Nitrification of high-strength ammonium wastewater by a fluidized-bed reactor.

A laboratory-scale fluidized-bed reactor with an external aeration loop was used for nitrification of high-strength ammonium wastewater (up to 500 mg NH4-N/L). The results demonstrated that the system is capable of handling ammonium removal rates of up to 2.5 kg NH4-N/m3 x d, while removal efficiencies were as high as 98% and independent of the applied ammonium loading rates. Ammonium loading rates higher than 2.5 kg NH4-N/m3 x d resulted in decreased ammonium removal efficiency. The data show that near complete ammonium removal occurred at DO concentrations as low as 0.3-0.5 mg/L. However, the nitrite-nitrogen fraction in the effluent increased from 3.5% to 23.2% when the DO dropped from 1.0 mg/L to approximately 0.4 mg/L, respectively. The high specific removal rates in this system are one order of magnitude higher than that of suspended-growth systems. This can reduce the supplementary reactor volumes required for nitrification to less than 10% of that needed in conventional activated sludge systems. These results clearly indicate the potential economic gains that could be achieved through implementation of this technology.     

Performance analysis of anoxic selector in upgrading activated sludge process in tropical climate.

The paper describes and analyses the performance of anoxic selectors in upgrading activated sludge process in a municipal wastewater treatment plant under tropical climate, where poor sludge settleability is a problem due to elevated temperature. Site monitoring and laboratory experiment were conducted to study the denitrification, sludge settleability, kinetics, mass balance, pH and alkalinity variation in the system. The sludge settleability measured in Sludge Volume Index (SVI) was observed to improve with the increasing degree of denitrification in the anoxic selector. Under well-developed stable state, an average SVI value of 136 ml/g was achieved, which was significantly lower than the value of 250 ml/g before the application of anoxic selector. The specific reaction rates for denitrification and nitrification at 30 degrees C were 0.06 mg NO3-N/mg MLSS day and 0.08 mg NH4-N/mg MLSS day, respectively. The overall efficiencies of nitrification and denitrification were 86 percent and 55.4 percent, respectively, with an alkalinity recovery ratio of 15.4 percent. 32 percent of total COD removed was used up as electron donor in the denitrification process. However, due to absence of the internal Mixed Liquor Recirculation (MLR), a higher degree of denitrification occurred in the secondary sedimentation tank than in the anoxic zone. Issues for further studies are also discussed.     

Evaluation of hybrid processes for nitrification by comparing MBBR/AS and IFAS configurations.

An integrated fixed-film activated sludge (IFAS) pilot plant and a moving bed biofilm reactor coupled with an activated sludge process (MBBR/AS) were operated under different temperatures, carbon loadings and solids retention times (SRTs). These two types of hybrid systems were compared, focusing on the nitrification capacity and the nitrifiers population of the media and suspended biomass alongside other process performances such as carbonaceous and total nitrogen (TN) removal rates. At high temperatures and loadings rates, both processes were fully nitrifying and achieved similarly high carbonaceous removal rates. However, under these conditions, the IFAS configuration performed better in terms of TN removal. Lower temperatures and carbon loadings led to lower carbonaceous removal rates for the MBBR/AS configuration, whereas the IFAS configuration was not affected. However, the nitrification capacity of the IFAS process decreased significantly under these conditions and the MBBR/AS process was more robust in terms of nitrification. Ammonia oxidising bacteria (AOB) and nitrite oxidising bacteria (NOB) population counts accurately reflected the changes in nitrification capacity. However, significantly less NOBs than AOBs were observed, without noticeable nitrite accumulation, suggesting that the characterisation method used was not as sensitive for NOBs and/or that the NOBs had a higher activity than the AOBs.     

DO对短程同步硝化反硝化除磷工艺的影响

针对碳源偏低的城市污水,采用序批式活性污泥法研究D0对短程同步硝化反硝化除磷工艺的影响,同时对短程同步硝化反硝化和反硝化除磷的机理进行探讨。试验表明：控制DO浓度可在同一个反应器内既实现短程同步硝化反硝化反应又达到反硝化除磷的效果。综合考虑COD、NHg—N、TN、TP的出水浓度达到一级A排放标准,得出最佳的D0控制范围。当D0浓度在0．5～1．0mg／LU时．COD的去除率达到93％～94％,Nil,＋一N的去除率为97％～98％,TN的去除率达到85％一96％,TP的去除率为91％～93％。     

周丛藻类对景观水体水质净化的效果研究

采用水体中自然生长的周丛藻类,在近自然条件下,研究周丛藻类对景观水体的净化能力。结果表明,周丛藻类对NH4+-N、TN、TP、TSS(总悬浮物)和Chla(叶绿素a)的平均去除率分别为45.2%、26.9%、25.9%、50%和41%;同时,周丛藻类系统的出水DO质量浓度平均增加5.0 mg/L,pH值平均提高0.5个单位,而空白系统的出水DO质量浓度和pH值没有明显变化。回归分析结果显示,周丛藻类对NH4+-N、TN的最高去除率出现在负荷率分别为0.87 mg/(g.d)(88.9%)和0.40 mg/(g.d)(53.3%)时。试验期间,周丛藻类的生物量增加了52.4%,藻类群落从颗粒态硅藻、绿藻为主的藻群演替为以丝状和颗粒态蓝藻和绿藻为主的群落。     

A pilot study on a step-feeding anoxic/oxic activated sludge system.

A four stage pilot plant of step-feed biological nutrient removal (BNR) was employed to investigate reactor performance and process stability. The results obtained showed that step-feed BNR is efficient and cost-effective for nitrogen and carbonaceous removal from municipal wastewater. The total average removal efficiencies of COD, NH3-N, TN and TP could reach as high as 89.5, 97.8, 73 and 75%, respectively, with 50% of return activated sludge (RAS), 9 h of hydraulic retention time (HRT) and 20 d of sludge retention time (SRT). Step-feed BNR is an alternative and effective technology of nutrient removal for municipal wastewater treatment.     

Operation of a full-scale pumped flow biofilm reactor (PFBR) under two aeration regimes

A novel technology suitable for centralised and decentralised wastewater treatment has been developed, extensively tested at laboratory-scale, and trialled at a number of sites for populations ranging from 15 to 400 population equivalents (PE). The two-reactor-tank pumped flow biofilm reactor (PFBR) is characterised by: (i) its simple construction; (ii) its ease of operation and maintenance; (iii) low operating costs; (iv) low sludge production; and (v) comprising no moving parts or compressors, other than hydraulic pumps. By operating the system in a sequencing batch biofilm reactor (SBBR) mode, the following treatment can be achieved: 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total suspended solids (TSS) reduction; nitrification and denitrification. During a 100-day full-scale plant study treating municipal wastewater and operating at 165 PE and 200 PE (Experiments 1 and 2, respectively), maximum average removals of 94% BOD5, 86% TSS and 80% ammonium-nitrogen (NH4-N) were achieved. During the latter part of Experiment 2, effluent concentrations averaged: 14 mg BOD5/l; 32 mg COD(filtered)/l; 14 mg TSS/l; 4.4 mg NH4-N/l; and 4.0 mg NO3-N/l (nitrate-nitrogen). The average energy consumption was 0.46-0.63 kWh/m3(treated) or 1.25-1.76 kWh/kg BOD5 removed. No maintenance was required during these experiments. The PFBR technology offers a low energy, minimal maintenance technology for the treatment of municipal wastewater.     

Potential of OUR and OTR measurements for identification of activated sludge removal processes in aerated basins.

In order to develop a process control scheme to reduce energy costs for aeration in activated sludge systems with biological P removal, pre-denitrification and nitrification stages, the spatial distribution of carbon oxidation and nitrification was evaluated over a long full-scale plug flow aeration basin using an externally measured specific oxygen uptake rate (sOUR) and in basin measurement of the actual specific oxygen transfer rate (sOTR) with off-gas testing as well as with the calculated oxygen demand from NH4-N concentrations (sOTR(N)). Using a simple static model, a gas phase balance on oxygen and carbon dioxide, sOTR(N) values were also calculated from off-gas testing. Comparison of sOTR(N) to sOTR and sOUR for carbon oxidation (sOUR(C)) to nitrification (sOUR(N)) at different loading conditions allowed the oxidation processes to be followed over the three zones of the aeration basin. As expected, the distribution depended on the dissolved oxygen concentration (DO) in the basin. However, the major change was in the C-oxidation rate and not the nitrification rate. At a low DO, and when NH4-N was present in the zone, the amount of oxygen transferred for nitrification was nearly the same, but the overall sOTR was lower. The externally measured sOUR was only useful when it was differentiated into sOUR(N) and sOUR(C). sOUR(N) could be used to predict the nitrification rate in the basin. With further refinement, the gas phase balance model has potential to be used to monitor the degree of nitrification over the basin length. This can be integrated into a control scheme to reduce aeration costs by adjusting the DO setpoint according to loading conditions in the     

Potentials and limits of a pre-denitrification/ nitrification biofilter configuration for advanced municipal wastewater treatment.

Pre-denitrification in biofilters is limited by the amount of easily degradable organic substrate, resulting in relatively high requirements for external carbon. The combination of pre-DN, N and post-DN filters is much more advisable for most municipal wastewaters, because the recycle rate can be reduced and external carbon can be saved. For minimum use of external carbon, 100-150% recycle rate should not be exceeded. Then, approximately 50-60% of the total NO3-N can be depleted in the pre-DN stage. On average, 10 g total (t) COD/g NO3-N were required in the pre-DN stage for denitrification in the pilot and full-scale plant and 0.4-0.5 kg NO3-N/(m(3)DN d) can be reached without external carbon. As only 40-70% of the COD load is eliminated in the pre-DN, the remaining COD load is removed in the nitrification stage. 1 kg COD/(m(3) d) suppresses nitrification rates by approximately 0.1 kg NH4-N/(m(3) d). For nitrification rates, > 0.5 kg NH4N/(m(3) d) at 12 degrees C not more than 2 kg COD/(m(3) d) may be eliminated in the nitrification.     

Nitrogen removal in multi-stage wastewater treatment plants by using a modified post-denitrification system

Systems in which denitrification follows nitrification (post-denitrification) copy the natural sequence of nitrogen removal. The disadvantage of post-denitrification, however, is that an external carbon source must be added to the denitrification reactor. In the concept discussed in this paper, excess sludge from a high loaded activated sludge plant is used as carbon source and as source of denitrifiers in a three-stage system. The sludge is fed into a anoxic reactor placed in between the nitrification reactor (e.g., trickling filter) and the final clarifier. Two different operation methods were investigated at a pilot-scale system set up at the Ingolstadt wastewater treatment plant Low nitrate effluent values were obtained at high sludge feeding rates, but at the expense of a significant increase in turbidity and NH4-N effluent concentrations. This problem could be solved by a reduction of the sludge feeding rate and by applying intermittent feeding. The effluent turbidity was kept at an acceptable level, but denitrification was relatively slow in progress. To achieve both low effluent turbidity and low nitrate discharge, a combination of pre- and post-denitrification is recommended.     

The effect of drastic temperature changes on the performance of MBR treating municipal wastewater

A study has been carried out to define the effect of drastic temperature changes on the performance of lab-scale hollow-fibre MBR in treating municipal wastewater at a flux of 10 L m(-2) h(-1) (LMH). The objectives of the study were to estimate the activated sludge properties, the removal efficiencies of COD and NH(3)-N and the membrane fouling tendency under critical conditions of drastic temperature changes (23, 33, 42 & 33 °C) and MLSS concentration ranged between 6,382 and 8,680 mg/L. The study exhibited that the biomass reduction, the low sludge settleability and the supernatant turbidity were results of temperature increase. The temperature increase led to increase in SMP carbohydrate and protein, and to decrease in EPS carbohydrate and protein. The BRE of COD dropped from 80% at 23 °C to 47% at 42 °C, while the FRE was relatively constant at about 90%. Both removal efficiencies of NH(3)-N trended from about 100% at 33 °C to less than 50% at 42 °C. TMP and BWP ascended critically with temperature increase up to 336 and 304 mbar respectively by the end of the experiment. The values of suspended solids (SS) and the turbidity in the final effluent were negligible. The DO in the mixed liquor was varying with temperature change, while the pH was within the range of 6.7-8.3.     

Comparative studies on the differently operated trains of the North-Budapest Wastewater Treatment Plant

In order to reduce the pollution load of the Danube, the North-Budapest Wastewater Treatment Plant has been upgraded to enhanced nitrogen removal by establishing a new activated sludge treatment line and modifying the existing unit for nitrification and denitrification. As both the influent flow rate and the influent chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD(5)) and total suspended solids (TSS) concentration levels remained far below the design values, setting one fourth of the reactor volume out of operation in the Old Line, and operating the nitrification reactor of the New Line with part-time aeration proved to be possible. Analytical data as well as simulation studies supported the advantage of the intermittent-aeration process in efficient N-removal. However, the lengths of the aerated periods have to be increased with decreasing temperature, and thereby effluent total nitrogen (TN) concentration can increase due to decreasing denitrification efficiency. Potential occurrence of low-dissolved oxygen (DO) bulking should be hindered through applying an efficient anoxic selector system.     

好氧颗粒污泥反应器快速启动及除碳脱氮试验

为快速启动好氧颗粒污泥反应器,在SBR反应器中同时接种硝化污泥和厌氧颗粒污泥,控制反应条件,温度23~25℃,pH值7.5~8.5,DO质量浓度1.5 mg/L左右,15 d即完成反应器快速启动。形成的好氧颗粒污泥粒径1.5~2.5 mm,SVI值54 mL/g。颗粒污泥结构紧密,沉降性能良好。反应器连续运行40多天,改变进水COD及NH4+-N浓度,COD和NH4+-N去除率均能稳定在80%以上,反应器内发生了同步硝化反硝化过程。     

Comparison of maturation ponds and constructed wetlands as the final stage of an advanced pond system.

The treatment performance of a maturation pond (MP), the typical final polishing stage of an Advanced Pond System (APS), is compared with that of a surface-flow constructed wetland (CW) over 19 months. Both received approximately 67 mm d-1 of wastewater after passage through upstream stages of the APS. The MP, with greater sunlight exposure, had higher algal biomass (and associated suspended solids) than the CW, showed higher dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations and greater diurnal variation in DO and pH. Neither polishing stages reduced nutrients markedly, with the CW exporting slightly more NH(3)-N and DRP, and less NO(3)-N than the MP. Disinfection was more efficient in the MP (geometric mean 1 log load removal, 12 MPN (100ml)-1) compared to the CW (0.47 log load removal, 53 MPN (100ml)-1). Incorporation of a final rock filter (28% of area) reduced median solids levels to < 10 g m(-3) in both the MP and CW. A hybrid between MPs and CWs with alternating zones of open-water (for enhanced disinfection and zooplankton grazing of algal solids) and wetland vegetation (promoting sedimentation and denitrification, and providing refugia for zooplankton) may provide more consistent effluent quality that either stage alone.     

Performance of constructed wetland treating wastewater from seafood industry.

Wastewater from seafood industry contains high concentrations of organic matter, nitrogen compounds, and solid matter. Constructed wetland can be used as tertiary treatment and for nutrient recycling. This research studied the performance of nitrogen and suspended solids removal efficiency of a constructed wetland treating wastewater from a seafood-processing factory located at Songkhla, southern Thailand. The existing constructed wetland has dimensions of 85 m, 352 m and 1.5 m in width, length and depth respectively, with an area of about 29,920 m2. The water depth of 0.30 m is maintained in operation with plantation of cattails (Typha augustifolia). Flow rate of influent ranged between 500-4,660 m3/d. Average hydraulic retention time in the constructed wetland was about 4.8 days. Influent and effluent from the constructed wetland were collected once a week and analyzed for pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), Suspended solid (SS), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), organic nitrogen (Org-N), nitrate (NO3-N), and nitrite (NO2-N). The average removal efficiencies of BOD5, SS, TKN, NH3-N, and Org-N were 84%, 94%, 49%, 52% and 82%, respectively. It was found that the constructed wetland acting as a tertiary treatment process provided additional removal of BOD5, SS and TKN from wastewater from the seafood industry.     

Development of single-stage nitrogen removal using anammox and partial nitritation (SNAP) and its treatment performances.

Single-stage Nitrogen removal using Anammox and Partial nitritation (SNAP) process was newly developed as an economical nitrogen removal process for ammonium rich wastewaters. The experimental studies for the evaluation of SNAP process were carried out using a novel biofilm reactor, in which hydrophilic net-type acryl fiber biomass carrier was applied. This SNAP reactor was operated under operational conditions of pH 7.5-7.7, 35 degrees C and DO 2-3 mg/L, and 60 to 80% of influent NH4-N was removed under loading rate of 0.48 kg-N/m3/d. Through the DNA analysis of the attached sludge, it was made clear that ammonium oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and anammox bacteria coexisted in the attach-immobilized sludge on the acryl fiber biomass carrier. Favorable conditions for the growth of anammox bacteria were created inside attach-immobilized nitrifying sludge. Two kinds of anammox bacteria and two kinds of AOB were detected in the SNAP sludge. Existence ratios of anammox and AOB were estimated to be 15% and 8.7%, respectively, based on the obtained clone numbers. This coexisting condition was confirmed by the FISH image of SNAP sludge and its confocal laser scanning microscope.     

Design and operation of SBR processes for small plants based on simulations.

The paper firstly presents an experimental study in a SBR pilot plant operated at 20 degrees C for nitrogen removal from a very small village wastewater. The plant consisted of only one reactor fed continuously throughout the day and aerated intermittently. Two tests with seven and three intermittences of mixing/aerated phases were conducted and verification of the results by simulations of the activated sludge model (ASM) was also carried out. The experimental results and simulation showed that a wide range of effluent N03-N can be obtained using different numbers of intermittences and values of the oxygen transfer coefficient (K(L)a). At the same time, the paper presents a design procedure for SBR processes based on an iterative process of simulations of the ASM model. After the selection of the cycle time, the mixing/aeration pattern, the initial volume, the solid retention time, and the duration of the phases, the simulation is undertaken, resulting in values for the effluent NH4-N and NO3-N, and the suspended solids before settling. Then, the latter parameters are verified to match the effluent and settling requirements. As an application of the design procedure, the effect on design and operation of different SBR configurations and of several operating conditions are analysed in three case studies.     

Boosting nitrification by membrane-attached biofilm.

Nitrification is a key step for reliable biological nitrogen removal. In order to enhance nitrification in the activated sludge (AS) process, membrane-attached biofilm (MAB) was incorporated in a conventional activated sludge tank. Simultaneous organic carbon removal and nitrification of the MAB incorporated activated sludge (AS + MAB) process was investigated with continuous wastewater treatment. The effluent TOC concentration of AS and the AS + MAB processes were about 6.3 mg/L and 7.9 mg/L, respectively. The TOC removal efficiency of both AS and AS + MAB were above 95% during the wastewater treatment, indicating excellent organic carbon removal performance in both processes. Little nitrification occurred in the AS process. On the contrary, successful nitrification was obtained with the AS + MAB process with nitrification efficiency of about 90%. The volumetric and surface nitrification rates were about 0.14 g/Ld and 6.5 g/m2d, respectively. The results clearly demonstrated that nitrification in the conventional AS process was boosted by MAB. Furthermore, the microfaunal population in the AS + MAB process was different from that in the AS process. The high concentration of rotifers in the AS + MAB process was expected to decrease the generation of excess sludge in the process.     

Advanced treatment by anaerobic process followed by aerobic membrane bioreactor for effluent reuse in paper mill industry.

The operation of an activated sludge process at a paper mill (AIPM) in Hedera, Israel, was often characterized by disturbances. As part of a research and development project, a study on new biological treatment was initiated. The study included the operation of three pilot units: a. anaerobic treatment by upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB); b. aerobic treatment by two pilot units including activated sludge and membrane bioreactor (MBR), which have been operated in parallel for comparison reasons. The pilot plant working on anaerobic treatment performed COD reduction from 2,365 to 755 mg/L, expressed as average values. Based on the pilot study, a full scale anaerobic treatment system has been erected. During a period of 100 days, after achieving steady state, the MBR system provided steady operation performance, while the activated sludge produced effluent characterized by oscillatory qualities. The following results, based on average values, indicate much lower suspended solids concentrations in the MBR effluent, 2.5 mg/L, as compared to 25 mg/L in the activated sludge. The ability to develop and maintain a concentration of over 11,000 mg/L of mixed liquor volatile suspended solids in the MBR enabled an intensive bioprocess at relatively high cell residence time. This study demonstrates that the anaerobic process, followed by aerobic MBR can provide effluent of high quality which can be considered for economic reuse in the paper mill industry.     

Simultaneous nitrification and de-nitrification in MBR.

Experiments have been carried out to get an understanding of the effect of DO, C/N ratio and pH on the performance of a bench scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) in simultaneous nitrification and denitrification. It was found that under the conditions of MLSS in the range of 8000-9000 mg/L and temperature of water in the MBR of 24 degrees C, influent COD and NH3-N in the range of 523-700 mg/L and 17.24-24 mg/L respectively, the removals of COD, NH3-N and TN were 98%, 99% and 60%; 96.5%, 0,98% and 75%; 96%, 95% and 92%; 90%,70% and 60% respectively at DO of 6, 3, 1 and 0.5 mg/L. It was also found that the changes in C/N ratio and pH in a certain range have a slight effect on COD removal but have significant influence on the removal of NH3-N and TN. The results showed that only under the conditions that each ecological factor was maintained relatively steadily, simultaneous nitrification and de-nitrification proceeded smoothly. It was found that when C/N ratio was 30, the influent pH 7.2, the temperature of water in MBR 24 degrees C and DO 1 mg/L, as optimum conditions, the removals of COD, NH3-N and TN were 96%, 95% and 92% respectively. In addition, mechanism research on simultaneous nitrification and de-nitrification in MBR has been conducted as well.