Comparison of the sensitivities of fish, Microtox and Daphnia-magna bioassays to amoxycillin in anaerobic/aerobic sequential reactor systems

In this study the anaerobic treatability of amoxycillin (AMX) was investigated in a laboratory-scale anaerobic multi-chamber bed reactor (AMCBR)/aerobic continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) system. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) and AMX removal efficiencies were around 94% in the AMCBR reactor at hydraulic retention times (HRTs) between 2.25 and 5.5 days. Decreasing the HRT appeared not to have a significant effect on the performance of the AMCBR up to a HRT of 1.13 days. The maximum methane production rate and methane percentage were around 1,100-1,200 mL/day and 55%, respectively, at HRTs between 2.25 and 5.5 days. The decrease in HRT to 1.5 days decreased slightly the gas productions (1,000 mL/day and 500 mL for total and methane gases) and methane percentage (45%). The AMCBR recovered back to its baseline performance within a couple of days. The acute toxicity of 150 mg/L AMX was monitored with Daphnia magna, Lepistes sp., and Vibrio fischeri acute toxicity tests. The acute toxicity removals were 98, 96 and 96% for V. fischeri, D. magna and Lepistes sp. in the effluent of the sequential system treating 150 mg/L AMX at HRTs of 2.25-5.5 days. Among the trophic organisms used in the acute toxicity tests the most sensitive organism was found to be bacteria (V. fischeri) while the most resistant organism was found to be fish (Lepistes sp.).     

UASB与ABR工艺处理印染废水中试实验研究

对上流式厌氧反应器(UASB)和折流式厌氧反应器(ABR)处理难降解印染废水进行中试研究。结果表明:在厌氧反应器最佳水力停留时间为24 h条件下,UASB和ABR稳定运行2个多月,在进水COD质量浓度波动较大的情况下(ρmax=1 020.0 mg/L,ρmin=593.6 mg/L,ρ均=755.4 mg/L),UASB和ABR出水平均COD质量浓度分别为409.3 mg/L和420.9 mg/L,平均去除率分别为45.5%和43.9%。两种厌氧反应器对色度去除效果较佳,进水平均色度342倍,出水平均色度分别78倍和80倍,平均去除率分别为77.2%和76.6%。印染废水B/C由0.29分别提高到0.46和0.43,废水可生化性明显改善,UASB较ABR效果好。     

Performance comparison of a continuous-flow stirred-tank reactor and an anaerobic sequencing batch reactor for fermentative hydrogen production depending on substrate concentration.

This study was conducted to compare the performance of a continuous-flow stirred-tank reactor (CSTR) and an anaerobic sequencing batch reactor (ASBR) for fermentative hydrogen production at various substrate concentrations. Heat-treated anaerobic sludge was utilized as an inoculum, and hydraulic retention time (HRT) for each reactor was maintained at 12 h. At the influent sucrose concentration of 5 g COD/L, start-up was not successful in both reactors. The CSTR, which was started-up at 10 g COD/L, showed stable hydrogen production at the influent sucrose concentrations of 10-60 g COD/L during 203 days. Hydrogen production was dependent on substrate concentration, resulting in the highest performance at 30 g COD/L. At the lower substrate concentration, the hydrogen yield (based on hexose consumed) decreased with biomass reduction and changes in fermentation products. At the higher substrate concentration, substrate inhibition on biomass growth caused the decrease of carbohydrate degradation and hydrogen yield (based on hexose added). The ASBR showed higher biomass concentration and carbohydrate degradation efficiency than the CSTR, but hydrogen production in the ASBR was less effective than that in the CSTR at all the substrate concentrations.     

Anaerobic digestion of blackwater from vacuum toilets and kitchen refuse in a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR).

The objective of this research was mesophilic anaerobic digestion of blackwater from vacuum toilets (BW) and kitchen refuse (KR) in a CSTR within an ecological sanitation system. A detailed investigation of the BW characteristics was carried out. Research on anaerobic digestion was performed with CSTR of 101 volume at HRT of 10, 15 and 20 days. The digestion of BW at 20 days HRT showed stable performance without inhibition effects, in spite of relatively high ammonium concentrations. The removal of total and particulate COD was 61% and 53%, respectively, and the methane yield 10/CH4/cap/day. The addition of kitchen refuse (KR) improved the performance of the CSTR in terms of COD removal efficiency and methane yield. At 20 days HRT the removal of total and particulate COD increased up to 71% and 67%, respectively, and the methane yield to 27/CH4/cap/day. The results at 15 days HRT showed similar performance. At HRT of 10 days, the anaerobic treatment was limited but reached steady state conditions at higher VFA concentrations in the effluent, with a decrease of COD removal of 30 to 33% and of methane yields of 19 to 21%.     

Treatment of low and medium strength sewage in a lab-scale gradual concentric chambers (GCC) reactor.

One of the major challenges of anaerobic technology is its applicability for low strength wastewaters, such as sewage. The lab-scale design and performance of a novel Gradual Concentric Chambers (GCC) reactor treating low (165+/-24 mg COD/L) and medium strength (550 mg COD/L) domestic wastewaters were studied. Experimental data were collected to evaluate the influence of chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentrations in the influent and the hydraulic retention time (HRT) on the performance of the GCC reactor. Two reactors (R1 and R2), integrating anaerobic and aerobic processes, were studied at ambient (26 degrees C) and mesophilic (35 degrees C) temperature, respectively. The highest COD removal efficiency (94%) was obtained when treating medium strength wastewater at an organic loading rate (OLR) of 1.9 g COD/L.d (HRT = 4 h). The COD levels in the final effluent were around 36 mg/L. For the low strength domestic wastewater, a highest removal efficiency of 85% was observed, producing a final effluent with 22 mg COD/L. Changes in the nutrient concentration levels were followed for both reactors.     

ABR反应器对垃圾渗滤液的处理试验研究

ABR工艺在处理垃圾渗滤液中具有其他厌氧生物反应器所达不到的优点。尤其是对B/C低、氨氮浓度高、COD浓度高的废水处理,通过调节回流比、HRT、碱度等参数后,可以取得很好的处理效果。在本次实验中,HRT控制在18h后明显提高的垃圾渗滤液的可生化性及C/N,使ABR出水CODcr去除率达到75%,C/N为6.72,对后续好氧反应起到了重要作用。在调控一定回流比后,为提供厌氧氨氧化所需的电子受体NO-3和NO-2实现脱氮。反应器在经过120d的培养驯化,氨氮进水为460mg/L,ABR对氨氮的去除率稳定在80%。不同格室的厌氧颗粒污泥都得到很好的驯化并在其合适的环境中发挥各自的功能。     

Feasibility study on the removal of nitrous compounds with a hollow-fiber membrane biofilm reactor.

The objective of this study was to develop an integrated nitrogen treatment system using autotrophic organisms. A treatment system consists of an aerobic hollow-fiber membrane biofilm reactor (HfMBR) and anaerobic HfMBR. In the aerobic HfMBR, a mixture gas of air and O2 was supplied through the fibers for nitrification. Denitrification occurred in the anaerobic HfMBR using H2 as the electron donor. The treatment system was continuously operated for 190 days. NH4-N removal efficiencies ranging from 95% to 97% were achieved at NH4-N concentrations of influent ranging from 50 to 100 mg N/L. When glucose was added to the influent, the simultaneous nitrification and denitrification occurred in the aerobic HfMBR, and nitrogen removal rates were changed according to the COD/NH4-N ratio of influent. In the anaerobic HfMBR, autotrophic denitrification using H2 occurred and the removal rates achieved in this study were 23-58 mg N/m2 d. In this study, the achieved removal efficiency was lower than other study findings; however, the result suggested that this hybrid HfMBR system can be used effectively for nitrogen removal in oligotrophic water.     

Integrated biological treatment of recalcitrant effluents from pulp mills.

This work aimed at determining the degree of depuration of a recalcitrant effluent (weak black liquor, WBL) achieved in a series treatment consisting of a first stage methanogenic fluidised bed reactor followed by a second stage aerobic, upflow reactor packed with "biocubes" of Trametes versicolor immobilised onto small cubes of holm oak wood. The mesophilic, lab scale methanogenic fluidised bed reactor contained a microbial consortium immobilised onto granular activated carbon 500 microm average size. The process removed decreasing amounts of organic matter at decreasing hydraulic retention times (HRT), eventually reaching an average of 50% at 0.5 day HRT. Colour and ligninoid removals also decreased with decreasing HRT. Although the methanogenic fluidised bed reactor provided an effective treatment for the degradable organic matter, important concentrations of recalcitrant organic matter and colour still remained in the anaerobic effluent. This anaerobic effluent was fed to the aerobic packed bed reactor. Two HRT were tested in this unit, namely 5 and 2.5 days. The reactor averaged an organic matter removal in the range of 32% COD basis, during an experimental run of 95 days. Colour and ligninoid contents were removed in high percentages (69% and 54%, respectively). There was no significant difference in reactor performance at 5- and 2.5-day HRT. There was a positive correlation between pollutant removal efficiencies and Laccase activity in crude extracts of the reactor liquor. No supplemental soluble carbohydrate was required to sustain the fungus activity and the consistent reactor performance. Overall, the two-stage treatment achieved approximately a 78% removal of the original organic matter of the WBL (COD basis) and ca. 75% of colour and ligninoid contents.     

Reductive dechlorination of 1, 2-dichloroethane using anaerobic sequencing batch reactor (ASBR)

The objective of this research was to study the dechlorination of 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCA) in a synthetic wastewater with lab-scale anaerobic sequencing batch (ASBR) reactors. Anaerobic sludge was used as a biocatalyst. Sodium acetate and dextrose served as the main methanogenic substrate. Experimental studies were conducted at wide-range of volumetric (0.25-1.25 g COD/L.d) and specific (0.0362-0.181 g COD/ g VSS.d) loading rates and influent wastewater CODs (500-2500 mg/L). During 266 days of reactor operation, the mixed culture degraded 1,2 dichloroethane at concentrations of up to 50 mg/L, with an HRT of 48 hrs. No chlorinated intermediates or residues were found. 1,2-DCA degradation resulted in ethene and ethane formation. Acetate was the most effective electron donor for dechlorination, although, dextrose was also effective, but to a lesser extent. The mixed culture degraded 1,2 Dichloroethane in the temperature range of 28+/-4 degrees C, with the pH range of 7.25 to 7.95. The 1,2-DCA removal rates achieved, and the safe nature of the end products, signify the anaerobic sequencing batch (ASBR) reactor technology for practical decontamination of waters containing such types of organochlorines. The COD removal efficiencies were in the range of 95 to 98% depending on volumetric and specific loading rates applied.     

Degradation of organic matter from domestic wastewater with loofah sponge biofilm reactor

A laboratory-scale oxic biofilm reactor using loofah sponge as support material was carried out to study its start-up characteristics and the optimum operation parameters in removing organic matter and nitrogen from domestic wastewater. It took no more than 10 days to complete microbiological cultivation and acclimation, indicating that the natural loofah sponge was a superior support material compared with some conventional ones. The influence parameter experiments showed that the hydraulic retention time (HRT) had a significant influence on the COD and NH(3)-N removal efficiencies, the average COD and NH(3)-N removal efficiencies were 83.7 and 96.9% respectively when the temperature was 25 ± 2 °C, the influent flow rate was 0.21 L/h and the HRT was 7.5 h. The loofah sponge biofilm system had a strong tolerance to organic shock loading in the present experiment. Additionally, it was found that domestic wastewater could be preferably treated with 88.9% of COD and 98.7% of NH(3)-N removal efficiencies with the corresponding influent concentrations of 260.0 and 26.8 mg/L, respectively. The observations obtained in the present study indicated that the loofah sponge was an excellent natural support material, potentially feasible for the present system for the treatment of the decentralized domestic wastewater.     

好氧颗粒污泥反应器快速启动及除碳脱氮试验

为快速启动好氧颗粒污泥反应器,在SBR反应器中同时接种硝化污泥和厌氧颗粒污泥,控制反应条件,温度23~25℃,pH值7.5~8.5,DO质量浓度1.5 mg/L左右,15 d即完成反应器快速启动。形成的好氧颗粒污泥粒径1.5~2.5 mm,SVI值54 mL/g。颗粒污泥结构紧密,沉降性能良好。反应器连续运行40多天,改变进水COD及NH4+-N浓度,COD和NH4+-N去除率均能稳定在80%以上,反应器内发生了同步硝化反硝化过程。     

Behaviour of a full-scale expanded bed reactor with overlaid anaerobic and aerobic zones for domestic wastewater treatment.

This paper presents the behaviour of a full-scale expanded bed reactor (160 m3) with overlaid anaerobic and aerobic zones used for municipal wastewater treatment. The research was carried out in two experimental steps: anaerobic and anaerobic-aerobic conditions, and the experimental results presented in this paper refer to four months of reactor operation. In the anaerobic condition, after inoculation and 60 days of operation, the reactor treating 3.40 kg CODm(-3)d(-1) for thetaH of 2.69 h, reached mean removal efficiencies of 76% for BOD, 72% for COD, and 80% for TSS, when the effluent presented mean values of 225 mg.L(-1) of COD, 98 mg.L(-1) of BOD and 35 mg.L(-1) of TSS. Under these conditions, for nitrogen loading of 0.27 kgN.m(-3)d(-1), the reactor generated an effluent with mean N-org. of 8 mg.L(-1) and N-ammon. of 37 mg.L(-1), demonstrating high potential of ammonification. For the anaerobic-aerobic condition (118th day) the system was operated with thetaH of 5.38 h presented mean removal efficiencies of 84% for BOD, 79% for COD, 76% for TSS, and 30% for TKN. The reactor's operation time was less than two months, which was not long enough to reach nitrification. Regarding the obtained results, this research confirmed that this reactor is configured as a flexible and adequate alternative for the treatment of sewage, requiring relatively small area and only thetaH of 10 h that can be adjusted to the local circumstances.     

Textile effluent treatment in a UASB reactor followed by submerged aerated biofiltration

An upflow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB)-submerged aerated biofilter (SAB) system that treats effluents from a jeans factory was evaluated. The 210-day operational period was divided into three phases (PI, PII and PIII), each with a different hydraulic retention time (HRT in h) and organic loading rate (OLR in kg COD/m3.d). In PI, the best performance was achieved using the UASB (HRT 24, OLR 1.3) with COD and color removal efficiencies of 59 and 64%, respectively; the corresponding values were 77 and 86% for the final effluent. In PII, the efficiencies were 50 and 55% using the UASB (HRT 16, OLR 1.2), respectively, and 69 and 81% for the final system effluent, respectively. In PIII, the UASB (HRT 12 and ORL 3.2) showed the poorest performance; the efficiencies decreased to 48 and 50%, respectively. The same phenomenon occurred in the system with corresponding efficiencies decreasing to 69 and 61%. Throughout the experiment, the system removal efficiencies were between 57 and 88% for nitrogen and between 14 and 63% for sulfate. The final effluent showed relatively non-toxicity or moderate toxicity using Daphnia magna as an indicator. Therefore, the overall results showed that the use of a sequential anaerobic-aerobic system is promising for treatment of textile industrial wastewater.     

Sequenced anaerobic-aerobic treatment of high strength, strong nitrogenous landfill leachates.

As a first step in treatment of high strength, strong nitrogenous landfill leachates (total COD--9.66-20.56 g/l, total nitrogen 780-1,080 mg/l), the performance of laboratory UASB reactors has been investigated under sub-mesophilic (19+/-3 degrees C) and psychrophilic (10+/-2 degrees C) conditions. Under hydraulic retention time (HRT) of around 1.2 days, when the average organic loading rate (OLR) was around 8.5 g COD/l/day, the total COD removal accounted for 71% (on average) for sub-mesophilic regime. The psychrophilic treatment conducted under the average HRT of 2.44 days and the average OLR of 4.2 g COD/l/day showed an average total COD removal of 58% giving effluents more suitable for subsequent biological nitrogen removal. Both anaerobic regimes were quite efficient for elimination of heavy metals by concomitant precipitation in the form of insoluble sulphides inside the sludge. The subsequent submesophilic aerobic-anoxic treatment of submesophilic anaerobic effluents led to only 75% of total inorganic N removal due to COD deficiency for denitrification created by too efficient anaerobic step. On the contrary, psychrophilic anaerobic effluents (richer in COD compared to the submesophilic ones) were more suitable for subsequent aerobic-anoxic treatment giving the total N removal of 95 and 92% at 19 and 10 degrees C, respectively.     

Treatment of organic synthesis wastewater using anaerobic packed bed and aerobic suspended growth bioreactors.

The performance of an anaerobic mesophilic packed bed reactor, with a mixture of GAC and tezontle, followed by an aerobic suspended growth system was studied for the treatment of organic chemical wastewater with a high COD concentration (22-29 g/L). The testing of the anaerobic-aerobic system was conducted in an experimental set-up for almost 2.5 years. Different operational conditions were evaluated. The anaerobic reactor showed performance stability and COD removals higher than 80% were obtained with loads up to 16.6 kg x m(-3) x d(-1). The acclimation of the aerobic biomass to the substrate in the anaerobic effluent was very quick and COD removals higher than 94% were obtained even at high organic loads. The combined anaerobic-aerobic system allowed total COD removals higher than 99.5% and the accomplishment of the discharge requirements of 200 mgCOD/L when the anaerobic reactor was operated with loads of 8-11 kg x m(-3)x d(-1) and the aerobic reactor with 0.33 kg x kg(-1) x d(-1), being the total HRT of 4.4. The average TKN removal in the anaerobic-aerobic system was 97%, the average for the anaerobic reactor being 52% and that one for the aerobic system being 94%.     

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.     

Anaerobic reactor/high rate pond combined technology for sewage treatment in the Mediterranean area.

Two high-rate, anaerobic/aerobic units were used to treat the sewage of the Institut Agronomique st Vétérinaire Hassan II (Morocco) campus in a 1,100 m2-plant designed for 1,500 e.p. and receiving 63 m3 per day. The anaerobic pre-treatment consisted of a two-step up-flow anaerobic reactor (TSUAR) comprising two reactors and one external settler all in series. The aerobic line, or post-treatment, consisted of a high-rate algal pond (HRAP) and one maturation pond in series. The system totalized a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 9 days. A gravel filter (GF) was constructed behind the TSUAR to trap low-density particles. The TSUAR removed 80% of COD and 90% of SS within 48 h. Solids retention time in the reactors averaged 32 d with a specific sludge production of 0.28 g SS g(-1) COD removed. Almost 93% of the sludge evacuated from the settler was stabilized. Specific biogas production from both reactors was 0.25m3 kg(-1) COD removed. Used in this configuration, the HRAP lost its BOD removal activity and increased its nutrients and pathogens removal capabilities (tertiary treatment). Results showed that 85% of total nitrogen and 48% of total phosphorus were removed by the HRAP. Land area requirement of this combination was less than 1 m2 per capita and filtered final effluent was of excellent quality (COD, 82 mg/l; TKN, 8.3 mg/l; total P, 2.7 mg/l, faecal coliforms, 2.4 10(3)/100 ml and zero helminths eggs).     

Simultaneous removal of carbon and nitrogen in an anaerobic inverse fluidized bed reactor.

The evaluation of simultaneous removal of carbon and nitrogen in an anaerobic inverse fluidized bed reactor is described. Continuous and batch experiments were used, with synthetic wastewater and glucose as the carbon source with two different nitrate concentrations of 100 and 250 mg N-NO3/L. The evolution of substrates and the concentrations of intermediary products in the gas phase were followed. Results indicate that the use of the biofilm in the inverse fluidized bed reactor allows the expression of denitrification and methanization activities simultaneously without physical or time separation. The removal of nitrogen with both the feeding of 100 and 250 mgN-NO3/L was higher than 90%, while the removal of carbon was 65% on average for the feeding with 100 mgN-NO3/L and 70% on average for the feeding with 250 mg N-NO3/L. This carbon degradation is equivalent to that obtained during the operation of the reactor in the period previous to the nitrate feeding. It was found that by using high values of the COD/N ratio, the dissimilative reduction of nitrates is favoured. Denitrification and anaerobic digestion occurs simultaneously under low values of COD/N.     

Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) treatment of supernatant of cow manure by thermal pre-treatment.

Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) methane fermentation treatment of cow manure that was subjected to screw pressing, thermal treatment and subsequent solid-liquid separation was studied. Conducting batch scale tests at temperatures between 140 and 180 degrees C, the optimal temperature for sludge settling and the color suppression was found to be between 160-170 degrees C. UASB treatment was carried out with a supernatant obtained from the thermal treatment at the optimal conditions (170 degrees C for 30 minutes) and polymer-dosed solid-liquid separation. In the UASB treatment with a COD(Cr) loading of 11.7 kg/m3/d and water temperature of 32.2 degrees C, the COD(Cr) level dropped from 16,360 mg/L in raw water to 3,940 mg/L in treated water (COD(Cr), removal rate of 75.9%), and the methane production rate per COD(Cr) was 0.187 Nm3/kg. Using wastewater thermal-treated at the optimal conditions, also a methane fermentation treatment with a continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) was conducted (COD(Cr) in raw water: 38,000 mg/L, hydraulic retention time (HRT): 20 days, 35 degrees C). At the COD(Cr) loading of 1.9 kg/m3/d, the methane production rate per COD(Cr), was 0.153 Nm3/kg. This result shows that UASB treatment using thermal pre-treatment provides a COD(Cr), loading of four times or more and a methane production rate of 1.3 times higher than the CSTR treatment.     

Biological nutrient removal in simple dual sludge system with an UMBR (upflow multi-layer bioreactor) and aerobic biofilm reactor.

In this study, a simple dual sludge process was developed for small sewage treatment. It is a hybrid system that consists of upflow multi-layer bioreactor (UMBR) as anaerobic and anoxic reactor with suspended growth microorganisms and post aerobic biofilm reactor with inclined plates. UMBR is a multifunction reactor that acts as primary sedimentation tank, anaerobic reactor, anoxic reactor, and thickener. The sludge blanket in the UMBR is maintained at a constant level by automatic control so that clear water (30 mg-SS/L) can flow into the post aerobic biofilm reactor. It leads to improving performance of the biofilm reactor due to preventing of excess microbial attachment on the media surface and no requirment for a large clarifier caused by low solid loading. The HRT in the UMBR and the aerobic biofilm reactor were about 5.8 h and 6.4 h, respectively. The temperature in the reactor during this study varied from 12.5 degrees C to 28.3 degrees C. The results obtained from this study show that effluent concentrations of TCOD, TBOD, SS, TN, and TP were 29.7 mg/L, 6.0 mg/L, 10.3 mg/L, 12.0 mg/L, and 1.8 mg/L, which corresponded to a removal efficiency of 92.7%, 96.4%, 96.4%, 74.9%, and 76.5%, respectively. The sludge biomass index (SBI) of the excess sludge in the UMBR was about 0.55, which means that the sludge in the UMBR was sufficiently stabilized and may not require further treatment prior to disposal.