Fate of surfactants in membrane bioreactors and conventional activated sludge plants

Two membrane bioreactors (MBRs) were operated at high sludge retention time (SRT) (between 30 and 75 d) in parallel to a conventional activated sludge plant (CASP) conducted at SRT = 10 d. The fate of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS), nonylphenol ethoxylates (NP(n)EO, n = 1-15), nonylphenoxy carboxylates (NP(n)EC, n = 1-2), and nonylphenol (NP) in these systems was investigated. All systems were very efficient in the removal of LAS (around 99%). The analysis of variance showed that the difference in the removal efficiency of LAS in the CASP and the MBR operated at SRT = 65-75 d (respectively 99.0 ± 0.43 and 99.8 ± 0.11) were significant (p < 0.05), confirming the importance of SRT in the removal of LAS. Comparison between the CASP and the MBRs in the removal efficiency of nonylphenolic compounds were conducted considering NP(3-15)EO, the sum of NP(1-15)EO, NP(1-2)EC, and nonylphenol (NP). In all cases MBRs were more efficient than the CASP. In the case of NP the removal was about 76 ± 7.5% for the CASP and 90% ± 12.1 and 82 ± 8.7% for the MBRs. Better performance of MBRs in the removal of nonylphenolic compounds can be attributed to a better degradation. For example, if the sum of NP(1-15)EO and NP(1-2)EC is considered, estimated biodegradation was about 48% for the CASP and 72% for MBRs.     

Significance of Chloroflexi in performance of submerged membrane bioreactors (MBR) treating municipal wastewater

We operated pilot-scale submerged membrane bioreactors (MBR) treating real municipal wastewater for over 3 months and observed an interesting phenomenon that carbohydrate concentrations in the MBRs rapidly increased, which consequently resulted in membrane fouling, when relative abundance of the member of uncultured Chloroflexi decreased from over 30% of total Bacteria to less than 10%. We, therefore, hypothesized that the uncultured Chloroflexi present in the MBRs could preferentially degrade carbohydrates and consequently prevent membrane fouling. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the phylogenetic identity, diversity, and in situ physiology (substrate utilization characteristics) of Chloroflexi residing in the MBR by using 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis and microautoradiography combined with fluorescence in situ hybridization (MAR-FISH) technique. Most of the clones related to the phylum Chloroflexiwere affiliated with the Chloroflexi subphylum 1 containing only a few cultured representatives. The MAR-FISH revealed that the members of Chloroflexi were metabolically versatile and could preferentially utilize glucose and N-acetyl glucosamine (a main substantial constituent of the cell wall peptidoglycan) under oxic and anoxic conditions. The utilization of these compounds was low at low pH. These findings suggest that the members of Chloroflexi are ecologically significant in the MBR treating municipal wastewater and are responsible for degradation of SMP including carbohydrates and cellular materials, which consequently reduces membrane fouling potential.     

Desalination of mixed tannery effluent with membrane bioreactor and reverse osmosis treatment

A limiting factor for the reuse and recycling of treated tannery wastewater for irrigation and other uses is the high salt content, which persists even after conventional treatment. Reverse osmosis (RO) membrane treatment has been shown to significantly reduce the salt contents of tannery effluents. However, the high organic content of tannery effluent leads to rapid scaling and biofouling of RO membranes with a consequent reduction in flux rates and performance. Membrane bioreactors (MBR) have been shown to be highly effective in the removal of organic pollutants and suspended solids from tannery effluent. This research investigated the use of a combined MBR and RO treatment process to treat tannery effluents to an acceptable level for irrigation purposes. The MBR was operated at 17-20 h retention time, at a F/M ratio of 0.52 kg COD x kg SS(-1) x day(-1) and a volumetric loading rate of 3.28 kg COD x m(-3) x day(-1). This treatment reduced the COD, BOD, and ammonia concentrations of the effluent by 90-100%. The MBR was shown to be an excellent pretreatment prior to RO technology, due to the high removal efficiency of organic compounds and suspended solids, with average concentrations of 344 mg x L(-1) COD and 20 mg x L(-1) BOD achieved in the permeate. RO treatment reduced the salt content of the MBR permeate by up to 97.1%. The results of the research demonstrated that the MBR system developed was appropriate for the treatment of tannery effluents and, in combination with the RO treatment, reduced the salt content to acceptable levels for irrigation. The MBR pretreatment reduced bio-fouling and scaling of subsequent RO treatment and improved the overall performance of the RO unit. It is believed that this is the first investigation of a combined MBR and RO treatment for tannery effluents. This research provided data for an outline design of a full-scale MBR and RO plant with a treatment capacity of 5000 m3 per day for mixed tannery effluents.     

Fate of steroid estrogens in Australian inland and coastal wastewater treatment plants

A comparison of estrone (E1), 17beta-estradiol (E2), and 17alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2) removal at a coastal enhanced primary and inland advanced sewage treatment plant (STP) is reported. The average concentration of estrogens in the raw sewage is similar to that reported in other studies. The sequential batch reactor at the advanced STP removed on average 85% of the incoming E1 and 96% of the E2. Further removal was observed during later microfiltration with the estrogen concentration below detection (<0.1 ng x L(-1)) after reverse osmosis. Some 6% of the influent E1+E2 was removed in the waste activated sludge. The detection of EE2 in the waste activated sludge (0.42 ng x g(-1) solids dry weight), undetectable in the raw sewage, suggests that EE2 is resistant to biological treatment in the sequential batch reactor and is primarily removed due to sorption. Little estrogen removal was observed at the enhanced primary with only 7% of E1 and 0% of E2 removed. Low removal is expected based on the degree of estrogens partitioning in the organic fraction given the relatively low solids concentration, but surprisingly, some 43% of E2, 24% of E1, and 100% of EE2 remains associated with the solids fraction in the treated effluent. Further research is necessary to determine whether the low level of estrogen removal for the coastal treatment plant will adversely affect the receiving marine environment.     

Removal of organics and degradation products from industrial wastewater by a membrane bioreactor integrated with ozone or UV/H₂O₂ treatment

The treatment of a pharmaceutical wastewater resulting from the production of an antibacterial drug (nalidixic acid) was investigated employing a membrane bioreactor (MBR) integrated with either ozonation or UV/H(2)O(2) process. This was achieved by placing chemical oxidation in the recirculation stream of the MBR. A conventional configuration with chemical oxidation as polishing for the MBR effluent was also tested as a reference. The synergistic effect of MBR when integrated with chemical oxidation was assessed by monitoring (i) the main wastewater characteristics, (ii) the concentration of nalidixic acid, (iii) the 48 organics identified in the raw wastewater and (iv) the 55 degradation products identified during wastewater treatment. Results showed that MBR integration with ozonation or UV/H(2)O(2) did not cause relevant drawbacks to both biological and filtration processes, with COD removal rates in the range 85-95%. Nalidixic acid passed undegraded through the MBR and was completely removed in the chemical oxidation step. Although the polishing configuration appeared to give better performances than the integrated system in removing 15 out of 48 secondary organics while similar removals were obtained for 19 other compounds. The benefit of the integrated system was however evident for the removal of the degradation products. Indeed, the integrated system allowed higher removals for 34 out of 55 degradation products while for only 4 compounds the polishing configuration gave better performance. Overall, results showed the effectiveness of the integrated treatment with both ozone and UV/H(2)O(2).     

Fate of a 14C-labeled nonylphenol isomer in a laboratory-scale membrane bioreactor

This study aimed at giving a better insight into the possible fate of nonylphenol (NP) during wastewater treatment by using a lab-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) designed and optimized for fate studies carried out with radiolabeled compounds. After a single pulse of 14C-labeled-NP isomer (4-[1-ethyl-1,3-dimethylpentyl]phenol) as radiotracer, the applied radioactivity was monitored in the MBR system over 34 days. The mass balance of NP residues at the end of the study showed that 42% of the applied radioactivity was recovered in the effluent as degradation products of NP, 21% was removed with the daily excess sludge from the MBR, and 34% was recovered as adsorbed in the component parts of the MBR. A high amount of NP was associated to the sludge during the test period, while degradation compounds were mainly found in the effluent. Partial identification of these metabolites by means of HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry coupled to radio-detection showed they are alkyl-chain oxidation products of NP. The use of this MBR and a radiolabeled test compound was found suitable for demonstrating that under the applied conditions, the elimination of NP through mineralization and volatilization processes (both less than 1%) was negligible. However, the removal of NP via sorption and the continuous release of oxidation products of NP in permeate were of relevance.     

Removal of sulfur-organic polar micropollutants in a membrane bioreactor treating industrial wastewater

While membrane bioreactors (MBR) have proven their large potential to remove bulk organic matter from municipal as well as industrial wastewater, their suitability to remove poorly degradable polar wastewater contaminants is yet unknown. However, this is an important aspect for the achievable effluent quality and in terms of wastewater reuse. We have analyzed two classes of polar sulfur-organic compounds, naphthalene sulfonates and benzothiazoles, by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) over a period of 3 weeks in the influent and effluent of a full-scale MBR with external ultrafiltration that treats tannery wastewater. While naphthalene monosulfonates were completely removed, total naphthalene disulfonate removal was limited to about 40%, and total benzothiazoles concentration decreased for 87%. Quantitative as well as qualitative data did not indicate an adaptation to or a more complete removal of these polar aromatic compounds by the MBR as compared to literature data on conventional activated sludge treatment. While quality improvements in receiving waters for bulk organic matter are documented and the same can be anticipated for apolar particle-associated contaminants, these data provide no indication that MBR will improve the removal of polar poorly biodegradable organic pollutants.     

Removal of estrogens in municipal wastewater treatment under aerobic and anaerobic conditions: consequences for plant optimization

The removal of estrogens (estrone E1, estradiol E2, and ethinylestradiol EE2) was studied in various municipal wastewater treatment processes equipped for nutrient removal. A biological degradation model is formulated, and kinetic parameters are evaluated with batch experiments under various redox conditions. The resulting model calculations are then compared with sampling campaigns performed on differenttypes of full-scale plant: conventional activated-sludge treatment, a membrane bioreactor, and a fixed-bed reactor. The results show a > 90% removal of all estrogens in the activated sludge processes. (Due to the analytical quantification limit and low influent concentrations, however, this removal efficiency represents only an observable minimum.) The removal efficiencies of 77% and > or = 90% for E1 and E2, respectively, in the fixed-bed reactor represent a good performance in view of the short hydraulic retention time of 35 min. The first-order removal-rate constant in batch experiments observed for E2 varied from 150 to 950 d(-1) for a 1 gSS L(-1) sludge suspension. The removal efficiency of E1 and EE2 clearly depends on the redox conditions, the maximum removal rate occurring under aerobic conditions when E1 was reduced to E2. Sampling campaigns on full-scale plants indicate that the kinetic values identified in batch experiments (without substrate addition) for the natural estrogens may overestimate the actual removal rates. Although this paper does not give direct experimental evidence, it seems that the substrate present in the raw influent competitively inhibits the degradation of E1 and E2. These compounds are therefore removed mainly in activated sludge compartments with low substrate loading. Theoretical evaluation leads us to expect that diffusive mass transfer inside the floc (but not across the laminar boundary layer) appreciably influences the observed degradation rates of E1 and E2, but not of EE2.     

Occurrence of estrogenic compounds in and removal by a swine farm waste treatment plant

The total estrogenic activity of the wastewater from a swine farm in Japan was quantitatively characterized, and the compounds responsible for the estrogenic activity were identified and quantified. The wastewater treatment process consisted of a series of an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) and a trickling filter. Samples were collected at each treatment step, and the total estrogenic activity was determined by use of an in vitro gene expression assay (MVLN; MCF-7 human breast cancer cell stably transfected with the pVit-tk-LUC receptor plasmid). Individual estrogenic compounds were identified and quantified using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ MS/MS). To further identify the compounds contributing to the estrogenic activity in the wastewater, the sample extracts were fractionated into 12 fractions (fractions 1-12) by HPLC. The rate of removal of estrogenic activity between the effluent and the influent was greater than 97%. The trickling filter removed the majority of the estrogenic activity. The removal rates of specific estrogenic compounds ranged from 44 to 99%. Estrogenic activity was detected mainly in the fractions containing estrone (El), 17beta-estradiol (betaE2), 17alpha-estradiol (alpha E2), estriol (E3), bisphenol A (alphaPA), and equol (EQ0). The ratios of betaE2-EQc (betaE2 equivalents derived from chemical analysis) to betaE2-EQB (betaE2 equivalent derived from bioassay) in the 12 fractions collectively were contributed by El (17-30%), betaE2 (23-30%), acE2 (<1%), E3 (1-2%), BPA (<1%), and EQO (2-3%) in the influent and El (16-37%), PE2 (<1-7%), alphaE2 (<1%), E3 (<1-3%), BPA (<1%), and EQO (<1%) in the effluent. The compounds responsible for most of the estrogenic activity measured in the bioassay were natural estrogens such as El and betaE2.     

Hospital wastewater treatment by membrane bioreactor: performance and efficiency for organic micropollutant elimination

A pilot-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) was installed and operated for one year at a Swiss hospital. It was fed an influent directly from the hospital's sanitary collection system. To study the efficiency of micropollutant elimination in raw hospital wastewater that comprises a complex matrix with micropollutant concentrations ranging from low ng/L to low mg/L, an automated online SPE-HPLC-MS/MS analytical method was developed. Among the 68 target analytes were the following: 56 pharmaceuticals (antibiotics, antimycotics, antivirals, iodinated X-ray contrast media, antiinflamatory, cytostatics, diuretics, beta blockers, anesthetics, analgesics, antiepileptics, antidepressants, and others), 10 metabolites, and 2 corrosion inhibitors. The MBR influent contained the majority of those target analytes. The micropollutant elimination efficiency was assessed through continuous flow-proportional sampling of the MBR influent and continuous time-proportional sampling of the MBR effluent. An overall load elimination of all pharmaceuticals and metabolites in the MBR was 22%, as over 80% of the load was due to persistent iodinated contrast media. No inhibition by antibacterial agents or disinfectants from the hospital was observed in the MBR. The hospital wastewater was found to be a dynamic system in which conjugates of pharmaceuticals deconjugate and biological transformation products are formed, which in some cases are pharmaceuticals themselves.     

Fate, transport, and biodegradation of natural estrogens in the environment and engineered systems

Natural steroidal estrogen hormones, e.g., estrone (E1), 17beta-estradiol (E2), estriol (E3), and 17alpha-estradiol (17alpha), are released by humans and livestock in the environment and are the most potent endocrine disrupters even at nanogram per liter levels. Published studies broadly conclude that conventional wastewater treatment is efficient in the removal of 17beta-estradiol (85-99%), but estrone removal is relatively poor (25-80%). The removal occurs mainly through sorption by sludge and subsequent biodegradation. The long solids retention time in wastewater treatment systems enhances estrogen removal due to longer exposure and the presence of a diverse microbial community, particularly nitrifiers. In spite of the treatment, the effluent from conventional biological wastewater treatment systems still contains estrogenic compounds at a level that may cause disruption of endocrine systems in some species. Advanced wastewater treatment systems such as membrane processes remove the estrogen compounds mainly through physical straining of particle-bound estrogens. Another major source, which accounts for 90% of the estrogen load, is animal manure from concentrated animal-feeding operations (CAFOs). Manure is not required to be treated in the United States as long as it is not discharged directly into water bodies. Thus, there is an urgent need to study the fate of animal-borne estrogens from these facilities into the environment. A number of studies have reported the feminization of male aquatic species in water bodies receiving the effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) or surface runoff from fields amended with livestock manure and municipal biosolids. Estrogenicity monitoring studies have been conducted in more than 30 countries, and abundant research articles are now available in refereed journals. This review paper focuses on estrogen contributions by wastewater and livestock manure, their removal rate and mechanisms in an engineered system, and their transport and ultimate fate in an engineered system and the environment. The review aims to advance our understanding of fate, transport, and biodegradation of estrogen compounds and outlines some directions for future research.     

Elimination of selected acidic pharmaceuticals from municipal wastewater by an activated sludge system and membrane bioreactors

The elimination of six acidic pharmaceuticals (clofibric acid, diclofenac, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, mefenamic acid, and naproxen) in a real wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) using an activated sludge system and membrane bioreactors (MBRs) was investigated by using a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) system for measurement of the compounds. Limited information is available for some of the tested pharmaceuticals at present. Solid retention times (SRTs) of the WWTP and the two MBRs were 7, 15, and 65 days, respectively. The elimination rates varied from compound to compound. The MBRs exhibited greater elimination rates for the examined pharmaceuticals than did the real plant. Dependency of the elimination rates of the pharmaceuticals on SRTs was obvious; the MBR operated with a longer SRT of 65 days clearly showed better performance than did the MBR with a shorter SRT of 15 days. The difference between the two MBRs was particularly significant in terms of elimination of ketoprofen and diclofenac. Measurements of the amounts of adsorbed pharmaceuticals on the sludge and aerobic batch elimination experiments were carried out to investigate the elimination pathways of the pharmaceuticals. Results of the batch elimination tests revealed that the sludges in the MBRs had large specific sorption capacities mainly due to their large specific surface areas. Despite the sorption capacities of sludges, the main mechanism of elimination of the pharmaceuticals in the investigated processes was found to be biodegradation. Biodegradation of diclofenac, which has been believed to be refractory to biodegradation, seemed to occur very slowly.     

Effects of gas flow rate, inlet concentration and temperature on biofiltration of volatile organic compounds in a peat-packed biofilter

The effects of incoming gas concentration, empty bed residence time (EBRT), and column temperature on the removal efficiency of volatile organic compounds (isoprene, dimethyl sulfide, chloroform, benzene, trichloroethylene, toluene, m-xylene, o-xylene and styrene) were studied for 101 d in a biofilter comprising two glass columns (I.D. 5.0 cm x height 62 cm) packed with peat. At an EBRT of 3 min the removal efficiency increased up to 90% 34 d after start up at both 25 degrees C and 45 degrees C when the incoming gas concentration was raised stepwise to 65 g.m(-3). When the incoming gas concentration increased to 83 g.m(-3), the removal efficiency was 93% at 25 degrees C, but dropped to 74% at 45 degrees C. At an incoming gas concentration of 92 g.m(-3) and an EBRT of 1.5 min, the removal efficiencies were 91% and 94% at 25 degrees C and 32 degrees C, respectively. However, at 1 min of EBRT, the removal efficiencies decreased to 68% and 81% at 25 degrees C and 32 degrees C, respectively. The removal rate per unit time and per unit volume of the biofilter was proportional to the incoming gas rate up to 3483 g VOC.m(-3).h(-1). Further increase of the incoming gas rate lowered the removal rate as compared to that predicted by the proportionality. The maximum removal rate was 3977 g.m(-3).h(-1) at 32 degrees C. At an EBRT of 1.5 min, the removal efficiency was highest for isoprene (93%), and lowest for chloroform (84%). Aromatic compounds (benzene, toluene, and xylene) were removed by 93-94%. The cell concentration increased 100-fold from the initial value, and reached 1.12 x 10(8) cells.(g of dry peat)(-1). At 32 degrees C, 67% of the incoming VOC was removed in the first quarter of the column.     

Fate of estrogens during the biological treatment of synthetic wastewater in a nitrite-accumulating sequencing batch reactor

The fate of estrone (El), 17beta-estradiol (E2), and 17alpha-ethynylestradiol (EE2) was investigated in two nitrite-accumulating sequencing batch reactors operating under strictly aerobic (SBR1) conditions at different sludge ages (SRT, 1.7 to 17.1 d) and anoxic/anaerobic/aerobic (SBR2) conditions with different phases and durations of redox conditions, using a modified GC-MS analytical method for estrogen detection to ng/L concentrations. In SBR1, > or =98% of E2 was removed (specific E2 removal rate ranged from 0.375 (at SRT 17.1 d) to 2.625 (at SRT 1.7 d) microg E2 x g MLVSS(-1) x d(-1)) regardless of SRT or DO (<1.0 to >5.0 mg/L). Removal of E1 and, to a greater extent, EE2 was adversely affected when this reactor was operated at SRT shorterthan 5.7 d. However, whereas E1 was removed efficiently as long as SRT was long enough for AOB to bring about nitritation, EE2 removal efficiency was significantly lower when SBR1 was operated at SRT longer than 7.5 d. This reduced removal of EE2 may have been caused by the inhibition and toxicity of nitrite, both to the ammonium monooxygenase (AMO) and to the microbial population generally. In SBR2, less removal of E2 was found at the lower MLVSS concentrations, and E1 was not removed by sludge with poor settling qualities. The removal of EE2 observed in SBR2 was considered to be mainly a result of sorption. However, the binding of estrogens to the sludge in this reactor was apparently not as strong as the binding observed in the sludge of the strictly aerobic SBR1, since desorption was observed during the aeration phase in SBR2.     

Effects of microbial degradation of biofoulants on microfiltration membrane performance in a membrane bioreactor

In membrane bioreactors (MBRs) for wastewater treatment, membrane fouling, particularly biofouling caused by soluble microbial products (SMP), is a nuisance problem causing decreases in permeation flux. In a previous study, we identified primary biofoulants of microfiltration (MF) membranes in SMP as polysaccharides containing uronic acids that undergo inter- and intramolecular ionic cross-linking by polyvalent cations, forming a gelatinous mass that clogs membrane pores. In the present study, we therefore attempted to isolate biofoulant-degrading microorganisms from activated sludge on a polygalacturonic acid-overlaid agar medium and evaluate their efficiency for preventing biofouling of MF membranes. Among the isolates, the fungal strain HO1 identified as Phialemonium curvatum degraded 30% of polysaccharides containing uronic acids into smaller molecules in a SMP solution containing a high concentration of saccharides after 30 days of cultivation. Microfiltration tests using a laboratory-scale submerged MBR indicated that the filtration resistance of this degraded SMP solution was lower than that of the control SMP solution without fungal inoculation. Importantly, accumulation of gelatinous mass on the membrane responsible for biofouling was avoided in the SMP solution augmented with P. curvatum HO1 during the microfiltration test. This is the first report to describe a new method for avoiding biofouling of MBRs by microbial degradation of primary biofoulants.     

Seasonal variation in the occurrence and removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in different biological wastewater treatment processes

The occurrence of 12 pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in two wastewater treatment plants in Beijing was studied monthly over the course of one year. The removal of PPCPs by three biological treatment processes including conventional activated sludge (CAS), biological nutrient removal (BNR), and membrane bioreactor (MBR) was compared during different seasons. Seasonal variations of PPCPs in the wastewater influent were discrepant, while in the wastewater effluent, most PPCPs had lower concentrations in the summer than in the winter. For the easily biodegradable PPCPs, the performance of MBR was demonstrated to be more stable than CAS or BNR especially during winter months. Diclofenac, trimethoprim, metoprolol, and gemfibrozil could be moderately removed by MBR, while their removal by CAS and BNR was much lower or even negligible. Nevertheless, no removal was achieved regardless of the season or the treatment processes for the recalcitrant PPCPs. Studies on the contribution of each tank of the MBR process to the total removal of four biodegradable PPCPs indicated the oxic tank was the most important unit, whereas membrane filtration made a negligible contribution to their elimination.     

印染废水的酸化水解-电解絮凝-MBR处理工艺

采用酸化水解-电解絮凝-MBR工艺对印染厂污水处理系统进行改造，处理废水量为5000m^2／d。该系统于2005年起连续运行1年，工艺运行平稳，耐冲击负荷较高；CODCr平均去除率达90％以上，色度平均去除率约95％，出水pH值为7～8，出水各项指标达到国家GB 4287—1992《纺织印染行业污染物排放标准》一级标准。     

Hexavalent chromium removal by reduction with ferrous sulfate, coagulation, and filtration: a pilot-scale study

A flow-through pilot-scale system was tested for removal of Cr(VI) from contaminated groundwater in Glendale, California. The process consisted of the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(lll) using ferrous sulfate followed by coagulation and filtration. Results indicated that the technology could reduce influent Cr(VI) concentrations of 100 microg L(-1) to below detectable levels and also remove total Cr (Cr(VI) plus Cr(lll)) to very low concentrations (< 5 microg L(-1)) under optimized conditions. Complete reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(lll) was accomplished with Fe(ll) doses of 10-50 times the Cr(Vl) concentration even in the presence of significant dissolved oxygen levels. The overall Cr removal efficiency was largely determined by the filterability of Cr(lll) and Fe(lll) precipitates, of which a relatively high filtration pH (7.5-7.6) and high filter loading rate (6 gpm ft(-2)) had negative impacts. The pilot system was able to operate for an extended time period (23-46 h depending on the Fe:Cr mass ratio) before turbidity breakthrough or high head loss. Backwash water was effectively settled with low doses (0.2-1.0 mg L(-1)) of high molecular weight polymer. Backwash solids were found to be nonhazardous bythe toxicity characteristic leaching procedure but hazardous by the California waste extraction test.     

Elimination of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in subsurface flow constructed wetlands

Removal efficiency and elimination rates of 11 pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs)were measured in two subsurface horizontal flow constructed wetlands (SSFs) characterized by different water depths (i.e. 0.3 and 0.5 m) in a 2-year study. Dissolved and particulate phases of wastewater and gravel samples were collected and analyzed. The PPCP influent concentration ranged from 1 to 25 microg L(-1). The best removal efficiency was found in the shallower bed SSF due to its less negative redox potential. PPCPs were classified in four groups according to their removal behavior: (i) the efficiently removed (>80%) namely caffeine, salicylic acid, methyl dihydrojasmonate, and carboxy-ibuprofen, (ii) the moderately removed (50-80%) namely ibuprofren, hydroxy-ibuprofen, and naproxen, (iii) the recalcitrant to the elimination namely ketoprofen and diclofenac, and,finally, (iv) compounds that were eliminated by hydrophobic interactions namely polycyclic musks (i.e. galaxolide and tonalide). These compounds were removed more than 80% from the effluent but occurred at high concentrations (up to 824 microg kg(-1)) in the gravel bed. Accordingly, their elimination by sorption onto the organic matter retained is the predominant removal mechanism. Furthermore, the constructed wetland clogging appears to induce a negative effect in the PPCP degradation in the SSF evaluated. The PPCP elimination classified as efficiently and moderately removed through the shallow bed fitted to either zero- or a first-order areal kinetics. Finally, the apparent distribution coefficients between suspended solids (Kd'ss) or gravel bed (Kd'gb) and water were determined in the different sampling points of the wetland obtaining values comparable to the described previously for sewage sludge.     

Efficacy of removal of CCL viruses under enhanced coagulation conditions

The focus of coagulation as a water treatment process is shifting to accommodate recent regulatory additions that strive to balance the risks between microbial and chemical contamination of drinking water. In this work, enhanced coagulation using increased ferric chloride dose and/or pH adjustment was evaluated for removal efficacy of viruses on the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Contaminant Candidate List (CCL), their surrogates, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Jar tests demonstrated that optimal DOC removal was achieved using 40 mg/L FeCl3 at a pH between 5 and 6. Under these conditions, bench-scale testing resulted in a maximum removal of 2.58 log units of adenovirus type 4, 2.50 log units of feline calicivirus, 2.32 log units of MS2, 1.75 log units of PRD1, 1.52 log units of phi-X174, 2.49 log units of fr, and 56% of DOC. The trend in virus removals (MS2 and fr > PRD1 and phi-X174) was consistent between bench- and pilot-scale testing; however, pilot-plant removals exceeded bench-scale removals. Feline calicivirus was more efficiently removed than the bacteriophages, thereby suggesting potential for the bacteriophages as suitable surrogates, with MS2 and fr being more representative and PRD1 and phi-X174 (which were removed to a lesser extent) more conservative. The bacteriophages do not appear to be appropriate surrogates for adenovirus.