Environmental technologies - Water treatment

Title

Nanoporous polystyrene fibers for oil spill cleanup

Reference

Marine Pollution Bulletin
Volume 64, Issue 2, February 2012, Pages 347–352

Author(s)

Jinyou Lin, Yanwei Shang, Bin Ding , Jianmao Yang, Jianyong Yu, Salem S. Al-Deyab

Study type

Peer Review Journal    

Abstract

The development of oil sorbents with high sorption capacity, low cost, scalable fabrication, and high selectivity is of great significance for water environmental protection, especially for oil spillage on seawater. In this work, we report nanoporous polystyrene (PS) fibers prepared via a one-step electrospinning process used as oil sorbents for oil spill cleanup. The oleophilic–hydrophobic PS oil sorbent with highly porous structures shows a motor oil sorption capacity of 113.87 g/g, approximately 3–4 times that of natural sorbents and nonwoven polypropylene fibrous mats. Additionally, the sorbents also exhibit a relatively high sorption capacity for edible oils, such as bean oil (111.80 g/g) and sunflower seed oil (96.89 g/g). The oil sorption mechanism of the PS sorbent and the sorption kinetics were investigated. Our nanoporous material has great potential for use in wastewater treatment, oil accident remediation and environmental protection.

Policy theme(s)

Environmental technologies >> Pollution control >> Water treatment
Marine ecosystems >> Marine pollution

Keywords

Polystyrene; Nanoporous fibers; Electrospinning; Oil sorption

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http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X11005790

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binding@dhu.edu.cn

Title

Reference

Water Quality Research Journal of Canada Vol 46 No 2 pp 166–173

Author(s)

Study type

Peer Review Journal    

Abstract

An increase in groundwater chloride concentrations was first reported 20 years ago in Finland. This discovery coincided with a sharp rise in the rate of road-salt application – the annual amount of NaCl consumed had increased from 50 t a-1 in the late 1970s to 140 t a-1 10 years later. To reverse these trends, research and development projects aimed at the reduced application of sodium chloride and improved protection of valuable groundwater resources were initiated. Several innovations, methods and practices, including the use of brine and pre-wetting, preventive anti-icing, advanced devices for salt spreading, utilization of meteorological online data and rewarding the private contractors for accurate, timely and scarce anti- and deicing, has resulted in a decline of 35% in the amount of salt applied since the early 1990s. Research on the fate and behavior of road salt in groundwater aquifers, predictions of future chloride concentrations and risk assessment have guided the risk management actions taken. Campaigns with reduced salting, use of geomembranes and recent progress on alternative deicing agents provide attractive options for further work towards sound deicing at valuable groundwater areas.

Policy theme(s)

Environmental technologies >> Pollution control >> Water treatment
Water >> Water quality >> Water pollution and safety

Keywords

chloride; deicing; deicing agent; groundwater salinization; winter road maintenance

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Shortlisted for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

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http://www.iwaponline.com/wqrjc/046/wqrjc0460166.htm
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Jani.salminen@ymparisto.fi

Title

Uranium bioremediation in continuously fed upflow sand columns inoculated with anaerobic granules

Reference

Biotechnology and Bioengineering

Volume 108, Issue 11, pages 2583–2591, November 2011
DOI: 10.1002/bit.23225

Author(s)

Aida Tapia-Rodriguez, Virginia Tordable-Martinez, Wenjie Sun, James A. Field, Reyes Sierra-Alvarez

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

Reductive precipitation of soluble hexavalent uranium (U(VI)) to insoluble tetravalent uranium (U(IV)) containing minerals is one of the more promising approaches to uranium remediation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term performance of methanogenic granules for the continuous treatment of U(VI). For this purpose, three sand-packed columns inoculated with anaerobic biofilm were operated with or without ethanol and one column was exposed to nitrate co-contamination. The columns were operated for 373 days and efficiently removed U (24 mg L-1) in excess of 99.8%. No long-term benefit of ethanol addition was observed, suggesting that endogenous substrates in the biofilm were sufficient to drive the reduction reactions. Nitrate addition was found to inhibit U(VI) reduction and cause re-oxidation of some U(IV) deposited in the column. Taken as a whole, the results indicate that methanogenic biofilms can be reliably applied in bioreactor technology for sustained U removal from groundwater.

Policy theme(s)

Environmental technologies >> Pollution control >> Water treatment
Water >> Water quality >> Wastewater treatment

Keywords

uranium reduction;methanogenic biomass;ethanol;bioreactor;precipitation;uraninite

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N/A

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http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bit.23225/abstract
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jimfield@email.arizona.edu

Title

Wind-Aided Intensified eVaporation (WAIV) and Membrane Crystallizer (MCr) integrated brackish water desalination process: Advantages and drawbacks

Reference

Desalination
Volume 273, Issue 1, 1 June 2011, Pages 127-135

Author(s)

F. Macedonio, L. Katzir, N. Geisma, S. Simone, E. Drioli and J. Gilron

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

Due to the increasing of water shortage problems, the need for inland brackish water RO will continue to increase in future. However, the primary limitations to further application of RO inland are the cost and technical feasibility of concentrate disposal. In this work, Membrane Crystallizer (MCr) and Wind-Aided Intensified eVaporation (WAIV) technologies have been applied in order to mitigate the impact of concentrates on the environment. In particular, the research activity has been carried out on a desalination system in which brackish water was first pre-treated, then desalinated through reverse osmosis (RO) operation. Finally, RO concentrates were further treated in WAIV and MCr units. The effect of the presence of organic contaminants and antiscalants were studied by analysing RO operations working at different recovery factors and with different pre-treatments. In the absence of an antiscalant, RO operates at 75% recovery factor and at a pH low enough to ensure no calcium carbonate precipitation. In the presence of an antiscalant, RO process might work until a recovery factor of 88%. The analysed integrated RO + WAIV + MCr system allowed to reach recovery factors as high as 76.6-88.9% and limit brine discharge to less than 0.75-0.27% of the raw water fed to the system.

Policy theme(s)

Environmental technologies >> Pollution control >> Water treatment
Water >> Water consumption >> Water scarcity

Keywords

Desalination operations, Integrated membrane processes, Membrane Crystallizer, Wind-Aided Intensified eVaporation

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N/A

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http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0011916410009094
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macedonio@unical.it

Title

Effect of oxic and anoxic conditions on nitrous oxide emissions from nitrification and denitrification processes

Reference

Biotechnology and bioengineering, DOI: 10.1002/bit.23147

Author(s)

Varit Rassamee, Chakkrid Sattayatewa, Krishna Pagilla, Kartik Chandran

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

A lab-scale sequencing batch reactor fed with real municipal wastewater was used to study nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from simulated wastewater treatment processes. The experiments were performed under four different controlled conditions as follows: (1) fully aerobic, (2) anoxic-aerobic with high dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration, (3) anoxic-aerobic with low DO concentration, and 4) intermittent aeration. The results indicated that N₂O production can occur from both incomplete nitrification and incomplete denitrification. N₂O production from denitrification was observed in both aerobic and anoxic phases. However, N₂O production from aerobic conditions occurred only when both low DO concentrations and high nitrite concentration existed simultaneously. The magnitude of N₂O produced via anoxic denitrification was lower than via oxic denitrification and required the presence of nitrite. Changes in DO, ammonium, and nitrite concentrations influenced the magnitude of N₂O production through denitrification. The results also suggested that N₂O can be produced from incomplete denitrification and then released to the atmosphere during aeration phase due to air stripping. Therefore, biological nitrogen removal systems should be optimized to promote complete nitrification and denitrification to minimize N₂O emissions.

Policy theme(s)

Biotechnology >> Pollution remediation
Environmental technologies >> Pollution control >> Water treatment
Water >> Water quality >> Water pollution and safety
Water >> Water quality >> Wastewater treatment

Keywords

nitrous oxide (N₂O), biological nitrogen removal (BNR), greenhouse gas (GHG), nitrification, denitrification

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N/A

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http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bit.23147/abstract
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pagilla@iit.edu

Title

Biofiltration of wastewater treatment plant effluent: Effective removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products and reduction of toxicity

Reference

Water Research
Volume 45, Issue 9, April 2011, Pages 2751-2762

Author(s)

J. Reungoat , B.I. Escher, M. Macova and J. Keller

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

This study investigates biofiltration for the removal of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), and for the reduction of non-specific toxicity expressed as baseline toxicity equivalent concentration (baseline-TEQ). Two filtering media, sand and granular activated carbon, were tested. The influence of pre-ozonation and empty-bed contact time (EBCT, from 30 to 120 min) was determined. The experiments were performed at a pilot-scale with real WWTP effluent. A previous study showed that biological activity had developed on the filtering media and dissolved organic removal had reached a steady state before sampling commenced. The results show that biological activated carbon (BAC) has a good potential for the removal of DOC (35-60%), PPCPs (>90%) and baseline-TEQ (28-68%) even without pre-ozonation. On the contrary, the sand shows limited improvement of effluent quality. Varying the EBCT does not influence the performance of the BAC filters; however, dissolved oxygen concentration could be a limiting factor. The performances of the BAC filters were stable for over two years suggesting that the main mechanism of organic matter and PPCPs removal is biodegradation. It is concluded that BAC filtration without pre-ozonation could be implemented as a low cost advanced treatment option to improve WWTP effluent chemical quality.

Policy theme(s)

Biotechnology >> Pollution remediation
Environmental technologies >> Pollution control >> Water treatment
Water >> Water quality >> Water pollution and safety
Water >> Water quality >> Wastewater treatment

Keywords

Organic micropollutants, Biological activated carbon filtration, Sand filtration,  Baseline toxicity equivalent concentrations, Wastewater reclamation

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N/A

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http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0043135411000698
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j.reungoat@awmc.uq.edu.au

Title

Integration of a microbial fuel cell with activated sludge process for energy-saving wastewater treatment: Taking a sequencing batch reactor as an example

Reference

Biotechnology and Bioengineering
Volume 108, Issue 6, pages 1260-1267, June 2011

Author(s)

Xian-Wei Liu, Yong-Peng Wang, Yu-Xi Huang, Xue-Fei Sun, Guo-Ping Sheng, Raymond J. Zeng, Feng Li, Fang Dong, Shu-Guang Wang, Zhong-Hua Tong,
Han-Qing Yu

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

In the research and application of microbial fuel cell (MFC), how to incorporate MFCs into current wastewater infrastructure is an importance issue. Here, we report a novel strategy of integrating an MFC into a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) to test the energy production and the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal. The membrane-less biocathode MFC is integrated with the SBR to recover energy from the aeration in the form of electricity and thus reduce the SBR operation costs. In a lab-scale integrated SBR-MFC system, the maximum power production of the MFC was 2.34 W/m3 for one typical cycle and the current density reached up to 14 A/m3. As a result, the MFC contributed to the 18.7% COD consumption of the integrated system and also recovered energy from the aeration tank with a volume fraction of only 12% of the SBR. Our strategy provides a feasible and effective energy-saving and -recovering solution to upgrade the existing activated sludge processes.

Policy theme(s)

Biotechnology >> Pollution remediation
Environmental technologies >> Climate change mitigation >> Low carbon and renewable energy
Environmental technologies >> Pollution control >> Water treatment
Water >> Water quality >> Wastewater treatment

Keywords

activated sludge, biocathode, energy recovery, microbial fuel cell (MFC), sequencing batch reactor (SBR), upgrade

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N/A

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http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bit.23056/abstract
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hqyu@ustc.edu.cn

Title

Reference

Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy
Volume 13, Number 2, 241-268, DOI: 10.1007/s10098-010-0319-z

Author(s)

Florentina Anca Caliman, Brindusa Mihaela Robu, Camelia Smaranda, Vasile Lucian Pavel and Maria Gavrilescu

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

Abstract Contaminated soil and groundwater have been
the subject of study and research, so that the field of
remediation has grown and evolved, continually developing
and adopting new technologies in attempts to improve
the decontamination. The cleanup of environmental
pollution involves a variety of techniques, ranging from
simple biological processes to advanced engineering technologies.
Cleanup activities may also address a wide range
of contaminants. This article is a short analysis of the
technologies for cleaning up groundwater and soil, highlighting
knowledge and information gaps. Challenges and
strategies for cleaning up different types of contaminants,
mainly heavy metals and persistent organic compounds are
described. Included are technologies that treat ground
water contaminants in place in the subsurface and soil
technologies that treat the soil either in place or on site in a
treatment unit. Emerging technologies such as those based
on oxidation–reduction, bioremediation, and nanotechnologies
are covered. It is evident that for a good efficiency of
remediation, techniques or even whole new technologies
may be incorporated into an existing technology as a
treatment train, improving its performance or overcome
limitations. Several economic and decision-making elements
are developed in the final part, based on the analysis
carried out throughout the article. The work highlights the
fact that excellence in research and technology progress
could be attained by the development of technologies to
deal more effectively and economically with certain toxic
contaminants such as heavy metals, volatile organic compounds,
and persistent organic pollutants, associated with
optimization of technologies under field remediation conditions
and requirements, improving capacity and yields,
and reducing costs. Moreover, increasing knowledge of the
scope and problem of equipment development could
improve the benefits.

Policy theme(s)

Environmental technologies>> Pollution control  >>  Water treatment
Soil>> Threats to soil>>Soil contamination
Water>> Water quality>>Water pollution and safety

Keywords

Heavy metals, Nanotechnology, Persistent, Organic pollutants, Pollution, Remediation

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N/A

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http://www.springerlink.com/content/h78m734413767303/
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 mgav@ch.tuiasi.ro

Title

Effect of biological and chemical oxidation on the removal of estrogenic compounds (NP and BPA) from wastewater: An integrated assessment procedure

Reference

Water Research Volume 45, Issue 8, April 2011, Pages 2473-2484

Author(s)

Giorgio Bertanza, Roberta Pedrazzani, Mario Dal Grande, Matteo Papa, Valerio Zambarda, Claudia Montani, Nathalie Steimberg, Giovanna Mazzoleni and Diego Di Lorenzo

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

A major source of the wide presence of EDCs (Endocrine Disrupting Compounds) in water bodies is represented by direct/indirect discharge of sewage. Recent scientific literature reports data about their trace concentration in water, sediments and aquatic organisms, as well as removal efficiencies of different wastewater treatment schemes. Despite the availability of a huge amount of data, some doubts still persist due to the difficulty in evaluating synergistic effects of trace pollutants in complex matrices. In this paper, an integrated assessment procedure was used, based on chemical and biological analyses, in order to compare the performance of two full scale biological wastewater treatment plants (either equipped with conventional settling tanks or with an ultrafiltration membrane unit) and tertiary ozonation (pilot scale).
Nonylphenol and bisphenol A were chosen as model EDCs, together with the parent compounds mono- and di-ethoxylated nonylphenol (quantified by means of GC–MS). Water estrogenic activity was evaluated by applying the human breast cancer MCF–7 based reporter gene assay. Process parameters (e.g., sludge age, temperature) and conventional pollutants (e.g., COD, suspended solids) were also measured during monitoring campaigns.
Conventional activated sludge achieved satisfactory removal of both analytes and estrogenicity. A further reduction of biological activity was exerted by MBR (Membrane Biological Reactor) as well as ozonation; the latter contributed also to decrease EDC concentrations.

Policy theme(s)

Environmental technologies>> Pollution control >> Water treatment
Water>> Water quality>> Wastewater treatment

Keywords

EDCs (Endocrine Disrupting Compounds), Estrogenic activity, Mass balance, MBR treatment, Tertiary ozonation

Entry Source:

N/A

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Shortlisted for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

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http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0043135411000418
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giorgio.bertanza@ing.unibs.it

Title

Experimental analysis of an air gap membrane distillation solar desalination pilot system

Reference

Journal of Membrane Science Volume 379, Issues 1-2, 1 September 2011, Pages 386-396

Author(s)

Elena Guillén-Burrieza, Julián Blanco, Guillermo Zaragoza, Diego-César Alarcón, Patricia Palenzuela, Mercedes Ibarra and Wolfgang Gernjak

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

A solar desalination system based on membrane distillation (MD) is presented and evaluated. In the context of a European project, the MEDESOL project, a pilot plant was built to evaluate the system, which consists of three commercial MD modules coupled with a static solar collector's field. The MD modules employed have been developed and manufactured by the Swedish company Scarab AB. They have a flat sheet air gap membrane distillation (AGMD) configuration with a total membrane surface area per module of 2.8 m2. The MD system is intended to be technically simple to operate, robust and able to cover water demands of small settlements. It also contemplates the use of a multi-stage layout to minimize energy consumption.
Experiments were run during solar hours (the layout didn't include heat storage) and addressed to characterize the performance of the system (i.e. distillate production and quality, thermal efficiency and recovery ratio) as a function of operation variables and salt concentration, as well as to identify the operating capacities and the potential improvements of the MD technology. Aqueous NaCl solutions of 1 and 35 g/l concentration were used as feed. Temperatures up to 85 °C in the feed and up to 75°C in the refrigeration were employed. Maximum specific distillate flux values registered were in the range of 7 l/h m2. Multi-stage layouts were tested in order to evaluate the improvement of the system's thermal efficiency and recovery ratio. The MD technology assessed proved to be suitable for coupling with transient solar thermal energy but inefficiencies inherent to scaling-up compared to laboratory experiences reported in literature were also identified, namely affecting specific distillate production and thermal consumption. The results of the characterization, performance assessment and operational issues description of the pilot plant are shown.

Policy theme(s)

Climate change and energy >> Climate change mitigation >> Low carbon technologies
Environmental technologies >> Pollution control >> Water treatment

Keywords

Membrane distillation, Air gap membrane distillation, Solar desalination, Pilot MD plant

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Shortlisted for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

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N/A

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http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0376738811004479
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julian.blanco@psa.es

Title

The implications of household greywater treatment and reuse for municipal wastewater flows and micropollutant loads

Reference

Water Research
Volume 45, Issue 4, February 2011, Pages 1549-1560

Author(s)

D. Michael Revitt, Eva Eriksson and Erica Donner

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

An increasing worldwide interest in water recycling technologies such as grey water treatment and reuse suggests that additional research to elucidate the fate of xenobioticsduring such practices would be beneficial. In this paper, scenario analyses supported by empirical data are used for highlighting the potential fate of a selection of xenobiotic micropollutants in decentralised greywater treatment systems, and for investigation of the possible implications of greywater recycling for the wider urban water cycle. Potential potable water savings of up to 43% are predicted for greywater recycling based on Danishwater use statistics and priority substance monitoring at a greywater treatment plant in Denmark. Adsorption represents an important mechanism for the removal of cadmium,nickel, lead and nonylphenol from influent greywater and therefore the disposal route
adopted for the generated sludge can exert a major impact on the overall efficiency and environmental sustainability of greywater treatment.

Policy theme(s)

Environmental technologies >> Pollution control >> Water treatment
Resource efficiency >> Water efficiency
Water >> Water quality >> Wastewater treatment
Water >> Water consumption >> Water reuse

Keywords

Greywater treatment, Wastewater influent, Recycling, Priority substances, Scenario analyses, Sludge disposal

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Selected for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

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N/A

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http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0043135410008055
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m.revitt@mdx.ac.uk

Title

A Comparative Analysis of Odour Treatment Technologies in Wastewater Treatment Plants

Reference

Environ. Sci. Technol.
DOI: 10.1021/es103478j

Author(s)

Jose M. Estrada, N. J. R. Bart Kraakman, Raul Munoz, and Raquel Lebrero

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

Biofiltration, activated sludge diffusion, biotrickling filtration, chemical scrubbing, activated carbon adsorption, regenerative incineration, and a hybrid technology (biotrickling filtration coupled with carbon adsorption) are comparatively evaluated in terms of environmental performance, process economics, and social impact by using the IChemE Sustainability Metrics in the context of odor treatment from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). This comparative analysis showed that physical/chemical technologies presented higher environmental impacts than their biological counterparts in terms of energy, material and reagents consumption, and hazardous-waste production. Among biological techniques, the main impact was caused by the high water consumption to maintain biological activity (although the use of secondary effluent water can reduce both this environmental impact and operating costs), biofiltration additionally exhibiting high land and material requirements. From a process economics viewpoint, technologies with the highest investments presented the lowest operating costs (biofiltration and biotrickling filtration), which suggested that the Net Present Value should be used as selection criterion. In addition, a significant effect of the economy of scale on the investment costs and odorant concentration on operating cost was observed. The social benefits derived from odor abatement were linked to nuisance reductions in the nearby population and improvements in occupational health within the WWTP, with the hybrid technology exhibiting the highest benefits. On the basis of their low environmental impact, high deodorization performance, and low Net Present Value, biotrickling filtration and AS diffusion emerged as the most promising technologies for odor treatment in WWTP.

Policy theme(s)

Biotechnology >> Pollution remediation
Environmental technologies >> Pollution control >> Water treatment
Water >> Water quality >> Wastewater treatment

Keywords

Wastewater, Odour

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Selected for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

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N/A

View this study at:

http://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdfplus/10.1021/es103478j
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mutora@iq.uva.es