Thesis (MTech (Chemical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018. / The sugar industry contributes to the development of the economy in many countries, including South Africa. The wastewater generated by this industry has a high pollution load, and therefore requires treatment before discharge to the environment. The primary aims of this study were to determine the performance of an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor treating sugarcane molasses and to develop an empirical model to predict the behaviour of the UASB in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal and biogas production. A UASB (46 L working volume) was inoculated with granular sludge from the brewery industry and was used to investigate the treatment of synthetic sugar industry wastewater with an average COD of 4101 mg/L. The experiments were designed using Design-Expert® Software Version 10. The analysis of variance for the models and the optimisation of reactor temperature and feed carbon to nitrogen (C/N ratio) were carried out using response surface methodology. The UASB was operated at constant hydraulic retention time and organic loading rate of 2.04 days and 2.01 kg/m3.d, respectively. A start-up period of 22 days was required to reach steady-state. The developed empirical models for total COD removal efficiency and biogas production rate were found to be statistically significant with Prob > F values of 0.0747 and 0.0495 and the determination coefficients (R2) were found to be 0.80 and 0.65, respectively. The optimal conditions were found to be at a temperature of 38oC and C/N ratio of 22 mgTOC/mgTN. The corresponding removal efficiencies in terms of total COD, five day biological oxygen demand, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and sulphate was 77.7, 85.9, 99.2, 44.4 and 57.2%, respectively. Biogas was produced at a rate of 0.832 L/L.d with a methane, carbon dioxide and molecular oxygen content of 65.2, 32.8 and 0.6%. Results suggest that UASBs may offer a feasible option for reducing the organic strength of sugar industry wastewater, while simultaneously generating methane-rich biogas.

South Africa is facing numerous challenges that pertain to increasing water deficit and pollution of water resources. Only 40 out of 821 wastewater treatment works in South Africa achieved Green Drop certifications in the 2010 Green Drop assessments (DWA, 2011). This is not only threatening net water availability but also human health. South African water sources are comprised of 77 % surface water, 14 % return flows and 9 % groundwater (van Vuuren, 2009). This study was therefore intended to explore the quality, quantity and treatability of corn wet milling effluent resulting from Tongaat Hulett Starch Pty Ltd (THS) operations. THS is a major producer of corn derived starch and glucose in Africa. Amongst its three corn wet milling plants in Gauteng (Kliprivier, Germiston and Meyerton) and one in Western Cape (Bellville), 600000 tonnes of maize were processed in the 2011/2012 financial year. The objective of the study was to establish the wastewater footprint of the corn wet milling process. To achieve this, qualitative and quantitative characterisation studies were completed on effluents generated from the Germiston and Meyerton corn wet milling plants, respectively. This characterisation study was focused on volumetric and organic load analyses of the various sections of the corn wet milling process. A full scale anaerobic digestion treatability study of the Meyerton plant effluent was also conducted. The study results indicated that the combined effluent discharged to the Municipal sewer averaged between 2.9 and 3.1 m3/tonne of corn processed. The effluent generated resulted in an average chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentrations of between 6211 and 7790 mg/L, with suspended solid concentrations of between 635 and 899 mg/L. From the full scale anaerobic treatability study, a minimum of 87 % COD removal at organic volumetric loading rates (OLR) of between 0.3 and 3.9 kg COD/m3.d was achieved. It was concluded that corn wet milling effluent can be categorised as high strength in terms of COD concentrations. This type of effluent proved to be amenable to anaerobic digestion treatment. Anaerobic pretreatment of corn wet milling effluent can proportionately reduce pollution loading into the receiving municipal conventional wastewater treatment systems. / Thesis (M.Sc.Eng.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.

Thesis (Msc Food Sc (Food Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / The food and beverage industry generates large volumes of wastewater annually. The disposal of factory effluent from the fruit processing industry has always been a cause of concern to both the fruit processors and controlling bodies responsible for effluent management. Traditional disposal of wastewater into sewerage works has become undesirable due to its economical and environmental impacts. Therefore, on-site anaerobic treatment of wastewater has received considerable interest due to lower capital outlays and energy recovery possibilities. Thus, the aim of this study was to establish an operational treatment profile for an anaerobic pond system treating fruit-processing wastewater. The specific activity of the microbial populations was also monitored to determine the effect of the fruit processing seasons (peak and off-peak season). The biogas production potential at various temperatures was also assessed to determine the viability of methane recovery. The influence of the processing and environmental conditions on the ponds’ performance was established by monitoring various process parameters. The results showed that the chemical oxygen demand (COD) levels decreased during the off-peak season but the pond pH remained relatively stable between 6.0 and 6.4 during the entire year. Pond alkalinity was found to be dependent on the regular lime dosing to maintain the necessary alkalinity. The volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations indicated that the microbial populations of the pond were functioning well. However, a decrease in microbial activity and VFA concentrations were observed at the lower temperatures during the winter months. The temperature profile of the pond showed that the pond temperature was impacted by the fluctuations in the ambient air temperature. The general trend established by the operational treatment profile clearly showed the impact of the peak and off-peak season. The sludge activity of the anaerobic pond was evaluated to determine the effect of the apple-processing peak and off-peak season on the specific activity of the acidogenic and methanogenic populations within the sludge. An activity test using four different test media was used during the activity assays. Sludge samples were taken at four different sampling positions across the pond’s sludge bed. The sludge was also subjected to a biogas formation study, which was designed to simulate pond conditions on laboratory scale in order to evaluate the biogas production potential of the anaerobic pond. The cumulative biogas volume and total CH4 composition showed little or no difference between the four sludge sampling sites. A major difference was found between the activity of the microbial populations during the peak and off-peak seasons. The overall trend regarding the biogas production rate (SB) and the methane production rate (SM) values showed an increased activity during peak-season and a decreased activity during off-peak season. For the biogas formation test the highest incubation temperature (25°C) resulted in the most biogas being produced, followed by 18°C, and with 10°C resulting in the lowest biogas volume. The biogas formation tests indicated that microbial activity and therefore biogas production was dependent on especially favourable temperature conditions. The pond and activity of the microbial populations are therefore influenced by factors like environmental changes such as decreased air temperatures and substrate changes such as decreased COD concentrations during the off-peak season. This in turn influences the rate of biogas production as well as the methane production rate. The theoretical CH4 calculations and estimates based on the results obtained during the biogas formation tests indicated that CH4 recovery from the anaerobic pond would definitely be a worthwhile consideration. If it were assumed that the estimated CH4 volumes (based on only 15% of the pond volume for practical reasons) obtained could be applied as an energy source, the minimum yearly savings in coal usage would amount to about R 665 000. This study was valuable in evaluating the factors such as pond conditions, pond activity and air temperatures and the effect on the biogas production potential as well as more importantly, CH4 production for the purpose of energy recovery.

O setor de celulose e papel contribui significativamente para a economia brasileira, de acordo com o crescimento na produção de celulose e papel nos últimos anos. O efluente gerado em indústria deste setor é comumente formado por compostos orgânicos originados da degradação das moléculas de lignina, que é um dos constituintes básicos da madeira. Em geral, os contaminantes são mensurados através de análises de cor, demanda química de oxigênio (DQO), demanda bioquímica de oxigênio (DBO), carbono orgânico total (COT), teor de compostos lignínicos, turbidez, sólidos, compostos fenólicos e toxicidade. O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar tratamento de um efluente de planta de polpa quimiotermomecânica CTMP por processos físico-químico e avançado. De acordo com a literatura, diferentes métodos podem ser utilizados para tratamento deste efluente. Tratamento físico-químico de coagulação-floculação-sedimentação foi realizado e as condições de pH, concentração e tipo de coagulante e tempo de sedimentação foram otimizadas. Curvas de pH e concentração de coagulante permitiram verificar que as melhores condições do tratamento, que foram: pH 3,0, sulfato de alumínio como coagulante, concentração do coagulante em 750 mg.L-1 e tempo de sedimentação de 60 minutos. As eficiências de remoção obtidas para esta condição foram 20, 40 e 50% para DQO, cor e turbidez, respectivamente. A eficiência de remoção de COT ficou em 78% e a toxicidade não foi alterada pelo tratamento. Para a condição otimizada do tratamento foi testado o efeito de um floculante catiônico de alta massa molecular, o qual demonstrou melhora nas eficiências de remoção de, em média, 10%. O efluente tratado na melhor condição do tratamento físico-químico foi submetido a um tratamento por processo oxidativo avançado – Fenton. Com este, obteve-se remoção de DQO e COT de 51,6 e 78,9%, respectivamente. Assim a combinação dos métodos permitiu uma remoção total de 74% de turbidez, 53% para cor, 61% para DQO e 95% para COT. / Pulp and paper sector contributes significantly to Brazilian economy, accordingly to the crescent grow in production of pulp and paper in the last years. Effluent generated in mills of this sector is commonly formed by organic compounds originated from lignin molecules degradation. In general, contaminants are measured through color, chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total organic carbon (TOC), lignin compounds, turbidity, solids and phenolic compounds contents. The aim of this study was to run a technically feasible treatment for an effluent from CTMP (chemiothermalmechanical pulping) plant. According to the literature, different methods can be applied for this kind of effluent. Physical-chemical treatment of coagulation-flocculation-sedimentation was performed and the conditions of pH, coagulant type and concentration and settling time were optimized. Coagulant concentration and pH curves verified the best treatment condition, which were: pH 3.0, aluminum sulphate as coagulant, concentration of coagulant at 750 mg.L-1 and settling time of 60 minutes. The removal efficiencies obtained for these condition were 20, 40 and 50% for COD, color and turbidity, respectively. The TOC removal was 78% and toxicity was not changed due to the treatment. For the optimized condition of the treatment, it was testes a high molar mass cationic flocculant, which demonstrated improvements in the removal efficiencies in 10% (average). The effluent treated using the most efficient condition of the physical-chemical treatment passed through a oxidative process – Fenton. In this sense, it was obtained removal of COD and TOC of 51.6 and 78.9%, respectively. Finally, the combined methods lead to a total removal of 74% for turbidity, 53% for color, 61% for COD and 95% for TOC.

The biosorption of copper, nickel, gold and platinum from single metal aqueous solutions by the nickel hyperaccumulator Berkheya coddii plant biomass was investigated. Potentiometric titrations of the biomass and determination of optimal sorption pH for each metal showed that nickel ions were released from the biomass into solution. The presence of free nickel ions interfered with the uptake of the other three metals and further biosorption investigations were discontinued. Three fungal isolates found colonising metal solutions were cultured and screened for their ability to remove 50 mg.l⁻¹ of copper, nickel, gold and platinum from solution and to survive and grow in precious metal refinery wastewaters. One isolate was selected for further studies based on its superior metal uptake capabilities (35 and 39 mg.l⁻¹ of gold and platinum, respectively) and was identified as Phoma glomerata. Copper, nickel, gold and platinum uptake studies revealed that nickel and gold were the most toxic metal ions, however, toxicity was dependent on pH. At pH 6 more biomass growth was achieved than at lower pH values and metal uptake increased by 51 and 17 % for copper and nickel, respectively. In addition, the production of extracellular polymeric substances played a role in base metal interaction. Precious metals were observed to be preferentially removed from solution, complete removal of gold and platinum was observed at all initial pH values, 89 % of copper was bioaccumulated at an initial metal concentration of 55 mg.l⁻¹ (pH 6) and only 23 % of nickel was removed from solution under the same conditions. Metal bioaccumulation was confirmed through transmission electron microscopy and micro particle induced X-ray emission. The effect of P. glomerata immobilised in a packed bed reactor on precious metal refinery wastewaters was investigated. It was found that the fungal isolate was not able to remove the high salt and chemical oxygen demand concentrations found in the wastewaters, however due to its ability to survive and grow in undiluted wastewater and remove metal ions from solution it may be utilised as a metal detoxification step in the treatment process train. / PDFCreator Version 0.9.0 / AFPL Ghostscript 8.53