B2106 - Agro-Industrial Wastewater Treatment and Reuse

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student acquires specific knowledge on processes and methods that can be exploited for the treatment and reuse of agro-industrial wastewater. The student knows the operating principles and design criteria of mechanical, physicochemical, biological and natural treatment systems. In addition, the student acquires knowledge of current regulations on limits for the discharge and reuse of treated wastewater.

Course contents

Educational requirements

The student who accesses this course must have good knowledge of mathematics, physics and chemistry (organic) as well as be familiar with the use of electronic (eg. Excel) and video-writing (eg. Word) tools.

Unit 1 – Agro-industrial wastewater treatment and reuse (31 hours)

• Agro-industrial wastewater classification and physico-chemical and biological characterization.
• Definition of conventional treatment technologies: preliminary, primary, secondary, tertiary treatment methods; mechanical, chemical, physical and physical-chemical, biological methods.
• Application of natural treatment systems: constructed wetlands, lagoon systems and natural ponds.
• Treated wastewater reuse in agricultural irrigation.
• Regulation on treatment, discharge and reuse of agro-industrial wastewater.  

Acquired skills in unit 1

The student acquires knowledge on processes that are involved in conventional and natural methods for the treatment of, as well as on regulation for agro-industrial wastewater discharge and reuse.

Unit 2 – Tutorial session (9 hours)

• Design of conventional and natural treatment systems.

Acquired skills in unit 2

The student is able to design conventional and natural treatment systems in order to ensure contaminants reduction/removal from agro-industrial wastewater.

Readings/Bibliography

• Slides provided by the teacher.
• Masotti L., (2011). Depurazione delle acque, Calderini.
• Langergraber G., Dotro G., Nivala J., Rizzo A., Stein O.R., (2019). Wetland Technology: Practical Information on the Design and Application of Treatment Wetlands. International Water Association Publishing: London, UK.

Teaching methods

The course is divided into two units. Unit 1 is theoretical and is preparatory to face the practical unit 2. The course will include lectures and tutorial sessions, and will be supported by the provision of slides. Students are invited to follow the lessons, which could include group work activities during the tutorial sessions.

Assessment methods

The verification of the learning consists in an oral examination and it will focus on all the units of the course. The student will be asked to answer questions of a theoretical and practical-applicative nature. During the examination, the student can be asked to solve short problems as addressed during the tutorial sessions.

Students wishing to take the examination in English are allowed; in this case a communication is needed in advance.

Teaching tools

Slide, blackboard, computer, teaching material.

Office hours

See the website of Giuseppe Mancuso