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Biological Nitrification within the fouling layer of Cross-Flow Micro-Filtration

Miller, Charles Justin (2004) Biological Nitrification within the fouling layer of Cross-Flow Micro-Filtration. Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

With the fouling layer being established in most membrane filtration applications, a study of the possible benefits of the fouling layer was researched. This investigation was aimed at the determination of a viable nitrifying biofilm within the fouling layer of membrane filtration which could oxidize ammonia. The membrane used was a 0.2 µm ceramic tubular membrane used in cross-flow operation. Nitrifying organisms were inoculated into a bench top filtration apparatus to oxidize ammonia and the corresponding rates of ammonia oxidation were determined in two different operating modes. A "filtering mode" included the process of membrane filtration by enabling filtration and "a non-filtering mode" established the ammonia oxidation rate occurring in the apparatus without the process of filtration. The comparison of the two modes showed a significant increase in the oxidation rate of the filtering mode. The ammonia oxidation rates seen in the six experimental runs corresponding to the surface of the membrane were: 0.94, 2.38, 3.81, 3.14, 6.24, and 9.30 (mg/l-hr-m2) compared to the internal surface of the bench top apparatus which were: 0.12, 0.12, 0.12, 0.11, 0.20, and 0.29 (mg/l-hr-m2) respective to each run. The differences in ammonia oxidation rate suggests that not only will viable nitrifying organisms grow within the fouling layer of a membrane they will grow at rate approximately 20 times faster than that seen occurring on the internal surface of the bench top apparatus. Also discussed in the research is the ammonia oxidation rate as a function of cross-flow velocity and trans-membrane pressure. Varying the cross-flow velocity and trans-membrane pressure suggested that the organisms on the membrane surface may actually be undergoing nitrification from the influent end of the membrane to effluent end of the membrane.


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Details

Item Type: University of Pittsburgh ETD
Status: Unpublished
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Miller, Charles Justincjm9@pitt.eduCJM9
ETD Committee:
TitleMemberEmail AddressPitt UsernameORCID
Committee ChairNeufeld, Ronald
Committee MemberCasson, Leornard
Committee MemberReis, Robert
Date: 13 September 2004
Date Type: Completion
Defense Date: 3 June 2004
Approval Date: 13 September 2004
Submission Date: 17 March 2004
Access Restriction: No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately.
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs: Swanson School of Engineering > Civil and Environmental Engineering
Degree: MSCE - Master of Science in Civil Engineering
Thesis Type: Master's Thesis
Refereed: Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords: Cross-Flow Micro-Filtration; Fouling Layer; Nitrification
Other ID: http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-03172004-131702/, etd-03172004-131702
Date Deposited: 10 Nov 2011 19:32
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2016 13:37
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/6517

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