Wastewater Reclamation Technologies and Monitoring Techniques

1991 ◽  
Vol 24 (9) ◽  
pp. 173-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. E. Odendaal

The paper deals with technologies for the direct reuse of treated municipal wastewater. The choice of reclamation technologies is determined by the quality of the wastewater, quality criteria for the reuse applications, reliability, operational considerations and the extent of control over the total treatment sequence. Catchment quality control as well as flow and quality equalisation should be regarded as first steps and an integral part of reclamation technology. Biological treatment is of primary importance, and special attention is given to the benefits for reclamation of activated sludge processes with high sludge retention times, and to biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal. Further unit processes discussed are chemical coagulation and flocculation, solids separation, disinfection, activated carbon, reverse osmosis, stabilisation and sludge management. In discussing monitoring techniques, attention is given to instrumentation, analogue and digital transmission, flow measurement, continuous measurement of selected parameters, sampling, maintenance, visual observation, and biomonitoring. In the conclusion, examples are given of various applications of using secondary effluent with little or no tertiary treatment, and the point made that considerable impact on the conservation of water supplies can be made without resorting to complicated and expensive technology.

2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Iborra-Clar ◽  
J.A. Mendoza-Roca ◽  
A. Bes-Pií ◽  
J.J. Morenilla-Martínez ◽  
I. Bernácer-Bonora ◽  
...  

Rainfall diminution in the last years has entailed water scarcity in plenty of European regions, especially in Mediterranean areas. As a consequence, regional water authorities have enhanced wastewater reclamation and reuse. Thus, the implementation of tertiary treatments has become of paramount importance in the municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) of Valencian Region (Spain). Conventional tertiary treatments consist of a physico-chemical treatment of the secondary effluent followed by sand filtration and UV radiation. However, the addition of coagulants and flocculants sometimes does not contribute significantly in the final water quality. In this work, results of 20-months operation of three WWTP in Valencian Region with different tertiary treatments (two without chemicals addition and another with chemicals addition) are discussed. Besides, experiments with a 2 m3/h pilot plant located in the WWTP Quart-Benager in Valencia were performed in order to evaluate with the same secondary effluent the effect of the chemicals addition on the final water quality. Results showed that the addition of chemicals did not improve the final water quality significantly. These results were observed both comparing the three full scale plants and in the pilot plant operation.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Travis C. Korosh ◽  
Andrew Dutcher ◽  
Brian F. Pfleger ◽  
Katherine D. McMahon

ABSTRACTSide-streams in wastewater treatment plants can serve as concentrated sources of nutrients (i.e. nitrogen and phosphorus) to support the growth of photosynthetic organisms that ultimately serve as feedstock for production of fuels and chemicals. However, other chemical characteristics of these streams may inhibit growth in unanticipated ways. Here, we evaluated the use of liquid recovered from municipal anaerobic digesters via gravity belt filtration as a nutrient source for growing the cyanobacteriumSynechococcussp. strain PCC 7002. The gravity belt filtrate (GBF) contained high levels of complex dissolved organic matter (DOM), which seemed to negatively influence cells. We investigated the impact of GBF on physiological parameters such as growth rate, membrane integrity, membrane composition, photosystem composition, and oxygen evolution from photosystem II. At 37°C, we observed an inverse correlation between GBF concentration and membrane integrity. Radical production was also detected upon exposure to GBF at 37°C. However, at 27°C the dose dependent relationship between GBF concentration and lack of membrane integrity was abolished. Immediate resuspension of strains in high doses of GBF showed markedly reduced oxygen evolution rates relative to the control. Together, this suggests that one mechanism responsible for GBF toxicity toSynechococcusis the interruption of photosynthetic electron flow and subsequent phenomena. We hypothesize this is likely due to the presence of phenolic compounds within the DOM.IMPORTANCECyanobacteria are viewed as promising platforms to produce fuels and/or high-value chemicals as part of so-called “bio-refineries”. Their integration into wastewater treatment systems is particularly interesting because removal of the nitrogen and phosphorus in many wastewater streams is an expensive but necessary part of wastewater treatment. In this study, we evaluated strategies for cultivatingSynechococcusstrain PCC 7002 on media comprised of two wastewater streams; treated secondary effluent supplemented with the liquid fraction extracted from sludge following anaerobic digestion. This strain is commonly used for metabolic engineering to produce a variety of valuable chemical products and product precursors (e.g. lactate). However, initial attempts to grow PCC 7002 under otherwise standard conditions of light and temperature failed. We thus systematically evaluated alternative cultivation conditions and then used multiple methods to dissect the apparent toxicity of the media under standard cultivation conditions.


2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-8

The scope of this paper is the evaluation of wastewater reuse quality criteria and treatment specifications, appropriate to Greek conditions. The parameters that affect wastewater reuse criteria were taken into consideration, concerning among others reuse priorities, available treatment plants and effluent characteristics. The proposed wastewater reclamation criteria were verified by a series of lab-scale experiments, designed to study the feasibility and effectiveness of the following treatment schemes to produce treated wastewater suitable for reuse: a) disinfection of secondary effluent with UV radiation and chlorination and b) tertiary treatment and disinfection of wastewater with UV radiation and chlorination. The experimental data were analyzed using a stochastic statistical model that employs Monte Carlo simulation. The main scope of the stochastic approach was the regeneration of a greater set of data, based on the defined by the experimental information mathematical distribution of each parameter involved and the determination of relative probability distributions. Following this approach the standards proposed are realistic and feasible and in the case of restricted reuse can be readily achieved by the existing wastewater treatment plants in Greece. Even in the case of unrestricted reuse the additional treatment required can be achieved at a moderate cost, through upgrading of the existing plants with tertiary treatment.


2008 ◽  
Vol 58 (8) ◽  
pp. 1671-1677 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. F. van Nieuwenhuijzen ◽  
A. G. N. van Bentem ◽  
A. Buunnen ◽  
B. A. Reitsma ◽  
C. A. Uijterlinde

The (low loaded) biological nutrient removing activated sludge process is the generally accepted and applied municipal wastewater treatment method in the Netherlands. The hydraulical and biological flexibility, robustness and cost efficiency of the process for advanced removal of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus without (too much) chemicals results in a wide application of the activated sludge process within Dutch waterboards. Presumably, wastewater treatment plants will have to contribute to the improvement of the quality of the receiving surface waters by producing cleaner effluent. In this perspective, the Dutch research organisation STOWA initiated a research project entitled “The Boundaries of the Activated Sludge Process” to investigate the possibilities and limitations of activated sludge processes to improve the effluent quality. It is concluded that the activated sludge process as applied and operated at WWTP's in the Netherlands has the potential to perform even better than the current effluent discharge standards (10 mg Ntotal/l and 1 mg Ptotal/l). Reaching the B-quality effluent (<5mg Ntotal/l and <0.3 mg Ptotal/l) will be possible at almost all WWTPs without major adjustments under the conditions that:   the sludge load is below 0.06 kg BOD/kg TSS.d   the internal recirculation is above 20   the BOD/N ratio of the influent is above 3. Complying with the A-quality effluent (<2.2 Ntotal/l and <0.15 mg Ptotal/l) seems to be difficult (but not impossible) and requires more attention and insight into the activated sludge process. Optimisation measures to reach the A-quality effluent are more thorough and are mostly only achievable by additional construction works (addition of activated sludge volume, increasing recirculation capacity, etc.). It is furthermore concluded that the static HSA-results are comparable to the dynamic ASM-results. So, for fast determinations of the limits of technology of different activated sludge processes static modelling seems to by sufficient.


2013 ◽  
Vol 67 (12) ◽  
pp. 2761-2767 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruihua Li ◽  
Jianmin Niu ◽  
Xinmin Zhan ◽  
Bo Liu

The efficacy of iron(II) sulfide (FeS)-based autotrophic denitrification in simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorus removal from wastewater was studied with batch experiments. It was efficient at a wide pH range of 5–9, and temperature range of 10–40 °C. The concentrations of NH4+-N, Mg2+ and HCO3− in the wastewater should be kept over 7.8, 0.24 and 30 mg L−1 for efficient nitrate (NO3−-N) reduction, respectively. The NO3−-N removal rate increased from 0 to 82 mg L−1 d−1 and then leveled off when the NO3−-N concentration increased from 0 to 415 mg L−1 and then to 700 mg L−1, respectively. The NO3−-N removal rate quickly increased, leveled off, and then sharply decreased when the PO43−-P concentration increased from 0 to 0.1 mg L−1, then to 114.0 mg L−1, and further to 683.8 mg L−1, respectively. The PO43−-P removal was over 98% when the PO43−-P concentration ranged 0–683.3 mg L−1. During treatment of the secondary effluent of a local municipal wastewater treatment plant containing NO3−-N of 14.9 mg L−1 and total phosphorus (TP) of 3.9 mg L−1, NO3−-N was reduced to 1.1 mg L−1 and TP was completely removed.


2005 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.H.J.M. van der Graaf ◽  
J. de Koning ◽  
A. Ravazzini ◽  
V. Miska

In 2003 the Aquarec project sponsored by the European Commission under the 5th Framework Programme was started, aiming at “integrated concepts for reuse of upgraded wastewater with special focus on the European countries”. One of the key elements is the development of a treatment matrix, in which wastewater treatment processes are categorised as a function of the raw wastewater quality and the reuse application and are further characterised with respect to costs, operational critical control points and environmental aspects. The construction of the treatment matrix is based on the reuse options (industrial, domestic, natural and agricultural applications), the water quality requirements, the treatment requirements and the extensive description of the various treatment processes and schemes. In the process of constructing the matrix it can be concluded that the actual knowledge on municipal wastewater treatment is definitely well consolidated until the so-called secondary treatment including biological or physical/chemical nutrients removal; the treatment of this effluent should be accomplished by more advanced techniques. As a consequence of the actual EU rules on water discharges, it makes sense to focus the Aquarec project on the possible refinements of secondary effluent. Great attention must be given to the advanced or tertiary wastewater treatment processes, as a mean to upgrade the effluent to water suitable for reuse.


2020 ◽  
Vol 81 (9) ◽  
pp. 1994-2003
Author(s):  
M. Preisner ◽  
E. Neverova-Dziopak ◽  
Z. Kowalewski

Abstract One of the main factors of the increased eutrophication level of surface waters is the high anthropogenic loads of biogenic substances discharged into water bodies. Municipal wastewaters, containing large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus play one of the key roles in the acceleration of eutrophication intensity. The main direction in the prevention of eutrophication caused by wastewater discharge has become the reduction of nutrient loads introduced to wastewater receivers in accordance with strict legal requirements achievable only in advanced technologies. The treated wastewater quality standards are actually developed for total nitrogen and total phosphorus content, disregarding the fact that eutrophication potential of treated wastewater is determined by the content of non-organic nutrient forms directly bioavailable for water vegetation. That is why the currently used energy-consuming and expensive technologies do not always guarantee effective protection against eutrophication and its consequences. The goal of the study was to analyze the most widely used wastewater treatment technologies for enhanced biological nutrients removal in treated wastewater eutrophication potential. For this purpose, an analysis of the operation of 18 wastewater treatment plants based on different technologies in Finland, Canada, Poland, Russia and the United States was realized. The analysis concluded that the eutrophication potential of treated wastewater to a large extent is conditioned by the applied technology. The results of the research concluded that the eutrophication potential can serve an important criterion for decision-making regarding the proper selection of wastewater treatment technologies aimed at eutrophication mitigation.


Author(s):  
L. Cavieres ◽  
J. Bazaes ◽  
P. Marticorena ◽  
K. Riveros ◽  
P. Medina ◽  
...  

Abstract Municipal wastewater phycoremediation represents a promising circular economy-based process for wastewater reclamation used to recover water and produce biomass. This study aimed to evaluate a pilot-scale phycoremediation system, using the most efficient strain of microalgae for wastewater reclamation in the Atacama Desert. Nitrogen and phosphorus removal, as well as biomass growth, were compared in different microalgae treatments, namely Muriellopsis sp., Scenedesmus almeriensis, Chlamydomonas segnis, Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Chlorella vulgaris. The most efficient treatments, Muriellopsis sp. and S. almeriensis, were scaled up to 20-L bubble column reactors to evaluate nutrient removal and biomass biochemical profile for potential biotechnological application. Finally, Muriellopsis sp. was selected for a pilot-scale phycoremediation experiment (800-L raceway), which removed 84% of nitrogen, 93% of phosphorus and other chemical compounds after 4 days of treatment to meet most of the Chilean standards for irrigation water (NCh. 1333. DS. MOP No. 867/78). Faecal coliforms count was reduced by 99.9%. Furthermore, biomass productivity reached 104.25 mg·L–1·day–1 value with 51% protein, and pigment content of 0.6% carotenoid, with 0.3% lutein. These results indicate the potential of wastewater phycoremediation at an industrial scale for the production of irrigation water and carotenoid using Muriellopsis sp.


2009 ◽  
Vol 59 (5) ◽  
pp. 917-926 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Yang ◽  
Jiajie He ◽  
Mark Dougherty ◽  
Xiaojun Yang ◽  
Lu Li

A biofilm reactor and a gravitational filtration bed were integrated as a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) to aerobically treat a municipal wastewater. Polyacrylonitrile balls (50 mm diameter, 90% porosity) were filled into the upper part of the SBR as biofilm attaching materials and anthracite coal (particle size ∼1.17 mm) was placed into the lower part as filter media. The SBR was aerated during filling and reaction phases, followed by a 10 min discharge phase during which the wastewater went through the filtration bed without aeration. The SBR was tested with raw wastewater from a municipal WWTP in Wuhan, China from July 2006 to January 2007, during both a warm season and a cold season. The SBR showed a capability to accept COD and turbidity fluctuations in the receiving wastewater. Seasonal influence on COD and nitrogen removal by the biofilm reactor was significant. Nitrogen and phosphorus removals were limited by COD levels in the wastewater. The filtration process removed considerable COD, nitrogen, phosphorus, and turbidity. The overall SBR effluent quality consistently satisfied the national secondary effluent discharge standard of China, except for total phosphorus. An anaerobic phase before the aerobic reaction is proposed to improve phosphorus and nitrogen removal. The filter normally required a backwash every seven days and the water needed for backwash was less than 4% of the wastewater treated by the SBR. This experiment provides information needed for further investigation to improve performance of the SBR.


mSphere ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Travis C. Korosh ◽  
Andrew Dutcher ◽  
Brian F. Pfleger ◽  
Katherine D. McMahon

Cyanobacteria are viewed as promising platforms to produce fuels and/or high-value chemicals as part of so-called “biorefineries.” Their integration into wastewater treatment systems is particularly interesting because removal of the nitrogen and phosphorus in many wastewater streams is an expensive but necessary part of wastewater treatment. In this study, we evaluated strategies for cultivatingSynechococcussp. strain PCC 7002 on media comprised of two wastewater streams, i.e., treated secondary effluent supplemented with the liquid fraction extracted from sludge following anaerobic digestion. This strain is commonly used for metabolic engineering to produce a variety of valuable chemical products and product precursors (e.g., lactate). However, initial attempts to grow PCC 7002 under otherwise-standard conditions of light and temperature failed. We thus systematically evaluated alternative cultivation conditions and then used multiple methods to dissect the apparent toxicity of the media under standard cultivation conditions.


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