Sathyamoorthy, Sandeep

Dr. Sathyamoorthy is the Process and Innovation Leader at Black & Veatch. He has 18 years of industry and academia experience designing, operating, optimizing WRRFs and conducting fundamental research related to the fate of emerging contaminants in wastewater treatment. ####In recent years, Dr. Sathyamoorthy’ s research has focused on interrogation of complex mixed culture microbial communities to elucidate those microbial protagonists capable of biodegrading, biotransforming and assimilating emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals and Bisphenol‑A. He is currently involved in the design and planning of multiple WRRFs for potable and non-potable reuse and is leading an effort to develop a toolbox for evaluation of Satellite Potable and Non-potable reuse options.

Titles from this speaker

Description: Deammonification Using Separate Partial Nitritation and Anammox Reactors: Two Years...

Deammonification Using Separate Partial Nitritation and Anammox Reactors: Two Years of Testing at California's Largest WRRF

Abstract

Two-stage deammonification system was investigated to achieve the nitrogen reduction strategy in Hyperion Wastewater Reclamation Plant (HWRP). This is a challenge associated with stable biological treatment at the high temperature and high COD/TKN ratios of thermophilic sidestreams which may inhibit ammonia oxidizing and anammox bacteria. In the test period, the air-lift granulation reactor (AGR) performed partial nitritation under aerobic condition and the anammox reactor converted ammonium and nitrite to nitrogen gas under anoxic condition. The AGR has achieved >3.7 kg-N/m3/d of nitrogen loadin rate (NLR) by controlling pH and air flux. During the test period, COD was reduced by 43% after the AGR process, contributing to the performance improvement of the anammox reactor. As a result, the anammox reactor has been operated over a long-period with an NLR of >3.0 kg-N/m3/day and achieved greater than 85% total nitrogen removal by adjusting residual nitrite concentration. The projected NLR based on the best operating results of each AGR and anammox reactor is estimated by >2.7 kg-N/m3/day. The results of this study showed that the two-stage deammonification system is applicable for high strength centrate from thermophilic anaerobic digester effectively than single-stage system. This study will be of great interest to those utilities seeking efficient sidestream treatment with the added functionality of AOB-bioaugmentation into the mainstream for sustainable holistic nutrient management.

SpeakerSathyamoorthy, Sandeep

Presentation time

13:20:00

13:40:00

Session time

13:00:00

14:00:00

SessionSidestream Nitrogen Removal

Session number607

TopicEnergy Production, Conservation, and Management, Facility Operations and Maintenance, Municipal Wastewater Treatment Design, Nutrients, Research and Innovation

Author(s)

S. SathyamoorthyS. SathyamoorthyJ. LiberzonD. RhuS. saneieP. SamarN. Tashakor

Author(s)S. Sathyamoorthy1; S. Sathyamoorthy1; J. Liberzon2; D. Rhu3; S. saneie4; P. Samar5; N. Tashakor4;

Author affiliation(s)Black & Veatch, CA1; Tomorrow Water, CA2; Tomorrowwater, CA3; City of Los Angeles, CA4; city of los angeles, CA5; , IL6; BKT, CA7; Tomorrow Water8

SourceProceedings of the Water Environment Federation

Document typeConference Paper

PublisherWater Environment Federation

Print publication date Oct 2020

DOI10.2175/193864718825157575

Volume / Issue

Content sourceWEFTEC

Word count17

Description: Developing A Design Basis of Pathogen Removal Across MBRs In The Absence Of A...

Developing A Design Basis of Pathogen Removal Across MBRs In The Absence Of A Regulatory Requirement

Abstract

INTRODUCTION
The Morro Bay Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) is designed to meet multiple effluent goals: 1) finished water for indirect potable reuse through groundwater recharge, and 2) discharge to the Pacific Ocean. This is first WRRFs which employs a biological nutrient removal membrane bioreactor (BNR MBR) process for wastewater treatment directly followed directly by reverse osmosis (RO) in the advanced water purification facility (AWPF). MBRs have a long and successful history of use in water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs). Despite the widespread application of MBRs for non potable reuse, there are currently no well-established potable water applications employing MBRs. Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR) regulations stipulate, among other requirements, that a WRRF should be designed (and operated) to achieve at minimum 12-log, 10-log and 10-log reduction of enteric viruses, Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocysts, respectively. The attenuation of these pathogens in indirect potable reuse is achieved through the entire process flowsheet comprising, typically, of biological treatment and advanced water treatment (i.e., RO and UV AOP) processes. The pathogen removal credits which may be attributed to an MBR has been the subject of extensive research by academics and industry practitioners alike. The most extensive longitudinal review done by the Australian Water Recycling Centre of Excellence. The preliminary observations from this study resulted in a tiered approach to assigning pathogen removal credits to MBRs; with the lowest tier offered a rather conservative set of credits. The presentation will share an approach to a cogent basis of design and a validation approach for utilities to employ as part of the program development and startup/testing of a potable reuse system. The goal of this research was to evaluate the anticipated pathogen removal across the MBR based on data from other operating full scale and pilot MBR facilities. The objective was to fill key knowledge gaps related to the potential pathogen removal benefits offered by a BNR MBR process.
METHODOLOGY
An extensive data evaluation and analysis of pathogen removal data from existing full-scale and prior pilot scale facilities (Table 1.1) was conducted. Data collection and analytical methods for each reference and site were reviewed and evaluated. The data were curated based on the analytical methods, reported detection limits, and the reported filtrate turbidity. The resulting data sets were analysed using small-sample evaluation statistical techniques. Two approaches were employed to evaluate the longitudinal LRV data: Longitudinal LRV Monte-Carlo Sampling with Pair-wise Data and Influent-Filtrate Monte-Carlo Sampling with LRV Calculation. The probability distribution function parameters describing the LRV distribution for each pathogen were employed to generate predictions for LRV distributions for pathogen attenuation across the Morro Bay WRF MBR system using a Monte Carlo sampling strategy. The 5th percentile value of the Monte Carlo generated LRV distribution was used as a basis of design for the conditional LRV.
PRELIMINARY RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
A total of 40 virus LRV data from four separate BNR MBR facilities â€“ three full scale and one pilot system â€“ were analysed. Evaluation of the data suggests that all the LRV data for Enterovirus from the sites may be considered a single data set and all the Norovirus groups may be analysed as a single data set (both, Mann Whitney alpha = 0.05). The reported Norovirus LRVs based on the data from the four sites (N = 32) range from 2.74 to 8.16 with a mean value of 5.63 Â± 0.25 (Figure 1.1). The LRVs from Enterovirus (N = 8) range from 3.56 to 8.68 with a mean value of 6.91 Â± 0.72. Both data sets satisfactorily fit a normal distribution (evaluated using the Anderson Darling (AD) statistic with alpha = 0.05). A total of 24 LRV data for protozoa from three separate facilities were evaluated. The data represent operation of the respective BNR MBR systems at a range of conditions of flux, TMP and mixed liquor concentration. In addition to the data for LRVs of Giardia and Cryptosporidum, 165 LRV data were provided for attenuation of Clostridium Perfringens (C. Perfringens) spores across Zeeweed MBRs. These data are from a total of four sites. The reported Giardia LRVs based on the data from the three sites (N = 12) range from 3.30 to 5.97 with a mean value of 4.77 Â± 0.85 (Figure 1.2). The reported C. Perfringens LRV data from the four sites (N = 165) range from 3.91 to 6.18. Taken together, the analyses suggest that the observations and results from the AWRCE efforts may be significantly conservative. Furthermore, evaluation of the data collection and analytical approaches suggests that there may be a significant left censoring challenge when analysing protozoa data and the actual performance of MBR systems in attenuation of protozoa may be significantly higher than reported.

SpeakerSathyamoorthy, Sandeep

Presentation time

13:35:00

13:50:00

Session time

13:30:00

15:00:00

TopicIntermediate Level, Disinfection and Public Health, Potable Reuse, Research and Innovation, Water Reuse and Reclamation

Author(s)

Sathyamoorthy, Sandeep

Author(s)Sandeep Sathyamoorthy1

Author affiliation(s)Black & Veatch1

SourceProceedings of the Water Environment Federation

Document typeConference Paper

PublisherWater Environment Federation

Print publication date Oct 2022

DOI10.2175/193864718825158606

Volume / Issue

Content sourceWEFTEC

Word count17

Description: No Carbon, No Worries: A Pilot-Scale Evaluation of Nitrogen Management Without...

No Carbon, No Worries: A Pilot-Scale Evaluation of Nitrogen Management Without Biodegradable Organic Carbon

Abstract

Abstract:
The main objectives of this pilot testing were to (1) demonstrate the long-term efficacy of partial nitritation at pilot scale in low C:N (< 5 mg-sCOD/mg-NHx-N) temperate mainstream wastewater conditions, and (2) evaluate available sensor technologies to reliably monitor and control the process. Preliminary results suggest that high nitrite accumulation rates (NAR = 90% Â± 9%) can be achieved using a simple SRT control strategy (3.0 Â± 0.5 days) and a fixed DO setpoint (1mg/L) at relatively low loading rates (0.14 Â± 0.05 kgN.m-3.d-1), and low C:N ratio (2.5 Â± 0.9 mg-N/mg-sCOD). However, this research also points to key process and technology challenges associated with mainstream partial nitritation such as high nitrous oxide production, high sensitivity of the process, and the need for sensor technologies that are accurate in a wide range of Nitrite and Nitrate concentrations.
Introduction
Partial nitritation (PN) is a promising approach for sustainable nitrogen management at water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs). When integrated with a deammonification (AMX) process, a coupled PN-AMX process is an integrated process strategy for total nitrogen removal that is decoupled from the need for biodegradable organic carbon for denitrification. This is particularly relevant for utilities that are seeking to achieve significant diversion of incoming biodegradable organic material (i.e., carbon diversion) prior to the biological treatment process. Under such conditions conventional nitrogen removal through nitrification denitification is not viable to achieve low total nitrogen (TN) limits due to the lack of biodegradable organic carbon to support denitrification. Other salient benefits of the PN-AMX process relative to conventional nitrogen management processes include low energy consumption, reduced alkalinity requirements, and low carbon footprint. Recent research and most of the full-scale application of PN-AMX has focused on single-stage systems where NOBs are selectively washed out by limiting electron donor (nitrite) and/or electron acceptor (oxygen) availability (Lotti et. al., 2015; Laureni et al. 2019). However, the recent discovery of Commamox Nitrospira (Daims et al., 2015) which might thrive in these substrate limiting conditions could limit the applicability and robustness of these control strategies. This project aims to fill key knowledge gaps related to the practicability of PN-AMX systems in a two-stage process in mainstream conditions and answer unaddressed questions related to the reliability of and N2O emissions from PN systems (Kampschreur et al., 2009). The two specific objectives of our research are: 1. Demonstrating the long-term efficacy of a suspended growth PN system treating an influent with a low soluble COD to ammonia N ratio (C:N) ratio. 2. Evaluating the links between N2O production and PN performance.
Materials and Methods
The pilot system consisted of a 380 L sequencing batch reactor (SBR). The reactor was equipped with online pH, ORP, dissolved oxygen (DO), ammonia, nitrate, TSS (Hach Company, Loveland, CO), and nitrous oxide (Unisense, Aarhus, Denmark) sensors (Figure 1-1). The reactor was operated at a 5 h aerobic HRT and fed trickling filter effluent (Table 1-1). Aeration was controlled using a PID controller with a fixed DO setpoint. A summary of the operating cycle structure for the reactor is provided in Table 1-2. SRT control was achieved by wasting a fraction of the solids during the react phase (hydraulic wasting) and the remainder during the settle phase (selective wasting). In situ rate experiments were conducted weekly. In addition to the online data, samples were regularly collected to measure ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, alkalinity, phosphorous, COD (Hach Company), TSS, and VSS (Standard Methods).
Preliminary Results and Discussion
Partial nitritation was achieved after an initial start-up period of 96 days and stabilized when the SBR was operated at an aerobic SRT of 3.0 Â± 0.4 d (total SRT 5.0 Â± 0.6 d) and a DO setpoint (DO.SP) of 1.0 (react phase DO = 1.0 Â± 0.1 mg/L) (Figure 1-2). Nitritation resulted in an effluent nitrite concentration of 13.7 Â± 3.5mg/L and a nitrite accumulation ratio of 90% Â± 9%. After a stable operation period of 6 weeks, the SBR DO.SP was reduced from 1.0 mg/L to 0.7 mg/L on day 151. Within four days, the in-situ NHx-N concentration decreased with a corresponding increase in nitrate concentration. We hypothesize that the enhancement in the nitration rate resulted from an increase in the aerobic SRT which happened concurrently with the DO.SP change (Figure 1-2, bottom). The SRT increase resulted from an improvement in the mixed liquor settling and reduction of solids selectively wasted during the settling phase and in the SBR effluent. The aerobic SRT was stabilized to 3.4 Â± 0.4 d and this operation resulted in similarly high ammonia oxidation rates, but little nitrite accumulation (Figure 1-2, bottom). Minimal N2O emissions were recorded in the 96-day start-up period. The onset of nitrite accumulation resulted in a concurrent increase in N2O production (Figure 1-2). A decrease in N2O emissions was noted when the DO SP was reduced to 0.7 mg/L and nitrite accumulation reduced significantly. Our data suggest that when the SBR was operated with a DO.SP of 1 mg/L and the nitritation rate was higher than ~75 mg N/L/d, the rate of N2O emissions was in the range of 0.5-0.7 mg-N/L/d or less than 1% of the nitrite accumulation rate (Figure 1-3). At the lower DO.SP (0.7 mg/L), the rate of N2O emissions was significantly reduced. Our results demonstrate the efficacy of managing nitrogen in wastewater with a low C:N ratio (<5mg-sCOD/mg-NHx-N) using a nitritation process through control of the SRT and DO concentration. Although N2O, a potent greenhouse gas, was produced as a result, it was produced in small quantities relative to the nitrite accumulated. Overall, the value of a nitrogen management scheme built on nitritation followed by deamonification has significant value for utilities seeking to enhance carbon diversion, maximize resource utilization, and meet stringent nutrient removal targets.

SpeakerSathyamoorthy, Sandeep

Presentation time

09:00:00

09:25:00

Session time

08:30:00

10:00:00

TopicAdvanced Level, Municipal Wastewater Treatment Design, Nutrients

Author(s)

Sathyamoorthy, Sandeep

Author(s)V. Kozlow1; E.D. Redmond2; D. Donovan3; M.A. Orlandi3; F. Ramazenzadeh3; S. Sathyamoorthy3

Author affiliation(s)Black & Veatch, Water Technology Group, Walnut Creek, CA1; Black & Veatch, Water Technology Group, Walnut Creek, CA2; Black & Veatch, Water Technology Group, Walnut Creek, CA3

SourceProceedings of the Water Environment Federation

Document typeConference Paper

PublisherWater Environment Federation

Print publication date Oct 2022

DOI10.2175/193864718825158521

Volume / Issue

Content sourceWEFTEC

Word count15