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Assessment of nanobubble aeration performance in treating poultry slaughterhouse wastewater
Author(s)
Kaskote, Ephraim Vundikanwa
Date Issued
2024
Type
Thesis
Publisher
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Abstract
Due to their simplicity and effectiveness, biological treatment methods, including aerobic and
anaerobic processes, are widely used for treating medium to high-strength wastewater, such
as poultry slaughterhouse wastewater (PSW). Conventional aeration methods, although
effective in removing organics and nutrients from wastewater, have drawbacks such as high
sludge production, substantial energy consumption, and low oxygen transfer efficiency. To
overcome these challenges, technologies such as nanobubble (NB) technology have been
developed to enhance aerobic processes by optimising aeration methods and gas diffusion.
NBs, with diameters less than 200 nm, have emerged as a promising alternative due to their
ability to enhance the efficiency of aeration and reduce sludge production. NBs possess unique
properties that contribute to physical, chemical, and biological processes in water and
wastewater treatment.
This research investigates the performance of NB technology in the application and
enhancement of aerobic treatment of PSW. Three NB aeration methods were evaluated: air-
NBs, ozone-NBs, and air-NBs combined with Ecoflush enzymes. These methods were tested
for their effectiveness in removing chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids
(TSS), ammonia (NH3-N), total nitrogen, and fats, oils, and grease (FOG) over a period of 6 h.
Air-NB and ozone-NB aeration methods demonstrated high efficiency in COD removal,
achieving over 80% removal within just 2 h of treatment. In contrast, NBs combined with
Ecoflush enzymes exhibited initially lower COD removal rates (20%) in the first 4 h but
ultimately achieved 86.8% removal of COD and 99.5% removal of FOG after 6 h of aeration.
TSS removal efficiency remained consistent across all aeration methods after 4 h, with the
ozone-NB method showing the highest removal efficiency. Ammonia removal was most
effective when using NBs combined with Ecoflush enzymes, reaching 99% removal after 6 h
of treatment. Both the ozone-NBs and NBs combined with Ecoflush enzymes showed high
FOG removal capabilities. These findings highlight that nanobubbles can significantly enhance
mass transfer in wastewater treatment processes, providing an effective method for improving
the degradation of pollutants in PSW.
anaerobic processes, are widely used for treating medium to high-strength wastewater, such
as poultry slaughterhouse wastewater (PSW). Conventional aeration methods, although
effective in removing organics and nutrients from wastewater, have drawbacks such as high
sludge production, substantial energy consumption, and low oxygen transfer efficiency. To
overcome these challenges, technologies such as nanobubble (NB) technology have been
developed to enhance aerobic processes by optimising aeration methods and gas diffusion.
NBs, with diameters less than 200 nm, have emerged as a promising alternative due to their
ability to enhance the efficiency of aeration and reduce sludge production. NBs possess unique
properties that contribute to physical, chemical, and biological processes in water and
wastewater treatment.
This research investigates the performance of NB technology in the application and
enhancement of aerobic treatment of PSW. Three NB aeration methods were evaluated: air-
NBs, ozone-NBs, and air-NBs combined with Ecoflush enzymes. These methods were tested
for their effectiveness in removing chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids
(TSS), ammonia (NH3-N), total nitrogen, and fats, oils, and grease (FOG) over a period of 6 h.
Air-NB and ozone-NB aeration methods demonstrated high efficiency in COD removal,
achieving over 80% removal within just 2 h of treatment. In contrast, NBs combined with
Ecoflush enzymes exhibited initially lower COD removal rates (20%) in the first 4 h but
ultimately achieved 86.8% removal of COD and 99.5% removal of FOG after 6 h of aeration.
TSS removal efficiency remained consistent across all aeration methods after 4 h, with the
ozone-NB method showing the highest removal efficiency. Ammonia removal was most
effective when using NBs combined with Ecoflush enzymes, reaching 99% removal after 6 h
of treatment. Both the ozone-NBs and NBs combined with Ecoflush enzymes showed high
FOG removal capabilities. These findings highlight that nanobubbles can significantly enhance
mass transfer in wastewater treatment processes, providing an effective method for improving
the degradation of pollutants in PSW.
Additional information
Thesis (MEng (Chemical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2024
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