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Zhao, X.H.
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Zhao, X.H.
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Zhao, X.H.
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- PublicationAn innovative solution for managing waterworks sludge : developing an alum sludge-based multi-stage constructed wetland system for wastewater treatmentWaterworks sludge continues to be an inescapable by-product of the potable water treatment process. Accordingly, final disposal of the sludge remains one of the most significant pressing problems for the potable water treatment industry. The possibility of reusing the sludge as a main substrate in a novel constructed wetland system was investigated in this study. Results show that significant phosphorus (P) and other pollutants removal were achieved in the system. With a mean influent BOD5 (5-day biochemical oxygen demand) and COD (chemical oxygen demand) levels of 392.7 mg/l and 579.8 mg/l, respectively, a removal efficiency of 90.6 % and 71.8 %, respectively, was obtained. P removal was however exceptionally high despite the high influent mean P level of 45.3 mg-P/l, which is about 2-3 times the level of P commonly found in sewage. This is attributable to the P adsorption capacity of the alum sludge and this highlights the benefits of its reuse in the system. The paper presents and discusses the findings from a laboratory scale research, which has potential for further large scale implementation.
1679 - PublicationPilot field-scale demonstration of a novel alum sludge-based constructed wetland system for enhanced wastewater treatmentIn this study, beneficial reuse of the alum-contained drinking water treatment sludge is extended into developing a novel constructed wetland system (CWs) using the alum sludge as main substrate. The study reports on the first pilot field-scale alum sludge-based CWs operated in the tidal flow mode with enhanced capacity for phosphorus and organic matter removal from animal farm wastewater. The concept of the development is presented and this is followed by the performance analysis of the first CWs of its kind. The CWs consists of four identical compartments in series operated using a tidal flow strategy with a hydraulic loading rate of 0.29 m3/m2.d. First year analysis of the system’s performance shows that it is a unique and promising low-cost wastewater treatment system. The mean monthly removal efficiencies obtained was determined to range from 57%-84%, 36%-84%, 11%-78%, 49%-93%, 75%-94%, 73%-97% and 46%-83% for BOD5, COD, TN, NH4-N, TP, P (inorganic phosphorus) and SS. The system showed a distinct phosphorus removal and also, the system was effective in reducing levels of organics and ammonium-nitrogen. More importantly, the system showcases a novel reuse alternative for the alum sludge as opposed to its landfilling, demonstrating a win-win technique with a great potential for larger-scale application.
1925Scopus© Citations 154 - PublicationUse of dewatered alum sludge as main substrate in treatment reed bed receiving agricultural wastewater : long-term trialThis study aims to explore a novel application of dewatered alum sludge cakes (DASC) as the main medium in a single model reed bed to treat phosphorus-rich animal farm wastewater under "tidal flow" operation on a long term basis. It is expected that the cakes act as the carrier for developing biofilm and also serve as adsorbent to enhance phosphorus (P) immobilization. Results have demonstrated that average removal efficiencies of 73.3±15.9% for COD, 82.9±12.3% for BOD5, 86.4±6.0% for RP (reactive P), 88.6±7.2% for SRP (soluble reactive P) and 77.6±17.5% for SS can be achieved during the two year's operation. More significantly, the "P-adsorption proportion" by DASC in the reed bed is 42% of the overall P removal. The remaining removal of P may be contributed by the trapping and filtration process of DASC. Therefore, the lifetime of the DASC in reed bed is reasonably longer than that determined from the batch isotherm test.
2217Scopus© Citations 97 - PublicationA two-prong approach of beneficial reuse of alum sludge in engineered wetland : first experience from IrelandEffective management of the industrial waste requires a sustainable approach that maximizes its value of reuse/recycle for other industrial demands and the environment needs. This paper aims in exploring the potential of the intended purposes in the newly developed dewatered aluminum-water treatment sludge (Al-WTS) based engineered wetland (EW) for wastewater treatment. Due to the low energy requirement and aesthetical appearance EW is seen as a ‘green’ wastewater treatment technique worldwide for a wide variety of wastewater treatment. The Al-WTS based EW developed at University College Dublin, Ireland, represents the latest initiative at using engineering ingenuity to further improve EWs performance. This paper summarizes the background of development and the results derived from different phases of the development of Al-WTS based EW.
828Scopus© Citations 17 - PublicationHigh rate nitrogen removal in an alum sludge-based intermittent aeration constructed wetlandA new development on treatment wetland technology for the purpose of achieving high rate nitrogen removal from high strength wastewater has been made in this study. The laboratory scale alum sludge-based intermittent aeration constructed wetland (AlS-IACW) was integrated with predenitrification, intermittent aeration, and step-feeding strategies. Results obtained from 280 days of operation have demonstrated extraordinary nitrogen removal performance with mean total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency of 90% under high N loading rate (NLR) of 46.7 g N m–2 d–1. This performance was a substantial improvement compared to the reported TN removal performance in literature. Most significantly, partial nitrification and simultaneous nitrification denitrification (SND) via nitrite was found to be the main nitrogen conversion pathways in the AlS-IACW system under high dissolved oxygen concentrations (3–6 mg L–1) without specific control. SND under high dissolved oxygen (DO) brings high nitrogen conversion rates. Partial nitrification and SND via nitrite can significantly reduce the demand for organic carbon compared with full nitrification and denitrification via nitrate (up to 40%). Overall, these mechanisms allow the system to maintaining efficient and high rate TN removal even under carbon limiting conditions.
1192Scopus© Citations 179 - PublicationDevelopment of alum sludge-based constructed wetland : an innovative and cost-effective system for wastewater treatmentThis paper describes (in a summarised manner) a research attempt to integrate the dewatered alum sludge, a residual by-product of drinking water treatment process, into a constructed wetland (CW) system for the purpose of enhancing the wastewater treatment performance, thus developing a so called alum sludge-based constructed wetland system. A multi-dimensional research project including the batch tests of phosphorus (P) adsorption onto alum sludge followed by the model CWs trials of single and multi-stage CWs, has been conducted since 2004. It has been successfully demonstrated that the alum sludge-based CW is capable of enhanced and simultaneous removal of P and organic matter (in terms of BOD5 and COD), particularly from medium and high strength wastewater. The sludge cakes act as the carrier for developing biofilm for organics removal and also serve as adsorbent to enhance P immobilization. Batch P-adsorption tests revealed that the alum sludge tested possesses excellent P-adsorption ability of 14.3 mg-P/g.sludge (in dry solids) at pH 7.0 with the adsorption favored at lower pH. The results obtained in a 4-stage treatment wetland system suggest that high removal efficiencies of 90.4% for COD, 88.0% for BOD5, 90.6% for SS, 76.5% for TN and 91.9% for PO43--P under hydraulic loading of 0.36m3/m2·d can be achieved. The field demonstration study of this pioneering development is now underway.
2379Scopus© Citations 38