SANITARY-ENVIRONMENTAL TREATMENT PLANTS
Learning outcomes of the course unit
The course aims to provide the fundamentals for the design and management of sanitary-environmental treatment plants. In detail, the course is focused on plants for (i) water supply, (ii) wastewater treatment and management, (iii) solid waste treatment and management. In addition, where relevant, the course addresses aspects related to resource recovery, considering circular economy principles. The ultimate goal is to provide skills required for the definition and development of treatment and management solutions.
The following specific educational goals are pursued:
- knowledge and application of general criteria for the definition and development of treatment and management solutions,
- knowledge of process fundamentals and main existing technological solution for treatment units,
- knowledge and application of criteria for the design of new plants and the verification of existing plants,
- ability to deal with a specific problem and to propose appropriate technological solutions,
- ability to present and discuss results using appropriate logical structure and technical terminology.
At the end of the course, students will have acquired the knowledge related to main technologies and fields of application for: wastewater treatment, drinking water treatment operational plant management, recovery/disposal of solid waste. Students will also be able to perform the preliminary design of these plants and to carry out monitoring planning and operational methods to verify plant efficiency.
Prerequisites
Some preliminary knowledge is recommended: (i) basics of chemistry and water chemistry, (ii) pollution phenomena and related parameters, (iii) environmental reactors, (iv) hydraulics. Furthermore, it is essential the knowledge and application of concepts related to mass balances and unit measurement conversion, including dimensional analysis. The above-cited concepts are however briefly recalled during lectures and classwork, and the teacher is available to provide specific support for the consolidation of these elements.
Chemistry. Fundamentals of Sanitary-Environmental Engineering.
Course contents summary
The course consists of three parts, respectively dedicated to water supply, wastewater treatment and management, and solid waste treatment and management. In the first part, after a general course introduction, some topics are addressed: (i) water sources and related characteristics, (ii) general information about water supply and related design criteria, (iii) main operating units and existing technological alternatives (coagulation-flocculation-sedimentation, filtration, adsorption on activated carbon, oxidation and disinfection). The second part is structured in three phases, according to a similar structure: (i) origin and characteristics of wastewater, (ii) general information about wastewater treatment management and related design criteria, (iii) main operating units and existing technological alternatives (biological processes for organic matter and nutrient removal, anaerobic digestion, sludge treatment). Finally, the third part is focused on solid waste, and structured as follows: (i) origin and characterization of solid waste, (ii) general information about solid waste treatment and management and related design criteria, (iii) main operating units and existing technological alternatives (composting, incineration, landfill).
“Sanitary-environmental treatment plants” course is formed by 3 parts:
• in the 1st part, treatments of wastewater are developed; in particular, nutrient removal processes are described and operation systems to optimize wastewater treatment plant performances are showed;
• in the 2nd part, treatments of water for drinking use are studied, in particular advanced technologies to remove new pollutants;
• in the 3rd part, treatment, recovery and final disposal of solid wastes will be discussed.
THEORY
Plants to remove nitrogen and phosphorus. Sludge treatment processes. Operation problems in activated sludge plants. Monitoring planning. Experimental methods to verify efficiency plant level (hydrodynamics models, oxygen transfer capacity). Biological treatment feasibility of different wastewaters. Sludge production minimization systems. Advanced drinking water processes. Thermal waste processes (pyrolysis, gasification). Controlled landfills. Organic and inorganic matter recovery from solid waste.
PRACTICAL CLASS
Nitrification and denitrification reactors design. Dephosphatation design. Process efficiencies calculation. Simulation of some experimental texts to verify plant efficiency. Respirometric tests. Freundlich isotherm for activated carbon application. Ionic exchange resins. Preliminary design of incineration and gasification plants.
Recommended readings
Il materiale del corso è reso disponibile progressivamente sulla pagina relativa del portale Elly.
Ulteriori testi di consultazione suggeriti sono (i) Crittenden J.C., Trussell R.R, Hand D.W., Howe K.J., Tchobanoglous G. (2012). Water Treatment: Principles and Design, John Wiley & Sons, ISBN: 9780470405390, (ii) Metcalf & Eddy,AECOM, Tchobanoglous G., Stensel H., Tsuchihashi R., Burton F. (2014). Wastewater Engineering: Treatment and Resource Recovery, McGraw Hill, ISBN: 9780073401188, (iii) Christensen T.H. (2011). Solid Waste Technology & Management, John Wiley & Sons, ISBN: 9781405175173.
Collivignarelli Carlo, Bertanza Giorgio. Ingegneria Sanitaria-Ambientale. Città Studi Edizioni.
Collivignarelli Carlo, Sorlini Sabrina. Potabilizzazione delle acque - Processi e tecnologie. Dario Flaccovio Editore.
Metcalf & Eddy, Inc., Ingegneria delle Acque Reflue: Trattamento e Riuso, 5a Edizine, Mc-Graw-Hill, Milano, 2006.
Teaching methods
The course structure is based on lectures and classwork. During lectures, basic knowledge, tools and analysis methodologies are provided. During classwork, applicative examples are developed, mainly aiming at the preliminary design of treatment units and trains. Classwork may require students to work independently or in small groups. If possible, full-scale plant visit will be organized.
The course is divided into lectures and numerical exercises. Lessons will be held using Power Point presentations. The exercises are carried out in the classroom and numerically performed.
Assessment methods and criteria
Learning will be verified by a written test and an oral interview. Both tests are aimed at assessing both theoretical knowledge and applicative skills. Part of the verification may concern the discussion of design exercises developed by students during classwork.
The evaluation of course consists of a written test and an oral interview.
The written test consists of five questions regarding both theoretical and applicative knowledge (exercises).
The written exam may consists of two partial tests.
Other informations
Lecture attendance is highly recommended
