title: Investigation on likely effects of Ag, TiO2, and ZnO nanoparticles on sewage treatment.
abstract: Because of the increasing number of applications of nanoparticles (NPs), particularly in food, personal care products, etc., these materials pose a potential threat to the environment. The performance of municipal wastewater treatment plants could be adversely affected if NPs ultimately reach these plants. In this study, the effects of silver, titania and zirconia NPs on the micro-organisms responsible for decomposition of organic matter was assessed and related to the performance of sewage treatment plants. Statistical analysis using the most probable number test demonstrated a relationship between NP concentration and parameters related to bacterial decomposition of wastewater. A sequencing batch reactor experiment demonstrated deteriorating performance of the reactor in terms of reduced chemical oxygen demand and biological oxygen demand as a function of NP concentration. The presence of NPs in influent (untreated) wastewater was found to necessitate increased hydraulic residence times to maintain the desired performance of the plant.
authors.affiliation: Chemical Engineering Department, S.V. National Institute of Technology, Surat, 395 007, India.
authors.forename: Makarand A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.forename: Parimal A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Parikh
mesh_terms: D057919:Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry; D012834:Silver / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D014025:Titanium / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage; D012834:Silver; D014025:Titanium; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D015034:Zinc Oxide; C009495:titanium dioxide