| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11401/78259 | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | This work is sponsored by the Stony Brook University Graduate School in compliance with the requirements for completion of degree. | en_US |
| dc.format | Monograph | |
| dc.format.medium | Electronic Resource | en_US |
| dc.language.iso | en_US | |
| dc.type | Thesis | |
| dcterms.abstract | This study examines the removal of phosphorus in alternative wastewater technologies known as nitrogen removing biofilters (NRB) with focus on the geochemical processes that occur within the sediment and wastewater during septic tank effluent transit through NRBs. Wastewater and lysimeter samples were taken from three NRB systems at the Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Testing Center (MASSTC) from January 2016 to April 2017 for total phosphorus (TP), total dissolved phosphorus (TDP), total particulate phosphorus (TPP), dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP), and dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP). Sediment cores were taken from one NRB for sequential extractions to determine bound phosphorus phases, for ammonium oxalate extractions to calculate the degree of phosphorus saturation (DPS), and for laboratory experiments to determine adsorption isotherms and to calculate the maximum phosphorus adsorption capacity of the NRB. Results showed 78-98% of TP removal from septic tanks to NRB effluent, with the remaining fraction of TP present as colloids mobile in the fluid. The predominant form of dissolved phosphorus in the septic tanks discharging into the NRBs was DIP. A removal of 85-100% for DIP, DOP and TDP occurred during wastewater transit through the NRBs. Dissolved inorganic phosphorus concentrations measured quarterly during 2016 and 2017 showed little variation in removal efficiency, indicating little to no temperature dependence and thus microbial influence. Sediment analyses showed that the largest percentage of excess phosphorus in the NRB was measured as phosphorus bound to iron and aluminum indicating phosphorus removal due to slow diffusive adsorption onto iron and aluminum (hydr)oxide mineral surfaces and possibly the precipitation of iron-phosphate minerals. Within the denitrification layer of the NRB, phosphorus loss from sediment to solution was observed predominantly as loss of phosphorus bound to apatite and carbonate, suggesting the dissolution of these mineral phases. The removal of phosphorus from wastewater is important for freshwater bodies and groundwater. When left unaddressed, phosphorus becomes a nutrient that encourages water quality concerns, such as harmful algal blooms to develop. | |
| dcterms.available | 2018-06-21T13:38:46Z | |
| dcterms.contributor | Wehrmann, Laura M | en_US |
| dcterms.contributor | Gobler, Christopher J | en_US |
| dcterms.contributor | Price, Roy E | en_US |
| dcterms.creator | Lee, Jeanette | |
| dcterms.dateAccepted | 2018-06-21T13:38:46Z | |
| dcterms.dateSubmitted | 2018-06-21T13:38:46Z | |
| dcterms.description | Department of Marine and Atmospheric Science | en_US |
| dcterms.extent | 73 pg. | en_US |
| dcterms.format | Application/PDF | en_US |
| dcterms.format | Monograph | |
| dcterms.identifier | http://hdl.handle.net/11401/78259 | |
| dcterms.issued | 2017-12-01 | |
| dcterms.language | en_US | |
| dcterms.provenance | Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-21T13:38:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1
LEE_grad.sunysb_0771M_13511.pdf: 3217112 bytes, checksum: e2d2b936d5734d6e65bf912c4429e003 (MD5)
Previous issue date: 12 | en |
| dcterms.subject | Biogeochemistry | |
| dcterms.subject | Chemical Oceanography | |
| dcterms.subject | Water supply | |
| dcterms.subject | Phosphorus | |
| dcterms.subject | Sediment | |
| dcterms.subject | Wastewater | |
| dcterms.subject | Water quality | |
| dcterms.title | Optimizing Phosphorus Removal in Nitrogen Removing Biofilters | |
| dcterms.type | Thesis | |
