Assignment : Wasterwater analysis using Spectrophotometry

Course code : GEB308

Course title : Separation Technologies and Analytical methods

Semester : Summer 2021

Submitted To

Dr. Mst Murshida Mahbub

Assistant Professor

Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology

Submitted By

Salima Akter (ID: 2018-3-77-009)

Jannatul Ferdousi (ID: 2018-2-77-027)

Amena Khatun Rimi (ID: 2018-3-77-020)

Submission Date : 7th September 2021

Water that has been contaminated by home, industrial, or commercial use is referred to

as wastewater. As a result, the composition of all wastewaters is always changing and

highly variable. Fundamental knowledge of the chemical contents present in domestic

and industrial wastewater, as well as suitable methods for measurement, would be

required for the development of efficient treatment systems for recycling and re-use.

Due to the fluctuation of wastewater features as well as the harsh physical-chemical

conditions the sensors are subjected to, developing sensors for continuous monitoring

of wastewater parameters is a huge scientific and technical challenge. (Carreres-Prieto.,

et al 2020) For more than a decade, optical techniques such as spectrophotometry and

near-infrared spectroscopy NIR have been employed to assess particles, organic

materials, and nitrates in wastewater. UV/VIS spectrophotometers have been used to

evaluate water quality in a variety of sites, including sewers, rivers, wastewater

treatment plants (WWTPs), and tap water networks. Spectrophotometry is a technique

for determining how much light a chemical substance absorbs by measuring the

intensity of light passing through a sample solution. Each substance absorbs or

transmits light over a specific wavelength range, according to the basic principle.

(Chen, B., et al 2014)

As supplies of drinking water and process water become increasingly scarce, a

comprehensive qualitative and quantitative analysis of wastewater is essential for

increasing quality of life and for improving public health. The standard German process

for water, wastewater, and sludge analysis (DIN 38405), as well as a number of other

standards, control spectrophotometric analysis (also known as UV/Vis spectroscopy).

These contain comprehensive analytical instructions, including sample preparation,

interfering ions, and detection limits. Many countries have similar guidelines and criteria.

(Ramcharan, T., et al 2016). Most wastewater treatment plants are built with the goal of

reducing organic and suspended solids to reduce pollution in the environment. Water

authorities are becoming increasingly aware of the need to effectively monitor oxygen

demand levels throughout the wastewater treatment process in order to meet

government requirements before wastewater can be released into the natural

environment, in order to comply with stricter government legislation. Traditionally, global

criteria such as Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen Demand

(COD) have been used to assess oxygen demand in wastewater treatment plants

(COD). These factors determine how much oxygen is necessary to oxidize these

contaminants and how the effluents should be treated before being released into the

natural environment (Fogelman, S.,et al 2006).

In recent years, a plethora of novel techniques and technologies have been studied for

swiftly monitoring changes in organic loadings in wastewater, with spectroscopic

approaches being the most prominent. A study was conducted by Daniel Carreres-

Prieto et al, where they estimated wastewaster quality by using spectrophotometry-

Based Statistical Models. They used techniques are classed as light absorption

techniques since they are based on the interaction of light with a material (e.g. UV-Vis

spectrophotometry, IR spectrophotometry). They used spectrophotometric device which

was developed to analyze the spectral response of wastewater samples. This device

was previously calibrated with a commercial spectrophotometer in the UV–near visible

and visible wavelength range 380–700 nm.

In raw wastewater (Fig A), at 380nm - 510nm wavelength, the absorbance is high

because of the contaminants whereas; the absorbance is low in treated water (Fig B).

The largest and most abundant contributing anionic surfactant ingredients found in

laundry detergents are organic components such as linear alkyl benzene sulfonates

(LAS). The development and reliability of treatment strategies for laundry wastewater

purification demands a quick and precise approach for LAS quantification. UV–Vis

spectrophotometry is one of the most often used methods for LAS quantification.

Methylene blue, a cationic dye that creates a complex with the anionic surfactant by an

ion interaction, is used in the spectrophotometric method for determining anionic

surfactants.

Spectrophotometer has several limitations such as lowering sensitivity and selectivity.

Despite of this issue, many studies are comparatively limited due to the fact that there’s

a variability of sample composition and other parameters such as particle size, moisture

and temperature that has a direct effect on absorbance resulting in complicated results.
References:

 Carreres-Prieto, D., García, J. T., Cerdán-Cartagena, F., & Suardiaz-Muro, J.

(2020). Wastewater Quality Estimation Through Spectrophotometry-Based

Statistical Models. Sensors, 20(19), 5631.

 Chen, B., Wu, H., & Li, S. F. Y. (2014). Development of variable pathlength UV–

vis spectroscopy combined with partial-least-squares regression for wastewater

chemical oxygen demand (COD) monitoring. Talanta, 120, 325-330.

 Fogelman, S., Zhao, H., Blumenstein, M., & Zhang, S. (2006, February).

Estimation of oxygen demand levels using UV–vis spectroscopy and artificial

neural networks as an effective tool for real-time, wastewater treatment control.

In Proceedings of the 1st Australian Young Water Professionals Conference (pp.

15-17).Zhao, H., Blumenstein, M., & Zhang, S. (2006, February). Estimation of

oxygen demand levels using UV–vis spectroscopy and artificial neural networks

as an effective tool for real-time, wastewater treatment control. In Proceedings of

the 1st Australian Young Water Professionals Conference (pp. 15-17).

 Ramcharan, T., & Bissessur, A. (2016). Analysis of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate

in laundry wastewater by HPLC–UV and UV–vis spectrophotometry. Journal of

Surfactants and Detergents, 19(1), 209-218.