Colloidal Chemistry in Water Treatment: The Effect of Ca on the Interaction between Humic Acid and Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC).

The complexation of humic acid (HA), as a major component of natural organic matter (NOM) in raw water, with polycations is a key step in the water treatment process. At sufficiently high addition of a polycation, it leads to neutralization of the formed complexes and precipitation. In this work, we studied the effect of the presence of Ca ions on this process, with poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) as a polycation.

Forecasting and Optimizing Dual Media Filter Performance via Machine Learning.

Four different machine learning algorithms, including Decision Tree (DT), Random Forest (RF), Multivariable Linear Regression (MLR), Support Vector Regressions (SVR), and Gaussian Process Regressions (GPR), were applied to predict the performance of a multi-media filter operating as a function of raw water quality and plant operating variables. The models were trained using data collected over a seven year period covering water quality and operating variables, including true colour, turbidity, plant flow, and chemical dose for chlorine, KMnO, FeCl, and Cationic Polymer (PolyDADMAC). The machine learning algorithms have shown that the best prediction is at a 1-day time lag between input variables and unit filter run volume (UFRV).

Characterizing concrete corrosion below sewer tidal levels at chemically dosed locations.

Unexplainable concrete softening below the water line has been observed by Sydney Water in their gravity sewer network, some of which is subjected to corrosion control methods using chemical ferrous chloride (FeCl) dosing of the wastewater. We applied a combination of physical and chemical tools to determine the properties of the top 20 mm of concrete cores recovered from sewer pipes. These techniques consist of neutron tomographic imaging, scanning electron microscopy, hardness mapping, and pH profiling.

Effective Separation of CO Using Metal-Incorporated rGO Membranes.

Graphene-based materials, primarily graphene oxide (GO), have shown excellent separation and purification characteristics. Precise molecular sieving is potentially possible using graphene oxide-based membranes, if the porosity can be matched with the kinetic diameters of the gas molecules, which is possible via the tuning of graphene oxide interlayer spacing to take advantage of gas species interactions with graphene oxide channels. Here, highly effective separation of gases from their mixtures by using uniquely tailored porosity in mildly reduced graphene oxide (rGO) based membranes is reported.

Application of a novel molecular technique to characterise the effect of settling on microbial community composition of activated sludge.

Activated sludge (AS) and return activated sludge (RAS) microbial communities from three full-scale municipal wastewater treatment plants (denoted plant A, B and C) were compared to assess the impact of sludge settling (i.e. gravity thickening in the clarifier) and profile microorganisms responsible for nutrient removal and reactor foaming.

Impacts of mixing on foaming, methane production, stratification and microbial community in full-scale anaerobic co-digestion process.

This study investigated the impact of mixing on key factors including foaming, substrate stratification, methane production and microbial community in three full scale anaerobic digesters. Digester foaming was observed at one plant that co-digested sewage sludge and food waste, and was operated without mixing. The lack of mixing led to uneven distribution of total chemical oxygen demand (tCOD) and volatile solid (VS) as well as methane production within the digester.

Anaerobic digestion of soft drink beverage waste and sewage sludge.

Soft drink beverage waste (BW) was evaluated as a potential substrate for anaerobic co-digestion with sewage sludge to increase biogas production. Results from this study show that the increase in biogas production is proportional to the increase in organic loading rate (OLR) rate due to BW addition. The OLR increase of 86 and 171% corresponding to 10 and 20% BW by volume in the feed resulted in 89 and 191% increase in biogas production, respectively.

Mechanism of water transport in graphene oxide laminates.

It is understood that nano-channels of graphene oxide membranes have a water flow mechanism which is similar to the water flow inside carbon nanotube pores. The water transport mechanisms recently proposed by various researchers suggest that membranes composed of graphene oxide laminates could be regarded as an assembly of many tiny carbon nanotubes stacked together with attached functional groups as spacers.

Effects of shearing on biogas production and microbial community structure during anaerobic digestion with recuperative thickening.

Recuperative thickening can intensify anaerobic digestion to produce more biogas and potentially reduce biosolids odour. This study elucidates the effects of sludge shearing during the thickening process on the microbial community structure and its effect on biogas production. Medium shearing resulted in approximately 15% increase in biogas production.

Effects of sludge retention time on oxic-settling-anoxic process performance: Biosolids reduction and dewatering properties.

In this study, the effect of sludge retention time (SRT) on oxic-settling-anoxic (OSA) process was determined using a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) attached to external aerobic/anoxic reactors. The SRT of the external reactors was varied from 10 to 40d. Increasing SRT from 10 to 20d enhanced volatile solids destruction in the external anoxic reactor as evidenced by the release of nutrients, however, increasing the SRT to 40d did not enhance volatile solids destruction further.

Biosolids reduction by the oxic-settling-anoxic process: Impact of sludge interchange rate.

The impact of sludge interchange rate (SIR) on sludge reduction by oxic-settling-anoxic (OSA) process was investigated. The sludge yield of an OSA system (a sequencing batch reactor, SBR, integrated with external anoxic reactors) was compared to that of a control (an SBR attached to a single-pass aerobic digester). SIR (%) is the percentage by volume of sludge returned from the external reactor into the main bioreactor of the OSA, and was varied from 0% to 22%.

Surface neutralization and H(2)S oxidation at early stages of sewer corrosion: influence of temperature, relative humidity and H(2)S concentration.

While the involvement of a range of environmental factors in sewer corrosion is known, a comprehensive understanding of the processes involved and the exact role of individual environmental factors in sewer corrosion is still lacking. The corrosion of concrete in sewer systems is reported to be initiated through chemical reactions (involving H(2)S and CO(2)) that lower the surface pH to a level then conducive for biological activity. However, the specific influence of environmental variables, such as H(2)S level, temperature, and relative humidity etc.

Fate of cyanobacteria and their metabolites during water treatment sludge management processes.

Cyanobacteria and their metabolites are an issue for water authorities; however, little is known as to the fate of coagulated cyanobacterial-laden sludge during waste management processes in water treatment plants (WTPs). This paper provides information on the cell integrity of Anabaena circinalis and Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii during: laboratory-scale coagulation/sedimentation processes; direct filtration and backwashing procedures; and cyanobacterial-laden sludge management practices. In addition, the metabolites produced by A.

Fate of toxic cyanobacterial cells and disinfection by-products formation after chlorination.

Drinking water sources in many regions are subject to proliferation of toxic cyanobacteria (CB). Chlorination of source water containing toxic cyanobacterial cells for diverse treatment purposes might cause cell damage, toxin release and disinfection by-products (DBP) formation. There is limited information available on chlorination of different toxic CB cells and DBP formation potentials.

Application of powdered activated carbon for the adsorption of cylindrospermopsin and microcystin toxins from drinking water supplies.

Cylindrospermopsin (CYN) and microcystin are two potent toxins that can be produced by cyanobacteria in drinking water supplies. This study investigated the application of powdered activated carbon (PAC) for the removal of these toxins under conditions that could be experienced in a water treatment plant. Two different PACs were evaluated for their ability to remove CYN and four microcystin variants from various drinking water supplies.