https://cyberleninka.org/article/n/1238577.pdf

Impact of landfill leachate on the groundwater quality: A case study in Egypt

To evaluate environmental impacts of solid waste landfilling, groundwater quality near the MSW landfill in a semi-arid climate of Iran (Hamedan) and its leachates were analyzed. To this aim, heavy metal concentrations, COD, BOD5, TOC, EC, NO3-, Cl-, TDS, and pH of two leachate ponds (active and closed sites) as the sources of contamination as well as the shallow groundwater of the area were measured. Monthly and seasonal monitoring program of 13 sampling points in the area were designed during the period of 2014-2016. Principal components analysis has been carried out using chemical data to deduce relationship between the samples. A special statistical approach including a main factor (age of leachate) and a subfactor (distance from the source of pollutant) was designed in order to identify the landfill role on the groundwater contamination. The physicochemical analysis of the leachate characteristics confirmed a high variation in the contaminants (i.e., organic compounds, salts, and heavy metals) related to leachate age. The BOD5/COD ratio of the active (0.73) and closed (0.77) sites ponds indicated that the leachates were in a biodegradable and unstabilized condition. The seasonal physicochemical analysis of the leachates showed that rainfall events increase the decomposition rate of the waste and affect pollutant concentration of the leachate. The proposed statistical analysis illustrated a direct relationship between the groundwater quality parameters and the leachates physicochemical characteristics.

Assessment of landfill leachate in semi-arid climate and its impact on the groundwater quality case study: Hamedan, Iran

In the present study, specimens of catfish (Clariidae) were collected from a polluted location (Main Basin) and a relatively clean area (East Basin) in Lake Mariut, one of the Nile Delta Lakes in Egypt. Fifteen fish were taken from each site. Liver preparations of fish from the two sources were comparatively examined for cellular changes using transmission electron microscopy. Fish hepatocytes from the polluted area showed accumulation of the heterochromatin, enlarged nucleoli, and an extremely folded nuclear envelope. Perichromatin granules were increased and progressively formed small clusters closely associated with patches of heterochromatin. In the cytoplasm, fractionation, dilation, and vesiculation of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), and elevated amounts of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) tubules were noted. The most frequent pathological modifications were the swelling of mitochondria, cristae regression and changes in the electron-transparency of the matrix. Lysosomes showing myelin-like stacks of membraneous material (phospholipidosis), glycogenosomes (i.e., glycogen rosettes enclosed by membranes) and cytoplasmic myelinated bodies were strongly developed. Furthermore, increasing numbers of secondary lysosomes with degraded cell organelles were found. With reference to the storage vesicles, there appeared to be an increase in the lipid droplets (lipidosis) within many hepatocytes. This study reinforces the need to select representative sentinel species from different habitats for biomonitoring purposes and it provides further support for the use of biomarkers in assessing the health of aquatic ecosystems.

Ultrastructure changes in hepatocytes of catfish Clarias gariepinus from Lake Mariut, Egypt.

Water-energy issues are of growing importance in the context of water shortages, wastewater treatment by lower energy, and climatic change as well. Wastewater from industry and domestic use should meet a specific set of requirements before being returned to the natural environment. In all countries, regardless of development level, appropriate management of these wastewaters are costly and challenging. Therefore alternative solutions to wastewater treatment using innovative and emerging technologies are needed. New technologies typically follow a development process that goes from laboratory- and bench-scale investigations to pilot studies and to “full-scale demonstrations” as well. This chapter focuses on evaluating the application of new adaptive, cost-effective, and simple wastewater treatment technologies in Egypt. Constructed wetlands (CW), down-flow hanging sponge (DHS), passively aerated biological filter (PABF), oxidation ponds, zero energy compact unit (ZECU), membrane bioreactors (MBRs), up-flow anaerobic biofilter reactor (UABR), and up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) including challenges are discussed.

Technologies for wastewater treatment and reuse in Egypt: Prospectives and future challenges

Three marine algal biomasses, namely Gelidium latifolium (Grev.) Bornet et Thuret, Ulva lactuca Linnaeus and Colpomenia sinuosa (Mertens et Roth) Derbes et Solier, were used in their raw dried forms to biosorb Al3+, Fe3+, and Zn2+ from aqueous solutions. The optimum biosorption conditions were initial element concentration, 1000 mg L−1; temperature, 40 °C; contact time, 1 h; pH, 4, 3, and 6 for Al3+, Fe3+, and Zn2+, respectively. The highest biosorption efficiency reached 63.78, 65.95, and 111.57 mg g−1 for Al3+, Fe3+, and Zn2+, respectively, using the brown algal biomass C. sinuosa. Examination of algal biomass surface using SEM showed several morphological changes in the cell wall surface due to biosorption such as rupturing, wrinkling, some cavity appearance, protuberance, and roughness as well as each algal type had a unique surface structure in its raw form. FTIR was used to characterize algal biomasses, and the contributing groups were variable according to heave metals and algal type as well. The thermodynamic studies revealed that the biosorption was nonspontaneous, endothermic, and chemical in nature. Freundlich isotherm model fitted slightly better than the Langmuir model in case of Zn2+ biosorption; meanwhile, Langmuir model fitted better in case of trivalent Al3+ and Fe3+. The algal biomasses were efficiently regenerated and reused for four cycles via 0.01 M Na2EDTA. Algal biomasses were applied under the optimum concluded conditions to treat 21 actual polluted industrial effluents from Borg El-Arab region, Egypt. The removal efficiency reached 80.81, 38.25, 91.79, 59.96, 95.33, 98.54, 27.39, 88.42, 36.59, and 96.98% for Al, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, V, and Zn, respectively.

Competitive algal biosorption of Al3+, Fe3+, and Zn2+ and treatment application of some industrial effluents from Borg El-Arab region, Egypt

The total amount of solid waste generated in Alexandria is 2820 tons/d which increases to 3425 tons/day during summer. In the past, 77% of the collected solid wastes was open dumped. The open dumping sites did not have the minimum requirements for pollution control. Following the exacerbation of the problem, the Alexandria Governorate contracted a company to carry out the solid waste management. The contracted company transferred 75% of the daily generated solid wastes to a new constructed sanitary lanfill. The site receives a daily average of 1910 tons. The landfilling is performed by trench method in the form of cells. The produced leachate is discharged into two lined aerated lagoons. The biogas formed from biodegradation of landfilled solid wastes is burned and the produced heat is used for drying the lagoons leachate. The remaining residues are relandfilled. The study aims at assessment of the solid waste sanitary landfill leachate characterization and its impacts on the groundwater. The analysis of the collected data confirms that leachates from the landfill are severely contaminated with organics, salts, and heavy metals. The fluctuations in concentration levels of the different parameters were attributed to aging and thickness of waste layers, stage of decomposition, and re-landfilling of the concentrated residues from the drying lagoons. The concentrations of NH4-N (600 mg/l) indicated that the process of stabilization was still in the initial stages and attributed to the compaction process. The high BOD5 results (28,833 mg/l) indicated that the process of stabilization was in the initial stages which were very slow. The high COD results (45,240 mg/l) can be attributed to the compaction of the wastes which also retards the degradation of the solid wastes. The BOD and COD values indicated clearly severe contamination. The BOD5/COD ratio measured in the current study (0.64) indicated that the leachate of the present study was biodegradable and unstabilized, and required time and favourable conditions for anaerobic biodegradation. Heavy metals were lower compared with what have been observed in other countries. Re-landfilling of the residue after drying the leachate in lagoons and the short time of biodegradation in the landfill site were factors which effected the high strength of most of the parameters concentrations of the leachate. Assessment of groundwater contamination through piezometer wells around the active cells indicated that there was no contamination from the leachate to the groundwater surrounding the site. The study recommended emphasizing the importance of adjusting the biodegradation factors, the monitoring program, the prohibition of disposing heavy metals, determination of the leachate generation rate, and treatment of leachate.

Assessment of sanitary landfill leachate characterizations and its impacts on groundwater at Alexandria.

Assessment of pollution levels in fish and water of Main Basin, lake Marriut
 Mahmoud EL-Tawila *	Mohamed H. Ramadan**		Hanaa M. Amr*

*Nutrition Dept., High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University

**Environmental Health Dept., High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University

Publisher: Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association, 2005, Vol. (80) No (1&2): 51-76 

Abstract: Lake Mariut has suffered over the years from the untreated sewage, agricultural and industrial wastes dumped into it. Lake Mariut's Fish quality and quantity were adversely affected eventually being unfit for human consumption due to its bad water quality. The present study was carried out to evaluate the levels of metals of the fish caught from Mariut Lake main basin and its fitness for human consumption, and the water quality after the enforcement of the Egyptian Law for environmental protection (law 4/1994). Fish and water samples were collected form Lake Mariut's main basin through out the period from May to December 2000. The results showed that mercury was totally undetected in fish and water samples. The levels of Fe obtained were very low compared to previous ones. Fe and Cr contents in fish flesh were higher compared to their levels in water samples. Also Cu has shown a decrease in both fish and water samples. Zn and Cd contents in water samples have decreased compared with former studies however; they have not changed in fish flesh. Pb content in both fish flesh and water samples has shown a great decrease compared to previous studies. The Cd and Pb mean values in fish flesh of the present study (0.81 and 0.14mg/kg) exceeded the Egyptian Standards No 2360/1993 value (should not exceed 0.1 mg/kg for each). The results also showed that the water quality has changed compared with previous studies. BOD has increased in sites 2 (north of Main Basin), 3 (east of Main Basin), 4 (south of Main Basin), and 5 (southwest of Main Basin); and decreased in sites one (WTP effluent) and six (Kalaa Drain). There has been an increase in TSS, TVSS, and NO3 levels compared to pervious studies. There has been a decrease in TS, TDS, COD, Hardness, and chloride levels. This decrease, especially in COD, attributed to the enforcement of the Egyptian law for environmental protection. pH and alkalinity were in agreement with the values shown by previous studies except for site three which showed higher values. The study included some recommendations aiming at improving both water quality and fish of main basin.

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Assessment of pollution levels in fish and water of main basin, Lake Mariut.

New Borg Al-Arab city includes 9 residential areas and 4 industrial zones. The four industrial zones are occupied by 266 running factories belonging to different industrial sectors. All the domestic sewage as well as the industrial wastewater is treated at an oxidation pond treatment plant and the plant effluent is used in irrigation of silviculture areas. The plant consists of 2 pond complexes. Each complex comprises 9 facultative ponds, arranged in 3 parallel series. Raw wastewater is pre-treated through screens and grit removal before entering the primary ponds. The study aims at assessment of the performance of the waste stabilization ponds. The results revealed that pre-treatment units were not functioning properly. The retention time was calculated to be 6 days in each pond of the first complex and 3 days in each pond of the second complex. The mean BOD surface loading rate was calculated to be 676 kg/ha/d for the first complex and 1584 kg/ha/d for the second. The plant was hydraulically and organically overloaded. The percentage removal of BOD, COD, SS, and NH3-N had an annual mean of 57%, 56%, 44%, and 39%, respectively for the first complex and 21%, 42%, 39%, and 25%, respectively for the second. Faecal coliforms were reduced by about 1 log10 unit in both complexes. The final pond effluent was not complying with the Egyptian law for reuse in irrigation. The study proposed some recommendations which can improve the efficiency of the plant as well as the effluent quality.

Assessment of the waste stabilization pond performance, New Borg El-Arab City.

There are two wastewater primary treatment plants in Alexandria (west and east). The produced primary sludge is mechanically dewatered and transported to sludge disposal site 9N where composting is carried out. However, prior to 1970, composting played a very minor role in sludge or solid wastes treatment because of greatly unfavorable balance between its economics and those of the principal competing option, namely landfill disposal. This study aims at monitoring and evaluating the composting process of demitted sludge produced from Alexandria wastewater treatment plants. Ten batches of sludge were composted. During the composting process the batches were been investigated and followed up to 3 months. Representative samples (10 for each batch) were taken from these batches at the start of windrowing and after each turning (4-15 days) and were analyzed for physical; chemical; bacteriological; and parasitological characteristics, heavy metals, and plant nutrients. Results revealed that C/N ratio of the final compost product comply with the decree of the Minister of Agriculture No. 100 11967, while moisture, C%, and TKN did not. Heavy metals, faecal coliforms, and helminthes complied with the decree No. 222/2002 for the Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities. Moisture had positive correlation with both C and VS and negative correlation with pH. Temperature had negative correlation with TKN. Both total and faecal coliforms had negative correlation with temperature and positive correlation with C, N, and VS. It is recommended to optimize the quality of the produced sludge compost by use bulking agent rich in carbon and nitrogen as Hay or Rice straw, instead of the matured sludge compost.

Mohamed H Ramadan

Papers

Assessment of sanitary landfill leachate characterizations and its impacts on groundwater at Alexandria.

Assessment of pollution levels in fish and water of main basin, Lake Mariut.

Assessment of the waste stabilization pond performance, New Borg El-Arab City.

Quality monitoring of composting processes of wastewater sludge in Alexandria.