Detection of some pollutants in the water cycle and their removal via biomembranes

Water pollution and wastewater treatment inadequacy is an important global problem. In conventional wastewater treatment plants, some pollutants (Heavy metals and Pesticides) that cannot be treated or some pollutants that cannot be reduced to the desired level (Nitrate, Phosphate) are inadequate and such pollutants are now encountered in drinking water sources. As a result, such pollutants can be found in treated wastewater discharges and exist in the aquatic environment, including surface waters. Therefore, water resources can be increasingly exposed to these pollutants from many sources, which can pose a threat to ecosystems and human health. EPS embedded poly (HEMA-co-GMA) biomembranes were formed by embedding various pollutants in water into hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) and glycidylmethacrylate (GMA) monomers polymerized in the same environment with the addition of EPS (Extracellular Polymeric Substance). Fe3 + (Iron), which has high affinity for metals, is bound as a ligand. 3 samplings were made from 4 points on Ankara Stream. And the criteria values at these points have been determined. Then, the original water samples were passed through the biomembranes we prepared, and their performance in removing the pollutants was examined. As a result of the studies carried out, removal works for nutrients (Nitrate and Phosphate), heavy metals (Lead, Mercury, Cadmium) and pesticide (Trifluralin) were taken into consideration. Sampling was carried out in January, July and October. The lowest COD removals were 60.18% in column 2, and 94.14% in the highest column 5. NO3-removals were 79.79% in the lowest column no.1, 99.87% removal was achieved in the highest column no.4. In the sampling performed in October, COD removals in the cryogel column were realized as 70 - 79 %. NO3-removals were 90 - 94%. In the analysis results, the removal of Trifluralin, an herbicide, from the solution in the solvent was tested with the HEMA cryogel column no. 5, where we obtained the best removal efficiency. During the adsorption of trifluralin, concentrations of 50-100-200 ppm were studied, respectively 92-93-93% removals were obtained. It has been observed that columns in which negatively and positively charged ligands are used in their structure show high efficiency in wastewater treatment.