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ABSTRACT: In this study, a mathematical model was established to predict the formation of the soluble microbial product (SMP) in a submerged
membrane bioreactor. The developed model was calibrated under the reference condition. Simulation results were in good agreement
with the measured results under the reference condition. The calibrated model was then used in the scenario studies to evaluate
the effect of three chosen operating parameters: hydraulic retention time (HRT), dissolved oxygen concentration, and sludge
retention time (SRT). Simulation results revealed that the SMP dominated the soluble organic substances in the supernatant.
The scenario studies also revealed that the HRT can be decreased to 1 h without deteriorating the effluent quality; dissolved
oxygen concentration in the reactor can be kept at 2–3 mg/L to maintain the effluent quality, reduce the content of SMP, and
minimize operating costs; the optimal SRT can be controlled to 10–15 d to achieve complete nitrification process, less membrane
fouling potential, and acceptable organic removal efficiency.
Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering in China 04/2012; 3(2):226-235. · 0.75 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to investigate the application of integrating earthworms (Pheretima peguana) into two-stage pilot-scale subsurface-flow constructed wetlands (SFCWs) receiving swine wastewater in terms of their treatment performance, namely organic content, total kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), and solid reduction as well as the quantity of sludge production. There was a minor difference in terms of removal efficiency according to each parameter when comparing the unit with earthworms to the one without earthworms. Both achieved the TKN, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total volatile suspended solids (TVSS), suspended solids (SS), and total solids (TS) removal by more than 90 %. The earthworms helped in reducing the sludge production on the surface of constructed wetlands 40 % by volume, which resulted in lowering operational costs required to empty and treat the sludge. The plant biomass production was higher in the wetlands without earthworms. Further research could be undertaken in order to effectively apply earthworms inside the wetlands.
Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part A Toxic/Hazardous Substances & Environmental Engineering 06/2011; 46(7):800-4.
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ABSTRACT: The treatment of grey water in two upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors, operated at different hydraulic retention times (HRTs) and temperatures, was investigated. The first reactor (UASB-A) was operated at ambient temperature (14-25 degrees C) and HRT of 20, 12 and 8 h, while the second reactor (UASB-30) was operated at controlled temperature of 30 degrees C and HRT of 16, 10 and 6 h. The two reactors were fed with grey water from 'Flintenbreite' settlement in Luebeck, Germany. When the grey water was treated in the UASB reactor at 30 degrees C, total chemical oxygen demand (CODt) removal of 52-64% was achieved at HRT between 6 and 16 h, while at lower temperature lower removal (31-41%) was obtained at HRT between 8 and 20 h. Total nitrogen and phosphorous removal in the UASB reactors were limited (22-36 and 10-24%, respectively) at all operational conditions. The results showed that at increasing temperature or decreasing HRT of the reactors, maximum specific methanogenic activity of the sludge in the reactors improved. As the UASB reactor showed a significantly higher COD removal (31-64%) than the septic tank (11-14%) even at low temperature, it is recommended to use UASB reactor instead of septic tank (the most common system) for grey water pre-treatment. Based on the achieved results and due to high peak flow factor, a HRT between 8 and 12 h can be considered the suitable HRT for the UASB reactor treating grey water at temperature 20-30 degrees C, while a HRT of 12-24 h can be applied at temperature lower than 20 degrees C.
Water Science & Technology 01/2011; 64(3):610-7. · 1.12 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A dynamic mathematical model based on anaerobic digestion model no. 1 (ADM1) was developed for accumulation (AC) system treating concentrated black water and faecal matter at different temperatures. The AC system was investigated for the treatment of waste (water) produced from the following systems: vacuum toilet for black water (VBW), vacuum toilet for faeces with urine separation (VF), dry toilet (DT), dry toilets for faeces with urine separation (DF), separated faecal matter from conventional black water by filter bag (FB). For evaluation of the AC system treating the proposed waste (water) sources at 20 and 35 degrees C, two options were studied: (1) The filling period of the AC system was constant for all waste (water) sources (either 1, 3 or 6 months) and for each period, the seed sludge volume was varied; (2) The volume of the AC system was constant for all proposed waste (water) sources. The results showed that the filling period of the AC system was the main parameter affecting the system performance, followed by operational temperature, while the increase of the seed sludge volume slightly enhanced the performance of the system. The model results indicated that the filling period of the AC system should be higher than 150 days for obtaining a stable performance. It was found that the hydrolysis of biodegradable particulate chemical oxygen demand (COD) is the rate limiting step, as volatile fatty acid concentration is very low in all experimental conditions (< 200 mgCOD/L at 20 degrees C and < 100 mgCOD/L at 35 degrees C). Based on the results of the two options, it was found that the concentrated waste (water) sources have better performance than the diluted waste (water) sources, like VBW waste (water). Furthermore, smaller volume will be required for the AC system.
Water Science & Technology 01/2011; 63(9):2039-45. · 1.12 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Human urine is a potential alternative fertilizer for agriculture. However, its usage is associated with a risk of spreading pharmaceutical residues to fields. The individual and combined behavior of carbamazepine and ibuprofen was investigated by GC/MS analysis in a greenhouse experiment using ryegrass fertilized with pharmaceutical-spiked urine. Only carbamazepine could be detected in soil, roots, and aerial plant parts. Fifty-three per cent of carbamazepine originally present in the urine was recovered in soil samples taken after three months. Additionally, 34% of carbamazepine was found in aerial plant parts and 0.3% in roots. Model calculations showed that neither roots nor Casparian strip posed a considerable barrier to uptake. Carbamazepine transport was clearly driven by transpiration. Ibuprofen was not detected in the soil or in any plant parts after three months. This was assumed to be due to biodegradation of ibuprofen. Carbamazepine and ibuprofen, singly or in combination, did not adversely affect the growth of ryegrass.
Science of The Total Environment 02/2010; 408(8):1902-8. · 3.29 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Based on literature review, a non-potable urban grey water reuse standard is proposed and the treatment alternatives and reuse scheme for grey water reuses are evaluated according to grey water characteristics and the proposed standard. The literature review shows that all types of grey water have good biodegradability. The bathroom and the laundry grey water are deficient in both nitrogen and phosphors. The kitchen grey water has a balanced COD: N: P ratio. The review also reveals that physical processes alone are not sufficient to guarantee an adequate reduction of the organics, nutrients and surfactants. The chemical processes can efficiently remove the suspended solids, organic materials and surfactants in the low strength grey water. The combination of aerobic biological process with physical filtration and disinfection is considered to be the most economical and feasible solution for grey water recycling. The MBR appears to be a very attractive solution in collective urban residential buildings.
Science of The Total Environment 03/2009; 407(11):3439-49. · 3.29 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: As water is becoming a rare resource, the onsite reuse and recycling of grey water is practiced in many countries as a sustainable solution to reduce the overall urban water demand. However, the lack of appropriate water quality standards or guidelines has hampered the appropriate grey water reuses. Based on literature review, a non-potable urban grey water treatment and reuse scheme is proposed and the treatment alternatives for grey water reuse are evaluated according to the grey water characteristics, the proposed standards and economical feasibility.
Water Science & Technology 02/2009; 59(2):249-60. · 1.12 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: This chapter is divided into two parts, one presenting the options to improve the effectiveness of constructed wetlands (CWs)
by focusing into their associated problems and one investigating the potentials of sustainable resource recovery. To deal
with the problematic septic tank, one particular system initiated in France aims to treat raw household wastewater solely
by CWs. It has been proved to function efficiently and hence there is no need to install a septic tank. Clogging is among
the major operational concerns of CWs, which its likelihood of occurrence could be reduced by incorporating earthworms into
the CWs. Earthworms were also found within real-scale CWs. The treatment efficiency could even be increased if the synergy
of earthworms and the biological communities can be established. On the resource side, one should make use of the plants more
effectively so that they will not be wasted. Instead of using the conventional plants, which are usually burnt after harvest,
an alternative plant could be applied. Several plants such as bamboo or even the system of so-called wastewater garden can
be used. Further, one might think about changing the paradigm of how one perceives wastewater by applying the ecological sanitation
concept. CWs can provide a key to treat grey water. These options exhibit high potentials and can be adapted to the Mediterranean
region.
11/2008: pages 163-175;
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ABSTRACT: Urine is considered as a valuable plant fertiliser due to its high nutrient content. However, urine also contains pharmaceuticals. Currently, little is known regarding expected pharmaceutical concentrations in urine and the resulting risks. Through series of analyses in Hamburg and Berlin and results from the development of a concentration prediction model this knowledge gap was intended to be filled. To which extent the theoretical calculations can substitute analyses of pharmaceuticals was also tested. Results showed that the model fits well for bezafibrate, carbamazepine, diclofenac, ibuprofen, phenazone, and pentoxifylline. In Hamburg an R(2) value of 0.98 and in Berlin of 0.90 was achieved for correlations between predicted and analysed concentrations. Additionally, it was shown that a sufficient number of people discharging their urine to the respective collection system are important to allow for reasonable predictions via calculation. Also, comparisons of predicted pharmaceutical concentrations to those determined in other projects showed good correlations. Overall, it can be concluded that in any case the calculated concentrations exceed the measured ones and are therefore conservative. This overestimation can be explained by several factors discussed in this article.
Water Research 09/2008; 42(14):3633-40. · 4.86 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Currently, many articles report on pharmaceutical residues detected in various compartments of the environment. A major pathway into the aquatic environment is municipal wastewater. This article discusses the relevance of yellowwater (urine) as pharmaceutical source within this wastewater stream. Literature data about concentrations of 28 pharmaceutical residues detected in raw wastewater are compared to their theoretically calculated concentrations in urine. The study shows that these pharmaceuticals and their metabolites are excreted predominantly via urine although some substances show reasonable excretion via faeces. It is demonstrated that the influence of pharmacokinetic activities is one important issue affecting the presence of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment. Nevertheless, only a weak correlation between concentrations of pharmaceuticals calculated in yellowwater and analysed in raw wastewater was observed. This is due to environmental effects taking place between the excretion of urine and the entrance of sewerage into the wastewater treatment plant. The data show that urine separation and separate handling/treatment of this wastewater stream represents a promising approach to protect the aquatic environment safely from human pharmaceuticals.
Science of The Total Environment 08/2008; 399(1-3):96-104. · 3.29 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: This paper evaluated the performance and suitability of a resources and nutrients oriented decentralized greywater treatment system which uses a submerged spiral wound module. This greywater treatment system is aimed at treating and recovering the resources present in the wastewater. The study revealed that the UF membrane filtration system was able to maintain a permeate flux between 6 and 10 L/m2/h. TOC can be reduced from the influent value of 161 to 28.6 mg/L in the permeate, meaning an average elimination rate of 83.4%. In addition, soluble nutrients such as ammonia and phosphorus can pass through the UF membrane and remain in the permeate. The total nitrogen and total phosphorus in the permeate were 16.7 and 6.7 mg/L respectively. The permeate was low in turbidity (below 1 NTU) and free of suspended solids and E. coli and had an excellent physical appearance. The permeate can be used in gardening and agriculture for irrigation and soil fertilization or alternatively for toilet flushing after disinfection. The retentate generated in this system can be treated with blackwater and kitchen waste in an anaerobic digester at a later stage for producing biogas or compost.
Water Science & Technology 02/2008; 57(12):1901-7. · 1.12 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Feasibility of grey water treatment in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor operated at different hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 16, 10 and 6h and controlled temperature of 30 degrees C was investigated. Moreover, the maximum anaerobic biodegradability without inoculum addition and maximum removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) fractions in grey water were determined in batch experiments. High values of maximum anaerobic biodegradability (76%) and maximum COD removal in the UASB reactor (84%) were achieved. The results showed that the colloidal COD had the highest maximum anaerobic biodegradability (86%) and the suspended and dissolved COD had similar maximum anaerobic biodegradability of 70%. Furthermore, the results of the UASB reactor demonstrated that a total COD removal of 52-64% was obtained at HRT between 6 and 16 h. The UASB reactor removed 22-30% and 15-21% of total nitrogen and total phosphorous in the grey water, respectively, mainly due to the removal of particulate nutrients. The characteristics of the sludge in the UASB reactor confirmed that the reactor had a stable performance. The minimum sludge residence time and the maximum specific methanogenic activity of the sludge ranged between 27 and 93 days and 0.18 and 0.28 kg COD/(kg VS d).
Water Research 04/2007; 41(6):1379-87. · 4.86 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The potential of anaerobic digestion in ecological and decentralised sanitation has been investigated in this research. Different anaerobic digestion systems were proposed for the treatment of sewage, grey water, black water and faeces. Moreover, mathematical models based on anaerobic digestion model no.1 (ADM1) were developed for determination of a suitable design for each system. For stable performance of an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor treating sewage, the model results indicated that optimisation of wastewater conversion to biogas (not COD removal) should be selected for determination of the hydraulic retention time (HRT) of the reactor. For the treatment of sewage or black water in a UASB septic-tank, the model results showed that the sludge removal period was the main parameter for determination of the HRT. At such HRT, both COD removal and wastewater conversion are also optimised. The model results demonstrated that for treatment of faeces in an accumulation (AC) system at temperature > or = 25 degrees C, the filling period of the system should be higher than 60 days. For maximisation of the net biogas production (i.e. reduction of biogas losses as dissolved in the effluent), the separation between grey water, urine and faeces and reduction of water consumption for faeces flushing are required. Furthermore, the faeces and kitchen organic wastes and grey water are digested in, respectively, an AC system and UASB reactor, while the urine is stored.
Water Science & Technology 01/2006; 53(9):45-54. · 1.12 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Absorption is one of the most widely used techniques for treating odourous waste gases. An improvement of the effectiveness of gas scrubbers can be achieved by using adapted washing liquids. A screening test is proposed as a low cost tool for testing washing liquids on industrial waste gases. The odour index is used to identify the main cause of the specific smell and to simplify the analysis of absorptive performances of washing liquids. The method is verified by experiments at a chocolate factory and a fat and oil refinery.
Waste Management 02/2005; 25(9):975-84. · 2.43 Impact Factor
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01/2002;
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ABSTRACT: For many reasons it is advantageous to collect urine separately Otterpohl,R. (2001) and also collection system, so called no-mix-toilets exist Braun,U. (2001); Galler,L. (2001). Therefore, this work deals with some methods to make use of this urine to produce value added products: IBDU and ammonia water. It could be shown that urea can be converted to IBDU only after concentrating urine. With air stripping and absorption ammonificated urine can be treated very effectively and a solution of 10 % w/w of ammonia can be obtained.
Water Science & Technology, 46, (6-7), pp. 341-346.
