Examination of purified single-walled carbon nanotubes on activated sludge process using batch reactors

This paper evaluated the impact of over 90% purified single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) on the activated sludge wastewater treatment process through a batch-scale study. We found that SWCNTs adsorbed 16.9% of the soluble COD (sCOD, soluble chemical oxygen demand) without activated sludge presen...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of environmental science and health. Part A, Toxic/hazardous substances & environmental engineering Toxic/hazardous substances & environmental engineering, 2009-06, Vol.44 (7), p.661-665
Main Authors: Yin, Yexin, Zhang, Xiaoqi(Jackie), Graham, Joseph, Luongo, Lauren
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
activated sludge
Analysis of Variance
Applied sciences
Exact sciences and technology
General purification processes
Nanotubes, Carbon
Pollution
settleability
Sewage
Single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs)
soluble COD (sCOD)
wastewater
Wastewaters
Water treatment and pollution
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:This paper evaluated the impact of over 90% purified single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) on the activated sludge wastewater treatment process through a batch-scale study. We found that SWCNTs adsorbed 16.9% of the soluble COD (sCOD, soluble chemical oxygen demand) without activated sludge present. Statistical analysis of the experimental data demonstrated that only four experimental parameters, i.e., surface charge, sCOD, mixed liquor suspended solids, and sludge volume index were significantly impacted by the addition of SWCNTs; other parameters such as pH, dissolved oxygen, specific resistance to filtration, and relative hydrophobicity were not significantly impacted. Further examination of the four affected parameters illustrated that SWCNTs improved sludge settleability and made the surface of the activated sludge flocs less negatively charged. The addition of SWCNTs appeared to improve sCOD removal due mostly to absorption. This research also found that the impacts observed were from the SWCNTs, not the impurities within the SWCNTs tested.
ISSN:1093-4529
1532-4117
DOI:10.1080/10934520902847695