Tech 110: Pretreatment Technologies

Between the tank and the soil

Outline

Introductions Overview of pretreatment

Media Filters

Definitions General description of processes

Processes Types Siting O&M

Aerobic Treatment Units (ATUs)

Field visits

Processes Types Siting O&M

Overview of Pretreatment
Adapted from The University Curriculum for Decentralized Wastewater Management Prepared by: John R. Buchanan, Univ. of TN; Robert W. Seabloom, Univ. of WA; Dave Lenning, Alternatives Northwest Edited by: David Lindbo and Nancy Deal, NCSU

NDWRCDP Disclaimer
This work was supported by the National Decentralized Water Resources Capacity Development Project (NDWRCDP) with funding provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through a Cooperative Agreement (EPA No. CR827881-01-0) with Washington University in St. Louis. These materials have not been reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These materials have been reviewed by representatives of the NDWRCDP. The contents of these materials do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the NDWRCDP, Washington University, or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute their endorsement or recommendation for use.

CIDWT/University Disclaimer

These materials are the collective effort of individuals from academic, regulatory, and private sectors of the onsite/decentralized wastewater industry. These materials have been peer-reviewed and represent the current state of knowledge/science in this field. They were developed through a series of writing and review meetings with the goal of formulating a consensus on the materials presented. These materials do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of University of Arkansas, and/or the Consortium of Institutes for Decentralized Wastewater Treatment (CIDWT). The mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation for use from these individuals or entities, nor does it constitute criticism for similar ones not mentioned.

CIDWT/University Disclaimer
These materials are the collective effort of individuals from academic, regulatory, and private sectors of the onsite/decentralized wastewater industry. These materials have been peer-reviewed and represent the current state of knowledge/science in this field. They were developed through a series of writing and review meetings with the goal of formulating a consensus on the materials presented. These materials do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of North Carolina State University, and/or the Consortium of Institutes for Decentralized Wastewater Treatment (CIDWT). The mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation for use from these individuals or entities, nor does it constitute criticism for similar ones not mentioned.

Why Pretreat?
Pretreat wastewater so downstream component(s) can function more reliably for longer terms

Pretreatment Options
Traditionally, have been categorized as:

Primary solids removal Secondary organics and BOD removal Tertiary generally, nutrient removal Aerobic Anaerobic Facultative

Microbes typically used to assist

Aerobic and anaerobic processes are

compatible

So where does pretreatment begin?

In general, the septic tank

Septic Tank

Functions

Separate solids from liquid Anaerobic decomposition Attenuate surges Ventilation

Septic Tank
Primary treatment

Most common unit for OWTS Used alone or with other pretreatment units Simple and generally inexpensive ($100s) 30-50% reduction BOD5, 60-80% reduction TSS

Additional Pretreatment
Grease interceptor

Function remove grease and oils Used where greases/oils expected (usually commercial sites like restaurants) Should not contain blackwater

Grease Interceptor
Grease trap

Uses flotation, usually no mechanical parts Typically want to cool wastewater before it reaches the tank

Grease Interceptor
Grease separator

Typically, proprietary products High maintenance products Historically, not good performance

Advanced Pretreatment
Secondary organics and BOD removal Tertiary generally, nutrient removal Microbes typically used to assist

Aerobic Anaerobic Facultative

Aerobic Treatment Process

Objectives

review of how aerobic microorganisms can biochemically oxidize soluble and colloidal organic compounds, and how nitrogenous compounds are oxidizes into nitrate. review the processes that create an oxygen demand and how aeration can be used to meet the oxygen demand

Primary Goal
Use aerobic microorganisms to provide

secondary treatment to domestic wastewater

secondary treatment focuses on the removal of biodegradable organics and suspended solids usually accomplished with biological reactors

Biodegradable organics must be removed

from wastewater stream to minimize the impact on the subsequent processes

Respiration
CO2 H2O O2

Aerobic reactions
If enough dissolved O2

is in the effluent then the effluent is Aerobic 4e- + O2 + 4H+ 2H2O is removed effluent becomes anoxic/anaerobic

If all O2

Denitrification
CO2 N2 gas NO3

Overall, the Result.

If Dissolved Oxygen is Consumed Faster than Aeration, then Anaerobic Conditions Occur

anaerobic microbes will continue the degradation process

but at a much slower rate than aerobic microbes aquatic species that depend on dissolved oxygen will either move or perish

aquatic species that cannot survive under anaerobic conditions add to the excess organic matter in the system

Thus,
BOD can be used as a measure of

wastewater strength

a high BOD suggests that the organic compounds are easily biodegradable indicates the mass of dissolved oxygen that could be removed by aerobic microbes

Secondary-treatment devices reduce the

oxygen demand of a wastewater

Providing Dissolved Oxygen (DO)

Advanced treatment systems are designed

to provide lots of DO

high-rate carbon removal and ammonification occupies a small-footprint requires energy to maximize oxygen transfer biological reactor

Its all about the microbes (bugs)

Microorganisms are used

to convert colloidal and dissolved carbonaceous organic matter into various gases and into cell tissue
gases evolve (CO2, N2, and others) new cells can settle thus carbon is removed

break other nutrients out of organic compounds

nitrogenous compounds phosphorus species

Microbes
Good or Bad? (or just Ugly)

Optimizing a natural process

Bioreactors are built to maximize the

production of beneficial end-products

alcohols (beer) insulin other medications convert wastewater into secondary-quality effluent

And

Shallow system = Aerobic treatment

Well

Aerobic soil needed for treatment

Groundwater

Deep system = Less aerobic to anaerobic system

Well

Groundwater

Low O2 results in less aerobic soil therefore treatment

Wastewater Treatment
Examples of Aerobic Bioreactors used for

Secondary Treatment

activated sludge plants rotating biological contactors packed-bed media filters

Highly-engineered systems that utilize

microbial metabolism to convert organic compounds into cells and carbon dioxide

Microbial Metabolism
Chemical Activities Performed by Cells

Catabolism
biochemical process that degrades substrate (food) down to end-products with the release of energy energy is held in chemical form for future use

Anabolism
biochemical process that synthesizes new cells. energy from catabolism is used to drive the process

Catabolism
Fermentation

first step in biodegradation

does not depend on presence of oxygen

both aerobic and anaerobic microbes use this step

this is why methane and alcohol production must be anaerobic however, anaerobic microbes cannot further oxidize the VFA

volatile COHNS heterotrophic fatty + CO2 + H2 O + CH4 + energy + residuals microbes organic compounds acids

Catabolism
Respiration

second step for aerobic microbes

simple organic compounds can be oxidized to carbon dioxide and water

requires the presence of dissolved oxygen

volatile aerobic fatty + O energy + CO + H O + residuals 2 2 2 microbes acids

Anabolism
Building of cell protoplasm

energy from fermentation and/or respiration is used to assemble the characteristic chemical components of cells from simple precursors
precursors provide carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and other elements found in cellular structure chemical energy in adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
simple precursors microbes energy C 60H 87N 12O 23P new cells

Endogenous respiration
Aerobic Degradation of Cellular Material

microbes are organic compounds under substrate-limiting conditions, microbes will feed on each other at a higher rate than new microbes can be formed

C60H87 N12 O23 P aerobic + O2 CO2 + H2 O + PO4 + NH + res iduals 3 microbes cellular material

Environmental Effects
Microbes need more than organic carbon,

dissolved oxygen and water

temperature must be life-sustaining need steady supply of food to maintain stable microbial population pH needs to be monitored
low alkalinity can cause large changes in pH

Be careful with biocides

acid drain cleaner antibiotics

Temperature
Overall, as temperature rises, microbial

activity increases (but not too hot) Microbes can be grouped by temperature preference

Psychrophilic microorganisms
optimum temperature 12 to 18 C

Mesophilic microorganisms
optimum temperature 25 to 40 C

Thermophilic microorganisms
optimum temperature 55 to 65 C

Summary
Aerobic Treatment of Wastewater

takes advantage of a natural process process can be easily engineered into a biological reactor for high-rate wastewater treatment removes the oxygen demand from wastewater before being discharged back into the hydrologic cycle

Carbon is transformed into cell mass and

into carbon dioxide

Questions?

N Cycle in Septic Systems

Mi ne r ali za t ion

Immobilization

Nitrification and Sorption Denitrification ?