Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references.

Many rural communities in Manitoba use wastewater lagoons to treat sewage, but the nutrient removal process is not fully understood. This thesis’ purpose is to improve understanding of chemical and biological nutrient removal mechanisms of wastewater lagoon treatment and compare two different stabilization ponds – one aerated and one facultative. Samples were collected from stabilization ponds and analysed for a pond average. The facultative lagoon achieved overall ammonia-N removals similar to those of the aerated lagoon, and lower orthophosphate removals. Nitrogen appears to be removed by ammonia volatilization; and assimilation into biomass. Phosphorus appears to be removed by assimilation into biomass; and precipitation at alkaline pH. There appears to be nitrogen limiting conditions in the secondary cells of both stabilization systems based on nitrogen-phosphorus ratios. There does not appear to be any significant advantage between aerated or facultative lagoons; they will meet their ammonia limits, but will require additional phosphorus treatment. / October 2016

As lagoas de estabilização representam um dos métodos mais simples utilizados para tratamento de esgoto sanitário. Grande parte da matéria orgânica presente no esgoto sanitário é constituída por proteínas, a qual torna-se fator limitante aos processos biológicos de tratamento de águas residuárias em que se encontram presentes. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar e comparar métodos colorimétricos para determinação de proteínas, definindo qual é o mais apropriado para esse tipo de ambiente. Os métodos colorimétricos utilizados foram o de Lowry, de Bradford, do Biureto e do Ácido Bicinconínico. As proteínas padrões utilizadas foram soroalbumina, caseína e ovoalbumina. O método de Bradford apresentou várias desvantagens. Biureto I e III e proteína bruta medida a partir do Nitrogênio Total Kjeldah (NTK) apresentaram valores altos devido não medir somente proteínas. A quantidade de proteínas na amostra não foi suficiente para que ocorresse reação no método Biureto II. O método do Ácido Bicinconínico não reagiu com caseína e o custo do reagente é alto. Portanto, o método apropriado para esse tipo de amostra foi o Lowry que apresentou maior reprodutividade e sensitividade. Para comprovar esse resultado, uma análise de adição de padrão à amostra foi realizada para verificar se haviam substâncias interferentes, cujo resultado foi negativo / Stabilization ponds represent a simple method to treat sanitary sewage. A large part of the organic matter present in sanitary sewage consists of proteins, which become a limiting factor for the wastewater treatment in biological processes. The goal of this work was to evaluate and to compare colorimetric methods for protein determination, defining which is the more appropriate for this environment. The colorimetric methods used were the Folin-phenol, Bradford, Biuret and Bicinconinic Acid methods. The protein standards used were serum albumin bovin, casein and ovalbumin. The Bradford method introduced several disadvantages. Biuret I and III and brute protein introduced high values due don't measure only proteins. The proteins quantity in the sample wasn't enough so that it had occurred reaction in the Biuret II method. The method of Bicinconinic Acid didn't react with casein and the reagent cost is high. Therefore, the method appropriated for this sample was the Lowry that introduced larger reprodutivity and sensitivity. To prove this result, a standard addition analysis was performed to verify if there were interfering substances, whose result was negative

Submitted by MARIANE LUZ DOS ANJOS null (mluzanjos@bol.com.br) on 2017-03-08T23:18:04Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Avaliação do processo de remoção de fármacos e parabenos de esgoto doméstico em sistema de tratamento baseado em lagoas de lemnas.pdf: 2472000 bytes, checksum: dda052a00851f9fefb87686b3c89414b (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by LUIZA DE MENEZES ROMANETTO (luizamenezes@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2017-03-13T20:52:05Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 anjos_ml_me_ilha.pdf: 2472000 bytes, checksum: dda052a00851f9fefb87686b3c89414b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-13T20:52:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 anjos_ml_me_ilha.pdf: 2472000 bytes, checksum: dda052a00851f9fefb87686b3c89414b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-16 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / A presença de fármacos e parabenos em esgoto doméstico é uma questão de grande preocupação devido seus efeitos negativos em ecossistemas e na saúde humana. Neste sentido a fitoremediação surge como sendo uma alternativa vantajosa de remoção dos micropoluentes, o baixo custo de implantação e manutenção é um fator atrativo. O presente estudo visa avaliar a capacidade de duas macrófitas aquáticas (Landoltia punctata e Lemna minor.), para remoção de fármacos (Diclofenaco e Naproxeno) e parabenos (Metil e Propil parabeno) do esgoto doméstico. Foram utilizados dois tanques de 3000 mil litros, sendo Tanque A composto por Landoltia punctata e Tanque B , Lemna minor, foram coletadas amostras a cada três dias durante 21 dias nos períodos diurno e vespertino. Os resultados de remoção para os fármacos do Tanque B, em média 0,63 g/L( remoção de 96.70% ) para diclofenaco e 30,60g/L para naproxeno (remoção de 49,29%) respectivamente, enquanto o Tanque A atingiu 3,42g/L para diclofenaco e (remoção de 80,4%) 34,47g/L para naproxeno (remoção de 36,85%). Os resultados para remoções de metilparabeno foi para tanque A (diurno e vespertino) foram de 14,36 e 14,78g/l, (remoção de 90,87% e 90,60%), enquanto o tanque B foi de 16,86 g/L para período diurno ( eficiência de 90,61%), 17,22g/L, e a sua (eficiência de 89,05%) durante o período vespertino. Para propil parabeno houve uma maior remoção para tanque B de 16,18 g/L para (PrPP), ( eficiência de 89,35%), enquanto que para o período vespertino as concentrações foram de 13,97g/L para (PrPP), (eficiência de 90,60%), para o tanque A as concentrações foram em média de saída foi de 59,52g/L para o propilparabeno, e para o período vespertino foi observado uma eficiência média de 73,73%, com uma concentração de 55,10 g/L de (PrPP).Esses resultados destacam a importância das lagoas de polimento de lemna para remoção de fármacos e parabenos. / The presence of pharmaceuticals and parabens in domestic wastewater is a question of great concern, due the negative effects on ecosystems and human health. The phytoremediation appears to be an advantageous alternative to removing the micropollutants, the low cost of implantation and maintenance is an attractive factor. The objective of this study was evaluate the capacity of two macrophytes (Landoltia punctata and Lemna minor), to remove pharmaceuticals (diclofenac and naproxen) and parabens (methyl and propyl paraben) of domestic wastewater. It were used two tanks ( 3000 liters each), tank A was composed with Landoltia punctata and tank B, Lemna minor, samples were collected every three days for 21 days, during the morning and evening periods. The results for the removal of the pharmaceuticals were achieved by tank B were 0.63 ug / L (96.70% removal) to diclofenac and 30,60g / L of naproxen (removal 49,29 %) respectively, while the tank A reached 3,42g / L diclofenac and (80.4% removal) 34,47g / L of naproxen (36.85% removal). The results achieved for removal of parabens higher for methylparaben to the tank A (morning and evening) were 14.36 and 14,78g / L (removal of 90.87% and 90.60%), while tank B was 16.86 ug / L for morning (90.61% efficiency), 17,22g / L, and its (89.05% efficiency) during the afternoon. While for propyl paraben there was a greater removal to tank B 16.18 ug / L (PRPP) (89.35% efficiency), whereas for the evening period concentrations were 13,97g / L for (PRPP), (90,60% efficiency) to the tank A the concentrations were in average of 59,52g / L propylparaben, and the evening period had an average efficiency 73.73%, with a concentration of 55.10 ug / L (PRPP) .These results emphasize the importance of lemna polishing ponds for removal of pharmaceuticals and parabens.

Investigates several hypotheses regarding the use of bioflocculation as a harvesting method for wastewater pond microalgae. Research performed on pilot-scale high rate ponds (HRPs) on the California Central Coast.

The impact of carp on a rhizomatous macrophyte was examined in two consecutive years using three outdoor aquaculture ponds with naturally established beds of Potamogeton tricarinatus. Each pond was divided with wire fencing to form a carp (500 kg ha-1) and control treatment. After 6 weeks, plant biomass had declined to the same extent in the carp and control treatments, indicating that direct physical disturbance by carp was not reducing the biomass of P. tricarinatus. In a second experiment, carp were added to two of the same ponds when plants were regenerating after a 9-11 month drying period. After 8 weeks, P. tricarinatus biomass in the carp treatments was between one half and one tenth of the biomass in the control treatments and one control treatment supported more Najas tenuifolia than the paired carp treatment. The lower biomass of Potamogeton in the carp treatments was a result of fewer shoots and less growth per shoot. Rhizomes had been undermined in the carp treatment with less than 1% of plants growing from rhizome compared to 36% in the control treatment. Accumulation of sediment into traps was significantly higher in the carp treatments (2.5 to 77.5 times more than the control). On average, carp resuspended 662 kg dry sediment ha-1 for each 100 kg ha-1 of carp or 6.6 times their wet weight biomass in dry sediments each day. Some implications of high sediment resuspension are discussed. The research demonstrates that well anchored macrophyte species can show tolerance to the physical disturbance associated with carp benthic feeding, however, these same species are vulnerable during regenerating and recruitment stages. It is suggested that anchorage is the most important factor for determining plant tolerance to carp. The implications for aquatic plant and riverine management are discussed, including the importance of excluding carp from newly flooded wetlands and the role of carp in determining alternative stable states.

This research is based on the plan and design of Datang constructed wetland as a storm water wetland system. Qantity of the discharges from Datan community drainage system including its branches surround Dapeng Bay National Scenic Area are estimated. The objectives of this research is to study the possibilities of using the concept of stormwater wetland system for including the Datan constructed wetland and Lin-Bian right-bank wetland as flood detention wetland system and treatment wetlands during the dry season. Generally, flood detention ponds are not functioning except during storm seasons. Rainfall are mostly concentrated from June to September in southern Taiwan (mainly due to southwest monsoon and typhoon), the Datan wetland has therefore planned to treat the domestic sewages and the disposal from aquaculture farms during the dry season, and first flushing drainage during storm season. Besides the flood detention volume, Datan wetland has been designed into four major sections, a) primary settling for settle part of the suspended particles and aeration; b) bio-filtration through 2 sets of bio-filter using crushed bricks and oyster shells as filter media, mainly designed for BOD removal and partly early denitrification; c) followed by shallow weeds pond for reaeration and nutrients uptake by plantation; d) entering a series of open water ponds for stabilization. Landscape has been take good care for recreative function and habitat reserved for variety of birds. Due to the flood detention function will flood the basin few times a year, variable depth environment and plantations are designed. Wetland maintains ordinary water level at EL=-1.1m, maximum flood detention can go as high as EL=+1.5m. The wetland has effective surface approximately 5.5 ha., maximum flood detention quantity approximately 130,000 cubic meters. Since the area is tidally affected, influents contain different levels of salinities. Plantation becomes a difficult issue for the Datan wetland, due to the saline waters. Mangrove is the best choice, so far, for this situation. The mangrove forest has the richest productivity on wetland ecosystem, and can carry on the physical biology multistage degeneration to the sewage and absorb various pollutants. Hydraulic analysis estimates the peak discharge of Datan drainage system¡¦s 10 year flood frequency is 20.17cms, Datan constructed wetland and Linbian right bank constructed wetland can reduces the peak rate of 8.06cms and 4.38 cms, respectively. In addition, most of the branches of the Datan drainage system are thus achieve the ten year return period bench mark from the HEC-RAS evaluation The water quality monitoring results after one month of operation have shown the average elimination rates, TOC=-10%, BOD5=53%, TKN=71%, NH3-N=88%, NO3-N=65, NO2-N=90%, TN=70%, TP=52%, OP=56%, Chl.a=-61%, SS=4%, the turbidity (NTU)=70%. BOD and nutrients are shown effective reductions, while the SS and the chlorophyll-a are correlated mainly due to the plankton growth in the open waters. Long-term monitoring is continuing for the evaluation of the water quality purification function and the operational management model.

Stormwater (SW) runoff in urban areas represents a major pathway for pollutant transfer to receiving waters. Best management practices (BMP) were introduced in the 1970s to help mitigate the negative effects of SW. In the 1990s, Stormwater management (SWM) ponds were established as a BMP to help increase the water quality of SW effluent. Many SWM ponds do not provide sufficient water quality treatment. Information on the internal processes influencing the reduction of total phosphorus (TP), soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and total suspended solid (TSS) concentrations in SWM ponds with different designs is lacking. Knowledge of the processes affecting TP, SRP and TSS retention can help improve the design of SWM ponds to enhance their treatment performance. The purpose of this thesis is to provide an assessment of the internal chemical processes that affect the trap efficiency (TE) and spatial and temporal variability of TP, SRP and TSS concentrations at two structurally different SWM ponds (Pond 45; conventional and Pond 33; hybrid extended detention) in Waterloo, ON. Water samples were collected at the inflow and outflow at the two SWM ponds during six storm events and 30 baseflow periods. A mass balance approach was used to quantify the TE of TP, SRP and TSS concentrations at each pond. Pond 33 had a TE of 24.3%, 26.7% and 66.8% for baseflow and stormflow samples of TP, SRP and TSS. Pond 45 performed much better with TE of 93.8%, 94.2% and 98% for TP, SRP and TSS concentrations. Pond 33 was a source of TP, SRP and TSS for 3, 4 and 2 storm events sampled during the field season, respectively. Pond 45 was a sink for all parameters on all storm events samples. The spatial and temporal variability of TP, SRP and TSS concentrations were examined to improve knowledge of external factors and internal processes that influence the TE of SWM ponds. The effects of storm magnitude, seasonality and vegetation growth and senescence on effluent water quality were investigated. Additionally, the role of sediment on P cycling in the ponds was evaluated by determining grain size distribution, porewater SRP concentrations, sediment geochemistry and mineralogy, and the sediment P buffering capacity. Vegetation senescence, anoxic conditions, porewater SRP concentrations, sediment characteristics and buffering capacity influenced the poor TE at Pond 33. Pond 45 had more favourable water column conditions, i.e. higher dissolved oxygen concentrations, therefore allowed greater amounts of P to adsorb onto sediment. Design and maintenance considerations are described to help improve the performance at Pond 33. Continual water quality monitoring of SW effluent will identify changes in quality and mitigation measures can be implemented to increase a SWM ponds performance.

Stormwater (SW) runoff in urban areas represents a major pathway for pollutant transfer to receiving waters. Best management practices (BMP) were introduced in the 1970s to help mitigate the negative effects of SW. In the 1990s, Stormwater management (SWM) ponds were established as a BMP to help increase the water quality of SW effluent. Many SWM ponds do not provide sufficient water quality treatment. Information on the internal processes influencing the reduction of total phosphorus (TP), soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and total suspended solid (TSS) concentrations in SWM ponds with different designs is lacking. Knowledge of the processes affecting TP, SRP and TSS retention can help improve the design of SWM ponds to enhance their treatment performance. The purpose of this thesis is to provide an assessment of the internal chemical processes that affect the trap efficiency (TE) and spatial and temporal variability of TP, SRP and TSS concentrations at two structurally different SWM ponds (Pond 45; conventional and Pond 33; hybrid extended detention) in Waterloo, ON. Water samples were collected at the inflow and outflow at the two SWM ponds during six storm events and 30 baseflow periods. A mass balance approach was used to quantify the TE of TP, SRP and TSS concentrations at each pond. Pond 33 had a TE of 24.3%, 26.7% and 66.8% for baseflow and stormflow samples of TP, SRP and TSS. Pond 45 performed much better with TE of 93.8%, 94.2% and 98% for TP, SRP and TSS concentrations. Pond 33 was a source of TP, SRP and TSS for 3, 4 and 2 storm events sampled during the field season, respectively. Pond 45 was a sink for all parameters on all storm events samples. The spatial and temporal variability of TP, SRP and TSS concentrations were examined to improve knowledge of external factors and internal processes that influence the TE of SWM ponds. The effects of storm magnitude, seasonality and vegetation growth and senescence on effluent water quality were investigated. Additionally, the role of sediment on P cycling in the ponds was evaluated by determining grain size distribution, porewater SRP concentrations, sediment geochemistry and mineralogy, and the sediment P buffering capacity. Vegetation senescence, anoxic conditions, porewater SRP concentrations, sediment characteristics and buffering capacity influenced the poor TE at Pond 33. Pond 45 had more favourable water column conditions, i.e. higher dissolved oxygen concentrations, therefore allowed greater amounts of P to adsorb onto sediment. Design and maintenance considerations are described to help improve the performance at Pond 33. Continual water quality monitoring of SW effluent will identify changes in quality and mitigation measures can be implemented to increase a SWM ponds performance.

High rate algal ponds (HRAPs) are an advanced pond that provide efficient and cost-effective wastewater treatment, as well as the ability to recover nutrients in the form of microalgal biomass. Microalgal photosynthesis, nutrient uptake and subsequent growth, coupled with aerobic bacteria degradation of organic compounds, are fundamental to the process of wastewater treatment in HRAPs, yet are often limited in these ponds and, in particular, microalgal photosynthesis is well below the reported theoretical maximum. Understanding how the physico-chemical environment affects microalgal performance is therefore critical to improved wastewater treatment and nutrient recovery, yet has been the subject to few studies to date. This research focused on the enhancement of microalgal photo-physiology, growth and nutrient removal efficiency (NRE) through modification to the physical and chemical environment in wastewater HRAPs. In this study, I first examined the seasonal dynamics of microalgal performance in full-scale wastewater HRAPs. While both retention-time corrected chlorophyll biomass and photosynthetic potential increased from winter to summer, the summer-time performance was considered to be constrained, as indicated by the decreased light absorption, light conversion efficiency and NRE. The physico-chemical environment in the full-scale HRAPs were characterised by high day-time pH, high light attenuation and long, straight channels with low turbulence. This led to questions regarding 1) effects of nutrient supply, in particular carbon and 2) the role of the HRAP light climate on microalgal performance. I addressed these questions using a series of experiments that involved either changing the nutrient concentration and its supply or by modifying the light environment, through changes in pond operational parameters including CO2 addition, influent dilution, pond depth, hydraulic retention time (HRT), mixing speed and frequency. The overall results from these experiments showed that carbon was the primary and light the secondary limiting factors of microalgal performance. These limitations negatively affected light absorption, photosynthesis, productivity and NRE. While each operational parameter tested impacted on microalgal performance, to some degree, CO2 addition had the greatest influence on light absorption, photosynthetic efficiency and productivity, while continuous mixing had the greatest effect on NRE. Adding CO2 increased light absorption by 110% and 128%, maximum rate of photosynthesis by 185% and 218% and microalgal biovolume by between 150 – 256% and 260 – 660% (species specific), when cultures were maintained at pH 8 and 6.5, respectively. Providing sufficient mixing to achieve continuous turbulence enhanced NRE by between 300 – 425% (species specific), increased biomass concentrations between 150% and 4000% (species specific) compared to intermittent and no mixing, respectively, and increased harvest-ability of colonial species. However, at present, both CO2 addition and mechanical mixing attract high capital and operational costs. Modification to these technologies would be required to meet the objectives of cost-effective wastewater treatment and biofuel production. A more immediate and cost-effective solution demonstrated in this study was the altering pond depth, influent concentration and HRT. Doubling pond depth from 200 to 400 mm increased both microalgal nutrient removal and photosynthetic efficiencies which led to areal productivity increasing by up to 200%. When increased pond depth was coupled with decreased HRT, light absorption and photosynthetic performance further increased due to decreased internal self-shading and improved pond light climate. For nutrients, high influent loads increased productivity, while moderate loads increased effluent water quality. Overall, this work demonstrated that optimising the chemical and physical environment of wastewater treatment HRAPs (CO2 addition to maintain pH at 6.5 – 7, 400 mm pond depth, continuous mixing with vertical speed of 200 mm s-1, moderate nutrient load (15- 30 g m-3) and moderate HRT (4 / 6 days summer / autumn) can enhance microalgal biomass productivity, nutrient recovery as well as improve effluent water quality, particularly during summer when growth can be constrained.