TOR (Tema oil refinery) is the only petroleum refinery in Ghana. To assess the quality of the wastewater, wastewater samples taken from three points of discharge into the treatment plant and the treated effluent wer...TOR (Tema oil refinery) is the only petroleum refinery in Ghana. To assess the quality of the wastewater, wastewater samples taken from three points of discharge into the treatment plant and the treated effluent were analyzed for physico-chemical characteristics. The levels of the pH, temperature, conductivity, COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand), TDS (Total Dissolved Solids), TSS (Total Suspended Solids) and phenol were assessed from January to June, 2011. The results obtained indicate varied levels of contaminants in both the untreated and treated wastewater. The average values of the treated effluent parameters analyzed were 38 ℃, 6,258 μs.cm-1, 314 mg-L-1, 115 mg.L-1, 2,689 mg-L-1 and 1 mg.L-1 for the temperature, conductivity, COD, TDS, TSS and phenol, respectively. The results suggest that both the raw wastewater and the treated effluent did not meet the discharge limit set by Ghana Environmental Protection Agency. Therefore, the treated effluent required additional treatment before it can be discharged into the environment. This suggests that the wastewater treatment plant of TOR is ineffective for the type of wastewater produced.展开更多
River Tano, located in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana, has a number of socio-ecological functions. Anthropogenic activities such as farming, washing, and discharge of industrial effluents into the river pose serious ...River Tano, located in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana, has a number of socio-ecological functions. Anthropogenic activities such as farming, washing, and discharge of industrial effluents into the river pose serious threat to human health. In view of this, water quality campaign was carried out for a period of 12 months by taking samples from the source and the downstream end of the river and analysing for some physico-chemical parameters. The results showed that most of the physico-chemical parameters such as pH, fluoride, nitrite, manganese and temperature were not within the regulatory safe limit. Although the levels of total alkalinity, total iron, ammonia and phosphate kept fluctuating along the course of the river, the difference were not statistically significant apart from fluoride and phosphate which showed significant difference between the upstream and downstream levels. This may be attributed to anthropogenic activities such as farming and washing in the river which implies that human activities have impacted slightly on the water quality. It is recommended that the relevant stakeholders should come together to enforce the environmental laws regarding protection of water bodies and do continuous monitoring for early detection of any change in quality of the River Tano.展开更多
The study was conducted on the status of the quality of wastewater from the tailings dam of Central Africa Gold Limited in Bibiani, Ghana, to ascertain the level of contamination of the wastewater. The tailings dam st...The study was conducted on the status of the quality of wastewater from the tailings dam of Central Africa Gold Limited in Bibiani, Ghana, to ascertain the level of contamination of the wastewater. The tailings dam stores process effluent from the gold extraction plant. Wastewater samples taken from the tailings dam were analyzed for physico-chemical characteristics. Arsenic, iron and cyanide were identified as the major pollutants in the tailings dam wastewater with average concentrations of 4.5, 25.2 and 11.1 mg.L1, respectively. Arsenic, iron and free CN (cyanide) concentrations in the process effluent exceeded the Ghana EPA discharge limits of 0.2, 2 and 0.2 mg.Ll, respectively. High conductivity, total dissolved solids, sulphate and ammonium were found in the wastewater studied. The tailings dam serves as a natural reservoir that removes most of the total suspended solids and the turbidity, resulting in the improvement in the aesthetic appeal of the wastewater. Nonetheless, arsenic, iron and cyanide concentrations were still high and hence the wastewater cannot be discharged into the environment without prior treatment.展开更多
The mechanisms by which oligotrophic and eutrophic lakes rid itself of Escherichia coli or faecal coliforms are still not clearly understood. This study sought to review the various means by which E. coli or faecal co...The mechanisms by which oligotrophic and eutrophic lakes rid itself of Escherichia coli or faecal coliforms are still not clearly understood. This study sought to review the various means by which E. coli or faecal coliforms are inactivated or removed in lakes. The review cited temperature, solar radiation, predation, starvation, attachment and sedimentation as key factors that aid the removal of E. coli in lakes. In eutrophic lakes additional factors such as the role of algal biomass may play a role due to increased pH and dissolved oxygen levels attributed to algal presence. Algal toxins or exudates may also play a role although this is still under debate. The interactive effect of two or more of these factors on E. coli inactivation and the relative importance of these mechanisms on E. coli removal are still not known. Areas for further research include the role of algae in sedimenting E. coli or faecal coliforms and the possible role of algal exudates on E. coli inactivation.展开更多
文摘TOR (Tema oil refinery) is the only petroleum refinery in Ghana. To assess the quality of the wastewater, wastewater samples taken from three points of discharge into the treatment plant and the treated effluent were analyzed for physico-chemical characteristics. The levels of the pH, temperature, conductivity, COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand), TDS (Total Dissolved Solids), TSS (Total Suspended Solids) and phenol were assessed from January to June, 2011. The results obtained indicate varied levels of contaminants in both the untreated and treated wastewater. The average values of the treated effluent parameters analyzed were 38 ℃, 6,258 μs.cm-1, 314 mg-L-1, 115 mg.L-1, 2,689 mg-L-1 and 1 mg.L-1 for the temperature, conductivity, COD, TDS, TSS and phenol, respectively. The results suggest that both the raw wastewater and the treated effluent did not meet the discharge limit set by Ghana Environmental Protection Agency. Therefore, the treated effluent required additional treatment before it can be discharged into the environment. This suggests that the wastewater treatment plant of TOR is ineffective for the type of wastewater produced.
文摘River Tano, located in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana, has a number of socio-ecological functions. Anthropogenic activities such as farming, washing, and discharge of industrial effluents into the river pose serious threat to human health. In view of this, water quality campaign was carried out for a period of 12 months by taking samples from the source and the downstream end of the river and analysing for some physico-chemical parameters. The results showed that most of the physico-chemical parameters such as pH, fluoride, nitrite, manganese and temperature were not within the regulatory safe limit. Although the levels of total alkalinity, total iron, ammonia and phosphate kept fluctuating along the course of the river, the difference were not statistically significant apart from fluoride and phosphate which showed significant difference between the upstream and downstream levels. This may be attributed to anthropogenic activities such as farming and washing in the river which implies that human activities have impacted slightly on the water quality. It is recommended that the relevant stakeholders should come together to enforce the environmental laws regarding protection of water bodies and do continuous monitoring for early detection of any change in quality of the River Tano.
文摘The study was conducted on the status of the quality of wastewater from the tailings dam of Central Africa Gold Limited in Bibiani, Ghana, to ascertain the level of contamination of the wastewater. The tailings dam stores process effluent from the gold extraction plant. Wastewater samples taken from the tailings dam were analyzed for physico-chemical characteristics. Arsenic, iron and cyanide were identified as the major pollutants in the tailings dam wastewater with average concentrations of 4.5, 25.2 and 11.1 mg.L1, respectively. Arsenic, iron and free CN (cyanide) concentrations in the process effluent exceeded the Ghana EPA discharge limits of 0.2, 2 and 0.2 mg.Ll, respectively. High conductivity, total dissolved solids, sulphate and ammonium were found in the wastewater studied. The tailings dam serves as a natural reservoir that removes most of the total suspended solids and the turbidity, resulting in the improvement in the aesthetic appeal of the wastewater. Nonetheless, arsenic, iron and cyanide concentrations were still high and hence the wastewater cannot be discharged into the environment without prior treatment.
文摘The mechanisms by which oligotrophic and eutrophic lakes rid itself of Escherichia coli or faecal coliforms are still not clearly understood. This study sought to review the various means by which E. coli or faecal coliforms are inactivated or removed in lakes. The review cited temperature, solar radiation, predation, starvation, attachment and sedimentation as key factors that aid the removal of E. coli in lakes. In eutrophic lakes additional factors such as the role of algal biomass may play a role due to increased pH and dissolved oxygen levels attributed to algal presence. Algal toxins or exudates may also play a role although this is still under debate. The interactive effect of two or more of these factors on E. coli inactivation and the relative importance of these mechanisms on E. coli removal are still not known. Areas for further research include the role of algae in sedimenting E. coli or faecal coliforms and the possible role of algal exudates on E. coli inactivation.