Experimental Methods in Wastewater Treatment
Abstract
Over the past twenty years, the knowledge and understanding of wastewater treatment has advanced extensively and moved away from empirically-based approaches to a fundamentally-based first-principles approach embracing chemistry, microbiology, and physical and bioprocess engineering, often involving experimental laboratory work and techniques. Many of these experimental methods and techniques have matured to the degree that they have been accepted as reliable tools in wastewater treatment research and practice. For sector professionals, especially the new generation of young scientists and engineers entering the wastewater treatment profession, the quantity, complexity and diversity of these new developments can be overwhelming, particularly in developing countries where access to advanced level laboratory courses in wastewater treatment is not readily available. In addition, information on innovative experimental methods is scattered across scientific literature and only partially available in the form of textbooks or guidelines. This book seeks to address these deficiencies. It assembles and integrates the innovative experimental methods developed by research groups and practitioners around the world and broadly applied in wastewater treatment research and practice. Experimental Methods in Wastewater Treatment book forms part of the internet-based curriculum in sanitary engineering at UNESCO-IHE and, as such, may also be used together with video recordings of methods and approaches performed and narrated by the authors, including guidelines on best experimental practices. The book is written for undergraduate and postgraduate students, researchers, laboratory staff, plant operators, consultants, and other sector professionals.
... inate both organic and inorganic constituents. This method is characterized by the integration of physical-chemical and biological treatment paradigms, contributing to an elevated level of treatment efficacy(van Loosdrecht et al. [2016]). The procedural sequence encompasses a series of meticulously designed steps: initial rough filtration and precipitation for pretreatment, pre-oxidation treatment to condition the wastewater, micro-electrolysis treatment incorporating pH adjustment and aeration, re-oxidation treatment utilizing hydrogen peroxide to induce Fenton oxidation, activated sludge treatment, flocculating settling to facilitate the sedimentation of suspended particles, and deep treatment involving a membrane separator to yield water of heightened purity. ...
... The method, embodying a synergistic fusion of physical-chemical and biological mechanisms, adeptly addresses the nuanced challenge of impurity removal from chemical wastewater. This complex process involves primary and secondary filtering, a regulating reservoir to abate salt content, oxidation of ammonia nitrogen, pretreatment employing catalyzed iron inner electrolysis, equilibrium modulation of microorganism growth through magnetic powder addition, continuous phenol oxidation utilizing magnetic immobilized enzyme, and MBR membrane biochemical treatment, culminating in the generation of water meeting high-quality standards(van Loosdrecht et al. [2016],Ahmed et al.[2021]). ...
This research delves into the meticulous optimization and characterization of biochar (BC) derived from date palm seeds (DPS) in the Biskra region of Algeria. Guided by Response Surface Methodology (RSM), the study explores the dynamics of BC preparation, emphasizing the interplay between pyrolysis time and temperature. The success of the optimization process is validated through a desirability index of 0.843, showcasing the precision required for tailoring BC to specific environmental and economic contexts. Structural and compositional analyses, including X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), and Scanning Electron Micrograph (SEM), unravel the intricate relationship between precursor material and BC structure. Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) results provide insights into BC’s elemental composition. Surface properties and reactivity assessments, including BET surface area analysis and pH at the point of zero charge (pHpzc), underscore BC’s potential as a versatile adsorbent. The study extends to adsorption assessments, revealing BC’s superior affinity for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (perchloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE)). Kinetic studies employing the PSO model and isotherm studies utilizing Freundlich and Langmuir models elucidate BC’s adsorption behavior. The research contributes not only to the field of BC synthesis but also to the broader discourse on sustainable and tailored adsorbents, positioning BC as a multifaceted material with applications in environmental science, materials engineering, and catalysis.
... Filtration in tertiary treatment generally includes sand filters, carbon filters, disc filters, or adsorption filters. For disinfection, generally, chlorination is taken into account [63,64]. The conventional method such as the one explained above is quite a lengthy process and yields low efficiency. ...
This book explains various methods needed to overcome the challenges faced during environmental remediation with a focus on nanotechnology. The book comprises ten edited chapters that aim to inform and educate readers about recent technologies that are beneficial for pollution control. Starting with an introduction to environmental remediation, the book covers innovative nanomaterials including spinel nanoferrites, carbonaceous quantum dots, carbon nanotubes and nanobioadsorbents. In addition to highlighting the environmental benefits of these materials, the book includes chapters on the potential of nanotechnology for harnessing the environment to generate energy through nanogenerators and piezoelectric energy harvesting devices. Key features of the book include notes on fundamental issues and challenges regarding environmental remediation, easy to read content with pictorial illustrations and scholarly references for each chapter. The book is an informative resource for students and academicians in science, technology and environmental science discipline.
This study focuses on enhancing wastewater treatment in the city of Ghardaïa, Algeria, using locally sourced lime (calcium oxide, CaO). The research targets the Kaf Dukhan wastewater treatment plant, which relies on natural lagooning but lacks advanced tertiary treatment to improve water quality. The study proposes the use of local quicklime, extracted from a nearby traditional plant, to reduce pollutants such as Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Suspended Solids (SS), nitrogenous compounds, and to regulate pH levels. Lime production involves extracting calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), calcining it in specialized kilns, and processing it into a fine powder. Physico-chemical analyses demonstrated significant improvements in water quality after lime treatment, with increased dissolved oxygen levels, reduced electrical conductivity, and a decrease in COD from 131 mg/L to 102 mg/L, while BOD levels dropped from 59 mg/L to 7 mg/L, indicating a considerable reduction in organic pollutants. Additionally, the treatment effectively reduced ammonium concentrations while slightly increasing nitrate and nitrite levels, a natural part of the nitrogen cycle during treatment. The findings confirm that the use of locally sourced lime is a cost-effective and efficient method for enhancing wastewater treatment processes in Ghardaïa, making the treated water more suitable for agricultural reuse or environmental discharge.
Biogas, generated through anaerobic digestion (AD) of organic feed-stocks like bio-wastes, is a sustainable and clean source of energy, capable of generating electricity, and direct thermal use. However, biogas is a mixture of methane and CO2 and the latter does not contribute towards the overall heating value of the gaseous fuel. The AD process also generates digestate slurry which is generally rich in ammonia-based nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium (NPK). While the solid part of the effluent is traditionally utilized as fertilizers, the liquid digestate requires proper treatment and management to prevent leach out and contamination of the ground water systems. Algal cultivation (AC), on the other hand, is gaining attention for CO2 capture and for the generation of algal lipids and biochemicals, like proteins, carbohydrates, and pigments. Algal cultivation systems can be integrated as photo bioreactors for CO2 scrubbing in a two stage system or as anaerobic membrane reactors combining AD and algal processes along with membrane filtration technology for enhancing nutrient recovery, Therefore, algal cultivation can act as a potential CO2 trap for upgradation of the quality of biogas by enhancing methane concentration while utilizing the nutrient (NPK) rich effluent from AD process. The algal biomass can be further processed for the production of value-added biochemicals and bioenergy applications, like biodiesel production. The present article focuses on the prospects and challenges of the integration of AD and AC processes which can have potential implications on bioenergy sector.
The effect of increased acetate concentration on the process of enhanced biological phosphorus removal was investigated in a sequential batch bioreactor treating synthetic wastewater in a 6-h cycle. Anhydrous sodium acetate was used as the sole carbon source during the experiment and corresponded to a chemical oxygen demand concentration. The phosphate-accumulating organisms were initially cultured for 70 days and the chemical oxygen demand concentration was gradually increased to the final concentration of 1800 mgO2 L−1 under conditions suitable for the growth of the phosphate-accumulating organisms. Successful cultivation of the phosphate-accumulating organisms was only possible if the acetate concentration in the influent did not lead to an excessive concentration of residues in the sludge after the anaerobic phase (estimated at a chemical oxygen demand concentration of 100 mgO2 L−1), which then passed into the aerobic phase. Cultivation continued for the next 67 days. During this time, the sludge was exposed five times to high acetate loading at different concentrations (corresponding to a chemical oxygen demand concentration of 250–1000 mgO2 L−1) to test the performance of the enhanced biological phosphorus removal. High acetate concentrations had no effect on the anaerobic phase of enhanced biological phosphorus removal, as the phosphate-accumulating organisms performed well in anaerobic phosphorus release and acetate assimilation in all five tests. However, the effect of residual acetate in the aerobic phase was detrimental to the aerobic phase of enhanced biological phosphorus removal, as the phosphate-accumulating organisms were prevented from assimilating phosphorus in the aerobic phase.
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