425263

ENHANCED WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS FOR SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS IN NIGERIA

Article

Last updated: 04 May 2025

Subjects

-

Tags

Chemical engineering and environmental engineering

Abstract

Effective wastewater management is critical for mitigating the environmental impacts of small-scale industries, particularly in developing countries like Nigeria, where untreated effluents compromise water quality and public health. This study investigated the performance, economic feasibility, and environmental impacts of three enhanced wastewater treatment systems: electrocoagulation, constructed wetlands, and membrane bioreactor (MBR). Results demonstrated that the MBR system provided superior pollutant removal efficiencies, achieving reductions exceeding 90% for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total suspended solids (TSS). Electrocoagulation achieved the highest removal efficiency for heavy metals (95.1%), while constructed wetlands emerged as the most cost-effective and environmentally sustainable solution, demonstrating moderate pollutant removal rates and minimal operational costs. Economic analysis revealed that constructed wetlands incurred the lowest installation and operational costs, making them highly accessible to small-scale industries. Electrocoagulation presented moderate operational costs but required frequent electrode maintenance, whereas MBR systems, despite their higher capital and operational expenses, offered unmatched treatment performance suitable for industries with stringent regulatory compliance needs. Life cycle assessment highlighted significant differences in environmental impacts, with constructed wetlands demonstrating the lowest carbon footprint, followed by MBR and electrocoagulation. This study emphasizes the importance of tailored approaches in wastewater management, recommending hybrid configurations, such as integrating electrocoagulation for pre-treatment with MBR or constructed wetlands for secondary treatment. These findings contribute to the advancement of sustainable wastewater management practices, promoting regulatory compliance and enhancing environmental protection in small-scale industrial applications.

DOI

10.21608/auej.2025.336016.1733

Keywords

Industrial Wastewater, membrane bioreactor, Electrocoagulation, constructed wetlands, Sustainability in wastewater management

Authors

First Name

Hyginus

Last Name

Unegbu

MiddleName

CO

Affiliation

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria

Email

chidieberehyg@gmail.com

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Danjuma

Last Name

YAWAS

MiddleName

S.

Affiliation

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria

Email

dyawaas@yahoo.com

City

Zaria

Orcid

-

First Name

Bashar

Last Name

Dan-asabe

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria

Email

bashaar.dan.asabe@gmail.com

City

Zaria

Orcid

-

First Name

Abdulmumin Akoredeley

Last Name

Alabi

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria

Email

abdulmnm2001@gmail.com

City

Zaria

Orcid

-

Volume

20

Article Issue

75

Related Issue

55442

Issue Date

2025-04-01

Receive Date

2024-11-12

Publish Date

2025-04-30

Page Start

495

Page End

510

Print ISSN

1687-8418

Online ISSN

3009-7622

Link

https://jaes.journals.ekb.eg/article_425263.html

Detail API

http://journals.ekb.eg?_action=service&article_code=425263

Order

425,263

Type

Original Article

Type Code

706

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Journal of Al-Azhar University Engineering Sector

Publication Link

https://jaes.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

ENHANCED WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS FOR SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS IN NIGERIA

Details

Type

Article

Created At

04 May 2025