The membrane bioreactor (MBR) is becoming increasingly popular for wastewater treatment, mainly due to its capability of producing high quality effluent with a relatively small footprint. However, high plant maintenance and operating costs due to membrane fouling limit the wide spread application of MBRs. Membrane fouling generally depends on the interactions between the membrane and, the activated sludge mixed liquor, which in turn, are affected by the chosen operating conditions. The present research study aimed to explore the process performance and membrane fouling in the membrane enhanced biological phosphorus removal (MEBPR) process under different operating conditions by, (1) comparing two MEBPRs operated in parallel, one with constant inflow and another with a variable inflow, and by, (2) operating the MEBPRs with different solids retention times (SRT). On-line filtration experiments were conducted simultaneously in both MEBPR systems by using test membrane modules. From the transmembrane pressure (TMP) data of the test membrane modules, it was revealed that fouling propensities of the MEBPR mixed liquors were similar in both parallel reactors under the operating conditions applied, although the fouling propensity of the aerobic mixed liquors of both reactors increased when the SRT of the reactors was reduced. Routinely monitored reactor performance data suggest that an MEBPR process with a varying inflow (dynamic operating condition) performs similarly to an MEBPR process with steady operating conditions at SRTs of 10 days and 20 days. Mixed liquor characterization tests were conducted, including critical flux, capillary suction time (CST), time to filter (TTF) and, bound and soluble extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) were quantified, to evaluate their role on membrane fouling. The tests results suggest that the inflow variation in an MEBPR process did not make a significant difference in any of the measured parameters. With decreased SRT, an increase in the concentrations of EPS was observed, especially the bound protein, and the bound and soluble humic-like substances. This suggests that these components of activated sludge mixed liquors may be related to membrane fouling. No clear relationship was observed between membrane fouling and other measured parameters, including critical flux, normalized CST and normalized TTF.

Nitrogen compounds, such as aqueous ammonia, are a widespread problem in the wastewater industry as they are toxic to numerous aquatic life, cause eutrophication, and contribute to various environmental concerns. Environment Canada has mandated new wastewater regulations, limiting un-ionized ammonia discharge to 1.25 mg/L, expressed as nitrogen. This study provides insight into methods for removing nitrogen compounds, specifically aqueous ammonia, from wastewater. Two wastewater treatment technologies were compared: Ultra Violet light and an electrochemical process. These treatments were evaluated individually, as well as in combination, to determine potential synergistic effects.

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Membrane biofilm reactors (MBfR) utilize membrane fibers for bubble-less transfer of gas by diffusion and provide a surface for biofilm development. Nitrogen removal was attempted using MBfR in various configurations - nitrification, denitrification and consecutive nitrification and denitrification. Effects of loading rate and dissolved oxygen on nitrification performance were primarily investigated in a stand-alone nitrifying MBfR. Specific nitrification rate increased linearly with specific loading rate, up to the load of 3.5 g N/m²d. Beyond that load, substrate diffusion limitation inhibited further increase of specific nitrification rate. 100% oxygen utilization was achievable under limited oxygen supply condition. Effects of mineral precipitation, dissolved oxygen and temperature on hydrogenotrophic denitrification were investigated in a stand-alone denitrifying MBfR. Mineral precipitation, caused by intended pH control, caused the deterioration of denitrification performance by inhibiting the diffusion of hydrogen and nitrate. Operating reactor in various dissolved oxygen conditions showed that the denitrification performance was not affected by dissolved oxygen in MBfR. Optimum temperature of the hydrogenotrophic denitrification system was around 28°C. Total nitrogen removal in a two-step MBfR system incorporating sequential nitrification and hydrogen-driven autotrophic denitrification was investigated in order to achieve nitrogen removal by autotrophic bacteria alone. Long-term stable operation, which proved difficult in previous studies due to excessive biofilm accumulation in autotrophic denitrification systems, was attempted by biofilm control. Nitrification performance was very stable throughout the experimental periods over 200 days. Performance of autotrophic denitrification was maintained stably throughout the experimental periods, however biofilm control by nitrogen sparging was required for process stability. Biofilm thickness was also stably maintained at an average of 270 µm by the gas sparging biofilm control. According to the cost analysis of denitrifying MBfR, hydrogenotrophic denitrification can be an economical tertiary treatment option compared to conventional denitrifying filter although its economic feasibility highly depends on the cost of hydrogen gas. Although this study was conducted in a lab-scale, the findings from this study can be a valuable stepping stone for larger scale application and open the door for system modifications in future.

Milling is a commonly used machining process where a rotating cutter removes material from the workpiece. In recent years, attention has been turned towards so called dynamic milling methods which differ from the conventional way of milling. Dynamic milling normally uses, as opposed to the conventional way, more of the axial cutting edge, smaller radial depth of cut, significantly higher cutting speed and feed per tooth. The method has demonstrated potential to save both time and money under specific circumstances, for manufacturing companies.This thesis was conducted at ISCAR Sverige AB in Uppsala, Sweden. ISCAR Metalworking is a full service supplier of carbide cutting tools. The objective is to establish if there are benefits with dynamic milling methods with regard to material removal rate and lifetime of the tool by experimentally investigating and comparing tool wear that occur with conventional- and dynamic milling methods in hardened steels. Tools used were ISCAR’s MULTI-MASTER end mills, MM A and MM B, and the hardened steels were Hardox 600 and Dievar. Analysis was performed by using a USB-microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a Wyko-profilometer. The results of this study show that dynamic milling parameters can give several benefits regarding tool life and material removal rate. When machining in Hardox 600 and Dievar, both end mills were able to achieve a higher material removal rate and lifetime with dynamic parameters compared to more conventional ones. MM A outperformed MM B in Dievar, but the results were reversed in Hardox, MM B performed better. Results from the profilometry analysis showed that in Dievar, the dynamic parameters generated a smoother surface while the surface results from Hardox were more equivocal. The main conclusion was that milling with dynamic parameters is generally more advantageous and should be utilised, if possible.

Graffiti is a near constant problem for historic structures and monuments, particularly in urban environments. Currently available non-destructive techniques are not always adequate for graffiti removal. Acrylic spray paints, the most common graffiti material, are composed of polymers which are subject to degradation by ultraviolet light. The feasibility of using this mechanism as a tool for graffiti removal was explored through practical experiments. Red acrylic paint was sprayed onto samples Indiana limestone which were then exposed to UV-B light sources for two, four, and six weeks. Following exposure, samples were scrubbed with acetone, a common solvent used in graffiti removal. Relative differences in the paint removal on the treated and untreated sides were observed, with more paint being removed from the treated sides in some cases. Additional samples were coated with titanium dioxide and exposed to ultraviolet light, yielded a greater level of overall paint removal. It was concluded that this mechanism offers promise and warrants further study. / Department of Architecture

Membrane biofilm reactors (MBfR) utilize membrane fibers for bubble-less transfer of gas by diffusion and provide a surface for biofilm development. Nitrogen removal was attempted using MBfR in various configurations - nitrification, denitrification and consecutive nitrification and denitrification. Effects of loading rate and dissolved oxygen on nitrification performance were primarily investigated in a stand-alone nitrifying MBfR. Specific nitrification rate increased linearly with specific loading rate, up to the load of 3.5 g N/m²d. Beyond that load, substrate diffusion limitation inhibited further increase of specific nitrification rate. 100% oxygen utilization was achievable under limited oxygen supply condition. Effects of mineral precipitation, dissolved oxygen and temperature on hydrogenotrophic denitrification were investigated in a stand-alone denitrifying MBfR. Mineral precipitation, caused by intended pH control, caused the deterioration of denitrification performance by inhibiting the diffusion of hydrogen and nitrate. Operating reactor in various dissolved oxygen conditions showed that the denitrification performance was not affected by dissolved oxygen in MBfR. Optimum temperature of the hydrogenotrophic denitrification system was around 28°C. Total nitrogen removal in a two-step MBfR system incorporating sequential nitrification and hydrogen-driven autotrophic denitrification was investigated in order to achieve nitrogen removal by autotrophic bacteria alone. Long-term stable operation, which proved difficult in previous studies due to excessive biofilm accumulation in autotrophic denitrification systems, was attempted by biofilm control. Nitrification performance was very stable throughout the experimental periods over 200 days. Performance of autotrophic denitrification was maintained stably throughout the experimental periods, however biofilm control by nitrogen sparging was required for process stability. Biofilm thickness was also stably maintained at an average of 270 µm by the gas sparging biofilm control. According to the cost analysis of denitrifying MBfR, hydrogenotrophic denitrification can be an economical tertiary treatment option compared to conventional denitrifying filter although its economic feasibility highly depends on the cost of hydrogen gas. Although this study was conducted in a lab-scale, the findings from this study can be a valuable stepping stone for larger scale application and open the door for system modifications in future.

Low Earth Orbit is over-cluttered with rogue objects that threaten existing technological assets and interfere with allocating new ones. Traditional satellite missions are not efficient enough to collect an appreciable amount of debris due to the high cost of orbit transfers. Many alternate proposals are politically controversial, costly, or dependent on undeveloped technology. This dissertation attempts to solve the problem by introducing a new mission architecture, Space Sweeper, and bespoke hardware, Sling-Sat, that sequentially captures and ejects debris plastically. Resulting momentum exchanges are exploited to aid in subsequent orbit transfers, thus saving fuel. Sling-Sat is a spinning satellite that captures debris at the ends of adjustable-length arms. Arm length controls the angular rate to achieve a desired tangential ejection speed. Timing the release exacts the ejection angle. This process redirects debris to burn up in the atmosphere, or reduce its lifetime, by lowering its perigee. This dissertation establishes feasibility of principles fundamental to the proposed concept. Hardware is conceptualized to accommodate Space Sweeper ’s specialized needs. Mathematical models are built for the purpose of analysis and simulation. A kinematic analysis investigates system demands and long-term behavior resulting from repeated debris interaction. A successful approach to enforce debris capture is established through optimal control techniques. A study of orbital parameters and their response to debris interactions builds an intuition for missions of this nature. Finally, a J2-compliant technique for path optimization is demonstrated. The results strongly support feasibility of the proposed mission.

Boron is an element distributed widely in environment mainly in the form of boric acid or borate salts. Boron is an element of demand because of its use in many high technology materials. Moreover boron is an essential element for growth of plants, but may also result in toxicity when present in excessive amounts. As the range between a deficient and toxic amount of boron is very narrow, imbalances in boron nutrition are well-known. For the removal of boron from aqueous solutions, various methods exist which are chemical coagulation, adsorption, solvent extraction and ion exchange processes. In this study, an alternative, energy efficient and easily scalable membrane based method, polymer enhanced ultrafiltration (PEUF) was developed for removal of boron from aqueous boron solutions. PEUF process consists of two steps: complexing boron with a water soluble polymer then removing the complex by ultrafiltration. Previously, boron removal from aqueous solutions was studied in a continuous process with a commercial ligand, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). In our study, three newly developed polymers, which are derivatives of N-methyl-D-glucamine (P1) and iminodipropylene glycol(P2 and P2G) were used as the boron complexing ligand. P1 and P2 are linear polymers, while P2G is cross linked version of P2. The pilot scale system utilized for the PEUF process accommodates a spiral wound cellulose cartridge with 10000 Da molecular weight cutoffs (MWCO). The effects of operating parameters on performance of PEUF were investigated. The experimental parameters studied are metal/polymer ratio (loading) (0.01-1), pH (7-10). Boron analyses of the samples were made by using ICP-AES. Maximum removal (retention) was 90.1 %. The permeate flux remained constant at around 20 L/m2.hr and was not affected by the operating parameters. Decrease in loading caused the retention of boron to increase. Also at high pH values, retentions were relatively higher. Results showed that PEUF could be a successful alternative method for removal of boron.

In today’s progressively urbanised society, there is an increasing need for cost-effective, environmentally sound technologies for the removal of nutrients (carbon, phosphorous, nitrogen) from polluted water. Nitrogen removal from wastewater is the focus of this thesis. Conventional nitrogen removal requires the two processes of aerobic nitrification followed by anoxic denitrification, which is driven by remaining reducing power. While most wastewaters contain a significant fraction of reducing power in the form of organic substrate, it is difficult to preserve the reducing power required for denitrification, due to the necessary preceding aerobic oxidation step. Consequently, one of the major limitations to complete N-removal in traditional wastewater treatment systems is the shortage of organic carbon substrate for the reduction of oxidised nitrogen (NO2-, NO3-), produced from nitrification. This thesis followed two main research themes that aimed to address the problem of organic carbon limitation in nitrogen removal from wastewater, by management of the oxygen supply. The first theme was the study of N-removal by simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) in the novel reactor type, the sequencing batch reactor (SBR). It was aimed to increase understanding of PHB metabolism and the limiting factors of SND and then to develop a suitable on-line control strategy to manage the oxygen supply and optimise nitrogen removal by SND. The second main research theme was the application of the CANON(Completely Autotrophic Nitrogen-removal Over Nitrite) process for nitrogen removal from wastewater; a novel process that requires minimal oxygen supply and has the potential to completely circumvent the requirement for organic substrate in nitrogen removal because it is catalysed by autotrophic microorganisms – Anammox (anaerobic ammonium oxidisers) and aerobic nitrifiers. For study of the SND process, a completely automated 2 L sequencing batch reactor was developed with on-line monitoring of the dissolved oxygen concentration, pH and oxidation-reduction (ORP) potential. The SBR was operated continuously for up to 2 years and, due to its separation of different phases by time, enabled the study and optimisation of different microbial activities, including acetate uptake and conversion to PHB (feast phase), PHB hydrolysis and consumption (famine phase), nitrification and denitrification (and SND). All experimental work was performed using a mixed culture Project summary and acetate as the organic substrate. Acetate consumption and PHB production was studied under different oxygen supply rates to establish conditions that allow maximum conversion of acetate to PHB during the feast phase. Lower DO supply rates (kLa 6 – 16 h-1) resulted in preservation of a higher proportion of acetate as PHB than at higher DO supply rates (kLa 30 and 51 h-1). Up to 77 % of the reducing equivalents available from acetate were converted to PHB under O2-limitation, as opposed to only 54 % under O2-excess conditions, where a higher fraction of acetate was used for biomass growth. A metabolic model based on biochemical stoichiometry was developed that could reproduce the trends of the effect of oxygen on PHB production. Experimental findings and simulated results highlighted the importance of oxygen control during the feast phase of an SBR in preserving reducing power as PHB. To develop an oxygen management strategy for the aerobic famine phase,the effect of the dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration on SND, using PHB as the electron donor, was investigated. There was a clear compromise between the rate and the percentage of SND achieved at different DO concentrations. A DO setpoint of 1 mg L-1 was optimal for both the percentage of SND (61 %) and rate of SND (4.4 mmol N. Cmol X-1. h-1). Electron flux analysis showed that most SND activity occurred during the first hour of the aerobic famine period, when the oxygen uptake rate (due to NH4 + and PHB oxidation) was highest. Aerated denitrification ceased as soon as NH4 + was depleted. The presence of NH4 + provided an oxygen “shield”, preventing excessive penetration of oxygen into the flocs and creating larger anoxic zones for SND. PHB degradation was first order with respect to the biomass PHB concentration (dfPHB/dt = 0.19 . fPHB). The slow nature of PHB degradation made it a suitable substrate for SND, as it was degraded at a similar rate to ammonium oxidation. While DO control during the aerobic famine phase could increase nitrogen removal via SND, total N-removal in the SBR was still limited by the availability of reducing power(PHB) in the anoxic phase. The length of the aerobic phase needed to be minimised to prevent over-oxidation of PHB after NH4 + depletion. The specific oxygen uptake rate (SOUR) was found to be an effective on-line parameter that could reproducibly detect the end-point of nitrification. A simple method was developed for continuous, on-line measurement of the SOUR, which was used for automated adjustment of the aerobic phase length. Minimisation of the aerobic phase length by feedback control of the Project summary SOUR improved nitrogen removal from 69 % (without phase length control) to 86 %, during one cycle. The SOUR-aeration control technique could successfully adapt the aerobic phase length to varying wastewater types and strengths and to varying aeration conditions. The medium- and long-term effects of oxygen management on nitrogen removal was investigated by operating the SBR continuously for up to one month using DO control throughout all stages of the SBR, i.e. oxygen-limitation during the feast phase, a DO setpoint of 1 mg L-1 during the famine phase and SOUR controlled aerobic phase length. Complete oxygen management resulted in minimisation of the amount of PHB that was oxidised aerobically in each SBR cycle and caused an accumulation of cellular PHB over time. The increased availability of PHB during aeration resulted in a higher SOUR and increased N-removal by SND from 34 to 54 %. After one month of continuous SBR operation, the settling efficiency of the biomass improved from 110 mL . g-1X to less than 70 mL . g-1X and almost complete N-removal (9 %) was achieved via SND during aeration, however at a reduced rate (1.5 mmol Cmol X-1 h-1). Therefore, long-term oxygen management resulted in biomass with improved settling characteristics and a higher capacity for SND. Results of the first main research theme highlighted the importance of aeration control throughout all stages of the SBR for maximum N-removal via SND. The CANON process was investigated as an alternative to the use of conventional activated sludge for treatment of wastewaters limited by organic carbon substrate. The initial study of the CANON process was performed at the Kluyver Laboratory in Delft, the Netherlands, using an already established Anammox enrichment culture. The effect of extended periods of NH4 +-limitation on the CANON microbial populations was studied, to examine their ability to recover from major disturbances in feed composition. The CANON process was stable for long periods of time until the N-loading rate reached below 0.1 kg N m 3 day-1, when a third population of bacteria developed in the system (aerobic nitrite oxidisers), resulting in a decrease in N-removal from 92 % to 57 %. Nitrite oxidisers developed due to increased levels of oxygen and nitrite. This highlighted the requirement for oxygen control during the CANON process to prevent increased DO levels and growth of undesired microbes. To initiate the CANON process from a local source, Anammox was enriched from local activated sludge (Perth, Western Australia). FISH analysis (fluorescence in situ hybridisation) of the enriched Anammox strain showed that it belonged to the Order Planctomycetales, Project summary the same as all other identified Anammox strains, but represented a new species of Anammox. The enrichment culture was not inhibited by repeated exposure to oxygen, allowing initiation of an intermittently-aerated CANON process to achieve sustained, completely autotrophic ammonium removal (0.08 kg N m-3 day-1) for an extended period of time, without any addition of organic carbon substrate. Dissolved oxygen control played a critical role in achieving alternating aerobic and anaerobic ammonium oxidation. The main conclusion drawn from the study is the important role of oxygen management in achieving improved nitrogen removal. A careful oxygen management strategy can minimise wastage of reducing power to improve PHB-driven SND by activated sludge and can prevent major disturbances to the population balance in the CANON system. Oxygen management has the potential to reduce aeration costs while significantly improving nitrogen removal from wastewaters limited by organic carbon.