Nitrogen removal from pharmaceutical manufacturing wastewater via nitrite and the process optimization with on-line control.

In this study, laboratory scale experiments were conducted to investigate the nitrogen removal from pharmaceutical manufacturing wastewater. The results indicate that by selective inhibition of free ammonia on oxidizers, nitrogen removal can be achieved by nitritation and denitritation process. The nitrite ratio was above 98% in the aerobic stage and the nitrogen removal efficiency was about 99%. The complete ammonia removal corresponded exactly to the "Ammonia Valley" in the pH versus time graphic and the anoxic reaction was completed when the "Nitrite Knee" appeared in the ORP versus time graphic. Optimization of the SBR cycle by step-feed and on-line control with pH and ORP strategy allowed the carbon and energy saving. The easy operation and the low cost make the SBR system an interesting option for the biological nitrogen removal from the pharmaceutical manufacturing wastewater.     

Nitrite accumulation followed by denitrification using sequencing batch reactor.

Biological ammonia-nitrogen removal utilizes two distinct processes, nitrification and denitrification. In nitrification, ammonia oxidizes to nitrite then to nitrate. In this study, elimination of nitrite oxidation to nitrate step was attempted in order to directly remove nitrite to nitrogen gas by denitrification. For this study the supernatant from an anaerobic digester was used as an ammonia source and a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) was employed. Emphasis was given to the evaluation of the operational factors affecting nitrite accumulation and the elucidation of kinetics for biological nitrification and denitrification. Accumulation of nitrite in the nitrification process was achieved by suppressing the growth of Nitrobacter, a nitrite oxidizer, by loading high concentration ammonia supernatant immediately after all ammonia in the previous loading was oxidized to nitrite. Nitrite oxidation was taking place as the solid retention time (SRT) was increased from 2.5 days to 3.0 days in a continuously aerated SBR mode with daily feeding. However, nitrite accumulation was achieved even at longer SRT of 5 days when the aeration and non-aeration periods were appropriately combined and the non-aeration period can be used for denitrification of the accumulated nitrite with a carbon source supplied.     

低负荷下厌氧氨氧化处理养殖废水的启动研究

厌氧氨氧化作为新型生物脱氮技术其关键在于如何实现厌氧氨氧化反应的启动,现有研究多以模拟废水为研究对象,本文以猪场废水为对象的研究,利用ASBR为反应器,接种反硝化污泥培养厌氧氨氧化细菌,在NH+4-N与NO-2-N浓度均为100 mg/L的条件下,运行125 d,经历启动初期、过渡期、系统稳定运行期三个阶段,厌氧氨氧化反应器中NH+4-N的去除率达91.70%,NO-2-N去除率92.0%;NH+4-N的容积负荷为36.90 mg/L.d,NO-2-N的容积负荷为37.55 mg/(L.d),成功实现了厌氧氨氧化反应器的启动。该研究成果对厌氧氨氧化技术在工程实践的应用具有重要的指导意义。     

The presence of ammonium facilitates nitrite reduction under PHB driven simultaneous nitrification and denitrification.

For economic and efficient nitrogen removal from wastewater treatment plants via simultaneous nitrification and denitrification the nitrification process should stop at the level of nitrite such that nitrite rather than nitrate becomes the substrate for denitrification. This study aims to contribute to the understanding of the conditions that are necessary to improve nitrite reduction over nitrite oxidation. Laboratory sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) were operated with synthetic wastewater containing acetate as COD and ammonium as the nitrogen source. Computer controlled operation of the reactors allowed reproducible simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND). The oxygen supply was kept precisely at a low level of 0.5 mgL(-1) and bacterial PHB was the only electron donor available for denitrification. During SND little nitrite or nitrate accumulated (< 20% total N), indicating that the reducing processes were almost as fast as the production of nitrite and nitrate from nitrification. Nitrite spiking tests were performed to investigate the fate of nitrite under different oxidation (0.1-1.5 mgL(-1) of dissolved oxygen) and reduction conditions. High levels of reducing power were provided by allowing the cells to build up to 2.5 mM of PHB. Nitrite added was preferentially oxidised to nitrate rather than reduced even when dissolved oxygen was low and reducing power (PHB) was excessively high. However, the presence of ammonium enabled significant reduction of nitrite under low oxygen conditions. This is consistent with previous observations in SBR where aerobic nitrite and nitrate reduction occurred only as long as ammonium was present. As soon as ammonium was depleted, the rate of denitrification decreased significantly. The significance of the observed strongly stimulating effect of ammonium on nitrite reduction under SND conditions is discussed and potential consequences for SBR operation are suggested.     

Nitrogen removal from sludge digester liquids by nitrification/denitrification or partial nitritation/anammox: environmental and economical considerations.

In wastewater treatment plants with anaerobic sludge digestion, 15-20% of the nitrogen load is recirculated to the main stream with the return liquors from dewatering. Separate treatment of this ammonium-rich digester supernatant significantly reduces the nitrogen load of the activated sludge system. Two biological applications are considered for nitrogen elimination: (i) classical autotrophic nitrification/heterotrophic denitrification and (ii) partial nitritation/autotrophic anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox). With both applications 85-90% nitrogen removal can be achieved, but there are considerable differences in terms of sustainability and costs. The final gaseous products for heterotrophic denitrification are generally not measured and are assumed to be nitrogen gas (N2). However, significant nitrous oxide (N2O) production can occur at elevated nitrite concentrations in the reactor. Denitrification via nitrite instead of nitrate has been promoted in recent years in order to reduce the oxygen and the organic carbon requirements. Obviously this "achievement" turns out to be rather disadvantageous from an overall environmental point of view. On the other hand no unfavorable intermediates are emitted during anaerobic ammonium oxidation. A cost estimate for both applications demonstrates that partial nitritation/anammox is also more economical than classical nitrification/denitrification. Therefore autotrophic nitrogen elimination should be used in future to treat ammonium-rich sludge liquors.     

A novel wastewater treatment process: simultaneous nitrification, denitrification and phosphorus removal.

Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) via the nitrite pathway and anaerobic-anoxic enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) are two processes that can significantly reduce the COD demand for nitrogen and phosphorus removal. The combination of these two processes has the potential of achieving simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorus removal with a minimal requirement for COD. A lab-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) was operated in alternating anaerobic-aerobic mode with a low dissolved oxygen concentration (DO, 0.5 mg/L) during the aerobic period, and was demonstrated to accomplish nitrification, denitrification and phosphorus removal. Under anaerobic conditions, COD was taken up and converted to polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), accompanied with phosphorus release. In the subsequent aerobic stage, PHA was oxidized and phosphorus was taken up to less than 0.5 mg/L at the end of the cycle. Ammonia was also oxidised during the aerobic period, but without accumulation of nitrite or nitrate in the system, indicating the occurrence of simultaneous nitrification and denitrification. However, off-gas analysis found that the final denitrification product was mainly nitrous oxide (N2O) not N2. Further experimental results demonstrated that nitrogen removal was via nitrite, not nitrate. These experiments also showed that denitrifying glycogen-accumulating organisms rather than denitrifying polyphosphate-accumulating organisms were responsible for the denitrification activity.     

Biological nitrogen removal in SBR bypassing nitrate generation accomplished by chlorination and aeration time control.

A novel control strategy for biological nitrogen removal with high nitrite built-up through chlorine dosage was studied. In the biological nitrogen removal process operated in a bench-scale sequencing batch reactor, dose of chlorine of 0.2 mg/l in the form of sodium hypochlorite was applied after the COD was depleted. The aerobic phase switched to an anoxic phase shortly after the ammonium was completely biotically oxidized. Nitrite accumulation was stably achieved which was attributed to the chlorination and the lag-time of nitrification. With the time control, stable 100% conversion of nitrite could also be sustained even under the absence of chlorine for at least 20 days. The nitrite oxidizer should have been killed rather than been suppressed in this study. For engineering applications, the advantages of the nitrification/denitrification via nitrite can compensate the cost of chlorine dosage. Combined with the aeration time control, it is feasible to apply chlorination in a biological nitrogen removal process in SBRs.     

Total nitrogen removal from high-strength ammonia recycle stream using a single submerged attached growth bioreactor.

An experimental study investigating the nitrogen removal efficiency from the recycle stream generated in the dewatering facility of the anaerobically digested sludge at the Deer Island wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Boston was conducted using a single submerged attached growth bioreactor (SAGB), designed for simultaneous nitrification and denitrification. The applied nitrogen loading to the reactor ranged from 0.7 to 2.27 kg-N/m3xd, and the corresponding total nitrogen (TN) removal rate ranged from 0.38 to 1.8 kg-N/m(3)xd. The observed nitrification rates varied from 0.42 kg-N/m3-d to 1.45 kg-N/m(3) xd with an ammonia load of 0.5 kg-N/m3-d and 1.8 kg-N/m(3)xd, respectively. An average nitrification efficiency of 91% was achieved throughout the experiment. Denitrification efficiency varied from 55%/o, obtained without any addition of carbon source, to 95% when methanol was added in order to obtain a methanol/nitrate ratio of about 3 kg methanol/kg NO3- -N.     

生物接触氧化流化床处理氨氮污水的实验研究

为了提高生物接触氧化流化床处理氨氮污水的脱氮效果,采用生物接触氧化流化床在自然温度下处理人工配制模拟生活污水实验的方法,研究了氨氮污水脱氮处理的可行性、方法与效果。实验结果表明:氨氮被氧化成硝酸可由两类独立的细菌分别催化完成;反应的适宜温度为20~35℃;亚硝酸菌的最适pH值为7~8.5之间,硝酸菌为6~7.5;亚硝酸菌和硝酸菌溶解氧质量浓度在0.5 mg/L以上才能取得较好的硝化效果。反应器内填料粒径在10 mm左右有利于提高氨氮的去除效率;间歇式进水方式使活性污泥具有良好的沉降性,可为氨氮的去除提供良好的环境条件。     

Ammonia oxidizing bacterial community composition and process performance in wastewater treatment plants under low temperature conditions

Nitrification can be difficult to maintain at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) during cold periods resulting in disrupted nitrogen removal. The aim of this study was to relate nitrification process performance to abundance and composition of the ammonia oxidizer communities in two closely located municipal WWTPs in Sweden during an eight month period covering seasonal changes and low temperature conditions. Both facilities showed lower NH(4)(+)-N removal efficiency and nitrification rates as temperature decreased. However, one of the plants had a more stable nitrification rate and higher ammonia removal efficiency throughout the entire period. The differences in performance was related to a shift in the composition of the bacterial ammonia oxidizing community from a Nitrosomonas oligotropha-dominated community to a mixed community including also Nitrosomonas ureae-like ammonia oxidizers. This was likely a response to differences in NH(4)(+)-N and organic loading.     

同步短程硝化反硝化研究

分析了现有短程硝化反硝化工艺处理高浓度氨氮废水所存在的问题,试验利用序批式反应器(SBR)的内部水力特性对其进行改造,以畜禽养殖废水为研究对象,从宏观上创造同步硝化反硝化(SND)条件,并实现了同一反应器内短程硝化反硝化的同步进行,改造后系统pH值下降速度减缓,反硝化效率提高,最终出水的亚硝酸盐和硝酸盐浓度分别降低了39%和38%。     

Achieving and maintaining of short-cut nitrification in a cyclic activated sludge system

A lab-scale Cyclic Activated Sludge Technology (CAST) system was operated more than 5 months to evaluate the effects of the operation mode on nitrogen removal performance and investigate a feasible method for achieving short-cut nitrification in the system. Results showed that nitrogen was removed by conventional biological nitrification and denitrification in traditional operation mode (fill/aeration 2 h, settle 1 h, decant 1 h), whereas short-cut nitrification and denitrification was the main nitrogen removal pathway in modified operation mode and the nitrogen removal performance was enhanced. Short-cut nitrification was successfully achieved in CAST system at 17 ± 1 °C by adjusting operation conditions and the average total nitrogen removal efficiency increased by 11.4% compared to traditional mode. It was assumed that low dissolved oxygen (<1.0 mg/L) limitation combined with free ammonia (0.28-0.34 mg/L) inhibition on nitrite-oxidizing bacteria caused nitrite accumulation in modified mode. During maintaining period of short-cut nitrification, preset aeration time enhanced ammonium-oxidizing bacteria dominance. It was also found that low DO could result in overgrowth of filamentous microorganisms and poor sludge settleability. The pH variation could provide effective information for controlling aeration duration in modified mode. However, no evident breakpoint appeared on pH and DO profiles in traditional mode.     

A two-sludge system for simultaneous biological C, N and P removal via the nitrite pathway

Nitrogen removal via the nitrite pathway results in significant savings in both aeration costs and COD requirements for denitrification when compared to the conventional biological nitrogen removal process. Implementation of the nitrite pathway for simultaneous C/N/P removal in a single sludge system has a major drawback: the aeration phase disfavours denitrifying phosphorus removal. A possible configuration to overcome this issue is the utilisation of a two-sludge system where autotrophic and heterotrophic populations are physically separated. This paper experimentally demonstrates the feasibility of a nitrite-based two-sludge system with sequencing batch reactors (SBR) for the treatment of urban wastewater: a heterotrophic SBR with denitrifying PAOs for P removal and an aerobic SBR for N removal. Partial nitrification was attained in the autotrophic SBR so that shortcut biological nitrogen removal was achieved by using the anoxic dephosphatation activity of DPAOs. Finally, the effect of operating this system without pH control was studied using different influent pH values (pH = 6.8, 7.5 and 8.2) and, despite some efficiency lost due to the pH fluctuations, the system was able to remove most of the C, N and P present in the wastewater.     

Pilot-scale studies on biological treatment of hypersaline wastewater at low temperature.

In order to investigate the feasibility of biological treatment of hypersaline wastewater produced from toilet flushing with seawater at low temperature, pilot-scale studies were established with plug-flow activated sludge process at low temperature (5-9 degrees C) based on bench-scale experiments. The critical salinity concentration of 30 g/L, which resulted from the cooperation results of the non-halophilic bacteria and the halophilic bacteria, was drawn in bench-scale experiments. Pilot-scale studies showed that high COD removal efficiency, higher than 80%, was obtained at low temperature when 30 percent seawater was introduced. The salinity improved the settleability of activated sludge, and average sludge value dropped down from 38% to 22.5% after adding seawater. Seawater salinity had a strong negative effect on notronomonas and nitrobacter growth, but much more on the nitrobacter. The nitrification action was mainly accomplished by nitrosomonas. Bench-scale experiments using two SBRs were carried out for further investigation under different conditions of salinities, ammonia loadings and temperatures. Biological nitrogen removal via nitrite pathway from wastewater containing 30 percent seawater was achieved, but the ammonia removal efficiency was strongly related not only to the influent ammonia loading at different salinities but also to temperature. When the ratio of seawater to wastewater was 30 percent, and the ammonia loading was below the critical value of 0.15 kgNH4+-N/(kgMLSS.d), the ammonia removal efficiency via nitrite pathway was above 90%. The critical level of ammonia loading was 0.15, 0.08 and 0.03 kgNH4+-N/(kgMLSS.d) respectively at the different temperature 30 degrees C, 25 degrees C and 20 degrees C when the influent ammonia concentration was 60-80 mg/L and pH was 7.5-8.0.     

Model experiments on improving nitrogen removal in laboratory scale subsurface constructed wetlands by enhancing the anaerobic ammonia oxidation.

Anaerobic ammonia oxidation (Anammox) has been identified as a new general process-strategy for nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment. In order to evaluate the role and effects of the Anammox process in wetlands, laboratory-scale model experiments were performed with planted fixed bed reactors. A reactor (planted with Juncus effusus) was fed with synthetic wastewater containing 150-200 mg L(-1) NH4+ and 75-480 mg L(-1) NO2(-). Under these operating conditions, the plants were affected by the high ammonia and nitrite concentrations and the nitrogen removal rate fell within the same range of 45-49 mg N d(-1) (equivalent to 0.64-0.70 g Nm(-2)d(-1)) as already reported by other authors. In order to stimulate the rate of nitrogen conversion, the planted reactor was inoculated with Anammox biomass. As a result, the rate of nitrogen removal was increased 4-5-fold and the toxic effects on the plants also disappeared. The results show that, in principle, subsurface flow wetlands can also function as an "Anammox bioreactor". However, the design of a complete process for the treatment of waters with a high ammonia load and, in particular, the realisation of simple technical solutions for partial nitrification have still to be developed.     

Multistage wastewater treatment using separated storage driven denitrification and nitrification biofilms.

The feasibility of combining a previously reported storage driven denitrification biofilm, where 80% of influent acetate can be converted to poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), with a suitable nitrification reactor, either submerged or trickling filter design, to achieve complete biological nitrogen removal was tested. The reactor system showed the potential of complete biological nitrogen removal of waste streams with a C/N ratio as low as 3.93 kg COD/kg N-NH3 at an overall nitrogen removal rate of 1.1 mmole NH3/L/h. While the efficiency and the rates of nitrogen removal were higher than what is observed in traditional or simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) systems, there were two problems that require further development: (a) the incomplete draining of the reactor caused ammonia retention and release in the effluent, limiting the overall N-removal and (b) pH drifts in the nitrification step slowed down the rate of nitrification if not corrected by appropriate pH adjustment or buffering.     

Modelling of biological nitrogen removal during treatment of piggery wastewater.

During this study, a mathematical model simulating piggery wastewater treatment was developed, with the objective of process optimisation. To achieve this, the effect of temperature and free ammonia concentration on the nitrification rate were experimentally studied using respirometry. The maximum growth rates obtained were higher for ammonium-oxidising biomass than for nitrite-oxidising biomass for the temperatures above 20 degrees C; values at 35 degrees C were equal to 1.9 and 1.35 day(-1), respectively. No inhibition of nitrification was observed for free ammonia concentrations up to 50 mgN/L. Using these data with others experimental data obtained from a pilot-scale reactor to treat piggery wastewater, a model based on a modified version of the ASM1 was developed and calibrated. In order to model the nitrite accumulation observed, the ASM1 model was extended with a two-step nitrification and denitrification including nitrite as intermediate. Finally, the produced model called PiWaT1 demonstrated a good fit with the experimental data. In addition to the temperature, oxygen concentration was identified as an important factor influencing the nitrite accumulation during nitrification. Even if some improvements of the model are still necessary, this model can already be used for process improvement.     

高浓度氨氮渗滤液脱氦方式的比较及选择

氨氮浓度高是垃圾渗滤液的水质特征之一,目前对于高浓度氨氮废水的处理方法主要有硝化—反硝化、氨吹脱法、化学沉淀法以及新型生物脱氮技术。基于工程实例,对国内外已有的去除垃圾渗滤液高浓度氨氮的方法进行了阐述和对比,并对渗滤液处理厂脱氮方式的选择提出了建议。     

Full-scale applications for both COD and nutrient removal in a CIRCOX airlift reactor.

The airlift reactor technology has been successfully applied at full scale for both COD and nitrogen removal. In this study, the results of the biofilm development and biological performance of two full scale reactors are discussed. At Paulaner Brewery in Munich, the airlift reactor was applied for COD and ammonia removal of anaerobically treated wastewater. In the other case the airlift reactor was applied as a pretreatment of nitrogen removal by the Anammox process. Water from a Tannery company in Lichtenvoorde in the Netherlands, The Hulshof Royal Dutch Tanneries, was pretreated anaerobically for COD removal and aerobically to remove the sulphides as sulphur. In an airlift reactor the ammonia was partially oxidised to nitrite. In both cases the granular biomass developed well; the concentrations amounted to 250 microl/L and 500 ml/L respectively. In the first case, 4 kg/m(3)/day of COD was removed, the soluble concentration of COD was less than 250 mg/L. The nitrification to nitrate was nearly complete and amounted to 0.5 kg NH4-N/m(3)/day. In the second application, 50% of the ammonia (on average 0.45 kg N/m3/d) was nitrified to nitrite. This process was easily controlled by regulating the amount of air according to the nitrite and ammonia concentrations in the effluent. It can be concluded that in both cases the particular processes were very stable and easy to operate.