Iranian Journal of

Background and Objectives: Natural organic matters (NOMs) are abundant in natural water resources and in many ways may affect the unit processes in water treatment. Although NOMs are considered harmless but they have been recognized as disinfection by-products (DBPs) precursors during the chlorination process. Formation of DBPs highly depends on the composition and concentration of NOMs. The objective of this study was to determine natural organic matter and its fractions concentrations in the surface water sources of Tehran.Materials and Methods: Water sampling was conducted monthly between May to July in three rivers of Lar, Jajrood and Karaj, as the main drinking water supplying sources in Tehran. Quantitative parameters of pH, EC, UV₂₅₄ and DOC were studied based on standard methods. The XAD-7 resin method was used for fractionation of NOMs.Results: Results showed that NOM concentrations in Lar, Jajrood and Karaj rivers were 8.53, 12.9 and 11.3 mg/L, respectively. The HPO (hydrophobic) fraction was predominant compared to the HPI (hydrophilic) fraction in water samples. The mean of total percent of HPO and HPI fractions were about 57% and 43%, respectively.Conclusion: Since the hydrophobic NOM fraction exhibits higher trihalomethane formation potential (THMFP) than hydrophilic part, Tehran water chlorination exhibits higher THMFP than haloacetic acid formation potential (HAAFP). The information obtained from this study may be further employed in the design of the control techniques and management strategies for the water treatment plant, especially for DBPs reduction.

Background and Objectives:

handling of food and money contributes to the incidence of food-related public health incidents.

The objective of this study was to determine the total bacterial count and the presence of food borne

bacterial pathogens on Iranian currency notes, collected from food-related shops.

Materials and Methods: A total of 120 Iranian currency notes, comprising notes in four  denomination (2000, 5000, 10000 and 20000 R) were collected from various food-related shops including, butchery, bakery, confectionary, fast food, ice cream and poultry meat shop. The currency notes were categorized into three groups according to their physical conditions. All currency notes were examined for total bacterial count, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella and Listeria according to the standard techniques.
Results: The average number of total bacterial count in four denomination of currency notes (2000,  5000, 10000 and 20000 R) were 118.49, 106.32, 69.44 and 220.81 CFU/cm2, respectively. The association between total bacterial count and denomination of the currency was not statistically significant. Of the 120 currency notes on which bacteriological analysis was conducted 13.3 %, 32.5% and 10.8 % were contaminated with E. coli, S. aureus and B. cereus, respectively. Salmonella and Listeria were not isolated from samples. Currency notes collected from butchery, bakery, confectionary, fast food, ice cream and poultry meat shop were contaminated with E. coli at the rate of 60, 0, 5, 5, 0 and 10 % with S. aureus at the rate of 55, 30, 10, 25, 40 and 35 % with B. cereus at the rate of 0, 10, 20, 5, 20 and 10 %, respectively. There was not a statistically significant association between physical condition and bacterial contamination of the currency notes. The effect of presence or absence of cashier in food-related shops on bacterial contamination of the currency notes was also evaluated.
Conclusion: Money has got the potential to change through many different hands and could be  exposed to many different environments at a relatively high frequency. Since there is very little information regarding the hygienic history of any forms of currency, great care should be taken when the same person facilitates the handling of money and the preparation and handling of food to avoid cross contamination.

Backgrounds and Objectives: Now a days modified activated sludge ways are used for standard removing nutrient substances from waste water that is named Enhanced biological phosphorus removal One of the most suitable ways is Anoxic-Oxic(A/O) process. The goal of this research is investigation and solving existing problems of Khoy power plant(P.P) waste water treatment plant(WWTP)and optimizing of phosphorus removal in it.
Materials and Methods: This research is done full scale in this treatment plant. The treatment plant was operating with extended aeration process, and some problems had, so in the first stage with in investigation of total efficiency, problems and their reasons determined. In the second stage after operational modifications existing problems was solved and real efficiency of treatment plant particularly for phosphorus(P) removal determined. In the third stage changes, system converted to A/O process and new system was tested with Changing parameters like food/microorganism(F/M), return sludge ratio(RAS)and sludge retention time(SRT)
Risults: In the first stage the most important problems were over concentration of BOD,TSS, and P in effluent of treatment plant and overgrows of alga observed in parts of treatment plant and effluent receiving conduit. The main reason of high concentration of P was considered releasing of sludge. In the second stage operating condition modification efficiency of P removal increased from 50to 62 percent. In the end of third stage value of P removal reached to %82 and the most suitable of anoxic contact time was determined 3to4 hours, SRT terry day and F/M ratio o.12,that the most effective change has been the decrease of SRT to three days.
Conclusion: Adjusting of operating factors like SRT,RAS, sludge processing way in WWTP can increase P removal in them with in total efficiency remaining, such as in this case it was %12. In waste water treatment particularly for P removal the A/O process is suitable so in this project its effect on P removal efficiency has been %20.

Background and Objectives: Phenolic compounds are presence in many industrial wastewaters, and have been classified as priority pollutants. Application of several conventional processes due to high cost and low efficiency has been limited. Thus, new methods such as enzymatic polymerization seem to be preferable and effective processes with high potential to substitute the conventional processes. This study was carried out to evaluate Raphanus sativus extract as a peroxides enzyme source for polymerization and removal of phenol from synthetic wastewater in the presence of hydrogen peroxide.
Materials and Methods: The study was performed in batch reactor at room temperature. Peroxidase enzyme was extracted from Raphanus sativus plant roots . Primary concentration of phenol in wastewater was 100 mgl-1. The concentration of phenol and enzymatic activity was been measuredby photometric assay.
Results: The results show that Raphanus sativus extract is a suitable source of peroxidase enzyme. Mean enzymatic activities in this extract was 3.107 Uml-1. Also, our results showed that elevation of extract volume lead to high efficiency of phenol removal, in which the increase in the extract volume from 5 to 50 ml, resulted in the efficiency of processes increased from 7.6 to 98.2 %. Also, sequencing addition of H2O2 and extract has improved the effects. The phenol removal efficiency of the reaction time after 3 h with single and three stages adding of reactants was 84.2 and 93.1% , respectively.
Conclusion:Enzymatic polymerization can be used as an appropriate process for the removal of phenolic compounds from wastewaters. To meet the optimized condition in process, the ratios of phenol/ enzyme and H2O2/ phenol and sequences of the adding of reactants should be considered.

Backgrounds and Objectives:Today, One of the most important environmental issues is solid waste Produced in Dentistry That because of the presence of hazardous, toxic and pathogen agents has special importance. In this survey, solid waste produced in Hamadan Dentistry laboratories and practical dentist offices is studied.
Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, from 24 Dentistry laboratories in Hamedan 5 offices and from 27 practical dentist offices 5 offices were selected in simple random way. From each offices 3 sample at the end of successive working day (Sunday, Monday and Tuesday) were analyzed. Samples were manually sorted into different 41 components and by means of laboratory scale were measured. Then, measured components were classified based on characteristic and hazardous potential.
Results: Total annual waste produced in Dentistry laboratories and practical dentist offices in Hamaden is 15921.79 and 8677.56 Kg respectively. Production percentages of domestic type, chemical and pharmaceutical waste, potentially infectious and toxic wastes in practical dentist offices were 91.14, 6.7, 2.14 and 0.02 respectively. Dentistry laboratories solid waste comprises of 94.47 percent domestic type and 5.53 percent chemical and pharmaceutical waste. Main components of produced analyzed wastes were 2 components that consist of more than 80 percents of total dental solid waste. So, waste reduction, separation and recycling plans in the offices must be concentrated on these main components.
Conclusion: In order to waste suitable management, it is suggested that in addition to educate waste producer for waste reduction, separation and recycling in the offices, each section of dental waste (toxic, chemical and pharmaceutical, potentially infectious and domestic type wastes) separately and according to related criteria are managed.

Backgrounds and Objectives: Textile industrial wastewaters are one of the important sources of environmental contaminants. In the recent years, use of advanced oxidation processes, by producing highly active and reactive components such as hydroxyl radicals has been proposed. The aim of this research is photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye using the ZnO-nanoparticle with UVA irradiation.

Materials and Methods: photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue color using the ZnO- nanoparticles excited with UVA irradiation. In this research, photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye was study using different concentration of ZnO-nanoparticles under UVA irradiation in a batch reactor.

Results: The results of this research show that removal of methylene blue dye has direct correlation with UVA intensity. The best results of dye degradation were reported in concentration of 150 _mg/L ZnO nano-particles and the radiation intensity of 240 µW/cm². Rate of dye removal was decrease with increasing of color concentration. Subsequent of color degradation, the initial COD were decresed by %60.

Conclusion: The photocatalytic degradation process using ZnO nano-particles under UVA irradiation could be remove the methylene blue dye and 60% of COD.

Backgrounds and Objectives: Swimming pools water if not disinfected properly can be one of the infection sources of different microorganisms such as staphylococcus. This study is to aware the authorities and users about the conditions existed in sheltered swimming pools in Sari and to believe the contamination of the water there, related to the existence of staphylococcus aureus.

Materials and Method: In this descriptive study 32 specimens collected randomly from 15 swimming pools in action during three months from 60 cm deep under specific conditions in sterile containers and taken to the laboratory of health college in 2 hrs and were analyzed for the contamination from staphylococcus aureus and some other parameters like temperature, pH, chlorine residual and opacity on the basis of microbiological and standard methods.

Result: Results showed an average temperature of 27.08 degree Celsius, PH=7.6, average chlorine residual 1 mil/l and opacity average was 77 NTU % and the highest contamination from staphylococcus aureus (29.3 %) in C and the lowest (10.19 %) was observed in D swimming pool. Furthermore this analysis showed that in 90% of specimens there was a direct relationship between the ratio of chlorine residual, times of swimming, water temperature and the number of staphylococcus.

Conclusion: Swimming pools water if not disinfected properly can be one of the infection sources of different microorganisms such as staphylococcus. Some suggestions inorder to optimization of the swimming pools condition presented in this paper.

Backgrounds and Objectives: Drinking water quality after treatment and before reaching  the consumer could be affected by distribution pipes, service lines and Home devices. The structure of water coolers, a home device that are widely used in warm months of the year, could potentially affect the quality of drinking water. The aim of this study was to assess the microbial and chemical quality of water from conventional water coolers.
Materials and Methods : Water samples were collected from 29 water cooler systems at the Isfahan  university of medical sciences. 29 control samples also obtained from the nearest drinking water taps. All samples were examined for total heterotrophic bacteria and physicochemical parameters including temperature, ph, turbidity and heavy metals.
Results: All samples from the water cooler systems complied with the EPA guidelines for total heterotrophic bacteria count. There were no significant differences between the levels of heavy metals in water samples from the water cooler systems and taps. There was only a significant difference between the level of Cu in the water samples from cooler systems and taps
Conclusion: The overall results of this study indicated that the use of water cooler systems from hygienic point of view could not cause any problems for consumers

Backgrounds and Objectives: Water contamination by pesticides is considered as an environmentalproblem today. In terms of agricultural development and diversity of plant pests, the use of pesticides has been increasing. Hamedan province has a suitable agricultural condition, it has enjoyed significant development in this respect. Among all the cities of Hamedan province, Hamedan city has the highest rank in tiller crops. Therefore, yearly use of pesticides is increasing in this area which could be a serious threat to water resources of the city. The aim of this survey was determinaton of Organophosphorous and Carbamat pesticides residue in drinking water resources of Hamadan in 2007.
Materials and Methods: In this survey, 126 water samples were collected from 7 drinking water resources of Hamedan during 12 consecutive months in 2007. for determination of these pesticides,two methods (solid- phase extraction and Liquid-Liquid extraction) were adopted .and samples were analyzed by means of HPLC and GC/MS applying standard methods.
Results: Final results showed that the most concentration of Chlorpyrifos and Carbaryl pesticides were found to be about 3.85 ppb (part per billion) and 1.8 ppb in spring and June respectively the maximum concentration of Diazinon was about 36.5ppb in October (autumn).The minimum concentration of the three pesticides was detected in winter. According to the statistical test Two - Way ANOWA there were significant differences among pesticides concentrations in the water samples in different seasons (p<0.05) . However, there wasn't a significant difference in pesticides concentrations in surface and ground water samples(p>0.05).
Conclusion: Different studies have shown that pesticides residue concentration in water samples have a relationship with the amount of pesticides used in an area, physical and chemical refractory properties of pesticides and environmental conditions. Thus, using resistant pollutants such as pesticides will be a serious threat to health of water consumers if they are not properly controlled.

Background and Objectives:Fanavaran petrochemical company is located on the shore of Persian Gulf on west south of Iran, Imam Khomeini Bandar, petrochemical special economic zone with of 25 hectares area. Two units of this company, methanol unit with production capacity 1000000 tons/years and monoxide carbon unit with 140000 tons/years were studied for determination and emission factories of SO2, CO2, CO, NO, NO2, NOx Gases.
Materials and methods: With attention to project goals, for implementation of this project 14 months took into from April 2008 till June2009.For goals provide of mentioned research on this basis,case sampling were done from 3 emission sources by using of direct reading device of gas concentration according to standard methods of United State Environmental Protection Agency.
Results: Results of the study indicate that concentration of issued pollutant gases from these units is in the level lower than Iran department of environment standard level. The total amount of emission Factory of SO2, CO2, CO, NO, NO2, NOx gases diffused from these units are11.7×10-6 , 81/8×10-6, 0.14×10-6, 431.5×10-6, 19.2×10-6 , 681.2×10-6kg /tons million production in a year respectively.
Conclusion:Parameters which optimization is performed in accordance with them, include of additional air percentage, exit air temperature from pre heater, and fuel type, in fact with regarding these 3 factors. effects, the work is done in a manner that the amount of pollutants diffusion is near to minimum and the selected best fuel.

Backgrounds and Objectives:Phosphate discharges from domestic and industrial waste water to water bodies. High concentrations of phosphate in water stimulate the eutrophication phenomenon that causes taste and odor in water, losing dissolved oxygen and aquatic life in rivers or surface waters. Aim of this study is survey of phosphate adsorption on simple nano zeolite Y and nano zeolite Y that was modified with a cationic surfactant (HDTMA-Br).
Materials and Methods:In This study we used simple nano zeolite Y and nano zeolite Y in form of Surfactant Modified Zeolites (SMZs) using batch tests to adsorption of Phosphate fromAqueous Solutions. The adsorbants were contacted with different initial phosphor concentrations (5, 10 and 15 mg/l), pH (4, 7, 12), contact time (30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 minutes) and weight of adsorbant (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1g). the extracted solution was determined for Phosphate concentration by the ammonium molybdate and tin chloride method with spectrophotometric detection at 680 nm. Results:Results of this study show that, with increase in contact time, decrease in pH, increase in zeolites concentration and decrease in initial phosphate concentration, the removal efficiency increased. And the Both isotherm of Langmuir and Freundlich models (r2 > 0.997 and r2 > 0.996 respectively) were agreement with adsorption equilibrium of phosphate. Reduced Chi-Sqr For Langmuir and Freundlich models were (0.00079) and (0.0011) respectively. Pseudo first-order kinetic models fits well with experimental data (r2>0.963).
Conclusion: From this survey, it is concluded that performance of modified nano zeolite Y for adsorption of phosphate in same conditions is better than non-modified zeolite Y. In general the modified nano zeolite Y presented a good profile for removal of phosphate. Therefore SMZs is a suitable candidate for removal of Phosphate molecules from contaminated solutions in contaminated waters.

Backgrounds and Objectives: Cyanide is a species of high toxicity that found mostly in industrial effluents such as electroplating, metal mining, metallurgy and metal cleaning processes. Intrance of it to Existence enviroment contains very health hazardous. Purpose of this study, efficiency compare of both sonochemical and photosonochemical technologies for cyanide removal from aqueous solutions.
Materials and Methods: in this study, it has been used from a productive set of 500w power ultresound waves in of two frequencies 35 kHz and 130 kHz and a 125 W low pressure mercury lamp. Experiments were performed at initial cyanide concentrations varying from 2.5 to 75 mg/L. in this study, The effects of parameters such as pH, time and initial cyanide concentration on the sonochemical and photosonic degradation have been studied.
Results:The results of the study showed that the maximom removal efficiency of cyanide had been achieved sonochemical technology was 71% while it was 74% by photosonic at frequency of 130 kHz, at time of 90 min, pH of 11 and initial cyanide concentration of 2.5 mg/l.
Conclusion: The results of the study showed that efficiency of photosonic process is more than for sonochemical cyanide removal fromaqueous solutions.Also efficiency of cyanide removal has direct relationship with pH, frequeny and time ,and it has reverse relationship with cyanide concentration for both processes.

BackgroundandObjectives: Dyes are organic compoundswith complex structures,which due to toxicity, carcinogenicity and nonbiodegredabity, this type of pollutants is one of the most important pollutants of the environment. The goal of this researchwas to study the feasibility of the application of solar irradiation in presence of potassium persulfate (K2S2O8) for the removal of Reactive blue19 (RB19) from synthetic wastewater.

 Materials and Methods:This research wascarri edoutin laboratory scalewith using of 200ml volume of batchphotoreactor.The effectsofoperatingparameters suchas concentrationofK2S2O8,pH,photoexposure time and preliminary concentrations of dye on decolorization have been evaluated.Different concentrations of pollutant inwastewaterwere prepared by solution of variousmasses of RB19 on tapwater. The reactors were exposedwith natural solar irradiation as aUVAsource from11 amto 14 pm.Themaximumabsorbtion wave length of this dye (!max) was determined by spectrophotometer (Unico, 2100). The measurement of dye concentrations was determined with using of standard curve and its best line equation

Results:Analysis of absorbtion spectra showed that the !max of RB19 is 592 nm. The average intensity of the UVA irradiated from solar system was 54.6 µW/Cm2. The results of decolorization process showed that 38.2%of this dye can be removed within 3 hr in the presence of potassium persulfate and decreasing of pH leads to the elevation of dye removal efficiency. Based on these findings, the efficiency of dye removal with 3h photoexposure time and pH ranges of 4,6 and 8 were found to be 98.2 88.5 and 78.5%, respectively.Also, the results showed that increasing of K2S2O8 dosage leads to elevation of dye removal efficiency in 3h photoexposure time and K2S2O8 dosages within 1-5mmol/L, with the removal efficiency of 75,86,92,95 and 98.5%, respectively.Analysis of data indicates that the kinetic of the removal of RB19 with this process is a first order reaction which its rate constant is 0.01min-1.

Conclusion: Due to the operation problems presented in heterogeneous photocatalitical processes such as catalysts separation and high costs of operation and maintenance of these processes caused by manmade sources of irradiations homogeneous photocatalitical process with using of potassium persulfate associated with natural solar irradiation can be used as a suitable process for the removal of dyes from textile industries wastewaters.

Backgrounds and Objectives: Carcinogenic and mutagenic potential of some azo dyes as a category of common dyes in different types of industries has been reported. The degradation of one commercially available dyestuff [C.I. Reactive Red 198 (RR 198)] by means of ultraviolet radiation (UV), ultrasonic irradiation (US), UV/H2O2 and US/H2O2 processes was investigated.
Materials and Methods: Photolysis process was accomplished in a laboratory-scale batch photoreactor equipped with an 55W immersed-type low-pressure mercury vapour lamp (UVC) and sonication in a sonoreactor with low frequency (42 kHz) plate type transducer at 170W of acoustic power with emphasis on the effect of various parameters on decolouration and degradation efficiency.
Results: Initial results showed that, color removal efficiencies by US and US/H2O2 processes were negligible. Almost complete disappearance of RR 198 (20 mg/L) in UV/H2O2 process was possible to achieve after 10 min of irradiation. It is found that lower pH and lower concentration of dye favor the dye degradation. Hence any increase in initial dye concentration results in decreased decolouration rates. Also, the experimental results indicated that the kinetics of sono-oxidation and photo-oxidation processes fit well by pseudo-first order kinetics and first order reaction kinetics, respectively.
Conclusion: It is concluded that UV/H2O2 reaction was more effective than other reactions in bleaching and the reaction rate was sensitive to the operational parameters and increased with increasing H2O2 concentration up to 15 mM.

Backgrounds and Objectives: Nitrate is a water contaminant that can cause health problems in human and animals, in addition to eutrophication of the water body. So, Nitrate-contaminated water may be treated by treatment systems. In this study, hydrogenotrophic denitrification using hydrogen produced by Fe0 as an electron donor to nitrate removal was evaluated to assess the feasibility of employing Fe0 in the biological nitrate treatment.
Materials andMethods : Batch experiments were conducted using 250 ml amber bottles at 20-35oC under anoxic conditions. The nitrate concentration in each reactor was 20 mg N/L and triplicate samples were prepared for the following treatment: Fe0 plus cells, Fe0 only, and control. The effect of Fe+2 and temperature on nitrate reduction was evaluated.
Results : 97 percent of Nitrate was reduced within 2 day in a Fe0-cell reactor, while only 30% of the nitrate was abiotically reduced over 2 day at 30 oC. Fe+2, which is produced during anaerobic iron corrosion in the Fe0-cell system, might act as an electron donor for nitrate. Abiotic reduction and microbial reduction of nitrate was significantly affected by temperature conditions. The reduction rate decreased as the temperature deceased.
Conclusion:This study demonstrated the potential applicability of employing Fe0 as a source of electrons for biological nitrate reduction. Use of Fe0 for microbial nitrate reduction can obviate the disadvantages associated with traditional biological denitrification that relies on the use of organic substrates or explosive hydrogen gas.

BackgroundsAandObjectives: Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus are important pathogens that producewidespread infections. Purpose of this studywas to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of ultrasonic irradiation (US) alone and in combination with antibiotic on antibiotic resistance Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus.
Materials and Methods: In this study ultrasonic irradiation (US) in a laboratory-scale batch sonoreactor with low frequency (42 kHz) plate type transducer at 170W of acoustic power was used. The Water samples, were taken from different wards of the 3 teaching hospitals which were affiliated to the Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences to isolate Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus and also to determine their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern.
Results:Our results showed that Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus were affected by the ultrasound and the bactericidal effect increased with time.
Conclusion: It was found that P. aeruginosa was more susceptible to the ultrasonic treatment than S. aureus. The combination of US with an antibiotic (amoxicillin) enhanced killing of both bacteria over the use of US alone. There were no differences in resistance to ultrasound between isolated strains and standard strains from persian type culture collection.

Backgrounds and Objectives: Due to copper and zinc elements toxicity, a greatly attention to removal of those in order to reduce environmental pollution exist. This experiment was conducted to investigate the study of the effect of gravity single layer rapid sand filter on heavy metals (zinc and copper) removal efficiency in aquatic condition in different phosphate concentration.
Materials and Methods: this study applied a gravity single layer rapid sand filter with silica sand media. Experiments conducted for all of the states of Cooper and Zinc concentration in 25, 75, 125 and 175 ppm at different phosphate concentration present by varied discharge. Each state of Solutions pumped on top of the bed and discharge adjusted. Samples taken fromeffluent then acidified immediately with nitric acid. Metals concentration perused by atomic emission spectrometer with ICP source. Collected data analyzed by SPSS software.
Results: Founds from this study shown that maximum removal efficiency for copper and zinc was 98.89%and 78.60%respectively effect of discharge,metal concentration and phosphate concentration factors in removal efficiency of zinc and cooper, discharge and phosphate concentration bilateral effect on cooper removal efficiency, phosphate concentration andmetal concentration bilateral on zinc removal efficiency, are significant in 1%. In addition, phosphate concentration and discharge bilateral effect, metal concentration and discharge bilateral effect are significant on zinc removal efficiency in 5%. Finally, bilateral effects of discharge and metal concentration also metal concentration and phosphate concentration have not significant effect on cooper removal efficiency.
Conclusion: Gravity single layer of rapid sandy filter with silica sand media in order to cooper removal in low concentration can be used successfully. This method in high concentration of cooper and also different concentration of zinc had not successful result but in this condition, may be use

of a series of filter with more depth

Backgrounds and Objectives: Industrial wastewater included the heavy metal is one of the important sources of environmental pollution. Hexavalent chromiumand divalent nickel are founded in plating wastewater which is harmful for human health and environment. Therefore, the purpose of this research is investigation of photocatalytic removal of hexavalent chromium and divalent nickel from aqueous solution using UV/TiO2 process in a batch system.
Materials andMethods: At first, reactor was designed. Then, optimumdosage of TiO2 was obtained equal to 1 g/L, with variation TiO2 dosage at constant pH and initial concentrations of hexavalent chromium and divalent nickel. The effect of pH, contact time and initial concentration of hexavalent chromium was studied at the constant amount of TiO2 (1gr/L).
Results: The result showed that photocatalytic removal efficiency increased with increasing reaction time and TiO2 dosage. In addition, it was found that removal efficiency of hexavalent chromium was decreased by increasing initial chromium concentration and pH. But, photocatalytic removal efficiency of nickel ion was increased and decreased by increasing of pH and initial nickel concentration, respectively.
Conclusion: The results showed that UV/TiO2 was an effective method in removal of hexavalent chromium and divalent nickel from aqueous solutions

Backgrounds and Objectives:Owing to the fact that the major environmental problem is production of surplus sludge in wastewater treatment plant, reducing the volume of produced sludge was objective of this research.
Materials and Methods: An anaerobic-aerobic SBR with working volume of 10 L was used to make micro-organism adapted and a polymer production reactor (PPR) with working volume of 1.5 L was used for producing polymer munisipal wastewater which contained different concentration of volatile fatty acids was consodered as the feed source (acetate and propionate) and this system was evaluated with SRT of 5, 7 and 10 days.
Results: The maximum polymer production efficiency observed within 5 days (SRT=5 days) though this efficiency was not significant in comparison with the two others time courses study. In this research the maximum polymer production efficiency at optimum condition was 25% of the sludge dry weight.
Conclusion: Experiment revealed that producing polymer from activated sludge reduced the volume of sludge and the maximum reduced sludge volume was obtained 19%.

Backgrounds and Objectives: Reactive dyestuff has potential of toxicity, carcinogenesis and mutagenesis for mammals and aquatic organisms. The current physical and chemical methods such as adsorption, coagulation, precipitation, filtration and ... can been used for removing of dyestuff. Biological treatment which is effective and economic for decontamination of dyestuff wastewaters was preferred because of limitation and difficulty of physicochemical methods. In order to investigate the trend of pollution reduction of color compounds, ability of Remazol Black-B dyestuff removal from aqueous medium by bacterial consortium under anoxic conditions was studied.
Materials and Methods: The mix culture of bacteria from textile industries activated sludge was enriched in luria broth medium containing RB-B dyestuff as a carbon source. Then biodegradation was assessed in 4 batch reactors. Microbial population of bacterial and decolorization quantities of samples were detected by MPN and UV-Vis spectrophotometer.
Results: Decolorization efficiency by the bacterial consortium was obtained more than 99% for 50 and 250 mg/L concentrations in 72 and 144 h (3 and 6 days) respectively, while for the initial concentration of 500 mg/L was 98.1in 240 h (10 days) of biodegradation period. Dyestuff reduction rate after completed removal was about 0.69, 1.74,2 mg/L/h for initial concentration of 50, 250, 500 mg/L respectively.
Conclusion: Results showed that Alcaligenes denitrificans and Alcaligenes xylosoxidans bacteria
which were isolated from activated sludge have good potential of RB-B dyestuff removal and this removal is depending on primary concentration of dye. Removal efficiency increased as primary concentration went up.