BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT
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- Versione italiana
- Academic year
- 2021/2022
- Teacher
- GIUSEPPE CASTALDELLI
- Credits
- 6
- Curriculum
- Biotecnologie per l'ambiente
- Didactic period
- Primo Semestre
- SSD
- BIO/07
Training objectives
- Biological Treatment is a discipline that deals with the study of microbiological and management aspects of liquid waste treatment, both in engineered systems in varying degrees of complexity, both in semi-natural systems.
The main objective of the course is to provide students with microbiological, chemical and plant engineering cultural bases, to address the management and monitoring of the main waste water treatment systems.
The student is guided to get the understanding of the most important types of biological treatment of liquid and solid waste, knowledge and application of the most commonly used control parameters of a biological wastewater treatment system and the application of the related essays (BOD and dose of inorganic nitrogen compounds) and biological indices (eg. sludge biotic index).
Knowledge and understanding
The student:
- knows bacterial biogeochemistry important in the biological treatment;
- knows the different types of treatment of an liquid waste biologically processable and the various levels of structure of a sewage treatment system, whether it be an industrial plant or a semi-natural system;
- knows the main methods of monitoring and control and the most important critical elements in conducting of an activated sludge treatment plant.
Applying knowledge and understanding
The student:
- knows how to properly use the terminology in biogeochemistry and water treatment;
- knows how to approach a real case of biological treatment;
- is able to identify any critical operating points;
- is able to use the main methods of monitoring of a biological purification system. Prerequisites
- There are no rules of preparatory aspects of other teachings.
However, it is useful to have a basic understanding of stoichiometry and microbiology. Course programme
- The first part of the course (10 hours) will be devoted to the basics of bacterial biogeochemistry and microbial ecology. About 8 hours will be devoted to an overview of the treatment methods, from biological ponds, to septic tanks and trickling towers and percolation filters, to arrive to the activated sludge technology which will be studied till the modern systems with alternating cycles, for a total of 14 hours. this part will include also the explanation of the main parameters and monitoring indices of the installations and of the main causes of the malfunction. The part concerning the wastewater treatment is completed with the study constructed wetlands and natural systems of phytodepuration (about 4 hours). The treatment of solid waste and the composting of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste will be treated in about four hours.
The practical part (about 10 hours) consists of sampling and analysis of liquid samples, of the application of the Biotic Sludge Index and of the visit a sewage treatment plant. Didactic methods
The course consists of lectures and laboratory training in bacterial biogeochemistry. In particular, it provides a total of 52 hours teaching (6 credits) including 40 hours of lectures and 12 hours of exercises and visits to treatment plants. Classes are held weekly, through the use of power-point slides and, for better understanding of schemes, patterns of bacterial growth and redox reaction and concentration profiles of substrates and products of bacterial activity, also using the classical blackboard. The last two hours of the course are devoted to the revision of the main topics of the course and to the simulation of the exam.Learning assessment procedures
- The aim of the examination is to test the level of knowledge and depth of the topics of the course program and to assess the capacity for critical analysis developed in relation to the purpose of the biological waste treatment. In order to calibrate the lessons and the examination, mid-term tests will be carried out through classroom discussion.
The exam consists of a single proof that, chosen by the student, will be written or oral. The written test consists of 19 multiple choice questions and two open questions, homogeneously distributed in all the topics covered in the course. The estimated time for the test is 45 minutes. During the written exam is not allowed to consult texts or use PC and smart phone, that will be left on the desk or in the bag.
A minimum of 18 points out of 33 is needed to pass the exam. The final score is calculated according to the following criteria: 1,2 points for each multiple choice question and 5 points for each open-ended question, to which is given a fully comprehensive answer. The answers to open questions are evaluated both for the content and for the pertinence of scientific language. Reference texts
- Lecture notes and scientific articles provided by the teacher.
Depurazione Biologica nei fanghi attivi, a cura di Paolo Madoni, Enia Spa, 2005, Reggio Emilia.
Depurazione Biologica. Renato Vismara, Ulrico Hoepli Editore S.p.A., Milano.
