Dissertation submitted in fulfilment with the requirements for the Masters Degree: Biotechnology, Durban University of Technology, 2011. / Untreated vegetable oil effluents (VOEs) are known for creating shock-loading problems for the receiving wastewater treatment installations, resulting in poor quality final effluents being produced which do not satisfy municipal discharge standards. Onsite activated sludge treatment as an alternative has not been fully investigated. Hence, in this investigation biological treatment using the activated sludge process was chosen as the method for the treatment of VOE. The effect of VOE on measured process parameters was also determined. Novel molecular techniques such as fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) and dot-blot hybridization have become powerful tools for the analysis of complex microbial communities that exist within activated sludge. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate biological treatment, optimize and apply FISH and dot-blot hybridization in order to analyze the microbial community implicated the biological treatment of VOE using probes EUBmix, ALF1b, BET42a, GAM42a and HGC69a. A laboratory-scale modified Ludzack-Ettinger (MLE) process setup and fed VOE with a COD (chemical oxygen demand) of ± 1000 mg/L. Daily monitoring of the process involved COD and TKN (total kjeldahl nitrogen) analysis of the influent and effluent as well as direct OUR (oxygen utilization rate) measurement and monitoring of the MLVSS (mixed liquor volatile suspended solids) concentration of the aerobic mixed liquor. The process exhibited overall COD and TKN removal capacities of 84% and 90% respectively. The aerobic mixed liquor had an OUR of 19 mgO/L.h and an average MLVSS concentration of 3000 mg/L. FISH results revealed that 72% of cells stained with 4‟, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) within the aerobic mixed liquor bound to probe EUBmix, indicating a substantial Bacterial population within the laboratory-scale biological process. The alpha-Proteobacteria was identified as the dominant bacterial community comprising 31% of Bacterial cells, followed by the beta-Proteobacteria (17% of EUBmix), gamma-Proteobacteria (8% of EUBmix) and Actinobacteria (4% of EUBmix). Results of dot-blot hybridization were in agreement with FISH Adrian Phillip Degenaar| CHAPTER 1: General Introduction - v - results reiterating dominance of the alpha-Proteobacteria. This indicated that the class alpha-Proteobacteria could play a primary role in the biological degradation of VOE. This research will therefore aid in process design and retrofitting of biological processes treating VOE.

Cross-country (c.c.) skiing is a complex sport discipline from both physiological and biomechanical perspectives, with varying course topographies that require different proportions of the involved sub-techniques to be utilised. A relatively new event in c.c. skiing is the sprint race, involving four separate heats, each lasting 2-4 min, with diverse demands from distance races associated with longer durations. Therefore, the overall aim of the current thesis has been to examine the biomechanical and physiological factors associated with sprint c.c. skiing performance through novel measurements conducted both in the field (Studies I-III) and the laboratory (Studies IV and V). In Study I sprint skiing velocities and sub-techniques were analysed with a differential global navigation satellite system in combination with video recording. In Studies II and III the effects of an increasing velocity (moderate, high and maximal) on the biomechanics of uphill classical skiing with the diagonal stride (DS) (Study II) and herringbone (HB) (Study III) sub-techniques were examined. In Study I the skiers completed the 1,425 m (2 x 712 m) sprint time trial (STT) in 207 s, at an average velocity of 24.8 km/h, with multiple technique transitions (range: 21-34) between skiing techniques (i.e., the different gears [G2-7]). A pacing strategy involving a fast start followed by a gradual slowing down (i.e., positive pacing) was employed as indicated by the 2.9% faster first than second lap. The slower second lap was primarily related to a slower (12.9%) uphill velocity with a shift from G3 towards a greater use of G2. The maximal oxygen uptake ( O2max) was related to the ability to maintain uphill skiing velocity and the fastest skiers used G3 to a greater extent than G2. In addition, maximal speed over short distances (50 and 20 m) with the G3 and double poling (DP) sub-techniques exerted an important impact on STT performance. Study II demonstrated that during uphill skiing (7.5°) with DS, skiers increased cycle rate and cycle length from moderate to high velocity, while cycle rate increased and cycle length decreased at maximal velocity. Absolute poling, gliding and kick times became gradually shorter with an elevated velocity. The rate of pole and leg force development increased with elevated velocity and the development of leg force in the normal direction was substantially faster during skiing on snow than previous findings for roller skiing, although the peak force was similar in both cases. The fastest skiers applied greater peak leg forces over shorter durations. Study III revealed that when employing the HB technique on a steep uphill slope (15°), the skiers positioned their skis laterally (“V” between 25 to 30°) and planted their poles at a slight lateral angle (8 to 12°), with most of the propulsive force being exerted on the inside forefoot. Of the total propulsive force, 77% was generated by the legs. The cycle rate increased across all three velocities (from 1.20 to 1.60 Hz), while cycle length only increased from moderate to high velocity (from 2.0 to 2.3 m). Finally, the magnitude and rate of leg force generation are important determinants of both DS and HB skiing performance, although the rate is more important in connection with DS, since this sub-technique involves gliding. In Studies IV and V skiers performed pre-tests for determination of gross efficiency (GE), O2max, and Vmax on a treadmill. The main performance test involved four self-paced STTs on a treadmill over a 1,300-m simulated course including three flat (1°) DP sections interspersed with two uphill (7°) DS sections. The modified GE method for estimating anaerobic energy production during skiing on varying terrain employed in Study IV revealed that the relative aerobic and anaerobic energy contributions were 82% and 18%, respectively, during the 232 s of skiing, with an accumulated oxygen (O2) deficit of 45 mL/kg. The STT performance time was largely explained by the GE (53%), followed by O2 (30%) and O2 deficit (15%). Therefore, training strategies designed to reduce energetic cost and improve GE should be examined in greater detail. In Study V metabolic responses and pacing strategies during the four successive STTs were investigated. The first and the last trials were the fastest (both 228 s) and were associated with both a substantially larger and a more rapid anaerobic energy supply, while the average O2 during all four STTs was similar. The individual variation in STT performance was explained primarily (69%) by the variation in O2 deficit. Furthermore, positive pacing was employed throughout all the STTs, but the pacing strategy became more even after the first trial. In addition, considerably higher (~ 30%) metabolic rates were generated on the uphill than on the flat sections of the course, reflecting an irregular production of anaerobic energy. Altogether, a fast start appears important for STT performance and high work rates during uphill skiing may exert a more pronounced impact on skiing performance outdoors, due to the reduction in velocity fluctuations and thereby overall air-drag. / <p>Vid tidpunkten för disputationen var följande delarbeten opublicerade: delarbete 5 inskickat</p><p>At the time of the doctoral defence the following papers were unpublished: paper 5 submitted</p>

Se evaluó el tratamiento de efluentes de la industria alimentaria por coagulación-floculación utilizando almidón de Solanum tuberosum L. „papa‟ como alternativa al manejo convencional. Los ensayos se realizaron a escala de laboratorio realizando la prueba de jarras con dos coagulantes: sulfato de aluminio y policloruro de aluminio, y dos floculantes: poliacrilamida aniónica y almidón gelatinizado, con variaciones en relación a dosis, concentración y velocidad. Para determinar los parámetros ideales se utilizaron las siguientes variables respuesta: índice de Willcomb, absorbancia, turbidez y demanda química de oxígeno. El mejor tratamiento fue con el coagulante policloruro de aluminio y el floculante poliacrilamida aniónica alcanzándose un porcentaje de reducción de DQO de 83,05%. Aun así, los resultados al utilizar almidón sugieren que se puede reemplazar la poliacrilamida aniónica por el almidón de S. tuberosum al aplicar un tratamiento primario a un efluente industrial no doméstico de una empresa alimentaria ubicada en el distrito de Ate en la ciudad de Lima, Perú para cumplir los Valores máximos admisibles del Decreto Supremo N°021-009-Vivienda, en el aspecto de la carga orgánica presente.Treatment of industrial wastewater was evaluated through coagulation-floculation using starch of Solanum tuberosum L. „potato‟ as an alternative to the conventional management. Assays were performed in a laboratory scale by performing Jar Test with two coagulants: aluminum sulfate and aluminum polychloride, and two flocculants: anionic polyacrylamide and gelatinized starch, making variations in dose, concentration and speed. To determine the ideal parameters, the following response variables were used: Willcomb index, absorbance, turbidity and chemical oxygen demand. The best treatment was when using aluminum polychloride as coagulant and anionic polyacrylamide as flocculant, reaching a reduction percentage of 83,05% in chemical oxygen demand. Even then, the results suggest that can the anionic polyacrylamide can be replaced by starch of S. tuberosum when applying a primary treatment to industrial wastewater from a food company located in the district of Ate in Lima, Perú to meet the admisible values set in the Supreme Decree No. 021-009-VIVIENDA, in the aspect of organic matter present in it.

Water is used every day in society and to be able to recycle this water we depend upon efficient wastewater treatment. It is vital to test the wastewater based on different parameters. One parameter is the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), which defines the amount of organic substances that can be chemically oxidized within the water. The Swedish standardized analytical method for COD (SS-028142), COD(Cr) is dependent on mercury, a substance which was banned according to Swedish regulations in year 2009 but is still used due to time limited dispensations. This report is a part of a pre-procurement innovative project initiated by the Swedish Water and Wastewater Association (SWWA) in order to bring forward and evaluate mercury free analytical methods for COD for municipal wastewater. The aim was to validate three analytical methods for COD: Chloride Determination, Chloride Elimination and PeCOD and compare the analytical results to the standardized COD(Cr). Three laboratories, Käppala (Stockholm), Gryaab (Gothenburg) and Komlab (Örnsköldsvik) were included in the validation process by providing analytical data. The validation was conducted using the data as input for the statistical methods regression, correlation and analysis of variance to investigate the performance of the individual methods. As a complement to the statistical results, comments regarding the methods brought up by the laboratory staff were compiled in order to reflect on the usability and robustness of the methods.  The results indicated that the method Chloride Determination was the method most similar to the COD(Cr) method, when investigating obtained COD concentrations, required analytical time and implementation steps needed to obtain a final COD value. This result was evident by high coefficient of determination values for influent wastewater samples. The PeCOD method, which was submitted in two versions, one manual and one automatic was only able to analyze soluble COD. It was found that the PeCOD methods obtained lower COD concentrations compared to the standardized method when analyzing filtered samples. Due to highly variable correlation coefficients between the PeCOD and COD(Cr) for various types of samples indicated that no uniform linear relation between the methods was present. Analysis with the Chloride Elimination method was halted early in the validation process, but was found to receive approximately 50 percent lower COD values than the reference method  COD(Cr). Finally it can be said that the input data for conducting the statistical test were limited and further analysis should be recommended in order to validate the results with a higher certainty. / Varje dag produceras avloppsvatten i samhället och för att kunna återanvända detta vatten krävs en tillförlitlig reningsprocess. För att rena avloppsvatten effektivt är det betydelsefullt att kontinuerligt testa avloppsvattnet utifrån ett antal viktiga parametrar. En av dessa är kemisk syreförbrukning, COD, som definieras av den mängd syre som förbrukas genom fullständig kemisk oxidation av organiskt material. Den svenska standardiserade analysmetoden för COD (SS-028142) , COD(Cr) är beroende av kvicksilver för att erhålla ett korrekt analysresultat utan påverkan av kloridjoner. Kvicksilver är enligt Svensk lag förbjudet sedan år 2009, men analysmetoden är dock vanligt använd på svenska avloppsreningsverk tack vare årliga dispenser. Detta examensarbete är en del av en förkommersiell innovationsupphandling som initierats av Svenskt Vatten med mål att undersöka och validera kvicksilverfria analysmetoder för COD tillgängliga på den internationella marknaden. Projektets syfte var att utföra en validering av tre analysmetoder: Klorid Determination, Klorid Elimination och PeCOD och jämföra dess resultat med referens metoden COD(Cr). Tre olika laboratorier, Käppala (Stockholm), Gryaab (Göteborg) och Komlab (Örnsköldsvik) medverkade i projektet. Valideringen genomfördes med de statistiska metoderna regression, korrelation och variansanalys, utifrån insamlade mätdata i syfte att undersöka de givna metodernas prestanda. Som ett komplement till det statistiska testerna sammanställdes synpunkter som framkommit under analysarbetet av laboratoriepersonal, för bedömning av metodernas användarvänlighet och robusthet.  Utifrån valideringen var det tydligt att metoden Klorid Determination hade störst likhet med COD(Cr) metoden utifrån givna analysresultat, analystid samt utförda analyssteg. Detta resultat styrktes av höga värden för determinationskoefficients för inkommande avloppsvatten mellan innovatios metoden och referense metoden COD(Cr). Analysmetoden PeCOD bestod av två olika versioner, skildrade den lösliga COD innehållet i provet istället för den total COD koncentrationen som hos COD(Cr). Oavsett vilken version av PeCOD som används erhålls ett lägre COD resultat jämfört med referens metoden COD(Cr) då filtrerade prover analyserades. De framtagna varierande korrelations koefficienter mellan PeCOD och COD(Cr) indikerade att ingen enhetlig korrelation gick att finna mellan metoderna hos de olika laboratorierna. Analysmetoden COD Elimination pausades tidigt i processen men de tidiga testerna visade på halverade COD koncentrationer jämfört med referens metoden.  Slutligen kan det nämnas att mätdata som användes som indata till de beskrivna statistiska testerna var begränsade och att vidare analyser rekommenderas för att kunna bevisa givna resultat med ökad sannolikhet.

There were two points of research in this graduation work. The first was IFBB technology (Integrated generation of Solid Fuel and Biogas from Biomass) used for preparation of the substrate for fermentation. The second point was to test reactor with sludge cloud (completed with external biomass separator). This reactor was filled by substrate (prepared by IFBB technology) from agricultural biogas energy plant located in Chotýčany. After IFBB preparation substrate was filled in laboratory reactor´s group. Then it was inoculated by digestate. Digestate is a substance, which is in the end of fermentation process. That substance was first taken in biogas station Chotýčany, then, for comparsion, from station Věžovatá Pláně. Results are that IFBB technology is good for substrate preparation and folowing fermentation is better. Reactor with sludge cloud is good for intensive fermentation. Efficiency of the reactor was measured by CHSKCr. The best fermentation was found after using inoculum from Věžovatá Pláně. The best temperature for fermentation was 50 degree Celsius for both inoculums.

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) is commonly used for determining how fast biological organisms use up oxygen in a body of water. It is one of the essential methods used in water quality management and assessment. BOD could be considered as a quality level indicator of biologically treated water. This process is very time-dependent but most common period of incubation is five days - BOD(5). In this thesis different periods of incubation are compared - for BOD(5) with five days incubation period and BOD(2+5) with five days incubation period but also placed for two days to lowered temperature environment. These comparative tests were made for different types of water (surface water, waste water - water from mechanical level and biological level of treatment) For all kinds of determination of BOD the dilution method was used (ČSN EN 1899).

Abstract There are many methods for the restorating a eutrophicated lake. This study has concentrated on chemical treatment of the sediment and the restoration measurements. This study is divided into three parts: studies of the chemical restoration of study lakes, the optimization of the sediment chemical restoration method, and the evaluation of the method effectiveness of the lake restoration. According to the results, it is possible to adsorb phosphorus to the sediment and keep it adsorbed, but chemical treatment will not improve the long term phosphorus adsorption capacity of the sediments. Therefore, the internal phosphorus load from sediments is only temporarily decreased. Contrary to the claims of earlier studies, the chemical treatment should be executed with small doses successively over many years. In this case, the phosphorus from the hypolimnion and the interstitial water is engaged and stored in the sediment. The phosphorus will remain stored unless the acidity of the sediment changes so that the phosphorus-aluminum bond is broke. The most important factors in the sediment chemical restoration are the pH-reaction of the chemical and sediment-water mixture. Also, available phosphorus that can be engaged is important. In addition, the natural variety of the pH-value of the lake must be considered. A laboratory test was made that compared the suitability of five different chemicals for the restoration of lakes. The tested chemicals were chemicals that are commonly used in the production of drinking water and in waste water treatment. The most suitable chemical for lake restoration was Kemira’s CFH0818 which had the best ability to engage phosphorus and the best pH-reaction. The successfulness of the lake restoration can be determined from the phosphate in the interstitial water of the sediment as a primary source of internal phosphorus load. This diffusion calculation can be made in every restoration object before and after the restoration measures. Also, oxygen conditions, pH-value and the process environment of the breakdown of the organic material are determined as tools for the restoration measures. The use of the evaluation methods is mostly limited by the dynamic nature of the process environment over different seasons of the year. So for reliable restoration measurement one must know why, when and where the measurements are made. / Tiivistelmä Rehevän järven kunnostamiseksi on useita menetelmiä: joista tässä tutkimuksessa on keskitytty sedimentin kemikaalikäsittelyyn sekä sen tuloksellisuuden mittaamiseen. Tutkimus jakautuu kolmeen osaan: kemikaalikunnostusten järvikohtaiseen tarkasteluun, sedimentin kemikaalikunnostuksen mitoituksen optimointiin sekä järvikunnostuksen tuloksellisuuden arvioimiseen. Tutkimustulosten mukaan sedimentin kemikaloinnilla voidaan sitoa järvessä kiertävää fosforia sedimenttiin, mutta pysyvää sedimentin fosforinsidontakykyä kertaluontoisella kemikaloinnilla ei saavuteta. Järven sisäinen kuormitus siis hetkellisesti hidastuu, mutta ei lopu sedimentin kemikalointiin. Kemikalointi tulee tehdä pienin kerta-annoksin useana vuonna peräkkäin ja sedimentin pH:n tulisi säilyä välillä 6–8 läpi vuoden. Tällöin kemikaali varastoi sitomansa fosforin sedimenttiin. Kemikaalikunnostuksen tärkeimmät mitoitustekijät ovat kemikaalin pH-vaste vesimassaan ja sedimenttiin sekä sidottavissa oleva fosforimäärä kunnostettavassa järvessä. Tutkimuksen mukaan PAX-18-kemikaali ja vastaavat liuosmaiset alumiini- ja rautakemikaalit eivät ole ensisijaisia järvikunnostuskemikaaleja. Ne on kehitetty juoma- ja jäteveden puhdistamiseen, eli sitomaan nopeasti fosforia ja orgaanista ainetta. Sitä vastoin laboratoriokokeen tulosten perusteella rakeiset adsorptio-kemikaalit, kuten Kemiran CFH0818 sitovat sedimentin fosforia itseensä ilman merkittäviä happamoitumisvaikutuksia. Järvikunnostuksen tuloksellisuutta voidaan arvioida mittaamalla sedimentissä vapaana oleva fosfaattimäärä ja sedimentin hapetustila, happamuus sekä määrittämällä sedimentin fosforinsidontakyky. Mittaukset on tehtävä ennen ja jälkeen kunnostustoimia. Näiden mittausten perusteella voidaan kunnostustoimien tuloksellisuutta arvioida varsin luotettavasti. Tulosten käyttöä rajoittavat lähinnä muuttuvat prosessiolosuhteet eri vuodenaikoina ja toistaiseksi riittävän vertailuaineiston puute. Järvikunnostuksen tuloksellisuuden arvioimiseksi on tiedettävä kohdekohtaisesti miksi, milloin ja mistä mitataan, jotta arvio on luotettava.

No description available.

Östersjön är idag det system med störst utbredning av syrefattiga eller syrefria bottnar i hela världen. Problemet har uppstått som följd av den massiva näringsbelastning från de kringliggande länderna som pågått sedan industrialiseringen intensifierades på 1900-talet. I och med omställningen till förnybar energi planeras framtida vindkraftsparker att byggas i Östersjön. Överflödig energi planeras att användas till havsbaserad vätgasproduktion som sedan forslas in till land med rör. Vid storskalig vätgasproduktion produceras som biprodukt enorma mängder syrgas vilket ger helt nya förutsättningar för artificiell syresättning av Östersjöns syrefria bottnar. Tre övergripande tekniker för att artificiellt syresätta bottenvatten med syrgas har identifierats på 21 platser runt om i världen: Downflow Bubble Contact System (DBCS), Side Stream Pumping System (SSPS) och Direct Oxygen Injection System (DOIS). Alla tre tekniker har med goda resultat förhöjt syrgaskoncentrationen i bottenvatten från hypoxiskt (&lt; 2 mg/l) till oxiskt (&gt; 2 mg/l). I flera fall har syresättningen bidragit till reduktion av näringsämnen och/eller utökat habitat för fiskar och bottendjur. En pilotanläggning i fjärden Slätbaken skulle ge bättre förståelse för hur ett system skulle kunna utformas i andra delar av Östersjön. En massbalansmodell konstruerades över Slätbaken och resultatet var att pilotanläggningen bör ha en kapacitet på 8 ton O2/dygn för att med säkerhet kunna höja syrgaskoncentrationen till &gt; 4 mg/l. Detta skulle ge en lämplig säkerhetsmarginal för den lokala bottennära eller bottenlevande faunan med avseende på syrgashalt. / As of today, the Baltic Sea is the system with the globally largest expansion of hypoxic or anoxic bottom waters, so-called “dead zones”. It is a consequence of the massive load of nutrients from the surrounding countries that started with the intensified industrialization in the start of the 20th century. With the transformation towards renewable energy, wind parks are planned to be built in the Baltic Sea on a substantial scale. Thereby, superfluous energy is planned to be used for sea-based production of hydrogen gas that can be piped to land. Large scale hydrogen gas production would generate enormous amounts of oxygen gas as a byproduct, which gives a theoretical opportunity to artificially oxygenate the dead zones of the Baltic Sea. Three main techniques to artificially oxygenate bottom waters were identified in 21 freshwater systems around the world: Downflow Bubble Contact System (DBCS), Side Stream Pumping System (SSPS) and Direct Oxygen Injection System (DOIS). All three techniques have successfully raised the concentration of dissolved oxygen from hypoxic (&lt; 2 mg/l) to oxic (&gt; 2 mg/l). In many cases, the oxygenation contributed to reduction of dissolved nutrients in the waters and/or enlarged habitats for fish and benthic fauna. A pilot plant for oxygenation in the bay Slätbaken would contribute to better understanding of how a future oxygenation system could be constructed in other parts of the Baltic Sea. A mass balance model was constructed, representing oxygen content and transport in Slätbaken. Results indicated that establishing a pilot plant would need a capacity of 8 tons O2/day to guarantee a dissolved oxygen concentration of &gt; 4 mg/l, which would provide local fauna with a suitable safety margin regarding dissolved oxygen concentrations.

No description available.