Treatment efficiency of package plants for on-site wastewater treatment in cold climates.

Package plants (PP) are implemented around the world to provide on-site sanitation in areas not connected to a sewage network. The efficiency of PP has not been comprehensively studied at full scale, and the limited number of available studies have shown that their performance varies greatly. Their performance under cold climate conditions and the occurrence of micropollutants in PP effluents have not been sufficiently explored. PP are exposed to environmental factors such as low temperature, especially in cold regions with low winter temperatures and deep frost penetration, that can adversely influence the biochemical processes. The aim of this study was to investigate the treatment efficiency and possible effects of cold temperatures on PP performance, with focus on traditional contaminants (organics, solids, nutrients and indicator bacteria) and an additional assessment of micropollutants on two PP. Eleven PP hosting different treatment processes were monitored. Removal of biological oxygen demand (BOD) was high in all plants (>91%). Six out of the 11 PP provided good phosphorus removal (>71%). Small degrees of nitrification were observed in almost all the facilities, despite the low temperatures, while denitrification was only observed in two plants which achieved the highest nitrification rates (>51%) and had sludge recirculation. No strong correlation between wastewater temperature and BOD, nutrients and indicator bacteria concentration in the effluents was found. The high data variability and the effects of other process parameters as well as snow-melt water infiltration are suggested as possible reasons for the lack of correlation. However, weak negative relations between effluent concentrations and wastewater temperatures were detected in specific plants, indicating that temperature does have effects. When managed adequately, package plants can provide high BOD and phosphorus removal, but nitrogen and bacteria removal remain challenging, especially at low temperatures. Pharmaceutical compounds were detected in the effluents at concentrations within or above ranges reported for large treatment plants while phthalate ester concentrations were below commonly reported effluent concentrations.

Synthetic stormwater for laboratory testing of filter materials.

Synthetic stormwater was tested to determine the ageing effects on dissolved metal concentrations and used in a column experiment to determine efficiency of four different filter materials (milkweed, bark, peat, polypropylene) in removing total and dissolved metals. Synthetic stormwater was created by adding metal salts, oil and collected stormwater sediment to tap water. Two ageing experiments were performed to determine the change of synthetic stormwater quality over time. One experiment lasted for 11 days and another focused on rapid concentration changes one day after preparation. The one-day ageing experiment showed rapid decrease in dissolved concentration of certain metals, specifically Cu. To consider this change, correction coefficients for each metal were developed and used to estimate the average dissolved metal concentration in the synthetic stormwater during the experiment to determine filter treatment efficiency. During the 11-day experiment on metal concentrations, no noticeable quality changes were observed for at least six days after the preparation of synthetic stormwater. Furthermore, a column experiment was run with duplicate filter columns. Inflow and outflow samples were analysed for total and dissolved metals, turbidity, particle size distribution, and pH. High removal of total metal concentrations was noticed in all tested filter media (58-94%). Dissolved metal concentration removal varied among different filter media. In general, columns with bark and peat media were able to treat dissolved metals better than polypropylene and milkweed. The level of treatment of dissolved metals between the different filter media columns were bark > peat > milkweed > polypropylene.

Removal of metals and hydrocarbons from stormwater using coagulation and flocculation.

As the understanding of how stormwater pollutants are fractioned and need for mitigation has increased, so has the investigation into more advanced treatment techniques. The present study investigated the treatment efficiency of coagulation/flocculation and sedimentation in semi-synthetic stormwater. Five coagulants were evaluated in terms of reducing particle content, organic carbon, total and dissolved metals, hydrocarbon oil index, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Changes in the resulting particle size distribution as a consequence of the coagulation treatment were also investigated. The pollutants in the semi-synthetic stormwater were predominantly in the particulate phase. The medium and longer chained hydrocarbons dominated the hydrocarbon oil index, while medium to high molecular weight PAHs were most abundant. Iron chloride was the only coagulant that affected particle size distribution post-treatment, shifting the distribution toward larger particles. In terms of total metal removal, the performance of the coagulants was similar, with over 90% removal on average. Concentration of zdissolved copper, one of the metals found in the dissolved phase, was reduced by 40% via coagulation treatment. The iron chloride coagulant increased dissolved Zn, a change attributed to a considerable drop in pH resulting in higher ion mobility. Similarly, the reduction in organic content (total organic carbon, oil, and PAHs) was over 90% for most coagulants.

Enhancing stormwater sediment settling at detention pond inlets by a bottom grid structure (BGS).

Stormwater sediments of various sizes and densities are recognised as one of the most important stormwater quality parameters that can be conventionally controlled by settling in detention ponds. The bottom grid structure (BGS) is an innovative concept proposed in this study to enhance removal of stormwater sediments entering ponds and reduce sediment resuspension. This concept was studied in a hydraulic scale model with the objective of elucidating the effects of the BGS geometry on stormwater sediment trapping. Towards this end, the BGS cell size and depth, and the cell cross-wall angle were varied for a range of flow rates, and the sediment trapping efficiency was measured in the model. The main value of the observed sediment trapping efficiencies, in the range from 13 to 55%, was a comparative assessment of various BGS designs. In general, larger cells (footprint 10 × 10 cm) were more effective than the smaller cells (5 × 5 cm), the cell depth exerted small influence on sediment trapping, and the cells with inclined cross-walls proved more effective in sediment trapping than the vertical cross-walls. However, the BGS with inclined cross-walls would be harder to maintain. Future studies should address an optimal cell design and testing in an actual stormwater pond.

Effect of temperature on the performance of laboratory-scale phosphorus-removing filter beds in on-site wastewater treatment.

P-sorbing filter beds appear to be viable options for treating wastewater to reduce P discharges and recover this non-renewable resource. However, greater knowledge of filters' responses to temperature variations is required to assess their likely performance in full-scale applications and facilitate the transfer of laboratory results to the field. Thus, in the present study two filter materials (Top16 and Polonite) were characterized physicochemically and effects of temperature on their performance were investigated under controlled laboratory conditions. Using a 2(2) factorial design and secondary wastewater eight filter columns were tested at temperatures of 4.3°C and 16.5°C. Temperature significantly (α=0.05) and strongly affected the P binding capacity of both materials, as it was 1.2- and 1.5-fold higher at 16.5°C than at 4.3°C for Top16 and Polonite, respectively. This is probably due to the enhanced precipitation of calcium phosphates at higher temperature. Observed reductions in total organic carbon content in the wastewater were also positively correlated with temperature, while the pH and reduction of dissolved organic carbon remained unaffected. The physicochemical analyses indicated that several calcium phases dissolved from the filter materials, primarily gypsum and bassanite from Top16 and Portlandite from Polonite. No clear evidence of any crystalline calcium phosphates was observed in the used materials. The results clearly show that temperature strongly influences the retention of P in filters and its effects should be carefully considered before using candidate filters in full-scale applications.

Modeling phosphate transport and removal in a compact bed filled with a mineral-based sorbent for domestic wastewater treatment.

Phosphorus filter units containing mineral-based sorbents with a high phosphate (PO4) binding capacity have been shown to be appropriate for removing PO4 in the treatment of domestic wastewater in on-site facilities. However, a better understanding of their PO4 removal mechanisms, and reactions that could lead to the formation of PO4 compounds, is required to evaluate the potential utility of candidate sorbents. Models based on data obtained from laboratory-scale experiments with columns of selected materials can be valuable for acquiring such understanding. Thus, in this study the transport and removal of PO4 in experiments with a laboratory-scale column filled with a commercial silicate-based sorbent were modeled, using the hydro-geochemical transport code PHREEQC. The resulting models, that incorporated the dissolution of calcite, kinetic constrains for the dissolution of calcium oxide (CaO) and wollastonite (CaSiO3), and the precipitation of amorphous tricalcium phosphate, Ca3(PO4)2, successfully simulated the removal of PO4 observed in the experiments.

The effect of hydraulic loading rate and influent source on the binding capacity of phosphorus filters.

Sorption by active filter media can be a convenient option for phosphorus (P) removal and recovery from wastewater for on-site treatment systems. There is a need for a robust laboratory method for the investigation of filter materials to enable a reliable estimation of their longevity. The objectives of this study were to (1) investigate and (2) quantify the effect of hydraulic loading rate and influent source (secondary wastewater and synthetic phosphate solution) on P binding capacity determined in laboratory column tests and (3) to study how much time is needed for the P to react with the filter material (reaction time). To study the effects of these factors, a 2(2) factorial experiment with 11 filter columns was performed. The reaction time was studied in a batch experiment. Both factors significantly (α = 0.05) affected the P binding capacity negatively, but the interaction of the two factors was not significant. Increasing the loading rate from 100 to 1200 L m(-2) d(-1) decreased P binding capacity from 1.152 to 0.070 g kg(-1) for wastewater filters and from 1.382 to 0.300 g kg(-1) for phosphate solution filters. At a loading rate of 100 L m(-2) d(-1), the average P binding capacity of wastewater filters was 1.152 g kg(-1) as opposed to 1.382 g kg(-1) for phosphate solution filters. Therefore, influent source or hydraulic loading rate should be carefully controlled in the laboratory. When phosphate solution and wastewater were used, the reaction times for the filters to remove P were determined to be 5 and 15 minutes, respectively, suggesting that a short residence time is required. However, breakthrough in this study occurred unexpectedly quickly, implying that more time is needed for the P that has reacted to be physically retained in the filter.

Phosphorus binding to Filtra P in batch tests.

Recent guidelines from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency recommend stricter regulations for phosphorus (P) reduction in small-scale wastewater treatment, which raises the need for additional and novel treatment steps in small-scale facilities. Following a biological pretreatment, filter systems can be a convenient option. In this study, the P binding capacity of the filter material Filtra P was investigated in batch tests. The batch test method was evaluated with respect to the effects of liquid-to-solid ratio and particle size on P binding capacity. For initial concentrations (c(i)) between 3 and 100 mg L(-1), the P in the solution was completely and rapidly bound to the material, indicating that Filtra P was an efficient substrate for this process. The maximum amount of bound P was 4.3 +/- 0.64 g kg(-1) at c(i) = 300 mg L(-1). The P binding capacity and turbidity measured in the supernatant correlated positively. Turbidity was probably caused by calcium-P precipitates, suggesting precipitation was the major removal mechanism. Neither the liquid-to-solid ratio nor the particle size affected P binding capacity significantly (alpha = 0.05) at c(i) = 1000 mg L(-1), confirming that the conditions used in the batch tests were appropriate. In full-scale applications, the precipitate formed may be at risk of being washed out of the filter, leading to low total P reduction and recovery.

Steel slag used in landfill cover liners: laboratory and field tests.

Stricter rules for landfilling within the EU have led to the closure of many landfills and a need for large amounts of cover liner materials. Therefore, the potential utilization of mixtures of electric arc furnace slag (EAFS) and ladle slag (LS), which are currently deposited in landfills, as a material for use as landfill liner was investigated. Laboratory analyses showed the mixtures to have similar compression strength to that of high-strength concrete and low hydraulic conductivity (< 10(-11) m s(-1) in some cases). However, both their hydraulic conductivity and compaction properties were strongly affected by the time between adding water to the mixtures and compacting them (tests showed that a delay of 24 h can lead to an increase in hydraulic conductivity, so it should be compacted as soon as possible after mixing the material with water). In addition, the performance of a cover liner constructed using EAFS and LS was studied in a 2-year field trial on a landfill for municipal solid waste, in which the average amount of leachate collected from ten lysimeters was only 27 L m(-2) year(-1), easily meeting Swedish criteria for the permeability of covers on non-hazardous waste landfills (≤ 50 L m(-2) year(-1)). Thus, the material seems to have promising potential for use in barrier constructions.

Hydraulic conductivity of fly ash-sewage sludge mixes for use in landfill cover liners.

Secondary materials could help meeting the increasing demand of landfill cover liner materials. In this study, the effect of compaction energy, water content, ash ratio, freezing, drying and biological activity on the hydraulic conductivity of two fly ash-sewage sludge mixes was investigated using a 2(7-1) fractional factorial design. The aim was to identify the factors that influence hydraulic conductivity, to quantify their effects and to assess how a sufficiently low hydraulic conductivity can be achieved. The factors compaction energy and drying, as well as the factor interactions material x ash ratio and ash ratio x compaction energy affected hydraulic conductivity significantly (alpha=0.05). Freezing on five freeze-thaw cycles did not affect hydraulic conductivity. Water content affected hydraulic conductivity only initially. The hydraulic conductivity data were modelled using multiple linear regression. The derived models were reliable as indicated by R(adjusted)(2) values between 0.75 and 0.86. Independent on the ash ratio and the material, hydraulic conductivity was predicted to be between 1.7 x 10(-11)m s(-1) and 8.9 x 10(-10)m s(-1) if the compaction energy was 2.4 J cm(-3), the ash ratio between 20% and 75% and drying did not occur. Thus, the investigated materials met the limit value for non-hazardous waste landfills of 10(-9)m s(-1).