Fate and removal of permethrin by conventional activated sludge treatment.

The fate and removal of permethrin during conventional wastewater treatment were evaluated at pilot-plant scale at different concentrations of mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) and, hence, different solids retention times (SRT). At feed concentrations of 0.26-0.86 microg L(-1), the permethrin was removed by primary treatment at an efficiency rate of 37%, similar to previously reported data, and from 40% to 83% for secondary treatment, decreasing with decreasing SRT. Comparable ranges, from 37% up to 98%, have been reported for micropollutants with similar physicochemical properties to permethrin, such as galaxolide and tonalide. Little difference in removal was noted between the medium and low MLSS concentrations trials, the main difference in treated effluent permethrin concentration arising on changing from high to medium MLSS levels. This was attributed to the limited acclimatization period employed in these two trials, leading to higher levels of soluble organic matter in the treated water, with which the permethrin appeared to be associated.

Priority water research questions as determined by UK practitioners and policy makers.

Several recent studies have emphasised the need for a more integrated process in which researchers, policy makers and practitioners interact to identify research priorities. This paper discusses such a process with respect to the UK water sector, detailing how questions were developed through inter-disciplinary collaboration using online questionnaires and a stakeholder workshop. The paper details the 94 key questions arising, and provides commentary on their scale and scope. Prioritization voting divided the nine research themes into three categories: (1) extreme events (primarily flooding), valuing freshwater services, and water supply, treatment and distribution [each >150/1109 votes]; (2) freshwater pollution and integrated catchment management [100-150 votes] and; (3) freshwater biodiversity, water industry governance, understanding and managing demand and communicating water research [50-100 votes]. The biggest demand was for research to improve understanding of intervention impacts in the water environment, while a need for improved understanding of basic processes was also clearly expressed, particularly with respect to impacts of pollution and aquatic ecosystems. Questions that addressed aspects of appraisal, particularly incorporation of ecological service values into decision making, were also strongly represented. The findings revealed that sustainability has entered the lexicon of the UK water sector, but much remains to be done to embed the concept operationally, with key sustainability issues such as resilience and interaction with related key sectors, such as energy and agriculture, relatively poorly addressed. However, the exercise also revealed that a necessary condition for sustainable development, effective communication between scientists, practitioners and policy makers, already appears to be relatively well established in the UK water sector.

Fate and behaviour of copper and zinc in secondary biological wastewater treatment processes: I. Evaluation of biomass adsorption capacity.

The current sources of copper and zinc in municipal wastewaters have been considered, and the changes in the concentrations and quantities of these two elements entering sewage treatment works over the last three decades have been calculated. The concentrations and quantities of the heavy metals cadmium, chromium, copper, mercury, nickel, lead and zinc, entering UK sewage treatment works, have been reduced by between 50% and 90% during this period. However, the reductions in copper and zinc appear to be at the lower end of these ranges and thus remain a cause for concern, particularly their concentrations in sewage effluents and their potential environmental impacts on receiving waters. Bench studies have been undertaken to predict removals by three types of biological wastewater treatment plants: trickling filters, conventional activated sludge and membrane bioreactors, to determine if any of these processes are more efficacious for the removal of these metals. These results suggest that, despite membrane bioreactor biomass achieving the lowest effluent suspended solids concentration and having the lowest effluent chemical oxygen demand, which is accepted as a surrogate measure of organic chemical chelating ability of the aqueous phase, they produce the highest effluent values for the two metals in this study (copper and zinc). Removals of zinc and copper in biological wastewater treatment processes are probably primarily determined by those factors influencing metal solubility in the biomass matrix.

Fate and behaviour of copper and zinc in secondary biological wastewater treatment processes: II. Removal at varying sludge age.

The mechanisms for the removal of heavy metals during secondary biological treatment of wastewater, with particular emphasis on the activated sludge process, are considered. It is concluded that the predominant mechanism is the entrapment and co-settlement of insoluble metal species in the mixed liquor (biomass). Secondary extracellular polymeric materials, particularly extracellular polysaccharides and other capsule-forming materials, may also play a role. In general, removal of both copper and zinc was superior at the higher sludge ages employed in this study, 4.3 and 8 days, and can in part be attributed to the superior removals of both biochemical oxygen demand and effluent suspended solids achieved at these sludge ages compared with the lowest sludge age studied, 3.6 days. For both copper and zinc there is an increase in soluble metal across the activated sludge process. However, significant removal of both metals occurs as a consequence of the removal of substantial amounts of insoluble metal. The presence of returned sludge liquors, high in settleable solids, to the mixed liquor appears to moderately enhance the percentage removal of copper and zinc. Membranes used in place of secondary sedimentation also enhance removal of both metals by reducing effluent suspended solids. It is concluded that there is potential for maximizing metal removal by optimization of secondary biological treatment in a sustainable manner, without recourse to energy-intensive or chemically-dependent tertiary treatment technologies.

Microfiltration membrane plant start up: a case study with autopsy and permeability recovery analysis.

A potable water treatment plant, supplied from a low NOM (natural organic matter), low turbidity source with precoagulation and two-stage pressure sand filtration, had a MF (microfiltration) membrane process added to meet UK Water Regulations. An autopsy of the membrane modules showed that despite upstream coagulation/filtration with chlorination, a biofilm of EPS (extracellular polymeric substances) and inorganic particulates had developed. Backwashing under laboratory conditions yielded an almost full recovery. Laboratory-scale modules of fouled fibres from pre-commissioning and post-commissioning were assembled and cleaned. The recovery was modelled and optimized with a response surface experiment using variables of concentration, soak period and temperature. The pre-commissioning fibres were more recovered by longer chemical soak times at higher cleanant concentrations than the post-commissioning fibres. Comparative tests on post-commissioning fibres indicated that full recovery was possible with organic acids. It was concluded that start-up of new membrane plants may involve fouling conditions not necessarily representative of those under routine operating conditions, such that modification to prescribed cleaning operations may be required.

Optimisation of combined coagulation and microfiltration for water treatment.

The effect of upstream coagulant dosing for full-flow microfiltration of an upland-reservoir water has been investigated. The process, run under conditions of constant flux and pH and based on a ferric salt, is compared with a published study of another full-flow process based on alum dosing and operated at constant pressure and coagulant concentration. The current study includes data for the residual deposit remaining following backflushing by reverse flow. Results are presented in terms of the specific-cake resistance (R'o, m(-2)) as a function of pH or coagulant dose. Reasonable correlation with classical cake filtration theory was obtained, such that R' was assumed to be independent of run time and cake thickness. The following trends have been noted: The optimum pH for the alum-based system appears to be between 7.5 and 8 on the basis of cake resistance. The effect of coagulant dose between 18 and 71 microM Fe3+ is much more significant than a change in pH between 5 and 9 for the alum system: a 53-fold increase in specific flux compared with a 7-fold increase with reference to the limiting R'o values at pH 4.8 and 7.7. A low coagulant dose (0.018mM, 1.0 mg l(-1) Fe3+) appears to have a slightly detrimental effect on downstream microfiltration operation. The low coagulant doses apparently cause incomplete aggregation of colloidal particles such that internal fouling of the membrane takes place. The residual (cleaning cycle) deposit resistance followed roughly the same trend as the backflush cycle-cake resistance with coagulant concentration, but with a much reduced value (about 16 times lower, on average). An optimum coagulant dose of 0.055 mM (3.1 mg/l) Fe3+ can be identified on the basis of operational cost based on coagulant cost and cake resistance, all other aspects of the system being substantially unchanged. It is concluded that coagulation with downstream microfiltration offers a cost-effective means of removing natural organic matter, achieving a THMFP removal of around 80% at the optimum dose.

Using multi-media to enhance history education: Glasgow, A Tale of Two Cities? and Tiree, Famine and Clearance 1840-1900.

Advances in information technology raise issues central to history education. Debates have focused on how pupils learn history by emphasising the development of critical thinking which in turn provides the basis of a theoretical framework for the use of IT in history. Martyn Wild identifies seven areas of teaching and learning enhanced through IT ranging from child-centered learning to pedagogy. James Schick argues that appropriate software brings out the absorbing, fascinating and enjoyable nature of history. This article discusses how multi-media computer programs, Glasgow, A Tale of Two Cities? and Tiree, Famine and Clearance 1840-1900 enhance the delivery of history in Scottish Primary and Secondary Schools within the criteria established by Martyn Wild. These programs relate to recent curricular changes in Scotland and help satisfy current demands for more Scottish history within overall history syllabuses. Moreover, it will be argued that appropriate software motivates pupils and enhances the central role of the classroom teacher.