The nature of this problem divides itself into two parts, that is, a study of the old sewage plants in operation through the summer of 1947 and a study of the new plant put in operation during the fall of the same year.

Odorous gases such as hydrogen sulfide have long been associated with wastewater treatment plants, especially those with long forced mains which allow septic conditions to develop. With the encroachment of urban and suburban populations, many wastewater treatment plants are no longer located far enough from residential areas to prevent odor problems. This has lead to renewed efforts to develop odor control techniques. The application of high energy coronas as a means to oxidize odorous gases has been limited by the relatively small size of the corona region around a given charged wire, approximately 1 centimeter at an applied voltage of 35 kilovolts. Attempts to enlarge the effective corona region by spacing wires such that their coronas would overlap have failed due to corona extinction, the destructive interference of the electric fields surrounding adjacent charged wires. This study demonstrates that corona extinction can be avoided in a system of closely spaced wires flanked by grounded plates if the wires are energized individually instead of' simultaneously. By employing a rapid load-switching technique an essentially continuous corona sheet can be produced. A bench-scale device utilizing the rapid switching principle was constructed and its ability to remove odorous gases, including hydrogen sulfide, was demonstrated. The influence of parameters such as flowrate, inlet concentration, switching frequency, temperature, and humidity on removal efficiency was evaluated. / Ph. D. / incomplete_metadata

published_or_final_version / Civil and Structural Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Texas at El Paso, 2007. / Title from title screen. Vita. CD-ROM. Includes bibliographical references. Also available online.

M. Tech. (Chemical Engineering) / The usual target of an upgrading process using membrane is to produce a retentate stream, the product, with high CH4 concentration. This work presents a simulation of two possible membrane configurations, single stage without recycle (SSWR) and double stage with permeate recycle (DSPR), of an existing operational biogas upgrading plant. The simulation was conducted using ChemCAD and AlmeeSoft gas permeation software to investigate the performance of the configurations on product purity, recovery and required compressor power with a view to determine the optimal operational conditions for maximising the concentration of CH4 and its recovery. Thereafter, an economic assessment on the optimal configuration was conducted to determine the gas processing cost (GPC), the profitability of producing biomethane and cost-benefit of utilising biomethane as a vehicular fuel. The simulation was validated against plant data with a maximum percentage error of 2.64%. Increasing CO2 in feed reduced product recovery and purity. Increasing feed pressure and selectivity increased product recovery and purity up to the pressure limit of the membrane module. Increasing feed flow rate increased product recovery but reduces purity. In both configurations, increasing CO2 in the feed and increasing feed pressure increased the GPC. However, increasing feed flow rate reduced the GPC. The overall performance of DSPR configuration was much higher due to increased trans-membrane area available for separation. At optimal conditions, a product purity of 91% and 96% CH4 recovery was achieved from the initial plant result of 87.2% product purity and 91.16% CH4 recovery. The total compression duty was 141 kW. The GPC was $0.46/m3 of biomethane. The cumulative discounted NPV, IRR and BCR for producing biomethane was R15,240,343, 22.41% and 2.05 respectively, with a break-even in the 5th year after plant start-up considering a prime lending rate at 9%. Using CBG instead of gasoline saves 34% of annual fuel cost with a payback period of one year and three months for the cost of retrofitting the vehicle.

Thesis (MTech (Environmental Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017. / ¹Odour nuisance is increasingly becoming one of the major environmental problems in various countries across the world, especially odour associated with wastewater (Alfonsin et al., 2015; Schlegelmilch et al., 2005; Gostelow et al., 2001). As a result, the management of odour from Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) has become one of the environmental challenges besetting these facilities in recent times. The dispersion of odour across the physical boundary of wastewater treatment facilities presents not only negative environmental impacts to the natural environment, but also constitute a nuisance to surrounding populations. The Athlone (WWTW) located in the urban City of Cape Town with high demographics and adjacent to sensitive communities is thus not immune to poor air quality associated with WWTW activities (Walton, 2005). The population growth due to rural-urban migration has further put severe pressure on the facility and thus worsening the odour problem in the area. As a result, complaints have been received by the City Council from the surrounding communities over the last 20 years. In response to these complaints, the management of the WWTW introduced an odour management system with a particular focus on the use of a biotrickling filter coupled with the use of odour masking sprays. This management intervention was adopted in order to control the odour emitted to the atmosphere from the facility (WWTW). While these measures are said to reduce the prevalence of odour to the surrounding environment, it was, however, not clear whether or not such management interventions have reduced odour emitted from the treatment plant. This research was premised on two postulations as an approach to analyse the effect of the odour management plan adopted by the Athlone WWTW’s management and these are: 1) the perceived experience of odour by the adjacent neighbouring communities and, 2) the understanding of the inherent atmospheric dynamics (such as wind velocity, atmospheric stability, inversion layer and ventilation) which influence odour dispersal in the area. The research project argues that these two factors should be taken into account to ensure that the management of odour is sustainable. It is within this background that the research aimed at assessing the management of odour at the Athlone WWTW and to find out, if at all, the inherent local atmospheric conditions in the area and views of the surrounding communities are incorporated into the management of odour from the plant. The methodological design adopted in the study was case study approach. However, the atmospheric data (wind speed and direction) was obtained from the South African Weather Service (SAWS). These variables were analysed qualitatively and experimentally by the use of wind diagrams to provide insight on 2atmospheric stability conditions, surface inversion and topographical properties, and how these phenomenon influences odour dispersion. The study also reviewed previous odour management reports produced by the Althone WWTW management. This type of data was finally supported by data collected from the community by means of a community survey, face-to-face in-depth interviews and qualitative observation. Some major findings from the study revealed that the local weather of Athlone influences the dispersion of odour – facilitating dispersion in the summer through high wind velocities, while impeding dispersion during winter due to the presence of atmospheric stability conditions. Prevailing odours in this community has led to a general feeling of displeasure amongst community members especially since the management of the treatment plan does not include the local community in the decision-making process. In spite of these, the facility’s management approach was found to be more of a response driven nature even though it is ranked as a high-risk facility.

Guan, Lijie. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 139-161). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.i / Table of contents --- p.vii / List of Figures --- p.X / List of Tables --- p.xiii / Abbreviations --- p.xiv / Chapter 1. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Source and Fate of Pharmaceuticals in the Environment --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Occurrence of Pharmaceuticals --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Wastewater --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Sewage sludge and soil --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- "Surface water, ground water and seawater" --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- Drinking water --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3 --- Effects on the Environment --- p.11 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Antibiotic resistance --- p.11 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Ecotoxicity on the aquatic organisms --- p.14 / Chapter 1.4 --- Removal in the Environment --- p.19 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Adsorption --- p.20 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Photodegradation and hydrolysis --- p.22 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- Biodegradation --- p.23 / Chapter 1.5 --- Analytical Method of Pharmaceuticals in Environmental Samples --- p.25 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Solid-phase extraction --- p.25 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry --- p.30 / Chapter 1.6 --- Objectives and Outline of Thesis --- p.33 / Chapter 2 --- OCCURRENCE AND FATE OF SELECTED PHARMCEUTICALS IN STPS --- p.35 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.35 / Chapter 2.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.36 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Choice of pharmaceuticals for study --- p.36 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Description of sewage treatment plants (STPs) --- p.41 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Experimental approach --- p.49 / Chapter 2.3 --- Results and Discussion --- p.55 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Occurrence of azithromycin --- p.55 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Fate of azithromycin --- p.59 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Occurrence of erythromycin --- p.63 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Fate of erythromycin --- p.67 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- Occurrence of roxithromycin --- p.70 / Chapter 2.3.6 --- Fate of roxithromycin --- p.74 / Chapter 2.3.7 --- Occurrence of atenolol --- p.75 / Chapter 2.3.8 --- Fate of atenolol --- p.79 / Chapter 2.3.9 --- Occurrence of simvastatin --- p.81 / Chapter 2.3.10 --- Fate of simvastatin --- p.84 / Chapter 2.3.11 --- Fate of pharmaceuticals during different treatment process --- p.85 / Chapter 2.3.12 --- Contribution of industrial (manufacturing) plants to STPs --- p.87 / Chapter 2.3.13 --- Seasonal variation --- p.87 / Chapter 2.4 --- Summary --- p.90 / Chapter 3 --- EFFECTS OF PHARMACEUTICALS ON ACTIVATED SLUDGE BACTERIA --- p.91 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.91 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.92 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Growth inhibition test --- p.92 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Nitrification inhibition test --- p.94 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results and Discussion --- p.96 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Growth inhibition of activated sludge bacteria --- p.96 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Inhibition of nitrifying bacteria --- p.102 / Chapter 4 --- BIODEGRADATION PATHWAYS OF FOUR PHARMACEUTICALS --- p.106 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.106 / Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.107 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Test procedures --- p.107 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Detection method --- p.108 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results and Discussion --- p.109 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Degradation of atenolol --- p.109 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Degradation of azithromycin --- p.117 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Degradation of erythromycin --- p.129 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Degradation of roxithromycin --- p.133 / Chapter 4.4 --- Summary --- p.134 / Chapter 5 --- GENERAL CONCLUSIONS --- p.136 / References --- p.139

Thesis (M.E.S.)--The Evergreen State College, 2009. / Title from title screen (viewed 2/25/2010). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 44-49).

Many complaints were received from the residential area around the Shatin Sewage Treatment Works (STSTW) about the presence of odour. The dominant odour marker H2S was selected to be studied. A review of the odour measurement and sampling methods, together with the specification of the standard limits and health effects were made. The formation process of H2S was investigated and the abatement and control measures in terms of physical, chemical and biological techniques were compared. The monthly rate of H2S emission in the atmosphere was calculated from the soluble sulfide and the measured wastewater flow at the inlet works, primary sedimentation tanks, aeration tanks, and sludge digestive and storage tanks, and the H2S mapping was carried out at the same places. Meteorological data including wind speed, wind direction, temperature and pressure were collected. The effect of temperature and pH on H2S generation is shown, and the effectiveness of odour control and deodourization processes was studied. A Gaussian dispersion model of Industrial Source Complex version 3 (ISC3) was applied in predicting the ground H2S level at various air sensitive receivers in the vicinity of STSTW. None of the places exceeded the recommended H2S concentration of World Health Organization (WHO) and the odour is a localized problem in STSTW of 35% area having H2S ranging in 0.01--‐0.023ppm. Recommendations are suggested in both short-term improvement in operation and maintenance practice and long-term design and construction of sewage treatment facilities. / published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

Due to a combination of selection criteria, sludges from upflow anaerobic digesters treating industrial waste waters consist primarily of well-settling, dense agglomerates called granules. Quantification of the component mixed microbial populations of these granules has been severely restricted by the inability of researchers to disrupt them without concomitantly destroying numerous cells. In situ quantification using light and electron microscopy is complicated by the high cell numbers and bacterial diversity; the small cell size; and the destructive nature of electron microscopy preparative techniques preventing the viewing of more than a small percentage of the population at a time. For these reasons, in this investigation, standardization of qualitative electron microscopic techniques was performed prior to their application to granules. Isolation and electron and light microscopic techniques were applied to granules from a fullscale clarigester treating effluent from a maize-processing factory. In addition, a method using montaged transmission electron micrographs (TEMs) taken along a granule radius, and image analysis, was developed for bacterial quantification within granules. This method, together with antibody probe quantification, was applied to granules from an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) digester treating a brewery effluent. The clarigester granules contained a metabolically and morphologically diverse population of which many members were not isolated or identified. By contrast, the UASB digester granules consisted primarily of morphotypes resembling Methanothrix, Methanobacterium and Desulfobulbus, in order of predominance. However, only about one-third of the population reacted with antibody probes specific to strains of bacterial species expected to occur within these granules. According to the antibody probe library used, the Methanobacterium-like cells observed in TEMs were probably Methanobrevibacter arboriphilus. From this study it is apparent that different anaerobic digester designs, operational parameters, and the chemical composition of the waste water purified, are factors which influence the formation and maintenance of granules differing with respect to their microbial populations. Until the difficulties associated with quantification are overcome, the processes governing granule formation and/or population selection will remain obscure. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1995.