Biodegradation of the endogenous residue of activated sludge

This study evaluated the potential biodegradability of the endogenous residue in activated sludge subjected to batch digestion under either non-aerated or alternating aerated and non-aerated conditions. Mixed liquor for the tests was generated in a 200 L pilot-scale aerobic membrane bioreactor (MBR) operated at a 5.2 days SRT. The MBR system was fed a soluble and completely biodegradable synthetic influent composed of sodium acetate as the sole carbon source. This influent, which contained no influent unbiodegradable organic or inorganic materials, allowed to generate sludge composed of essentially two fractions: a heterotrophic biomass X_H and an endogenous residue X_E, the nitrifying biomass being negligible (less than 2%). The endogenous decay rate and the active biomass fraction of the MBR sludge were determined in 21-day aerobic digestion batch tests by monitoring the VSS and OUR responses. Fractions of X_H and X_E: 68% and 32% were obtained, respectively, at a 5.2 days SRT. To assess the biodegradability of X_E, two batch digestion units operated at 35 °C were run for 90 days using thickened sludge from the MBR system. In the first unit, anaerobic conditions were maintained while in the second unit, alternating aerated and non-aerated conditions were applied. Data for both units showed apparent partial biodegradation of the endogenous residue. Modeling the batch tests indicated endogenous residue decay rates of 0.005 d⁻¹ and 0.012 d⁻¹ for the anaerobic unit and the alternating aerated and non-aerated conditions, respectively.     

Sulfide-induced nitrate reduction in the sludge of an anaerobic digester of a zero-discharge recirculating mariculture system

The anaerobic digester is a vital component in a zero-discharge mariculture system as therein most of the organic matter is mineralized and nitrogen-containing compounds are converted to gaseous N₂. Although denitrification is a major respiratory process in this nitrate-rich treatment stage, also sulfate respiration takes place and may cause undesirable high sulfide concentrations in the effluent water. To examine the effect of sulfide on nitrate reduction, in situ depth profiles of inorganic nitrogen and sulfur compounds were determined. Additionally, nitrate reduction was examined as a function of ambient sulfide concentrations in sludge collected from different locations in the anaerobic reactor. Depth profiles showed high concentrations of nitrate and low concentrations of sulfide and ammonia in the aqueous layer of the reactor. A sharp decrease of nitrate and an increase in sulfide and ammonia concentrations was measured at the water-sludge interface. Nitrate reduction was highest in this interface zone with rates of up to 8.05 ± 0.57 μmol NO₃⁻ h⁻¹ g_(sludge)⁻¹. Addition of sulfide increased the nitrate reduction rate at all sludge depths, pointing to the important role of autotrophic denitrification in the anaerobic reactor. Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonia (DNRA) was found to be low in all sludge layers but was enhanced when sludge was incubated at high sulfide concentrations. Although nitrate reduction rates increased as a result of sulfide addition to sludge samples, no differences in nitrate reduction rates were observed between the samples incubated with different initial sulfide concentrations. This as opposed to sulfide oxidation rates, which followed Michaelis-Menten enzymatic kinetics. Partial oxidation of sulfide to elemental sulfur instead of a complete oxidation to sulfate, could explain the observed patterns of nitrate reduction and sulfide oxidation in sludge incubated with different initial sulfide concentrations.     

The nature of the carbon source rules the competition between PAO and denitrifiers in systems for simultaneous biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal

The presence of nitrate in the theoretical anaerobic reactor of a municipal WWTP aiming at simultaneous C, N and P removal usually leads to Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal (EBPR) failure due to the competition between PAO and denitrifiers for organic substrate. This problem was studied in a continuous anaerobic-anoxic-aerobic (A²/O) pilot plant (146 L) operating with good removal performance and a PAO-enriched sludge (72%). Nitrate presence in the initially anaerobic reactor was studied by switching the operation of the plant to an anoxic-aerobic configuration. When the influent COD composition was a mixture of different carbon sources (acetic acid, propionic acid and sucrose) the system was surprisingly able to maintain EBPR, even with internal recycle ratios up to ten times the influent flow rate and COD limiting conditions. However, the utilisation of sucrose as sole carbon source resulted in a fast EBPR failure. Batch tests with different nitrate concentrations (0-40 mg L⁻¹) were performed in order to gain insight into the competition for the carbon source in terms of P-release or denitrification rates and P-release/C-uptake ratio. Surprisingly, no inhibitory or detrimental effect on EBPR performance due to nitrate was observed. A model based on ASM2d but considering two step nitrification and denitrification was developed and experimentally validated. Simulation studies showed that anaerobic VFA availability is critical to maintain EBPR activity.     

Stable isotopes of bulk organic matter to trace carbon and nitrogen dynamics in an estuarine ecosystem in Babitonga Bay (Santa Catarina, Brazil)

The biogeochemical processes affecting the transport and cycling of terrestrial organic carbon in coastal and transition areas are still not fully understood. One means of distinguishing between the sources of organic materials contributing to particulate organic matter (POM) in Babitonga Bay waters and sediments is by the direct measurement of δ¹³C of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N in the organic constituents. An isotopic survey was taken from samples collected in the Bay in late spring of 2004. The results indicate that the δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N compositions of OM varied from − 21.7‰ to − 26.2‰ and from + 9.2‰ to − 0.1‰, respectively. δ¹³C from DIC ranges from + 0.04‰ to − 12.7‰. The difference in the isotope compositions enables the determination of three distinct end-members: terrestrial, marine and urban. Moreover, the evaluation of source contribution to the particulate organic matter (POM) in the Bay, enables assessment of the anthropogenic impact. Comparing the depleted values of δ¹³C_DIC and δ¹³C_POC it is possible to further understand the carbon dynamic within Babitonga Bay.     

Sedimentary records of sewage pollution using faecal markers in contrasting peri-urban shallow lakes

Sewage contamination in shallow lake sediments is of concern because the pathogens, organic matter and nutrients contribute to the deterioration of the water-bodies' health and ecology. Sediment cores from three shallow lakes (Coneries, Church and Clifton Ponds) within Attenborough nature reserve located downstream of sewage treatment works were analysed for TOC, C/N, δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, bacterial coliforms and faecal sterols. ²¹⁰Pb and ¹³⁷Cs activities were used to date the sediments. Elemental analysis suggests that the source of organic matter was algal and down profile changes in δ¹³C indicate a possible decrease in productivity with time which could be due to improvements in sewage treatment. δ¹⁵N for Coneries Pond are slightly higher than those observed in Church or Clifton and are consistent with a sewage-derived nitrate source which has been diluted by non-sewage sources of N. The similarity in δ¹⁵N values (+ 12‰ to + 10‰) indicates that the three ponds were not entirely hydrologically isolated. Analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) reveals that Coneries Pond had sterol concentrations in the range 20 to 30 μg/g (dry wt.), whereas, those from Clifton and Church Ponds were lower. The highest concentrations of the human-sourced sewage marker 5β-coprostanol were observed in the top 40 cm of Coneries Pond with values up to 2.2 μg/g. In contrast, Church and Clifton Pond sediments contain only trace amounts throughout. Down-profile comparison of 5β-coprostanol/cholesterol, 5β-coprostanol/(5β-coprostanol + 5α-cholestanol) and 5β-epicoprostanol/coprostanol as well as 5α-cholestanol/cholesterol suggests that Coneries Pond has received appreciable amounts of faecal contamination. Examination of 5β-stigmastanol (marker for herbivorous/ruminant animals) down core concentrations suggests a recent decrease in manure slurry input to Coneries Pond. The greater concentration of β-sitosterol in sediments from Church and Clifton Ponds as compared to Coneries is attributed in part to their greater diversity and extent of aquatic plants and avian faeces.     

Fossil organic carbon in wastewater and its fate in treatment plants

This study reports the presence of fossil organic carbon in wastewater and its fate in wastewater treatment plants. The findings pinpoint the inaccuracy of current greenhouse gas accounting guidelines which defines all organic carbon in wastewater to be of biogenic origin. Stable and radiocarbon isotopes (¹³C and ¹⁴C) were measured throughout the process train in four municipal wastewater treatment plants equipped with secondary activated sludge treatment. Isotopic mass balance analyses indicate that 4–14% of influent total organic carbon (TOC) is of fossil origin with concentrations between 6 and 35 mg/L; 88–98% of this is removed from the wastewater. The TOC mass balance analysis suggests that 39–65% of the fossil organic carbon from the influent is incorporated into the activated sludge through adsorption or from cell assimilation while 29–50% is likely transformed to carbon dioxide (CO₂) during secondary treatment. The fossil organic carbon fraction in the sludge undergoes further biodegradation during anaerobic digestion with a 12% decrease in mass. 1.4–6.3% of the influent TOC consists of both biogenic and fossil carbon is estimated to be emitted as fossil CO₂ from activated sludge treatment alone. The results suggest that current greenhouse gas accounting guidelines, which assume that all CO₂ emission from wastewater is biogenic may lead to underestimation of emissions.     

Automated determination of carbon in natural waters

An automated method for determining inorganic carbon and organic carbon in water is described. The sample is acidified and the CO₂ from inorganic carbonate is removed in a packed column and measured with an i.r. analyzer. The stripped liquid is pumped to a furnace containing cobalt oxide catalyst at 950°C where the organic carbon is oxidized; the resulting CO₂ is measured with an i.r. analyzer. Operating as a “two-channel” system, inorganic carbon and organic carbon are measured simultaneously at 20 samples per hour. If used in a “single-channel” mode, inorganic and organic carbon are measured separately, inorganic carbon at 60 samples per hour, organic carbon at 20 samples per hour. The coefficients of variation at 1 and 5 mg l⁻¹ organic carbon are 5.1 and 2.8% respectively. The detection limit is 200 μg l⁻¹C.     

Cost and effluent quality controllers design based on the relative gain array for a nutrient removal WWTP

The main objective of this work was the design of different effluent quality controllers and a cost controller for WWTPs. This study was based on the relative gain array (RGA) analysis applied to an anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic (A²/O) configuration of a simulated WWTP, with combined removal of organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus. The RGA analysis was able to point out the best pairing amongst the input and the output control variables of the plant to design low order and decentralized effluent quality controllers, such as proportional-integral controllers for each variable of interest (ammonium, nitrate and phosphate). In a second step, a cost controller to automatically search for the most economic setpoints of the effluent quality controllers was implemented based on the best decentralized control structure tested. The simulated plant was operated under different control modes that chronologically represent control configurations becoming gradually more complex: (i) in open loop; (ii) with dissolved oxygen (DO) control in the last aerobic reactor only; (iii) with the effluent quality controllers active; (iv) with the effluent quality controllers active and automatically receiving the setpoints from a cost controller. The effluent quality controllers alone and the cost control together with effluent quality controllers could save up to 42,000 Euros/year and 225,000 Euros/year, respectively, when compared to the operating costs of the plant operating with DO control (a reduction of 2.5% and 13% of the operating costs, respectively). The cost controller proved to be a good tool for automating the search of the most profitable setpoints of the effluent quality controllers for a given cost setpoint.     

Benzene removal by a novel modification of enhanced anaerobic biostimulation

A novel modification of enhanced anaerobic bioremediation techniques was developed by using non-activated persulfate to accelerate the organic phosphorus breakdown and then stimulate benzene biodegradation by nitrate and sulfate reduction. Benzene concentrations in groundwater where nitrate, triethyl phosphate and persulfate were successfully injected were reduced at removal efficiencies greater than 77% to the levels below the applicable guideline. Soil benzene was removed effectively by the modification of the enhanced anaerobic bioremediation with removal efficiencies ranging between 75.9% and 92.8%. Geochemical analytical results indicated that persulfate effectively breaks down triethyl phosphate into orthophosphate, thereby promoting nitrate and sulfate utilization. Microbial analyses (quantitative polymerase chain reaction, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and 16S ribosomal RNA) demonstrated that benzene was primarily biodegraded by nitrate reduction while sulfate reduction played an important role in benzene removal at some portions of the study site. Enrichment in the heavier carbon isotope ¹³C of residual benzene with the increased removal efficiency provided direct evidence for benzene biodegradation. Nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen isotope analyses indicated that both nitrate reduction and sulfate reduction were occurring as bioremediation mechanisms.     

Organic matter removal in combined anaerobic-aerobic fixed-film bioreactors

A combination of two fixed-film bioreactors (FFB) with arranged media, the first anaerobic and the second aerobic, connected in series with recirculation was fed continuously for 133 days with wastewater from a poultry slaughterhouse. Oxidation of the organic carbon compounds and nitrification were carried out in the aerobic FFB and methanogenesis and denitrification were performed in the anaerobic FFB. The average organic loading rate was 0.39 kg COD/m3d and 92% removal efficiencies of organic matter were achieved. COD-removal occurred mainly in the anaerobic FFB, increasing when the recirculation ratio rose from 1 to 6 due to the increase in the anoxic denitrification. The influence of the C/N ratio of the raw wastewater over the proportion in which the COD-removal was carried out by oxidation in the aerobic FFB, methanogenesis or denitrification in the anaerobic FFB was studied. When the volume of the aerobic FFB became smaller than that of the anaerobic one the fraction of organic matter removed in the anaerobic FFB increased, but also the ratio between the respective volumetric rates (rCODan/rCODae) increased. High recirculation and low C/NO-N ratio in the anaerobic FFB feed favoured the denitrification to the detriment of the methanogenic process. Regarding nitrogen removal for nitrogen applied loads around 0.064 kg TKN/m3d the removal efficiency was of 95%, which decreased to 84% for 0.14 kg TKN/m3d. The stability of the nitrification process was the controlling factor of the nitrogen removal. High ammonia concentration caused by high recirculation ratio, specially when the aerobic FFB volume was smaller, caused nitrification inhibition which destabilised the system.     

Combined anaerobic and aerobic digestion for increased solids reduction and nitrogen removal

A unique sludge digestion system consisting of anaerobic digestion followed by aerobic digestion and then a recycle step where thickened sludge from the aerobic digester was recirculated back to the anaerobic unit was studied to determine the impact on volatile solids (VS) reduction and nitrogen removal. It was found that the combined anaerobic/aerobic/anaerobic (ANA/AER/ANA) system provided 70% VS reduction compared to 50% for conventional mesophilic anaerobic digestion with a 20 day SRT and 62% for combined anaerobic/aerobic (ANA/AER) digestion with a 15 day anaerobic and a 5 day aerobic SRT. Total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) removal for the ANA/AER/ANA system was 70% for sludge wasted from the aerobic unit and 43.7% when wasted from the anaerobic unit. TKN removal was 64.5% for the ANA/AER system.     

Biodegradation of the endogenous residue of activated sludge in a membrane bioreactor with continuous or on-off aeration

The goal of this study was to determine the effect of a long sludge retention time on the biodegradation of the endogenous residue in membrane digestion units receiving a daily feed of sludge and operated under either aerobic or intermittently aerated (22 h off-2 h on) conditions. The mixed liquor for these experiments was generated in a 10.4 day sludge retention time membrane bioreactor fed with a synthetic and completely biodegradable influent with acetate as the sole carbon source. It had uniform characteristics and consisted of only two components, heterotrophic biomass X_H and endogenous residue X_E. Membrane digestion unit experiments were conducted for 80 days without any sludge wastage except for some sampling. The dynamic behaviour of generation and consumption of filtered organic digestion products was characterized in the membrane digestion unit systems using three pore filter sizes. Results from this investigation indicated that the colloidal matter with size between 0.04 μm and 0.45 μm was shown to contain a recalcitrant fraction possibly composed of polysaccharides bound to proteins which accumulated in the membrane digestion unit under both conditions. Modelling the membrane digestion unit results by considering a first-order decay of the endogenous residue allowed to determine values of the endogenous residue decay rate of 0.0065 and 0.0072 d⁻¹ under fully aerobic and intermittently aerated conditions, respectively. The effect of temperature on the endogenous decay rate was assessed for the intermittently aerated conditions in batch tests using thickened sludge from tests gave an endogenous decay rate constant of 0.0075 d⁻¹ at 20 °C and an Arrhenius temperature correction factor of 1.033.     

The decomposition of sewage sludge in seawater

Laboratory experiments were conducted over a 12 week period to follow the decomposition of sewage sludge in seawater and in sediment-seawater mixtures under aerobic and anaerobic conditions at 4° and 21°C. Results showed that the sewage sludge decomposed more rapidly in the presence of oxygen. Dissolved organic carbon, a major carbon source in sewage sludge, abruptly decreased to very low concentrations in 3–4 weeks in aerobic systems; concentrations of particulate carbon decreased only gradually during the 12 week period. Aerobic conditions at the sewage sludge dump site in the New York Bight apex can promote rapid decomposition of sewage sludge if it is distributed evenly over an area of at least 5.2 km² (2 miles).     

Fate of pathogens in thermophilic aerobic sludge digestion

The effect of autoheated aerobic thermophilic digestion on the pathogen content of sewage sludges was studied and compared to that of conventional mesophilic anaerobic digestion. Both systems were full scale, continuously-fed facilities operated in parallel and utilized a feed sludge of thickened primary and waste-activated sludge.The relative populations of viruses, Salmonella sp., total and fecal coliforms, fecal streptococci and parasites found before and after digestion were compared. The full scale mesophilic anaerobic digesters were operated at relatively constant conditions, i.e. digester temperature constant at 35°C, and loading rates constant, etc., while the full scale autoheated aerobic digester was operated under a wide range of loading conditions. At all of the conditions studied, the autoheated digester temperature exceeded 45 C. Virus and Salmonella sp. concentrations in the effluent from the aerobic unit were below detectable limits in 10 of 11 samples and 6 of 6 samples, respectively, whereas the anaerobic digester effluent contained detectable numbers of viruses and Salmonella sp. Bacterial indicator counts and parasite concentrations were less in the autoheated digester effluent than in the effluent from the anaerobic digester. It was concluded that the simple autoheated aerobic digestion process could be used to produce a virtually pathogen-free sludge at a cost comparable to that of conventional, mesophilic anaerobic digestion.     

高浓度氨氮废水好氧反硝化反应的基本条件

文章通过室内实验,对高浓度氨氮废水（垃圾渗滤液）间歇曝气,在只存在有机碳、无机氮的条件下进行好氧反硝化脱氮研究。实验结果表明：垃圾渗滤液中存在好氧反硝化土著微生物菌落;发生好氧反硝化的基本条件为在溶解氧充足的条件下间歇曝气;碳源不仅是厌氧反硝化所必须的,同样也是好氧反硝化的必要条件。     

Biosorption processes in biomembrane systems during water treatment of surface water sources

The characteristics of a system with bioactive powdered activated carbon and microfiltration have been studied under conditions of the aerobic treatment of natural water from the water storages of Guan Ting (China), the Moskva River, and the Yauza River (Russia). The removal of organic matter in the system was estimated in terms of the permanganate oxidizability and UV absorption at λ = 254 nm (UV₂₅₄) and λ = 410 nm (UV₄₁₀). The average removal efficiency amounted to 68.42, 75.61, and 87.50%, respectively, at water temperature 10°C. The water treatment process (at 20°C) began immediately after the start-up of the plant at the expense of the adsorption on activated carbon that guaranteed a high speed of removal of organic pollutants in the absence of mature microflora. By the time the adsorption capacity of carbon was exhausted, the microflora was able to mature ensuring in combination with the powdered activated carbon a high speed of removal. In order to guarantee the biological stability of water, the removal degree of assimilable organic carbon amounted to 60.2% and the purified water met the requirements of the recommended criterion (100 mg acetate-C/dm³).     

Automated chemical analysis for measuring microgram levels of organic carbon in potable waters

An automated method for the direct determination of microgram levels of organic carbon in potable waters is described. The technique is that of continuous flow analysis and utilizes an automatic sampler, a multiple channel proportioning pump, and an appropriate analytical system (manifold). Samples are acidified, oxygen segmented and passed through a heated inorganic carbon stripper. The stripped liquid is resampled, mixed with silver peroxydisulphate solution and digested at 70°C. The liberated CO₂ is measured by means of infrared photometry. Complete inorganic carbon removal was not possible. From a 30 mg dm⁻³ inorganic carbon solution 0.1% residual remained after stripping. Using a sample volume of 6.3 cm³ min⁻¹, full-scale recorder deflection could be obtained for a 1 mg dm⁻³ organic carbon standard solution with a relative standard deviation of 0.9%. The lower detection limit of practical significance is 50 μg dm⁻³ organic carbon. The analysis rate is 20 samples per hour. Certain synthetic organic materials resisted complete oxidation and included the amino acids glycine, 1-alanine, leucine, iso-leucine and valine.     

A pilot plant study on water quality changes during groundwater recharge

Results of a pilot plant study on the influence of the composition of sandy soil on water quality changes during groundwater recharge of pretreated Rhine water are presented. It is confirmed that content and nature of the soil organic matter substantially affect the quality of the percolating water. Recharge in the sand with a higher content of unstable organic matter (0.76% OC), under anaerobic conditions (E_h ∼ + 100 mV) resulted in an increase of COD, DOC, colour, NH₄⁺, PO₄³⁻, Fe, Mn, SiO₂ and As content. On the other hand the concentration of trihalomethanes, tetrachloromethane, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, tetrachloroethene, haloacetonitriles, nitro-aromatics and the mutagenic activity decreased during the recharge. Passage through the sand with lower content of stabilized organic matter (0.22% OC), under anaerobic conditions (E_h ∼ + 200 mV), showed a similar but less pronounced effect. In the sand with very low content organic matter (0.04% OC) under aerobic conditions, a moderate improvement of macroconstituents and trace elements was observed. From the organic micropollutants studied only brominated trihalomethanes were transformed here to a degree increasing with the bromine content. Adsorbable and extractable halogenated organic compounds formed by the chlorination of the recharge water, characterized with the group parameters (AOX and EOX), were largely removed during the percolation in all sands examined.     

Comparing the anaerobic digestion of Ascophyllum nodosum,the organic fraction of municipal solid waste and white rice in batch reactors

The biogas potential of marine macroalga Ascophyllum nodosum was compared with the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) and white rice to determine the applicability of the feedstock for anaerobic digestion. For OFMSW three dry matter contents were compared, 3%, 10% and 25%, to determine the effect of dry matter on methane yield. Biogas was evolved in each system, but the rate of evolution of biogas changed with moisture content. The highest total methane yield was obtained from 3% OFMSW but A. nodosum yielded more methane at 176±37.62 L/kg VS than white rice and the drier anaerobic digestion of OFMSW. The substrates were digested using wastewater treatment plant inoculum to determine gas yield and gas quality under batch mesophilic digestion conditions.