Overview of activities on Hungary Serbia IPA Cross border Co operation Programme

Transcription

1 Overview of activities on Hungary Serbia IPA Cross border Co operation Programme Arsenic and ammonium in drinking water: implementation of a cross border platform for safe water Programme: Hungary Serbia IPA Cross border Co operation Programme (HUSRB/1002) Title of the project: Arsenic and ammonium in drinking water: implementation of a cross border platform for safe water Project partners: Eötvös József Koledž, Baja (Lead Beneficiary) University of Novi Sad Faculty of Sciences (Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Environmental Protection) Commencement date: Duration: 24 months Project total budget (EUR): ,00 Project leader (Hungarian LB): Project leader (Serbian team): Dr Zoltán Melicz Dr Jasmina Agbaba, Associate Professor

2 PROJECT PARTNERS Eötvös József College (Institute of Urban Water and Sanitary Engineering), Baja, Hungary project manager Dr Zoltán Melicz University of Novi Sad Faculty of Sciences (Department of chemistry, biochemistry and environmental protection) research team manager Dr Jasmina Agbaba Project team members: Eötvös József College, Baja, Hungary Dr Zoltán Melicz Dr Ferenc Ábrahám Ildikó Mátrai Dr Lászlóné Vincze Dr Konrád Lájer László Török István Kökény István Kubatov Király Zoltánné Sághegyi Péterné Erzsébet Kiss Zsuzsa Pöppl Faculty of Sciences University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, R. Serbia Dr Jasmina Agbaba Dr Božo Dalmacija Dr Srdjan Rončević Dr Jelena Tričković Dr Valéria Guzsvány Dr Ivana Ivančev Tumbas Dr Milena Dalmacija Dr Dejan Krčmar Dr Aleksandra Tubić Dr Snežana Maletić Dragana Tomašević Dr Jelena Molnar Mr Malcolm Watson The project was supported by the Provincial Secretariat for Science and Technological Development of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina and the Provincial Secretariat for Urban Planning, Construction and Environmental Protection.

3 PROJECT RATIONALE Initiated by the Eötvös József College (Baja, Hungary) and the Faculty of Sciences in Novi Sad, this research programme stemmed from the fact that the ground waters with high alkalinity and content of arsenic, boron, sodium and ammonia, are the main sources of drinking water for more than 1.8 million of people in the county of Csongrád and Bacs Kiskun (Hungary), and in Backa and Banat (Serbia). Ammonia and arsenic are the cause of problems on many drinking water treatment plants, which results in the fact that the majority of population in these areas drinks water in which the content of ammonia and arsenic is above the maximum allowable concentration for drinking water (0.5 mg/l and 10 mg/l, respectively). Precisely in Serbia, about 40% of the population (> 800,000 people) is supplied with drinking water containing more than 10mg As/l. Arsenic content in water varies from 50 to 100 mg/m 3, not to mention the cities where its content in drinking water ranges from 150 to 250 mg/m 3. Besides arsenic in groundwater used for municipal water supply in the areas of central and northern Banat, western Bačka and partly southern Bačka, water also contains natural organic matter in concentrations above 5 mg/l TOC, and even up to 13 mg/l TOC. Furthermore, it was confirmed that over 70 % of the drinking water contains ammonia above the maximum allowable value. PROJECT OVERVIEW Laboratory research conducted within the project, investigated different mechanisms and efficacy of certain technological processes for the reduction of arsenic and ammonia in water rich in natural organic matter. In addition, the composition of sludge generated during the treatment of water by various techniques (e.g. coagulation, flocculation) and the possibility to minimize its impact on the environment during further processing and disposal were also investigated. The research conducted will serve as a basis for determining the relevant environmental factors and the role of other pollutants in the process of arsenic and ammonia removal. The results were presented to the target groups (academic staff, government officials and experts in the field of water, local and regional self governing communities, etc.) with the aim to enable the people in the field of water supply to better understand and master the skills for developing the costeffective strategies for drinking water management, such as proper selection of the water treatment or optimization of the drinking water treatment plant. Through the Platform and transfer of knowledge, wider access to the following elements was provided: 1) Interdisciplinary research programs to address critical problems in the drinking water quality management in the region, including issues such as, for example, the choice of technology for the preparation of drinking water. 2) Training program for members of the Platform in the management of drinking water quality, in order to contribute to capacity building in the field of public education on the issues of environment and health that are related to water management.

4 3) Technical training and capacity building of the services to support utilities and other water experts, including government officials who have the responsibility of managing the safe drinking water. PROJECT GOALS The goal of the project is the implementation of the Platform for arsenic and ammonia removal, which will provide the necessary expertise and training to optimize the infrastructure development in the field of water supply in the region. Besides implementing the Platform, the project included a number of other activities to achieve the said goal: Establishment of a common database on water quality in the areas covered by the project; Renovation of the laboratory space and purchase of equipment (mobile pilot processing units for oxidation, coagulation and flocculation, membrane filtration); Developing processes for the removal of As and NH 3 ; Stabilization of sludge containing As; Examination of the impact of natural organic matter on the removal of As; Organization of conferences and workshops which serve for exchanging ideas and research results; as well as Other forms of dissemination (objectives and research results are published through various media). PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION Project objectives are realized through the activities covered by the specific work packages. 1. Joint implementation of the Platform A joint database on water quality in the areas covered by the project in Vojvodina and Hungary was created.

5 2. Equipment and infrastructure development 2.1. Building the capacity of laboratories for test the environment Within the framework of the project, the educational laboratory named Laboratory for Environmental Protection "Docent Dr Milena Dalmacija" was established. The laboratory is located within the Chair of Chemical Technology and Environmental Protection of the Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Sciences in Novi Sad. At the moment, the laboratory is equipped with Ion chromatograph for analysis of anions and cations in environmental samples, Gas chromatograph with mass spectroscopy, (GC MS) which is crucial in contemporary analysis of organic pollutants, large capacity centrifuge with high rotation speed as an important step in the preparation of samples for analysis, which was purchased within the framework of the project. Soon the laboratory will be upgraded with the liquid chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Equipped like this, the laboratory will enable students at the Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Environmental Protection to master the most advanced instrumental techniques for the analysis of environmental samples (water, air, sediment, soil). Contemporary research Laboratory for Environmental Protection Docent Dr Milena Dalmacija 2.2. Equipment supply Procurement of the equipment crucial for further investigating of the possibility of removing arsenic, ammonia and natural organic matter was conducted within the project. A mobile pilot plant which allows testing of various technological processes was set up. The pilot plant includes processing units for testing oxidation, advanced oxidation processes, coagulation and flocculation, central ozonation, membrane filtration, adsorption processes on granular activated carbon, ion exchange, adsorption processes for removal of arsenic, etc. In addition, a large capacity centrifuge with high rotation speed, which is important for the preparation of samples for analysis, was also purchased within the framework of the project.

6 Mobile, modular semi industrial plant for drinking water treatment (capacity of 2 m 3 /h) 3. Development of the processes for the removal of As and NH 3 During the project, various mechanisms and efficacy of certain technological processes were tested through different laboratory investigations in reducing the content of arsenic in water rich in natural organic matter: coagulation and flocculation of the coagulant based on aluminum and iron, adsorption on the sand coated iron oxide IOCS, advanced oxidation processes (Fenton process, UV/H 2 O 2 ), adsorption on powder activated carbon, ion exchange Through all of these processes, the mechanism of the influence of natural organic matter on the removal of As in the processes of coagulation, flocculation, adsorption and ion exchange was also studied.

7 mg C/l a. TOC DOC Konentracija As (µg/l) d. 0 Kulpin (novi) Kulpin (B2) Backi Petrovac Maglic Glozan 0 Kulpin (novi) Kulpin (B2) Backi Petrovac Maglic Glozan Selected experimental results and part of the lab equipment used The possibility of stabilization of sludge from the treatment of potable water containing As was also investigated. Solidification/Stabilization of the flocculated sludge with high content of arsenic, leaching tests 4. Bilateral conferences, seminars During the project, the research group of the Faculty of Sciences successfully organized five seminars which served as a platform for exchanging ideas and presenting the results of research to academic staff and fellow colleagues, government officials, local and regional self governing communities, and other experts in the field of water. The aim of these seminars was to, through lectures given by local and foreign experts, enable the people in the field to better understand the problems of water supply in Vojvodina, and to help them master the skills necessary for the development of cost effective management strategies in drinking water management, such as a

8 proper selection of water treatment processes and optimization of the plant operation in drinking water treatment. The seminars were attended by more than 400 experts in the field of water supply in Serbia and other countries (Hungary, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, etc.). I workshop The role of pilot projects in the investigation of drinking water treatment plant development, Kikinda, II workshop Problems in cross border water supply management strategy, including legislative issues, Novi Sad, III workshop Sustainable engineering solutions for Arsenic, Ammonia and NOM removal from groundwater, Novi Sad,

9 IV workshop Waste flow solutions for drinking water treatment plants, Novi Sad, V workshop Case studies of regional drinking water supply solutions, Novi Sad, The research group from the Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Environmental Protection at the Faculty of Sciences, Novi Sad, actively participated in seminars organized by the partners from Baja in Hungary, which served to exchange ideas between the partners and to present the project results. I workshop Joint implementation of platform, Baja,

10 II workshop Dissemination of project results, Baja, III workshop Project closing event, Baja,

11 5. Dissemination, promo material 5.1. Promo material To make the information about presence of arsenic in drinking water resources and the results available to the general public, the appropriate dissemination material was prepared. It included leaflets in Serbian and Hungarian language, which were distributed during dissemination activities (seminars and public debates, in high schools, during the promotion in the media, etc). Three types of leaflets were printed: Arsenic and ammonia in drinking water: the implementation of the cross border Platform for safe drinking water The quality of drinking water resources in Vojvodina Health aspects of the presence of arsenic, ammonia and natural organic matter in drinking water promo material

12 In addition to leaflets, experts in the area had a chance to learn more about the project objectives through the research papers published by members of research teams from Baja and Novi Sad, which were published in one issue of the Kvalitet voda, dedicated exactly to this project and problems caused by the presence of arsenic, ammonia, and natural organic matter in drinking water. Among the most important dissemination materials is the publication called Possible solutions to water supply in Bačka, northern and central Banat based on micro and macroregional systems, which offers solutions to the water supply in the territories covered by the project and which are the result of the project activities. The document is a relevant source of information related to the issue for experts in the field of water supply because it consolidates a large number of data related to the issue of presence of arsenic and natural organic matter in drinking water resources on the territory of AP Vojvodina. As additional promo material, notepads were printed, and folders, bags, business cards, USB memory sticks, and a banner with the logo of the project were produced Project web site In order to access information related to the project and reach its greater visibility, the research team from the Faculty of Sciences in Novi Sad created a web site which contains information about the project, partners, events, a picture gallery with photos, news and other project related information.

13 5.3. Dissemination in schools and public discussions Popularization of the objectives and results of the project, with the aim of raising awareness of students in secondary schools about the problem of presence of arsenic in drinking water was one of the activities during the implementation. Popular science lectures attended mostly by the high school graduates, were held in more than fifteen secondary schools in Kikinda, Zrenjanin, Sombor, Odžaci, Subotica, Bačka Topola, Kneževac, Senta, Čoka, Srbobran, Vrbas, Vršac, Nova Crnja and Novi Sad. The members of the project team held scientific lectures and took part in public discussions with the goal of promoting the project results to a wider professional community. Scientific and popular lectures were well attended 5.4. Dissemination in the media Objectives and results of the research conducted within the project were presented to the public through the media, both in Serbia and in Hungary (TV and radio programs with local and national coverage, newspaper articles). Each seminar organized as part of the project was covered by the media. In addition, the members of the project team took part in a variety of informative and educational programs trying to inform the general public about the issue of water supply in Vojvodina and possible solutions, but also to push the decision makers to solve these problems as soon as possible.

14 5.5. Dissemination at scientific conferences Information about the issue of presence of arsenic, ammonia and natural organic matter in drinking water resources, was disseminated by the research team from the Faculty of Sciences, Novi Sad, at scientific conferences organized during the project in Serbia and several other conferences in Hungary, Germany, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Members of the team presented their research results through lectures and participation in poster sections. It is of special importance to single out the lecture given by Prof. Dr. Božo Dalmacija held on the invitation of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences Hungarian Water Utility Association.

15 5.6. Publications in scientific journals Besides attending scientific conferences, team members published their research results in the relevant scientific journals such as the Journal of Environmental Management, Chemical Engineering Journal, Water Research and Management, Voda i sanitarna tehnika. By participating in international and national conferences and by publishing papers in international scientific journals, the research group has contributed to the growing interest of the international scientific community in the problems of presence of arsenic and natural organic matter in drinking water resources in the region, as well as to the possible solutions. The list of papers published is given below.

16 Communications on scientific conferences and published papers 1. Agbaba J., Molnar J., Tubić A., Dalmacija B., Maletić S., Watson M., Krčmar D. (2012) Effects of matrix and ozone dose on trihalomethanes precursors content in groundwater, 6th IWA Specialist Conference Oxidation Technologies for water and wastewater treatment, Book of Abstracts, 7 9 May, Goslar, Germany, pp Molnar J., Agbaba J., Dalmacija B., Dalmacija M., Tubić A., Bečelić Tomin M., Tričković J. (2012) Comparing the effects of selected advanced oxidation processes on natural organic matter content and structure in groundwater, 6th IWA Specialist Conference Oxidation Technologies for water and wastewater treatment, Book of Abstracts, 7 9 May, Goslar, Germany, pp Molnar J., Agbaba J., Dalmacija B., Tubić A., Watson M., Krčmar D., Rajić Lj. (2012) Effects of Pre Ozonation on the Removal of Natural Organic Matter and Haloacetic Acids Precursors by Coagulation, Water Research and Management 2(3), Agbaba J., Dalmacija B., Molnar J., Krčmar D., Tubić A., Watson M. (2012) Karakterizacija prirodnih organskih materija u podzemnoj vodi na odabranim lokalitetima u Vojvodini. Voda i sanitarna tehnika 42(2), Zbiljić J., Vajdle O., Guzsvány V., Molnar J., Agbaba J., Dalmacija B., Kalcher K. (2012) Optimization and application of an amperometric method for monitoring of H2O2 residual by MnO2 modified carbon paste electrode during natural organic compound removal from groundwater by fenton process, Book of abstracts from the thematic workshop Instrumental analythical methods for environmental monitoring, June, Nova Gorica, Slovenia, pp Zbiljić J., Vajdle O., Guzsvány V., Molnar J., Agbaba J., Dalmacija B., Kalcher K. (2012) Monitoring of H2O2 residual by MnO2 modified carbon paste electrode during natural organic compound removal from groundwater by fenton process, Book of abstracts from the Conference 19th Young Investigators Seminar on Analytical Chemistry, YISAC 2012, June, Nova Gorica, Slovenia. pp Molnar J., Agbaba J., Dalmacija B., Tubić A., Watson M., Krčmar D., Rajić Lj. (2012) Poređenje uticaja ozonizacije i perokson procesa na promenu sadržaja prekursora halosirćetnih kiselina i ahaloacetonitrila u vodi, Zbornik radova Voda 2012, jun, Divčibare, Molnar J., Agbaba J., Dalmacija B., Watson M., Tubić A., Kragulj M. (2012) Primena fenton procesa za uklanjanje prirodnih organskih materija i arsena iz podzemne vode, Zbornik radova međunarodne konferencije Vodovodni i kanalizacioni sistemi, Pale maj, Udruženje Vodovodi republike Srpske i Udruženjem za tehnologiju vode i sanitarno inženjerstvo Beograd, str Watson M., Tubić A., Agbaba J., Dalmacija B., Molnar J. (2012) Ispitivanje interakcija između arsena i prirodnih organskih materija u vodi Zbornik radova međunarodne konferencije Vodovodni i kanalizacioni sistemi, Pale maj, Udruženje Vodovodi republike Srpske i Udruženjem za tehnologiju vode i sanitarno inženjerstvo Beograd, str Tubić A., Agbaba J., Dalmacija B., Molnar J., Maletić S., Watson M., Ugarčina Perović S. (2013) Insight into changes during coagulation in NOM reactivity for trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids formation, Journal of Environmental Management, 118, Molnar J., Agbaba J., Dalmacija B., Tubić A., Krčmar D., Maletić S., Tomašević D. (2013) The effects of matrices and ozone dose on changes in the characteristics of natural organic matter, Chemical Engineering Journal, 222, Dalmacija B. (2013) Challenges in water supply management, Book of Abstracts from XVII Országos Víziközmű Konferencia, Sopron, Hungary, June 2013, pp 19.

17 13. Agbaba J. (2013) Arsenic removal from water rich in natural organic matter, Book of Abstracts from XVII Országos Víziközmű Konferencia, Sopron, Hungary, June 2013, pp Watson M. (2013) Potential of Iron Oxide Coated Sands for removal of arsenic from water, Book of Abstracts from XVII Országos Víziközmű Konferencia, Sopron, Hungary, June 2013, pp Agbaba J., Tubić A., Ivančev Tumbas I., Molnar J., Watson M., Dalmacija B. (2013) Presence of arsenic in the groundwater of Vojvodina, Book of Abstracts from Humboldt Kolleg Resources of Danubian Region: the Possibility of Cooperation and utilization, Belgrade, Serbia, June, pp Molnar J., Agbaba J., Watson M., Dalmacija M., Tubić A., Dalmacija B. (2013) The effect of the Fenton process on the characteristics of natural organic matter and arsenic removal from groundwater, Book of Abstracts from 8th International Conference of the Chemical Societies of the South East European Countries, Belgrade, Serbija, June, pp Agbaba J., Watson M., Tubić A., Molnar J., Maletić S., Dalmacija B. (2013) Uklanjanje arsena iz vode primenom peska obloženog gvožđe oksidom/arsenic removal from water using sand coated with iron oxides. Voda i sanitarna tehnika/water and Sanitary Technology, 43(2), Watson M., Agbaba J., Tubić A., Molnar J., Krčmar D., Maletić S., Dalmacija B. (2013) Primena procesa koagulacije i flokulacije za uklanjanje arsena iz podzemne vode. Zbornik radova Voda 2013, jun, Perućac, Molnar J., Dalmacija B., Agbaba J., Tubić A., Kragulj M., Rončević S. (2013) Prekursori dezinfekcionih nusprodukata u podzemnoj vodi analiza i zastupljenost na teritoriji AP Vojvodine. Zbornik radova međunarodne konferencije Vodovodni i kanalizacioni sistemi, Jahorina, Pale maj, Udruženje Vodovodi republike Srpske i Udruženjem za tehnologiju vode i sanitarno inženjerstvo Beograd, str Molnar J., Agbaba J., Dalmacija B., Dalmacija M., Tubić A., Watson M., Kragulj M. (2013) Effects of oxidation by ozone on the changes in the natural organic matter content from groundwater. Book of Abstracts from 6th Symposium Chemistry and Environmental Protection EnviroChem 2013 with international participation, maj 2013., Vršac, Srbija, Agbaba J., Watson M., Kragulj M., Tubić A., Molnar J., Dalmacija B. (2013) Uticaj ph vrednosti na uklanjanje arsena koagulacijom podzemne vode. Book of Abstracts from 6th Symposium Chemistry and Environmental Protection EnviroChem 2013 with international participation, maj 2013., Vršac, Srbija, Agbaba J., Tubić A., Molnar J., Krčmar D., Watson M., Maletić S., Dalmacija B. (2013) Uticaj prirode i sadržaja prirodnih organskih materija na efikasnost koagulacije. Zbornik radova "Vodovod i kanalizacija `13", oktobar, Tara, Watson M., Agbaba J., Tubić A., Molnar J., Rončević S., Maletić S., Dalmacija B. (2013) Primena peska obloženog oksidom gvožđa za uklanjanje arsena iz vode za piće. Zbornik radova "Vodovod i kanalizacija `13", oktobar, Tara, Agbaba J., Tubić A., Molnar J., Watson M., Krčmar D. Dalmacija B. (2013) Effects of preozonation on the removal of THM precursors by coagulation. The Book of Abstracts from International scientific conference 10 th Conference of chemists, technologists and environmentalists of Republic of Srpska, November, Banja Luka, pp Molnar J., Agbaba J., Maletić S., Nikić J., Tubić A., Rončević S., Dalmacija B. (2013) Uticaj vodenog matriksa i doze ozona na brzinu dekompozicije ozona i karakteristike tretirane vode/influence of the water matrix and the ozone dose on the decomposition rate of ozone and the characteristics of the treated water. Voda i sanitarna tehnika/water and Sanitary Technology, 43(4 5), 5 12.