dc.contributor.author | Otieno, Kennedy Omondi | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2013-07-03T06:43:32Z | |
dc.date.available | 2013-07-03T06:43:32Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2013 | |
dc.identifier.citation | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the Degree of Master of Science in Environmental §ngineering in the Department of Environmental and Biosystems Engineering ill the University of Nairobi, Kenya. | en |
dc.identifier.uri | http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/44385 | |
dc.description.abstract | This study was based on testing Screening Level Technique (SLT) as a way of
evaluating bioremediation performance of an operating horizontal wastewater flow
Vegetated Submerged Bed (VSB) system with specific focus to 5 day Biochemical
Oxygen Demand (BODs). BODs is a pertinent pollutant parameter in biological
treatment processes such .asVSB systems. The overall objective was to establish
effectiveness. and usefulness of the SLT in the assessment and design of a
performing pollution abatement VSB system. The methodology applied was the
estimation of the descriptive bulk loss (k) parameter from the screening level plug
flow model which principally assumes steady state conditions and spatial gradients
in concentrations along the main flow .axis. The screening level plug flow model was
.<\0> I~ I,t
chosen because of the baffling natJr~"'~f the Carnivore Resraurant VSB system.
According to the concept of SLT, the amount of pollutant removal ina VSB system is
quantitatively expressed in terms of the Removal Efficacy (RE). The RE basically
depends on the VSB reactor's hydraulic residence time and the pollutant removal
rate, k per day. The pollutant removal rate in turn depends on a number of
processes and conditions such as microbial metabolism and wastewater
temperature. Both the BODs Removal Efficacy and bulk loss (k) were established as
. ·96% and 0.48d-1 respectively. The meaning of this is that the Carnivore VSB system
does not qualify as a conventional system despite its high removal efficacy
performance. This· is because evaluated k value of 0.48d-1 could not compare
favourably to the typicaI1.1'04d-1 value for conventional VSB systems.
In conclusion, the SLTwas validated through subjection to verification failure rather
than a chance to pass by testing it for effectiveness against the relatively universally
accepted Kickuth model. Statistically, the study could not conclude a chance for
failure and lack of confidence in it. Consequently, the study finds that the SLT is an
effective and useful technology hence can be relied on for the design of a functional
VSB bioremediation system. | en |
dc.language.iso | en | en |
dc.title | Evaluation of Screening Level Technique in Pollutant Removal in an Engineered Ecological System | en |
dc.type | Thesis | en |
local.publisher | Envrironmental and Biosystems Engineering, University of Nairobi | en |