Thesis (MSc Food Sc )--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The potential use of the upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) bioreactor is limited by the extended start-up periods due to the time-consuming granulation process and the fact that seeding inoculum is not freely available in most developing countries like South Africa. The mass cultivation of granules would provide the waste water treatment industry with suitable seeding inoculum and, therefore, an efficient waste water treatment option would be more easily available. By applying 'stress' conditions on a bioreactor system seeded with raw anaerobic sludge, the population dynamics of the anaerobic community change and the acidogens start to produce extracellular polymers, which in turn enhance the granulation process by providing a matrix for the bacterial cells to adhere to. These "environmental stress" conditions include changes in the C:P:N ratio's. The aim of this study was, therefore, to assess the impact of different carbon and nitrogen sources on the enhancement of granulation in a batch system, and to determine the best preservation technique in terms of retainment of activity. It was found that the carbon source and concentration had a significant influence on batch granule enhancement. Low concentrations (2.g.l ̄ ¹) of glucose gave the best granule enhancement over a 14 day incubation period. Fruit cocktail effluent was found to be a cheap and effective carbon source for batch granule cultivation. It was found that different nitrogen sources did not have the same impact on granule enhancement, however, urea, at all concentrations tested, gave the best granule enhancement. A major problem encountered during the study was the standardisation of the inoculum. Significant granule enhancement comparisons between the different carbon sources were impeded by the lack of a suitable and reliable form of sludge standardisation. Future research needs to address this problem of the standardisation of the sludge inoculum as this would lead to more kinetically comparable results. Mass granule culturing will require granule preservation without risking the loss of activity. In the second study, six different preservation techniques and storage periods were evaluated in terms of the retainment of activity. These involved freeze-drying, vacuum freeze-drying, vacuum-drying, freezing, cold storage and room temperature preservation. Activity testing was used for comparing the efficiency of the different preservation techniques in terms of the tempo of biogas and methane production. Freeze-drying the granules, with storage for up to 90 days was found to give the best retainment of activity, followed by vacuum freeze-drying. The room temperature preserved samples showed a sudden increase in activity by day 120, which could possibly be explained by cell hydrolysis of the granules after day 90. The highest activity was achieved after 10 h of incubation, and it was, therefore, suggested that activity testing for evaluation purposes should use an incubation time of only 10 h. Furthermore, only the basic test medium with added glucose should be used for activity testing as it was observed that the addition of lactate and acetic acid played no decisive role in determining the level of activity of the granules. This study recommends the use of low concentrations of glucose for optimum granule enhancement during the mass cultivation of granules, and the addition of low concentrations of lactate to ensure a stable system with no acidification. It is also advisable to use a standardised sludge inoculum, as this will allow more efficient comparisons. Freeze-drying is recommended as preservationtechnique as this technique showed the best retainment of activity. A storage period of 90 days is, however, too short to be of much use for the industry. This will have to be investigated, together with the phenomenon of increased activity after 90 days as shown by the room temperature preserved granules. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die potensiële gebruik van die "uptflow anaerobic sludge blanket" (UASB) bioreaktor word beperk deur verlengde aansitprosedure as gevolg van die tydsame granulasieproses en die feit dat geskikte inokulums nie vrylik beskikbaar is in die meeste ontwikkelende lande, bv. Suid-Afrika nie. Die massa-kweking van granules sal die afvalwater-industrie voorsien van 'n geskikte inokulum, en sodoende 'n effektiewe opsie vir die behandeling van afvalwater beskikbaar stel. Deur die aanwending van "stres" toestande op 'n reaktor, wat geinokuleer is met rou anaerobe slyk, vind daar 'n verandering in die samestelling van die anaerobe populasie plaas. Die laktaat-benuttende asidogene begin om ekstrasellulêre polisakkariede te produseer wat die granulasieproses versnel deur 'n matriks te voorsien waaraan die bakteriële selle kan heg. Hierdie "omgewings stres" toestande sluit veranderinge in die C:P:N verhoudings in. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die invloed van verskillende koolstof- en stikstofbronne op die vermeerdering van granules te bepaal, asook om die beste preserveringstegniek in terme van die behoud van aktiwiteit te bepaal. Daar is gevind dat die koolstofbron en konsentrasie 'n betekenisvolle invloed op granule-vermeerdering het. Lae konsentrasies glukose (2 g.I ̄ ¹) het tot die grootste vermeerdering in granules oor 'n 14 dae inkubasieperiode gelei. Vrugtekelkie-afvalwater is geidentifiseer as 'n goedkoop en effektiewe koolstofbron wat ook gebruik kan word vir die kweking van granules. Voorts is gevind dat die stikstofbron en konsentrasie nie so 'n groot invloed op granule-vermeerdering het nie. Urea het nietemin die beste granule-vermeerdering vir al die konsentrasies wat getoets is, gegee. Standaardisasie van die inokulum was 'n groot probleem gedurende die studie. Betekenisvolle vergelykings tussen die granule-vermeerderings verkry met die verskeie groeimedia is bemoeilik deur die afwesigheid van 'n geskikte en betroubare standaardisasie-metode. Toekomstige navorsing moet hierdie probleem aanspreek aangesien dit sal lei tot meer kineties vergelykbare resultate. Massa-kweking van granule sal 'n metode van granule-preservering vereis sonder enige verlies van aktiwiteit. In die tweede studie is ses verskillende preserverings-tegnieke en opbergings-periodes in terme van die behoud van aktiwiteit geëvalueer. Die tegnieke sluit in: vriesdroging; vakuum-vriesdroging; vakuumdroging; bevriesing; koelopberging en kamertemperatuur-preservering. Aktiwiteitstoetsing is gebruik vir die vergelyking van die effektiwiteit tussen die verskillende preserverings-tegnieke in terme van die tempo van biogas- en metaanproduksie. Die granules wat met behulp van die vriesdroogtegniek gepreserveer is, het die beste behoud van aktiwiteit getoon, gevolg deur die vakuum-gevriesdroogde granules. Die monsters wat by kamertemperatuur gepreserveer is, het 'n skielike toename in aktiwiteit na 120 dae van opberging getoon en 'n moontlike verklaring vir hierdie verskynsel kan sel-hidrolise van die granules na 90 dae van opberging wees. Die meeste aktiwiteit is behaal na 'n 10 h inkubasietyd, en dus word hierdie inkubasietyd aanbeveel indien aktiwiteitstoetse vir evaluerings-doeleindes gedoen word. Verder word aanbeveel dat slegs die glukose-verrykte basiese toetsmedia vir aktiwiteitstoetsing gebruik word aangesien die byvoeging van laktaat en asynsuur geen noemenswaardige rol speel in die bepaling van die vlak van aktiwiteit van die granules nie. Hierdie studie beveel die gebruik van lae glukosekonsentrasies aan vir optimale vermeerdering van granules tydens die massakweking daarvan, asook die byvoeging van lae konsentrasies laktaat om 'n stabiele sisteem met geen versuring te verseker. Die gebruik van 'n gestandaardiseerde slyk-inokulum word sterk aanbeveel aangesien dit meer vergelykbare resultate lewer. Vriesdroging (as preserveringstegniek) het die beste behoud van aktiwiteit in die granules getoon en word dus as preserveringstegniek aanbeveel. 'n Opbergingsperiode van 90 dae is egter te kort om van veel waarde vir die industrie te wees. Hierdie probleem, asook die verskynsel van 'n verhoging in aktiwiteit na 90 dae van die granules wat by kamertemperatuur gepreserveer is, moet verder ondersoek word.

Thesis (MSc Food Sc)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The start-up period of Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Bed (UASB) reactors can significantly be reduced by enhancing the time-consuming granulation process through the batch cultivation of anaerobic granular sludge and thus seeding the reactor with this cultivated granular sludge, instead of raw anaerobic sludge. The precise mechanism for granule formation is not well known, but it is believed that extracellular polymers (ECP) play a critical role in the granulation process. Information on the precise role of ECP is also limited and no universal standardised method for ECP extraction is used at present. Therefore, comparison of results from different researchers has to be made with great caution. The objectives of this study were to evaluate an ECP extraction methód so as to optimise the extraction time, and then to correlate ECP composition of UASB granules with granule metabolic activity. The impact of changes in the environmental conditions, such as sludge sources (Paarl and Kraaifontein-sludge), carbon growth substrates (yeast extract lactate, glucose medium and fruit cocktail effluent) and batch cultivation techniques (roller-table and shake-waterbath), on batch cultivation studies was also evaluated in terms of granule activity, ECP composition and granule formation. A physical extraction method was used to quantify the ECP content of UASB granules from six different sources. The optimal extraction time was taken as the time needed before cell lysis took place, and before intracellular material started contributing to the ECP content of the granules. It was concluded that the ECP composition was affected by the wastewater composition fed to the original UASB reactors, It was also found that the activity test results could be used to indirectly predict the activity of the different trophic groups present in the UASB granules. A correlation was found between the activity test results and the total ECP content, and this showed that the granules with the higher ECP yields exhibited greater biogas (SB) and methanogenic (SM) activities. However, based on the activity data and total ECP content, it appeared that a protein:carbohydrate ratio < 1 affected the activity of the granules, The sludge source used as inoculum for batch cultivation of anaerobic granular sludge had a significant effect on granule formation. The use of a pre- granulated raw anaerobic sludge, such as the Paarl-sludge, resulted in a greater increase in granule numbers at the end of the cultivation period. The acetic acid activity profiles showed that the acetoclastic methanogens that are involved in initiation of granulation by nucleus formation, were inactive or absent in the different batch systems, with the exception of the roller-table glucose cultivated Kraaifontein-sludge (RKG) batch system. The addition of glucose as carbon growth substrate for batch cultivation not only enhanced the activity of the acidogenic population, but also led to the establishment to a greater variety of granule trophic groups within all the glucose cultivated batch systems. The addition of fruit cocktail effluent as carbon substrate enhanced ECP production in the Paarl-sludge cultivated batch systems. However, the addition of carbon substrates showed no discernible trend on granule formation itself. The roller-table cultivation technique resulted in the higher increase in granule numbers, and it was speculated that the more vigorous shake-waterbath technique probably shortened the contact time between biomass and substrate. Large variations in the ECP composition of the different batch systems were found, and these were ascribed to the composition heterogeneity of different sludges. For future studies, it is advisable to characterise sludge, both chemically and microbiologically before using as inoculum. The selection of an appropriate sludge inoculum should then lead to optimisation of the granulation process. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die aanvangsperiode van "Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Bed" (UASB) bioreaktors kan noemenswaardig verminder word deur die tydsame granulasie proses te versnel deur die vooraf lot-kweking van anaërobe granulêre slyk waarmee 'n reaktor dus geïnokuleer kan word in plaas van rou anaërobe slyk. Die presiese meganisme van granulevorming is nog nie welbekend nie, maar daar word beweer dat ekstrasellulêre polimere (ECP) wel 'n kritiese rol speel in die granulasie proses. Inligting; oor die presiese rol van ECP is ook nog beperk, en tans word daar nog , geen universele standaard metode vir ECP-ekstraksie gebruik nie. Gevolglik moet resultate vanaf verskeie navorsers met groot omsigtigheid vergelyk word. Die doelwitte van hierdie studie was om 'n ECP ekstraksiemetode te evalueer deur die ekstraksietyd te optimiseer, en dan te korreleer met die ECP samestelling en metaboliese aktiwiteit van die UASB granules. Die inwerking van veranderinge in omgewingskondisies, soos slykbronne (Paarl- en Kraaifontein-slyk), koolstofbronne (gisekstrak-Iaktaat-, glukose-medium en vrugtekelkie-uitvloeisel) en lot-kwekingstegnieke (rol-tafel en skud-waterbad) op lot-kweking studies in terme van granule aktiwiteit, ECP-samestelling en granulevorming is ook ondersoek. 'n Fisiese ekstraksie metode is gebruik om die ECP-inhoud van UASB granules vanaf ses verskillende bronne te bepaal. Die optimale ekstraksietyd is geneem as die tyd benodig voordat sellise sal plaasvind en die intrasellulêre materiaal 'n bydrae sal lewer tot die ECP-inhoud van granules. Dit is afgelei dat die ECP-samestelling beïnvloed word deur die samestelling van die afvalwater wat vir die oorspronklike UASB bioreaktors gevoer is. Voorts is gevind dat die aktiwiteitstoets resultate indirek gebruik kan word vir die voorspelling van aktiwiteit van die verskillende trofiese groepe wat in die UASB granules teenwoordig is. 'n Korrelasie is gevind tussen die aktiwiteitstoets resultate en die totale ECP-inhoud wat aangedui het dat granules met hoër ECP opbrengste, beter biogas (SB) en metanogeniese (SM) aktiwiteit getoon het. Volgens die aktiwiteitsdata en totale ECP-inhoud het dit egter geblyk dat 'n proteïen:koolhidraat verhouding < 1 die aktiwiteit van granules beïnvloed het. Die slykbron wat as inokulum gebruik is vir lot-kweking van' anaërobiese granulêre slyk het 'n noemenswaardige invloed gehad op granulevorming. Die gebruik van 'n rou anaërobe slyk wat reeds 'n mate van granulasie getoon het, soos die Paarl-slyk, het 'n hoër toename in granule getalle aan die einde van die kwekingsperiode teweeg gebring. Die asynsuur aktiwiteitsprofiele het aangedui dat die asetoklastiese metanogene, wat hoofsaaklik betrokke is by inisiëring van granulasie deur kernvorming, onaktief of afwesig was in al die verskillende lotsisteme, met die uitsondering van die roltafel glukose-gekultiveerde Kraaifonteinslyk (RKG) lot-sisteem. Die toevoeging van glukose as koolstofbron vir lot-kweking het nie alleenlik die aktiwiteit van die asidogene populasie verhoog nie, maar het ook bygedra tot die vestiging van 'n groter verskeidenheid van granule trofiese groepe. Die toevoeging van vrugtekelkie-uitvloeisel as koolstofbron het die produksie van ECP verhoog in die Paarl-slyk gekweekte lot-sisteme. Die toevoeging van koolstofsubstrate het egter geen merkbare verandering getoon in granulasie opsigself nie. Die rol-tafel kwekingstegniek het 'n hoër toename in granule getalle tot gevolg gehad, en dit is gespekuleer dat die meer kragtige skud-waterbad tegniek waarskynlik die kontaktyd tussen die substraat en biomassa verkort het. Groot variasies is gevind in die ECP-samestelling van die verskillende lotsisteme, en dit is toegeskryf aan die heterogene samestelling van die verskillende slyke. Vir toekomstige navorsing is dit raadsaam om slyk voor gebruik as inokulum beide chemies en mikrobiologies te karakteriseer. Die keuse van 'n geskikte slyk-inokulum sal bydra tot die optimisering van die granulasie proses.

Thesis (MScFoodSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Large volumes of high strength wastewater are generated annually by distilleries. Treatment of this wastewater is essential to increase its reuse potential. Anaerobic digestion (AD) has been widely applied as high strength wastewater treatment. Additionally, grain distillery wastewater (GDWW) is high in fats, oils and grease (FOG) which can cause problems during AD. Pre-treatment is therefore often required to make the AD process more efficient. The overall objective of this study was to investigate the operational efficiency of upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors while treating GDWW as substrate. The first aim was to investigate the pre-treatment of the GDWW specifically for the removal of FOG by evaluating the effect of pH adaption, coagulant concentration and ozone (O3) dosages on the FOG reduction efficiency. Secondly, the effect of two different pre-treatments (only coagulant and coagulant and ozone) on the subsequent UASB treatment step was investigated. The pH of raw GDWW (pH 3.4) was adapted to three different pH values (5.0, 6.0, and 7.0) and the coagulant, aluminium chlorohydrate (ACH) (140 mg.L-1), was added. To make the process more economically viable, the lowering the coagulant concentration (to 100 mgACH.L-1) was also investigated. Optimal reductions for chemical oxygen demand (COD) (33.2% ± 4.93), total suspended solids (TSS) (91.9% ± 1.73) and FOG (84.1% ± 1.98) were, however, achieved at a higher coagulant concentration of 140 mgACH.L-1, and at a wastewater pH of 7.0. The effect of additional ozone treatment was also investigated. Maximum reductions for the ozone treatment were obtained at 100 mgO3.L-1 for COD (3.6% ± 4.08), and at 900 mgO3.L-1 for TSS (27.7% ± 5.58) and FOG (23.9% ± 1.83). The ozone treatment was most efficient for FOG reduction (in terms of mg FOG reduced per mg ozone) at 100 mgO3.L-1. An ozone dosage of 300 mgO3.L-1, was decided on based on economic feasibility, findings in literature on toxicity of ozone and the potential degradation of recalcitrant compounds at this dosage. The final pre-treatment thus included pH adaption to 7.0, coagulant dosage of 140 mgACH.L-1, and an ozone dosage of 300 mgO3.L-1. The second part of this study involved the operation of two 2 L laboratory scale UASB reactors for 277 days. The substrate of the first reactor contained GDWW that had only undergone coagulant pre-treatment (Rcontrol), while the substrate of the second UASB reactor consisted of GDWW that had undergone coagulant and ozone pre-treatment (Rozone). Both reactors treated the pre-treated GDWW successfully at ca. 9 kgCOD.m-3d-1. COD reductions of 96% for Rcontrol and 93% for Rozone, were achieved. FOG reductions (%) showed variations throughout the study and maximum reductions of 88% and 92% were achieved for Rcontrol and Rozone, respectively. The Rozone produced more biogas, but the methane content was similar for both reactors. The additional ozone pre-treatment did not show any added benefits to the reactor performance results. UASB granule washout in Rcontrol did, however, suggest possible toxicity of unsaturated fatty acids present in the non-ozonated substrate. The feasibility of FOG removal was shown as both reactors successfully treated pre-treated GDWW. Ozonation, after a coagulant dosage, which resulted in further reduction in the FOG content of the GDWW, is thus not essential to ensure the success of an anaerobic digestion step. Ozonation of the pre-treated GDWW could, however, be beneficial to gas production and the efficiency of a tertiary biological process. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Groot volumes hoë-sterkte afloopwater word jaarliks deur distilleerderye opgelewer. Die behandeling van hierdie afloopwater is noodsaaklik om die hergebruiksmoontlikheid daarvan te verhoog. Die toepassing van anaërobiese vertering (AV) is wydverspreid in hoë-sterkte afloopwaterbehandeling. Graandistillerings-afloopwater (GDAW) is boonop hoog in vette, olies en ghries (VOG), wat probleme kan veroorsaak tydens AV. Voorbehandeling word dus dikwels verlang om die AV meer doeltreffend te maak. Die oorhoofse doelstelling van hierdie studie was om die doeltreffendheid van opvloei-anaërobieseslykkombers- (OAS-) reaktore wat GDAW as substraat behandel, te ondersoek. Die eerste mikpunt was om die voorbehandeling van die GDAW, te ondersoek vir die verwydering van VOG. Dit is uitgevoer deur die uitwerking van pH aanpassing, koagulantkonsentrasie en osoon(O3)dosis op VOG vermindering te evalueer. Tweedens is die uitwerking van twee verskillende voorbehandelings (slegs koagulant asook koagulant en osoonbehandeling) op die opvolgende OAS-behandelingsstap ondersoek. Die pH van rou GDAW (pH 3.4) is aangepas tot drie verskillende pH waardes (5.0, 6.0 en 7.0) en die koagulant, aluminium-chlorohidraat (ACH), is bygevoeg (140 mg.L-1). Om die proses meer ekonomies uitvoerbaar te maak is ‘n verlaagde koagulantkonsentrasie (verlaag tot 100 mgACH.L-1) ook ondersoek. Die optimale afnames vir chemiese suurstofvereiste (CSV) (33.2% ± 4.93), totale oplosbare vastestowwe (TOV) (91.9% ± 1.73) en VOG (84.1% ± 1.98) is egter bereik teen ‘n hoër koagulant konsentrasie van 140 mgACH.L-1, en teen ‘n afloopwater-pH van 7.0. Die uitwerking van ‘n bykomende osoonbehandeling is ook ondersoek. Die hoogste afnames tydens die osoonbehandeling is bereik teen 100 mgO3.L-1 vir CSV (3.6% ± 4.08), en teen 900 mgO3.L-1 vir TOV (27.7% ± 5.58) en VOG (23.9% ± 1.83). Die osoonbehandeling was mees doeltreffend vir VOG (in terme van mg VOG verwyder per mg osoon) teen 100 mgO3.L-1. Daar is besluit op ‘n van 300 mgO3.L-1, as gevolg van die ekonomiese uitvoerbaarheid, bevindinge in literatuur vir die toksisiteit van osoon, en die moontlike afbraak van moeilik-afbreekbare komponente teen hierdie dosis. Die finale voorbehandeling het dus bestaan uit ‘n aanpassing van die afloopwater-pH na 7.0, ‘n koagulantdosis van 140 mgACH.L-1, en ‘n osoondosis van 300 mgO3.L-1. Tydens die tweede gedeelte van hierdie studie is twee 2 L laboratoriumskaal OAS reaktore bedryf vir 277 dae. Die substraat van die eerste reaktor het GDAW bevat wat slegs ‘n koagulant-voorbehandeling ondergaan het (Rkontrole), terwyl die substraat van die tweede OAS-reaktor GDAW bevat het wat koagulant- en osoon-voorbehandeling ondergaan het (Rosoon). Beide reaktore het die voorbehandelde-GDAW suksesvol behandel teen ‘n organieseladingstempo van ca. 9 kgCSV.m-3d-1. Afnames in CSV van 96% vir Rkontrole en 93% vir Rosoon, is bereik. Tydens die studie is deurlopende wisseling in VOG verwydering (%) waargeneem, en die hoogste verwyderings wat bereik is, is onderskeidelik 88% en 92% vir Rkontrole en Rosoon. Die Rosoon het meer biogas geproduseer, maar die metaanpersentasie was soortgelyk vir beide reaktore. Die osoon-voorbehandeling het nie enige toegevoegde voordele getoon in die reaktorprestasie resultate nie. Die uitwas van die OAS-granules vir die Rkontrole het egter moontlike toksisiteit van onversadigdevetsure aangedui, wat moontlik teenwoordig kon wees in die nie-geösoneerde substraat. Die uitvoerbaarheid van VOG verwydering is getoon aangesien beide reaktore voorbehandelde GDAW suksesvol behandel het. Osonering, wat verdere afname in die VOG inhoud van GDAW teweeggebring het (na ‘n koagulant dosis), is dus nie noodsaaklik vir die suksesvolle verloop van ‘n anaërobiese-verteringsstap nie. Osonering van die voorbehandelde GDAW kan egter voordelig wees vir gasvorming, en kan ook verder die doeltreffendheid van ‘n tersiêre biologiese behandeling verhoog.

Thesis (MScFoodSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Waste generated by the distillery industry is a major ecological concern and disposal thereof without a suitable treatment can have damaging effects on the environment. The characteristics of this type of wastewater are highly variable and dependent on the raw material used and production process followed. Grain distillery wastewater (GDWW) is also rich in fats, oils and grease (FOG). Successful treatments of distillery wastewater and GDWW have been reported using an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor technology. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of lab-scale UASB reactor to treat FOG-reduced GDWW and the subsequent enhancement thereof following an unique feeding strategy approach. Firstly, a coagulation/flocculation-centrifugation step was developed to obtain FOG-reduced GDWW. Secondly, the efficiency of a lab-scale UASB reactor was investigated treating FOG-reduced GDWW at pre-determined operational parameters as well as the verification of biomass acclimatisation. Lastly, the effect of a unique feeding strategy of FOG-reduced GDWW to lab-scale UASB reactor granules was investigated in terms of COD, FOG-reduction and biomass acclimatisation. It was found that a coagulation/flocculation-centrifugation treatment removed sufficient amounts of FOG and TSS from GDWW. Different commercially available coagulation/flocculation products were evaluated whilst used in combination with a centrifugation step for improved sedimentation and separation. The FOG removal remained between 90 and 97% for the ferric chloride (FeCl3) and Ferrifloc 1820 treatments, respectively, whereas the TSS removal ranged between 56 and 93%, respectively. The use of a high molecular weight polymer (Ultrafloc 5000) and an aluminium chlorohydrate (Ultrafloc 3800) proved to be less effective in terms of FOG removal efficiency, ranging from 72 to 86%. It was decided to pre-treat GDWW with FeCl3 in combination with centrifugation to obtain FOG-reduced GDWW for subsequent UASB reactor treatment investigations. The FOG-reduced GDWW was fed into a laboratory-scale UASB reactor (2 L) over a period of 331 days. During the operational period different feeding parameters were attained to establish the ability of the UASB reactor to efficiently treat FOG-reduced GDWW. The COD removal increased from 60 to 85% at an organic loading rate (OLR) of ca. 5.5 kgCOD.m-3.d-1 (pH = 7.5) whilst FOG removal remained between 45 and 70%. COD removal increased to 90% with the attainment of an OLR of ca.10 kgCOD.m-3.d-1 (pH = 7.5) whereas FOG removal remained in the region of 55 and 65%. COD and FOG removal remained above 85% and 50%, respectively, when substrate pH was decreased to 6.50 (OLR ca. 10 kgCOD.m-3.d-1). A granule activity test was performed on seed and FOG-reduced GDWW fed granules to determine biomass acclimatisation. FOG-reduced GDWW fed granules showed higher activity in terms of methane production rate and cumulative methane production suggesting biomass acclimatisation. The FOG-reduced GDWW was fed to a laboratory-scale UASB reactor following a unique feeding approach. The feeding approach consisted of several feeding and starvation cycles. Improved average biogas production was observed during the feeding (0.26 to 11.3 L.d-1) and starvation (1.8 to 4.2 L.d-1) cycles as higher loading rates were obtained during each feeding cycle. After the completion of the strategic feeding the UASB reactor was continuously fed at an organic loading rate of ca. 5 kgCOD.m-3.d-1. The COD reduction efficiency improved from 70 to 80%, however, FOG removal remained in the region of 60%. Granule activity tests done on days 0, 215 and 279 showed improved UASB granule activity to FOG-reduced GDWW with operation time in terms of methane production rate and cumulative methane production. This study has proven that a coagulation/flocculation-centrifugation treatment of GDWW can remove sufficient amounts of FOG and TSS before the commencement of a UASB treatment, however, such a technique would require more refinement. It was also found that a UASB reactor can successfully treat FOG-reduced GDWW, however, it must be advised that close monitoring of the UASB reactor is required in order to maintain efficient COD reduction. A strategic feeding approach proved to be successful, but further improvement of the UASB efficiency to treat FOG-reduced GDWW in terms of stable COD and FOG reduction, stable effluent pH, improved biogas production and biomass activity must still be explored. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Afloop water wat gegenereer word deur die distillerings-industrie veroorsaak ‘n ekologiese kommer en wegdoening daarvan sonder geskikte behandeling, kan ernstige gevolge op die omgewing hê. Die eienskappe van hierdie tipe afvalwater kan varieer en is afhanklik van die rou materiale gebruik en die produksie proses wat gevolg is. Graan distillery afloop water (GDAW) deel dieselfde eienskappe met die van distillery afloop water, alhoewel dit ook hoog is in vette, olies en ghries (VOG). Suksesvolle behandeling van distillery afloop water en GDAW met n opvloei-anaërobiese slykkombers (OAS) reaktor is deur verskeie navorsers gerapporteer. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die uitvoerbaarheid van laboratorium skaal OAS reaktor, wat VOG-verminderde GDAW behandel te ondersoek, asook die daaropvolgende verbetering deur n unieke voer strategie te volg. Eerstens, was ‘n koagulasie/flokkulasie-sentrifigasie tegniek ontwikkel om VOG-verminderde GDAW te kry. Tweendens, die effektiwiteit van ‘n lab-skaal OAS reaktor ondersoek, wat gevoer was met VOG-verminderde GDAW, by voorafbepaalde parameters. Laastens, die effek van ‘n unieke voer strategie van VOG-verminderde GDAW op lab-skaal OAS reaktor granules. Dit was vasgestel dat ‘n koagulasie/flokkulasie-sentrifigasie voor behandeling voldoende hoeveelhede VOG en TSS verwyder van GDAW. Verskillende kommersieel beskikbare koagulasie/flokkulasie produkte was in kombinasie met ‘n sentrifugasie stap geëvalueer om sedimentasie en skeiding te verbeter. Dit was nie ‘n plan om die stap te perfek nie, maar dat dit eerder sou dien as ‘n voorbehandeling stap vir opeenvolgende ondersoeke. Die VOG verwydering het tussen 90 en 97% gevariëer vir ferri chloride (FeCl3) en Ferrifloc 1820 (Chlorchem) en TSS verwydering het tussen 56 en 93% gewissel. Die gebruik van ‘n hoë molekulêre gewig polimeer (Ultrafloc 5000) en ‘n aluminium chlorohidraat (Ultrafloc 3800) was minder effektief met n VOG verwydering wat tussen 72 en 86% gewissel het. Die VOG-verminderde GDAW was in ‘n laboratorium-skaal OAS reaktor oor ‘n tydperk van 331 dae behandel. Verskillende voer doelwitte was geëvaluaeer om te bepaal of ‘n OAS reaktor GDAW suksesvol kan behandel. CSB afbraak het van 60 to 85% gestyg teen ‘n organiese lading van 5.5 kgCOD.m-3.d-1 (pH 7.50), met VOG verwydering wat tussen 45 en 70% gewissel het. Die CSB afbraak het na die bereiking van 10 kgCOD.m-3.d-1 (pH 7.50) gestyg na 90% met VOG afbraak tussen 55 en 60% gewissel het. Die CSB en VOG verwydering het bo 85% en 50% onderskeidelik gebly, met die verlaging van substraat pH na 6.50 (CSB ca. 10 kgCOD.m-3.d-1). ‘n Aktiwiteits toets is uitgevoer met saad granules en VOG-verminderde GDAW gevoerde granules. Granules (VOG-verminderde GDAW gevoer) het ‘n hoer aktiwiteit getoon teenoor saad granules in terme van metaan produksie tempo en kumulatiewe metaan produksie. Die VOG-verminderde GDAW was gevoer in ‘n OAS reaktor deur gebruik te maak van ‘n strategiese voertegniek. Die strategie het uit verskeie voer en hongersnood fases bestaan. Verbeterde biogas produksie was tydens voer (0.26 tot 11.3 L.d-1) en hongersnood (1.8 tot 4.2 L.d-1) -fases opgelet soos ‘n hoër lading bereik was. Na die voltooing van die strategiese voer fase was die OAS reaktor op ‘n deurlopende basis teen ‘n lading van 5 kgCOD.m-3.d-1 gevoer. Die CSB verwydering het van 70 na 80% verhoog terwyl VOG afbraak in die omgewing van 60% gewissel het. Biomassa aktiwiteits toetse was uitgevoer is op dag 0, 215 en 279 het verhoogde aktiwiteit vertoon, met ‘n strategiese fase en deurlopende fase teenoor die aanvanklike (ongeaklamatiseerde) granules. Hierdie studie het bewys dat ‘n flokkulasie/koagulasie-sentrifugasie behandeling van GDAW kan dien as ‘n voorbehandelings stap vir opeenvolgende OAS reaktor studies. Dit was gevind dat ‘n OAS reaktor die VOG-verminderde GDAW kan behandel, maar dit word aanbeveel dat die OAS reaktor so sorgvuldig as moontlik gemonitor word om effektiewe CSB verwydering te handhaaf. Ten slotte, ‘n strategiese voer strategie was suksesvol, maar verdere verbetering van die OAS reaktor ten opsigte van die behandeling van VOG-verminderde GDAW moet verder ondersoek word.

Masters Thesis / Un-sewered settlements are provided with the basic water and sanitation systems that comprise, in most cases, of dry sanitation and standpipes. Substantial amounts of wastewater (including greywater) generated from households are discarded untreated into streets, open spaces between shacks, streams and rivers due to the lack of adequate disposal or treatment infrastructures. The negative impacts from unsafe disposal of greywater generated in un-sewered settlements affect both human health and the general environment. Several treatment technologies ranging from the simplest to the more sophisticated have been developed and made available for consideration to deal with the adverse impacts caused by the unsafe discharge of greywater. Some of these treatment technologies have been implemented successfully in certain developing countries worldwide. Amongst these is the anaerobic up-flow batch reactor (AnUBR) which was successfully used for the first time to treat greywater from sewered areas in Jordan, Lebanon and Sri Lanka. The AnUBR has emerged as a localised greywater treatment technology alternative to conventional treatment methods in areas not served by sewer networks. This technology holds promise because of its simplicity of design, high pollutant removal efficiency, absence of energy or chemical consumption, ease with which it can be implemented, cost effectiveness, and low operation and maintenance costs. This technology was originally developed for treating sewage and high strength greywater from hotels. Recently it was further pioneered by INWRDAM (Inter-Islamic Network on Water Resources Development and Management) in the treatment of greywater from sewered areas of developing countries. This technology has not been tested in un-sewered settlements of developing countries which are characterised by the lack of disposal infrastructures despite being suitable for tropical countries. This treatment system is able to produce effluent that meets the quality standard for discharge and irrigation. However, new applications of the AnUBR require further investigation in order to ascertain its feasibility and evaluate its performance in the un-sewered settlement context. Given the promising results reported for the AnUBR application for greywater treatment, this study aims to investigate the performance of the AnUBR as an alternative technology for the treatment of greywater generated in un-sewered settlements and its application in developing countries. A laboratory scale plant encompassing the AnUBR was designed, constructed and investigated using influent greywater collected from two selected case study settlements representing sewered and un-sewered areas. The plant was operated for 20 consecutives days using greywater from both selected sites separately. The influent greywater was analysed prior to feeding the plant and fed intermittently by batch as per designed feeding schedule. The performance of the AnUBR was evaluated mainly by analysing the quality of effluent produced, while the typical application was recommended based on the ability of the plant to produce effluent complying with local regulations and ability to treat greywater regardless of its source. The daily characteristics of influent greywater from both sites during the period of investigation were found to be as follows: temperature: 24 – 29ºC, pH: 7.1 – 7.2, TSS: 117.72 – 2,246.6mg/l, TN: 5.66 – 12.29mg/l, TP: 12.27 – 116.46mg/l, COD: 223.17 – 1,135.32mg/l, BOD5: 98.0 – 383.6mg/l, O&G: 52.22 – 475.29mg/l, e-coli: 8.87x104 – 2.17x107cfu/100ml, and Faecal coliform: 1.49x105 – 2.41x107cfu/100ml. The AnUBR managed to treat greywater to a quality that comply with the general standards for discharge into natural water resources. The final effluent showed a significant decrease in the level of pollutants from the initial values presented above to the following: temperature: 27 – 29 ºC, pH: 7.1 – 7.2, TSS: 5.12 – 12.82mg/l, TN 0.91 – 1.09mg/l, TP: 0.93 – 7.47mg/l, COD: 24.67 – 40.45mg/l, BOD5: 8.59 – 16.0mg/l, O&G: 1.15 – 1.72mg/l, e-coli: 213.3 – 1.12x103cfu/100ml, and Faecal coliform: 461.6 – 1.5x103cfu/100ml. Results obtained showed that the quality of influent greywater (from un-sewered settlements) is similar regardless of the water and sanitation technology. Following the operation of the AnUBR, significant removal of pollutants was observed in all processes. The overall removal efficiency averaged 80 to 95% for O&G and TSS respectively and 50 to 85% for TN and TP. The COD and BOD5 removal averaged 70 to 85% while that of micro-organisms averaged 90 to 99%. However, despite the high removal efficiency recorded the AnUBR may still require a post treatment step in order to improve the quality of effluent. It was concluded that the AnUBR is a viable alternative greywater treatment technology for un-sewered settlements, households or businesses such as hotels and restaurants. The AnUBR is able of treating high polluted greywater to effluent of quality that meets the standards for discharge or reuse provided a post treatment to ensure the complete killing of pathogenic organisms. The result of this study confirms the performance of the AnUBR for the treatment of greywater and provides an understanding of its concept as an alternative to conventional treatment and its application in un-sewered settlements based on local practical investigations.

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.

Currently at the Savannah River Site (SRS), there are fifteen single-shell, 3.6-million liter tanks containing High Level Waste. To close the tanks, the sludge must be removed. Mechanical methods have had limited success. Oxalic acid cleaning is now being considered as a new technology. This research uses sample results and chemical equilibrium software to develop a preferred flowsheet and evaluate the acceptability of the system impacts. Based on modeling and testing, between 246,000 to 511,000 l of 8 wt% oxalic acid were required to dissolve a 9,000 liter Purex sludge heel. For SRS H-Area modified sludge, 322,000 to 511,000 l were required. To restore the pH of the treatment tank slurries, approximately 140,000 to 190,000 l of 50 wt% NaOH or 260,000 to 340,000 l of supernate were required. When developing the flowsheet, there were two primary goals to minimize downstream impacts. The first was to ensure that the Resultant oxalate solids were transferred to DWPF, without being washed. The second was to transfer the remaining soluble sodium oxalates to the evaporator drop tank, so they do not transfer through or precipitate in the evaporator pot. Adiabatic modeling determined the maximum possible temperature to be 73.5°C and the maximum expected temperature to be 64.6°C. At one atmosphere and at 73.5°C, a maximum of 770 l of water vapor was generated, while at 64.6°C a maximum 254 l of carbon dioxide were generated. Although tank wall corrosion was not a concern, because of the large cooling coil surface area, the corrosion induced hydrogen generation rate was calculated to be as high as 10,250 l/hr. Since the minimum tank purge exhaust was assumed to be 5,600 l/hr, the corrosion induced hydrogen generation rate was identified as a potential concern. Excluding corrosion induced hydrogen, trending the behavior of the spiked constituents of concern, and considering conditions necessary for ignition, energetic compounds were shown not to represent an increased risk Based on modeling, about 56,800 l of Resultant oxalates could be added to a washed sludge batch with minimal impact on the number of additional glass canisters produced. For each sludge batch, with 1 to 3 heel dissolutions, about 60,000 kg of sodium oxalate entered the evaporator system, with most collecting in the drop tank, where they will remain until eventual salt heel removal. For each 6,000 kg of sodium oxalate in the drop tank, about 189,000 l of Saltstone feed would eventually be produced. Overall, except for corrosion-induced hydrogen, there were no significant process impacts that would forbid the use of oxalic acid in cleaning High Level Waste tanks. / MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES / M. Tech. (Chemical Engineering)

Currently at the Savannah River Site (SRS), there are fifteen single-shell, 3.6-million liter tanks containing High Level Waste. To close the tanks, the sludge must be removed. Mechanical methods have had limited success. Oxalic acid cleaning is now being considered as a new technology. This research uses sample results and chemical equilibrium software to develop a preferred flowsheet and evaluate the acceptability of the system impacts. Based on modeling and testing, between 246,000 to 511,000 l of 8 wt% oxalic acid were required to dissolve a 9,000 liter Purex sludge heel. For SRS H-Area modified sludge, 322,000 to 511,000 l were required. To restore the pH of the treatment tank slurries, approximately 140,000 to 190,000 l of 50 wt% NaOH or 260,000 to 340,000 l of supernate were required. When developing the flowsheet, there were two primary goals to minimize downstream impacts. The first was to ensure that the Resultant oxalate solids were transferred to DWPF, without being washed. The second was to transfer the remaining soluble sodium oxalates to the evaporator drop tank, so they do not transfer through or precipitate in the evaporator pot. Adiabatic modeling determined the maximum possible temperature to be 73.5°C and the maximum expected temperature to be 64.6°C. At one atmosphere and at 73.5°C, a maximum of 770 l of water vapor was generated, while at 64.6°C a maximum 254 l of carbon dioxide were generated. Although tank wall corrosion was not a concern, because of the large cooling coil surface area, the corrosion induced hydrogen generation rate was calculated to be as high as 10,250 l/hr. Since the minimum tank purge exhaust was assumed to be 5,600 l/hr, the corrosion induced hydrogen generation rate was identified as a potential concern. Excluding corrosion induced hydrogen, trending the behavior of the spiked constituents of concern, and considering conditions necessary for ignition, energetic compounds were shown not to represent an increased risk Based on modeling, about 56,800 l of Resultant oxalates could be added to a washed sludge batch with minimal impact on the number of additional glass canisters produced. For each sludge batch, with 1 to 3 heel dissolutions, about 60,000 kg of sodium oxalate entered the evaporator system, with most collecting in the drop tank, where they will remain until eventual salt heel removal. For each 6,000 kg of sodium oxalate in the drop tank, about 189,000 l of Saltstone feed would eventually be produced. Overall, except for corrosion-induced hydrogen, there were no significant process impacts that would forbid the use of oxalic acid in cleaning High Level Waste tanks. / MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES / M. Tech. (Chemical Engineering)

The crab processing industry of the Chesapeake Bay region has, until recently, been able to dispose of their processing wastewaters by discharging them, largely untreated, directly to the receiving waters along which their plants are located. With the upcoming implementation of new NPDES discharge limits, this practice will no longer be possible. This study investigated the potential of two different technologies for treating the processing wastewaters. Bench-scale anaerobic contact type reactors were studied for effectiveness in the removal of organics from the processor’s wastewaters, and a pilot-scale countercurrent air stripping tower was studied for ammonia removal. Two anaerobic reactors which were fed retort process wastewater at F/M ratios of 0.35 and 0.25 lb COD/1b MLVSS/day, were found to achieve organics removals (on a BOD₅ basis) of 88% and 94% respectively. Similarly, a second pair of anaerobic reactors were fed a mixed wastewater, representative of a mechanized processing plant’s total wastewater flow, at F/M ratios of 0.10 and 0.07 lb COD/1b MLVSS/day. These reactors were found to achieve organics removals (on a BOD₅ basis) of 79% and 83% respectively. All four of the reactors were eventually shut down after exhibiting signs of failure. These failures were attributed to possible sodium and ammonia toxicity problems. The effectiveness of the air stripping tower in the removal of ammonia from retort process wastewater was tested in relation to liquid flow rate, influent temperature, and influent pH. A maximum ammonia removal of 71% was observed when treating a waste, with an influent temperature of 580C and pH level of 12.2, at an air-to-water ratio of approximately 825 ft³/gal. Similarly, an ammonia removal rate of 67% was observed while treating a waste, with an influent temperature of 650°C and pH level of 11.0, at an air-to-water ratio of approximately 412 ft³/gal. / Master of Science