The Phosphorus Story: Sustainable Nutrient Management at the Robert W
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The Phosphorus Story: Sustainable Nutrient Management at the Robert W. Hite Treatment Facility Englewood PWO Seminar – February 7, 2019 Dan Freedman, MWRD Nate Brown, Stantec Agenda • Background on Phosphorus • Robert W. Hite Treatment Facility Background • The District’s Phosphorus Initiative • Liquid Stream Phosphorus Removal • Solids Stream Phosphorus Recovery • The Future of Phosphorus Management Background on Phosphorus (The Most Interesting Element in the World) The Lucifer of Liege by Guillaume Geefs Image by Luc Viatour What even is Phosphorus? • In Greek mythology, Phosphorus was the god “Light Bringer” otherwise known as The Morning Star (aka the planet Venus) • The Latin translation of Phosphorus is Lucifer Image source ‐ John Lemieux, flickr.com Image source ‐ https://lystek.com/ The Alchymist, In Search of the Philosopher’s Stone, Discovers Phosphorus, and prays for the successful Conclusion of his operation, as was the custom of the Ancient Alchymical Astrologers How was Phosphorus by Joseph Wright of Derby first discovered? • Discovered in 1669 by Hennig Brand whilst searching for the “philosopher’s stone” • Brand attempted to create the stone through distillation of salts by evaporating urine • Through the process he produced a material that made a brilliant white light, hence the name phosphorus Image source ‐ https://lystek.com/ Why is Phosphorus important? “Life can multiply until all the phosphorus is gone, and then there is an inexorable halt which nothing can prevent. We may be able to substitute nuclear power for coal, and plastics for wood, and yeast for meat, and friendliness for isolation—but for phosphorus there is neither substitute nor replacement.” ‐Isaac Asimov from Asimov on Chemistry Image source ‐ John Lemieux, flickr.com Image source ‐Image source ‐ https://lystek.com/ https://lystek.com/ Image source – DC Comics Who is Phosphorus? While working at a nuclear power plant, Dr. Alex Sartorius was expose to radioactive material as a result of a nuclear reactor failure. His body transformed into live Phosphorus and turns to flame whenever he is in contact with air. He is now known as Doctor Phosphorus! Image source ‐ John Lemieux, flickr.com Image source ‐ https://lystek.com/ Where is all the Phosphorus? Image source: BioPandit Where is all the Phosphorus? Image source – Y. Arthur‐Bertrand, Corbis Image source – Robert Garvey, Corbis Image source – UNEP Image source – National Geographic Image source – Elena Elisseeva, Shutterstock The Phosphorus Cycle (Source: UNEP) Image source ‐ John Lemieux, flickr.com Image source ‐ https://lystek.com/ Why we care: Water quality issues Off-line Reservoirs South Platte River Prehearing Statement, Regs #31 and #85, Rulemaking Hearing, March 12, 2012, Colorado Water Quality Control Division, December 9, 2011. Phased Total Maximum Daily Load to Achieve pH Compliance in Barr Lake and Milton Reservoir, Colorado, Barr Lake and Milton Reservoir Watershed Association, May 2013, Robert W. Hite Treatment Facility (RWHTF) Background Robert W. Hite Treatment Facility (RWHTF) North Secondary South Secondary Solids Handling • 1.8 million population equivalent service area, 220 MGD plant rating • Separate secondary processes, with combined solids handling and sidestream treatment Resource Recovery at the RWHTF Combined Heat and Power (Energy) Average ~4.5 MW 38% plant electricity Biosolids (Nitrogen) Effluent (Water) 107 dry tons/day (2017) Average ~134 mgd 1.64 tons/day plant available nitrogen No District water rights 75% applied on private property 85% of S. Platte 6 months/year 25% applied on METROGRO Farm N Denver Water can reuse up to 120 cfs The District’s Phosphorus Initiative The Regulatory Timeline Reg. 85 Voluntary Interim Limits? Reg. 31 and Incentive Program Barr/Milton TMDL TP (mg/L) 1.0 0.7 0.7 0.1 2019 2027 2037 The Phosphorus Initiative The Problem: Why phosphorus is regulated GOAL To find the most effective and sustainable phosphorus The Cost of Compliance: Financial incentive to figure management approach our way through this through an intensive study phase of biological The Current Plan: phosphorus removal, Environmental and social phosphorus recovery, reasons for innovation watershed impact studies, and tertiary facilities The Current Plan 4 Angles Liquid stream 1 TP removal Solids TP 2 removal 3 4 Liquid Stream Phosphorus Removal Quick Note on Terminology • Biological phosphorus removal (BPR) – refers to the incorporation of phosphorus into biomass during cellular growth • Enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) – refers to the intentional selection of polyphosphate‐accumulating organisms (PAOs) through the conditioning of biomass in anaerobic zones (i.e., no nitrate or oxygen present) • Bio‐P – colloquial phrase used to describe either BPR or EBPR EBPR Mechanisms • Two‐stage process: anaerobic (release) and aerobic (uptake) Adapted from WEF MOP 8, 2010 Liquid Stream Phosphorus Removal: SSEC • South Secondary Improvements Project (PAR 1085) • Completed in 2015 • Demolished a high‐purity oxygen activated sludge process • Constructed a 3‐stage anaerobic‐anoxic‐oxic (A2O) activated sludge process • Rated for 114 MGD max. month flow • Currently treats approx. 60% of the total plant secondary influent – not running in Bio‐P mode Liquid Stream Phosphorus Removal: SSEC MLR Effluent PE Clarifier Anaerobic Anoxic Aerobic (Anoxic Swing) 100% RAS Liquid Stream Phosphorus Removal: NSEC • 12 AB‐SC Trains • 4 Sidestream Tanks Gravity Thickeners (CaRRB) • 4 Gravity Thickeners Aeration Tanks (1 of 12) (in the vicinity) Sidestream Tanks (1 of 4) NSEC Baseline Process Schematic Conventional A2O Process Schematic Alternative Novel Sidestream Configuration Liquid Stream Phosphorus Removal: NSEC Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal (EBPR) Pilot Project (PAR 1171) Two Anaerobic RAS Reactors Temporary Gravity Thickener Overflow Feed EBPR Pilot Study Parameters • 8‐month full‐scale demonstration period • 15‐30% RAS rate through anaerobic zone • 0.3 to 0.5‐day anaerobic SRT • 1.3‐hr anaerobic HRT • 80‐100% centrate returned to NSEC CaRRB • 100% gravity thickener effluent conveyed to anaerobic zone • Low mixing energy in anaerobic zones EBPR Pilot Study Phase I Results TP = 0.58 mg-P/L OP = 0.10 mg-P/L Full-Scale Sidestream EBPR Implementation • Sidestream Nutrient Removal Project (PAR 1237) • Construction completed in Jan 2018 • Retrofit two CaRRB to Sidestream Anaerobic Reactors (SAR) • Up to 50% RAS (52 MGD) and 100% GTE (7 MGD) to anaerobic zones North Secondary aeration basins Consequences of EBPR Operation • 2011‐2012 pilot study observations suggest that effluent quality is directly related to digested sludge dewatering recycle loads. Consequences of EBPR Operation Consequences of EBPR Operation 70 100 95 60 Intentional EBPR 40% of Facility in 100% of Facility in Off EBPR EBPR 90 50 85 40 80 75 30 70 Cake solids, % Chemical, lbs/dt 20 65 60 Capture Efficiency, % 10 55 0 50 1‐Jan‐15 11‐Apr‐15 20‐Jul‐15 28‐Oct‐15 5‐Feb‐16 Date Cake solids, % Polymer, lbs/dt Ferric, lbs/dt Capture Efficiency, % Consequences of EBPR Operation Primary Treatment Secondary Treatment Return Activated Sludge (RAS) Centrifuge Phosphorus Recovery Centrate (recycle flow) Digester Less than 1% of the flow but 25% of the Phosphorus Load Solids Stream Phosphorus Recovery Effective and Sustainable Phosphorus Management 5 Drivers for Phosphorus Management 1. Phosphorus Recycle Control 2. Biosolids Dewatering 3. Struvite Reduction 4. Phosphorus Index 5. Product Recovery 1 lb of phosphorus equates to 8 lbs of struvite. 7,000 lbs of phosphorus enter the RWHTF each day! Established Phosphorus Recovery Systems Intentional Precipitation of Struvite NH4MgPO4●6H2O Two primary recovery system types Digestate = AirPrex™ Centrate and Stripped WAS Filtrate = WASSTRIP/Ostara 5 in Germany 4 in the Netherlands 1 Belgium 1 in China Phosphorus Recovery Pilot Work Hypothesis: Removing phosphorus in the sidestream will: Improve our effluent quality Reduce operating costs Pilot Technologies: Digestate Recovery (i.e., AirPrex) WAS Phosphorus Stripping (i.e., Ostara WASSTRIP) AirPrex™ phosphorus removal pilot test, summer 2016 Phosphorus Recovery Pilot Work Nutrient and cation Development Pilot testing WAS sampling and Pilot testing of and utilization release mass balances AirPrex of steady‐ pretreatment across solids precipitation and state process with anaerobic processing recovery model using digestion and Benchtop BioWin sludge Ostara Pearl WAS release PAR 1280 dewaterability pilot tests initiation assessment 2011 2015 Jan June–Aug Aug 2016 Oct 2016– 2015 2016 2016 Jun 2017 How does AirPrex work? Reactor is aerated which strips the CO2 Magnesium is dosed to the reactor from the reactor and raises the pH causing struvite to precipitate CO2 Mg Digester effluent is fed to AirPrex effluent, stripped of phosphorus, AirPrex reactor is sent to dewatering centrifuges AirPrex Centrifuge Biosolids Reactor Anaerobic Digestion Centrate Struvite settles and is pumped out and cleaned Struvite How does Ostara+WASSTRIP work? Phosphorus is released into the liquid stream and separated from the biosolids WASSTRIP Process Low P Anaerobic Biosolids Dewatering Phosphorus‐stripped WAS from Thickening Digestion the WASSTRIP reactor is thickened Centrate Caustic is added to High P Centrate from dewatering is high in ammonia and raise the pH is combined with liquid stream from WASSTRIP Caustic Mg Ostara Pearl effluent, stripped of Magnesium is dosed to the reactor, phosphorus, is recycled back to mainstream causing struvite