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Perspectives on Biofilms for the Removal of Organic Micropollutants in Wastewater

Edefell, Ellen LU (2022)
Abstract
The use of biofilms to improve the removal of organic micropollutants in waste¬water treatment plants (WWTPs) has been investigated. The work is divided into two parts. In the first part, the use of biofilms for the biological degradation of micro¬pollutants was investigated. In the second part, micropollutant removal was investigated with biofilm processes in combination with ozonation or activated carbon.

The results of the first part showed that additional biological treatment in an innovative process design utilizing a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) increased the degradation rate of several micropollutants. However, further process development is needed to achieve efficient removal of a wide range of micropollutants in... (More)
The use of biofilms to improve the removal of organic micropollutants in waste¬water treatment plants (WWTPs) has been investigated. The work is divided into two parts. In the first part, the use of biofilms for the biological degradation of micro¬pollutants was investigated. In the second part, micropollutant removal was investigated with biofilm processes in combination with ozonation or activated carbon.

The results of the first part showed that additional biological treatment in an innovative process design utilizing a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) increased the degradation rate of several micropollutants. However, further process development is needed to achieve efficient removal of a wide range of micropollutants in full-scale applications at WWTPs.

The results of the second part showed that micropollutants were primarily removed by ozonation when combined with post-treatment in an MBBR. A group of N-oxide transformation products was formed during ozonation and remained stable throughout the MBBR post-treatment. Furthermore, when adding powered activated carbon (PAC) in a nitrifying MBBR, the micropollutants were removed by adsorption onto the PAC, and the biological nitrification was uninhibited by the addition of PAC. Finally, adsorption profiles of micropollutants in a granular activated carbon (GAC) filter were obtained and the biofilm that developed in the filter was able to degrade certain micropollutants such as naproxen, sulfamethoxazole, and diclofenac.
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author
supervisor
opponent
  • Dr. McArdell, Christa, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Switzerland.
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
wastewater treatment, wastewater, biofilm, ozonation, activated carbon, powdered activated carbon, granular activated carbon, biological degradation, Moving bed biofilm reactor
pages
82 pages
publisher
Chemical Engineering, Lund University
defense location
Lecture Hall Stora hörsalen, IKDC, Sölvegatan 26, Faculty of Engineering LTH, Lund University, Lund. The dissertation will be live streamed, but part of the premises is to be excluded from the live stream.
defense date
2022-12-07 09:00:00
ISBN
978-91-7422-908-0
978-91-7422-909-7
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
24c81d2a-192c-4f96-b4ed-6de376915991
date added to LUP
2022-10-28 13:39:03
date last changed
2022-11-11 10:22:02
@phdthesis{24c81d2a-192c-4f96-b4ed-6de376915991,
  abstract     = {{The use of biofilms to improve the removal of organic micropollutants in waste¬water treatment plants (WWTPs) has been investigated. The work is divided into two parts. In the first part, the use of biofilms for the biological degradation of micro¬pollutants was investigated. In the second part, micropollutant removal was investigated with biofilm processes in combination with ozonation or activated carbon. <br/><br/>The results of the first part showed that additional biological treatment in an innovative process design utilizing a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) increased the degradation rate of several micropollutants. However, further process development is needed to achieve efficient removal of a wide range of micropollutants in full-scale applications at WWTPs. <br/><br/>The results of the second part showed that micropollutants were primarily removed by ozonation when combined with post-treatment in an MBBR. A group of N-oxide transformation products was formed during ozonation and remained stable throughout the MBBR post-treatment. Furthermore, when adding powered activated carbon (PAC) in a nitrifying MBBR, the micropollutants were removed by adsorption onto the PAC, and the biological nitrification was uninhibited by the addition of PAC. Finally, adsorption profiles of micropollutants in a granular activated carbon (GAC) filter were obtained and the biofilm that developed in the filter was able to degrade certain micropollutants such as naproxen, sulfamethoxazole, and diclofenac.<br/>}},
  author       = {{Edefell, Ellen}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-7422-908-0}},
  keywords     = {{wastewater treatment; wastewater; biofilm; ozonation; activated carbon; powdered activated carbon; granular activated carbon; biological degradation; Moving bed biofilm reactor}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{12}},
  publisher    = {{Chemical Engineering, Lund University}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  title        = {{Perspectives on Biofilms for the Removal of Organic Micropollutants in Wastewater}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/127005402/Avhandling_Ellen_Edefell_WEB.pdf}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}