RIVERS STATE UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF SCIENCE
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY
ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY OPTION

PHYSICOCHEMISTRY AND BIOLOGY OF AGRICULTURAL

WASTEWATER
A REVIEW STUDY PRESENTED BY

EPHRAIM-GEORGE, Tokoni Divine

PG. 2023/ 02961
(B.Sc. Industrial Chemistry (UNIPORT), M.Sc. Environmental Chemistry (RSU)

SUPERVISORS: PROF. N. BOISA

DR. P. M. AMAIBI
DR. O. S. BULL

JUNE, 2024
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Presentation Outline
➢ Introduction

➢ Sources of Agricultural Wastewater

➢ Uses of Agricultural Wastewater

➢ Impacts of Agricultural Wastewater

➢ Characterization of Agricultural Wastewater

➢ Status of Agricultural Wastewater

➢ Summary

➢ References
3
Introduction
➢ Waste water is used or polluted water (Nathanson

& Ambulkar, 2024)

➢ Types of waste water;

o Domestic wastewater
o Commercial wastewater
o Industrial wastewater
o Agricultural wastewater

➢ Agricultural Wastewater: Significant byproduct

of agricultural activities (Raut et al., 2023).

(Qadir et al., 2020)

4 Sources of Agricultural Wastewater

(Mitra & Mishra, 2019)

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Benefits of Agricultural Wastewater
➢ Water reuse (Irrigation)

➢ Nutrient recycling (fertilizer)

➢ Bioenergy production

➢ Reforestation and landscaping

➢ As a coolant in industrial processes

➢ Aquaculture

➢ Conservation of freshwater resources

➢ Environmental Protection

(Mateo-Sagasta et al., 2013).

(Hettiarachchi & Ardakanian, 2016)

6 Negative Impacts of Agricultural Wastewater

➢ Surface and ground water pollution

➢ Eutrophication

➢ Soil degradation

➢ Biodiversity loss

➢ Human health risk

➢ Destruction of aquatic ecosystem

➢ Aesthetic and recreational impacts

➢ Economic impacts

➢ Reduced crop yield

(Yahaya et al., 2023; Trotta, et al.,2024)

(Boyd & Boyd, 2020)
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Characteristics Of Agricultural
Physical
(color, odor, temperature,
suspended solids, turbidity)
Wastewater
Chemical Biological
(nutrients, Chemical oxygen
(Biological Oxygen Demand
demand (COD), hardness,
(BOD), microbial load,
alkalinity, pH, chlorides, sulfates,
biodegradability)
heavy metals, Persistent Organic
Pollutants (POPs))
8 Agricultural Wastewater
S/N EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTICS
Poultry
Effluents are characterized by high fat, oil an grease (FOG), elevated suspended solids (Cao et al.,

2021) and organic matter, high BOD and COD, and rich nutrient content (N, P, K), but high microbial
1.

load (Vaishnav et al., 2023).

Swine
They contain high levels of organic matter (Rosa et al., 2017), metals (Cu and Zn) along with high
2.
BOD, COD, and nutrient concentration (nitrogen (N), and phosphorus(P)) (Mafokeng et al., 2016).

Diary
The dairy effluents are white (Minogue et al., 2015), turbid, and alkaline, with high nutrient

concentration, warm temperatures (Slavov, 2017), BOD, COD, FOG, and TSS levels, and a
3.

bacteriologically positive result with a high coliform count (Nabbou et al., 2020; Barua et al., 2021).
9 Agricultural Wastewater

S/N EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTICS

Aquaculture
Effluents with high pH, temperature, nutrient levels, BOD, and COD (Godinez et al., 2014; Yoboue et

al., 2018), high suspended solids, elevated salinity (Odesiri-Eruteyan & Voke,2022), and potential toxic

4. substances (pesticides, metals), these waters pose environmental and health risks and are prone to

pathogens (Adebami et al., 2020; Ibearugbulam et al., 2020; Onajobi et al, 2023).

Cassava
Cassava effluents are colloidal suspensions with an acidic pH, increased organic matter, elevated levels of

heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Zn, Cu), and high BOD and COD indicating significant organic pollution
5.

(Nwakaudu et al., 2012; Izah et al., 2018; Antia et al., 2021)

10 Agricultural Wastewater
S/N EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTICS
Palm oil
A thick, brownish colloidal suspension (Kamyab et al., 2018) with high BOD, COD, oil, grease,

6. total solids, and acidic pH. It contains significant N, P, K, Mg, and Ca nutrients, high degradable

organic matter, and uneven metal distribution (Akhbari et al., 2019; Ohimain et al., 2012).

Abattoir
Characterized by slightly acidic pH, high turbidity, heavy metals, and nutrient rich (Ogunlade et al.,

7. 2021), contain pathogens, high BOD, COD, organic load, FOG and TSS (Akinnibosun & Ayejuyomi,

2015).
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Status of Agricultural wastewater in Nigeria

➢ Dearth of data on agricultural wastewater in

Nigeria.

➢ Lack of information on proper disposal methods.

➢ Inadequate infrastructure for wastewater

treatment.

➢ No regulatory guidelines and proper monitoring.

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Summary
Agricultural wastewater, originating from sources such as livestock, aquaculture, and crop processing, is increasingly

being reused in various applications. However, its impacts on the environment and health can be significant,

necessitating thorough characterization of its physicochemical and biological properties. Despite some research,

particularly in industrialized nations, the understanding of agricultural wastewater, especially its status and emerging

contaminants, remains limited in developing countries. This highlights the need for comprehensive studies to manage

effluents effectively and mitigate environmental risks.

13 References
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