Iranian Research Organization for Science and TechnologyAdvances in Environmental Technology2476-66747320210801Toxic hydrocarbon removal of contaminated soil using Eisenia fetida with response surface methodology137151109410.22104/aet.2021.5128.1390ENMaryamDerisDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, IranMohammad RezaMiroliaeiDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, IranJournal Article20210808Petroleum sludge is typically caused by petroleum contaminants, effluents, and wastes from various stages of hydrocarbon separation. In this study, samples of oily sludge were collected from heavy fuel storage tanks in Sirjan Petrochemical Company in order to investigate the bioremediation of oily sludge by Eisenia fetida earthworms. The effects of oily sludge content, soil ratio, and sawdust weight percentage on total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) removal and reproduction of earthworms were evaluated. According to the design of the experiment (DOE), 17 samples with different combinations of petroleum sludge, soil, cow manure, and sawdust were selected to be tested. Also, to determine the effectiveness of the bioremediation process, some properties of samples including pH, total organic carbon (TOC), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N), and electrical conductivity (EC) were measured. The results showed that all properties, except for the electrical conductivity, decreased. Besides, in the presence of worms, the TPH could reduce by 66% after 90 days for samples containing up to 40 g oily sludge. Moreover, a statistical model was proposed using the response surface methodology (RSM) to predict the TPH removal and earthworm population as the targeted responses. Keywords: oily sludge; earthworm Eisenia fetida; Vermiremediation; response surface methodology.Iranian Research Organization for Science and TechnologyAdvances in Environmental Technology2476-66747320210801Selection of the best leachate treatment method for the waste of leek fields using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)153170110410.22104/aet.2021.4967.1339ENErfanNabaviFaculty of Civil Engineering, Khaje Nasir Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, IranMohammadrezaSabourFaculty of Civil Engineering, Khaje Nasir Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, IranGhorban AliDezvarehFaculty of Civil Engineering, Khaje Nasir Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, IranJournal Article20210601A large amount of fruit and vegetable waste is generated every day in big cities. The efficient disposal of such biodegradable waste can be considered a challenge. Leachate contains large amounts of pollutants, and treating it is very complex, expensive, and requires a variety of hybrid processes. This study used the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to analyze suitable treatment methods for the leachate from fruit and leek fields. Quantitative and qualitative parameters or a combination of these parameters were used as defined in Expert Choice software. The criteria used for this purpose included chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), COD/BOD, temperature, TOC, pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), and time. These criteria, which are important for leachate classification, were identified and extracted by experts; their importance was ranked by AHP software. The research process was divided into two parts to ascertain a faster method: the significance of the parameter time and the insignificance of the parameter time. Biological treatment methods outperformed the other methods where the parameter time was insignificant. In the cases where the parameter time was significant, chemical methods and, in particular, two methods with ozone compounds (Ozone + GAC, Ozone + H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) outperformed the other methods.Iranian Research Organization for Science and TechnologyAdvances in Environmental Technology2476-66747320210801Treatment of wastewater by a combined technique of adsorption, electrocoagulation followed by membrane separation171183109910.22104/aet.2021.5133.1394ENYousefDehghaniDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht Branch, Marvdasht, IranBizhanHonarvarDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht Branch, Marvdasht, IranAminAzhdarpourDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht Branch, Marvdasht, IranMoeinNabipourDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht Branch, Marvdasht, IranJournal Article20210815In this study, a combined lab-scale purification system was set up to treat wastewater from the National Iranian Oil Company. The combined system was composed of three main sections: pre-filtration using activated carbon filter (ACF), electrocoagulation (EC) system, and a filtration section (MF followed by RO). The performance of the treatment system was evaluated by measuring heavy metals, BOD, COD, TDS, TSS, and O&G. The results showed that pre-filtration using ACF could lead to the removal of the BOD, COD, TDS, TSS, and O&G by 24.6%, 21.12%, 31.07%, 36.9% and 8.49%, respectively; the heavy metals were removed significantly. In the EC section, heavy metals were rejected by more than 98% using both the Al and Fe electrode, except for the Cr ions that were mostly removed with Fe electrodes. The removal of BOD, COD, TDS, TSS, and O&G using the Al and Fe electrode was 95.6%, 96%, 91%, 76.6%, and 98.6% and 93.2%, 92.1%, 76%, 83% and 99%, respectively. EC followed by MF/RO filtration led to a remarkable purification performance, and the rejection rate of all pollutants was obtained over 99% after this section. The experimental results indicated that the optimum time for ACF and EC processes were 20 and 50 minutes.Iranian Research Organization for Science and TechnologyAdvances in Environmental Technology2476-66747320210801Factors affecting photocatalytic degradation of Reactive Green-19 with CdO-TiO2 nanocomposite185194110510.22104/aet.2021.5140.1395ENGauravZopeUniversity Institute of Chemical Technology, Kavayitri Bahinabai Chaudhari North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, IndiaAjayagiriGoswamiUniversity Institute of Chemical Technology, Kavayitri Bahinabai Chaudhari North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, IndiaSunilKulkarniGharda Institute of Technology, Lavel. Maharashtra, India0000-0002-5988-3448PawanMeshramUniversity Institute of Chemical Technology, Kavayitri Bahinabai Chaudhari North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, IndiaJournal Article20211001Cdo-TiO<sub>2</sub> nanocomposites were synthesized by varying the molar ratio of CdO: TiO<sub>2</sub> as 1:1, 1:2, and 2:1 using the sol-gel method. The pH value for all the CdO-TiO<sub>2</sub> nanocomposites was controlled at two different values, pH-3 and pH-13. The nanocomposites were used for facilitating photolytic degradation of azo dye (Reactive Green-19). The surface morphology, crystallinity, and properties related to interactions with the light of the prepared catalyst were examined by scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometer, respectively. The nanocomposites for all molar ratios synthesized at pH-3 showed rod-like structure and some irregular shapes, while those synthesized at pH-13 were spherical. From XRD patterns, composites at pH-3 and pH-13 were crystalline; however, those at pH-3 were more crystalline. The parameters, namely initial dye concentration, pH of dye solution, and catalyst concentration, affecting photocatalytic activities were examined and optimized at 75 ppm, pH-7.5, and 1g/L, respectively. The progress of the degradation process of Reactive Green-19 was observed by monitoring the change in the concentration of the dye after a certain time interval by measuring the absorbance by UV-Vis spectrophotometer. Catalyst A1:1 (The nanocomposites obtained at pH-3 with 1:1 mol% of CdO:TiO<sub>2</sub>) showed maximum degradation (94.53 %) at a catalyst concentration of 1 g/L. Iranian Research Organization for Science and TechnologyAdvances in Environmental Technology2476-66747320210801Co-disposal of bottom ash and municipal solid wastes: chemical, microbiological behaviours and stability in anaerobic conditions195208110310.22104/aet.2021.4988.1345ENGhitaAit BaddiEquipe Bio-procédés et environnement, Laboratoire des Sciences de l’Ingénieur et le Management de l’Énergie, Ecole Supérieure de Technologie, Université Ibn Zohr, Agadir, Route Oued Ziz, MoroccoRabhaAissaEquipe Bio-procédés et environnement, Laboratoire des Sciences de l’Ingénieur et le Management de l’Énergie, Ecole Supérieure de Technologie, Université Ibn Zohr, Agadir, Route Oued Ziz, MoroccoBouchraChebliEcole Nationale des Sciences Appliqués d'Agadir, Université Ibn Zohr, Agadir, MoroccoFouadAchemchemEquipe Bio-procédés et environnement, Laboratoire des Sciences de l’Ingénieur et le Management de l’Énergie, Ecole Supérieure de Technologie, Université Ibn Zohr, Agadir, Route Oued Ziz, MoroccoBtissamMouriaEquipe Bio-procédés et environnement, Laboratoire des Sciences de l’Ingénieur et le Management de l’Énergie, Ecole Supérieure de Technologie, Université Ibn Zohr, Agadir, Route Oued Ziz, MoroccoAzizOuatmaneFaculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Sultan Moulay Sliman, Béni –Mellal, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, B.P : 523 Béni Mellal, MoroccoTeodoreBouchezIrstea, Hydrosystems and Bioprocesses Research Unit, 1 rue Pierre-Gilles de Gennes, F-92761 Antony, FranceJournal Article20210623The present study deals with the possible pre-treatment of municipal solid wastes (MSW) in anaerobic conditions and their co-disposal with bottom ash. In this objective, the effect of the addition of bottom ash on organic matter degradation was checked using different analyses. The obtained results showed a great reduction of organic matter in the presence of bottom ash (53% of a solid fraction is degraded instead of 18% for the control after 26 days of degradation). Consequently, methane production was more important for the leachate from a bioreactor mixed with the bottom ash, which reached 70.10 L/Kg in comparison with 50L/Kg for leachate from the control. The characterization of leachates by molecular tools revealed that the microorganisms responsible for organic matter degradation in anaerobic conditions belong to the <em>Methanosarscina </em>genera, and the methanogenesis reaction was acetate-dependent methanogenesis. To better understand the role of bottom ash in the acceleration of methanogenesis, molecular tools were used to identify the microorganisms in the bottom ash leachate after a leaching test. The obtained results showed the absence of microorganisms in the bottom ash leachate. The quantification by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) of dissolved iron, nickel, and cobalt in the bottom ash leachate after the leaching test, showed that the amounts of these metals were 57.30, 0.035, and 0.006mM, respectively. Moreover, the quantification of iron, nickel, and cobalt in leachates from the bioreactor mixed with bottom ash and from the control showed that these amounts reached 94.78mM, 0.49mM, and 0.01mM after 26 days of degradation, and 99.40mM, 0.08mM, and 0.009mM, respectively, after 138 days of degradation. Consequently, it can be suggested that bottom ash must be co-landfilled with municipal solid wastes at 9% as a suitable strategy, which will provide a more rapid chemical and microbiological stabilization of the municipal solid waste in landfills.Iranian Research Organization for Science and TechnologyAdvances in Environmental Technology2476-66747320210801Study of the performance of bench-scale electro-membranes bioreactor in leachate treatment209220112010.22104/aet.2022.5266.1426ENMohammadHeidari FarsaniDepartment of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IranRezaJalilzadeh YengejehDepartment of Environmental Engineering, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran0000-0002-8360-5739AlirezaHajiseyed MirzahosseiniDepartment of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IranMasoudMonavariDepartment of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IranAmir HessamHassaniDepartment of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IranNezamaddinMengelizadehDepartment of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Larestan University of Medical Sciences, Larestan, IranJournal Article20211022In the present study, the integration of the electrochemical process with a membrane bioreactor was used as a new technology for leachate treatment. In the electro-membrane bioreactor (EMBR), aluminum electrodes were used as anodes and cathodes. The EMBR was operated at a current density of 0.5 mA/cm<sup>2</sup> and a solids retention time of 90 days to remove common contaminants such as ammonia-nitrogen (NH<sub>3</sub>-N), chemical oxygen demand (COD), phosphate (PO<sub>4</sub><sup>3-</sup>-P), and ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm (UV<sub>254</sub>). The maximum removal efficiencies of COD and NH<sub>3</sub>-N were above 98%. The average removal efficiency of PO<sub>4</sub><sup>3-</sup>-P by the EMBR system was 93%, which was significant compared to previous studies. The removal rate of humic substances based on UV<sub>254</sub> was provided at approximately 96.95%. The trans-membrane pressure rate was acceptable for 80 days in the EMBR, which could be related to sludge size improvement and filtration resistance through the occurrence of electrocoagulation, electrophoresis, and electroosmosis mechanisms. The mean removal efficiencies in the EMBR were 90, 91.25, 96, and 87.5 % for chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe), respectively. The slight change of mixed liquor-suspended solids (MLSS) in the leachate treatment reactor showed that the microorganisms in the new EMBR system had high adaptation. Based on the results, the EMBR is a promising technology to improve leachate treatment performance due to its excellent removal efficiency of common contaminants, metal removal, and reducing fouling.