Ammonium adsorption in aerobic granular sludge, activated sludge and anammox granules

The ammonium adsorption properties of aerobic granular sludge, activated sludge and anammox granules have been investigated. During operation of a pilot-scale aerobic granular sludge reactor, a positive relation between the influent ammonium concentration and the ammonium adsorbed was observed. Aerobic granular sludge exhibited much higher adsorption capacity compared to activated sludge and anammox granules. At an equilibrium ammonium concentration of 30 mg N/L, adsorption obtained with activated sludge and anammox granules was around 0.2 mg NH₄-N/g VSS, while aerobic granular sludge from lab- and pilot-scale exhibited an adsorption of 1.7 and 0.9 mg NH₄-N/g VSS, respectively. No difference in the ammonium adsorption was observed in lab-scale reactors operated at different temperatures (20 and 30 °C). In a lab-scale reactor fed with saline wastewater, we observed that the amount of ammonium adsorbed considerably decreased when the salt concentration increased. The results indicate that adsorption or better ion exchange of ammonium should be incorporated into models for nitrification/denitrification, certainly when aerobic granular sludge is used.     

Heterotroph anoxic yield in anoxic aerobic activated sludge systems treating municipal wastewater

As input to the steady state design and kinetic simulation models for the activated sludge system, the correct value for the heterotroph anoxic yield is essential to provide reliable estimates for the system denitrification potential. This paper examines activated sludge anoxic yield values in the literature, and presents experimental data quantifying the value. In the literature, in terms of the structure of ASM1 and similar models, theoretically it has been shown that the anoxic yield should be reduced to approximately 0.79 the value of the aerobic yield. This theoretical value is validated with data from corresponding aerobic OUR and anoxic nitrate time profiles in a batch fed laboratory scale long sludge age activated sludge system treating municipal wastewater. The value also is in close agreement with values in the literature measured with both artificial substrates and municipal wastewater. Thus, it is concluded that, in ASM1 and similar models, for an aerobic yield of 0.67mg COD/mg COD, the anoxic yield should be about 0.53 mg COD/mg COD. Including such a lower anoxic yield in ASM1 and similar models will result in a significant increase in denitrification potential, due to increased denitrification with wastewater RBCOD as substrate. In terms of the structure of ASM3, for the proposed substrate storage yields and the aerobic yield of 0.63 mg COD/mg COD, experimental data indicate that the corresponding anoxic yield should be about 0.42 mg COD/mg COD. This is significantly lower than the proposed value of 0.54 mg COD/mg COD, and requires further investigation.     

Effect of extended idle conditions on structure and activity of granular activated sludge

In industry and in tourist areas, periods exist during which no or only very little sewage is produced, and the wastewater treatment facilities have to be set into an idle phase over several days and even weeks. When wastewater is generated again and delivered to the treatment plant, the microorganisms in the activated sludge plant may have lost activity, and the activated sludge flocs may have disintegrated. From previous observation, it is assumed that granular activated sludge is more resistant against long-term storage than activated sludge flocs. Experiments using a laboratory-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) were conducted to study the impacts of a 7-weeks anaerobic idle time on structural integrity and metabolic activity of granular activated sludge, and the time required to regain the former operational status of the plant. Oxygen consumption rate (OCR) was used as an indicator to evaluate the metabolic activity of the sludge. The results revealed that the size, color and sedimentation characteristics of the granular sludge did hardly change during the storage period. Sludge activity, however, dropped to values as low as 0.17 mg min(-1)L(-1). After restarting the reactor, the OCR increased within 1 day to a level of 0.57 mg min(-1)L(-1), kept rising at a linear rate in the following days, and reached after 1 week, a value of 5.74 mg min(-1)L(-1) typical for the former activity status. These results imply that granular activated sludge can be stored for a considerably long period of time, and brought into service again relatively quickly. After an idle period of 7 weeks, it took less than a week to regain full capacity of the SBR.     

Powdered activated carbon in an activated sludge treatment plant

Addition of powdered activated carbon (PAC) to the aeration basin of an activated sludge treatment plant fed with dye-works waste waters increases the purifying capacity of the plant: removal efficiency rises from 55.8 to 75.6% (COD) and from 78 to 98.5% (BOD₅) and the nitrification-denitrification capacity of the system also increases.The sludge growth parameters and the kinetic constant of biological oxidation were determined on the plant with and without PAC. The addition of PAC decreased overall sludge growth rate and the auto-oxidation factor, but increased the biological removal rate of the substrate by about one order of magnitude.     

Characterization of natural organic matter adsorption in granular activated carbon adsorbers

The removal of natural organic matter (NOM) from lake water was studied in two pilot-scale adsorbers containing granular activated carbon (GAC) with different physical properties. To study the adsorption behavior of individual NOM fractions as a function of time and adsorber depth, NOM was fractionated by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) into biopolymers, humics, building blocks, and low molecular weight (LMW) organics, and NOM fractions were quantified by both ultraviolet and organic carbon detectors. High molecular weight biopolymers were not retained in the two adsorbers. In contrast, humic substances, building blocks and LMW organics were initially well and irreversibly removed, and their effluent concentrations increased gradually in the outlet of the adsorbers until a pseudo-steady state concentration was reached. Poor removal of biopolymers was likely a result of their comparatively large size that prevented access to the internal pore structure of the GACs. In both GAC adsorbers, adsorbability of the remaining NOM fractions, compared on the basis of partition coefficients, increased with decreasing molecular size, suggesting that increasingly larger portions of the internal GAC surface area could be accessed as the size of NOM decreased. Overall DOC uptake at pseudo-steady state differed between the two tested GACs (18.9 and 28.6 g-C/kg GAC), and the percent difference in DOC uptake closely matched the percent difference in the volume of pores with widths in the 1-50 nm range that was measured for the two fresh GACs. Despite the differences in NOM uptake capacity, individual NOM fractions were removed in similar proportions by the two GACs.     

Bioflocculation of mesophilic and thermophilic activated sludge

Thermophilic activated sludge treatment is often hampered by a turbid effluent. Reasons for this phenomenon are so far unknown. Here, the hypothesis of the temperature dependency of the hydrophobic interaction as a possible cause for diminished thermophilic activated sludge bioflocculation was tested. Adsorption of wastewater colloidal particles was monitored on different flat surfaces as a function of temperature. Adsorption on a hydrophobic surface varied with temperature between 20 and 60 degrees C and no upward or downward trend could be observed. This makes the hydrophobic interaction hypothesis unlikely in explaining the differences in mesophilic and thermophilic activated sludge bioflocculation. Both mesophilic and thermophilic biomass did not flocculate with wastewater colloidal particles under anaerobic conditions. Only in the presence of oxygen, with biologically active bacteria, the differences in bioflocculation behavior became evident. Bioflocculation was shown only to occur with the combination of wastewater and viable mesophilic biomass at 30 degrees C, in the presence of oxygen. Bioflocculation did not occur in case the biomass was inactivated or when oxygen was absent. Thermophilic activated sludge hardly showed any bioflocculation, also under mesophilic conditions. Despite the differences in bioflocculation behavior, sludge hydrophobicity and sludge zetapotentials were almost similar. Theoretical calculations using the DLVO (Derjaguin, Landau, Verweij and Overbeek) theory showed that flocculation is unlikely in all cases due to long-range electrostatic forces. These calculations, combined with the fact that bioflocculation actually did occur at 30 degrees C and the unlikelyness of the hydrophobic interaction, point in the direction of bacterial exo-polymers governing bridging flocculation. Polymer interactions are not included in the DLVO theory and may vary as a function of temperature.     

ICEAS工艺启动及活性污泥培养驯化应用实例

结合福州市金山污水处理厂工艺及及活性污泥培养驯化实例,分析总结ICEAS工艺启动及活性污泥培养驯化经验。     

Low dose powdered activated carbon addition at high sludge retention times to reduce fouling in membrane bioreactors

The addition of a low concentration of PAC (0.5 g L⁻¹ of sludge, i.e. a dose of 4 mg L⁻¹ of wastewater), in combination with a relatively long SRT (50 days), to improve membrane filtration performance was investigated in two pilot-scale MBRs treating real municipal wastewater. Continuous filterability tests at high flux showed the possibility to run for 18 h at 72 L m⁻² h⁻¹ and 180 h at 50 L m⁻² h⁻¹, while significant fouling occurred without PAC. In addition, measurements of the critical flux showed an increase of 10% for this strategy. Low dosage and high retention time makes it feasible and cost effective. Further advantages with regard to permeate quality and possible micropollutants removal are currently under investigation.     

Fermentation of agro-food wastewaters by activated sludge

This study investigates the potential of agro-food wastewater fermentation by activated sludge. Experimental results shown that all of the agro-food wastewaters studied initially had considerable concentrations of fermentable substrates, ranging from 19% to 68% of the total COD, but not all of the substrates contained in this COD fraction were fermented after an anaerobic stage of 10h. The percentage of fermentable substrates fermented by the activated sludge during the anaerobic stage ranged from 14% to 68%, presenting the potato processing wastewater the highest concentration of fermented substrates. A mathematical model was proposed to describe the fermentation process. By using this model, the maximum fermentation rates were obtained, ranging their values from 0.6 to 3.4 (gCODgCOD(-1)d(-1)). The fermentation potentials of the agro-food wastewaters were also determined, their values ranged from 0.17 to 0.20 (gCODgCOD(-1)) except for the cheese and the winery wastewater which presented fermentation potentials of 0.12 and 0.14 (gCODgCOD(-1)), respectively.     

Integration of anammox into the aerobic granular sludge process for main stream wastewater treatment at ambient temperatures

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation, nitrification and removal of COD was studied at ambient temperature (18 °C ± 3) in an anoxic/aerobic granular sludge reactor during 390 days. The reactor was operated in a sequencing fed batch mode and was fed with acetate and ammonium containing medium with a COD/N ratio of 0.5 [g COD/gN]. During influent addition, the medium was mixed with recycled effluent which contained nitrate in order to allow acetate oxidation and nitrate reduction by anammox bacteria. In the remainder of the operational cycle the reactor was aerated and controlled at a dissolved oxygen concentration of 1.5 mg O₂/l in order to establish simultaneous nitritation and Anammox. Fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH) revealed that the dominant Anammox bacterial population shifted toward Candidatus “Brocadia fulgida” which is known to be capable of organotrophic nitrate reduction. The reactor achieved stable volumetric removal rates of 900 [g N₂-N/m³/day] and 600 [g COD/m³/day]. During the total experimental period Anammox bacteria remained dominant and the sludge production was 5 fold lower than what was expected by heterotrophic growth suggesting that consumed acetate was not used by heterotrophs. These observations show that Anammox bacteria can effectively compete for COD at ambient temperatures and can remove effectively nitrate with a limited amount of acetate. This study indicates a potential successful route toward application of Anammox in granular sludge reactors on municipal wastewater with a limited amount of COD.     

Arsenic removal by iron-modified activated carbon

Iron-impregnated activated carbons have been found to be very effective in arsenic removal. Oxyanionic arsenic species such as arsenate and arsenite adsorb at the iron oxyhydroxide surface by forming complexes with the surface sites. Our goal has been to load as much iron within the carbon pores as possible while also rendering as much of the iron to be available for sorbing arsenic. Surface oxidation of carbon by HNO3/H2SO4 or by HNO3/KMnO4 increased the amount of iron that could be loaded to 7.6-8.0%; arsenic stayed below 10 ppb until 12,000 bed volumes during rapid small-scale tests (RSSCTs) using Rutland, MA groundwater (40-60 ppb arsenic, and pH of 7.6-8.0). Boehm titrations showed that surface oxidation greatly increased the concentration of carboxylic and phenolic surface groups. Iron impregnation by precipitation or iron salt evaporation was also evaluated. Iron content was increased to 9-17% with internal iron-loading, and to 33.6% with both internal and external iron loading. These iron-tailored carbons reached 25,000-34,000 bed volumes to 10 ppb arsenic breakthrough during RSSCTs. With the 33.6% iron loading, some iron peeled off.     

Conventional and thermophilic aerobic treatability of high strength oily pet food wastewater using membrane-coupled bioreactors

Although thermophilic treatment systems have recently gained considerable interest, limited information exists on the comparative performances of membrane-coupled bioreactors (MBR) at thermophilic and conventional conditions. In this study aerobic MBRs operating at room temperature (20 degrees C) and at lower thermophilic range (45 degrees C) were investigated for the treatment of dissolved air flotation (DAF) pretreated pet food wastewater. The particular wastewater is characterized by oil and grease (O & G) concentrations as high as 6 g/L, COD of 51 g/L, BOD of 16 g/L and volatile fatty acid (VFA) of 8.3 g/L. The performances of the two systems in terms of COD, BOD and O & G removal at varying hydraulic retention time (HRT) are compared. COD removal efficiencies in the thermophilic MBR varied from 75% to 98% and remained constant at 94% in the conventional MBR. The O & G removal efficiencies were 66-86% and 98% in the thermophilic and conventional MBR, respectively. Interestingly, high concentrations of VFA were recorded, equivalent to 50-73% of total COD, in the thermophilic MBR effluent. The observed yield in the thermophilic MBR was 40% of that observed in the conventional MBR.     

Regeneration of granular activated carbon with adsorbed trichloroethylene using wet peroxide oxidation

The objective of this study is to clarify the regeneration of granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorbed trichloroethylene (TCE) using wet peroxide oxidation (WPO). TCE and TOC concentrations decreased during WPO, whereas Cl(-) accumulated in water indicating that TCE was not only decomposed but was also mineralized to Cl(-) and CO(2) using WPO. Regeneration efficiencies (q/q(0)) of GAC regenerated at 150, 165 and 180 degrees C (initial pH 4) were 0.36, 0.45, 0.48, respectively. In addition, regeneration efficiencies of GAC regenerated in the solution of various initial pH (2.5, 3.0, 4.0) at 180 degrees C were 0.71, 0.60, 0.48, respectively. These results suggest that regeneration of GAC is more effective at higher reaction temperature and lower initial pH of the solution. In the repeated regeneration of GAC, the adsorption capacity of GAC for TCE gradually decreased and regeneration efficiency of the regenerated GAC at sixth step was 0.40. The adsorption capacity loss of regenerated GAC is probably due to oxidation of GAC during WPO.     

Removal of MIB and geosmin using granular activated carbon with and without MIEX pre-treatment

This study assessed the impact of MIEX pre-treatment, followed by either coagulation or microfiltration (MF), on the effectiveness of pilot granular activated carbon (GAC) filters for the removal of the taste and odour compounds, 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) and geosmin, from a surface drinking water source over a 2-year period. Complete removal of MIB and geosmin was achieved by all GAC filters for the first 10 months, suggesting that the available adsorption capacity was sufficient to compensate for differences in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) entering the GAC filters.Reduction of empty bed contact time (EBCT), in all but one GAC filter, resulted in breakthrough of spiked MIB and geosmin, with initial results inconclusive regarding the impact of MIEX pre-treatment. MIB and geosmin removal increased over the ensuing 12 months until complete removal of both MIB and geosmin was again achieved in all but one GAC filter, which had been pre-chlorinated. Autoclaving and washing the GAC filters had minimal impact on geosmin removal but reduced MIB removal by 30% in all but the pre-chlorinated filter, confirming that biodegradation impacted MIB removal. The impact of biodegradation was greater than any impact on GAC adsorption arising from DOC differences due to MIEX pre-treatment. It is not clear whether, at a lower initial EBCT, MIEX pre-treatment may have impacted on the adsorption capacity of the virgin GAC.The GAC filter maintained at the longer EBCT, which was also pre-chlorinated, completely removed MIB and geosmin for the period of the study, suggesting that the greater adsorption capacity was compensating for any decrease in biological degradation.     

Comparison between alternating aerobic-anoxic and conventional activated sludge systems

Conventional activated sludge systems ensure removal of colloidal and dissolved carbonaceous organic matter whereas alternating aerobic-anoxic systems, in addition, satisfy a further reduction in nitrogen content of wastewater. Main difference between them is that the alternating system should also include an anoxic operation mode which satisfies denitrification. In other words conventional systems are operated under aerobic conditions whereas alternating systems require a periodical change from aerobic conditions to anoxic conditions. So the most important problem in alternating systems is to find the appropriate durations for both sequences. In this study a comparison between conventional and alternating systems is considered in terms of nitrogen removal and aeration time by simulation under the same conditions together with an optimization algorithm. The results show that an activated sludge system can be operated as an alternating aerobic-anoxic system so that nitrogen removal is also possible during treatment without any additional investment or operational cost.     

Effects of oxygen concentration on N-removal in an aerobic granular sludge reactor

In order to optimise nitrogen removal in an aerobic granular sludge system, short- and long-term effects of decreased oxygen concentrations on the reactor performance were studied. Operation at decreased oxygen concentration is required to obtain efficient N-removal and low aeration energy requirement. A short-term oxygen reduction (from 100% to 50%, 40%, 20% or 10% of the saturation concentration) did not influence the acetate uptake rate. A lower aerobic acetate uptake at lower oxygen concentrations was obviously compensated by anoxic acetate uptake. Nitrogen removal was favoured by decreased oxygen concentrations, reaching a value of 34% for the lowest oxygen concentration tested. Long-term effects were evaluated at two oxygen saturation levels (100% and 40%). Nitrogen removal increased from 8% to 45% when the oxygen saturation was reduced to 40%. However, the granules started to disintegrate and biomass washout occurred. It was impossible to obtain stable granular sludge at this decreased oxygen concentration under applied conditions. A solution to obtain stable aerobic granular sludge at low oxygen concentrations is needed in order to make aerobic granular sludge reactors feasible in practice.     

Micronutrient supplements for optimisation of the treatment of industrial wastewater using activated sludge

The process performance and metabolic rates of several samples of activated sludge which were dosed with micronutrient supplements have been compared in this study. Six trace metals and six vitamins were used as chemical additives dosed into the mixed liquor. It was confirmed experimentally that a wastewater stream from a chemicals manufacturing plant did not contain a sufficient supply of micronutrients for efficient biological treatment. This was concluded from the observation that control sludge batches (receiving no micronutrient supplements) attained an average chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal rate of 1.94 kg COD kg MLSS⁻¹ d⁻¹. Dosing micronutrients into the mixed liquor produced COD removal rates of up to 2.24 kg COD kg MLSS⁻¹ d⁻¹. Some of the supplements increased the metabolic rate of the sludge while some decreased it, indicating a range of stimulatory and inhibitory effects. Complex interactions between micronutrients that were dosed simultaneously were evident. Several positive effects led to the conclusion that micronutrient supplements have the potential to optimise the process performance of activated sludge plants treating industrial wastewater.     

活性污泥中原生动物的特征和作用

通过对活性污泥中原生动物的基本生物特征,观察分析方法,在不同环境条件下的种类、数量、活性的表述及其数量和组成的分析,总结出不同种属的原生动物在污水处理过程中的指导作用。     

活性污泥在天津港污水处理中常见问题的分析

论述了活性污泥的主要指标、水质管理监测项目等,归纳了活性污泥在天津港污水处理运行中常见的问题,并分析了其产生的原因,提出相应的解决措施,最后指明污水处理日常管理运行的关键。     

Comparative study of laboratory-scale thermophilic and mesophilic activated sludge processes

Laboratory-scale mesophilic (20-35 degrees C) and thermophilic (55 degrees C) activated sludge processes (ASPs) treating diluted molasses wastewater were compared in effluent quality, removal of different COD fractions, sludge yield, floc size, and sludge settleability. The effect of polyaluminium chloride (PAC) with high cationic charge on sludge settleability and effluent quality was also studied. In the ASPs, the hydraulic retention time was 12h in both processes, corresponding to a volumetric loading rate of 3.2+/-1.0 kg COD(filt) m(-3)d(-1). The mesophilic ASP gave 79+/-18% and 90+/-2% and the thermophilic ASP gave 50+/-6% and 67+/-11% total COD (COD(tot)) and GF/A-filtered COD (COD(filt)) removals, respectively. The higher COD values in the thermophilic effluent were due to dispersed particles, such as free bacteria, measured as colloidal COD (COD(col)=difference between soluble COD (COD(sol)) and COD(filt)). Both ASPs gave high (90%) COD(sol) removals. Aeration (24-h) of the thermophilic ASP effluent at 35 degrees C reduced the density of the free bacteria by half, which was also measured as 90% COD(col) removal. Post-aeration of thermophilic effluent at 55 degrees C had no influence either on the density of free bacteria or on the COD(col) values. The use of PAC did not increase COD(tot) or COD(filt) removals in either process, but reduced the mesophilic and increased the thermophilic sludge volume index values.