Application of recycling waste products for ex situ and in situ water treatment methods.

The specific objectives of the study were to determine the approximate design parameters for filter bed and highlight the possible scope of using mixed iron oxides rich smelter slag for in situ or ex situ treatment. The batch and column study was conducted to assess the As removal capacities from contaminated water. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis of the slag waste product determined the presence of large quantities of iron (Fe). In this study, the maximum removal capacities were found to be approximately 1.78 mg As per g of slag and 100% removal of As(V) was achieved during the first 30 days of three column operations. The changes in redox potential (Eh) values and the changes in effluent pH throughout the column operation period indicated redox reactions occurring in the system. The column experiments were modelled using a semi-analytic solution to the advection-dispersion-adsorption equation incorporated in the commercial software, Pollute V7. From the best-fit of the modelling results to the experimental breakthrough curves, the hydrodynamic dispersion coefficient (D) was found to be 0.0115 and 0.00775 m2/day for column 1 and column 2, respectively, and 0.00862 m2/day for column 3. The values of the distribution coefficient (KD) were 0.18, 0.173 and 0.171 m3/kg or L/g for the three columns and 0.24 L/g from the batch test. The results from the experiments may be used to aid the design of a filter bed or reactive barrier in a scenario where the mixed iron oxides rich smelter waste product is used as a candidate reactive medium.

Isolation and characterization of novel bacterial strains for integrated solar-bioelectrokinetic of soil contaminated with heavy petroleum hydrocarbons.

This study investigated the isolation and characterization of three novel bacterial strains; Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Sphingobacterium multivorum, and Sinorhizobium, isolated form agriculture land. From three hundred strains of bacteria, the three isolates were identified for their superior diesel degradation ability by a series of bench-scale tests. The isolates were further investigated in bench tests for their ability to grow in different diesel fuel concentrations, temperature and pH; degrade diesel fuel in vitro; and for the identification of functional genes. Semi-pilot bioelectrokinetic tests were conducted in three electrokinetic cells. An innovative electrode configuration was adopted to stabilize the soil pH and water content during the test. The genes expressed in the diesel degradation process including Lipases enzymes Lip A, LipB, Alk-b2, rubA, P450, and 1698/2041 were detected in the three isolates. The results showed that the solar panel voltage output is in agreement with the trapezoid model. The temperatures in the cells were found to be 5-7 °C higher than the ambient temperature. The electrode configuration succeeded in stabilizing the soil pH and water content, preventing the development of a pH gradient, important progress for the survival of bacteria. The diesel degradation in the soil after bioelectrokinetic tests were 20-30%, compared to 10-12% in the controls. The study succeeded in developing environmentally friendly technology employing novel bacterial strains to degrade diesel fuel and utilizing solar panels to produce renewable energy for bioelectrokinetics during the winter season.

Mitigation of soil contaminated with diesel fuel using bioelectrokinetics.

This study investigated the effectiveness of bioelectrokinetics in rehabilitating a silty clayey sand contaminated with diesel fuel using three novel bacterial strains; Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Sphingobacterium multivorum, and Sinorhizobium, isolated form agriculture land. Three electrokinetic bioremediation cells were used to conduct the tests and a novel electrode configuration technique was used to stabilize pH and water content in the soil specimen. Solar photovoltaic panels were used to generate sustainable energy for the process. The tests were carried out in outdoors for 55 days. Applied voltage, current passing through the electrokinetic cell, and the temperature of the soil specimen were recorded periodically during the test. The pH, water content, and diesel concentration were determined at the end of the tests. Over the test period, the voltage typically increased from zero before sunrise, remained relatively stabilized for about 4 h, and then started to decrease and dropped to zero by sunset. The temperatures in the cells were found to be 5-7 °C higher than the ambient temperature. The innovative electrode configuration succeeded in keeping the pH of soil to remain the same and thereby prevented the development of a pH gradient in the soil, an important development for survival of the bacteria. The diesel degradation in the soil after bioelectrokinetics were 20-30%, compared to 10-12% in the control test. The study was successful in developing environmentally friendly technology employing novel bacterial strains to degrade diesel fuel and utilizing solar panel to produce renewable energy for bioelectrokinetic during the winter season.

Complete Genome Sequence of Arthrobacter sp. Strain LS16, Isolated from Agricultural Soils with Potential for Applications in Bioremediation and Bioproducts.

Here we report the complete genomic sequence of the bacterium Arthrobacter sp. strain LS16, consisting of a single circular chromosome of 3.85 Mb with no identified plasmid. Data contained within will facilitate future genetic modification and engineering of the Arthrobacter sp. LS16 metabolic network to enhance traits relevant to bioremediation and bioproducts.

Recycling of nickel smelter slag for arsenic remediation--an experimental study.

In this study, recycled Ni smelter slag has been used as a reactive medium for arsenic (As) removal from aqueous solutions. The results of the study showed that 10.16-11.43-cm long columns containing 451-550 g of slag operated for at least 65 days were able to remove 99-100 % As species from continuously flowing contaminated water at an initial As concentration of 10 mg/L. The removal capacities were found to be 1.039 to 1.054 mg As per g of slag. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy data also showed that electrostatic attraction and oxidation-reduction reactions between As species and mixed iron oxides present in the slag were the main mechanisms for the removal of arsenic from aqueous solutions. Theoretical multiplet analysis of XPS data revealed that the amount of goethite in the slag increased from 22 to 60 % during arsenic removal by adsorption and the percentage of magnetite decreased from 50 to 40 %. These changes indicate that redox-mediated reactions occurred as part of the As(V) removal process. Raman spectroscopy studies confirmed that, in addition to surface reactions, internal interactions between the slag and arsenic also occurred. The findings of the study suggest that recycled Ni smelter slag could be an effective low-cost reactive medium for a subsurface remediation system, such as a permeable reactive barrier. Recycling of waste material (slag) for the removal of another waste (arsenic) can significantly reduce the environmental footprint of metallurgical operations and hence contribute to sustainable development. Such recycling also decreases slag disposal costs and eliminates the need to purchase commercial reactive material or obtain expensive natural material for remediation purposes.

A review of binders used in cemented paste tailings for underground and surface disposal practices.

Increased public awareness of environmental issues coupled with increasingly stringent environmental regulations pertaining to the disposal of sulphidic mine waste necessitates the mining industry to adopt more competent and efficient approaches to manage acid rock drainage. Cemented paste tailings (CPT) is an innovative form of amalgamated material currently available to the mining industry in developed countries. It is made usually from mill tailings mingled with a small amount of binder (customarily Portland cement) and water. The high cost associated with production and haulage of ordinary Portland cement and its alleged average performance as a sole binder in the long term (due to vulnerability to internal sulphate attack) have prompted users to appraise less expensive and technically efficient substitutes for mine tailings paste formulations. Generally, these binders include but are not limited to sulphate resistant cements, and/or as a partial replacement for Portland cement by artificial pozzolans, natural pozzolans, calcium sulphate substances and sodium silicates. The approach to designing environmentally efficient CPT is to ensure long-term stability and effective control over environmental contaminants through the use of composite binder systems with enhanced engineering properties to cater for inherit deficiencies in the individual constituents. The alkaline pore solution created by high free calcium rich cement kiln dust (CKD) (byproduct of cement manufacturing) is capable of disintegrating the solid glassy network of artificial pozzolans to produce reactive silicate and aluminate species when attacked by (OH(-)) ions. The augmented pozzolanic reactivity of CKD-slag and CKD-fly ash systems may produce resilient CPT. Since cemented paste comprising mine tailings and binders is a relatively new technology, a review of the binding materials used in such formulations and their performance evaluation in mechanical fill behaviour was considered pertinent in the study.

Kinetics of cadmium(II) uptake by mixed maghemite-magnetite nanoparticles.

In the present study, batch adsorption experiments involving the adsorption of Cd(II) ions from aqueous solutions have been carried out using mixed maghemite-magnetite as adsorbent. The uptake capacity of Cd(II) ions by mixed maghemite-magnetite increased with an increase in the pH of the adsorbate solution. An increase in adsorbent dosage increased Cd(II) removal but decreased adsorption capacity and it was found to follow the pseudo-second-order model. Cd removal from a solution containing 1.5 mg/L initial concentration of Cd(II) decreased from 1.9 to 1.3 mg/g upon increasing the temperature from 10 to 50 °C. Cadmium adsorption may be partly diffusion controlled and partly due to electrostatic effect along with specific adsorption involving the adsorption of Cd(++) and CdOH(+) on mixed maghemite-magnetite nanoparticles in the alkaline pH range. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) surveys confirmed that Cd(2+) ions may undergo oxidation-reduction reactions upon exposure to mixed maghemite-magnetite, or may be fixed by complexation to oxygen atoms in the oxyhydroxy groups at the surface of the iron oxide nanoparticles. After Cd(II) adsorption by the maghemite-magnetite mixture, the percent maghemite decreased from 74.8 to 68.5%.

Chemical states in XPS and Raman analysis during removal of Cr(VI) from contaminated water by mixed maghemite-magnetite nanoparticles.

Mixed maghemite-magnetite has been used as adsorbent for Cr(VI) removal in this study. Results show that the adsorption capacity is enhanced with an increase in reaction temperature and decrease in free energy change. Thermodynamic study shows that Cr(VI) adsorption on the mixed maghemite and magnetite is endothermic in nature and is dependent on solution pH between 3 and 6. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results demonstrate the theoretical multiplet peaks for iron and chromium adsorbed iron at the surface of the γ-Fe(2)O(3) and Fe(3)O(4) mixture. Theoretical multiplet analysis shows that during Cr adsorption, the amount of maghemite increases (from 70 to 89%). In magnetite spectra, the relative content of Fe(II) decreases from 8.2 to 3.6% indicating the reduction of magnetite in the mixture particles. In Raman spectroscopy studies, clear peaks of chromium on iron oxide were generated at 826 cm(-1), which could be attributed to chemical interactions between chromium compound and iron oxide. From the results of Raman and XPS studies, electrostatic attraction and oxidation-reduction between chromium and mixed maghemite-magnetite are postulated as mechanisms for the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions.

Arsenic and chromium removal by mixed magnetite-maghemite nanoparticles and the effect of phosphate on removal.

Adsorption of arsenic and chromium by mixed magnetite and maghemite nanoparticles from aqueous solution is a promising technology. In the present batch experimental study, a commercially grade nano-size 'magnetite', later identified in laboratory characterization to be mixed magnetite-maghemite nanoparticles, was used in the uptake of arsenic and chromium from different water samples. The intent was to identify or develop a practical method for future groundwater remediation. The results of the study showed 96-99% arsenic and chromium uptake under controlled pH conditions. The maximum arsenic adsorption occurred at pH 2 with values of 3.69 mg/g for arsenic(III) and 3.71 mg/g for arsenic(V) when the initial concentration was kept at 1.5 mg/L for both arsenic species, while chromium(VI) concentration was 2.4 mg/g at pH 2 with an initial chromium(VI) concentration of 1 mg/L. Thus magnetite-maghemite nanoparticles can readily adsorb arsenic and chromium in an acidic pH range. Redox potential and pH data helped to infer possible dominating species and oxidation states of arsenic and chromium in solution. The results also showed the limitation of arsenic and chromium uptake by the nano-size magnetite-maghemite mixture in the presence of a competing anion such as phosphate. At a fixed adsorbent concentration of 0.4 g/L, arsenic and chromium uptake decreased with increasing phosphate concentration. Nano-size magnetite-maghemite mixed particles adsorbed less than 50% arsenic from synthetic water containing more than 3 mg/L phosphate and 1.2 mg/L of initial arsenic concentration, and less than 50% chromium from synthetic water containing more than 5 mg/L phosphate and 1.0 mg/L of chromium(VI). In natural groundwater containing more than 5 mg/L phosphate and 1.13 mg/L of arsenic, less than 60% arsenic uptake was achieved. In this case, it is anticipated that an optimum design with magnetite-maghemite nanoparticles may achieve high arsenic uptake in field applications.

Effect of channelling on water balance, oxygen diffusion and oxidation rate in mine waste rock with an inclined multilayer soil cover.

Engineered soil covers provide an option to mitigate acid rock drainage through reduced water flow and gaseous oxygen influx to underlying mine waste. Channels such as fissures, cracks or fractures developed in the barrier may influence the long-term performance of the soil cover. However, limited published information is available on the extent to which soil cover performance is impacted by these fissures and cracks. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of channelling in a barrier layer on water flow and oxygen transport in a soil cover. Two inclined (a slope of 20%) multilayer soil covers were examined under laboratory conditions. One cover had a 10-cm wide sand-filled channel in a compacted barrier layer (silty clay) at the upslope section, while the other cover was a normal one without the channel pathway. The soil covers were installed in plastic boxes measuring 120 cm x 120 cm x 25 cm (width x height x thickness). The sand-filled channel was designed to represent the aggregate of fissures and cracks that may be present in the compacted barrier. The soil covers were subjected to controlled drying and wetting periods selected to simulate field situation at the Whistle mine site near Capreol, Ontario, Canada. The measured results indicated that interflow decreased from 72.8% of the total precipitation in the soil cover without channel flow to 35.3% in the cover with channel flow, and percolation increased from zero in the normal soil cover to 43.0% of the total precipitation in the cover with channel flow. Gaseous oxygen transfer into the waste rock below the cover soils was 1091 times greater in the cover with channel than in the soil cover without channel. The channel pathway present in the barrier layer acted as a major passage for water movement and gaseous oxygen diffusion into the waste rock layer, thus decreasing the performance of the soil cover. The spacing of the channel with respect to the length of the test box is similar to those found in other published fracture networks. The distribution and partitioning of the water balance components would be expected to be similar to other situations with the same cover slope. This, of course, would depend on rainfall intensity.

Long-term evaluation of coal fly ash and mine tailings co-placement: a site-specific study.

This study presents the results of a laboratory investigation conducted to evaluate the efficiency of coal fly ash to control the formation of acid mine drainage (AMD) from mine waste. Site-specific materials, coal fly ash from Atikokan Thermal Generating Station and mine tailings from Musselwhite mine, were mixed at different proportions for the investigation of the drainage chemistry and the optimal mix using static testing (acid-base accounting) and kinetic (column) testing. The acid-base accounting (ABA) results indicated that the fly ash possessed strong alkaline (neutralization) potential (NP) and could be used in the management of reactive mine tailings, thus ensuring prevention of AMD in the long-term. Column tests conducted in the laboratory to further investigate long-term performance of fly ash in the neutralization and prevention of acid mine drainage from tailings similarly showed that mixing fly ash with mine tailings reduces dissolution of many heavy metals from tailings by providing alkalinity to the system. It was found that a fly ash to tailings mass ratio equal to or greater than 15% can effectively prevent AMD generation from Musselwhite mine tailings in the co-placement approach.

Comparison of municipal solid waste management systems in Canada and Ghana: a case study of the cities of London, Ontario, and Kumasi, Ghana.

Integrated waste management has been accepted as a sustainable approach to solid waste management in any region. It can be applied in both developed and developing countries. The difference is the approach taken to develop the integrated waste management system. This review looks at the integrated waste management system operating in the city of London, Ontario-Canada and how lessons can be drawn from the system's development and operation that will help implement a sustainable waste management system in the city of Kumasi, Ghana. The waste management system in London is designed such that all waste generated in the city is handled and disposed of appropriately. The responsibility of each sector handling waste is clearly defined and monitored. All major services are provided and delivered by a combination of public and private sector forces. The sustainability of the waste management in the city of London is attributed to the continuous improvement strategy framework adopted by the city based on the principles of integrated waste management. It is perceived that adopting a strategic framework based on the principles of integrated waste management with a strong political and social will, can transform the current waste management in Kumasi and other cities in developing countries in the bid for finding lasting solutions to the problems that have plagued the waste management system in these cities.

Candida rugosa lipase-catalyzed polyurethane degradation in aqueous medium.

Candida rugosa lipase (EC 3.1.1.3) was used to degrade commercially-available solid poly(ester)urethane (Impranil) in an aqueous medium under different temperature, pH, enzyme and substrate concentrations. A mathematical model was developed and applied to represent the degradation kinetics of the solid polyurethane. Reaction optima were found to be pH 7 and 35 degrees C. Diethylene glycol, a degradation byproduct, generation rate was measured to be 0.12 mg/l min and the activation energy was calculated as 9.121 kcal/gmol K. This information will be useful in developing bioreactors for practical applications to manage polyurethane wastes using lipase.

Long term performance of MBR for biological nitrogen removal from synthetic municipal wastewater.

This study monitors the long term performance of membrane bioreactor (MBR) for the treatment of synthetic municipal wastewater at solid retention time (SRT) of 40 and 20d with particular emphasis on simultaneous nitrification-denitrification (SND). SND was greatly influenced by the operating dissolved oxygen (DO). It was found that at an SRT of 20d, nitrogen removal through assimilation into biomass increases as a result of higher biomass yield. The profile of soluble microbial products (SMP) conformed to a cyclical pattern in the MBR with respect to SRT. Decrease in SRT from 40 to 20d resulted in doubling of accumulated SMP concentration (to 56mgl(-1)) in the MBR. This however, was accompanied by a simultaneous drop in percentage of SMP with MW>100kD, from 42.4% to 33%. Also, the sludge filterability decreased by 24-folds despite a decrease in the biomass concentration, following the above reduction in SRT. It was found that the volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient (K(l)a) was a function of biomass concentration in MBR with the ratio of the oxygen transfer coefficient in mixed liquor to that of clean water (alpha) to be 0.2-0.5.

Chelating properties and molecular weight distribution of soluble microbial products from an aerobic membrane bioreactor.

This paper presents a detailed study on soluble microbial products (SMPs) in an aerobic membrane bioreactor (MBR) treating synthetic wastewater simulating municipal wastewater. The concentration of SMP in the reactor conformed to a cyclical pattern of accumulation and reduction in relation to SRT. The molecular weight (MW) distribution of accumulated SMP was determined to vary from <1kD to >100kD. Copper chelating properties of various SMP fractions in the MBR were compared before and after copper addition to the feed. The conditional stability constant (LogcK), complexation capacity (Cc), and SMP-ligand concentration (CL) were evaluated to determine the impact of copper on the chelating properties. The results indicated that accumulated SMP in the aerobic MBRs without copper addition are moderate chelators with LogcK values of 7.6-8.3 mol(-1) for the moderate ligands and 6.3-6.8 mol(-1) for the relatively weaker ligands. SMPs with MW of 1-10 kD were found to have the highest complexation capacity among all SMP fractions. The complexation capacity of accumulated SMP after feeding copper was 0.11 micromol/mg of SMP, almost half of its value prior to feeding copper. The reduction of C(c) after feeding copper was a result of an increase in large molecular weight SMP (>100 kD).

A numerical study of soil cover performance.

In the investigation of soil cover design options for final decommissioning of reactive mine waste, it is often necessary to analyze or predict the anticipated cover performance as a function of the cost of implementation, which is governed by the type, number and thickness of the layers in the cover system. An example of such investigation is presented in this study where one-dimensional evaporation from hypothetical moisture-retaining cover systems is simulated to assess the influence of several cover properties and hydrogeologic parameters on performance. The commercially available transient flow model, SoilCover, was used to compute suction and water content profiles for different cover design scenarios. The predicted water content profile and porosity of layers were then used to estimate the oxygen diffusion coefficients of the various layers. The oxygen diffusion coefficients were used to estimate oxygen flux through the cover systems. The oxygen flux was, in turn, related to the maximum acid flux. The studied cover and hydrogeologic parameters included soil type, thickness of barriers, and water table elevation. Two types of infiltration and oxygen barrier and two types of capillary layer with different thicknesses were studied. The water table was either kept constant at the base of the waste (tailings) or dropped by 0.5, 1, 2, and 3m over 120 days. The results showed that the relationship between water table depression and the thickness of capillary layers, on one hand, and desaturation of the infiltration and oxygen barrier, on the other, is not linear. Relationships between oxygen flux and barrier thickness and between cost increase and performance improvement of the studied cover systems are presented. Finally, a method that outlines steps for site-specific and economically feasible design of multi-layer cover systems is introduced.

Biokinetics of biodegradation of surfactants under aerobic, anoxic and anaerobic conditions.

The present investigation aims at estimating the biodegradation coefficients of surfactants. The biodegradabilities of Triton X-100 and Rhamnolipid were tested under aerobic, nitrate reducing, sulphate reducing and anaerobic conditions using a respirometer. The results indicated that in terms of biodegradability, Rhamnolipid is superior to Triton X-100, since it is biodegradable under all conditions, whereas Triton X-100 is partially biodegradable under aerobic conditions and non-biodegradable under anaerobic, nitrate reducing and sulphate reducing conditions.

A review of plastic waste biodegradation.

With more and more plastics being employed in human lives and increasing pressure being placed on capacities available for plastic waste disposal, the need for biodegradable plastics and biodegradation of plastic wastes has assumed increasing importance in the last few years. This review looks at the technological advancement made in the development of more easily biodegradable plastics and the biodegradation of conventional plastics by microorganisms. Additives, such as pro-oxidants and starch, are applied in synthetic materials to modify and make plastics biodegradable. Recent research has shown that thermoplastics derived from polyolefins, traditionally considered resistant to biodegradation in ambient environment, are biodegraded following photo-degradation and chemical degradation. Thermoset plastics, such as aliphatic polyester and polyester polyurethane, are easily attacked by microorganisms directly because of the potential hydrolytic cleavage of ester or urethane bonds in their structures. Some microorganisms have been isolated to utilize polyurethane as a sole source of carbon and nitrogen source. Aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters have active commercial applications because of their good mechanical properties and biodegradability. Reviewing published and ongoing studies on plastic biodegradation, this paper attempts to make conclusions on potentially viable methods to reduce impacts of plastic waste on the environment.

A two-front leach model for cement-stabilized heavy metal waste.

Quantitative scanning electron microscope (SEM) studies of cement-stabilized waste specimens exposed to a leaching solution at constant pH in the range 4-7 have shown that the acid neutralization capacity (ANC) of the waste matrix is consumed at two consecutive leaching fronts. The first front is associated with the dissolution of portlandite (Ca(OH)2) and the partial reaction of calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) gel. The second front marks the dissolution of Ca-Al hydroxy sulfate minerals. The advancement of the first front is limited by the diffusion of OH- ions from the first front toward the leaching solution. The advancement of the second front, however, is controlled by the diffusion of H+ ions from the leaching solution toward the second front. Leaching of copper, zinc, and lead only occurs between the second front and the specimen surface. The leaching behavior of metals is modeled by considering that metals are leached from the waste matrix as a result of the advancement of the second front. The proposed model takes into account the leachable metal fraction in the waste matrix and the effect of metal remineralization on metal mobility.

Effect of remineralization on heavy-metal leaching from cement-stabilized/solidified waste.

Crushed samples of stabilized/solidified (s/s) waste were leached at constant leachate pH in the pH range 4-7 with nitric acid solutions to evaluate the influence of remineralization on metal release. The s/s waste consisted of synthetic heavy-metal sludge containing 0.1 mol L(-1) copper nitrate, 0.1 mol L(-1) zinc nitrate, and 0.1 mol L(-1) lead nitrate mixed with ordinary Portland cement. Unleached and leached particles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry. Two consecutive leaching fronts advancing from the surface of the particles toward the center were identified: the first front was associated with the dissolution of portlandite and partial reaction of the calcium silicate hydrate gel, while the second front was associated with the dissolution of calcium-aluminum hydroxy sulfates such as ettringite and monosulfate. At pH 4 and 5, a remineralization zone rich in heavy metals formed immediately behind the second leaching front. The shell extending from the remineralization zone to the surface of the particles was depleted in calcium, sulfate, and heavy metals. As a result of remineralization, heavy-metal releases to the leachate were reduced by factors ranging between 3.2 and 6.2 at pH 4 and between 74 and 193 at pH 5. At pH 6 and 7, remineralization of Pb and Zn occurred further behind the second leaching front and closer to the surface of the particles. The amount of heavy-metal release depended on both the leachate pH and the remineralization factor.