Fate of effluent organic matter (EfOM) and natural organic matter (NOM) through riverbank filtration.

Understanding the fate of effluent organic matter (EfOM) and natural organic matter (NOM) through riverbank filtration is essential to assess the impact of wastewater effluent on the post treatment requirements of riverbank filtrates. Furthermore, their fate during drinking water treatment can significantly determine the process design. The objective of this study was to characterise bulk organic matter which consists of EfOM and NOM during riverbank filtration using a suite of innovative analytical tools. Wastewater effluent-derived surface water and surface water were used as source waters in experiments with soil columns. Results showed the preferential removal of non-humic substances (i.e. biopolymers) from wastewater effluent-derived surface water. The bulk organic matter characteristics of wastewater effluent-derived surface water and surface water were similar after 5 m soil passage in laboratory column experiment. Humic-like organic matter in surface water and wastewater effluent-derived surface water persisted through the soil passage. More than 50% of total dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal with significant reduction of dissolved oxygen (DO) was observed in the top 50 cm of the soil columns for both surface water and wastewater effluent-derived surface water. This was due to biodegradation by soil biomass which was determined by adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentrations and heterotrophic plate counts. High concentrations of ATP in the first few centimeters of infiltration surface reflect the highest microbial activity which correlates with the extent of DOC reduction. Good correlation of DOC removal with DO and biomass development was observed in the soil columns.     

Dedicated land disposal of wastewater sludge in south africa: leaching of trace elements and nutrients.

Most of the wastewater treatment facilities in South Africa (80%) dispose of their sewage sludge on dedicated land disposal (DLD) sites. The impact of this practice on the environment is believed to be negative, but very little research has been carried out to determine the extent of the damage to the soil and water resources. Forty wastewater treatment facilities using DLD, with different soil properties, application techniques, metal concentrations and period of sludge application, were studied. Soil and groundwater samples were collected at each of the selected facilities. Three extraction methods (aqua regia, NH4EDTA and NH4NO3) were used and samples were analysed for total N, P and K, pH, organic carbon and their metal content (Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb). Some degree of leaching of the heavy metals (especially Co and Ni) occurred at some of the sampling sites and the average depth of leaching was 100-200 mm. Deeper than 300 mm, the metal concentrations in most soil samples reached background concentrations. Seven of the nine groundwater samples that could be obtained had high NO3 concentrations (> 6 mg L(-1)). Statistical analyses of the data indicate no significant differences between sludge type (wet or dry) and leaching, or age of the disposal sites and leaching. Taking into account the age of the disposal sites, the frequency of sludge application and the metal load of the sludge, the depth of leaching is surprisingly shallow in most soils, in spite of the low soil pH(H2O) and clay content.     

Evaluation of wastewater effluents for soil aquifer treatment in South Korea.

Soil batch and column experiments were performed to characterize the wastewater effluents from seven different wastewater treatment plants in the Jonnam province, South Korea, with the purpose of evaluating the effluents for possible application of a soil aquifer treatment (SAT) in Korea. Batch experiments were conducted to measure the biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC) while 1 m soil columns, for simulating SAT, were employed to further analyze dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal. The soils were collected from a river bottom in Jonnam. The BDOC fractions and the residual DOC concentrations for the effluents ranged from 19.3 to 59.9% and from 1.0 to 7.5 mg/L, respectively, depending on the reaction time. Applying the tentative criteria based on the data obtained for the BDOC and residual DOC, three effluents, from Gwangju, Hwasoon, and Jangsung, were found to be the most suitable for SAT applications. It was also concluded that the site characteristics should be also considered with regard to the retention time when evaluating the feasibility of SAT application in a certain region.     

Cd, Cu and Zn mobility in contaminated sediments from an infiltration basin colonized by wild plants: the case of Phalaris arundinacea and Typha latifolia

Infiltration basins are shallow reservoirs in which stormwater is temporarily collected in order to reduce water volume in downstream networks. The settling of stormwater particles leads to a contaminated sediment layer. Wild plants can colonize these basins and can also play a role on the fate of heavy metals either directly by their uptake or indirectly by modification of physico-chemical characteristics of the sediment and therefore by modification of the mobility of heavy metals. The aim of this study, carried out in a vegetated infiltration basin, is to assess Cd, Cu and Zn mobility in two zones colonized by different species, Phalaris arundinacea and Typha latifolia. The study was carried out using three single chemical extractions: CaCl2 for the exchangeable phase, acetate buffer for the acido-soluble fraction and diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid (DTPA) for the fraction associated to the organic matter. Zn and Cd are mainly associated to carbonated and organic matter phases of the sediment. Moreover, acetate buffer-extractable Zn contents are strongly correlated to carbonates content in the sediment. DTPA-extractable Cu contents are strongly correlated with organic carbon sediment contents. We have also noted that extractable contents were significantly different between both zones whatever the metal.     

Heavy metal displacement in EDTA-assisted phytoremediation of biosolids soil.

Chelating agents are added to soil to solubilise the metals for enhanced phytoextraction. Yet no studies follow the displacement and leaching of heavy metals in soil with biosolids following solubilisation with chelates. The objective of this work was to determine the mobility of heavy metals in biosolids in a soil from a sludge farm that had received biosolids for 25 years. The soil was placed in columns in a greenhouse. Columns either had a plant (poplar) or no plant. After the poplar seedlings had grown for 144 d, the tetrasodium salt of the chelating agent EDTA was irrigated onto the surface of the soil at a rate of 1 g per kg of soil. Drainage water was analysed for three toxic heavy metals and four essential heavy metals. Without EDTA, concentrations of the seven heavy metals in the leachate from columns with or without plants were low or below detection limits. With or without plants, the EDTA mobilised all heavy metals and increased their concentration in drainage water. Without plants, the concentrations of Cd, Cu, Fe, and Zn in the leachate from columns with EDTA were above drinking-water standards. The presence of poplar plants in the soil reduced the concentrations of Cu, Fe, and Zn in the leachate so it fell within drinking-water standards. Concentrations of Cd and Pb in the leachate remained above drinking-water standards with or without plants.     

Soil aquifer treatment using advanced primary effluent

Soil aquifer treatment (SAT) using primary effluent (PE) is an attractive option for wastewater treatment and reuse in many developing countries with no or minimal wastewater treatment. One of the main limitations of SAT of PE is rapid clogging of the infiltration basin due to high suspended solid concentrations. Some pre-treatment of PE before infiltration is likely to reduce this limitation, improve performance of SAT and help to implement this technology effectively. The effects of three pre-treatment options namely sedimentation (SED), coagulation (COAG) and horizontal roughing filtration (HRF) on SAT were analyzed by conducting laboratory-scale batch and soil column experiments. The sedimentation and coagulation pre-treatments led to less head loss development and reduction of clogging effect. The head loss development in soil column using PE + COAG and PE + SED was reduced by 85 and 72%, respectively, compared to PE alone without any pretreatment. The overall dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal of pre-treatments and soil column collectively were 34, 44, 51 and 43.5% for PE without any pre-treatment, PE + SED, PE + COAG and PE + HRF, respectively. Coagulation pre-treatment of PE was found to be the most effective option in terms of suspended solids, DOC and nitrogen removal. Sedimentation pre-treatment of PE could be attractive where land is relatively less expensive for the construction of sedimentation basins.     

Reuse of treated wastewater and sewage sludge for fertilization and irrigation

The objective of the present work was to assess the short-term potential of treated wastewater and sewage sludge for ornamental lawn fertilization and irrigation. A field experiment was performed and the following treatments were considered: sewage sludge application + irrigation with public water; sewage sludge application + irrigation with treated wastewater; irrigation with public water; irrigation with treated wastewater (TW). Irrigation with treated wastewater showed a positive effect on lawn installation through higher growth of grass (1,667 cm) and higher dry matter yield (18,147 g m(-2)). These results represent a significant increase in the grass yield compared with public water irrigation. The grass height (2,606 cm) and dry matter yield (23,177 g m(-2)) increased even more, when sewage sludge produced in the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) was applied to soil, which proves once more its benefits as an organic fertilizer. At the end of the experiment, an increase of some soil parameters (pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter, Ca2+, Na+, K+, Mg2+ and NH4+) was observed, indicating that treated wastewater irrigation can cause a soil sodization. This short-term study indicated that use of treated wastewater and sewage sludge for ornamental lawn fertilization and irrigation is an environmentally sustainable option for re-use of the WWTP by-products.     

E. coli transport in soil columns: implications for reuse of treated wastewater in irrigation.

Reuse of treated wastewater in irrigation is gaining recognition as a vital element in the water resources management plan of developing countries, especially those situated in arid and semi-arid regions. An understanding of the transport of residual pollutants from treated wastewater, such as bacteria, in soil as a result of irrigation is critical to assessing health risks and the possible contamination of limited groundwater resources. In this work, retention of E. coli is evaluated for a soil that is irrigated by treated wastewater for growth of non-food crops near Egypt's Red Sea coast. In particular, the effects of soil organic fraction (SOF) and hydraulic loading rate (HLR) were investigated in laboratory soil columns. The matrix of experiments included three HLRs and three SOFs. The retention of bacteria by adsorption was observed at HLRs of 5 and 13 cm/h, with the magnitude of the adsorption increasing proportionally to the SOF. The impact of SOF was greater for the lower HLR. At the lowest HLR investigated (5 cm/h), filtration was also observed for the two higher SOFs (0.674 and 2.04 per cent). At a high HLR (66 cm/h) simulating flood irrigation, retention of bacteria was minimal regardless of the SOF. Since the bacterial solution is applied to a dry soil column to simulate field conditions, E. coli breakthrough after two pore volumes of throughput (vs. one) provided a meaningful comparison of bacterial retention as a function of HLR and SOF.     

Metals,acid-volatile sulfides,organics, and particle distributions of contaminated sediments

An overview of key physical/chemical parameters for contaminated sediments is presented. While sediment cores from remote lakes show little or no enrichment with heavy metals (Pb, Hg, Cd, Zn, Cu) and PAHs in top layers, the contamination near industrial areas is more significant. Cd in more bioavailable geochemical phases can occur in response to Cu inputs to sediments, and aeration during dredging operations of anaerobic sediments can reduce the pH causing release of heavy metals. The toxicity of anaerobic sediments to benthos can be effectively predicted based on interstitial water concentrations and the molar ratio between simultaneously extracted metals and acid-volatile sulfides (SEM/AVS). The toxicity of PAHs and other organics can be predicted based on equilibrium partitioning. Principal component analysis indicates that PAHs are associated with organic carbon and silt, and PCBs with inorganic clay. Finally, formulated reference sediments appear to be useful in toxicity testing by creating uniform parameters matching field conditions, and by isolating the effects of specific contaminants.     

Effects of treated wastewater irrigation on the dissolved and soil organic carbon in Israeli soils.

In many arid and semi-arid regions, the demand for drinking water and other domestic uses is constantly growing due to demographic growth and increasing standard of living. Therefore, less freshwater is available for agricultural irrigation and new water sources are needed. Treated wastewater (TWW) already serves as an important water source in Israel since more than 40 years and its usage will further be extended. Related to its high loads with nutrients, salts and organic materials its use as irrigation water can have major effects on the soil physical, chemical and biological properties, in the worst case leading to soil degradation. Additional organic matter reaches the soil with the effluent water and soil microbial activity is stimulated. Soil organic carbon (SOC) seems to accumulate in the topsoil and tends to decrease after long-term irrigation with secondary TWW in the subsoil. The amount of dissolved organic carbon increased and the aromaticity of the organic compounds in the soil percolates decreased over the irrigation period. Priming effects, occurring after stimulation of microbial activity by the addition of easily degradable substances, could be found in the soils and were stronger for subsoil (1 m depth).     

Role of bottom sediments in the secondary pollution of aquatic environments by heavy-metal compounds

The results of long‐term investigations into the concentrations of some heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr, and Cd) in the bottom sediments of the Dnieper reservoirs and the Dnieper–Bug estuary are considered. Maximum quantities of the metals studied are characteristic of southern water bodies located within industrial zones (the Zaporozh’e and Kakhovka reservoirs as well as the Dnieper–Bug estuary). The highest concentrations of the metals studied occurred in the clay silts (Fe, 11 600–32 400; Mn, 1504–3450; Cu, 38.9–85.5; Zn, 89.8–186.5; Cr, 48.6–193.0; and Cd, 1.9–4.4 mg kg^‐1 dry weight). Accumulation of heavy metals in the bottom sediments is an important factor in the self‐purification of aquatic environments. However, this process is reversible and therefore provides a constant threat of secondary water pollution. Secondary water pollution is observed in summer and autumn when water consumption increases. The concentrations of heavy metals increase by a factor of 1.5–3 after the drawdown of the water level. The main reason for the rise in the concentrations of metals is exchange between the bottom sediments and the water column. The rate of heavy metal migration is connected with the forms of occurrence in solid substrates and pore solutions in the bottom sediments, as well as with physico‐chemical conditions arising at the sediment/water boundary. Therefore, our investigations concentrated on the study of the fractional distribution of heavy metals among solid substrates and their forms of occurrence in interstitial solutions. This distribution depends, most of all, on the chemical properties of metals as well as the chemical and mineralogical composition of the sediments and the chemical properties of pore solutions. Most of the supply of Mn, Zn, Fe, and Cd is associated with oxides and hydroxides of iron and manganese (Mn, 74–93%; Zn, 43–70%; Fe, 27–59%; and Cd, 28–41%). Most copper and chromium is bound to organic matter and to scarcely soluble minerals. In the interstitial solutions studied, metals (except manganese) are found mainly as complex compounds with dissolved organic matter of a different molecular weight. Nevertheless, the fraction of complexes with a relatively low molecular weight (500–5000 Da) prevailed (40–70%). Dissolved manganese in the pore solutions consists chiefly of free (hydrated) ions Mn²⁺ (80–95%). The results obtained were used for a comparative evaluation of heavy metal mobility and the exchange ability of their associated compounds in the bottom sediment–water system.     

Study on risk management of heavy metals for reuse of biosolids.

The behaviour of heavy metals was investigated at 22 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). In addition, the survey of heavy metal balance was conducted in detail at one WWTP. For the measurement, 22 types of heavy metals were selected from the chemical materials of pollutant release and transfer register (PRTR). There were some heavy metals, which were detected not in wastewater but in dewatered sludge. By means of the detailed survey at one WWTP, 60 to 80% of some heavy metals, such as B, Mn, Co, Ni and Mo, were discharged with treated water. According to the results of PRTR, Zn, B and Mn accounted for a large part of the discharge into the water course. To estimate the behaviour of heavy metals in the environment, leaching tests were applied to the products made of biosolids. During a series of leaching tests for building materials, it was observed that the concentration of heavy metals was very small, but the ratio of increase keeps a constant value. Therefore, it was considered that the acid extractable contents of heavy metal would be important.     

Estimates of the remineralization and burial of organic carbon in Lake Baikal sediments

Sediment cores collected from several stations throughout Lake Baikal in water depths from 100 m off the Selenga River delta to the deepest basin of the lake (~1640 m), have been analyzed for sedimentary organic carbon, nitrogen, and the remineralized components in pore water. The organic carbon content of surface sediments generally varied from 2.3 to 3.2% by weight, and profiles typically showed an exponential decrease in both organic carbon and nitrogen in the upper 20–30 cm of the sediment column. Steady state models of organic matter diagenesis yield first order decomposition rate constants which range from 0.0009 to 0.022 y⁻¹. The calculated residence times for the metabolizable fraction of the organic matter in these sediments increases roughly with increasing water depth and is on the order of 50–300 years. Pore water concentration profiles were determined for dissolved inorganic carbon, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), methane, and dissolved ammonium. At depth (25–30 cm) methane concentrations ranged from 50 to 800 μmol L_pw⁻¹ and DOC from 400 to 900 μmol L_pw⁻¹. Estimation of carbon recycling rates based upon diffusion along pore water concentration gradients at the sediment-water interface, indicate that combined DOC and methane fluxes generally contribute <15% of the overall turnover of sedimentary organic carbon. Comparisons to Laurentian Great Lakes environments show trends in sediment deposition, organic matter remineralization, and the time scales of carbon recycling across nearly two orders of magnitude with the fraction of organic content buried generally decreasing with decreasing sedimentation rates.     

有机酸淋洗修复复合重金属污染河道底泥研究

针对高粘性Ｃｕ、Ｚｎ复合重金属污染河道底泥,采用酒石酸、草酸、柠檬酸三种有机酸作为淋洗剂对污染土进行淋洗修复,通过振荡淋洗方法,探究淋洗剂浓度、淋洗时间对重金属去除率的影响规律,采用ＢＣＲ三步提取法对淋洗前后土壤重金属形态进行分析。研究结果表明:3种有机酸对Ｚｎ的去除率优于对Ｃｕ的去除率,得到最佳淋洗方案为浓度0．4ｍｏｌ／Ｌ的酒石酸淋洗2．0ｈ,对Ｃｕ、Ｚｎ的去除率分别为29．19％、67．8％。通过ＢＣＲ形态分析发现有机酸可有效降低重金属弱酸提取态、可还原态浸提浓度,并能一定程度上提高残渣态含量,这有利于降低重金属环境风险。     

土壤中硝态氮迁移转化的数值模拟研究

为了揭示不同灌溉强度下土壤中硝态氮浓度的变化规律,选取常德市典型浅层土壤为研究对象,以动态土柱淋滤试验和静态反硝化试验为基础,运用HYDRUS-1D软件建立数值模型对不同灌溉强度下硝态氮浓度的变化进行模拟分析。结果表明:当灌溉强度大于4 cm/d时,灌溉强度超过土壤下渗能力,灌溉水按下渗能力下渗,多余的水会形成地面积水,进而形成地表径流,模拟10 d各组土壤中硝态氮的浓度差异不大;当灌溉强度小于等于4 cm/d时,灌溉水全部下渗到土壤中,模拟10 d后土壤中硝态氮的浓度随灌溉强度的增加而增大。     

Partition of metals in the Vistula River and in effluents from sewage treatment plants in the region of Cracow (Poland)

The Vistula River suffers from heavy pollution with multiple origins. In the upper reaches, metallic and chlorine pollution originates from the mining and industrial region of Upper Silesia. Downstream from Upper Silesia, urban and industrial sewage adds more metallic and organic contaminants from the large urban agglomeration of Cracow. Although the river status is monitored routinely, little is known about the partition of metals between particulate and dissolved forms. This study focuses on metal partitioning and on the impact of the two main wastewater treatment plants at Cracow on metal concentrations in the Vistula River. The Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn content was measured in both dissolved and particulate fractions. High metal concentrations in the Vistula River persist, although current levels seem to be lower than those in the past. Metal concentrations in the Vistula River and effluents from the sewage treatment plants at Cracow are similar, indicating a relatively minor contribution from the treated sewage. However, untreated sewage may be a significant source of contaminants. Despite high anthropogenic metal concentrations, the metal partitioning coefficients (K_d) in the Vistula are similar to these found in unpolluted rivers. Within a narrow pH range, K_d values depend on the metal affinity to particles, but there is no evidence of dependence on particle or chloride concentrations. An important fraction of the toxic metals Pb and Cd is associated with particles, which may decrease their immediate availability to the biota of the river.     

Accumulation and Transport of Sediment Metals by the Vertically Migrating Opossum Shrimp,Mysis relicta

This study examined the accumulation of metals (Al, As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Fe, Ni, V, and Zn) in the opossum shrimp Mysis relicta from sediments to understand the contribution of sediment metals to overall body burden metal contents. Metal biota-sediment accumulation factors, tissue depuration ratios, and sediment metal assimilation efficiencies were calculated to examine the extent to which mysids accumulate metals from sediments contained within their guts. Results were then used to estimate the concentrations of metals transported to the water column and to fish because of mysid diel vertical migration. Results showed that Al, Cr, Fe, and V were readily depurated (34 to 73% of total body burden) and were not preferentially accumulated in mysid tissues (Biota Sediment Accumulation Factor, BSAF < 0.009). In comparison, As, Cd, Cu, and Zn were not readily depurated (9 to 26% of total body burden) and were more readily accumulated in mysid tissues (BSAF > 0.037). Nickel shows an intermediate behavior for depuration and accumulation. Calculations suggest that following 12 hours depuration through vertical migration, about 1.57 μg sediment/mysid (0.05% of dry weight of M. relicta) remained as gut contents. As a result, 16 to 50% of the Al, Cr, Fe, Ni, and V and 1.0 to 5.5% of the As, Cd, Cu, and Zn mysid body burden metal content transported to the water column was attributed to sediment in the gut. These results indicate that trace metals (As, Cd, Cu, and Zn) ingested from sediments are poorly accumulated in mysids (calculated AEs ranged from 0.07 for Cr to -11 for Cu) and metals transported by mysids to fish in the water column are primarily associated with mysid tissues.     

镉污染稻田土壤土柱淋洗修复研究

以三氯化铁为淋洗剂,采用土柱淋洗法对镉污染稻田土壤进行了修复研究。系统考察了土壤的干湿状态、淋洗液浓度及体积、搅拌次数、淋洗时间等淋洗条件对Cd去除率的影响,深入探究了Cd在土柱中的分布规律。结果表明“干洗”条件下的修复效果优于“湿洗”;淋洗液浓度、搅拌次数、淋洗时间及淋洗液体积的增加均能提升Cd的去除率,但提升程度有限;当采用“干洗”方式进行淋洗,且三氯化铁浓度为0.05 M、搅拌次数为3、淋洗时间为2 d及淋洗液体积为450 mL时,Cd的去除率可达最大值25.4%;在此最优淋洗条件下,洗脱的Cd中有86.7%存在于孔隙水中。由此表明,在稻田淋洗修复过程中,高效排出孔隙水是修复的关键。     

Nitrogen speciation in wastewater treatment plant influents and effluents-the US and Polish case studies.

The fate of N species, particularly dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), through process trains of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) was investigated. In this study, three fully nitrifying plants in Illinois, USA and biological nutrient removal (BNR) plants in northern Poland were sampled for N characterization in the primary and secondary effluents as a function of the particle size distribution. The correlations between dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) concentrations were examined. The key findings are that DON becomes significant portion (about 20%) of the effluent N, reaching up to 50% of effluent total N in one of the Polish plants. The DON constituted 56-95% of total ON (TON) in the secondary effluents, whereas in the Polish plants the DON contribution was substantially lower (19-62%) and in one case (Gdansk WWTP) colloidal ON was the dominating fraction (62% of TON). The DOC to DON ratio in the US plants is significantly lower than that in the receiving waters indicating potential for deterioration of receiving water quality. In Polish plants, the influent and effluent C:N ratios are similar, but not in the US plants.     

Comparing the effluent organic matter removal of direct NF and powdered activated carbon/NF as high quality pretreatment options for artificial groundwater recharge.

Direct nanofiltration and nanofiltration combined with powdered activated carbon known as the PAC/NF process were tested regarding the removal of effluent organic matter for reclamation of tertiary effluent from a municipal wastewater treatment plant. They can be regarded as a promising treatment alternative for high quality water reuse applications, especially for direct injection. The total removal for DOC was above 90% with permeate concentrations below 0.5 mg/l. Size exclusion chromatography and fluorescence EEM proved to trace origin of the organic matter even in low concentration ranges. The type and dosage of adsorbent influences the process performance significantly and allows process optimization.