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This research investigates the applicability of bentonite enhanced termite mound soil mixture as an alternative filter medium for paint industrial wastewater (PIWW) management in a constructed pilot-scale filtration tank with four different sections. The mixture of bentonite (BC) and termite mound soil (MS) used as the filter was proportioned by percentage weight as (100% MS), $${\text{(5\% BC}} + {\text{95\% MS),}}$$ (5\% BC + 95\% MS), $${\text{(10\% BC}} + {\text{90\% MS),}}$$ (10\% BC + 90\% MS), $${\text{(15\% BC}} + {\text{85\% MS)}}$$ (15\% BC + 85\% MS) and placed into four sections, respectively. The filter materials were compacted, cured and subjected to wastewater loading for 30 weeks. The results obtained from the analysis of the filtrate samples revealed that filter with 15% BC content generally exhibited high and effective pollutant removal efficiencies of 51.3%, 98.9%, and 72.7% for total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, and copper, respectively, while a maximum removal efficiency of 100% was recorded for lead, chromium and cadmium. The pollutants (TDS, TSS, Pb, Cr, Cu and Cd) concentrations of the treated PIWW were below the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency permissible limits for discharge. Hence, the 15% bentonite and 85% termite mound soil mixtures are recommended for the small-scale paint industries as a point of use measure for effective pollutant removal. Its application would mitigate the degradation of environmental resources caused by indiscriminate disposal of untreated effluent.

The extensive use of commercial activated carbon as an adsorbent for the purification of industrial effluent is not economical for small and medium-sized enterprises due to its high operational cost. This study was carried out to compare the adsorptive capacity of bentonite clay and activated corn cob (“BC” and “ACC”) for the removal of lead (II) and nickel (II) ions from an aqueous solution. The results obtained from the characterization of the BC and ACC are pH: 7.43 and 6.74; moisture content: 36.45kg/kg and 12.10kg/kg, and bulk density: 1.243g/ml and 1.162g/ml, respectively. Normality tests using the coefficient of skewness indicated that the set of data was not normally distributed. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) test conducted using Friedman’s 2-way ANOVA test indicated p values of 0.0253 against an alpha value of 0.05, which indicates significance. The Friedman results indicated significance with respect to the varied dosages, initial concentrations, and contact time. The effect of the adsorbent was not significant. The adsorption isotherms were analysed using the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherms. Most research studies have shown that adsorption experiments performed using most low-cost materials tend to follow the Freundlich adsorption isotherm, but the results of this experimental study proved that activated corn cob and bentonite clay performed better with the Temkin adsorption isotherm with 0.879 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.917 for the bentonite clay and 0.9572 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.99 for the activated corn cob respectively. The study revealed that these materials are good adsorbents that can be used for the removal of lead (II) and nickel (II) ions from an aqueous solution.

This study investigated the use of microbial analysis as a bioremediation option for remediating petroleum sludge, which is part of the waste stream generated in the petroleum industry. The aim is to reduce environmental burden caused by the discharge of untreated sludge. Sludge sample was cultured in other to isolate microorganisms for the sludge treatment. The selected strain of the organisms after screening were Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Verticillus sp, Penicillum sp, and Microsporium audouinii. Bioreactors (labeled A, B, C, D

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