A passive treatment alternative for the removal of metal and organic contaminants from runoff and effluent in CDFs was evaluated in this study. Activated carbon impregnated curtains have been used for different remediation projects; however, very little research has been conducted to understand its sorption behavior, breakthrough time, and exhaustion time of contaminants under high flow rates characteristic of CDF runoff and effluent. The major objectives of this study were to evaluate the efficiency of the curtain in removing contaminants from a synthetic effluent in a flow through regime and estimate the expected life of the curtains. Equilibrium tests, batch sorption tests and column tests were conducted to evaluate the feasibility of this alternative. The copper column tests showed that the curtain is not efficient in the removal of metals; whereas, the Aroclor1016 column tests showed that the curtains could potentially be used as a treatment alternative for organic contaminants.

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Hydrothermally treated biomass could not only be used as a fuel or a fertilizer but it can also be refined into high-value products. Activated carbons are one of those. In the studies of this thesis, four different hydrothermally carbonized (HTC) biomasses, including horse manure, grass cuttings, beer waste and biosludge, have been successfully made into activated carbons. The activated carbon materials were in the forms of powdered activated carbons, powdered composites of activated carbon and iron oxide nano-crystals, and activated carbon discs. The HTC biomasses and the activated carbons were characterized and analyzed using several methods. The biomasses were carbonized to different extent during the hydrothermal treatment, which depended on the different natures of the biomasses. The HTC biomasses were activated into powdered activated carbons by both physical activation, using CO2, and by chemical activation, using H3PO4. Full factorial design matrices were applied to design experiments and study the influence of different parameters used during both physical and chemical activation. Activated carbons with embedded iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized through hydrothermal carbonization followed by CO2 activation. These composites had high surface areas and showed a strong magnetism, and the powders could be separated from liquid phase by applying a magnetic field. Strong and dense activated carbon discs were also prepared from powdered HTC beer waste by pulsed current processing (PCP) and a subsequent CO2 activation procedure. The potential for carbon dioxide separation from nitrogen, and methylene blue adsorption in aqueous solution, were assessed for the powdered activated carbons produced from HTC biomasses. They showed good performance in both applications. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following paper was unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 1: In press.</p>

Increasing freshwater scarcity across the world means that wastewater reclamation is being considered as a key method in which to meet the growing demand. Evolution of water reuse schemes where high quality product is required such as for indirect potable reuse has led to the adoption in recent years of the integrated membrane scheme using a combination of microfiltration or ultrafiltration with reverse osmosis membrane. However, despite technological advancements, these membranes are still prone to fouling resulting in increased costs through cleaning or replacement. This thesis aims to look at pretreatment to reduce the fouling propensity of the microfiltration membranes via a 600m3 /d pilot plant which was commissioned to investigate indirect potable reuse. A range of pretreatments including pre-screening, pre-coagulation, powdered activated carbon and granular activated carbon were assessed based on fouling amelioration, water quality improvement and cost analysis. Results showed that ferric sulphate dosing was the most effective in terms of reducing the reversible fouling rate especially at high turbidity loads enabling higher flux to be realised leading to a small cost benefit. Activated carbon proved the most effective pretreatment in terms of organic removal and a significant reduction in the irreversible fouling rate. However, the cost involved in using this as a pretreatment is significant compared to possible cost savings through reduced requirement for chemical cleaning. This pretreatment is only viable if it obviates the need for a separate organic removal process.

Many pharmaceuticals are found in municipal wastewater effluents due to their persistence in the human body as well as in conventional wastewater treatment processes. This discharge to the environment can lead to adverse effects in aquatic species, such as feminization of male fish. During the past decade, these findings have spawned investigations and research into suitable treatment technologies that could severely limit the discharge. Adsorption onto activated carbon has been identified as one of the two main technologies for implementation of (future) full-scale treatment. Recent research has put a closer focus on adsorption with powdered activated carbon (PAC) than on granular activated carbon (GAC). Studies where both methods are compared in parallel operation are thus still scarce and such evaluation in pilot-scale was therefore a primary objective of this thesis. Furthermore, recirculation of PAC can be used to optimize the treatment regarding the carbon consumption. Such a setup was evaluated as a separate treatment stage to comply with Swedish wastewater convention. Additionally, variation of a set of process parameters was evaluated. During successive operation at three different wastewater treatment plants an overall pharmaceutical removal of 95% could consistently be achieved with both methods. Furthermore, treatment with GAC was sensitive to a degraded effluent quality, which severely reduced the hydraulic capacity. Both treatment methods showed efficient removal of previously highlighted substances, such as carbamazepine and diclofenac, however in general a lower adsorption capacity was observed for GAC. By varying the input of process parameters, such as the continuously added dose or the contact time, during PAC treatment, a responsive change of the pharmaceutical removal could be achieved. The work in this thesis contributes some valuable field experience towards wider application of these treatment technologies in full-scale. / <p>QC 20161124</p> / MistraPharma

Indirect potable reuse has been practiced with the potential to enhance sustainability of water resources if planned accordingly. Depending on the pretreatment implemented for potable reuse, emerging contaminants; such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, industrial solvents, bacterial/viral pathogens, and disinfection byproducts, might be present in source water and difficult to remove via various water treatment technologies. Low molecular weight organic compounds are especially challenging to remove and may require treatment optimization. The overarching purpose of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of a carbon-based advanced treatment train; including ozonation, biological activated carbon (BAC) filtration and granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption to achieve water quality suitable for potable reuse and assess the impact of a range of operating conditions for emerging contaminant removal at pilot-scale. The results from this study showed that carbon-based treatment train is equally effective as more commonly used, and more costly, membrane-based treatment trains in terms of pathogen and disinfection byproduct removal. A multiple-barrier approach was implemented, with each treatment stage capable of removing total organic carbon (TOC). GAC was responsible for removal of most of the TOC and emerging contaminants and this removal depended on the number of bed volumes of water processed by GAC. Empty bed contact time was another factor that dictated the extent of TOC removal in the BAC and GAC units as the carbon media was exhausted. Among the emerging contaminants detected, sucralose, iohexol and acesulfame-k were present in the highest concentrations in the influent and were detected consistently in the GAC effluent, thus making them good indicators of treatment performance. Apart from organics removal, BAC played an important role in removal of nutrients, such as ammonia via nitrification. N-Nitrosodimethlyamine (NDMA) was formed in the treatment process by ozone, but was shown to be effectively removed by BAC. EBCT, temperature, ozone dose and presence of pre-oxidants, such as monochloramine, played an important role in determining the amount of NDMA removed. These factors can be further optimized to improve NDMA removal. Sodium bisulfite was used for dechlorinating monochloramine residual post ozone. Nitrification in the BAC was shown to be inhibited by excess of sodium bisulfite dose. Thus monochloramine residual needs to be dechlorinated with sodium bisulfite to help with NDMA degradation but at the same time the sodium bisulfite dose needs to be monitored to allow complete nitrification in the BAC. 1,4-dioxane, another contaminant of emerging concern, was monitored in the treatment process. Biodegradation of 1,4-dioxane was enhanced via addition of tetrahydrofuran as a growth substrate. Biodegradation of 1,4-dioxane can help reduce energy and capital costs associated with advanced oxidation processes that are currently used for 1,4-dioxane removal. Further, relying on biodegradation for the removal of 1,4-dioxane can help avoid the formation of disinfection byproducts associated with advanced oxidation processes such as ozone with peroxide or ultraviolet disinfection with peroxide. The results from this project can be useful for designing potable reuse treatment trains and provide a baseline for removal of organic carbon and emerging contaminants. The conventionally used reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration approach is useful for organics removal in areas where the rationale behind potable reuse is water scarcity. Operational difficulties encountered during this study can prove to be important as this treatment process is scaled up to treat a total of 120 MGD of water for managed aquifer recharge. Overall the lessons learnt from this study can give a better understanding of a carbon-based treatment and further the advancement of reuse projects that have drivers other than water scarcity. / Doctor of Philosophy / The increased growth in urban areas has been accompanied by an increase in potable water demand, leading to depletion of surface and groundwater. Further, the discharge of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus into some of these water bodies can lead to algal blooms. Water reuse involves treating used water and discharging into either a surface or groundwater body. Water reuse has been sought after as a solution to prevent these nutrients being discharged into surface water and to provide a sustainable solution for depletion of water sources. Direct or indirect potable reuse can include a combination of advanced treatment methods such as membrane filtration using ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis, biological filtration, granular or powdered activated carbon adsorption and disinfection methods such as ozonation and ultraviolet disinfection. This study focused on Hampton Roads Sanitation District's managed aquifer recharge project 'sustainable water initiative for tomorrow' (SWIFT), two different advanced water treatment strategies, namely carbon-based and membrane-based were implemented on a pilot-scale (20,000 L/day). The driver for indirect potable reuse in this study was not related to water shortage but aimed at reducing the nutrients discharged into the Chesapeake Bay. Other reasons for implementing reuse included recharging the depleting groundwater levels, land subsidence, and preventing flooding and seawater intrusion near the coastal areas. Membrane-based treatments, such as reverse osmosis, have been well established and studied for potable reuse. The less frequently used carbon-based treatment, that includes used of activated carbon for adsorption and biodegradation of organics (not involving any membrane barrier), was shown to be cost-effective and provided equal protection as that of the membrane-based system in terms of removal of pathogens. Further, since there is no membrane involved in the carbon-based treatment the energy requirements are less than that of the membrane-based treatment and concentrated brine solution is not produced, which makes it favorable for potable reuse where water scarcity is not an issue. This carbon-based treatment which included ozonation and activated carbon filtration and adsorption was further monitored and optimized for removal of organic contaminants and disinfection byproducts. Emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, industrial solvents and personal care products can be harmful to human health and water ecology even at low concentrations. These contaminants are often present in wastewater effluent and can enter drinking water sources if untreated. These emerging contaminants were shown to be effectively removed by ozonation and granular activated carbon adsorption. The formation of disinfection byproducts such as N-nitrosodimethylamine in the treatment process and its removal in the biological activated carbon filtration was also monitored. The impact of temperature, presence of pre-oxidants and design factors such as ozone dose and empty bed contact time affected the removal of all these contaminants. This study provided an understanding of implementing carbon-based treatment for managed aquifer recharge for optimizing removal of bulk organic carbon and emerging contaminants. The results from this study can be utilized for designing advanced water treatment systems and can prove to be a guideline for monitoring and removing emerging contaminants.