A road-map for energy-neutral wastewater treatment plants of the future based on compact technologies (including MBBR)

In the paper concepts for wastewater treatment of the future are discussed by the use of a) one flow diagram based on established, compact, proven technologies (i.e. nitrification/denitrification for N-removal in the mainstream) and b) one flow diagram based on emerging, compact technologies (i.e. de-ammonification in the main stream).The latter (b) will give an energy-neutral wastewater treatment plant, while this cannot be guaranteed for the first one (a). The example flow diagrams show plant concepts that a) minimize energy consumption by using compact biological and physical/chemical processes combined in an optimal way, for instance by using moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) processes for biodegradation and high-rate particle separation processes, and de-ammonification processes for N-removal and b)maximize energy (biogas) production through digestion by using wastewater treatment processes that minimize biodegradation of the sludge (prior to digestion) and pretreatment of the sludge prior to digestion by thermal hydrolysis. The treatment plant of the future should produce a water quality (for instance bathing water quality) that is sufficient for reuse of some kind (toilet flushing, urban use, irrigation etc.). The paper outlines compact water reclamation processes based on ozonation in combination with coagulation as pretreatment before ceramic membrane filtration. In the paper concepts for domestic wastewater treatment plants of the future are discussed by the use of a) one flow diagram based on established, compact, proven technologies (i.e. nitrification/denitrification for N-removal in the mainstream) and b) one flow diagram based on emerging, compact technologies (i.e. de-ammonification in the main stream).The latter (b) will give an energy-neutral wastewater treatment plant, while this cannot be guaranteed for the first one (a). The example flow diagrams show plant concepts that a) minimize energy consumption by using compact biological and physical/chemical processes combined in an optimal way, for instance by using moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) processes for biodegradation and high-rate particle separation processes, and de-ammonification processes for N-removal and b)maximize energy (biogas) production through digestion by using wastewater treatment processes that minimize biodegradation of the sludge (prior to digestion) and pretreatment of the sludge prior to digestion by thermal hydrolysis. The treatment plant of the future should produce a water quality (for instance bathing water quality) that is sufficient for reuse of some kind (toilet flushing, urban use, irrigation etc.). The paper outlines compact water reclamation processes based on ozonation in combination with coagulation as pretreatment before ceramic membrane filtration.     

Thermal pollution abatement with simultaneous wastewater treatment plants performance improvement

The beneficial effect of high wastewater temperature on treatment plant performance and effluent quality is shown, on the basis of full scale activated sludge plant data. The wastewater temperature may be regulated by cooling water reuse. The required cooling water flowrate is analytically and graphically determined. The disposal of the reused warm water into rivers and canals may cause density stratification. From the study of the stratified stream, analytical expressions and graphic presentations of the arrested thermal wedge dimensionless length and shape are given. The graphs are presented in appropriate form for practical applications.     

Technical measures to achieve a cleaner production mode for recycled paper mills

China’s paper production reached 79.8 ×10⁶ t in 2008 and ranked number one in the world. Because of its high consumption of water, energy and materials and its serious pollution, the present processes are not likely to be sustainable. An alternative, the closed Water Loop-Papermaking Integration (WLPI) method, is put forward in this paper. The WLPI method can be realized in a recycled paper mill by adding technologies and using recycled water. Many industrial case studies have shown that a large quantity of water, energy and materials can be saved, and the quantity of waste sludge and wastewater discharge was minimized by using the WLPI method. The design of the water reuse system, control of calcium hardness, water recycling and minimal waste sludge are discussed. Anaerobic technology plays an important role in the WLPI method to lower cost, energy use and waste. In the brown paper and coated white board production, zero-effluent discharge can be realized. Fresh water consumption is only 1–2 m³·t^-1. For the paper mills with deinking and bleaching processes, about 10 m³·t^-1 of fresh water and a similar amount of effluent discharge are needed. Power saving using anaerobic technology is 70% when recycled water is used in comparison with the conventional activated sludge process. Waste sludge can be decreased to about 5% of the initial process due to reuse of the waste sludge and the lower bio-sludge production of the anaerobic process.     

生化-物化-生态组合工艺用于离散型住宅小区污水处理与中水回用

以武汉市东西湖区园艺花城小区(3期)污水深度处理和中水回用系统建设为例,介绍和推广一套具有较强实用性的生活污水生化—物化—生态组合处理工艺。该项工艺特别适用于氮含量偏高情况下的离散型住宅小区生活污水深度处理与回用,具有占地省,处理效果稳定,易与周边环境协调等诸多优势。采用组合工艺,可使小区污水经处理后实现达标排放,中水处理系统的出水水质满足《城市污水再生利用(城市杂用水和景观环境用水)水质标准》;系统运行能耗低,污水处理和中水制水的总成本仅为0．69元/m~3。     

典型污水处理厂对多环芳烃及其衍生物的去除及再生水健康风险研究

多环芳烃(PAHs)在水环境中可以通过化学或微生物作用转化成其衍生物(SPAHs),而SPAHs可能具有更强的毒性和"三致性"从而危害人体健康。为探明污水厂中PAHs和SPAHs的存在性及不同二级处理和再生水处理工艺对它们的去除效果,对北京及广东共4座污水处理厂中PAHs及SPAHs进行了检测,同时对再生水进行了健康风险评价。结果显示:从进水浓度来看,4座污水处理厂中,低环芳烃浓度(191.8~394.2 ng·L~(-1))明显高于高环芳烃(89.3~108.2 ng·L~(-1));SPAHs中氧取代物(OPAHs)总浓度(253.8~322.2 ng·L~(-1))高于甲基取代物(MPAHs,44.3~220.4 ng·L~(-1))。不同二级处理工艺对PAHs的去除率为43.7%~58.2%,对SPAHs的去除率为45.8%~52.1%。不同再生水处理工艺对PAHs和SPAHs去除率差别较大,PAHs的去除率范围为1.8%~41.1%,SPAHs的去除率范围在2.35%~25.9%。结果表明,目标物的去除以生物降解为主,此外,吸附在固体颗粒上,随颗粒沉淀去除也是主要途径之一。通过对污水厂再生水的风险评价,苯并[a]芘(BaP)和二苯并[a,h]蒽(DBA)2种强致癌物TEQ浓度均高于1,其致癌风险较大,安全性有待提高。     

膜技术在电镀漂洗废水处理与回用中的应用

介绍了膜技术应用在电镀漂洗废水处理与回用中的运行效果及成本分析的实例。将连续膜过滤技术（CMF）用于反渗透的预处理,采用微滤膜在线连续反冲洗技术,成功解决了传统中空纤维膜易堵塞,不能连续工作的难题,保证了系统连续稳定运行。采用一级二段式RO（反渗透）系统,产水率65%,制备纯水180 m3/d,既提高了产水率也可满足生产用水要求。将抑菌剂、阻垢剂、在线监测和控制系统等关键技术,系统性、集成性引入连续微滤和反渗透装置,为其应用于废水脱盐深度处理提供支撑和保障。     

再生水处理过程中轮状病毒的变化规律及风险评价（Change of Rotavirus in Sewage Treatment Processes and Associated Health Risk Assessment）

为探讨污水处理厂不同处理工艺段对轮状病毒(Rotavirus)的去除效果及再生水回用中轮状病毒对暴露人群的健康风险水平,于2006年11月至2007年10月连续对北京市某污水厂各工艺段出水的轮状病毒进行了分析,并应用Beta-Possion模型对回用再生水中轮状病毒对暴露人群的健康风险水平进行了评价.结果表明,36个实测水样中,轮状病毒检测结果为阳性的样品13个,占总样品数的36.1%.阳性样品主要分布在2006年11月、12月和2007年1月、2月、4月、8月和10月所采集的样品中,各月份阳性样品所占比例分别依次为100%、100%、100%、33.3%、66.7%、33.3%和100%.二级处理工艺对轮状病毒的去除率为2.68-lg,二级处理出水经过混凝沉淀和砂滤两种深度处理后得到再生水,深度处理工艺平均去除率为3.01-lg.二沉出水回用对不同职业暴露人群的年均感染概率风险值范围为0.35×10-2~10.36×10-2,再生水回用不同职业暴露人群年平均感染风险概率值范围为0.23×10-2~6.82×10-2,二沉出水、再生水回用导致的道路喷洒职业工人轮状病毒暴露感染风险值最大,分别达到了39.65×10-2和36.82×10-2,存在着一定的健康风险.     

淹没复合式膜生物反应器技术

综述了膜生物反应器技术进展并分析，阐述了其优特点，提出了新型的淹没复合式膜生物反应器（SHMBR）以及用于污水处理和回用的工艺，从水处理工艺学，流体力学，水微生物学方面论述了其所具的特点，说明了淹没复合式膜生物反应器是一种高效，低耗，资源化的污水生物反应器，指出了今后需研究的问题。     

工业酸洗废水全自动化学处理过程的控制

酸洗工艺过程产生的酸洗废水的直接排放,将会导致受纳水体的水质恶化,造成环境污染.经过入水→预沉淀→氧化(含中和、曝气、搅拌、混凝)→沉淀→出水等物理,化学处理之后,排出口的废水基本上能符合国家的工业废水排放标准,可以达标排放.整个化学和物理处理工艺流程全部采用香港中能电化学设备公司自行研制的先进设备进行自动化控制;所需的关键控制仪器如ORP值测定仪、pH值测定仪和耐酸碱处理的泵等设备则全部采用西方先进国家进口.因此,一个污水处理厂只需要一个熟练的技术工人就完成了整个污水处理过程.     

F-RNA噬菌体及其作为水中肠道病毒指示物的研究进展

城市污水的再生利用是缓解水资源紧张、减少水污染和改善生态环境的有效途径。污水及其回用水中的肠道病毒对人体健康的风险日益受到关注。直接检测水中肠道病毒的操作复杂、安全性差、时间长、需要专门的技术和设备，因此需要寻找合适的指示生物，以实现对水中肠道病毒的及时检测和风险评价。F-RNA噬菌体是通过性菌毛感染雄性大肠杆菌的一类RNA细菌病毒，在污水中普遍存在，在大小、形态结构及对环境条件和水处理过程的抗性与肠道病毒相似，被认为是水中肠道病毒的合适的指示生物。文章介绍了F-RNA噬菌体在环境及污水中的分布、存活和去除特性、检测方法及作为水中肠道病毒指示生物的研究进展。     

Low efficiency of sewage treatment plants due to unskilled operations in India

Centralized sewage treatment plants may not be a sustainable solution for a developing country such as India. Therefore, we conducted for the first time an integrated assessment of the different technologies currently used for sewage treatment in the state of West Bengal, India. Five decentralized sewage treatment plants and one centralized sewage treatment plant located in different parts of Kolkata were evaluated. We compared influent and effluent water quality, energy consumed, capital and operating costs, and treated wastewater reuse potential. F test was used to validate results on the effect of working days and holidays and seasons on treated water quality. Wastewater management strategy was assessed by performance indicators. Our results show that treatment efficiency was lowest in anaerobic plants not because of faulty technology but due to unskilled operation. Therefore, performance improvement of plants is expected if factors such as monitoring, training of staff, regular and scrupulous desludging, reuse aspects, and rational water tariff are implemented earnestly.     

Effect of the ultraviolet/chlorine process on microbial community structure,typical pathogens,and antibiotic resistance genes in reclaimed water

• UV/chlorine can effectively remove VBNC pathogens, ARGs and MGEs in reclaimed water. • Microbial community was changed with reduced diversity during UV/chlorine process. • CRBs-carried MGEswere the predominant groups during UV/chlorine process. • No direct co-selection strategy was shared between UV/chlorine and resistome. Urban wastewater contains a wide range of pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), which are a serious concern if reusing treated wastewater. However, few studies have explored the microbial communities in reclaimed water using ultraviolet (UV)/chlorine treatment and assessed the changes of the resistome. This study investigated the occurrence of typical pathogens, ARGs, and bacterial communities in UV/chlorine-treated reclaimed water samples. The numbers of culturable and viable but non-culturable pathogens were effectively reduced to 0 CFU/mL within 1–10 and 10–30 min after UV/chlorine treatment, respectively. Meanwhile, the physicochemical indices of water quality were not affected. UV/chlorine treatment could significantly change the bacterial community structure of reclaimed water, showing a decrease in bacterial abundance and diversity. Chlorine-resistant Acinetobacter and Mycobacterium were the dominant bacterial genera (>50%) after UV/chlorine treatment. Moreover, the number of ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) decreased with an increase in UV/chlorine exposure. However, eight ARGs and three MGEs were consistently detected in more than three seasons, making these major concerns because of their potential role in the persistence and dissemination of antibiotic resistance. Overall, the results of this study suggest that UV/chlorine treatment can potentially improve the microbiological safety of reclaimed water. And more attention should be paid to the pathogens that are both chlorine-resistant and carry MGEs because of their potential for resistance transmission.     

Occurrence and fate of antibiotics in advanced wastewater treatment facilities and receiving rivers in Beijing,China

The occurrence and removal of 13 antibiotics were investigated in five wastewater treatment plants （WWTPs） with advanced wastewater treatment processes in Beijing, China. Most of the target antibiotics were detected in the secondary and tertiary effluents, with the concentrations of 4.8-1106.0 and 0.3-505.0ng·L^-1. Fluoroquinolone antibiotics showed relatively high concentrations in all samples （782-1814ng·L^-1）. Different tertiary treatment processes showed discrepant antibiotics removal performances. Ozonation process was found more effective in removing target antibiotics compared to the coagulation-flocculation-sedimentation process and sand filtration process. Investigation of the target antibiotics in three typical urban rivers in Beijing was carried out to understand antibiotics occurrence in surface water environment. Eight antibiotics were detected in the studied rivers, with highest concentration of antibiotics in the fiver which was mainly replenished by reclaimed water. This study showed the necessity of employing more effective advanced treatment facilities to further reduce the discharge amount of antibiotics.     

Highly efficient and selective removal of phosphate from wastewater of sea cucumber aquaculture for microalgae culture using a new adsorption-membrane separation-coordinated strategy

● A new adsorption-membrane separation strategy is used for phosphate removal. ● PVC/Zr-BT shows a selective adsorption ability to low-concentration phosphate. ● Low concentration of P below 0.05 mg/L was achieved in actual wastewater treatment. ● Algal biomass production served as a demonstration of phosphorus recycling. Enhanced phosphorus treatment and recovery has been continuously pursued due to the stringent wastewater discharge regulations and a phosphate supply shortage. Here, a new adsorption-membrane separation strategy was developed for rational reutilization of phosphate from sea cucumber aquaculture wastewater using a Zr-modified-bentonite filled polyvinyl chloride membrane. The as-obtained polyvinyl chloride/Zr-modified-bentonite membrane was highly permeability (940 L/(m²·h)), 1–2 times higher than those reported in other studies, and its adsorption capacity was high (20.6 mg/g) when the phosphate concentration in water was low (5 mg/L). It remained stable under various conditions, such as different pH, initial phosphate concentrations, and the presence of different ions after 24 h of adsorption in a cross-flow filtration system. The total phosphorus and phosphate removal rate reached 91.5% and 95.9%, respectively, after the membrane was used to treat sea cucumber aquaculture wastewater for 24 h and no other water quality parameters had been changed. After the purification process, the utilization of the membrane as a new source of phosphorus in the phosphorus-free f/2 medium experiments indicated the high cultivability of economic microalgae Phaeodactylum tricornutum FACHB-863 and 1.2 times more chlorophyll a was present than in f/2 medium. The biomass and lipid content of the microalgae in the two different media were similar. The innovative polyvinyl chloride/Zr-modified-bentonite membrane used for phosphorus removal and recovery is an important instrument to establish the groundwork for both the treatment of low concentration phosphate from wastewater as well as the reuse of enriched phosphorus in required fields.     

Combined process of biofiltration and ozone oxidation as an advanced treatment process for wastewater reuse

The effluent of a wastewater treatment plant was treated in a pilot plant for reclaimed water production through the denitrification biofilter (DNBF) process, ozonation (O₃), and biologic aerated filtration (BAF). The combined process demonstrated good removal performance of conventional pollutants, including concentrations of chemical oxygen demand (27.8 mg·L⁻¹) and total nitrogen (9.9 mg·L⁻¹) in the final effluent, which met the local discharge standards and water reuse purposes. Micropollutants (e.g., antibiotics and endocrine-disrupting chemicals) were also significantly removed during the proposed process. Ozonation exhibited high antibiotic removal efficiencies, especially for tetracycline (94%). However, micropollutant removal efficiency was negatively affected by the nitrite produced by DNBF. Acute toxicity variations of the combined process were estimated by utilizing luminescent bacteria. Inhibition rate increased from 9% to 15% during ozonation. Carbonyl compound concentrations (e.g., aldehydes and ketones) also increased by 58% as by-products, which consequently increased toxicity. However, toxicity eventually became as low as that of the influent because the by-products were effectively removed by BAF. The combined DNBF/O₃/BAF process is suitable for the advanced treatment of reclaimed water because it can thoroughly remove pollutants and toxicity.     

The main anammox-based processes,the involved microbes and the novel process concept from the application perspective

• The PNA, denitratation/anammox, and DAMO/anammox process are reviewed together. • Denitratation/anammox-based process is promising in mainstream treatment. • DAMO and denitratation processes realize the higher nitrogen removal efficiency. • The utilization of metabolism diversity of functional microbe is worth exploring. • An effective waste treatment system concept is proposed. Anammox technology has been widely researched over the past 40-year from the laboratory-scale to full-scale. It is well-known that in actual applications, the solo application of anammox is not feasible. Since both ammonium and nitrite are prerequisites based on the reaction mechanism, the pre-treatment of wastewater is necessary. With the combination of anammox process and other pre-treatment processes to treat the actual wastewater, many types of anammox-based processes have been developed with distinct nitrogen removal performance. Thus, in order to heighten the awareness of researchers to the developments and accelerate the application of these processes to the treatment of actual wastewater, the main anammox-based processes are reviewed in this paper. It includes the partial nitritation/anammox process, the denitratation/anammox (PD/A) process, the denitrifying anaerobic methane oxidation/anammox (DAMO/A) process, and more complex deuterogenic processes. These processes have made the breakthroughs in the application of the anammox technology, such as the combination of nitrification and PD/A process can achieve stability and reliability of nitrogen removal in the treatment of mainstream wastewater, the PD/A process and the DAMO/A have brought about further improvements in the total nitrogen removal efficiency of wastewater. The diversity of functional microbe characteristics under the specific condition indicate the wide application potential of anammox-based processes, and further exploration is necessary. A whole waste treatment system concept is proposed through the effective allocation of above mentioned processes, with the maximum recovery of energy and resources, and minimal environmental impact.     

再生水用于景观水体的氮磷水质标准确定

污水再生利用是解决水资源短缺问题的重要措施,其中再生水回用于景观水体是主要途径之一.而防止水华爆发则是再生水景观利用的首要任务,控制再生水中的氮磷是防止水华爆发的根本措施.目前已有的景观水体水质标准中,氮磷浓度限值要求不统一,缺乏科学依据.因此再生水处理过程中氮磷控制标准执行易出现矛盾,不利于保障再生水景观利用的水质安全.再生水景观利用的氮磷控制标准,应在藻类最大生长潜力研究的基础上,通过藻类生长的Logistic模型和Monod模型、景观水体氮磷浓度模型按拟合,并结合水体自净能力和水质保障措施等综合因素加以确定.以栅藻(Scenedesmus sp)为例,通过Logistic模型和Monod模型拟合景观水体水华控制氮磷浓度限值的确定方法.     

Possible solutions for sludge dewatering in China

In China, over 1.43×10⁷ tons of dewatered sewage sludge, with 80% water content, were generated from wastewater treatment plants in 2007. About 60% of the COD removed during the wastewater treatment process becomes concentrated as sludge. Traditional disposal methods used by municipal solid waste treatment facilities, such as landfills, composting, or incineration, are unsuitable for sludge disposal because of its high water content. Disposal of sludge has therefore become a major focus of current environmental protection policies. The present status of sludge treatment and disposal methodology is introduced in this paper. Decreasing the energy consumption of sludge dewatering from 80% to 50% has been a key issue for safe and economic sludge disposal. In an analysis of sludge water distribution, thermal drying and hydrothermal conditioning processes are compared. Although thermal drying could result in an almost dry sludge, the energy consumption needed for this process is extremely high. In comparison, hydrothermal technology could achieve dewatered sewage sludge with a 50%–60% water content, which is suitable for composting, incineration, or landfill. The energy consumption of hydrothermal technology is lower than that required for thermal drying.     

Technologies for pollutant removal and resource recovery from blackwater: a review

● Blackwater is the main source of organics and nutrients in domestic wastewater. ● Various treatment methods can be applied for resource recovery from blackwater. ● Blackwater treatment systems of high integration and efficiency are the future trend. ● More research is needed for the practical use of blackwater treatment systems. Blackwater (BW), consisting of feces, urine, flushing water and toilet paper, makes up an important portion of domestic wastewater. The improper disposal of BW may lead to environmental pollution and disease transmission, threatening the sustainable development of the world. Rich in nutrients and organic matter, BW could be treated for resource recovery and reuse through various approaches. Aimed at providing guidance for the future development of BW treatment and resource recovery, this paper presented a literature review of BWs produced in different countries and types of toilets, including their physiochemical characteristics, and current treatment and resource recovery strategies. The degradation and utilization of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) within BW are underlined. The performance of different systems was classified and summarized. Among all the treating systems, biological and ecological systems have been long and widely applied for BW treatment, showing their universality and operability in nutrients and energy recovery, but they are either slow or ineffective in removal of some refractory pollutants. Novel processes, especially advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), are becoming increasingly extensively studied in BW treatment because of their high efficiency, especially for the removal of micropollutants and pathogens. This review could serve as an instructive guidance for the design and optimization of BW treatment technologies, aiming to help in the fulfilment of sustainable human excreta management.     

UASB-接触氧化-微絮凝-砂滤工艺处理中药废水工程

采用UASB-接触氧化法处理天津某中药厂废水,处理后出水各项指标达到了国家《污水综合排放标准》(GB8978-1996)二级标准。同时对二级处理后出水采用微絮凝沉淀-砂滤-消毒工艺,出水达到中水绿化使用标准。