Air bubble and oil droplet interactions in centrifugal fields during air-sparged hydrocyclone flotation

The interactions of air bubbles and oil droplets in centrifugal flotation have been considered with respect to process conditions present during Air-sparged Hydrocyclone (ASH) flotation. Encounter efficiency of oil droplets with air bubbles has been found to be significantly smaller when compared to encounter efficiency of mineral particles. Collision and sliding contact times have been determined. Collision has been found to be insufficient for successful contact between oil droplets and air bubbles while sliding allows for film rupture depending on specific system conditions. Although the tenacity of oil droplet attachment to an air bubble is believed to be greater than the tenacity of a mineral particle, emulsification makes oil flotation in centrifugal devices with large dissipation of energy inefficient and hence requires the use of high molecular weight polymeric flocculants.     

The application of flotation for the downstream separation of metal-loaded microorganisms

The studied innovative wastewater treatment process involved the initial abstraction of heavy metal ions onto fungal or stalks biomass (biosorption), followed by the application of a typical flotation stage for the efficient downstream separation of metal-laden biosorbent particles. The ability of microorganisms to remove metal ions from dilute aqueous solutions is a well-known property. Flotation originated from the minerals' processing field; however, it has nowadays found application in the wastewater treatment field. The two processes of biosorption and flotation can be efficiently combined, forming the so-called 'biosorptive flotation' process.     

The process of flotation: an efficient solid/liquid separation technique for biological materials

The studied innovative wastewater treatment process involved the initial abstraction of heavy metal ions onto fungal or stalks biomass (biosorption), followed by the application of a typical flotation stage for the efficient downstream separation of metal-laden biosorbent particles. The ability of microorganisms to remove metal ions from dilute aqueous solutions is a well-known property. Flotation originated from the minerals' processing field; however, it has nowadays found application in the wastewater treatment field. The two processes of biosorption and flotation can be efficiently combined, forming the so-called 'biosorptive flotation' process.     

Flotation removal of As(V) onto goethite

Arsenic oxyanions, considered as priority pollutants, were removed from dilute aqueous solutions by sorption onto synthetic goethite, a typical inorganic adsorbent. Flotation was subsequently applied as an effective solid/liquid separation method. The combined process produced a foam concentrate, containing the arsenic-loaded goethite particles. The dispersed-air flotation technique was used for the generation of fine gas bubbles. The main parameters affecting the process were studied and promising results, in terms of arsenic removal and of goethite separation, were obtained.     

One-step analysis of bubble-particle capture interaction in dissolved-air flotation

The capture of particles by air microbubbles in dissolved air flotation has been analysed using a one-step (holistic) approach, which numerically solved the motion equation (with the inclusion of microhydrodynamic resistance functions and surface forces) for both the bubble-particle collision and attachment interactions. Model predictions with the inclusion of non-DLVO attractive surface force agreed with the experimental trajectories of latex particles. The non-DLVO attractive force reduced the force barrier between non-attaching particles and bubbles, and significantly increased the attractive net force between attaching particles and air bubbles.     

生物接触氧化法处理选矿废水的影响因素

选矿废水主要来源于有色金属矿山,具有水量大、悬浮物浓度高、重金属浓度高、有机浮选药剂浓度高等明显特征。选矿废水若直接排放,对环境的危害相当大。采用生物接触氧化法对模拟选矿废水进行了处理实验研究,考察了不同工艺条件对苯胺黑药、黄药及乙硫氮等浮选药剂去除效果的影响,结果表明:接触氧化反应器的最佳停留时间为8 h,进水最佳pH为6～7,葡萄糖投加量为0.1 mg/L时,降解效果达到最佳;此外,接触氧化反应器中微生物承受硫化物的浓度可达到120 mg/L。     

The recovery of copper from a copper mine effluent in a hybrid flotation/microfiltration cell

A new hybrid process for cleaning wastewater, combining flotation and membrane microfiltration, was investigated. The hybrid process combined the advantages of both flotation and membrane separation: the flotation cell removed a large proportion of suspended solid particles, while the membrane module produced clean water permeate effluent. The hybrid cell performance has been studied in depth and reviewed in the current paper. The proof of concept for the hybrid solid/liquid separation process was investigated using an aqueous suspension of fine and ultra fine particles (synthetic adsorbents, ion exchangers). The feasibility of this combined process was investigated in the recovery of metal cations (copper) from a Bulgarian copper mine effluent.     

臭氧生物活性炭工艺处理某多金属硫化矿浮选废水的小试研究

某多金属硫化矿选矿厂浮选废水水量大,目前该厂对浮选废水的处理方法为尾矿库砂滤治理,但该方法存在效率低、周期长、回用影响选矿指标等众多弊端。为高效低成本的处理浮选废水,结合浮选废水的特点(低COD、难降解、高pH),开展了臭氧氧化-生物活性炭吸附工艺处理选矿废水的小试研究。选矿废水中各残留有机药剂及pH对浮选指标的影响研究表明,废水中残留有机药剂及pH对浮选指标均有不同程度的影响。臭氧氧化-生活活性炭吸附工艺处理选矿废水的小试研究表明,水力停留时间为4 h、反应器臭氧浓度为33.3 mg/L,可获得COD去除率57%、pH降低到8的废水处理效果。将处理后的废水回用于选矿,基本消除残留药剂及pH对浮选指标的影响。本研究提供了一种处理浮选废水的新思路,对臭氧生物活性炭工艺处理浮选废水的工业应用具备参考价值。     

Flotation in water and wastewater treatment and reuse: recent trends in Brazil

This paper summarises environmental applications of conventional and unconventional flotation to remove pollutants from waters. Emphasis is given to the design features of innovative inline reactors, namely the Flocs Generator Reactor and Flocculation-Flotation, and their applications for the flocculation and flotation in solid-liquid separations involving water (and wastewater) treatment and reuse. Applications are shown in potable water clarification, treatment and water reuse from car washing units and in the treatment of acid mine drainage. Results show that these inline flocculation (or flotation) separators have a great potential for water/wastewater treatment and reuse, especially in applications requiring high rate solid-liquid separations.     

Two-phase simulations of an off-nominally operating dissolved-air flotation tank

The flow patterns of the contaminated water and the air bubbles inside a large-scale Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) tank were examined using CFD modelling. The DAF tank was operating off-nominally in the sense that it was supplied with bubbles larger than originally designed for. Attention was drawn to the location for air injection and the effect of having more than one-size bubbles in the tank, regarding the good contact between phases and the subsequent bubble recovery at the tank free surface. The role of the inclination of the internal baffle of the tank and liquid flow rate was also examined.     

Application of flotation for the separation of metal-loaded zeolites

Several industrial wastewater streams may contain heavy metal ions, which must be effectively removed, before the discharge or reuse of treated waters could take place. Different bonding materials, presenting selectivity and fast reaction kinetics for the removal of metals, have been examined for this purpose. The objective of the present paper was to investigate the application of dispersed-air flotation for the separation of metal-loaded sorbents. Two similar zeolite samples were applied as effective bonding agents for the removal of zinc, a toxic metal commonly found in many industrial wastewaters. This combined process, termed sorptive flotation, involves the preliminary scavenging of metal ions, by using the appropriate sorbent particles (usually present as ultrafine particulates), followed by flotation for the effective separation of them. The obtained results were very promising, as both metal and sorbent were effectively removed/separated from the dispersion.     

强化活性炭吸附技术深度处理焦化废水的可行性研究

采用混凝沉淀、活性炭吸附以及混凝沉淀 活性炭吸附工艺对焦化厂生化出水进行深度处理.单独混凝沉淀或活性炭吸附均可以将水样中COD降到100 mg/L以下,达到国家污水一级排放标准和冷却用水建议标准.活性炭根据不同的材质和进水而表现出不同的吸附性能,对于焦化厂生化出水,煤质炭Ⅰ和果壳炭均表现出良好的吸附效果,并使出水COD＜100 mg/L,但处理成本较高.混凝沉淀 活性炭吸附工艺充分发挥适合去除大分子污染物的混凝沉淀与适宜去除小分子污染物的活性炭吸附技术两者的协同增效作用,吸附单元采用廉价的煤质炭,使出水水质达到个别生产或生活用水回用标准,并且降低深度处理成本.研究结果表明,混凝沉淀 活性炭吸附作为焦化厂生化出水回用工艺是经济可行的.     

Assessing the efficacy of dissolved air and flash-pressurized flotations using low energy for the removal of organic precursors and disinfection byproducts: a pilot-scale study

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Dissolved air flotation (DAF) is a widely used treatment process in drinking water and wastewater treatment plants despite high energy cost associated...     

The future for electrocoagulation as a localised water treatment technology

Electrocoagulation is an electrochemical method of treating polluted water whereby sacrificial anodes corrode to release active coagulant precursors (usually aluminium or iron cations) into solution. Accompanying electrolytic reactions evolve gas (usually as hydrogen bubbles) at the cathode. Electrocoagulation has a long history as a water treatment technology having been employed to remove a wide range of pollutants. However electrocoagulation has never become accepted as a 'mainstream' water treatment technology. The lack of a systematic approach to electrocoagulation reactor design/operation and the issue of electrode reliability (particularly passivation of the electrodes over time) have limited its implementation. However recent technical improvements combined with a growing need for small-scale decentralised water treatment facilities have led to a re-evaluation of electrocoagulation. Starting with a review of electrocoagulation reactor design/operation, this article examines and identifies a conceptual framework for electrocoagulation that focuses on the interactions between electrochemistry, coagulation and flotation. In addition detailed experimental data are provided from a batch reactor system removing suspended solids together with a mathematical analysis based on the 'white water' model for the dissolved air flotation process. Current density is identified as the key operational parameter influencing which pollutant removal mechanism dominates. The conclusion is drawn that electrocoagulation has a future as a decentralised water treatment technology. A conceptual framework is presented for future research directed towards a more mechanistic understanding of the process.     

海上油田含油污水旋流气浮一体化处理设备及其应用

低强度旋流离心力场与气浮组合是一种高效的含油污水处理技术,目前在国外已有较为成熟的产品,尤其是挪威M-I SWACO公司开发的Epcon紧凑型气浮装置已经在海上油田含油污水处理的应用方面取得了众多成功的案例。从Epcon紧凑型气浮装置的基本结构及其工作原理入手,简要叙述了该设备的工艺流程和性能特点,重点介绍了其在世界范围内尤其是在中国西江30-2采油平台上的测试和应用状况,最后介绍了新一代CFU设备的研发动向,为国内自主设计研发含油污水旋流气浮一体化处理设备提供必要的理论指导。     

用兼氧,好氧生物接触氧化一气浮工艺处理高浓度印染废水

介绍了常温条件下,采用兼氧、好氧化生物接触氧化一气浮高浓度印染废水的工程应用,结果表明,在常温下印染废水经该工艺纺织印染綮不的实际工程中。     

Reuse of treated wastewater and non-potable groundwater in the manufacture of concrete: major challenge of environmental preservation

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This work concerns the reuse of treated wastewater from Er-Rachidia wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in the mixing of ordinary C20/25 concrete, to...     

Significance of design and operational variables in chemical phosphorus removal

Batch and continuous experiments using model and real wastewaters were conducted to investigate the effect of metal salt (ferric and alum) addition in wastewater treatment and the corresponding phosphate removal from a design and operational perspective. Key factors expected to influence the phosphorus removal efficiency, such as pH, alkalinity, metal dose, metal type, initial and residual phosphate concentration, mixing, reaction time, age of flocs, and organic content of wastewater, were investigated. The lowest achievable concentration of orthophosphate under optimal conditions (0.01 to 0.05 mg/L) was similar for both aluminum and iron salts, with a broad optimum pH range of 5.0 to 7.0. Thus, in the typical operating range of wastewater treatment plants, pH is not a sensitive indicator of phosphorus removal efficiency. The most significant effect for engineering practice, apart from the metal dose, is that of mixing intensity and slow kinetic removal of phosphorus in contact with the chemical sludge formed. Experiments show that significant savings in chemical cost could be achieved by vigorously mixing the added chemical at the point of dosage and, if conditions allow, providing a longer contact time between the metal hydroxide flocs and the phosphate content of the wastewater. These conditions promoted the achievement of less than 0.1 mg/L residual orthophosphate content, even at lower metal-to-phosphorus molar ratios. These observations are consistent with the surface complexation model presented in a companion paper (Smith et al., 2008).     

吡啶改性膨润土对直接耐晒翠蓝染料废水脱色性能研究

为了解决日益严重的水污染问题,用吡啶作改性剂,对膨润土进行有机改性,制得一种新型水处理剂,用于直接耐晒翠蓝染料废水的处理。研究了处理废水的最佳工艺条件。结果表明,投土量为10g／L,pH=3．5,搅拌速度为175r／min,搅拌时间25rain,离心时间为2min,吡啶改性土对直接耐晒翠蓝染料废水的脱色率可达80％。改性土对直接耐晒翠蓝的吸附过程可用准二级速率方程较好地描述。     

Pilot-scale aerated submerged biofilm reactor for organics removal and nitrification at cold temperatures.

This research describes pilot-scale experiments for efficient removal of dissolved organic and nitrogen compounds in domestic wastewater using aerated submerged biofilm (ASBF) reactors. These reactors could enhance the performance of shallow wastewater treatment lagoons through the addition of specially designed structures. The structures are designed to encourage the growth of a nitrifying bacterial biofilm on a submerged surface. They also force the direct contact of rising air bubbles against the submerged biofilm. This direct gas-phase contact is postulated to increase the oxygen transfer rate into the biofilm and increase the microclimate mixing of water, nutrients, and waste products into and out of the biofilm. This research investigated the efficiency of dissolved organic matter and ammonia-nitrogen removals. Specifically, the effects of cold temperatures on the dissolved organic matter and ammonia-nitrogen performance of the ASBF pilot plant (see Figure 1) was investigated for the batch system. Over a period of 3.5 months, a total of 11 batch runs were performed. By the fourth run, the biofilm had matured to the point that it consumed all the ammonia in 40 hours. On the ninth run, the air supply was left off as a control run. This time, the ammonia was barely consumed, with the level dropping from 24 to 18 mg/L in 40 hours. By the middle of December, the average water temperature during the runs had dropped to approximately 6 degrees C and, at one point, was as low as 3.3 degrees C. The biofilm continued to perform even at these low temperatures, reducing ammonia levels from approximately 25 mg/L to basically zero within 40 to 48 hours.