Effect of thermal alkaline pretreatment on the anaerobic digestion of wasted activated sludge

The effect of alkaline pretreatment of waste-activated sludge, using two models to study the sequential hydrolysis rates of suspended (Sanders' surface model) and dissolved (Goel's saturation model) solids, on the mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic digestion rate is evaluated. The pretreatment, which reduces the size of the solids, increases the reaction rate by increasing the surface area and the specific surface hydrolysis constant (K(SBK)); at thermophilic conditions from 0.45 x 10(-3) kg m(-2) d(-1) for the fresh sludge to 0.74 x 10(-3) kg m(-2) d(-1) for the pretreated sludge and at mesophilic conditions these values are 0.28 x 10(-3) kg m(-2) d(-1) and 0.47 x 10(-3) kg m(-2) d(-1) confirming the usefulness of a pretreatment for solids reduction. But for soluble solids, the thermoalkaline pretreatment decreases the reaction rates by inducing a competitive inhibition on the thermophilic anaerobic digestion rate while in the mesophilic range, a non-competitive inhibition is observed. A mathematical simulation of the consecutive reactions, suspended solids to dissolved solids and to methane in staged anaerobic thermophilic-mesophilic digestion, shows that with 4% suspended solids concentration it is better not to use a thermoalkaline pretreatment because overall solids reduction and total methane production are not as good as without pretreatment.     

Hydraulic behaviour and removal efficiencies of two H-SSF constructed wetlands for wastewater reuse with different operational life

This work focuses on the performance evaluation of two full-scale horizontal suburface flow constructed wetlands (H-SSF CWs) working in parallel, which have an almost equal surface area (about 2,000 m2) but with different operational lives: 8 and 3 years. Both H-SSF CWs, located in Southern Italy (Sicily), are used for tertiary treatment of the effluent of a conventional wastewater treatment plant. This study evaluates and compares H-SSF CW efficiency both in terms of water quality improvement (removal percentage) and achievement of Italian wastewater discharge and irrigation reuse limits. The mean removal percentage, for the overall operational life, of TSS, COD and BOD (80%, 63%, 58% obtained for H-SSF1 and 67%, 38%, 41% for H-SSF2), confirm the high reliability of CWs for wastewater treatment. However, despite the satisfactory removal of microbial indicators (the mean E. coli removal was up to 2.5 log unit for both beds), CWs didn't achieve the Italian limits for wastewater reuse. Information on hydraulic properties of the CWs were extracted from breakthrough curves of a non-reactive tracer (NaCl). By comparing the nominal (tau(n)) and actual residence time (tau), hydraulic behaviour was revealed.     

Exposure to dust, endotoxin and airborne microorganisms in wastewater sludge thermal drying units

The objective of this study was to assess workers' exposure to bioaerosols in sludge drying units. Simultaneous collection of inhalable dust and airborne biological agents was carried out using rotating cup samplers (CIP 10, Arelco). Sixteen stationary and 30 personal measurements were performed in three drying plants, during summer and winter. Microbial content of air was characterized by high amounts of Gram-negative bacteria, endotoxin, and thermophilic actinomycetes. High differences between exposure levels were observed with regard to workplaces and tasks. Dryers and conveyors in operation were closed, and the monitoring task in the dryer room was associated with low levels of personal exposure, close to background levels. Conversely, cleaning and maintenance of the dryer and conveyors required the equipment to be opened, giving significantly higher task-based personal exposure levels. The fall of dried sludge into indoor containers resulted in high emission and spreading of dust. Mean personal exposure levels to fungi were moderate or low for all tasks. Based on the results of this study, appropriate means of operational control and personal protection are being developed and implemented on sites.     

Discussion of the enabling environments for decentralised water systems

Decentralised water supply systems are becoming increasingly affordable and commonplace in Australia and have the potential to alleviate urban water shortages and reduce pollution into natural receiving marine and freshwater streams. Learning processes are necessary to support the efficient implementation of decentralised systems. These processes reveal the complex socio-technical and institutional factors to be considered when developing an enabling environment supporting decentralised water and wastewater servicing solutions. Critical to the technological transition towards established decentralised systems is the ability to create strategic and adaptive capacity to promote learning and dialogue. Learning processes require institutional mechanisms to ensure the lessons are incorporated into the formulation of policy and regulation, through constructive involvement of key government institutions. Engagement of stakeholders is essential to the enabling environment. Collaborative learning environments using systems analysis with communities (social learning) and adaptive management techniques are useful in refining and applying scientists' and managers' knowledge (knowledge management).     

Tracing fine sediment sources in small mountain catchment

Fine sediment represents an important diffuse source pollutant in surface waters, due to its role in governing the transfer and fate of many substances, including nutrients, heavy metals, pesticides and other organic contaminants, and its influence on aquatic ecology. Therefore, catchment management strategies frequently need to include provision for the control of sediment mobilization and delivery. The sediment tracing concept provides a valuable framework for assisting the management and control of diffuse source sediment pollution by identifying the key sources and demonstrating the importance of intermediate storages and the likely impact of upstream mitigation strategies on downstream sediment and sediment associated contaminant fluxes. In this research, fine sediment sources were identified using tracing method. By field works, sediments were sampled from dam reservoir, different sources were also sampled. Fifteen tracers were first selected for tracing which are: The amounts of N, P, C, Cr, Co, Mg, K, Na, smectite, chlorite, illite, kaolinite, and two magnetic properties consisting of LOW Frequency Magnetic Susceptibility (X(LF)) and Frequency Dependent Magnetic Susceptibility (X(FD)). The samples were analyzed in the laboratory for these parameters and different statistical methods were applied to the data including Non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis Test and Stepwise Discriminant function analysis. The results provide important information on the relative importance of fine sediment sources to the reservoir sediments, which can be used to support model validation and the targeting of management and control strategies.     

Influence of hydraulic retention time on UASB post-treatment with UF membranes

A pilot UASB reactor coupled with an external ultrafiltration (UF) membrane was operated under three different hydraulic retention times (HRT) for domestic wastewater treatment. The aim was to assess the HRT influence on system performance and fouling. The highest concentrations of COD, total solids, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and soluble microbial products (SMP) in UASB effluent and permeate were found when the UASB reactor was operated under the lowest HRT studied (4 hours); although the fulfillment of Mexican Standard for wastewater reclamation was not compromised. This fact could be attributed to the higher shear stress forces inside the UASB reactor when it was operated at low HRT, which promoted the release of biopolymeric substances in its effluent. Besides, the fouling propensity in the UASB effluent was worsened with HRT reduction, by increasing the fouling rate and the specific cake resistance. Based on these results, it is recommended to avoid operating the UASB reactor at low HRTs (less than 4 hours) in order to control SMP and EPS fouling potential. The results presented also suggest that HRT reduction has a detrimental effect on performance and fouling.     

Effect of solution chemistry and operating conditions on the nanofiltration of acid dyes by a nanocomposite membrane

A composite nanofiltration membrane was developed by a poly(acrylic acid) in situ ultraviolet (UV) graft polymerization process using an ultrafiltration polysulfone membrane as a porous support, by a phase inversion method. SEM images showed that the PSf membranes had numerous finger-like pores. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed that the roughness of the surface was reduced by an increase in UV irradiation times. The rejections of sodium chloride and sodium sulfate were moderate and declined with the increase of concentration. We observed that by increasing UV irradiation time and nanofiltration pressure applied, retention of dyes was enhanced and in the most irradiated membrane (M-4 membrane) at 4 bars, color removal with a high rejection of about 99.80% was achieved. It was found that the separation efficiency of dyes in the mixture of salt and dyes decreased with the salt concentration due to a decrease in the Donnan effect. It was also found that by varying the pH, the membrane surface and the dyes' charges are changed, which meant that the membrane surface and dyes had different interactions at various pHs.     

Determination of odorous VOCs and the risk of occupational exposure to airborne compounds at the waste water treatment plants

Concentrations of non methane-VOCs and risk levels of employees' exposure to VOCs were determined at two Finnish waste water treatment plants. The concentration of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) reached the Finnish OEL (occupational exposure limit). The concentrations of styrene, 1,2-dichloroethane, and toluene were found to be elevated at plant A. 328.4 microg/m3 of styrene and 709.8 microg/m3 toluene was found in the sludge dewatering, and 955.8 microg/m3 of 1,2-dichloroethane was detected in the trash rake. TVOC concentrations varied from 149.8 microg/m3 in the Plant B sludge dewatering to 7719.0 microg/m3 in the Plant A sludge dewatering. Most of the detected TVOC concentrations were quite high in comparison to the indoor air regulations or recommendations. The most odorous compounds were determined by combined TD-GC-MS-sniffing analysis. Odour was mainly caused by sulphur-containing compounds, aldehydes, and butanoic acid, in addition to aromatic compounds such as styrene, toluene and 4-methylphenol.     

Pervaporative removal of acrylonitrile from aqueous streams through polydimethylsiloxane membrane

This study describes the successful separation of acrylonitrile (ACN) from dilute aqueous streams using pervaporation process. The influences of ACN feed concentration, permeate pressure, operating temperature, feed flow rate and membrane thickness on the membrane separation performance were investigated. The results showed that with an increase in ACN concentration in the feed solution, the permeation flux of ACN increased while the enrichment factor decreased. It was also indicated that increasing the permeate pressure reduced the driving force for mass transfer and consequently the permeation flux dropped while the enrichment factor enhanced. Polydimethylsiloxane membranes used in this study showed very good properties in the separation process, leading to enrichment factors in the range of 70-140. Furthermore, the activation energy for pervaporation of both ACN and water calculated from Arrhenius plot indicated that the permeation of water through the membrane was more temperature dependant than ACN.