Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering - Research Publications
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ItemNo Preview AvailableImpact of volatile solids destruction on the shear and solid-liquid separation behaviour of anaerobic digested sludge.(Elsevier BV, 2023-10-10)Systematic and comprehensive characterisation of shear and solid-liquid separation properties of sludge across a wide range of solids concentration and volatile solids destruction (VSD) is critical for design and optimization of the anaerobic digestion process. In addition, there is a need for studies at the psychrophilic temperature range as many unheated anaerobic digestion processes are operated under ambient conditions with minimal self-heating. In this study, two digesters were operated at different combinations of operating temperature (15-25 °C) and hydraulic retention time (16-32 d) to ensure a wide range of VSD in the range of 0.42-0.7 was obtained. For shear rheology, the viscosity increased 1.3 to 3.3 times with the increase of VSD from 43 % to 70 %, while other parameters (temperature, VS fraction) having a negligible impact. Analysis of a hypothetical digester indicated that there is an optimum VSD range 65-80 % where increase in viscosity due to the higher VSD is balanced by the decrease in solids concentration. For solid-liquid separation, a thickener model and a filtration model were used. No significant impact of VSD on the solids flux, underflow solids concentrations or specific solids throughput was observed in the thickener and filtration model. However, there was an increase in average cake solids concentration from 21 % to 31 % with increase of VSD from 55 % to 76 %, indicating better dewatering behaviour.
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ItemNo Preview AvailableCharacterising sedimentation velocity of primary waste water solids and effluents(PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD, 2022-07-01)Sedimentation in waste water is a heavily studied topic, but mainly focused on hindered and compression settling in secondary sludge, a largely monodispersed solids, where bulk sedimentation velocity is effectively described by functions such as double Vesilind (Takacs). However, many waste water solids, including primary sludge and anaerobic digester effluent are polydispersed, for which application of velocity functions is not well understood. These systems are also subject to large concentration gradients, and poor availability of settling velocity functions has limited design and computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis of these units. In this work, we assess the use of various sedimentation functions in single and multi-dimensional domains, comparing model results against multiple batch settling tests at a range of high and low concentrations. Both solids concentration and sludge bed height (interface) over time are measured and compared. The method incorporates uncertainty analysis using Monte Carlo regression, DIRECT (dividing rectangles), and Newton optimisation. It was identified that a double Vesilind (Takacs) model was most effective in the dilute regime (<1%v/v), but could not effectively fit high solids concentrations (>1%v/v) without a substantial (50%) decrease in effective maximum sedimentation velocity (V0). Other parameters (Rh, Rp) did not change. A power law velocity model (Diehl) was significantly less predictive at low concentrations, and not significantly better at higher concentrations. The optimised model (with reduction in V0) was tested vs a standard (optimised) double Vesilind velocity model in a simple primary sedimentation unit, and resulted in deviation from -12% to +18% in solids capture prediction from underload to overload (washout) conditions, indicating that the effect is important in CFD based analysis of these systems.
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ItemNo Preview AvailableShear and solid-liquid separation behaviour of anaerobic digested sludge across a broad range of solids concentrations(PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD, 2022-08-15)Due to the non-homogeneous and multiphase nature of anaerobic lagoon constituents, CFD modelling for process optimisation requires continuous functions for shear and solid-liquid separation properties across a large range of solids concentrations. Unfortunately, measurement of existing material properties of anaerobic sludges is limited to only shear or solid-liquid separation, or to a limited solids concentration. In this work, the shear properties of an anaerobic sludge were measured from 0.4 to 12.5 vol%, which corresponds to the solids concentrations seen in lagoons. The sludge showed Newtonian behaviour at 0.4 vol% and Herschel-Bulkley yield stress fluid behaviour for higher concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 12 vol%. We compared multiple approaches to determine relationships between the model fitting parameters of consistency, k, flow index, n, and shear yield stress, τy with solids volume fraction ϕ.The solid-liquid separation properties were measured from sedimentation and filtration experiments to obtain compressibility and permeability properties across all the above-mentioned concentrations, enabling development of hindered velocity sedimentation curves. Comparison to full-scale anaerobic digestate identified that the pilot lagoon sludge had faster sedimentation at a given solids concentration in comparison to the digestate. This is the first study on simultaneous rheological characterisation and solid-liquid separation behaviour of an anaerobic sludge across a wide range of concentrations, thus enabling CFD modelling of the hydrodynamics and performance of anaerobic lagoons.
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ItemNo Preview AvailableFormation mechanisms and mechanical properties of anaerobic lagoon scum(ELSEVIER, 2022-10-15)The formation of a floating scum layer on the liquid surface of covered anaerobic lagoons prevents optimal and efficient lagoon operation. Scum can reduce hydraulic retention time, inhibit biogas capture and cause damage to lagoon covers. Managing the negative impact of scum requires understanding what scum is, how it forms and how it consolidates. This paper presents measurements of the physical and mechanical properties of scum and sludge samples from two covered anaerobic lagoons that alternatively treat municipal and abattoir waste. Both scum samples consisted of a large proportion of suspended solids that sank once the sample was diluted, degassed and mixed, indicating that sludge flotation and buoyancy due to biogas generation is a major contributor to scum accumulation. Total and soluble chemical oxygen demand and volatile solids in the scum are approximately 90 % higher than in sludge, which indicates that scum has a large proportion of undigested solids. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy demonstrates that scum and sludge have similar organic matter, with both including fats, oils, greases, proteins, and polysaccharides. Scum formation due to gas buoyancy implies that scum accumulation is inevitable and controlling fats, oils, and greases at the source of the wastewater is not enough to stop scum formation. Scum accumulation increases due to buoyancy, which drives scum compaction and increases the strength of the scum, as demonstrated by the measurement of scum compressional rheology. Scum management techniques that disturb the scum layer early enough to release the entrapped gas enable the scum to sink and get digested, thus minimising the impact of scum formation.
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ItemAgglomeration Regimes of Particles under a Linear Laminar Flow: A Numerical Study(MDPI, 2022-06)In this work, a combined smoothed particle hydrodynamics and discrete element method (SPH-DEM) model was proposed to model particle agglomeration in a shear flow. The fluid was modeled with the SPH method and the solid particles with DEM. The system was governed by three fundamental dimensionless groups: the Reynolds number Re (1.5~150), which measured the effect of the hydrodynamics; the adhesion number Ad (6 × 10−5~6 × 10−3), which measured the inter-particle attraction; and the solid fraction α, which measured the concentration of particles. Based on these three dimensionless groups, several agglomeration regimes were found. Within these regimes, the aggregates could have different sizes and shapes that went from long thread-like structures to compact spheroids. The effect of the particle–particle interaction model was also investigated. The results were combined into ‘agglomeration maps’ that allowed for a quick determination of the agglomerate type once α, Re, Ad were known.
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ItemScum formation and consolidation in covered anaerobic lagoons(Australian Water Association, 2022)Scum builds up in covered anerobic lagoons that reduces hydraulic retention time, inhibits biogas capture, and damages lagoon covers. We demonstrate that the majority of this biomass sinks when degassed, indicating it mostly consists of undigested sludge floated by biogas. Thus, scum accumulation is inevitable and is not prevented by source control of fats, oils and floating debris; scum must be periodically and mechanically removed. We develop a theory of scum consolidation and desaturation driven by buoyancy and evaporation, and measure scum permeability and compressibility, to predict scum behaviour. Continued scum accumulation leads to densification and eventually crusting. The recommended scum management technique involves frequent agitation at low accumulation to liberate biogas, sinking biomass to digest it.
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ItemPredicting Transmembrane Pressure Rise from Biofouling Layer Compressibility and Permeability(WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH, 2018-01)Abstract The operation of filtration membranes for wastewater treatment is severely affected by biofouling formation, which causes a rapid increase in transmembrane pressure (TMP) in constant rate filtration. The TMP rise is often attributed to particulate fouling within the membrane, but the external fouling layer or filter cake contributes significantly. The fouling is highly compressible, so any model must incorporate cake compression. A one‐dimensional controlled rate model based on compressible cakes and accurate sludge properties is proposed to predict the TMP rise needed to maintain constant flux. Increased compressibility results in more rapid TMP rise. Model predictions were compared to pilot‐plant data and showed good correlation, without assuming fouling within the membrane. Optimization of cycle times and flux rates are performed.
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ItemImpact of Fly Ash on the Membrane Performance in Postcombustion Carbon Capture Applications(AMER CHEMICAL SOC, 2016-04-27)
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ItemMetal-Phenolic Supramolecular Gelation(WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH, 2016-10-24)Materials assembled by coordination interactions between naturally abundant polyphenols and metals are of interest for a wide range of applications, including crystallization, catalysis, and drug delivery. Such an interest has led to the development of thin films with tunable, dynamic properties, however, creating bulk materials remains a challenge. Reported here is a class of metallogels formed by direct gelation between inexpensive, naturally abundant tannic acid and group(IV) metal ions. The metallogels exhibit diverse properties, including self-healing and transparency, and can be doped with various materials by in situ co-gelation. The robustness and flexibility, combined with the ease, low cost, and scalability of the coordination-driven assembly process make these metallogels potential candidates for chemical, biomedical, and environmental applications.
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ItemA non-linear viscoelastic model for sediments flocculated in the presence of seawater salts(ELSEVIER, 2015-10-05)