Dielectric monitoring of biomass hydrolysis processes

Development of biomass utilization technologies is one of the main area of researches in nowadays. Many biomass utilization process use enzymatic hydrolysis step. Monitoring of the efficiency of hydrolysis plays crucial role in the determination of optimum process time and contributes to achieve lower energy demand and better economy of technologies. Therefore, development of fast, but reliable and non-destructive measurement methods has high relevance not just for the science, but also for the practice. Dielectric measurements have great potential for these purposes, but there are very few experiences related their applicability for detection of conversion efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation processes. Therefore, our research has focused on the investigation of the applicability of dielectric measurements at the frequency range of 200-2400 MHz for the detection of the efficiency of sludge treatment processes, and monitoring the enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass. Our results have shown that the cellulose degradation during the enzymatic hydrolysis of corn cob residue, and, as well as, the increment of organic matter solubility after different sludge disintegration methods can be monitored by the measurement of dielectric constant at the frequency range of 200-1000 MHz. The correlation between the indicators of biomass hydrolysis processes and dielectric parameters enables to develop on-line and real-time monitoring methods

Application of microwave-assisted fenton-reaction for enhanced organic matter removal in wastewater treatment

In our experimental work we focused on the applicability of a novel alternative in wastewater management, i.e. the application of microwave-irradiation assisted Fenton-like process. We wanted to investigate whether the combination of microwave treatment with Fenton’s reaction can enhance the organic matter removal in meat industry originated wastewater compared to the standalone oxidative reaction, and if so, to what extent. In our study we also wanted to explore the possibility of using dielectric measurements to determine the change in organic matter content, i.e. to see if there is a connection between the change in COD (chemical oxygen demand) and the dielectric loss tangent (tanδ)

Dielectric monitoring of biomass hydrolysis processes

Development of biomass utilization technologies is one of the main area of researches in nowadays. Many biomass utilization process use enzymatic hydrolysis step. Monitoring of the efficiency of hydrolysis plays crucial role in the determination of optimum process time and contributes to achieve lower energy demand and better economy of technologies. Therefore, development of fast, but reliable and non-destructive measurement methods has high relevance not just for the science, but also for the practice. Dielectric measurements have great potential for these purposes, but there are very few experiences related their applicability for detection of conversion efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation processes. Therefore, our research has focused on the investigation of the applicability of dielectric measurements at the frequency range of 200-2400 MHz for the detection of the efficiency of sludge treatment processes, and monitoring the enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass. Our results have shown that the cellulose degradation during the enzymatic hydrolysis of corn cob residue, and, as well as, the increment of organic matter solubility after different sludge disintegration methods can be monitored by the measurement of dielectric constant at the frequency range of 200-1000 MHz. The correlation between the indicators of biomass hydrolysis processes and dielectric parameters enables to develop on-line and real-time monitoring methods

Detection of changes in soluble organic matter content in municipal thickened sludge by dielectric measurements

The dielectric measurement is a rapid and non-destructive method to investigate the physichochemical change in the examined materials. Many researches observed the dielectric properties of pure water, different materials from the food industry, but there is less information about the dielectric charachteristic of wastewater and sludge. Our study aims to detect correlation between dielectic constant and SCOD/TCOD parameter, to verify if different microwave irradition treatments can enchance the solubilization of organic matter in municipal sludge. With the detemination of soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) we detect the effects of different microwave irradition treatments on the sludge‘s organic matter solubility. Our results show dielectric measurement is a suitable method to detect the changes in the soluble organic matter content, since there is a strong linear correlation between the dielectric constant (ε‘) and the SCOD/TCOD parameter, which indicates the the solubility of the organic matter

Detection of efficiency of microwave-enhanced sludge treatments by dielectric measurements

Microwave irradiation is a promising pre-treatment method for sludge stabilisation, but there are few studies focusing its effect on organic matter solubility and biodegradability of wastewater and sludge originated from the food industry. In our research, microwave irradiation was applied standalone and in combination with alkaline treatment to enhance the solubilisation and biodegradation of organic matter content of meat industry wastewater and municipal sludge, respectively. The energy efficiency was investigated, as well. Dielectric measurement is a suitable method to detect physicochemical changes; therefore our research work covered the determination of dielectric properties of the investigated materials. Our experimental results have revealed that the lower power and energy intensity microwavealkaline treatments were the most efficient pre-treatment process from energetically aspects to increase the organic matter solubility and biodegradability of wastewater and sludge. Furthermore, a strong linear correlation was found between the dielectric constant and the indicators of the solubility of organic matter (SCOD/TCOD) and aerobic biodegradability (BOD/COD) in both treated materials, respectively. Our results show that the dielectric measurements can be applied for detection of physicochemical changes, predict the improvement of biodegradability, and considered as a promising method to estimate the efficiency of sludge pre-treatment methods

Possibilities for detection of the change of biodegradability of wastewater by dielectric constant measurements

Nowadays, the development of rapid and non-destructive measurement methods have high importance. The dielectric measurement is a promising technique to detect the chemical and physicho-chemical change of different materials. The dielectric behavior of pure water is widely investigated for decades, but there is very few information available related to the dielectric parameters of wastewater. Our study aims to investigate the applicability of dielectric measurements for the detection of the change of biodegradability of wastewater. In the experiments the change of organic matter solubility and biodegradability of sugar beet processing wastewater, meat processing wastewater, dairy industry wastewater and municipal wastewater was examined. Our results show that dielectric constant - measured at the frequency of 2400 MHz - has a strong linear correlation with the soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD), which makes possible the fast detection of disintegration efficiency of different wastewater and sludge treatment processes, or the organic matter removal efficiency of wastewater purification technologies. Furthermore, our results verified that the change of aerobic biodegradability (expressed in BOD5/SCOD ratio) show also good linear correlation with the dielectric constant. These preliminary results enable to develop a dielectric behavior based detection method for the estimation of the efficiency of wastewater treatment processes

Biodegradation of the fuel oxgenate methyl tert-butyl ether in a fluidized bed bioreactor

Industrialization, increasing motorization and rapid urbanization have led to extensive soil and groundwater contamination. The main pollutants are fuel hydrocarbons and various gasoline additives. Microbial bioremediation is a cost-effective and sustainable way to promote the remediation of affected sites. Our experiments focused on testing key parameters of a universal and promising biological treatment technology, using a lab-scale fluidized bed bioreactor and a previously isolated bacterial consortium. The aim of our work was to test our setup and provide data for the technological design and optimization of field-scale bioreactors

Possibilities for detection of the change of biodegradability of wastewater by dielectric constant measurements

Nowadays, the development of rapid and non-destructive measurement methods have high importance. The dielectric measurement is a promising technique to detect the chemical and physicho-chemical change of different materials. The dielectric behavior of pure water is widely investigated for decades, but there is very few information available related to the dielectric parameters of wastewater. Our study aims to investigate the applicability of dielectric measurements for the detection of the change of biodegradability of wastewater. In the experiments the change of organic matter solubility and biodegradability of sugar beet processing wastewater, meat processing wastewater, dairy industry wastewater and municipal wastewater was examined. Our results show that dielectric constant - measured at the frequency of 2400 MHz - has a strong linear correlation with the soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD), which makes possible the fast detection of disintegration efficiency of different wastewater and sludge treatment processes, or the organic matter removal efficiency of wastewater purification technologies. Furthermore, our results verified that the change of aerobic biodegradability (expressed in BOD5/SCOD ratio) show also good linear correlation with the dielectric constant. These preliminary results enable to develop a dielectric behavior based detection method for the estimation of the efficiency of wastewater treatment processes