Biological Processes for Water and Wastewater Treatment
Program Overview
The Biological Processes for Water and Wastewater Treatment course provides a comprehensive understanding of biological treatment processes for water and wastewater. Participants gain insights into the design, operation, and underlying biological principles of these processes, preparing them for careers in the water and wastewater treatment industry. The course covers conventional and advanced processes, including activated sludge, biological nutrient removal, and advanced biological wastewater treatment. Participants benefit from a variety of assessment methods, teaching approaches, and exposure to industry experts and real-world applications.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The Biological Processes for Water and Wastewater Treatment course provides participants with a comprehensive understanding of the design principles, practice, and operation of conventional and advanced biological treatment processes. The course covers various topics, including:
- Identifying and explaining the range of conventional and advanced biological treatment processes for treating bulk organics, nutrients, and micropollutants.
- Understanding the underlying biological principles of these processes and applying them to unit process design and operation.
- Gaining insights into key principles of biological processes, including stoichiometry, kinetics, and microbial pathways.
- Exploring the role of microorganisms in activated sludge (aerobic processes) and digestion (anaerobic processes).
- Acquiring knowledge on activated sludge principles, design, and operation.
- Learning about the principles of oxygen transfer for suspended growth microbial processes.
- Investigating the applications of extensive processes for wastewater treatment, including reed beds.
- Delving into biological nutrient removal, including Annamox and alternative nutrient removal processes (struvite and adsorbents).
- Examining advanced biological wastewater treatment, including anaerobic wastewater treatment and the application of biological processes for micropollutant removal.
Outline:
The course outline is designed to provide participants with a thorough and systematic understanding of biological processes for water and wastewater treatment. It covers the following modules:
- Module 1: Introduction to Biological Processes for Water and Wastewater Treatment
- Introduction to water and wastewater treatment
- Types of biological treatment processes
- Microorganisms in biological treatment processes
- Design principles for biological treatment processes
- Module 2: Activated Sludge Processes
- Principles of activated sludge processes
- Design and operation of activated sludge systems
- Oxygen transfer in activated sludge systems
- Troubleshooting activated sludge systems
- Module 3: Biological Nutrient Removal
- Principles of biological nutrient removal
- Nitrification and denitrification
- Phosphorus removal
- Advanced nutrient removal processes
- Module 4: Advanced Biological Wastewater Treatment
- Anaerobic wastewater treatment
- Biological treatment of micropollutants
- Membrane bioreactors
- Moving bed biofilm reactors
- Module 5: Applications of Biological Processes for Water and Wastewater Treatment
- Applications in municipal wastewater treatment
- Applications in industrial wastewater treatment
- Applications in water reuse
- Case studies of biological treatment processes
Assessment:
The course utilizes a variety of assessment methods to evaluate participants' understanding of the material covered. These include:
- Assignments: Participants are required to complete assignments that demonstrate their understanding of the course concepts.
- Examinations: Written examinations are conducted to assess participants' knowledge and ability to apply the concepts learned in the course.
- Presentations: Participants may be required to give presentations on specific topics related to the course material.
- Case Studies: Participants may also be required to analyze and solve real-world case studies involving biological treatment processes.
Teaching:
The course is taught by experienced faculty members with expertise in biological processes for water and wastewater treatment. The teaching methods employed include:
- Lectures: Faculty members deliver lectures covering the key concepts and principles of the course.
- Tutorials: Tutorials provide participants with an opportunity to discuss the lecture material and ask questions.
- Practical Sessions: Practical sessions allow participants to gain hands-on experience with biological treatment processes.
- Guest Lectures: Invited guest speakers from industry and academia share their expertise and insights with participants.
- Field Trips: Field trips to water and wastewater treatment plants provide participants with a firsthand look at real-world applications of biological treatment processes.
Careers:
The Biological Processes for Water and Wastewater Treatment course prepares participants for a variety of careers in the water and wastewater treatment industry. Potential career paths include:
- Process engineer
- Design engineer
- Operations engineer
- Research scientist
- Environmental consultant
- Regulatory specialist
Other:
The course also provides participants with an understanding of the latest advancements in biological treatment processes. This includes topics such as:
- Membrane bioreactors
- Moving bed biofilm reactors
- Advanced nutrient removal processes
- Biological treatment of micropollutants The course is designed to be relevant to participants working in a variety of sectors, including:
- Municipal water and wastewater treatment
- Industrial wastewater treatment
- Water reuse In addition to the technical aspects of biological treatment processes, the course also covers important topics such as:
- Sustainability
- Environmental regulations
- Public health and safety
