Formation and characteristics of nitritation granules cultivated in sequencing batch reactor by stepwise increase of N/C ratio

The cultivation of nitritation granules in sequencing batch reactor (SBR) by seeding conventional floccular activated sludge was investigated using ethanol-based synthetic wastewater. Reducing settling time offers selection pressure for aerobic granulation, and stepwise increase of influent N/C ratio can help to selectively enrich ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in aerobic granules. The spherical shaped granules were observed with the mean diameter of 1.25 mm, average settling velocity of 1.9 cm s(-1) and the sludge volume index (SVI) of 18.5-31.4 ml g(-1). After 25 days of operation, the nitrogen loading rate reached 0.0455 kg NH(4)(+)-N (kg MLSS·d)(-1), which was 4.55 times higher than that of the start-up period. The mature granules showed high nitrification ability. Ammonia removal efficiency was above 95% and nitrite accumulation ratio was in the range of 80-95%. The nitrifying bacteria were quantified by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis, which indicated that AOB was 14.9 ± 0.5% of the total bacteria and nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) was 0.89 ± 0.1% of the total bacteria. Therefore, AOB was the dominant nitrifying bacteria. It was concluded that the associated inhibition of free ammonia at the start of each cycle and free nitrous acid during the later phase of aeration may be the key factors to start up and maintain the stable nitritation.     

High-rate nitrification using aerobic granular sludge.

The performance of nitrifying granules, which had been produced in an aerobic upflow fluidised bed (AUFB) reactor, was investigated in various types of ammonia-containing wastewaters. When pure oxygen was supplied to the AUFB reactor with a synthetic wastewater containing a high concentration of ammonia (500 g-N/m3), the ammonia removal rate reached 16.7 kg-N/m3/day with a sustained ammonia removal efficiency of more than 80%. The nitrifying granules possessing a high settling ability could be retained with a high density (approximately 10,000 g-MLSS/m3) in a continuous stirring tank reactor (CSTR) even under a short hydraulic retention time (44 min), which enabled a high-rate and stable nitrification for an inorganic wastewater containing low concentrations of ammonia (50 g-N/m3). Moreover, the nitrifying granules exhibited sufficient performance in the nitrification of real industrial wastewater containing high concentrations of ammonia (1000-1400 g-N/m3) and salinity (1.2-2.2%), which was discharged from metal-refinery processes. When the nitrifying granules were used in cooperation with activated sludge to treat domestic wastewater containing organic pollutants as well as ammonia, they fully contributed to nitrification even though a part of activated sludge adhered onto the granule surfaces to form biofilms. These results show the wide applicability of nitrifying granules to various cases in the nitrification step of wastewater treatment plants.     

Selection of slow growing organisms as a means for improving aerobic granular sludge stability.

Recently, several groups have showed the occurrence of aerobic granular sludge. The excellent settling characteristics of aerobic granular sludge allow the design of very compact wastewater treatment plants. In laboratory experiments, high oxygen concentrations were needed to obtain stable granulation. However, in order to obtain energy efficient aeration and good denitrification low oxygen concentrations would be required. From earlier research on biofilm morphology, it was learned that slow growing organisms influence the density and stability of biofilms positively. To decrease the growth rate of the organisms in the aerobic granules, easily degradable substrate (e.g. acetate) has to be converted to slowly degradable COD like microbial storage polymers (e.g. PHA). Phosphate or glycogen accumulating bacteria perform this conversion step most efficiently. In this paper it is shown that the selection of such bacteria in aerobic granules indeed led to stable granular sludge, even at low oxygen concentrations.     

Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis of nitrifiers in piggery wastewater treatment reactors.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed to analyze the nitrifying microbial communities in an activated sludge reactor (ASR) and a fixed biofilm reactor (FBR) for piggery wastewater treatment. Heterotrophic oxidation and nitrification were occurring simultaneously in the ASR and the COD and nitrification efficiencies depend on the loads. In the FBR nitrification efficiency also depends on ammonium load to the reactor and nitrite was accumulated when free ammonia concentration was higher than 0.2 mg NH3-N/L. FISH analysis showed that ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (NSO1225) and denitrifying bacteria (RRP1088) were less abundant than other bacteria (EUB338) in ASR. Further analysis on nitrifying bacteria in the FBR showed that Nitrosomonas species (NSM156) and Nitrospira species (NSR1156) were the dominant ammonia-oxidizing and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria, respectively, in the piggery wastewater nitrification system.     

Granulation in an upflow anaerobic sequencing batch reactor treating disintegrated waste activated sludge.

An upflow anaerobic reactor operated with a sequencing batch mode to enhance high rate digestion of raw and thermally disintegrated waste activated sludge with formation of granules. The gas production rate doubled when disintegrated waste activated sludge was introduced. Gradual granulation took place and the dispersed particles become coarse granulation as the operation continued. The granular sludge showed relatively higher specific methanogenic activity than the dispersed sludge. Bacterial morphology by a scanning electron microscope showed diversity of bacteria such as filamentous, rod and spherical shape in the section of granules. Filamentous bacteria, which might support the frame of a granule, were observed as long chains at the outer surface. Meanwhile, rod and spherical bacteria, which might play a role in the initial stage of granule formation, were observed from the inner surface of the granule. High rate digestion of sludge along with efficient liquid-solids separation was achieved due mainly to development of sludge granules within the upflow reactor.     

Influence of extracellular polymeric substances on nitrogen removal in an intermittently-aerated membrane bioreactor.

Influence of EPS on fouling of intermittent aeration MBR reactor (denitrification MBR) was investigated changing intermittent aeration cycle (10 minute-cycle and 120 minute-cycle) in laboratory-scale reactors using synthetic wastewater. EPS were extracted from bacterial cells using cation resin method and molecular weight fractioning of EPS was conducted using gel chromatography. In both of the reactors, nitrogen removal rate was almost 100% after 50th day although DO concentration was not very high during the aerated phase because of accumulation of nitrifying bacteria in the reactors. In the 120 minutes-cycle reactor, trans-membrane pressure increased more rapidly than in the 10 minutes-cycle reactor. The reason might be that EPS of more than 1000 kDa, which are the main fouling substances, are produced more rapidly in the 120 minute-cycle condition. It was also found that three peaks at around 100 kDa, 500 kDa and 2000 kDa are prominent in EPS in intermittent-aeration MBR irrespective of cycle and higher molecular weight EPS are decomposed to smaller molecular weight EPS on membrane surface.     

污染河道水质强化脱氮生化工艺研究

应用生化工艺对河道污染水体进行修复是目前最经济的一条途径,但其面临的一个突出问题是在生物脱氮过程中可利用碳源不足,从而影响其处理效果。本研究采用分段进水生物接触氧化工艺来强化受污染水脱氮性能,与传统单点进水方式相比,两段进水对有机物和总氮去除率有显著提升,CODMn平均去除率从50.6%提升到66.3%;总氮平均去除率从31.4%提升到60.9%。沿程统计硝化细菌和反硝化细菌数量,硝化细菌主要集中在曝气区,数量为5.58×106,反硝化细菌主要集中在非曝气区的中后段,数量为6.49×105。同时检测沿程溶解氧和各氮素浓度,溶解氧浓度沿程降低,最后出水仅为0.2 mg/L;氨氮在曝气区转化为硝态氮,在非曝气区硝态氮还原成氮气,其结果进一步证实了硝化细菌和反硝化细菌的分布特征。     

Enhancement of oxygen transfer and nitrogen removal in a membrane separation bioreactor for domestic wastewater treatment.

Biological nitrogen removal in a membrane separation bioreactor developed for on-site domestic wastewater treatment was investigated. The bioreactor employed hollow fiber membrane modules for solid-liquid separation so that the biomass could be completely retained within the system. Intermittent aeration was supplied with 90 minutes on and off cycle to achieve nitrification and denitrification reaction for nitrogen removal. High COD and nitrogen removal of more than 90% were achieved under a moderate temperature of 25 degrees C. As the temperature was stepwise decreased from 25 to 5 degrees C, COD removal in the system could be constantly maintained while nitrogen removal was deteriorated. Nevertheless, increasing aeration supply could enhance nitrification at low temperature with benefit from complete retention of nitrifying bacteria within the system by membrane separation. At low operating temperature range of 5 degrees C, nitrogen removal could be recovered to more than 85%. A mathematical model considering diffusion resistance of limiting substrate into the bio-particle is applied to describe nitrogen removal in a membrane separation bioreactor. The simulation suggested that limitation of the oxygen supply was the major cause of inhibition of nitrification during temperature decrease. Nevertheless, increasing aeration could promote oxygen diffusion into the bio-particle. Sufficient oxygen was supplied to the nitrifying bacteria and the nitrification could proceed. In the membrane separation bioreactor, biomass concentration under low temperature operation was allowed to increase by 2-3 times of that of moderate temperature to compensate for the loss of bacterial activities so that the temperature effect was masked.     

Sequencing batch reactor (SBR) as optimal method for production of granular activated sludge (GAS)--fluid dynamic investigations.

Fluid dynamic investigations of multiphase flow (fluid, air, granules) in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) are presented. SBR can be considered as an attractive technology for cultivation of granular activated sludge (GAS). Granulation is a complicated process and its mechanism is not fully understood yet. Many factors influence the formation and structure of aerobic granular sludge in a bioreactor. Extracellular polymer substances (EPS) and superficial gas velocity (SGV) play a crucial role for granules formation. Additionally, it is supposed that EPS production is stimulated by mechanical forces. It is also assumed that hydrodynamic effects have a major influence on the formation, shape and size of GAS in SBR under aerobic condition. However, the influence of stress on granulation is poorly investigated. Thus, in the present paper, fluid dynamic investigations of multiphase flow in a SBR, particularly effect of normal and shear strain, are reported. In order to analyse multiphase flow in the SBR, optical in-situ techniques with particle image velocimetry (PIV) and particle tracking velocimetry (PTV) are implemented. Obtained results show a characteristic flow pattern in a SBR. It is pointed out that additional effects like particle-wall collisions, inter particle collisions, erosion can also affect significantly granules formation.     

The effect of upflow air velocity on the structure of aerobic granules cultivated in a sequencing batch reactor.

The effect of upflow air velocity on the formation and structure of aerobic granules was studied in three column sequencing batch reactors. Upflow aeration would be the major cause of hydrodynamic shear force in the column reactor. Results showed that high upflow air velocity resulted in more compact, denser, rounder, stronger and smaller aerobic granules, while high biomass retention in the reactor was achieved. It was found that high upflow air velocity could induce granular sludge to secrete more cell polysaccharides which in turn contributed to the compact and strong structure. It appears from this study that the structure of aerobic granules could be controlled by manipulating the upflow air velocity.     

Enhanced granulation in UASB reactor treating low-strength wastewater by natural polymers.

Reetha (Sapindus trifoliata) seed extract and Chitosan were used as additives in the sludge bed of a UASB reactor treating low strength wastewater to enhance granulation. Five parallel laboratory scale UASB reactors were operated for 250 days with synthetic wastewater feed containing COD in the range of 600-800 mg/L. The reactors were seeded with spent sludge from a full-scale 5MLD UASB treatment plant at Jajmau, Kanpur, India. The seed sludge contained little or no granules. Different additives in the five reactors were as follows: control with no additive, cationic part of Reetha extract as additive, anionic part of Reetha extract as additive, bulk Reetha extract as additive and Chitosan as additive. The granulation rapidly increased in all the reactors beyond the 90th day of operation. The mean granule sizes as well as the fraction of granular sludge (particle size > or = 100 microm) were more in the presence of some of the additives compared to the control reactor. Chitosan significantly enhanced granulation followed by the cationic and anionic fractions of the Reetha extract. The bulk Reetha extract did not show enhancement of granulation. The ESEM/EDAX results showed that the bigger granules (3-4 mm) had porous structure and appeared as conglomerates of smaller granules.     

Effects of oxygen concentration on the nitrifying activity of an aerobic hybrid granular sludge reactor

The aim of the work was to quantify the influence of the simultaneous presence of flocs and granules in the nitrifying activity in a sequencing batch airlift reactor (SBAR). The nitrification rate and oxygen limitation of flocs, granules and hybrid sludge was investigated using respirometric assays at different dissolved oxygen concentrations. The spatial distribution of Ammonium Oxidizing Bacteria (AOB) and Nitrite Oxidizing Bacteria (NOB) was investigated using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Results showed that the nitrification rate was much less sensitive to oxygen limitation in systems containing a fraction of flocs than in pure granular sludge. Ammonium Oxidizing Bacteria (AOB) were found to be distributed in similar quantities in flocs and granules whereas the Nitrite Oxidizing Bacteria (NOB) were located preferentially in granules. This study showed that the presence of flocs with granules could increase the robustness of the process to transitory reductions of aeration.     

Characterization of anaerobic granular sludge developed in UASB reactors that treat ethanol, carbohydrates and hydrolyzed protein based wastewaters.

In this work, granules developed from UASB reactors that treat different types of wastewaters (ethanol, carbohydrates and protein-based synthetic wastewaters) were studied. Granule parameters (size distribution; density; settlement characteristics; elemental composition; acidogenic and methanogenic activities) were analyzed along with micro-organisms identified by FISH to better understand granule behavior and its formation process. Micro-organisms distributions in anaerobic granules are highly dependent on the type of treated wastewater. Granules developed in a UASB reactor that treats wastewater with a high content of carbohydrates presented high acidogenic bacteria colonization. Members of Methanosaetaceae were the dominant methanogens in the studied granules, and Methanobacteriales appear to be co-dominant in the granules developed with carbohydrates and protein-based wastewaters.     

EGSB反应器的启动运行研究

采用两个小试规模的EGSB(ExpandedGranularSludgeBed)反应器 ,分别接种厌氧絮状污泥和颗粒污泥来研究其启动规律。试验结果表明 ,接种厌氧絮状污泥的R1反应器 ,由于出水循环的采用导致严重的污泥流失 ,首先应按UASB反应器的运行方式培养出颗粒污泥后 ,再按EGSB反应器方式运行 ,共需 78d才能完成启动 ;接种厌氧颗粒污泥的R2反应器 ,采用适宜的回流比有利于细菌的生长和反应器运行效果的改善 ,在经过短暂的无回流驯化后 ,即可按EGSB运行方式启动运行 ,仅需 32d即完成启动。     

Performances of a granular sequencing batch reactor (GSBR).

Aerobic granulation in sequencing batch reactors is widely reported in literature and in particular in SBAR (Sequencing batch airlift reactor) configuration, due to the high localised hydrodynamic shear forces that occur in this type of configuration. The aim of this work was to observe the phenomenon of the aerobic granulation and to confirm the excellent removal efficiencies that can be achieved with this technology. In order to do that, a laboratory-scale plant, inoculated with activated sludge collected from a conventional WWTP, was operated for 64 days: 42 days as a SBAR and 22 days as a SBBC (sequencing batch bubble column). The performances of the pilot plant showed excellent organics removal. COD and BOD removal efficiencies were respectively, 93 and 94%; on the contrary, N-removal efficiency was extremely low (5%-45%/o). The granules dimensions increased during the whole experimentation; change of reactor configuration contributed to further improve this aspect. The experimental work confirmed the essential role of hydraulic settling time in the formation of aerobic granules and in the sludge settleability and the need to find an optimum between granule size and oxygen supply to achieve good N-removal efficiency.     

Prediction of alpha factor values for fine pore aeration systems.

The objective of this work was to analyse the impact of different geometric and operating parameters on the alpha factor value for fine bubble aeration systems equipped with EPDM membrane diffusers. Measurements have been performed on nitrifying plants operating under extended aeration and treating mainly domestic wastewater. Measurements performed on 14 nitrifying plants showed that, for domestic wastewater treatment under very low F/M ratios, the alpha factor is comprised between 0.44 and 0.98. A new composite variable (the Equivalent Contact Time, ECT) has been defined and makes it possible for a given aeration tank, knowing the MCRT, the clean water oxygen transfer coefficient and the supplied air flow rate, to predict the alpha factor value. ECT combines the effect on mass transfer of all generally accepted factors affecting oxygen transfer performances (air flow rate, diffuser submergence, horizontal flow).     

固定化细胞去除废水中硝态氮的试验研究

通过对常用的聚乙烯醇-硼酸固定化方法优化改进,有效解决了固定化细胞技术在废水处理领域推广应用中所面临的机械强度小、易破碎、发胀粘连和带气上浮等问题。对包埋固定化反硝化菌与未包埋反硝化菌处理含硝态氮的废水进行比较,结果表明:固定化反硝化菌在不适宜的pH值、温度和有氧条件下均比未包埋菌具有明显的耐受性,表现出良好的反硝化特性,并且能和硝化细菌在同一反应器中进行单级生物脱氮,总氮去除率达到52%,因而在处理含氮废水中具有一定的实际应用价值。     

Granulation of Anammox microorganisms in up-flow reactors.

Experimental studies were performed to evaluate the feasibility of granulation of Anammox microorganisms for biomass retention in up-flow reactors. Two experimental studies, one using a 6.4-L lab-scale reactor with synthetic medium and the other using a 200-L pilot-scale reactor with half-nitrified reject water from a sludge digester were conducted. To enhance the granulation process, seed granules from a UASB reactor were added to both experimental reactors. Granulation of Anammox microorganisms was observed using both the synthetic medium and the reject water. The core of a large proportion of Anammox granules retained part of the original seed biomass. The Anammox granules had a slightly lower density than the seed granules from the UASB process, but the size and other physical properties were comparable. The successful granulation of the Anammox microorganisms led to a stable nitrogen removal performance. The maximum nitrogen removal rate of the lab-scale reactor was observed to be 2.9 kg/(m3 x d) after 173 days of operation and that of the pilot-scale reactor was 6.4 kg/(m3 x d) after 12 months of operation.     

壬基酚在活性污泥曝气池中的迁移转化行为研究

以实测地形资料和水环境资料为分析研究的依据,采用水流、水质数学模型对余姚城镇污水经处理后,尾水排钱塘江河口的水环境影响进行综合分析评价,推荐优化入江管工程布置方案,可为城市污水尾水河口处置分析研究提供借鉴.     

Aerobic granulation in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) for industrial wastewater treatment.

Aerobic granulation seems to be an a attractive process for COD removal from industrial wastewater, characterised by a high content of soluble organic compounds. In order to evaluate the practical aspects of the process, comparative experimental tests are performed on synthetic and on industrial wastewater, originating from pharmaceutical industry. Two pilot plants are operated as sequencing batch bubble columns. Focus was put on the feasibility of the process for high COD removal and on its operational procedure. For both wastewaters, a rapid formation of aerobic granules is observed along with a high COD removal rate. Granule characteristics are quite similar with respect to the two types of wastewater. It seems that filamentous bacteria are part of the granule structure and that phosphorus precipitation can play an important role in granule formation. For both wastewaters similar removal performances for dissolved biodegradable COD are observed (> 95%). However, a relatively high concentration of suspended solids in the outlet deteriorates the performance with regard to total COD removal. Biomass detachment seems to play a non-negligible role in the current set-up. After a stable operational phase the variation of the pharmaceutical wastewater caused a destabilisation and loss of the granules, despite the control for balanced nutrient supply. The first results with real industrial wastewater demonstrate the feasibility of this innovative process. However, special attention has to be paid to the critical aspects such as granule stability as well as the economic competitiveness, which both will need further investigation and evaluation.