Utilization of palm oil mill effluent for polyhydroxyalkanoate production and nutrient removal using statistical design

The optimization for poly-β-hydroxyalkanoate production was carried out with nutrient removal efficiency for total organic carbon (TOC), phosphate, and nitrate from palm oil mill effluent waste. The experiment was conducted in a fabricated fed-batch reactor and the data obtained was analyzed using central composite rotatable design and factorial design for response surface methodology as a systematic approach for designing the experiment statistically to obtain valid results with minimum effort, time, and resources. The analysis of numerical optimization with propagation of error showed that 66 % of poly-β-hydroxyalkanoate production can be obtained with nutrient removal of TOC and nitrate by 19 and 3 %, respectively. However, phosphate removal efficiency was not found to be much effective. More over, the chemical oxygen demand: nitrogen phosphate (509 g/g N), chemical oxygen demand: phosphate (200 g/g P), air flow rate (0.59 L/min), substrate feeding rate (20 mL/min), and cycle length (20 h) were the optimized variables for maximum poly-β-hydroxyalkanoate production and nutrient removal.     

Studies on the recovery of uranium from nuclear industrial effluent using nanoporous silica adsorbent

In this paper, the sorption of uranium onto nanoporous silica adsorbent in the presence of nitrate, sulfate, chloride, fluoride and phosphate was studied. The effect of contact time between the nanoporous sorbent and aqueous solution, pH and initial concentration of uranium was also investigated. Uranium sorption onto nanoporous silica adsorbent is a very fast process as sorption rate increases with pH increment. Optimum pH for uranium sorption was 4?C8. Experimental sorption isotherm is successfully described by Langmuir and Freundlich models. The results obtained by batch experiments showed that the presence of high concentration of nitrate, sulfate, chloride and phosphate anions alone had no interference with uranium recovery. However, the presence of fluoride ions (>250?mg/L) decreases uranium sorption by about 55?%. The results also showed that the presence of phosphate ions (about 300?mg/L) in solution could remove fluoride interference completely. Finally, the efficiency of the nanoporous silica adsorbent for uranium recovery from wastewater of the uranium conversion facility was investigated.     

Preservation of thermophilic mixed culture for anaerobic palm oil mill effluent treatment by convective drying methods

The generation of huge amount of liquid waste known as palm oil mill effluent is a major problem in oil palm industry. Meanwhile, anaerobic biodegradation of such organic effluent at thermophilic condition is a promising treatment technology due to its high efficiency. However, storage and transportation of thermophilic mixed culture sludge are challenging due to constant biogas generation and heating requirement. Hence, drying of thermophilic sludge was conducted to obtain dormant thermophiles and thus enables easier handling. In this study, thermophilic sludge was dried using heat pump at 22 and 32 °C as well as hot air oven at 40, 50, 60, and 70 °C. Subsequently, quality of dried sludge was examined based on most probable number enumeration, chemical oxygen demand, and methane yield. Average drying rate was found to increase from 3.21 to 17.84 g H₂O/m² min as drying temperatures increases while average moisture diffusivity values ranges from 5.07 × 10^?9 to 4.34 × 10^?8 m²/s. Oven drying of thermophilic mixed culture resulted in highest chemical oxygen demand removal and lowest log reduction of anaerobes at 53.41% and 2.16, respectively, while heat pump drying resulted in the highest methane yield and lowest log reduction of methanogens at 53.4 ml CH₄/g COD and 2.09, respectively. To conclude, heat pump at 22 °C was most suitable drying technique for thermophilic mixed culture as the original methane-producing capability was largely retained after drying, at a slightly lower yet still comparable chemical oxygen demand removal when palm oil mill effluent was treated with the rehydrated culture.     

Treatment of septic tank effluent using moving-bed biological reactor: kinetic and biofilm morphology

Septic tanks are very commonly used wastewater collection systems throughout the world, and especially in rural areas. In this study, the use of moving-bed biological reactors (MBBR) for the treatment of septic tank effluent (STE) was examined. The study was conducted in two phases. In Phase I, the performance of septic tanks from four projects working under different operational conditions and with different service lives was followed to determine the parameters that required further treatment. In Phase II, four specially designed continuous flow pilot-plant MBBRs and one laboratory-scale batch reactor were tested for their efficiency in treating STE. Experiments were carried out at various temperatures (8–25 °C) and with different hydraulic retention times (HRTs). MBBR effectively reduced STE’s nutrients and chemical oxygen demand by 90 and 85 %, respectively, over 180 days of operation. The average ammonia removal rate at 25 °C increased from 0.279 to 0.540 kg N/m³ when the reactor HRT changed from 5.7 to 13.3 h. Under these conditions, the ammonia removal kinetics were successfully correlated with a theta model with an average θ value of 1.054. The biofilm morphology showed a stable and global biomass coverage (>70 %) and a high percentage of live cells. A thinner biofilm was observed when the MBBR operated at high temperatures. The results of this study showed that MBBR is a promising technology for post-treatment of septic tank effluent.     

Evaluation of coal as adsorbent for phosphate removal

This paper reports the adsorption of phosphate ions on coal, charcoal, and coal ash. The influences of factors such as contact time, and initial adsorbate concentration have been studied. Adsorption of phosphate ions on virgin coal was significant compared to charcoal, coal and coal ash evacuated at 200°C. The significant adsorption capability of coal is due to the porosity as well as due to organic carbon and inorganic elements present in coal. The evacuation of coal proved to be ineffective in enhancing its capability for phosphate ions retention. The adsorption behaviors of all the three adsorbent used was conformed using Freundlich’s adsorption model. The results suggest that coal could be used as an efficient adsorbent for removing phosphate ions from wastewater.     

Removal of humic acid from peat water using untreated powdered eggshell as a low cost adsorbent

The main objective of this study is to investigate the possibility of powdered eggshell used as an adsorbent material for removal of humic acid from peat water. The influences of contact time, dose of eggshells, pH, and temperature were the factors considered in the removal processes of humic acid from peat water. In addition, adsorption isotherms of humic acid onto the powdered eggshell were also evaluated with the Langmuir and Freundlich approximations. Our results showed that the equilibrium of the process was eventually established after 60 min of the contact time, and also found that using 5 g of the powdered eggshell nearly 95 % of humic acid has been successfully removed from the peat water. The removal of humic acid gave better result when it was conducted at low pH, and it was almost unaffected the temperatures variation. The data was well fitted to Freundlich isotherm with the correlation coefficient of not <0.999, and could uptake the humic acid about 126.58 mg/g at pH 4.01, estimated from the Langmuir model. The kinetic experimental data proportionally correlated with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model with a rate constant in the range of 0.016–0.112 g mg^?1 min^?1, while intra-particle-diffusion were the main rate determining step in the humic acid removal process. The powdered eggshell investigated in this study, thus, exhibited as a high potential adsorbent for the removal of humic acid from peat water.     

Different techniques for the production of biodiesel from waste vegetable oil

The production of biodiesel from waste vegetable oil offers a triple-facet solution: economic, environmental and waste management. The new process technologies developed during the last years made it possible to produce biodiesel from recycled frying oils comparable in quality to that of virgin vegetable oil biodiesel with an added attractive advantage of being lower in price. Thus, biodiesel produced from recycled frying oils has the same possibilities to be utilized. While transesterification is well-established and becoming increasingly important, there remains considerable inefficiencies in existing transesterification processes. There is an imperative need to improve the existing biodiesel production methods from both economic and environmental viewpoints and to investigate alternative and innovative production processes. This study highlights the main changes occurring in the oil during frying in order to identify the characteristics of oil after frying and the anticipated effects of the products formed in the frying process on biodiesel quality and attempts to review the different techniques used in the production of biodiesel from recycled oils, stressing the advantages and limitations of each technique and the optimization conditions for each process. The emerging technologies which can be utilized in this field are also investigated. The quality of biodiesel produced from waste vegetable oil in previous studies is also reviewed and the performance of engines fueled with this biodiesel and the characteristics of the exhaust emissions resulting from it are highlighted. The overarching goal is to stimulate further activities in the field.     

Production optimization and quality assessment of biodiesel from waste vegetable oil

Biodiesel production is worthy of continued study and optimization of production procedures because of its environmentally beneficial attributes and its renewable nature. In Egypt, millions L. of oil used for frying foods are discarded each year into sewage systems. Thus, it adds to the cost of treating effluent or pollutes waterways. This study is intended to consider aspects related to the feasibility of the production of biodiesel from waste/recycled oils in an attempt to help reduce the cost of biodiesel and reduce waste and pollution coming from waste oils. The variables affecting the yield and characteristics of the biodiesel produced from used frying oil were studied, the achieved results were analyzed and a set of recommendations was proposed. From the obtained results, the best yield percentage was obtained using a methanol/oil molar ratio of 6:1, potassium hydroxide as catalyst (1%) and 65 °C temperature for one hour. The yield percentage obtained from waste vegetable oil was comparable to that obtained from neat vegetable oil which reached 96.15% under optimum conditions. From the results it was clear that the produced biodiesel fuel, whether from neat vegetable oil or waste vegetable oil, was within the recommended standards of biodiesel fuel.     

Removal of airborne hexavalent chromium mist using chitosan gel beads as a new control approach

Airborne hexavalent chromium is a known human respiratory carcinogen and allergen. Many workers are exposed to hexavalent chromium in various processes which chromium electroplating plants are the most common. In this study, the feasibility of a new control approach to remove this pollutant using chitosan beads as a biosorbent was investigated. Hexavalent chromium sorption was studied relative to pH, pollution concentration, sorbent concentration, temperature, and air velocity using one factor at a time approach and Taguchi experimental design. Polluted air with different chromium mist concentrations (10–5000 μg/m³) was contacted to chitosan beads (3.3–20 g/L), floating in distilled water with adjusted pH (3–7), using an impinger at different temperatures (20 and 35 °C), and various velocities (1.12 and 2.24 m/s). The ANOVA test result showed that, there were statistical significant differences between factor levels except optimized pH levels. The higher ions removal efficiencies were achieved at lower levels of air velocities, pollution concentrations, and higher levels of solution pH values, temperatures, and sorbent concentrations.     

Efficient removal of hexavalent chromium from aqueous solutions using autohydrolyzed Scots Pine (Pinus Sylvestris) sawdust as adsorbent

In this work, a low-cost lignocellulosic adsorbent with high biosorption capacity is proposed, suitable for the efficient removal of hexavalent chromium from water and wastewater media. The adsorbent was produced by autohydrolyzing Scots Pine (Pinus Sylvestris) sawdust. The effect of the autohydrolysis conditions, i.e., pretreatment time and temperature, on hexavalent chromium biosorption was investigated using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and UV–visible spectrophotometry. The Freundlich, Langmuir, Sips, Radke-Prausnitz, Modified Radke-Prausnitz, Tóth, UNILAN, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich adsorption capacities and the rate constant values for pseudo-first- and pseudo-second-order kinetics indicated that the autohydrolyzed material exhibits significantly enhanced hexavalent chromium adsorption properties comparing with the untreated sawdust. The Freundlich’s adsorption capacity K _F increased from 2.276 to 8.928 (mg g^?1)(L mg^?1)^1/n , and the amount of hexavalent chromium adsorbed at saturation (Langmuir constant q _m) increased from 87.4 to 345.9 mg g^?1, indicating that autohydrolysis treatment at 240 °C for 50 min optimizes the adsorption behavior of the lignocellulosic material.     

Biosorption of lead from acid solution using chitosan as a supporting material for spore forming-fungal biomass encapsulation

Asexual spores of the filamentous fungus Rhizopus arrhizus were used as the resting biomass as they tolerate chitosan gelling for mycelia growing in chitosan beads. Biosorption of lead using the dead detergent pre-treated chitosan-immobilised and grown fungal beads was performed with initial lead (II) nitrate concentrations ranging from 9.02 to 281.65 mg/L. The adsorption data were best correlated with equilibrium adsorption isotherms in the order Redlich–Peterson, Langmuir, Freundlich and Fritz–Schlünder by non-linear regression. The biosorption kinetic model of pseudo second-order (R ² > 0.99) fitted better than pseudo first-order and modified pseudo first-order models. Among the four pseudo second-order kinetic models, the Blanchard model was the best fit for the experimental biosorption data. The rate-limiting step of biosorption of lead was shown to be intraparticle diffusion controlled according to Weber and Morris model fitting. The beads could be regenerated using 1 M nitric acid solution. This illustrated the good performance of the beads for regenerated sorption/desorption at least five cycles.     

Effective bioremoval of syntan using fungal laccase to reduce pollution from effluent

Syntans are synthetically prepared tanning agents from phenols that play an important role in leather making by enhancing the filling, grain characteristics and dyeing property. A considerable amount of syntan emanated in waste water contributes high pollution load with other heterocyclic aromatic compounds and causes serious environmental impact resulting in high oxygen demand. In order to overcome this, suitable biodegradation techniques have been developed using laccase from Penicillium chrysogenum. The influence of different environmental parameters on the biodegradation has also been studied which reveals that the maximum syntan degradation was obtained at pH 5.0, temperature at 32 °C for the duration of 48 h. Maximum biodegradation was found to be 96 and 94% for samples containing phenolic and melamine syntan. Ultraviolet spectra showed the peaks at around 280 nm for the presence of phenolic (DI) syntan and at 220 nm for melamine syntan which were disappeared later in the experimental sample indicating complete degradation of syntans. Fourier spectral analysis indicated that the peaks at the region between 1443–1574 and 1176 cm^?1 correspond to C=C stretching and C–H bending for aromatic region which were later disappeared in the experimental sample. Ultrapressure liquid chromatography elution profiles of syntans showed relatively shorter retention time indicating formation of oxidized products. Syntans, namely DI and FB6, showed reduction in chemical oxygen demand up to 87.71 ± 4 and 83.38 ± 5%, respectively, while total organic carbon reduction was achieved up to 82.37 and 80.72%, respectively. Toxicity studies revealed that seeds were well germinated using the treated (biodegradation) samples by crude laccase .     

Treatment of an ECF bleaching effluent with white-rot fungi in an air-lift bioreactor

Pulp and paper mills utilise huge amount of natural resources, inorganic and organic materials along with large volume of water in different stages of paper manufacturing, resulting in a significant volume of effluents. The aim of this work was to investigate the treatment of a bleaching effluent [effluent chlorine free (ECF)] from the cellulose industry with white-rot fungi in an air-lift bioreactor. This effluent was submitted to the biological treatment with three white-rot fungi, and, every 24 h for 120 h, analytical tests were performed to analyse the quality parameters of treatment (COD, phenols, colour, pH). Before and after treatment, the effluent was analysed as its molecular mass distribution and absorptivity in the UV/VIS. Lentinus edodes, Trametes versicolor and Trametes villosa promoted similarly significant reductions in the following characteristics: (a) effluent colour (40–44 %), (b) total phenol (30–51 %) and (c) COD (37–43 %). The UV/visible spectrometry reading of the effluent after the fungi treatment showed a reduction in the absorbance of all wavelengths between 260 and 500 nm. The size exclusion HPLC profile of the effluent was modified, and the treatment promoted changes in the intensity of the peaks associated with compounds of high and low molecular weight. Phenoloxidases were produced during the treatment. T. versicolor produced the highest levels of laccase, and L. edodes was the only fungus that produced peroxidases.     

Development of a high modulus paste fill using fine gold mill tailings

Summary In the mining industry today there is some caution about using fine tailings as a backfill material. Traditionally, hydraulic backfill has only used the coarse fraction of tailings, excluding the fines by a classification process. With the development of paste fill, the percentage of fine tailings being sent underground has increased, but still remains low due to the high percentages of sand and gravel which usually make up these fills. Sand and gravel have been added to paste fills to aid pumpability and to increase fill strength and stiffness. This leaves the remainder of fine tailings destined for surface disposal. The main focus of this paper is to evaluate what effect the addition of fine gold mill tailings in the form of agglomerated tailings pellets has on the strength and stiffness characteristics of a total tailings paste fill. The purpose is to create a high modulus fill which is made up entirely of fine tailings. A constant slump design of 20 cm (8 in) was used for each mix. Various binder dosages, curing periods and combinations of pellet to tailings ratio were studied. Raw fill slump and density, and cured fill compressive strength and modulus of elasticity were also examined. Results from the above study indicate that agglomerated tailings paste fill (ATPF) has superior strength and stiffness characteristics. Compressive strengths were enhanced while the modulus of elasticity values was tripled when compared to total tailings paste fills of the same binder content and consistency. ATPF minimizes the surface disposal of tailings and maximizes the utilization of fine tailings underground as a useful backfill material.     

Removal of phosphorus from water using scallop shell synthesized ceramic biomaterials

This study describes the development of scallop shell synthesized ceramic biomaterial for phosphorus removal from water. The synthesized biomaterial was characterized by scanning electron microscope, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller and X-ray diffractometer methods. The influences of contact time, initial phosphate concentration, initial solution pH, co-existing ions and temperature for phosphorus removal were investigated by batch experiments. The results indicated that the equilibrium data can be fitted by the Langmuir isotherm model at temperatures ranging from 15 to 55 °C, with the maximum sorption capacity of 13.6 mg/g. Sorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic equation model. The sorption process was optimal at a wide range of solution pH (above 2.4), with a relatively high sorption capacity level. Phosphorus sorption was slightly impeded by the presence of F^?, HCO₃ ^? and NH₄ ⁺ ions, and significantly inhibited by Cl^?, SO₄ ^2? and NO₃ ^? ions. Sorption process appeared to be controlled by a chemical precipitation processes. The mechanism may be attributed to ion complexation during subsequent sorption of phosphorus on scallop shell synthesized ceramic biomaterial.     

Adsorption studies for the simultaneous removal of arsenic and selenium using naturally prepared adsorbent materials

The adsorption properties of eggshell membranes (ESM), eggshells (ES) and orange peels (OP) were studied for the removal of arsenic (total As) and selenium (total Se). The effect of chemical treatment of these adsorbents by HNO₃ and NaOH was also investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Analysis of the FT-IR spectra showed that treatment with NaOH and HNO₃ had an effect on the functional groups present in the materials and also on the adsorption by extension. Thermal analysis showed that ES were more thermally stable than the others with no water molecules in their matrix, which could have caused a substantial weight loss at around 70 °C. In terms of adsorption capacities, chemical treatment increased the adsorption capacities of ESM and OP achieving up to 170 μg g^?1 (As) and 160 μg g^?1 (Se), and 120 μg g^?1 (As) and 70 μg g^?1 (Se), respectively, with not much activity for ES in terms of adsorption. The two adsorbents (NaOH-treated OP and ESM) were then tested in environmental water samples and the results showed that 68.9 % of As and 74.8 % of Se, and 54.1 % of As and 47.3 % of Se were removed from domestic wastewater samples investigated using OP and ESM, respectively. Moreover, better selectivities towards the compounds of interest were achieved.     

Bromine as an indicator of oil migration in northern Iraqi oil fields

The Br content of oil varies systematically along the paths of oil migration in northern Iraqi oil fields, indicating that this element may be used as an indicator of oil movement. The variation in Br parallels that of V and Ni, and like these two elements it is concentrated in the asphaltene fraction of petroleum.     

Adsorption isotherm models and error analysis for single and binary adsorption of Cd(II) and Zn(II) using leonardite as adsorbent

Leonardite, a by-product from coal mines, was applied to adsorb Cd(II) and Zn(II) from aqueous solutions. Individual and simultaneous adsorptions of the two metal ions were investigated. In a single-component adsorption system, Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were fitted to the adsorption data. Linear and nonlinear regression methods were used for the assessment of the optimum adsorption isotherm. Error functions including root-mean-square error, sum of the squares of the errors, mean absolute percentage error, Marquardt’s percent standard deviation (MPSD), and Chi-square were applied in the nonlinear regression. The most suitable model for the adsorption of Cd(II) and Zn(II) in the single system is the Freundlich isotherm. The isotherm parameters calculated by MPSD provided the lowest sum of normalized error (SNE) value. The adsorption capacity was found to be 23.89 mg/g for Cd(II) and 16.86 mg/g for Zn(II). It was observed that the adsorption of Cd(II) on leonardite is greater than that of Zn(II). For binary component adsorption systems, Cd(II) and Zn(II) showed antagonistic behavior. The presence of the other metal ions could decrease the amount of metal adsorbed. Binary adsorption of Cd(II) and Zn(II) was tested with regard to four multi-component isotherms: Extended Langmuir, Modified Langmuir, Sheindorf–Rebuhn–Sheintuch, and Extended Freundlich. The Extended Freundlich isotherm proved to be a good fit for the experimental data.