Tarek N. Aziz

Determining the limits of anaerobic co-digestion of thickened waste activated sludge with grease interceptor waste.

Anaerobic co-digestion of thickened waste activated sludge (TWAS) with grease interceptor waste (GIW) from a food service establishment was conducted in lab scale semi-continuous digesters. GIW included the entire contents of the grease interceptor (GI) including fat, oil, and grease (FOG), food residuals, and associated wastewater. GIW was added in step increases to identify the maximum methane production and the corresponding threshold input of GIW that led to inhibition of methanogenesis. The experiment was performed at mesophilic conditions (37 °C) with a solids retention time (SRT) of 20 days. The highest GIW addition rate achieved without digester failure was 20% (v/v), or 65.5% (w/w) of volatile solids (VS) added, enhancing the methane yield from 0.180 to 0.752 m3(CH4)/kg(VS added), biogas production from 2.2 × 10(-3) to 1.4 × 10(-2) m(3)/d, and methane content from 60.2% to 70.1%. The methane yield of 0.752 m3(CH4)/kg(VS added) is the highest value reported to date for co-digestion of GIW. Stepwise increases in co-substrate addition led to better microbial acclimation and reduced the GIW inhibitory effect. The limit for GIW addition leading to an inhibited digestion process was identified to be between 20 and 40% (v/v) or 65.5 and 83.5% (w/w) of VS added. The results show the significant benefits of anaerobic co-digestion of GIW and the positive impacts of gradual addition of GIW.

NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF TURBULENT JETS

Abstract In this study, plane and circular turbulent non-buoyant jets are simulated numerically using a three-dimensional computational model. The aim of the study is to evaluate the accuracy of turbulent closure schemes employed in three-dimensional models. In particular, standard k–ε and renormalized group k–ε schemes with standard coefficients are evaluated. The modeled jets are deeply submerged, that is the impact of free surface and solid boundaries on jets are eliminated. The accuracy of the turbulent schemes is assessed by analyzing the decay of centerline velocity, jet growth rates, similarity of longitudinal and vertical velocity profiles, and turbulent kinetic energy profiles. The results from the two turbulent closure schemes are compared with accepted experimental and theoretical studies to determine their accuracy. It is found that the k—ε scheme with standard coefficient performs equally well and in some cases better than the renormalized group k—ε scheme. Finally, the model is applied to analyze flow pattern in the Sampit River, South Caroline, USA, resulting from stormwater discharge in a recreational area. Various inlet designs are investigated and box inlet is found to provide a practical means of localizing high surface currents.

Performance of Grease Abatement Devices for Removal of Fat, Oil, and Grease

This study assessed the performance of a conventional grease abatement device and the impact of internal geometry modifications on fat, oil, and grease (FOG) removal efficiency. Analysis was performed using experimental results and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) on alternative inlet, outlet, and baffle wall designs. Numerical and experimental results indicated that the conventional two-compartment design leads to substantial FOG short circuiting when operated at a 20-min hydraulic retention time (HRT). Alterations to the inlet configuration and baffle wall arrangement yielded FOG removal enhancements with the 20-min HRT that approached removal performance levels obtained with the standard configurations at the 1-h HRT. CFD simulations effectively reproduced performance trends observed on the lab-scale with the exception of simulations using a distributive inlet tee, where CFD over predicted the removal performance.

Determination of Biosolids Phosphorus Solubility and Its Relationship to Wastewater Treatment.

In North Carolina (NC), biosolids land application rates governed by crop nitrogen (N) requirements typically surpass crop phosphorus (P) needs, increasing surface water pollution potential. The NC Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) is considering P-based biosolids application guidelines for some nutrient-impaired watersheds using the P Loss Assessment Tool (PLAT), but important biosolids information is lacking: total P (TP), water-extractable P (WEP), and percent water-extractable P (PWEP). In each of three seasons, we sampled 28 biosolids from 26 participating water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs) and analyzed for TP, WEP, and percent dry matter (DM), from which PWEP and nonsoluble P were calculated. Based on descriptive statistics and an online survey of treatment processes, biosolids were divided into Class A-alkaline, Class A-heat, Class B-slurry, and Class B-cake. The average TP in Class A alkaline stabilized biosolids was more than five times less than the average of the other biosolids, 5.0 vs. 26.6 g/kg, respectively. Averaged over biosolids, WEP and PWEP were 1.4 g/kg and 5.0%, respectively. Stabilization processes appeared to reduce WEP substantially, so biosolids potential soluble-P loss is low. Our data will allow PLAT to be used for biosolids P-loss risk assessments.

Simulation of Vertical Plane Turbulent Jet in Shallow Water

A plane, turbulent, nonbuoyant, vertical jet in shallow water is simulated numerically using a three-dimensional computation model employing standard 𝑘-𝜀 and renormalized group 𝑘-𝜀 turbulent closure schemes. Existing data of mean and turbulent flow quantities, measured using laser Doppler velocimeter, are used to assess the two turbulent closure schemes. Comparisons between the measured and simulated flow field data are made in the free jet region, within the zone of surface impingement, and in the zone of horizontal jets at the surface. The results show that the standard 𝑘-𝜀 scheme performs equally well and in some areas better than the more complicated renormalized group 𝑘-𝜀 scheme in simulating the mean and turbulent flow quantities in this case.

Dissolved organic matter processing and photoreactivity in a wastewater treatment constructed wetland

Constructed wetlands have the capacity to degrade a host of contaminants of emerging concern through photodegradation via sunlight produced reactive oxygen species. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a critical intermediary in photodegradation as it influences the production of reactive oxygen species. In this study, the photochemical behavior of DOM of wastewater treated in constructed wetlands was characterized. Whole water samples and fractionated DOM were characterized using SUVA254, spectral slope ratios, excitation emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy (EEMs), and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR). Photoreactivity was assessed by measuring formation rates and steady state concentrations of hydroxyl radical (•OH), singlet oxygen (1O2), and the triplet excited states of DOM (3DOM⁎). The effluent was observed to transition from a microbially sourced protein-like DOM to a terrestrial DOM with higher aromaticity. Size exclusion chromatography revealed an 18% increase in larger molecular weight fractions of vegetated wetland effluent DOM. Additionally, wetland effluent DOM was observed to have a 32% increase in the aromatic region of 1H NMR spectra as compared to untreated wastewater. 1H NMR analysis also indicated an increase in the complexity of wetland effluent DOM. Fluorescence intensity fraction of the protein-like Peak T (Ex/Em:278/342 nm) of EEMs decreased by 16% from the untreated wastewater to wetland effluent. A negative correlation between the percent fluorescence of Peak T (Ex/Em:278/342 nm) and Peaks A (Ex/Em:245/460 nm), C (Ex/Em:336/435 nm), and M (Ex/Em:312/400 nm) of the excitation emission spectra confirmed the transition from a spectrum of pure wastewater to a spectrum characteristic of terrestrially derived DOM. Microbial uptake of bio-labile DOM and leaching of humic like substances from vegetated wetland cells were the predominant processes involved in this transition. This transition coincided with an increase in the formation rates of 1O2 and 3DOM⁎ and in the steady state concentration of 1O2.