Search results for: WASTEWATER
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Comprehensive study on graphene hydrogels and aerogels synthesis and their ability of gold nanoparticles adsorption
PublicationGraphene hydrogels were prepared by ascorbic acid-assisted gelation of graphene oxide (GO) aqueous suspensions both in acidic and basic conditions. Different mass ratio of ascorbic acid (AA) to GO was used (namely 20:1 and 10:1). In order to eliminate the influence of AA on the final structure of hydrogels, samples without AA were prepared by a hydrothermal gelation of GO in an autoclave. An in-depth structural characterization...
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The metagenomic approach to characterization of the microbial community shift during the long-term cultivation of anammox-enriched granular sludge
PublicationA metagenomic approach was used to investigate how the microbial community composition changes when an anammox-based granular sludge reactor is seeded with nitritation-anammox biomass from a wastewater treatment plant. In the seed sample, the abundance of Candidatus Kuenenia stuttgartiensis was similar to Candidatus Jettenia caeni (12.63 vs. 11.68%). This biomass was typical in terms of microbial nitrogen conversion; both ammonia...
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Development of Strategies for AOB and NOB Competition Supported by Mathematical Modeling in Terms of Successful Deammonification Implementation for Energy-Efficient WWTPs
PublicationNovel technologies such as partial nitritation (PN) and partial denitritation (PDN) could be combined with the anammox-based process in order to alleviate energy input. The former combination, also noted as deammonification, has been intensively studied in a frame of lab and full-scale wastewater treatment in order to optimize operational costs and process efficiency. For the deammonification process, key functional microbes include...
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Evaluation of the potential of Microwave Plasma–Atomic Emission Spectrometry for trace elements leaching assessment from the concrete matrix with sewage sludge ash additives
PublicationThe management of ash generated during the thermal utilization of sewage sludge is a significant environmental problem requiring an effective technological solution. One alternative way to dispose of sewage sludge is to bind it in concrete as a substitute for part of the aggregate. The properties of the C-S-H phase enable effective immobilization of harmful substances that sewage sludge contains. The amount of individual compounds...
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Reaktory elektrochemiczne w przemyśle - konstrukcja i zastosowania
PublicationZ biegiem lat reakcje elektrochemiczne przestały być postrzegane jedynie jako eksperymenty laboratoryjne lub proste baterie. Chociaż mechanizm reakcji i budowa prostych reaktorów znana jest ludzkości już od ponad 100 lat w ostatnich latach można zauważyć największy wzrost zainteresowania tą dziedziną. Nowy stale opracowywane są lepsze projekty budowy reaktorów. Modyfikacje to nie tylko rodzaje i formy materiałów, z których wykonane...
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The potential of enhancing denitrification in the activated sludge process with by-products from the alcohol production
PublicationIn this study, by-products from the alcohol production were examined in terms of their potential application as external carbon sources for enhancing denitrification in biological nutrient removal systems. Three kinds of experimental assays were used to compare the effects of the by-products with other external carbon sources (ethanol and acetic acid) and the settled wastewater. Based on the results obtained, it appears that one...
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Effects of Different Aeration Modes on Ammonia Removal from Sludge Digester Liquors in the Nitritation-Anammox Process
PublicationSludge digester liquors can be responsible for up to one third of the nitrogen load to the biological step of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The conventional process for ammonia removal via two sequential processes, i.e. nitrification and denitrification, is increasingly being challenged by a one-step process in which ammonium is oxidized directly to nitrogen gas e.g. ammonium oxidation (anammox) process. In this novel process,...
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Evaluation and behaviour of slowly biodegradable substrate on mathematical modelling of oxygen uptake rate in activated sludge systems
PublicationThe effect of the readily biodegradable (Ss) fraction in activated sludge systems has been extensively investigated, but only minor information can be found about the effect of Xs on OUR in activated sludge systems. The aim of this study was to determine the evaluation and behaviour of Xs on mathematical modelling of OUR using ASM2d and its modification. The essential study was divided into two major parts: experimental investigation...
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Nonlinear Fuzzy Control System for Dissolved Oxygen with Aeration System in Sequencing Batch Reactor
PublicationBiological processes at a wastewater treatment plant are complex, multivariable, time varying and nonlinear. Moreover, interactions between the components are very strong. Control of dissolved oxygen is one of most important task at the plant. The level of dissolved oxygen in aerobic tanks has significant influence on behaviour and activity of microorganisms at the plant. Air for aerated tanks is supplied by the aeration system...
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Analysis of odour interactions in model gas mixtures using electronic nose and fuzzy logic
PublicationMeasurement and monitoring of air quality in terms of odour nuisance is an important problem. Although the source of these nuisances is different (e.g. wastewater treatment plants, municipal landfills), their common feature is that they are a complex mixture of odorants with different odour thresholds. An additional problem is occurrence of the odour interactions between mixture components. From a practical point of view, it would...
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Comparative analysis of earthships and conventional buildings in terms of investment and operating costs
PublicationThe aim of the master's thesis is to present the idea of earthships and compare them with conventional buildings in terms of investment and operating costs. Earthships are buildings erected from tires and other wastes whose characteristic feature is their self-sufficiency. The first part of the master's thesis is to discuss the basic issues related to the earthship building. The beginnings of tire homes and their development are...
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Elementary analysis and energetic potential of the municipal sewage sludges from the Gdańsk and Kościerzyna WWTPs
PublicationThis paper aims to present municipal sewage sludge (MSS) elementary analysis and energetic potential based on measurement of heat of combustion (higher heating value HHV) and calculation of calorific values (lower heating value LHV). The analysis takes into the consideration water content in sewage sludge, at different utilization stages, in wastewater treatment plants in Gdańsk Wschód and Kościerzyna – Pomeranian Voivodeship....
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Determination of odour concentration by TD-GC×GC–TOF-MS and field olfactometry techniques
PublicationField olfactometry is one of the sensory techniques used to determine odour concentration, in atmospheric air, directly in emission sources. A two-dimensional gas chromatography with time of flight mass spectrometer (GC×GC–TOF-MS) allows performing the chemical characterization of various groups of chemical compounds, even in complex mixtures. Application of these techniques enabled determination of odour concentration level in...
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Mesophilic and thermophilic dark fermentation course analysis using sensor matrices and chromatographic techniques
PublicationProduction of biofuels from biomass is expected to benefit the society and the environment. At present, bio waste residues processing includes hydrolysis, dark fermentation, photofermentation, pyrolysis, gasification, and chemical synthesis. As the composition and the chemical structure of organic substances affect the efficiency of mentioned processes, it is believed that the glucose concentration is a crucial parameter for the...
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Advances in analysis, quantification and modelling of N2O emission in SBRs under various DO set points
PublicationNitrous oxide (N2O), considered a major greenhouse gas (GHG) in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), is produced during both nitrification and denitrification processes; hence, it needs to be controlled by internal and external strategies. Various factors, such as DO, temperature, and pH, could be incorporated into the mitigation of emissions in WWTPs. In this research, potential operational strategies were investigated in order...
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Occurrence of Surface Active Agents in the Environment
PublicationDue to the specific structure of surfactants molecules they are applied in different areas of human activity (industry, household). After using and discharging from wastewater treatment plants as effluent stream, surface active agents (SAAs) are emitted to various elements of the environment (atmosphere, waters, and solid phases), where they can undergo numerous physic-chemical processes (e.g., sorption, degradation) and freely...
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The impact of precipitation and external carbon source addition on biological nutrient removal in activated sludge systems - experimentalinvestigation and mathematical modeling
PublicationThe aim of this study was to determine the effects of chemical precipitation and addition of external carbonsources on the denitrification capability and enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) interactions atthe 'Wschod' WWTP (600,000 PE) in Gdansk (northern Poland). For this purpose, different kinds of batch experimentswere carried out with the settled wastewater (without pretreatment and after coagulation-flocculation)and...
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The impact of precipitation and external carbon source addition on biological nutrient removal in activated sludge systems – experimental investigation and mathematical modeling
PublicationThe aim of this study was to determine the effects of chemical precipitation and addition of external carbonsources on the denitrification capability and enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) interactions atthe ‘Wschod’ WWTP (600,000 PE) in Gdansk (northern Poland). For this purpose, different kinds of batch experimentswere carried out with the settled wastewater (without pretreatment and after coagulation-flocculation)and...
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Application of g-C3N4/ZnO nanocomposites for fabrication of anti-fouling polymer membranes with dye and protein rejection superiority
PublicationPolysulfone (PSf) membranes are privileged for water and wastewater treatment, but because of their hydrophobic nature, they suffer from fouling, which lowers their performance and lifetime. In this work, g-C3N4 and g-C3N4/ZnO nanomaterials were synthesized via a hydrothermal method to modify the PSf membrane for effective dye separation and reduction of organic fouling. Since g-C3N4/ZnO possesses –OH and –NH reactive groups, g-C3N4/ZnO/PSf...
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Nitrofurazone Removal from Water Enhanced by Coupling Photocatalysis and Biodegradation
Publication(1) Background: Environmental contamination with antibiotics is particularly serious because the usual methods used in wastewater treatment plants turn out to be insufficient or ineffective. An interesting idea is to support natural biodegradation processes with physicochemical methods as well as with bioaugmentation with efficient microbial degraders. Hence, the aim of our study is evaluation of the effectiveness of different...
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The Influence of Co-Fermentation of Agri-Food Waste with Primary Sludge on Biogas Production and Composition of the Liquid Fraction of Digestate
PublicationEnergy self-sufficiency is a current trend in wastewater treatment plants. This effect can be achieved by increasing the production of electricity from biogas and by reducing energy consumption for technological processes. One idea, in line with the circular economy concept, is the use of waste rich in organic matter as co-substrates for the fermentation process. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of waste co-fermentation...
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More than just a beer—the potential applications of by-products from beer manufacturing in polymer technology
PublicationBeer is the most popular alcoholic beverage in the world, and its popularity is continuously growing. Currently, global beer production is estimated at around 2 billion hectoliters. Nevertheless, the increasing production capacity implicates the rising issue of generated by-products—brewers’ spent grain, spent hops, spent yeast, and wastewater. They are generated in massive amounts, so having in mind the current pro-ecological...
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Hierarchical dissolved oxygen control for activated sludge processes
PublicationA hierarchical controller for tracking the dissolved oxygen reference trajectory in activated sludge processes is proposed and investigated. The removal of nitrogen and phosphorous from wastewater is considered. Typically, an aeration system itself is a complicated hybrid nonlinear dynamical system with faster dynamics compared to the internal dynamics of the dissolved oxygen in a biological reactor. It is a common approach to...
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Primary degradation of antidiabetic drugs
PublicationType 2 diabetes is a chronic disease affecting a large portion of the world population and is treated by orally administered drugs. Since these drugs are often taken in high doses and are excreted unchanged or partially metabolised many of them are nowadays detected in surface waters or wastewater treatment plants effluents. Unmetabolised antidiabetics or some of their transformation products retain their pharmacological activity,...
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A distillery by-product as an external carbon source for enhancing denitrification in mainstream and sidestream treatment processes
PublicationThe use of fusel oil as an 'alternative' carbon source for denitrification in the mainstream and sidestream treatment processes was studied. Research comprised two kinds of batch experiments as well as acclimation of process biomass to external carbon sources. In the conventional nitrate utilization rate (NUR) measurements (one-phase experiments with non-acclimated biomass), the NUR with fusel oil was 1.4-1.7 g N/(kg VSS•h which...
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Investigation on environmental chemistry changes in the Antarctic Special Management Area (ASMA 1): King George Island, South Shetlands Islands
PublicationThe doctoral dissertation included a review of the scientific literature that resulted in the selection of the research area, type of samples and chemical species that were marked. The published series of articles contains an in-depth description of the results of chemical analyses of surface water, sediment and snow samples from the Antarctic Specially Managed Area (ASMA 1) – King George Island. In addition, studies have been...
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A Comparison of the Efficiency of Deammonification under Different Aeration Strategies in a Laboratory-Scale Sequencing Batch Reactor
PublicationAn important source of nitrogen load entering the biological part of wastewater treatment plants (WWPTs) is derived from the anaerobic sludge digestion processes. Sludge digestion liquors constitute only 1-2% of the inflow to the plant, but the load of nitrogen directed with them to the main stream may be as high as 10-20% of the total nitrogen load. Therefore, numerous studies have focused on treatment of sludge digestion liquors...
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Modelling of sequencing batch reactor operating at various aeration modes
PublicationThe presented study involved designing a computer model of a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) at laboratory scale. The data pertaining to the technical aspects of the bioreactor and quality indicators of wastewater constituted the input for the employed simulation tool, i.e. GPS-X software package. The results of a simulation involving a 12-hour operation cycle are presented in this work; each cycle included 6 phases: filling, mixing,...
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Combination of air-dispersion cathode with sacrificial iron anode generating Fe2+Fe3+2O4 nanostructures to degrade paracetamol under ultrasonic irradiation
PublicationIn the present study, ultrasound (US) was coupled with an electrochemical process (ECP) consisting of a novel cathode of carbon cloth (CC)-carbon black (CB) as the nano-composite air-dispersion cathode (NADC) for the degradation of paracetamol (APAP) in an aquatic medium. The NADC favored in situ production of H2O2 by the cathodic reduction. The implementation of iron sacrificial anode instead of dimensionally stable anodes resulted...
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Process Control of Biogas Purification Using Electronic Nose
PublicationNowadays, biogas produced from landfills and wastewater treatment plants or lignocellulosic biomass is important sustainable and affordable source of energy. Impurities from biogas stream can cause a serious odor problem, especially for residents of areas immediately adjacent to production plants. Therefore, biogas pre-treatment is necessary to protect engines that convert biogas into energy and in order to increase the specific...
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Adsorption onto zeolites: molecular perspective
Publication2D minerals are among key elements of advanced systems, but the need for understanding their interactions/reactions with materials and systems in which they are involved necessitates tracking their molecular and atomic monitoring. Zeolitic structures are microporous materials formed in the nature through volcanic activities or synthesis. Because of their outstanding physicochemical properties like cation exchange capacity and excellent...
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Recent advances on the removal of phosphorus in aquatic plant-based systems
PublicationPhosphorus (P) is a vital nutrient for the ecosystems and its excess in wastewater streams leads to some environmental issues such as extensive algae growth (eutrophication). Phytoremediation is a green technology that is based on the combined actions of plants and their associated microbial groups to remove and transfer the toxic compounds in surface water, groundwater and soil. Aquatic plants are widely used for the remediation...
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Entrained Flow Plasma Gasification of Sewage Sludge–Proof-of-Concept and Fate of Inorganics
PublicationSewage sludge is a residue of wastewater processing that is biologically active and consists of water, organic matter, including dead and living pathogens, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and heavy metals, as well as organic and inorganic pollutants. Landfilling is on the decline, giving way to more environmentally friendly utilisation routes. This paper presents the results of a two-stage gasification–vitrification system, using...
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Ball milling treatment of Mn3O4 regulates electron transfer pathway for peroxymonosulfate activation
PublicationHeterogeneous metal catalysts have attracted considerable interest in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for wastewater treatment by activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS). However, it remains challenging to the rational design of efficient reaction pathway for high-performance contaminants removal by regulating the inherent structure of metal oxides. Herein, a high-energy ball milling method was employed to modulate the electronic...
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Ongoing progress on novel nanocomposite membranes for the separation of heavy metals from contaminated water
PublicationMembranes, as the primary separation element of membrane-based processes, have greatly attracted the attention of researchers in several water treatment applications, including wastewater treatment, water purification, water disinfection, toxic and non-toxic chemical molecules, heavy metals, among others. Today, the removal of heavy metals from water has become challenging, in which chemical engineers are approaching new materials...
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Combining Computational Fluid Dynamics with a Biokinetic Model for Predicting Ammonia and Phosphate Behavior in Aeration Tanks
PublicationThe aim of this study was to use computational fluid dynamics for predicting the behavior of reactive pollutants (ammonia and phosphate) in the aerobic zone of the bioreactor located at the Wschod wastewater treatment plant in Gdansk, Poland. The one-dimensional advection-dispersion equation was combined with simple biokinetic models incorporating the Monod-type expressions as source terms for the two pollutants. The problem was...
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Adsorptive Removal of Aqueous Phase Crystal Violet Dye by Low-Cost Activated Carbon Obtained from Date Palm (L.) Dead Leaflets
PublicationUp to now, water pollution is still one of the important issues and challenges worldwide, due to its environmental, economic and human life impacts. It is also remains a challenge to environment scientists and technologists. Nowadays, the textile dyeing industry is considered one of the largest water consuming industries and produces large volumes of colored wastewater in its dyeing and finishing process. In this study, date palm...
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The effects of different aeration modes on ammonia removal from sludge digester liquors in the nitritation–anammox proces
PublicationThe aim of this study was to determine the impact of continuous and intermittent aeration on the rate of ammonia removal in the combined nitritation–anammox process. This process was run in two parallel sequencing batch reactors (SBRs), with a working volume V = 10 L, treating sludge digester liquors from the Gdansk (Poland) wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The ammonia oxidizing bacteria were cultivated from activated sludge...
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Ultrasound-Assisted Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction Using Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) for Neutral Red Dye Spectrophotometric Determination
PublicationDeep eutectic solvents (DES), which have low toxicity and are low cost, biodegradable, and easily synthesized, were used for the extraction of neutral red (NR) dye before its spectrophotometric analysis. DES, containing choline chloride as a hydrogen bond acceptor and phenol as a hydrogen bond donor with a molar ratio of 1:2, was used for the extraction of NR dye from aqueous media. The possible interaction of different DESs with...
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Modeling nitrous oxide production by a denitrifying-enhancedbiologically phosphorus removing (EBPR) activated sludge in thepresence of different carbon sources and electron acceptors
PublicationIn this study, the IWA Activated Sludge Model No. 2d (ASM2d) was expanded to identify the most important mechanisms leading to the anoxic nitrous oxide (N2O) production in the combined nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) removal activated sludge systems. The new model adopted a three-stage denitrification concept and was evaluated against the measured data from one/two-phase batch experiments carried out with activated sludge withdrawn...
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Computer Simulation in Predicting Biochemical Processes and Energy Balance at WWTPs
PublicationNowadays, the use of mathematical models and computer simulation allow analysis of many different technological solutions as well as testing various scenarios in a short time and at low financial budget in order to simulate the scenario under typical conditions for the real system and help to find the best solution in design or operation process. The aim of the study was to evaluate different concepts of biochemical processes and...
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Monitoring Lead Concentration in the Surrounding Environmental Components of a Lead Battery Company: Plants, Air and Effluents—Case Study, Kenya
PublicationLead (Pb) pollution from smelters and lead–acid battery has become a serious problem worldwide owing to its toxic nature as a heavy metal. Stricter regulations and monitoring strategies have been formulated, legislated and implemented in various parts of the world on heavy metal usage. Developed countries such as the USA and in Europe largely operate within the set standards, however, developing countries such as Kenya, Nigeria...
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Evaluation of Partial Nitritation/Anammox (PN/A) Process Performance and Microorganisms Community Composition under Different C/N Ratio
PublicationA one-stage partial nitritation/anammox (PN/A) process with intermittent aeration is possible under sidestream conditions, but implementation in a mainstream is a challenge due to increased Carbon/Nitrogen (C/N) ratios in domestic wastewater. This study investigated the effect of C/N ratios on process efficiency and the effect of narrowing non-aeration time on process improvement at high chemical oxygen demand (COD) load. An increase...
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Closing the loop: Upcycling secondary waste materials into nanoarchitectured carbon composites for the electrochemical degradation of pharmaceuticals
PublicationIn this study, we demonstrated the application of electrochemical oxidation as a safer and cleaner technology for minimizing the impact of pharmaceuticals in wastewaters, simultaneously mediated by upcycled secondary waste materials (SWMs)-derived electrodes, to further reduce their environmental impact. The modularity, scalability, ease of operation and reliability make electrochemical oxidation an ideal process for the destruction...
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The impact of sediment, fresh and marine water on the concentration of chemical elements in water of the ice-covered lagoon
PublicationThe common use of chemical elements by man has been contributing to their extraction for centuries. As a consequence, they have been directly or indirectly introduced into the biogeochemical cycle. In the framework of many conventions, mining and processing of elements are currently subject to many restrictions. However, their large load that has already been deposited in the soil and bottom sediments can be remobilised and...
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Enhanced electrochemical activity of boron-doped nanocarbon functionalized reticulated vitreous carbon structures for water treatment applications
PublicationAn extraordinary charge transfer kinetics and chemical stability make a boron-doped diamond (BDD) a prom- ising material for electrochemical applications including wastewater treatment. Yet, with flat geometrical sur- faces its scaling options are limited. In this study, the reticulated Vitreous Carbon (RVC) served as a substrate for boron-doped diamondized nanocarbons (BDNC) film growth resulting with complex heterogeneity carbon structures...
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Recovery of Anammox Biomass at Short Hydraulic Retention Time in a MBR Reactor
PublicationThe anammox system has been consider as an economical option for treating high concentration of nitrogen and poor in biodegradable orgaednic carbon wastewaters. This process is attractive option compared with conventional nitrogen removal because it provides a significant saving in aeration and organic addition for denitrification. The anammox technology has been applied mostly for concentrated nitrogenous wastewater containing...
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Impact of aeration conditions on the removal of low concentrations of nitrogen in a tertiary partially aerated biological filter
PublicationA submerged biological aerated filter (BAF) partially aerated was used to study the removal of low concentrations of ammonia nitrogen (0.3 g N/m3 to 30.5 g N/m3) typically found in nutrient enriched river and lake waters, and treated effluents. Four series of experiments were performed with a synthetic wastewater at ammonia loading rates between 6 g N/m3 d and 903 g N/m3 d and C/N ratios from 2 to 20. The results showed that ammonia...
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Integrated monitoring, control and security of Critical Infrastructure Systems
PublicationModern societies have reached a point where everyday life relies heavily on desired operation of critical infrastructures, in spite of accidental failures and/or deliberate attacks. The issue of desired performance operation of CIS at high security level receives considerable attention worldwide. The pioneering generic methodologies and methods are presented in the paper project for designing systems capable of achieving these...
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An overview of the strategies for the deammonification process start-up and recovery after accidental operational failures
PublicationThe deammonification process has been universally acknowledged as an energy-efficient technology for sewage disposal. In contrast with traditional biological nitrogen removal technology, the deammonification process is able to remove ammonia from wastewater with the simplest nitrogen removal process because of its advantages of lower operating expenses, no organic carbon consumption, lower biomass production, lower carbon dioxide...