The performance of a nitrogen-fixing SBR.

A laboratory study has successfully demonstrated that a nitrogen deficient thermomechanical pulping wastewater can be effectively treated in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) operated under conditions of biological nitrogen fixation (the N-ViroTech process). In comparison to continuous stirred tank reactor activated sludge (CSTR-AS) configurations operated under either nitrogen fixing or nitrogen supplemented conditions, slightly lower removals of dissolved organic material were observed in the SBR. However, this was largely offset by significantly better suspended solids removal in the SBR, which contributes to the overall COD discharge. The settleability and dewaterability of sludge produced by the SBR was significantly better than that obtained from the nitrogen fixing CSTR-AS reactors, and comparable to that of a nitrogen supplemented system. Consistently low total and dissolved nitrogen discharges from the N-ViroTech systems demonstrated the advantage of this system over ones requiring nitrogen supplementation. The feast-famine regime of an SBR-type configuration has significant potential for the application of this technology in the treatment of nitrogen deficient waste streams, particularly those in which conventional single-stage systems may be susceptible to sludge bulking problems.     

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.     

Nitrogen removal from pharmaceutical manufacturing wastewater with high concentration of ammonia and free ammonia via partial nitrification and denitrification.

In this study, laboratory-scale experiments were conducted applying a Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) activated sludge process to a wastewater stream from a pharmaceutical factory. Nitrogen removal can be achieved via partial nitrification and denitrification and the efficiency was above 99% at 23 degrees C+/-1. The experimental results indicated that the nitrite oxidizers were more sensitive than ammonia oxidizers to the free ammonia in the wastewater. The average accumulation rate of nitrite was much higher than that of nitrate. During nitrogen removal via the nitrite pathway, the end of nitrification and denitrification can be exactly decided by monitoring the variation of pH. Consequently, on-line control for nitrogen removal from the pharmaceutical manufacturing wastewater can be achieved and the cost of operation can be reduced.     

Optimizing sequencing batch reactor (SBR) reactor operation for treatment of dairy wastewater with aerobic granular sludge

The biological wastewater treatment using aerobic granular sludge is a new and very promising method, which is predominantly used in SBR reactors which have higher volumetric conversion rates than methods with flocculent sludge. With suitable reactor operation, flocculent biomass will accumulate into globular aggregates, due to the creation of increased substrate gradients and high shearing power degrees. In the research project described in this paper dairy wastewater with a high particle load was treated with aerobic granular sludge in an SBR reactor. A dynamic mathematical model was developed describing COD and nitrogen removal as well as typical biofilm processes such as diffusion or substrate limitation in greater detail. The calibrated model was excellently able to reproduce the measuring data despite of strongly varying wastewater composition. In this paper scenario calculations with a calibrated biokinetic model were executed to evaluate the effect of different operation strategies for the granular SBR. Modeling results showed that the granules with an average diameter of 2.5 mm had an aerobic layer in between 65-95 microm. Density of the granules was 40 kgVSS/m3. Results revealed amongst others optimal operation conditions for nitrogen removal with oxygen concentrations below 5 gO2/m3. Lower oxygen concentrations led to thinner aerobic but thicker anoxic granular layers with higher nitrate removal efficiencies. Total SBR-cycle times should be in between 360-480 minutes. Reduction of the cycle time from 480 to 360 minutes with a 50% higher throughput resulted in an increase of peak nitrogen effluent concentrations by 40%. Considering biochemical processes the volumetric loading rate for dairy wastewater should be higher than 4.5 kgCOD/(m3*d). Higher COD input load with a COD-based volumetric loading rate of 9.0 kgCOD/(m3*d) nearly led to complete nitrogen removal. Under different operational conditions average nitrification rates up to 5 gNH/(m3*h) and denitrification rates up to 3.7 gNO/(m3*h) were achieved.     

Optimisation of storage driven denitrification by using on-line specific oxygen uptake rate monitoring during SND in a SBR.

This study builds on previous experience of maximising the formation of COD as poly-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) and now describes a feedback technique of preserving the use of PHB for denitrification resulting in enhanced nitrogen removal rather than allowing its wasteful oxidation by oxygen. The feedback technique uses on-line SOUR monitoring for detecting the end-point of nitrification and controlling the aerobic phase length accordingly. The laboratory SBR was operated such that all organic substrate (acetate) was rapidly converted to PHB, which then served as the electron donor for nitrogen removal via simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) during the aerobic phase (up to 70% SND). During SBR cycling with a fixed aeration length (240 minutes), PHB was unnecessarily oxidised after ammonium depletion, resulting in little denitrification and poor total nitrogen removal (69%). However, when the aerobic phase length was controlled via the SOUR, up to 1.8 CmM PHB (58 mg L(-1) COD) could be preserved, enabling improved total nitrogen removal (86%). The drop in the SOUR after ammonium depletion was a reproducible event that could be detected even when using raw wastewater and fresh activated sludge. The SOUR-control technique holds promise to build up PHB over a number of SBR cycles. While advanced oxygen-control is used for improved N-removal in several existing WWTPs, this study investigates the importance of oxygen control with relevance to PHB driven SND in sequencing batch reactors.     

External carbon feeding strategy for enhancing nitrogen removal in SBR.

Effective method for feeding an external carbon source (ECS) in SBR was investigated to enhance denitrification based on modifying the anoxic/aerobic sub-cycle for swine wastewater treatment. The wastewater discharged from the scraper-type barns contains relatively low readily biodegradable organic. Therefore NOx-N was accumulated during repeating sub-cycle in SBR operation. When acetic acid was fed as ECS during the final sub-cycle, the maximum nitrogen removal rate was 0.22 kg N/m3/d. This was due to both less denitrification rate during the sub-cycle period and inhibition of denitrification by pH drop during the final cycle. The pH drop was caused by a large amount of ECS feeding to remove high concentration of NOx-N in the final period. To overcome these limitations and achieve higher nitrogen removal rate, the intermittent ECS feeding method with raw wastewater at every anoxic period was developed. Using the modifying ECS feeding method, the removal rate was increased to 0.45 kg N/m3/d without NOx-N accumulation.     

Autotrophic nitrogen removal from anaerobic supernatant of Florence's WWTP digesters.

In municipal WWTP with anaerobic sludge digestion, 10-20% of total nitrogen load comes from the return supernatant produced by the final sludge dewatering. In recent years a completely autotrophic nitrogen removal process based on Anammox biomass has been tested in a few European countries, in order to treat anaerobic supernatant and to increase the COD/N ratio in municipal wastewater. This work reports the experimental results of the SHARON-ANAMMOX process application to anaerobic supernatant taken from the urban Florentine area wastewater treatment plant (S. Colombano WWTP). A nitritation labscale chemostat (7.4 L) has been started-up seeded with the S. Colombano WWTP nitrifying activated sludge. During the experimental period, nitrite oxidising bacteria wash-out was steadily achieved with a retention time ranging from 1 to 1.5 d at 35 degrees C. The Anammox inoculum sludge was taken from a pilot plant at EAWAG (Zurich). Anammox biomass has been enriched at 33 degrees C with anaerobic supernatant diluted with sodium nitrite solution until reaching a maximum specific nitrogen removal rate of 0.065 kgN kg(-1) VSS d(-1), which was 11 times higher than the one found in inoculum sludge (0.005 kgN kg(-1) VSS d(-1). In a lab-scale SBR reactor (4 L), coupled with nitritation bioreactor, specific nitrogen removal rate (doubling time equal to 26 d at 35 degrees C and at nitrite-limiting condition) reached the value of 0.22 kgN kg(-1) VSS d(-1), which was approximately 44 times larger than the rate measured in the inoculum Anammox sludge.     

Upgrading of Florence wastewater treatment plant: co-digestion and nitrogen autotrophic removal.

In recent years a completely autotrophic nitrogen removal process based on Anammox biomass has been tested in a few European countries in order to treat anaerobic supernatant and to increase the COD/N ratio in municipal wastewater. This work reports experimental results on a possible technical solution to upgrade the S. Colombano treatment plant which treats wastewater from the Florentine urban area. The idea is to use 50% of the volume of the anaerobic digester in order to treat external sewage sludge (as septic tank sludge) together with waste activated sludge and to treat the resulting effluent on a SHARON-ANAMMOX process in order to remove nitrogen from the anaerobic supernatant. Anaerobic co-digestion, tested in a 200 L pilot plant, enables low cost treatment of septic tank sludge and increases biogas production; however, it also increases the nitrogen load re-circulated to the WWTP, where nitrogen removal efficiency is already low (<50%), due to the low COD/N ratio, which limits predenitrification efficiency. Experimental results from a SHARON process tested in a lab-scale pilot plant show that nitrite oxidising bacteria are washed-out and steady nitrite production can be achieved at retention times in the range 1 - 1.5 days, at 35 degrees C. In a lab-scale SBR reactor, coupled with a nitration bioreactor, maximum specific nitrogen removal rate under nitrite-limiting conditions (with doubling time equal to about 26 days at 35 degrees C) was equal to 0.22 kgN/kgSSV/d, about 44 times the rate measured in inoculum Anammox sludge. Finally, a cost analysis of the proposed upgrade is reported.     

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.     

Evolution of an ASM2d-like model structure due to operational changes of an SBR process.

To model biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal systems with an affordable complexity, the ASM2d model structure is based on many assumptions. In this study, some of these assumptions, however, were observed to become invalid when the biological behaviour in the system altered in response to changes in the operation of the system, a pilot-scale N and P removing SBR. Particularly, the three applied operational scenarios resulted in three distinctive responses in the SBR, namely pronounced limitation of the hydrolysis of the organic nitrogen, nitrite build-up during aerobic conditions and also nitrite build-up during anoxic conditions. This shows that even for the same system with the same influent wastewater composition, the model structure of the ASM2d does not remain constant but adapts parallel to dynamic changes in the activated sludge community. On the other hand, the three calibrated ASM2d models still lacked the ability to entirely describe the observed dynamics particularly those dealing with the phosphorus dynamics and hydrolysis. Understanding the underlying reasons of this discrepancy is a challenging task, which is expected to improve the modelling of bio-P removing activated sludge systems.     

Anammox bacteria enrichment and characterization from municipal activated sludge

A sustainable option for nitrogen removal is the anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing (anammox) process in which ammonium is oxidized to nitrogen gas with nitrite as electron acceptor. Application of this process, however, is limited by the availability of anammox biomass. In this study, two Brocadia-like anammox phylotypes were successfully enriched, detected and identified from an activated sludge taken from a domestic wastewater treatment plant (Minas Gerais, Brazil) employing a Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR). The dominant phylotype was closely related to 'Candidatus Brocadia sinica', but one clone seemed to represent a novel species for which we propose the name 'Candidatus Brocadia brasiliensis'. Based on Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis, this enrichment led to a relative population size of 52.7% (±15.6) anammox bacteria after 6 months of cultivation. The cultivation process can be divided into three phases: phase 1 (approximately 25 days) was characterized by heterotrophic denitrification metabolism, phase 2 was the propagation phase and phase 3 (from the 87th day onwards), in which significant anammox activity was detected. A long-term performance of the SBR showed a near perfect removal of nitrite based on the influent NO(2)(-)-N concentration of 61-95 mg L(-1). The average ammonia removal efficiency was 90% with the influent NH(4)(+)-N concentration of 55-82 mg L(-1). Therefore, anammox cultivation and enrichment from activated sludge was possible under a controlled environment within 3 months.     

pH值对SBR法处理工业废水的影响

在SBR法处理啤酒废水和化工废水过程中 ,进水 pH值越高 ,两种废水的COD去除率越低。控制整个反应周期混合液的 pH值与进水 pH值 ( 3 5～ 6 5)一致时 ,将进一步降低两种废水的COD的去除率 ,对化工废水的影响尤其显著。试验过程中 pH值过高和过低的进水皆出现活性污泥的活性抑制和污泥上浮 ,但未发生明显的污泥膨胀     

The effects of starvation on physical characteristics of flocs in SBR for treating saline wastewater.

This study focused on the effects of starvation on physical characteristics of flocs in SBR for treating saline wastewater. Feeding was stopped for 5 and 15 days. A time response of the floc to these starvation periods was monitored as well as the removal efficiencies of pollutants. Correlation between the physical characteristics of flocs and settling of sludge was conducted. As the starvation periods were increased, there was a shift in the floc size distribution from a high proportion of large flocs to the development of small size flocs. The fractal dimension of flocs also decreased, as starvation periods were increased. From the results, the effect of starvation on SBR treating saline wastewater can be ordered as follows: COD Mn removal < floc size and fractal dimension < T-N removal < T-P removal.     

Treatment of winery wastewater in a conventional municipal activated sludge process: five years of experience.

A full-scale wastewater treatment plant where municipal and winery wastewaters were co-treated was studied for five years. The experimental results showed that suspended solids, COD, nitrogen and phosphorous were effectively removed both during the treatment of municipal wastewater and the cotreatment of municipal and winery wastewater. The sludge production increase from 4 tons to 5.5 tons per day during the harvesting and wine making period. In any case the specific sludge production was 0.2 kgMLVSS per kgCOD(removed) despite the organic loading increasing. About 70% of the COD was removed through respiration. Also the energy demand increased from 6,000 to 7,000 kWh per day. The estimated costs for the treatment of the winery wastewater was 0.2-0.3 Euros per m3 of treated wastewater. With reference to the process efficiency, the nitrogen removal was just 20%. The co-treatment of municipal and winery wastewater in conventional activated sludge processes can be a feasible solution for the treatment of these streams at relatively low costs.     

林可霉素高浓度有机废水处理技术

采用厌氧颗粒和好氧活性污泥分别对内循环厌氧反应器(IC)和间歇式活性污泥法(SBR)进行污泥接种培养,研究水解酸化-IC-SBR工艺在林可霉素生产废水处理方面的运行效果。结果表明:在进水COD的质量浓度为6 000~9 000 mg/L,IC和SBR反应器中有机负荷分别为0.82 kg/(kg.d)和0.26 kg/(kg.d)左右的情况下,IC和SBR反应器分别运行60 d和7 d,COD平均去除率分别达到91%和61%,出水COD的质量浓度在300 mg/L以下,达到GB 8978—1996《污水综合排放标准》二级标准。     

An on-line optimisation of a SBR cycle for carbon and nitrogen removal based on on-line pH and Our: the role of dissolved oxygen control.

A pilot plant sequencing batch reactor (SBR) was applied in a wastewater treatment plant treating urban wastewater focused on carbon and nitrogen removal. From an initial predefined step-feed cycle definition, the evolution of the on-line monitored pH and calculated oxygen uptake rate (OUR) were analysed in terms of knowledge extraction. First, the aerobic phases of the SBR cycle were operated using an On/Off dissolved oxygen (DO) control strategy that concluded with a sinusoidal pH profile that made detecting the "ammonia valley" difficult. After changing to fuzzy logic control of the dissolved oxygen and by adding an air flow meter to the pilot plant, the pH evolution and on-line calculated OUR showed a clearer trend during the aerobic phases. Finally, a proposed algorithm for adjusting the aerobic phases of the SBR for carbon and ammonia removal is presented and discussed.     

Two-stage SBR for treatment of oil refinery wastewater.

A two-stage sequencing batch reactor (SBR) system was used for treatment of oily wastewater with COD and oil and grease (O&G) concentrations ranging from 1,722-7,826 mg/L and 5,365-13,350 mg/L, respectively. A suitable start-up protocol was developed using gradual increase in oily wastewater composition with methanol as the co-substrate. This strategy enabled a short acclimation period of 12 days for the sludge in the two-stage SBR to adapt to the oily wastewater. After acclimation, the 1st stage and 2nd stage SBRs were able to achieve COD removals of 47.0+/-2.4% and 95.3+/-0.5%, respectively. The 1st stage SBR was able to achieve 99.8+/-0.1% of O&G removal and effluent O&G from the 1st stage SBR was only 6+/-2 mg/L. The 2nd stage SBR was used to further remove COD in the effluent from the 1st stage SBR. The final effluent from the 2nd stage SBR had a COD concentration of 97+/-16 mg/L with no detectable O&G content. Thus, a two-stage SBR system was shown to be feasible for treating high strength oily wastewater to meet the local discharge standards.     

Post-aeration of anaerobically digested sewage sludge for advanced COD and nitrogen removal: results and cost-benefit analysis at large-scale.

At a large Austrian municipal wastewater treatment plant enhanced stabilisation of anaerobically digested sewage sludge was required in order to get a permit for landfill disposal of the dewatered stabilized sludge. By implementing a post-aeration treatment after anaerobic digestion the organic content of the anaerobically well digested sludge can be decreased by 16%. Investigations at this plant showed that during digested sludge post-aeration anoxic phases are needed to provide stable process conditions. In this way the pH value can be kept in a more favourable range for micro-organisms and concrete structures. Additionally, under the process conditions applied nitrite accumulation would inhibit the stabilisation process if denitrification is not adequately applied. By optimising the aeration/pause ratio approximately 45% of total nitrogen in digested sludge can be removed. NH4-removal occurs through nitrification and denitrification with an efficiency of 98%. This significantly improves nitrogen removal efficiency at the wastewater treatment plant. The costs/benefit analysis shows that post-aeration of digested sludge results in an increase of total annual costs for wastewater treatment of only 0.84%, corresponding to 0.19 Euro/pe/a. Specific costs for nitrogen removal (0.32 Euro/kgN) are comparable with other biological processes for N-removal in reject water.     

好氧颗粒污泥处理高浓度及难降解废水研究进展

好氧颗粒污泥以其在反应器中污泥沉降速度快、泥水分离简单、污泥浓度高,能够同时实现脱氮除磷等特点成为目前污(废)水处理领域的研究热点之一。对好氧颗粒污泥在高浓度有机废水及难降解废水(硝基苯废水、苯酚废水、氯酚废水、苯胺和氯苯胺废水、含盐废水、染料废水)处理中的研究现状进行综述,重点探讨了好氧颗粒污泥处理该类物质的影响因素、去除机制及其微生物特性等,指出其在难降解废水处理方面具有良好的应用前景。     

Performance comparison of a pilot-scale membrane bioreactor and a full-scale sequencing batch reactor with sand filtration: treatment of low strength wastewater from a northern Canadian Aboriginal Community.

Northern Aboriginal communities in Canada suffer from poor wastewater treatment. Treatment systems on 75% of Manitoban Aboriginal communities produce substandard effluent despite the presence of sophisticated treatment systems. A 200-litre, pilot-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) was established on the Opaskwayak Cree Nation to investigate the feasibility of MBRs in mitigating Aboriginal wastewater treatment issues. The pilot system was remote controlled and monitored via the Internet using the program pcAnywhere. The community utilized two existing sequencing batch reactors (SBR) and three sand filters for wastewater treatment. The community wastewater was relatively weak and highly fluctuating which led to poorly settling sludge that readily fouled the sand filters. A comparison study between the MBR and SBR was undertaken from September to December 2003. Operated at a 10-hour hydraulic retention time and 20-day solids residence time, the MBR outperformed the SBR and sand filtration on BOD and suspended solids removal. Furthermore, the MBR showed high levels of nitrification despite relatively cold water temperatures.