Contamination of natural waters due to nitrogenous wastes has become a crucial environmental problem due to deterioration of water quality and eutrophication in aquatic eco-systems. Thus, the reduction of nitrogen accumulation in the natural environment is vital to maintain a healthy eco-system. Bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BMED) is a promising technology for selective ammonia separation from high-strength wastewater, such as liquid digestates of food waste or wastewater sludge. This technology was recently studied for reducing membrane scaling problems associated with conventional electrodialysis (ED) systems due to the water splitting mechanism in the BPM interface. A bench-scale BMED stack was built using 5 pairs of cation exchange membranes (CEMs) and bipolar membranes (BPMs). Using the BMED stack, a simulated food liquid digestate solution was examined to separate ammonia with different voltage applications and inter-membrane distances. The highest ammonia recovery was obtained at a cell pair voltage of 5.83 V (81% separation). Experiments on investigation of optimal inter-membrane distance of BMED operation suggested that the inter-membrane distance could be increased up to 2.46 mm without a significant decrease in nitrogen recovery. The residual Ca2+ and Mg2+ in the CIP (clean-in-place) solution which explains the degree of the scaling problem in the BMED was observed consistently below 2% of the initial mass introduced to the system, indicating that BMED design and regular CIP were effective in scaling control. The ammonia loss through CEMs to the feed cell by back diffusion was minimized due to high pH in the base cell since uncharged free ammonia was dominant over ammonium cation in the base cell. The energy required for BMED operation was comparatively low; 1.93-6.93 kWh/kg-N within 90 mins. Therefore, BMED can be considered as a sustainable candidate for selective ammonia recovery at high energy efficiency with successful scaling control. / Thesis / Master of Civil Engineering (MCE)

The wastewater treatment process has developed with the primary goals of protecting receiving water ecosystems and human health. Over time, there have been continuous innovations in process efficiencies, energy recovery, and nutrient removal. Wastewater offers opportunity for recovery of resources of various economic values, and recent research aims at process innovation to optimize resource recovery while still achieving the primary goals of the treatment process. The objective of this study is to assess the logistical and economic feasibility of recovery of nitrogen and phosphorus at two municipal treatment plants in the Tampa Bay area, one employing aerobic digestion and the other anaerobic digestion. The study is conducted using literature review of applicable processes, mass balance on the fate of nutrients (N and P) through the treatment plants and special attention to sludge handling. Based on the whole-plant mass balance conducted at the facilities, it is estimated that over 80% of the nutrient influent is routed to the solids handling side of the plant, warranting special attention to this area for nutrient recovery. Sludge digested through anaerobic and anaerobic processes have distinctly different characteristics and opportunities for resource recovery are specific to each process. Mass balances for nitrogen in the anaerobic digestion process show a high concentration of dissolved ammonia. The feasibility of struvite precipitation by addition of phosphate and magnesium compounds is evaluated through batch reaction using anaerobic sludge filtrate. Aerobic sludge contains most of the nutrient resources in the solid phase, ready for recovery if handled properly. Phosphorus release is a potential concern and specific phosphorus release rates are evaluated for a municipal scale aerobic digester.

O lixiviado de aterros sanitários é um efluente líquido poluente devido, principalmente, à sua elevada concentração de amônia. Seu tratamento faz-se necessário para que sejam atendidas as exigências das legislações ambiental e trabalhista, além de minimizados os impactos ambientais de seu lançamento nos corpos d\'água. Esta pesquisa propõe a remoção da amônia presente no lixiviado por meio do processo físico-químico \"air stripping\", que promove a transferência da amônia da fase líquida para gasosa. Para que não se contribua com a poluição atmosférica, o efluente gasoso do \"air stripping\" deve ser tratado em solução de ácido sulfúrico ou água. A neutralização da amônia com solução de ácido sulfúrico gera o sulfato de amônio, e com água, a aquamônia. Tais subprodutos podem ser usados como fertilizantes. Nesta pesquisa, para remoção da amônia do lixiviado foi utilizada uma torre de PVC, com 2,24 m de altura e 15 cm de diâmetro, recheada com anéis do tipo Rashing de polietileno corrugados, com diâmetro de 1,5 cm e 5 cm de comprimento. As vazões de ar utilizadas foram 1200, 1600 e 3600 L/h e as vazões de lixiviado foram 18 e 30 L/h. Para ajuste no pH do lixiviado, utilizou-se hidróxido de cálcio (padrão analítico) e cal comercial. Os fluxos de líquido e ar eram em contracorrente. Para o recolhimento da amônia foram usados dois frascos de 6 L, preenchidos com 4 L de solução de ácido sulfúrico 0,4 mol/L ou água. Os resultados obtidos indicaram remoção praticamente completa de toda a amônia contida no lixiviado. Nas diferentes condições operacionais avaliadas, a concentração de amônia remanescente no lixiviado foi igual ou inferior aos 20 mg/L determinados pela Resolução 397/08 do CONAMA. Quanto ao recolhimento da amônia, a eficiência média obtida nos frascos lavadores próxima a 80%, tanto ) quando utilizada a solução de ácido sulfúrico 0,4 mol/L quanto quando utilizada água. / Sanitary landfill leachate is a pollutant liquid effluent mainly due to its high ammonia concentration. Its treatment is necessary due to environmental and labour legislation requirements, besides prevention of environmental impacts of leachate release in water bodies. This research proposes ammonia removal from leachate by air stripping process, which transfers ammonia from liquid to gaseous phase. In order to prevent atmospheric pollution, air stripping gaseous effluent must be treated with sulphuric acid solution or water. Ammonia neutralization by sulfuric generates ammonium sulfate and by water, aquammonia is generated. Such by-products may be used as fertilizer. In this research, in order to remove leachate ammonia it was used a PVC tower of 2.24 m high and 15 cm diameter, packed with Rashing rings of corrugated polyethylene of 1.5 cm diameter and 5 cm length. Air flows were 1200, 1600 and 3600 L/h and leachete flows were 18 e 30 L/h. Calcium carbonate (standard grade) and commercial hydrated lime were used for pH adjustments. Air and liquid flows were countercurrent. In order to recover ammonia, two flasks of 6 L were used and filled with 4 L of 0.4 mol/L sulfuric acid solution or water. Results showed that ammonia was almost completely removed from leachate. In all operational conditions evaluated, remaining ammonia concentration in leachate was equal or less than 20 mg/L, value established by Resolution 397/08 of Brazilian Council of the Environment. Ammonia recovery with water or a 0.4 mol/L sulfuric acid solution was about 80%.

O lixiviado de aterros sanitários é um efluente líquido poluente devido, principalmente, à sua elevada concentração de amônia. Seu tratamento faz-se necessário para que sejam atendidas as exigências das legislações ambiental e trabalhista, além de minimizados os impactos ambientais de seu lançamento nos corpos d\'água. Esta pesquisa propõe a remoção da amônia presente no lixiviado por meio do processo físico-químico \"air stripping\", que promove a transferência da amônia da fase líquida para gasosa. Para que não se contribua com a poluição atmosférica, o efluente gasoso do \"air stripping\" deve ser tratado em solução de ácido sulfúrico ou água. A neutralização da amônia com solução de ácido sulfúrico gera o sulfato de amônio, e com água, a aquamônia. Tais subprodutos podem ser usados como fertilizantes. Nesta pesquisa, para remoção da amônia do lixiviado foi utilizada uma torre de PVC, com 2,24 m de altura e 15 cm de diâmetro, recheada com anéis do tipo Rashing de polietileno corrugados, com diâmetro de 1,5 cm e 5 cm de comprimento. As vazões de ar utilizadas foram 1200, 1600 e 3600 L/h e as vazões de lixiviado foram 18 e 30 L/h. Para ajuste no pH do lixiviado, utilizou-se hidróxido de cálcio (padrão analítico) e cal comercial. Os fluxos de líquido e ar eram em contracorrente. Para o recolhimento da amônia foram usados dois frascos de 6 L, preenchidos com 4 L de solução de ácido sulfúrico 0,4 mol/L ou água. Os resultados obtidos indicaram remoção praticamente completa de toda a amônia contida no lixiviado. Nas diferentes condições operacionais avaliadas, a concentração de amônia remanescente no lixiviado foi igual ou inferior aos 20 mg/L determinados pela Resolução 397/08 do CONAMA. Quanto ao recolhimento da amônia, a eficiência média obtida nos frascos lavadores próxima a 80%, tanto ) quando utilizada a solução de ácido sulfúrico 0,4 mol/L quanto quando utilizada água. / Sanitary landfill leachate is a pollutant liquid effluent mainly due to its high ammonia concentration. Its treatment is necessary due to environmental and labour legislation requirements, besides prevention of environmental impacts of leachate release in water bodies. This research proposes ammonia removal from leachate by air stripping process, which transfers ammonia from liquid to gaseous phase. In order to prevent atmospheric pollution, air stripping gaseous effluent must be treated with sulphuric acid solution or water. Ammonia neutralization by sulfuric generates ammonium sulfate and by water, aquammonia is generated. Such by-products may be used as fertilizer. In this research, in order to remove leachate ammonia it was used a PVC tower of 2.24 m high and 15 cm diameter, packed with Rashing rings of corrugated polyethylene of 1.5 cm diameter and 5 cm length. Air flows were 1200, 1600 and 3600 L/h and leachete flows were 18 e 30 L/h. Calcium carbonate (standard grade) and commercial hydrated lime were used for pH adjustments. Air and liquid flows were countercurrent. In order to recover ammonia, two flasks of 6 L were used and filled with 4 L of 0.4 mol/L sulfuric acid solution or water. Results showed that ammonia was almost completely removed from leachate. In all operational conditions evaluated, remaining ammonia concentration in leachate was equal or less than 20 mg/L, value established by Resolution 397/08 of Brazilian Council of the Environment. Ammonia recovery with water or a 0.4 mol/L sulfuric acid solution was about 80%.

Landfill leachate contains valuable, recoverable organics, water, and nutrients. This project investigated leachate treatment and resource recovery from landfill leachates by innovative methods such as forward osmosis (FO), bioelectrochemical systems (BES), and advanced oxidation. In this study, a microbial fuel cell (MFC) removed 50-75% of the ammonia from a leachate through the electricity driven movement of ammonium to the cathode chamber followed by air stripping at high pH (> 9). During this process, the MFC system removed 53-64% of the COD, producing a net energy of 0.123 kWh m-3. Similarly, an integrated microbial desalination cell (MDC) in an FO system recovered 11-64% of the ammonia from a leachate; this was affected by current generation and hydraulic retention time in the desalination chamber. The MDC-FO system recovered 51.5% of the water from a raw leachate. This increased to 83.5% when the FO concentrate was desalinated in the MDC and then recirculated through the FO unit. In addition, the project investigated humic acid (HA) recovery from leachate during the synergistic incorporation of FO, HA recovery, and Fenton's oxidation to enhance leachate treatment and to reduce Fenton's reagent requirements. This led to the investigation of harmful disinfection byproducts (DBPs) formation during Fenton's oxidation of landfill leachate. The removal of leachate UV-quenching substances (humic, fulvic, and hydrophilic acids) using an MFC and a chemical oxidant (i.e., sodium percarbonate) with a focus on energy production and cost efficiency were also studied. BES treatment can reduce leachate organics concentrations; lower UV absorbance; recover ammonia; and, in combination with FO, recover water. Although BES is promising, significant work is needed before its use in landfill leachate becomes practical. FO application to leachate treatment must consider the choice of an appropriate draw solute, which should require minimal effort for regeneration. Resources like HA in leachate deserve more attention. Further efforts can focus on purification and application of the recovered products. The emerging issue of DBP formation in leachate treatment also requires attention due to the potential environmental and human health effects. The broader impact of this study is the societal benefit from more sustainable and cost-efficient leachate treatment. / Doctor of Philosophy / On average, each of us produces 3 – 4 pounds of solid waste every day. In the U.S., the yearly generation of solid waste is 250 million tons, while the global generation is 1.1 billion tons. The global management cost of solid waste is around 200 billion dollars. About half of U.S. municipal solid waste ends up in landfills, in China, this number is 80%. Among the different municipal solid waste (MSW) management approaches, landfilling is the most common because of its low cost and relatively low maintenance requirements. In a landfill, the combination of precipitation and solid waste degradation produce leachate, a complex wastewater. A ton of municipal solid waste can generate 0.05–0.2 tons of leachate in its lifetime during the process of landfilling. Leachate contains a vast array of pollutants, which can result in major environmental impact and adverse human health risk if not contained and treated appropriately. At present, leachate is mostly treated biologically, without any resource recovery. Among the myriad recoverable resources in landfill leachates, water and ammonia are the most abundant. We applied innovative approaches such as, bioelectrochemical systems, forward osmosis, advanced oxidation to recover resources and remove contaminants from leachate simultaneously. We also incorporated these novel technologies to help each other. For instance, we recovered humic fertilizer from leachate prior to advanced oxidation (i.e., Fenton’s oxidation) that helped the reduction of Fenton’s reagent requirements. The next step of our study could be the pilot scale application of the proposed techniques so that it can be applied in field. The broader impacts of this study include improvements in sustainability and cost efficiency of leachate treatment that can benefit the society.