基于介观尺度模拟的污泥絮凝形态及机理

用介观动力学的方法对胶体颗粒与高分子链的絮凝过程进行了模型研究,并根据模型结果对污泥和阳离子聚丙烯酰胺的絮凝过程和污泥脱水机理进行有针对性的探讨。通过建立粗粒化模型和经验势函数力场有效模拟了负电性的胶体颗粒与阳离子型高分子链的絮凝过程;模拟得出了絮凝的外观形态,证明了高分子链对胶体颗粒的桥接作用以及表面电荷的中和作用对絮凝的影响;并对絮凝反应过程的体系势能变化进行了研究。对实际污泥胶体颗粒和阳离子聚丙烯酰胺溶液拍摄了电镜图片并观察了其吸附过程;最后研究了高分子链离子度对溶液体系絮凝的影响,验证了离子度的增加有利于絮凝体的形成,但同时也由于絮凝体结构的复杂而对污泥脱水造成了一定的不利影响。     

Scaling inline static mixers for flocculation of oil sand mature fine tailings

Operations to reclaim mature fine tailings (MFT) ponds involve flocculation using high‐molecular‐weight polymers, for which inline static mixers are suited. Three different commercial static mixers were utilized to determine mixing parameters corresponding to optimal dewatering performance of flocculated MFT. MFT was treated with polymer solution under different mixing conditions. The dewatering rates passed through a peak with increasing mean velocity, V and Reynolds number, Re of the fluid. The greater the number of mixer elements, the lower the V and Re at which the peak dewatering rate occurred. Mixing parameters such as G‐value, residence time, and mixing energy dissipation rate of the most rapidly dewatering flocculated MFT were dependent on mixer type and setup. In contrast, peak dewatering rates converged when scaled with respect to specific mixing energy, E, demonstrating that E is a suitable scale‐up parameter for inline static mixing to produce optimally dewatering MFT. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 4402–4411, 2015     

DEWATERING OF WASTE ACTIVATED SLUDGE VIA CENTRIFUGAL FIELD

ABSTRACT

While conducting centrifugal dewatering tests on waste activated sludge, this work considered how the rotational speed and the application of cationic polyelectrolyte flocculation affected the sludge. Increased rotational speed and/or conditioning the sludge to a charge neutralization point could enhance dewatering efficiency. A model was proposed to estimate the disruption energy exerted on the sludge body using centrifugation. Experimental results indicate that the disruption energy level provided by the centrifuge increases with rotational speed and decreasing water content in the filter cake. Moreover, polyelectrolyte flocculation may significantly reduce the disruption energy level of the water from sludge particles and the residual water contents at the end of the test.     

Consolidation and aggregate densification during gravity thickening

A continuous laboratory column system has been used to investigate the consolidation behaviour of kaolin slurries flocculated by a nonionic flocculant under different conditions. Measurements of the steady-state bed density profile showed that higher agitation intensities during flocculation resulted in lower bed densities. The relative importance of compression versus shear for kaolin dewatering was determined by operating the steady-state column system at different bed heights above a mechanical rake. It was found that rake action, not compression, was the dominant dewatering mechanism. Samples taken from the consolidating bed before and after the rake were analysed by microscopy to determine the density–size relationship of the individual aggregates. This showed that the dewatering induced by the rake action occurred not only by removal of inter-aggregate liquor but also by densification of the aggregates (i.e. removal of intra-aggregate liquor). Measurements made on full-scale thickeners are also presented which demonstrate similar behaviour.     

Kinetic Study of Leuco‐Indigo Carmine Oxidation and Investigation of Taylor and Dean Flow Superposition in a Coiled Flow Inverter

In two‐phase capillary flow, Taylor and Dean vortices can enhance mass transfer according to recent studies. By utilizing a colorimetric method based on the consecutive oxidation of leuco‐indigo carmine it is possible to visualize the superposition of Taylor and Dean vortices in a gas‐liquid system. A kinetic study is performed in order to estimate the enhancement factor. Depending on the flow conditions, three different flow regimes are identified with different intensities of Taylor and Dean vortices affecting the oxygen distribution within the liquid phase. A dimensionless number is derived that describes this transition in flow regimes.     

Effects of polyacrylamide on microbial density levels and biodegradability in waste‐activated sludge

This study addressed the possible role of polyelectrolyte flocculation on microbial density levels in a waste‐activated sludge. Such an effect is commonly ignored. Applying polyelectrolyte reduced the density level of coliform bacteria in the flocculated sludge. Polyelectrolyte also reduced the 5‐day biochemical oxygen demand of sludge, possibly retarding the subsequent biodegradation processes. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Velocity Field Structure and Flocculation Efficiency in Taylor-Couette Flow

Velocity field data were acquired for Taylor-Couette flow in the annulus gap between a rotating inner cylinder and a fixed concentric outer cylinder by using particle image velocimetry. The flocculation efficiencies were also obtained in the same Taylor-Couette flow under the conditions corresponding to the velocity field measurement. The flocculation efficiencies reached the maximum values due to the closed vortices, their contraction and expansion with time in wavy vortex flow. But out of the wavy vortex flow range, the comparatively low flocculation efficiencies were obtained due to the no-closed vortices which connected with each other.     

Water Soluble Polymer Flocculants: Synthesis,Characterization, and Performance Assessment

Water soluble polymer flocculants are important constituents of solid–liquid separation units for the treatment of a variety of process‐affected effluents. The systematic development of a flocculant relies on a good understanding of flocculation process, polymer synthesis, polymer characterization, and, not the least, flocculation performance assessment as desired for a particular treatment process, all of which are essential to establish meaningful relationships between flocculant microstructure and flocculation efficiency. The aim of this article is to communicate the bigger picture of this research area to the readers. The recent advances in the application of bio/natural, synthetic, and stimuli‐responsive flocculants are reviewed. Then, the basic polymer reaction engineering tools to control the microstructure of flocculants are provided and the techniques for the quantification of flocculant microstructure are concisely discussed. This is followed by a review of the methods used for the characterization of particle‐polymer force measurement, and flocculation/dewatering assessment with attention to the characterization of aggregate structures.     

EFFECTS OF DOSING REGIMEN AND AGITATION PROFILE UPON FLOC CHARACTERISTICS

The efficiency of solid-liquid separation processes that employ flocculation and sedimentation mainly depends upon the characteristics of aggregates produced by coagulation. Size and density are foremost, however, most flocculation processes are designed such that many larger floes are formed by floc-floc collisions resulting in the entrapment of large amounts of interstitial water. Thus, as particle size increases, floc density generally decreases. Not only does this affect the achievable rate of sedimentation, but it also contributes to the volume of process sludge that must be dewatered prior to ultimate disposal. The objective of the present work is to examine combinations of flocculant dosing and activation along with shear profile or history that can produce flocs of unusually compact structure, thereby increasing the efficiency of separation and reducing the volume of sludge produced. Four types of batch coagulation experiments were conducted, employing both single and intermittent polymer applications as well as periodic episodes of elevated shear to provide more compact constituent floc structures. A light obscuration method, in which the increase in diode phototube output during sedimentation was used to assess mean aggregate density, was employed throughout the study; it provided a convenient means for comparison of the effects of process modifications upon sedimentation.     

Influence of Shear‐Thinning Rheology on the Mixing Dynamics in Taylor‐Couette Flow

Non‐Newtonian rheology can have a significant effect on mixing efficiency, which remains poorly understood. The effect of shear‐thinning rheology in a Taylor‐Couette reactor is studied using a combination of particle image velocimetry and flow visualization. Shear‐thinning is found to alter the critical Reynolds numbers for the formation of Taylor vortices and the higher‐order wavy instability, and is associated with an increase in the axial wavelength. Strong shear‐thinning and weak viscoelasticity can also lead to sudden transitions in wavelength as the Reynolds number is varied. Finally, it is shown that shear‐thinning causes an increase in the mixing time within vortices, due to a reduction in their circulation, but enhances the axial dispersion of fluid in the reactor.     

Numerical Simulation of Sterilization Processes for Shear‐Thinning Food in Taylor‐Couette Flow Systems

The performance of the Taylor‐Couette flow apparatus as a heat sterilizer is numerically investigated. The destruction of Clostridium botulinum and thiamine (vitamin B1) was selected as model reaction. When Taylor vortices were formed in the annular space, the heat transfer significantly enhanced as compared to the case without vortex flow. As a result, the equivalent lethality calculated from the temperature field increased, which is regarded as a quantum leap. Conversely, the improvement of heat transfer induced destruction of thiamine. These results suggest that there is a trade‐off relationship between the enhancement of heat transfer and the avoidance of thermal destruction of nutritional components. In conclusion, the Taylor‐Couette flow sterilizer has the potential for process intensification in heat sterilization processes.     

The effect of shear on gravity thickening: Pilot scale modelling

Mathematical models are potentially a valuable tool for the prediction of continuous gravity thickener operation. However, experience shows that existing mathematical models underestimate dewatering in thickeners for flocculated feed materials when predictions are made of either the underflow solids concentration for a given solids feed flux density or the maximum solids feed flux density achievable for a minimum underflow solids concentration set point. One reason postulated for this discrepancy is shear enhancement of sedimentation and bed dewatering as a result of aggregate densification. This process is not taken into account in conventional 1-D thickener models. A pilot scale column, operated at low bed heights without the addition of mechanical shear, produced results that compared well with 1-D model predictions. The effect of mechanical shear and/or greater bed height was to significantly enhance thickener performance relative to model predictions (as measured by underflow density or maximum solids flux density achievable for a nominated underflow density). An experimental method was developed that enabled shear to be incorporated into the suspension dewatering characterisation. The results suggest an order of magnitude increase in solid flux density can be expected under controlled shear conditions with polymer flocculated aggregates. The results also indicate that mechanical shear is not the only factor that can enhance dewatering, since higher beds, and hence longer residence times, also improve the achievable solids flux density. This is despite the fact that the thickener is operating in a regime that is predicted to be limited by the sediment permeability and not its compressibility. This suggests an additional mechanism must be at play in full scale operation and points a direction for further experimentation.     

Aggregate structures formed via a bridging flocculation mechanism

A high molecular weight cationic polyelectrolyte has been used to flocculate a colloidal dispersion of anionic polystyrene latex particles. The polymer used had a high charge density and the flocculation occurred at a solution pH where both the polymer and the particles were fully charged. Under these conditions, flocculation is expected to occur through a bridging flocculation mechanism. Low angle laser light scattering has been used to follow the flocculation process as a function of time; parameters of interest were the aggregate sizes, size distributions, and aggregate mass fractal dimensions. The light scattering measurements showed that the flocs formed had a mass fractal character. All the systems examined here were overdosed with respect to the optimum flocculation concentration of polymer. Under these conditions, decreasing the polymer concentration was seen to result in an increased flocculation efficiency. A secondary growth process was also observed whereby initially formed fractal aggregates can subsequently aggregate again. These larger aggregates are also expected to be mass fractals although this cannot be determined from the light scattering measurements due to the superposition of Fraunhofer diffraction effects. This type of fractal-in-fractal character is unusual.     

Palm oil mill effluent pretreatment using Moringa oleifera seeds as an environmentally friendly coagulant: laboratory and pilot plant studies

This research paper covers the suitability of the coagulation–flocculation process using Moringa oleifera seeds after oil extraction as a natural and environmentally friendly coagulant for palm oil mill effluent treatment. The performance of M. oleifera coagulant was studied along with the flocculant KP 9650 in removal of suspended solids, organic components and in increasing the floc size. The optimum values of the operating parameters obtained from the laboratory jar test were applied in a pilot‐scale treatment plant comprised of coagulation–flocculation and filtration processes. Pilot‐scale pretreatment resulted in 99.7% suspended solids removal, 71.5% COD reduction, 68.2% BOD reduction, 100% oil and grease removal and 91% TKN removal. In pilot plant pretreatment, the percentage recovery of water was 83.3%, and 99.7% sludge was recovered after dewatering in a filter press. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Involvement of Gypsum (CaSO4 · 2H2O) in Water Treatment Sludge Dewatering: A Potential Benefit in Disposal and Reuse

Abstract

This research assessed the use of gypsum (CaSO₄ · 2H₂O) as a skeleton builder for sludge dewatering since polymer conditioning of sludge affected only the rate of water release, not the extent of dewatering. The use of gypsum as a physical conditioner, in association with a polymer, could improve sludge filterability. More significantly, gypsum serves as a skeleton builder, forming a permeable and rigid lattice structure that can remain porous under high positive pressure during the compression step after the cake growth of the filtration, thereby maintaining the size of the micro‐passages through which water is expressed. Experiments using a high pressure cell apparatus showed that a further decrease of two to seven percent of the equilibrium moisture content of the sludge cake was achieved, for sludge thicknesses for dewatering of 1 to 10 cm, by the addition of gypsum with 60% of the original sludge solids when compared to the single polymer conditioning. The importance of the addition of gypsum in alum sludge dewatering is not only the improvement in the extent of dewatering, but also the potential application of transforming dewatered alum sludge from “waste” for landfill to useful “fertilizer” or to be used as a filter medium/adsorbent for wastewater treatment engineering.     

Optimization of slurry flocculation and dewatering based on electrokinetic and rheological phenomena

The use of chemical additives known as conditioners or flocculants is crucial in assuring the proper functioning of many solid-liquid separation processes, and dewatering in particular. The additive used is often a water soluble polymer with high molecular mass, strong adsorptive properties, and often a large amount of ionic charge. The type of polymer used, and its exact dose, may change with process or flow conditions, and these changes may lead to poor operation. However, advances in the understanding of conditioning and flocculation of slurries and sludges now make it possible to develop scientifically-based strategies for optimizing these processes. These advances have utilized new characterization methods that allow insight into fundamental aspects of the process. In several cases the analyses employed are also amenable to continuous reading, and therefore to automatic feedback control of the process. This paper describes these advances and suggests conditioning and flocculation control strategies that will allow optimization of subsequent dewatering processes. The research advances described are: (1) use of the streaming current detector for monitoring and controlling dewaterability; (2) evaluation of floc strength by streaming current and rheological and methods; (3) use of rheological characteristics of conditioned residuals for dose control; (4) application of liquid-stream viscosity for polymer dose monitoring and control; and (5) quantification and verification of mixing conditions in conditioning processes, and use for mixing similitude. These developments should aid in the proper initial selection of a conditioner product (flocculant) and its dose, and allow optimization based on continuous monitoring if the sludge conditions vary significantly over time.     

Flockung und Entwässerung von Klärschlamm mit Hilfe von Polyelektrolyten

An investigation was performed with the aim of ascertaining how a digested sewage sludge could be converted into mechanically stable flocs through the addition of a flocculating agent, while achieving the best possible dewatering efficiency with the lowest possible dosage of flocculation agent. In order to obtain conclusive results which can be transferred to large-scale plants, the effectiveness of the flocculating agents and the various flocculation procedures were tested in a patented, mobile, computer-assisted flocculation and dewatering apparatus. The sewage sludge was conditioned with flocculating agents which had previously been thoroughly characterized in terms of their chemical structure, charge density and molar mass. The cationic flocculating agents had charge densities ranging from 25–55 mol-% and molar masses from 1.5 · 10⁶–12.9 · 10⁶ g mol^?, whereas the anionic flocculating agent had a charge density of 36 mol-% and a molar mass of 7.6 · lo6 g mol^?. In contrast to other suspensions already investigated, for sewage sludge it was found that no improvement can be achieved in the already very high dewatering level when cationic monoflocculation is used (laboratory trial: 95% filtrate yield by mass after 4 s). Nor was it possible to reduce the optimum dosage by using the dual procedure. In addition, it was possible to show that the chemical structure, i.e. the nature of the polyelectrolyte, and the molar mass of the cationic polyelectrolytes investigated exert a by far larger influence on the dewatering efficiency than the charge density in a range between 25 and 55 mol-%. Furthermore, it has also been observed that the conditioning efficiency of the polyelectrolytes increases as the molar mass rises and the chemical structure influences the dewatering result primarily through the position of the charge-bearing group.     

DEWATERING OF WASTE ACTIVATED SLUDGE VIA CENTRIFUGAL FIELD

While conducting centrifugal dewatering tests on waste activated sludge, this work considered how the rotational speed and the application of cationic polyelectrolyte flocculation affected the sludge. Increased rotational speed and/or conditioning the sludge to a charge neutralization point could enhance dewatering efficiency. A model was proposed to estimate the disruption energy exerted on the sludge body using centrifugation. Experimental results indicate that the disruption energy level provided by the centrifuge increases with rotational speed and decreasing water content in the filter cake. Moreover, polyelectrolyte flocculation may significantly reduce the disruption energy level of the water from sludge particles and the residual water contents at the end of the test.     

废水生物处理系统中胞外多聚物的研究进展

胞外多聚物（extracellular polymeric substances,EPS）是一类具有特殊形态和结构的高分子化合物。EPS普遍存在于生物聚集体内,是生物聚集体形成与稳定的关键性物质,对废水生物处理系统的稳定运行具有重要作用。文章归纳总结了EPS的组分、结构特性、可生物降解性及其吸附特性等方面的研究成果;重点从EPS的主要组成物质胞外蛋白（extracellular protein,PN）和胞外多糖（extracellular polysaccharide,PS）以及结构特性中紧密附着型EPS（tightly bound EPS,TB-EPS）和松散附着型EPS（loosely bound EPS,LB-EPS）的研究出发,论述了EPS对生物聚集体的影响,适当升高PN和PS的含量有助于污泥絮凝,然而过多的PS含量将可能对污泥的沉降与脱水性能起负面影响。文章还分析了其影响机理,PN和PS能够有效促进污泥絮凝可能是由于PN表面电负性和高疏水性的影响以及PS的生物凝胶特性和吸附架桥作用。     

Consolidation dewatering and centrifugal sedimentation of flocculated activated sludge

This study investigated experimentally the consolidation dewatering and centrifugal-settling processes for activated sludge subjected to cationic polyelectrolyte flocculation. The results were reported for the dynamic response of sediment cake thickness (an index for cake compaction) under various doses of polyelectrolyte conditioning, compression-permeability cell configuration and mode of operation (batch and continuous) in a centrifugal-settling cell. The reduction in sediment thickness of sludge by consolidation and centrifugation was found to correspond mostly well with the optimal dose of polyelectrolyte based on the capillary suction time. The relaxation/rebound of cake thickness was observed in both consolidation dewatering and centrifugal dewatering with comparable compaction/relaxation time scale ratios. The equilibrium sediment consolidation ratio increases with the effective solid pressure characterized by P_m and P_s, for the consolidation dewatering and centrifugal sedimentation, respectively. The experimentally determined time scales of the cake consolidation dewatering/centrifugal sedimentation processes agree reasonably well with the theory by Landman and Russel (Phys. Fluids A 5 (1993) 550).