MATTI - a multi-criteria decision analysis framework for assessing wastewater treatment technologies.

The variety of available technologies and the low investment power in sanitation services, especially in regions with low and emerging economies, makes the selection of an optimal wastewater treatment system design an even more complex task for decision-makers. Thus, this study aimed to develop a multi-criteria analysis-based tool to support decision-making on the optimal wastewater treatment technology for the needs and priorities of each region, the Most Appropriate Treatment Technology Index (MATTI). The methodology to apply the MATTI comprises five steps: select suitable technologies; determine the effluent quality parameters; define the most relevant variables for design; normalize and define the weighting criteria; and calculate the level of compliance (0-1, on an increasing scale of suitability).

Occurrence of organic micropollutants in an urbanized sub-basin and ecological risk assessment.

The João Mendes River - an important contributor to the Piratininga/Itaipu lagoon system in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil - receives untreated sewage from the population occupying the drainage basin with no proper sanitation infrastructure. The present study assessed the ecological risk resulting from the presence of five organic micropollutants (17α-ethynylestradiol, ibuprofen, trimethoprim, sulfamethoxazole, bisphenol A) based on four monitoring campaigns which included three sampling points and one reference area. Chronic ecotoxicity assays were conducted with the bioindicators R.

Critical knowledge gaps and relevant variables requiring consideration when performing aquatic ecotoxicity assays.

The increasing diversity and complexity of contaminants released in the environment continuously lead to new challenges when applying ecotoxicity assays. This paper comprises a review concerning exposure assessment and highlights important variables that should be taken into account when investigating aquatic media toxicity under both laboratory or field conditions. Thus, to reflect as much as possible what occurs in nature, ecotoxicity assays must carefully consider these variables in their experimental design.

Phycoremediation potential of microalgae species for ethidium bromide removal from aqueous media.

Ethidium Bromide (EtBr) is an organic compound used in molecular biology investigations. EtBr ability of intercalating in the DNA molecule makes it a toxic substance. The objective was to evaluate the phycoremediation potentials of , and tested separately and in a mixture (Mix) for EtBr removal from the aqueous medium.

Effects of single and mixed estrogens on single and combined cultures of D. subspicatus and P. subcapitata.

This paper investigates the effect of estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2) and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) individually and mixed at equal proportions (1:1:1) on Desmodesmus subspicatus and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata in single and combined cultures (S+) at different exposure times based on algal growth (in vivo chlorophyll fluorescence and cell counting) and coenobium formation. EE2 and E2 were more toxic to individual and combined (S+) cultures than was E1. The frequency of coenobium formation by D.

Engineered ecosystem for on-site wastewater treatment in tropical areas.

There is a worldwide demand for decentralized wastewater treatment options. An on-site engineered ecosystem (EE) treatment plant was designed with a multistage approach for small wastewater generators in tropical areas. The array of treatment units included a septic tank, a submersed aerated filter, and a secondary decanter followed by three vegetated tanks containing aquatic macrophytes intercalated with one tank of algae.