Biological phosphorous removal for wastewater treatment. The aim is to provide a scientific basis for understanding how phosphorous can be removed in wastewater treatment plants, using environmentally safe biological methods rather than by using chemicals. This is expected to lead to improved performance in wastewater treatment plants, which will be of economic and environmental benefit, particularly to regional communities in inland Australia.
Determination of the fate of dissolved organic nitrogen in biological nutrient removal (BNR) processes and development of appropriate treatment technologies. The aim of this project is to better characterise the dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) in sewage treatment plant influent, determine its fate in biological nutrient removal (BNR) plants, and to evaluate and develop an appropriate treatment technology.
As a result of tightening effluent N licence requirements for sewage treatment plants, ....Determination of the fate of dissolved organic nitrogen in biological nutrient removal (BNR) processes and development of appropriate treatment technologies. The aim of this project is to better characterise the dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) in sewage treatment plant influent, determine its fate in biological nutrient removal (BNR) plants, and to evaluate and develop an appropriate treatment technology.
As a result of tightening effluent N licence requirements for sewage treatment plants, the dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) fraction has become extremely important. In many cases, the DON forms the major fraction of the effluent N, and is constraining further reductions in licence specifications, and in some cases it is the cause of failure to meet licence.
DON is refractory (un-biodegradable), very poorly characterised, its fate in conventional biological treatment processes not known, and its eventual impact on the environment unknown. Considering its importance, it is critical that these issues are addressed. This proposal intends to address some of them.
This project is an APA(I) PhD student project.Read moreRead less
Production of Biodegradable Polyhydroxyalkanoate Polymers using Advanced Biological Wastewater Treatment Process Technology. The aim of this project is to develop a sustainable process for producing biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHAs)polymers from an innovative aerobic-anaerobic biological wastewater treatment process, ?treating? high strength food industry effluent. These biopolymers offer enormous potential for use as renewable and biodegradable thermoplastics.
It is proposed to inve ....Production of Biodegradable Polyhydroxyalkanoate Polymers using Advanced Biological Wastewater Treatment Process Technology. The aim of this project is to develop a sustainable process for producing biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHAs)polymers from an innovative aerobic-anaerobic biological wastewater treatment process, ?treating? high strength food industry effluent. These biopolymers offer enormous potential for use as renewable and biodegradable thermoplastics.
It is proposed to investigate two process configurations, namely the sequencing batch reactor and a continuous two step anaerobic-aerobic reaction system. These will be studied at bench-scale. The outcomes include:
1. Determination of the optimum microbial conditions and key growth
parameters for the production of PHA.
2. Optimisation of the process configuration, operating strategies
and operating conditions to maximise the
production of PHA.
3. Assessment of the influence of the feed composition (e.g. VFA)
on the PHA composition (PHB/PHV).
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Development of a Nitrogen Removal Technology to Integrate with the Novel ‘EnRec’ Energy Recovery Sewage Treatment Process. The aim of this project is to develop a nitrogen removal technology to integrate with the novel energy recovery sewage treatment process, EnRec. EnRec is presently being developed as part of a collaborative R&D activity between the partners, and is partly supported by a Queensland Government (QSEIF) grant which was awarded in November 2002.
One important issue yet to b ....Development of a Nitrogen Removal Technology to Integrate with the Novel ‘EnRec’ Energy Recovery Sewage Treatment Process. The aim of this project is to develop a nitrogen removal technology to integrate with the novel energy recovery sewage treatment process, EnRec. EnRec is presently being developed as part of a collaborative R&D activity between the partners, and is partly supported by a Queensland Government (QSEIF) grant which was awarded in November 2002.
One important issue yet to be addressed is how to achieve nitrogen removal in the EnRec process. One of the major differences between the EnRec process and conventional sewage treatment technology is that the main process reactor is anaerobic, thus eliminating aeration costs and enabling methane production. However, anaerobic treatment processes do not provide significant nitrogen removal, and thus it will be necessary to integrate a nitrogen removal technology with the main energy recovery process. This is the aim of this project.
The project is an APA(I) PhD student project.Read moreRead less
Development of a Model Relating Aggregate Properties with Aggregation Conditions for Design and Control Purposes. The project aims to understand the role of shear and other important parameters in the aggregation of nano- and micron-sized particles through fundamental studies on different particulate systems and shear environments. The knowledge will be used to develop an engineering model relating the floc properties to system conditions, thus allowing the utilisation of experimental data to fu ....Development of a Model Relating Aggregate Properties with Aggregation Conditions for Design and Control Purposes. The project aims to understand the role of shear and other important parameters in the aggregation of nano- and micron-sized particles through fundamental studies on different particulate systems and shear environments. The knowledge will be used to develop an engineering model relating the floc properties to system conditions, thus allowing the utilisation of experimental data to full-scale operations without eschewing their relevance. Project outcomes include a comprehensive guideline to set optimum conditions required to generate flocs with desirable properties for control and design purposes, with applicability extending from solid-liquid separation to nano-material synthesis, and various processes involving particle aggregation.Read moreRead less
Electrocoagulation as a low-cost option for the continuous treatment of highly polluted wastewater. Water is a critically important 'raw material' with less than 0.01% of Earth's total supply being readily available. 'Once through' utilisation of this resource is no longer an acceptable industrial practise. Recycling/reuse of industrial wastewater must become the norm with economic pollutant recovery being seen as integral to the solution. The food/beverage industries are major water users. Deta ....Electrocoagulation as a low-cost option for the continuous treatment of highly polluted wastewater. Water is a critically important 'raw material' with less than 0.01% of Earth's total supply being readily available. 'Once through' utilisation of this resource is no longer an acceptable industrial practise. Recycling/reuse of industrial wastewater must become the norm with economic pollutant recovery being seen as integral to the solution. The food/beverage industries are major water users. Detailed scoping work in 2005 has identified electrocoagulation as a technically simple and economically viable option for this industry sector. Our industry partner is part of a global multi-national corporation within which successful wastewater treatment technology will be rapidly exploited and exported. Read moreRead less