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The continuous sequential biological anaerobic/aerobic treatment of Samarra Drugs Factory wastewater (pharmaceutical wastewater) was evaluated under different operation conditions of hydraulic retention time (HRT). A pilot plant of upflow anaerobic filter (UAF) was used for anaerobic stage followed by air diffuser for aerobic stage. The UAF was fabricated from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe with 14 cm diameter and 140 cm height. The UAF was packed with (2.54-3.82) cm inert gravel as a media .Three ports along the UAF were fixed at distance of (30cm) to evaluate the reactor efficiency with respect to the depth. The system was operated for (135days) continuously .Seeding and acclimation of anaerobic bacteria for start- up of UAF was achieved within (34days) by using glucose and trace nutrient with gradually replacing pharmaceutical wastewater, then the system was operated completely with pharmaceutical wastewater for three runs with three values of HRT, each run was 30 days. The values of HRT were (24 hrs, 18hrs, and 12hrs) for anaerobic stage and (20 hrs, 15hrs, and 10hrs) for aerobic stage respectively. The UAF was operated with mesophilic bacterial growth, in which the temperature maintained with the range of 35-37 oC. The removal efficiency for chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) Nitrate (NO3), Phosphate (PO4), Sulphate (SO4), Total suspended solids (TSS) by anaerobic filter were evaluated, while only the removal efficiency for COD and BOD were evaluated with the sequential anaerobic/aerobic treatment. The system was subjected to pharmaceutical wastewater with COD concentration ranged (740-1100 mg/L) and BOD concentration ranged (298- 400 mg/L). The removal efficiency of COD and BOD were 87%, 90% for anaerobic stage and 92%, 93% for anaerobic/aerobic stage respectively. The biogas production was (0.55 m3/Kg COD removed). The efficiency of anaerobic filter with respect to the depth showed that the first third was the more effective in COD removal.

Heavy metals are among the most toxic contaminants of surface water. The main sources of heavy metals are industrial wastes from processes such as electroplating, metal finishing, chemical manufacturing, and nuclear fuel processing. Since most of heavy metals are non degradable, these concentration must be reduced to acceptable levels before discharging them into environment. The goal of this research is to examine the ability of different media to reduce the concentration of cadmium ions in aqueous solution. The application of low-cost adsorbents obtained from plant wastes as a replacement for costly conventional methods of removing cadmium ions from wastewater has been reviewed. Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms found to be applicable to the absorption process and their constants are found. The single component adsorption of heavy metal ions named Cadmium (II) onto powdered activated carbon (PAC), palms karab, rice husks and corncobs from water aqueous solution has been investigated using batch system. In batch tests, the effects of pH, dosage of adsorbent, contact time, initial concentration, mixing (stirring) speed and particle size diameter are studied. The optimum values of pH is 5.5, dosage adsorbent is 1g sorbent/100ml of Cd (II), contact time is 30min, initial concentration is 125 mg/L and for mixing (stirring) speed is 100 rpm.

In this study, physicochemical and biological examinations of water samples were performed. These analyses included measuring the pH, EC, TDS, TSS, DO, BOD, and COD. Turbidity was also measured. Along with the primary cations and anions, heavy metals such as Fe, Mn, Zn, Cd, Cu, Co, Pb, Ni, Cr, As, Mo, Hg, Al, Li, Be, Se, V, U, and Sr are included. The study of hydrochemistry incorporates both the geochemistry of the surface water in Al-Kut city as well as the water from the Tigris River that is discharged into the main river. There are a total of sixteen surface water samples that have been collected. These samples have been dispersed as sixteen from the Tigris River portion of the study region separately, which discharged onto the main river. In order to evaluate the quality of the water for a variety of applications, physicochemical parameters of water samples are tested, and the results of those analyses are compared to both Iraqi and international standards. The findings support the hypothesis that the pH of the Tigris River ranges from neutral to slightly alkaline. It is characterized by having slightly brackish water and an abundance of Ca2+ and SO4 =, which are the predominant ions in the water. In the Tigris River, the cations are arranged in the following order: Ca2+ Na+> Mg2+>K+, and the anions are organized as follows: SO4 = > Cl- > HCO3 -. The Tigris River in the city of Al-Kut was contaminated with PO4 3- and NO3. The concentrations of the trace elements Al, As, Sr, Mn, Fe, Li, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Co, Pb, Zn, Mo, V, and Ba in the Tigris River are all within the acceptable limits, with the exception of Sr and b, which both exceed these limits. Trace elements appear to be concentrated in the Tigris River. According to BOD, the situation with the Tigris River is critical. The BOD and COD readings were visibly affected by the various forms of excreta that were not treated in the waste water. Because the water in the Tigris River is high in salinity (both TDS and EC) and nutrients, it cannot be used for drinking. However, the water may be used for irrigation, and its quality ranges from acceptable to outstanding.

This research is concerned with study and checks the suitability of waste oxidation ponds (WOP) for treating wastewater in Al-Dewaniyah province by taking a sample of community of 10000 populations.Experimental work had three cases depending on many considerations such as economical and specification of final effluent. A model of two ponds (facultative and aerobic) in series was used as first case of experimental work. Then third pond with aeration process to aerobic pond were added to the series as second case to improve the effluent. At last, sand filter was used to polish the final effluent from aerobic pond.The three ponds had the same surface area (5.75m*2m) but with different depths, where it was 2m for anaerobic pond, 1.5m for facultative pond and 0.75m for aerobic pond. From the tests taken for the three cases, the results obtained for the last two cases were much better when compared with first case. In the experimental work a sand filter used for algae removal. Sand filter contributed in improving final effluent by decreasing total suspended solid (TSS) also in increasing removal efficiency of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD).At the end, the results of this work could be an invitation to use waste oxidation pond for wastewater treatment in rural areas or even small communities in Iraq but it may need more examinations to get best results.