Ultrasonic treatment as a means of influencing the bioavailability of colloidal, particulate and associated organic material

Summary

Biological water treatment processes enjoy widespread popularity, since they are generally more cost-effective than physical or chemical processes.  In these processes, however, microbiological degradation is restricted by the limited bioavailability of colloidal, particulate and associated organic materials.  Physical pre-treatment provides a potential solution to this problem.

The object of this project was to establish the feasibility of ultrasonic treatment for the improvement of the bioavailability of impurities of this type in wastewater treatment.  It was intended that ultrasonic treatment should achieve two separate effects:

• the accelerated degradation of hydrophobic pollutants through accelerated mass transfer in the aqueous phase;
• the accelerated degradation of colloids and solids in suspension through the fragmentation of the substrate.
• Potential applications for this process have been investigated using a trial structure on a laboratory scale.

Results:

• Ultrasonic treatment has proved to be suitable for the fragmentation of polymers and solids in suspension in waste waters.
• The fragmentation of polymers has resulted in increased microbial degradation.
• The fragmentation of particulate solids in municipal sewage has not been associated with an improvement in biodegradation.
• In none of the cases investigated did ultrasonic pre-treatment lead to the formation of toxic or inhibitory substances.

Project Participants

Implementing Institution

Hamburg University of Technology

Promotion

Promoting institutions

Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)

More Project Informations

Project title:  Ultrasonic treatment as a means of influencing the bioavailability of colloidal, particulate and associated organic material

Project number:  02WA9677/0

Project period:  1996 - 1999

Project region:  Germany (Hamburg)

Project contact:

Herr Prof. Neis

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49 40 42878 3107