1. A Study on Optimizing Biological Phosphorous Removal by Changing Aerobic Operating Times Phillip Dixon and Juan Diaz-Robles CEE 453 Laboratory Research in Environmental Engineering December 11, 2004 Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14850

2. Topics To Be Covered Introduction to Phosphorous Removal Experimental Objectives Materials and Methods Setup Procedures Results and Conclusions Suggestions References Questions?

3. Introduction to Phosphorous Removal Phosphorous is a Nutrient Essential to Plant Growth Responsible for Eutrophication Interferes with the Health and Diversity of the Water Body Blooms of Algae Clouds Water Underwater Grasses Die Fish Kills

4. Introduction to Phosphorous Removal Very Important for WW Treatment Plants to remove Phosphorous from effluent Phosphorous Removal Accomplished by Exposing the WW to an aerobic/anaerobic sequence in a Biological Reactor

5. Introduction to Phosphorous Removal Aerobic/Anaerobic sequence will cause the reactor to select for phosphorous removing microorganisms Anaerobic Sequence Phosphorous Removing Microbes Release Phosphorous to Produce Energy to take up Fermentation Products In the Aerobic Sequence the Microbes produce energy by oxidizing the fermentation products and simultaneously take up phosphorous The Phosphorous is Removed from Solution as Intercellular Phosphorous in the Form of Sludge

6. Introduction to Phosphorous Removal Phosphorous removal can be optimized by varying aerobic and anaerobic operating times Something that was Researched throughout this Project

7. Experimental Objectives The Research’s Objective was to find the effect on Phosphorous Removal when Aerobic Operating Times were changed while maintaining a Constant Anaerobic Operating Time

8. Materials and Methods Setup Refrigerator Wastewater influent Tap water influent Samples collected

9. Materials and Methods Setup Peristaltic pump Air source Reactor Pressure sensor Stirrer Effluent (Drain)

10. Materials and Methods Procedures States in reactor cycle Influent wastewater (140 mL) Influent tap water (2.66 L) Anaerobic phase (1.5 h) Aerobic phase (3, 4.5, and 6 h) Settle (1 h) Drain (up to 1.2 L) Samples collected twice a day (minimum of 8 h apart)

11. Materials and Methods Procedures Colorimetric wet chemistry technique Intensely colored antimony-phopho-molybdate complex Blue-colored in acid medium (ascorbic acid) Color proportional to phosphorous concentration Combined color reagent 4.9 N H 2 SO 4 (50 mL) Ammonium molybdate solution (15 mL) Ascorbic acid solution (30 mL) Antimony-tartrate solution (5 mL)

12. Materials and Methods Procedures 950  L of E-pure water 50  L of Sample 160  L of Reagent

13. Results and Conclusions Removal and “Production” of Phosphorous Results suggest that there is little evidence of Phosphorous Removal Tried collaborating with another group varied anaerobic operating time while keeping aerobic operating time constant Results suggest little evidence of Phosphorous Removal We have no recommendations on the Optimum Operating times for Phosphorous Removal

14. Results and Conclusions

15. Suggestions Precise manner in mixing the components for the combined color reagent Samples should be diluted prior measuring in the spectrophotometer Collect samples shortly after the draining stage of a cycle has been completed Collect samples without sludge particles Analyze samples shortly after collected or refrigerate them before analysis

16. References CEE 453 Phosphorous Measurements. “Phosphorus Measurements.” December 7, 2004. http://ceeserver.cee.cornell.edu/mw24/cee453/http://ceeserver.cee.cornell.edu/mw24/cee453/ Lake Champlain Basin Program. “Phosphorus Pollution.” December 3, 2004. http://www.lcbp.org/phospsum.htmhttp://www.lcbp.org/phospsum.htm US EPA. “Eutrophication.” September 8, 2003. http://www.epa.gov/maia/html/eutroph.html http://www.epa.gov/maia/html/eutroph.html Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. “Wastewater Characterization for Evaluation of Biological Phosphorous Removal.” April 29, 2003. http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/wm/ww/biophos/1intro.htm http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/wm/ww/biophos/1intro.htm Pictures of the laboratory setup are courtesy of Sarah.

17. Environmental Engineers’ efforts are in trying to avoid…