Flotation of coal and sulphur from South African ultrafine colliery wastes

Flotation of coal and sulphur from a typical South African ultrafine colliery waste has been achieved in laboratory-scale batch flotation tests, using dodecane, kerosene, and oleic acid as coal collectors, and xanthates to float the sulphide minerals (with the aid of dextrin as a coal depressant). The use of oleic acid as collector, in conjunction with MIBC frother, produced a coal yield of 56 per cent (much more than was obtained with dodecane or kerosene) at an ash content of 18 per cent, from a feed ash of 34.4 per cent; and a low- sulphur tailings. Sulphide flotation using potassium xanthate (PAX) recovered 26.3 per cent of the total sulphur in the concentrate. Staged addition of xanthate increased the total sulphur recovery to 42.1 per cent and reduced the sulphur content of the tailing further

A plant wide aqueous phase chemistry model describing pH variations and ion speciation/pairing in wastewater treatment process models

There is a growing interest within the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) modelling community to correctly describe physico–chemical processes after many years of mainly focusing on biokinetics. Indeed, future modelling needs, such as a plant-wide phosphorus (P) description, require a major, but unavoidable, additional degree of complexity when representing cationic/anionic behaviour in Activated Sludge (AS)/Anaerobic Digestion (AD) systems. In this paper, a plant-wide aqueous phase chemistry module describing pH variations plus ion speciation/pairing is presented and interfaced with industry standard models. The module accounts for extensive consideration of non-ideality, including ion activities instead of molar concentrations and complex ion pairing. The general equilibria are formulated as a set of Differential Algebraic Equations (DAEs) instead of Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs) in order to reduce the overall stiffness of the system, thereby enhancing simulation speed. Additionally, a multi-dimensional version of the Newton–Raphson algorithm is applied to handle the existing multiple algebraic inter-dependencies. The latter is reinforced with the Simulated Annealing method to increase the robustness of the solver making the system not so dependant of the initial conditions. Simulation results show pH predictions when describing Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) by the activated sludge models (ASM) 1, 2d and 3 comparing the performance of a nitrogen removal (WWTP1) and a combined nitrogen and phosphorus removal (WWTP2) treatment plant configuration under different anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic conditions. The same framework is implemented in the Benchmark Simulation Model No. 2 (BSM2) version of the Anaerobic Digestion Model No. 1 (ADM1) (WWTP3) as well, predicting pH values at different cationic/anionic loads. In this way, the general applicability/flexibility of the proposed approach is demonstrated, by implementing the aqueous phase chemistry module in some of the most frequently used WWTP process simulation models. Finally, it is shown how traditional wastewater modelling studies can be complemented with a rigorous description of aqueous phase and ion chemistry (pH, speciation, complexation)

Plant-wide modelling of phosphorus transformations in wastewater treatment systems : impacts of control and operational strategies

The objective of this paper is to report the effects that control/operational strategies may have on plant-wide phosphorus (P) transformations in wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). The development of a new set of biological (activated sludge, anaerobic digestion), physico-chemical (aqueous phase, precipitation, mass transfer) process models and model interfaces (between water and sludge line) were required to describe the required tri-phasic (gas, liquid, solid) compound transformations and the close interlinks between the P and the sulfur (S) and iron (Fe) cycles. A modified version of the Benchmark Simulation Model No. 2 (BSM2) (open loop) is used as test platform upon which three different operational alternatives (A1, A2, A3) are evaluated. Rigorous sensor and actuator models are also included in order to reproduce realistic control actions. Model-based analysis shows that the combination of an ammonium (SNHX ) and total suspended solids (XTSS) control strategy (A1) better adapts the system to influent dynamics, improves phosphate (SPO4 ) accumulation by phosphorus accumulating organisms (XPAO) (41%), increases nitrification/denitrification efficiency (18%) and reduces aeration energy (Eaeration) (21%). The addition of iron XFeCl3 ) for chemical P removal (A2) promotes the formation of ferric oxides (XHFO−H, XHFO−L), phosphate adsorption (XHFO−H,P, XHFO−L,P), co-precipitation (XHFO−H,P,old, XHFO−L,P,old) and consequently reduces the P levels in the effluent (from 2.8 to 0.9 g P.m−3). This also has an impact on the sludge line, with hydrogen sulfide production (GH2S) reduced (36%) due to iron sulfide (XFeS) precipitation. As a consequence, there is also a slightly higher energy production (Eproduction) from biogas. Lastly, the inclusion of a stripping and crystallization unit (A3) for P recovery reduces the quantity of P in the anaerobic digester supernatant returning to the water line and allows potential struvite (XMgNH4PO4 ) recovery ranging from 69 to 227 kg.day−1 depending on: (1) airflow (Qstripping); and, (2) magnesium (QMg(OH)2 ) addition. All the proposed alternatives are evaluated from an environmental and economical point of view using appropriate performance indices. Finally, some deficiencies and opportunities of the proposed approach when performing (plant-wide) wastewater treatment modelling/engineering projects are discussed

Постелю я постель белу

Постелю я постель белу. / Спи, подушечка моя. / А я пойду разузнаю, / С кем гулял милый вчера. / А я пойду разузнаю, / С кем гулял милый вчера