Control of wastewater treatment processes to support ecotechnology measures in rivers

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Peter Krebs
• Subject Area: Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Limnology, Urban Water Management, Water Chemistry, Integrated Water Resources Management
• Term: from 2007 to 2011
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 62953458

The processes of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) open up options to influence the composition of the effluent. These options will be used to design the effluents composition such that the conditions for ecotechnology in the receiving waters are supported. The basis for this investigation is to identify the decisive control parameters in the receiving water (project P2). The process water treatment will be a central object of investigation. Due to high ammonia concentration of the process water, high sludge concentration and high temperature, it can be a source for accumulation of compounds and micro-organisms. The idea is to dose either compounds or micro-organisms from the sludge process water reactor to the effluent of the WWTP, depending on the requirements from river water quality and resilience. The investigations will focus on the options of (i) nitrate dosing after nitrification of sludge process water, (ii) nitrifyers dosing, since nitrifyers are highly concentrated in a sludge process water unit, and (iii) accumulating specific micro-organisms able to degrade polluting organics, to be dosed on demand. Last, temperature patterns of effluent and river will be analysed with regard to the potential of heat exchangers in the effluent.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants