Biosolids accumulation and biodegradation of domestic wastewater treatment plant sludge by developed liquid state bioconversion process using a batch fermenter

The biosolids accumulation and biodegradation of domestic wastewater treatment plant (DWTP) sludge by filamentous fungi have been investigated in a batch fermenter. The filamentous fungi Aspergillus niger and Penicillium corylophilum isolated from wastewater and DWTP sludge was used to evaluate the treatment performance. The optimized mixed inoculum (A. niger and P. corylophilum) and developed process conditions (co-substrate and its concentration, temperature, initial pH, inoculum size, and aeration and agitation rate) were incorporated to accelerate the DWTP sludge treatment process. The results showed that microbial treatment of higher strength of DWTP sludge (4% w/w of TSS) was highly influenced by the liquid state bioconversion (LSB) process. In developed bioconversion processes, 93.8 g/kg of biosolids was enriched with fungal biomass protein of 30 g/kg. Enrichment of nutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), potassium (K) in biosolids was recorded in 6.2% (w/w), 3.1% (w/w) and 0.15% (w/w) from its initial values of 4.8% (w/w), 2.0% (w/w) and 0.08% (w/w) respectively after 10 days of fungal treatment. The biodegradation results revealed that 98.8% of TSS, 98.2% of TDS, 97.3% of turbidity, 80.2% of soluble protein, 98.8% of reducing sugar and 92.7% of COD in treated DWTP sludge supernatant were removed after 8 days of microbial treatment. The specific resistance to filtration (SRF) in treated sludge (1.4x10(12) m/kg) was decreased tremendously by the microbial treatment of DWTP sludge after 6 days of fermentation compared to untreated sample (85x10(12) m/kg).     

Optimization of single and mixed cultures for solid state fermentation of municipal sewage sludge

Trichoderma harzianum (Th), Phanerochaete chrysosporium ATCC 24725 (Pc) and Mucor hiemalis (Mh) isolated from three sources: wastewater; sewage sludge; and sludge cake were selected for use as compatible/incompatible single and mixed cultures in the treatment of municipal sewage sludge. Five experiments were carried out using (Pc), (Th), a mixture of (Pc/Th), (Mh) and a mixture of (Pc/Mh), in addition to a control where no micro‐organism was used. The experiments were used to evaluate their potential performance as compatible/incompatible single and mixed cultures for the treatment of municipal wastewater sewage sludge from treatment plants using solid state fermentation technique (SSF). The results showed that the best micro‐organism for composting was found to be (Th) and a mixture of (Pc/Th), while (Pc/Mh) was incompatible culture. The C/N ratio for Th changed from 8.46 to 17.8 at the end of the process, (Ph/Th) increased from 7.21 to 15.9, while (Pc/Mh) increased from 8.49 to 29. The pH value also affected by the fungal cultures which was also changed for (Th) from 4.29 to 6.8, for (Pc/Th) was changed from 7.27 to 6.7 and for (Pc/Mh) was changed from 6.6 to 5.3. Effective results were observed by using mixed culture after 19–21 days compared to other single treatments after 24–32 days.     

Effect of temperature shocks on membrane fouling in membrane bioreactors

Temperature is known to influence the biological performance of conventional activated sludge systems. In membrane bioreactors (MBRs), temperature not only affects the bioconversion process but is also shown to have an effect on the membrane performance. Four phenomena are generally reported to explain the higher resistance for membrane filtration found at lower temperatures: (1) increased mixed liquor viscosity, reducing the shear stress generated by coarse bubbles, (2) intensified deflocculation, reducing biomass floc size and releasing EPS into the mixed liquor, (3) lower backtransport velocity and (4) reduced biodegradation of COD. Although the higher resistance at low temperatures has been reported in several papers, the relation with supernatant composition has not been investigated before. In this paper, the composition of the soluble fraction of the mixed liquor is related to membrane performance after exposing the sludge to temperature shocks. Flux step experiments were performed in an experimental system at 7, 15, and 25° Celsius with sludge that was continuously recirculated from a pilot-scale MBR. After correcting the permeate viscosity for temperature, higher membrane fouling rates were obtained for the lower temperature in combination with low fouling reversibility. The soluble fraction of the MBR mixed liquor was analysed for polysaccharides, proteins and submicron particle size distribution. At low temperature, a high polysaccharide concentration was found in the experimental system as compared to the MBR pilot. Upon decreasing the temperature of the mixed liquor, a shift was found in particle size towards smaller particles. These results show that the release of polysaccharides and/or submicron particles from sludge flocs could explain the increased membrane fouling at low temperatures.     

Use of fungi to improve bioconversion of activated sludge

The present study was designed to evaluate the potential of microbial adaptation and its affinity to biodegradation as well as bioconversion of soluble/insoluble (organic) substances of domestic wastewater treatment plant (DWTP) sludge (activated domestic sludge) under natural/non-sterilized conditions. The two filamentous fungi, Penicillium corylophilum (WWZP1003) and Aspergillus niger (SCahmA103) were used to achieve the objectives. It was observed that P. corylophilum (WWZP1003) was the better strain compared to A. niger (SCahmA103) for the bioconversion of domestic activated sludge through adaptation. The visual observation in plate culture showed that about 95-98% of cultured microbes (P. corylophilum and A. niger) dominated in treated sludge after 2 days of treatment. In this study, it was also found that the P. corylophilum was capable of removing 94.40% of COD and 98.95% of turbidity of filtrate with minimum dose of inoculum of 10% v/v in DWTP sludge (1% w/w). The pH level was lower (acidic condition) in the fungal treatment and maximum reduction of COD and turbidity was observed (at lower pH). The results for specific resistance to filtration (SRF) showed that the fungi played a great role in enhancing the dewaterability and filterability. In particular, the strain Penicillium had a more significant capability (than A. niger) of reducing 93.20% of SRF compared to the uninoculated sample. Effective results were observed by using fungal inoculum after 2 days of treatment. The developed LSB process is a new biotechnological approach for sludge management strategy.     

Studies on the production of B. thuringiensis based biopesticides using wastewater sludge as a raw material

Growth and delta-endotoxin yield of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) subsp kurstaki in tryptic soy yeast extract (TSY) medium, soybean meal based commercial medium and wastewater sludge medium were studied. The viable spores (VS) count in sludge medium was comparable to that obtained in laboratory and commercial media. The entomotoxicity of the fermentation liquid (Bt grown sludge) against Choristoneura fumiferana was comparable to the concentrated commercial Bt formulation available in the market (Foray 48B). A higher entomotoxicity was observed in a sludge medium than in the TSY or soybean meal media. The secondary and mixed (mixture of primary and secondary) sludges from various wastewater treatment plants were also evaluated for spore formation and entomotoxicity yield. The VS count was higher in a mixed sludge compared to the secondary sludge at a similar sludge solids concentration. Both VS count and entomotoxicity yield was found to be a function of sludge solids concentration in the medium. The optimum value of solids concentration for Bt production was found to be 25 g (-1) (dry weight basis). Beyond this concentration, a drop in VS count and entomotoxicity yield was observed. A low C:N ratio in the secondary sludge and a high C:N ratio in the mixed sludge resulted in a higher entomotoxicity. The optimum value of C:N ratio in combined sludge for Bt production was found to be 7.9-9.9. Relationships between entomotoxicity and maximum specific growth as well as with specific sporulation rate were developed.     

Effect of anionic and nonionic surfactants on the kinetics of the aerobic heterotrophic biodegradation of organic matter in industrial wastewater

While using the contemporary mathematical models for activated sludge systems, it is necessary to describe quantitatively the kinetics of microbiological processes and to characterise substrate (wastewater components in the influent) as well as biomass (activated sludge). In this paper, the kinetic parameters of the aerobic biodegradation of organic matter in wastewater containing synthetic surfactants in an activated sludge system were determined and discussed. Also, the composition of the tested wastewater was estimated and expressed as COD fractions. Five synthetic surfactants, three anionic and two nonionic, of different chemical structure were investigated. Each of them was tested separately and dissolved in wastewater to obtain a concentration of 50 mgl(-1), which can be found in some industrial wastewater. The presence of the elevated amount of synthetic surfactants in wastewater decreased the affinity of biomass to substrate. Nevertheless, maximum specific growth rates (micromax) of heterotrophic biomass exposed to wastewater containing surfactants were high but usually lower than micromax estimated for wastewater without surfactant. Surfactants, which contain a benzene ring, were the most likely to deteriorate wastewater treatment processes in the activated sludge systems.     

Effect of sludge fasting/feasting on growth of activated sludge cultures

Reduction of excess sludge in an oxic-settling-anoxic (OSA) activated sludge process might be attributed to a "sludge fasting (insufficient food under an anoxic condition)/feasting (sufficient food under an oxic condition)" treatment. This paper was to examine this explanation by investigating both the sludge fasting/feasting phenomenon and the effect of a fasting/feasting treatment on sludge growth. In this study, five different activated sludge cultures cultivated using synthetic wastewater composed of mainly glucose and other necessary nutrients: (1) an aerobic batch culture, (2) an intermittently aerated batch culture, (3) an anoxic batch culture, (4) a continuous aerobic culture, and (5) an OSA culture, were employed. It was found that only the aerobic batch culture and the aerobic continuous culture are fastable when the oxidation reduction potential (ORP) level is below 100 mV under no-food condition during a 2-h fasting treatment, showing that both the biomass and carbohydrate storage of these two cultures were reduced after the treatment. When the fasted cultures were treated in a feasting environment, an accumulation of carbohydrate storage did not occur, while specific oxygen uptake rates (SOUR) showed a sharp increase. Both the substrate utilization and biomass growth rates were also accelerated. It was therefore confirmed that a sludge feasting did occur after a fasting treatment for the fastable cultures. However, an increase in sludge ATP content was not brought about by the feasting treatment. The sludge fasting/feasting treatment in this paper could not induce a reduction of the observed growth yield (Y(obs)) in all the cultures cultivated with glucose-based synthetic wastewater.     

Biodegradation potential of pure and mixed bacterial cultures for removal of 4-nitroaniline from textile dye wastewater

Environmentally toxic aromatic amines including nitroanilines are commonly generated in dye contaminated wastewater in which azo dyes undergo degradation under anaerobic conditions. The aim of this study was to develop a process for biological treatment of 4-nitroaniline. Three bacteria identified as Acinetobacter sp., Citrobacter freundii and Klebsiella oxytoca were isolated from enrichment cultures of activated sludge on 4-nitroaniline, after which the isolates and the mixed culture were studied to determine optimal conditions for biodegradation. HPLC analyses showed the mixed culture was capable of complete removal of 100 μmol/L of 4-nitroaniline within 72 h under aerobic conditions. There was an inverse linear relationship (R² = 0.96) between the rate of degradation (V) and 4-nitraoaniline concentrations [S] over 100-1000 μmol/L. The bacterial culture was also capable of decolorizing structurally different azo dyes (Acid Red-88, Reactive Black-5, Direct Red-81, and Disperse Orange-3) and also degraded nitrobenzene. Our findings show that enrichment cultures from activated sludge can be effective for the removal of dyes and their toxic intermediates, and that treatment may best be accomplished using an anaerobic-aerobic process.     

Biodegradation of organonitriles by adapted activated sludge consortium with acetonitrile-degrading microorganisms

A microbial process for the degradation of three types of structurally distinct organonitriles (i.e., saturated and unsaturated aliphatic nitrile and aromatic nitrile) was studied. Microorganisms were enriched from the activated sludge of a pharmaceutical wastewater treatment plant and adapted through providing acetonitrile as the sole carbon and nitrogen source for their growth. The adapted mixed culture was then examined for their capability of degrading acetonitrile, acrylonitrile and benzonitrile under various operational conditions. The performance of biodegradation and the metabolic intermediate- and end-products in the process were monitored. The results show that an average removal rate of 0.083 g acetonitrile g(-1)-VSS h(-1), 0.0074 g acrylonitrile g(-1)-VSS h(-1) or 0.0029 g benzonitrile g(-1)-VSS h(-1) was achieved in the batch bioreactor under the common operational condition of 25 degrees C and pH 7. The biodegradation of acetonitrile and acrylonitrile showed a two-step pathway, with the generation of acetamide followed by acetic acid and ammonia for acetonitrile or acrylamide followed by acrylic acid and ammonia for acrylonitrile. However, the biodegradation of benzonitrile appeared to have only one step, with the direct production of benzoic acid and ammonia, but without benzamide being detected in the process. The results suggest that, depending on the substrates, the adapted mixed culture can develop very different degradation pathways, such as nitrile hydratase plus amidase for acetonitrile or acrylonitrile and nitrilase for benzonitrile. Therefore, the adapted mixed culture has a great potential and flexibility for actual applications in biodegradation of various organonitrile compounds.     

Reduction of bromate to bromide coupled to acetate oxidation by anaerobic mixed microbial cultures

Bromate, a weakly mutagenic oxidizing agent, exists in surface waters. The biodegradation of bromate was investigated by assessing the ability of mixed cultures of micro-organisms for utilization of bromate as electron acceptor and acetate as electron donor. Reduction of bromate was only observed at relatively low concentrations (<3.0 mM) in the absence of molecular oxygen. Under these conditions bromate was reduced stoichiometrically to bromide. Unadapted sludge from an activated sludge treatment plant and a digester reduced bromate without lag period at a constant rate. Using an enrichment culture adapted to bromate, it was demonstrated that bromate was a terminal electron acceptor for anaerobic growth. Approximately 50% of the acetate was utilized for growth with bromate by the enrichment culture. A doubling of 20 h was estimated from a logarithmic growth curve. Other electron acceptors, like perchlorate, chlorate and nitrate, were not reduced or at negligible rates by bromate-utilizing microorganisms.     

Estimation of viable biomass in wastewater and activated sludge by determination of ATP, oxygen utilization rate and FDA hydrolysis

ATP content, oxygen utilization rate (OUR) and fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis were tested for the ability to express the amount of viable biomass in wastewater and activated sludge.The relationship between biomass and these activity parameters was established in growth cultures made by inoculating a nutrient medium with either wastewater or activated sludge. Biomass was then determined directly by measurement of dry weight of growth culture (dw), and compared to data obtained by using the previously mentioned methods. In the exponential growth phase, ATP content showed the best correlation with biomass, while FDA hydrolysis in the sludge failed to show any such correlation. Conversion factors of 3 mg ATP/g dw, 300 mg O₂/h g dw and 0.4 A/h (mg dw/ml) for ATP, OUR and FDA methods, respectively, were calculated.When the methods were applied for in situ determinations in four different wastewater plants, it was found that ATP content and respiration rate estimated viable biomass to range from 81 to 293 mg dw/g SS for raw wastewater and from 67 to 187 mg dw/g SS for activated sludge with a rather weak correlation between ATP and respiration measurements. The FDA hydrolysis estimated viable biomass to be higher than suspended solids, for which reason this parameter could not be recommended for determination of viable biomass in wastewater and activated sludge.     

Fate of sulfonamide antibiotics in contact with activated sludge--sorption and biodegradation

The sorption and biodegradation of three sulfonamide antibiotics, namely sulfamethoxazole (SMX), sulfadimethoxine (SDM), and sulfamonomethoxine (SMM), in an activated sludge system were investigated. Experiments were carried out by contacting 100 μg/L of each sulfonamide compound individually with 2.56 g/L of MLSS at 25 ± 0.5 °C, pH 7.0, and dissolved oxygen of 3.0 ± 0.1 mg/L in a batch reactor over different periods of 2 d and 14 d. All sulfonamides were removed completely over 11-13 d. Sorptive equilibrium was established well within the first few hours, followed by a lag period of 1-3 days before biodegradation was to deplete the antibiotic compounds linearly in the ensuing 10 days. Apparent zeroth-order rate constants were obtained by regression analysis of measured aqueous concentration vs. time profiles to a kinetic model accounting for sorption and biodegradation; they were 8.1, 7.9, and 7.7 μg/L/d for SDM, SMX, and SMM, respectively, at activated sludge concentration of 2.56 g/L. The measured kinetics implied that with typical hydraulic retention time (e.g. 6 h) provided by WWTP the removal of sulfonamide compounds from the wastewater during the activated sludge process would approximate 2 μg/L.     

Micro-profiles of activated sludge floc determined using microelectrodes

The microbial activity within activated sludge floc is a key factor in the performance of the activated sludge process. In this study, the microenvironment of activated sludge flocs from two wastewater treatment plants (Mill Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant and Muddy Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, with aeration tank influent CODs of 60-120 and 15-35 mg/L, respectively) were studied by using microelectrodes. Due to microbial oxygen utilization, the aerobic region in the activated sludge floc was limited to the surface layer (0.1-0.2mm) of the sludge aggregate at the Mill Creek plant. The presence of an anoxic zone inside the sludge floc under aerobic conditions was confirmed in this study. When the dissolved oxygen (DO) in the bulk liquid was higher than 4.0mg/L, the anoxic zone inside the activated sludge floc disappeared, which is helpful for biodegradation. At the Muddy Creek plant, with its lower wastewater pollutant concentrations, the redox potential and DO inside the sludge aggregates were higher than those at the Mill Creek plant. The contaminant concentration in the bulk wastewater correlates with the oxygen utilization rate, which directly influences the oxygen penetration inside the activated sludge floc, and results in redox potential changes within the floc. The measured microprofiles revealed the continuous decrease of nitrate concentration inside the activated sludge floc, even though significant nitrification was observed in the bulk wastewater. The oxygen consumption and nitrification rate analyses reveal that the increase of ammonia flux under aerobic conditions correlates with nitrification. Due to the metabolic mechanisms of the microorganisms in activated sludge floc, which varies from one treatment plant to another, the oxygen flux inside the sludge floc changes accordingly.     

Enhanced settleability and dewaterability of fungal treated domestic wastewater sludge by liquid state bioconversion process

A study was conducted to evaluate the settleability and dewaterability of fungal treated and untreated sludge using liquid state bioconversion process. The fungal mixed culture of Aspergillus niger and Penicillium corylophilum was used for fungal pretreatment of wastewater sludge. The fungal strains immobilized/entrapped on sludge particles with the formation of pellets and enhanced the separation process. The results presented in this study showed that the sludge particles (pellets) size of 2-5mm of diameter were formed with the microbial treatment of sludge after 2 days of fermentation that contained maximum 33.7% of total particles with 3-3.5mm of diameter. The settling rate (measured as total suspended solids (TSS) concentration, 130 mg/l) was faster in treated sludge than untreated sludge (TSS concentration, 440 mg/l) after 1 min of settling time. In 1 min of settling operation, 86.45% of TSS was settled in treated sludge while 4.35% of TSS settled in raw sludge. Lower turbidity was observed in treated sludge as compared to untreated sludge. The results to specific resistance to filtration (SRF) revealed that the fungal inoculum had significant potentiality to reduce SRF by 99.8% and 98.7% for 1% w/w and 4% w/w of TSS sludge, respectively. The optimum fermentation period recorded was 3 days for 1% w/w sludge and 6 days for 4% w/w sludge, respectively, for dewaterability test.     

啤酒污泥用作城市污水厂种泥的试验研究

为考察啤酒厂污水处理站的脱水污泥（简称啤酒污泥）用作城市污水厂接种污泥的可行性，摸索污泥的培养与驯化规律，采用连续操作、全流量同步培养和驯化方法，在处理能力为500m^2／d的UNITANK池中对啤酒污泥进行了培养和驯化。试验结果表明，啤酒污泥完全可以作为城市污水处理厂的接种污泥使用，而且培养时间短，出水水质好。曝气0．5h、厌氧搅拌1h时，活性污泥增长最快。将DO控制在2mg／L左右有利于活性污泥的增长；当DO长时间在7mg／L以上时，污泥浓度下降趋势明显。污泥浓度达到2000mg／L所需的培养驯化时间仅为5d；使出水水质达到一级B标准所需的培养时间约为6d。这种培养、驯化方法和经验可为其他城市污水处理厂的建设和运行提供参考。     

Degradation of nonylphenolic surfactants in activated sludge batch tests

The fate of nonylphenol polyethoxylate surfactants in the activated sludge wastewater treatment process is a concern due to the formation of estrogenic nonlyphenols on degradation and due to the large amounts discharged to the aquatic environment through sewage treatment works. Batch tests using activated sludge from a Husmann apparatus were used to determine the effects of these compounds physico-chemical properties and biological sludge characteristics on biodegradation. Degradation of nonylphenol polyethoxylates with up to 12 ethoxy groups was observed in unacclimated sludge with a concomitant production of nonylphenol and short chain nonylphenol polyethoxylate compounds. Degradation was determined to be a biotic process involving intracellular enzyme activity, which resulted in sludge age being an influential parameter. With increasing sludge age there is an increase in mixed liquor solids concentration in activated sludge which results in greater bacterial numbers and the potential for greater species diversity which therefore increases compound degradation. However, increased degradation of long chain compounds resulted in an accumulation of shorter chain compounds and nonylphenol, which are more resistant to degradation.     

The microbiology of an activated sludge waste-water treatment plant chemically treated for phosphorus removal

Microbiological research was conducted on a dual, secondary wastewater treatment system which was part of The Pennsylvania State University wastewater treatment plant. Each aeration basin received identical wastewater which was the effluent from a high rate trickling filter. One of the aeration basins was dosed with aluminum sulfate for the purpose of phosphorus removal. The other aeration basin (control) was operated in the conventional manner without alum addition. Plate counts performed on combined chemical-biological sludge and control activated sludge revealed that a higher number of viable micro-organisms was contained in the chemical-biological sludge, but the magnitude of difference between the two sludges was significant depending on the culture medium employed. Results suggest the aluminum flocs formed in the chemical-biological treatment enmesh dispersed wastewater micro-organisms, some of which are qualitatively unlike those indigenous to natural activated sludge. The combined chemical-biological sludge contained significantly higher numbers of lipolytic, gelatinolytic, and thiosulfate oxidizing micro-organisms and, possibly, fewer nitrite oxidizing micro-organisms than did control activated sludge. Alum did not appear to affect flagellated protozoa in mixed liquor; however, amoeboid and ciliated protozoa were found less frequently in alum dosed than in control mixed liquor. The settled effluent from the combined chemical-biological aeration basin generally contained fewer total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and fecal streptococci than did counterpart control effluents.     

Fate of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) in activated sludge plants

Monitoring data were collected in a pilot-scale municipal activated sludge plant to assess the fate of the C12-homologue of linear alkyl benzene sulfonate (LAS-C12). The pilot-plant was operated at influent LAS-C12 concentrations between 2 and 12 mg l(-1) and at sludge retention times of 10 and 27 days. Effluent and waste sludge concentrations varied between 5 and 10 microg l(-1) and between 37 and 69 microg g(-1) VSS, respectively. In the sludge samples only 2-8% was present as dissolved LAS-C12, whereas the remaining 92-98% was found to be adsorbed to the sludge. In spite of this high degree of sorption, more than 99% of the LAS-C12 load was removed by biodegradation, showing that not only the soluble fraction but also the adsorbed fraction of LAS-C12 is readily available for biodegradation. Sorption and biodegradation of LAS-C12 were also investigated separately. Sorption was an extremely fast and reversible process and could be described by a linear isotherm with a partition coefficient of 3.2 l g(-1) volatile suspended solids. From the results of biodegradation kinetic tests it was concluded that primary biodegradation of LAS-C12 cannot be described by a (growth) Monod model, but a secondary utilisation model should be used instead. The apparent affinity of the sludge to biodegrade LAS-C12 increased when the sludge was loaded with higher influent concentrations of LAS-C12.     

Dynamic experiments with high bisphenol-A concentrations modelled with an ASM model extended to include a separate XOC degrading microorganism

The perspective of this work is to develop a model, which can be used to better understand and optimize wastewater treatment plants that are able to remove xenobiotic organic compounds (XOCs) in combination with removal of traditional pollutants. Results from dynamic experiments conducted with the endocrine disrupting XOC bisphenol-A (BPA) in an activated sludge process with real wastewater were used to hypothesize an ASM-based process model including aerobic growth of a specific BPA-degrading microorganism and sorption of BPA to sludge. A parameter estimation method was developed, which simultaneously utilizes steady-state background concentrations and dynamic step response data, as well as conceptual simplifications of the plant configuration. Validation results show that biodegradation of BPA is sensitive to operational conditions before and during the experiment and that the proposed model structure is capable of capturing important characteristics of the observed BPA removal, thus increasing the potential for generalizing knowledge obtained from plant specific experiments.     

Effect of linear alkylbenzene sulphonates (LAS) on the anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge

Batch anaerobic biodegradation tests with different alkylbenzene sulphonates (LAS) at increasing concentrations were performed in order to investigate the effect of LAS homologues on the anaerobic digestion process of sewage sludge. Addition of LAS homologues to the anaerobic digesters increased the biogas production at surfactant concentrations 5-10 g/kg dry sludge and gave rise to a partial or total inhibition of the methanogenic activity at higher surfactant loads. Therefore, at the usual LAS concentration range in sewage sludge, no adverse effects on the anaerobic digesters functioning of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) can be expected. The increase of biogas production at low surfactant concentrations was attributed to an increase of the bioavailability and subsequent biodegradation of organic pollutants associated with the sludge, promoted by the surfactant adsorption at the solid/liquid interface. When the available surfactant fraction in the aqueous phase instead of the nominal surfactant concentration was used to evaluate the toxicity of LAS homologues, a highly significant relationship between toxicity and alkyl chain length was obtained. Taking into account the homologue distribution of commercial LAS in the liquid phase of the anaerobic digesters of a WWTP, an EC(50) value of 14 mg/L can be considered for LAS toxicity on the anaerobic microorganisms.