Abstract
The alum-based coagulation process is a worldwide treatment method in industrial and municipal wastewater (MW) management. In the present study, alum-coagulation was performed on wastewater from the MW plant located south of Naples, Italy, to evaluate any negative impact of MW on marine biota by means of sea urchin bioassays. A series of Jar test experiments (100 rpm for 1 min, 30 rpm for 20 min, and 30 min for settling) was performed using 150 and 450 mg/L of alum concentrations at pH ranging from 5 to 7 and room temperature (20° ± 2°C). Raw and alum-coagulated wastewater samples were analyzed for their COD and TSS, and residual aluminum (RA) concentrations. Toxicity testing of samples (diluted to 1%) by Sphaerechinus granularis sea urchin bioassays (collected in Naples bay) was evaluated to meet the following specifications: (a) acute and/or developmental toxicity, (b) changes in fertilization success, and (c) cytogenetic abnormalities. The results provided the following evidences: (i) the coagulation process at a 150 mg/L alum level in the SG plant was sufficient to meet the discharge standards; (ii) RA was found significantly related to alum dose used in coagulation process and raw wastewater alum concentration; (iii) sea urchin bioassays provided evidence for both embryo toxicity in raw wastewater to a lesser extent, and in alum-coagulated Jar test supernatants, at elevated extent, at a 1% concentration; and (iv) no statistically significant spermiotoxic or cytogenetic effect was observed. Altogether, the results highlighted the influence of wastewater characteristics on developmental toxicity, such as pH-related Al(III) speciation and alum complex formation in wastewater.
Acknowledgment
The authors thank authority of the MWWTP for the kind collaboration and Giusy Sirico for her technical assistance during this study.