infection prevention, waste disposal and quality indicators. We also review recent advancements in the field that should be incorporated into future dialysis units and the steps required for achieving carbon neutrality and protecting the environment.

Contribution of specific extracellular organic matter on membrane fouling in ultrafiltration and coagulation-ultrafiltration of algae-laden water

This study explores the specific impact of bound and dissolved extracellular organic matter (bEOM and dEOM), and their collective influence with algal cells on membrane fouling during ultrafiltration (UF) and coagulation-UF of algae-laden water. By characterizing the organic properties and adsorptive behaviors of bEOM and dEOM, and analyzing their subsequent impacts, we clarify their roles and contributions to membrane fouling. Our analyses revealed that bEOM, characterized by its higher molecular weight (MW) and hydrophobic nature, contains more protein-like substances compared to dEOM. Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation (QCM-D) analysis highlights significant differences in their adsorption behaviors, with bEOM demonstrating greater adhesion and higher adsorptive fouling potential. Despite bEOM's lower concentration relative to dEOM, at a ratio of 0.12–1, their contributions to irreversible membrane resistance are nearly identical, at 30.7% and 30.9% respectively, in the UF of algae-laden water. Coagulation pretreatment effectively reduces bEOM's fouling potential by forming larger flocs, thus minimizing its contact with the membrane. In terms of irreversible membrane resistance, the contributions are 6.5% from cells, 24.8% from bEOM, and 68.6% from dEOM. The presence of dEOM complicates coagulation efficiency due to its low MW components and high hydrophilicity. Using the Hermia model, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), we demonstrated how bEOM and dEOM modify membrane fouling mechanisms, particularly by influencing cake layer formation. These insights emphasize the distinct and significant contributions of bEOM and dEOM to membrane fouling, necessitating targeted strategies for their management to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of UF systems in water treatment facilities.

Enhancement of Marina Service Quality of Yacht Tourism in Taiwan: A Euclidean Distance of Importance-Performance Analysis

In spite of COVID-19 struck tourism industry, the trend of yachting tourism is steadily increasing and provides a way for the tourism industry to resume after the epidemic. Marinas, a vital component of yachting tourism, deeply effects the yacht owners’ satisfactions and the coastal destinations attraction. Since the marina industry in Taiwan is still in its early stages, this study aims to identify ideal service quality standards to enhance competitiveness. With a limited cohort of 69 yacht owners in Taiwan possessing yachts exceeding 20 gross register tonnage (GRT), insights from our research, which engaged perspectives from 50 yacht owners, provide valuable understanding into their satisfaction regarding marina services in Taiwan. As the first study to explore key factors of marina service experience among yacht owners, this study applies importance-performance analysis (IPA) and Euclidean distance to provide the development strategy and improvement priority of Taiwan marina service. Overall, the result from improving IPA technique which adopted Euclidean distance reveal that yacht owners generally thought that the improvement priority of marina service quality is sewage, bilge water, and oil sludge treatment facilities, fueling facilities, high-voltage shore power facilities, land storage space. It is noteworthy that marina managers should embark on improving marina physical facilities as development strategy which highlight the performance of marina service quality for yacht owners and the improvement in those facilities can be developed to either increase the marina competition or to resume tourism industry.

Microbial extracellular polymeric substances in the environment, technology and medicine.

Microbial biofilms exhibit a self-produced matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), including polysaccharides, proteins, extracellular DNA and lipids. EPS promote interactions of the biofilm with other cells and sorption of organics, metals and chemical pollutants, and they facilitate cell adhesion at interfaces and ensure matrix cohesion. EPS have roles in various natural environments, such as soils, sediments and marine habitats. In addition, EPS are relevant in technical environments, such as wastewater and drinking water treatment facilities, and water distribution systems, and they contribute to biofouling and microbially influenced corrosion. In medicine, EPS protect pathogens within the biofilm against the host immune system and antimicrobials, and emerging evidence suggests that EPS can represent potential virulence factors. By contrast, EPS yield a wide range of valuable products that include their role in self-repairing concrete. In this Review, we aim to explore EPS as a functional unit of biofilms in the environment, in technology and in medicine.

Data-Driven Techniques and Data Analytics in Water Treatment Facilities: Innovative Safety Protocols and Optimization

Aim: To examine harnessing of data-driven techniques and data analytics in water treatment facilities considering innovative safety protocols and process optimization. Problem Statement: The most significant part of human existence and industrial operations has been linked to water which often becomes vulnerable to hazardous contaminants which are brought on through natural processes and human activity. Significance of Study: The use of water treatment facilities in order to make water a sustainable natural resource for the whole world is vital. To achieve this, it is imperative to monitor and classify water quality. Methodology: Recent literature materials in form of books, journals and relevant published articles in the area of data-driven techniques and data analytics in water treatment facilities were consulted. Discussion: This review article has critically examined harnessing of data-driven and data analytics in water treatment facilities with consideration also given to innovative safety protocols and process optimization. The basic fundamental principle of water treatment facilities were discussed alongside the application of data-driven techniques. Safety protocols in water treatment facilities were discussed. Data driven techniques in water treatment facilities and applications of machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques to water treatment were explained. It was noticed that AI-Driven solutions transforms real-time water quality analysis and offers a proactive approach to water treatment. The integration of machine learning and AI algorithms capabilities in water treatment facilities can now respond quickly to fluctuations and continuously monitor key parameters fluctuations in water quality. Consideration was given to artificial intelligence as data analytics optimization tool for water treatment facilities. Future prospects, limitations and challenges of the study were stated. Conclusion: AI algorithms and historical data can be harnessed into water treatment facilities in order to assess performance patterns, predict equipment malfunctions and proactively plan the maintenance activities.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances contamination of drinking water sources in Africa: Pollution sources and possible treatment methods

Despite the detection of poly- and perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in the water system in Africa, the effort towards mitigating PFAS in water in Africa needs to be better understood. Therefore, this review evaluated the contamination status and mitigation methods for handling PFAS-contaminated water systems in Africa. The findings revealed the presence of PFAS in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents, surface water and commercially available bottled and tap water in African countries. The concentration of PFAS in drinking water sources reviewed ranged from < limits of quantification to 778 ng L−1. The sources of PFAS in water systems in Africa are linked to uncontrolled importation of PFAS-containing products, WWTP effluents and inappropriate disposal of PFAS-containing materials. The information on treatment methods for PFAS-contaminated water systems is scanty. Unfortunately, the treatment method is challenged by poor water research infrastructure and facilities, lack of awareness, poor research funding and weak legislation; however, adsorption and membrane technology seem favourable for removing PFAS from water systems in Africa. It is essential to focus on monitoring and assessing drinking water quality in Africa to reduce the disease burden that this may cause. Most African countries' currently implemented water treatment facilities cannot efficiently remove PFAS during treatment. Therefore, governments in Africa need to fund more research to develop an efficient water treatment technique that is sustainable in Africa.

Environmental Sustainability of the Removal of Alpaca Fiber Dye Using a Thermally Modified Sludge from a Drinking Water Treatment Facility

In this work, the removal of dye using thermally modified sludge from a drinking water treatment facility (DWTS) was evaluated. This study gives value to the waste from the coagulation flocculation process (waste sludge) in order to remove an emerging organic agent (Bordeaux B). The sustainability of the process leads to a circular economy, which represents an important environmental contribution. The physicochemical characterization of the DWTS was carried out by standard methods. DRX and FTIR spectroscopy, SEM, and superficial specific area SBET N2 at 77 K were used. Thermal activation processes were carried out (200–600 °C) to obtain the best activated thermal conditions for dye removal (T: 500 °C). Muscovite and other minerals were found in the DWTS. Experimental conditions (batch mode) were determined: contact time (CT), pH, adsorbent dose (AD), and dye initial concentration (Co). SBET = 54.77 and 67.90 m2/g by DWTS and TA-500. The best removal efficiency was achieved at 500 °C (R = 85.57 ± 0.76 %, q max = 37.45 ± 0.14 mg/g), which, compared to other unconventional adsorbents, is more reliable and competitive. The adsorption process was adjusted to the Langmuir mathematics model, following pseudo-second-order kinetics (R2 = 0.99).

Abundance of microplastics in Cisadane river - Indonesia

Abstract Microplastics have become a serious threat to the aquatic environment, water treatment facilities, and riverside residents because they are persistent. Microplastics generally come from plastic waste produced by human and industrial activities that enter the rivers. In this study, the Cisadane River was studied for microplastic presence. Sampling was conducted at 11 points along the Cisadane River from the upstream (Muria Jaya) to the downstream (Teluk Naga). Samples were taken using a 200-mesh plankton net and then analyzed using a digital microscope for the microplastic’s presence, sizes, and shapes. Furthermore, material identification was conducted using a Raman Spectroscopy Microscope to determine the material type of microplastic in the samples. According to the result, the Cisadane River contains microplastics of various shapes and sizes. The result shows the abundance of microplastics of 0.8-9.6 particles/m3 0.8-26.4 particles/m3 in fibers and fragments, respectively. Microplastics in the form of fragments are the most dominant form. The size of microplastics varies from 65 to 4,932 μm for fibers and 23 to 2,444 μm for fragments. These differences are due to primary and secondary microplastic degradation rates through weathering, abrasion, mechanical disintegration, photolysis, and microbiological activity. The colors of microplastics found were blue, brown, cream, red, black, and transparent, with transparent being the most dominant color. The material types found were polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polypropylene (PP).

Turning waste into wonder: Arsenic removal using rice husk based activated carbon

In this study, rice husk activated carbon (RHAC) was synthesized by physicochemical activation, which consists of heat treatment with CO2 gasification and KOH chemical treatment to eliminate arsenic (As) from the polluted water. Initial arsenic concentrations, solution pH, solution temperature and contact time are the parameters that have been tested in this study. The characterization study showed that RHAC has a high BET surface area (815.52 m2/g) and its pore structure was found to be mesoporous with an average pore diameter of 2.96 nm. Characterization studies, including X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to determine the RHAC’s performance. The adsorption of As towards RHAC followed the Freundlich isotherm model and pseudo-first order with adsorption process was favorable at higher arsenic concentrations. The mechanism study also signified that the adsorption of As-RHAC was limited by film-diffusion. Thermodynamic studies indicated that the As-RHAC adsorption system was endothermic, random, spontaneous, feasible in nature and governed by the chemisorption process. Desorption and regeneration studies of RHAC showed that it can be utilized up to 5 cycles and is stable for the water treatment facilities.

Development of Sorbent Compositions from TPP Water-Treatment Facility Waste for Gaseous Fuel Desulfurization

Development of Sorbent Compositions from TPP Water-Treatment Facility Waste for Gaseous Fuel Desulfurization

Hierarchical Approach to the Management of Drinking Water Sludge Generated from Alum-Based Treatment Processes

The management of drinking water treatment plant (DWTP) sludge is challenging for water treatment facilities. Previous studies reported mainly on handling sludge through landfilling, release into water bodies, discharge into wastewater treatment plants, onsite disposal, and incineration methods for the treatment of sludge. The limitations of these sludge-handling methods are well documented. This article focuses on the hierarchical approach as an alternative and comprehensive method for handling DWTP sludge. The core of hierarchical management streamlines the minimization of the generated DWTP sludge; treatment of DWTP sludge to reduce toxicity; changing of the physicochemical form of DWTP sludge; and finally, the reuse, recycling, and recovery of DWTP sludge. The premise is to achieve zero landfilling of DWTP sludge, establish a circular economy, generate job opportunities, and preserve the environment. Thus, this study also proposes two main technologies, which are gravity-based sludge separators for fractionating the sludge and photocatalytic membrane reactors (PMRs) as a technology for the treating and/or recovery of nutrients and minerals from DWTP sludge. Until the chemical deductive or minus approach becomes a reality in water treatment, the use of PMRs and gravity-based sludge separators will enhance the management of DWTP sludge when incorporated into the hierarchical approach.

Review of intrusion detection system in cyber‐physical system based networks: Characteristics, industrial protocols, attacks, data sets and challenges

AbstractCyber‐Physical Systems (CPSs) provide critical infrastructure for the betterment of human lives thereby integrating cyber and physical components but the fusion of physical and digital components leads to an increase in the attack surface, which in turn provides opportunities for the attackers to intrude on these systems, which can affect the critical services like health care, water treatment facility, the electrical grid, hydropower plant, and so forth. The existing intrusion detection systems (IDSs) in CPSs are facing issues like poor detection accuracy, high false alarm rate and more computation time. Also, existing intrusion detection systems cannot identify new attacks that is, zero‐day assaults. Prerequisite exists for the design of the framework for detecting intrusions using artificial intelligence inspired approaches grounded on the principle of ensemble techniques. Intrusion detection framework assimilating ensemble‐based technique for CPS has been proposed. Since the proposed framework incorporates privileges of multiple techniques for intrusion detection and classification, hence the proposed framework may overcome the limitations of existing IDSs for CPS. Overview of cutting‐edge incursion identification methods for CPSs is presented. Several characteristics of CPS, industrial protocols, and anomaly detection techniques for intrusion detection are analyzed. Taxonomy of IDS for CPS has been proposed, taxonomy of attacks and threats on CPS has been intended. Research challenges for IDS in CPS are also uncovered from this review.

On the possible use of hydraulic force to assist with building the step pyramid of saqqara.

The Step Pyramid of Djoser in Saqqara, Egypt, is considered the oldest of the seven monumental pyramids built about 4,500 years ago. From transdisciplinary analysis, it was discovered that a hydraulic lift may have been used to build the pyramid. Based on our mapping of the nearby watersheds, we show that one of the unexplained massive Saqqara structures, the Gisr el-Mudir enclosure, has the features of a check dam with the intent to trap sediment and water. The topography beyond the dam suggests a possible ephemeral lake west of the Djoser complex and water flow inside the 'Dry Moat' surrounding it. In the southern section of the moat, we show that the monumental linear rock-cut structure consisting of successive, deep compartments combines the technical requirements of a water treatment facility: a settling basin, a retention basin, and a purification system. Together, the Gisr el-Mudir and the Dry Moat's inner south section work as a unified hydraulic system that improves water quality and regulates flow for practical purposes and human needs. Finally, we identified that the Step Pyramid's internal architecture is consistent with a hydraulic elevation mechanism never reported before. The ancient architects may have raised the stones from the pyramid centre in a volcano fashion using the sediment-free water from the Dry Moat's south section. Ancient Egyptians are famous for their pioneering and mastery of hydraulics through canals for irrigation purposes and barges to transport huge stones. This work opens a new line of research: the use of hydraulic force to erect the massive structures built by Pharaohs.

DDANF: Deep denoising autoencoder normalizing flow for unsupervised multivariate time series anomaly detection

In recent years, the proliferation of IoT technologies and the widespread adoption of wireless sensors across various critical infrastructures such as power plants, service monitoring systems, space and earth exploration missions, and water treatment facilities have resulted in the generation of vast quantities of multivariate time series data. Within this context, unsupervised anomaly detection has emerged as a pivotal yet challenging problem in time series research, necessitating machine learning models capable of identifying rare anomalies amidst massive datasets. Traditionally, unsupervised methods have approached this issue by learning representations of primary patterns within sequences and detecting deviations through reconstruction errors. However, the effectiveness of this approach is often limited due to the intricate dynamics and diverse patterns inherent in these dynamic systems. Moreover, many existing unsupervised anomaly detection techniques fail to fully exploit inter-feature relationships within multivariate time series data, thereby overlooking a crucial criterion for accurate detection. To address these shortcomings, this paper introduces a novel unsupervised method for multivariate time series anomaly detection based on normalized flows and autoencoders. Central to our approach is the incorporation of a channel shuffling mechanism during training, enhancing the model’s capacity to discern inter-channel patterns and anomalies. Concurrently, the application of normalized flows within the autoencoder framework serves to constrain the latent space, effectively isolating anomalies and improving detection accuracy. Experimental validation conducted on two large-scale public datasets demonstrates the efficacy of the proposed method compared to established benchmarks, highlighting its superior performance.

Flow Properties o f Tannery Waste Liquor

Objective: A water treatment facility is to be erected nearby the industrial tanning complex, recently established East of Cairo, Egypt. This paper represents a contribution to studying the flow characteristics of the produced tannery waste effluents. A dried sample of tannery waste was chemically analyzed by X-ray fluorescence and its particle size distribution was determined. Next, rheological measurements were carried out on the waste slurry produced at temperatures ranging from 10°C to 40°C and three different solid concentrations, by weight: 20%, 25%, and 30%. The results showed that all waste suspensions under all conditions of solid content and temperature behaved as shear-thinning liquids. Flow indices of all suspensions generally tended to increase with temperature and solid concentration. Activation energies for viscosity were correlated to an increase in solid concentration and showed a decreasing pattern. All samples exhibited a thixotropic character that decreased with increased temperature and dilution of the suspension. The maximum pressure drops per unit length of a pipeline used to transport the waste suspension to the treatment unit was evaluated and found to increase with solid concentration and decrease with increasing temperature. Keywords: Rheology, Tannery waste slurry, Solid content, Temperature

Industrial Wastewater Efficiency Assessment of Al-Dora Refinery Plant in Baghdad by Decreasing BOD5 and COD Concentrations

In petroleum refineries, cooling towers, steam engines, and vacuum distillation all require a large volume of water. Before being dumped into the water bodies, it is then transported to an industrial water treatment facility. One of the study's objectives is to verify how well different processing units in the industrial wastewater treatment plant at the cycle refinery remove concentrations of chemical and biological oxygen demand (COD) and BOD. Five samples of industrial wastewater were collected before and after each treatment unit and one sample of wastewater was drained as a final product to the Tigris River. Over the summer, the BOD5 values after each processing unit were 180.8, 175.2, 111, 43, and 37 ppm. Winter readings were 106.8, 99.6, 81.2, 33.8, and 31 ppm, with summer and winter complete elimination rates of 79% and 71%, respectively. The reason for higher BOD5 concentrations in summer than in winter is due to higher temperatures that lead to evaporation and increased concentrations of BOD5 and COD pollutants. While COD concentrations were during the summer after each processing unit 399.6, 383.2, 187.2, 72.8, and 55.4 ppm, in winter they were 324.4, 310.2, 115, 46, and 42.6 ppm with a total removal rate of 86% in summer and 87% in winter. It was found that the refinery's water-drained treatment method, which includes a high proportion of BOD5 and COD concentrations in the main treatment plant, is effective. The water that flowed from the treatment plant into the river was within the national standard of the river water.

Comparison of treatment trains for indirect potable reuse and use of quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) to evaluate reliability of pathogen removal: Zoo Miami case study

Wastewater and reclaimed water contain various microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoa that can cause waterborne diseases in humans and animals. Zoos and animal conservation parks utilize reclaimed water for various purposes which may contain pathogens harmful to human and animal health. The goal of this study was to assess the treatment performance of two treatment trains for indirect potable reuse (IPR) and perform quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) to evaluate the reliability of pathogen removal at a proposed advanced water treatment facility at the Zoo Miami. A review of advanced treatment and disinfection technologies relevant for reclaimed water production and pathogen removal was conducted as a part of this study. DPRisk was used to perform QMRA for four reference pathogens selected as model organisms for two IPR treatment trains (TT1 and TT2). Public health risk estimates for pathogens including Adenovirus, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and enteric viruses indicated that the risk of infection was below the EPA's target daily threshold of 2.7 × 10−7 and annual risk threshold of 10−4 without failure analysis. With failure analysis, both treatment trains met the daily risk goals for each of the reference pathogens approximately 99 % of the time. Adenovirus demonstrated the highest probability of infection with a mean annual risk of infection for TT1 of 6.65 × 10−9 in the absence of failures but reached a maximum of 7.34 × 10−2 with failure analysis. TT2 resulted in higher risk estimates compared to TT1 with a mean annual risk of infection of 2.10 × 10−8 without failure and a maximum of 8.37 × 10−2 with failure analysis. The results of the failure analysis demonstrate the benefit of treatment redundancy in potable reuse system design and highlight the importance of online process monitoring to rapidly identify off-spec or treatment failure events to protect public health. With this information, stakeholders can better understand treatment requirements and microbiological risks to inform potable reuse planning, design, and risk management.

Review of the occurrence, treatment technologies, and detection methods for saxitoxins in freshwaters.

The increasing occurrence of saxitoxins in freshwaters is becoming a concern for water treatment facilities owing to its structural properties which make it resistant to oxidation at pH < 8. Hence, it is crucial to be able to monitor these toxins in surface and drinking water to protect public health. This review aims to outline the current state of knowledge related to the occurrence of saxitoxins in freshwaters and its removal strategies and provide a critical assessment of the detection methods to provide a basis for further development. Temperature and nutrient content are some of the factors that influence the production of saxitoxins in surface waters. A high dose of sodium hypochlorite with sufficient contact time or activated carbon has been shown to efficiently remove extracellular saxitoxins to meet the drinking water guidelines. While HILIC-MS has proven to be a powerful technology for more sensitive and reliable detection of saxitoxin and variants after solid phase extraction, ELISA is cost-effective and easy to use and is used by Ohio EPA for surveillance with a limit of detection of 0.015 μg/L. However, there is a need for the development of cost-effective and sensitive techniques that can quantify the variants of saxitoxin.