Analysis of the Sludge Settling Behavior of the Kibendera Waste Stabilization Ponds in Ruiru, Kenya

George Kirumba; George Thumbi; John Mwangi; John Mbugua

doi:doi:10.11648/j.jeece.20230801.13

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Analysis of the Sludge Settling Behavior of the Kibendera Waste Stabilization Ponds in Ruiru, Kenya

George Kirumba, George Thumbi, John Mwangi, John Mbugua

Published in Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering (Volume 8, Issue 1)

Received: 6 March 2023 Accepted: 10 April 2023 Published: 20 April 2023

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Abstract

Waste Stabilization Ponds (WSP) provide both cost-effective and high-performance wastewater treatment benefits in the tropical regions. The 3-month sludge settling behavior in the Kibendera WSP in Ruiru, Kenya, was studied between July and September 2022. The study aimed at determining the sludge volume index (SVI) and hindered settling velocity during the dry weather flow regime. Based on these experimental data, Vesilind Model was used to characterize the settling behavior in the anaerobic and primary facultative ponds. Whereas Standard Methods for the examination of water and wastewater were used to determine the total suspended solids (TSS) concentrations in the ponds, batch column settling tests were used to generate the batch settling curves for each pond. Generally, good settling behavior characterized by SVI values of less than 150 mL/g was observed during the study period. Highest settling velocities of 1.16 m/hr and 1.22 m/hr were recorded in the anaerobic and primary facultative ponds respectively for TSS concentrations of 0.6 g/L and 0.416 g/L. Optimal maximum velocity (V_max) values of 3.42 m/hr and 1.78 m/hr were observed in the anaerobic and primary facultative ponds respectively. The corresponding optimal model parameters (n) describing the measured data accurately were 0.47 L/g and 0.51 L/g respectively. The model parameters so obtained may be useful in characterizing the sedimentation behavior in the WSP during the dry weather flow regimes.

Published in	Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering (Volume 8, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.jeece.20230801.13
Page(s)	18-25
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Sedimentation, Settling Velocity, Sludge Volume Index, Total Suspended Solids, Waste Stabilization Ponds

References

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APA Style

George Kirumba, George Thumbi, John Mwangi, John Mbugua. (2023). Analysis of the Sludge Settling Behavior of the Kibendera Waste Stabilization Ponds in Ruiru, Kenya. Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, 8(1), 18-25. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeece.20230801.13

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ACS Style

George Kirumba; George Thumbi; John Mwangi; John Mbugua. Analysis of the Sludge Settling Behavior of the Kibendera Waste Stabilization Ponds in Ruiru, Kenya. J. Energy Environ. Chem. Eng. 2023, 8(1), 18-25. doi: 10.11648/j.jeece.20230801.13

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AMA Style

George Kirumba, George Thumbi, John Mwangi, John Mbugua. Analysis of the Sludge Settling Behavior of the Kibendera Waste Stabilization Ponds in Ruiru, Kenya. J Energy Environ Chem Eng. 2023;8(1):18-25. doi: 10.11648/j.jeece.20230801.13

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@article{10.11648/j.jeece.20230801.13,
  author = {George Kirumba and George Thumbi and John Mwangi and John Mbugua},
  title = {Analysis of the Sludge Settling Behavior of the Kibendera Waste Stabilization Ponds in Ruiru, Kenya},
  journal = {Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering},
  volume = {8},
  number = {1},
  pages = {18-25},
  doi = {10.11648/j.jeece.20230801.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeece.20230801.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jeece.20230801.13},
  abstract = {Waste Stabilization Ponds (WSP) provide both cost-effective and high-performance wastewater treatment benefits in the tropical regions. The 3-month sludge settling behavior in the Kibendera WSP in Ruiru, Kenya, was studied between July and September 2022. The study aimed at determining the sludge volume index (SVI) and hindered settling velocity during the dry weather flow regime. Based on these experimental data, Vesilind Model was used to characterize the settling behavior in the anaerobic and primary facultative ponds. Whereas Standard Methods for the examination of water and wastewater were used to determine the total suspended solids (TSS) concentrations in the ponds, batch column settling tests were used to generate the batch settling curves for each pond. Generally, good settling behavior characterized by SVI values of less than 150 mL/g was observed during the study period. Highest settling velocities of 1.16 m/hr and 1.22 m/hr were recorded in the anaerobic and primary facultative ponds respectively for TSS concentrations of 0.6 g/L and 0.416 g/L. Optimal maximum velocity (Vmax) values of 3.42 m/hr and 1.78 m/hr were observed in the anaerobic and primary facultative ponds respectively. The corresponding optimal model parameters (n) describing the measured data accurately were 0.47 L/g and 0.51 L/g respectively. The model parameters so obtained may be useful in characterizing the sedimentation behavior in the WSP during the dry weather flow regimes.},
 year = {2023}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Analysis of the Sludge Settling Behavior of the Kibendera Waste Stabilization Ponds in Ruiru, Kenya
AU  - George Kirumba
AU  - George Thumbi
AU  - John Mwangi
AU  - John Mbugua
Y1  - 2023/04/20
PY  - 2023
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeece.20230801.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.jeece.20230801.13
T2  - Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering
JF  - Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering
JO  - Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering
SP  - 18
EP  - 25
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2637-434X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeece.20230801.13
AB  - Waste Stabilization Ponds (WSP) provide both cost-effective and high-performance wastewater treatment benefits in the tropical regions. The 3-month sludge settling behavior in the Kibendera WSP in Ruiru, Kenya, was studied between July and September 2022. The study aimed at determining the sludge volume index (SVI) and hindered settling velocity during the dry weather flow regime. Based on these experimental data, Vesilind Model was used to characterize the settling behavior in the anaerobic and primary facultative ponds. Whereas Standard Methods for the examination of water and wastewater were used to determine the total suspended solids (TSS) concentrations in the ponds, batch column settling tests were used to generate the batch settling curves for each pond. Generally, good settling behavior characterized by SVI values of less than 150 mL/g was observed during the study period. Highest settling velocities of 1.16 m/hr and 1.22 m/hr were recorded in the anaerobic and primary facultative ponds respectively for TSS concentrations of 0.6 g/L and 0.416 g/L. Optimal maximum velocity (Vmax) values of 3.42 m/hr and 1.78 m/hr were observed in the anaerobic and primary facultative ponds respectively. The corresponding optimal model parameters (n) describing the measured data accurately were 0.47 L/g and 0.51 L/g respectively. The model parameters so obtained may be useful in characterizing the sedimentation behavior in the WSP during the dry weather flow regimes.
VL  - 8
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

George Kirumba

School of Chemical and Biological Systems Engineering, Technical University of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
George Thumbi

School of Civil and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
John Mwangi

School of Civil, Environmental and Geospatial Engineering, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya
John Mbugua

School of Chemistry and Material Science, Technical University of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya

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APA Style

George Kirumba, George Thumbi, John Mwangi, John Mbugua. (2023). Analysis of the Sludge Settling Behavior of the Kibendera Waste Stabilization Ponds in Ruiru, Kenya. Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, 8(1), 18-25. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeece.20230801.13

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ACS Style

George Kirumba; George Thumbi; John Mwangi; John Mbugua. Analysis of the Sludge Settling Behavior of the Kibendera Waste Stabilization Ponds in Ruiru, Kenya. J. Energy Environ. Chem. Eng. 2023, 8(1), 18-25. doi: 10.11648/j.jeece.20230801.13

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AMA Style

George Kirumba, George Thumbi, John Mwangi, John Mbugua. Analysis of the Sludge Settling Behavior of the Kibendera Waste Stabilization Ponds in Ruiru, Kenya. J Energy Environ Chem Eng. 2023;8(1):18-25. doi: 10.11648/j.jeece.20230801.13

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@article{10.11648/j.jeece.20230801.13,
  author = {George Kirumba and George Thumbi and John Mwangi and John Mbugua},
  title = {Analysis of the Sludge Settling Behavior of the Kibendera Waste Stabilization Ponds in Ruiru, Kenya},
  journal = {Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering},
  volume = {8},
  number = {1},
  pages = {18-25},
  doi = {10.11648/j.jeece.20230801.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeece.20230801.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jeece.20230801.13},
  abstract = {Waste Stabilization Ponds (WSP) provide both cost-effective and high-performance wastewater treatment benefits in the tropical regions. The 3-month sludge settling behavior in the Kibendera WSP in Ruiru, Kenya, was studied between July and September 2022. The study aimed at determining the sludge volume index (SVI) and hindered settling velocity during the dry weather flow regime. Based on these experimental data, Vesilind Model was used to characterize the settling behavior in the anaerobic and primary facultative ponds. Whereas Standard Methods for the examination of water and wastewater were used to determine the total suspended solids (TSS) concentrations in the ponds, batch column settling tests were used to generate the batch settling curves for each pond. Generally, good settling behavior characterized by SVI values of less than 150 mL/g was observed during the study period. Highest settling velocities of 1.16 m/hr and 1.22 m/hr were recorded in the anaerobic and primary facultative ponds respectively for TSS concentrations of 0.6 g/L and 0.416 g/L. Optimal maximum velocity (Vmax) values of 3.42 m/hr and 1.78 m/hr were observed in the anaerobic and primary facultative ponds respectively. The corresponding optimal model parameters (n) describing the measured data accurately were 0.47 L/g and 0.51 L/g respectively. The model parameters so obtained may be useful in characterizing the sedimentation behavior in the WSP during the dry weather flow regimes.},
 year = {2023}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Analysis of the Sludge Settling Behavior of the Kibendera Waste Stabilization Ponds in Ruiru, Kenya
AU  - George Kirumba
AU  - George Thumbi
AU  - John Mwangi
AU  - John Mbugua
Y1  - 2023/04/20
PY  - 2023
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeece.20230801.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.jeece.20230801.13
T2  - Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering
JF  - Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering
JO  - Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering
SP  - 18
EP  - 25
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2637-434X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeece.20230801.13
AB  - Waste Stabilization Ponds (WSP) provide both cost-effective and high-performance wastewater treatment benefits in the tropical regions. The 3-month sludge settling behavior in the Kibendera WSP in Ruiru, Kenya, was studied between July and September 2022. The study aimed at determining the sludge volume index (SVI) and hindered settling velocity during the dry weather flow regime. Based on these experimental data, Vesilind Model was used to characterize the settling behavior in the anaerobic and primary facultative ponds. Whereas Standard Methods for the examination of water and wastewater were used to determine the total suspended solids (TSS) concentrations in the ponds, batch column settling tests were used to generate the batch settling curves for each pond. Generally, good settling behavior characterized by SVI values of less than 150 mL/g was observed during the study period. Highest settling velocities of 1.16 m/hr and 1.22 m/hr were recorded in the anaerobic and primary facultative ponds respectively for TSS concentrations of 0.6 g/L and 0.416 g/L. Optimal maximum velocity (Vmax) values of 3.42 m/hr and 1.78 m/hr were observed in the anaerobic and primary facultative ponds respectively. The corresponding optimal model parameters (n) describing the measured data accurately were 0.47 L/g and 0.51 L/g respectively. The model parameters so obtained may be useful in characterizing the sedimentation behavior in the WSP during the dry weather flow regimes.
VL  - 8
IS  - 1
ER  -

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