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Full text release has been delayed at the author's request until September 01, 2026

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Electrochemical Remediation of Animal Wastewater: Multi-Variates Effect on Phosphorus Removal and Struvite Recovery

OJOAWO, BABATUNDE IBRAHIM
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1498-7769
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1717507225589991

Abstract Details

2024, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, Chemical Engineering (Engineering and Technology).
The imperative to mitigate environmental degradation from the direct application of animal wastewater and the rising costs of commercial fertilizers has spurred the exploration of nutrient recovery through electro-precipitation, focusing on producing solid fertilizer efficiently. In the first study, an investigation on the electrochemical treatment of synthetic animal wastewater at initial pH levels of 5.9 and 6.6 discovered that pH 6.6 favored higher phosphorus recovery rates and proved more energy efficient. Analysis of solid byproducts through scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy highlighted the co-precipitation of struvite and brushite incredibly efficiently at the higher pH level. This pH-dependent outcome suggests the potential for tailored nutrient recovery strategies in waste management. In the second study, the focus shifted to multivariate screening analyses using the Plackett-Burman design on Synthetic Animal Wastewater (SAW) with an initial pH of 6.6 to discern the effects of temperature, cathodic potential, turbulence, and ion concentration on nutrient removal from wastewater. The Mg:Ca molar ratio was identified as the most significant factor in phosphorus recovery. The findings emphasized that controlling the Mg:Ca ratio, temperature, and N: P ratio could yield competitive energy consumption with existing industrial methods. The preference for struvite formation at lower temperatures indicated temperature's critical role in nutrient recovery optimization. In the third study, response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural networks (ANN) were combined to optimize phosphorus recovery from synthetic animal wastewater (SAW). The combination of a multi-layer feed-forward network and Box-Behnken design enabled the approach to be adapted to various environmental and wastewater scenarios. The dual-model system accurately forecasted the recovery efficiency, substantiated by significant R2 values and minimal root mean squared errors. Ideal conditions for phosphorus recovery were pinpointed, with an Mg:Ca molar ratio of 1, temperature of 35°C, and N:P molar ratio of 4.3, showcasing the method's ability to adapt to various environmental conditions and waste types. The recommendations for future work from this research underscore the importance of immediate sample analysis to prevent inaccuracies, alongside rapid analysis of dried electrodes to avoid contamination. Further investigation into the time-dependent variables and long-term process stability could unveil additional insights into phosphorus recovery efficacy. Moreover, expanding the reaction surface area and exploring various wastewater crystallization processes with continuous system reactors could enhance the scalability and effectiveness of nutrient recovery systems. New electrode materials and advanced technology applications are also recommended to push the boundaries of the electrochemical recovery process, paving the way for more sustainable and economically viable water treatment solutions.
Jason Trembly (Advisor)
Damilola Daramola (Committee Co-Chair)
John Staser (Committee Member)
Howard Dewald (Committee Member)
Natalie Kruse Daniels (Committee Member)
162 p.
Chemical Engineering; Environmental Engineering; Sustainability
Artificial Neural Network (ANN); Response Surface Methodology (RSM), Optimization; Electrochemical; Remediation; Struvite; Brushites; Calcium Phosphates; Electro-precipitation; Anima Wastewater

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • OJOAWO, B. I. (2024). Electrochemical Remediation of Animal Wastewater: Multi-Variates Effect on Phosphorus Removal and Struvite Recovery [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1717507225589991

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • OJOAWO, BABATUNDE. Electrochemical Remediation of Animal Wastewater: Multi-Variates Effect on Phosphorus Removal and Struvite Recovery. 2024. Ohio University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1717507225589991.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • OJOAWO, BABATUNDE. "Electrochemical Remediation of Animal Wastewater: Multi-Variates Effect on Phosphorus Removal and Struvite Recovery." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University, 2024. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1717507225589991

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2024, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.