Jana Zagorc-Končan

Comparison of different treatment strategies for industrial landfill leachate.

The aim of our research was to determine appropriate treatment technique for effective treatment of heavily polluted tannery landfill leachate. We have accomplished several treatment experiments: (i) aerobic biological treatment, (ii) air stripping at various pH, (iii) adsorption to activated carbon, (iv) coagulation-flocculation and (v) advanced oxidation process with Fe(2+)/H(2)O(2). Efficiency of each procedure was monitored by chemical analysis and changes in biodegradability and acute toxicity were also evaluated (Vibrio fischeri and Daphnia magna). Biological treatment of raw leachate was effective only for very diluted leachate (up to 6Vol.%). It has been confirmed that air stripping at pH 11.0 effectively removed volatile organics and ammonia for 33% and 84%, respectively and contributed to lower toxicity of the leachate. Fentons oxidation was the most effective among all used treatment procedures. COD removal reached 86%, biodegradability has been increased and toxicity reduced. Adsorption to activated carbon increased BOD(5)/COD ratio from 0.18 to 0.56 and it removed 40% of organics. Coagulation and flocculation procedures with FeCl(3) were also very effective. At lowered pH and added flocculant treatment efficiency reached 50%. But no method alone was effective enough to meet effluent limits for release into local surface waters. Future work was focused on the study of different promising treatment schemes, especially combination of Fentons oxidation and biological treatment.

Comparative assessment of toxicity of phenol, formaldehyde, and industrial wastewater to aquatic organisms

The toxicity of pure phenol, formaldehyde, and industrial wastewater, containing phenol and formaldehyde, from a resin production plant was evaluated using aquatic organisms from different taxonomic groups. Test organisms included mixed bacterial culture, unicellular green algaeScenedesmus quadricauda (Turp.) Breb., crustaceaDaphnia pulex de Geer (daphnids), and fishOncorhynchus mykiss Call, 1990 (rainbow trout).Formaldehyde was found to be more toxic to the mixed bacterial culture (120h EC50 = 34.1 mg L−1), algae (24h EC50 = 14.7 mg L−1), and crustacea (48h EC50 = 5.8 mg L−1) than phenol. Phenol proved to be more toxic to fish (48h LC50 = 13.1 mg L−1) than to the mixed bacterial culture (120h EC50 = 510 mg L−1), algae (24h EC50 = 403 mg L−1), and crustacea (48h EC50 = 25 mg L−1). The toxicity of the industrial wastewater to the mixed bacterial culture, algae, and crustacea was caused mainly by formaldehyde, but for fish the presence of phenol in the wastewater proved to be the significant reason for toxicity. Differences in sensitivity of the selected test organisms were also observed, with fish and crustacea being the most sensitive species.

Pretreatment of landfill leachate by chemical oxidation processes

Kinetics and efficiency of Fenton’s and ozonation processes for the pretreatment of two landfill leachates (fresh and mature) resulting from municipal waste disposal were studied. Both samples presented high organic load, high toxicity and low biodegradability. These were the reasons why oxidative treatment was proposed. Fresh and mature leachate showed different behaviors in the oxidation experiments. The final extents of removal were attained in comparable time intervals in both oxidation systems. Maximal removal of organics by the Fenton’s oxidation reached more than 50 % according to COD. Zero or first order kinetics were found the best to describe the organic components (in terms of COD and DOC) removal by the Fenton’s oxidation for both landfill leachates. Higher reaction rate values of the Fenton’s oxidation were achieved with fresh leachate samples. The efficiency of initial organics removal with ozone was about 70 % for mature leachate, while in case of the fresh one only 41 % of COD were removed. The best fits of COD and DOC experimental data from oxidation of fresh and mature leachates were obtained by a combined kinetic model. No significant improvement of the biodegradability of landfill leachates was achieved using these treatment procedures. Regarding toxicity, ozonation showed to be more effective than the Fenton’s oxidation. Advanced oxidation experiments confirmed that the Fenton’s oxidation and ozonation are comparable oxidative treatment techniques for the reduction of organic pollution in the investigated municipal landfill leachates. However, neither of them is effective enough to be used as a pretreatment method followed by biological treatment.

Seasonal variations in municipal landfill leachate quality

Purpose – The aim of this work is to compare quality of leachates from regional municipal landfill in different seasons (dry, snowy/rainy) during a three-year monitoring period due to the fact that quality of landfill leachate can rapidly change under different conditions. Design/methodology/approach – Raw leachates were sampled prior to biological treatment at different periods of the year (November 2007, March 2008, May 2008, March 2009, and January 2010) to detect the changes in their composition due to different physico-chemical conditions at the site (temperature, moisture, etc.). Leachates were physico-chemically characterized and the toxicity of chosen leachates was assessed by a battery of biotests. Findings – Most of the investigated raw leachates exceed Slovenian effluent limits. Samples from March 2008 and March 2009 generally showed higher concentration of measured parameters and also higher toxicity. It has been confirmed that the physico-chemical parameters of leachates usually decrease duri...

Artemia salina acute immobilization test: a possible tool for aquatic ecotoxicity assessment

Despite the fact that the marine crustacean Artemia salina is extensively used in ecotoxicology, there is still a lack of information about its sensitivity to commonly used chemicals. In the presented study, acute toxicity of 18 commonly used chemicals - including organic solvents, industrial chemicals, metals and inorganic compounds - to A. salina was evaluated. A. salina showed a range of sensitivities to tested chemicals. Regarding all of the investigated organics, phenolic compounds expressed the highest toxicity to A. salina. Nitrite and mercury were the most toxic inorganic substances applied in the study. On the other hand, dimethyl sulfoxide, nitrate and ammonium were the least toxic. The possibility to use A. salina for interspecies correlation was assessed by comparison of sensitivities of different organisms (bacteria, fish, crustacean) to organic compounds. Correlation between various species was observed, especially between A. salina and fish. Due to the strong relation between toxicity and the logarithm of the octanol/water partition coefficient logP(OW,) lipophilicity was found to be the main factor influencing toxicity of the chosen organic compounds. No significant correlation between toxicity to A. salina and physico-chemical parameters of metals was observed.

Evaluation of the hazardous impact of landfill leachates by toxicity and biodegradability tests

The aim of our research was to assess the ecotoxicity and biodegradability of leachates originating from two parts of a municipal landfill before and after biological treatment in the existing treatment plant. Biotests represent important tools for adequate environmental characterization of landfill leachates and could be helpful in reliable assessment and monitoring of the treatment plant efficiency. For ecotoxicity testing of landfill leachate before and after biological treatment, different organisms were chosen: the bacteria Vibrio fischeri, a mixed culture of activated sludge, duckweed Lemna minor, white mustard Sinapis alba, brine shrimp Artemia salina, and water flea Daphnia magna. For assessment of biodegradability, the method for determination of oxygen demand in a closed respirometer was used. The investigated leachates were heavily polluted, and in some cases, effluent limits were exceeded even after treatment. Results indicated that toxicity tests and physico‐chemical parameters determined before and after treatment equivalently assess the efficiency of the existing treatment plant. However, the investigated leachates showed higher toxicity to Daphnia magna and especially to Lemna minor in contrast to Vibrio fischeri and Artemia salina (neither was sensitive to any of the leachates). No leachates were readily biodegradable. Experiments confirmed that the battery of toxicity tests should be applied for more comprehensive assessment of landfill leachate treatment and for reliable assessment of the treated leachates subsequent environmental impact. It was confirmed that treated leachate, in spite of its better physico‐chemical characteristics, still represents a potential environmental risk and thus should not be released into the environment.

Laboratory simulation of biodegradation of chemicals in surface waters : Closed bottle and respirometric test

Microbial degradation is the most dominant elimination mechanism of organics from the environment. For evaluation of biodegradability of pure chemicals many standardized tests are available, but no standardized procedure for assessment of biodegradability of chemicals in surface water is agreed upon. Rates of in-situ biodegradation are usually estimated in laboratory simulation where environmental factors are reproduced to some extent. The aim of our study was to compare standardised ready biodegradability assessment, test (Closed bottle test) and its modifications employing the basic agreements on test conditions to simulate biodegradation in surface water. Standard test was modified using various natural river waters to simulate the natural environment in a simplified way. The impact of different types and amounts of nutrients and microorganisms on biodegradation was confirmed. The conditions in the recipient should be examined to extrapolate the results from ready biodegradability tests to real surface water.

Identification of inhibitory effects of industrial effluents on nitrification.

The aim of our work was to determine the extent of inhibition of oxygen consumption by activated sludge for carbonaceous and ammonium oxidation (ISO 8192 2007) for various wastewaters. We have selected several types of wastewaters different in their origin and composition: pharmaceutical wastewater, tannery wastewater and municipal landfill leachate. To confirm results of toxicity testing, additional ready biodegradability assessment test with measurement of oxygen consumption was accomplished to indicate the impact of effluents to nitrification process. Pharmaceutical wastewater was toxic to activated sludge, but it inhibited heterotrophic microorganisms much more than nitrifying ones. Biodegradability testing confirmed low impact to nitrification by high, non-suppressed oxygen consumption for nitrification process. Tannery effluent inhibited nitrification significantly (180 min EC(50) was 57 vol.%), but it did not affect heterotrophic microorganisms. Landfill leachate was very toxic to heterotrophic microorganisms (180 min EC(50) was 3 vol.%), while it inhibited nitrification less (180 min EC(50) was 24 vol.%). Presented research confirmed that the investigated experimental method is a reliable one for detection of occurrence of substances inhibiting nitrification in different industrial effluents. With regular monitoring of inhibitory impact biological treatment process upsets could be avoided and treatment optimised.

Biodegradation and toxicity of wastewater from industry producing mineral fibres for thermal insulation.

The water chemistry, toxicity, and biodegradation of wastewater from an industry producing mineral fibres for thermal insulation were studied. Values for COD, BOD5, suspended solids, and phenol exceeded permissible values for the wastewater discharged into a nearby river and acute toxicity was also detected. Consequently, the effluent should be treated in a municipal wastewater treatment plant so its ready biodegradability was investigated. We found that the wastewater was readily biodegradable, therefore we assume it can be treated in the wastewater treatment plant as the ratio of the wastewater flow rate and the minimal total inflow into the sewage treatment plant would be one to at least 30.

Evaluation of dissolved oxygen balance in two shallow turbulent slovene streams

Abstract Due to the turbulent flow of our streams, the majority of biocenosis is represented by attached organisms, either periphyton as the oxygen producer, or heterotrophic microorganisms as oxygen consumers. For this reason an instrument was constructed and the methodology for evaluation of the portion of benthic organisms in the total dissolved oxygen balance was developed. Investigations were conducted in two different streams: the River Borovniscica polluted with organic substances (municipal and industrial wastewaters) and the River Bistra polluted with inorganic nutrients. In both cases benthos was found more important in comparison with overlying water for consumption and production of dissolved oxygen. By comparative investigations upstream and downstream from the wastewater discharge the influence of pollution upon the River Borovniscica was studied.