African Journal of Environmental and Waste Management

African Journal of Environmental and Waste Management ISSN 2375-1266 Vol. 6 (1), pp. 001-008, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of plantation pattern on the efficiency of subsurface flow constructed wetland (sfcw) for sewage treatment

Suntud Sirianuntapiboon and Sontidej Jitvimolnimit

Department of Environmental Technology, School of Energy Environment and Materials, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT),Bangkok 10140, Thailand.

Accepted 09 September, 2018

Abstract

The subsurface flow constructed wetland system (SFCW) with mono- and mixed-cultures of Typha latifolia and Canna siamensis could be applied for sewage treatment. The system efficiency was decreased with the decrease of HRT, excepted for nitrate removal. Both types of cultivated- plant did not show any difference on SS, BOD₅, ammonium-N₂, nitrate-N₂ and total phosphorus removal efficiencies. But, SFCW with mixed-cultures showed the highest phosphorus and nitrate removal efficiencies. Also, it gave the highest plant-biomass production yield. Phosphorus was highly accumulated in the plant tissue while, nitrogen was highly accumulated in the media. Number of bacteria of the system was not difference among plant species and plantation pattern, but it was decreased with the decreased of HRT. Then, the removal efficiencies of the system with both mono- and mixed-cultures were highest at the longest HRT operation of 6 days except for nitrate removal. The highest SS, BOD_5, ammonia-N₂ and total phosphorus removal efficiencies were about 91, 91, 86 and 87%, respectively were obtained in SFCW with both mono- and mixed-cultures.

Key words: Plantation pattern, hydraulic retention time (HRT), vertical-flow constructed wetland, Typha latifolia, Canna siamensis.

African Journal of Environmental and Waste Management ISSN 2375-1266 Vol. 6 (1), pp. 001-009, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Comparative performance of diatom indices in aquatic pollution assessment

Hasan Kalyoncu¹, Nazire Lerzan Çiçek², Cengiz Akköz³ and Bülent Yorulmaz⁴*

¹Süleyman Demirel University, Science and Art Faculty, Department of Biology, Isparta, Turkey.

²Süleyman Demirel University, Egirdir Fisheries Faculty, Isparta, Turkey.

³Selçuk University, Science and Art Faculty, Department of Biology, Konya, Turkey.

⁴Mu la University, Science and Art Faculty, Department of Biology, Mu la, Turkey.

Accepted 03 April, 2018

Abstract

The use of epilithic diatoms as indicators of river water quality was evaluated in two streams of south Turkey. Diatoms as well as physical and chemical variables were sampled monthly between May, 2002 and April 2003 at six sites that can represent the streams. A total of 110 diatom taxa belonging to 32 genera were found. The most tolerant taxa to organic pollution were Nitzschia palea (Kützing) W. Smith., Craticula accomoda (Hustedt) D.G. Mann., Gomphonema parvulum (Kützing) Kützing, Navicula atomus (Kützing) Grunow, Navicula cryptocephala Kützing. These species were dominant at the organically polluted stations. The performance of three types of benthic diatom index was compared (Swiss Diatom Index (DI-CH), Trophic Index (TI) and Saprobic Index (SI)) . The indices were significantly correlated with dissolved oxygen, chloride, biological oxygen demand (BOD₅), and concentrations of nutrients (NO₃-N, NO₂-N, NH ₄-N, and PO ₄-P). DI-CH, TI and SI had high correlations with the physicochemical variables but DI-CH and TI were more reliable than the SI. We concluded that in these rivers, DI-CH and TI could be more useful than SI. Based on the significant correlation with nutrients and organic pollution variables this study suggests that SI, TI and DI-CH are integrating the effects of organic pollution.

Key words: Diatom indices, pollution assessment, Turkey.

African Journal of Environmental and Waste Management ISSN 2375-1266 Vol. 5 (7), pp. 001-010, December, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Domestic wastewater treatment with a vertical completely drained pilot scale constructed wetland planted with Corchorus oliterius

Lacina Coulibaly^1*, Issiaka Savané² and Germain Gourène¹

¹Laboratoire d’Environnement et de Biologie Aquatique, Unité de Formation et de Recherche en Sciences et Gestion de l’Environnement (UFR-SGE), 02 BP 801 Abidjan 02, Côte d’Ivoire.

²Laboratoire de Géosciences et Environnement, Unité de Formation et de Recherche en Sciences et Gestion de l’Environnement (UFR-SGE), 02 BP 801 Abidjan 02, Côte d’Ivoire.

Accepted 04 March, 2018

Abstract

A pilot scale constructed wetland planted with Corchorus oliterius was developed for domestic wastewater treatment. The reactor system was composed of rectangular beds realized in cement. Each bed was filled from the bottom to the top with 0.1 m of gravel (15/25 mm) and 0.30 m of a uniformly distributed medium grain (mean sand diameter = 426,66; uniformity coefficient = 0,37) white sand from the Ebrié lagoon. Two beds planted with yang C. oliterius plants (high density: 40 plants/m²; low density: 10 plants/m²) and one control (unplanted bed) were used to perform the experiment. The beds filtrates pH was neutralized to 7. The planted beds removed the COD (low density = 61%, high density = 65%) more than the control (54%). Nutrients were also best removed in the planted beds (NH₄⁺: 67%, PO₄^3-: 52%) than in the control (NH₄⁺: 11%; PO₄^3-: 56%). The increase of the plant density did not influence significantly (p < 0.05) pollutants removal. However, this augmentation increased the bed performance. The plants leaves were less contaminated at 0.9 m above the bed surface, suggesting this height for their harvesting for sale.

Key words: Domestic wastewater, constructed wetland, treatment, Corchorus oliterius.

Key words: Urbanization, management, lifestyle.

African Journal of Environmental and Waste Management ISSN 2375-1266 Vol. 5 (6), pp. 001-007, November, 2018. © International Scholars Journals 

Full Length Research Paper

Urban solid waste management based on geoinformatics technology

Elmira Shamshiry¹*, Behzad Nadi², Mazlin Bin Mokhtar¹, Ibrahim Komoo¹ and Halimaton Saadiah Hashim¹

¹Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Malaysia.

²Institute of Advanced Technology (ITMA), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia.

Accepted 23 April, 2018

Abstract

The solid waste materials in cities are the natural outcome of human activities. Provision of such system appears to be a major problem due to the complication and the wide nature of waste production. Due to the different parameters involved, deciding upon a suitable location is also very complicated, costly and time consuming. Different criteria are working in determination of an appropriate place for disposal; each of them is of high importance and may cause specific restrictions as to the selection of the location. The ultimate aim of these criteria is the selection of a site that is likely to have at least possible detrimental environmental effect on the nearby area. The pollution of underground water and soil of surrounding area can be considered as some of these bad effects. However, geospatial system can serve as an efficient way of employing and managing various data that can be utilized in locating more appropriate places for the disposal of solid waste. The methodology being implemented utilized geospatial technology for management and visualization of spatial data while fuzzy logic sets is used in searching the best location for landfill.

Key words: Geospatial technology, sanitary landfill, fuzzy logic sets.

African Journal of Environmental and Waste Management ISSN 2375-1266 Vol. 5 (5), pp. 001-012, October, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Healthcare waste management in Nigeria: A case study

Stephen Obekpa Abah¹ and Elijah Ige Ohimain²*

¹Department of Community Health, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria.

²Bioenergy and Environmental Biotechnology Unit, Faculty of Science, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Amassoma, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

Accepted 09 February, 2018

Abstract

Healthcare Waste (HCW) constitutes a special category of waste because they contain potentially harmful materials. The problem of how to manage HCW has become one of critical concerns in developing countries. A cross sectional descriptive study was carried out between June and September 2008 at a tertiary health facility (Teaching Hospital) in Nigeria with the aim of assessing the current practices and commitment to sustainable HCW management in a tertiary healthcare facility. The study approach involved the estimation of the quantity of HCW generated, evaluation of the waste segregation practices and determination of the knowledge of healthcare workers regarding HCW management. Daily waste inventory of each ward was carried out. A total of 52 health workers, including doctors and nurses were interviewed to determine their knowledge and practice with regards to HCW. An evaluation of the status of the waste management practice in the health facility was carried out using the following criteria: waste management (responsibility, segregation, storage and packaging); waste transport; waste recycling and reuse; waste treatment and final disposal. Results show that the average amount of HCW was 0.62 kg/person/day at the out -patient units and 0.81 kg/bed/day in the in-patient wards. The proportion of respondents who had received specific training in the management of HCW was 11.5% (6/52). The number who understood the importance of HCW management in the provision of safety to the public was 46% (24/52). The level of healthcare waste management practice was found to be 0 (that is, unsustainable). This paper has highlighted the pitfalls of HCW management in Nigeria, a developing country where resources are limited. The paper concluded by recommending measures to improve the HCW management practices in the country.

Key words: Healthcare waste, microbial infections, public health, waste segregation, sustainability.