411-448 Biochemical/Environmental Engineering 2

411-335 Biochemical/Environmental Engineering 1B

Students successfully completing this subject should have a broad understanding of the nature of waste streams, the principles underlying their treatment, and the important processes used to treat a variety of domestic, industrial and agricultural wastes. In addition they will have gained an understanding of the more important physical, chemical and biological techniques used in the process design of a variety of waste treatment systems. They will also have gained practical experience in the operation of a bench scale activated sludge unit and the common assay procedures used to evaluate its performance.

Contents: The characteristics of liquid and solid wastes and the objectives of waste treatment; important waste assay procedures; primary, secondary and tertiary wastewater treatment processes; physical and chemical treatment processes for both liquid and solid wastes; biological waste treatment and the role of various microbial groups: anaerobic, facultative, aerobic and aerated lagoons and factors affecting their design; activated sludge and related processes; adherent growth processes and associated design considerations; biological and physico-chemical removal of nitrogen and phosphorus; anaerobic processes and their use in liquid and solid waste treatment; treatment and disposal of biosolids; recycling and reuse of wastes; life cycle analysis, sustainability and cleaner production.

One 3-hour examination at the end of the semester (70%), mid-term test (20%) and one practical report of no more than 2000 words (10%)