TREATMENT OF PETROLEUM REFINERY WASTEWATER USING MULTI-STAGE BIOLOGICAL REACTOR

Refining crude oil in petroleum refinery results in relatively large quantities of wastewater. Petroleum refinery wastewater (PRW) is highly polluted, hence proper and effective treatment is needed; currently requires multiple treatment processes. Therefore, the need for improved treatment processes never stops. Thinking green, biological treatment is always a cheaper and safer solution for wastewater treatment, as it involves the use of microorganisms to degrade organic matter. This study focused on development of integrated multi-stage biological treatment process for petroleum refinery wastewater. The study consisted of four phases, namely, biodegradability of PRW, PRWtreatability in three configuration of sequencing batch reactors (SBR), degradation of volatile organic compounds in anaerobic-anoxicaerobic SBR and testing of multi-stage biological reactor (MSBR) under different loads. PRW was found to be biodegradable in a 28-day batch study, with more than 95% COD removal in 24 hr under aerobic mode and 9 days under anaerobic mode. Three SBR configurations (aerobic, anaerobic-aerobic and aerobic with PRW and domestic wastewater mixed influent) were operated in parallel to determine the most effective configuration and reaction time

TREATMENT OF PETROLEUM REFINERY WASTEWATER USING MULTI-STAGE BIOLOGICAL REACTOR

Refining crude oil in petroleum refinery results in relatively large quantities of wastewater. Petroleum refinery wastewater (PRW) is highly polluted, hence proper and effective treatment is needed; currently requires multiple treatment processes. Therefore, the need for improved treatment processes never stops. Thinking green, biological treatment is always a cheaper and safer solution for wastewater treatment, as it involves the use of microorganisms to degrade organic matter. This study focused on development of integrated multi-stage biological treatment process for petroleum refinery wastewater. The study consisted of four phases, namely, biodegradability of PRW, PRWtreatability in three configuration of sequencing batch reactors (SBR), degradation of volatile organic compounds in anaerobic-anoxicaerobic SBR and testing of multi-stage biological reactor (MSBR) under different loads. PRW was found to be biodegradable in a 28-day batch study, with more than 95% COD removal in 24 hr under aerobic mode and 9 days under anaerobic mode. Three SBR configurations (aerobic, anaerobic-aerobic and aerobic with PRW and domestic wastewater mixed influent) were operated in parallel to determine the most effective configuration and reaction time

Assessing the Prefabricated Building Factory’s Quality by Pointing out its Strengths and Weaknesses in Terms of Vision, Plan, and Evaluation

Purpose: This study aims at the strengths and weaknesses in the application of the ISO 9001: 2015 quality management system and its impact on the competitive performance of the company, and to find out the reasons why the company did not obtain the ISO 9001: 2015 international specifications certificate, which it strives to obtain, which has a relationship with the competitive performance of the company (prefabricated building factory / Iraqi Ministry of Construction and Housing).   Theoretical framework: The lack of literature on the study at the Iraqi Ministry of Construction and Housing and Prefabricated Building Factory aimed to identify the strengths and weaknesses to determine the effects of applying the international standard. A related study on Asian port performance was analyzed and listed in the study based on a thematic approach.   Design/methodology/approach: The researchers in the company (prefabricated building factory) relied on interviews with top management, engineers in production lines, and technicians (Annex 1) by presenting questions to them (Annex 2) using the interview tool.   Findings: The most significant findings identified by researchers can be presented after discussing the requirements of the standard (ISO 9001:2015), vision, plan, and evaluation, and they attempt to make proposals to address cases of non-conformity diagnosed under the checklists and propose a set of recommendations related to the subject of the study.   Research, Practical & Social Implications: Research and Practical and Social Implications: This research provides the contributor with user inputs to find out the root causes of the aforementioned problem and aims to apply the remaining clauses of the International Standard Certification (ISO 9001:2015).   Originality/Value: To obtain the organization's international standards certificate (ISO 9001: 2015) in terms of its vision, plan, and evaluation item and to impose its application on other items of international standards, this study helps to identify the organization's strengths and weaknesses so that weaknesses can be avoided and strengths can be strengthened

THE AVAILABILITY OF THE DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENT TO OBTAIN THE ISO 9001:2015 CERTIFICATE IN PREFABRICATED BUILDING FACTORY- IRAQ: A CASE STUDY

The study aims to shed light on the item (documentation requirement) within one of the components of the general requirements of the international standard (ISO 9001:2015) in the prefabricated building factory in Kirkuk/ Iraq. The purpose of the study was to find out the reality of the availability and application of these requirements to obtain the certificate of international standards by indicating the levels of achievement of the documentation item, as well as an attempt to open horizons for the application of other necessary items for the factory to obtain the mentioned certificate. To achieve this goal, checklists were relied upon, which contributed to obtaining the necessary data to achieve the study objective. The study found statistical results showing that there is a large gap (70%) between the actual reality of the documentation requirement and the theoretical academic reality, and the organization must address this gap to improve its performance in obtaining the mentioned certificate. The study included proposals and recommendations, the most prominent of which was the need to establish a computerized database to collect data on the factory's operations and activities to benefit from it in future analysis and documentation processes

ASSESSMENT OF VITAMIN D THERAPY EFFECT ON INFLAMMATORY MARKERS IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS WITH TYPE I DIABETIC

Objective: The objective of this study is to estimate the effect of Vitamin D3 supplementation on endogenous Vitamin D3 level and inflammatory biomarkers in newly diagnosed pediatric patients.Methods: The patients were given oral Vitamin D3, and they divided into three groups: The first group (25 healthy pediatrics), the second group (25 newly diagnosed pediatric patients) treated with daily insulin regimen only, and the third group (25 newly diagnosed pediatric patients) treated with Vitamin D3 (2000 IU/day) with daily insulin regimen; all patients were treated for 90 days; and blood samples were taken at baseline and after 45 days and 90 days of starting Vitamin D3 to assess its potential effect on the levels of Vitamin D, serum calcium, serum alkaline phosphatase levels, and other inflammatory markers.Results: The results of the current study showed that serum IL-1β significantly declined in patients receiving Vitamin D3, while serum Vitamin D3, serum calcium, and interleukins-4 were significantly increased in patients receiving Vitamin D3.Conclusion: Vitamin D3 in a daily dose of 2000 IU/day for 90 days results in favorable immune response and increase of serum Vitamin D3 for pediatric new diagnosed Type 1 diabetes mellitus patients

A hybrid ultrasonic membrane anaerobic system (UMAS) development for palm oil mill effluent (POME) treatment

The high chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) levels in palm oil mill effluent (POME) wastewater make it an environmental contaminant. Moreover, conventional POME wastewater treatment approaches pose economic and environmental risks. The present study employed an ultrasonic membrane anaerobic system (UMAS) to treat POME. Resultantly, six steady states were procured when a kinetic assessment involving 11,800–21,700 mg·L−1 of mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) and 9800–16,800 mg·L−1 of mixed liquor volatile suspended solids (MLVSS) was conducted. The POME treatment kinetics were explained with kinetic equations derived by Monod, Contois and Chen and Hashimoto for organic at loading rates within the 1–11 kg·COD·m−3·d−1 range. The UMAS proposed successfully removed 96.6–98.4% COD with a 7.5 day hydraulic retention time. The Y value was 0.67 g·VSS/g·COD, while the specific micro-organism decay rate, b was 0.24 day−1. Methane (CH4) gas production ranged from 0.24 to 0.59 litres per gram of COD daily. Once the initial steady state was achieved, the incoming COD concentrations increased to 88,100 mg·L−1. The three kinetic models recorded a minimum calculated solids retention time of 12.1 days with maximum substrate utilization rate, K values ranging from 0.340 to 0.527 COD·g−1·VSS·d−1 and maximum specific growth rate, µmax from 0.248 to 0.474 d−1. Furthermore, the solids retention time (SRT) was reduced from 500 to 12.1 days, resulting in a 98.4% COD level reduction to 1400 mg·L−1

Waste derived biocomposite for simultaneous biosorption of organic matter and nutrients from green straw biorefinery effluent in continuous mode activated sludge systems

The conventional disposal of green straws through burning can be eliminated in a biorefinery that converts them into a range of sustainable commercial products. However, this leads to the generation of green straw biorefinery effluent (GSBE). Green straw biorefineries discharge wastewater into the ecosystem that contains high concentrations of COD and NH4+−N. It is one of the most notable sources of visual pollution and disruption of aquatic life as well as public health that requires treatment prior to discharge. To improve the GSBE quality for environmental sustainability, the attainment of sustainable development goals 6, 9, and 14, "clean water and sanitation", "inorganic and organic waste utilization for added values from material", and "life below water" is very important. Therefore, the effectiveness of the continuous mode activated sludge (CMAS) system and the biocomposite-based–continuous mode activated sludge (SB-CMAS) system in the treatment of GSBE was investigated in this study. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the process variables. At their optimized conditions, the performances of CMAS and SB-CMAS were analyzed in terms of COD and NH4+−N. Findings showed 81.21% and 95.50% COD and 78.31% and 87.34% NH4+−N reduction in concentration for CMAS and SB-CMAS, respectively. The high COD and NH4+−N removal efficiencies indicate the better performance of CMAS and SB-CMAS. The first- and second-order models and the modified Stover–Kincannon biokinetic models were utilized to analyze substrate removal rates. It was discovered that the modified Stover models were ideal for the measured data with R2 values 0.99646 and 0.91236 attained for COD and NH4+−N, respectively, in CMAS. The SB-CMAS had 0.99932 and 0.99533 for COD and NH4+−N, respectively. Maximum contaminant elimination was attained at 60% GSBE and 2-day HRT. Thus, to achieve the UN SDGs for 2030, findings from this study have the potential to answer goals 6, 9, and 14

Palm Oil Clinker as a Waste by-Product: Utilization and Circular Economy Potential

Conservation of natural resources to create ecological balance could be significantly improved by substituting them with waste by-products. Palm oil industry operations increases annually, thereby generating huge quantity of waste to be dumped into the landfill. Palm oil clinker (POC) is a solid waste by-product produced in one of the oil palm processing phases. This chapter is designed to highlight the generation, disposal problems, properties and composition of POC. The waste to resource potentials of POC would be greatly discussed in the chapter starting with the application of POC in conventional and geopolymer structural elements such as beams, slabs, columns made of either concrete, mortar or paste for coarse aggregates, sand and cement replacement. Aspects such as performance of POC in wastewater treatment processes, fine aggregate and cement replacement in asphaltic and bituminous mixtures during highway construction, a bio-filler in coatings for steel manufacturing processes and a catalyst during energy generation would also be discussed. Circular economy potentials, risk assessment and leaching behavior during POC utilization would be evaluated. The chapter also discusses the effectiveness of POC in soil stabilization and the effect of POC pretreatment for performance enhancement. Towards an efficient utilization, it is important to carry out technical and economic studies, as well as life cycle assessments, in order to compare all the POC areas of application described in the present review article. POC powder has proven to be pozzolanic with maximum values of 17, 53.7, 0.92, 3.87, 1.46, for CaO, SiO2, SO3, Fe2O3 and Al2O3. Therefore, the present chapter would inspire researchers to find research gaps that will aid the sustainable use of agroindustry wastes. The fundamental knowledge contained in the chapter could also serve as a wake-up call for researchers that will motivate them to explore the high potential of utilizing POC for greater environmental benefits associated with less cost when compared with conventional materials

Performance of Pistia stratiotes, Salvinia molesta, and Eichhornia crassipes Aquatic Plants in the Tertiary Treatment of Domestic Wastewater with Varying Retention Times

Organic matter, nutrients, and chemicals are some of the waste materials found in most domestic wastewaters. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the potentials of Pistia stratiotes, Salvinia molesta, and Eichhornia crassipes aquatic weed plants in the tertiary treatment of secondary domestic wastewater using hydroponic systems. Physicochemical analysis that considered turbidity, phosphate, ammoniacal nitrogen, and nitrate was conducted on the wastewater samples at different retention times of 6, 12, and 24 h for 14 days. The best performance was observed for a 24 h retention treatment system, with up to 91% (P. stratiotes), 94% (S. molesta), and 89.3% (E. crassipes) reduction for turbidity; 81.2% (P. stratiotes), 82.7% (S. molesta), and 88.5% (E. crassipes) for phosphate reduction; 88.66% (P. stratiotes), 90.47% (S. molesta), and 89.11% (E. crassipes) for ammoniacal nitrogen reduction; 83.6% (P. stratiotes), 92.1% (S. molesta) and 93% (E. crassipes) for nitrate reduction. Hence, the application of hydroponic systems in cultivation of the macrophytes proved to be effective in the phytoremediation process by removing the residual nutrients present in the treated secondary domestic wastewater. Additionally, this method can be used for the cultivation of plant-based biomass and other non-edible useful crops using the free nutrients content of the wastewater before its discharge into the natural environment

Predicting Water Quality Parameters in a Complex River System

This research applied a machine learning technique for predicting the water quality parameters of Kelantan River using the historical data collected from various stations. Support Vector Machine (SVM) was used to develop the prediction model. Six water quality parameters (dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), and suspended solids (SS)) were predicted. The dataset was obtained from the measurement of 14 stations of Kelantan River from September 2005 to December 2017 with a total sample of 148 monthly data. We defined 3 schemes of prediction to investigate the contribution of the attribute number and the model performance. The outcome of the study demonstrated that the prediction of the suspended solid parameter gave the best performance, which was indicated by the highest values of the R2 score. Meanwhile, the prediction of the COD parameter gave the lowest score of R2 score, indicating the difficulty of the dataset to be modelled by SVM. The analysis of the contribution of attribute number shows that the prediction of the four parameters (DO, BOD, NH3-N, and SS) is directly proportional to the performance of the model. Similarly, the best prediction of the pH parameter is obtained from the utilization of the least number of attributes found in scheme 1