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Living Machines for Bioremediation, Wastewater Treatment, and Water Conservation

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Modern Water Resources Engineering

Part of the book series: Handbook of Environmental Engineering ((HEE,volume 15))

Abstract

This chapter describes the application of Living Machines, which are advanced ecologically engineered systems (AEES), which use natural abilities of living organisms to break down macromolecules and metabolize organic nutrients typically found in wastewater and polluted water bodies. The choice of any natural bioremediation strategy depends upon the nature and characteristics of the environment polluted, the nature of the pollutants, and the availability of the biological agents. This chapter focuses on the application of bioremediation approaches in the remediation of polluted water ecosystems, i.e., rivers, lakes, and estuaries. Fourteen case histories are presented for introduction of practical applications of Living Machine in bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and water reuse. The technology provides opportunities for environmental and water resources education, showcasing its water reuse advantages with broad applications in water shortage areas, such as California, Nevada, and New Mexico.

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Abbreviations

PCB:

Polychlorinated biphenyls

PAH:

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

EPA:

Environmental Protection Agency

BOD:

Biochemical oxygen demand

COD:

Chemical oxygen demand

NAS:

National Academy of Sciences

AEES:

Advanced ecologically engineered systems

SFS:

Surface flow systems

FWS:

Free water surface

EFB:

Ecological fluidized beds

TSS:

Total suspended solids

\( {\mathrm{NH}}_4^{+} \) :

Ammonium

NH3 :

Ammonia

HFR:

Horizontal flow reedbed

VFR:

Vertical flow reedbed

PRS:

Pond and reedbed system

CBOD5 :

Carbonaceous 5-day biochemical oxygen demand

TKN:

Total Kjeldahl nitrogen

\( {\mathrm{NO}}_3^{-} \) :

Nitrate

TN:

Total nitrogen

HRT:

Hydraulic retention time

VOC:

Volatile organic compounds

SBR:

Sequencing batch reactor

UV:

Ultraviolet

TP:

Total phosphorous

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Yung-Tse Hung Ph.D., P.E., D.EE, F-ASCE

  2. Department of Biochemistry and Sports Science, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda

    Joseph F. Hawumba Ph.D.

  3. Lenox Institute of Water Technology, Newtonville, NY, USA

    Lawrence K. Wang Ph.D., P.E., D.EE

  4. Krofta Engineering Corporation, Lenox, MA, USA

    Lawrence K. Wang Ph.D., P.E., D.EE

  5. Zorex Corporation, Newtonville, NY, USA

    Lawrence K. Wang Ph.D., P.E., D.EE

Authors
  1. Yung-Tse Hung Ph.D., P.E., D.EE, F-ASCE
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  2. Joseph F. Hawumba Ph.D.
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  3. Lawrence K. Wang Ph.D., P.E., D.EE
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Zorex Corporation, Newtonville, New York, USA

    Lawrence K. Wang

  2. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

    Chih Ted Yang

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Hung, YT., Hawumba, J.F., Wang, L.K. (2014). Living Machines for Bioremediation, Wastewater Treatment, and Water Conservation. In: Wang, L., Yang, C. (eds) Modern Water Resources Engineering. Handbook of Environmental Engineering, vol 15. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-595-8_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-595-8_14

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-62703-594-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-62703-595-8

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