Archives of Environmental Protection 

About: Archives of Environmental Protection is an academic journal. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Sewage treatment & Activated sludge. It has an ISSN identifier of 0324-8461. Over the lifetime, 549 publications have been published receiving 4216 citations.

The use of multi-criteria analysis for selection of technology for a household WWTP compatible with sustainable development

Abstract: Abstract This paper presents the use of multi-criteria analysis as a tool that helps choosing an adequate technology for a household wastewater treatment plant. In the process of selection the criteria of sustainable development were taken into account. Five municipal mechanical-biological treatment plants were chosen for the comparative multi-criteria analysis. Different treatment technologies, such as sand filter, activated sludge, trickling filter, a hybrid system - activated sludge/trickling filter and a hybrid constructed wetland system VF-HF type (vertical and horizontal fl ow) were taken into account. The plants’ capacities were 1 m3∙d-1 (PE=8) and they all meet the environmental regulations. Additionally, a solution with a drainage system was included into the analysis. On the basis of multi-criteria analysis it was found that the preferred wastewater treatment technologies, consistent with the principles of sustainable development, were a sand filter and a hybrid constructed wetland type VF-HF. A drainage system was chosen as the best solution due to the economic criteria, however, taking into consideration the primary (ecological) criterion, employment of such systems on a larger scale disagree with the principles of sustainable development. It was found that activated sludge is the least favourable technology. The analysis showed that this technology is not compatible with the principles of sustainable development, due to a lack of proper technological stability and low reliability. Streszczenie W pracy przedstawiono sposób wykorzystania analizy wielokryterialnej jako narzędzia pomocniczego do wyboru właściwego rozwiązania technologicznego przydomowej oczyszczalni ścieków. Przy wyborze uwzględniano kryteria zgodne z zasadami zrównoważonego rozwoju. Do porównawczej analizy wielokryterialnej wybrano 5 wariantów przydomowych, mechaniczno-biologicznych oczyszczalni ścieków. Porównywano systemy z filtrem piaskowym, z osadem czynnym, ze złożem biologicznym zraszanym, system hybrydowy - osad czynny ze złożem biologicznym oraz hybrydowy system hydrofi towy typu VF-HF (z pionowym i poziomym przepływem ścieków). Analizowano rozwiązania o przepustowości 1 m3∙d-1 (Równoważna Liczba Mieszkańców - RLM = 8), spełniające wymagania przepisów ochrony środowiska. Dodatkowo także rozwiązanie z zastosowaniem drenażu rozsączającego. Na podstawie analizy wielokryterialnej stwierdzono, że najbardziej korzystnymi rozwiązaniami technologicznymi, zgodnymi z zasadami zrównoważonego rozwoju, są systemy z filtrem piaskowym i hybrydowe systemy hydrofi towe typu VF-HF. Przy znacznej przewadze kryteriów ekonomicznych, jako najbardziej korzystne rozwiązanie wybrany został system z drenażem rozsączający, jednak biorąc pod uwagę kryterium nadrzędne (ekologiczne), aby zachować zasadę zrównoważonego rozwoju, należałoby wykluczyć możliwość stosowania tych rozwiązań na większą skalę. Stwierdzono, że najbardziej niekorzystnym jest rozwiązanie technologiczne z wykorzystaniem osadu czynnego. Wykonana analiza wykazała, że stosowanie tej technologii jest niezgodne z ideą zrównoważonego rozwoju. Jest to spowodowane brakiem odpowiedniej stabilności technologicznej i niewielką niezawodnością działania.

Response surface methodology (RSM) and its application for optimization of ammonium ions removal from aqueous solutions by pumice as a natural and low cost adsorbent

Abstract: This research was conducted to study the adsorption of ammonium ions onto pumice as a natural and low-cost adsorbent. The physico-chemical properties of the pumice granular were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Modeling and optimization of a NH4 + sorption process was accomplished by varying four independent parameters (pumice dosage, initial ammonium ion concentration, mixing rate and contact time) using a central composite design (CCD) under response surface methodology (RSM). The optimum conditions for maximum removal of NH4 + (70.3) were found to be 100 g, 20 mg/l, 300 rpm and 180 min, for pumice dosage, initial NH4 + ion concentration, mixing rate and contact time. It was found that the NH4 + adsorption on the pumice granular was dependent on adsorbent dosage and initial ammonium ion concentration. NH4 + was increased due to decrease the initial concentration of NH4 and increase the contact time, mixing rate and amount of adsorbent. © 2016 Archives of Environmental Protection.

Hazardous Compounds in Urban Pm in the Central Part of Upper Silesia (Poland) in Winter

Abstract: Thirteen fractions of ambient dust were investigated in Zabrze, a typical urban area in the central part of Upper Silesia (Poland), during a heating season. Fifteen PAH and Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, As, Se, Cd, Pb contents of each fraction were determined. The dust was sampled with use of a cascade impactor and chemically analyzed with an energy dispersive X-ray fl uorescence spectrometer (PANalytical Epsilon 5) and a gas chromatograph with a fl ame ionisation detector (Perkin Elmer Clarus 500). The concentrations of PM1 and the PM1-related PAH and elements were much higher than the ones of the coarse dust (PM2.5-10) and the substances contained in it. The concentrations of total PAH and carcinogenic PAH were very high (the concentrations of PM1-, PM2.5-, and PM10-related BaP were 16.08, 19.19, 19.32 ng m -3, respectively). The municipal emission, resulted mainly from hard coal combustion processes, appeared to be the main factor affecting the air quality in Zabrze in winter.

Benzene and Toluene Removal by Carbon Nanotubes from Aqueous Solution

Abstract: Benzene and Toluene Removal by Carbon Nanotubes from Aqueous Solution The removal of benzene (B) and toluene (T) from aqueous solution by multi walled, single walled, and hybrid carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs, SWCNTs, and HCNTs) was evaluated for a nanomaterial dose of 1 g/l, concentration of 10-100 mg/l, and pH 7. The equilibrium amount removed by SWCNTs (B: 9.98 mg/g and T: 9.96 mg/g) was higher than for MWCNTs and HCNTs. Toluene has a higher adsorption tendency on CNTs than benzene, which is related to the increasing water solubility and the decreasing molecular weight of the compounds. The SWCNTs performed better for B and T sorption than the MWCNTs and HCNTs. Isotherms study based on isofit program indicate that the Generalized Langmuir-Freundlich (GLF) isotherm expression provides the best fit for benzene sorption, and that Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) isotherm is the best fit for toluene adsorption by SWCNT. SWCNTs are efficient B and T adsorbents and possess good potential applications to water and wastewater treatment and maintain water of high quality that could be used for cleaning up environmental pollution.

Mechanisms of stress avoidance and tolerance by plants used in phytoremediation of heavy metals

Abstract: Abstract Heavy metal pollution of soil is a significant environmental problem and has a negative impact on human health and agriculture. Phytoremediation can be an alternative environmental treatment technology, using the natural ability of plants to take up and accumulate pollutants or transform them. Proper development of plants in contaminated areas (e.g. heavy metals) requires them to generate the appropriate protective mechanisms against the toxic effects of these pollutants. This paper presents an overview of the physiological mechanisms of stress avoidance and tolerance by plants used in phytoremediation of heavy metals.