Comprehensive study on the selection and performance of the best electrode pair for electrocoagulation of textile wastewater using multi-criteria decision-making methods (TOPSIS, VIKOR and PROMETHEE II).

The accelerating environmental impact of the textile industry, especially in water management, requires efficient wastewater treatment strategies. This study examines the effectiveness of various electrode pairs in the Electrocoagulation (EC) process for treating textile wastewater, focusing on removing of Total Suspended Solids (TSS), turbidity, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), and Total Organic Carbon (TOC). A comprehensive analysis was conducted using thirty-six electrode pair combinations, consisting of six materials: Aluminium (Al), Zinc (Zn), Carbon (C), Copper (Cu), Mild Steel (MS), and Stainless Steel (SS). The results demonstrated that different electrode pairs yielded varying removal efficiencies for various pollutants, with the highest efficiencies being 92.09% for COD (Al-C pair), 99.66% for TSS (Al-Cu pair), 99.17% for turbidity (Al-MS pair), and 70.99% for TOC (SS-SS pair). However, no single electrode pair excelled in removing all pollutant categories. To address this, three Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods such as TOPSIS, VIKOR, and PROMETHEE II were used to assess the most effective electrode pair. The results indicated that the Al-Zn combination was the most efficient, exhibiting high removal efficiencies for various pollutants (99.32% for TSS, 98.88% for turbidity, 68.62% for COD, and 57.96% for TOC). This study demonstrates that the EC process can effectively treat textile effluent and emphasizes the importance of selecting suitable electrode materials. Furthermore, pollutant removal was optimal with the Al-Zn electrode pair, offering a balanced and efficient approach to textile wastewater treatment. Thus, MCDM methods offer a robust framework for assessing and optimizing electrode selection, providing valuable insights for sustainable environmental management practices.

Isotherms, kinetics and thermodynamic mechanism of methylene blue dye adsorption on synthesized activated carbon.

The treatment of methylene blue (MB) dye wastewater through the adsorption process has been a subject of extensive research. However, a comprehensive understanding of the thermodynamic aspects of dye solution adsorption is lacking. Previous studies have primarily focused on enhancing the adsorption capacity of methylene blue dye. This study aimed to develop an environmentally friendly and cost-effective method for treating methylene blue dye wastewater and to gain insights into the thermodynamics and kinetics of the adsorption process for optimization. An adsorbent with selective methylene blue dye adsorption capabilities was synthesized using rice straw as the precursor. Experimental studies were conducted to investigate the adsorption isotherms and models under various process conditions, aiming to bridge gaps in previous research and enhance the understanding of adsorption mechanisms. Several adsorption isotherm models, including Langmuir, Temkin, Freundlich, and Langmuir-Freundlich, were applied to theoretically describe the adsorption mechanism. Equilibrium thermodynamic results demonstrated that the calculated equilibrium adsorption capacity (qe) aligned well with the experimentally obtained data. These findings of the study provide valuable insights into the thermodynamics and kinetics of methylene blue dye adsorption, with potential applications beyond this specific dye type. The utilization of rice straw as an adsorbent material presents a novel and cost-effective approach for MB dye removal from wastewater.

Evaluation of the surface water quality using global water quality index (WQI) models: perspective of river water pollution.

Rapid industrialization, urbanization, global warming, and climate change are compromising surface water quality across the globe. Consequently, water conservation is essential for both environmental sustainability and human survival. This study assesses the water quality of the Jamuna River in Bangladesh at five distinct sites during wet and dry seasons. It employs six global water quality indices (WQIs) and contrasts the results with Bangladesh's Environmental Quality Standard (EQS) and the Department of Environment (DoE) criteria. The WQI models used are the Weighted Arithmetic WQI (WAWQI), British Columbia WQI (BCWQI), Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment WQI (CWQI), Assigned WQI (AWQI), Malaysian WQI (MWQI), and Oregon WQI (OWQI). Fifteen physicochemical parameters were analyzed according to each WQI model's guidelines. The findings reveal that most parameters surpass the standard permissible values. The WQI model results indicate that the average water quality across the five sites falls into the lowest category. A comparison of the WQI models suggests potential correlations between WAWQI and AWQI, as well as between MWQI and OWQI. The straightforward presentation of the WQI models indicates that while the river water requires treatment for household and drinking use, it remains suitable for irrigation. The decline in water quality is likely attributable to human activities, urbanization, municipal waste disposal, and industrial effluents. Authorities must prioritize regular monitoring and assessment of water quality to address the identified challenges. Restoring the water to an acceptable standard will become increasingly difficult without proactive measures.

Influence of iron, phosphate, and silicate on arsenic removal from groundwater using a low-cost ceramic filter.

The ceramic filter amended with iron (Fe) has proven to be a potential low-cost method for arsenic (As) removal from groundwater. The presence of Fe, phosphate (P), and silicate (Si) significantly affects the As removal efficiency of the ceramic filter, which has not been passably investigated. The present research aimed to examine the effect of Fe, P, and (or) Si presence as single or in combination on As (III) removal from synthetics groundwater by a low-cost iron amended ceramic filter (IACF). Laboratory-scale filtration experiments at different compositions of Fe, P, Si, and As (III) were conducted by the IACF fabricated with a ceramic candle and iron netting box. Fe (II) in synthetic groundwater positively impacted As (III) removal. At a concentration of 2 mg/L of Fe (II), the As levels in the effluent decreased to less than the maximum contamination level (MCL) of 50 µg/L. Groundwater P concentration needed less than 3 mg/L or Si concentrations required less than 35 mg/L to effectively reduce As (III) to below the MCL at 5 mg/L of groundwater Fe (II). The cumulative effect of P and Si on As removal was found to be more significant than distinct contributions. The presence of 2 mg/L P and 35 mg/L or higher Si in the groundwater cumulatively reduced the As removal performance from 92% to 63%, and the MCL was not met. The negative impact of P and Si on As (III) removal followed the order of (P + Si) > P > Si. P competed with As for adsorption sites during the process, while Si inhibited the Fe release and floc formation, significantly reducing As removal performance. The study findings can potentially contribute to optimizing IACF as a low-cost method for As removal from groundwater.

Influence of Molasses Residue on Treatment of Cow Manure in an Anaerobic Filter with Perforated Weed Membrane and a Conventional Reactor: Variations of Organic Loading and a Machine Learning Application.

This study highlighted the influence of molasses residue (MR) on the anaerobic treatment of cow manure (CM) at various organic loading and mixing ratios of these two substrates. Further investigation was conducted on a model-fitting comparison between a kinetic study and an artificial neural network (ANN) using biomethane potential (BMP) test data. A continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) and an anaerobic filter with a perforated membrane (AF) were fed with similar substrate at the organic loading rates of (OLR) 1 to OLR 7 g/L/day. Following the inhibition signs at OLR 7 (50:50 mixing ratio), 30:70 and 70:30 ratios were applied. Both the CSTR and the AF with the co-digestion substrate (CM + MR) successfully enhanced the performance, where the CSTR resulted in higher biogas production (29 L/d), SMP (1.24 LCH4/gVSadded), and VS removal (>80%) at the optimum OLR 5 g/L/day. Likewise, the AF showed an increment of 69% for biogas production at OLR 4 g/L/day. The modified Gompertz (MG), logistic (LG), and first order (FO) were the applied kinetic models. Meanwhile, two sets of ANN models were developed, using feedforward back propagation. The FO model provided the best fit with Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) (57.204) and correlation coefficient (R2) 0.94035. Moreover, implementing the ANN algorithms resulted in 0.164 and 0.97164 for RMSE and R2, respectively. This reveals that the ANN model exhibited higher predictive accuracy, and was proven as a more robust system to control the performance and to function as a precursor in commercial applications as compared to the kinetic models. The highest projection electrical energy produced from the on-farm scale (OFS) for the AF and the CSTR was 101 kWh and 425 kWh, respectively. This investigation indicates the high potential of MR as the most suitable co-substrate in CM treatment for the enhancement of energy production and the betterment of waste management in a large-scale application.

Treatment of Wastewater from a Food and Beverage Industry Using Conventional Wastewater Treatment Integrated with Membrane Bioreactor System: A Pilot-Scale Case Study.

This study compares the performance of the Hollow Fiber (HF) and Flat Sheet (FS) types of membrane bioreactors (MBRs) for the treatment of food and beverage (F&B) industry wastewater in a pilot-scale study of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). HF and FS membrane configurations were evaluated at two different Mixed Liquor Suspended Solid (MLSS) levels: 6000 mg/L and 12,000 mg/L. The performance of each configuration was evaluated in terms of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Total Suspended Solid (TSS) removals for effluent quality measurement. The transmembrane pressure (TMP), flux rate, and silt density index (SDI) were monitored and calculated for membrane fouling assessment. The results show that the rejection rates of COD and TSS for HF and FS membrane types were more than 84% for the two different MLSS levels. During the study, the HF membrane recorded 0.3 bar transmembrane pressure, which complies with the recommended range (i.e., two to three times of chemical cleaning). On the other hand, the FS membrane operates without chemical cleaning, and the TMP value was below the recommended range at 0.2 bar. It was found that the flux values recorded for both the HF and FS systems were within the recommended range of 40 L/m2/h. Analysis of SDI revealed that the calculated index ranged between 1 and 2.38 and was within the allowable limit of 3. Both types of MBR consistently achieved an 80% to 95% rejection rate of COD and TSS. Effluent quality measurement of treated F&B wastewater in this pilot-scale study using a WWTP integrated with an MBR indicated a good achievement with compliance with the Malaysia industrial effluent discharge standards.

Pyrolysis and co-composting of municipal organic waste in Bangladesh: A quantitative estimate of recyclable nutrients, greenhouse gas emissions, and economic benefits.

Waste causes environmental pollution and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions when it is not managed sustainably. In Bangladesh, municipal organic waste (MOW) is partially collected and landfilled. Thus, it causes deterioration of the environment urging a recycle-oriented waste management system. In this study, we propose a waste management system through pyrolysis of selective MOW for biochar production and composting of the remainder with biochar as an additive. We estimated the carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) recycling potentials in the new techniques of waste management. Waste generation of a city was calculated using population density and per capita waste generation rate (PWGR). Two indicators of economic development, i.e., gross domestic product (GDP) and per capita gross national income (GNI) were used to adopt PWGR with a projected contribution of 5-20% to waste generation. The projected PWGR was then validated with a survey. The waste generation from urban areas of Bangladesh in 2016 was estimated between 15,507 and 15,888 t day-1 with a large share (∼75%) of organic waste. Adoption of the proposed system could produce 3936 t day-1 biochar blended compost with an annual return of US $210 million in 2016 while it could reduce GHG emission substantially (-503 CO2 e t-1 municipal waste). Moreover, the proposed system would able to recover ∼46%, 54%, 54% and 61% of total C, N, P and K content in the initial waste, respectively. We also provide a projection of waste generation and nutrient recycling potentials for the year 2035. The proposed method could be a self-sustaining policy option for waste management as it would generate ∼US$51 from each tonne of waste. Moreover, a significant amount of nutrients can be recycled to agriculture while contributing to the reduction in environmental pollution and GHG emission.

Effects of electric potential, NaCl, pH and distance between electrodes on efficiency of electrolysis in landfill leachate treatment.

This study investigated the effects of different parameters on the removal efficiencies of organic and inorganic pollutants in landfill leachate treatment by electrolysis. Different parameters were considered such as the electric potential (e.g., 24, 40 and 60 V), hydraulic retention time (HRT) (e.g., 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 min), sodium chloride (NaCl) concentration (e.g., 1, 3, 5 and 7%), pH (e.g., 3, 7 and 9), electrodes materials [e.g., aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe)] and distance between electrodes (e.g., 1, 2 and 3 cm). The best operational condition of electrolysis was then recommended. The electric potential of 60 V with HRT of 120 min at 5% of NaCl solution using Al as anode and Fe as cathode (kept at a distance of 3 cm) was the most efficient condition which increased the removal efficiencies of various parameters such as turbidity, salinity, total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and heavy metals (e.g., Zn and Mn). The higher removal percentages of many parameters, especially COD (94%) and Mn (93%) indicated that the electrolysis is an efficient technique for multi-pollutants (e.g., organic, inorganic and heavy metals) removal from the landfill leachate.

Effect of air flow on tubular solar still efficiency.

BACKGROUND: An experimental work was reported to estimate the increase in distillate yield for a compound parabolic concentrator-concentric tubular solar still (CPC-CTSS). The CPC dramatically increases the heating of the saline water. A novel idea was proposed to study the characteristic features of CPC for desalination to produce a large quantity of distillate yield. A rectangular basin of dimension 2 m × 0.025 m × 0.02 m was fabricated of copper and was placed at the focus of the CPC. This basin is covered by two cylindrical glass tubes of length 2 m with two different diameters of 0.02 m and 0.03 m. The experimental study was operated with two modes: without and with air flow between inner and outer tubes. The rate of air flow was fixed throughout the experiment at 4.5 m/s. On the basis of performance results, the water collection rate was 1445 ml/day without air flow and 2020 ml/day with air flow and the efficiencies were 16.2% and 18.9%, respectively. FINDINGS: THE EXPERIMENTAL STUDY WAS OPERATED WITH TWO MODES: without and with air flow between inner and outer tubes. The rate of air flow was fixed throughout the experiment at 4.5 m/s. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of performance results, the water collection rate was 1445 ml/day without air flow and 2020 ml/day with air flow and the efficiencies were 16.2% and 18.9%, respectively.