Water and Wastewater Treatment Methodologies

Code:

AMB3002

Acronym:

AMB3002

Level:

300

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Environmental Sciences

Instance: 2017/2018 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Web Page:	http://elearning2.fc.up.pt/aulasweb0910/course/view.php?id=1345
Responsible unit:	Department of Geosciences, Environment and Spatial Plannings
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Environmental Sciences and Technology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
L:CTA	51	Plano estudos a partir do ano letivo 2016/17	3	-	6	56	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

Scientific and technological training in physical, chemical and biological methods of water and wastewater treatment. Water quality.

Specific aims for which the course unit must contribute 1- To know how to apply knowledge and understand problems 2- Capacity to solve problems and establish their own arguments 3- Capacity to collect, select and interpret relevant information on a particular subject in order to justified the solutions, including the analysis of social, scientific and ethical relevant issues. 4- Capacity to communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions, to the public consisting of specialists and non-specialists. 5- Acquiring skills for lifelong learning, with a high degree of autonomy.

Learning outcomes and competences

To allow the development of a scientific and technological understanding of the processes of water and wastewater treatment taking into consideration the fate of treated water. Characterize the quality of the water. To contribute for trainning professionals competent, versatile, and capable to analyze environmental problems, take wise decisions and find ecological and economically acceptable solutions.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

Program

THEORETICAL PROGRAM

 

Part 1 Water-Treatment

 

    1. Quality of drinking water

    2. Disinfection Methods

    3. Byproducts Disinfection

    4. Desalination methods

 

Part 2 - Characterization of Effluents and Introduction to Physico-Chemical Effluent Treatment Methods

 

   1. Chemical composition of the wastewater.
   2. Physical and chemical characteristics

   3. Non-metallic inorganic constituents; metallic constituents; dissolved oxygen.

   4.  Global Organic Constituents: BOD, COD, TOC, Oils and Fats and Volatile Fatty Acids (VGA), surfactants.

    5. Specific Organic Compounds and Emerging Pollutants.

    6. Typical composition of the WWTP and WWITP effluents.

    7.  Methods for the determination of physico-chemical parameters of wastewater.

    8.  Impact of wastewater discharge in a recipient. Characteristics of the treated water according to destination: reuse or discharge. Standards of wastewater discharge.

   9. Types of wastewater
 10.  Physical, chemical and physico-chemical wastewater treatment methods

Physical and physico-chemical processes

             Removal of coarse solids; equalization of quantity and quality in sewage tanks as part of the technological process; flocculation; sedimentation; filtration; flotation; clarification; aeration

Chemical processes

             Application of chemical unit processes in the wastewater treatment
             Neutralization; Flocculation and coagulation (fundamentals)

             Precipitation: to improve the efficiency of the treatment process, phosphorus removal, removal of heavy metals and dissolved inorganic species.

             Oxidation.

 11. Classification of the wastewater treatment processes in primary, secondary and tertiary.

 Examples and applications.

 12. Case Study

 13. Advanced wastewater treatment

Need for such treatment

Removal of residual constituents in treated wastewater: organic and inorganic colloidal and suspended solids, dissolved organic and inorganic constituents, biological constituents.

Typical flow charts for wastewater treatment using advanced treatment processes.

      Some techniques used: filtration; membrane technology; adsorption; degassing; ion exchange; distillation; advanced oxidation processes.

 

 

Part 3 - Introduction to Biological Wastewater Treatment

 

    Biological Wastewater Treatment. Introduction. Definition. Goals. Types of Wastewater (WW) and contaminants to be treated. General classification of treatment processes. Examples of types of WWTP with biological treatment.

    Main issues on biological treatment. Types of organisms present in WW. Types of organisms involved in the treatment. Conditions necessary for treatment to be done and how to achieve them. Process control. Efficiency evaluation. Process improvement. Biological basis of biological treatment processes. Environmental factors relevant to metabolism.

    Biochemical environment and its importance. Classification of microorganisms according sources of carbon and energy used. Nutrients for the microbial biosynthesis. Carbon removal in aerobic environment. Factors that affect the process. Carbon Flow in a conventional anaerobic treatment process.

    Biological nitrogen removal. Biological removal of phosphorus.

    Microbial kinetics and its importance in the process. Types of biological reactors and their operational relevance.

    Biological Treatment - Application example: the process of Activated Sludge. Mechanisms of removal of organic matter and nitrogen. Operational problems; process control.

    Summary of the general characteristics of Conventional Biological Treatment Processes: aerobic, anoxic or anaerobic, with suspended or fixed biomass. Criteria for selection of conventional Biological treatment processes.

    Eco-techniques for Biological Treatment: Ponds (Laggoning), Constructed Wetlands, Macrophytre-based WWTP.

 

 

PROGRAM TP

  

Part 1 Water-Treatment

    Problems on disinfection of drinking water

Part 2 - Characterization of Effluents and Introduction to Physico-Chemical Effluent Treatment Methods 

   1. Resolution of application problems about the theoretical issues.

   2. Calculation problems on the COD and BOD, theoretical and experimental. Kinetic aspects of the CBO.

   3. Application problems about jar test, sedimentation, filtration and wastewater softening by chemical precipitation.

Part 3 - Introduction to Biological Wastewater Treatment

    1. Analysis of process diagrams of some types of WWTP with biological treatment.

   2.  Sampling and monitoring of treatment made in WWTP. Compliance with Law.  Elucidating Examples.

   3. The existing micro fauna in biological reactors and their role in treatment

   4. Basic calculations related to biological treatment in WWTP.

 

PRACTICAL PROGRAM

 

Part 1 Water-Treatment

   1.  Water disinfection: chlorine (Cl2, calcium hypochlorite, sodium hypochlorite); Chlorine dioxide; ozone; chloramines.

   2.  Measurement of free chlorine, chlorine dioxide and ozone in water.

    3. Effect of pH at equilibrium (hypochlorite / hypochlorous acid)

    4. Electrolysis of salt water

    5.  Desalination of water: distillation; reverse osmosis; measuring the conductivity.

    6. Analysis of the quality of drinking water.

 

Part 2 - Characterization of Effluents and Introduction to Physico-Chemical Effluent Treatment Methods

 

   1.  Laboratory work on the analysis and characterization of raw and treated wastewater: (may use the mini-WWTP for this purpose)

Determination of:

- pH and adjustment processes;

- Alkalinity;

- Dissolved oxygen;

- Turbidity;

- color;

- Conductivity;

- Nitrogen and phosphate;

- Alkalinity;

- COD and BOD.

    2. Determining the optimal dosage of coagulant (jar test).

 

Part 3 - Introduction to Biological Wastewater Treatment

 

   1.  Analysis of the operation of a mini-WWTP using Activated Sludge process

    2. Rapid assessment of Biomass sedimentation in a biological reactor

   3. Observation of Activated Sludge process micro fauna 

    4. Troubleshooting related to the operation of WWTP.

Mandatory literature

Tölgyessy J. Ed; Chemistry and Biology of Water, Air and Soil: Environmental Aspects, Elsevier, 1993. ISBN: 13: 978-0444987983
000075241. ISBN: 0-07-112250-8
000060017. ISBN: 0-7167-3153-3
000091990. ISBN: 1-56670-633-5
António Brito, José Oliveira, João Peixoto; Tratamento de Água para consumo Humano e Uso Industrial, Engenho e Média, Lda - Grupo Publindústria, 2014. ISBN: 978-989-98896-0-6

Comments from the literature

Teaching methods and learning activities

In addition to formal classes, promotes the learning of the correct interpretation of the questions and planning the answers through the practice of answering to theoretical questions and problems resolution which also aim to: (a) encourage the study throughout the course, and (b) acquiring knowledge, the students acquired interest in the theme which helps to improve training and the final results. Practical works on subjects in the ambit of the curricular unit and their oral presentation are made by small teams (groups of students pre-defined). 

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	80,00
Trabalho laboratorial	20,00
Total:	100,00

Eligibility for exams

Presence in 75% of the total number of sessions.

Calculation formula of final grade

• Evaluation criterion: A- Exam grade: 80% B- Practical evaluation: 20%

 

• This criterion applies both to the 1 st season and time of appeal.

Examinations or Special Assignments

Internship work/project

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Special cases: final exam. 

Classification improvement

Final score improvement: Written exam. Final score: Exam score.

Observations