Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Outline
Media Filters
Field visits
Overview of Pretreatment
Adapted from The University Curriculum for Decentralized Wastewater Management Prepared by: John R. Buchanan, Univ. of TN; Robert W. Seabloom, Univ. of WA; Dave Lenning, Alternatives Northwest Edited by: David Lindbo and Nancy Deal, NCSU
NDWRCDP Disclaimer
This work was supported by the National Decentralized Water Resources Capacity Development Project (NDWRCDP) with funding provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through a Cooperative Agreement (EPA No. CR827881-01-0) with Washington University in St. Louis. These materials have not been reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These materials have been reviewed by representatives of the NDWRCDP. The contents of these materials do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the NDWRCDP, Washington University, or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute their endorsement or recommendation for use.
CIDWT/University Disclaimer
These materials are the collective effort of individuals from academic, regulatory, and private sectors of the onsite/decentralized wastewater industry. These materials have been peer-reviewed and represent the current state of knowledge/science in this field. They were developed through a series of writing and review meetings with the goal of formulating a consensus on the materials presented. These materials do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of University of Arkansas, and/or the Consortium of Institutes for Decentralized Wastewater Treatment (CIDWT). The mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation for use from these individuals or entities, nor does it constitute criticism for similar ones not mentioned.
CIDWT/University Disclaimer
These materials are the collective effort of individuals from academic, regulatory, and private sectors of the onsite/decentralized wastewater industry. These materials have been peer-reviewed and represent the current state of knowledge/science in this field. They were developed through a series of writing and review meetings with the goal of formulating a consensus on the materials presented. These materials do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of North Carolina State University, and/or the Consortium of Institutes for Decentralized Wastewater Treatment (CIDWT). The mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation for use from these individuals or entities, nor does it constitute criticism for similar ones not mentioned.
Why Pretreat?
Pretreat wastewater so downstream component(s) can function more reliably for longer terms
Pretreatment Options
Traditionally, have been categorized as:
Primary solids removal Secondary organics and BOD removal Tertiary generally, nutrient removal Aerobic Anaerobic Facultative
compatible
Septic Tank
Functions
Septic Tank
Primary treatment
Most common unit for OWTS Used alone or with other pretreatment units Simple and generally inexpensive ($100s) 30-50% reduction BOD5, 60-80% reduction TSS
Additional Pretreatment
Grease interceptor
Function remove grease and oils Used where greases/oils expected (usually commercial sites like restaurants) Should not contain blackwater
Grease Interceptor
Grease trap
Uses flotation, usually no mechanical parts Typically want to cool wastewater before it reaches the tank
Grease Interceptor
Grease separator
Typically, proprietary products High maintenance products Historically, not good performance
Advanced Pretreatment
Secondary organics and BOD removal Tertiary generally, nutrient removal Microbes typically used to assist
review of how aerobic microorganisms can biochemically oxidize soluble and colloidal organic compounds, and how nitrogenous compounds are oxidizes into nitrate. review the processes that create an oxygen demand and how aeration can be used to meet the oxygen demand
Primary Goal
Use aerobic microorganisms to provide
secondary treatment focuses on the removal of biodegradable organics and suspended solids usually accomplished with biological reactors
Respiration
CO2 H2O O2
Aerobic reactions
If enough dissolved O2
is in the effluent then the effluent is Aerobic 4e- + O2 + 4H+ 2H2O is removed effluent becomes anoxic/anaerobic
If all O2
Denitrification
CO2 N2 gas NO3
If Dissolved Oxygen is Consumed Faster than Aeration, then Anaerobic Conditions Occur
aquatic species that cannot survive under anaerobic conditions add to the excess organic matter in the system
Thus,
BOD can be used as a measure of
wastewater strength
a high BOD suggests that the organic compounds are easily biodegradable indicates the mass of dissolved oxygen that could be removed by aerobic microbes
to provide lots of DO
high-rate carbon removal and ammonification occupies a small-footprint requires energy to maximize oxygen transfer biological reactor
to convert colloidal and dissolved carbonaceous organic matter into various gases and into cell tissue
gases evolve (CO2, N2, and others) new cells can settle thus carbon is removed
Microbes
Good or Bad? (or just Ugly)
alcohols (beer) insulin other medications convert wastewater into secondary-quality effluent
And
Groundwater
Wastewater Treatment
Examples of Aerobic Bioreactors used for
Secondary Treatment
microbial metabolism to convert organic compounds into cells and carbon dioxide
Microbial Metabolism
Chemical Activities Performed by Cells
Catabolism
biochemical process that degrades substrate (food) down to end-products with the release of energy energy is held in chemical form for future use
Anabolism
biochemical process that synthesizes new cells. energy from catabolism is used to drive the process
Catabolism
Fermentation
volatile COHNS heterotrophic fatty + CO2 + H2 O + CH4 + energy + residuals microbes organic compounds acids
Catabolism
Respiration
Anabolism
Building of cell protoplasm
energy from fermentation and/or respiration is used to assemble the characteristic chemical components of cells from simple precursors
precursors provide carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and other elements found in cellular structure chemical energy in adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
simple precursors microbes energy C 60H 87N 12O 23P new cells
Endogenous respiration
Aerobic Degradation of Cellular Material
microbes are organic compounds under substrate-limiting conditions, microbes will feed on each other at a higher rate than new microbes can be formed
C60H87 N12 O23 P aerobic + O2 CO2 + H2 O + PO4 + NH + res iduals 3 microbes cellular material
Environmental Effects
Microbes need more than organic carbon,
temperature must be life-sustaining need steady supply of food to maintain stable microbial population pH needs to be monitored
low alkalinity can cause large changes in pH
Temperature
Overall, as temperature rises, microbial
activity increases (but not too hot) Microbes can be grouped by temperature preference
Psychrophilic microorganisms
optimum temperature 12 to 18 C
Mesophilic microorganisms
optimum temperature 25 to 40 C
Thermophilic microorganisms
optimum temperature 55 to 65 C
Summary
Aerobic Treatment of Wastewater
takes advantage of a natural process process can be easily engineered into a biological reactor for high-rate wastewater treatment removes the oxygen demand from wastewater before being discharged back into the hydrologic cycle
Questions?
Immobilization