Term of Award

Spring 2025

Degree Name

Master of Science, Civil Engineering

Document Type and Release Option

Thesis (open access)

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

Digital Commons@Georgia Southern License

Department

Department of Civil Engineering and Construction

Committee Chair

Lewis Stetson Rowles

Committee Member 1

Francisco Cubas

Committee Member 2

George Yuzhu Fu

Committee Member 3

Amanda Mattingly

Abstract

The pulp and paper industry is the third-largest consumer of freshwater globally and faces mounting pressure to optimize water usage and minimize environmental impact. Aerated stabilization basins are extensively utilized in the pulp and paper industry and play a crucial role in treating wastewater from these operations. The existing management practices fail to effectively optimize treatment processes due to the prolonged time required for testing key quality parameters. The utilization of models developed for treatment facilities presents a viable solution; however, existing open-source models often fall short in accurately predicting treatment efficiency across varying conditions and lack comprehensive accounting of oxygen demand. While sophisticated models exist, their limited accessibility restricts widespread application in industry settings. This study aims to address these critical gaps by advancing the modeling of aerated stabilization basins, focusing on ultimate oxygen demand prediction. Specifically, we enhanced model accuracy by implementing variable temperature correction factors that account for seasonal variations. The model demonstrated high precision in predicting ultimate oxygen demand, carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand, and ammonia concentrations across various temperature ranges, validated through comparison with historical data, while the total suspended solid estimation represents greater variability at higher concentrations. Integration of variable temperature correction factors significantly enhanced model performance, particularly in simulating microbial activity and organic matter degradation under fluctuating environmental conditions. The study also effectively modeled phosphorus dynamics, including benthal feedback effects in the aerated stabilization basin. A digital twin was developed, integrating these advanced models to enable real-time optimization of aerated stabilization basin operations. Analysis of hydraulic retention time and aeration rates revealed their critical roles in treatment efficiency, providing insights for operational strategy adaptation to seasonal changes. This research offers a robust framework for enhancing wastewater treatment efficiency in pulp and paper mills, supporting regulatory compliance and environmental sustainability efforts. The methodologies and findings present valuable tools for decision-making in industrial wastewater management, addressing both current challenges and future environmental regulations.

OCLC Number

1520502451

Research Data and Supplementary Material

No

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