Biomedical subjects

Steven I Safferman

Publications and source records attributed to Steven I Safferman.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Carbon and nutrient removal in a dual-media fluidized bed reactor.

A dual-media fluidized bed is a unique reactor design containing two distinct media that results in two segregated treatment zones. By the strategic use of these two zones, this design has the potential to remove both BOD and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) in a single compact reactor. Three operational strategies are conceivable. The first is to maintain a microbiological zone close to the influent to achieve BOD and nitrogen removal. The zone above would contain an exchange media to remove phosphorous. In another scenario, the lower zone would be kept aerobic and the higher zone anoxic. This would enhance denitrification. In the third scenario, the first two are combined by having the exchange media serve as the anoxic zone or including an independent third zone (aerobic, anoxic, and exchange). This scenario could result in the comprehensive treatment of BOD, nitrogen, and phosphorus removal. This proof-of-concept research primarily investigated the first scenario and provided preliminary data for the other two. A low-loaded operating strategy was used to minimize the inherent disadvantages of a fluidized bed reactor, primarily caused by excessive biofilm growth. The reactor was operated for approximately 1 year using sand and activated alumina as the two media. Good separation with minimum mixing at the interface resulted. BOD and phosphorus removal and nitrification were consistently very good during non-transitional periods. Denitrification varied depending on the influent concentration, dissolved oxygen, and oxidation/reduction potential. Preliminary data also indicated that when a low recirculation ratio is used, denitrification could be enhanced. There appears to be a potential difficulty, however, in exchanging phosphorous using activated alumina under low oxidation/reduction potential conditions.

Aluminum Oxide↗

PubMed2002

Passive nutrient addition for the biodegradation of ethylene glycol in storm water.

This laboratory proof-of-concept research examined the feasibility of adding solid, slow-release macronutrients to a biofilm reactor system to achieve the effective biodegradation of a predominately organic polluted storm water. The target scenario was treating ethylene glycol in storm water, representing the runoff of airport deicing and anti-icing fluids. However, the results can also be generalized for any water polluted with a predominately carbonaceous material. The use of a solid, slow-release nutrient source, compared to amending with a soluble solution in proportion to influent flow, would be ideal for storm water applications and other specialized wastewater flows when maintenance requirements and operational support must be minimized. Several commercially available fertilizers were preliminarily examined to determine which had the best potential to provide the required amount of nutrients. A time-released, polymer-coated granular fertilizer was ultimately selected. Based on laboratory studies, it was found that this fertilizer could provide a controllable source of macronutrients that enabled treatment to a similar degree as if the macronutrients had been dissolved in the influent. The only major operational problem was reduced nutrient delivery from the fertilizer after it became coated with a thick biofilm. However, the inherent intermittent nature of storm water production resulting in wet/dry cycles may minimize the development of a thick biofilm.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Carbon and nutrient removal from on-site wastewater using extended-aeration activated sludge and ion exchange.

The need to improve on-site wastewater treatment processes is being realized as populations move into more environmentally sensitive regions and regulators adopt the total maximum daily load approach to watershed management. Under many conditions, septic systems do not provide adequate treatment; therefore, advanced systems are required. These systems must remove significant amounts of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and suspended solids, and substantially nitrify, denitrify, and remove phosphorus. Many existing advanced on-site wastewater systems effectively remove BOD, suspended solids, and ammonia, but few substantially denitrify and uptake phosphorus. The purpose of this research was to design and test modifications to an existing on-site wastewater treatment system to improve denitrification and phosphorus removal. The Nayadic (Consolidated Treatment Systems, Inc., Franklin, Ohio), an established, commercially available, extended-aeration, activated sludge process, was used to represent a typical existing system. Several modifications were considered based on a literature review, and the option with the best potential was tested. To improve denitrification, a supplemental treatment tank was installed before the Nayadic and a combination flow splitter, sump, and pump box with a recirculation system was installed after it. A recirculation pump returned a high proportion of the system effluent back to the supplemental treatment tank. Two supplemental treatment tank sizes, three flowrates, and three recirculation rates were tested. Actual wastewater was dosed as brief slugs to the system in accordance with a set schedule. Several ion-exchange resins housed in a contact column were tested on the effluent for their potential to remove phosphorus. Low effluent levels of five-day biochemical oxygen demand, suspended solids, and total nitrogen were achieved and substantial phosphorous removal was also achieved using a 3780-L supplemental treatment tank, a recirculation ratio of 5:1, and a fine-grain activated aluminum-oxide-exchange media. Good results were also obtained with an 1890-L supplemental treatment tank and a recirculation ratio of 3:1. The most significant benefit of the supplemental treatment tank, in combination with the recirculation system, appears to be the low nitrogen concentration dosed to the Nayadic. By reducing the nitrogen concentration and spreading out its mass over time during no-flow periods, the Nayadic's inherent low-level denitrifying capacity was more closely matched and effective treatment was achieved.

Aluminum↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Maximizing total nitrogen removal from onsite-generated wastewater.

The research reported here examined the use of hydraulic loading strategies to maximize nitrogen removal from onsite-generated wastewater. These strategies are made practical by the inherently intermittent flow of onsite-generated wastewater. Experimentation was conducted at the Western Regional Wastewater Pretreatment Facility in Montgomery County, Ohio, with an established, full-scale onsite wastewater treatment system rated at 500 gallons per day. The onsite wastewater treatment unit was fed primarily with domestic wastewater that had passed through fine screens and grit removal. The dosing schedule was intermittent, representing what would be expected from onsite-generated wastewater. Oxidation occurred in the aeration tank and potentially on the solid-liquid filtration socks within the aeration tank. All major wastewater characterization parameters were monitored during the approximately one-year study, including five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD;), total suspended solids (TSS), nitrate, total nitrogen, pH, and alkalinity. Excellent removal of BOD5 and TSS resulted, with the effluent concentration of each parameter substantially and consistently below 10 mg/L for all operating conditions. Excellent total nitrogen removal occurred, typically to below 10 mg/L of nitrogen when the instantaneous flow of wastewater was low, even when the daily hydraulic loading was high. The removal of nitrogen was attributed to microbial biodegradation. This result indicates that the onsite wastewater treatment unit has an inherent denitrification capacity that can be matched with an equalized-hydraulic-loading strategy. The practical ability to equalize and reduce instantaneous loading results from the inherently intermittent nature of the flow associated with onsite wastewater treatment.

Filtration↗