This project examined the efficacy of solid sodium bicarbonate as a low-cost, viable substitute for carbon dioxide gas in small- scale cyanobacterial-algal (microbial) mat agricultural wastewater treatment.\nExperimentation over 35 days with nitrate-rich wastewater resulted in removal efficiency rates up to 37.2% of NO3 for microbial mats treated with solid sodium bicarbonate. Reaction rate modeling determined a rate constant of 0.0166/day and Excel modeling determined a projected hydraulic residence time with increased microbial mat area for an estimated 75% removal. Recommendations include further long-term experimentation and suggestions for an initial prototype design.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Musgraves, Elisha

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042619-085127

Advisor

• Bar-On, Isa
• Bergendahl, John Andrew

Year

• 2019

Sponsor

• Arava Institute of Environmental Studies

Date created

• 2019-04-26

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Environmental Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2021-01-29