A predictive model for the reactor inorganic suspended solids concentration in activated sludge systems

A simple predictive model for the activated sludge reactor inorganic suspended solids (ISS) concentration (excluding that from chemical precipitant dosing) is presented. It is based on the accumulation of influent ISS in the reactor and an ordinary heterotrophic organism (OHO) ISS content (fiOHO) of 0.15 mg ISS/mg OHO organic (volatile) suspended solids (VSS) and a variable phosphate accumulating organism (PAO) ISS content (fiPAO) proportional to their P content (fXBGP). Organism ISS content is conceptualized as the uptake of dissolved inorganic solids by active organisms, which when dried in the total suspended solids (TSS) test procedure, precipitate and manifest as ISS. The model is validated with data from 22 investigations conducted over the past 15 years on 30 aerobic and anoxic-aerobic nitrification-denitrification (ND) systems and 18 anaerobic-anoxic-aerobic ND biological excess P removal (BEPR) systems variously fed artificial and real wastewater, and operated from 3 to 20 days sludge age. The predicted reactor VSS/TSS ratio reflects the observed relative sensitivity to sludge age, which is low, and to BEPR, which is high. To use the model for design, two parameters need to be known: (1) the influent ISS concentration, which is not commonly measured in wastewater characterization analyses and (2) the P content of PAOs (fXBGP), which can vary considerably depending on the extent of anoxic P uptake BEPR that takes place in the system. Some guidance on the measurement of influent ISS concentration and selection of the PAO P content to calculate the mixed liquor VSS/TSS ratio for design is given.     

Aerobic digestion of thickened activated sludge: Reaction rate constant determination and process performance

The aims of this work were to select which parameter—total suspended solids (TSS), volatile suspended solids (VSS) or degradable volatile suspended solids (DVSS)—best expressed the kinetics of aerobic digestion of waste secondary activated sludge: to define the relationship between the reaction rate constant and the initial concentration of sludges; to evaluate the effect of aerobic digestion on the filterability of the treated sludge as measured by the capillary suction time (C.S.T.).Batch experiments of aerobic digestion were performed in our laboratory on samples of sludges at a constant temperature of 20 C. The initial concentration of sludges ranged from 2600 to 22,000 mg l⁻¹.TSS was found to be the parameter which most closely fits the kinetic model of aerobic digestion. The reaction rate constant was a linear, inverse function of the initial sludge concentration with TSS and with VSS as a parameter.Sludge filterability is affected by the process of aerobic digestion; a prolonged aeration time results in poorer dewatering; and the more concentrated the sample, the poorer the dewatering.     

Full-scale trials of recycled glass as tertiary filter medium for wastewater treatment

Pilot-scale trials at a domestic wastewater treatment works compared the performance of three grades of recycled glass (coarse, medium and fine) when used as tertiary filter media for total suspended solids removal (TSS). Fine glass produced the best effluent quality but blinded rapidly and coarse glass could process three times the flow but with a reduction in final effluent quality. The medium glass offered a compromise with similar flow characteristics to the coarse glass, yet still achieve good solids removal, albeit less than the fine glass. Full-scale studies compared the performance of medium glass with the sand medium that is typically used in this application. There was little difference between them in terms of TSS removal, and they both removed around 75% of TSS from the influent, provided that the solids concentration did not exceed 70mg/l. However, the glass media had superior flow characteristics and was able to treat an additional 8-10% of the influent following the backwash cycle. Over the study period, the influent to the filters had an average TSS concentration of 38mg/l and produced an effluent with an average of 15mg TSS/l. In order to design for an average TSS concentration of 20mg/l, the maximum solids loading on the medium should not exceed 0.25kg solids/m(3)/h. Selecting recycled glass as a tertiary filter medium will give a 10% reduction in the amount of media required, compared to sand. It also carries with it the benefits of using a recycled material, and although these are more difficult to quantify they include: reduced CO(2) emissions and use of a more sustainable product that promotes favourable publicity and positive environmental reporting.     

A solid chemical oxygen demand (COD) method for determining biomass in waste waters

A method of biomass determination similar to volatile suspended solids (VSS) that used chemical oxygen demand (COD) as a detection method instead of gravimetric methods is described. The “solid COD” method has a strong correlation with VSS for biomass at different stages of growth on different wastewaters including municipal sewage and bleached kraft mill effluent. Soluble COD from the wastewaters did not interfere with the assay. However, non-biomass suspended solids in chemi-thermo-mechanical pulping effluent were found to have a different COD/VSS ratio and thus interfered with solid COD results. The ratio between COD and VSS for biomass was approx. 1.2–1.6 mg COD/mg VSS.     

Incorporation of inorganic material in anoxic/aerobic-activated sludge system mixed liquor

In the bioreactor of the nitrification denitrification (ND)-activated sludge system, the mixed liquor is made up of organic and inorganic materials. In the current design procedures and simulation models, the influent wastewater characteristics and biological processes that influence the bioreactor mixed liquor organic solids (as volatile suspended solids, VSS, or COD) are explicitly included. However, the mixed liquor total suspended solids (TSS, i.e. organic+inorganic solids) are calculated simply from empirical ratios of VSS/TSS. The TSS concentration is fundamental in the design of secondary settling tanks and waste activated sludge disposal. Clearly, the empirical approach to obtaining an estimate for TSS is not satisfactory within the framework of a fundamentally based model. Accordingly, the incorporation of the inorganic material present in the influent wastewater into ND-activated sludge system mixed liquor was investigated. From an experimental investigation into the distribution of inorganics in the influent, mixed liquor and effluent of a laboratory-scale ND-activated sludge system, it was concluded inter alia that (i) of the total inorganic solids in the influent, only a small fraction (2.8–7.5%) is incorporated into the mixed liquor, (ii) most of the inorganics in the influent (mean 88%) and effluent (mean 98.5%) are in the dissolved form, the balance being particulate, and (iii) the influent and effluent inorganic dissolved solids concentrations are closely equal (mean effluent to influent ratio 100%). Further, a number of models were developed to quantify the mixed liquor inorganic, and, hence, total solids. From an evaluation of these models against the experimental data, it would appear that the best approach to model the incorporation of inorganics into the activated sludge mixed liquor is to follow the concepts and principles used to develop the existing models for organic materials. With this approach, reasonably close correlation between predicted and measured data for mixed liquor and effluent inorganic concentrations were obtained.     

Performance evaluation of an oily industrial wastewater treatment system using the application of activated sludge model No. 3

The purpose of the present study was to adapt the activated sludge model No. 3 (ASM3) to the characteristics of oily industrial wastewater, determining the utmost significant and appropriate kinetic as well as stoichiometric parameters. An oily industrial wastewater treatment system was simulated to assess ASM3 validation and perform sensitivity analysis using the STOAT program. The obtained results revealed that the ASM3 model, which was calibrated after adding the Arrhenius equation into consideration, provided strong correlations with the analytical results of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), mixed liquor volatile suspended solids (MLVSS) and total suspended solids in the return activated sludge flow (TSS in RAS) concentrations. The values of modelled effluent COD and TSS are very close to those corresponding real values of the treated wastewater by a difference of between 0.5% and 1.5%. Thus, this model becomes successful in representing oily industrial wastewater treatment as a new trend added to the traditional modelling of sewage treatment.     

The potential of producing heterotrophic bacteria biomass on aquaculture waste

The effluent from the drumfilter of a recirculation aquaculture system was used as substrate to produce heterotrophic bacteria in suspended growth reactors. The effects of organic carbon supplementation (0, 3, 6, 8 g/l sodium acetate) and of hydraulic retention times (11-1h) on bacteria biomass production and nutrient conversion were investigated. Bacteria production, expressed as volatile suspended solids (VSS), was enhanced by organic carbon supplementation, resulting in a production of 55-125 g VSS/kg fish feed (0.2-0.5 g VSS/g carbon). Maximum observed crude protein production was approximately 100 g protein/kg fish feed. The metabolic maintenance costs were 0.08 Cmol/Cmol h, and the maximum growth rate was 0.25-0.5 h(-1). Ninety percent of the inorganic nitrogenous and 80% of ortho-phosphate were converted. Producing bacteria on the drumfilter effluent results in additional protein retention and lowers overall nutrient discharge from recirculation aquaculture systems.     

Methylmercury in rivers draining cultivated watersheds

Total mercury (THg) concentrations in streams draining cultivated watersheds in Minnesota, USA are strongly correlated with total suspended sediment (TSS) concentrations, varying widely in response to precipitation-driven inputs of soil-derived suspended sediments. Methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations in these waterways have not been studied, and little is known about mercury uptake mechanisms in resident fish populations. To begin to identify factors influencing MeHg concentrations and loadings in these streams, we measured THg and MeHg concentrations in unfiltered whole water samples from the Minnesota River and two of its major tributaries, the Blue Earth and Le Sueur Rivers. Land use in the watersheds of these rivers is over 90% row-crop agriculture, and extensive artificial drainage systems deliver runoff and associated solids quickly to local streams and rivers. THg concentrations were elevated (>10 ng/l) during much of Spring 2000 and part of the summer when runoff from precipitation events increased stream discharge and carried soil materials into the streams. Reduced precipitation resulted in low flow conditions from August through October, and THg concentrations decreased to <4.0 ng/l in all three rivers. MeHg concentrations in the Le Sueur River ranged from 0.07 to 0.42 ng/l between June and December. Higher MeHg concentrations (>0.2 ng/l) were measured during summer months when THg and TSS concentrations were high after precipitation events. Elevated MeHg concentrations were also observed in late October after leaf litter inputs. Conditions on the Blue Earth River were different, with elevated MeHg concentrations (>0.5 ng/l) observed during low flow in August and September. These higher concentrations coincided with a period of enhanced microbial growth stimulated by high late-summer temperatures. A late-October increase in MeHg concentration attributed to leaf litter inputs was also observed in this river. MeHg concentration trends in the Minnesota River were similar to those in the Blue Earth River. Indicators of biological productivity (chlorophyll a, volatile suspended solids, and total Kjeldahl nitrogen) were higher in the Blue Earth and Minnesota Rivers compared to the Le Sueur River, which may signal a connection between higher biological activity and increased MeHg concentrations.     

Effect of chromium(VI) on bacterial kinetics of heterotrophic biomass of activated sludge

The effect of hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), on the maximum specific growth rate, mu(m) and biomass yield, Y(H), of heterotrophic biomass was studied in batch tests conducted under high (= 10) and low (= 1.5) substrate-to-biomass ratios (S0/X0). The effects of sludge age and biomass acclimatization to Cr(VI) on the bacterial kinetics were also studied. The mu(m) values were determined by measuring oxygen uptake rate (OUR) and volatile suspended solids (VSS) increase. Cr(VI) concentrations equal or greater than 10 mg l(-1) inhibited the growth of unacclimatized activated sludge and caused a significant decrease in mu(m) and Y(H) values. The acclimatization of biomass and the selection of a high operating sludge age reduced the inhibitory effect of Cr(VI). At a sludge age of 20 days, Cr(VI) concentrations of <10 mg l(-1) stimulated bacterial growth as evidenced by an increase in both the mu(m) and Y(H) values. Determining mu(m) values by OUR and VSS methods, revealed that the presence of Cr(VI) in unacclimatized biomass caused an inhibitory effect mostly on substrate oxidation, while in acclimatized biomass, anabolic pathways were inhibited more.     

Aerobic granulation with industrial wastewater in sequencing batch reactors

Granular sludge formation was promoted in two laboratory scale sequencing batch reactors (SBRs), R1 and R2 fed with industrial wastewater produced in a laboratory for analysis of dairy products. Both reactors were operated under similar conditions during most of the experimental period. However, an anoxic phase between 10 and 30 min was included at the beginning of every cycle of operation of R1, but not in R2. Organic and nitrogen loading rates applied to both systems were high, up to 7 g COD/(L d) and 0.7 g N/(L d). Nitrogen removal efficiency was 70% in both units even considering that R2 was operated always under aerobic conditions. Granules with similar morphology were developed in both systems. Size distribution was comprehended between 0.25 and 4.0 mm for both systems. The presence of TSS in the effluent of the SBRs was strongly affected by either the length of the withdrawal period or by the particulated COD to biomass ratio (CODp/VSS) applied to the systems. The lower concentrations of TSS in the effluent were attained when the systems were operated with a CODp/VSS ratio lower than 0.12 g COD/g VSS. There was a strong reduction of the average TSS content in the effluent from 450 to 200 and 150 mg TSS/L when the length of the withdrawal period was diminished sequentially from 3 to 1 and 0.5 min, respectively. This was caused by a more intensive washout of small suspended biomass aggregates that took place when the length of this period was shortened.     

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.     

Partitioning of copper onto suspended particulate matter in river waters

Suspended particles and river water from the Susquehanna River, White Clay Creek and the Delaware River were collected to experimentally study the partitioning of copper. The effects of many factors that may influence the partitioning coefficient (Kd) including pH, total suspended solids (TSS), total copper concentration ([Cu]T), dissolved organic matter (DOM), particulate organic matter (POM), hardness, and ionic strength were investigated by performing batch adsorption experiments. The results implied that organic matter binding sites in both the aqueous and solid phases play the most important role in controlling copper partitioning. Other major factors governing the partitioning are pH and TSS. Kd increases with pH in the pH range 3-8. TSS increases caused decreases in Kd values, which may be attributed to the decrease in the quantity of available binding sites caused by interparticle interactions, rather than by the redistribution of organic matter between solid and solution phases with the variation of TSS. Kd decreases slightly when total Cu concentration increases; however, Kd can be considered to be independent of Cu concentration when TSS is high. The effects of calcium competition and ionic strength on partitioning are small.     

The risks from airborne asbestos in the urban environment

The objective of this full‐scale study is to determine the treatment performance of the activated sludge process for treating low strength municipal wastewater. The plant is located in Painesville, Ohio, and discharges its treated effluent into Grand River. The average plant wastewater flow was 3.43 MGD (million gallons per day). The plant performance was evaluated for a 12‐month period in 1989. The low strength municipal wastewater contained 104 mg/L TSS (total suspended solids), 105 mg/L BOD (biochemical oxygen demand), 17.76 mg/L TKN (total kjeldahl nitrogen), 9.66 mg/L NH₃‐N, and 3.90 mg/L P (phosphorus). The treatment performance after various degrees of treatment is as follows: primary treatment: 30% BOD and 54% TSS removal, secondary treatment: 97% BOD and 87% TSS removal, and tertiary treatment: 98% BOD and 98% TSS removal. The primary effluent contained 73 mg/L BOD and 48 mg/L TSS; the secondary effluent contained 3 mg/L BOD and 13 mg/L TSS; and the final effluent contained 2 mg/L BOD and 2 mg/L TSS. The effluent contained 0.22 mg/L NH₃‐N and 0.49 mg/L P, which were far below the US EPA standard of 10 mg/L BOD, 10 mg/L TSS, 1 mg/L NH₃‐N, and 1 mg/L P.     

Characteristics of nitrogen and phosphorus loads in peat mining wastewater

Runoff water quality from a peat mine was studied during 1995 and 1996 in Central Finland. Water samples from three drained sub-catchments and groundwater were analysed for all the standard physio-chemical parametres including different forms of nitrogen and phosphorus. The annual leaching of phosphorus, nitrogen and suspended solids was estimated to be 16-38 kgkm(-2), 1,073-1,500 kgkm(-2), and 2-8 tkm(-2), respectively. The variation in nutrient concentrations could be best explained by the relative volumes of new water (5-day sum of rainfall), ditchwater temperature and conductivity. Heavy rainfall caused new water to infiltrate washing nitrate out of the unsaturated peat layer resulting in high concentrations in ground- and ditchwater. Ditchwater phosphorus concentrations always decreased with increased runoff and peaked, as did COD and colour, after dry spells when old groundwater dominated runoff. A large part of the suspended solids load occurred during snowmelt, whereas dissolved solids and nitrogen loads peaked during summer flows.     

Mercury contaminations from historic mining to water, soil and vegetation in Lanmuchang, Guizhou, southwestern China

Concentrations of total mercury and methylmercury (MeHg) were measured in soil and vegetation samples collected from a small area with a long history of Hg-mining. Hg distributions were determined in stream-waters during two sampling periods. Total Hg concentrations in soil and vegetation samples were highly elevated ranging from 0.41 to 610 mg kg(-1) and from 0.02 to 55 mg kg(-1), respectively. MeHg concentrations varied from 0.41 to 8.8 microg kg(-1) in soil samples and from 0.65 to 5.5 microg kg(-1) in vegetations. The concentrations of total Hg in stream waters varied from 55.0 to 7020 ng L(-1) in the flood-flow regime and from 24.8 to 679 ng L(-1) in the base-flow regime, respectively. Average dissolved Hg concentration was 15.7 ng L(-1) in the wet season and 21.0 ng L(-1) in the dry season. However, particulate Hg was typically >70% of total Hg in the flood-flow regime. Higher concentrations of particulate Hg primarily originated from summer floods were the major pathway of Hg transportation, which were evidenced by the positive correlation between particulate Hg and total suspended solids (TSS). The contaminated soils and distribution patterns of Hg in the stream-waters may serve as an important source of Hg to the local environment in the study area.     

Variation among plant species in pollutant removal from stormwater in biofiltration systems

Biofiltration systems use vegetation to improve efficiency of pollutant removal from stormwater, but little is known of how plants vary in their capacity to improve biofilter effectiveness. We used a pot trial of 20 Australian species to investigate how species vary in the removal of pollutants from semisynthetic storm water passing through a soil filter medium. Effluent levels of total suspended solids (TSS), Al, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn were similarly low for vegetated and non-vegetated soils, with reduction to <1-12% of levels in the stormwater input. N and P effluent concentrations were generally lower from vegetated than non-vegetated soils, but total N increased on average in effluent of both vegetated and non-vegetated soils relative to stormwater input. Effluent concentrations varied 2-4-fold among species for TSS, total N and P, total dissolved N (TDN), organic nitrogen and Cu, to more than 20-fold for NOx, NH4+, Mn, Pb and Fe. Species also varied markedly in pollutant removal per root mass (a means of standardising for plant size), with 18-50-fold variation among species in effluent concentrations of total P and N, TDN and organic N, to >150-fold variation in NOx and NH4+. Hence, choice of plant species may have marked effects on biofilter effectiveness.     

Retrieval of water quality from airborne imaging spectrometry of various lake types in different seasons

The suitability of the AISA airborne imaging spectrometer for monitoring lake water quality was tested in four surveys carried out in southern Finland in 1996-1998. Altogether, 11 lakes were surveyed and the total number of stations with concurrent remote sensing and limnological measurements was 127. The ranges of the water quality variables were: the sum of chlorophyll a and phaeophytin a 1-100 microg l(-1), turbidity 0.4-26 FNU, total suspended solids 0.7-32 mg l(-1), absorption coefficient of aquatic humus at 400 nm 1.2-14 m(-1) and secchi disc transparency 0.4-7 m. For the retrieval analyses, 24 AISA channels in the 450-786 nm range with a channel width of 6-14 nm were used. The agreement between estimated and observed water quality variables was generally good and R2 for the best algorithms was in the range of 0.72-0.90 over the whole dataset. The channels used for May were, in most cases, the same as those for August, but the empirical parameters of the algorithms were different. After seasonal grouping, R2 varied from 0.84 to 0.95. The use of apparent reflectance instead of radiance improved the estimation of water quality in the case of total suspended solids and turbidity. In the most humic lake, the empirical algorithms tested were suitable only for the interpretation of total suspended solids and turbidity.     

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.     

The Application of Cross-flow Microfiltration Technology to the Concentration of Sewage Works Sludge Streams

A LOCALLY DEVELOPED cross-flow microfiltration process using woven fabric tubes was used to concentrate waste activated sludge and anaerobic digested sludge from a conventional sewage works.
Results showed that waste activated sludge could be concentrated from 5 to 50 g/l total solids. The permeate quality was good (0 to 50 mg/l suspended solids), but deteriorated both with time and increasing feed solids concentration.
A cross-flow microfilter was coupled to a pilot scale anaerobic digester and the digester solids were increased from 26 to 55 g/l total solids. The organic loading to the digester was increased from 1.8 to 3.1 kg volatile solids per m³ per day. The solids retention time was held constant at 26 days, while the liquid retention time was decreased from 26 to 14 days. The permeate quality was significantly better than the supernatant liquor from a comparable digester (suspended solids 122 and 570 mg/l, respectively).
Data obtained from the cross-flow microfiltration of waste activated sludge was used to regress for the constants in a mathematical model of steady-state flux.     

Stochastic modeling of total suspended solids (TSS) in urban areas during rain events

The load of total suspended solids (TSS) is one of the most important parameters for evaluating wet-weather pollution in urban sanitation systems. In fact, pollutants such as heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phosphorous and organic compounds are adsorbed onto these particles so that a high TSS load indicates the potential impact on the receiving waters. In this paper, a stochastic model is proposed to estimate the TSS load and its dynamics during rain events. Information on the various simulated processes was extracted from different studies of TSS in urban areas. The model thus predicts the probability of TSS loads arising from combined sewer overflows (CSOs) in combined sewer systems as well as from stormwater in separate sewer systems in addition to the amount of TSS retained in treatment devices in both sewer systems. The results of this TSS model illustrate the potential of the stochastic modeling approach for assessing environmental problems.