Multiphasic screening of priority chemical compounds in drinking water by process control and human health risk

Background The residual chemical pollutants in drinking water may cause adverse effects on human health. Chemical compounds potentially affecting human health have been widely explored, while the multiphasic evaluation of chemical compounds by process control and human health risk is still rarely reported. In the present study, we used multiphasic criteria to assess the health risk including effluent concentration, accumulation index, purification index for the removal efficiency during the drinking water treatment processes, carcinogen classification based on the International Agency for Research on Cancer standards, non-carcinogenic health hazards and carcinogenic risk. Results Among the monitored chemicals, 47 and 44 chemical compounds were detected in raw water and treated water, respectively. The generation and removal of chemical compounds implied that the migration and transformation of chemicals during the purification processes affected the effluent concentration, posing a direct potential health risk. Of these compounds, 41 contaminants’ profiles were screened as priority chemical compounds (PCCs). Conclusions The top eight PCCs with high carcinogenic risk were highlighted. Some effective steps, such as protecting the raw water sources, improving the removal performance and reducing the disinfection by-products during the purification process by introducing advanced treatment technologies, were suggested to maintain drinking water security. Collectively, our findings provided novel scientific supports for the sustainable management of drinking water to promote human health. Graphical Abstract

Effect of constructed wetland system on aquaculture wastewater by ecological treatment

In this study, an integrated ecological system was constructed to treat small scattered aquaculture wastewater in southern rural areas of China. The water outlet of 4 level wetlands was continuously monitored from July to December in 2017. Results showed the average concentrations of total nitrogen (TN), ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N), nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N), total phosphorus (TP) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were 43.64mg/L, 17.53mg/L, 1.71mg/L, 1.66mg/L and 51.39mg/L in the average effluent concentration of grade I wetland, respectively, and 8.35mg/L, 4.42mg/L, 0.24mg/L, 0.26mg/L, 21.32mg/L in the average effluent concentration of grade IV wetland, respectively. The removal rates were 81%, 75%, 86%, 85% and 59% for TN, NH4+-N, NO3-N, TP and COD in the integrated ecological system, respectively. The effluents from the integrated ecological system met the requirements of “Discharge Standard of Pollutants for Livestock and Poultry Breeding” (GB 18596-2001) and achieved “Discharge Standard of Pollutants for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant” (GB 18918-2002) the center two levels to discharge the standard. Obviously, the integrated ecological system could work efficiently in treating the rural scattered aquaculture wastewater, and also possess merits of low construction and operation costs and simple management method, which will be benefited to its application in the southern rural regions of China.

Estimated seasonal daily evapotranspiration rates for a horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland

We measured the daily evapotranspiration on a horizontal sub-surface flow constructed wetland in Hódmezővásárhely, Hungary. The main focus of our research was the seasonality of evapotranspiration in this CW. We measured the water balance of the CW and searched days when no precipitation, no inlet or outlet impacted on the water balance of the constructed wetland, only the evapotranspiration. had impact on the water balance. The results show that in spring the evapotranspiration rates were between 18-42,6 mm/day, in summer 12,3-42,3 mm/ day and in autumn the values were 13,6-22,7 mm/day. The highest hourly evapotranspiration was 16,3% of the daily evapotranspiration. This value was 415 % of the average, hourly hydraulic load that can significantly affects on the effluent concentration. The results also show the morning and evening condensation which has two main effects. On the other hand, the water balance of the CW is increased, which results the decrease of the concentration of wastewater.

Application of Chitosan and Activated Carbon Nano-composite in Removal of Nitrite, Phosphate, and Ammonia From Aquaculture Wastewater

Developing an adsorbent with natural components is one of the effective methods to reduce the amount of wastewater pollutants. Wastewater reuse can improve the quality of water prior to entering the natural environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of chitosan nano-composite and activated carbon adsorbent in the removal of nitrite, phosphate, and ammonia pollutants from fish farms of Aq-Qala. To prepare the adsorbents, the shrimp shells were converted to nano-chitosan. The date palm kernel was prepared and activated with oxalic acid in pyrolysis furnace by injecting nitrogen gas into activated carbon, then, the nano-composite was prepared from nanochitosan and activated carbon. A field-laboratory study was conducted during the winter of 2018, and then, batches of synthesized nano-composite were investigated and the effects of pH, initial effluent concentration, and adsorption time were investigated. The experiments were performed in the pH range of 5-8, effluent concentration of 25-100 mg/L, and contact time of 15-90 minutes. The results showed that at optimum conditions (pH of 7, effluent concentration of 50 mg/L, and contact time of 60 minutes), the highest removal percentage and adsorption capacity for nitrite, phosphate, and ammonia contaminants were 99.98%, 99.77%, and 65.65%, and 6.65, 6.14, and 7.32 mg/g , respectively. Due to the high removal percentage (99.98%) of the chitosan and activated carbon nano-composite, the adsorbent was highly capable of removing pollutants (nitrite, phosphate, and ammonia).

Characterization of pharmaceuticals industrial effluent using GC–MS and FT-IR analyses and defining its toxicity

The physicochemical analysis of collected effluent sample for different parameters shown results as pH (pH 5.6 ± 0.11) slightly acidic, high conductivity (1563.34 ± 176 μs cm−1), total dissolved solids (920.34 ± 137 mg L−1), high BOD (7253.34 ± 1022 mg L−1), and COD (756.67 ± 1124 mg L−1) in the effluent sample. The results of heavy metals concentration are viz. as [Cu (1.98–2.56), Co (0.26–0.53), Cd (0.10–0.50), Ni (0.04–0.07), Pb (0.58–1.2), Mn (0.58–1.05), Cr (1.47–1.51), Zn (2.61–3.5), Fe (1.72–2.13), As (0.05–0.09), and Hg (0.003–0.006)]. Results revealed the higher concentration of BOD, COD, TDS, and conductivity and also the concentration of lead. Results of GC–MS also confirmed the high levels of organic pollutants in effluent. Further the effluent toxicity was evaluated by employing genotoxocity assays with the use of Allium cepa L. (onion) root tip cells. Genotoxicity measured mitotic index (MI) and chromosomal aberrations (CAs) in root tip cells obtained after treatment with effluent of 6.25, 12.5, and 25% concentration (v/v). The results of root growth test showed that inhibition of root growth occurred at effluent concentration ≥ 50% (v/v). The lowest MI was recorded (MI = 9.6%) in 25% of effluent concentration, showing a significant reduction in mitotic index compared with control which MI = 64.1%. Further, the chromosomal aberration was investigated in root tip cell after treating with different concentration ranges of effluent exhibiting various CA, viz. c-mitosis, chromosome loss, chromosome break, micronucleated cells, etc. The result suggests that the effluent contained toxic constituents, which imposed cytotoxic and genotoxic hazard.

OPTIMIZATION OF FLOCCULATION PROCESS BY MICROBIAL COAGULANT IN RIVER WATER

The existing process of coagulation and flocculation are using chemicals that known as cationic coagulant such as alum, ferric sulfate, calcium oxide, and organic polymers. Thus, this study concentrates on optimizing of flocculation process by microbial coagulant in river water. Turbidity and suspended solids are the main constraints of river water quality in Malaysia. Hence, a study is proposed to produce microbial coagulants isolated locally for river water treatment. The chosen microbe used as the bioflocculant producer is Aspergillus niger. The parameters to optimization in the flocculation process were pH, bioflocculant dosage and effluent concentration. The research was done in the jar test process and the process parameters for maximum turbidity removal was validated. The highest flocculating activity was obtained on day seven of cultivation in the supernatant. The optimum pH and bioflocculant dosage for an optimize sedimentation process were between 4-5 and 2-3 mL for 0.3 g/L of effluent concentration respectively. The model was validated by using a river water sample from Sg. Pusu and the result showed that the model was acceptable to evaluate the bioflocculation process.