Fertilizer-drawn forward osmosis as a solution to improve the quality of wastewater treatment plant effluents used for agricultural irrigation

This study assesses the effectiveness of a forward osmosis (FO) pilot plant (max. Flow rate 0.36 m3/h) to improve the quality of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent and its use for irrigating lettuce in greenhouse conditions. FO treated WWTP-effluent had nutrient levels comparable to well-w...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Escolà Casas, Mònica, Díaz, Laura, Subirats, Jessica, Casado, Marta, Mansilla, Sylvia, Navarro-Martín, Laia, Lima, Tugstênio, Carazo, Nuria, Pinedo, Javier, Soriano, Álvaro, Hernández-Pellón, Ana, Gómez, Pedro, Portugal, José, Piña, Benjamín, Bayona, Josep Maria, Matamoros, Víctor
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2024
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/366768
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/366768
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85200839695
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Toxicity reduction
Antimicrobial resistance genes
Organic micropollutants
Reclaimed wastewater
http://metadata.un.org/sdg/3
http://metadata.un.org/sdg/6
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
Descripción
Sumario:This study assesses the effectiveness of a forward osmosis (FO) pilot plant (max. Flow rate 0.36 m3/h) to improve the quality of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent and its use for irrigating lettuce in greenhouse conditions. FO treated WWTP-effluent had nutrient levels comparable to well-water (control), except for ammonia and phosphates -which were recovered from the effluent- and potassium, which was added as fertilizer. FO also removed >95 % of organic pollutants from WWTP effluent. In addition, the toxicity associated with the WWTP effluent was reduced after FO treatment, reaching eleutheroembryo toxicity-biomarker levels similar to those found in well water. Finally, FO reduced the bacterial load of WWTP effluent, and significantly reduced its levels of ARGs. Lettuces irrigated with the three water sources did not show differences in terms of agronomic parameters, ARG and pathogen levels, and only some patterns were observed on plant metabolomics or transcriptomics. However, the potential accumulation of pollutants in the soil over time could amplify the impact of using WWTP effluent in crops compared to the use of FO-treated WWTP effluent.