Tunnel wash water (TWW) contains high levels of trace elements and organic micropollutants, espec... more Tunnel wash water (TWW) contains high levels of trace elements and organic micropollutants, especially in the dissolved fraction. Discharge poses significant environmental risks. This field study aimed at improving con- ventional sedimentation treatment by addition of novel secondary treatments: bag filtration, ceramic micro- filtration, or granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration. Removal of nine trace elements, 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 38 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), seven benzothiazoles (BTHs), seven benzotriazoles (BTRs), five bisphenols (BPs), and five benzophenones was investigated. Primary sedimentation significantly reduced particles and associated contaminants, achieving over 73 % average removal for trace elements, 65 % for PAHs, and 71 % for PFASs. Subsequent GAC removed over 70 % of dissolved Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn and over 92 % of dissolved PFASs, BTHs, BTRs, and BPs, including several persistent, mobile and toxic compounds. Following GAC filtration, Cr, Ni, Pb, anthracene, fluoranthene, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, and bisphenol-A were below environmental quality standards (EQS). GAC consistently reduced responses in in vitro bioassays with endpoints activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, oxidative stress response, and neurotoxicity below effect-based trigger values for surface water. GAC filtration is thus recommended for future TWW treatment. Assessing water quality remains a challenging task due to lack of EQSs for many chemicals.
Boxall, J. and Maksimovic, C. 2009. Integrating Water Systems. Proceedings of conference “Computation and Control in the Water Industry”, Sheffield (UK), September 1-3, 2009. CRC Press, Taylor&Francis Group., 2010
Based on monitoring of particle related water quality in an experimental pipe loop, the fouling o... more Based on monitoring of particle related water quality in an experimental pipe loop, the fouling of pipes under common hydraulic conditions found in distribution systems is modelled. The processes transport, deposition and re-suspension are investigated experimentally, modelled and then programmed in Matlab as a software module. As required structure and hydraulics of existent drinking water distribution systems are usually available by pipe modelling software, the interaction between modelling software and quality module becomes defined.
The extent and mechanisms by which organic matter in a solution can be retained and foul a membra... more The extent and mechanisms by which organic matter in a solution can be retained and foul a membrane largely depends on the molecular weight of the material being filtered and the molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) of the membrane. The present study investigated the effect of the MWCO of a membrane and the molecular weight distribution of natural organic matter (NOM) in a source water on the increase in resistance to the permeate flux over time. Of particular interest was the effect of oxidation, applied prior to membrane filtration, on the predominant fouling mechanism. Oxidation can change the molecular weight distribution of organic matter in raw water, and therefore the ability of a membrane to retain this organic matter. Oxidation, using both ozonation and UV/H2O2, could effectively reduce the extent of fouling for higher MWCO membranes. However, neither oxidation approaches could effectively reduce the extent of fouling for lower MWCO membranes, likely because oxidation could not effectively oxidize lower molecular weight organic matter. Althoug the data indicated that the extent of fouling is increasing with the amount of DOC retained by the membrane, no statistically significant correlation was observed between these parameters. The results suggest that oxidation did not affect the predominant fouling mechanism. However, it did affect the molecular weight distribution of the organic matter retained by the membranes, and as a result, the resistance offered by the foulant cake layer.
Effektiviteten av de ulike behandlingstrinnene for fjerning av antibiotikaresistente E. coli i av... more Effektiviteten av de ulike behandlingstrinnene for fjerning av antibiotikaresistente E. coli i avløpsvann fra to store avløpsrenseanlegg i Oslo ble undersøkt. Renseanleggene reduserer den totale mengden kultiverbare E. coli fra avløpsvannet effektivt, men fjerningen av disse bakteriene var ufullstendig i begge anleggene. Bakteriene var delvis resistente mot ampicillin og cotrimoxazole, og i mindre grad tetracyclin og ciprofloxacin. Med hensyn til fjerning av resistente E. coli viste anleggene forskjellige mønstre utover i behandlingsprosessen. Analysen av et utvalg markørgener i utslippsvannet viser forekomst av resistens mot antibiotika som brukes hyppig i Norge, men også svært sjelden brukte og kritisk viktige antibiotika, inkludert karbapenemer, colistin og cefalosporiner. Gjennom ultra- og nanofiltrering på laboratorieskala av utslippsvannet fra avløpsrenseanleggene, ble alle kultiverbare E. coli, inkludert resistente E. coli, fullstendig fjernet
Summary
Abundance of antibiotic resistance genes and
removal of antibiotic resistant E. coli in to Norwegian
wastewater treatment plants. The effectivity
of different treatment stages at two wastewater
treatment plants (WWTPs) to remove cultivable
antibiotic resistant E. coli from municipal
wastewater from Oslo City was investigated.
The WWTPs were effective in reducing total
cultivable E. coli, however, full hygienization
was not achieved. The E. coli in WWTP samples
were partly resistant to ampicillin and co-trimoxazole,
and to a lesser extent, tetracycline and
ciprofloxacin. The plants showed different patterns
with respect to the removal of resistant E.
coli. Analysis of selected antibiotics maker genes
in samples from WWTP effluent revealed the
presence of resistance against commonly used
groups of antibiotics, but also to such that are
rarely used and belong to critically important
antibiotics, including carbapenemes, colistin and
cefalosporines. By membrane filtration of WWTP
effluents, using lab-scale ultra- and nanofiltration,
all cultivable E. coli, including antibiotic
resistant ones, were removed completely.
Abstract The rejection of submicron sized particles from swimming pool water by a ceramic silicon... more Abstract The rejection of submicron sized particles from swimming pool water by a ceramic silicon carbide (SiC) microfiltration membrane in monolithic configuration was investigated and mechanisms elucidated. Physicochemical properties showed that the surrogates used in challenge tests (i.e. MS2 bacteriophages and 50–500 nm fluorescent microspheres) are adequate surrogates for viruses commonly found in pool water. The log-removal value (LRV) of the SiC membrane strongly depended on the size and electrostatic properties of the surrogates. Experiments with swimming pool water showed that organic matter and salts present in the pool water decreased the surface potential of the surrogates which in turn increased the LRV of the SiC membrane. Long-term experiments revealed, that the removal effectivity of the SiC membrane, over the course of a filtration cycle (~150 min), increased for large surrogates (500 nm microspheres), while the removal effectivity remained unchanged for small surrogates (MS2 phages). This effect was explained by progressive and permanent blockage of large mesopores (>500 nm) in the active membrane layer by particles present in the pool water.
The Royal Society of Chemistry eBooks, Oct 9, 2015
In this work, the specific chlorine demand and specific trichloromethane formation potential (TCM... more In this work, the specific chlorine demand and specific trichloromethane formation potential (TCM FP) for organic precursors, such as individual body fluid analogue (BFA) components, humic acid (HA) as well as precursors mixtures, were determined experimentally. The chlorine consumption and TCM formation as a function of time were also investigated for all DBP precursors. It was found that urea exhibited the highest specific chlorine demand followed by histidine and uric acid. Furthermore, urea may belong to the fast reacting precursor towards chlorine consumption. The specific chlorine demand of the BFA was much higher than that of humic acid, indicating that BFA were more reactive towards chlorine than humic acid. However, the specific TCM FP of humic acid was about 2 times higher than that of the BFA, which suggests humic acid to be more reactive towards TCM formation than BFA. Citric acid and HA were the main precursors for TCM formation. However, the results suggested that HA had a higher reactivity than citric acid towards TCM formation.
Tunnel wash water (TWW) contains high levels of trace elements and organic micropollutants, espec... more Tunnel wash water (TWW) contains high levels of trace elements and organic micropollutants, especially in the dissolved fraction. Discharge poses significant environmental risks. This field study aimed at improving con- ventional sedimentation treatment by addition of novel secondary treatments: bag filtration, ceramic micro- filtration, or granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration. Removal of nine trace elements, 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 38 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), seven benzothiazoles (BTHs), seven benzotriazoles (BTRs), five bisphenols (BPs), and five benzophenones was investigated. Primary sedimentation significantly reduced particles and associated contaminants, achieving over 73 % average removal for trace elements, 65 % for PAHs, and 71 % for PFASs. Subsequent GAC removed over 70 % of dissolved Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn and over 92 % of dissolved PFASs, BTHs, BTRs, and BPs, including several persistent, mobile and toxic compounds. Following GAC filtration, Cr, Ni, Pb, anthracene, fluoranthene, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, and bisphenol-A were below environmental quality standards (EQS). GAC consistently reduced responses in in vitro bioassays with endpoints activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, oxidative stress response, and neurotoxicity below effect-based trigger values for surface water. GAC filtration is thus recommended for future TWW treatment. Assessing water quality remains a challenging task due to lack of EQSs for many chemicals.
Boxall, J. and Maksimovic, C. 2009. Integrating Water Systems. Proceedings of conference “Computation and Control in the Water Industry”, Sheffield (UK), September 1-3, 2009. CRC Press, Taylor&Francis Group., 2010
Based on monitoring of particle related water quality in an experimental pipe loop, the fouling o... more Based on monitoring of particle related water quality in an experimental pipe loop, the fouling of pipes under common hydraulic conditions found in distribution systems is modelled. The processes transport, deposition and re-suspension are investigated experimentally, modelled and then programmed in Matlab as a software module. As required structure and hydraulics of existent drinking water distribution systems are usually available by pipe modelling software, the interaction between modelling software and quality module becomes defined.
The extent and mechanisms by which organic matter in a solution can be retained and foul a membra... more The extent and mechanisms by which organic matter in a solution can be retained and foul a membrane largely depends on the molecular weight of the material being filtered and the molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) of the membrane. The present study investigated the effect of the MWCO of a membrane and the molecular weight distribution of natural organic matter (NOM) in a source water on the increase in resistance to the permeate flux over time. Of particular interest was the effect of oxidation, applied prior to membrane filtration, on the predominant fouling mechanism. Oxidation can change the molecular weight distribution of organic matter in raw water, and therefore the ability of a membrane to retain this organic matter. Oxidation, using both ozonation and UV/H2O2, could effectively reduce the extent of fouling for higher MWCO membranes. However, neither oxidation approaches could effectively reduce the extent of fouling for lower MWCO membranes, likely because oxidation could not effectively oxidize lower molecular weight organic matter. Althoug the data indicated that the extent of fouling is increasing with the amount of DOC retained by the membrane, no statistically significant correlation was observed between these parameters. The results suggest that oxidation did not affect the predominant fouling mechanism. However, it did affect the molecular weight distribution of the organic matter retained by the membranes, and as a result, the resistance offered by the foulant cake layer.
Effektiviteten av de ulike behandlingstrinnene for fjerning av antibiotikaresistente E. coli i av... more Effektiviteten av de ulike behandlingstrinnene for fjerning av antibiotikaresistente E. coli i avløpsvann fra to store avløpsrenseanlegg i Oslo ble undersøkt. Renseanleggene reduserer den totale mengden kultiverbare E. coli fra avløpsvannet effektivt, men fjerningen av disse bakteriene var ufullstendig i begge anleggene. Bakteriene var delvis resistente mot ampicillin og cotrimoxazole, og i mindre grad tetracyclin og ciprofloxacin. Med hensyn til fjerning av resistente E. coli viste anleggene forskjellige mønstre utover i behandlingsprosessen. Analysen av et utvalg markørgener i utslippsvannet viser forekomst av resistens mot antibiotika som brukes hyppig i Norge, men også svært sjelden brukte og kritisk viktige antibiotika, inkludert karbapenemer, colistin og cefalosporiner. Gjennom ultra- og nanofiltrering på laboratorieskala av utslippsvannet fra avløpsrenseanleggene, ble alle kultiverbare E. coli, inkludert resistente E. coli, fullstendig fjernet
Summary
Abundance of antibiotic resistance genes and
removal of antibiotic resistant E. coli in to Norwegian
wastewater treatment plants. The effectivity
of different treatment stages at two wastewater
treatment plants (WWTPs) to remove cultivable
antibiotic resistant E. coli from municipal
wastewater from Oslo City was investigated.
The WWTPs were effective in reducing total
cultivable E. coli, however, full hygienization
was not achieved. The E. coli in WWTP samples
were partly resistant to ampicillin and co-trimoxazole,
and to a lesser extent, tetracycline and
ciprofloxacin. The plants showed different patterns
with respect to the removal of resistant E.
coli. Analysis of selected antibiotics maker genes
in samples from WWTP effluent revealed the
presence of resistance against commonly used
groups of antibiotics, but also to such that are
rarely used and belong to critically important
antibiotics, including carbapenemes, colistin and
cefalosporines. By membrane filtration of WWTP
effluents, using lab-scale ultra- and nanofiltration,
all cultivable E. coli, including antibiotic
resistant ones, were removed completely.
Abstract The rejection of submicron sized particles from swimming pool water by a ceramic silicon... more Abstract The rejection of submicron sized particles from swimming pool water by a ceramic silicon carbide (SiC) microfiltration membrane in monolithic configuration was investigated and mechanisms elucidated. Physicochemical properties showed that the surrogates used in challenge tests (i.e. MS2 bacteriophages and 50–500 nm fluorescent microspheres) are adequate surrogates for viruses commonly found in pool water. The log-removal value (LRV) of the SiC membrane strongly depended on the size and electrostatic properties of the surrogates. Experiments with swimming pool water showed that organic matter and salts present in the pool water decreased the surface potential of the surrogates which in turn increased the LRV of the SiC membrane. Long-term experiments revealed, that the removal effectivity of the SiC membrane, over the course of a filtration cycle (~150 min), increased for large surrogates (500 nm microspheres), while the removal effectivity remained unchanged for small surrogates (MS2 phages). This effect was explained by progressive and permanent blockage of large mesopores (>500 nm) in the active membrane layer by particles present in the pool water.
The Royal Society of Chemistry eBooks, Oct 9, 2015
In this work, the specific chlorine demand and specific trichloromethane formation potential (TCM... more In this work, the specific chlorine demand and specific trichloromethane formation potential (TCM FP) for organic precursors, such as individual body fluid analogue (BFA) components, humic acid (HA) as well as precursors mixtures, were determined experimentally. The chlorine consumption and TCM formation as a function of time were also investigated for all DBP precursors. It was found that urea exhibited the highest specific chlorine demand followed by histidine and uric acid. Furthermore, urea may belong to the fast reacting precursor towards chlorine consumption. The specific chlorine demand of the BFA was much higher than that of humic acid, indicating that BFA were more reactive towards chlorine than humic acid. However, the specific TCM FP of humic acid was about 2 times higher than that of the BFA, which suggests humic acid to be more reactive towards TCM formation than BFA. Citric acid and HA were the main precursors for TCM formation. However, the results suggested that HA had a higher reactivity than citric acid towards TCM formation.
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Papers by Wolfgang Uhl
dissolved fraction. Discharge poses significant environmental risks. This field study aimed at improving con-
ventional sedimentation treatment by addition of novel secondary treatments: bag filtration, ceramic micro-
filtration, or granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration. Removal of nine trace elements, 16 polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs), 38 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), seven benzothiazoles (BTHs), seven
benzotriazoles (BTRs), five bisphenols (BPs), and five benzophenones was investigated. Primary sedimentation
significantly reduced particles and associated contaminants, achieving over 73 % average removal for trace
elements, 65 % for PAHs, and 71 % for PFASs. Subsequent GAC removed over 70 % of dissolved Cr, Cu, Pb, and
Zn and over 92 % of dissolved PFASs, BTHs, BTRs, and BPs, including several persistent, mobile and toxic
compounds. Following GAC filtration, Cr, Ni, Pb, anthracene, fluoranthene, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, and
bisphenol-A were below environmental quality standards (EQS). GAC consistently reduced responses in in vitro
bioassays with endpoints activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, oxidative stress response, and neurotoxicity below effect-based trigger values for surface water. GAC filtration is thus recommended for future
TWW treatment. Assessing water quality remains a challenging task due to lack of EQSs for many chemicals.
Summary
Abundance of antibiotic resistance genes and
removal of antibiotic resistant E. coli in to Norwegian
wastewater treatment plants. The effectivity
of different treatment stages at two wastewater
treatment plants (WWTPs) to remove cultivable
antibiotic resistant E. coli from municipal
wastewater from Oslo City was investigated.
The WWTPs were effective in reducing total
cultivable E. coli, however, full hygienization
was not achieved. The E. coli in WWTP samples
were partly resistant to ampicillin and co-trimoxazole,
and to a lesser extent, tetracycline and
ciprofloxacin. The plants showed different patterns
with respect to the removal of resistant E.
coli. Analysis of selected antibiotics maker genes
in samples from WWTP effluent revealed the
presence of resistance against commonly used
groups of antibiotics, but also to such that are
rarely used and belong to critically important
antibiotics, including carbapenemes, colistin and
cefalosporines. By membrane filtration of WWTP
effluents, using lab-scale ultra- and nanofiltration,
all cultivable E. coli, including antibiotic
resistant ones, were removed completely.
dissolved fraction. Discharge poses significant environmental risks. This field study aimed at improving con-
ventional sedimentation treatment by addition of novel secondary treatments: bag filtration, ceramic micro-
filtration, or granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration. Removal of nine trace elements, 16 polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs), 38 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), seven benzothiazoles (BTHs), seven
benzotriazoles (BTRs), five bisphenols (BPs), and five benzophenones was investigated. Primary sedimentation
significantly reduced particles and associated contaminants, achieving over 73 % average removal for trace
elements, 65 % for PAHs, and 71 % for PFASs. Subsequent GAC removed over 70 % of dissolved Cr, Cu, Pb, and
Zn and over 92 % of dissolved PFASs, BTHs, BTRs, and BPs, including several persistent, mobile and toxic
compounds. Following GAC filtration, Cr, Ni, Pb, anthracene, fluoranthene, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, and
bisphenol-A were below environmental quality standards (EQS). GAC consistently reduced responses in in vitro
bioassays with endpoints activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, oxidative stress response, and neurotoxicity below effect-based trigger values for surface water. GAC filtration is thus recommended for future
TWW treatment. Assessing water quality remains a challenging task due to lack of EQSs for many chemicals.
Summary
Abundance of antibiotic resistance genes and
removal of antibiotic resistant E. coli in to Norwegian
wastewater treatment plants. The effectivity
of different treatment stages at two wastewater
treatment plants (WWTPs) to remove cultivable
antibiotic resistant E. coli from municipal
wastewater from Oslo City was investigated.
The WWTPs were effective in reducing total
cultivable E. coli, however, full hygienization
was not achieved. The E. coli in WWTP samples
were partly resistant to ampicillin and co-trimoxazole,
and to a lesser extent, tetracycline and
ciprofloxacin. The plants showed different patterns
with respect to the removal of resistant E.
coli. Analysis of selected antibiotics maker genes
in samples from WWTP effluent revealed the
presence of resistance against commonly used
groups of antibiotics, but also to such that are
rarely used and belong to critically important
antibiotics, including carbapenemes, colistin and
cefalosporines. By membrane filtration of WWTP
effluents, using lab-scale ultra- and nanofiltration,
all cultivable E. coli, including antibiotic
resistant ones, were removed completely.