Reduction of waste biosolids by RAS-ozonation: Model validation and sensitivity analysis for biosolids reduction and nitrification

Biosolids reduction model by return activated sludge ozonation was validated by simulating nitrification data compiled from our pilot-scale and the literature studies. Then, a global sensitivity analysis (GSA) was performed to identify influential and non-influential parameters for biosolids reduction efficiency, change in specific nitrification activity (SNA), and alteration to expected nitrification stability. In general, the model outputs were sensitive to operational and ozone reaction parameters, but not to biochemical parameters. For operational parameters, mainly temperature and initial solids retention time (SRT) influenced all model outputs. For biosolids reduction, increase in the degradability of the influent COD decreased the reduction efficiency. For SNA, the changes were highly dependent on the influent TKN/COD ratio. Our findings also imply that the stability of the nitrification process in ozonated systems should be enhanced at constant MLVSS for warm temperatures, but could be reduced at temperatures below 12 °C and aerated SRTs below 10 days.     

机抖激光陀螺抖动机构的温度特性的研究

研究了机抖激光陀螺抖动偏频量与温度之间的关系。通过大量的重复性高低温实验,证明了抖动偏频量与温度的线性关系,并得到了拟合直线表达式。结果表明,抖动偏频量与温度具有较好的线性关系,而且具有较好的重复性。同时用抖动偏频量对陀螺的零漂进行补偿,提高了陀螺的精度。     

Development of a Continuous Segmented Flow Tubular Reactor and the “Scale‐out” Concept – In Search of Perfect Powders

The synthesis of powders with controlled shape and narrow particle size distributions is still a major challenge for many industries. A continuous Segmented Flow Tubular Reactor (SFTR) has been developed to overcome homogeneity and scale‐up problems encountered when using batch reactors. Supersaturation is created by mixing the co‐reactants in a micromixer inducing precipitation; the suspension is then segmented into identical micro‐volumes by a non‐miscible fluid and sent through a tube. These micro‐volumes are more homogeneous when compared to large batch reactors leading to narrower size distributions, better particle morphology, polymorph selectivity and stoichiometry. All these features have been demonstrated on single tube SFTR for different chemical systems. To increase productivity for commercial application the SFTR is being “scaled‐out” by multiplying the number of tubes running in parallel instead of scaling‐up by increasing their size. The versatility of the multi‐tube unit will allow changes in type of precipitate with a minimum of new investment as new chemistry can be researched, developed and optimised in a single tube SFTR and then transferred to the multi‐tube unit for powder production.     

Gasification of Biogenic Solid Fuels

As a result of shrinking fossil fuels, biomass as a regenerative energy source gains importance. To realize biomass projects it is essential to investigate in convenient thermal procedures. On this evidence an analysis and evaluation of diverse gasification technologies with different boundary conditions and diverse biomasses are indispensable. Form and kind of the biomass as well as the type of the gasification plant cause different compositions of the product gas. The gasifiers show advantages and disadvantages concerning the biomass and the produced gas quality, depending on reactor type, kind of heat supply, gasification medium, and the pressure ratio in the reactor. As the ideal gasifier for different biomass is presently not available, it will be shown, which biomass is suitable for fixed bed or fluidized bed gasifiers.     

CFD Prediction of Flow and Homogenization in a Stirred Vessel: Part I Vessel with One and Two Impellers

A simulation of flow field and tracer homogenization was performed using the commercial CFD software FLUENT 6.1. The aim is to investigate the potential of CFD software to predict concentration distribution of added tracer in cylindrical vessels. The calculated results – dimensionless velocity profiles, power and pumping numbers, dimensionless concentration curves, and mixing times – were compared with experiments in stirred vessels. In Part I, the study was performed for vessels agitated by one or two impellers on a centric shaft. Two different impellers were used – a 6‐bladed 45° pitched blade turbine and a standard Rushton turbine. The standard k‐? turbulence model and multiple reference frames method were used for the simulations. The influence of the grid type was also investigated; three types of grid – a structured, unstructured and a special user‐defined grid – were studied.     

Vital-Fluorochromization of Microorganisms Using 3′,6′-Diacetylfluorescein to Determine Damages of Cell Membranes and Loss of Metabolic Activity by Ozonation

Cell suspensions of Escherichia coli as a model for bacterial populations in wastewaters were treated with ozone as a disinfectant in a continuously operated pilot plant with a plug flow reactor. Suspensions with an initial number of CFU (colony forming units) of 10⁸ mL^?1 were ozonized with ozone concentrations up to 12 mg/L. Metabolic activities and membrane functions break down with increasing ozone concentrations. The fluorochromization using 3′,6′-diacetylfluorescein (FDA) proved to be a suitable method for the detection of an alteration in permeability of the cell membranes and an inactivation of metabolic activity. By fluorescence microscopic and photometric investigations it could be clearly demonstrated that, in the case of disinfection with ozone, inactivation of the cells includes first of all a damage of the cell membranes. In contrast to the determination of the number of CFU, fluorochromization allows the detection of alteration in metabolic activities.     

Treatment of Humic Waters By Ozone

Two different generators for ozone were tested, a traditional electrical discharge generator and a generator based upon UV–irradiation of air at 150–180 nm. It was demonstrated that the traditional generator gave slightly higher reductions in levels of color for equivalent ozone dosages. Both gases affected the molecular weight distribution in the way that the bigger molecules were broken down to smaller ones. No significant difference between the molecular weight reduction efficiency of the gases was found.     

Formation of Ketoacids in Ozonated Drinking Water

Three ketoacids; glyoxylic acid, pyruvic acid and ketomalonic acid, were identified in ozonated drinking waters and fulvic acid solutions using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. It was found that the concentrations of ketoacids were much higher than those of aldehydes in ozonated waters. The significance of ketoacids in finished drinking waters is discussed.     

Oxygen transport rate on Rhodococcus erythropolis cultures: Effect on growth and BDS capability

The influence of oxygen transport rate on Rhodococcus erythropolis cultures has been studied in a stirred tank bioreactor under different transport and uptake conditions. Oxygen uptake rate has been measured by applying a modified dynamic method and a kinetic model is proposed, obtaining the kinetic parameter values: specific maintenance and yield coefficients. The volumetric mass transfer coefficients under inert conditions, k_La, and during the bioprocess, K_La, have been determined. The values obtained are different and a biological enhancement factor E, has been considered. These parameters have been predicted by the theoretical model and good agreement with experimental data under the conditions studied has been found. The oxygen limitation has been expressed by a modified dimensionless Damköhler number, Da, the relationship between transport and biological reaction rates. This number decreases with increasing stirrer speed; that is, when mass transport resistance decreases. The efficiency of oxygen utilization can be determined by a film effectiveness factor, η. The effectiveness factor was found to be a strong function of Damköhler number and decrease with increasing Da. Furthermore, oxygen concentration into culture depends on the mass transfer and consumption rates. The theoretical model proposed is able to reasonably predict the evolution of dissolved oxygen concentration with time of cultivation.     

Structural Analogies and Differences Between Graphite Oxide and C60 and C70 Polymeric Oxides (Fullerene Ozopolymers)

A brief survey of the chemical structural analogies and differences between graphite oxide and fullerene ozopolymers or polymeric fullerene oxides (PFO) is presented. Graphite oxide is the product of oxidation of graphite prepared with strong oxidizing agents while PFO is the products formed by prolonged ozonation of C₆₀ or C₇₀ in solution. Notwithstanding the different starting substrates and oxidation conditions, elemental analyses, FT-IR spectroscopy and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy suggest a very similar chemical structure for graphite oxide and PFO. A further analogy is the possibility to perform reduction or oxidation reactions on both substrates considered. Graphite oxide and PFO have also in common the ability to act as ion exchangers and as metal ion binders. Even the thermal behavior is comparable. However, X-ray powder diffraction has confirmed that graphite oxide still has a layered structure derived from graphite but with the graphene sheets at much bigger distance from each other due to the intercalation of oxidized groups and solvent molecules, while PFO do not show at all any sign of layered structure either from the X-ray spectra and also by its behavior in solution which is strikingly different from that shown by graphite oxide.