Effect of Settle Time on

Mixed Liquor Volatile Suspended Solids Concentration and

Biochemical Oxygen Demand Removal Efficiency
Report Presented by:
Melanie Tan
John Kim
Joe Tamilio
Final Report for CEE 473
Ntrient Remo!al Pro"e#t
May $%& %''4
Abstract:
( model )aste)ater treatment plant )as bilt and operated )ith the intent of findin* the
optimm Mi+ed ,i-or .olatile /spended /olids 0M,.//1 #on#entration for remo!al of bio2
#hemi#al o+y*en demand thro*h aerobi# ba#terial assimilation and the system settle time
#orrespondin* to that optimm #on#entration3 The test se-en#e in#lded de#reasin* the settlin*
time of the model treatment plant ths de#reasin* the #on#entration of M,.// remainin* for
biode*radation3 This report details the reslts of the tests as )ell as an analysis of these reslts3
Frther resear#h s**estions and methods for impro!ement of this e+periment are also in#lded3
Introduction:
The initial desi*n for the )aste)ater treatment fa#ility model )as deri!ed from a simplifi#ation
of a 4arnard /e-en#in* 4at#h Rea#tor3
( basi# plant operation otline )as desi*ned to simlate the #ontinos flo) se-en#e of a
typi#al treatment fa#ility3
Previous Research:
Resear#h to optimi5e 467 remo!al !ia maniplation of indi!idal pro#ess drations has been
performed by !aryin* the hydrali# retention time 08RT or 91 of model )aste)ater treatment
fa#ilities3
From resear#h done by Nanyan* Te#hnolo*i#al :ni!ersity in /in*apore& a #orrelation bet)een
the effe#ts of hydrali# retention time on the stability of aerobi#ally *ro)n mi#robial *ranles
re!ealed that for a 8RT bet)een t)o and t)el!e hors& aerobi# *ranles be#ome stabili5ed )ith
*ood M,.// retention and hi*h !olmetri# #hemi#al o+y*en demand 0C671 remo!al 0%13 The
appli#ation of these reslts )ill be dis#ssed later in the Pro#edre portion3
Nanyan*;s resear#h sets ro*h *idelines for the set p of the treatment plant based on se!eral
steps3 The first step is desi*n and #onstr#tion of a small2s#ale !ersion of the 4arnard 4at#h
/e-en#in* Rea#tor3 The se#ond step is to find an appropriate solids retention time3 This )old
in#lde the sele#tion of an aeration #y#le period& the steady de#rease of the settle time and ths
the #orrespondin* de#rease in M,.// #on#entration3 Finally data analysis is performed to
obtain the pea< o+y*en pta<e rate3 The #on#entration #orrespondin* to this pta<e rate shold
be the optimm M,.// #on#entration3 Crrent plants operate at appro+imately = hor 8RTs
and M,.// #on#entrations of 3''' m*> ,3 The re#y#le #on#entrations are typi#ally on the order
of $'&''' m*>,3
Application of Existing Knowledge:
To find the optimm M,.// point !ia 467 remo!al a ran*e of settle times )ere to be
attempted3 The system )as desi*ned to operate at a total system hydrali# residen#e time of
appro+imately si+ hors& and an optimm M,.// #on#entration of 3''' m*> ,3
Procedure:
Ne#essary data a#-isition in#lded dissol!ed o+y*en #on#entration& elapsed time& #rrent plant
state and !olatile sspended solids 0.//1 #on#entration3 ?ith the e+#eption of .//
#on#entrations all data )as *athered #ontinosly sin* ,ab.@E? soft)are3 .// measrements
)ere obtained manally3
The plant )as modeled after a bat#h2se-en#in* model3 Treatment of )ater )as done in
se-ential steps& the first step bein* the addition of the )aste& follo)ed by aeration& then settlin*&
and then emptyin* of the tan< to a le!el that )old allo) for a sffi#ient #on#entration of
M,.// to remain in the tan<3 /ettlin* time )as the parameter !aried& <eepin* the efflent )aste
le!el #onstant3 This allo)ed for !aryin* of the amont of re#y#led solids sin#e the M,.//
retained is theoreti#ally a fn#tion of the settle time3 ( A , Rbbermaid tan< )as sed as the
reser!oir& )ith a pressre sensor inserted at the base otlet of the tan< to monitor the )ater le!el3
( peristalti# pmp )as sed to fill the tan< )ith )ater and )aste3 ?hatman BF filters )ere sed
to sample the M,.// and a #lamped *lass filter #onne#ted to a !a#m sor#e )as sed to
prepare the M,.// sample3 ( stone diffser )as sed to introd#e air into the tan< for the
aeration step and a $ , pressri5ed plasti# bottle #ople )ith an airflo) re*lator )as sed to
a#hie!e #onstant dissoltion of o+y*en into the tan<3 /yntheti# )aste #onsisted of 3 sto#<sC %
)ere added !ia mi+in* )ith the sor#e )ater& the last )as refri*erated and pmped into the tan<
before the start of ea#h #y#le3
6n#e the system for the plant )as established& steps listed belo) )ere sed for its operation:
Steps
Phase 1: Cell rowth!
@t )as attempted to *ro) a #olony of )aste a#ti!ated sld*e that had been sele#ti!ely adapted to
effi#iently #onsme the )aste sed3 ?aste )as to be added at the be*innin* of ea#h #y#le )ith a
lon* settle time and short aeration time to ma+imi5e the ba#terial *ro)th rate3 8o)e!er& de to
errors in )aste addition& a non2niform )aste #on#entration )as added ea#h time3
Phase ": Cell #epletion
6n#e the ma+imm #on#entration from the system setp )as attained the settle time )as
de#reased to )aste a lar*er portion of the #ells3 /ettle time )as in#rementally lo)ered from 7%''
se#onds to =' se#onds and sample measrements )ere ta<en to obtain the M,.// drin* the test
se-en#e3 The M,.// )as measred sin* the method otlined in
http:>>#eeser!er3#ee3#ornell3ed>m)%4>#ee4A3>NRP>/spendedD%'/olids3htm3 7issol!ed
o+y*en #on#entration )as also measred thro*hot ea#h test to determine o+y*en pta<e rate3
(fter settlin*& $3% , of the reser!oir )ater )as retained& )ith the remainin* %3E , de#anted3 This
in#ldes the )astin* of the nsettled solids that remain at a le!el abo!e the $3% , line3
(fter establishin* the parameters to be measred& the ne+t ma"or pro#edre of the lab )as the
#alibration of the instrments 2 mainly the #alibration and sa*e of the dissol!ed o+y*en probe3
The dissol!ed o+y*en probe ses a permeable membrane and an ele#trolyti# soltion to measre
the rate at )hi#h o+y*en diffses a#ross the membrane3 This rate of diffsion and the differen#e
in the !olta*e internal to the probe re*isters the dissol!ed o+y*en defi#it from a satrate state 0$13
The probe too< a sbstantial amont of time and effort mainly be#ase the permeable membrane
had to be #ontinally repla#ed and re#alibrated3 This #alibration and the initial #alibration of the
a##mlator pressre& )hi#h is the infl+ of air into a #losed #ontainer ntil a sstained pressre
yields a steady airflo) into the plant& )ere the only sbstantial #onfi*rations3
(fter the fabri#ation& the determination of the steps& and the #alibration of the instrments& the
follo)in* plant states and #ontrol lo*i#s )ere sed:
Fill )ith )aste @f the time in #rrent state is *reater than thirty fi!e se#onds
Fill )ith )ater @f the pressre sensor>!olme is *reater than 4&''' ml
Prepare to Calibrate @f the pressre in the a##mlator is less than $' <pa
Calibrate @f the pressre in the a##mlator is *reater than F' <pa
(erate @f the time in #rrent state is *reater than %$='' se#onds
?ait @f the time in #rrent state is less than F' se#onds
Measre 76 @f the 76 is less than = m*> ,& retrn to (erate& if the 76 is
*reater than = m*> , mo!e to settle
/ettle @f the time in #rrent state is more than G
H
se#onds
Empty Tan< @f the pressre sensor>!olme is less than $%'' ml
H/ettle time& G& )as stepped do)n from 7%'' se#onds to =' se#onds to !ary the amont of
M,.// re#y#led3
Results and #iscussion:
Suspended Solids Concentration and Efficienc$:
Bi!en the bio#hemi#al o+y*en demand 04671 of the )aste and the final diltion ratio& the total
467 #an be #al#lated3 To
find the total measred
o+y*en #onsmption the
o+y*en pta<e rate
&
H0 1
v l sat
dDO
K C C
dt
= #an
be inte*rated o!er the
dration of the aeration
#y#le sin* 76 probe data
for C !ales and aeration
laboratory reslts for <!&l3
Fi*re $ smmari5es the resltin* data )hi#h attempts to #orrelate the mi+ed li-or !olatile
sspended solids #on#entration 0M,.//1 to 467 remo!al as a per#enta*e of the total o+y*en
demand added3 /perimposed by a red dotted line is the *eneral bilinear trend e+pe#ted from
theory3 This line #old be mathemati#ally des#ribed if the #hara#teristi#s of the ba#terial
poplation )ere <no)n3 /in#e the #hara#teristi#s of the poplation sed are n<no)n& a *eneral
line is sho)n here3
@na##ra#ies of the #on#entration measrements are one sor#e of !ariability in the data sho)n in
Fi*re $3 Points #orrespondin* to the same test rn are #onne#ted )ith a ble dotted line to sho)
the ran*e of #on#entration measrements obtained for a *i!en test rn3 Teal data points represent
the lo)er #on#entration and la!ender data points represent the hi*her #on#entration3
Con#entration testin* errors are dis#ssed later3 /e!eral of the tests report effi#ien#ies abo!e
$''D3 This may be de to )aste addition or 76 probe errors& ea#h of )hi#h is dis#ssed later3
$
/e-en#e
The first se-en#e of tests hi*hli*hted red in Fi*re $ sho)s that the effi#ien#y in#reased at a
#onstant #on#entration3 Clearly& other fa#tors #ontribte to the #han*e in effi#ien#y )hi#h are not
#aptred by the M,.// #on#entration3
Settle %i&e and Efficienc$:
Fi*re % sho)s the effi#ien#y as plotted a*ainst the settle times of #orrespondin* tests3 No
!isible relationship #an be
as#ertained from the data
nor is there any similarity to
the *eneral theoreti#al red
dotted2line plotted3 Kno)n
inflential fa#tors #asin*
this dis#repan#y in#lde
anomalos dissol!ed o+y*en
probe a#ti!ity& probe folin*
and of *reat si*nifi#an#e for
the shorter settle times )as
the slo) )aste efflent flo) rate of the rea#tor tan<3 The first and se#ond se-en#e of tests is
labeled on the fi*re to illstrate that a #lear trend )as e!ident and #ased by some other fa#tor3
The M,.// #on#entration )as e+pe#ted to !ary )ith settle time similarly to the dotted red line3
(s settle time in#reases& the #on#entration of M,.// )ill also in#rease be#ase more solids
settle to the bottom of the tan< and are then re#y#led3 /ome lo) settle time shold e+ist beneath
)hi#h the a#ti!ated sld*e )old simply )ash ot3 8o)e!er& drin* the final se-en#e of short
settle time tests 0=' se#onds1& it )as obser!ed that the empty tan< state lasted m#h lon*er than
)as ne#essary for the solids to settle3 The draina*e time )as "st nder 4 mintes )hi#h leads to
an in#reased settle time for the solids3 This is dis#ssed frther nder sor#es of error3
Sources of Error and Solutions:
%an' Effluent (aste )ethod:
The )aste tbe )as lo#ated "st beneath the $3% , mar< on the tan<3 6n#e the Iempty tan<J state
)old be*in the sspended solids immediately ad"a#ent to the )aste orifi#e )ere remo!ed and as
the state #ontines the solids in this !i#inity are the only ones )asted3 .isally there seems to be
a I5one of inflen#eJ )here )astin* of solids o##rs3 This is most li<ely a #oni# se#tion openin*
%
p)ard from the )aste orifi#e3 6bser!ations also indi#ate that this 5one of inflen#e is m#h too
small to a##omplish si*nifi#ant solids )astin* to rea#h a steady2state #on#entration -i#<ly3
Fi*re 3 sho)s the obser!ed relationship bet)een #on#entration and settle time3 The red line
plots a semi2empiri#al
relationship based on
the assmption that a
positi!e asymptoti#
relationship e+ists3
8ere the theoreti#al
relationship has a non2
5ero M,.//
#on#entration at settle
time of 5ero se#onds
to a##ont for the
effe#t efflent tbe;s inability to -i#<ly )aste a lar*e eno*h fra#tion of M,.//3
(aste Addition:
The !olme and #on#entration of syntheti# )aste added drin* ea#h trial )as !ariable3
(ppro+imately $F= m, of )aste )as added in ea#h of the tests at settle times less than $''' s3
8o)e!er& the !ariability of this measrement is n<no)n3
(lso& the setp of the test se-en#e in!ol!ed *ro)in* the ba#teria to a hi*her #on#entration3 This
)as attempted thro*h maintainin* a hi*h syntheti# )aste #on#entration& short aeration #y#le and
lon* settle time to ma+imi5e the *ro)th rate and re#y#led #on#entration of ba#teria3 @nsffi#ient
amonts of )aste added reslted in a ma+imm M,.// #on#entration lo)er than the desired
3''' m*>, 0typi#al )aste)ater treatment fa#ility13 The model )as operatin* at a typi#al le!el of
abot $E'' m*>,3 8o)e!er& it is apparent that the settle time )as hi*h eno*h to #reate a net
positi!e #ell2*ro)th rate in the rea#tor e!en )hile the settle time )as de#reasin* be#ase the
settle time )as still far abo!e the #ell retention time3 This a##onts for the in#rease in
#on#entration from $7'' m*>, at settle time of =3'' s to %4'' m*>, at settle time of A4'' s3
3
Ano&alous #!*! Probe Events:
4y far the most si*nifi#ant sor#e of error is de to anomalos dissol!ed o+y*en probe data
a#-isition3 Effi#ien#y
#al#lations; dependen#y on
the dissol!ed o+y*en defi#it
pro!es !ery sensiti!e to the
ine+pli#able de#reasin* trend
of the data as illstrated in
Fi*re 43 @nitially this trend
)as attribted to 736 probe
folin* bt the se-en#e of
tests follo)in* membrane
repla#ement obtained similar
reslts3 @t may be that the probe fols after a sin*le test bt this seems improbable3
The dramati# effe#t of this is
e!iden#ed by Fi*re A to the
left )hi#h is the identi#al data
from Fi*re 4 abo!e )ith the
se#ond test rn data points
ha!in* been mltiplied by a
#orre#tion fa#tor to for#e (rea
% to e-al (rea $3 The
#orre#tion fa#tor )as
appro+imately $33 )hi#h
de#reased the effi#ien#y from
F$3% D to ==3A D3 This indi#ates a hi*h sensiti!ity to errors in 76 probe measrements3
A
4
6s#illations are also present in the data )hi#h affe#ts the rate of o+y*en pta<e3 This is an
insi*nifi#ant #onse-en#e
resltin* in less than a $D error
in the total dissol!ed o+y*en
#onsmption !ale bt shold be
re#o*ni5ed as another indi#ator
of the performan#e le!el of the
probe3 @t #an be seen in Fi*re =3

)ass Scales:
Repeatability and resoltion isses are e!iden#ed by the standard de!iation of the #on#entration
samples3 Earlier sample had a standard de!iation of $7' m*>,3 The standard de!iation of the
final tests )as near E' m*>, )hi#h is belie!ed to be the near hi*hest repeatability attainable by
the instrmentation sin#e #han*e in mass of '3'''$ #orresponds to a $' m*>, #han*e in
#on#entration3 @f the repeatability of the s#ale is '3'''% then t)o measrements #old !ary by
4' m*>, and t)o #on#entrations #old& at the e+treme& !ary by E' m*>,3
*ther Sources of Error:
Tan< !olme )as most often at a le!el of 33E , bt se!eral tests rea#hed 4 ,3 This error )as
a##onted for by sin* the !olme reported by the pressre sensor drin* the tests3 8o)e!er&
mis2#alibration of the !olme pressre sensor may ha!e #han*ed the a#tal !olme of )ater
added and therefore the effi#ien#ies #al#lated3 Cal#lations based on a 4 , !olme )hen the
tre !olme is 33E , reslts in appro+imately a 3D error3
The <!&l !ale sed based on pre!ios laboratory )or< by the athors may not be dire#tly
appli#able to a )aste2filled tan< rea#tor3
Conclusions:
/e!eral fa#tors reslted in a hi*h de*ree of ina##ra#y and !ariability in the e+perimental reslts3
Massin* !ariability yields a ran*e of possible #on#entrations for a *i!en test3 The ma"ority of
sspended solids reside otside a I5one of inflen#eJ of the efflent tbe #asin* settle time to
=
#orrelate poorly to re#y#le !olme3 7issol!ed o+y*en probe measrement ina##ra#ies
dramati#ally #han*e the #al#lated 467 remo!al3 ?ithot #orre#tin* these sor#es of error
settle time is an inade-ate method for re*latin* 467 effi#ien#y3
Suggestions:
#* Probe Corrections:
6ne possible soltion )old be to dire#t the "et of the )ater #omin* into the plant dire#tly onto
the 76 probe to #lean the instrment3 This may ha!e ne*ati!e #onse-en#es not foreseen3
Perhaps it is )orth in!estin* in a more reliable 76 probe if this e+perimental method is to be
prsed3
Concentration Calculation )ethodolog$:
Create one method of labelin* and massin* sin* either one s#ale to red#e !ariability or t)o
s#ales to tra#< errors3
(aste +olu&e Addition:
.erify and #onsistently add the #orre#t #on#entration of )aste by proper diltion and a##rate
pmp flo) rate #al#lations to determine the ne#essary time for addition of )aste3
%an' Reactor +olu&e )aintenance:
Calibrate the !olme pressre sensor often to a!oid nder or o!erfillin*3 (lso iterate !arios data
response time delays for a!era*in* ot pea<s and bmps a##rately3
Referen#es:
0$1 http:>>#eeser!er3#ee3#ornell3ed>m)%4>#ee4A3>
0%1 http:>>)))3bla#<)ell2syner*y3#om>lin<s>doi>$'3$$$$>"3$47%27=AG3%''33'$47F3+>fll>
031 http:>>)))3linnbenton3ed>pro#ess$>resor#e>ordata>ordata3html