Keywords

Desulfurization -- Florida -- Mathematical models, Groundwater -- Purification -- Florida, Hydrogen sulfide -- Florida -- Mathematical models, Water -- Aeration -- Florida, Water treatment plants -- Florida

Abstract

Hydrogen sulfide is commonly found in many Florida potable groundwater supplies. Removing sulfur species, particularly hydrogen sulfide is important because if left untreated, sulfide can impact finished water quality, corrosivity, create undesirable taste and odor, and oxidize to form visible turbidity and color. This document presents the results of a study designed to investigate the removal efficiencies of a variety of tray aerators in Central Florida in order to develop a predictive mathematical model that could be used to determine tray effectiveness for sulfide removal. A literature review was performed that indicated there was limited information regarding the removal of hydrogen sulfide using conventional tray aerators, and no information regarding the removal of total sulfide from tray aerators. There was significantly more information available in the literature regarding the usefulness of sulfide removal technologies from water supplies. Consequently, the lack of literature regarding sulfide removal using tray aerators suggested that there was a need for additional research focused on sulfide removal from water flowing thru tray aerators. Several water purveyors that relied on tray aerators as a part of their water treatment operations were contacted and requested to participate in the study; three water purveyors agreed to allow the University of Central Florida (UCF) to enter their secured sites to collect samples and conduct this study. The three facilities included the UCF‘s water treatment plant located in Orlando and situated in eastern Orange County, the City of Lake Hamilton‘s water treatment plant located in west-central Polk County, and the Sarasota-Verna water treatment plant located in western Sarasota County. An experimental plan was developed and field sampling protocols were implemented to evaluate sulfide removal in commonly used tray aerators at the three drinking water treatment facilities. Total iv sulfide concentrations passing through the trays were determined in the field at each site using a standard iodometric analytical technique. In addition, other water quality parameters collected included dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, conductivity, turbidity, alkalinity, hardness, total dissolved solids and total suspended solids; these samples were collected and analyzed either in the field or at the UCF laboratory. A first-order empirical model was developed that predicted sulfide removal in tray aerators. The model‘s constant was evaluated with respect to the water‘s proton concentration [H + ], the tray aerator‘s surface area, and hydraulic flow rate thru the trays. The selected model took the form of Cn=C0 (10-kn ) where Cn is the sulfide remaining after aeration in mg/L, C0 is the sulfide entering the distribution tray in mg/L, n is the number of tray stages in the aerator, and . From the empirical model, it was shown that sulfide removal was negatively impacted as the proton concentration (H+ ) decreased, and flow increased. Conversely, it was observed that increased sulfide removal occurred as the available tray aerator surface area increased. The combined parameters of proton concentration, flow rate, and area were statistically evaluated and used to develop an empirical constant that could be used in a first order model to predict sulfide removal in tray aerators. Using a site-specific derived experimental (empirical) constant, a water purveyor could use the developed model from this work to accurately predict sulfide removal in a tray aerator by simply measuring the total sulfide content in any raw groundwater supply and then providing the desired number of tray stages available for treatment.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2010

Semester

Fall

Advisor

Duranceau, Steven

Degree

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Engineering and Computer Science

Department

Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0003518

URL

http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0003518

Language

English

Release Date

December 2010

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Masters Thesis (Open Access)

Subjects

Dissertations, Academic -- Engineering and Computer Science, Engineering and Computer Science -- Dissertations, Academic

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