Masrura, Sayeda Ummeh

Sayeda Masrura have completed M.Sc. and B.Sc. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Bangladesh. Currently, She is pursuing Ph.D. Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The principal focus of her research is the pathogenically safe reuse of human urine as a fertilizer due to its high nutrient contents. She is also working to develop modified biochar for separation of nutrients and pharmaceuticals from human urine. She has specialized training in adsorption, extraction, and biological treatment processes with relevant experience in environmental sustainability, water treatment, laboratory procedures, emerging contaminant method development and analysis.

Titles from this speaker

Description: Selective Adsorption of Nutrients and Pharmaceuticals from Source-separated Human...

Selective Adsorption of Nutrients and Pharmaceuticals from Source-separated Human Urine Using Modified Biochar

Abstract

The primary source of nitrogen and phosphorus in municipal wastewater treatment plants is human urine. One of the primary concerns associated with the use of urine-based fertilizers in agriculture is the presence of micropollutants, including pharmaceutical residues, which are co-excreted with nutrients in urine. The present study experimented sewage sludge biochar pyrolyzed at a temperature of 700°C and its modified form using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) for selective adsorption of antibiotics in human urine. The adsorption isotherm and kinetics can be adequately described by the Langmuir and pseudo-second order, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacities of azithromycin, sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, and tetracycline were found to be 385, 270, 357, and 1,000 μg/g, respectively.

The study focuses on the utilization of human urine as a fertilizer and the concerns associated with the presence of pharmaceutical residues in urine-based fertilizers. The researchers used modified biochar which poses a strong interaction with antibiotics in urine. This study provides valuable insights into the separate adsorption of nutrients and antibiotics from urine and the mechanisms involved. It contributes to the understanding of the closed-loop nutrient cycle and circular economy.

SpeakerMasrura, Sayeda Ummeh

Presentation time

14:00:00

14:20:00

Session time

13:30:00

15:00:00

SessionRemoving Emerging Contaminants: Beyond PFAS

Session locationRoom S404a - Level 4

TopicIntermediate Level, Research and Innovation

Author(s)

Masrura, Sayeda Ummeh

Author(s)S. Masrura 1; E. Khan 1 ; S. Masrura 1;

Author affiliation(s)Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction, University of Nevada 1; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction, University of Nevada 1 ;

SourceProceedings of the Water Environment Federation

Document typeConference Paper

PublisherWater Environment Federation

Print publication date Oct 2023

DOI10.2175/193864718825159230

Volume / Issue

Content sourceWEFTEC

Word count14

Description: Separate Adsorption of Nutrients and Pharmaceuticals from Source-separated Human...

Separate Adsorption of Nutrients and Pharmaceuticals from Source-separated Human Urine

Abstract

This study examined the potential of biochar for the separate adsorption of nutrients (ammonia and phosphate) and pharmaceuticals from source-separated human urine. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted sequentially using Pinecone biochar pyrolyzed at 200°C (PC200) and sewage sludge biochar pyrolyzed at 700°C (SS700). PC200 biochar was selected to recover nutrients only and SS700 biochar was for the removal of pharmaceuticals only. The results showed that pristine biochar was ineffective for separate adsorption of nutrients and pharmaceuticals. Both PC200 and SS700 biochar effectively removed more than 50% of pharmaceuticals except SMX at acidic pH (pH ≤ 3). For nutrients, the removal of ammonia was around 30% at pH 3 and 9, and phosphate removal was more prominent (> 75%) at pH 9.

This study examined the potential of biochar for the separate adsorption of nutrients (ammonia and phosphate) and pharmaceuticals from source-separated human urine. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted sequentially using two different biochar. Recovery of nutrients and applying the nutrient-rich biochar as an organic fertilizer in agricultural fields can reduce the widespread use of synthetic chemical fertilizers. The separate extraction of pharmaceuticals is beneficial in a way that contaminants get removed at the source before they are diluted by other wastewater streams. In addition, the approach mitigates the introduction of pharmaceuticals to the environment through land applications of nutrient-rich biochars.

SpeakerMasrura, Sayeda Ummeh

Presentation time

16:20:00

16:40:00

Session time

16:00:00

17:30:00

SessionKeeping the Taste of Your Own Medicine Out of Water

Session number318

TopicMicroconstituents

Author(s)

Sayeda Ummeh Masrura