Simulation-based Process Optimization of Micropollutants Removal for Advanced Wastewater Treatment

von Hana Atallah Al-asad

194 Seiten, Taschenbuch

Kurzbeschreibung des Verlags

Advanced wastewater treatment technologies, such as adsorption onto powdered ac-tivated carbon (PAC) and ozonation, are being implemented to enhance the removal of organic micropollutants (OMP) in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Compre-hensive mathematical models support process understanding and enable process be-havior prediction. This thesis advances modeling and simulation approaches for plan-ning, operation, and control of advanced wastewater treatment steps using PAC and ozone. In this work, two mechanistic models were developed to describe OMP removal via PAC adsorption and ozonation. The PAC adsorption model is based on the tracer model (TRM), a modification of the ideal adsorbed solution theory (IAST), and uses the Freundlich isotherm equation to describe adsorption equilibrium. The ozonation model describes ozone consumption by two decay steps: an instantaneous ozone de-mand (IOD) followed by a slower first-order decay phase. Two approaches were ap-plied to model hydroxyl radical (•OH) exposure: an Rct-based approach and a chain reaction modeling method. Since both processes are strongly influenced by organic matter in the wastewater matrix, a fictive component approach was used in both mod-els to quantify organic matter competing with OMP for adsorption sites or oxidants. Data obtained from laboratory batch experiments evaluating adsorption equilibrium, kinetics, and ozone decay were used for model calibration. For validation, data from laboratory tests and full-scale measurement campaigns were employed. Several simulation-based tests were performed to assess the effect of influential pa-rameters on process efficiency. Results showed that besides PAC and ozone doses, dissolved organic matter (DOM) characteristics and hydraulic retention time (HRT) are decisive for OMP removal efficiency. Rain events reduced OMP removal in PAC ad-sorption stages due to shorter HRT, wastewater dilution, and peak load shifts, while returning excess PAC to upstream treatment enhanced removal. Using both models, a broad spectrum of operational strategies and control concepts was systematically explored to optimize advanced wastewater treatment. Simulations showed that resource savings can be achieved without compromising OMP removal efficiency by implementing targeted dosing strategies. Control based on predefined removal targets or effluent quality thresholds, as well as redistributing ozone across multiple contact points, further improved process efficiency. This thesis demonstrates how modeling and simulation enhance the understanding of advanced treatment processes and enable the systematic evaluation of different oper-ational strategies. The developed models provide a robust basis for practical analysis and optimisation of micropollutant removal and can be effectively used to support the planning, operation, and control of advanced wastewater treatment.

• Reihe: Wasser, Abwasser, Umwelt
• Themen: Geowissenschaften, Geographie, Umwelt, Planung
• ISBN: 9783737612654
• Sprache: Englisch
• Erscheinungsdatum: 08.07.2026
• Größe: 21 x 14.8 cm
• Verlag: Kassel University Press