the living machine & leachate by laura llewellyn
TRANSCRIPT
Hypothesis
The living machine will successful remove contaminants from leachate while remaining a healthy environment itself.
The living machine will remove the contaminants found in leachate but some of the aquatic life will die in the process.
The living machine will not remove a sufficient amount of contaminants found in the leachate.
Step 1- Anaerobic Reactor
- Leachate drains from reactors (left)
- To a septic tank (right)
- Leachate manually transported to tank 1
- Purpose: to reduce concentrations of BOD5 and solids
Step 2- Anoxic Reactor
- promote growth of microorganisms
- Settled bio-solids from clarifier can be recycled back into anoxic reactor
- Aerated - Vented with plant
bio-filter
Step 3- Closed Aerobic Reactor
- reduce BOD5, odors, and stimulate nitrification
- Aerated and mixed by bubble diffuser
- Usually covered with bio-filter
More Open Aerobic Reactors
- size and number vary according to influent characteristics, effluent requirements, flow conditions and design
- Variety of plants is key
Step 5- Clarifier
-settling tank for remaining solids
-pumped back into closed aerobic reactor or removed
Step 6- Ecological Fluidized Bed
- inner and outer tank with growth medium inside the inner tank
- Water flows in circular motion from the outer to the inner tank
- Circulation periodically reversed by air pump to prevent sludge build up
Water Quality Tests
- over 5 week period
- Week 1 no leachate in system
- Leachate added during week 2 & 3
- System design changed week 4
Temperature
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1 2 3 4 5
Week
Celc
ius
pH
- concentration of Hydrogen ions
- pH scale
1 (acidic)…
6.5-8.2 (aquatic life flourishes)
14 (alkaline/basic)
Temperature
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1 2 3 4 5
Week
Ce
lciu
s
pH
6
6.5
7
7.5
8
8.5
9
9.5
1 2 3 4 5
weekly analysis
pH
level
tank 1
tank 2
tank 3
tank 4
tank 5
tank 6
tank 7
Dissolved Oxygen (DO)
- quantity of oxygen being used by water- High DO- slow uptake by microorganisms- Low DO- high demand from microorganisms- DO increases with temperature
Dissolved Oxygen
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
1 2 3 4 5
weekly analysis
DO
lm
g/L
tank 1
tank 2
tank 3
tank 4
tank 5
tank 6
tank 7
Temperature
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1 2 3 4 5
Week
Ce
lciu
s
Specific Conductance
= measured conductance (uS)
1+.019(field temp. - 25)
- affected by presence of inorganic dissolved solids such as chloride and phosphate
Specific Conductance
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
1 2 3 4 5
weekly analysis
Sp
ec.
Co
nd
. le
ve
l
tank 1tank 2tank 3tank 4tank 5tank 6tank 7
Temperature
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1 2 3 4 5
Week
Ce
lciu
s
Chloride Content
- chloride contents doubled when leachate was added to the system
Chloride
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
2 5 6 7
tank
mg
/L
no leachate with leachate
Nitrate Content
- nitrate can stimulate algae growth thus cause low levels DO
- Other Living Machines have goals <5 mg/L
Nitrate
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
2 5 6 7
mg
/L
no leachate with leachate
Sulfate Content
- Potentiometric titration of pure leachate revealed
.6 mg/L sulfide - Sulfide is converted into sulfate - Sulfate decreases around system
Sulfate
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
2 5 6 7
tank
mg
/L
no leachate with leachate