[en] Highlights: • X-ray developer solution contains hazardous silver with high pollutant loads. • Phycoremediation is a sustainable approach for X-ray developer solutions. • Toxicity tolerance determination is a prerequisite in phycoremediation. • Phycoremediation facilitates concomitant bio commodities production. • Phycoremediation is a sustainable way for medical effluent handling. The present research is mainly focusing on the characterization of X-ray developer solution and its toxic tolerance studies with Desmodesmus armatus towards the phycoremediation studies for removal of pollutants, silver, and concomitant lipid production. The characterization results suggested the presence of 1.229 ± 0.004 g/l BOD, 27.29 ± 0.230 g/l COD with a silver content of 0.01791 ± 0.000 g/l. The tolerance and toxicity limits of with X-ray developer solution reveals the remarkable growth of microalgae in 3:1.dilution ratio of BBM in the X-ray developer solutions. The phycoremediation with 19 days period shown the noticeable results with a relative BOD (20.86%), COD (13.88%), with 57.10% corresponding total phosphorous removal. The phycoremediation also has proven better relative silver removal potential of 44.06% on the 19th day with concomitant 1.392% lipid production. Overall, the present study shows the potential phycoremediation strategy of hazardous X-ray developer solutions with possible concurrent lipid production through a sustainable approach.

[en] Wastewater from the soft drink industry must be treated before release to reservoir. One of many treatments of wastewater is electrocoagulation method. Five litres of wastewater was agitated using a magnetic stirrer with the addition of bitterns in a tank electrochemical device. It was started by 100 rpm of agitation for 3 minutes and then the agitation was decreased to 50 rpm for the certain time. The filtrate was separated and analysed Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and BOD. Percent of COD removal tends to increase with the length of the electrocoagulation process and vice versa for BOD. Different things occur in percent COD and BOD removal, where the best percent removal is obtained at 0.5% bitter addition. The highest percentage of COD removal reached 98.31% at 6 hours and the highest percent of BOD removal reached 95.00% within 2 hours. (paper)

[en] The feasibility of developing natural dispersants (biodispersants) for use in response to a marine oil spill was discussed. In this study biochemical tests were conducted with Bacillus and Coccus Gram Positive bacteria in order to select the one marine microorganism which is capable of producing biodispersants to degrade crude oil. Different carbon sources and salt concentrations were used in the experiments. A second experiment was conducted in which the production of biodispersants by the pure microbial strain were studied by measuring interfacial tension, determined by using the Longman method. The surfactant efficacy and the dispersant stability of Arabian Light crude oil was also studied. The biological oxygen demand at five days, biological oxygen demand at the end of the biodegradation, the biodegradation constant and the biochemical stabilization constant were determined during the degradation process. 23 refs., 9 tabs.,4 figs

[en] Membrane separation technology is evolving as a solution to the many problems a mill may be experiencing. Membranes can provide a solution in such areas as: color removal, BOD reduction, salt reduction and reuse, PVA (Polyvinyl Alcohol) recovery, and latex recovery. Membrane technology is unique in that it can provide a return on investment as a solution to pollution abatement. Membrane solutions are generally in keeping with the Clinton/Gore philosophy of pollution prevention is better than waste treatment. Capital investment is competitive with conventional end of pipe treatment because membrane technologies have become more of a commodity, and because a point source strategy can be employed. In many cases, valuable products can be reclaimed and reused, adding to an overall cost reduction. (author)

[en] Variations in the flow and pollutants concentrations during the day were monitored at the Main Out fall disposal station of the city of Lahore. The laboratory analysis of the wastewater samples collected at 2 hour interval on fifth and sixth May, 2009 for pH, temperature, alkalinity, hardness, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5), BOD5 Filtered, Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN), Ammonia Nitrogen (NH/sub 3/-N), chlorides, solids, turbidity, sulphates and nitrates were carried out. Average values and standard deviations were determined to assess the type of wastewater treatment. Correlation between BOD5 and BOD5 Filtered was developed through regression analysis. Diurnal variations in the Ultimate Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BODU) at the Main Out fall based on Carbonaceous Biochemical Oxygen Demand (CBODU) and Nitrogenous Biochemical Oxygen Demand (NBODU) are also estimated. The ratio between CBODU/NBODU ranges between 0.86 to 1.8 during a day at Main Out fall. This variation is primarily due to the large diurnal variation in CBODU values as a result of industrial activities in the study area. The BOD5/ TKN ratio varies between 3.3 and 6.9 and the calculated BODU (i.e., CBODU + NBODU) was found to be almost double of BOD5 during most part of the day primarily due to inclusion of NBOD. The study results reveal the importance of NBOD while designing the wastewater treatment facilities and implementing a water quality control strategy for the River Ravi. (author)

[en] In this study the chemical self-purification processes were investigated based on the changes in the concentration of dissolved oxygen and organic compounds in the form of 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅). The correlation between the dissolved oxygen, BOD₅, ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen was assessed for the downstream of the Hrazdan River. It has been identified that the Hrazdan River has a high level of self-purification capacity. Due to natural chemical processes,, in the river water the amount of organic pollutants is reduced by about 2-10 times, and the content of dissolved oxygen is recovered by up to 25 times in 13 km of the river part

[en] Highlights: • A review of conventional and advanced resource recovery technologies (RRTs) is undertaken. • Resource recovery-based wastewater systems offset local plant costs. • The technical challenges with RRTs are specifically addressed. • The economic and environmental feasibility of RRTs is also addressed. • Suggestions/recommendations on best practices for adopting RRTs are provided. An enormous amount of wastewater is generated across the world from different industrial or municipal sectors. Traditional wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) have primarily focused on the treatment of wastewater rather than the recovery of valuable resources. A shift from a linear to a circular economy may offer a unique platform for recovering valuable resources including energy, nutrients, and high-value goods from wastewater. However, transitioning from conventional frameworks to sustainable WWT systems remains a significant challenge. Thus, this review paper focuses on the avenues of resource recovery from WWTPs, by evaluating the potential for nutrients, water, and energy recovery from different types of wastewaters and sewage sludge. It discusses in detail a variety of available and advanced technologies for resource recovery. Further, the feasibility of these technologies from a sustainable standpoint is discussed, covering the technical, economic, and environmental facets.

[en] Common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) have been considered as one of the best cooperative solutions for industrial clusters in India. The concept of CETPs has been propagated to assist small industries who lack financial and technical capability to treat their individual units’ effluent. The operational aspects of CETPs are critical for their optimum functioning. This article presents a comparative study on reliability of ten CETPs operating in Maharashtra state of India, along with their removal efficiencies (RE). An established methodology has been used to determine the coefficient of reliability (COR) for biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids and oil and grease for the effluent from these CETPs. The design concentrations required for meeting the specified standards as prescribed by Maharashtra Pollution Control Board along with the expected percentages of compliance have been calculated from the obtained COR values. A novel method of comparing the relationship of RE with its reliability for each CETP has been established in the form of regression equations. The obtained coefficient of determination values (R²) has been further used to assess the working of treatment units and identify problem areas. Results indicate that R² values > 75% are observed for the treatment units functioning optimally as per design. The values are also dependent on the types of member industries to the CETP and the status of the effluent variability. A novel method of estimating the functioning of effluent treatment units has been thus examined.

[en] Many renal diseases as well as several pharmacons cause a change in renal blood flow and/or renal oxygenation. The blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) imaging takes advantage of local field inhomogeneities and is based on a T2^*-weighted sequence. BOLD is a non-invasive method allowing an estimation of the renal, particularly the medullary oxygenation, and an indirect measurement of blood flow without administration of contrast agents. Thus, effects of different drugs on the kidney and various renal diseases can be controlled and observed. This work will provide an overview of the studies carried out so far and identify ways how BOLD can be used in clinical studies. (orig.)

[en] This work evaluated the efficiency of bacterial bio-augmentation to the biological treatment of coffee processing wastewater (CPWW) in a pilot wastewater treatment plant (WTP). Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) values were the basis for the treatment efficiency. Serratia marcescens CCMA 1010 and CCMA 1013, Corynebacterium flavescens CCMA 1006 and Acetobacter indonesiensis CCMA 1002 were previously selected. The microbial cocktail was inoculated and persisted in CPWW during all treatments. The richness of wild species was a little altered over time and up to nine species were found in each sampled season. The microbiota composition presented variation of a total of 13 species, despite the inoculation of the microbial inoculum. The biodegradability index of effluent, close to 0.5, was favourable to biological treatment. The pollution parameters of CPWW were decreased in function of the variation of community composition and microbial activity. The greatest reduction of BOD (~ 33%) and COD (~ 25%) was observed between 72 h and 8 days of the biological treatment. The CPWW toxicity in Allium cepa seeds was lower by up to 60%, and the germination index (GI) exceeded 100% in the treated CPWW. The results of the CPWW biological treatment by bio-augmentation from native micro-organisms in the pilot-scale WTP indicated the greatest efficiency relating to the spontaneous biological treatment of CPWW. After this treatment, the discharge of effluent in the environment would not have toxic effects on the plants.