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Gholipour A, Fragoso R, Galvão A, Duarte E. A pilot-scale evaluation of residual sludge quality in a worm-sludge treatment reed bed in the Mediterranean region. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 370:122772. [PMID: 39362159 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2024] [Revised: 09/16/2024] [Accepted: 09/29/2024] [Indexed: 10/05/2024]
Abstract
A pilot-scale study on sludge treatment reed beds investigated the combined effects of earthworms and Arundo donax on sewage sludge dewatering and residual sludge quality. Four units were tested: one planted with earthworms, one planted without earthworms, one unplanted with earthworms, and one control, each unit replicated. Over a year, 24 cycles of sludge (dry and volatile solid contents of 24.71 g.L-1, and 19.14 g.L-1) were fed onto the units at a sludge loading rate: 43.59 kg.DS.m-2.year-1. Afterward, the units experienced 132 days of resting period, increasing dry solids from 21 to 70 % and decreasing volatile solids from 81 to 69 % on average (40 % sludge volume reduction). The bottom layers of the planted unit with earthworms showed a 30 % reduction in volatile solids, indicating improved sludge stabilization. Macronutrient abundance in the residual sludge followed the sequence N > Ca > P > K > S > Mg. The planted unit with earthworms reduced micronutrient concentrations by 22 % compared to the control unit (Fe > Na > Mn > B > Mo). Earthworms also played a key role in reducing heavy metal concentrations by 11 % compared to the planted unit without earthworms (Zn > Cr > Pb > Ni > Cd). Heavy metal levels in the residual sludge met EU and Portugal standards, with a 99.9 % reduction in Escherichia coli and fecal coliforms. Cost estimation showed centrifugation and W-STRB scenarios cost 167 and 183 €.PE-1 for a ten-year operation, with O&M costs of 7 and 3 €.PE-1.year-1, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Gholipour
- LEAF - Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, School of Agriculture (ISA), University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Rita Fragoso
- LEAF - Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, Associate Laboratory TERRA, School of Agriculture (ISA), University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Ana Galvão
- CERIS, Technical University of Lisbon (IST), Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Elizabeth Duarte
- LEAF - Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, Associate Laboratory TERRA, School of Agriculture (ISA), University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017, Lisbon, Portugal.
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Gholipour A, Fragoso R, Galvão A, Duarte E. A comparative study of worm-sludge treatment reed bed planted with Phragmites australis and Arundo donax in the Mediterranean region. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:51551-51567. [PMID: 39112902 PMCID: PMC11374837 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-34632-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
Sludge treatment reed bed planted (STRB) with Phragmites australis (P.australis) and Arundo donax (A.donax) was assessed in the presence of Eisenia fetida under control condition during the dry season. Worm-planted units were fed with mixed sewage sludge (dry and volatile solids of 29.44 g DS.L-1 and 24.23 g VS.L-1). Sludge loading rates (SLR) of 50, 60, and 70 kg DS m-2 year-1 were examined to assess dewatering efficiency. Surface layers in units with P.australis and A.donax achieved DS of 80 and 81% at a loading rate of 50 kg DS m-2 year-1, while their subsurface DS were 41 and 25%, respectively. Units with A.donax experienced plant loss when subjected to SLR exceeding 60 kg DS m-2 year-1. More than 10 cm of residual sludge accumulated on the top of units after a 2-month final rest. Evapotranspiration was greater in the unit with P.australis (5.23 mm day-1) compared to the unit with A.donax (4.24 mm day-1) while both were fed with 70 kg DS m-2 year-1. Water loss contributions from residual sludge layer, drained water, and evapotranspiration were 3, 46, and 51%, respectively. Units with P.australis indicated 20% higher water loss compared to units with A.donax. Although the drained water quality improved over time, it did not meet standard limits. The residual sludge layer contained macro and micronutrients, and heavy metals with a significant elemental order of N > Ca > P > S > mg > K (N:P:K = 31:8:1), Fe > Na > B > Mn > Mo and Zn > Cr > Cu > Pb > Ni > Cd. Overall, STRB could be a sustainable alternative technology to conventional sewage sludge management techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Gholipour
- LEAF-Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, School of Agriculture (ISA), University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Rita Fragoso
- LEAF-Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, Associate Laboratory TERRA, School of Agriculture (ISA), University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Galvão
- CERIS, Technical University of Lisbon (IST), Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Elizabeth Duarte
- LEAF-Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, Associate Laboratory TERRA, School of Agriculture (ISA), University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017, Lisbon, Portugal
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Gao FZ, He LY, Hu LX, Chen J, Yang YY, He LX, Bai H, Liu YS, Zhao JL, Ying GG. The variations of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes in two subtropical large river basins of south China: Anthropogenic impacts and environmental risks. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 312:119978. [PMID: 35987289 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Emission of antibiotics into riverine environments affects aquatic ecosystem functions and leads to the development of antibiotic resistance. Here, the profiles of forty-four antibiotics and eighteen antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were analyzed in two large rivers of the Pearl River System. In addition, the risks of ecotoxicity and resistance selection posed by the antibiotics were estimated. As compared to the reservoirs, the river sections close to the urban and livestock areas contained more antibiotics and ARGs. Seasonal variations of antibiotics (higher in the dry season) and relative ARGs (normalized by 16S rRNA gene, higher in the wet season) were found in the water, but not in the sediment. Sulfonamide resistance genes were the most prevalent ARGs in both river water and sediment. Antibiotic concentration was correlated with ARG abundance in the water, indicating that antibiotics play a critical role in ARG spread. In addition, oxytetracycline was the most abundant antibiotic with concentrations up to 2030 ng/L in the water and 2100 ng/g in the sediment respectively, and posed the highest risks for resistance selection. Oxytetracycline, tetracycline and sulfamethoxazole were expected to be more ecotoxicologically harmful to aquatic organisms, while ofloxacin, enrofloxacin, norfloxacin, chlortetracycline, oxytetracycline and tetracycline posed ecotoxicological risks in the sediment. The Nanliujiang river with intensive livestock activities was contaminated by antibiotics and ARGs and faced high ecotoxicological and resistance selection risks. Collectively, these findings reflect the impacts of anthropogenic activities on the spread of antibiotic resistance in large river basins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang-Zhou Gao
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Liang-Ying He
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Li-Xin Hu
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Jun Chen
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Yang
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Lu-Xi He
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Hong Bai
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - You-Sheng Liu
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Jian-Liang Zhao
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Guang-Guo Ying
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
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Gholipour A, Fragoso R, Duarte E, Galvão A. Sludge Treatment Reed Bed under different climates: A review using meta-analysis. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 843:156953. [PMID: 35772550 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Sludge Treatment Reed Beds (STRBs) have been used worldwide over the past few decades. This review aims to overarchingly identify and appraise the currently available knowledge of STRB technology and discern climatic patterns through Meta-Analysis (MA). We systematically searched Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science databases (up to Dec 2021) via a combination of keywords to identify English-language studies published in peer-reviewed journals. Of 142 potential articles, 73 studies met the present review objectives and inclusion criteria. Four STRB classifications including typical STRB, earthworm STRB, Sludge Treatment Electro Wetland (STEW), and earthworm STEW were found since 1990. The data and information on STRBs' configuration, operational parameters in terms of location, type of sewage sludge, study scale, Sludge Loading Rate (SLR), Dry Solid (DS), the proportion of Volatile Solid to DS (VS/DS), and their association with the feeding and resting modes were extracted from the selected articles. The analysis was focused on the interconnections between operational parameters and system efficiency for Temperate type 1 (low intensity of solar radiation), Temperate type 2 (high intensity of solar radiation), and Tropical climates. Based on MA, we found the average SLRs of 50, 70, and 101 Kg.DM.m-2.year-1 for Temperate type 1, Temperate type 2, and Tropical climates respectively, and DS during the feeding of 33 %, 35 %, and 40 %. A qualitative comparison of Arid and Polar climates was also performed given the reduced number of studies available in these climates. The volume of the sludge reduced was 60 % higher and the height of accumulated sludge was annually 2 cm in the earthworm STRBs, and STEWs compared to typical STRBs, which was 6 cm annually in Tropical climates. Correlation analysis, media characterization, list of plant species, and the removal efficiency of STRBs in the residual sludge and leachate are mentioned as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Gholipour
- LEAF - Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA), University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Rita Fragoso
- LEAF - Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, Associated Laboratory TERRA, Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA), University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Elizabeth Duarte
- LEAF - Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA), University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Ana Galvão
- CERIS, Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), University of Lisbon, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal.
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Ohore OE, Qin Z, Sanganyado E, Wang Y, Jiao X, Liu W, Wang Z. Ecological impact of antibiotics on bioremediation performance of constructed wetlands: Microbial and plant dynamics, and potential antibiotic resistance genes hotspots. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 424:127495. [PMID: 34673400 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Constructed wetlands (CWs) are nature-based solutions for treating domestic and livestock wastewater which may contain residual antibiotics concentration. Antibiotics may exert selection pressure on wetland's microbes, thereby increasing the global antibiotics resistance problems. This review critically examined the chemodynamics of antibiotics and antibiotics resistance genes (ARGs) in CWs. Antibiotics affected the biogeochemical cycling function of microbial communities in CWs and directly disrupted the removal efficiency of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and chemical oxygen demand by 22%, 9.3%, and 24%, respectively. Since changes in microbial function and structure are linked to the emergence and propagation of antibiotic resistance, antibiotics could adversely affect microbial diversity in CWs. The cyanobacteria community seemed to be particularly vulnerable, while Proteobacteria could resist and persist in antibiotics contaminated wetlands. Antibiotics triggered excitation responses in plants and increased the root activities and exudates. Microbes, plants, and substrates play crucial roles in antibiotic removal. High removal efficiency was exhibited for triclosan (100%) > enrofloxacin (99.8%) > metronidazole (99%) > tetracycline (98.8%) > chlortetracycline (98.4%) > levofloxacin (96.69%) > sulfamethoxazole (91.9%) by the CWs. This review showed that CWs exhibited high antibiotics removal capacity, but the absolute abundance of ARGs increased, suggesting CWs are potential hotspots for ARGs. Future research should focus on specific bacterial response and impact on microbial interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Okugbe Ebiotubo Ohore
- Institute of Marine Sciences and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Zhirui Qin
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Edmond Sanganyado
- Institute of Marine Sciences and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China; Organization of African Academic Doctors, Off Kamiti Road P.O. Box 25305-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Yuwen Wang
- Institute of Marine Sciences and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Xiaoyang Jiao
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Wenhua Liu
- Institute of Marine Sciences and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou 511458, China
| | - Zhen Wang
- Institute of Marine Sciences and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China.
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Sustainable Dewatering of Industrial Sludges in Sludge Treatment Reed Beds: Experiences from Pilot and Full-Scale Studies under Different Climates. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/app10217446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Sludge treatment reed beds (STRBs) are an established sludge treatment technology with multiple environmental and economic advantages in dewatering sludge generated during domestic wastewater treatment. However, little is reported regarding their appropriateness and efficiency for the treatment of sludge produced during industrial wastewater treatment and from water works. These sludge types may have significantly different quality characteristics than typical domestic sludge and may contain constituents that could affect their dewaterability. Therefore, the dewatering of these industrial sludge types is usually tested in small-scale pilot STRBs before the construction of full-scale systems. This paper presents and summarizes the state-of-the-art experience from existing pilot and full-scale STRB systems from various countries and climates treating sludge from various industrial sources, evaluates the suitability and the advantages of this sustainable treatment technology, and proposes the required dimensioning for efficient full-scale STRB operation and performance.
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