Nastaein Qamaruz Zaman

Powdered ZELIAC augmented sequencing batch reactors (SBR) process for co-treatment of landfill leachate and domestic wastewater.

Sequencing batch reactor (SBR) is one of the various methods of biological treatments used for treating wastewater and landfill leachate. This study investigated the treatment of landfill leachate and domestic wastewater by adding a new adsorbent (powdered ZELIAC; PZ) to the SBR technique. ZELIAC consists of zeolite, activated carbon, lime stone, rice husk ash, and Portland cement. The response surface methodology and central composite design were used to elucidate the nature of the response surface in the experimental design and describe the optimum conditions of the independent variables, including aeration rate (L/min), contact time (h), and ratio of leachate to wastewater mixture (%; v/v), as well as their responses (dependent variables). Appropriate conditions of operating variables were also optimized to predict the best value of responses. To perform an adequate analysis of the aerobic process, four dependent parameters, namely, chemical oxygen demand (COD), color, ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N), and phenols, were measured as responses. The results indicated that the PZ-SBR showed higher performance in removing certain pollutants compared with SBR. Given the optimal conditions of aeration rate (1.74 L/min), leachate to wastewater ratio (20%), and contact time (10.31 h) for the PZ-SBR, the removal efficiencies for color, NH3-N, COD, and phenols were 84.11%, 99.01%, 72.84%, and 61.32%, respectively.

Optimization of preparation conditions for activated carbon from banana pseudo-stem using response surface methodology on removal of color and COD from landfill leachate

This study determined the optimum conditions for preparation and adsorptive treatment of landfill leachate from banana pseudo-stem based activated carbon. Response surface methodology (RSM) based on Box-Behnken was applied to optimize the combination effect of three important reaction variables, i.e. activation temperature (°C), activation time and impregnation ratio (IR). The reaction was performed via a single step activation with ZnCl2 in a closed activation system. A series of 17 individual experiments were conducted and the results showed that the RSM based on BBD is very applicable for adsorptive removal of pollutants from landfill leachate treatment. The optimum conditions obtained by Design of Experiments (DOE) was at 761°C activation temperature, 87min activation time and 4.5g/g impregnation ratio with product yield (27%), iodine number (1101mg/g), color removal (91.2%) and COD removal (83.0%).

Metals removal from municipal landfill leachate and wastewater using adsorbents combined with biological method

Different physical, chemical, and biological treatment methods are used to eliminate heavy metals and pollutants from wastewater and landfill leachate. Sequencing batch reactor (SBR) is a type of biological treatment. This study was conducted to study heavy metals elimination from urban wastewater and landfill leachate using an adsorbent, namely powdered ZELIAC (PZ) that improved SBR. PZ consists of portland cement, limestone, rice husk ash, activated carbon, and zeolite. Response surface methodology and central composite design were used to elucidate the nature of the response surface in the experimental plan and determine the optimum settings of the independent variables [aeration rate (L/min), contact time (h), and leachate to wastewater ratio (%; v/v)] and their reactions. To study the aerobic process, four dependent factors (Fe, Mn, Ni, and Cd) were evaluated as reactions. The results indicated that compared with SBR, PZ-SBR removed heavy metals more efficiently. At the optimum contact time (11.70 h), aeration rate (2.87 L/min), and leachate to wastewater ratio (20.13%) in PZ-SBR, removal efficiencies for Fe, Mn, Ni, and Cd were 79.57, 73.38, 79.29, and 76.96%, respectively.

Recycled paper mill effluent treatment in a modified anaerobic baffled reactor: start-up and steady-state performance

Start-up period is considered to be the most unstable and difficult stage in anaerobic process and usually takes a long time due to slow-degree adaptation of anaerobic microorganisms. In order to achieve a shorter start-up period, a novel modified anaerobic baffled reactor (MABR) has been developed in this study, where each modified baffle has its own characteristics (form/shape) to facilitate a treatment of recycled paper mill effluent (RPME). The results of physico-chemical characteristics showed that effluent from recycled paper mill consisted of 4328 mg L−1 chemical oxygen demand (COD), 669 mg L−1 biochemical oxygen demand and 501 mg L−1 volatile fatty acid. It also consisted of variety of heavy metals such as zinc, magnesium, iron and nickel at concentrations of 1.39, 12.19, 2.39 and 0.72 mg L−1, respectively. Performance of MABR during the start-up period showed that methane production reached 34.7% with COD removal of 85% at steady state. The result indicates that MABR was successfully operated during the start-up period in treating RPME within a period of less than 30 days.

Landfill Leachate Treatment by Bentonite Augmented Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) System

As a developing country and one of the tropical tourism industry leaders, Malaysia is faced with environmental problems, such as the conversion of municipal solid waste landfill leachate into hazardous wastewater in mega cities. High concentrations of pollutants, toxic refractory component, and complex composition of landfill leachate have serious environmental impact. This study investigated a novel rapid treatment method to remove turbidity, suspended solid, color, and ammonia nitrogen. Bentonite augmented sequencing batch reactor with miscellaneous aeration (0.5–7.5 L/min) and contact time (1–3 h) is applied via response surface methodology in 13 runs. Results of this study show that in optimum circumstances, 93.63% of turbidity, 90.42% of total suspended solid, 76.33% of ammonia nitrogen (AN), and 45.96% color were removed in only three hours. Furthermore, natural bentonite is a cost effective adsorbent for landfill leachate treatment.

Enhancing BOD/COD Ratio of POME Treatment in SBR System

Palm oil mill effluent (POME) contains high biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) Agra base wastewater is the concern of biodegradable treatment methods. Consequently, the BOD / COD ratio has a significant effect on the biodegradability of wastewaters. This study investigates effects of aerated sequencing batch reactor (SBR) system augmented by zeolite used for treatment of POME. Not only, the BOD / COD ratio increased from 0.11 in raw POME to mean 68.15% increase after aeration in the SBR system, but also, the most obvious finding to emerge from this study is that, aerated SBR could be considered as an effective method for enhancing BOD/COD ratio for qualifying post treatment by biotreatment methods.

Pharmaceutical Removal from Synthetic Wastewater Using Heterogeneous - Photocatalyst

Compound Parabolic Collecting Reactor (CPCR) was designed and used for the heterogeneous-photocatalytic treatment process. Sunray was act as an economically and ecologically sensible light source. The photocatalytic degradation of paracetamol in the synthetic wastewater by using titanium dioxide (TiO2) was investigated. The experimental results show that the paracetamol removal rates were very high and nearly equal (97.2% to 99.7%) at pH 4-7 and TiO2 concentration of 0.5-1 g/L. This implies that the photocatalytic degradation rate of paracetamol is not affected by pH range in this study as the electrostatic interaction between the TiO2 and paracetamol is not able to be developed unless a wider range of pH is set. Furthermore, the concentration of TiO2 of 0.5 g/L is too high to treat the concentration of 10 mg/L of paracetamol. Further research is needed in order to identify the optimum pH condition and a suitable correlation of concentration between TiO2 and paracetamol. Finally, the results proved that the heterogeneous-photocatalyst treatment method which associated with the application of CPCR and solar energy is able to eliminate the paracetamol from the synthetic wastewater.

Investigation of the potential of Cyperus alternifolius in the phytoremediation of palm oil mill effluent

Phytoremediation is an emerging technology nowadays due to demand in environmental sustainability which requires cost-effective solutions in terms of capital and operational cost. The treatment gain attention due to their potential in wastewater treatment especially in organics, nutrients, and heavy metal removal of domestics, agricultural, and industrial wastewater treatment. Plant functions in phytoremediation make the plant selection as an essential element. The plant should have the ability to tolerate with the toxic effluent and able to uptake the contaminant. Cyperus alternifolius (umbrella grass) was chosen as aquatic plant due to the ability to tolerance in municipal and industrial effluent sources with strong and dense root systems. Thus, the objectives of this study are to determine the potential and effectiveness of Cyperus alternifolius in the palm oil mill effluent treatment especially in the removal of organics (COD), nutrients (NH3-N and TP) and suspended solid. The batch experiment was run...

Palm oil mill effluent and municipal wastewater co-treatment by zeolite augmented sequencing batch reactors: Turbidity removal

Palm oil mill effluent (POME) is the largest wastewater in Malaysia. Of the 60 million tons of POME produced annually, 2.4–3 million tons are total solids. Turbidity is caused by suspended solids, and 75% of total suspended solids are organic matter. Coagulation and flocculation are popular treatments for turbidity removal. Traditional commercial treatments do not meet discharge standards. This study evaluated natural zeolite and municipal wastewater (MWW)-augmented sequencing batch reactor as a microbiological digestion method for the decontamination of POME in response surface methodology. Aeration, contact time, and MWW/POME ratio were selected as response factors for turbidity removal. Results indicated that turbidity removal varied from 96.7% (MWW/POME ratio=50 %, aeration flow=0.5 L/min, and contact time=12) to 99.31% (MWW/POME ratio=80%, aeration flow 4L/min, and contact time 12 h). This study is the first to present MWW augmentation as a suitable microorganism supplier for turbidity biodegradation in high-strength agroindustrial wastewater.Palm oil mill effluent (POME) is the largest wastewater in Malaysia. Of the 60 million tons of POME produced annually, 2.4–3 million tons are total solids. Turbidity is caused by suspended solids, and 75% of total suspended solids are organic matter. Coagulation and flocculation are popular treatments for turbidity removal. Traditional commercial treatments do not meet discharge standards. This study evaluated natural zeolite and municipal wastewater (MWW)-augmented sequencing batch reactor as a microbiological digestion method for the decontamination of POME in response surface methodology. Aeration, contact time, and MWW/POME ratio were selected as response factors for turbidity removal. Results indicated that turbidity removal varied from 96.7% (MWW/POME ratio=50 %, aeration flow=0.5 L/min, and contact time=12) to 99.31% (MWW/POME ratio=80%, aeration flow 4L/min, and contact time 12 h). This study is the first to present MWW augmentation as a suitable microorganism supplier for turbidity biodegradation...

Palm oil mill effluent treatment: Influence of zeolite, municipal wastewater and combined aerobic SBR system

Anaerobically treated palm oil mill effluent (POME) used as an infant in the aerobic sequencing batch reactor (SBR). Three different treatments such as 15 g/L zeolite, municipal wastewater (MWW) and combining zeolite and municipal wastewater in comparing with the only aeration used in a lab scale batch study. Spectrophotometric analysis carried out for chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia nitrogen, total suspended solids, colour and total phosphorus as target characteristics of raw and treated POME. Zeolite and MWW augmented SBR contain POME + zeolite + MWW had significantly more performance compared with POME (blank) in all analyzed target factors. The results of this study indicate that MWW has significantly higher influence in decontamination of POME in comparing with zeolite. Combining zeolite and MWW in aerobic SBR could meet Malaysian environmental discharge for POME in 22 hours.