Abstract |
A 97.5 acre oxidation pond with an average depth of 1 1/2 to 1 2/3 meters, in operation since 1967, was sampled in September 1969 and in June 1970. The primary objective was to quantitate the actual energy trade-off, in terms of algae produced vs. amount of waste degraded, for oxidation ponds. The results defined respectively: The calculated obsolute lower limit of daily algal synthesis necessary for production of the stoichiometric oxygen to satisfy the daily influent BOD requirement; A measured daily synthesis rate of algae to compare with the daily influent TOC, under conditions of maximum sunshine in the annual cycle; and The calculated absolute upper limit of daily algal synthesis, through the annual cycle, if all usable solar energy were utilized. |