FATE AND TRANSPORT OF SEWAGE-ASSOCIATED INDICATORS THROUGH SOIL COLUMN

Abstract

THE PRESENCE OF FECAL MICROORGANISMS AND ORGANIC POLLUTANTS IN WATER BODIES POSES A SERIOUS ECOLOGICAL POTENTIAL RISK AND HEALTH CONCERN. THIS THESIS IS DEDICATED TO SPECIFY THE SUITABLE SEWAGE-ASSOCIATED INDICATORS BASED ON THEIR FATE AND TRANSPORT BEHAVIOR THROUGH BATCH AND SOIL COLUMN STUDIES. THE SELECTED SEWAGE-ASSOCIATED MOLECULAR MARKERS IN THIS STUDY ARE INCLUDING FIVE PHARMACEUTICAL AND PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS (ACETAMINOPHEN, CAFFEINE, CARBAMAZEPINE, CROTAMITON, DIETHYLTOLUAMIDE), THREE ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS (ACESULFAME, CYCLAMATE, SACCHARIN), AND TWO MICROBIAL MARKERS (E. COLI AND MS2). THIS THESIS FOLLOWS A SEQUENTIAL APPROACH AND CAN BE DIVIDED INTO FOUR PARTS: (1) UNDERSTANDING THE SORPTION AND BIODEGRADATION OF THE SELECTED SEWAGE-ASSOCIATED INDICATORS IN THE SOIL, (2) EVALUATION THE EFFECT OF PH AND NATURAL ORGANIC MATTER ON THE REMOVAL OF SELECTED SEWAGE-ASSOCIATED INDICATORS IN THE SOIL, (3) DETERMINE THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT CONCENTRATIONS OF PRIMARY SUBSTRATES ((NH4)2S