Estimating the Effect of Magnetite on Nitrogen and Phosphorus Removal Using Intervention Analysis
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 146, Issue 9
Abstract
This study investigated the effectiveness of magnetite as ballast material through a technology called BioMag in nitrogen and phosphorus removal and in processing peak flows at a wastewater treatment plant using data from the Marlay-Taylor Water Reclamation Facility in Maryland. Using intervention analysis, the magnitude of the difference in effluent total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) before and after the magnetite technology retrofit was estimated, but with the time series forecast forward both before and after the upgrade, as opposed to a backward forecast of the series after the upgrade suggested by previous studies. The sludge volume index (SVI) and mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) were also examined to ascertain the effect of the magnetite technology on these parameters. The findings showed improved SVI and increased MLSS and that the upgraded facility is successfully treating peak flows while maintaining good effluent quality. The effluent TN and TP decreased by 98% and 77%, respectively. These results were compared to results from a backward forecast as well as results obtained from a simple difference between actual reported values.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the Utah Water Research Laboratory (UWRL) for providing funding that enabled this research; Mr. Issa Hamud and the city of Logan for their support and accommodation in meetings discussing the proposed BioMag wastewater treatment facility in Logan, UT; Mr. Nathan Antonneau of Evoqua Technologies for his role and cooperation in ensuring that the authors obtained the information that was essential to this research; and Mr. Morgan O’Dell, Mr. DuWayne Potter, and the entire staff at Marlay-Taylor WRF in Maryland for their cooperation and for providing the data that were used in this research.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 146 • Issue 9 • September 2020
Copyright
©2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 5, 2019
Accepted: Apr 23, 2020
Published online: Jun 27, 2020
Published in print: Sep 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Nov 27, 2020
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