In this investigation, two separate methods for determining oxygen transfer rates were applied to the oxidation ditches of an activated sludge plant. Steady state oxygen uptake rate testing and an oxygen mass balance technique were used to propose an in-process procedure for monitoring aeration efficiency using available resources. Although some overall averages offered promise, the testing results revealed that the mass balance analysis yielded results that do not accurately represent the oxygen transfer capabilities within the individual reactors due to shared variables that control the oxygen transfer rate. The steady state method provided more favorable results. Overall averages of daily oxygen transfer rates determined using the steady state method displayed a ratio of oxygen transfer rate between the reactors that corresponds to the expected ratio of 5/6 derived from the linear feet of aerator rotor present in each reactor.

No description available.

No description available.

The primary goal of this study was to evaluate a new device and system, designed to optimize the performance of standard low pressure air diffusers in two types of aerated systems (activated sludge and aerobic sludge digestion) and to decrease overall energy consumption. Aerated treatment systems are very important in the treatment of wastewaters and management of sludges. The activated sludge process is widely used to treat wastewater from both industrial and municipal sources. However, they are costly to operate because oxygen is marginally soluble in water and standard low pressure (8 psig) diffusers provide marginal mixing and minimum retention. The newly patented device is referred to as TotalMix and is a type of pneumatic mixing system. TotalMix introduces air under high pressure at regular fixed intervals. During the tests the frequency of air delivered, the pressure, and the period of pressured air delivery was varied manually or through feedback control to optimize oxygen transfer and the interaction with a regular aeration system. Various chemical parameters, most importantly dissolved oxygen, were measured and compared to the new approach, using the TotalMix in combination with standard diffuser systems. The new System was tested in different sized tanks (17,000 L and 380,000 L), different concentrations of total solids (TS), using different airflow rates and different diffusers (membrane fine bubble diffusers, ceramic fine bubble diffuser, and course bubble diffuser). The statistical evaluation of the experiments indicates an increase in oxygen transfer rate with a concomitant decrease in energy consumption at low airflow rates. / Master of Science

Treatment of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Raceway Effluent Using Baffled Sedimentation and Artificial Substrates. The treatment performance of a 6 m wide by 67 m long by 0.8 m deep, baffled sedimentation basin receiving rainbow trout <i>(Oncorhynchus mykiss)</i> raceway effluent was evaluated with and without the installation of artificial substrates (Aquamats®). Treatment efficiency was also determined using normal rearing condition effluent loading versus cleaning and harvesting events. Total suspended solids (TSS) removal for the total basin averaged 79% and 71% during normal rearing conditions, as compared to 92% and 79% during cleaning and harvesting operations, when the Aquamats® were installed versus removed, respectively. Total phosphorus (TP) removal by the total basin, with and without Aquamats®, was 20% and 23% during normal rearing conditions as compared to 55% and 65% under cleaning and harvesting conditions, respectively. Higher TP removal during cleaning operations was attributed to sedimentation of particulate fractions. Dissolved nutrient removal (ortho-phosphate (OP), total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), nitrate, nitrite, and total organic carbon (TOC)) was not consistent throughout the basin and did not improve when the Aquamats® were installed. A short contact time and periphyton grazing by isopods may have limited the capacity of the Aquamats®. Calculated retention times with and without Aquamats® for the first half and total basin were 37% and 32% and 27% and 17% less than theoretical values, respectively based on a rhodamine WT dye study. Average surface overflow rates were adjusted accordingly and measured 19.1 m³/m²-day when the Aquamats® were installed, versus 14.8 m³/m²-day when the Aquamats® were removed for the overall basin. These rates are lower than previous recommendations for treating aquaculture effluents, but resulted in with high solids removal and consistently low TSS effluent (average < 2 mg/L) which may be necessary for strict discharge permits. Use of the overall basin minimized the occurrence of TSS measurements > 2 mg/L by 50%. For the first half of the sedimentation basin, the overflow rate averaged 44.1 m³/m²-day with Aquamats® versus 35.8 m³/m²-day without Aquamats®. The majority of effluent treatment occurred within the first half of the basin, which was responsible for 84% and 94% of total TSS removal, 42% and 100% and 61% and 80% of total TP removal during normal and cleaning/harvesting conditions, respectively.> Characterization of Nutrient Leaching Rates from Settled Rainbow Trout <i>(Oncorhynchus mykiss)</i> Sledge The leaching of nutrients from settled rainbow trout <i>(Oncorhynchus mykiss)</i> sludge into overlying water was evaluated over a 7 day period. Nutrient leaching was assessed in a stagnant reaction tank and one agitated by aeration to simulate turbulent conditions in stocked production raceways. Leaching of total phosphorus (TP), ortho-phosphate (OP), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), and total organic carbon (TOC) occurred rapidly during the first 24 h in both stagnant and agitated conditions. The highest 24 h leaching occurred in the agitated tank, and power regression equations accurately described the varying rates of increasing TP, OP, TAN and TKN. In the stagnant tank, linear increases of TP, OP, TKN and TAN concentrations occurred during the first 24 h. These linear increases continued from day 2-7, but at slower rates than occurred during the first 24 h. Average nutrient leaching rates (mg leached/g sludge-h);(dry weight basis) were calculated based on linear concentration increases. In the agitated tank, nutrient concentrations decreased after 60 h, as aerobic bacterial uptake and/or chemical precipitation was suspected. Therefore, average leaching rates could not be determined. These findings reveal that daily cleanout of settling areas could eliminate the release of TP, OP, TAN, TKN, and TOC from settled solids by 66%, 65%, 39%, 76% and 51%, respectively, as compared to weekly cleanout schedules. Sustained leaching rates indicate nutrient release will likely continue beyond 7 days. This information suggests aggressive and continuous sludge management is most beneficial for maintaining high water quality and regulatory discharge compliance in fish production. / Master of Science

The main goals of this research are to investigate the anaerobic digestibility of algae and to investigate the effects of growth media on the growth rates, nutrient removal kinetics, and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) characteristics of wild type green algae. Anaerobic co-digestion of algae with sewage sludge is proposed to improve the digestibility of algae. It is hypothesized that the addition of sewage sludge improves the hydrolysis rate of algae, which is often the rate-limiting step for anaerobic digestion. It is also hypothesized that the composition and concentration of nutrients in growth media will affect the kinetics of nutrient removal and the content of EPS, which will influence algae flocculation and subsequent anaerobic digestion. In this research, algae collected from a local wastewater treatment plant were cultivated in synthetic medium, primary wastewater effluent and pure or diluted anaerobic sludge centrate. Light cycles and the level of CO2 addition were varied at different stages of cultivation for nutrient removal and physiochemical properties of algae. Harvested algae were then anaerobically co-digested with varying proportions of sewage sludge under mesophilic condition. Results showed that when algae were digested alone (i.e. no sludge addition) with a small amount of seed sludge, algae were poorly digested. When algae were co-digested with sewage sludge, the gas yield was improved and the gas phase (CH4 generation) was reached faster. The biogas yield of algae increased to a comparable level to that of digestion of waste sludge when 44% (by VS) of seed sludge was inoculated for digestion. The addition of sewage sludge improved the hydrolysis rate and the overall digestibility of algae. Algae grown in primary effluent, which had a balanced N/P ratio showed a higher nutrient removal efficiency. The P-limitation in sludge centrate led to lower nutrient removal efficiency and higher EPS production compared to algae grown in primary effluent, indicating that sludge centrate was a harsher medium for algae growth. In conclusion, microalgae can grow in primary effluent and anaerobic sludge centrate for nutrient removal. Anaerobic co-digestion of algae withwaste sludge was strongly recommended to enhance the biogas generation.

M.S.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.