Jacimaria R. Batista

Evaluating the impact of water conservation on fate of outdoor water use: A study in an arid region

In this research, the impact of several water conservation policies and return flow credits on the fate of water used outdoors in an arid region is evaluated using system dynamics modeling approach. Return flow credits is a strategy where flow credits are obtained for treated wastewater returned to a water body, allowing for the withdrawal of additional water equal to the amount returned as treated wastewater. In the return credit strategy, treated wastewater becomes a resource. This strategy creates a conundrum in which conservation may lead to an apparent decrease in water supply because less wastewater is generated and returned to water body. The water system of the arid Las Vegas Valley in Nevada, USA is used as basis for the dynamic model. The model explores various conservation scenarios to attain the daily per capita demand target of 752 l by 2035: (i) status quo situation where conservation is not implemented, (ii) conserving water only on the outdoor side, (iii) conserving water 67% outdoor and 33% indoor, (iv) conserving equal water both in the indoor and outdoor use (v) conserving water only on the indoor side. The model is validated on data from 1993 to 2008 and future simulations are carried out up to 2035. The results show that a substantial portion of the water used outdoor either evapo-transpires (ET) or infiltrates to shallow groundwater (SGW). Sensitivity analysis indicated that seepage to groundwater is more susceptible to ET compared to any other variable. The all outdoor conservation scenario resulted in the highest return flow credits and the least ET and SGW. A major contribution of this paper is in addressing the water management issues that arise when wastewater is considered as a resource and developing appropriate conservation policies in this backdrop. The results obtained can be a guide in developing outdoor water conservation policies in arid regions.

Systems dynamic model to forecast salinity load to the Colorado River due to urbanization within the Las Vegas Valley

This study evaluates the impact of urban growth in the Las Vegas Valley (LVV), Nevada, USA on salinity of the Colorado River. In the past thirty eight years the LVV population has grown from 273,288 (1970) to 1,986,146 (2008). The wastewater effluents and runoff from the valley are diverted back to the Colorado River through the Las Vegas Wash (LVW). With the growth of the valley, the salinity released from urban areas has increased the level of TDS in the wastewater effluents, ultimately increasing the TDS in the Colorado River. The increased usage of water softeners in residential and commercial locations is a major contributor of TDS in the wastewater effluents. Controlling TDS release to the Colorado River is important because of the 1944 Treaty signed between the USA and Mexico. In addition, the agriculture salinity damage cost for the Colorado River has been estimated to be more than

Biological reduction of perchlorate in ion exchange regenerant solutions containing high salinity and ammonium levels

306 a million per year using 2004 salinity levels. With the expected growth of LVV in coming years the TDS release into Lake Mead will increase over time. For this purpose, it is important to investigate future TDS release into the Colorado in anticipation of potential TDS reducing measures to be adopted. In this research, a dynamic simulation model was developed using system dynamics modeling to carry out water and TDS mass balances over the entire LVV. The dynamic model output agreed with historic data with an average error of 2%. Forecasts revealed that conservation efforts can reduce TDS load by 16% in the year 2035 when compared to the current trend. If total population using water softeners can be limited to 10% in the year 2035, from the current 30% usage, TDS load in the LVW can be reduced by 7%.

Biodegradation studies and sequencing of microcystin-LR degrading bacteria isolated from a drinking water biofilter and a fresh water lake.

The most promising technologies to remove perchlorate from water are ion exchange and biological reduction. Although successful, ion exchange only separates perchlorate from water; it does not eliminate it from the environment. The waste streams from these systems contain the caustic or saline regenerant solutions used in the process as well as high levels of perchlorate. Biological reduction could be used to treat the regenerant waste solutions from the ion exchange process. A treatment scheme, combining ion exchange and biodegradation, is proposed to completely remove perchlorate from the environment. Perchlorate-laden resins generate brines containing salt concentrations up to 6% or caustic solutions containing up to 0.5% ammonium. Both, high salt and ammonium hydroxide concentrations are potentially toxic to microorganisms. Therefore, the challenge of the proposed system is to find perchlorate reducing microorganisms that are effective under such stressful conditions. Preliminary results have shown that salt concentrations as low as 0.5% reduced the perchlorate biodegradation rate by 30%; salt concentrations greater than 1% decreased this rate to 40%. Although biodegradation was seen in ammonium levels of 0.4%, 0.6% and 1%, the perchlorate biodegradation rate was 90% of that at 0% ammonium hydroxide. Further research will focus on the isolation and/or acclimation of microorganisms that are able to biodegrade perchlorate under these stressful conditions.

The Removal of Perchlorate from Waters Using Ion-Exchange Resins

The presence of microcystin-LR -degrading bacteria in an active anthracite biofilter and in Lake Mead, Nevada was investigated. Four bacterial isolates from enrichment culture were identified using 16S rRNA analysis. Microcystin biodegradation tests were performed with both, the enrichment cultures and the respective isolates, using microcystin alone and acetate as carbon sources. A newly recognized microcystin-degrading bacterium, Morganella morganii, was isolated from the biofilter and from Lake Mead. The results of the biodegradation tests indicated that addition of a carbon source (acetate), significantly repressed the degradation of microcystin-LR. The findings of this study inform on the prevalence of microcystin-degrading bacteria in the environment indicating bioaugmentation may not be needed, if biofiltration is used to remove microcystin from waters. The results also imply that, in a biofilter, biodegradable naturally organic matter (NOM) and microcystin will compete and therefore lower toxin removals are likely in waters with higher NOM content. The feasibility of removing microcystin by biofiltration depends on the toxin concentration and the concentration of biodegradable carbon sources in the biofilter.

Chromium removal from ion-exchange waste brines with calcium polysulfide

The recent discovery of perchlorate (ClO4 − ) in several groundwater wells in Nevada, California, and Utah, has generated considerable interest in potential treatment technologies to remove the contaminant from water supplies. Biological and physico-chemical treatment technologies are currently under investigation for their potential to economically remove perchlorate from waters. In November 1998, several researchers were awarded grants from the American Water Works Association Research Foundation (AWWARF)1 to investigate the potential of ion-exchange, biodegradation, membrane filtration, and ozone/granular activated carbon systems to remove perchlorate from waters. Strong-base ion-exchange resins have proven to be very effective in removing perchlorate from waters to very low levels.2,3,4 There are, however, two issues that deserve further consideration before ion-exchange can be used to economically remove perchlorate from waters. The first issue is resin regeneration. Regeneration of perchlorate-laden resins has been proven to be very difficult since perchlorate attaches very strongly to the resins. Several bed volumes of 12% sodium chloride (NaCl) solution were able to remove only a small portion of the perchlorate loaded to styrenic type strong-base resins2 and heating perchlorate-laden strong-base resins during regeneration has been investigated with some degree of success.3 The regeneration of acrylic type strong-base resins, however, has proven to be quite effective.2 The second issue is the final disposal of regenerant brines containing high concentrations of perchlorate. Any potential technology to remove perchlorate, based on separation, will have to address the final disposal of highly concentrated perchlorate solutions. So far, this issue has not been given much attention.

Bioregeneration of Perchlorate-Laden Gel-Type Anion-Exchange Resin in a Fluidized Bed Reactor

Chromium removal from ion-exchange (IX) brines presents a serious challenge to the water industry. Although chromium removal with calcium polysulfide (CaS(5)) from drinking waters has been investigated somewhat, its removal from ion-exchange brines has not been evaluated to date. In this study, a Central Composite Design as well as experimental coagulation tests were performed to investigate the influence of pH, CaS(5)/Cr(VI) molar ratio, alkalinity, and ionic strength in the removal of chromium from IX brines. The optimal pH range for the process was found to be pH 8-10.3 and brine alkalinity did not affect coagulation. The efficiency of chromium removal improved only slightly when the ionic strength increased from 0.1 M to 1.5 M; no significant difference was observed for an ionic strength change from 1.5 to 2.1 M. For chromium (VI) concentrations typically found in ion-exchange brines, a CaS(5)/Cr(VI) molar ratio varying from 0.6 to 1.4 was needed to obtain a final chromium concentration <5 mg/L. Maximum efficiency for total chromium removal was obtained when oxidation reduction potentials were between -0.1 and 0 (V). Solids concentrations (0.2-1.5 g/L) were found to increase proportionally with CaS(5) dosage. The results of this research are directly applicable to the treatment of residual waste brines containing chromium.

Surface Complexation Modeling of the Removal of Arsenic from Ion-Exchange Waste Brines with Ferric Chloride

Selective ion-exchange resins are very effective to remove perchlorate from contaminated waters. However, these resins are currently incinerated after one time use, making the ion-exchange process incomplete and unsustainable for perchlorate removal. Resin bioregeneration is a new concept that combines ion-exchange with biological reduction by directly contacting perchlorate-laden resins with a perchlorate-reducing bacterial culture. In this research, feasibility of the bioregeneration of perchlorate-laden gel-type anion-exchange resin was investigated. Bench-scale bioregeneration experiments, using a fluidized bed reactor and a bioreactor, were performed to evaluate the feasibility of the process and to gain insight into potential mechanisms that control the process. The results of the bioregeneration tests suggested that the initial phase of the bioregeneration process might be controlled by kinetics, while the later phase seems to be controlled by diffusion. Feasibility study showed that direct bioregeneration of gel-type resin was effective in a fluidized-bed reactor, and that the resin could be defouled, reused, and repeatedly regenerated using the method applied in this research.

Multi-cycle bioregeneration of spent perchlorate-containing macroporous selective anion-exchange resin.

Brine disposal is a serious challenge of arsenic (V) removal from drinking water using ion-exchange (IX). Although arsenic removal with ferric chloride (FeCl(3)) from drinking waters is well documented, the application of FeCl(3) to remove arsenic (V) from brines has not been thoroughly investigated. In contrast to drinking water, IX brines contain high ionic strength, high alkalinity, and high arsenic concentrations; these factors are known to influence arsenic removal by FeCl(3). Surface complexation modeling and experimental coagulation tests were performed to investigate the influence of ionic strength, pH, Fe/As molar ratios, and alkalinity on the removal of arsenic from IX brines. The model prediction was in good agreement with the experimental data. Optimum pH range was found to be between 4.5 and 6.5. The arsenic removal efficiency slightly improved with higher ionic strength. The Fe/As ratios needed to treat brines were significantly lower than those used to treat drinking waters. For arsenic (V) concentrations typical in IX brines, Fe/As molar ratios varying from 1.3 to 1.7 were needed. Sludge solid concentrations varying from 2 to 18 mg L(-1) were found. The results of this research have direct application to the treatment of residual wastes brines containing arsenic.

Stable Isotopic Composition of Chlorine and Oxygen in Synthetic and Natural Perchlorate

Ion exchange using perchlorate-selective resin is possibly the most feasible technology for perchlorate removal from water. However, in current water treatment applications, selective resins are used once and then incinerated, making the ion-exchange process economically and environmentally unsustainable. A new concept has been developed involving the biological regeneration of resin-containing perchlorate. This concept involves directly contacting perchlorate-containing resins with a perchlorate-reducing microbial culture. In this research, the feasibility of multi-cycle loading and bioregeneration of a macroporous perchlorate-selective resin was investigated. Loading and bioregeneration cycles were performed, using a bench-scale fermenter and a fluidized bed reactor followed by fouling removal and disinfection of the resin. The results revealed that selective macroporous resin can be employed successfully in a consecutive loading-bioregeneration ion-exchange process. Loss of resin capacity stabilized after a few cycles of bioregeneration, indicating that the number of loading and bioregeneration cycles that can be performed is likely greater than the five cycles tested. The results also revealed that most of the capacity loss in the resin is due to perchlorate buildup from previous regeneration cycles. The results further indicated that as the bioregeneration progresses, clogging of the resin pores results in strong mass transfer limitation in the bioregeneration process.