Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) must be removed from wastewater to sustain the water quality of receiving bodies. In this regard, algae can be utilized to achieve tertiary wastewater treatment, removing residual N and P; moreover, algae production creates opportunities to enhance overall water resource recovery facility productivity. Research evaluated an integrated fermenter-biological nutrient removal (BNR) process, integrating algae cultured on secondary effluent. It was hypothesized that algae recycled to the fermenter would increase volatile fatty acid (VFA) production. VFAs are critical for BNR stability; however, concurrent addition of N and P (from the algal biomass) could stress the BNR system. Surprisingly, addition of algae decreased VFA production and consumed ammonia, seemingly due to heterotrophic algae growth in the fermenter. Conversely, the BNR system realized no effect from the algal biomass recycling; P removal was consistent with and without algae, while less efficient nitrification but more efficient denitrification was realized.
Mathematical Modelling and Computer Simulation of Activated Sludge Systems – Second Edition provides, from the process engineering perspective, a comprehensive and up-to-date overview regarding various aspects of the mechanistic (“white box”) modelling and simulation of advanced activated sludge systems performing biological nutrient removal. In the new edition of the book, a special focus is given to nitrogen removal and the latest developments in modelling the innovative nitrogen removal processes. Furthermore, a new section on micropollutant removal has been added. The focus of modelling has been shifting in the last years to models that can describe the performance of a whole plant (plant-wide modelling). The expanded part of this new edition introduces models describing the most important processes interrelated with the mainstream activated sludge systems as well as models describing the energy balance, operating costs and environmental impact. The complex process evaluation, including minimization of energy consumption and carbon footprint, is in line with the present and future wastewater treatment goals. By combining a general introduction and a textbook, this book serves both intermediate and more experienced model users, both researchers and practitioners, as a comprehensive guide to modelling and simulation studies. The book can be used as a supplemental material at graduate and post-graduate levels of wastewater engineering/modelling courses.
Biomethanization of the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Wastes is a comprehensive introduction to both the fundamentals and the more practical aspects of the anaerobic digestion of organic solid wastes, particularly those derived from households, that is, the organic fraction of municipal solid wastes (OFMSW). It can be used as a textbook for specialized courses and also as a guide for practitioners. In the first part, the book covers the relevant aspects of anaerobic digestion (AD) of organic wastes. The fundamentals and kinetic aspects of AD are reviewed with particular emphasis on the aspects related to solid wastes. This introduction is necessary to have a comprehensive view of the AD process and to understand the practical principles as well as the origin of possible problems arising from the management of the process. Chapter 2 emphasizes the role of kinetics in designing the reactor, paying special attention to existing models, particularly the dynamic ones. Through this introduction, it is intended to facilitate the technology transfer from laboratory or pilot plant experiences to full-scale process, in order to implement improvements in current digesters. Laboratory methods are described for the analysis and optimization of reactor performance, such as methanogenic activity tests or experimental evaluation of the biodegradation kinetics of solid organic waste. The different reaction patterns applied to industrial reactors are outlined. Industrial reactors are classified in accordance with the system they use, pointing out advantages and limitations. Co-digestion, enabling the co-treatment of organic wastes of different origin in a more economically feasible way, is described in detail. Examples of co-digestion are given, with OFMSW as a base-substrate. Finally, full-scale co-digestion plants are discussed. Various types (mechanical, biological, physico-chemical) of pre-treatment to increase the biodegradability, and thus the yields of the process, are reviewed in detail. The use of the fermentation products of anaerobic digesters for biological nutrient removal processes in wastewater treatment plants is described. This constitutes an example of integrated waste management, a field in which both economic and technical advances can be achieved. Balances are given to justify the approach, and a full-scale case study is presented. The important topic of economics and the ecological advantages of the process are emphasized. The use of compost, the integration with composting technology, and advantages over other technologies are detailed in the framework of an environmental impact assessment of biowaste treatment. Finally, the anaerobic digestion of MSW in landfills is reviewed in detail, with emphasis on landfill process enhancement and strategies for its application.
Activated Sludge - 100 Years and Counting covers the current status of all aspects of the activated sludge process and looks forward to its further development in the future. It celebrates 100 years of the Activated Sludge process, from the time that the early developers presented the seminal works that led to its eventual worldwide adoption. The book assembles contributions from renowned world leaders in activated sludge research, development, technology and application. The objective of the book is to summarise the knowledge of all aspects of the activated sludge process and to present and discuss anticipated future developments. The book comprises invited papers that were delivered at the conference "Activated Sludge...100 Years and Counting!", held in Essen, Germany, June 12th to 14th, 2014. Activated Sludge - 100 Years and Counting is of interest to researchers, engineers, designers, operations specialists, and governmental agencies from a wide range of disciplines associated with all aspects of the activated sludge process. Authors: David Jenkins, University of California at Berkeley, USA, Jiri Wanner, Institute of Chemical Technology, Prague, Czech Republic.
To achieve goals for climate and economic growth, "negative emissions technologies" (NETs) that remove and sequester carbon dioxide from the air will need to play a significant role in mitigating climate change. Unlike carbon capture and storage technologies that remove carbon dioxide emissions directly from large point sources such as coal power plants, NETs remove carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere or enhance natural carbon sinks. Storing the carbon dioxide from NETs has the same impact on the atmosphere and climate as simultaneously preventing an equal amount of carbon dioxide from being emitted. Recent analyses found that deploying NETs may be less expensive and less disruptive than reducing some emissions, such as a substantial portion of agricultural and land-use emissions and some transportation emissions. In 2015, the National Academies published Climate Intervention: Carbon Dioxide Removal and Reliable Sequestration, which described and initially assessed NETs and sequestration technologies. This report acknowledged the relative paucity of research on NETs and recommended development of a research agenda that covers all aspects of NETs from fundamental science to full-scale deployment. To address this need, Negative Emissions Technologies and Reliable Sequestration: A Research Agenda assesses the benefits, risks, and "sustainable scale potential" for NETs and sequestration. This report also defines the essential components of a research and development program, including its estimated costs and potential impact.
Algae, generally held as the principal primary producers of aquatic systems, inhabit all conceivable habitats. They have great ability to cope with a harsh environment, e.g. extremely high and low temperatures, suboptimal and supraoptimal light intensities, low availability of essential nutrients and other resources, and high concentrations of toxic chemicals, etc. A multitude of physiological, biochemical, and molecular strategies enable them to survive and grow in stressful habitats. This book presents a critical account of various mechanisms of stress tolerance in algae, many of which may occur in microbes and plants as well.
The practice of biotechnology, though different in style, scale and substance in globalizing science for development involves all countries. Investment in biotechnology in the industrialised, the developing, and the least developed countries, is now amongst the widely accepted avenues being used for economie development. The simple utilization of kefir technology, the detoxification of injurious chemical pesticides e.g. parathion, the genetic tailoring of new crops, and the production of a first of a kind of biopharmaceuticals illustrate the global scope and content of biotechnology research endeavour and effort. In the developing and least developed nations, and in which the 9 most populous countries· are encountered, problems concerning management of the environment, food security, conservation of human health resources and capacity building are important factors that influence the path to sustainable development. Long-term use of biotechnology in the agricultural, food, energy and health sectors is expected to yield a windfall of economic, environmental and social benefits. Already the prototypes of new medicines and of prescription fruit vaccines are available. Gene based agriculture and medieine is increasingly being adopted and accepted. Emerging trends and practices are reflected in the designing of more efficient bioprocesses, and in new research in enzyme and fermentation technology, in the bioconversion of agro industrial residues into bio-utility products, in animal healthcare, and in the bioremediation and medical biotechnologies. Indeed, with each new day, new horizons in biotechnology beckon.
"Long-established as an essential reference of the water quality industry, Operation of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants, MOP 11 is now available in a revised and expanded Sixth edition. The first major revision in 11 years, this updated classic offers you a complete guide to the operation and maintenance of municipal wastewater treatment plants."--BOOK JACKET.
Environmental quality is becoming an increasing concern in our society. In that context, waste and wastewater treatment, and more specifically biological wastewater treatment processes play an important role. In this book, we concentrate on the mathematical modelling of these processes. The main purpose is to provide the increasing number of professionals who are using models to design, optimise and control wastewater treatment processes with the necessary background for their activities of model building, selection and calibration. The book deals specifically with dynamic models because they allow us to describe the behaviour of treatment plants under the highly dynamic conditions that we want them to operate (e.g. Sequencing Batch Reactors) or we have to operate them (e.g. storm conditions, spills). Further extension is provided to new reactor systems for which partial differential equation descriptions are necessary to account for their distributed parameter nature (e.g. settlers, fixed bed reactors). The model building exercise is introduced as a step-wise activity that, in this book, starts from mass balancing principles. In many cases, different hypotheses and their corresponding models can be proposed for a particular process. It is therefore essential to be able to select from these candidate models in an objective manner. To this end, structure characterisation methods are introduced. Important sections of the book deal with the collection of high quality data using optimal experimental design, parameter estimation techniques for calibration and the on-line use of models in state and parameter estimators. Contents Dynamical Modelling Dynamical Mass Balance Model Building and Analysis Structure Characterisation (SC) Structural Identifiability Practical Identifiability and Optimal Experiment Design for Parameter Estimation (OED/PE) Estimation of Model Parameters Recursive State and Parameter Estimation Glossary Nomenclature
