Yes / Phenol and its derivatives are hazardous, teratogenic and mutagenic, and have gained significant attention in recent years due to their high toxicity even at low concentrations. Phenolic compounds appear in petroleum refinery wastewater from several sources, such as the neutralized spent caustic waste streams, the tank water drain, the desalter effluent and the production unit. Therefore, effective treatments of such wastewaters are crucial. Conventional techniques used to treat these wastewaters pose several drawbacks, such as incomplete or low efficient removal of phenols. Recently, biocatalysts have attracted much attention for the sustainable and effective removal of toxic chemicals like phenols from wastewaters. The advantages of biocatalytic processes over the conventional treatment methods are their ability to operate over a wide range of operating conditions, low consumption of oxidants, simpler process control, and no delays or shock loading effects associated with the start-up/shutdown of the plant. Among different biocatalysts, oxidoreductases (i.e., tyrosinase, laccase and horseradish peroxidase) are known as green catalysts with massive potentialities to sustainably tackle phenolic contaminants of high concerns. Such enzymes mainly catalyze the o-hydroxylation of a broad spectrum of environmentally related contaminants into their corresponding o-diphenols. This review covers the latest advancement regarding the exploitation of these enzymes for sustainable oxidation of phenolic compounds in wastewater, and suggests a way forward.

<p> Chemical data from atmospheric precipitation in the Upper Great Lakes region were collected on a monthly basis by various organizations from late 1972 to late 1975. The data for pairs of chemical parameters are regarded as simultaneously recorded time series and are analyzed by spectral analysis to bring out periodic components present in both time series and also to reflect the correlation and phase difference between the pairs of time series.</p> <p> The precipitation data have four major bands of periodicities: (1) a yearly cycle representing high and low atmospheric loadings in the summer and winter respectively with regards to Fe, PART, SO4 and P; (2) a 6 monthly period reflecting the four seasons of the year and affecting Fe, PART, P and pH; (3) a 9 monthly period for the heavy metals (Cu, Ni, Cd, Pb and Zn); and (4) 2 to 5 cycles/month periodicities caused by atmospheric turbulence and affecting all the parameters.</p> <p> The mining-smelting industry at Sudbury has been identified as a major point source of atmospheric emissions of acid, sulfate and the heavy metals, with the exception of iron, This is evident in view of the facts that the spectral intensities at the major periodicities decrease away from the mining-smelting centre; the strikingly high correlation and practically inphase relationship between Cu and Ni, and the 9 monthly period for the heavy metals which is associated with the industry.</p> / Thesis / Bachelor of Science (BSc)

<p> This thesis focuses on the thermal plasma treatment of non-point source pollutants accumulating in stormwater ponds. Stormwater ponds are constructed as a part of urban non-point source pollution control systems. Pollutants from various sources are collected in the stormwater ponds as sediments. In this work, stormwater sediments were first separated by a filter with an opening of 208μm. The filtered sludge-water was subjected to pulsed arc electrohydraulic discharge (PAED) treatment while the solid part (i.e., wet sludge and dried PAED treated sludge) was subjected to thermal plasma treatment under non-DC transferred and partial transferred operation modes. The results from the PAED sludge-water treatment show that the reduction of TOC in sludge-water was approximately 80% and was greater than 90%, respectively, after 5 minutes and 2 hours of PAED treatment. The accumulated gaseous concentrations of CxHy, CO, C02, S02, H2S and NO emission from sludge-water treatment were 8.2, 3.1, 1.9, 0.32, 0.29 and 0.07 mg/L, respectively, after 2 hours of PAED treatment. The concentrations of volatile elements in sediments such as S, Br, Cl and K decreased approximately 80, 90, 30 and 20% respectively. The solid-phase carbon was observed to be approximately completely removed after treatment. Based on the above results, it can be concluded that PAED successfully degraded organic compounds into C02, CO and CxHy, and converted sulfur and nitrate compounds into S02, HzS and NO. </p> <p> Thermal plasma wet-sludge treatments showed that a reduction of TOC was approximately 52% with argon plasma gas and air flow rates (in the reaction zone) of 24 and 2.4 L/min, respectively. Based on SEM images, wet sludge was melted under partial transferred mode. Thirteen elements with concentration relationships of 0 > Si > Al > Ca > S >Fe> K > Mg > Na > Cu > C > Ti > Cl were quantified by the X-ray energy dispersion technique. The elemental weight percentages of Si, K, Fe and 0 increased with increasing reaction zone air flow rate, while Ca and Cu decreased with increasing air flow rate. Thirty two elements were quantified by Neutron Activation Analyses (NAA) but only 27 elements were above the detection limits. Major elements (concentration> 1000 ppm) with relative concentrations of Ca > Al >Fe> K > Mg > Na > Ti > Cl; minor elements (100 - 1000 ppm) with relative concentrations of Mn > Ba > Sr > Zn; and trace elements(< 100 ppm) with relative concentration were Mo > V > Cr > Br >La> As > Sc > Th> As > Co > Dy > W > Sb > Eu; were determined. Concentrations of Zn, La and Co were enriched 90, 50 and 30% on average respectively, while concentrations of Br, W and As decreased by 80, 50 and 20% on average respectively. The chemical compositions in sludge were quite different after thermal plasma treatment. The average percentages of sand (Si02) and calcite (CaC03) decreased 35 and 10% respectively, while compounds such as KAlSi08, Fe304, NaCl and CaS04 were formed after thermal plasma treatment. Gaseous hydrocarbons, H2S, CO and NO were emitted continuously during the thermal plasma treatment of sludge. Higher reduction of organics and sulfur compounds and suppression of NOx formation were observed in the thermal plasma treatment of wet sludge. The integrated system consisting of PAED sludge-water treatment and thermal plasma wet sludge treatment under partial transferred mode may provide a potential for stormwater pond sediment treatment control. </p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Tesis por compendio / [EN] Emerging organic pollutants include a wide array of different compounds. The main characteristic of these numerous substances is that they do not need to be persistent in the environment to cause negative effects, since their high transformation and removal rates can be offset by their continuous introduction into the environment. One of the main sources of these contaminants is untreated urban wastewaters and wastewater treatment effluents. Most current wastewater treatment plants are not designed to treat these types of substances, for that reason a high portion of these pollutants can escape and enter to the urban water cycle reaching, therefore, the drinking water supply. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that many of these compounds are non-regulated. For the same reason, although concentrations are generally low (ng/l- µg/l), there are worries about their potential and unknown risks of exposures. In this sense, it is known that emerging organic pollutants can have long-lasting effects on development and reproduction, sometimes even in subsequent generations, via epigenetic mechanisms or by mutagenic effects. For all the above reasons, bioindicators such as fishes can be used as an alternative, at least complementary, to monitor their presence. In this sense, in the present thesis was studied whether zebrafish could be established as a bioindicator to detect the presence of these substances in drinking waters through the study of the effects on development and, especially, on reproduction. To accomplish this objective, four studies were carried out. Firstly, it was compared whether keeping the chorion intact or, on the contrary, permeabilized with pronase with the aim to figure out if the chorion acts as a barrier to emerging pollutants. Results from this study suggest using embryos with the chorion intact from the outset when drinking water from different sources was to be tested. In the second study were defined and narrowed down the most sensitive biological parameters to detect the effects of emerging organic pollutants on the development and, especially, on the zebrafish reproduction. Results showed that the hatching, fertility and underdeveloped rates were the most sensitive parameters. In the third study was analyzed the possible cumulative effect along two generations and/or the possible reversibility of the effects from emerging organic pollutants in zebrafish specimens reared in drinking water. Results showed a non-reversible effect on fertility rate and an alteration of sex ratio towards females in one of the studied water, although in this last case the alteration was reversible. A transgenerational alteration in the germline via epigenetic mechanism from the previous generation is proposed as the most plausible explanation to this effect. Finally, it was developed the fourth study with the aim to discriminate the effects from organic pollutants through three different pathways: male, female or water where the fertilization took place. Results showed a decrease in the fertility rate and in the hatching rate, due to an effect of the water where fertilization took place.The most plausible explanation could be the presence of substances which affect the micropyle and chorion. In addition, it was observed a decrease in the fertility rate due to a female effect, but in this case by an alteration of the oocyte quality. Taking into account the results obtained, it could be stated that the zebrafish is a suitable bioindicator to detect the effects from organic pollutants at very low concentration, when are reared in drinking water throughout their life-cycle. / [ES] Los contaminantes orgánicos emergentes incluyen una amplia gama de compuestos diferentes. La principal característica de estas numerosas sustancias es que no necesitan ser persistentes en el medio para causar efectos negativos, ya que sus altas tasas de transformación y eliminación pueden ser compensadas por su continua introducción en el medio ambiente. Una de las principales fuentes de estos contaminantes son las aguas residuales urbanas no tratadas y los efluentes de tratamiento de aguas residuales. La mayoría de las plantas de aguas residuales actuales no están diseñadas para el tratamiento de este tipo de sustancias, por ello una alta porción de estos contaminantes pueden escapar y entrar al ciclo urbano del agua alcanzando, por lo tanto, el suministro de agua potable. El problema se agrava porque muchos de estos compuestos no están regulados. Por la misma razón, aunque las concentraciones son generalmente bajas (ng/l- µg/l), se desconocen los posibles riesgos a la exposición de estos compuestos. Por otro lado, se sabe que los contaminantes orgánicos emergentes pueden tener efectos a largo plazo sobre el desarrollo y la reproducción, a veces incluso en las generaciones posteriores, a través de mecanismos epigenéticos y/o por efectos mutagénicos. Por todas las razones citadas anteriormente, los bioindicadores como los peces pueden ser usados como una alternativa, al menos complementaria, para controlar su presencia. En este sentido, en la presente tesis se estudió si el pez cebra se podría establecer como bioindicador para detectar la presencia de estas sustancias en aguas potables a través del estudio de los efectos sobre el desarrollo y, en especial, sobre la reproducción. Para lograr este objetivo, se llevaron a cabo cuatro estudios. En primer lugar, se comparó mantener el corion intacto o, por el contrario, permeabilizarlo con pronasa para averiguar si el corion actúa como una barrera a los contaminantes emergentes. Los resultados de este estudio sugieren el uso de embriones con el corion intacto desde el principio, cuando va a ser usada agua potable procedente de diferentes orígenes. En el segundo estudio se definieron y acotaron los parámetros biológicos más sensibles para detectar los efectos de los contaminantes orgánicos emergentes sobre el desarrollo y sobre la reproducción del pez cebra. Los resultados mostraron que los parámetros más sensibles fueron la tasa de eclosión, la tasa de fecundidad y la tasa de especímenes subdesarrollados. En el tercer estudio fue analizado el posible efecto acumulativo a lo largo de dos generaciones y/o la posible reversibilidad de los efectos de los contaminantes orgánicos en especímenes de pez cebra criados en aguas potables. Los resultados mostraron un efecto irreversible en la tasa de fecundidad y una alteración de la proporción sexual hacia hembras en una de las aguas estudiadas, aunque en este último caso la alteración fue reversible. Una alteración transgeneracional en la línea germinal a través de mecanismos epigenéticos de la generación anterior se propone como la explicación más plausible para este efecto. Finalmente, se desarrolló el cuarto estudio con el objetivo de discriminar los efectos de los contaminantes orgánicos a través de tres vías diferentes: macho, hembra o agua donde la fertilización se llevó a cabo. Los resultados mostraron una disminución de la fertilidad y la tasa de eclosión, debido a un efecto del agua donde la fertilización tuvo lugar. La explicación más plausible podría ser la presencia de sustancias que afectan al micropilo y al corion. Además, se observó una disminución en la tasa de fertilidad debido a un efecto hembra, pero en este caso por una alteración de la calidad de los ovocitos. Teniendo en cuenta los resultados obtenidos, se puede afirmar que el pez cebra es un bioindicador adecuado para detectar los efectos de los contaminantes orgánicos en concentraciones muy bajas, cuando / [CA] Els contaminants orgànics emergents inclouen una àmplia gamma de compostos diferents. La principal característica d'aquestes nombroses substàncies és que no necessiten ser persistents en el medi per causar efectes negatius, ja que les seves altes taxes de transformació i eliminació poden ser compensades per la seva contínua introducció en el medi ambient. Una de les principals fonts d'aquests contaminants són les aigües residuals urbanes no tractades i els efluents de tractament d'aigües residuals. La majoria de les plantes d'aigües residuals actuals no estan dissenyades per al tractament d'aquest tipus de substàncies, per això una alta porció d'aquests contaminants poden escapar i entrar al cicle urbà de l'aigua aconseguint, per tant, el subministrament d'aigua potable. El problema s'agreuja perquè molts d'aquests compostos no estan regulats. Per la mateixa raó, encara que les concentracions són generalment baixes (ng/l- µg/l), es desconeixen els possibles riscos a l'exposició d'aquests compostos. D'altra banda, se sap que els contaminants orgànics emergents poden tenir efectes a llarg termini sobre el desenvolupament i la reproducció, de vegades fins i tot en les generacions posteriors, a través de mecanismes epigenetics i/o per efectes mutagenètics. Per totes estes raons, els bioindicadors com els peixos poden ser usats com una alternativa, almenys complementària, per controlar la seva presència. En aquest sentit, en la present tesi es va estudiar si el peix zebra es podria establir com a bioindicador per detectar la presència d'aquestes substàncies en aigües potables a través de l'estudi dels efectes sobre el desenvolupament i, especialment, sobre la reproducció. Per aconseguir aquest objectiu, es van dur a terme quatre estudis. En primer lloc, es va comparar mantenir el cori intacte o, per contra, permeabilitzar-lo amb pronasa per esbrinar si el cori actua com una barrera als contaminants emergents. Els resultats d'aquest estudi suggereixen l'ús d'embrions amb el cori intacte des del principi, quan va a ser usada aigua potable procedent de diferents orígens. En el segon estudi es van definir i van fitar els paràmetres biològics més sensibles per detectar els efectes dels contaminants orgànics emergents sobre el desenvolupament i sobre la reproducció del peix zebra. Els resultats van mostrar que els paràmetres més sensibles van ser la taxa d'eclosió, la taxa de fecunditat i la taxa d'espècimens subdesenvolupats. En el tercer estudi es va analitzar el possible efecte acumulatiu al llarg de dues generacions i/o la possible reversibilitat dels efectes dels contaminants orgànics emergents en espècimens de peix zebra criats en aigües potables. Els resultats van mostrar un efecte irreversible en la taxa de fecunditat i una alteració de la proporció sexual cap a femelles en una de les aigües estudiades, encara que en aquest últim cas l'alteració va ser reversible. Una alteració transgeneracional en la línia germinal a través de mecanismes epigenètics de la generació anterior es proposa com l'explicació més plausible per a aquest efecte. Finalment, es va desenvolupar el quart estudi amb l'objectiu de discriminar els efectes dels contaminants orgànics a través de tres vies diferents: mascle, femella o aigua on la fertilització es va dur a terme. Els resultats van mostrar una disminució de la fertilitat i la taxa d'eclosió, a causa d'un efecte de l'aigua on la fertilització va tenir lloc. L'explicació més plausible podria ser la presència de substàncies que afecten al "micropilo" i al cori. A més, es va observar una disminució en la taxa de fertilitat a causa d'un efecte femella, però en aquest cas per una alteració de la qualitat dels ovòcits. Tenint en compte els resultats obtinguts, es pot afirmar que el peix zebra és un bioindicador adequat per detectar els efectes dels contaminants orgànics en concentracions molt baixes, quan es crien en l'aigua potable / Martínez Sales, MI. (2016). ZEBRAFISH AS BIOINDICATOR OF EPIGENETIC FACTORS PRESENT IN DRINKING WATER THAT MAY AFFECT DEVELOPMENT AND REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTION [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/64081 / Compendio

In this master thesis project, the removal of micro-pollutants (MPs) from water and wastewater were investigated by ozonation and the peroxone process O3/H2O2. Themain aim of the study was to compare the degradation efficiency of the two processes for a selection of organic biocides and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in wastewater and synthetic water. Synthetic water and wastewater effluent were spiked with fifteen compounds including twelve biocides and three APIs and samples were taken at different time points to determine degradation kinetics in treatment by the two processes, respectively. Most of the biocides tested in this study showed moderately reactivity, or were non-reactive, with O3 (e.g., Carbendazim, 1H-Benzotriazole, 1, 2-Benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one, 2, 4-Dinitrophenol, 4-nitrophenol) and some of the biocides and APIs were readily reactive with ozone (O3) and were removed from the water by direct O3 oxidationduring both processes. Trimethoprim was found to be an ozone reactive micropollutants and showed highest reactivity with O3. In the abatement mechanism, these micro-pollutants are removed based on the ozone-based processes and with hydroxyl radical •OH in peroxone process. Comparing the two processes, the peroxone process showed highest percentage removal of compounds (90-100%) within moderate time periods (30 s - 2 min) in synthetic water and (30 s to 10 min) in wastewater. The results revealed that the peroxone process showed highest removal efficiency and with higher reproducibility. Further, generally