Generation of halogenated organic compounds in municipal waste water

Cleaning agents and disinfectants from housekeeping, hospitals and canteen kitchens are important sources of adsorbable halogenated organic compounds (AOX) in municipal waste water. They often contain inorganic compounds which are able to release activated chlorine. Together with organic waste water compounds the activated chlorine can generate halogenated organic compounds. Within the scope of this research project the generation of AOX through these active agents is compared. The effects of concentration, pH, time, temperature, presence of other oxidizing or reducing agents and synergetic effects are investigated and discussed.According to the results the potential of these active agents forming AOX is obvious. The AOX concentration of a municipal waste water increased by the factor of 13 after adding an hypochlorite containing disinfectant in common concentration. Most AOX can be formed within 30 minutes. In sewage with high amount of solid compounds the AOX generation can take a long time (several days). The amount of AOX generated strongly depends on the nature and concentration of dissolved and solid organic compounds, the concentration of active substances, temperature, pH and the reaction time.     

Development of headspace-gas chromatography-flame ionization detection procedure to determine volatile fatty acids in zoo organic waste leachates

In order to determine volatile fatty acids (short chain monocarboxylic acids with 2 to 6 carbon atoms in a molecule) in leachates formed in organic waste piles a procedure based on static headspace (HS) coupled with gas chromatography (GC) have been proposed and optimized. The conditions of HS extraction and sample introduction into a gas chromatograph as well as of chromatographic separation were considered. Using flame ionization detection LODs were of the order of 0.02-0.37 mg/L. The analyzed leachate collecting on and close to a zoo organic waste pile contained VFAs (Volatile Fatty Acids) at a concentration ranging from 5.5 mg/L to 0.88 g/L and from below LOD to 10.1 mg/L for pool water at some distance from the pile, respectively.     

Simulation of DEHP biodegradation and sorption during the anaerobic digestion of secondary sludge.

Di-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) has commonly been found in the sludge of municipal wastewater treatment plants especially during anaerobic processing. It is slowly biodegradable under anaerobic conditions. Due to its high hydrophobicity, sorption-desorption processes can be rate-limiting for the compound biodegradation. In this study, the anaerobic biodegradation of DEHP was investigated through batch kinetic experiments and dynamic transitions of a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) fed with secondary sludge contaminated with DEHP. A widely accepted model (ADM1) was used to fit the anaerobic digestion of secondary sludge and was properly extended to account for DEHP removal, in which mass transfer processes are also involved. It was shown that DEHP removal was limited by the transfer of DEHP within the solid fraction. The criterion selected for the distinction of the two sites was whether the compound sorbed in those sites was bioavailable for biodegradation or not. Thus, the aqueous phase and the surface of the biosolids were considered as suitable sites for the compound to be bioavailable and the main bulk of the solid matrix was regarded as sites, where the compound remains "protected" against biodegradation. The model, fitted to the batch experimental data, was able to predict DEHP removal in the CSTR operated at various HRTs.     

Strategies for the anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste: an overview.

Different process strategies for anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) are reviewed weighing high-solids versus low-solids, mesophilic versus thermophilic and single-stage versus multi-stage processes. The influence of different waste characteristics such as composition of biodegradable fractions, C:N ratio and particle size is described. Generally, source sorting of OFMSW and a high content of food waste leads to higher biogas yields than the use of mechanically sorted OFMSW. Thermophilic processes are more efficient than mesophilic processes in terms of higher biogas yields at different organic loading rates (OLR). Highest biogas yields are achieved by means of wet thermophilic processes at OLRs lower than 6 kg-VS x m(-3) d(-1). High-solids processes appear to be relatively more efficient when OLRs higher than 6 kg-VS x m(-3)d(-1) are applied. Multi-stage systems show in some investigations a higher reduction of recalcitrant organic matter compared to single-stage systems, but they are seldom applied in full-scale. An extended cost-benefit calculation shows that the highest overall benefit of the process is achieved at an OLR that is lower and a hydraulic retention time (HRT) that is longer than those values of OLR and HRT, at which the highest biogas production is achieved.     

Dry anaerobic digestion of differently sorted organic municipal solid waste: a full-scale experience.

This paper presents a comparison of dry anaerobic digestion reactors fed with differently sorted municipal organic solid wastes. One reactor was fed with source sorted organic wastes and a second reactor was fed with mixed organic wastes consisting of grey wastes, mechanically selected municipal solid wastes and sludge. The two reactors utilised the same process (Valorga) and operational conditions at full scale. The results of the study emphasise the influence of the kind of treated material on the process performances, especially in terms of biogas and methane production, thus, energy reclamation. The reactor treating the source sorted organic waste and the reactor treating the mixed organic wastes generated some 200 m3 and 60 m3 of biogas per ton of waste treated, respectively, while the specific methane production was some 0.40 and 0.13 m3CH4/kgTVS, respectively. The mass balance and the final fate of the digested material from the two reactors were also clearly different. As for the costs, these were some 29 Euro per ton of treated waste (50% for personnel) and 53 Euro/ton for disposing of the rejected materials. Incomes were some 100 Euro/ton (on average) and an other 15 Euro/ton came from green certificates. The initial investment was 16 million Euros.     

Impact of organic ligands on uranium removal during anaerobic biological treatment

Anaerobic batch experiments were conducted to evaluate the reduction and precipitation of U⁶⁺+ complexed to acetate, oxalate, citrate and tiron using a pure culture of sulfate reducing bacteria (Desulfovibrio desulfuricans). These ligands were chosen to evaluate the nature of complex formation on uranium bioreduction. Experiments in which uranium was initially complexed to the ligand (>92%) indicated that bacteria reduce U⁶⁺+ to U⁴⁺+ in the presence of each ligand tested. The rate of acetate complexed uranium reduction was fastest and that of citrate complexed uranium was slowest. Precipitation of reduced uranium was evaluated by filtering the reduced complex through 0.2 μm filters. The U⁴⁺+ formed after biotransformation in acetate solutions was retained on the filter whereas U⁴⁺+ in the oxalate, citrate and tiron solutions passed through the filter. When ligand concentrations were lowered (44–50% of the uranium initially complexed) a greater amount of UO₂ precipitate from oxalate samples was collected on the filter indicating that ligand concentration can impact uranium removal via precipitation. Little or no precipitate was collected from citrate or tiron containing solutions. The preferred reaction of U⁴⁺+ appeared to be recomplexation with these ligands rather then precipitation as UO₂.     

氯酚类有机污染物的生物降解研究进展

从氯酚类污染物的浓度、结构及环境因素等方面叙述了氯酚类物质的生物降解性。综述了目前国内外生物降解氯酚的微生物种类,从好氧生物降解、厌氧生物降解、厌氧好氧协同降解、共代谢降解等几个方面分析了当前微生物降解氯酚类有机污染物的一些降解机理,对今后微生物降解氯酚类有机污染物的研究方向进行了展望。     

Degradation of recalcitrant compounds by catechol-driven Fenton reaction.

Dihydroxybenzenes are able to reduce Fe(III) and promote the Fenton reaction in the presence of H2O2. The catechol/Fe(III)/H2O2 system has been successfully used to degrade different compounds, being more efficient than the Fe(II)-Fenton reaction. In this paper the possibilities for using the catechol-driven Fenton reaction to degrade recalcitrant compounds such as the Fe(III)-EDTA complex and veratryl alcohol are reviewed.     

Degradation of recalcitrant organic contaminants by solar photocatalysis.

Biological pre-treated landfill leachates of Djebel Chakir contains some macromolecular organic substances that are resistant to biological degradation. The aim of the present work is to assess the feasibility of removing refractory organic pollutants in biological pre-treated landfill leachate by solar photocatalyse process. Leachate pollutant contents are studied to assess their contribution to leachate pollution and their treatability by solar photocatalyse process. Phenol is chosen as model of pollutants, to evaluate its removal and the efficiency of the photocatalytic system. The experiments were carried out in suspended photocatalytic reactor, using TiO2 Degussa P25, under sunlight illumination (UV-A: 15-31 W/cm2). Under optimum operational conditions, applied to single reactant (phenol), the system presents a TOC removal of 90% (the degradation follows a first-order kinetic). Based on the TOC removal, the results shows that the degradation of biological pre-treated leachate follows a zero-order kinetic. After 5 h of sunlight exposure, 74% of COT is removed. The TOC removal is the best without any correction of the pH and at the TiO2 concentration of 2.5 g/L. The photocatalytic degradation of organic contaminants as well as the formation and disappearance of the by-products were followed by GC/MS. The solar photocatalysis processes induce several modifications of the matrix leading to more biodegradable forms: all the remaining and new compounds generated after the biological pre-treatment of leachate are degraded and other types of organics appear, mainly carboxylic acid, aliphatic hydrocarbons and phtalic acids.     

Variations in BOD, algal biomass and organic matter biodegradation constants in a wind-mixed tropical facultative waste stabilization pond.

This study considered the impact of wind mixing on the efficiency of BOD removal and the first order biodegradation constant for organic matter in a primary facultative pond. Wind speeds of 1-4 m/s blowing from the effluent end of the pond towards the influent created surface-water flows of up to 0.94 m/s as determined by orange and coconut drogues moving in the opposite direction to the bulk hydraulic flow of 0.217 m/s. This was sufficient to cause mixing of the water column resulting in loss of stratification in terms of chlorophyll a, temperature and dissolved oxygen. BOD and chlorophyll a concentrations were spatially and temporally homogeneous throughout this large pond. BOD removal efficiency was only 50.30% as opposed to a projected value of 79% despite an acceptable surface organic loading of 350 kgBOD5/ha/d and an actual k value for BOD removal using influent sewage samples of 0.29 d-1 close to the projected value of 0.30 d-1. It would seem that wind mixing reduced pond efficiency by destroying stratification and thus reducing the microbial activity necessary to consume organic material. Mixing also increased the mean chlorophyll a concentration compared to stratified facultative ponds receiving similar loads and non-motile algae dominated the water column.     

亚硝酸型硝化-厌氧氨氧化联合工艺处理"中老龄"垃圾渗滤液

亚硝酸型硝化和厌氧氨氧化有机结合构成的新型全程自养生物脱氮技术为处理高氨氮和低C/N的"中老龄"渗滤液提供了新的思路.主要针对系统内部能否实现稳定的亚硝酸氮自给和厌氧氨氧化反应器的启动这两个关键条件进行研究.结果表明,在氨氮负荷率(ALR)为0.069～0.284 3 gNH3-N/(gVSS·d)条件下,前置亚硝酸型硝化反应器(SBR)能实现稳定的亚硝酸氮积累,出水NO-2-N/NH3-N在1.45左右,NO-2-N/NO-x-N大于90%.而且,接种前置SBR中具有硝化活性的污泥用作厌氧氨氧化反应器(UASB)的接种污泥,可以加快反应器的成功启动.在进水氨氮和亚硝酸氮浓度不超过250 mg/L的条件下,厌氧氨氧化反应器稳定运行时NH3-N和NO-2-N的去除率分别可达到80%和90%左右.     

Enhancement of food waste digestion in the hybrid anaerobic solid-liquid system

The hybrid anaerobic solid-liquid (HASL) system is a modified two-phase anaerobic digester for food waste treatment. To enhance the performance of anaerobic digestion in the HASL system, thermal pre-treatment (heating at 150 degrees C for 1 h) and freezing/thawing (freezing for 24 h at-20 degrees C and then thawing for 12 h at 25 degrees C) were proposed for food waste pre-treatment before the anaerobic digestion. Both processes were able to alter the characteristics and structure of food waste favoring substance solubilization, and hence production of methane. However, there was no net energy gain when the energy required by the pre-treatment processes was taken into account.     

生物降解处理地下有机污染物的模型研究

本文综合多学科的研究结果，阐明了多孔介质中有机污染物和细菌微生物运动的形式，规律及其相互作用。采用二重孔隙介质模型，给出在裂隙含水层中建立其运动方程组与推导孔隙及裂隙交界面上交换关系的原则。以好氧菌及厌氧菌共存系统为例，得出具体的控制方程系统和交换关系式，并进行了数值模拟，得到了有用的结果。     

The performance and microbial diversity of temperature-phased hyperthermophilic and thermophilic anaerobic digestion system fed with organic waste.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performances and microbial diversities for development of the effective hyperthermophilic digester system that consists of a hyperthermophilic reactor and hyperthermophilic or thermophilic reactor in series. Lab-scale reactors were operated continuously fed with artificial kitchen garbage. The effect of temperature on the acidification step was firstly investigated. Results indicated that 20.8% of COD solubilization was achieved at 70 degrees C, with 12.6% at 80 degrees C. The average protein solubilization reached 31% at 80 degrees C. Methane conversion efficiency following the acidification was around 85% on average at 55 degrees C, but decreased with increasing temperature and methane gas was not produced over 73 degrees C. As well, bacteria affiliated with the methanogens dominated the population below 65 degrees C, while those affiliated with acidogens were predominant over 73 degrees C. These results indicated that the hyperthermophilic process has considerable benefits to treat wastewater or waste containing high concentration of protein.     

Tracing volatile organic compounds in sewers

A combined method of passive and active sampling of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a sewer system is presented. Passive sampling devices are used to locate and identify volatile organic compounds in the sewer atmosphere. Passive sampling is a time-integrating method and its results are only qualitative. To get quantitative information active sampling of wastewater is necessary. Concentrations of VOCs obtained from active sampling are used as input values for a simplified form of the two-film-model. This model allows to compute concentrations of VOCs at different points in a sewer stretch. We employed this method to describe the behaviour of volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons within a sewer stretch in Bayreuth, Germany.     

饮用水生物过滤工艺中微量污染物的生物降解模型及适用性分析

对近年来国外生物降解模型的研究进展进行了综述,从机理、模型结构和模型应用等方面分析了几种代表性模型的特点及其适用条件,包括单物种稳定态模型、单物种非稳态模型、多物种生物膜模型和一级过程模型等;讨论了模型研究与应用中需要解决的模型参数的确定、模型设计应用功能的开发等问题.     

Characterisation of odour masking agents often used in the solid waste industry for odour abatement.

Odours from waste management facilities, wastewater treatment plants and composting areas have become a major nuisance issue for operators. In addition to facing regulations which tend to become more stringent, operators are also facing increased public pressure due to complaints from neighbours resulting in the temporary shutdown of such plants, therefore the elimination of atmospheric odours is becoming a major industrial objective. Many commercial odour control products are available on the market, however, very little is known concerning their real efficiency and mechanism of action. This paper will present the results from the study of 19 agents collected in various countries. The products were first characterised both in terms of their chemical composition and sensory properties. Selected products with different modes of application were then submitted to a study of their efficiency at the pilot-scale level. The results from one product test showed no significant difference in their odour removal efficiency as determined by olfactory and chemical analysis of the emission before and after application of the odour control product.     

Combined biological and physico-chemical treatment of baker's yeast wastewater including removal of coloured and recalcitrant to biodegradation pollutants.

The UASB reactor (35 degrees C) was quite efficient for removal of bulk COD (62-67%) even for such high strength and recalcitrant wastewater as the cultivation medium from the first separation process of baker'syeasts (the average organic loading rates varied from 3.7 to 10.3 g COD/l/d). The aerobic-anoxic biofilter (20 degrees C) can be used for removal of remaining BOD and ammonia from strong nitrogenous anaerobic effluents; however, it suffered from COD-deficiency to fulfil denitrification requirements. To balance the COD/N ratio, some bypass of raw wastewater should be added to the biofilter feed. The application of iron chloride coagulation for post-treatment of aerobic effluents may fulfil the discharge limits (even for colour mainly exerted by hardly biodegradable melanoidins) under iron concentrations around 200 mg/l.     

Towards new indicators for the prediction of solid waste anaerobic digestion properties.

The biochemical composition can be seen as a good indicator of both the biodegradability and the methane potential of a given waste. The work presented here is an attempt to elaborate a typology of wastes and to compare it to the anaerobic degradation characteristics. The first data indicate that there is a link between the ligno-cellulosic content of the waste and the biodegradability. When dealing with application to anaerobic digestion processes, having a tool to predict the ability of the waste to be degraded could be of the greatest interest for preventing failures, estimating biogas production, methane content, or for the management of co-digestion processes.