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Jan 24 - "Nutrient recovery from Municipal Wastewater" by Ahren Britten

University of South Florida – Civil & Environmental Engineering

Environmental and Water Resources Engineering Graduate Seminar – Spring 2014

Nutrient recovery from Municipal Wastewater

Ahren Britton, Chief Technology Officer

OSTARA | ostara.com | @OstaraTech

Friday, January 24, 12:20-1:10

Room 4 ENG Building

Biosketch. Mr. Ahren T. Britton, MSc, P.Eng is the Chief Technology Officer of Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies Inc.  Ostara is a clean water company that recovers valuable nutrients from used water streams. The company's proprietary technology, the Pearl® Process, recovers otherwise polluting nutrients, phosphorus and nitrogen, from municipal and industrial water streams, and transforms them into a slow release, eco-friendly fertilizer marketed as Crystal Green®.  Mr. Britton designed, built and tested the first prototype of Ostara's nutrient recovery technology. His professional experience includes direction of a number of experimental and commercial scale process demonstrations within the wastewater industry.  

Semester seminar schedule found at: http://ce.eng.usf.edu/docs/EWRE-SeminarSchedule.pdf

Learn more how integrated water, energy, and nutrient systems are fundamental to social, economic, and environmental well-being and prosperity: http://usf-reclaim.org/

Jan. 17 - "On Cleaning Membranes" by Dr. Michael J. Semmens

University of South Florida – Civil & Environmental Engineering

Environmental and Water Resources Engineering Graduate Seminar – Spring 2014

On Cleaning Membranes

Michael J. Semmens PhD, PE.

Civil Engineering, University of Minnesota

Friday, January 17, 12:20-1:10

Room 4 ENG Building

Abstract. There have been many studies conducted on membrane fouling and membrane cleaning.  Model studies, batch studies, continuous flow studies with different membranes, different model compounds and different operating conditions etc.  The results are, not surprisingly, difficult to compare. As such, cleaning remains more art than science and many operators use a trial and error approach to determine what works best for their specific application.  This talk will review the field of membrane cleaning with an emphasis on the chemical approaches for removing organic foulants and biofilms.  The talk will also highlight the impact of the chemicals on membrane integrity and performance.

Biosketch. Dr. Michael J. Semmens is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Minnesota.  His research interests are in chemical and physical processes for water, wastewater, and hazardous waste treatment, with expertise in membrane applications in water and waste water treatment, membrane bioreactor design, the design of composite membranes and membrane modules for environmental applications, passive barrier membranes for in-situ bioremediation of chlorinated organic compounds, and biofilms grown on gas-permeable membranes.

Semester seminar schedule found at: http://ce.eng.usf.edu/docs/EWRE-SeminarSchedule.pdf

Learn more how integrated water, energy, and nutrient systems are fundamental to social, economic, and environmental well-being and prosperity: http://usf-reclaim.org/

EWRE: Jan. 10, 2014, 12:20pm

Seminar Location: USF Tampa campus - ENG room 4
Campus Map

University of South Florida – Civil & Environmental Engineering

Environmental and Water Resources Engineering Graduate Seminar – Spring 2014

Performance of Modified Bioretention Systems

Thomas J. Lynn, P.E.

Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of South Florida

Friday, January 10, 12:20-1:10

Room 4 ENG Building

Abstract. Urbanization increases nitrogen loadings from stormwater runoff, which promotes eutrophication in downstream surface waters.  Eutrophication can be managed using Low Impact Development (LID) technologies, such as bioretention systems.  However, total nitrogen removal is often limited by low nitrate (NO3⁻) removal efficiencies.  A modified bioretention system is a relatively new LID technology that incorporates a submerged carbon-containing medium to support denitrification.  Little is known; however, about the factors controlling NO3⁻ removal in these systems.  In this research, microcosms were used to investigate NO3⁻ removal performance using mixtures of wood, sand and gravel media during initial start-up and after acclimation.  Column studies were used to investigate NO3⁻ removal performance at varying storm event flow rates and number of days between storm events, or antecedent dry conditions (ADCs).  Microcosms were observed to have poor NO3⁻ removal during start-up (-39 to 28%) and production of Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) (11 mg/L), phosphate (15 mg/L) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) (130 mg/L).  After acclimation, the wood-containing media removed up to 100% NO3⁻ within six hours, and produced low amounts of TKN (<0.1 mg/L) and DOC (2 mg/L).  Column studies showed that increased detention times and ADCs improve NO3⁻ removal.  During ADCs, water retained in the system becomes supercharged with DOC.  During a storm event, the initially high DOC concentrations support high denitrification rates; however, over time, NO3⁻ removal decreases as DOC is washed out of the system.  This study describes how modified bioretention systems operate in harmony with natural biological processes to reduce eutrophication.  The results provide practical guidelines for designing modified bioretention systems.  In addition, data from microcosm tests were used to estimate that eucalyptus wood based modified bioretention systems will support NO3⁻ removal for at least 20 years.

 

  Biosketch. Thomas J. Lynn is a doctoral candidate in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of South Florida, Tampa, Fla.  He earned his bachelor of science in civil engineering and a master’s degree in environmental engineering from the University of South Florida.  He has four years of professional experience working as a surface water regulator for the Southwest Florida Water Management District and as a land development consultant in Ocala, FL.  He is a registered professional engineer in the state of Florida.  His current research focuses on how nitrate is removed in the internal water storage zone of bioretention systems.

Spring 2014 Semester Seminar Schedule 

Learn more how integrated water, energy, and nutrient systems are fundamental to social, economic, and environmental well-being and prosperity HERE