Decolorizing textile wastewater with Fenton's reagent electrogenerated with a solar photovoltaic cell

In this work it is demonstrated that Fenton's reagent can be electroproduced with abundant and cheap feedstock: oxygen saturated wastewater and solar energy. Experiments were carried out in a divided electrochemical flow cell using two electrodes: a three dimensional reticulated vitreous carbon cathode and stainless steel anode. Fenton's reagent is produced by oxygen reduction on the cathode in the presence of 1 mM Fe²⁺. The influence of electrolyte nature and its concentration and potential difference on the current efficiency, as well as the rate of Fenton's reagent electroproduction is discussed and it is concluded that over this extended range of conditions the current efficiency, for Fenton's reagent production, fell within the range 50-70%. It is possible to electroproduce a stoichiometric amount of Fenton reagent for the oxidation of 0.061 mM Reactive Black 5 (in tap water + 0.05 M Na₂SO₄, ≈pH 2.8). Similar results were obtained for solutions containing 0.1 mM Acid Green 25. Some practical applications in the field of water treatment are included. The energy required for drive electrochemical reaction is supplied to the flow cell by means of a commercial solar panel.     

Hydrogen and methane production from swine wastewater using microbial electrolysis cells

The production of a useful and valuable product during swine wastewater treatment, such as hydrogen gas, could help to lower treatment costs. Hydrogen can theoretically be produced from wastewater by electrohydrogenesis in a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) or by fermentation. Using a single-chamber MEC with a graphite-fiber brush anode, hydrogen gas was generated at 0.9-1.0 m³ m⁻³ day⁻¹ H₂ using a full-strength or diluted swine wastewater. COD removals ranged from 8 to 29% in 20-h tests, and from 69 to 75% in longer tests (184 h) using full-strength wastewater. The gas produced was up to 77 ± 11% hydrogen, with overall recoveries of up to 28 ± 6% of the COD in the wastewater as hydrogen gas. Methane was also produced at a maximum of 13 ± 4% of total gas volume. The efficiency of hydrogen production, based on the electrical energy needed (but excluding the energy in the wastewater) compared to the energy of the hydrogen gas produced, was as high as 190 ± 39% in 42-h batch tests with undiluted wastewater, but was lower in longer batch tests of 184 h (91 ± 6%). Hydrogen gas could not be recovered in fermentation tests using wastewater with a heat-treated inoculum. Hydrogen production was shown to be possible by fermentation when the wastewater was sterilized, but this process would not be practical or energy efficient. We therefore conclude from these tests that MECs are an effective method for hydrogen recovery from swine wastewater treatment, although the process needs to be further evaluated for reducing methane production, increasing the efficiency of converting the organic matter into current, and increasing recovery of hydrogen gas produced at the cathode.     

Granulation of activated sludge in a pilot-scale sequencing batch reactor for the treatment of low-strength municipal wastewater

Aerobic granulation of activated sludge was achieved in a pilot-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) for the treatment of low-strength municipal wastewater (<200 mg L⁻¹ of COD, chemical oxygen demand). The volume exchange ratio and settling time of an SBR were found to be two key factors in the granulation of activated sludge grown on the low-strength municipal wastewater. After operation of 300 days, the mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) concentration in the SBR reached 9.5 g L⁻¹ and consisted of approximate 85% granular sludge. The average total COD removal efficiency kept at 90% and NH₄⁺-N was almost completely depleted (∼95%) after the formation of aerobic granules. The granules (with a diameter over 0.212 mm) had a diameter ranging from 0.2 to 0.8 mm and had good settling ability with a settling velocity of 18-40 m h⁻¹. Three bacterial morphologies of rod, coccus and filament coexisted in the granules. Mathematical modeling was performed to get insight into this pilot-scale granule-based reactor. The modified IWA activated sludge model No 3 (ASM3) was able to adequately describe the pilot-scale SBR dynamics during its cyclic operation.     

Effect of Fenton's oxidation on the particle size distribution of organic carbon in olive mill wastewater

The study evaluated the effect of Fenton's oxidation on the particle size distribution (PSD) of significant parameters reflecting the organic carbon content of olive oil mill wastewater (OMW). The organic carbon content of the studied OMW was characterized by a COD level of around 40,000 mg/L, with 13,500 mg/L of TOC and 1670 mg/L of total phenols. The corresponding antioxidant activity (AOA) was determined as 33,400 mg/L. PSD of the selected organic carbon parameters was investigated using a sequential filtration/ultrafiltration procedure. COD fractionation based on PSD revealed two major components, a soluble fraction below 2 nm and a particulate fraction above 1600 nm representing 49% and 20% of the total COD, respectively. The remaining COD was distributed in the colloidal and supracolloidal zones. The PSD of TOC, total phenols and AOA exhibited similar profiles with peaks at the two ends of the studied size range. Overall COD removals achieved via Fenton's oxidation both at pH = 3.0 and pH = 4.6 (the original pH of the OMW) remained in the range of 40-50%. As anticipated, the effect of Fenton's treatment was more pronounced in the soluble size range. Fenton's oxidation at pH = 3.0 resulted in 46% and 63% removals for total phenols and AOA, respectively. The results obtained indicated that Fenton's process could only be useful as an alternative preliminary treatment option of the required full treatment scheme that could involve a sequence of filtration, oxidation and/or biological treatment steps.     

Degradation of fifteen emerging contaminants at μg L initial concentrations by mild solar photo-Fenton in MWTP effluents

The degradation of 15 emerging contaminants (ECs) at low concentrations in simulated and real effluent of municipal wastewater treatment plant with photo-Fenton at unchanged pH and Fe = 5 mg L⁻¹ in a pilot-scale solar CPC reactor was studied. The degradation of those 15 compounds (Acetaminophen, Antipyrine, Atrazine, Caffeine, Carbamazepine, Diclofenac, Flumequine, Hydroxybiphenyl, Ibuprofen, Isoproturon, Ketorolac, Ofloxacin, Progesterone, Sulfamethoxazole and Triclosan), each with an initial concentration of 100 μg L⁻¹, was found to depend on the presence of CO₃²⁻ and HCO₃⁻ (hydroxyl radicals scavengers) and on the type of water (simulated water, simulated effluent wastewater and real effluent wastewater), but is relatively independent of pH, the type of acid used for release of hydroxyl radicals scavengers and the initial H₂O₂ concentration used. Toxicity tests with Vibrio fisheri showed that degradation of the compounds in real effluent wastewater led to toxicity increase.     

改良型SBR工艺对奶牛场废水中抗生素的去除效果

奶牛场废水中的有机物和抗生素对其还田利用不利,为此,采用带缺氧区的推流式SBR(简称改良型SBR)工艺处理干清粪条件下间歇产生的奶牛场废水,重点考察其对抗生素的去除效果。结果表明,当进水COD、NH4+-N、TN、TP浓度分别为1 234~4 696、768~1 365、880~1 370、5.62~12.02 mg/L时,经改良型SBR工艺处理后,出水COD可降至401~544 mg/L、NH4+-N始终低于10mg/L,TN平均损失率为22.38%,TP基本没有被去除。奶牛场废水中磺胺类和β-内酰胺类抗生素总浓度为3.84~4.48μg/L,改良型SBR工艺对其总去除率可达到72.97%~90.82%,且对10种较高浓度的磺胺类抗生素(每种添加浓度均为50μg/L,共计500μg/L)也有很好的去除效果,去除率可达95.75%~95.97%。生物降解是奶牛场废水中磺胺类和β-内酰胺类抗生素的主要去除途径,另外,磺胺类抗生素的去除与其分子结构中S—N键的断裂有重要关系。在不影响COD去除效果的条件下,调整反应器的混合液回流量或进水量均可减少碱度投加量,从而降低运行成本。     

Pilot Scale Aerobic Sequencing Batch Reactor for Pig Waste Treatment

A n existing aetated lagoon treating piggery waste was converted into an aerobic sequencing batch reactor (SBR). After the commissioning period, the SBR plant treated piggery wastewater containing BOD and suspended solids (SS) concentrations of 2881 mg/l and 1419 mg/1 respectively, producing an effluent having an average BOD and SS of 18.7 mg/1 and 12.3 mg/1 respectively. The volumetric loadings on the SBR and the process were similar. However, the SBR process operated at a lower mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) concentration and shorter sludge retention period. Although the capital and operating costs of the SBR are higher than for the aerated lagoon, the simplicity of operation, the high BOD and SS removal efficiency, and the small land requirement make this type of process an attractive treatment option, particularly in places where land supply is limited and expensive.     

Heterogeneous catalytic wet peroxide oxidation systems for the treatment of an industrial pharmaceutical wastewater

The aim of this work was to assess the treatment of wastewater coming from a pharmaceutical plant through a continuous heterogeneous catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) process using an Fe₂O₃/SBA-15 nanocomposite catalyst. This catalyst was preliminary tested in a batch stirred tank reactor (STR), to elucidate the influence of significant parameters on the oxidation system, such as temperature, initial oxidant concentration and initial pH of the reaction medium. In that case, a temperature of 80 °C using an initial oxidant concentration corresponding to twice the theoretical stoichiometric amount for complete carbon depletion and initial pH of ca. 3 allow TOC degradation of around 50% after 200 min of contact time. Thereafter, the powder catalyst was extruded with bentonite to prepare pellets that could be used in a fixed bed reactor (FBR). Results in the up-flow FBR indicate that the catalyst shows high activity in terms of TOC mineralization (ca. 60% under steady-state conditions), with an excellent use of the oxidant and high stability of the supported iron species. The activity of the catalyst is kept constant, at least, for 55 h of reaction. Furthermore, the BOD₅/COD ratio is increased from 0.20 to 0.30, whereas the average oxidation stage (AOS) changed from 0.70 to 2.35. These two parameters show a high oxidation degree of organic compounds in the outlet effluent, which enhances its biodegradability, and favours the possibility of a subsequent coupling with a conventional biological treatment.     

Boron-doped diamond anodic treatment of olive mill wastewaters: Statistical analysis, kinetic modeling and biodegradability

The electrochemical treatment of olive mill wastewaters (OMW) over boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes was investigated. A factorial design methodology was implemented to evaluate the statistically important operating parameters, amongst initial COD load (1000-5000 mg/L), treatment time (1-4 h), current intensity (10-20 A), initial pH (4-6) and the use of 500 mg/L H₂O₂ as an additional oxidant, on treatment efficiency; the latter was assessed in terms of COD, phenols, aromatics and color removal. Of the five parameters tested, the first two had a considerable effect on COD removal. Hence, analysis was repeated at more intense conditions, i.e. initial COD values up to 10,000 mg/L and reaction times up to 7 h and a simple model was developed and validated to predict COD evolution profiles. The model suggests that the rate of COD degradation is zero order regarding its concentration and agrees well with an electrochemical model for the anodic oxidation of organics over BDD developed elsewhere. The treatability of the undiluted effluent (40,000 mg/L COD) was tested at 20 A for 15 h yielding 19% COD and 36% phenols' removal respectively with a specific energy consumption of 96 kW h/kg COD removed. Aerobic biodegradability and ecotoxicity assays were also performed to assess the respective effects of electrochemical treatment.     

Evaluating the influence of process parameters on soluble microbial products formation using response surface methodology coupled with grey relational analysis

Soluble microbial products (SMPs) present a major part of residual chemical oxygen demand (COD) in the effluents from biological wastewater treatment systems, and the SMP formation is greatly influenced by a variety of process parameters. In this study, response surface methodology (RSM) coupled with grey relational analysis (GRA) method was used to evaluate the effects of substrate concentration, temperature, NH₄⁺-N concentration and aeration rate on the SMP production in batch activated sludge reactors. Carbohydrates were found to be the major component of SMP, and the influential priorities of these factors were: temperature > substrate concentration > aeration rate > NH₄⁺-N concentration. On the basis of the RSM results, the interactive effects of these factors on the SMP formation were evaluated, and the optimal operating conditions for a minimum SMP production in such a batch activated sludge system also were identified. These results provide useful information about how to control the SMP formation of activated sludge and ensure the bioreactor high-quality effluent.     

Nitrogen and phosphorus removal from an abattoir wastewater in a SBR with aerobic granular sludge

The formation and performance of granular sludge was studied in an 8 l sequencing batch reactor (SBR) treating an abattoir (slaughterhouse) wastewater. Influent concentrations averaged 1520 mg l⁻¹ volatile suspended solids (VSS), 7685 mg l⁻¹ Chemical oxygen demand (COD), 1057 mg l⁻¹ total kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), 217 mg l⁻¹ total P. The COD loading was 2.6 kg m⁻³ d⁻¹. The SBR was seeded with flocculating sludge from a SBR with an 1 h settle time, but granules developed within 4 days by reducing the settle time to 2 min. The SBR cycle also had 120 min mixed (anaerobic) fill, 220 min aerated react, and 18 min draw/idle. The granules had a mean diameter of 1.7 mm, a specific gravity of 1.035, a density of 62 g VSS l⁻¹, a zone settling velocity (ZSV) of 51 m h⁻¹, and a sludge volume index (SVI) of 22 ml g⁻¹. Without optimizing process conditions, removal of COD and P were over 98%, and removal of N and VSS were over 97%. Nitrification and denitrification occurred simultaneously during react. The results indicate that conventional SBRs treating wastewaters with flocculating sludge can be converted to granular SBRs by reducing the settle time.     

Integrated ozone and biotreatment of pulp mill effluent and changes in biodegradability and molecular weight distribution of organic compounds

The overall effectiveness of integrating ozonation with biological treatment on the biodegradability enhancement and recalcitrant organic matter (ROM) removal from pulp mill alkaline bleach plant effluent was investigated. Ozonation was performed in a semi-batch bubble column reactor at pH of 11 and 4.5. Batch biological treatment was conducted in shake flasks. Samples obtained during the treatments were monitored for BOD₅, COD, TOC, and molecular weight distribution. At an ozone dosage of 0.7-0.8 mg O₃/mL wastewater, integrated treatment showed about 30% higher TOC mineralization compared to individual ozonation or biotreatment. Ozone treatment enhanced the biodegradability of the effluent (monitored as 21% COD reduction and 13% BOD₅ enhancement), allowing for a higher removal of pollutants. The conversion of high molecular weight (HMW) to low molecular weight (LMW) compounds was an important factor in the overall biodegradability enhancement of the alkaline effluent. The overall biodegradability of the LMW compounds did not change over the course of ozonation, but it increased from 5% to 50% (measured as COD removal) for the HMW portion. Ozonation at pH of 11 was more effective than that at pH of 4.5 in terms of generating more biodegradable compounds.     

铁炭Fenton/SBR法处理硝基苯制药废水

为探寻硝基苯废水的适宜处理工艺，开展了铁炭Fentort／SBR工艺处理硝基苯制药废水的试验研究。结果表明，铁炭内电解结合Fenton氧化的预处理工艺可有效去除废水中的硝基苯类物质，并提高了废水的可生化性。当原水的pH值为2～3、H2O2投加量为500～600mg／L时，调节预处理出水pH值至7～8并经沉淀处理后，对COD和硝基苯类物质的总去除率分别可达47％和92％。后续混合废水经SBR工艺处理后出水水质能满足国家污水排放标准。     

改性磁粉处理餐饮废水的动态试验研究

将经过改性处理的廉价磁粉置于反应装置中,根据餐饮废水间歇排放的特点,采用SBR原理设计其处理工艺流程为:进水→调节池(调节pH)→磁流体流化状态吸附→静置→磁水分离→出水;通过调试装置、测试出水的COD浓度和油含量,进行改性磁粉处理餐饮废水的动态试验研究.结果表明,在pH值为3～4、吸附时间为30 min、吸附剂投量为15 g/L的最佳条件下,改性磁粉对实际餐饮废水中COD和油的去除率均达到73%以上,去除效果明显.     

脱水蔬菜生产废水处理工程实例

以脱水蔬菜加工废水处理工程为例,介绍了SBR工艺的设计及运行情况.结果表明,该工艺运行稳定,对COD、BOD5、SS的去除率分别为93.07%、95.69%和89.11%,出水各项指标均优于<污水综合排放标准>(GB 8978-1996)的一级标准.     

榨菜综合废水好氧生物处理工艺的选择试验

针对榨菜综合废水呈高盐、高氮磷、高有机物浓度的水质特征,对两级SBR与单级SBBR反应器处理榨菜废水的效能进行了研究.结果表明:在温度为20℃、有机负荷为1.0 kg-COD/(m3·d)、DO为5 ms/L、反应器运行工况为进水(0.25 h)/曝气(11 h)/沉淀(0.5 h)/排水(0.25 h)的条件下,SBBR反应器能够使榨菜综合废水达标排放,而两级SBR工艺则不适宜处理榨菜综合废水.     

Bioaugmentation with the nicotine-degrading bacterium Pseudomonas sp. HF-1 in a sequencing batch reactor treating tobacco wastewater: Degradation study and analysis of its mechanisms

The highly effective nicotine-degrading bacterium Pseudomonas sp. HF-1 was augmented in an SBR system that is used to treat tobacco wastewater. Compared to the non-bioaugmented (non-BA) system, the bioaugmented (BA) system exhibited considerably stronger pollution disposal abilities, with 100% nicotine degradation and more than 84% chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal within 12 h. Nicotine degradation had a significant effect on COD removal in SBRs (r = 0.928, p < 0.01). The mechanisms of bioaugmentation were systematically investigated using a combination of polymerase chain reaction and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) and a toxicity assay (protein carbonyl (PC) and DNA-protein crosslinking (DPC)). DGGE fingerprint profiles showed that the number of bands and the Shannon-Wiener index decreased at a nicotine load of 250 mg/L compared to a 40-130 mg/L nicotine load in the non-BA system. However, a stepwise increase in the Shannon-Wiener index was found during all periods in the BA system. A comparison of sequences excised from DGGE gels demonstrated significant differences in the dominant microbial species between the two SBRs. This result suggested that bioaugmentation of strain HF-1 could select cooperators for treating complicated tobacco wastewater. The PC content and the DPC coefficient increased significantly at levels higher than 80 mg/L in the non-BA system; nevertheless, no increase was observed in the BA system during the stepwise nicotine load. This indicated that bioaugmentation of strain HF-1 resulted in the maintenance of high treatment activity by minimizing the nicotine toxicity for other microbes in the BA system. In conclusion, the rapid nicotine degradation of strain HF-1 performed a vital function in SBR by influencing the microbial community structure, dynamics and activity of the activated sludge system.     

乙酸盐碳源生物除磷系统的影响因素研究

以实际污水厂的水质为原型即在COD为限制因素的条件下,选择乙酸钠作碳源,在实验室规模的序批式反应器（SBR）中研究了进水pH与生物除磷的关系.结果表明,在COD为限制因素的条件下,pH值为7.2时的除磷效果最好;COD/P值越小则聚磷菌在污泥系统中所占的比例越大;低COD/P值下的出水磷浓度、污泥的磷含量和厌氧条件下的COD去除率均较高,但去除单位磷所需的COD量较少,且MLVSS/MLSS值也相对较低.     

Biomass characteristics in three sequencing batch reactors treating a wastewater containing synthetic organic chemicals

The physical and biochemical characteristics of the biomass in three lab-scale sequencing batch reactors (SBR) treating a synthetic wastewater at a 20-day target solids retention time (SRT) were investigated. The synthetic wastewater feed contained biogenic compounds and 22 organic priming compounds, chosen to represent a wide variety of chemical structures with different N, P and S functional groups. At a two-day hydraulic retention time (HRT), the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) cycled between -100 (anoxic) and 100 mV (aerobic) in the anoxic/aerobic SBR, while it remained in a range of 126+/-18 and 249+/-18 mV in the aerobic sequencing batch biofilm reactor (SBBR) and the aerobic SBR reactor, respectively. A granular activated sludge with excellent settleability (SVI=98+/-31 L mg(-1)) developed only in the anoxic/aerobic SBR, compared to a bulky sludge with poor settling characteristics in the aerobic SBR and SBBR. While all reactors had very good COD removal (>90%) and displayed nitrification, substantial nitrogen removal (74%) was only achieved in the anoxic/aerobic SBR. During the entire operational period, benzoate, theophylline and 4-chlorophenol were completely removed in all reactors. In contrast, effluent 3-nitrobenzoate was recorded when its influent concentration was increased to 5 mg L(-1) and dropped only to below 1 mg L(-1) after 300 days of operation. The competent (active) biomass fractions for these compounds were between 0.04% and 5.52% of the total biomass inferred from substrate-specific microbial enumerations. The measured competent biomass fractions for 4-chlorophenol and 3-nitrobenzoate degradation were significantly lower than the influent COD fractions of these compounds. Correspondent to the highest competent biomass fraction for benzoate degradation among the test SOCs, benzoate oxidation could be quantified with an extant respirometric technique, with the highest specific oxygen uptake rate (SOUR(benzoate), 0.026 g O2 h(-1) g(-1) XCOD) in the anoxic/aerobic SBR. These combined results suggest that operating SBRs with alternative anoxic/aerobic cycles might facilitate the formation of granular sludge with good settleability, and retain comparable removal of nitrogen and synthetic organic compounds. Hence, the practice of anoxic/aerobic cycling should be considered in wastewater treatment systems whenever possible.     

高盐高氯采油废水处理工程实践

介绍了ABR＋SBR组合生物工艺处理高盐高氯采油废水的应用实例。对设计工艺流程、主要参数、调试与运行情况以及处理效果作了说明。该组合工艺耐高温、高盐，对采油废水中的COD、SS、石油类、硫化物都具有很好的去除效果，出水各项指标均达到《污水综合排放标准》（GB 8978-1996）一级标准。系统可实现手动控制与自动控制的切换，运行管理方便。