bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sewage Treatment Challenges and Opportunities in the Nottawasaga River Watershed
Authors: Palmer R. Mark
Published: March 2019

Sewage treatment studies at the watershed scale, compared to case-by-case community projects, ensures the most cost-efficient investment of funds commensurate with environmental requirements to sustain growth. A three-year environmental assessment study for the town of New Tecumseth, Ontario, examined all nutrient inputs to the Nottawasaga River watershed. Other challenging watershed constraints were investigated, such as stream and river flow takings for irrigation and sediment transport, prior to the selection of the master sewage treatment plan. The findings from the field research and computer modelling were used to (1) place a realistic perspective on nutrient impacts, present and future, attributable to treated sewage effluent; (2) design a master plan that could be used as an opportunity in terms of reusing the effluent locally for agricultural irrigation; (3) provide a real-time assurance of the plan’s performance/compliance, based on the actual carrying capacity of the aquatic ecosystem; (4) stage the construction of the plan in a cost-effective and environmentally sound manner; and (5) recommend a water resources management strategy to control other nutrient and sediment load sources within the watershed. The recommended master sewage treatment plan and water resources management strategy can restore the Ministry of Environment and Energy provincial water quality objective concentration for total phosphorus within the river during 7Q20 flow conditions.
Multielement Relationships Characterizing the Chemical Composition of Municipal Sewage Sludge in Southern Quebec
Authors: Bellehumeur C. , Vasseur L. , Ansseau C. , Marcos B.
Published: March 2019

Disposal of sewage sludge on agricultural or forest lands has been shown to be an economical means of sludge disposal which reduces the amount of waste going to landfills and returns nutrients to the soil. The heavy metal content of sludge generally depends on the composition of influents and on the treatment process. The present study considers the sludge chemical composition of 23 municipalities in southern Quebec and the heavy metal concentrations in their respective drinking water supplies. This study attempts to determine the main multielement relationships characterizing sludge composition, and to verify the occurrence of a possible link between chemical element concentration in sludge and in water supplies. The main phenomena influencing the chemical composition of municipal sewage sludge were modeled by using principal component analysis. The analysis shows that Cu concentration in sludges highly correlates with the organic nitrogen, and a series of metals (Cd-Co-Cr-Ni-Pb) are deposited independently of N and P. The activated sludge process removes a greater quantity of N than aerated lagoons, but heavy metals are generally more concentrated in aerated lagoons. The metal level found in water supplies slightly correlates with the metal content of sludge. Treatment plants showing metal contamination problems are found in regions with high natural geo-chemical levels of metals.
Estimation of Xenobiotic Effects on the Peroxidase-Dependent Plant Immunity as a Means of Ecological Control
Authors: Rogovine V.V. , Mushtakova V.M. , Fomina V.A.
Published: March 2019

The effect of various dyes, ions of heavy metals (Cd2+, Pb2+, Sn2+, Hg2+, Cu2+) and gaseous waste from thermal power stations (H2S, SO2, NO, NH3) on the peroxi-dase-dependent immunity of pea roots (Pisum sativum) has been studied by luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence. It has been found that copper toxicity could be comparable to that of mercury. Fabric dyes dis-azodye “direct” red and “vat” violet at concentrations of 10-5 M reduced plant chemiluminescence as much as 50%. Hydrogen sulfide turned out to be the most toxic among the gases of the industrial gaseous waste. Considering the importance of peroxidase system activity in plants against various infections, it is necessary to control the possibility of impairment of plant immunity by xenobiotics dissolved in water.
Occurrence of 1,2-Dichloropropane and 1,3-Dichloropropene in the Abbotsford Aquifer, British Columbia
Authors: Grove Gary , Szeto Sunny Y. , Liebscher Hugh , Hii Basil , Zebarth Bernie J.
Published: March 2019

Forty piezometers at 13 sites in the Canadian portion of the Abbotsford aquifer were tested for 1,2-dichloropropane (1,2-DCP) and 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-DCP) on an approximate monthly interval from July 1991 to June 1994. Detectable levels of 1,2-DCP were found in 32 of the 40 piezometers. Average 1,2-DCP concentrations within a piezometer ranged up to 2.23 µg/L and a maximum concentration of 7.07 µg/L was recorded in one piezometer. 1,3-DCP was detected for only a short period of time in one piezometer and at a maximum concentration of 0.23 µg/L. 1,2-DCP contamination in the aquifer is attributed to application of fumigants containing this compound as an active ingredient or as an impurity for the control of root nematodes in red raspberry crops. The nature of the contamination is consistent with a non-point source that is highly variable in space and time. Although soil fumigants containing 1,2-DCP as an active ingredient are no longer used in the Abbotsford area, fairly constant values of 1,2-DCP would indicate there is still a contaminant source providing input to the groundwater. 1,2-DCP has apparently accumulated on the soil sediments above the water table and is slowly being released to the groundwater. In the top 15 m of the saturated zone, concentrations generally decreased with depth below the water table to near nondetectable levels. Correlation between contaminant levels and rainfall or other environmental factors that might affect the distribution of 1,2-DCP could not be established. More detailed soil measurements and controlled laboratory experiments are needed to determine 1,2-DCP movement as well as rates of dissipation in the Abbotsford aquifer.
Hydrocarbon Pollution in the Brunette River Watershed
Authors: Larkin G.A. , Hall K.J.
Published: March 2019

The extent and severity of hydrocarbon pollution in lake core sediments, streambed sediments, stormwater and street surface sediments were investigated in the Brunette River watershed in Burnaby, British Columbia. Lake core sediments document a dramatic increase in hydrocarbon input to Burnaby Lake concurrent with development of the region. Hydrocarbon concentrations in streambed sediments corresponded to the land use indices of impermeable area and traffic density. Hydrocarbon concentrations measured in stream runoff during storm events also corresponded with land use, while concentrations in street runoff were highly correlated (r2 = 0.995) to the log10 of local traffic volumes. Whereas land use appears to influence hydrocarbon concentrations found in streambed sediments, street surface sediment concentrations were quite uniform throughout the watershed. Road washoff of non-particulate oil appears to be an important source of hydrocarbons to stormwater solids, and ultimately streambed and lake core sediments. The combination of both source control and runoff treatment should result in the greatest and likely enduring reduction in urban runoff hydrocarbon concentrations.
Investigation of Copper Sorption Using Plant Materials
Authors: Al-Asheh S. , Lamarche G. , Duvnjak Z.
Published: March 2019

An attempt was made to describe the mechanisms of copper sorption by plant materials such as canola meal, pine bark and moss in terms of the compositional analysis of the sorbents and the electron spin resonance tests. The compositional analyses showed that lignin and carbohydrates from bark and moss, and proteins, carbohydrates and phytic acid from canola meal were the major components responsible for the sorption of heavy metals. The roles of the car-boxyl and amino groups in the sorption process were also examined. It was found that the esterification of the carboxyl or the methylation of the amino groups in canola meal, bark and moss resulted in a lower metal uptake by these sorbents. Furthermore, sorption with the de-esterified sorbents resulted in the same uptake as that of the control. Electron spin resonance tests demonstrated that free radicals from the sorbents played a significant role in the sorption processes. The increase in copper uptake by moss was associated with a decrease in the concentration of free radicals in this sorbent.
Review of Bioconcentration, Bioaccumulation and Kow Techniques
Authors: Burnison B. Kent
Published: March 2019

Methods have been developed over the past several decades to measure or predict the accumulation of persistent organic contaminants in plants and animals. Most of these methods determine either the bioconcentration factor (BCF), the bioaccumulation factor (BAF), or the n-octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow). Although BCF and BAF are expensive to determine, they do account for metabolism by the target organism whereas the chemically determined Kow does not. Methods recommended by OECD, ASTM and USEPA for the determination of bioconcentration of chemicals are evaluated. Recently finalized USEPA methods are recommended for the determination of BAF and BCF in fish. The slow-stir method is considered the most accurate for a direct measurement of the n-octanol-water partition coefficient (Kow), but computer estimations of Kow can be used when a direct measurement is unavailable. Recent bilinear equations (Howard et al. 1997) have been derived to predict BCF values from Kow.
Alkylphenol Polyethoxylate Metabolites in Canadian Sewage Treatment Plant Waste Streams
Authors: Bennie D.T. , Sullivan C.A. , Lee H.-B. , Maguire R.J.
Published: March 2019

Nonylphenol polyethoxylates and their refractory metabolites, including nonylphenol, are on the second Priority Substances List (PSL2) to determine if they are "toxic" as defined under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. This study addresses the need for data on their occurrence in raw sewage, final effluents and sludge in Canada. Samples of raw sewage, final effluent and sludge were collected from 16 wastewater treatment plants across Canada in 1995 and 1996. These samples were analyzed for 4-nonylphenol (4-NP), nonylphenol ethoxylate (NP1EO), nonylphenol diethoxylate (NP2EO) and 4-4-tert-octylphenol (4-t-OP). Measurable quantities of these chemicals were found in almost all raw sewage and sludge samples. In the raw sewage, concentrations ranged from <0.005 to 21 μg/L for 4-t-OP, from 0.69 to 155 μg/L for 4-NP, from 2.9 to 43 μg/L for NP1EO and from 0.26 to 24 μg/L for NP2EO. Sludge concentrations (based on dry weight) ranged from <0.010 to 20 μg/g, from 8.4 to 850 μg/g, from 3.9 to 437 μg/g and from 1.5 to 297 μg/g for 4-t-OP, 4-NP, NP1EO and NP2EO, respectively. Of the final effluent samples, 60% contained detectable amounts of 4-t-OP and concentrations ranged from <0.005 to 0.37 μg/L. Almost all of the final effluent samples had detectable levels of 4-NP, NP1EO and NP2EO. The 4-NP concentrations varied from <0.020 to 13 μg/L, NP1EO was found in the range of 0.072 to 26 μg/L and NP2EO was found in the range of 0.099 to 21 μg/L.
Investigating the Adequacy of Selected Micro-Scale Bioassays to Predict the Toxic Potential of Freshwater Sediments through a Tier Process
Authors: Côté Chantale , Blaise Christian , Schroeder Julie , Douville Mélanie , Michaud Jean-René
Published: March 2019

A battery of 20 bioassays was applied to assess test and endpoint performance in detecting the toxic potential of 15 freshwater sediment samples collected in the St. Lawrence River/Great Lakes systems. The bioassays included 18 micro-scale assays performed either on whole sediment, pore water or sediment organic extracts, as well as two standardized whole sediment bioassays undertaken with macroinvertebrates (Chironomus riparius and Hyalella azteca). Physical and chemical parameters of selected sediments were also analyzed to aid in the interpretation of results. Several qualitative and quantitative criteria were established for evaluating the reliability and usefulness of the micro-scale bioassays in predicting sediment toxicity based on a two-tier system. In Tier 1, micro-scale testing results were compared for general concordance with those of the benthic bioassays, benthic community structure index and with sediment contaminant levels. Micro-assays which complied with Tier 1 standards were further evaluated via a Tier 2 process consisting of selected (quantitative and qualitative) scientific and practical criteria. Of the 20 bioassays investigated, the two benthic assays and seven micro-scale assays successfully passed the double-tiered assessment. Micro-scale tests whose results most closely matched those of the benthic tests for appraisal of whole sediment toxicity, sediment contamination level and benthic community structure index included three bacterial assays (ATP assay, a micro-plate adaptation of the Microtox® assay, SOS Chromotest™), one algal assay (algal solid-phase test) and three micro-invertebrate assays (Thamnotoxkit™ F, Daphtoxkit™ F and Hydra assay). Two selected batteries, composed of the seven micro-scale assays and benthic invertebrate bioassays, are proposed for cost-effective appraisal of freshwater sediment toxicity.
An Evaluation of the Use of Soil and Sediment Bioassays in the Assessment of Three Contaminated Sites in Atlantic Canada
Authors: Carter J.A. , Mroz R.E. , Tay K.L. , Doe K.G.
Published: March 2019

Biological tests recommended by Environment Canada (1994) for the assessment of contaminated sites were evaluated at three sites in Atlantic Canada. Soil and sediment samples from contaminated sites in Makinsons, Newfoundland, Weldon, New Brunswick, and Five Island Lake, Nova Scotia, were characterized by chemical analysis and the recommended bioassays. Contaminants in excess of federal and/or provincial guidelines included poly-chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and heavy metals in Makinsons soil, TPH in Weldon soil, and PCBs and heavy metals in Five Island Lake sediment. Four soil bioassays were conducted: earthworm (Eisenia andrei) survival, lettuce seedling (Lactuca sativa) emergence, algal (Selenastrum capricornutum) population growth inhibition and inhibition of light output in Microtox\xAE (Vibrio fischeri). Sediment bioassessment involved the following tests: midge (Chironomus tentans) growth and survival, amphi-pod (Hyalella azteca) growth and survival, algal population growth inhibition and Microtox. The study demonstrated that the toxicity of samples from contaminated sites may not necessarily be consistent with the results of chemical analyses. However, correlations were identified between soil TPH concentrations and Microtox IC50, and sediment PCB concentrations and algal IC50. Soil bioassay sensitivity was ranked (in order of increasing sensitivity) as earthworm < lettuce = algae < Microtox. Sediment bioassay sensitivity was ranked as Microtox < amphipod < midge < algae. Bioassessment as a supplement to conventional chemical testing at contaminated sites in Canada is recommended.
A Study of ATP and Biodegradation as a Measure of Bacterial Activity in an Anaerobic Fluidized Bed Bioreacto
Authors: Imbeault Nathalie , Paquet Marcel , Côté Raynald
Published: March 2019

In this study, the formation of the biofilm and the temporal change in the bacterial composition at different whey permeate (wastewater) sugar concentrations were assessed inside a fluidized bed bioreactor. At a sugar concentration of 5 g/L, the efficiency of biodégradation was 10%, while at 20 g/L it was 3%. With time, an increase in the ATP concentration of the bacteria on the coal grains was observed, indicating biofilm formation. To estimate the biodegradation activity in the biofilm, expressed as mass of sugar biodegraded per day and per volume of support, the bacterial ATP was determined by the firefly biolu-minescent enzymatic reaction developed by Karl and Larock (1975). At sugar concentrations of 5 and 20 g/L, the ATP concentrations of the bacteria forming the biofilm were, respectively, 11.6 and 36.0 moles ATP/m3 of support, corresponding, respectively, with lactose rates of 343.7 and 515.5 kg/d m3. There were 13 species of bacteria inventoried in the bioreactor. Pseudomonas maltophilia, P. paucimobilis, P. sp., P. fluorescens, Salmonella sp., Acinetobacter calcoaceti-cus var. lwoffi, Aeromonas hydrophila/caviae, Staphylococcus hominis, S. cohnii, S. aureus, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter faecium, and a filamentous species that could be associated with the genus Methanothrix.
Lessons Learned from the Environmental Management Development in Ukraine Project
Authors: Guilmette Jean-H.
Published: March 2019

The Environmental Management Development in Ukraine project is funded by the Canadian International Development Agency through a contribution agreement signed with the International Development Research Centre. The project began on April 1, 1994, following a prenegotiated detailed project plan established with the full agreement of the Ukrainian Government. A Memorandum of Grant Conditions signed with the Ministry for Environment Protection and Nuclear Safety, set out the management framework for the project. This paper summarizes the final report on activities and lessons learned comprised by the first phase of EMDU1 dubbed EMDU-1 to distinguish it from a new program of activities also involving environmental management development which started on October 1st, 1997.
Effects of Salinity on Physical Characteristics of Activated Sludge Flocs
Authors: Cousin Christopher P. , Ganczarczyk Jerzy J.
Published: March 2019

The effect of increased wastewater salinity on the physical characteristics of activated sludge flocs was studied. Samples of activated sludge were exposed to increments of NaCl and the physical structure of the individual flocs, was then investigated. A time response of the flocs to these changes was also measured. Two separate series of tests were run and for both series, it was determined that as the NaCl concentration increased, the mean floc area, equivalent diameter, perimeter and longest dimension all increased, with the flocs becoming more elongated with decreasing shape factor. The mechanism involved in the increase of the floc sizes is considered to be a combination of electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. Examination of the size distributions revealed that the data were best fitted by a log normal distribution and that, as the NaCl concentration was increased, the distribution of the characteristic tended to shift towards a higher proportion of larger values, or smaller values for the shape factor results. Both the porosity and boundary fractal dimension were found to provide different values in the two series of tests. The flocs were found to exhibit two distinct Sierpinski fractal dimensions, thus indicating the presence of two pore size populations. The increasing salinity had little effect on the smaller pore size population, but a significant effect on the larger pore size population. The time response test indicated that the flocs achieved the new characteristics in about 15 minutes.
Effect of Filter Media Particle Size Distribution on Filtration Efficiency
Authors: Amini F. , Truong H.V.
Published: March 2019

The results of an experimental study of a sand filter water quality model are presented. The model is built to represent an underground confined water quality sand filter structure. Three types of sands, namely fine, medium and coarse, were used to study the effect of filter media particle size distribution on sediment removal efficiency. The results indicated that the sediment removal efficiency for all sand types decreased with time. The use of medium sand provided the scale model filter with the highest sediment removal efficiency. The finding of this study indicates that the media grain size has a measurable effect on the efficiency of the sand filter water quality structure.
Review of Analytical Methods for the Determination of Nonylphenol and Related Compounds in Environmental Samples
Authors: Lee Hing-Biu
Published: March 2019

Analytical methods published in the last 20 years for the extraction, chromato-graphic separation, and quantification of alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEO) and related compounds in environmental samples are reviewed. Examples of various isolation and preconcentration techniques for water, effluent, sediment and sludge are presented. This includes procedures from the classical liquid-liquid and Soxhlet extraction to the up-to-date solid phase and supercritical fluid extraction. Chromatographic separation of APEO by normal and reversed phase liquid chromatography (LC) and capillary column gas chromatography (GC) is compared. A variety of quantification methods involving the common LC and GC detectors as well as various mass spectrometric techniques are also discussed.
Review of the Persistence of Nonylphenol and Nonylphenol Ethoxylates in Aquatic Environments
Authors: Maguire R. James
Published: March 2019

Alkylphenol ethoxylates, in particular nonylphenol ethoxylates, are widely used nonionic surfactants that are discharged in high quantities to sewage treatment plants and directly to the environment in areas where there is no sewage or industrial waste treatment. This article reviews the treatability of nonylphenol ethoxylates and nonylphenol in sewage treatment plants and their persistence in aquatic environments. Nonylphenol ethoxylates can be biologically degraded in sewage treatment plants and in natural environments. Some of the degradation products, including nonylphenol, are more persistent than the parent surfactants and they are found in receiving waters of sewage treatment plants. Nonylphenol in particular is found at high concentrations in some sewage sludges that may be spread on agricultural lands. While some sewage treatment plants discharge significant amounts of nonylphenol ethoxylate degradation products in their final effluents and digested sludges compared to what enters the plant, others degrade nonylphenol ethoxylates more or less completely. The differences in treatment efficiency of such compounds and their degradation products among different sewage treatment plants have been attributed to the load of the surfactants in influent streams, plant design and operating conditions, and other factors such as temperature of treatment. The highest nonylphenol ethoxylate elimination rates were achieved in plants characterized by low sludge-loading rates and nitrifying conditions. In natural waters, it appears that parent nonylphenol ethoxylates are not persistent, but some degradation products may have moderate persistence, especially under anaerobic conditions. Recent results from mesocosm experiments indicate moderate persistence of nonylphenol in sediments, with half-lives of 28 to 104 days. Microbial acclimation to the chemicals is an important determinant of persistence vis-à-vis biodegradation. Sunlight photodegradation of such products is also likely important. Further research on the persistence in natural environments of the lower ethoxylate and carboxylate degradation products, as well as nonylphenol, is necessary. Based on the limited data available, nonylphenol and the lower ethoxylates and carboxylates are persistent in groundwater. They are also persistent in landfills under anaerobic conditions, but they do not appear to be persistent in soil under aerobic conditions. Recommendations are made for further research in order to more fully characterize the treatability of nonylphenol ethoxylates and their degradation products in sewage treatment plants and their persistence in the natural environment.
Review of the Environmental Occurrence of Alkylphenols and Alkylphenol Ethoxylates
Authors: Bennie Donald T.
Published: March 2019

Alkylphenol ethoxylates and, in particular, nonylphenol ethoxylates have found many industrial, commercial, institutional and household uses in Canada. These nonionic surfactants are very efficient and cost effective. Their widespread use has led to the detection of the parent surfactants and their degradation products in various environmental matrices. Alkylphenol ethoxylates can be degraded aerobically and anaerobically in natural environments and sewage treatment plants.. The resulting degradation products are more persistent, more toxic, more lipophilic, less water soluble and more estrogenic than their parent compounds. This article reviews the occurrence of nonylphenol polyethoxylates and their degradation products as well as octylphenol poly-ethoxylates and their degradation products. There is limited information available about the concentrations of these substances in their original product formulations. The highest levels of the degradation products, especially nonylphenol, occur in the anaerobically digested sludge of sewage treatment plants. Sludge from these sewage treatment plants may be used as an amendment to agricultural soils. Various sewage treatment plants have wide ranges of discharged effluent concentrations of these compounds — some appear to be very efficient at removing alkylphenolics from their effluent stream. Little information is available about the fate of these substances in their receiving environment, and environmental concentrations and bioaccumulation factors of these contaminants in aquatic biota. More research is required on the uptake, persistence and bioaccumulation of alkylphenolic metabolites in fish, mussels and other aquatic organisms
Sequential Filtration of Surface and Ground Waters from the Rabbit Lake Uranium Mine, Northern Saskatchewan, Canada
Authors: Hollings P. , Hendry M.J. , Kerrich R.
Published: March 2019

Major, trace and rare earth element analyses were conducted on water samples from four sites at the Cameco Rabbit Lake uranium mine in northern Saskatchewan, Canada. Samples were collected from the mill discharge, raise water, the tailings and an adjacent well. Water samples were sequentially filtered through 3.0-µm, 0.45-µm, 0.2-µm, 0.1-µm and 0.02-µm Millipore filters. Trace element and metal abundances were higher in unfiltered samples directly related to the tailings management facility (TMF) than the adjacent ground-water sample. The majority of the metals, including As and Ni, were trapped on the 3.0-µm filter, with the remainder of the metals in all four samples either in solution or transported by extremely small colloidal material (<0.02 µm). Filtration through a 3-µm filter resulted in a substantial decrease in the absolute abundances of the REE in the samples directly associated with the TMF; however further filtration through progressively finer filters did not result in detectable variations in REE abundances. In the TMF-related samples removal of suspended sediment by the 3-µm filter resulted in changes in the REE patterns which were not observed in subsequent filtrations. The well sample did not display major variations in REE abundances with filtration, reflecting the lower colloidal load in that sample. Consequently, filtration through 3.0-µm or 0.45-µm filters will remove the majority of colloidal material at the Rabbit Lake uranium mine.
Modélisation hydro-bio-chimique du bassin versant de la rivière Saint-Charles
Authors: Vescovi Luc , Rousseau Alain N. , Mailhot Alain , Villeneuve Jean-Pierre
Published: March 2019

Cet article présente la démarche de modélisation hydrologique qui a été réalisée à l’aide des données existantes sur le bassin versant de la rivière Saint-Charles. Les débits sur le bassin sont obtenus à l’aide du modèle CEQUEAU. Les débits obtenus par CEQUEAU sont utilisés par la suite lors de la modélisation bio-chimique, qui est le sujet d’un second article. Cette étude est réalisée dans l’optique de voir dans quelle mesure une telle approche de modélisation est facile d’utilisation pour le gestionnaire de la ressource eau. Les résultats de simulations de CEQUEAU sont bons pour la partie rurale du bassin. À cause du manque de données disponibles sur les bassins des principaux tributaires, en particulier celui de la rivière Lorette, les résultats y sont moins bons. Pour la partie urbanisée du bassin les différences entre les débits observés et les débits simulés sont imputables au manque de données observées, à une forte influence anthropique sur la gestion de l’eau et vraisemblablement à une trop grande simplification mathématique des processus hydrologiques en milieu urbain.
Evaluation of Polyalkastyrene Absorbent Beads for the Remediation of PCE in Groundwater
Authors: Venhuis M. , Lesage S. , Millar K.R. , Crowe A.S.
Published: March 2019

Passive groundwater remediation technologies are increasingly considered because they require very little long-term maintenance and are thus more cost effective than active systems such as pump-and-treat, which require the continuous upkeep of a groundwater pumping system and of an above-ground water treatment plant. Barriers are being installed in the ground to either prevent the flow of contaminated water from one property to another, or to remove the contaminants from the water as it passes through a porous reactive barrier. Absorbents which irreversibly incorporate spilled solvents into their structure have been developed to clean surface spills. This project was aimed at evaluating the performance of the absorbents with dissolved organic contaminants. It was found that while they did sorb aqueous phase compounds, it was through adsorption, not absorption and that it was therefore reversible. As adsorbents, the polymers marketed as Imbiber Beads® and Expandabeads® were not as effective as activated carbon.
Fly Ash for Colour Removal from Synthetic Dye Solutions
Authors: Viraraghavan T. , Ramakrishna K.R.
Published: March 2019

Fly ash was investigated for its ability to adsorb dyes from aqueous solutions. Batch pH, kinetic and isotherm studies were performed on a laboratory scale with synthetic dye solutions made up of four different commercial grade dyes. Fly ash samples with differing compositions and particle sizes were employed to understand the effect of fly ash composition and particle size on their dye removal capacity. The first-order rate equation by Lagergren was tested on the kinetic data, and isotherm data was analyzed for possible agreement with the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm equations. The removal capacity of fly ash for the different dyes was compared with that of granular activated carbon under identical conditions. Results showed that fly ash exhibited reasonably good dye removals for Basic Blue 9, Acid Blue 29 and Acid Red 91, while the removals by fly ash exceeded that of granular activated carbon for Disperse Red 1. Lime content in fly ash seemed to influence dye adsorption to a significant degree — better adsorption was observed at lower particle sizes because of the increased external surface area available for adsorption. Acid Blue 29 adsorption by fly ash provided the best fit for the Lagergren first-order plot. Because high pH and heavy metals (leached from fly ash) in the treated wastewater may exceed the limits set in municipal sewer-use bylaws, engineering and economic feasibility assessment should include these aspects when considering fly ash for colour removal.
Effects of Dilution and Fungal Pretreatment on Anaerobic Biodegradability of Oxygen Delignification Process Spent Liquor
Authors: Yerushalmi Laleh , Hodgson Jonathan , Jasim Khalid S. , Guiot Serge R.
Published: March 2019

The effects of several pretreatment techniques, including dilution, fungal pretreatment and addition of hydrogen peroxide on the enhancement of anaerobic biodegradability of spent liquor (SL) of the oxygen delignification process of recycled fibers, were evaluated. A 14% COD removal efficiency and a 37% acidification were obtained by the untreated effluent, indicating its low degree of biodegradability. After pretreatment, the efficiency of COD removal and the overall yield of methane production were increased by 24% to 246% and by 26% to 396%, respectively, compared to the untreated liquor. The acidification of spent liquor also increased to more than 70% following the pretreatment. Kinetics analysis of methane production and COD removal implied the production of inhibitory metabolites during the anaerobic biodegradation. The optimal dilution factor for the spent liquor sample under study, to reduce toxi-city while maximizing the specific rates of COD removal and methane production, was predicted to be less than five times.
The Presence of Coliform Bacteria in Canadian Pulp and Paper Mill Water Systems — a Cause for Concern?
Authors: Archibald Frederick
Published: March 2019

A question raised again and again over many decades by pulp and paper mill personnel and local authorities in many countries is, "Does the finding of large numbers of coliform enteric bacteria in the mill water or biotreatment system indicate a real health hazard for the mill workers or the downstream public?" Some of the difficulties in answering this question arise from the widespread misunderstanding of what coliform indicator (enumeration) tests can tell us. Increasing scientific understanding over the last 30 years has greatly altered the coliform indicator tests, the types of bacteria enumerated, and our ability to distinguish harmless from pathogenic (disease-producing) bacteria. This brief review discusses our current understanding of where and when it is appropriate to use coliform indicator assays and the meaning of the results.
Aquatic Toxicity and Environmental Impact of Leachate Discharges from a Municipal Landfill
Authors: Rutherford L.A. , Matthews S.L. , Doe K.G. , Julien G.R.J.
Published: March 2019

The final leachate from a municipal landfill, using a wetland tertiary treatment system, and water in the receiving environment were chemically characterized and evaluated for acute and sublethal aquatic toxicity. In addition, the effects of leachate discharges on the benthic macroinvertebrate community were determined. Samples were not acutely toxic to rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Daphnia magna and Vibrio fischeri. There was no detrimental effect on the survival and reproduction of Ceriodaphnia dubia, although a slight effect on reproduction was detected in river water at the control station (700 m upstream). Moderate toxicity to Selenastrum capricornutum was detected at the control and at station #2 (40 m from the outfall). Ames tests revealed no mutagenic or cyto-toxic effects in the final leachate or in river water downstream. Benthic macroinvertebrate sampling revealed that the leachate discharge had a localized impact on community structure near the outfall, but by 50 m downstream, the conditions were approaching those upstream of the discharge point.
Slow-Release Fertilizer for Rehabilitating Oligotrophic Streams: a Physical Characterization
Authors: Sterling Megan S. , Ashley Kenneth I. , Bautista Abigail B.
Published: March 2019

A combination of habitat degradation and overharvesting of anadromous salmonids in many of B.C.’s oligotrophic watersheds has prompted the addition of inorganic nutrients to streams, which increases autotrophic production and aids in the restoration of salmonid production. A new slow-release fertilizer (7-40-0, N-P2O5-K2O, percent by weight) was examined to determine its phosphate (PO43-) release rates using laboratory and field trough experiments. A series of indoor trough experiments indicated that the fertilizer pellet dissolution rate (0.393 g ? days-0.401) was independent of the experimental range of water velocity (0.03-0.30 m . s-1), fertilizer pellet size (2–9 g) and water temperature (8–14.5°C). Resulting phosphate additions (0.5-5 µg P . L-1) in outdoor trough experiments increased periphyton biomass and altered the dominance pattern of periphytic diatoms. An optimal phosphate concentration for periphyton biomass was achieved with calculated 3.0 µg P . L-1 phosphate additions from May to June. In June to July, periphyton biomass increased proportionately to fertilizer additions. Saturation of the relative specific growth rate of the diatom community occurred with 1.0 µg P . L-1 phosphate additions. Nitrogen analysis was not conducted since inorganic nitrogen is typically available in non-limiting concentrations (i.e., >50 µg . L-1 dissolved inorganic nitrogen) in the majority of B.C.’s oligotrophic salmonid streams. These studies indicated that slow-release fertilizer may be effective in stimulating autotrophic production and restoring salmonid production in nutrient deficient streams.
Design Considerations for Watershed Management Decision Support Systems
Authors: Wilson David J. , Droste Ronald L.
Published: March 2019

Increasing attention is being paid to the management of water resources on a watershed basis, necessitating a cross-disciplinary approach to data collection and analysis. Traditional assessments of water quality and quantity are being joined by assessments of biology, botany, geomorphology, and anthropological subjects such as economic valuation. This integrated problem domain calls for a reassessment of the information technology tools designed to support the management process. With a comprehensive requirements analysis pulled from a survey of water resource practitioners, the functions necessary for design of a contemporary watershed management decision support system (WMDSS) are outlined and assessed in light of current tools in use today. Following a systems engineering methodology, the WMDSS requirements are analyzed and ranked in order of priority. This yields a ranking for development of tool and information functional groups to support the following assessment types: surface water quality, surface levels and flows, integration, groundwater flows/levels, rainfall/runoff modelling and time series analysis. Functional analysis then provides the architecture and data flows necessary to meet system requirements. The WMDSS functional analysis is concluded with a recommended architecture for design of such a system. This sets the foundation for follow-on work in production and validation of the system.
Carbon Dioxide in Pulp and Paper Mill Effluents from Oxygen-Activated Sludge Treatment Plants as a Potential Source of Distress and Toxicity to Fish
Authors: O’Connor Brian , Kovacs Tibor , Gibbons Sharon , Strang Al
Published: March 2019

Rainbow trout exposed to effluent from a UNOX (oxygen activated sludge) treatment plant were found to exhibit signs of distress during the first hours of exposure. While the final effluent was not acutely lethal at full strength, it was still important to determine the cause of the distress to ensure that the mill's effluents remain in regulatory compliance. The use of a series of effluent manipulations involving pH adjustment and aeration as well as observations of symptoms exhibited by the fish were successful in identifying carbon dioxide as the cause of fish distress for the UNOX-treated effluent. For rainbow trout, the symptoms of exposure to elevated levels of carbon dioxide of 100 mg/L or greater included loss of equilibrium, erratic swimming, gasping at the surface, sinking to the bottom of the test container and paralysis. The fish were found to eventually recover as the carbon dioxide was stripped from the effluent due to aeration during the test. A carbon dioxide concentration of 250 mg/L, however, was found to be lethal to trout A survey of mills using oxygen activated sludge treatment systems indicated that the carbon dioxide levels in effluents from such operations can range from 48 to 251 mg/L. Solutions for eliminating the fish distress and possible mortality associated with such effluents would be to lower the carbon dioxide level to below 100 mg/L by aeration or pH adjustment.
Determining Granular Activated Carbon Adsorption Isotherms of Benzene as a Volatile Organic Compound
Authors: Peng Jian , Cui Weithong , Wilson G.W. , Lin Wei
Published: March 2019

The determination of the adsorption equilibrium isotherm is a fundamental requirement for the design of adsorption-based processes. A method using a headspace auto-sampler and gas chromatograph system was developed in this study to determine the adsorption isotherm of benzene as a volatile organic compound for granular activated carbon. Dynamic equilibria between chemical solution, headspace gas and activated carbon were established in the 22-mL headspace glass vials sealed with Teflon-faced silicone septa and aluminum cramp caps. Using the closed system of headspace glass vials minimized the volatilization loss of chemical during the experiment. The method was utilized to measure the adsorption of benzene on Filtrasorb 300 granular activated carbon under 25 ± 1°C. The Freundlich isotherm parameters were determined using the experimental result. A reproducibility study and comparison with other results found in the literature showed that the method developed in this research is a reliable technique for determination of adsorption isotherm of benzene as a volatile organic compound on activated carbon.
Analysis of Aromatic Amines in Industrial Wastewater by Capillary Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Onuska Francis I. , Terry Ken A. , Maguire R. James
Published: March 2019

The analysis of aromatic amines, particularly benzidines, at trace levels in environmental media has been difficult because of the lack of suitable deactivated capillary column stationary phases for gas chromatography. This report describes the use of an improved type of column as well as a method for the analysis of anilines and benzidines in water, wastewater and sewage samples. Extraction procedures are applicable to a wide range of compounds that are effectively partitioned from an aqueous matrix into methylene chloride, or onto a solid-phase extraction cartridge. The extracted analytes are also amenable to separation on a capillary gas chromatographic column and transferable to the mass spectrometer. These contaminants are converted to their N-trifluoroacetyl derivatives. Aniline and some substituted anilines, and 3,3’-dichlorobenzidine and benzidine were determined in 24-h composite industrial water, wastewater, primary sludge and final effluent samples at concentrations from 0.03 up to 2760 µg/L.
Occurrence of Chlorinated Paraffins in Beluga Whales (Delphinapterus leucas) from the St. Lawrence River and Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Carp (Cyprinus carpio) from Lake Ontario
Authors: Bennie D.T. , Sullivan C.A. , Maguire R.J.
Published: March 2019

Samples of 25 dead beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) from the St. Lawrence River estuary, as well as samples of 10 rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and 3 carp (Cyprinus carpio) caught in western Lake Ontario were analyzed for total short- (C10-C13) and medium-(C14-C17) chain chlorinated paraffins (SMCCPs) using gas chromatography-low resolution negative chemical ioniza-tion mass spectrometry (GC-NCI-MS) in the selected ion monitoring mode (SIM). Short- and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins were quantitatively identified using two commercial preparations. SMCCPs were detected in all samples. Results ranged from 1.1 to 59 µg/g wet weight in beluga liver tissue, from 6.4 to 166 µg/g wet weight in beluga blubber, and from 0.41 to 9.7 µg/g wet weight in the two freshwater species. The beluga results are higher than those reported for marine mammals in Europe. Total short- and medium-chain chlorinated paraffin levels in the beluga blubber are comparable to previous ∑PCB and ∑DDT results for the same population of beluga whales. The mean ∑SMC-CP concentration in the carp was 0.90 µg/g wet weight and 2.7 µg/g wet weight in the rainbow trout. Results from the freshwater species are comparable to those reported for fish sampled from other industrially impacted waterways in North America but are elevated relative to marine species from European studies. Comparison of the SIM GC-NCI-MS data with results of gas chromatogra-phy-high resolution negative ion mass spectrometry (GC-HR-NIMS) analysis from another study showed that the two analytical techniques are not congruent. The differences may be due to the effects of coeluting interfering organochlorine substances.
Effects of Cement Kiln Dust on pH and Phosphorus Concentrations in an Activated Sludge Wastewater Treatment System
Authors: Smith Moya L. , Campbell Christine E.
Published: March 2019

Cement kiln dust (CKD), the waste dust generated from a Portland cement kiln, was evaluated for its ability to increase the pH of acidic processed effluent in activated sludge wastewater treatment. Effluent samples were obtained from Corner Brook Pulp and Paper in Newfoundland, which currently uses NaOH as a pH buffer in its treatment system. Three separate effluent samples were tested. On average, 12.8 mL of a CKD neutralizing solution (0.4625 g CKD/L distilled water) raised the pH of 100 mL of effluent from pH 6.4—7.0 to pH 8.0. There was no significant problem with excess sedimentation at pH 8.0 and 9.0. However, there was a significant decrease in soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP-P) concentrations, probably through precipitation of calcium phosphate, resulting in a mean loss of 84.7 µg SRP-P per litre of CKD-treated effluent. The use of CKD as a neutralizing agent may be economically feasible, since the costs of adding increased phosphorus as nutrient were less than the costs associated with adding NaOH. Further experimentation needs to be done to determine the efficacy of CKD on a larger scale.
Contamination and Wildlife Communities in Stormwater Detention Ponds in Guelph and the Greater Toronto Area, Ontario, 1997 and 1998 Part I — Wildlife Communities
Authors: Bishop Christine A. , Struger John , Barton David R. , Shirose Leonard J. , Dunn Lesley , Lang Anthony L. , Shepherd David
Published: March 2019

There is veiy little information about the wildlife utilization of Stormwater detention ponds although such ponds often self-seed into wetland habitats. To inventory wildlife utilizing Stormwater ponds, a study was performed in 1997 and 1998 of 15 Stormwater ponds and one natural wetland varying in age from 3 to 22 years in the Guelph and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) in Ontario, Canada. Seven of the Stormwater ponds were primarily open water with the aquatic vegetation accounting for less than 50% of the surface area. However, 90% of the surface area of four ponds was covered in aquatic vegetation. The surface area of those ponds covered with vegetation was positively correlated with total organic carbon and copper concentrations in sediment Invertebrate populations in the Stormwater ponds were often dominated by a single taxon. The most abundant benthic animals were tubificid worms or chironomidae. The number of taxa in sweep-net samples ranged from 4 to 25 and correlated positively with the age of the pond and total organic carbon in sediment The number of taxa in the benthos correlated negatively with oil and grease concentrations in sediment The range in number of amphibian species was one to seven in Guelph and zero to four in the GTA. In total, 40 species of birds were observed in the GTA ponds and 71 species were observed in the Guelph ponds during April to November 1997. A mean of 1.6 to 1.7 bird species was observed per survey at Stormwater ponds in Guelph and the GTA. The number of species of amphibians and birds did not correlate with water quality, sedimentology, contaminant concentration, percentage of surface area of the pond covered with plants, or any benthic community parameter measured. Four species of reptiles and eight species of mammals were noted at or adjacent to the Stormwater ponds and six species of fish were found in the ponds. We concluded that wildlife made use of the ponds, but species richness at almost all sites was low to moderate indicating that the ponds did not provide high quality habitat for wildlife