Articles tagged with Wastewater Treatment
A new study shows that Poo-Gloos can provide treatment that meets pollution-control requirements, reducing costs for towns outgrowing their waste-treatment lagoons. The devices consistently achieved high levels of treatment, reducing biological oxygen demand by up to 92%.
A recent study found that the implementation of federal regulations on treating sewage has significantly lowered pathogen levels in biosolids. The study analyzed data from 18 wastewater treatment plants and found that pathogens have dropped by 94-99% since 1993.
Researchers found that fertilizing soils with biosolids introduces triclosan into the environment, with levels averaging 15.5 milligrams per kilogram in treated biosolids. Biological degradation of triclosans resulted in significant loss after 7-9 months, with up to 96% removal after 16 months.
The new sewage treatment process uses low-oxygen conditions to encourage nitrous oxide production, which can be used as fuel. This approach could reduce costs and increase energy generation while eliminating greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a technology that uses nanotech coatings to produce electricity from sewage, increasing output 20 times. The new approach could clean biowaste while producing useful levels of electricity, promoting sustainable wastewater treatment and renewable energy.
A new study by The Endocrine Society reveals that chemicals remaining in Boulder Creek after wastewater treatment change the gender of fish. Native male fish were found to be feminized, with intersex individuals also present downstream of the wastewater treatment plant.
A recent study led by the University of Colorado at Boulder found that upgrading a wastewater treatment plant in Colorado has mitigated the problem of male fish becoming feminized due to chemical contaminants. The team observed no effects on male sex characteristics after 28 days of exposure to effluent water, contradicting previous fi...
A new demonstration facility for decentralized wastewater management has been opened in Jordan, developed by German-Jordanian researchers. The site aims to adapt decentralized wastewater treatment technologies to the arid local conditions and increase recycled wastewater volume by over fourfold by 2022.
Pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities are a significant source of pharmaceuticals in surface waters, according to a USGS study. Outflow from wastewater treatment plants that receive pharmaceutical wastewater had concentrations 10-1000 times higher than those without.
Researchers found high concentrations of phytoestrogens, hormone-mimicking compounds, in the wastewater discharged from eight industrial sites. Phytoestrogens can be removed through standard treatment, but levels may still harm fish at certain thresholds.
A research project aims to produce a computer model for water managers to reduce energy consumption while meeting increased demand for water. The project, funded by the National Science Foundation, will help address water scarcity issues in regions like Arizona, where population growth and drought are exacerbating the problem.
Researchers developed a new technique to monitor bacterial health in wastewater treatment facilities using sensor technology. The method, called self-referencing, senses minute changes in chemistry related to bacterial health and yields results immediately.
Using two million pounds of iron, researchers improved pollutant levels by 87%, removing BOD, nitrogen, phosphorus, and colors from industrial wastewater. The low-cost iron-based method has great potential for developing countries.
Researchers have found that silver nanoparticles destroy benign bacteria used to remove ammonia from wastewater treatment systems. The presence of these particles can hinder the reproduction activity of good bacteria, potentially harming soil and food crops.
Soil scientists have created a new mathematical model that can accurately calculate the quantities of nitrous oxide produced during wastewater treatment processes like anammox and denitrification. This breakthrough aims to improve wastewater treatment effectiveness and reduce N2O emissions, a key concern for climate protection.
Perry L. McCarty's work in environmental biotechnology has led to the development of economical wastewater treatment processes, including anaerobic systems that utilize beneficial microbes. His research aims to protect ecological and drinking water resources by treating wastewater.
A new metagenomic study of activated sludge wastewater treatment processes reveals key players and mechanisms behind the process. The researchers were able to obtain a nearly complete genetic blueprint for Accumulibacter phosphatis, a bacterial species essential for removing excess phosphorus from wastewater.
Researchers found that triclocarban, used in antiseptic soap, persists in sludge and is concentrated several thousand-fold higher than in raw wastewater. The chemical's polychlorinated structure makes it resistant to degradation during wastewater treatment.
The study found that antibiotics and synthetic hormones can increase antibiotic resistance and disrupt endocrine functions. Researchers identified key metabolites from commonly prescribed medications and hormone replacement therapy, highlighting the need for optimized wastewater treatment processes to remove these compounds.
Researchers used passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags to assess fluid motion in simulated radioactive waste without sampling. The technique improved mixing technology for the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant's large-scale operation.
Penn State researchers have successfully generated electricity from domestic wastewater using microbial fuel cells, removing up to 78% of organic matter. The technology has the potential to reduce wastewater treatment costs and provide access to sanitation technologies worldwide.
A new water treatment process called activated magnetic sludge process has been introduced, which uses magnetic separation to reduce excess sludge production. The technique can treat up to 21 gallons of sewage daily without generating any excess sludge.
The Odor Index is a new tool that relates the concentration of odorants to human perception, providing a comparative scale for measuring odors. The technology has shown significant reductions in odors in wastewater treatment plants and other industries.
A portable wastewater treatment unit has been developed to treat wastewater in remote locations, using stainless steel screens and pressure filters with clay beads. The unit can treat 30,000 gallons per day of wastewater, producing partially dried sludge that can be disposed of with regular solid waste.
A new technology, InStreem™, has been successfully demonstrated at the George DeRuyter Dairy in Washington state, reducing odors and solids in waste lagoons. The system converts existing lagoons into extended aeration systems, establishing conditions favorable for both aerobic and anaerobic degradation of wastes.
The US Navy is developing a new system to treat non-oily wastewater from its vessels, eliminating costs and fines associated with discharging wastewater. The Aerated Non-Oily Wastewater Membrane Treatment System (AMTS) has shown promise in treating graywater and vacuum-collected sewage, allowing ships to remain on their stations longer.
A recent USGS study suggests that rivers, particularly the South Platte River in Colorado and Nebraska, are emitting high levels of nitrous oxide (N2O), a catalyst for ozone depletion. The study's findings indicate that N2O emissions from these rivers could be a major human-made source of N2O to the atmosphere.