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.     

Effect of temperature shocks on membrane fouling in membrane bioreactors

Temperature is known to influence the biological performance of conventional activated sludge systems. In membrane bioreactors (MBRs), temperature not only affects the bioconversion process but is also shown to have an effect on the membrane performance. Four phenomena are generally reported to explain the higher resistance for membrane filtration found at lower temperatures: (1) increased mixed liquor viscosity, reducing the shear stress generated by coarse bubbles, (2) intensified deflocculation, reducing biomass floc size and releasing EPS into the mixed liquor, (3) lower backtransport velocity and (4) reduced biodegradation of COD. Although the higher resistance at low temperatures has been reported in several papers, the relation with supernatant composition has not been investigated before. In this paper, the composition of the soluble fraction of the mixed liquor is related to membrane performance after exposing the sludge to temperature shocks. Flux step experiments were performed in an experimental system at 7, 15, and 25° Celsius with sludge that was continuously recirculated from a pilot-scale MBR. After correcting the permeate viscosity for temperature, higher membrane fouling rates were obtained for the lower temperature in combination with low fouling reversibility. The soluble fraction of the MBR mixed liquor was analysed for polysaccharides, proteins and submicron particle size distribution. At low temperature, a high polysaccharide concentration was found in the experimental system as compared to the MBR pilot. Upon decreasing the temperature of the mixed liquor, a shift was found in particle size towards smaller particles. These results show that the release of polysaccharides and/or submicron particles from sludge flocs could explain the increased membrane fouling at low temperatures.     

Characterization of dissolved extracellular organic matter (dEOM) and bound extracellular organic matter (bEOM) of Microcystis aeruginosa and their impacts on UF membrane fouling

Extracellular organic matter (EOM) of cyanobacteria was classified into the dissolved EOM (dEOM) which was released into culture solution and the bound EOM (bEOM) which surrounded the cells. The dEOM and bEOM extracted from Microcystis aeruginosa in stationary phase were used to study their characteristic differences and then their impacts on ultrafiltration (UF) membrane fouling. Component analyses showed that dEOM was comprised of proteins, polysaccharides and humic-like substances, while that bEOM contained only proteins and polysaccharides. Additionally, polysaccharides dominated in dEOM with a polysaccharide/DOC ratio of 1.11 mg mg⁻¹, while proteins were the primary components of bEOM with a protein/DOC ratio of 1.08 mg mg⁻¹. Results of size fractionation and XAD resin fractionation revealed that bEOM was mainly distributed in the high-MW and hydrophobic fractions, while that dEOM was more hydrophilic. Result of UF experiments indicated that dEOM which had a higher organic content and stronger hydrophilicity caused more severe flux decline and reversible fouling, and that bEOM led to slower flux decline but more irreversible fouling due to less electrostatic repulsive and more hydrophobic adhesion. The impacts of these two kinds of EOM on the UF fouling caused by cyanobacterial cells were also investigated. It was found that both flux decline and irreversible membrane fouling caused by the cells were aggravated when cells were together with EOM, especially for bEOM which might increase the surface hydrophobicity of the cells.     

Combined use of confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and Raman microscopy (RM): Investigations on EPS - Matrix

Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was applied in combination with Raman microscopy (RM) for the characterization of heterotrophic biofilms. Compared to CLSM, RM allows for a deeper insight into the chemical structure of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of the biofilm matrix. A low load of glucose (2 g m⁻² d⁻¹) was applied as substrate to ensure small growth rates of the heterotrophic biofilm. To investigate the influence of hydrodynamic conditions on the chemical composition of EPS, a three funnel flow system was used, wherein biofilms were grown at Reynolds numbers of 1000, 2500 and 4000, respectively.31 and 92 days after inoculation with activated sludge supernatant RM was applied as an additional technique to standard CLSM measurements for a more detailed analysis of the biofilm matrix. Polysaccharide-related Raman bands are in good agreement with the lectin binding analysis from CLSM. For the older biofilm, lectin binding analysis showed no change in the composition of EPS, whereas Raman spectra pointed out a change of EPS composition from predominantly polysaccharides to predominantly (glyco) proteins. For the applied substrate condition no significant influence of the Reynolds number on the chemical properties was observed.     

Extracellular biological organic matters in sewage sludge during mesophilic digestion at reduced hydraulic retention time

To operate an anaerobic digester at low hydraulic retention time (HRT) is welcome in practice. This study characterized the extracellular biological organic matter (EBOM) and supernatant organics for a sewage sludge digested in a lab-scale mesophilic digester (5 l) running at an HRT of 20, 15 or 10 d. The hydrophilic and hydrophobic acid fractions were the principal components in the sludge EBOM. The hydrolysis rates for hydrophobic acid fraction related EBOM at 10 d HRT and that of hydrophilic fraction related proteins in supernatant at 20 d HRT limited the anaerobic processes. Improved hydrolysis of soluble hydrophilic fraction assisted improving digester performance at 20 d HRT. To shorten digestion HRT, efficiency of hydrophobic acid fraction hydrolysis has to be practiced.     

Fractionating soluble microbial products in the activated sludge process

Soluble microbial products (SMP) are the pool of organic compounds originating from microbial growth and decay, and are usually the major component of the soluble organic matters in effluents from biological treatment processes. In this work, SMP in activated sludge were characterized, fractionized, and quantified using integrated chemical analysis and mathematical approach. The utilization-associated products (UAP) in SMP, produced in the substrate-utilization process, were found to be carbonaceous compounds with a molecular weight (MW) lower than 290 kDa which were quantified separately from biomass-associated products (BAP). The BAP were mainly cellular macromolecules with an MW in a range of 290-5000 kDa, and for the first time were further classified into the growth-associated BAP (GBAP) with an MW of 1000 kDa, which were produced in the microbial growth phase, and the endogeny-associated BAP (EBAP) with an MW of 4500 kDa, which were generated in the endogenous phase. Experimental and modeling results reveal that the UAP could be utilized by the activated sludge and that the BAP would accumulate in the system. The GBAP and EBAP had different formation rates from the hydrolysis of extracellular polymeric substances and distinct biodegradation kinetics. This study provides better understanding of SMP formation mechanisms and becomes useful for subsequent effluent treatment.     

Synergetic pretreatment of sewage sludge by microwave irradiation in presence of H2O2 for enhanced anaerobic digestion

A microwave-enhanced advanced hydrogen peroxide oxidation process (MW/H₂O₂-AOP) was studied in order to investigate the synergetic effects of MW irradiation on H₂O₂ treated waste activated sludges (WAS) in terms of mineralization (permanent stabilization), sludge disintegration/solubilization, and subsequent anaerobic biodegradation as well as dewaterability after digestion. Thickened WAS sample pretreated with 1 g H₂O₂/g total solids (TS) lost 11-34% of its TS, total chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total biopolymers (humic acids, proteins and sugars) via advanced oxidation. In a temperature range of 60-120 °C, elevated MW temperatures (>80 °C) further increased the decomposition of H₂O₂ into OH^• radicals and enhanced both oxidation of COD and solubilization of particulate COD (>0.45 micron) of WAS indicating that a synergetic effect was observed when both H₂O₂ and MW treatments were combined. However, at all temperatures tested, MW/H₂O₂ treated samples had lower first-order mesophilic (33 ± 2 °C) biodegradation rate constants and ultimate (after 32 days of digestion) methane yields (mL per gram sample) compared to control and MW irradiated WAS samples, indicating that synergistically (MW/H₂O₂-AOP) generated soluble organics were slower to biodegrade or more refractory than those generated during MW irradiation.     

Ultrafiltration membrane fouling by extracellular organic matters (EOM) of Microcystis aeruginosa in stationary phase: influences of interfacial characteristics of foulants and fouling mechanisms

This paper focused on the membrane fouling caused by extracellular organic matters (EOM) which was extracted from lab-cultured Microcystis aeruginosa in stationary phase. The characteristics of EOM such as molecular weight distribution, hydrophobicity and fluorescence were measured. It was found that high molecular weight (MW) and hydrophilic organics accounted for the major parts of algal EOM which was comprised of protein-like, polysaccharide-like and humic-like substances. Ultrafiltration (UF) experiments were carried out in a stirring cell and hydrophobic polyethersulfone (PES) membranes which carried negative charge were used. Prefiltration, calcium addition and XAD fractionation were employed to change the interfacial characteristics of EOM. Then the effects of these interfacial characteristics on flux decline, reversibility and mass balance of organics were compared. Algal EOM proved to cause serious membrane fouling during UF. The fraction of algal EOM between 0.45 μm and 100 kDa contributed a significant portion of the fouling. Hydrophobic organics in EOM tended to adhere to membrane surface causing irreversible fouling, while the cake layer formed by hydrophilic organics caused greater resistance to water flow due to hydrophilic interaction such as hydrogen bond and led to faster flux decline during UF. The results also indicated that the algal EOM was negatively charged and the electrostatic repulsion could prevent organics from adhering to membrane surface. In term of fouling mechanisms, cake layer formation, hydrophobic adhesion and pore plugging were the main mechanisms for membrane fouling caused by algal EOM.     

Novel electrokinetic approach reduces membrane fouling

An innovative submerged membrane electro-bioreactor (SMEBR) was built to reduce membrane fouling through a combination of various electrokinetic processes. The objective of this research was to assess the capability of SMEBR to reduce fouling under different process conditions. At the bench scale level, using synthetic wastewater, membrane fouling of the SMEBR was compared to the fouling of a membrane bioreactor (MBR) in five runs. Different protein concentrations in the influent synthetic wastewater were selected to develop different membrane fouling potentials: high (240 mg/l), low (80 mg/l) and zero protein addition. The MBR and SMEBR were operated at a flux equal to the membrane critical flux in order to create high fouling rate conditions. Membrane fouling rate, expressed as the change in the trans-membrane pressure per day (kPa/d), decreased in the SMEBR 5.8 times (standard deviation (SD) = 2.4) for high protein wastewater, 5.1 times (SD = 2.4) for low protein content, and 1.3 times (SD = 0.7) for zero protein, when compared to the MBR. The supernatant concentrations of the soluble microbial products (SMP) were 195–210, 65–135 and less than 65 mg/l in respective experimental series. Following the bench scale study, membrane fouling was assessed in a pilot scale SMEBR, fed with raw un-clarified municipal wastewater, and operated under real-sewage variable quality conditions. The pilot SMEBR exhibited three times smaller membrane fouling rate than the MBR. It was concluded that electrokinetic processes generated by SMEBR led to a reduction of membrane fouling through: i) removal of soluble microbial products (mainly protein and polysaccharides) and colloidal organic materials; ii) change of the structure and morphology of the suspended solids due their conditioning by DC field.     

Effect of PAC addition on sludge properties in an MBR treating high strength wastewater

This paper examines the sludge characteristics in a submerged membrane bioreactor (MBR) operated on a high strength wastewater from an alcohol distillery. Two membrane bioreactors, each with a 30 μm mesh filter, were investigated with and without addition of powdered activated carbon (PAC). Experiments were conducted with varying organic loading rates ranging from 3.4 to 6.9 kgCOD m⁻³ day⁻¹ and the specific oxygen uptake rate (SOUR), sludge volume index (SVI), mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS), particle size and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) were monitored over a 180 day period. Respirometric experiments did not show enhancement in microbial activity with PAC supplementation. Addition of PAC decreased the SVI thereby perceptibly improving sludge dewaterability. The sludge particle size, which increased with time, appeared to be independent of PAC addition but was influenced by the aeration intensity. PAC also did not affect the sludge EPS concentration; however, the EPS composition, in terms of protein/carbohydrate (polysaccharide) ratio was altered resulting in a high P/C ratio. FTIR analysis of the sludge samples indicated that the functional groups associated with the sludge polysaccharides appear to be involved in its interaction with PAC.     

Identification of biofoulant of membrane bioreactors in soluble microbial products

To reveal primary biofoulant in soluble microbial products (SMP) and/or soluble extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), after removal of sludge particles, activated sludge samples were subjected to microfiltration tests in a submerged MBR. Filtration resistance directly correlates with the saccharide concentration. Saccharides in wastewater from several sources contained uronic acids, which increased the filtration resistance. When the microfiltration test liquids contained saccharides over 80 mg l⁻¹, a gelatinous mass remained on the membrane surface after filtration and contained concentrations of saccharides and uronic acids 50 times higher than the original test liquid while only trace amounts of these substances were contained in the filtrate. The gelatinous mass contained high molecular weight substances of 10⁶-10⁸ Da, suggesting the presence of polysaccharides. However, molecules of this size were calculated to be much smaller than the pore size of the membrane. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid decreased filtration resistance, suggesting that polysaccharides containing uronic acid units could undergo intermolecular or intramolecular ionic cross-linking by polyvalent cations and form the gel, thus clogging the membrane pores as an actual biofoulant.     

Natural attenuation and characterization of contaminants composition in landfill leachate under different disposing ages

Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) composition in landfill leachate would vary as the disposal time extended. Leachates with different ages were collected from Laogang Refuse Landfill of Shanghai, the largest landfill in China with a placement scale of 7600 t refuse per day. To characterize COD composition in leachate, samples were size-fractioned into suspended fractions (> 0.45 μm), colloid fraction (0.45 μm < fraction < 1 K Da MW) and dissolved fractions (< 1 KDa MW) based on the molecular weight distribution. The fractions < 0.45 μm (including colloid fraction and dissolved fractions) in leachate were further divided into 6 fractions, i.e. hydrophobic bases (Ho-base), hydrophobic acids (Ho-acid), hydrophobic neutral (Ho-neutral), hydrophilic bases (Hi-base), hydrophilic acids (Hi-acid) and hydrophilic neutral (Hi-neutral). It was found that the ratio of TOC/TC in leachate decreased over time, indicating that the percentage of organic matters in leachate decreased as the disposal time extended. It was also observed that the hydrophobic fraction accounted to about 50% of the total matters presented in the fraction < 0.45 μm of all leachate samples. The main components in < 0.45  μm fraction were the Ho-acid, Hi-acid and Hi-base fractions. The percentage of Ho-acid in leachate decreased from 60.8% (2 a) to 43.2% (12 a). In addition, leachate with different ages was categorized into 3 phases according to the results of Principle component analysis (PCA). TOC/COD ranges of leachate in periods I, II and III were 40-54.6%, 16.9-41.3% and 10-38.9%, respectively, indicating that the COD contribution of non-carbon reduction substances increased over time in leachate. Hence, the corresponding landfill leachate treatment process should be modified according to the leachate characterization. The results obtained in this study might provide the important information for modeling, design, and operation of landfill leachate treatment systems.     

Determination of sorption of seventy-five pharmaceuticals in sewage sludge

Sorption of 75 active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to three different types of sludge (primary sludge, secondary sludge with short and long sludge age respectively) were investigated. To obtain the sorption isotherms batch studies with the APIs mixture were performed in four nominal concentrations to water containing 1 g of sludge. The range of APIs concentrations was between ng L⁻¹ to μg L⁻¹ which are found in the wastewater effluents. Isotherms were obtained for approximately 45 of the APIs, providing distribution coefficients for linear (K_d), Freundlich (K_f) and Langmuir (K_L) isotherms. K_d, K_f and K_L ranging between 7.1 × 10⁴ and 3.8 × 10⁷, 1.1 × 10⁻² and 6.1 × 10⁴ and 9.2 × 10⁻³ and 1.1 L kg⁻¹, respectively. The obtained coefficients were applied to estimate the fraction of APIs in the water phase (see Abstract Graphic). For 37 of the 75 APIs, the predicted presence in the liquid phase was estimated to >80%. 24 APIs were estimated to be present in the liquid phase between 20 and 80%, and 14 APIs were found to have <20% presence in the liquid phase, i.e. high affinity towards sludge. Furthermore, the effect of pH at values 6, 7 and 8 was evaluated using one way ANOVA-test. A significant difference in K_ds due to pH changes were found for 6 of the APIs (variation 10-20%).     

Alkaline solubilization and microwave irradiation as a combined sludge disintegration and minimization method

Commonly used pretreatment method of alkaline solubilization (using NaOH) and a relatively new technology of microwave (MW) irradiation (160 °C) were combined as a pretreatment method of waste activated sludge (WAS) in this study. First alkaline and MW pretreatment methods were examined separately, then their combination for different conditions was investigated in terms of their effect on COD solubilization, turbidity and capillary suction time (CST). For combined pretreatments, soluble COD to total COD ratio (SCOD/TCOD) of WAS increased from 0.005 (control) to 0.18, 0.27, 0.34 and 0.37 for combined methods of MW and pH-10, 11, 12 and 12.5, respectively. Deteriorated dewaterability due to alkaline pretreatment was also improved due to the incorporation of MW irradiation. Further, with small scale batch anaerobic reactors, pH-10, pH-12, MW (alone), MW + pH-10 and MW + pH-12 pretreated WAS samples were anaerobically digested. Highest total gas and methane productions were achieved with MW + pH-12 pretreatment with 16.3% and 18.9% improvements over control reactor, respectively. Finally the performance of MW + pH-12 pretreatment was examined with 2 L anaerobic semi-continuous reactors for 92 days and compared to that of the control reactors. These reactors were operated at an SRT of 15 days. After steady state, 43.5% and 55% improvements were obtained in respective daily total gas and methane productions. TS, VS and TCOD reductions were improved by 24.9%, 35.4% and 30.3%, respectively based on a relative calculation with respect to control reactors. This way combined alkaline-microwave treatment proved to be an effective sludge minimization method. Pretreated digested sludge had 22% improved dewaterability than unpretreated digested sludge. Higher SCOD and NH₃-N concentrations were measured in the pretreated digested sludge supernatant; however, PO₄-P concentration did not increase much.     

Impact on reactor configuration on the performance of anaerobic MBRs: Treatment of settled sewage in temperate climates

The treatment efficiency and membrane performance of a granular and suspended growth anaerobic membrane bioreactor (G-AnMBR and AnMBR respectively) were compared and evaluated. Both anaerobic MBRs were operated in parallel during 250 days with low strength wastewater and under UK weather conditions. Both systems presented COD and BOD removal efficiencies of 80–95% and >90% respectively. Effluent BOD remained between 5 and 15 mgBOD L⁻¹ through the experimental period while effluent COD increased from 25 mg L⁻¹ to 75 mg L⁻¹ as temperature decreased from 25 °C to 10 °C respectively indicating the production of non biodegradable organics at lower temperatures. Although similar levels of low molecular weight organics were present in the sludge supernatant, recycling of the mixed liquor from the membrane tank to the bioreactor at a low upflow velocity enhanced interception of solids in the sludge bed of the G-AnMBR limiting the solid and colloidal load to the membrane as compared to the suspended system. Results from flux step test showed that critical flux increased from 4 to 13 L m⁻² h⁻¹ and from 3 to 5 L m⁻² h⁻¹ with gas sparging intensities varying from 0.007 m s⁻¹ to 0.041. Additional long term trials in which the effect of gas sparging rate and backwashing efficiency were assessed confirmed the lower fouling propensity of the G-AnMBR.     

Effect of microwave hydrolysis on transformation of steroidal hormones during anaerobic digestion of municipal sludge cake

Fate and removal of 16 steroidal (estrogenic, androgenic and progestogenic) hormones were studied during advanced anaerobic digestion of sludge cake using microwave (MW) pretreatment. Effect of pretreatment temperature (80, 120, 160 °C), operating temperature (mesophilic at 35 ± 2 °C, thermophilic at 55 ± 2 °C) and sludge retention time (SRT: 20, 10, 5 days) were studied employing eight lab-scale semi-continuously fed digesters. To determine the potential effect of MW hydrolysis, hormones were quantified in total (sorbed + soluble) and supernatant (soluble) phases of the digester influent and effluent streams. Seven of 16 hormones were above the method reporting limit (RL) in one or more of the samples. Hormone concentrations in total phase of un-pretreated (control) and pretreated digester feeds ranged in <157–2491 ng/L and <157–749 ng/L, respectively. The three studied factors were found to be statistically significant (95% confidence level) in removal of one or more hormones from soluble and/or total phase. MW hydrolysis of the influent resulted in both release (from sludge matrix) and attenuation of hormones in the soluble phase. Accumulation of estrone (E1) as well as progesterone (Pr) and androstenedione (Ad) in most of the digesters indicated possible microbial transformations among the hormones. Compared to controls, all pretreated digesters had lower total hormone concentrations in their influent streams. At 20 days SRT, highest total removal (E1+E2+Ad +Pr) was observed for the thermophilic control digester (56%), followed by pretreated mesophilic digesters at 120 °C and 160 °C with around 48% efficiency. In terms of conventional performance parameters, relative (to control) improvements of MW pretreated digesters at a 5-d SRT ranged in 98–163% and 57–121%, for volatile solids removal and methane production, respectively.     

Characteristics of adsorbents made from biological, chemical and hybrid sludges and their effect on organics removal in wastewater treatment

Meso-macropore adsorbents were prepared from biological sludge, chemical sludge and hybrid sludge of biological and chemical sludges, by chemically activating with 18.0 M H₂SO₄ in the mass ratio of 1:3, and then pyrolyzing at 550 °C for 1 h in anoxic atmosphere. The physical and chemical characteristics of the sludge-based adsorbents were examined in terms of surface physical morphology, specific surface area and pore size distribution, aluminum and iron contents, surface functional groups and crystal structure. Furthermore, the adsorption effect of these adsorbents on the organic substances in wastewater was also investigated. The results indicated that the adsorption capacities of the sludge-based adsorbents for UV₂₅₄ were lower than that of commercial activated carbon (AC), whereas the adsorption capacities of the adsorbents prepared from hybrid sludge (HA) and chemical sludge (CA) for soluble COD_Cr (SCOD_Cr) were comparable or even higher than that of the commercial AC. The reasons might be that the HA and CA possessed well-developed mesopore and macropore structure, as well as abundant acidic surface functional groups. However, the lowest adsorption efficiency was observed for the biological sludge-based adsorbent, which might be due to the lowest metal content and overabundance of surface acidic functional groups in this adsorbent.     

Enhancement of waste activated sludge aerobic digestion by electrochemical pre-treatment

Electrochemical technology with a pair of RuO₂/Ti mesh plate electrode is first applied to pre-treat Waste Activated Sludge (WAS) prior to aerobic digestion in this study. The effects of various operating conditions were investigated including electrolysis time, electric power, current density, initial pH of sludge and sludge concentration. The study showed that the sludge reduction increased with the electrolysis time, electric power or current density, while decreased with the sludge concentration. Additionally, higher or lower pH than 7.0 was propitious to remove organic matters. The electrochemical pre-treatment removed volatile solids (VS) and volatile suspended solids (VSS) by 2.75% and 7.87%, respectively, with a WAS concentration of 12.9 g/L, electrolysis time of 30 min, electric power of 5 W and initial sludge pH of 10. In the subsequent aerobic digestion, the sludge reductions for VS and VSS after solids retention time (SRT) of 17.5 days were 34.25% and 39.59%, respectively. However, a SRT of 23.5 days was necessary to achieve equivalent reductions without electrochemical pre-treatment. Sludge analysis by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images and infrared (IR) spectra indicated that electrochemical pre-treatment can rupture sludge cells, remove and solubilize intracellular substances, especially protein and polysaccharide, and consequently enhance the aerobic digestion.     

Effect of mechanical cleaning with granular material on the permeability of submerged membranes in the MBR process

The research on fouling reduction and permeability loss in membrane bioreactors (MBRs) was carried out at two MBR pilot plants with synthetic and real wastewater. On the one hand, the effect of mechanical cleaning with an abrasive granular material on the performance of a submerged MBR process was tested. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurements and integrity tests were conducted to check whether the membrane material was damaged by the granulate.The results indicate that the fouling layer formation was significantly reduced by abrasion using the granular material. This technique allowed a long-term operation of more than 600 days at a flux up to 40 L/(m² h) without chemical cleaning of the membranes. Moreover, it was demonstrated that the membrane bioreactor (MBR) with granulate could be operated with more than 20% higher flux compared to a conventional MBR operation. SEM images and integrity tests showed that in consequence of abrasive cleaning, the granular material left brush marks on the membrane surface, however, the membrane function was not affected.In a parallel experimental set up, the impact of the operationally defined “truly soluble fraction” <0.04 μm from wastewater and activated sludge on the ultrafiltration membrane fouling characteristics was investigated. It was shown that the permeability loss was caused predominantly by the colloidal fraction >0.04 μm rather than by the dissolved fraction of wastewater and activated sludge.     

Characterization of extracellular polymeric substances produced by mixed microorganisms in activated sludge with gel-permeating chromatography, excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy measurement and kinetic modeling

In this work the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) produced by mixed microbial community in activated sludge are characterized using gel-permeating chromatography (GPC), 3-dimensional excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy measurement and mathematical modeling. Chromatograms of extracted EPS exhibit seven peaks, among which proteins have four peaks and polysaccharides have three peaks. Evolution of the chromatogram area indicates that the quantity of produced EPS increases significantly in the substrate utilization process. With the parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) approach, two components of the polymer matrix are identified by the EEM analysis, one as EPS proteins at Ex/Em 280/340 nm and one matrix associated as fulvic-acid-like substances at 320/400 nm. The proteins and fulvic-acid-like substances in the EPS increase in the substrate utilization phase, but decrease in the endogenous phase. To have a better insight into EPS production, the kinetic modeling of EPS is performed with regard to their molecular weight distribution and chemical natures identified by GPC and EEM. In this way, the dynamics of these important microbial products are better understood.