Development of an air removal system for dissolved air flotation

Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) is often used as a separation step in drinking water treatment. An increasing use of high rate processes has become a trend in chemical treatment. When increasing the loading rate for a flotation process, an increasing head loss built up occurs in the following filter process due to dispersed air carry over. This paper describes the development of an air removal system by using a lamella plate separation system for the dispersed air. Pilot plant experiments showed that the surface load for the combination Lamella Dissolved Air Flotation, the LDAF-unit can be considerably increased in comparison with a conventional DAF-unit.     

Particle visualisation--a tool for determination of rise velocities.

Particles from a post denitrifying Kaldnes Moving Bed Process were studied using an optical borescope, a visualisation technique that provides opportunities for both qualitative and quantitative studies of the separation mechanism in Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF). Rise rates for particle/bubble aggregates were estimated showing great variability. Two groups of aggregates were distinguished; relatively small flocs (<100 microm) with single bubbles attached rising comparatively slowly and large flocs (>100 microm) with several bubbles attached rising very fast. The high rise rates for large aggregates are discussed, possibly explained and suggested as the reason for the effective separation of large particles noticed in previous studies. Removal efficiency of different size categories of particles in DAF were investigated on the basis of particle size analysis indicating increased separation efficiency with increasing particle size.     

Optimization of Fenton's reagent coupled to Dissolved Air Flotation to remove cyanobacterial odorous metabolites and suspended solids from raw surface water

Ferrous salts are commonly used as coagulants in Water Treatment Plants (WTPs). When these salts are combined with hydrogen peroxide in acidic conditions - besides coagulation - an additional Advanced Oxidation Process (Fenton's reagent) can take place. Using a response surface methodology, this paper presents the optimization of a novel treatment system constituted by Fenton's reagent (FE) and Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) for removing 2-Methylisoborneol (MIB), geosmin and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) from raw water. FE was proven able to remove completely both micro pollutants found in the influent of a drinking water treatment plant. Moreover, higher clarification rate was achieved by coupling FE-DAF with respect FE-Sedimentation.     

Application of the flotation process to thicken the sludge from a DAF plant.

Dissolved air flotation (DAF) was evaluated for thickening of the sludges from a water treatment plant which uses DAF. Solid flux theory for gravity thickening was applied to the solid flux of DAF sludge. The higher the polymer dosage, at fixed solid concentration, the greater the rising velocity becomes. When applied with solid flux equations, a similar relationship to that of gravity thickening has been found. However, the values were much higher than in gravity thickening, because both the inflow solid concentration and the floating velocity were higher than for settled sludge. With this result, the proper dosage of polymer could be derived from the relationship between total solid flux and withdrawal velocity of DAF sludge.     

Examining the effect of length/width ratio on the hydro-dynamic behaviour in a DAF system using CFD and ADV techniques.

Dissolved air flotation (DAF) is a solid-liquid separation system that uses fine bubbles rising from the bottom to remove particles in water. In this study, we investigated the effect of L/W(L; length, W; width) on the hydrodynamic behavior in a DAF system using CFD (computational fluid dynamics) and ADV (acoustic Doppler velocimetry) technique. The factual full-scale DAF system, L/W ratio of 1:1, was selected and various UW ratio conditions (2:1, 3:1,4:1 and 5:1) were simulated with CFD. For modelling, 2-phase (gas-liquid) flow equations for the conservation of mass, momentum and turbulence quantities were solved using a Eulerian-Eulerian approach based on the assumption that a very small particle is applied in the DAF system. Also, for verification of CFD simulation results, we measured the actual velocity at some points in the full-scale DAF system with the ADV technique. Both the simulation and the measurement results were in good accordance with each other. We concluded that the L/W ratio and outlet geometry play an important role for flow pattern and fine bubble distribution in the flotation zone. In the ratio of 1:1, the dead zone is less than those in other cases. On the other hand, in the ratio of 5:1, the fine bubbles were more evenly distributed.     

Effects of floc and bubble size on the efficiency of the dissolved air flotation (DAF) process.

Dissolved air flotation (DAF) is a method for removing particles from water using micro bubbles instead of settlement. The process has proved to be successful and, since the 1960s, accepted as an alternative to the conventional sedimentation process for water and wastewater treatment. However, limited research into the process, especially the fundamental characteristics of bubbles and particles, has been carried out. The single collector collision model is not capable of determining the effects of particular characteristics, such as the size and surface charge of bubbles and particles. Han has published a set of modeling results after calculating the collision efficiency between bubbles and particles by trajectory analysis. His major conclusion was that collision efficiency is maximum when the bubbles and particles are nearly the same size but have opposite charge. However, experimental verification of this conclusion has not been carried out yet. This paper describes a new method for measuring the size of particles and bubbles developed using computational image analysis. DAF efficiency is influenced by the effect of the recycle ratio on various average floc sizes. The larger the recycle ratio, the higher the DAF efficiency at the same pressure and particle size. The treatment efficiency is also affected by the saturation pressure, because the bubble size and bubble volume concentration are controlled by the pressure. The highest efficiency is obtained when the floc size is larger than the bubble size. These results, namely that the highest collision efficiency occurs when the particles and bubbles are about the same size, are more in accordance with the trajectory model than with the white water collector model, which implies that the larger the particles, the higher is the collision efficiency.     

Organic and detergent degradation in combined O3/UF for domestic laundry wastewater reclamation.

This paper focuses on the evaluation of organic and detergent degradation in a combined Ozone/UF system for domestic laundry wastewater reclamation. Formation of by-product was investigated by GC/MS for the reclaimed water. Ozone was injected into the raw wastewater in a 10 L contact tank and the wastewater was circulated through the membrane module for inner pressurized cross-flow filtration. The concentrate was returned back to the contact tank. The membrane used in this experiment was hollow fiber polysulfone UF membrane with MWCO 10,000. It has an effective filtration area of 0.06 m2. The experiment was carried out with intermittent ozone injection, 5 min injection and 10 min idling. Ozone was dosed at the concentration of 1.5 mg/L. The flux of the UF could be maintained at 0.24 m/d under filtration pressure 40-45 kPa and water temperature, 20-22 degrees C. The organic removal efficiency by the system was 90% in terms of COD. Ozone was considerably effective to degrade organics in the wastewater. Molecular weight of organics in the raw waste was mostly greater than 10,000 (72% of 950 mgCOD/L). However 86% of effluent COD (94-100 mg/L) was composed of organics smaller than MWCO 500 by ozone injection. No harmful by-products by ozone contact were detected from the analysis of treated water using GC/MS. It was identified that residual organics in the treated water were 1,1'-Oxybisbenzene, Octadecanoic acid, Squalene and Benzenmethanol, etc., which were additives contained originally in the detergent. Consequently the reclaimed water quality could be estimated safe enough to recycle for the rinsing cycle in a washing machine.     

Treatment of swine wastewater using MLE process and membrane bio-reactor.

The aim of this study was to develop the optimum integrated treatment system for slurry type swine wastewater through field testing. Although composting and liquid composting are the most desirable processes to treat swine wastewater, inadequate composting has been blamed as critical non-point source pollutants. In the area with limited crop land and grass land, the most feasible method to handle slurry type swine wastewater would be that the solids portion from the solids/liquid separation process is treated by composting and then the liquid portion is treated by a series of wastewater treatment processes, including physicochemical treatment system and biological nutrient removal systems such as the modified Ludzack Ettinger (MLE) process and MLE process coupled with a membrane, to satisfy the different effluent criteria. When using the appropriate solids/liquid separation system, the removal efficiency of SS, COD(Cr), and TKN was 92.4%, 73.6%, and 46.0%, respectively and the amount of bulking agent required for composting and organic loading rate for the following wastewater treatment system can be reduced by 94.8% and 84.7%, respectively. When treating the effluent from solids/liquid separation process by MLE process, the optimal volume fraction for denitrification was 20% of total reactor volume and the optimum ratio of F/M and F(N)/M were increased with increase of C/N ratio. Since the effluent quality of MLE process is not enough to discharge, the DAF process was operated with addition of FeCl3 and cationic polyelectrolyte. The effluent from the DAF process was treated in the MLE process coupled with a crossflow ultrafiltration membrane to satisfy more stringent effluent criteria. When external carbon source is added to keep 6.0 of C/N ratio, the efficiency of denitrification is best. The optimum linear velocity and transmembrane pressure for MBR process was 1.8 m/sec and 2.1 atm, respectively. By addition of external carbon source, nitrogen compounds, especially NOx-N, were considerably removed. And by addition of powdered activated carbon, the removal efficiency of COD(Cr) and COD(Mn) and the membrane flux were increased dramatically.     

Optimising dissolved air flotation/filtration treatment of algae-laden lagoon effluent using surface charge: a Bolivar treatment plant case study

Dissolved air flotation (DAF) incorporating filtration (DAFF) is used at the Bolivar wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) to polish lagoon effluent for reuse. Elevated algal populations are frequently experienced and can lead to increased coagulant requirements and process control issues. Streaming current detectors (SCDs) and a charge demand analyser (CDA) were used to monitor the full-scale plant. This was followed by an optimisation study using a pilot plant with a CDA. It was found that the normal operational charge demand range for DAF at Bolivar was between -46 and -40 μeq L(-1). Decreasing the pH of coagulation reduced coagulant consumption and facilitated more sensitive CDA responses to changes in alum dose.     

Ozone micro-bubble disinfection method for wastewater reuse system.

Reuse of wastewater is regarded as one important way to deal with the world's shortage of potable water. The authors focused on a disinfection system using micro-bubbles and evaluated its capability for wastewater reuse. This paper reports experimental results from examination of the basic characteristics of micro-bubbles and disinfection of secondary effluent by air or ozone micro-bubbles. The results suggest that when micro-bubbles are applied in an ozonation system it is possible to reduce the reactor size, the amount of ozone decomposition equipment needed and the ozone dose rate.     

Control of Cryptosporidium: From reservoirs to clarifiers to filters

Control of Cryptosporidium in potable waters requires an integrated multiple barrier approach of source water protection of water supply reservoirs and treatment technology through clarification, filtration, and disinfection. Pristine lakes and protected reservoirs have far lower concentrations of oocysts (mean values less than 10 oocysts/100 L) than unprotected supplies. Coagulation is critical to the effective control of Cryptosporidium by clarification and filtration. Coagulation conditions that produce filtered waters of low turbidities, particle counts, and effectively remove natural organic matter also produce high removals of Cryptosporidium. Dissolved air flotation (DAF) can achieve oocyst removals of 3 log compared to about 1 log by sedimentation. DAF and filtration provide two effective barriers to Cryptosporidium with cumulative log removals of 4 to 5 compared to log removals of 3 to 4 by sedimentation and filtration.     

Possible Climate Change Impacts on Ozone in the Great Lakes Region: Some Implications for Respiratory Illness

Many long-range climate and air quality projections suggest that concentrations of certain atmospheric pollutants at ground level will increase. Local levels of gases such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and ozone, as well as various kinds of aerosolized particulate matter are already increasing in some areas. Some of these may cause or exacerbate asthma, respiratory distress, and ultimately cardiopulmonary function. While links to respiratory diseases often involve additional factors, the mechanism for increased risk is well established. However, possible links between air pollution and respiratory disease have not been well studied in the Great Lakes region. Certain results suggest that air pollutants are but some of the many factors that are involved in the etiology of respiratory diseases. Furthermore, different studies have produced results that are inconsistent. Indeed, a simple link between air pollution and climate change has not been well studied at all for any part of the world.Ozone and meteorological data were examined for the period May through September 1986 to 1995 for southeastern lower Michigan. Each day was cataloged as one of nine different synoptic types defined in terms of sea-level pressure, surface vorticity, and windspeed. Ozone concentrations and exceedences (maximum 8-h average concentrations > 80 ppb) for each of the nine synoptic types were also determined. This synoptic ozone climatology revealed that southwesterly anticyclonic flow occurred 16% of the time and accounted for 40% of the ozone exceedences. A linear regression formula was also developed using 13 meteorological variables that are typically linked to high ozone levels in general. This formula reproduced ozone values that agreed well with observed ones [r = 0.76].The synoptic climatology procedure and the linear regression formula were then applied to output from the Canadian and Hadley models, two General Circulation Models used during the First U.S. National Assessment, to evaluate how conditions that are favorable for high ozone levels may change by the end of this century. Results from both models suggest that southwesterly flow cases, which correlate with high ozone levels at the present time, may become more frequent and lead to decreased air quality and a possible increase in the reported incidence of respiratory disease.     

利用溶气气浮工艺强化处理低浊高色富含有机物地表水

低浊高色富含有机物地表水难于混凝,试验采用“混凝-溶气气浮”(“混凝-DAF”)工艺处理此类水,并与常规“混凝-沉淀”工艺进行了比较。结果表明,“混凝-DAF”工艺在较低投药量时能取得更好的处理效果;对于“混凝-DAF”工艺,增大混凝剂投量后出水浊度基本不变,但出水色度及CODMn可进一步降低;“混凝-DAF”工艺去除水中有机物的能力优于“混凝-沉淀”工艺。最后,对“混凝-DAF”工艺去除水中有机污染物的机理进行了探讨。     

江汉平原农村饮用水净化工艺研究

针对江汉平原农村地表水污染情况和农村水生疾病的状况,设计了农村饮用水的净化方案与工艺,以满足农村居民的基本饮水需求。工艺设计兼顾了集成式装置对结构紧凑的要求和净化功能;预处理选用臭氧预氧化和混凝沉降进行,常规处理选用可靠的石英砂过滤,深度处理选用紫外线杀菌和膜分离。在水处理工艺的基础上,设计了一套集混合、絮凝、沉降于一体的旋流强化混凝设备。该水处理系统采用模块化组合,结构紧凑,安装、使用方便,为农村饮用水的净化提供了新的方法。     

The effects of dissolved organic matter on the decomposition of di-n-butyl phthalate by ozone/hydrogen peroxide process.

The effects of the dissolved organic matter (DOM) on the ozone decay and the di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) decomposition during ozone/hydrogen peroxide (O3/H2O2) process were investigated (DBP-d4 was used instead of DBP). Four surface waters, two secondary municipal sewage effluents (SMSEfs) and Suwannee river natural organic matter were used as DOM. The ozone decompositions in the DOM solutions were separated by instantaneous ozone consumption and slower ozone decay. The effect of H2O2 addition on the ozone decay was clearly observed at slower ozone decay. Ozone decomposition rate at slower ozone decay increased linearly with H2O2 dose. DBP-d4 was exponentially decreased with ozone consumption. Ozone consumption required to decompose 90% of DBP-d4 ((deltaO3)90%) in SMSEFs was higher than those in surface waters. The (deltaO3)90% per DOC of DOM values were from 22 to 23 micromole/mgC for SMSEFs and from 10 to 17 micromole/mgC for surface waters. The (deltaO3)90% values were correlated to specific ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm (SUVA254) for surface waters.     

Disinfection and oxidation of sewage effluent water using ozone and UV technologies.

This study was aimed at exploring the reclamation of sewage treatment plant effluent water (SEW) as an alternative water resource. For the oxidation of SEW, an ozone-UV system, based on the results of the combined ozone/UV process performed in our previous study, was set up under practical conditions, including a series type, continuous mode, semi-pilot scale operation (1.5 m3/d). As a result, the serial contact of the ozone and UV reactors showed lower CODCr and TOC removal efficiencies. However, these were greatly enhanced by recycling the water flow of the ozone-UV system at 40Q, as a result of the improvements in the transferred ozone dose in the ozone reactor and the contact efficiency between photons and ozone in the UV reactor, which approached that achieved in the combined ozone/UV process. For the disinfection of SEW, carried out in a syringe-type batch reactor, the increase of instantaneous ozone demand (ozone ID) led to a higher inactivation efficiency, an increased UV transmittance due to ozonation, and an enhanced inactivation rate of E. coli in the UV reactor. Additionally, it was concluded that the ozone/UV process could overcome the limitations of the ozone alone and UV alone processes for the reclamation of sewage effluent water.     

Use of Ozone in Wastewater Treatment to Produce Water Suitable for Irrigation

The use of ozone to disinfect sewage is becoming increasingly important, especially when a high degree of treatment is required. Ozone is a strong disinfectant with a high oxidation potential and is one of the most effective ways of inactivating pathogens. In order to observe and evaluate the effect of this disinfectant on the physical, chemical and microbiological characteristics of wastewaters, we analyzed the effluent input and output of an ozone disinfection plant located in Almeria, southeast Spain. The ozone input rate is adjusted according to the residual ozone content in the effluent output. The effluent is currently reused to irrigate vegetable crops. Another objective of this study has therefore been to verify the adequacy of this water treated process for preparing water for this purpose. Among the results obtained, it is important to highlight the fact that the ozone disinfection treatment was sufficient to inactivate faecal coliforms. We achieved reductions in these pathogens of around 89%. This treatment was respectful towards elements that give the reuse of effluent an added value in irrigation (N, P, K, etc) and also kept the quality of the waters within the authorized limits. Thus, we achieved up to 88% removal of COD, a maximum 68% removal of BOD₅ and up to 75% removal of suspended solids. Based on the results of the parameters analyzed in this ozonized effluent, we concluded that ozone-treated water is suitable for reuse in the irrigation of fresh consumption crops in accordance with the guidelines established in related legislation.     

Ozone-based reclamation of an STP effluent

The system ozone and hydrogen peroxide was used to reclaim wastewater from the secondary clarifier from a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) of Alcalá de Henares (Madrid-Spain). The assays were performed by bubbling a gas mixture of oxygen and ozone, with approximately 24 g Nm(-3) of ozone concentration, through a volume of wastewater samples for 20 minutes at 25 degrees C. The removal of dissolved micropollutants such as Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) and Organic Carbon (TOC) was enhanced by adding periodic pulses of hydrogen peroxide while keeping pH above 8.0 throughout the runs. Removal efficiency ratios in the range of 7-26 mg O3/mg TOC and 0.24 mg O3/ng micropollutants at 5 minutes of ozonation were assessed as reference data to reclaim wastewater from STP. The relation between the extent of TOC removed and ozone doses used was related by a second-order kinetic model in which the time-integrated ozone-hydrogen peroxide concentration was included.     

Removal of geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol by biological filtration.

The quality of drinking water is sometimes diminished by the presence of certain compounds that can impart particular tastes or odours. One of the most common and problematic types of taste and odour is the earthy/musty odour produced by geosmin (trans-1, 10-dimethyl-trans-9-decalol) and MIB (2-methylisoborneol). Taste and odour treatment processes including powdered activated carbon, and oxidation using chlorine, chloramines, potassium permanganate, and sometimes even ozone are largely ineffective for reducing these compounds to below their odour threshold concentration levels. Ozonation followed by biological filtration, however, has the potential to provide effective treatment. Ozone provides partial removal of geosmin and MIB but also creates other compounds more amenable to biodegradation and potentially undesirable biological instability. Subsequent biofiltration can remove residual geosmin and MIB in addition to removing these other biodegradable compounds. Bench scale experiments were conducted using two parallel filter columns containing fresh and exhausted granular activated carbon (GAC) media and sand. Source water consisted of dechlorinated tap water to which geosmin and MIB were added, as well as, a cocktail of easily biodegradable organic matter (i.e. typical ozonation by-products) in order to simulate water that had been subjected to ozonation prior to filtration. Using fresh GAC, total removals of geosmin ranged from 76 to 100% and total MIB removals ranged from 47% to 100%. The exhausted GAC initially removed less geosmin and MIB but removals increased over time. Overall the results of these experiments are encouraging for the use of biofiltration following ozonation as a means of geosmin and MIB removal. These results provide important information with respect to the role biofilters play during their startup phase in the reduction of these particular compounds. In addition, the results demonstrate the potential biofilters have in responding to transient geosmin and MIB episodes.     

Enhanced rapid gravity filtration and dissolved air flotation for pre-treatment of river thames reservoir water

Thames Water treats approximately 2800Ml/d of water originating mainly from the lowland rivers Thames and Lee for supply to over 7.3million customers, principally in the cities of London and Oxford. This paper reviews aspects of names Water's research, design and operating experiences of treating algal rich reservoir stored lowland water. Areas covered include experiences of optimising reservoir management, uprating and upgrading of rapid gravity filtration (RGF), standard co-current dissolved air flotation (DAF) and countercurrent dissolved air flotation/filtration (COCO-DAFF®) to counter operational problems caused by seasonal blooms of filter blocking algae such as Melosira spp., Aphanizomenon spp. and Anabaena spp. A major programme of uprating and modernisation (inclusion of Advanced Water Treatment: GAC and ozone) of the major works is in progress which, together with the names Tunnel Ring Main, will meet London's water supply needs into the 21st Century.