An innovative reactor for biological treatment of nitrate-rich groundwater using whey

Other Title(s)

مفاعل خلاق لمعالجة حيوية لمياه جوفيه غنيه بالنترات باستخدام شرش اللبن

Dissertant

Abduh, Emil G.

Thesis advisor

al-Said, Rashid

Comitee Members

Mahmud, Nidal
Abu Madi, Mahir

University

Birzeit University

Faculty

Institute of Environmental and Water Studies

Department

Water and Environmental Engineering

University Country

Palestine (West Bank)

Degree

Master

Degree Date

2016

English Abstract

Groundwater is considered as the main source of water supply for drinking, irrigation and municipal uses in Palestine.

Recent publications revealed that most of groundwater wells in the Gaza Strip are contaminated with high nitrate concentrations, and unfit for potable and agricultural uses.

The nitrate in groundwater with high concentrations is mainly resulted from point sources such as sewage disposal systems and livestock facilities, and from nonpoint sources such as fertilized lands, and gardens, or from naturally occurring sources of nitrogen.

Groundwater contamination by excessive nitrate poses significant public health problems and have caused those shutdown of ground wells as a main water sources.

The objective of this study is to evaluate and examine the feasibility of biological denitrification process to treat or reduce the nitrate-rich in groundwater using whey as an external carbon sources.

Whey, a dairy waste product, will be added to the bioreactor to provide an external carbon source for heterotrophic denitrifiers.

To achieve the main objective, a lab-scale bioreactor was designed, assembled and run in both batch and continuous modes.

Operational results using batch tests revealed an optimum COD/NO3--N ratio of 7.2 with a maximum specific denitrification rate of 14.61 (mg NO3--N/gMLSS.hr).

This C/N ratio was used to evaluate the performance of the system in continuous mode to obtain all the required operational parameters.

Different influent nitrate-nitrogen concentrations were used in the study with different nitrate-nitrogen loading to study the effect of hydraulic retention time (HRT), nitrate loading, mixed liquor suspended solids effects on the nitrate removal efficiency in additional to the reactor removal capacity.

Physical, chemical and biological parameters were determined according to the American Public Health Standards Association (APHA).

The maximum denitrification efficiency was achieved and became constant at 5 hours HRT for different nitrate influent concentrations.

Further treatment for the effluent is needed to reduce turbidity, bacterial numbers, and to increase the dissolved oxygen concentration in the effluent to comply with local drinking water quality standards.

Main Subjects

Earth Sciences, Water and Environment

No. of Pages

76

Table of Contents

Table of contents.

Abstract.

Abstract in Arabic.

Chapter One : Introduction.

Chapter Two : Literature review.

Chapter Three : Materials and methodology.

Chapter Four : Results and discussion.

Chapter Five : Financial analysis.

Chapter Six : Conclusion and recommendations.

References.

American Psychological Association (APA)

Abduh, Emil G.. (2016). An innovative reactor for biological treatment of nitrate-rich groundwater using whey. (Master's theses Theses and Dissertations Master). Birzeit University, Palestine (West Bank)
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-728244

Modern Language Association (MLA)

Abduh, Emil G.. An innovative reactor for biological treatment of nitrate-rich groundwater using whey. (Master's theses Theses and Dissertations Master). Birzeit University. (2016).
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-728244

American Medical Association (AMA)

Abduh, Emil G.. (2016). An innovative reactor for biological treatment of nitrate-rich groundwater using whey. (Master's theses Theses and Dissertations Master). Birzeit University, Palestine (West Bank)
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-728244

Language

English

Data Type

Arab Theses

Record ID

BIM-728244