The Effect of Nickel on The Effect of Nickel on Thermophilic Bacteria for Thermophilic Bacteria for

Wastewater TreatmentWastewater Treatment

Doanh Van, PhD., PE., CEMDoanh Van, PhD., PE., CEM•Associate Professor & Chair EngineeringAssociate Professor & Chair Engineering

Elsie Y. SmithElsie Y. Smith•Associate Professor of BiologyAssociate Professor of Biology

Midsouth Annual Engineering & Science Conference (May 11, 2005)

Christian Brothers University

The Wastewater of InterestThe Wastewater of Interest

Sewage (sea ward)Sewage (sea ward) Any water that’s not useful.Any water that’s not useful.

• Residences and businesses. Residences and businesses. • Process water discharged from manufacturing Process water discharged from manufacturing

plants.plants.

Typical Analysis of Typical Analysis of Domestic WastewaterDomestic Wastewater

SolidsSolids 720 mg/L720 mg/L BODBOD55 220 mg/L220 mg/L CODCOD 500 mg/L500 mg/L TOCTOC 160 mg/L160 mg/L NN 40 mg/L 40 mg/L PP 8 mg/L 8 mg/L ChloridesChlorides 50 mg/L 50 mg/L SulfatesSulfates 30 mg/L 30 mg/L AlkalinityAlkalinity 100 mg/L 100 mg/L GreaseGrease 100 mg/L 100 mg/L Total coliformTotal coliform 10 -100 million/100 mL10 -100 million/100 mL VOCVOC 250 ppb250 ppb

Typical Analysis of Typical Analysis of Industrial WastewaterIndustrial Wastewater

CODCOD 5,600 - 16,200 mg/L5,600 - 16,200 mg/L

BODBOD55 3,350 - 4,625 mg/L3,350 - 4,625 mg/L

TSSTSS 160 - 340 mg/L160 - 340 mg/L

pHpH 6.1 - 8.16.1 - 8.1

Another Analysis of Another Analysis of Industrial WastewaterIndustrial Wastewater

3.5 - 5.43.5 - 5.4pHpH

180 - 670 mg/L180 - 670 mg/LTSSTSS

5,250 - 24,250 mg/L5,250 - 24,250 mg/LBODBOD55

8,400 - 38,800 mg/L8,400 - 38,800 mg/LCODCOD

Wastewater TreatmentWastewater Treatment

The removal of organic matters, solids, nutrients, The removal of organic matters, solids, nutrients, disease-causing organisms and other pollutants disease-causing organisms and other pollutants from wastewater before readmitting it to the from wastewater before readmitting it to the receiving water body or discharging it to the receiving water body or discharging it to the POTWs. POTWs.

The Governing LawThe Governing Law

CWA or Clean Water Act (1987) aka CWA or Clean Water Act (1987) aka FWPCA (1972) FWPCA (1972) • GoalGoal: to restore and maintain the chemical, : to restore and maintain the chemical,

physical and biological integrity of the nation’s physical and biological integrity of the nation’s waterswaters

• ObjectivesObjectives: provide for propagation and : provide for propagation and protection of fish, shellfish, and wildlife and protection of fish, shellfish, and wildlife and recreation. Also to eliminate the discharge of recreation. Also to eliminate the discharge of pollutants (zero discharge)pollutants (zero discharge)

The Science of The Science of Wastewater TreatmentWastewater Treatment

CHONS + OCHONS + O22 --------------->> CO --------------->> CO22 + H + H22O + NHO + NH33 + Others + Othersbacteria

organicpollutants

Gravity causes separation of solid phase from liquid

The Use of BacteriaThe Use of Bacteria

Psychrophilic (~13°C )Psychrophilic (~13°C ) Mesophilic (~32°C )Mesophilic (~32°C ) Thermophilic (higher range of T)Thermophilic (higher range of T)

• High strength (BODHigh strength (BOD55, COD) wastewater, COD) wastewater

• Explosive laden wastewaterExplosive laden wastewater• Rapid biodegradationRapid biodegradation• Low growth yieldsLow growth yields• Self-sustained processSelf-sustained process

About ThermophilesAbout Thermophiles

Bacteria with special enzymes (extremozymes)Bacteria with special enzymes (extremozymes)• String of amino acids fold themselves very tightly.String of amino acids fold themselves very tightly.• Have less amino acid glycine in the structure.Have less amino acid glycine in the structure.• Have chaperonin protein for bio maintenanceHave chaperonin protein for bio maintenance

110° C bacterial growth has been reported110° C bacterial growth has been reported 250° C also reported-- questionable. (Atlas & 250° C also reported-- questionable. (Atlas &

Mosby).Mosby).

Wastewater Treatment Wastewater Treatment TechnologiesTechnologies

Secondary TreatmentSecondary Treatment

aka Biological Treatmentaka Biological Treatment• Activated Sludge processActivated Sludge process• Trickling Filter processTrickling Filter process• Sequential Batch Reactor processSequential Batch Reactor process

The Challenges in Treating Certain The Challenges in Treating Certain Industrial Wastewater Stream:Industrial Wastewater Stream:

High strengthHigh strength Potentially toxic organicsPotentially toxic organics

• DissolvedDissolved• SuspendedSuspended

One Highly Effective ProcessOne Highly Effective Process

Equalization Tank

High StrengthWaste Stream

Thermophilic BiologicalReactor Ultrafiltration

Eff

Chemical Sludge Treatment

Recycle Sludge

http://www.pmcbiotec.com/downloads/Thermophilic_wastewater.pdf#search='thermophilic%20wastewater%20treatment‘http://www.pmcbiotec.com/downloads/Thermophilic_wastewater.pdf#search='thermophilic%20wastewater%20treatment‘

A Pilot Scale Was ConductedA Pilot Scale Was Conducted

•1000-gallon SS reactor.

•Agitated.

•Insulated.

•Recirculation loop also included a 0.02-micron ultrafiltration at 132 m3/d.

The ResultsThe Results

Thermophilic Reactor Acclimation Time

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Time (days)

Tem

per

atu

re (

deg

ree

C)

Steady State Thermophilic Reactor Operation

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

30 32 34 36 38 40

Time (days)

Tem

per

atu

re (

deg

ree

C)

Reactor OUR vs Reactor Temperature

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60

Reactor Temperature (C)

OU

R (

mg

/l-h

)

Feed Strength and COD Removal Efficiency

0

50000

100000

150000

200000

2500001 7

13

19

25

31

37

43

49

55

61

67

73

79

Time (days)

Fe

ed

C

on

ce

ntr

ati

on

(m

g/L

)

0.00

20.00

40.00

60.00

80.00

100.00

CO

D R

em

ov

al

Eff

icie

nc

y (

%)

Feed Concentration Efficiency

The Unexpected Problem

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140

time (days)

Te

mp

era

ture

(d

eg

ree

C)

Total Heavy Metals 110 mg/L

Nickel 93.5

Cadmium <0.01

Chromium 1.8

Lead 0.4

Zinc 13

Mercury 0.002

Silver <0.01

Copper 0.43

Arsenic 0.002

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

Thermophilic bacteria for wastewater Thermophilic bacteria for wastewater treatment technology is innovative.treatment technology is innovative.

Highly effective for organic wastestream.Highly effective for organic wastestream. Some inorganic contents in the feed Some inorganic contents in the feed

stream are very undesirable.stream are very undesirable. Nickel is fatal to thermophilic bacteria. Nickel is fatal to thermophilic bacteria.

• It can alter cell’s membrane properties and It can alter cell’s membrane properties and influences oxidation/reduction systems.influences oxidation/reduction systems.

• It failed the process.It failed the process.

ReferencesReferences ““Microorganisms in Our World”, Ronald M. Atlas, Mosby, 1995, pp. 299-300.Microorganisms in Our World”, Ronald M. Atlas, Mosby, 1995, pp. 299-300. http://www.microbe.org/microbes/thermophiles.asphttp://www.microbe.org/microbes/thermophiles.asp http://www.jbc.org/cgi/content/abstract/276/20/16731http://www.jbc.org/cgi/content/abstract/276/20/16731 http://www.eagle-min.com/faq/faq101.htmhttp://www.eagle-min.com/faq/faq101.htm http://www.pmcbiotec.com/downloads/Thermophilic_wastewater.pdf#search='thermophilichttp://www.pmcbiotec.com/downloads/Thermophilic_wastewater.pdf#search='thermophilic

%20wastewater%20treatment‘%20wastewater%20treatment‘ http://p2library.nfesc.navy.mil/P2_Opportunity_Handbook/9-II-9.htmlhttp://p2library.nfesc.navy.mil/P2_Opportunity_Handbook/9-II-9.html http://ce.ecn.purdue.edu/~piwc/w3-research/lapara/lapara-research.htmlhttp://ce.ecn.purdue.edu/~piwc/w3-research/lapara/lapara-research.html http://www.cecl.com.tw/en_docs/scope/waste/tab/tab-e.htmhttp://www.cecl.com.tw/en_docs/scope/waste/tab/tab-e.htm http://www.iwaponline.com/wst/04001/wst040010053.htmhttp://www.iwaponline.com/wst/04001/wst040010053.htm http://profiles.nlm.nih.gov/KK/B/B/G/C/_/kkbbgc.pdfhttp://profiles.nlm.nih.gov/KK/B/B/G/C/_/kkbbgc.pdf