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Investigation of Iron and Lead Changes in Wastewater Treatment Sludge Decomposition Reactor With and Without Worm Existence

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Iranian Journal of Science and Technology, Transactions of Civil Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Mixture of industrial and municipal wastewater causes an increase in concentration of heavy metals in wastewater and sludge. Sludge can be recycled to vermicompost. Heavy metal concentration of resulting vermicompost is important, as they are being used in green spaces, where irrigation disperses heavy metals into the underground water resources and affect the quality of underground water. We study concentration of iron and lead in substrate and worm tissues over time and depth in batch reactors. Two bins of 40 × 40 × 120 cm3 (length × width × depth) are built and filled with sludge (T1) and sludge + soil (T2). We put perforated tubes in four sides of bins and a faucet with constant flow of distilled water above each pilot to produce water flow from top to the bottom of reactors. Pilots run in two stages; with and without the presence of earthworms. To study changes in worm tissues, two bins of 30 × 30 × 30 cm3 (length × width × depth) are built, and earthworm is then added. These bins are filled with sludge (T3) and sludge + soil (T4). Obtained results from (T1) and (T2) confirm heavy metal concentration decrease over time, but increase through depth of reactors. Presence of worms in both reactors shows decrease in concentration of heavy metals. Results obtained from (T3) and (T4) indicate reduction in concentration of lead and iron in substrate and bioaccumulation in worm body mass. TOC of substrate was decreased but TKN increased during time. Initial C/N ratio is 22.2 in pilot T3, and it is decreased to 7.4 and final pH is near 7.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their great appreciation to Mr. Sepehri, the responsible of Shiraz wastewater treatment plant laboratory for his valuable and constructive suggestions during this research. His willingness to give his time so generously has been very much appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    Mojtaba Kharazmi & Ghasem Ali Omrani

  2. Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Civil and Environment, Khajeh Nassireddin Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

    Seyed Ahmad Mirbagheri

  3. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

    Nasser Talebbeydokhti

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  1. Mojtaba Kharazmi
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  2. Seyed Ahmad Mirbagheri
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  3. Ghasem Ali Omrani
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  4. Nasser Talebbeydokhti
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Correspondence to Seyed Ahmad Mirbagheri.

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Kharazmi, M., Mirbagheri, S.A., Omrani, G.A. et al. Investigation of Iron and Lead Changes in Wastewater Treatment Sludge Decomposition Reactor With and Without Worm Existence. Iran J Sci Technol Trans Civ Eng 46, 699–715 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40996-021-00775-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40996-021-00775-9

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