Characterization of synthetic and activated sludge and conditioning with cationic polyelectrolytes

This study investigates the effect of cationic polyelectrolytes on the final properties of synthetic and activated sludge. Synthetic sludge was prepared according to established procedures. Activated sludge was produced in a labscale, continuous-flow reactor which was fed with live activated sludge from a waste-water treatment plant. Capillary suction time (CST) was used to evaluate the sludge dewatering behaviour. The results from experiments indicated that the cationic polyelectrolytes had a critical effect on sludge dewatering, and made an improvement in the final properties of sludge. The two types of sludge have very similar dewatering characteristics after cationic polymer conditioning. The development of synthetic sludge is suggested also to be a possible surrogate for studying the final properties of activated sludge.     

Impact of Sludge Floc Size and Water Composition on Dewaterability

In order to observe the impact of different water compositions on sludge dewaterability, assessments of floc sizes using a particle size analyzer and of sludge dewaterability based on the capillary suction time (CST) test were carried out. Synthetic raw water had small floc sizes, and synthetic domestic wastewater had both larger median floc sizes and a better correlation between sludge dewaterability and median floc sizes. The floc size distribution results showed that synthetic raw water is associated with a narrow particle size distribution. In comparison, synthetic domestic wastewater produced a wider distribution. However, the CST values were similar for both waters. Compared to synthetic wastewater, natural wastewater had the largest distribution with generally larger particle sizes.     

污泥调理剂与有机高分子絮凝剂联合作用对污泥脱水性能影响的研究

结合污泥调理剂和有机高分子絮凝剂在调理活性污泥中体现出的优缺点,将两者联合用于活性污泥的调理。先后投加不同量的调理剂和絮凝剂于活性污泥中,研究其对污泥絮体特征和脱水性能的影响。结果表明,当两者投加量分别为1%和0.5%时,污泥泥饼含水率降到最低,为75.41%,且污泥过滤性能得到较好的改善。这是由于调理剂的投加改变了污泥絮体结构,导致胞外聚合物（EPS）的分布发生变化,改善了污泥的脱水性能,絮体颗粒粒径减小,而投加有机高分子絮凝剂使得污泥絮体重新絮凝,从而提高脱水速度。     

Strength and breakage of activated sludge flocs

The breakage of activated sludge flocs under turbulent shear conditions was investigated as a function of floc size. Municipal activated sludge flocs were fractionated by sieving to narrow size fractions. Shear stress distribution functions for the breakage of activated sludge floc samples were obtained. It was found that by increasing the floc size, this distribution was skewed towards smaller shear stress values and became broader. Results of experiments showed that the median shear stress, τ₅₀, required for floc breakage reduced by about 23% from 3.9 Pa for 45-63 μm sieve fraction to 3 Pa for the 150-180 μm sieve fraction. Under steady conditions, the median shear stress for the breakage of fragments that formed due to the breakage of larger flocs was as much as three times larger than that of the original flocs.     

Influence of an aerobic selector on copper and hexavalent chromium biosorption by activated sludge

The influence of an aerobic selector on biosorption of Cu and Cr(VI) by activated sludge was studied. In‐vitro batch adsorption tests were performed using sludge harvested from bench‐scale activated sludge systems. Metal biosorption by activated sludge was rapid with equilibrium usually reached within an hour. Adsorption behaviour closely followed a Freundlich isotherm model. Experimental data suggested that an aerobic selector increased the biosorption of the metal ions by activated sludge, confirming observations by others in a similar study but with different heavy metals. Freundlich isotherms indicated that the biosorption capacity of activated sludge was increased by 15% for Cu and 30% for Cr(VI). Activated sludge from both systems had a greater biosorption capacity for Cu than for Cr(VI). The effects of pH and sludge concentration were also investigated. The results indicate that these parameters may influence the biosorption characteristics of activated sludge. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Extraction and characterisation of extracellular polymers in digested sewage sludge

Five different bacterial extracellular polymer extraction methods were compared on digested sewage sludge. A washing step was necessary to remove and eliminate the slime from the sludge sample, in order to distinguish it from the material more tightly bound to the sludge solids. An ion-exchange resin method was the most effective and least disruptive of all treatments tested, based on the relatively high extracellular polymer yield and the small amount of cell disruption demonstrated by the fractionation and characterisation of the extracted material. The extracellular polymer extracted contained protein and polysaccharide in a ratio of approximately 3:1, and contributed a relatively small proportion of the total solids in digested sludge. This was comparatively less than is extracted in activated sludge. The ion-exchange resin method yielded 1% by weight of polysaccharide and 3% of protein, whereas ethanol-insoluble material accounted for 3.5% of the solids in digested sludge.     

Relationships between Organic Loading and Some Properties of Activated Sludge

Investigations into changes in dehydrogenase activity, sludge volume index, and floc size were carried out in the conditions of dynamic substrate overload. An analysis of the changes of particular parameters in the load function is especially useful in these conditions. The analysis takes into account chronological succession of the obtained results. Interrelationships between the considered parameters were observed. Although dehydrogenase activity showed the greatest precision in reflecting changes in organic loading and substrate removal rate, it was impossible on this basis to predict negative changes in the structure of flocs. However, measurements of floc size made this possible. It has been shown that the average size of flocs and their size distribution are important parameters for the proper control of the activated sludge process. It has also been stated that only an assessment of both biochemical and physical properties gives the correct picture of changes taking place in activated sludge. © 1997 SCI.     

Effects of Recycling-Sludge Operation on the Structure and Moisture Content of Floc in Water Treatment Plant

Abstract

Recycling-sludge operation is applied in the Feng-Yuan Water Treatment Facility to treat low turbidity source water. By employing fractal dimension analysis and the dilatometry technique, the effects of recycling-sludge operation on the structure and moisture content of sludge flocs are studied. As the results show, the recycling-sludge operation can decrease the average bound water content by nearly 13–24% and increase the effective floc density, thereby forming a compact structure with a high fractal dimension and low floc porosity. The results also indicate that a significant correlation arises between the fractal dimensions and the bound water content of the sludge flocs.     

Bound water in sewage sludges and its relationship to sludge surfaces and sludge viscosities

An examination of activated and digested sludges has shown that surface components are significant in determining the rheological characteristics of these sludges. On the basis of a series of enzymic treatments, it would appear that in activated sludge the most important constituents are polysaccharide and protein; whilst in digested sludge, lipopolysaccharide and, at times, proteins are the most significant surface polymers. Subsidiary studies showed that the bound water content of the sludges was associated with the rheology and that this association could be modified by the action of metal ions.     

不同曝气控制方式下的活性污泥呼吸速率特征研究

采用两个相同的反应器R1和R2,研究了不同曝气控制方式下活性污泥理化特征及呼吸图谱的变化。其中R1根据活性污泥现状呼吸速率变化调整曝气量;R2根据出水水质变化调整曝气量。结果表明,R1的曝气控制方式能准确反映微生物的实际需氧量,有利于系统长期稳定运行。不同控制方式下污泥沉降性、浓度及形态差异较大,但出水水质情况相似;颗粒污泥形成期间总呼吸速率升高,稳定的活性污泥总呼吸速率及比内源呼吸速率稳定;呼吸速率相对于出水水质变化具有更高的灵敏度,能及时反映微生物的状态。     

Operational Conditions of Activated Sludge: Influence on Flocculation and Dewaterability

Selected operational conditions of activated sludge are investigated in relation to their effect on flocculation and dewatering. Semi-continuous reactors with 2 -L volume were operated at different mean cell residence times, C/N ratios, and three different influent cations. Results show that MCRT, C/N ratio, and the cation type affect the bioflocculation capacity of activated sludge measured by the quantity of extracellular polymeric substances. As the MCRT value operated in the reactors and the C/N ratio of the influent wastewater increase, total amount of polymers produced increases. High MCRT values and low C/N values cause good dewatering of the sludge. All cations are shown to stimulate the EPS production in a way that the highest total EPS concentrations are observed at the highest cation dosages. The dewaterability of the sludges improves only with increasing calcium and magnesium concentrations and deteriorates with increasing potassium concentration.     

Operational Conditions of Activated Sludge: Influence on Flocculation and Dewaterability

Selected operational conditions of activated sludge are investigated in relation to their effect on flocculation and dewatering. Semi-continuous reactors with 2 -L volume were operated at different mean cell residence times, C/N ratios, and three different influent cations. Results show that MCRT, C/N ratio, and the cation type affect the bioflocculation capacity of activated sludge measured by the quantity of extracellular polymeric substances. As the MCRT value operated in the reactors and the C/N ratio of the influent wastewater increase, total amount of polymers produced increases. High MCRT values and low C/N values cause good dewatering of the sludge. All cations are shown to stimulate the EPS production in a way that the highest total EPS concentrations are observed at the highest cation dosages. The dewaterability of the sludges improves only with increasing calcium and magnesium concentrations and deteriorates with increasing potassium concentration.     

活性污泥吸附重金属离子的研究进展

从处理含重金属离子废水的现状出发,简述了活性污泥吸附重金属离子过程中的表面有机络合、离子交换及其它机理;讨论了温度、时间、pH值、污泥种类、预处理、重金属离子浓度等因素对活性污泥吸附重金属离子的影响,并对解吸方式进行了论述;综述了目前国内外有关活性污泥吸附重金属离子的最新研究成果,指明了进一步加强吸附机理和固定化技术以提高活性污泥应用性的研究是今后的方向。     

Fe3+在A2O工艺缺氧区的转化规律及其对污泥絮凝性的影响

为了研究铁元素对A²O工艺污泥絮凝性的影响,考察Fe³⁺在污泥上清液、胞外聚合物（extracellular polymeric substances,EPS）与底泥（Pellet）中的分布和迁移转化规律,结合三维荧光光谱（3D-EEM）、原子吸收和X射线衍射仪（XRD）分析Fe的存在形态和结构特征,揭示Fe³⁺与微生物代谢产物的作用机制,探索Fe³⁺对脱氮除磷效率的影响。结果表明：低浓度Fe³⁺（<10 mg·L^-1）能够提高COD和TN去除率,促进微生物活性,增强污泥生物絮凝性;高浓度Fe³⁺（10~40 mg·L^-1）则抑制微生物活性,使EPS总量升高,污泥絮体脱稳,LB、TB层PN/PS是影响污泥絮凝性的关键因素;Fe³⁺的投加强化生物除磷效率,当Fe³⁺浓度为40 mg·L^-1时,TP去除率为93%。Fe³⁺在污泥混合液中的分布规律为TB>上清液>LB>SMP,Fe³⁺在生物体内富集累积,能够改变EPS各层的组分。     

Effects of Fe(III) on floc characteristics of activated sludge

The effects of Fe(III) on floc characteristics of activated sludge were investigated in nine parallel sequencing batch reactors (SBRs). The results showed that Fe(III) improved the quality of organic matters in the effluent of reactors. Concentrations of Fe(III) up to 23.8 mg dm^?3 decreased suspended solids and turbidity in effluent but overdosage resulted in deterioration of these parameters. Activated sludge floc size measurements indicated that Fe(III) led to a shift in the size distribution from large to small flocs. Concentrations of Fe(III) less than 23.8mg dm^?3 did not significantly change the proportion of larger flocs, but overdosage of Fe(III) markedly decreased the fraction of larger flocs and produced a large number of smaller flocs, which may be responsible for the deterioration of effluent suspended solids and turbidity. Scanning electronic microscopic (SEM) observation suggested high Fe(III) concentrations lead to significant changes in floc morphology and reduction of filamentous microorganisms available for the formation of large aggregates. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Study of saline wastewater influence on activated sludge flocs through automated image analysis

BACKGROUND: In activated sludge systems, sludge settling ability is considered a critical step in effluent quality and determinant of solid–liquid separation processes. However, few studies have reported the influence of saline wastewater on activated sludge. This work aims the evaluation of settling ability properties of microbial aggregates in a sequencing batch reactor treating saline wastewaters of up to 60 g L^?1 NaCl, by image analysis procedures. RESULTS: It was found that the sludge volume index (SVI) decreased with salt content up to 20 g L^?1, remaining somewhat stable above this value. Furthermore, it was found that between the first salt concentration (5 g L^?1) and 20 g L^?1 aggregates suffered a strong deflocculation phenomenon, leading to a heavy loss of aggregated biomass. Regarding SVI prediction ability, a good correlation coefficient of 0.991 between observed and predicted SVI values was attained. CONCLUSION: From this work the deflocculation of aggregated biomass with salt addition due to pinpoint floc formation, dispersed bacteria growth and protozoa absence could be established. With respect to SVI estimation, and despite the good correlation obtained, caution is advisable given the low number of SVI data points. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Selectivity of polyamide nanofiltration membranes for cations and phosphoric acid

The results shown in this paper are part of a study to investigate the use of nanofiltration membranes for the recycling of phosphorus from sewage sludge. It especially contains the results of an experimental study about the influencing factors pressure, pH and feed composition on the selectivity of nanofiltration membranes for phosphoric acid and multivalent cations. For the use of pretreated sewage sludge an effective pressure of 11 bar could be identified as an effective operational point. The selectivity turned out to increase with decreasing pH which was studied in a pH-interval of pH 1-4. An increasing concentration of multivalent cations in the feed solution had a negative effect on the permeability of phosphoric acid. Accordingly it could be observed that the nanofiltration worked significantly more effective with sewage sludge ash eluates of the concentration 10 g/l than eluates of the concentration 100 g/l.     

Enhancement of biological fermented sludge dewaterability by inoculation of filamentous fungi Mucor circinelloides XY-Z and Penicillium oxalicum LY-1

Abstract

The two filamentous fungi of Mucor circinelloides XY-Z and Penicillium oxalicum LY-1 isolated from citric acid wastewater sludge collectively enhanced sludge dewaterability by 85.83% to achieve the lowest value of normalized sludge specific resistance (SRF) to 6.8?×?10¹¹ m·L/kg·g-TSS. The results showed that 75.77% of slime extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), 42.99% of protein in slime EPS and 60.27% of polysaccharide in LB-EPS were degraded during activated sludge treatment by the two mixed fungi of Mucor circinelloides XY-Z and Penicillium oxalicum LY-1, contributing to the conversion of 64.61% of bound water wrapped in EPS into free water, thereby improving activated sludge dewaterability.     

曝气时间对活性污泥絮体吸附和聚集性能的影响

活性污泥工艺中,曝气时间是影响系统处理效果的重要运行参数。研究了曝气时间对污泥吸附性能和聚集性能的影响,考察了期间胞外聚合物(EPS)特性。结果表明,当有机负荷为100 mg[CODCr]/g[MLSS]时,恢复污泥性能的最佳曝气时间为2 h,过长的时间将降低其性能。污泥性能与LB-EPS和TB-EPS的质量比及多糖和蛋白质的质量比具有负相关性。曝气使污泥EPS中的LB-EPS和TB-EPS的质量比及多糖和蛋白质的质量比均下降,从而使得絮体中具有更多的氢键缔合倾向的官能团,提高了活性污泥絮体的吸附聚集性能。     

Effect of sludge retention time in sludge holding tank on excess sludge production in the oxic‐settling‐anoxic (OSA) activated sludge process

The activated sludge process is a core technology in wastewater treatment plants. Excess sludge produced in the process must be treated and disposed of properly and may account for up to 60% of total plant operating cost. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new biological concepts to minimize excess sludge production. The oxic‐settling‐anoxic process (OSA process), a modified activated sludge process, may produce less excess sludge than the conventional activated sludge process. The effect of sludge retention time in the sludge holding tank of the OSA process on excess sludge yield has been studied. Four pilot‐scale activated sludge systems were employed, one of which was a conventional activated sludge process, and was used as the control system. The other three were OSA systems operated with different sludge retention times (5.5 h, 7.6 h, and 11.5 h) in the sludge holding tank. All systems were operated with synthetic wastewater for 7 months. Results showed that the three OSA processes with 5.5 h, 7.6 h, and 11.5 h sludge retention time reduced the excess sludge by 33%, 23% and 14%, respectively. Compared to the control process, chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency and effluent NH₃–N concentration were not significantly influenced, but total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency decreased by 0–9%. Total phosphorus (TP) removal efficiency of OSA processes with 7.6 h and 11.5 h sludge retention time increased by 19%. Sludge settleability was excellent in the three OSA processes. No distinct shift in the diversity of the predominant species was found in microbial populations. We conclude that the OSA system could reduce excess sludge production. Results suggest 6–7 h sludge retention time would be optimal. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry