Residuals and Biosolids Conference 2024 Program
Explore the program, education, and in-store events for the Residuals and Biosolids Conference 2024.
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Tuesday, June 18 Workshops Only Wednesday, June 19 Thursday, June 20 Friday, June 21
Information last updated May 9, 2024
TUESDAY, JUNE 18 | WORKSHOPS ONLY
- Workshop A: Upgrading Biogas to Renewable Natural Gas
- Workshop B: Dewatering Optimization - Practical Ways to Improve Performance
- Workshops C: A Cradle-to-Cradle Approach to Fugitive Methane Quantification
Workshop A: Upgrading Biogas to Renewable Natural Gas
Tuesday, June 18, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Additional fees apply for Pre-conference Workshops.
Speakers: Silvia Fuentes, Washington Suburban Sanitation Commission; Jeff Prevatt, Pima County RWRD; Erika Bailey, Raleigh Water
This hands-on workshop provides a comprehensive review of the many intricacies involved in upgrading of biogas to RNG standards for pipeline injection and ultimate distribution and sale of renewable identification number (RIN) credits.
A list of interactive topics covered including:
- EPA registration process for becoming a RIN generator
- Utility agreements between the WRF RNG entity and interstate gas transmission providers
- Monetization of RNG
- RNG system operation
A full agenda for this workshop is coming soon!
Workshop B: Dewatering Optimization – Practical Ways to Improve Performance
Tuesday, June 18, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Additional fees apply for Pre-conference Workshops.
Speakers: Matthew Higgins, Bucknell University; Adam Parmenter, HDR; Josh Miner, Carollo; Jeffrey Nicholson, HRSD; Charles Goss, AECOM; Luke Plache, VeloDyne Systems; Zwelani Ngwenya, Jacobs; Stephanie Spalding, HDR; David Oerke, Jacobs
The Dewatering Optimization – Practical Ways to Improve Performance workshop will focus on practical solutions to improve dewatering performance including drier cake solids, better solids capture, reduced polymer consumption, and reduced O&M costs for raw sludge, aerobically and anaerobically digested biosolids. This workshop will be of primary interest to plant managers, superintendents, operators and maintenance staff from municipalities. Furthermore, this workshop topic is critical and timely to the industry since municipalities are getting more and more pressure to reduce their budgets or to "do more for less" in addition to addressing the challenges of increasing polymer, solids processing and hauling cost.
The information from the workshop will provide municipal attendees the knowledge and resources to better perform their jobs with lower O&M costs, will help consultants to provide more informative and better dewatering equipment advice and will help manufacturers to provide better and more optimum machine performance at lower O&M costs.
A full agenda for this workshop is coming soon!
Workshop C: A Cradle-to-Cradle Approach to Fugitive Methane Quantification and Abatement
Tuesday, June 18, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Additional fees apply for Pre-conference Workshops.
Speakers: David Ponder, US Water Alliance; Trung Le, Brown and Caldwell; Dante Fiorino; Jason Ren, Princeton University; Elsayed Elbeshbishy, Toronto Metropolitan University; Tyler Schweinfurth, City of Columbus; Douglas Dixon, City of Columbus
This workshop is designed to help participants develop an understanding of the drivers, risks, and regulations that influence fugitive methane abatement in the United States. They will also learn about emerging and available technologies for quantification in the market and the use of those technologies for quantification through multiple US case studies and develop an understanding of abatement solutions and strategic implementation of these solutions through a case study.
This workshop will cover the following topics:
- State of Fugitive Methane
- Drivers, Risks, and Regulations for Fugitive Methane
- Emerging and Available Quantification Technologies
- Practical Case Studies
A full agenda for this workshop is coming soon!
Wednesday, June 19 | Sessions
- Opening General Session
- Session 01: Research and Innovation
- Session 02: RBC Young Professional Panel Discussion
- Session 03: State of the Solids Stream: Running a 100% Beneficial Reuse Biosolids Program at the City of Columbus, Ohio
- Session 04: The Fate of PFAS in Biosolids through Land Application, Incineration, and Thermal Treatment - Updates from Water Research Foundation Projects
- Technology Spotlight I
- Session 05: Dewatering
- Session 06: Resource Recovery and Sustainable Practices
- Session 07: Outreach Updates: From State to Regional Solutions
- Session 08: Resurgence of Sub-and Supercritical Wet Oxidation Technologies for Eliminating PFAS in Biosolids and Residuals with a Reduced Carbon Footprint
- Technology Spotlight II
- Session 09: Emerging Issues
- Tour A: Modern Composting in Midwest City
Opening General Session
Wednesday, June 19, 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
More information about the Opening General Session is coming soon!
Poster Presentations
Wednesday, June 19, 10:00 a.m. – 6:15 p.m.
Thursday, June 20, 10:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
The following poster presentations will be set up for viewing in the exhibit hall during hall hours:
Individualized Economic Analysis of Hydrothermal Liquefaction for Wastewater Decarbonization
Michael Timko, Paul Wood, Julian Bennett, Muntasir Shahabuddin, Andrew Texeira, Nikolaos Kazantzis, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Julia Faeth, RAPID Manufacturing Institute; Aidin Panahi, Andrew Charlebois, Alex Maag, Harold Walker, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Recovery of heavy metals from electronic industry waste sludge by bioleaching process
Shen-Yi Chen, Tzu-Jung Yen, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology
Session 01: Research and Innovation
Wednesday, June 19, 10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Heartland Water Technology
Session 02: RBC Young Professional Panel Discussion
Wednesday, June 19, 10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
This session will feature a 60-min “Reverse Panel”, where the following topics will be discussed:
- Developing a Resource Network,
- Professional Development and Career Guidance,
- Career Pathways in the Water Industry.
More information about this session is coming soon!
Session 03: State of the Solids Stream: Running a 100% Beneficial Reuse Biosolids Program at the City of Columbus, Ohio
Wednesday, June 19, 10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Speakers: Annaka Ruther; Moss Birri, City of Columbus
The City of Columbus has committed to 100% beneficial reuse of its wastewater residuals stream. The City has achieved this goal through the use of a diverse and region specific biosolids management program. This session provides an overview of the core components of the biosolids management program and relative utilization of each component, challenges faced by the City due to growth and regulation, and future plans to expand and capitalize on beneficial use of our biosolids stream. Attendees can expect to learn about Class B biosolids land application, deep row hybrid poplar tree farms, municipal biosolids composting to Class A Exceptional Quality biosolids, digestion's impact on biosolids quality, and biogas cogeneration.
A full agenda for this session is coming soon!
Session 04: The Fate of PFAS in Biosolids through Land Application, Incineration, and Thermal Treatment - Updates from Water Research Foundation Projects
Wednesday, June 19, 10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Speakers: Linda Lee, Purdue University; Lloyd Winchell; Patrick McNamara, Black & Veatch and Marquette University; Lynne Moss, Black & Veatch
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) have dramatically shifted the biosolids management landscape, with one state already passing a ban on land application due to PFAS in biosolids. Thus, there is a great research need to understand the fate of PFAS through land application of biosolids, incineration, and emerging thermal treatment technologies including pyrolysis and gasification. Therefore, the Water Research Foundation (WRF) has supported this important research need. This session will highlight findings from three WRF projects that focus on the fate of PFAS in biosolids: 5214 Direct In Situ Measurement of PFAS Transformation & Leaching from Land-Applied Biosolids, 5111 Studying the Fate of PFAS through Sewage Sludge Incinerators, 5211 Understanding the Value Proposition for Thermal Processes to Mitigate PFAS in Biosolids.
A full agenda for this session is coming soon!
Technology Spotlight I
Wednesday, June 19, 12:45 p.m. – 1:10 p.m.
The two exhibitors listed below will each hold a 20-minute presentation each. Participants are invited to attend a different presentation at each of the times listed below. Choose the presentation you would like to attend. Each presentation happens at the exhibitor’s booth. Presentations kick off concurrently at 12:50 p.m. in each of the two booths.
12:45 p.m. Mobile Session Introduction at the entrance to the exhibit hall
12:50 p.m. 2 Simultaneous Presentation A
Session 05: Dewatering
Wednesday, June 19, 1:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Session 06: Resource Recovery and Sustainable Practices
Wednesday, June 19, 1:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Session 07: Outreach Updates: From State to Regional Solutions
Wednesday, June 19, 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Session 08: Resurgence of Sub-and Supercritical Wet Oxidation Technologies for Eliminating PFAS in Biosolids and Residuals with a Reduced Carbon Footprint
Wednesday, June 19, 1:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
In this session, participants will learn about the basics of sub-and supercritical thermal technologies, including hydrothermal carbonization (HTC), hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), and supercritical water oxidation (SCWO). The focus will be on how these technologies can efficiently treat biosolids and residuals, with a particular emphasis on their potential to treat per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Participants will gain insight into the energy balances of each technology, understand their advantages and disadvantages, and explore their capacity to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to traditional biosolids and residuals management.
Technology Spotlight II
Wednesday, June 19 3:15 p.m. – 3:40 p.m.
The two exhibitors listed below will each hold a 20-minute presentation once each. Participants are invited to attend a different presentation at each of the times listed below. Choose the presentation you would like to attend. Each presentation happens at the exhibitor’s booth. Presentations kick off concurrently at: 3:20 p.m. in each of the two booths.
3:15 p.m. Mobile Session Introduction at entrance to exhibit hall
3:20 p.m. 2 Simultaneous Presentation A
Session 09: Emerging Issues
Wednesday, June 19. 3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 3:35 p.m. | Harmonizing Thermal Hydrolysis Pretreatment: Digestibility, Dewaterability, and Microbial Symphony in PFAS-Laden Sewage SludgeAbir Hamze,Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU); Basem Reda, University of Alberta; Mohamed Zaghloul, Toronto Metropolitan University; Bipro Dhar; Elsayed Elbeshbishy, Toronto Metropolitan University |
| 4:15 p.m. | Microplastics in Solids Stream: Abundance, Fate and Methodologies for Analysis Cayla Cook, Carollo Engineers;Yian Sun;Derya Dursun, Hazen and Sawyer; Mohammad Abu-Orf |
| 4:45 p.m. | Session Adjourns for Networking Reception in Exhibit Hall |
| Alternative | Microplastics: The Next Contaminant of Emerging ConcernKaitlyn Hague |
Facility Tour
Additional fees apply
Tour A: Modern Composting in Midwest City
Thursday, June 20, 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Midwest City has successfully performed fully automated composting at its Northside Water Resources Recovery Facility since 2015. The City’s Compost Facility at the WRRF uses a highly controlled in-vessel stabilization process, including a rail mounted turner/advancing machine, located within an industrial football field size building. The system utilizes automated temperature monitoring, control, and tracking to achieve a Class A product. Anaerobically digested and dewatered biosolids generated at the WRRF are blended with local yard waste in carefully designed ratios. Composting is accomplished without producing objectionable odors. Altogether, Midwest City sustainably recycles nutrients within the local community while diverting yard waste otherwise destined for disposal at the local landfill. The City sells out every batch of compost with waiting lists for the next batch. Conference attendees are invited to come and see modern composting in action.
Thursday, June 20 | Sessions
- Session 10: Thickening
- Session 11: Greenhouse Gas Emissions at Wastewater Treatment Plants
- Session 12: Advancing Anaerobic Digestion
- Session 13: Thermal Hydrolysis Process
- Technology Spotlight III
- Session 14: Benefits and Approaches to Moving Dewatering into the Modeling Realm
- Session 15: Dryer
- Tour B: City of Edmond-Aerobic Digestion and Dewatering Facility Tour
- Session 16: Nutrient Considerations and Digestion
- Session 17: Land Application
- Session 18: Understanding Digester Rheology and Implications for Mixing and Operations
- Session 19: Carbonization
- Session 20: Nutrient Management Innovations
- Session 21: Environmental Justice
- Session 22: Anaerobic Digestion
- Session 23: Dryers: The New, the Old, and the Safe
Session 10: Thickening
Thursday, June 20, 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Session 11: Greenhouse Gas Emissions at Wastewater Treatment Plants
Thursday, June 20, 8:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Session 12: Advancing Anaerobic Digestion
Thursday, June 20, 8:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Session 13: Thermal Hydrolysis Process
Thursday, June 20, 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Technology Spotlight III
Thursday, June 20, 10:15 a.m. - 10:40 a.m
The two exhibitors listed below will each hold a 20-minute presentation each. Participants are invited to attend a different presentation at each of the times listed below. Choose the presentation you would like to attend. Each presentation happens at the exhibitor’s booth. Presentations kick off concurrently at 10:20 a.m. in each of the two booths.
10:15 a.m. Mobile Session Introduction at the entrance to the exhibit hall
10:20 a.m. 2 Simultaneous Presentation A
Session 14: Benefits and Approaches to Moving Dewatering into the Modeling Realm
Thursday, June 20, 10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Speakers: Matthew Higgins; David Oerke, Jacobs Engineering; George Sprouse, Metropolitan Council Environ Serv; Zwelani Ngwenya, Jacobs Engineering
Modeling of wastewater treatment processes has advanced significantly in the last 10 years to include numerous different configurations on the liquid side including biochemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids and nutrient removal, membrane systems, and fixed film systems as well as whole plant simulation models that include solids treatment/stabilization such as anaerobic digestion including thermal hydrolysis pretreatment. Based on a WRF funded project and related research, data and approaches were developed to extend these whole plant models to include dewatering to estimate cake solids concentration and estimate the solids to be trucked for beneficial land application and landfilling, or to size downstream solids treatment processes, such as thermal drying and combustion. Being able to predict dewaterability and polymer dose has numerous benefits because the performance of dewatering has a significant impact on the overall economics of the solids treatment processes, and the entire Water Resource Recovery Facility's operational and capital costs. Figure 1 shows a whole plant model from SUMO that includes a final dewatering unit. As a result, understanding the impact of a change in an upstream liquid treatment and solids process on downstream dewatering would help utilities better plan and estimate the full costs of these upstream process changes.
A full agenda for this session is coming soon!
Session 15: Dryer
Thursday, June 20, 10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 10:45 a.m. | PFAS Assessment of a Rotary Drum Dryer John Ross, Brown and Caldwell; Donald Song |
| 11:15 a.m. | Tipping Fees Reach the Tipping Point: The Why, What, and How of the Summerville CPW Biosolids Upgrade Project Micah Miley, Summerville CPW; Thomas Vollmar, KCI Technologies; Anthony Taylor, Harper General Contractors, Environmental Systems Division |
| 11:45 a.m. | Session Adjourns for Luncheon |
| Alternate | Thermal Treatment of PFAS with Gasification, Pyrolysis, Incineration, and Supercritical Water Oxidation (SCWO) - What is the Current Status? Levent Takmaz, Veolia; Lloyd Winchell |
Tour B: City of Edmond-Aerobic Digestion and Dewatering Facility Tour
Thursday, June 20, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Additional fees apply.
The City of Edmond’s Coffee Creek Water Resource Recovery Plant (CCWRRF) includes preliminary treatment (screening/grit removal), secondary treatment (aeration basins and clarifiers), tertiary treatment (filtration/disinfection), and solids stabilization (sludge lagoons). CCWRRF has been the process of Phase 1 of an expansion and improvements project that includes improvements to the liquid treatment and solids processing facilities that will increase the AAF capacity to 10 mgd and meet the new regulatory limit on nitrate. Modifications include new external anoxic zones and a mixed liquor recycle system to operate the secondary treatment facility with a Modified Ludzack-Ettinger process. The Phase 1 Expansion is anticipated to be completed in 2024 but several elements are already in operation including modifications to the solids processing facilities. The Phase 1 Expansion improvements will decommission the sludge lagoons and replace them with a new train that includes sludge screening, sludge thickening, aerobic digestion, sludge dewatering, and cake storage.
Session 16: Nutrient Considerations and Digestion
Thursday, June 20, 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 1:30 p.m. | Phosphorus Sequestration in Biosolids, Nuisance Struvite Control via PAD and Chemical Addition to TH-AD Digestate, and Downstream Effects Caitlyn Harris, HRSD; Maya Garcia; Dana Gonzalez, Carollo Engineers; Christopher Wilson, Arba Williamson, Jeffrey Nicholson; Charles Bott, HRSD |
| 2:00 p.m. | Significance of Process Control Strategy in Dynamic Modeling and Optimization of Full-Scale Post Aerobic Digestion (PAD) Sara Arabi, Mehran Andalib, Stantec; Cole Sigmon, Christopher Marks, City of Boulder |
| 2:30 p.m. | Anaerobic Digestion with Nutrient Control - What if your Digesters were the Sidestream? Matthew Williams, Thermal Process Systems; Justin Wippo |
| 3:00 p.m. | Session Adjourns for Networking and Coffee Break |
| Alternate | Solids processing improvements help utility to achieve nutrient reduction and biosolids goals Toshio Shimada, Corinne Duckworth, Carollo |
Session 17: Land Application
Thursday, June 20, 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Session 18: Understanding Digester Rheology and Implications for Mixing and Operations
Thursday, June 20, 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Speakers: Rashi Gupta, Carollo; Matthew Higgins, Bucknell University; Mohammad Shallouf, Anaergia; Hao Pham, Ovivo; Erik Larson, Vaughan; Ed Wicklein CarolloSpeakers: Rashi Gupta, Carollo; Matthew Higgins, Bucknell University; Mohammad Shallouf, Anaergia; Hao Pham, Ovivo; Erik Larson, Vaughan; Ed Wicklein Carollo
Anaerobic digestion has become a common process in municipal and industrial wastewater treatment due to the production of high-value products (e.g., biogas) and increased volatile solids reduction which reduces landfilling costs. While anaerobic digestion has been applied for decades, digester stability is often a function of a variety of physical, chemical, and biological parameters. Recently, the importance of digester rheology and mixing have gained focus due to the complexity of the non-Newtonian behavior of digester substrates and difficulty in providing uniform mixing. During this session, presenters will discuss how digester rheology changes with substrates and age and its impact on mixing; the latest developments in modeling digester mixing; and discuss commercial options for more uniform mixing.
A full agenda for this session is coming soon!
Session 19: Carbonization
Thursday, June 20, 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 1:30 p.m. | Pyrolyis Gas Thermal Oxidation: PFAS and Emissions Control Alexandre Miot, Silicon Valley Clean Water; John Ross, Brown and Caldwell; John Norton, Great Lakes Water Authority; Matt Magruder, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District; Lloyd Winchell; Katherine Bell, Brown and Caldwell |
| 2:00 p.m. | The State of Full-Scale Implementation - Biosolids Pyrolysis and Gasification John Ross, DJ Wacker, Brown and Caldwell |
| 2:30 p.m. | Intensification of Pyrolysis by Autothermal Operation Robert Brown, Iowa State University; Philip Pedros, Mott MacDonald; Tannon Daugaard, Iowa State University; Adam Hendricks, Philadelphia Water Department |
| 3:00 p.m. | Session Adjourns for Coffee Break |
Session 20: Nutrient Management Innovations
Thursday, June 20, 3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Session 21: Environmental Justice
Thursday, June 20, 3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
More information about this session is coming soon!
Session 22: Anaerobic Digestion
Thursday, June 20, 3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Session 23: Dryers: The New, the Old, and the Safe
Thursday, June 20, 3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 3:45 p.m. | Biosolids Thermal Dryer Safety Fact Sheet - The Fundamentals for Managing Risks of Fires and ExplosionsWebster Hoener;Jody Barksdale, Carollo Engineers |
| 4:15 p.m. | Live to Dry Another Day: Low Energy Residuals Drying Paul Knowles |
| 4:45 p.m. | Session Adjourns |
| Alternate | New Fluidized Bed Incinerators at the Highland Creek Treatment Plant: Replacing Old Technology with State of the Art Peter Burrowes; Vanessa Carew Jacobs; Rob Deobald, City of Toronto; Heather Partridge, City of Toronto |
Friday, June 21 | Sessions
- Session 24: Program Drivers: Economics, Regulatory, and Market Considerations
- Session 25: Energy Management: From Production to Safety
- Session 26: Troubleshooting & Optimization
- Session 27: Case Studies & Lessons Learned
Session 24: Program Drivers: Economics, Regulatory, and Market Considerations
Friday, June 21, 8:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Session 25: Energy Management: From Production to Safety
Friday, June 21, 8:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Session 26: Troubleshooting & Optimization
Friday, June 21, 8:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Session 27: Case Studies & Lessons Learned
Friday, June 21, 8:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 8:30 a.m. | Biosolids Master Planning in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Develop a Sustainable Biosolids Management Program Todd Williams; Adrian Romero, Thomas Tom Johnson, Lars Ostervold, Jacobs; Matt Vaughan, City of Tulsa |
| 9:00 a.m. | Developing a Regional Biosolids Master Plan for the North Shore Water Reclamation District Persephone Ma; Joe Marino, Brown and Caldwell; Steve Waters, North Shore Water Reclamation District; Natalie Sierra, Brown and Caldwell; Travis Vodnik, Emily Prentice, North Shore Water Reclamation District |
| 9:30 a.m. | Commissioning of a Modern Centrifuge Solids Dewatering System Mike Gates, Clean Water Services; Chris Maher |
| 10:00 a.m. | Networking and Coffee Break |
| 10:15 a.m. | Biosolids Pyrolysis and Gasification — Lessons Learned from Early Adopters Jay Surti, Charles Winslow, GHD |
| 10:45 a.m. | The Road to Resource Recovery: Equipment Procurement, Natural Gas Utility Negotiations, D3 RINs, and IRA Credits for an Enhanced Energy Recovery Project Eric Auerbach; Jess Rosentel, Capital Region Water; Nick Taylor, Shayla Allen, Arcadis |
| 11:15 a.m. | Conference Adjourns |
| Alternate | Preparing for the Future: WAS Only Indirect Thermal Drying at Manchester Creek WWTP C Bullard, Ruth Borgmann, Jacqueline Yeh, Hazen and Sawyer; Meredith Bridwell; Anthony Young, Hazen and Sawyer |
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