By the end of this course, you should be able to do the following:

1. Describe the key unit processes in a waste treatment process and explain the functions of each component.
2. Given a particular wastestream, flow requirements, and treatment standards, be able to:
   • Identify the key design and operation issues for adequate removal of contaminants;
   • Select an appropriate treatment process and justify the selection;
   • Provide an initial design of the treatment process by selecting appropriate values for fundamental variables and calculating removal rates, biomass production rates, oxygen requirements, clarifier loadings and sizes, selector sizes, and other key parameters in suspended and attached growth systems.
3. Model suspended and attached growth processes:
   • Predict the effect of environmental parameters and operational factors on performance;
   • Interpret the results of modeling simulations.
4. Evaluate a full scale wastewater treatment plant based on:
   • Design and operation of the biochemical treatment process;
   • Design and operation of solids handling processes;
   • Troubleshooting activated sludge solids settling problems.
     
     

Homework. Homework will generally be due one week after it is assigned. The homework is due during class on the due date. If the homework cannot be turned in during class on the due date, permission from the instructor to change the due date is necessary. Without this permission, the homework will not be graded.

Unless the assignment specifies otherwise, you will be assigned in pairs to work on the homework, and each pair will submit one solution set per assignment. Some homework assignments will include material that has not been covered in class at the time of the assignment, but require reading of papers or books available in Electronic or Print Reserves at the Library.

Writing assignments are required to be typed on 1.5 line spacing, 1” margins, and 12 point font Times or Times New Roman. Writing assignments are primarily evaluated for content, but writing effectiveness is also important (e.g., organization, style, grammar, punctuation, spelling, and neatness).

Examples of references that can be consulted

• W. Strunk Jr. and E. B. White. 1979. The Elements of Style. 3 rd ed. Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc., NY.
• J. G. Smith and P. A. Vesilind. 1996. Report Writing for Environmental Engineers and Scientists. Lakeshore Press, Woodsville, NH.

Field Trip: Distance students will be required to visit a wastewater treatment plant in their area and prepare a short report (10 pages) that includes their analysis of the WWTP design and operation.

Exams. All exams will be closed-book exams. You can make your own formula sheets for the exams. For exam 1, you can use one double-sided sheet (2 pages); for exam 2, you can use two double-sided sheets (4 pages); for the Final Exam, you can use three double-sided sheets (6 pages). Permission for a make-up exam needs to be obtained before the exam.

Grading
Homework (10): 30%
Exam 1 18%
Exam 2 18%
Final Exam 30%
Class Participation 4%

Grades will not be assigned using a curve so that your course grade will depend only on how you do, and not how everyone else in the class does. A weighted grade of 90 and above is typically a course grade of A, 80 or above = B, 70 or above = C, and 60 or above = D.

Rittmann, B.E. and McCarty, P.L., Environmental Biotechnology, 2000, McGraw-Hill

In addition to the text, several handouts and papers will be used as reading assignments or study material. They will be provided during the semester or will be available in Electronic reserves in the Library (http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/reserves/). Distance students have access to the on-campus library. For more information, go to this web site: http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/distance/ or contact the library by email libref@ncsu.edu or phone 1-877-601-0590.

Metcalf and Eddy, Inc. 2001. Wastewater Engineering: Treatment, Disposal, and Reuse, 4th ed., McGraw-Hill Inc., New York, NY

Henze, M., Harremoes, P., la Cour Jansen, J., and Arvin, E. 1995. Wastewater Treatment, Biological and Chemical Processes, Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg, Germany.

Eckenfelder, W., Malina, J., and Patterson, J. (eds.) 1992/1998. Water Quality Management Library, Vol. 1, 2, 3, 4, 7. Technomic Publishing Co.

Grady, L., Daigger, G., and Lim, H. 1999. Biological Wastewater Treatment, Marcel-Dekker Inc., New York, NY

NCSU has recommended minimum specifications for computers used for classes. Depending on your computer needs, we recommend your computer meet or exceed the following minimum specifications below.

PCs must have an Intel-compatible 1 GHz processor, 512 MB RAM, 60 GB hard drive with 1 GB free space available, 256 Color Display, CD-ROM drive, 1024x768 (min.) video adapter, sound card, and speakers. The operating system should be Windows XP Pro. Real One Player Basic (available free online) and high speed Internet connection such as cable, DSL, T1 or LAN will be required for EOL courses.

MAC users must have a G4 processor with firewire and USB factory built-in, 512 MB RAM, 60 GB with 1GB free space available, 256 Color Display, CD-ROM drive, 1024x768 (min) video adapter, sound card, and speakers. The operating system must be MacOS 10.4 (minimum) along with the above RealOne and Internet specifications above.

For more detailed information on computer specifications and recommendations, please refer to our website at: http://engineeringonline.ncsu.edu/currentstudents/computeraccess.htm

Introduction

1. Contaminants and their measurement
2. Overview of treatment objectives

Fundamentals of Biochemical Operations

1. Microbial Groups and Ecosystems
2. Important Processes

Quantitative Fundamentals

1. Energetics and Stoichiometry
2. Kinetics of Growth and Substrate Removal
   

Theory: Modeling of Suspended Growth Reactors

1. Basic Model for a CSTR
2. Extensions of Basic Model
3. Conventional Configuration
4. Modeling Complex Systems
   

Applications: Suspended Growth Reactors

1. Design Approach
2. Activated Sludge Process
3. Modeling of Activated Sludge Systems
4. Biological Nutrient Removal
   a. Nitrification/Denitrification
   b .Phosphorus Removal
5. Gas Transfer
6. Anaerobic Treatment
7. Clarifier Design
8. Membrane Bioreactors
9. Treatment and Disposal of Sludge

Modeling and Applications of Attached Growth Reactors

1. Substrate Utilization and Transport
2. Biofilm Kinetics and Mass Balance
3. Applications
   

Dr. Francis L. de los Reyes III, Associate Professor
Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering
North Carolina State University
319B Mann Hall
Campus Box 7908
Raleigh, NC 27695-7908

Phone: (919) 515-7416
Fax: (919) 515-7908
E-Mail: fldelosr@eos.ncsu.edu