Joseph V. Hunter

General nature of soluble and particulate organics in sewage and secondary effluent

Abstract The size distribution of collective organic parameters was analyzed for sewage and secondary effluent. One soluble and three particulate fractions were physically separated from each system by settlement and high speed centrifugation. In character, particulate solids were highly organic and soluble solids largely inorganic in both systems. COD/TOC ratios and carbon oxidation numbers showed that organic carbon in sewage was in a low state of oxidation, while that in effluent was in a relatively high state of oxidation. In both systems the oxidation state of carbon in soluble organics was distinctive from that in the particulate organics. Activated sludge treatment resulted in reduction of organic parameters in the order of COD> TOC> volatile solids. Treatment was considerably more efficient in reducing the concentration of particulate organics than in reducing the concentration of soluble organics.

A multiorder approach to bod kinetics

Abstract Employing a reaeration technique, oxygen uptake curves were obtained for 20 samples from 8 New Jersey, U.S.A. streams. Using a stepwise nonlinear regression approach, rate constants and ultimate BOD values were calculated for equations in which the order of the reaction was assumed to be 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5 and 4. There was a tendency for the error mean square to decrease as the reaction order increased from 1 to 4. However, the reduced error was accompanied by an approximate doubling of the ultimate BOD values in going from a first to a fourth order reaction. These ultimate BOD values calculated at the higher reaction orders are in all probability unrealistically high.

Hydrolysis of condensed phosphates during aerobic biological sewage treatment

Abstract In a domestic sewage, the concentrations of orthophosphate and inorganic condensed phosphate varied widely during a 24-hr period. The condensed phosphate concentration was especially variable, increasing from 1 to 17 mg P/l during a 4-hr span. This increase coincided with an increase in the concentration of ABS. In the settled sewages sampled, approximately half the phosphorus was in the form of condensed phosphates. Treatment at activated sludge and trickling filter installations affected the hydrolysis of a portion of the incoming condensed phosphates. The extent of hydrolysis was variable, but in general, approximately half the condensed phosphates in the settled sewage was converted to orthophosphate during aerobic biological treatment.

Temperature effects on tubificid worms and their relation to sediment oxygen demand

Sediment samples were collected from the Dead River in New Jersey and tested in the laboratory under two temperature conditions, 4°C and 20°C. The study was conducted to determine the effect of worm density on the sediment oxygen demand (SOD) rate and if temperature affects the ability for tubificid worms to deplete dissolved oxygen (DO) from the overlying stream water. The study showed that the DO concentration was affected by tubificid worm density and that higher temperature increased the metabolic activity of the worms.

A comparison of the methods used to calculate first order BOD equation constants

Abstract A comparison of seven published methods for calculating first order BOD equation constants for river water samples showed that six of the methods gave k values that varied up to 57% from those obtained using the reference Reed—Theriault procedure. Variations of Lo values from those of the reference method were as high as 51%. In addition certain methods tended to give higher k and/or Lo values and others to give low k and/or Lo values. The cause of these deviations was not due to deficiencies in the calculation methods but probably due to poor adherence to first order kinetics.

Assessing unrecorded organic pollution from agricultural, urban, and wooded lands

Abstract An investigation was conducted of the organic pollution for seven small New Jersey watersheds representing agricultural, urban, and wooded lands. The 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) was used as a main index of organic pollution. Data obtained for a 2·5 yr period indicate background BOD concentrations averaging from 0·5 to 2·0 mg l −1 in all streams, except that a value of 9·0 mg l −1 was obtained for a residential-commercial-industrial area. During or after rainstorms, the BOD loadings, in pounds per day per unit area, averagely became more than ten times as the background amount for all streams. No significant correlation was found between BOD concentration and flow rate, but good correlations were obtained between BOD loadings and flows. The seasonal pattern of BOD loading distribution was examined. Also the frequency distribution of BOD concentrations and loadings were obtained.

Surfactant adsorption on several homoionic forms of kaolin

Abstract Adsorption from aqueous solution of three relatively non-biodegradable surfactants, ABS, Triton X-100, and Hyamine 1622 by several homoionic forms of kaolin was studied. Rates and isotherms of adsorption were determined at 20°C. Equilibrium adsorption was observed in all clay-surfactant systems after 7 hr at high rate of stirring. The adsorption process was found to follow the Langmuir equation. Values for the constants of this equation were evaluated and indicated maximum adsorption in the cationic surfactant systems. Desorption data indicated that more stable clay-organo-complexes were formed with the cationic surfactant.

Influence of land utilization on hydrocarbon runoff pollution

Abstract An analysis of sediments from two central New Jersey streams indicated that land use plays an important role in determining the quantities of hydrocarbons present. A stream draining an area that was approximately twenty percent industrial/commercial contained four times the hydrocarbon concentrations of a stream draining an area with no industrial/commercial land use, even though the latter area contained over twice the open land than did the former.