Water Resources Engineering Commons^™

The Aggregation Of Microplastics By Enhancing Extracellular Polymeric Substance Production In Pseudoalteromonas Sp. Ncimb 2021 To Improve Removal Efficiencies In Environmental Matrices, Janelle L. Mercer

All Theses

Microplastics (MP) are ubiquitous in the natural environment and are a growing threat due to their small size and durability. Plastics are released into the environment through improper waste management, wastewater treatment outfalls, industrial spills, agricultural runoff, and landfills. These particles breakdown into secondary MP through degradation pathways. MP, less than 5 mm, require intricate removal techniques from water systems. Filtration techniques, though viable and effective, have implementation constraints due to high cost, maintenance demands, and filter fouling. By integrating coagulation and flocculation processes prior to filtration, MP removal efficiencies can increase, while minimizing operational challenges during filtration. Extracellular polymeric …

Dried Water Treatment Residuals Might Be An Option To Reduce Soluble Reactive Phosphorus Release From Soils, Katie B. Mckay

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Nonpoint source pollution from agricultural landscapes contributes to freshwater eutrophication, with legacy phosphorus (P) in soils potentially driving soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) losses to surface waters. The objectives of this study were to evaluate SRP adsorption by dried water treatment residuals (WTRs) produced by Beaver Water District, quantify reductions in soil SRP release across increasing WTR application rates, and compare dried WTR performance to prior WTR studies.

Dried WTRs (~98% solids) were assessed using batch sorption experiments and soil core incubations. Phosphorus sorption was measured by mixing WTRs with CaCl₂ solutions containing increasing SRP concentrations and fitting results to …

Exploring The Interplay Of Operational Conditions, Microbial Communities, And Water Quality In Drinking Water Ozone-Biofiltration, Kara Yvonne Cunningham

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Ensuring reliable access to safe drinking water is a growing global challenge as water utilities face variable source water quality driven by population growth, land‑use change, and climate change impacts. To address these challenges, utilities are implementing advanced treatment technologies designed to improve reliability under variable source water conditions. Ozone-biofiltration has emerged as a treatment approach that can reduce a wide range of natural and anthropogenic contaminants. However, despite its increased use, there is limited insight into the biological processes shaping filter function or how they respond to operational and environmental changes. Advances in molecular microbiology and high-throughput sequencing now …