Pharmaceuticals and personal care products found in the environment pose a significant hazard to human and ecosystem health. While there has been significant work on the fate and remediation of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in wastewater treatment, relatively little work has explored the fate, transport and remediation of these compounds in non-point source input. This is concerning given the increasing use of pharmaceuticals in livestock production and wastewater treatment derived biosolids frequently applied to land. These experiments aimed to quantify the abiotic adsorption and biotic transformation and uptake potential of woodchips and biochar-amended woodchips as a potential sorbent strategy for diffuse acetaminophen (ACT) pollution. Batch reactions were created in triplicate, supplied with 5 mM ACT, and analyzed over an eight hr period using ultraviolet spectrophotometry (298 nm). Ultraviolet absorbance readings for each time step then were compared to standard curves and solution ACT concentration was determined. Decreases in ACT from initial concentrations were the result of either abiotic and/or biotic. Overall, the woodchips and biochar-amended woodchips showed similar removal efficiency (16-21% of initial concentration). Whole model ANOVA analysis showed biologic activity having no significant effect on ACT solution concentration. However, within group ANOVA comparison showed significant differences between abiotic and biotic WC and abiotic and biotic WC treatments (controlling for media). Thus, the media effect could have masked the effect of biology on ACT removal. Species capable of degrading ACT exist and further study into their ability to grow and survive on these sorbents requires further work. / Master of Science

The overarching objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness and performance of ATIs. In doing so, this research provides a fundamental understanding of the flow and sediment propagation through a different combination of porous media (pea gravel and woodchips). The research hypothesizes that the theory of advection and diffusion describes the migration of flow and identifies a myriad of depositional networks of sediment. A key hypothesis of the study is that global and local pressure differentiation affects the flow pathways and distribution with intimate effects of sediment trapping efficiency and distribution within the permeameter. A significant goal of this study is to decompose the key mechanisms that affect this migration of sediment under a fixed value for the head and incoming concentration. The nature of the study is experimental and is supported by limited numerical and field analysis. Although the experimental setup is site specific to the conditions encountered in the study location, it offers a generic way of examining flow and sediment intrusion within a permeable bed. The study in that sense hypothesizes that the intrusion by Einstein is valid and it shows the change in the hydraulic gradient that occurs during an event and during a sequence of events. A secondary goal of this research is to understand the cyclicity in the migration of sediment in a sequence of different events, where the initial conditions of each run constitutes the outcome of the final result of the previous runs. The nature of those experiments is to mimic the occurrence of sequential events in nature, although the continuous examined in the laboratory as reflective of conditions representing extreme runs. This research also treats the hydraulic conductivity as a dynamic entity to reflect the effect of localized clogging on the propagation of flow. The experimental design of this research considers a series of experimental runs to address the aforementioned objectives of this research and test the posed hypothesis.

This thesis deals with reducing the moisture content of biomass drying and its subsequent use as biofuel. The work is a belt drying and its integration into the system with a grate boiler. It proposes a variety of drying options for use of different drying media. In the end, an economic evaluation of the combustion system uses a belt dryer, and a system without any possibility of drying the fuel before it enters the boiler.

The thesis deals with steam boiler design of 88 tons per hour capacity and with the outlet steam parameters of 9,6 MPa and 520 °C. Fuel for boiler is wood chips. The main focus of the thesis is on heat calculation, design of dimensions and layout of heat surfaces. The thesis also include drawing of steam boiler.

The thesis includes design of steam boiler burning woodchips with parameters of steam 88 t/h, 9,6 MPa, 520 °C. For these parameters is processed a heat calculation and dimensional design of boiler.

Throughout Central Florida surface water and ground water are decreasing in quantity and quality in part because of excess Nitrate and Phosphorus nutrients. Stormwater runoff serves as a medium for transport of Nitrate and Phosphorus to surface water and ground water. The goal of this experiment is assess the Nitrate and Phosphorus removal in stormwater using select media. The results of a literature search, batch test experimentation and column test experimentation are used to determine an optimal media blend that may be implemented in detention ponds to reduce Nitrate and Phosphorus. The extensive literature search revealed 32 different media that may be used to remove Nitrate and Phosphorus. Each potential media was qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated based on 5 criteria: 1) relevance, 2) permeability, 3) cost, 4) availability in Florida, and 5) additional environmental benefit. The top 7 performing media: Florida peat, sandy loam, woodchips, crushed oyster shell; crushed limestone, tire crumb and sawdust were selected for batch test experimentation. The aerobic conditions in batch test experimentation prohibited the growth of denitrifying bacteria, therefore media mixes were selected for column test experimentation based on Ammonia and Orthophosphate concentrations. Batch test experimentation showed the most effective media to be 50% sand, 30% tire crumb, 20% sawdust by weight (media mix 1) and 50% sand, 25% sawdust, 15% tire crumb, 10% limestone by weight (media mix 2). Media mix 1, media mix 2 and a control are tested in column test experimentation, where the control is site soil from Hunters Trace development in Ocala, Florida. Column test experimentation models a dry detention pond where water passes through a 48 inch unsaturated zone then a 48 inch saturated zone. To test Nitrate and Orthophosphate removal potential, pond water augmented with Nitrate (0.38, 1.26, 2.5 mg/L NO3-N) and Orthophosphate (0.125, 0.361, 0.785 mg/L PO4-P) was pumped into the columns. Media mix 1 and media mix 2 outperformed the control in both Nitrate and Orthophosphate removal. Media mix 1 and media mix 2 had Nitrate removal efficiencies ranging from 60% to 99% and the control had Nitrate removal efficiencies ranging from 38%-80%. Media mix 1 and media mix 2 averaged Orthophosphate removal efficiencies ranging from approximately 42% to 67%. For every run in every influent Orthophosphate concentration the saturated control added Orthophosphate to the water. The Nitrate and Orthophosphate removal performances for media mix 1 and media mix 2 could not be directly compared because of different influent saturated nutrient concentrations.

På sågverk behövs hetvatten för att kunna värma lokalerna, men även kunna torka träprodukterna. Majoriteten av uppvärmningen går till att torka träprodukterna. AB Karl Hedin i Karbenning producerar sitt eget hetvatten genom pannan på sågverket. Där behövs biobränsle i form av torrflis som bränns i ugnen. Torrfliset fås genom sönderdelning av avkap som erhålls i justerverket. I justerverket används en hugg som har tillgänglighetsproblem. Huggen är känslig mot metaller, dessutom är den känslig mot hårt virke. Syftet med rapporten har därför varit att genom beräkningar och resonemang bestämma den bästa maskinen för sönderdelning av rejekt, att göra en layoutritning på installationen av denna med hänsyn till materialtransport samt att göra en investeringskalkyl för maskinen. Kvalitativa undersökningar har genomförts i form av intervjuer och litteraturstudier, det vill säga marknadsundersökningar, för att få inblick i hur sågverk sönderdelar rejekt respektive ta reda på olika sorters tekniker som finns. Olika scenarier har skapats för att se till att maskinen lever upp till olika funktionella krav, exempelvis kapacitetskrav eller scenarier med olika täckningsbidrag. Resultatet för kalkylerna gällande kapacitetskraven för respektive maskin, påvisar genom analysering av kapacitet kontra rejektflödet att några utav dessa inte är optimala för de uppsatta kraven. Investeringskalkylerna visar att en del utav maskinerna inte är optimala att införskaffa genom analyser av de uppsatta scenarierna med olika täckningsbidrag. Avslutningsvis kan sägas att olika maskiners kapacitetskrav i kombination med olika scenarier för täckningsbidrag leder till både gynnsamma och missgynnsamma resultat. Den nya maskinen som rekommenderas till AB Karl Hedin i Karbenning är rivare som dels kan sönderdela avkap, dels bräckage. Den maskinen är optimal för det arbete som sågverket utsätter sin nuvarande hugg för. Rekommendationen till företaget är att införskaffa en av maskinerna som analyseratsom det klaras av att enbart producera produkter med det högre täckningsbidraget. Till den rekommendationen har hänsyn tagits till att produktionen expanderas. Annars är rekommendationen till företaget att inte införskaffa någon utav de presenterade maskinerna. / At sawmills hot water is needed to heat up the facility, but also for drying up the wooden products. Most of the heating is used for drying the wooden products. AB Karl Hedin in Karbenning produces its own hot water using their boiler at the sawmill. Biofuel is needed there in the shape of wood chips that are burnt in the oven. The wood chip is received through decomposition of cut offs that are gained in the grading facility. A woodchipper is used in the grading facility that has problems with availability. The woodchipper is sensitive to metals, besides it is sensitive to hard timber. The purpose with this thesis has therefore been to determine the best machine for decomposing reject/cut offs through calculations and reasoning, to do a layout description on the installation with respect to material transport and to do an investment calculation for the machine. The qualitative studies have been done in the shape of interviews and literature studies (research on the market) to gain insight into how sawmills decompose reject respectively find out different available techniques. Different scenarios have been created to make sure the machine fulfills the different functional requirements, for instance scenarios for capacity requirementsor with scenarios with different contribution margin. The results for the calculations concerning the capacity requirements for each machine, proves through analysis of the capacity versus rejectflow that a few of the machines are not optimal for the set requirement. The investment calculations show that a few of the machines are not optimal to obtain through analysis of the set scenarios with different contribution margin. In conclusion the capacity requirements for each machine in combination with different scenarios for contribution margin results in both favorable and unfavorable outcomes. The new machine that is being recommended to AB Karl Hedin in Karbenning is a shredder that can partly decompose cut offs from the grading facility and partly bigger cut offs. That type of machine is optimal for the work that the company is exposing their chipper to. The recommendation for the company is to obtain one of the machines that has been analyzed if thecompany manages producing products with a higher contribution margin. This recommendation has been considered with an expanded production. Otherwise, the recommendation for the company is not to obtain any of the presented machines.

The Japanese paper and paperboard industry has grown to be one of the largest in the world. It manufactures a range of products for sale primarily within Japan, and consumes organic fibre for these products from dispersed domestic and foreign forests, plantations and cities. This dissertation examines the links between the development and structure of the industry and its use of papermaking fibre. It takes a political ecology perspective and uses an industrial structure/consumption-production chain approach to show how the industry’s development and structure continue to depend on company control over fibre flows and the restructuring of products, product distribution and manufacture, the fibre supply chain and fibre resources. As with the modern global paper/board industry, the recent growth of the Japanese industry has been characterised by cycles of capacity expansion, market collapse, excess capacity and low prices and profits. Manufacturers and general trading companies involved in the industry have tried to support growth in the use of paper/board and counter these cycles by restructuring production, distribution, ownership and fibre supply. This restructuring helps protect the flow of fibre through the industry and concentrated it in particular companies. Obtaining increasing quantities of suitably-priced fibre has been at the base of the industry’s development.

The Japanese paper and paperboard industry has grown to be one of the largest in the world. It manufactures a range of products for sale primarily within Japan, and consumes organic fibre for these products from dispersed domestic and foreign forests, plantations and cities. This dissertation examines the links between the development and structure of the industry and its use of papermaking fibre. It takes a political ecology perspective and uses an industrial structure/consumption-production chain approach to show how the industry’s development and structure continue to depend on company control over fibre flows and the restructuring of products, product distribution and manufacture, the fibre supply chain and fibre resources. As with the modern global paper/board industry, the recent growth of the Japanese industry has been characterised by cycles of capacity expansion, market collapse, excess capacity and low prices and profits. Manufacturers and general trading companies involved in the industry have tried to support growth in the use of paper/board and counter these cycles by restructuring production, distribution, ownership and fibre supply. This restructuring helps protect the flow of fibre through the industry and concentrated it in particular companies. Obtaining increasing quantities of suitably-priced fibre has been at the base of the industry’s development.

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the rates of nitrate removal for a nitrate containing, low organic carbon wastewater interacting with four different carbon-containing solid substrates (alder woodchips, corn silage, manure and woodchip biochar). Batch systems were tested for nitrate removal, and systems with a combination of three carbon substrates (75% woodchips, 12.5% silage, and 12.5% manure or woodchip biochar by mass) produced average nitrate removal rates of 571 and 275 mg-N L⁻¹ D⁻¹, and systems containing the carbon substrates individually produced rates between 11.4 - 3.3 mg-N L⁻¹ D⁻¹. Silage proved to be the dominant carbon substrate providing high quantities of organic carbon to fuel denitrification. With the introduction of semi-continuous flow, all systems had nitrate removal rates that converged to 13.3 – 6.4 mg-N L⁻¹ D⁻¹, which is approximately two orders of magnitude smaller than the rates of the mixture systems in the batch experiment. Silage appeared to be removed from of the systems with liquid exchange potentially causing the rate decreases. Columns filled with various volume fractions of woodchips (100%, 25%, 12.5%, and 0%) produced nitrate removal rates between 30.8 – 2.4 mg-N L⁻¹ D⁻¹ at a 24 hour and 12 hour hydraulic residence time (HRT). Greater nitrate removal was achieved with higher HRTs and larger fractions of woodchips (the 100% woodchip system at a 24 hour HRT produced the fastest nitrate removal rate of 30.8 mg-N L⁻¹ D⁻¹). When rates were normalized to the amount of woodchips in each column, higher efficiency was found in lower woodchip fraction systems (the 12.5% woodchip column produced the highest normalized nitrate removal rate of 56 mg-N L⁻¹ D⁻¹ L[subscript woodchips]⁻¹). Woodchips proved to be best suited as a long term carbon substrate for nitrate removal in a system containing a nitrate concentrated, low organic carbon wastewater. However, large amounts of woodchips were necessary to achieve nitrate removal greater than 50%. A 41 acre hypothetical wetland with a 3.3 day HRT and a nitrate influent concentration of 45 mg-N L⁻¹ would require 30,000 yd³ of woodchips to achieve 68% nitrate removal based on the values obtained in the bench scale column experiment. / Graduation date: 2012