{"id":{"repo_id":"vt","oai_identifier":"oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/64386"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/vt/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/64386","repository":{"repo_id":"vt","name":"Virginia Tech","base_url":"https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Improving settleability and achieving biological phosphorus removal through the application of sidestream gravimetric selectors","abstract":"This project utilizes hydrocyclones in wastewater treatment to select for heavier solids, and has been used before in multiple small-scale systems. This is the first implementation of hydrocyclones in a full-scale plant for the purpose of increased settleability, while also achieving enhanced biological phosphorus removal without the use of an anaerobic selector. Hydrocyclones receive mixed liquor tangentially and separate light solids from more dense solids through their tapered shape, increasing the velocity of liquid as it moves downward and allowing for selection of a certain solids fraction. The hydrocyclones receive flow from the waste stream, selecting for dense solids to recycle through the process while light solids are wasted, creating a balance of granules and flocs with superior settling characteristics in which phosphorus is removed through phosphorus accumulating organisms (PAO). This project was implemented at a wastewater treatment plant rated at 20 MGD utilizing a 4-stage Bardenpho configuration with an IFAS system. This plant routinely experienced moderate settleability issues with an average SVI of 141 and a 90th percentile SVI of 179. Over time data was collected to characterize settleability and activity of PAO, GAO, and filaments. Using an external selector to achieve biological phosphorus is significant in that most wastewater treatment plants cannot do this without the use of an anaerobic selector. This has the potential to apply external selectors to existing infrastructure throughout plants worldwide to achieve not only biological phosphorus removal, but also improved settleability with a very minor capital investment.","abstract_html":"This project utilizes hydrocyclones in wastewater treatment to select for heavier solids, and has been used before in multiple small-scale systems. This is the first implementation of hydrocyclones in a full-scale plant for the purpose of increased settleability, while also achieving enhanced biological phosphorus removal without the use of an anaerobic selector. Hydrocyclones receive mixed liquor tangentially and separate light solids from more dense solids through their tapered shape, increasing the velocity of liquid as it moves downward and allowing for selection of a certain solids fraction. The hydrocyclones receive flow from the waste stream, selecting for dense solids to recycle through the process while light solids are wasted, creating a balance of granules and flocs with superior settling characteristics in which phosphorus is removed through phosphorus accumulating organisms (PAO). This project was implemented at a wastewater treatment plant rated at 20 MGD utilizing a 4-stage Bardenpho configuration with an IFAS system. This plant routinely experienced moderate settleability issues with an average SVI of 141 and a 90th percentile SVI of 179. Over time data was collected to characterize settleability and activity of PAO, GAO, and filaments. Using an external selector to achieve biological phosphorus is significant in that most wastewater treatment plants cannot do this without the use of an anaerobic selector. This has the potential to apply external selectors to existing infrastructure throughout plants worldwide to achieve not only biological phosphorus removal, but also improved settleability with a very minor capital investment.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Welling, Claire Marie"],"institution":"Virginia Tech","degree_name":"Master of Science","degree_level":"masters","degree_discipline":"Environmental Engineering","degree_department":"Civil and Environmental Engineering","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":["Bott, Charles B.","Boardman, Gregory D."],"committee_members":["Novak, John T."],"year":2015,"date_issued":"2015-12-21","date_published":"2015-12-21","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:20:43Z","subjects":["settleability","biological phosphorus removal","external selector","hydrocyclone"],"languages":[],"rights":["In Copyright"],"rights_urls":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["vt_gsexam:6903"],"render_values":[{"text":"vt_gsexam:6903","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/10919/64386","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.committeechair","label":"Committee Chair","values":["Bott, Charles B.","Boardman, Gregory D."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.committeemember","label":"Committee Member","values":["Novak, John T."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.department","label":"Department","values":["Civil and Environmental Engineering"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Welling, Claire Marie"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2015-12-26T09:08:27Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2015-12-26T09:08:27Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2015-12-21"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Virginia Tech"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Environmental Engineering"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["masters"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["settleability","biological phosphorus removal","external selector","hydrocyclone"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["In Copyright"]},{"key":"dc:rights.uri","label":"Rights URI","values":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["vt_gsexam:6903"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/10919/64386"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This project utilizes hydrocyclones in wastewater treatment to select for heavier solids, and has been used before in multiple small-scale systems. This is the first implementation of hydrocyclones in a full-scale plant for the purpose of increased settleability, while also achieving enhanced biological phosphorus removal without the use of an anaerobic selector. Hydrocyclones receive mixed liquor tangentially and separate light solids from more dense solids through their tapered shape, increasing the velocity of liquid as it moves downward and allowing for selection of a certain solids fraction. The hydrocyclones receive flow from the waste stream, selecting for dense solids to recycle through the process while light solids are wasted, creating a balance of granules and flocs with superior settling characteristics in which phosphorus is removed through phosphorus accumulating organisms (PAO). This project was implemented at a wastewater treatment plant rated at 20 MGD utilizing a 4-stage Bardenpho configuration with an IFAS system. This plant routinely experienced moderate settleability issues with an average SVI of 141 and a 90th percentile SVI of 179. Over time data was collected to characterize settleability and activity of PAO, GAO, and filaments. Using an external selector to achieve biological phosphorus is significant in that most wastewater treatment plants cannot do this without the use of an anaerobic selector. This has the potential to apply external selectors to existing infrastructure throughout plants worldwide to achieve not only biological phosphorus removal, but also improved settleability with a very minor capital investment."]},{"key":"dc:description.degree","label":"Dc Description Degree","values":["Master of Science"]},{"key":"dc:format.medium","label":"Dc Format Medium","values":["ETD"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Improving settleability and achieving biological phosphorus removal through the application of sidestream gravimetric selectors"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.committeechair":["Bott, Charles B.","Boardman, Gregory D."],"dc:contributor.committeemember":["Novak, John T."],"dc:contributor.department":["Civil and Environmental Engineering"],"dc:creator":["Welling, Claire Marie"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2015-12-26T09:08:27Z"],"dc:date.available":["2015-12-26T09:08:27Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2015-12-21"],"dc:description.abstract":["This project utilizes hydrocyclones in wastewater treatment to select for heavier solids, and has been used before in multiple small-scale systems. This is the first implementation of hydrocyclones in a full-scale plant for the purpose of increased settleability, while also achieving enhanced biological phosphorus removal without the use of an anaerobic selector. Hydrocyclones receive mixed liquor tangentially and separate light solids from more dense solids through their tapered shape, increasing the velocity of liquid as it moves downward and allowing for selection of a certain solids fraction. The hydrocyclones receive flow from the waste stream, selecting for dense solids to recycle through the process while light solids are wasted, creating a balance of granules and flocs with superior settling characteristics in which phosphorus is removed through phosphorus accumulating organisms (PAO). This project was implemented at a wastewater treatment plant rated at 20 MGD utilizing a 4-stage Bardenpho configuration with an IFAS system. This plant routinely experienced moderate settleability issues with an average SVI of 141 and a 90th percentile SVI of 179. Over time data was collected to characterize settleability and activity of PAO, GAO, and filaments. Using an external selector to achieve biological phosphorus is significant in that most wastewater treatment plants cannot do this without the use of an anaerobic selector. This has the potential to apply external selectors to existing infrastructure throughout plants worldwide to achieve not only biological phosphorus removal, but also improved settleability with a very minor capital investment."],"dc:description.degree":["Master of Science"],"dc:format.medium":["ETD"],"dc:identifier.other":["vt_gsexam:6903"],"dc:identifier.uri":["http://hdl.handle.net/10919/64386"],"dc:publisher":["Virginia Tech"],"dc:rights":["In Copyright"],"dc:rights.uri":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"dc:subject":["settleability","biological phosphorus removal","external selector","hydrocyclone"],"dc:title":["Improving settleability and achieving biological phosphorus removal through the application of sidestream gravimetric selectors"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Environmental Engineering"],"thesis:degree_level":["masters"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science"],"thesis:institution_name":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:20:43Z"}