Treatment of coke-oven wastewater with the powdered activated carbon-contact stabilization activated sludge process. Final report

The objective of the study was to determine optimum parameters for the operation of an innovative process train used in the treatment of coke-over wastewater. The treatment process train consisted of a contact-stabilization activated sludge system with powdered activated carbon (PAC) addition, followed by activated sludge nitrification, followed by denitrification in an anoxic filter. The control and operating parameters evaluated during the study were: (a) the average mixed-liquor PAC concentration maintained in the contact-stabilization system, (b) the solids retention time practiced in the contact-stabilization system, and (c) the hydraulic detention time maintained in the contact aeration tank. Three identical treatement process trains were constructed and employed in this study. The coke-oven wastewater used for this investigation was fed to the treatment units at 30% strength. The first part of the study was devoted to determining the interactions between the mixed liquor PAC concentration and the solids retention time in the contact-stabilization tanks. Results showed that optimum overall system performance is attainable when the highest sludge age (30 day) and highest mixed liquor PAC concentration were practiced. During the second phase of the study, all three systems were operated at a 30 day solids retention time while different detention times of 1, 2/3 and 1/3 day were evaluated in the contact tank. PAC addition rates were maintained at the former levels and, consequently, reduced contact times entailed higher mixed liquor carbon concentrations. Once again, the system receiving the highest PAC addition rate of PAC exhibited the best overall performance. This system exhibited no deterioration in process performance as a result of decreased contact detention time. 72 references, 41 figures, 24 tables

Optimization modelling of anaerobic biofilm reactors

A rigorous steady state model of acetate-utilizing methanogenic biofilms is developed accounting for the mass transfer of neutral and ionic species, pH changes within the biofilm, pH-dependent Monod kinetics, chemical equilibrium, electroneutrality, gas production within the biofilm, and the presence of a concentration boundary layer (CBL). In contrast to traditional biofilm models where the pH is assumed to be constant within the biofilm, an increase in pH in acetate-utilizing methanogenic biofilms is predicted. Furthermore, significant differences can exist between the flux predictions using the traditional models and when pH changes within the biofilm are taken into account. The optimum pH for acetate-utilizing biofilms is less than the optimum defined for suspended-growth systems. The biofilm model is coupled to a model of a completely-stirred tank reactor (CSTR), and strategies for the optimization of biofilm reactor performance are examined. For a fixed set of operating conditions, an optimum influent pH can be defined that corresponds to the maximum removal efficiency and flux of acetate into the biofilm.</jats:p