bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Treatment of Wastewater in an Upflow Packed-Bed Reactor
Authors: Roš M. , Mejač B.
Published: May 2018

Biochemical degradation in the aerobic upflow packed– bed reactor with immobilized biomass on the granulated activated carbon with size of granules 4 to 6 mm was studied. For oxygen supply compressed air was used. Experiments were carried out with synthetic wastewater similar to wastewater from the food industry. Intensification of biodegradation with immobilized biomass processes was possible. At the substrate influent concentration COD = 400 to 900 mg/L the 94 to 95% reduction was attained even at relatively high volumetric loading (4.0 g/L.d COD). This level of reduction was reached only at 3.0 mg/L or higher DO concentration in supernatant. Excess biomass shows good settling. SVI was about 50 mL/g and its quantity expressed in volume units was 30 to 50% smaller than well settleable activated sludge.
Strategies for Toxicity Reduction in Industrial Wastewaters
Authors: Wesley Eckenfelder W.
Published: May 2018

Recent legislation in the United States is placing emphasis on the removal of priority pollutants and aquatic toxicity from industrial wastewaters. A protocol has been developed to select candidate technologies for specific effluent objectives. Design parameters for biological treatment are developed using a modified FBR test. The applicability of alternative physical-chemical technologies are discussed.
Anaerobic Treatment of Pulp Mill Effluents
Authors: Korczak M. K. , Koziarski S. , Komorowska B.
Published: May 2018

A laboratory-scale study on the anaerobic treatment of selected pulp mill streams was carried out in a collaboration between the Research Institute for Environmental Protection and Designing Office of Water and Waste Disposal. Anaerobic treatment of effluents from acid hydrolysis of wood from sulfate cellulose production, and effluents from the sulfite cellulose fibers washing was investigated. The results indicated 80% COD removal and the average methane generation was found to be 340 Ncm3/gCOD removed in case of highly polluted (COD = 63 kgO2/m3) acid hydrolysis effluents. The waste from cellulose washing contained, beside sugars, alsorefractory compounds, such as high-molecular-mass lignin derivatives, resins and tannins. According to that, only 20-30% COD removal was obtained and the methane generation was 270-360 Ncm3/g COD removed.
Application of New Coalescence Method for Treatment of Emulsified Petroleum Products Wastewater
Authors: Sedlukho Y. P.
Published: May 2018

The problems of applying new method of coalescence of emulsified oil products on the surface of hydrophobic filtering materials during purification of oil-containing waste water are discussed. The results of some theoretical and experimental research are listed. During the research granulated polymers (polyethylene, polypropylene) and hydrophobic quartz sand were used as filtering materials.

The research reveals the fundamental processes which are occurring. The main principles of technological computation as well as those of designing installations and separate elements of installations are worked out. The paper shows that it is possible to achieve rather a high efficiency of separating water/oil emulsions if filtering materials and technological parameters are selected properly.

The paper is based on the results of recent research carried out under the guidance of the author at the Novopolotsk Polytechnic Institute.
Application of Disk Aerators to Recarbonation of Alkaline Wastewater from Wet Gasification of Carbide
Authors: Gomólka E. , Gomólka B.
Published: May 2018

Whenever possible, neutralization of alkaline wastewater should involve low-cost acid. It is conventional to make use of carbonic acid produced via the reaction of carbon dioxide (contained in flue gases) with water according to the following equation:

Carbon dioxide content in the flue gas stream varies from 10% to 15%. The flue gas stream may either be passed to the wastewater contained in the recarbonizers, or. enter the scrubbers (which are continually sprayed with wastewater) from the bottom in oountercurrent. The reactors, in which recarbonation occurs, have the ability to expand the contact surface between gaseous and liquid phase. This can be achieved by gas phase dispersion in the liquid phase (bubbling), by liquid phase dispersion in the gas phase (spraying), or by bubbling and spraying, and mixing. These concurrent operations are carried out during motion of the disk aerator (which is a patent claim).

The authors describe the functioning of the disk aerator, the composition of the wastewater produced during wet gasification of carbide, the chemistry of recarbonation and decarbonation, and the concept of applying the disk aerator so as to make the wastewater fit for reuse (after suitable neutralization) as feeding water in acetylene generators.
The Contact Process for the Anaerobic Treatment of Wastewater: Technology, Design and Experiences
Authors: Nähle C.
Published: May 2018

The design of the anaerobic contact process is described including the methane reactor, the degassing unit, and the sludge clarifier. In addition, experience in using this type of system is presented.
Infiltration Percolation for Reclaiming Stabilization Pond Effluents
Authors: Brissaud F. , Restrepo-Bardon M. , Soulié M. , Joseph C.
Published: May 2018

Reusing reclaimed municipal wastewater contributes to the water management strategy of Mediterranean seaside resorts. By supplying irrigation water, it allows the lay out of lanscaped areas and of golf courses. By reducing or eliminating the discharge of treatment plant effluents to water courses and to the sea, it reduces the contamination of bathing water and coastal ecosystems. The development of this policy depends on the availability of cost effective processes able to decontaminate the effluents of the existing wastewater treatment plants. The Grau du Roi resort population is more than 100,000 during summer. Wastewater is treated in a 20 ha stabilization pond; the municipality has planned to reuse 5,000 m3/d of pond effluents for turfgrass and landscape irrigation. Pond effluents will be reclaimed after a passage through an infiltration percolation facility. Tests were performed on laboratory columns and on a pilot plant in order to evaluate the performances of this process. Spreading 0.75 m pond effluents per day on a 1.5 m deep dune sand bed, on a 5 days - 2 days cyclic application - drying schedule, will provide the microbiological quality required for landscape irrigation. A design and a management method of the treatment plant were elaborated in order to ensure the performances of the process.
Role of Groundwater Recharge in Treatment and Storage of Wastewater for Reuse
Authors: Bouwer Herman
Published: May 2018

Reuse of municipal wastewater requires treatment so that the water meets the quality requirements for the intended use. Irrigation of vegetables consumed raw requires absence of pathogenic organisms. To achieve this, fecal coliform concentrations should be essentially zero and the water should be filtered. This requires intensive treatment. For developing countries, however, where adequate sewage treatment often is lacking, the World Health Organization allows up to 1000 fecal coliform bacteria per 100 ml, which can be obtained by lagooning. Potable reuse requires much more intensive treatment, including lime clarification, denitrification, carbon adsorption, reverse osmosis, and disinfection. Where hydrogeologic conditions permit groundwater recharge with surface infiltration facilities, considerable water quality improvement is obtained by the movement of the wastewater through the soil, vadose zone, and aquifer. The resulting soil-aquifer treatment costs are less than 40% of the costs of equivalent in-plant treatment. Soil-aquifer treatment systems also are simple and robust, offer storage of the water to absorb differences between supply and demand, and enhance the aesthetics of potable reuse of wastewater. Hence, they can play an important role in wastewater reuse.
A Modular Approach for Modelling of the North Sea Ecosystem
Authors: Malmgren-Hansen A. , Baretta J. W. , Ruardij P.
Published: May 2018

A modular approach for generating an ecosystem model for the North Sea is presented. The model structure consists of modules describing physical, chemical and biological processes. The modular approach is selected to facilitate stepwise improvements in the total ecosystem model by replacing existing modules with improved modules being developed.

The modules constituting the pelagic ecosystem describe the biological and chemical dynamics of particle production and dissolution simulating the flux of carbon and nutrients (N, P, Si) through the food web. This might be done as a suite of submodules based on functional groups of organisms or as modules describing the different trophic levels based on size distributions.

Algal growth is dependent on cellular content of the limiting nutrient, or on net photosynthesis, whichever is the most restricting, allowing for “luxury uptake” of nutrients which may be stored for subsequent periods of shortage. The role of bacteria and other microorganisms is emphasized in recognition of the importance of the “microbial loop”. The Zooplankton module describes prey ingestion in terms of feeding behaviour and the partitioning of ingested carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus into growth and reproduction and the losses through respiration, excretion and defecation.

The benthic modules concentrate on describing the small food web, since benthic biological activity in terms of carbon flow, as well as mineralization, are often dominated by micro- and meiofauna in the generally soft sediments of the North Sea. Macrobenthos are described as being a major link between the benthic small food web and higher trophic levels in the ecosystem.

Higher trophic levels are described in separate modules taking into account in principle the role of fish, mammals and seabirds.

Nutrient cycling is described, focusing on the identification and conceptual modelling of the chemical processes and mechanisms in order to describe the relationships between the biology of the North Sea and the nutrient chemistry. This represents a first step towards forecasting the response of the system to long-term changes due to e.g. eutrophication. The modelling of the nutrient sediment-water interaction emphasizes the role of sedimentation of particulates and the regeneration of inorganic components to the water column.

This totally modular concept of the North Sea ecosystem model reflects the authors' view on the present state of the North Sea, the basic knowledge about ecosystem behaviour and a way of creating models as a tool for better understanding of the ecosystem and how man affects the North Sea environment.
Distribution of Organochlorine Pollutants in North Sea Sediments
Authors: Lohse Joachim
Published: May 2018

Sediment samples from the North Sea and the Skagerrak were analyzed for organochlorine pollutants. Standardisation for organic carbon content of sediments proved to be a suitable tool for comparison of pollution of different sea regions. Relatively high contaminant concentrations were found in coastal regions of the southern North Sea, while standardised organochlorine concentrations in the Skagerrak were almost at baseline level.

In addition to the major inputs via rivers and the atmosphere, ocean incineration of hazardous wastes was identified as a probable source of organohalogen pollution. Although the production and use of certain organochlorines have been restricted in most North Sea states, depth profiles from the Skagerrak indicate that deposition of these contaminants has increased until recently. This trend will possibly continue since only a very small proportion of all persistent organochlorines produced in Western Europe in the past has already reached the sea.

As a consequence, no persistent and bioaccumulable organics, like most organohalogens, should be allowed to enter the sea in the future. This, in many cases, will necessitate not only better filter techniques, but a dramatic reduction of organic chemical production itself.
Concentrations of Alpha- and Gamma-Hexachlorocyclohexane (Lindane) in the Coastal Waters of England and Wales
Authors: Allchin C. R.
Published: May 2018

Concentrations of alpha- and gamma- hexachlorocyclohexane (Lindane) have been determined in the surface waters of the Humber, Thames, and Mersey estuaries, an area of the Dogger Bank, the English Channel, around the Channel Islands, from the last known positions of the lost container from the M.V. Perintis off the Cherbourg peninsula, the Baie de Seine and an area of the south-western approaches, which was used as a ‘control area'. Samples were extracted, cleaned-up and analysed at sea using high resolution capillary gas chromatography with electron capture detection. Two capillary columns of different polarity were used to aid in confirmation of residues.

Levels of Lindane in inshore waters were generally low (<2ng dm−3) and declined rapidly, on moving offshore, to back-ground levels.
Techniques for and Experience with Biological Nutrient Removal – Danish Long-Term Operating and Optimization Experience
Authors: Bundgaard Erik , Pedersen Jan
Published: May 2018

New Danish legislation demands that, by 1993, all wastewater treatment plants serving more than 15,000 PE must reduce total nitrogen and total phosphorus to 8 mg/l and 1.5 mg/l, respectively. On the basis of full-scale experience from more than 35 existing plants with nitrogen removal and 5 plants with biological phosphorus removal, these targets seem quite realistic.

The plants are operated in accordance with the Danish-developed methods BIO-DENITRO (N removal) and BIO-DENIPHO (N and P removal). These-methods offer most of the advantages of both the Sequencing Batch Reactor and the recirculation systems but eliminate some of the disadvantages such as intermittent operation and discharge, and internal recirculation. Further developments towards improved process performance and control are achieved through the development of new plant types utilizing hydrolyzed sludge as an additional carbon source and through the application of mathematical models for simulation of the biological processes under various operating and load conditions.
A Systems Choice for Wastewater Treatment Systems for Biological Treatment of Domestic Wastewater with Excessive N- and P-Removal
Authors: Werumeus Buning W. G. , Rijnart F. W. A. M. , Weesendorp P. P.
Published: May 2018

To meet two levels of nitrogen and phosphorus removal (effluent standards Ntot 20 and 10 mg/l and Ptot 2 and 1 mg/l respectively) various systems were compared in a desk study. After a cost estimate and an assessment f the advantages and drawbacks, the oxidation ditch with biological by pass phosphate removal turned out to be the best system.
Nutrient Loading to Norwegian Coastal Waters and Its Contribution to the Pollution of the North Sea
Authors: Ibrekk Hans Olav , Molvær Jarle , Faafeng Bjørn
Published: May 2018

The North Sea Declaration aims at reducing the load of nutrients to the North Sea by the order of 50 per cent between 1985 and 1995. This paper gives an overview of the nutrient loading to the Norwegian coastal waters, and an estimate of how much of this loading reaches the local Skagerrak coast and the North Sea.

The average annual nutrient load to coastal waters from land-based sources along the Norwegian North Sea coastline (from the Swedish border to 62°N) is approximately 3,600 tons of phosphorus and 70,000 tons of nitrogen. Municipal wastewater is the main source of phosphorus (44 per cent), while agriculture contributes with 20 per cent of the total load. Background runoff, i.e. runoff from forested areas and uplands, including effects of acid precipitation, is the main source of nitrogen inputs (40 per cent). Agriculture is the second major source (32 per cent). Our calculations indicate that deposits of airborne nitrogen via precipitation contribute approximately 15-20,000 tons of nitrogen inputs on the coastal watersheds draining to this coast. The Norwegian loading amounts to 3-4 % of the total nutrient inputs to the North Sea from the surrounding countries. Taking into consideration the dominating current systems in the North Sea and along the Norwegian coast, only a small part of this load reaches the middle and southern parts of the North Sea susceptible to eutrophication. This implies that the Norwegian nutrient input has minimal effects on the eutrophication of the North Sea.

There is a considerable need for developing standard methods for estimating nutrient inputs to the North Sea. Emphasis should be put on preparing guidelines for assessing comparable nutrient input data from all North Sea countries.
Macro-Pollutants on the Dutch Continental Shelf
Authors: Ruiten B. A. P.
Published: May 2018

According to national and foreign literature it was known that the great variety and magnitude of macro-pollutants creates a serious problem for the marine environment. Several effects of plastics on marine life are known e.g. mammals entangled in fishing nets and plastic ingestion by birds. Macro-pollutants are all the objects floating in and on the water surface, and which are present on the bottom of the North Sea. Their size varies from several centimetres to approximately one metre. About the origin of the macro-pollutants there is no absolute certainty but one can assume that a major source is shipping and the dumping of dredged material. Apart from a small research in 1972 there were no recent data available. Therefore in 1987 and 1988 a survey was carried out to determine the amount of macro-pollutants present on the bottom of the Dutch Continental Shelf. This survey forms part of the regular monitoring activities for biotic and abiotic parameters (e.g. fish diseases and water quality). The survey was carried out with a vessel of the Dutch Coast Guard with a bottom trawl dredge net. The areas that were examined are the same as those used for the examination of fish diseases.
Long-Term Land Application of Activated Sludge from a Petrochemical Wastewater Treatment Plant: I - Leachate Quality
Authors: Simon Z. , Tedesco M. J. , Gianello C.
Published: May 2018

Excess activated sludge from SITEL, the wastewater treatment plant of Polo Petroquímico do Sul (South Petrochemical Complex), Triunfo, State of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil, is disposed of by subsurface injection on pangola grass and rye grass fields at an average annual rate of 24 tons/ha (dry basis). In order to assess absorption of sludge constituents by plants, modifications of soil properties and leachate quality, a microplot growth-leaching experiment is being conducted at the Department of Soils of UFRGS since 1985. Pangola grass (Digitariadecumbens, Stent) and rye grass (Loliummultiflorum, Lam) are grown in summer and winter respectively. Some microplots have been loaded with sludge enriched with Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni, Cd, Pb and Hg since 1988.

Plant nutrients such as K, Cu, Zn and B did not increase in leachate, even at the higher application rates employed. Ammonium and pH were not affected either, whilst nitrates increased at the highest application rates. Ca and Mg increased in leachate during the third and the fourth years of the experiment, probably due to the liming of the microplots. Electrical conductivity of leachate increased with sludge application. Na, chloride and sulphate, the more soluble ions, increased slowly during the first year and more rapidly during the subsequent years.

Heavy metals Cr, Ni, Cd, Pb and Hg in leachate were not consistently affected by application of pure sludge or metals-enriched sludge. The concentrations of these constituents in leachate were found to be generally below accepted limits for potable water. Exacerbation of loading of metals, bringing about introduction of total amounts that exceed current limits of addition of metals to soil, did not produce significant alterations in leachate quality. This suggests that these limits are very safe with respect to protection of aquifers.

The determination of nitrates in leachate at different sludge application rates made possible the adoption of 40 tons/ha.year as the maximum allowable sludge loading rate (on dry basis) for the real sludge farms at SITEL. This figure is approximately double the operational sludge application rate at SITEL.
The Environmental Effects of Waste Water Emanation from Sulphur Mining on Water Resources
Authors: Al-Dabbagh R. H. , Al-Dabbagh M. A. M. S.
Published: May 2018

Mishraq sulphur mine is situated in the northern part of Iraq about 40 km south of Mosul.

The Frasch process is adopted to produce raw sulphur by injection of hot and compressed air.Hot water is channelled through the ground layers,causing the escape of mining hot- water carrying large quantities of sulphides, BOD, and suspended solids to ground water within the area as well as to Tigris river.

Three types of wastewater are produced from the purification processes. Wastewater released from debitumenization unit after treatment of raw sulphur with sulphuric acid, wast ewat er released from filtration units after treatment with tonsil and the leachate of solid waste produced from both processes. These wastewaters are highly acidic containing large quantities of suspended and dissolved organic solids.The first two wastewaters are discharged to a large pool prior to disposal to Tigris river. However,the seepage of leachate from the disposal site carries pollutants to the ground water.
Forecast and Prevention Processes for Groundwater Exploitation in Curitiba, Brazil
Authors: Antonio Giusti Donizeti
Published: May 2018

Geological studies were made as a contribution to planning the future urban and industrial occupation of Curitiba area - PR. Geophysical and hydrogeological studies showed: the structural geology and geological contacts; the watertable and groundwater flow direction; topographical configuration of the underling crystalline basement. The listing of different land uses and their locations represents an aid to the diagnosis, forecast and prevention process of groundwater degradation. By means of the superposition of land use and territory occupation maps and geological and hydrogeological maps, recommendations are made to alter the present urban and industrial occupation forms. This research represents a tentative contribution to the groundwater exploitation and urban development of the Curitiba area.
Hazardous Wastes Management in Brazil: The Need for a Regional Synoptic Approach
Authors: Sampaio J. A. B.
Published: May 2018

Hazardous wastes management in Brazil is a particularly difficult task to accomplish. The country's enormous area, the lack of tradition on dealing with this subject, few trained people, the high investment costs and the sophisticated technology involved make the regional management of hazardous wastes a mandatory approach to reduce costs and maximize benefits. In order to achieve this goal, a synoptic approach over an entire geographical region on all aspects of hazardous wastes management is proposed. On the other hand, several difficulties are foreseen, some of them in the socio-political arena, requiring a lot of an. environmental diplomacy and competent social communication in order to succeed. Despite the difficulties, there seem to be no options to deal with this problem when simultaneously considering its environmental, technical, and economic aspects.
Oily Wastes Application in Ceramic Materials Manufacturing
Authors: Amaral S. P. , Domingues G. H.
Published: May 2018

The application of oily residues produced by PETRÓLEO BRASILEIRO S.A. -PETROBRÁS in the manufacturing of ceramic bricks appears as a promising alternative of their reutilization, in comparison with the traditional method of storage in ponds or dikes and to the biodégradation process by landfarming.

The application of said residues started experimentally in 1988, in a ceramic bricks factory located in the Paraíba do Sul Valley, State of São Paulo, near the Henrique Lage Refinery (REVAP). In mid-1989, the Presidente Bernardes Refinery (RPBC), the Capuava Refinery (RECAP) and the Petroleum Products Terminals of São Paulo (TEDEP) started sending oily residues to factories participating in the Red Ceramics Association of Itu and its Region (ACERVIR).

As an advantage of this process, almost all the costs with disposal of said residues are eliminated for PETROBRÁS; on the other hand, the reduction in maintenance costs, lower energy consumption, and a significant increase in production are advantages for the ceramics factories.
A New Methodology to Evaluate the Behaviour of Anaerobic Sludge Exposed to Potentially Inhibitory Compounds
Authors: Chernicharo C. A. L. , Campos C. M. M.
Published: May 2018

The success of the newly developed “Specific Methanogenic Activity Test” (SMA-test) in measuring the potential of anaerobic sludge to convert soluble substrate into CH4 and CO2 (James et al., 1990) made this test potentially useful for a variety of investigations. The SMA-test was originally developed for assessment of specific methanogenic activity of anaerobic sludge, but the reliability of the method in detecting even very small changes of sludge activity has drawn attention to its use for many different purposes, especially to evaluate the behaviour of anaerobic sludge when subjected to potentially inhibitory compounds.

Recent investigations into the potentially inhibitory effects of the Lithium ion on anaerobic sludge were successfully carried out employing the SMA-test. The test proved to be very sensitive for this type of experiment and the results clearly showed a relationship between the degree of inhibition and the concentration of Lithium (Anderson et al., 1991).

This paper describes the methodology for measuring the specific methanogenic activity of anaerobic sludges and discusses how the SMA-test can be used for different purposes.
River Basin Management in the UK
Authors: House M. A.
Published: May 2018

The Water Act 1989 has resulted in the reorganisation of the system of River Basin Management which has operated in England and Wales since the establishment of the 10 Water Authorities in 1974. On 1st September 1989 the Water Authorities were re-structured to produce 10 Water Service Companies and a new regulatory body, the National Rivers Authority. This presentation will summarise the changes to River Basin Management in England and Wales resulting from this reorganisation.
Historical and Present Day Management of the River Rhine
Authors: Broseliske G. H. , de Jong J. , Smit H.
Published: May 2018

The river Rhine has undergone changes in morphology, chemistry, and ecology. They represent the results of historical management of the river.

An overview of the river management from 1815 on is given together with an analysis of the present situation and the changes necessary to meet the final objectives of the Rhine and North Sea Action Programmes.

The complexity and level of the present problems make it necessary that an integrated problem approach and a multinational decision making is used for an adequate future management of the river basin.
Systematic Pollutegraph Simulation for Real Scale River Basin
Authors: Sekine M. , Ukita M. , Nakanishi H.
Published: May 2018

This study describes the model for predicting the run-off load of pollutants through rivers into eutrophic lakes and inner sea areas. The model is composed of three stages: discharged load prediction; flow-rate prediction; and run-off load prediction. The discharged load in the river basin is estimated by using a pollutant loading factor method. The flow-rate which is necessary for the formula to predict the run-off load, was obtained by a tank model method. The run-off load prediction process consists of two stages: flow-out stage and flow-down stage. The flow-out stage represents the process in which the discharged load, including that from non-point source, flows out through gutters or small streams into the main river. The flow-down stage represents the process in which the flow-out load flows down through the main river to an observing station. There have been many studies dealing with water quality and load of pollutants in rivers. However, only a few of these studies have analyzed the relationship of human activities in the river basins quantitatively. Using this model, a computer program for pollutegraph simulation was constructed and applied to the river Ibo in Hyougo prefecture, JAPAN. The results obtained showed in accordance with the data obtained from field investigation.
Unsteady Transport of Pollutants in Rivers Due to Pulse Disposal
Authors: Thabit Al-Kadi Bashir , Nuri Fattah Qais
Published: May 2018

Mixing of pollutants in rivers is accomplished by the process of mechanical dispersion. Physically, dispersion may be considered as a hydraulic mixing process, by which the waste concentrations are attenuated while the waste pollutants are being transported downstream. Turbulent diffusion and velocity gradients are the two main mechanisms in dispersion. An exact analytical solution is developed for the two-dimensional unsteady convective-dispersion equation. The solution describes the concentration distribution for a conservative pollutant or substance injected as a pulse (not continuous) into a river by a diffuser pipe installed normal to the direction of the river bank. The river has a constant mean velocity and a relatively large discharge in comparison to the pollution discharge.

The solution is developed using Laplace and Finite Fourier Transforms. The distribution of the transporting concentration of the pollutant in the river due to such disposal is developed in terms of error functions, exponential, and trigonometric series. Variations in the location of the diffuser pipe in the river are examined. The concentration distribution is determined across and along the river as a function of time. The effects of variations in river velocity, lateral and longitudinal dispersion coefficients on the mixing patterns are presented. The solution presents variations in concentration distribution in the river with time during and after the pulsing injection period of the pollutant. Sensitivity analysis is carried out to determine significant variations in the solution due to changes in various parameters.
A Case History; Minamata Mercury Pollution in Japan – From Loss of Human Lives to Decontamination
Authors: Kudo Akira , Miyahara Shojiro
Published: May 2018

At Minamata Bay in Japan, more than 100 people lost their lives and many thousands more were permanently paralyzed from eating mercury contaminated fish. In the long history of water pollution, this was the first known case where the natural bioaccumulation (in fish) of a toxicant from an industrial wastewater killed a large number of human beings. The mercury, discharged from a factory, was deposited on the bottom of the Bay and has remained there since the 1950's.

The fate of the mercury was traced by measuring 268 mercury concentrations in the surface sediments at Yatsushiro Sea (outside of the Bay) during the last 14 years. Twenty-four sampling stations were established to collect samples at the same location every year. Samples were analyzed for total mercury concentrations.

The concentrations of mercury in the surface sediments at the Sea were not alarming. Only 33 samples exceeded a mercury concentration of 1 ppm. The dispersion of the mercury from the Bay, however, was clearly documented with the data. On average, 3.7 tons of the mercury was transported outside from the Bay every year. A decontamination project started in 1984 dramatically decreased the flow of mercury from the Bay to the Sea. A historic rainfall in 1982 also ‘purified' the surface sediments. Organic mercury concentration in the sea water was 5.1 ng/l while total mercury was 120 ng/l at the center of the Bay in 1985.
Fate of Plutonium Released from the Nagasaki A-Bomb, Japan
Authors: Kudo A. , Mahara Y. , Kauri T. , Santry D. C.
Published: May 2018

About 15 kg of plutonium was used in the Nagasaki A-bomb, but only 1 kg was fissioned and the rest (14 kg) was released into the environment. The fate of this plutonium was investigated at the east side of Nagasaki city where the local fallout was deposited. The four objectives investigated concerning the unfissioned 239+240Pu were: (1) the geographical distribution up to 100 km from the hypocentre, (2) the vertical movement of the deposited plutonium within a soil core and a reservoir sediment core, (3) the ecological distribution, and (4) an estimation of the total mass deposited as local fallout. The highest concentration of 239+240Pu 64.5 mBq/g, was found at a point 2.8 km from the hypocentre. The local fallout was observed over a limited area up to 18 km east from the hypocentre. Plutonium was mobile within the soils and reservoir sediments. For the former an amount of 10% moved downward during the last four decades and the rest (90%) remained within 10 cm from the surface. A considerable amount of plutonium was found in fish (0.0195 mBq/g dry), freshwater shellfish (0.0278 mBq/g dry), ginger root (0.0366 mBq/g dry), and sweet potato (0.0110 mBq/g dry). An estimation of plutonium deposited as local fallout from the A-bomb was 37.54 grams.
Linear Alkylbenzenes (LABs) in Urban Riverine and Coastal Sediments and Their Usefulness as a Molecular Indicator of Domestic Wastes
Authors: Takada Hideshige , Ishiwatari Ryoshi
Published: May 2018

Linear alkylbenzenes (LABs) and linear alkylbenzenesulfonates (LAS) were measured in river and coastal (bay) sediments in Tokyo metropolitan area. LABs are widely distributed in the sediments with concentrations of a few µ g/g-dry sediments. LAS contents in sediments are extremely low in Tokyo Bay (~ 0.01µg/g) as compared with those in the rivers (hundreds µg/g). This fact indicates the higher persistency of LABs in the riverine and coastal sediments.

The progressive relative depletion of external isomers (in which the phenyl group is attached near to the end of the alkyl chain) was observed on going from the source (i.e. LABs in commercial LAS-detergents) to Tokyo Bay sediments. An incubation experiment substantiated that the isomeric change of LABs is caused by selective microbial degradation. The I/E ratio (ratio of [6-C12 AB + 5-C12 AB] relative to [4-C12 AB + 3-C12 AB + 2-C12]; n-Cm : n indicates the position of substitution of phenyl group to alkyl chain and m indicates the number of carbons in the alkyl chain) was proposed as an index of LAB degradation. I/E ratio of LABs in Tokyo Bay sediments indicates the degree of degradation of LABs to be 50 % at most.
The Effect of Surfactants on the Sorption Partition Coefficients of Naphthalene on Aquifer Soils
Authors: Brickell J. L. , Keinath T. M.
Published: May 2018

The efficiency of removing organic contaminants from groundwater aquifers by the pump and treat process 1s adversely affected by the retardation of the contaminant's mobility due to adsorption onto aquifer material. The use of surfactants 1n conjunction with the pump and treat process has the potential for improving contaminant mobility by solubilizing the adsorbed contaminant. An experimental program was conducted to screen various types of commercially available nonionic and anionic surfactants for solubilizing adsorbed naphthalene from one type of aquifer soil. Two additional types of aquifer soils were obtained, and the surfactant mixture, Tween 20 and Aerosol AY-65, selected during the screening process was used at various concentrations for equilibrium desorption studies to quantify surfactant effects on naphthalene desorption. Equilibrium desorption studies showed that a 0.125 percent surfactant solution decreased the partition coefficient 65 percent compared with water alone for one soil type, while greater surfactant concentrations resulted 1n less effective mobilization. However, the same surfactant mixture markedly increased the partition coefficient when used with another soil type, and had negligible effects for the third soil type. It was shown that the clay mineralogy significantly influenced the effect of the surfactant solution.
Surfactant Solubilization of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Compounds in Soil-Water Suspensions
Authors: Liu Zhongbao , Laha Shonali , Luthy Richard G.
Published: May 2018

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are hydrophobic compounds readily sorbed onto soil; the addition of surfactants to soil-water systems may solubilize PAH compounds by incorporation of the PAH in surfactant micelles. The solubilization of anthracene, phenanthrene and pyrene was evaluated in soil-water suspensions with several nonionic and anionic surfactants. The most effective surfactants were nonionic octyl- and nonyl- phenylethoxylates with 9 to 12 ethoxylate units. At soil-water mass ratios of about 1:7 to 1:2, greater than 0.1% by volume surfactant dose was required in order to initiate solubilization, with doses of 1% by volume resulting in 70 - 90% solubilization. The soil-water partition coefficient for anthracene was reduced by two orders of magnitude with 1% by volume phenylethoxylate surfactant. The solubilization of anthracene, phenanthrene and pyrene in soil-water systems occurs at surfactant doses, [Csurf], much greater than the clean water surfactant critical micelle concentration. A surfactant-soil solubilization coefficient is derived as Caq(s)/S, where Caq(s) is the observed aqueous solubility of PAH in the presence of surfactant, and S is the specific sorption of PAH onto soil. Caq(S)/S is shown to be proportional to Csurf-CMCeff, where CMCeff is the effective critical micelle concentration in the presence of soil. Additional information is needed on the sorption characteristics of surfactant on soil in order to describe more fully the PAH-surfactant solubilization process.
Fate of Linear Alkylbenzenesulfonates in a Lake Estuary
Authors: Amano K. , Fukushima T. , Nakasugi O.
Published: May 2018

The concentration of linear alkylbenzenesulfonates(LAS)in the Lake Teganuma estuary indicated a seasonal variation and a downstream decrease. The downstream decrease in the studied section varied between 28% and 100% seasonally, and the average was 66(±25)% during 1987-1988. As to explain the decrease, we investigated biodegradation of LAS in water, diffusive exchange of dissolved phase LAS through the sediment/water interface, and settling of adsorbed phase LAS. Adsorption experiments were performed between 0.3-9 ppm of the initial concentrations of LAS. The experimental equation used to estimate the adsorption coefficient of LAS was verified by using adsorption data from field observations. The averaged value 2.4×10−5 cm2 sec−1 for the diffusion coefficient in the sediment interstitial water was obtained from the experiments using the sediment core samples. The biodegradation rate constant (between 0.06 and 3.33 day−1) in water and the diffusive flux rate (between −0.157 and 0.022 mg m−2 hour−1) from water to sediment were obtained from field observations and experiments. Based on this information, a mathematical model was applied to simulate the downstream decrease of LAS in water. With this model, nearly 10% of the total LAS from the river was found to be transported to sediment both in summer and winter. The settling flux of LAS in the lake estuary was ten times greater than the diffusive flux. The settling flux was ten times smaller than the disappearing flux by biodegradation in summer but was the same level in winter.
Weighted Finite Difference and Boundary Element Methods Applied to Groundwater Pollution Problems
Authors: Kanoh M. , Kuroki T. , Fujino K. , Ueda T.
Published: May 2018

The purpose of the paper is to apply two methods to groundwater pollution in porous media. The methods are the weighted finite difference method and the boundary element method, which were proposed or developed by Kanoh et al. (1986,1988) for advective diffusion problems. Numerical modeling of groundwater pollution is also investigated in this paper. By subdividing the domain into subdomains, the nonlinearity is localized to a small region. Computational time for groundwater pollution problems can be saved by the boundary element method; accurate numerical results can be obtained by the weighted finite difference method. The computational solutions to the problem of seawater intrusion into coastal aquifers are compared with experimental results.
Nitrogen and Phosphorus Limits for Nutrient Deficient Industrial Wastewaters
Authors: Möbius Christian H.
Published: May 2018

For biological treatment of nutrient deficient industrial wastewaters, such as those of the pulp and paper industry, the addition of nitrogen and phosphorus is essential. As a certain surplus is necessary, both elements will be found in the effluent in varying concentrations.

For the often used activated sludge treatment 5 parts of N and 1 part of P are said to be required for elimination of 100 parts of BOD. In-plant optimization generally leads to about 3.5 parts of N and 0.6 parts of P for 100 parts of BOD. In most plants N is added as urea and P as phosphoric acid.

Optimized nutrient dosage aimed at stable operating conditions in the treatment plant generally gives average concentrations of 1 mg/l of both ammonia N and phosphate P in the treated effluent. However, due to fluctuations in loading and efficiency, variation coefficients of more than 100 % result in maximum concentrations in 24 hours mixed samples of more than 10 mg/l for N and P. Three examples of operational results are evaluated and discussed in detail.

Water quality requirements will impose general limitations on N and P concentrations in treated effluents. Depending on the concentration limits and on the type of limited substance - i.e. ammonia N, total inorganic N or total N, phosphate P or total P - different strategies have to be developed.

Nutrient dosage depending on the wastewater amount will become state of the art in the near future. The next step would be a loading dependent dosage. No results of technical operation are known which show the effluent concentrations obtainable with this technique.

For cases in which limits cannot be met with this strategy the possibilities of nitrification, denitrification and biological P removal are discussed for nutrient deficient wastewaters. Results show that nitrification will work at low ammonia concentrations, however no steady nitrification will be obtained. Denitrification, on the other hand, seems to be difficult with low nitrate concentrations. At the present stage, no technical process meeting stringent total N or total inorganic N limits is known to exist for this type of effluent.

Low P concentrations in the effluent can only be achieved by tertiary treatment, preferably final flocculation filtration processes. However, these will give rise to special problems in the treatment of pulp mill wastewaters, which are discussed in the paper.
Conductivity for Nutrient Control in CTMP Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Rosén B. , Modell R. , Bruneau L. , Gunnarsson L.
Published: May 2018

The control and monitoring of nutrients is imperative for the efficient biological removal of organic matter. Adding too much chemicals will not only affect operating costs, but will introduce a significant secondary pollution to the receiving waters.

If the influent organic load from a mill is relatively constant, nutrients can be dosed in proportion to the flow, which is the most common control method for nutrient addition. If, on the other hand, the organic load on the treatment is varying, a more sophisticated control is necessary for optimal operation.

At the 60 000 t/a CTMP-mill at Vaggeryd in southern Sweden, being taken into operation in May 1989, a two-stage activated sludge plant with pre- and post-precipitation, has been installed for reducing the incoming BOD from 12 tons per day to less than 500 kilo per day. The results normally show a BOD- and COD- reduction of 96-98% and 75-85 % respectively, or less than 250 or 1800 kg/d in the effluent.

The possible use of conductivity as the measurement of the incoming organic content has been studied. For the actual wastewater, the correlation between conductivity and the COD-content in the influent has been good. As the COD in the influent can be predicted with less than 20% deviation by the use of conductivity measurement, the dosage of nutrient can be easily and reliably controlled.
Monitoring of Organochlorine Compounds in Finnish Inland Waters Polluted by Pulp and Paper Effluents Using the Mussel Incubation Method
Authors: Herve Sirpa
Published: May 2018

In the summer of 1988 a full-scale monitoring of chlorohydrocarbons, chlorophenols and aromatic chloroethers was carried out in the freshwater recipients of pulp and paper industry using the mussel incubation method, which has been developed and tested in Finland since 1984. The total number of incubation stations was 40. The results showed that the highest concentrations of chlorophenols originating from pulp bleaching processes were found in the vicinity of pulp mills with no biological waste-water treatment plant. Other chlorophenolic compounds – airborne or mainly originating from chloro-disinfection of water, combustion, wood preservation, sawmills etc. – were detected in small amounts at almost all the sites tested. The highest concentrations were found in the recipients of old sawmills. PCB was also detected in considerable concentrations in some recipients. In the summer of 1989 the monitoring was repeated at 20 incubation stations. The results of 1988 and 1989 are compared, with particular reference to those recipients where water protection measures and the construction of new activated sludge treatment plants were carried out during 1988.
Bio-P Removal from High Phosphorus Wastewaters: Pilot Testing Confirms Applicability of the Process
Authors: Filauro G. , Prati R. , Marchesini C. , Coppi A.
Published: May 2018

The performance of biological phosphorus removal from combined wastewaters of municipal and pig farm origin containing up to 100 mg/l initial phosphorus was investigated on a PhoStrip semi-industrial size pilot plant. Objective of the experimentation was to assess the applicability of Bio-P removal to high strength liquors in association with biological nitrification/denitrification. The experimental results indicate that high combined phosphorus and nitrogen removal efficiencies can be obtained, while still operating at practicable process conditions. The operation of the pilot plant demonstrated that the dual phosphorous “sink” - with phosphorus-enriched waste activated sludge and with chemically precipitated HAP - is a key factor to consistently achieve low effluent phosphorus concentrations in activated sludge systems operating at high phosphorus loading.
Study on Development of Phosphorus Removal Process by Contact Filtration
Authors: Tanaka Kazuhiro , Aoki Masanobu , Takahashi Shousaku , Chida Shuichi , Yasuda Tsutomu , Takagi Kazuo , Yumoto Hiromichi , Kasakura Kazumasa
Published: May 2018

A new phosphorus removal process, that permits smaller sludge production, low operating costs, and stable phosphorus removal has been operated on an experimental basis at a pilot plant. In this process, secondary effluent containing dissolved oxygen is dosed with ferrous salt solution and then contacts with filter media, so that Fe(II) oxidizes and sticks to the filter media surface and phosphorus is removed simultaneously. Study of the experiment results verified the following points. (1) When the influent phosphorus concentration is 3.5 mg/ℓ, the Fe/P mole ratio is 2, and space velocity is 6 per hour, the effluent phosphorus concentration can be reduced to the level of 0.1 to 0.3 mg/ℓ and the removal efficiency can be upgraded to 90% or more. (2) Phosphorus removal progresses rapidly so that phosphorus can be removed to the same extent as that in effluent at the 0 to 60 cm positions (at filtration rate of 200 m/D) in the upper part of the filter media. (3) It is presumed that the substance formed on the filter media surface works as a catalyst for ferrous and phosphorus removal. Therefore, influent pH level must be approximately 6.5 for constant treatment efficiency. (4) 40 to 50% of removed phosphorus adheres to the filter media.