published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Civil Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Civil Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy

No description available.

The study examined the removal mechanism of non-acclimated and acclimated aerobic activated sludge for 29 target organic micropollutants (OMPs) at low concentration. The selection of the target OMPs represents a wide range of physical-chemical properties such as hydrophobicity, charge state as well as a diverse range of classes, including pharmaceuticals, personal care products and household chemicals. The removal mechanisms of OMPs include adsorption, biodegradation, hydrolysis, and vaporization. Adsorption and biodegradation were found to be the main routes for OMPs removal for all target OMPs. Target OMPs responded to the two dominant removal routes in different ways: (1) complete adsorption, (2) strong biodegradation and weak adsorption, (3) medium biodegradation and adsorption, and (4) weak sorption and weak biodegradatio. Kinetic study showed that adsorption of atenolol, mathylparaben and propylparaben well followed first-order model (R2: 0.939 to 0.999) with the rate constants ranging from 0.519-7.092 h-1. For biodegradation kinetics, it was found that benzafibrate, bisphenol A, diclofenac, gemfibrozil, ibuprofen, caffeine and DEET followed zero-order model (K0:1.15E-4 to 0.0142 μg/Lh-1, R2: 0.991 to 0.999), while TCEP, naproxen, dipehydramine, oxybenzone and sulfamethoxazole followed first-order model (K1:1.96E-4 to 0.101 h-1, R2: 0.912 to 0.996). 4 Inhibition by sodium azide (NaN3)and high temperature sterilization was compared, and it was found that high temperature sterilization will damage cells and change the sludge charge state. For the OMPs adaptation removal study, it was found that some of OMPs effluent concentration decreased, which may be due to the slow adaptation of the sludge or the increase of certain bacteria culture; some increased due to chromic toxicity of the chemicals; most of the OMPs had stable effluent concentration trend, it was explained that some of the OMPs were too difficutl to remove while other showed strong quick adaptation. A new module combined of sequencing batch reactor (SBR) and nanofiltration membrane filtration (NF-MBR) was developed to further study the OMPs removal and to exam the concept of compounds (CRT). The NF-MBR was proved to be a promising bioreactor, as OMPs were rejected by NF membrane which leaded to a low OMPs concentration in permeate water, the apparent removal rate was over 80% for most of the OMPs.

No description available.

No description available.

In this study, die-off patterns of helminth ova, fecal coliforms, and Salmonella spp. in biosolids were documented using three small-scale sand drying beds located in a greenhouse. Treatments involved tilling the biosolids with differing frequencies. The results indicate that the inactivation rate for helminth ova was 0.88, 0.55, and 0.22 eggs/4 g TS day-1 for the intensively-tilled, moderately-tilled, and control beds, respectively. Achievement of Class A criteria was only possible in the intensively-tilled bed by Day 70 of the experiment. Salmonella spp. were inactivated to Class A levels in 9 days for the intensively and moderately-tilled beds. Regrowth of Salmonella spp. occurred thereafter in all beds, but high levels were seen only in the control bed. Fecal coliforms reached Class A criteria late in the experiment. Tilling treatments enhanced the inactivation rate of helminth ova and offer a potentially cost-effective method of pathogen reduction.

Anaerobic digestion is a common process for treatment of wastewater sludge from municipal sewage systems. Volatile sulfur compounds, including volatile organic sulfur compounds (VOSCs) and hydrogen sulfide, have been reported as the most odorous compounds in digestion emissions and impurities which can damage facilities for generation, transportation, storage, and utilization of biogas. There has been no comprehensive study on biological generation and degradation kinetics of VOSC or modeling VOSC behaviors through anaerobic sludge digestion. The goal of the present study was to establish a model for VOSC conversions in anaerobic sludge digestion which could facilitate quantitative analysis of VOSC emissions in anaerobic digestion. VOSCs and methionine were employed in dosed batch tests. VOSC conversion processes in anaerobic methionine digestion have been identified. The kinetics for the identified VOSC degradation and conversion processes were determined at 35 and 55 °C respectively. Mixed-second order kinetics were found to best fit the conversion processes. A model was established based on the identified processes and estimated kinetic constants. To extend the model to VOSC release in anaerobic sludge digestion, mesophilic and thermophilic incubations were conducted with four different sludge samples. The effects of temperature and sludge source on VOSC release patterns were assessed. It was found that an unidentified DMS generation mechanism was triggered in the mesophilic incubation of activated sludge in which iron was dosed. To apply the model which was established based on methionine degradation in sludge digestion, hydrolysis of particulate materials was incorporated. The model simulations for VOSC behavior in thermophilic batch incubation were able to represent the observed VOSC releases. However, the simulations could not well fit the observed VOSC release at 35 ° because the model did not include the unidentified DMS generation mechanism. Application of the model to bench-scale digesters was lack-of-fit. It may have been due to imprecise estimation of the degradable sulfur in the feed sludge. In addition, in the batch tests and digester operation the ratios of the raw and digested sludge were different. This might have resulted in different concentrations of the microorganisms which mediated biotransformations and hence resulted in different kinetic constants.

Anaerobic membrane bioreactors may provide a sustainable technological solution for digestion of waste activated sludge due to their capacity to achieve substantial volatile solids (VS) destruction and positive energy balances with reduced digester volumes. However, membrane integrated anaerobic systems may have limitations that are imposed by membrane fouling and a decrease in biomass activity due to possible exposure of biomass to high shear conditions. This study characterised bioprocess and membrane performance under varying conditions, identified foulant type and origin and mechanism of fouling, and developed fouling control strategies by using low cross flow velocity and pressure anaerobic membrane systems. The study employed a pilot scale anaerobic digester integrated with negative and neutral tubular membranes; pilot and bench scale control digesters supported with bench scale filtration unit parametric studies. The membranes were polyvinylidene difluoride based with an average pore size of 0.02 micron and were operated at a constant cross flow velocity of 1 ms-1 and constant trans-membrane pressure of 30 kPa. Four operating conditions consisting of different combinations of HRT and SRT were evaluated. By integrating membranes into the digesters it was possible to simultaneously enhance digestion and increase throughput of the digesters without affecting its performance. The anaerobic membrane digester showed 48-49% volatile solids destruction at 30 days SRT under conventional and higher loadings of 1.2±0.4 and 2.1±0.6 kg COD m-3day-1. This was a 100% increase in performance compared to a control digester subjected to higher loading. This result was supported by the associated specific methane generation. The control digesters operated at a relatively higher SRT showed comparable VS destruction and gas generation to the anaerobic membrane running at a similar SRT. However the extra gas generated didn’t compensate heat required to maintain larger volume of the digester. In case of anaerobic membrane digesters due to the high rate feeding, increase biogas production and co-thickening, the energy balance increased by 144 and 200% under conventional and higher loading conditions respectively. Characterization of membrane performance showed that the average sustainable flux was 23.2±0.4 and 14.8±0.4 LMH during HRT-SRTs of 15-30 and 7-15 days respectively. The critical fluxes were in the range of 30-40, 16-17 and 20-22 LM-2H-1 during HRT-SRTs of 15-30, 7-30 and 7-15 days respectively. The decline in membrane performance at a higher loading was associated with the formation of cake layers on the membrane surface that led to reversible fouling. The additional decline in performance at extended SRT was attributed to irreversible fouling. The colloidal fraction of the sludge showed an overall higher fouling propensity during the long term pilot studies and short term filtration tests. The suspended solids fraction of the sludge showed a positive impact at concentration below 15 g/L but resulted in a decrease of membrane performance at higher concentrations. Further studies of foulant origin through a series of microscopic, membrane cleaning and sludge characterization studies showed that the colloidal proteins, soluble carbohydrates and inorganic materials such as iron, calcium and sulfur and their interaction to have a significant impact on membrane fouling. To control anaerobic membrane fouling by the digested sludge, integration of membrane relaxation techniques in the filtration cycle were found effective. By incorporating a unique relaxation technique to tubular membranes, it was possible to increase the sustainable flux to 29.2±1.8 and 34.5±2.5 LM-2H-1 for neutral and negative membranes during 15-30 HRT-SRT process condition. Addition of cationic polymers and sequential mechanical-citric acid membrane cleaning, that targeted both reversible and irreversible fouling was also found effective.

Darbo tikslas – nustatyti technologinių rodiklių įtaką Kauno nuotekų valyklos metantanko efektyvumui. Darbo uždaviniai: nustatyti išsiskyrusių biodujų debito priklausomybę nuo temperatūros, organinės medžiagos suirimo laipsnio, palyginti teorinį ir faktinį pagaminamų biodujų kiekį. Tyrimo objektai: Kauno miesto nuotekų valykloje dumblo pūdymui periodiškai naudojami du metantankai. Tyrimo metodika: buvo stebimi pagrindiniai rodikliai, įtakojantys biodujų išeigą metantanke: pirminio dumblo debitas, perteklinio dumblo debitas, temperatūra ir organinės medžiagos suskilimo laipsnis. Apskaičiuotas organinės medžiagos kiekis dumble, nustatytas teorinis biodujų kiekis. Apdoroti 75 dienų tyrimų duomenys. Tyrimo rezultatai: biodujų debitas tiesiogiai proporcingas organinės medžiagos kiekiui, esančiam pirminio ir perteklinio dumblo mišinyje. Dumblas pastoviai susidaro pirminiuose ir antriniuose sėsdintuvuose, todėl negalima reguliuoti tiekiamo dumblo debito į metantanką, nes tai gali sutrikdyti nuotekų valymo proceso eigą. Vidutiniškai per dieną į Kauno miesto nuotekų valyklos metantanką tiekiama 432,5 m3 dumblo. Organinės medžiagos kiekis dumble priklauso nuo nuotekų, atitekančių į valyklą, sudėties. Kauno miesto nuotekų valyklos metantankas dirba mezofiliniu režimu. Pagal tyrimų duomenis metantanko darbo temperatūra svyruoja tarp 32,7 – 35,4 °C. Dėl šio temperatūrinio intervalo išsiskiriančių biodujų debitas yra netolygus. Išsiskyrusių biodujų debitas kinta nuo 4600 m3/d iki 9400 m3/d... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The object of the research: the two anaerobic digesters that are used for the sludge digestion in Kaunas wastewater treatment plant. The aim of the research: to determine the influence of the technological indicators on the performance efficiency of the anaerobic digester in Kaunas wastewater treatment plant. The objectives of the research: to estimate the dependence of the amount of biogas on the temperature and the degree of biolysis; to compare theoretical and actual amount of the biogas produced. Research methods: the main indicators, influencing biogas emission from the anaerobic digester, such as: primary sludge discharge, surplus sludge discharge, temperature, and the degree of biolysis, were observed. The amount of the organic material in the sludge was evaluated, theoretical amount of biogas was determined from the chart. Research data acquired in 75 days was processed. The results of the research: biogas discharge is directly proportional to the amount of organic material in the compound of primary and surplus sludge. Sludge is constantly forming in the primary and secondary sludge separators, therefore the sludge discharge added to the anaerobic digester cannot be controlled, as this could disorganize the process of wastewater treatment. On the average, 432,5 m3 of sludge are added to the anaerobic digester in Kaunas wastewater treatment plant. The amount of the organic material in the sludge depends on the composition of the sewage that the treatment plant is... [to full text]