Nitrogen removal via ammonia volatilization in maturation ponds.

A simple apparatus was designed to collect ammonia gas coming out from waste stabilization ponds (WSP). The apparatus has a capture chamber and an absorption system, which were optimized under laboratory conditions prior to being used to assess ammonia volatilization rates in a pilot-scale maturation pond during summer 2005. Under laboratory conditions (water temperature = 17.1 degrees C and pH = 10.1), the average ammonia volatilization rate was 2,517 g NH3-N/ha d and the apparatus absorbed 79% of volatilized ammonia. On site, the mean ammonia volatilization rate was 15 g N/ha d, which corresponds to 3% of the total nitrogen removed (531 g N/ha d) in the maturation pond studied. A net nitrogen mass balance showed that ammonia volatilization was not the most important mechanism involved in either total nitrogen or ammonia removal. Nitrogen fractions (suspended organic nitrogen, soluble organic nitrogen, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate) from the M1 influent and effluent showed that ammonia is removed by biological (mainly algal) uptake and total nitrogen removal by sedimentation of dead algal biomass.     

Integrated advanced natural wastewater treatment system for small communities.

A study was conducted to evaluate the nutrient removal capability of an existing and successfully operated overland flow and wetland wastewater treatment system following a waste stabilization pond. Seasonal temperature effects on performance were also investigated. The treatment system studied consists of a two-cell waste stabilization pond followed by an overland flow system and a wetland system. The influent and effluent samples were analyzed for BOD5, suspended solids (SS), pH, temperature, ammonia nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and total phosphorus. The results of the study indicate that the combined pond, overland flow and wetland system provided excellent treatment of municipal wastewater. The overall average BOD5 removal by the entire treatment system was about 90.0% and the overall average suspended solids removal was about 93.4%. The ammonia nitrogen and total phosphorus removal efficiencies of the entire treatment system were 90.7% and 84.2%, respectively.     

Potential of organic filter materials for treating greywater to achieve irrigation quality: a review

The objectives of this literature review were to: (i) evaluate the impact of greywater generated in rural communities, with the emphasis on Jordanian conditions, on soil, plant and public health and assess the need for treatment of this greywater before it is used for irrigation, and (ii) assess the potential of different types of organic by-products as carrier material in different filter units for removal of pollutants from greywater. Greywater with high BOD5, COD, high concentrations of SS, fat, oil and grease and high levels of surfactants is commonly found in rural areas in Jordan. Oxygen depletion, odour emission, hydrophobic soil phenomena, plant toxicity, blockage of piping systems and microbiological health risks are common problems associated with greywater without previous treatment. Organic by-products such as wood chips, bark, peat, wheat straw and corncob may be used as carrier material in so-called mulch filters for treating wastewater and greywater from different sources. A down-flow-mode vertical filter is a common setup used in mulch filters. Wastewaters with a wide range of SS, cBOD5 and COD fed into different mulch filters have been studied. The different mulch materials achieved SS removal ranging between 51 and 91%, a BOD5 reduction range of 55-99.9%, and COD removal of 51-98%. Most types of mulches achieved a higher organic matter removal than that achieved by an ordinary septic tank. Bark, peat and wood chips filters removed organic matter better than sand and trickling filters, under similar conditions. Release of filter material and increase in COD in the effluent was reported using some mulch materials. In conclusion, some mulch materials such as bark, peat and woodchips seem to have a great potential for treatment of greywater in robust, low-tech systems. They can be expected to be resilient in dealing with variable low and high organic loads and shock loads.     

重力沉沙过滤池与条形沉沙池沉沙效果对比研究

新疆水资源紧缺,农业高效节水发展很快,大量滴灌面积需要地表水进行灌溉。地表水作为滴 灌供水水源,需要将水中有害泥沙和固体颗粒物清除掉,否则容易淤堵滴灌器滴头。沉沙池可以较好的 处理泥沙,但对密度小于水的固体颗粒物及有机物则无能为力。为此,需要一种装置能够清除这类杂 质。河水滴灌重力沉沙过滤池较好的解决了这类问题。为了从理论上阐述清楚其相对于传统沉沙池具 有的优势,通过物理模型试验进行综合分析。数据成果反映出,由于过滤网的作用,重力沉沙过滤池比 条形沉沙池的沉沙率提高６％以上,主要是过滤网清除了一部分泥沙。试验反映出过滤网在清除杂质方 面效果明显,水中杂质基本上都可以清除,出池水质满足滴灌用水要求。通过对试验的进一步研究分 析,对重力沉沙过滤池的结构尺寸进行了优化。     

Four years of development and field-testing of IHE arsenic removal family filter in rural Bangladesh

UNESCO-IHE has been developing an arsenic removal family filter with a capacity of 100 L/day based on arsenic adsorption onto iron oxide coated sand, a by-product of iron removal plants. The longer term and field conditions performance of the third generation of eleven family filters prototypes were tested in rural Bangladesh for 30 months. All filters achieved initially highly effective arsenic removal irrespective of arsenic concentration and groundwater composition. Arsenic level in filtrate reached 10 mug/l after 50 days of operation at one testing site and after 18 months of continuous operation at other 3 testing sites. Arsenic level at other 7 sites remained below the WHO guideline value till the end of study. Positive correlation was found between arsenic removal capacity of the filter and iron concentration in groundwater. In addition to arsenic, iron present in groundwater at all testing sites was also removed highly effectively. Manganese removal with IHE family filter was effective only when treating groundwater with low ammonia. A simple polishing sand filter, after IHE family filter, resulted in consistent and effective removal of manganese. IHE family filters were easy to operate and were well accepted by the local population.     

Nitrogen dynamics in a constructed wetland system treating landfill leachate.

A pilot scale treatment system was established in 2002 at the Laflèche Landfill in Eastern Ontario, Canada. The system consists of a series of treatment steps: a stabilisation basin (10,000 m3), a woodland peat trickling filter (5,200 m2), a subsurface flow constructed wetland planted in Phragmites sp. (2,600 m2), a surface flow constructed wetland planted in Typha sp. (3,600 m2) and a polishing pond (3,600 m2). The system operates from May to December with leachate being recycled within the landfill during the winter months. Hydraulic loading was increased three-fold over four operating seasons with nitrogen and organic mass loading increasing six-fold. Excellent removal efficiencies were observed with 93% BOD5, 90% TKN and 97% NH4-N removed under the highest loading conditions. Almost complete denitrification was observed throughout the treatment system with NO3-N concentrations never exceeding 5mg L(-1). The peat filter reached treatment capacity at a hydraulic loading of 4cm d(-1) and organic loading rate of 42 kg BOD ha(-1) d(-1), which is consistent with design criteria for vertical flow wetland systems and intermittent sand filters, The first order plug flow kinetic model was effective at describing TKN and ammonium removal in the SSF and FWS wetlands when background concentrations were taken into account. Ammonium removal k-values were consistent with the literature at 52.6 and 57.7 yr(-1) for the SSF and FWS wetlands, respectively, while TKN k-values at 6.9 and 7.7 yr(-1) were almost an order of magnitude lower than literature values, suggesting that leachate TKN could contain refractory organics not found in domestic wastewater.     

金属氧化物改性滤料过滤去除水中残余铝的效能与机理研究

采用连续流等速过滤试验方法研究了金属氧化物改性滤料对水中残余铝的去除效能,并探讨其过滤机理.研究结果表明,金属氧化物改性滤料较石英砂能够更有效地过滤去除沉后水中的残余铝,对颗粒铝和溶解铝都有很好的去除效果.石英砂对颗粒铝具有较好地去除效果,而对溶解性铝的去除能力较差.改性滤料的表面性质更有利于水中残余铝的去除.     

Exceeding tertiary standards with a pond/reed bed system in Norway.

At Vidar?sen in Norway sewage from a community consisting of 160 people, including a dairy, a food processing workshop, a bakery and a laundry is treated using a pond/reed bed system. The system consists of sludge settlement, pre-treatment surface/vertical-flow constructed wetlands, a 5 m deep enhanced facultative pond, three stabilization ponds, a planted sand filter and finally two horizontal-flow constructed wetlands filled with lightweight aggregate (Filtralite-P). The enhanced facultative pond and the primary stabilization pond are equipped with Flowform-cascades, which provide year-round aeration, rhythmical treatment and mixing of wastewater in the ponds. Treatment performance during the first five years has been high and unaffected by harsh winter conditions. Average phosphorus discharge from the system is 0.25 mg/l with total nitrogen 4 mg/l, total organic carbon (TOC) 5 mg/l and thermo-tolerant coliforms < 100/100 ml. The system is ecologically diverse and supports abundant populations of higher aquatic life such as ducks, amphibians and carp.     

用氧化塘—浮石床湿地系统处理暖寒季低污染河水

在滇池流域构建氧化塘-浮石床湿地复合系统对暖季与寒季的城市低污染河水开展了净化效能研究。结果表明:该系统可通过小幅调节流量来有效净化暖季与寒季低污染河水。塘与湿地的水力负荷分别为0.22、0.37m3/(m2.d)时系统对暖季低污染河水具有较高的处理效率,各污染物的平均去除率分别为CODCr75%、TP 93%、TN 64%、NH4+-N 87%。塘与湿地的水力负荷分别为0.17、0.29 m3/(m2.d)时系统对寒季低污染河水具有较优的处理效果:各污染物的平均去除率分别为CODCr72%、TP 89%、TN 53%、NH4+-N 73%。系统出水均符合GB18918-2002的一级A排放标准。系统在暖季对低污染河水中污染物的去除速率明显高于寒季。     

Stormwater reuse: designing biofiltration systems for reliable treatment.

Stormwater reuse is increasing in popularity as a technique for overcoming water shortages in urban Australia. However, technology for the reliable treatment of stormwater for reuse is still not fully developed. This paper presents the first steps in refining biofilters for stormwater reuse. Six different filter media were selected, to target specific stormwater pollutants, as well as support plant growth. They were tested in the laboratory, where the filters were dosed three times per week with semi-synthetic stormwater for five weeks. Pollutant removal performance was monitored, and revealed that all soil-based filters performed similarly (while sand filters behaved somewhat differently). All filters removed more than 80% of solids and greater than 90% of lead, copper, and zinc. Three filter types were able to remove some phosphorus (particularly in the top 30 cm of the media). Apart from sand, all filter media were net producers of nitrogen, leading to an important conclusion that non-vegetated, soil-based filters are not suitable for targeting nutrients. However, since heavy metals are the primary pollutant of concern with respect to stormwater reuse for irrigation (the most popular end-use), it was concluded that biofilters may be promising technologies for treatment of stormwater for reuse.     

圆中环沉沙排沙过滤池结构特性试验研究

圆中环沉沙排沙过滤池是一种新型的浑水沉沙、排沙、过滤装置,通过新疆呼图壁城镇工业供水工程圆中环沉沙排沙过滤池的物理模型试验,模拟了在1 m3/s工况下的运行效果。试验结果表明:采用三层不同粒径的滤料,中心溢流筒加高0.4 m时,能较好的起到沉沙、排沙和过滤的作用且不被击穿,同时能满足引水量的要求,汇流槽平均流速在0.88～2.77 m/s范围内。与常规水沙分离装置相比,这种新型的装置实现了节能减排,环保性处理泥沙的目标,为水沙分离提供了另一种新的思路。     

Variations in BOD, algal biomass and organic matter biodegradation constants in a wind-mixed tropical facultative waste stabilization pond.

This study considered the impact of wind mixing on the efficiency of BOD removal and the first order biodegradation constant for organic matter in a primary facultative pond. Wind speeds of 1-4 m/s blowing from the effluent end of the pond towards the influent created surface-water flows of up to 0.94 m/s as determined by orange and coconut drogues moving in the opposite direction to the bulk hydraulic flow of 0.217 m/s. This was sufficient to cause mixing of the water column resulting in loss of stratification in terms of chlorophyll a, temperature and dissolved oxygen. BOD and chlorophyll a concentrations were spatially and temporally homogeneous throughout this large pond. BOD removal efficiency was only 50.30% as opposed to a projected value of 79% despite an acceptable surface organic loading of 350 kgBOD5/ha/d and an actual k value for BOD removal using influent sewage samples of 0.29 d-1 close to the projected value of 0.30 d-1. It would seem that wind mixing reduced pond efficiency by destroying stratification and thus reducing the microbial activity necessary to consume organic material. Mixing also increased the mean chlorophyll a concentration compared to stratified facultative ponds receiving similar loads and non-motile algae dominated the water column.     

Nitrogen elimination from landfill leachates using an extra carbon source in subsurface flow constructed wetlands.

A three-stage constructed wetland for leachate treatment was monitored on a landfill at a pilot scale. The plant had been designed to achieve at least 75% nitrogen removal. NH4-N input concentration was 240 (median) up to 290 mgl(-1) and COD concentration was 455 to 511 mgl(-1), respectively. A 14 m2 vertical flow sand filter plus a 14 m2 horizontal flow sand filter followed by a 3.3 m2 vertical flow sand filter was chosen. Acetic acid was added to the horizontal flow system for denitrification. The results showed a very stable nitrification rate within the vertical flow system of 94% (median) at NH4-N loading rates of about 10 (median) up to 17 gm(-2)d(-1). Denitrification was mainly dependent on the dosing of acetic acid and could reach a maximum of 98%. One interesting effect was the production of nitrite in the horizontal flow sand filter. This could efficiently be eliminated by the subsequent vertical flow sand filter. The chosen concept proved to be very effective for nitrogen removal. In combination with a final activated carbon filter the COD effluent concentrations could be easily and safely controlled. The design of denitrification reed beds showed a further potential for optimization.     

Nitrification and denitrification in partially aerated biological aerated filter (BAF) with dual size sand media.

A 104-mm (4-inch) diameter pilot-scale biological aerated filter (BAF) with a media depth of 2.5 m (8.3 feet) was operated with an anaerobic, anoxic and oxic zone at a temperature of 23 degrees C. The medium for the anaerobic and anoxic zones was 10 mm diameter sand while the medium for the oxic zone was 5 mm diameter sand. The influent sCOD and total nitrogen concentrations in the feedwater were approximately 250 mg/L and 35 mg N/L, respectively. sCOD removal at optimum hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 3 h with recirculation rates of 100, 200 and 300% in the column was above 96%. Nitrification was found to be more than 96% for 3 h HRT at 200 and 300% recirculation. Total nitrogen removal was consistent at more than 80% for 4 and 6 h HRT at 300% recirculation. For 3 h HRT and 300% recirculation, total nitrogen removal was approximately 79%. The ammonia loading rates for maximum ammonia removed were 0.15 and 0.19 kg NH3-N/m3-day for 100 and 200% recirculation, respectively. The experimental results demonstrated that the BAF can be operated at an HRT of 3h with 200-300% recirculation rates with more than 96% removal of sCOD and ammonia and at least 75% removal of total nitrogen.     

Removal of cyanobacterial metabolites through wastewater treatment plant filters

Wastewaters have the potential to proliferate excessive numbers of cyanobacteria due to high nutrient levels. This could translate to the production of metabolites, such as the saxitoxins, geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB), which can impair the quality of wastewater destined for re-use. Biological sand filtration was assessed for its ability to remove these metabolites from a wastewater. Results indicated that the sand filter was incapable of effectively removing the saxitoxins and in some instances, the effluent of the sand filter displayed greater toxicity than the influent. Conversely, the sand filter was able to effectively remove geosmin and MIB, with removal attributed to biodegradation. Granular activated carbon was employed as an alternative filter medium to remove the saxitoxins. Results showed similar removals to previous drinking water studies, where efficient removals were initially observed, followed by a decrease in the removal; a consequence of the presence of competing organics which reduced adsorption of the saxitoxins.     

Treatment of petroleum production wastewater for reuse in secondary oil recovery.

Petroleum production wastewater is highly saline and contains large amounts of Ca, Mg, sulphides and hydrocarbons. The reuse of this wastewater in the secondary oil recovery can provide pollution prevention and water conservation benefits. Injection of water to the oil deposits is a frequently used method for secondary oil recovery. This operation is performed at high pressures and temperatures, because of which a suitable water quality is required to avoid deposit formation, scaling and clogging effects. The objective of this study was to select the best treatment system for the oil production wastewater, generated in one of the Mexican oil extraction facilities, for the implementation of this kind of reuse by injecting the treated water to sand formations with 12-15% porosity. A complete characterization of the petroleum production wastewater was done. Based on laboratory tests, three basic treatment options were suggested and evaluated in a pilot plant. The most suitable treatment was determined by injecting the different treated waters in samples of the real formations. The selected system consists in softening, followed by oxidation, decarbonation and filtration. This train allowed 99.8% hardness removal, a complete S(2-) removal, as well as 99% TSS, 78% TOC, 98% Sr, 86% Ba, 51% Si and 17% Fe removals.     

Integrated coagulation-trickling filter-ultrafiltration processes for domestic wastewater treatment and reclamation

More and more research effort has been put into the development of affordable and high-efficiency wastewater reclamation technology for small communities. In this study, an integrated chemically enhanced primary treatment (CEPT), trickling filter (TF) and ultrafiltration (UF) process was developed with success. Coagulant produced from fly ash was used to enhance primary treatment, while trickling filter packed with coal cinder through four-layer structure without aeration was employed for further removal of COD and ammonium-nitrogen from the CEPT effluent. 95 and 88% removal of COD and ammonium were achieved, while total phosphorus (TP) and suspended solid (SS) were found to be removed completely at a coagulant dosage of 2.5 mL/L in the CEPT-TF-UF system. The product water can meet the standard of Reuse of Recycling Water for Urban Water Quality Standard for Urban Miscellaneous Water Consumption (GB/T 18920-2002, China).     

Treatment of wastewater from a school in a decentralized filtration system by percolation over organic packing media

Based on results obtained in the laboratory a WWTP composed of a septic tank and an aerated percolating filter packed with organic media was built for a school. The system can treat 18 m3 d(-1) and was operated with a hydraulic loading rate of 0.078 (m3 m(-2) d(-1). For 360 days different operational conditions including start-up; stabilization; operation with aeration and non aeration; effect of rainy season, breaks from activities due to holidays and restart; were monitored and described in the article. Once stabilized, the system was able to remove, without the need for mechanical aeration, 97% of BOD5, 71% of COD, 93% of TKN, 11% of PO(4-)-P, 95% of TSS, 96% of VSS, in addition to having a removal efficiency of 4 log units of Faecal Coliforms (FC) and 100% helminthes eggs (HE). With this quality, the treated wastewater can be chlorinated and reused to irrigate green areas and/or in toilets. Although sanitary wastewater has a high concentration of Total-N (250 mg L(-1)) and a C/N ratio of less than 1, the system removed 65% of Total-N. Finally it was observed that after non activity periods, there was neither system failure nor the need to re-stabilize the system.     

Anaerobic reactor/high rate pond combined technology for sewage treatment in the Mediterranean area.

Two high-rate, anaerobic/aerobic units were used to treat the sewage of the Institut Agronomique st Vétérinaire Hassan II (Morocco) campus in a 1,100 m2-plant designed for 1,500 e.p. and receiving 63 m3 per day. The anaerobic pre-treatment consisted of a two-step up-flow anaerobic reactor (TSUAR) comprising two reactors and one external settler all in series. The aerobic line, or post-treatment, consisted of a high-rate algal pond (HRAP) and one maturation pond in series. The system totalized a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 9 days. A gravel filter (GF) was constructed behind the TSUAR to trap low-density particles. The TSUAR removed 80% of COD and 90% of SS within 48 h. Solids retention time in the reactors averaged 32 d with a specific sludge production of 0.28 g SS g(-1) COD removed. Almost 93% of the sludge evacuated from the settler was stabilized. Specific biogas production from both reactors was 0.25m3 kg(-1) COD removed. Used in this configuration, the HRAP lost its BOD removal activity and increased its nutrients and pathogens removal capabilities (tertiary treatment). Results showed that 85% of total nitrogen and 48% of total phosphorus were removed by the HRAP. Land area requirement of this combination was less than 1 m2 per capita and filtered final effluent was of excellent quality (COD, 82 mg/l; TKN, 8.3 mg/l; total P, 2.7 mg/l, faecal coliforms, 2.4 10(3)/100 ml and zero helminths eggs).     

红壤区填料沙土配比对生物滞留池环境水文效应的影响

提高填料透水性能以平衡其水文调节和污染物去除性能是红壤区生物滞留池构建的关键。研究设计红壤填料中掺入不同比例的河沙以改变其透水性,比较分析其在不同的重现期降雨强度下对生物滞留池的水文调节和污染物去除效果。结果表明:同一降雨强度重现期下,地表径流处理率随着掺沙比例的增加而增加,峰值削减率随沙土配合比的增加变化不明显,峰值延迟时间随掺沙比例增加而减少;硝氮的去除率随着掺沙比例的增加而增加,但对COD的去除率则随着掺沙量的增加而下降,对氨氮和总磷的去除率影响不大;综合考虑生物滞留池的水文调节和污染物去除效果,20%红壤土与80%河沙混合是红壤区生物滞留池填料较为科学的沙土配比。