Performance evaluation of duckweed-based wastewater treatment (DUBWAT) system in degrading an endocrine disruptor | |
| Author | Katevadee Phrukepattanapong |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.EV-08-16 |
| Subject(s) | Duckweeds--Environmental aspects Sewage disposal Sewage--Purification--Biological treatment |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Environmental Engineering and Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Bisphenol A (BPA) is being used at various industrial process for the production of polycarbonate plastic, epoxy resins, and other plastic products, but it is also and endocrine disrupting chemical. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of BPA concentrations on duckweed growth and decay, to examine the efficiencies of duckweed-based wastewater treatment (DUBWAT) systems in removing BPA under different operating conditions and to evaluate kinetic coefficients of BPA removal in DUBWAT system. Four pilot-scale duckweed-based wastewater treatment (DUBWAT) units planted with duckweeds were constructed and operated under ambient conditions. The effects of BPA concentration were studied by varying the influent BPA concentration at 5, 10, 15 and 20 mg/L, while the hydraulic retention time (HRT) and stocking density (SD) were maintained at 15 days and 0.5 kg/m², respectively. They appeared to be no significant effects of the BPA concentration of 5-20 mg/L on the DUBWAT performance under these operating conditions. The effects of HRT on BPA and COD removal were studied by varying the HRTs of 5, 10, 15 and 20 days, while BPA concentration and SD were maintained at 5mg/L and 0.5 kg/m², respectively In this case, the effect of HRT on BPA removal and other DUBWAT performance were clearly observed. It could be concluded from the results that the higher the HRT, the better the BPA removal efficiencies. The performance of the DUBWAT system in series and the algae system in series on BPA treatment were compared. The algae system in series was found to be more effective than the DUBWAT system in series in removal of BPA probably due to exposure of the water surface to sun light resulting in more degradation, but the DUBWAT system in series were more effective than the algae systems in series in COD removal. The integrated model to predict treatment performance of the DUBWAT system in BPA removal was developed which incorporated BPA concentration, HRT and temperature. The model coefficients were determined from the experimental data by using linear equation. |
| Year | 2008 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Environmental Engineering (EV) |
| Chairperson(s) | Chongrak Polprasert; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Preeda Pakpian;Shipin, Oleg V.; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | RTG Fellowship; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2008 |