Cornell University
Library
Cornell UniversityLibrary

eCommons

Help
Log In(current)
  1. Home
  2. Cornell University Graduate School
  3. Cornell Theses and Dissertations
  4. Evaluating the potential for improving Class A biosolids applications through vivianite recovery

Evaluating the potential for improving Class A biosolids applications through vivianite recovery

File(s)
Guo_cornell_0058O_11762.pdf (8.28 MB)
Permanent Link(s)
https://doi.org/10.7298/cj1p-0f74
https://hdl.handle.net/1813/113893
Collections
Cornell Theses and Dissertations
Author
Guo, Peibo
Abstract

Class A biosolids from water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs) are increasingly used as sustainable alternatives to synthetic fertilizers to replenish macronutrients. However, the high phosphorus to nitrogen ratio in biosolids leads to an accumulation of phosphorus after repeated land applications. Extracting vivianite, an Fe-P mineral, prior to the final dewatering step can reduce the P content in the resulting class A biosolids and achieve a P: N ratio closer to 1:2 of that of synthetic fertilizers. Using ICP-MS, IC, UV-Vis colorimetric method, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and SEM-EDX, a full-scale characterization of vivianite at the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant (AWTTP) was surveyed throughout the biosolids treatment line. The vivianite-bound phosphorus and vivianite-bound iron quantified in primary sludge thickening, sludge blend tank 2, after thermal hydrolysis, and after anaerobic digestion, was found to correspond to 8%, 52%, 40%, and 49% of both total phosphorus and total iron that is incoming the plant, respectively. Based on current P: N levels in the Class A biosolids at Blue Plains (BLOOM), a vivianite recovery target of 40% to ideally 70% is required in locations with high vivianite content to reach a P:N ratio of 1:1.3 to 1:2, respectively. Additionally, this study explores the feasibility of using cyclone density separation technology to recover vivianite from the sludge streams. Model simulations were also conducted with Visual Minteq to evaluate the pre-treatment options for maximizing vivianite recovery at different solids treatment train locations. At last, a financial analysis and estimates were performed on recovered vivianite along with potential FeCl3 savings from iron recycling.

Date Issued
2023-05
Keywords
Class A biosolids
•
mass balance flows
•
Phosphorus-removal
•
resource recovery
•
Vivianite recovery
Committee Chair
Gu Leip, April
Committee Member
Goldfarb, Jillian
Reid, Matthew
Degree Discipline
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Degree Name
M.S., Civil and Environmental Engineering
Degree Level
Master of Science
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
Rights URI
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Type
dissertation or thesis
Link(s) to Catalog Record
https://newcatalog.library.cornell.edu/catalog/16176392

Site Statistics | Help

About eCommons | Policies | Terms of use | Contact Us

copyright © 2002-2026 Cornell University Library | Privacy | Web Accessibility Assistance