Biogranules containing photosynthetic bacteria for carbon dioxide reduction in palm oil mill effluent treatment

Presently global warming is the most highlighted subjects in environmental issues which is related to greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions especially carbon dioxide (CO2). In Malaysia, one of the major sources of GHG is from industrial wastewater treatment such as ponding system to treat palm oil mill effluent (POME) where the accumulation of these gases will contribute to the greenhouse effect causing global warming. Since photosynthetic process offers the most effective and natural way of sequestering CO2, biogranules containing photosynthetic microorganisms were developed in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) system using POME. A mixed sludge consists of sludge taken from a local sewage treatment oxidation pond, palm oil mill facultative pond treatment system and POME was used as seed sludge. Intermittent supply of light with intensity at 3600 lux was provided for 100 days with an organic loading rate (OLR) of 2.75 kg COD/m3/day, hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 4 hours and superficial air velocity of 2.07 cm/s. The developed biogranules had shown potential in retaining high accumulation of biomass concentration in the reactor (10.5 g/L), good settleability (43.5-102.9 m/h) and improvement in size from 0.5 to 2.0 mm as well as high physical strength at integrity coefficient (IC) of 2 %. The initial structure of sludge changed from dispersed loose shaped into denser, compact and more stable structure with sludge volume index (SVI) maintained between 10.30 to 14.80 mL/g SS leading to a good solid-liquid separation compared to conventional activated sludge. Also, the chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) removal of 26 %, 21 % and 62 % were achieved during the development of the biogranules. The pigment analysis indicated the presence of the bacteriochlorophyll a implying the presence of purple photosynthetic bacteria. Molecular identification of the bacteria showed the presence of Enterobacter cloacae, Bacillus cereus, Lysinibacillus sp. which possess photosynthetic pigments. For CO2 reduction using the biogranules, approximately 18 to 21 % of CO2 removal was achieved due to possible formation of calcite were observed with FESEM-EDX. The biogranules had achieved a CO2 biofixation rate at approximately 0.234 g/L/day in a week while using the regression analysis; the maximum CO2 biofixation rate in a year was estimated at 1.733 g/L/day

Photosynthetic microbial granules developed from palm oil mill effluent (POME)

In the 1980s, carbon dioxide (CO2) gas was proven to be one of the most hazardous greenhouse gases (GHG) as it increases from 57 to 80% of the current GHG contribution to global warming. In Malaysia, one of the major sources of GHG is from industrial wastewater treatment such as the ponding system to treat palm oil mill effluent (POME). Alternatively, this study looks into the possibility of applying biogranulation technology by growing photosynthetic bacteria to consume CO2 gas within a treatment system. The photosynthetic microbial granule was cultivated for 100 days in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) system by applying an organic loading rate (OLR) of 1.53 kg COD/m3. day, hydraulic retention time (HRT) at 8 hours and superficial air velocity of 0.58 cm/s. The results showed the morphological structure of sludge evolved from dispersed loose shaped into a more stable and smoother compact granular form with good settling properties. The settleability of the sludge improved from 18.0 to 103 m/h periodically due to the increased of biomass concentrations (6.90 - 8.25 g/L) as well as achieving maximum granule size of 2.8 mm. The granules also displayed great physical characteristics in strength and stability, which attained low integrity coefficient (2.22%). Based on the pigment analysis using the UV-Vis spectrophotometer (380-1100 nm), the presence of purple non-sulfur photosynthetic bacteria were detected in the sludge. The average wavelength adsorption obtained was within 976 to 1050 nm which implied the existence of bacteriochlorophyll

Formation and characteristics of microbial granules containing photosynthetic bacteria using palm oil mill effluent (POME)

The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of applying bacterial photosynthesis using granulation technology method in minimizing carbon dioxide (CO2) gas emitted within a treatment system. By using a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) system with palm oil mill effluent (POME) as feeding, the photosynthetic microbial granules were developed after 100 days at an organic loading rate (OLR) of 1.53 kg COD/m3. day and hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 8 hours (cycle time = 4 h). In terms of the morphological structure, the sludge evolved from dispersed loose shaped into a more stable and smoother compact granular form with good settling properties. The sludge settleability also improved from 0.50 to 2.88 cm/s periodically due to the increased of biomass concentrations (6.90 - 8.25 g/L) with a maximum granule size of 3.2 mm obtained. Other than that, the physical characteristics of the granules displayed great strength and stability as they attained low integrity coefficient at 2.22%. Based on the pigment analysis result using the UV-Vis spectrophotometer, the bacteriochlorophyll and carotenoids were found to correspond to that of purple non sulphur bacteria within the ranges of 801nm to 865nm (the existence of bacteriochlorophyll b) and 400nm to 500nm respectively

Characteristics of developed granules containing phototrophic aerobic bacteria for minimizing carbon dioxide

Aerobic wastewater treatment has contributed to the greenhouse gases (GHG) emission in the atmosphere, which can cause global warming. The GHG consists of six major gases particularly carbon dioxide (CO2). Existing biological system of the wastewater treatment needs to be reviewed in order to minimize the emission of GHG especially CO2. Some findings had shown that photosynthetic bacteria can be employed for CO2 utilization during the wastewater treatment processes. The aim of this study was to characterize phototrophic microbial granule in order to minimize CO2. Synthetic wastewater was used throughout this study to obtain the aerobic granules. A 3-L bioreactor phototrophic Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBRP) was applied to produce phototrophic aerobic granular sludge (AGSP) and the biomass concentration increased from 3 to 14gL-1. Such growth has resulted in a maximum settling velocity of 40mh-1 with granule average size of ~ 2.0mm. The high settling velocity was found to be attributed by the smooth, compact, and regular characteristics of the aerobic granules. High magnification microscopic analysis revealed that AGSP was dominated by cocci-shaped bacteria embedded within the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Detailed observation on the structure of the AGSP showed the presence of 30µm of cavity to allow nutrients and gas exchanges within the aerobic granule. Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy-Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) examination showed AGSP composed of different types of inorganic and organic compounds. AGSP achieved 92% of CO2 reduction and 84% of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal

Microplastic Uptake by Mud Creepers (Cerithidea obtusa) at Kukup, Johor

Microplastics are ubiquitous in the aquatic environment. This study was conducted to determine the microplastic accumulation in Cerithidea obtusa obtained from Larkin Central Market in Johor, Malaysia. The mean concentration of microplastics was 0.444 ± 0.111 - 0.852 ± 0.513 particles/individual. The most ingested microplastic was sized between 0.250 mm 0.593 ± 0.694 particles/individual and the least ingested ranged in size between 0.501 mm and 1.000 mm and between 1.001 mm and 5.000 mm (0.333 ± 0.555 particles/individual). As for the colours of the microplastics ingested, black microplastics were the most ingested at 68.09%, while the least ingested was green at 2.13%. Fibres were the dominant microplastic shape found in this study at concentrations of 0.568 ± 0.670 particles/individual. The fibres ingested by C. obtusa were of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) origin. Based on the non-parametric test (Spearman’s Correlation test), both specimen body length and soft tissue weight showed no correlation to microplastic ingestion rate (p = 0.273, p = 0.174). The results from this study will contribute to baseline knowledge on microplastic contamination of C. obtusa found in Johor, Malaysia. The study also showed that microplastics can find its way into humans through seafood consumption

Characteristics of developed granules containing phototrophic aerobic bacteria for minimizing carbon dioxide emission

Photosynthetic process compromises the most effective and natural way for carbon recycling, in which photosynthetic bacteria utilized carbon dioxide (CO2) during the wastewater treatment processes. The aim of this study was to characterize phototrophic microbial granule in order to minimize CO2. A 3-L bioreactor phototrophic Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBRP) was applied to produce phototrophic aerobic granular sludge (AGSP) and the biomass concentration increased from 3 to 14 g L−1. Such growth has resulted in a maximum settling velocity of 40 mh−1 with granule average size of approximately 2.0 mm. The high settling velocity was found to be attributed by the smooth, compact, and regular characteristics of the aerobic granules. High magnification microscopic analysis revealed that AGSP was dominated by cocci-shaped bacteria embedded within the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Detailed observation on the structure of the AGSP showed the presence of 30 μm of cavity to allow nutrients and gas exchanges within the aerobic granule. Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy-Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) examination showed AGSP composed of different types of inorganic and organic compounds. AGSP achieved 92% of CO2 reduction, indicating that CO2 biofixation can be performed facultatively by photosynthetic bacteria in an SBR based on the nomenclature of microbial species obtained

Using microwave energy for the removal of hardness from groundwater: Continuous flow lab-scale system

The present study investigates the characteristics of calcium hardness removal from water using a continuous flow microwave (MW) radiation system with heat exchange. The effects of initial calcium concentration, detention time, and initial temperature were investigated by the study. About 97% of calcium hardness removal was achieved at a detention time of 12.5 minutes. It was concluded from the experiments performed that the optimum conditions for this system use a detention time of 12.5 minutes. This leads to an initial temperature of 70°C when using the heat exchanger. These conditions are valid for the range of Ca initial concentrations between 92 and 204 mg/L as CaCO3. The residual concentrations under optimum conditions were 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, and 3 mg/L as CaCO3 for initial concentrations of 92, 141, 172, and 204 mg/L as CaCO3, respectively. The developed system proved to be practical in the continuous flow mode that simulates the actual operations in water treatment plants. It was concluded that MW energy could be one of the most effective methods for large scale removal of hardness from water

Kinder und Jugendliche in der Grossstadt zur Lebenssituation 9-14-jaehriger Kinder und Jugendlicher ; Stadtlandschaften als Bezugsrahmen paedagogischer Arbeit: Berlin-Wedding und Berlin-Spandau, Falkenhagener Feld

UuStB Koeln(38)-8Y9113 / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEDEGerman

The Effectiveness of macrocomposite adsorbent for treatment of COD and suspended solid of car wash water effluent

In this study, the macrocomposite adsorbent from aggregates, zeolite, activated carbon, cement, and sand using a continuous flow fixed-bed adsorption column was determined in terms of COD and Suspended Solid (SS) from car wash water effluent. The effects of the flow rate in the adsorption system with different flow rates (ranged of 10-20 ml/min) were also evaluated. Furthermore, the fixed-bed macrocomposite adsorption was conducted and experimental data were fitted for Thomas and Yoon-Nelson models. The effective adsorption of COD and SS was obtained at a lower flow rate of influent concentration. However, due to the potential of the macrocomposite adsorbent for the car wash effluent removal, the treatment efficiency of the adsorbent has shown that the macrocomposite has the potential to be used for the treatment of pollutants of high strength wastewater