UASB Treatment of Tapioca Starch Wastewater

Feasibility of the upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) process was investigated for the treatment of tapioca starch industry wastewater. After removal of suspended solids by simple gravity settling, starch wastewater was used as a feed. Start-up of a 21.5-L reactor with diluted feed of approximately 3,000 mg∕L chemical oxygen demand (COD) was accomplished in about 6 weeks using seed sludge from an anaerobic pond treating tapioca starch wastewater. By the end of the start-up period, gas productivity of 4–5 m3/m3r?day was obtained. Undiluted supernatant wastewater with a COD concentration of 12,000–24,000 mg∕L was fed during steady-state reactor operation at an organic loading rate of 10–16 kg COD/m3r?day. The upflow velocity was maintained at 0.5 m∕h with a recirculation ratio of 4:1. COD conversion efficiencies >95% and gas productivity of 5–8 m3/m3r?day were obtained. These results indicated that removal of starch solids from wastewater by simple gravity settling was sufficient to obtain satisfactory performance of the UASB process.     

Nitrification∕Denitrification in Intermittent Aeration Process for Swine Wastewater Treatment

A continuous-flow intermittent aeration (IA) process has been studied for nitrogen removal from anaerobically digested swine wastewater with high ammonium content. High nitrogen removal efficiency of average 91% total Kjeldahl nitrogen and 92% NH4-N was achieved in an IA system with an alteration of 1-h aeration and 1-h nonaeration. Nitrification and denitrification were found to be responsible for the nitrogen removal in the system. Nitrite and nitrate in the effluent were less than 1.0 mg∕L and 8.0 mg∕L, respectively. The specific nitrification and denitrification rates of the single-sludge IA culture were determined through batch experiments as 2.79–3.70 mgNO3-N∕g volatile suspended solids-h and 0.59–1.03 mgNO3-N∕g volatile suspended solids-h, respectively. In the IA process, the aeration period created favorable conditions for nitrifying bacteria (dissolved oxygen = 4–6 mg∕L and oxidation-reduction potential = 80–100 mV), while the nonaeration period provided good environment for denitrifying bacteria (dissolved oxygen < 1 mg∕L and oxidation-reduction potential as low as 0 mV). Ammonia volatilization in the IA process was negligible (<0.008%). Denitrification activity in the IA process prevented nitrate from accumulation and significant pH change in the system, which is critical for nitrogen removal from swine wastewater with high ammonium content.     

Electrocoagulation and Electroflotation of Restaurant Wastewater

A combined electrocoagulation and electroflotation process was applied to restaurant wastewater treatment. The effects of operational variables on performance were examined. The electrocoagulation and electroflotation charge loadings are the most important variables. In wide ranges, initial pH and conductivity have no remarkable effects on pollutant removal. However, when pH is <4, suspended solids removal decreases sharply. The proposed technique has two significant advantages: shorter retention time and lower water content in the sludge produced. The power requirement is only 0.5 kW?h∕m3 under a set of typical operating conditions. The amount of dried sludge is 0.20–0.37 kg∕kg chemical oxygen demand removed.     

SBR System for Phosphorus Removal: Linear Model Based Optimization

Using a linear model, an optimization scheme for a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) system for phosphorus removal was investigated. The objective was to minimize energy consumption by reducing the aeration cycle time (tair), while meeting the permit requirement (monthly average PO3?4 of 0.5 mg P∕L). Based on the model prediction and error feedback information, the proposed scheme controlled the SBR system well both in the simulation and the real application by adjusting the tair to meet the effluent PO3?4 constraint. Mismatch between the model prediction and the measured data was compensated for. In the simulation, the average aeration cycle time was calculated to be 2.8 h, while in the real system it was 3.5 h. The actual optimized system provided excellent removal of phosphorus, COD, and ammonia with efficiencies of 93% (7.4 to 0.5 mg P∕L), 90% (420 to 43 mg COD∕L), and 98% (22.1 to 0.4 mg N∕L), respectively. However, the effluent nitrate concentrations were relatively high (10 mg N∕L), due to a slower endogenous nitrate respiration rate.     

Acidification of Lactose in Wastewater

Acidification of lactose in wastewater was conducted in four series of experiments in an upflow reactor to investigate individual effects of hydraulic retention time (HRT) (2–24 h), lactose concentration in wastewater (2–30 g COD∕L), pH (4.0–6.5), and temperature (20°–60°C). Optimum acidification was found at pH 5.5 and 55°C. Acidification increased with HRT, but with the decrease of lactose concentration in wastewater. Degradation of lactose followed the Michaelis-Menten model with a maximum specific degradation rate of 4.39 g∕g VSS?day and a half-rate concentration of 1.97 g∕L. Production of volatile fatty acids, in general, favored lower lactose concentrations and higher pH, but was not sensitive to HRT and temperature. Distribution of individual volatile fatty acids∕alcohols was dependent on lactose concentration, pH, and temperature, but less sensitive to HRT. Under most conditions acetate, propionate, and ethanol were the predominant products. Biogas produced under all test conditions was composed of mostly hydrogen and carbon dioxide, but no detectable methane. Sludge yield was estimated as 0.230 ± 0.021 g VSS∕g COD.     

Effect of Dynamic Loading on Biological Nutrient Removal in a Pilot-Scale Liquid-Solid Circulating Fluidized Bed Bioreactor

A pilot-scale liquid-solid circulating fluidized bed (LSCFB) bioreactor was employed for biological nutrient removal from municipal wastewater at the Adelaide Pollution Control Plant, London, Ontario, Canada. Lava rock particles of 600?μm were used as a biomass carrier media. The system generated effluent characterized by <1.0?mg NH4–N/L, <6.0?mg NO3–N/L, <1.0?mg PO4–P/L, <10?mg TN/L, and <10?mg SBOD/L at an influent flow of 5?m3/d, without adding any chemicals for phosphorus removal and secondary clarification for suspended solids removal. The impact of the dynamic loading on the LSCFB effluent quality and its nutrient removal efficiencies were monitored by simulating wet weather condition at a maximum peaking factor of 3 for 4 h. The achievability of effluent characteristics of 1.1 mg NH4–N/L, 4.6 mg NO3–N/L, 37 mg COD/L, and 0.5 mg PO4–P/L after 24 h of the dynamic loading emphasize the favorable response of the LSCFB to the dynamic loadings and the sustainability of performance without loss of nutrient removal capacity.     

SBR System for Phosphorus Removal: ASM2 and Simplified Linear Model

An SBR (sequencing batch reactor) system was evaluated for nutrient removal. The system is capable of removing 95% of influent PO3?4, or from 6.7 to 0.4 mg P∕L, with the addition of acetate of 120–150 mg COD∕L in the feed solution (primary effluent). Nitrification was also achieved within the preset aeration cycle time in reducing the effluent ammonia level from 16.3–19.8 mg N∕L to 0.2–0.3 mg N∕L. However, denitrification was incomplete due to a slower endogenous nitrate respiration rate in the idle period, resulting in an effluent nitrate level of 7–8 mg N∕L. A linear version of the ASM2 (Activated Sludge Model No. 2) was developed to model the performance of an SBR system for nutrient removal. The developed model appropriately predicts the dynamic behavior of the SBR system with respect to phosphate release∕uptake, nitrification, ammonification, and denitrification. Compared with the full ASM2, the calibration of model parameters and model simulation require less computational time for practical implementation of the linear model into a process control system for the SBR.     

Nitrate Removal in Sulfur: Limestone Pond Reactors

The feasibility of using sulfur:limestone autotrophic denitrification (SLAD) pond reactors to treat nitrate-contaminated water or wastewater after secondary treatment was investigated with four lab-scale continuously fed SLAD ponds. The start-up period, temperature effects, and effects of different feed solutions were evaluated. With an influent concentration of 30 mg NO3?–N/L at an HRT of 30 days, the pond reactors had an overall nitrate removal efficiency of 85–100%. Effluent nitrite concentrations were <0.2 mg N/L in all tests. Aerobic conditions could result in a decrease of the SLAD pH of the pond by 2 to 3 units and a large increase in sulfate production ( ～ 1600–1800?mg-SO42?/L). Under unmixed (anoxic) conditions, the pH and sulfate produced were maintained at approximately 5.5 to 5.6 and 400–600?mg-SO42?/L, respectively, in all the SLAD ponds. Temperature affected the pond reactors adversely. By assuming that a first-order reaction occurred in a SLAD pond reactor, the temperature-activity coefficient, θ was found to be 1.068. Treatment of nitrate-contaminated surface water and wastewater using SLAD pond systems is feasible only if (1) the chemical oxygen demand (COD)/nitrate–N (COD/N) ratio is low (<1.2 with an initial NO3? concentration of 30 mg-N/L), (2) sulfur:limestone granules are not covered by sediment, and (3) sulfur-utilizing but nondenitrifying bacteria (SUNDB) are greatly inhibited due to the lack of DO in the pond systems. The SLAD ponds are not feasible for the treatment of raw wastewater or surface water if they contain high concentrations of organic matters due to the possible inhibition of sulfur-based autotrophic denitrifiers by heterotrophs (including heterotrophic denitrifiers). In addition, a high sulfate and low DO concentration as well as a low pH in the SLAD effluent of the pond (even when the pond is operated in an unmixed mode) also will limit the application of SLAD pond processes.     

Treatment of Styrene-Contaminated Airstream in Biotrickling Filter Packed with Slags

This paper reports the result of studies using a biotrickling filter with blast-furnace slag packings (sizes = 2–4 cm and specific surface area = 120 m2∕m3) for treatment of styrene in an airstream. The effects of volumetric styrene loading L, superficial gas velocity U0 and liquid recirculation rate VL on the styrene elimination capacity K, and the removal efficiency K∕L were tested. Variations of styrene concentration with packing height as well as rates of nutrient utilization were also tested. The results show that for L< 30 g∕m3?h, K∕L was nearly independent of U0 in the range of 29–67 m∕h and was independent of VL in the range of 3.84–9.60 m∕h. In this range, the rate of styrene removal was both reaction and diffusion limited and the reaction was of zero-order kinetics. For higher loadings, K∕L decreased with increasing U0 and increased with increasing VL and the system approached the condition of reaction limitation.     

Nitrogen and phosphorus removal for swine wastewater by ammonium crystallization and intermittent aeration process

A process on crystallized precipitation of ammonium by adding magnesium salt and phosphate was carried out to improve C/N ratio in swine wastewater. After completion of crystallized precipitation of ammonium, an intermittent aeration process with aeration and nonaeration periods alternated at interval of 1:1 hr day-1 is used for the improved swine wastewater (T-N/BOD = 0.14: BOD = 8200 mg/liter and T-N = 1166 mg/liter). The results obtained from the experiment show that the removal ratios of T-N and NH4-N are 91% and 99%, respectively. T-P is not removed, while the removal ratio of PO4-P is 60% as 3% of CaCl2 liquid is added. The results also indicate that dilution with water is effective to improve the removal of phosphorus even if raw swine wastewater contains high concentrations of T-N, T-P, BOD, and TOC.     

Nitrification at Low Oxygen Concentration in Biofilm Reactor

A nitrification process under low dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration is proposed in a completely stirred biofilm reactor. The reactor was fed with a synthetic wastewater containing 250 mg NH4–N∕L. A stable nitrite accumulation in the effluent was obtained during >110 days' operation; NO2–N:(NO2–N + NO3–N) in the effluent reached >90% under 0.5 mg DO∕L. Ammonium was completely converted and NH4–N in the outlet was as low as 5 mg∕L. A transient increase of the DO concentration in the reactor induced a complete conversion of ammonia and nitrite to nitrate after only 2 days. A return to a low DO concentration again induced nitrite accumulation. These results show that the nitrite oxidizers were always present in the reactor but were outcompeted at low DO concentration, due to their lower affinity for oxygen, compared with ammonia oxidizers. Nitrite accumulation could also be favored by free nitrous acid accumulation inside the biofilm.     

电解锰废水中Cr~(6+)、Mn~(2+)的去除方法研究

通过实验研究了还原沉淀-晶种曝气组合工艺去除电解锰废水中Cr6+和Mn2+,并探索了最佳工艺条件.首先以Na2SO3做还原剂将Cr6+转化为Cr3+后再通过化学沉淀法除去,然后采用加入MnO2做晶种曝气氧化去除废水中的Mn2+.结果表明:当Na2SO3投加量为0.5 g/L,还原反应pH值为4,还原反应时间6 min,Cr6+可完全转化为Cr3+.Cr3+在pH值为8时沉淀最完全,出水总铬浓度可从100 mg/L降到0.5 mg/L以下.除铬后,当MnO2投加量为25 g/L,废水pH值为9,曝气10 min,出水Mn2+浓度可从1 000 mg/L降到0.4 mg/L以下.通过以上处理出水总铬和总锰均达到我国《污水综合排放标准(GB8978-1996)》一级要求.     

Environmental Factors Affecting Selenite Reduction by a Mixed Culture

This study presents the results of batch experiments investigating selenite reduction by an enriched anaerobic mixed culture as a function of several environmental factors, including pH, temperature, different electron donors and acceptors, as well as initial selenite concentrations. The initial selenite reduction was a zero-order reaction and was inhibited at higher selenite concentrations (>33 mg Se∕L). The optimal temperature∕pH for microbial reduction occurred at 30°C and pH 7.2. Selenite reduction was affected in the presence of high concentrations of sulfate [45 times the Se(IV) molar concentration], significantly affected by nitrate [105 times the Se(IV) molar concentration], and completely inhibited by chromate and oxygen. Ethanol was the preferred carbon source for selenite removal, followed by acetate, citrate, lactate, and glucose. The selenite-acclimated culture also reduces selenate without any lag period.     

电解锰废水中Cr6+、Mn2+的去除方法研究

通过实验研究了还原沉淀-晶种曝气组合工艺去除电解锰废水中Cr6+和Mn2+,并探索了最佳工艺条件.首先以Na₂SO₃做还原剂将Cr6+转化为Cr3+后再通过化学沉淀法除去,然后采用加入MnO₂做晶种曝气氧化去除废水中的Mn2+.结果表明:当Na₂SO₃投加量为0.5 g/L,还原反应pH值为4,还原反应时间6 min,Cr6+可完全转化为Cr3+.Cr3+在pH值为8时沉淀最完全,出水总铬浓度可从100 mg/L降到0.5 mg/L以下.除铬后,当MnO₂投加量为25 g/L,废水pH值为9,曝气10 min,出水Mn2+浓度可从1 000 mg/L降到0.4 mg/L以下.通过以上处理出水总铬和总锰均达到我国《污水综合排放标准（GB8978-1996）》一级要求.      

回用废水对酸浸生产清洁钒的影响

针对钙化焙烧熟料硫酸浸出-铵盐沉钒生产清洁钒工艺中循环利用的回用废水pH值、悬浮物SS、Mn~(2+)、NH_4~+浓度变化较大,浸出过滤洗涤生产现场出现浸出剂沉钒、残渣沉钒等现象,造成浸出生产不顺行,钒收率偏低的突出问题,以生产现场回用废水及钙化焙烧熟料为原料,采用硫酸浸出的方法对不同的回用废水pH值、悬浮物SS、Mn~(2+)、NH_4~+浓度对钙化焙烧熟料酸浸效果的影响进行了研究,并且将达到要求的回用废水与去离子水酸浸及过滤洗涤效果进行了对比研究。研究结果表明,随着回用废水pH值的增大,酸浸残渣钒含量减小,钒转浸率增大;随着悬浮物SS、Mn~(2+)、NH_4~+浓度的增大,酸浸残渣钒含量增大,钒转浸率急剧下降;回用废水pH值、悬浮物SS、Mn~(2+)、NH_4~+浓度分别为pH=6.5~7.5,Mn~(2+)≤3 g/L,SS≤30 g/L,NH_4~+≤25 g/L时,在与去离子水酸浸与过滤洗涤对比中,效果相近,酸浸残渣钒含量可降至1.2%,钒转浸率可达到85%。试验结果为钙化焙烧熟料硫酸浸出-铵盐沉钒生产清洁钒工艺中工业化废水处理循环利用提供了酸浸回用废水工艺控制要求和数据参考。     

电絮凝废水中Cr(Ⅵ)高效去除工艺条件及机理研究

水体Cr(Ⅵ)污染因污染物来源广泛、毒性强,易形成水体-土壤复合污染,其绿色、低成本达标治理已成为国内外环保工作者关注的热点及难点问题。采用电絮凝工艺进行废水中Cr(Ⅵ)污染去除,探索液相pH、槽电压、电解质浓度及初始Cr(Ⅵ)浓度对电絮凝Cr(Ⅵ)去除效率的影响,并通过对所得沉淀絮体的微观形貌、元素分布及物相组成分析,阐明Cr(Ⅵ)电絮凝沉淀去除机理。结果表明,Cr(Ⅵ)电絮凝去除的最佳工艺条件为液相pH=6.0,槽电压3.0 V,电解质浓度2.0%,在此条件下,初始浓度10.0mg/L的含铬废水,经12.0min电絮凝反应,出水铬浓度为0.018mg/L,去除效率达99.98%,满足饮用水Cr(Ⅵ)排放限值。机理分析研究表明,废水中的Cr(Ⅵ)经Fe²⁺还原为Cr(Ⅲ)后,以CrOOH与Cr(OH)3的形式经铁的氧化物/氢氧化物载带沉淀而去除。电絮凝工艺治理水体Cr(Ⅵ)污染具有去除效率高、速率快、污泥产生量低的特点,可为水体Cr(Ⅵ)污染的治理提供技术支持。     

Salt Inhibition Effects in Biological Treatment of Saline Wastewater in RBC

Design and operation of saline wastewater treatment systems are difficult because of adverse effects of salt on microbial flora. Quantification and modeling of salt inhibition effects are essential in designing biological treatment processes for saline wastewater. Synthetic wastewater containing 0–10% salt (NaCl) was treated in a rotating biodisc contactor (RBC) unit operating in a continuous mode. Effects of important process variables such as the A∕Q ratio, COD loading rate, and salt concentration on COD removal rate and efficiency were investigated. The system's performance improved with an increasing A∕Q ratio; however, performance decreased with an increasing COD loading rate and salt content. The liquid phase was aerated to keep suspended cells active at high feed COD concentrations such as S0 = 5,000 mg∕L. A mathematical model was developed to describe the system's behavior. Model parameters were determined by using the experimental data. Salt inhibition was found to be significant for salt concentrations larger than 2% NaCl. The experimental results and mathematical model may be used in design of RBC units treating saline wastewater.     

Automated Separation and Conductimetric Determination of Inorganic Nitrogen

Experiments were conducted for the evaluation of a continuous flow conductimetric method that measures the inorganic nitrogen compounds ammonia (NH3) and combined nitrite (NO2?) and nitrate (NO3?). Approximately 300 analyses were performed using the method during experiments to estimate the method detection level, to determine the bias and precision, and to determine the equivalency of the method to others found in Standard Methods. An estimated method detection level of 0.01 mg N∕L (NH3–N, NO3?–N, or NO2?–N) was measured. Precision values for ammonia and nitrate standards at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 75 mg∕L NH3–N or NO3?–N did not exceed 5.5 and 4%, respectively. Recovery values for ammonia and nitrate standards at the same concentration range did not exceed 104.8 and 103%, respectively. At concentrations of 0.05 mg∕L NH3–N or NO3?–N, the precision values were 12.5 and 11%, respectively, which were high relative to others obtained in this study but are within the range of values reported in Standard Methods.     

Removal of EATX from Waste Gases by a Trickle-Bed Air Biofilter

The trickle-bed air biofilter performance for treating mixtures of ethylacetate (EA), toluene (T), and xylene (X) volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was evaluated under different influent VOC loadings. The EA removal efficiencies were significantly higher than those for T and X, indicating that EA is a preferred substrate in the EATX waste gas. More than 80% removal efficiencies could be achieved under influent loadings below 77 g EA∕m3∕h, 8 g T∕m3∕h, and 10 g X∕m3∕h. The trickle-bed air biofilter appears efficient for controlling EATX emission with medium EA loadings and low TX loadings. The elimination capacities of EA, T, and X for a pure VOC feed were higher than for a mixed VOC feed and the differences increased with increased influent VOC loading.