1 AIT Asian Institute of Technology

Attached-growth waste stabilization pond treatment

AuthorShin, Hyun-kook
Call NumberAIT Diss. no. EV-87-2
Subject(s)Sewage lagoons
NoteA dissertation submitted in the partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Engineering, School of Environment, Resources and Development
PublisherAsian Institute of Technology
AbstractResearch was conducted to improve waste stabilization pond (WSP) performance through the installation of artificial media, made of polyvinylidene chloride, in the laboratory-scale and pilot-scale experimental pond units. The WSP incorporating attached-growth media are called attached-growth waste stabilization ponds (AGWSP). The experimental results obtained from this study showed that improved performance of WSP could be achieved through the installation of attached-growth media in the pond water. The media enhanced the growth of attached biomass, especially heterotrophic bacterial concentrations in the system, and consequently leading to better organic and nutrient removal. The attached-growth media also attached or adsorbed some of the dispersed growth microorganisms and other suspended solid particles, thus less suspended solid concentrations present in the AGWSP effluents. However, a distinct advantage with respect to fecal coliform removal could not be observed, probably because of the clumping of fecal coliform cells to the attached-growth media and some shading effects of the media itself. Dissolved oxygen and pH values in the AGWSP water were slightly decreased with increasing the media fraction in the pond. Based on the kinetic studies, the maximum specific growth rate of the heterotrophic bacteria was found to increase with increasing the media fraction in the pond water, while the half-velocity constants were not significantly affected. Data from laboratory-scale AGWSP experiments showed better NH 3 -N removal in the AGWSP units than those in the control units without attached-growth media. The main mechanism of NH 3 -N removal in the AGWSP units was found to be through biological uptake of NH 3 -N by the attached and dispersed biomass, while volatilization and nitrification had little effects on NH 3 -N removal. Regression equations of various NH 3 -N removal rates in AGWSP were developed and validated with data from the pilot-scale AGWSP experiments and some field-scale WSP. Pond performances were evaluated with a simulation model based on mass balance equations. The simulated results were more or less comparable to the experimental data of AGWSP units, validating the beneficial effects of AGWSP in wastewater treatment. Since the attached-growth media are easy to maintain and do not require as much skillful operation as that of the aquatic weed ponds, their installation in WSP to improve the pond performance with respect to organic and nutrient removal should be considered when necessary.
Year1987
TypeDissertation
SchoolSchool of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD)
DepartmentOther Field of Studies (No Department)
Academic Program/FoSEnvironmental Engineering and Management (EV)
Chairperson(s)Chongrak Polprasert
Examination Committee(s)Orth, H. ;Vigneswaran S. ;Wee, K. L. ;Hanaki, K. ;Middlebrook, E. J.
DegreeThesis (Ph.D.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1987


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