Fate of the fungicide dodemorph during anaerobic digestion of biological waste

The aim of this study was to examine the stability and distribution of the fungicide dodemorph during anaerobic digestion of biological waste, including a short subsequent aerobic treatment. Three reactor experiments were conducted. The influences of pH and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were further studied in batch experiments. The reactor experiments showed no decrease in the concentration of dodemorph, indicating stability of the fungicide. In connection with the results of the batch experiments, a clear pH-dependency of the partitioning of dodemorph between solid and water phase could be shown. At pH values below the pK(a) value of 7.8, protonated dodemorph molecules predominate. However, a release into the water phase was only observed at pH values of 5 and below. It can be assumed that in the pH range between 5 and 7.8 dodemorph forms bonds with carboxyl groups of organic matter. Dodemorph was not completely extractable from the solid waste matrix due to strong bonds with the organic matter. Solubilising effects by water ingredients of the process water were not apparent.     

Sorption mechanism of DDT from aqueous phase

Sorption is one among the many techniques available for the removal of organic materials from potable water and waste water. Use of locally available Wood Charcoal (WC) is essential in place of costly activated charcoal to make the process more economical and lucrative. The vital objective of this investigation was to assess the performance of WC for the removal of DDT from the aqueous phase. The influence of important factors like, particle size, pH, and time of contact, which affects the sorption process was studied in this investigation using batch experiments. The removal kinetics were carried out under the temperature 27 degrees +/- 1 degrees C (room temperature) and the sorption kinetics constants were evaluated. Sorption equilibria study has also been carried out to develop the Freudlich's sorption isotherm equation from which the ultimate sorption capacity of WC for sorption of DDT was calculated.     

Experimental assessment of bio-reduction of di-2-thylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) under aerobic thermophilic conditions

The reduction of organic contaminants in sewage sludge is of great importance for a further sludge disposal or agricultural utilization. Laboratory scale batch experiments were performed to assess the potential use of the aerobic thermophilic treatment technique to reduce the concentration of difficult to degrade organic chemicals. Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) was chosen as a model representative of these chemicals. The effect of the sludge temperature and aeration rate on the reduction of DEHP concentration as well as on the reduction of the organic dry solid (oDS) was investigated. With a specific air flow rate of 16 m3/m3.h and a thermophilic temperature of 63 degrees C it was possible to achieve up to 70% reduction of the DEHP concentration and 61% of oDS within 96 hours. The maximum degradation of the oDS matter occurred within the first 24 hours of operation whereby only little oDS was degraded afterward. During the experiments the reactor content was routinely monitored for pH, COD, along with the ammonia nitrogen and orthophosphate concentrations.     

Characteristics of granular sludge developed in an upflow anaerobic sludge fixed-film bioreactor treating palm oil mill effluent.

In the present study, characteristics of the granular sludge (including physical characteristics under stable conditions and process shocks arising from suspended solid overload, soluble organic overload, and high temperature; biological activity; and sludge kinetic evaluation in a batch experiment) developed in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket fixed-film reactor for palm oil mill effluent (POME) treatment was investigated. The main aim of this work was to provide suitable understanding of POME anaerobic digestion using such a granular sludge reactor, particularly with respect to granule structure at various operating conditions. The morphological changes in granular sludge resulting from various operational conditions was studied using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy images. It was shown that the developed granules consisted of densely packed rod- (Methanosaeta-like microorganism; predominant) and cocci- (Methanosarsina) shaped microorganisms. Methanosaeta aggregates functioned as nucleation centers that initiated granule development of POME-degrading granules. Under the suspended solid overload condition, most of the granules were covered with a thin layer of fiberlike suspended solids, so that the granule color changed to brown and the sludge volume index also increased to 24.5 from 12 to 15 mL/g, which caused a large amount of sludge washout. Some of the granules were disintegrated because of an acidified environment, which originated from acidogenesis of high influent organic load (29 g chemical oxygen demand [COD]/L d). At 60 degrees C, the rate of biomass washout increased, as a result of disintegration of the outer layer of the granules. In the biological activity test, approximately 95% COD removal was achieved within 72 hours, with an initial COD removal rate of 3.5 g COD/L d. During POME digestion, 275 mg calcium carbonate/L bicarbonate alkalinity was produced per 1000 mg COD(removed)/ L. A consecutive reaction kinetic model was used to simulate the data obtained from the sludge activity in the batch experiment. The mathematical model gave a good fit with the experimental results (R2 > 0.93). The slowest step was modeled to be the acidification step, with a rate constant between 0.015 and 0.083 hours(-1), while the rate constant for the methanogenic step was obtained to be between 0.218 and 0.361 hours(-1).     

Enzymatic treatment of sanitary landfill leachate

The objective of this investigation was to study the effectiveness of applying enzymes (bioaugmentation) for enhancement of biological treatability of leachates generated in a typical municipal solid waste sanitary landfill. The basic purpose of enzyme use is to enforce the biodecomposition of organic constituents, as well as to reduce nitrogen content. A laboratory-scale sequencing batch (bio)reactor (SBR) was used for the examination of enzymatic application. The effect of different operation strategies on the efficiency of this biological treatment process was studied to optimize performance, especially for the removal of nitrogen compounds and of biodegradable organic matter. It was found that the enzymatic process was able to remove organic matter effectively (expressed as BOD5 and COD) and nitrogen content, color and turbidity.     

Effect of alkalinity on the performance of a simulated landfill bioreactor digesting organic solid wastes

This study investigated the effects of alkalinity on the anaerobic treatment of the organic solid wastes collected from the kitchen of Engineering Faculty in Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey and the leachate characteristics treated in three simulated landfill anaerobic bioreactors. All of the reactors were operated with leachate recirculation. One reactor was operated without alkalinity addition. The second reactor was operated by the addition of 3 g l-1 d-1 of NaHCO3 alkalinity to the leachate and the third reactor was operated by the addition of 6 g l-1 d-1 NaHCO3 alkalinity to the leachate. After 65 d of anaerobic incubation, it was observed that the chemical oxygen demand (COD), volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentrations, and biochemical oxygen demand to chemical oxygen demand (BOD5/COD) ratios in the leachate samples produced from the alkalinity added reactors were lower than the control reactor while the pH values were higher than the control reactor. The COD values were measured as 18900, 3800 and 2900 mg l-1 while the VFA concentrations were 6900, 1400 and 1290 mg l-1, respectively, in the leachate samples of the control, and reactors containing 3 g l-1 NaHCO3 and 6 g l-1 NaHCO3 after 65 d of anaerobic incubation. The total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) and ammonium nitrogen (NH4-N) concentrations in organic solid waste (OSW) significantly reduced in the reactor containing 6 g l-1 NaHCO3 by d 65. The values of pH were 6.54, 7.19 and 7.31, after 65 d of anaerobic incubation, respectively, in the aforementioned reactors results in neutral environmental conditions in alkalinity added reactors. Methane percentage of the control, reactors containing 3 g l-1 NaHCO3 and 6 g l-1 NaHCO3 were 37%, 64% and 65%, respectively, after 65 d of incubation. BOD5/COD ratios of 0.27 and 0.25 were achieved in the 3 and 6 g l-1 NaHCO3 containing reactors, indicating a better OSW stabilization. Alkalinity addition reduced the waste quantity, the organic content of the solid waste and the biodegradation time.     

Performance of a full-scale biofilm system retrofitted with an upflow multilayer bioreactor as a preanoxic reactor for advanced wastewater treatment

To enhance nitrogen removal in an existing microbial contact oxidation (MCO) system with a treatment capacity of 900 m3/d, an upflow multilayer bioreactor (UMBR) was chosen as a preanoxic reactor for the removal of organic matter and nitrate. The removal performance of the retrofitted plant was evaluated during the startup phase at a low temperature in winter. The high removal (>80%) of organic matter and suspended solids in the UMBR provided stable nitrification conditions in the MCO system, as a result of the substantial reduction in organic matter and solids loaded onto the MCO system. This treatment system showed a stable nitrogen removal efficiency of 75.3%, even in the low temperature range 7 to 10 degrees C. Phosphorus was completely removed by chemical precipitation. Production rates of excess sludge, as a function of the loads of influent flowrate and biological oxygen demand (BOD), were 0.022 kg dry solid/m3 wastewater and 0.132 kg dry solid/kg BOD.     

固含率和稀释率对餐厨垃圾水解酸化过程的影响研究

研究了餐厨垃圾分批厌氧消解过程中不同起始固含率（10％，12％和14％）和稀释率（0.25 d^－1和0.33 d^－1）对水解酸化过程pH值、垃圾消解、水解酸化液生产效率、脂肪酸组成和浓度等的影响。实验结果发现：以总固体去除率、单位质量垃圾累积COD溶出量（ACODm）和单位体积反应器累积COD溶出量（ACODv）等指标作为评价标准，起始固含率12％的体系具有较高的垃圾处理效率和反应器运行效率。与稀释率0.25 d^－1的体系相比，稀释率0.33 d^－1的体系在pH稳定性、总固体去除率和水解酸化液生产效率等方面具有明显的优势。所有体系中水解酸化产生的脂肪酸和醇均以乙酸、乙醇和丁酸为主，丙酸占总脂肪酸和醇的百分数在14.6％到17.1％之间，这种脂肪酸组成不会发生丙酸抑制，有利于后续产甲烷发酵的进行。     

Drip-feed bioreactor for the treatment of concentrated wastes with minimal dilution

Avoiding substrate inhibition is a significant challenge in designing biological treatment systems for concentrated or toxic wastes. Substrate inhibition is commonly avoided by diluting the waste before treatment, however, dilution of a waste before treatment is not always feasible. In the case of radioactive mixed wastes and chemical warfare materiel (CWM), dilution presents regulatory and safety concerns. In this study, we investigated a "drip-feed" reactor configuration as an alternative approach for the biological treatment of concentrated waste streams with minimal dilution and complete containment. In the drip-feed reactor undiluted waste is slowly fed to biomass in a reactor at a rate sufficient to maintain activity, but at a low enough rate so that bacterial degradation maintains the reactor concentration below the toxic threshold. The reactor has no effluent, but rather fills as the undiluted waste is fed to the reactor, which has the advantage of preventing the release of hazardous material into the environment during treatment. Volatile releases are prevented with the use of condensers. The drip-feed bioreactor configuration was tested under aerobic conditions, at 25 degrees C, using a 10% acetonitrile feed solution. The treatment of acetonitrile to less than 0.1 mg l(-1) was achieved with a dilution factor of only 3.4. The acetonitrile degradation reaction was pH sensitive, where the optimal pH range for the biodegradation process was approximately between 6.5 and 7.1 and the biodegradation rate declined precipitously above pH 7.2. The applicability of the drip-feed reactor configuration to the treatment of mixed wastes and CWM is discussed.     

Laboratory evaluation of thermophilic-anaerobic digestion to produce Class A biosolids. 2. Inactivation of pathogens and indicator organisms in a continuous-flow reactor followed by batch treatment.

Thermophilic-anaerobic digestion in a single-stage, mixed, continuous-flow reactor is not approved in the United States as a process capable of producing Class A biosolids for land application. This study was designed to evaluate the inactivation of pathogens and indicator organisms in such a reactor followed by batch treatment in a smaller reactor. The combined process was evaluated at 53 degrees C with sludges from three different sources and at 51 and 55 degrees C with sludge from one of the sources. Feed sludge to the continuous-flow reactor was spiked with the pathogen surrogates Ascaris suum and vaccine-strain poliovirus. Feed and effluent were analyzed for these organisms and for indigenous Salmonella spp., fecal coliforms, Clostridium perfringens spores, and somatic and male-specific coliphages. No viable Ascaris eggs were observed in the effluent from the continuous reactor at 53 or 55 degrees C, with greater than 2-log removals across the digester in all cases. Approximately 2-log removal was observed at 51 degrees C, but all samples of effluent biosolids contained at least one viable Ascaris egg at 51 degrees C. No viable poliovirus was found in the digester effluent at any of the operating conditions, and viable Salmonella spp. were measured in the digester effluent in only one sample throughout the study. The ability of the continuous reactor to remove fecal coliforms to below the Class A monitoring limit depended on the concentration in the feed sludge. There was no significant removal of Clostridium perfringens across the continuous reactor under any condition, and there also was limited removal of somatic coliphages. The removal of male-specific coliphages across the continuous reactor appeared to be related to temperature. Overall, at least one of the Class A pathogen criteria or the fecal coliform limit was exceeded in at least one sample in the continuous-reactor effluent at each temperature. Over the range of temperatures evaluated, the maximum time required to meet the Class A criteria by batch treatment of the continuous-reactor effluent was 1 hour for Ascaris suum and Salmonella spp. and 2 hours for fecal coliforms.     

Effect of influent nitrogen speciation on organic nitrogen occurrence in activated sludge process effluents

The effect of influent nitrogen composition on organic nitrogen production in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) activated sludge process was investigated. A laboratory-scale SBR was fed with three different type synthetic wastewaters with varying nitrogen compositions (phase I = nitriloacetic acid + ammonium [NH4-N], phase II = NH(4-)N, and phase III = amino acid mixture + NH(4-)N) was operated. The effluent contained approximately 1 to 2 mg N/L organic nitrogen, even though there was no organic nitrogen in influent. The effluent organic nitrogen increased to approximately 4 mg N/L when the influent composition was changed and then stabilized at <2 mg N/L. The maximum nitrifier growth rate constants (microN) were calculated as 0.91+/-0.10 to 1.14+/-0.08 day-1, 0.82 +/-0.13 day-1, and 0.89+/-0.08 day-1 at 20 degrees C for the three different influent compositions. The effluent colloidal organic nitrogen (CON) was negligible, suggesting that the effluent CON found in full-scale plants may be the result of influent-derived suspended matter.     

EGSB反应器处理城市生活垃圾沥滤液

采用膨胀颗粒污泥床(EGSB)反应器对城市生活垃圾焚烧厂产生的垃圾沥滤液进行处理。实验结果表明:中温条件下,当COD浓度为55 000 mg/L左右,有机容积负荷(OLR)为22.8 kg COD/(m3.d)时,EGSB对垃圾沥滤液具有较好的的处理效果,COD去除率可达94.2%。当进水COD为72 000 mg/L左右时,为保证反应器的稳定运行,OLR应降低至18.2 kg COD/(m3.d),此时COD去除率可以达到88%左右,出水COD平均为9 103 mg/L。垃圾沥滤液和EGSB处理出水均以小分子量有机物为主,其中<4 kDa的有机物分别占76.5%和74.4%。EGSB对整个分子量区间的溶解性有机物都有较好的处理效果,其中对大分子有机物的处理效率相对更高。     

混合水解对打捆麦秸水解产酸的影响

为研究混合水解对麦秸水解产酸的影响，以猪粪、厨余和蔬菜废物为原料，研究其分别与麦秸混合水解产酸的特性，分析了水解过程中pH值、COD、SCOD和VFAs的变化。结果表明，除麦秸＋蔬菜废物最佳出料时间为3～9d外，麦秸、麦秸＋厨余垃圾、麦秸＋猪粪水解液最佳出料时间均为3～7d，7d后水解液COD浓度下降；将蔬菜废物与麦秸混合水解，水解液pH值降低幅度最大，水解液中总有机酸浓度最高，pH值最低为5．31，有机酸浓度最高达6．46g／L，且水解液中SCOD浓度、SCOD／COD比值最大；添加猪粪明显促进了麦秸有机物的水解溶出，麦秸单位干物质水解率和产酸率较对照分别提高了43％～134％和50．53％，但对提高水解液SCOD浓度、SCOD／COD比、TVFA浓度、降低水解液pH值的效果不如蔬菜废物；添加厨余垃圾的效果介于猪粪和蔬菜废物之间。从促进麦秸水解产酸的角度，以添加猪粪的效果最好。     

Investigating the affinities and persistence of VX nerve agent in environmental matrices

Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine environmental variables that affect the affinities and persistence of the nerve agent O-ethyl S-(2-diisopropylaminoethyl) methylphosphonothiolate (VX) at dilute concentrations in environmental matrices. Quantitative analyses of VX and its degradation products were performed using LC-MS. Batch hydrolysis experiments demonstrated an increasing hydrolysis rate as pH increased, as shown in previous studies, but also indicated that dissolved aqueous constituents can cause significant differences in the absolute hydrolysis rate. Adsorption isotherms from batch aqueous experiments revealed that VX has a high affinity for hydrophobic organics, a moderate affinity for montmorillonite clay, and a very low affinity for an iron-oxyhydroxide soil mineral, goethite. The adsorption on goethite was increased with the presence of dissolved organic matter in solution. VX degraded rapidly when dried onto goethite, when specific adsorption was forced. No enhanced degradation occurred with goethite in small amounts of water. These results suggest that aqueous conditions have important controls on VX adsorption and degradation in the environment and a more mechanistic understanding of these controls is needed in order to enable accurate predictions of its long-term fate and persistence.     

Volatile organic compounds produced during the aerobic biological processing of municipal solid waste in a pilot plant

The volatile organic carbon (VOC) and odours emitted during the aerobic biological processing of municipal solid waste (MSW) was studied in a pilot-scale reactor. VOCs were detected by different techniques on solid waste samples and the outlet air stream, before and after a biofilter. Organic compounds (alpha-pinene, beta-myrcene, D-limonene) were also measured in condensate water and leachate from the process. Results showed uniformity in the composition of the air in the solid waste samples, air sampled during the process and condensed water, indicating a matrix-derived origin of these compounds. Leachates, however, contained substances with a quite different molecular structure from the compounds identified in the gaseous fraction. Most of the substances in the gaseous effluent had a hydrocarbon-like structure, mainly terpenoids. The odour produced and detected through olfactometry agreed with GC-MS analyses. This was true above all for terpenes.     

Estimate of the Pollution Removed by Leaching of Standard Domestic Waste: Mass Assessments Carried Out in Batches and Columns

Abstract

Batch and column tests allowed estimation of the mobilization of pollution of standard domestic waste in leachate and biogas. Three laboratory tests (biochemical methane potential (BMP), tank leaching test (TLT), and column tests) have been applied to evaluate the emission of pollutants in liquid and/or gas phase from reconstituted municipal solid waste (MSW) on the basis of French waste. In the case of the batch tests (BMP and TLT), BMP tests indicated a maximum organic carbon share produced by waste (biogas potential) equal to 59% of the initial carbon. The maximum quantity of carbon likely to be leached by the waste (TLT) corresponded to 6% of the carbon contained in the waste. On the other hand, during column tests, 3.3% of carbon was leached and 8% of carbon was evacuated in biogas at the end of a 440-day follow-up. It thus appears that the test conditions have a great in?uence on the remobilization of pollution. In particular it has been proven than the greater the optimization of the liquid/solid ratio, the agitation, the sowing, and the temperature, the greater the pollutant is leached. This study highlights the possible use of batch and column tests to evaluate the pollution risk of a landfill.     

Aerobic degradation of bisphenol A by Achromobacter xylosoxidans strain B-16 isolated from compost leachate of municipal solid waste

A novel bacterium designated strain B-16 was isolated from the compost leachate of the municipal solid waste (MSW) in a laboratory reactor. This strain was identified as a gram-negative bacterium, Achromobacter xylosoxidans that could grow on bisphenol A (BPA, a representative endocrine disruptor) as a sole carbon source under aerobic condition. BPA-degrading characteristics of strain B-16 were investigated in liquid cultures. The results show that BPA degradation was influenced by several factors (e.g. inoculum size, substrate concentration, temperature and pH, etc). The half-lives, optimum temperature and pH were found to be 0.58-3.1d, 35 degrees C and 7.0, respectively. BPA-degrading activity and cell growth were inhibited at high substrate concentration. Metabolic intermediates detected during the degradation process were identified as p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, p-hydroxybenzoic acid and p-hydroquinone, respectively. Metabolic pathway of BPA degradation was proposed in this study.     

矿化垃圾除磷特性及其影响因素的研究

主要研究了KH2PO4溶液在矿化垃圾中的吸附性能,静态和动态试验研究表明在静态试验条件下,初始浓度越高,固液比越小,矿化垃圾吸附磷量越多;pH对磷吸附性能具有较大的影响,当pH在8左右时,矿化垃圾吸磷量达到最大吸附量.在动态实验条件下,湿干比减小,配水速率减小,都有利于矿化垃圾除磷率的增加,当初始溶液的磷质量浓度为50 mg/L时,矿化垃圾有最佳除磷率.     

Flow Injection Analysis of MWC Fly Ash Leaching Characteristics

Abstract

A completely mixed batch reactor leaching method utilizing flow injection analysis (the CMBR-FIA method) was developed to study the lead leaching characteristics of municipal waste combustor fly ash. Flow injection analysis (FIA) coupled with atomic absorption spectrophotometry enabled the determination of lead concentrations at one minute intervals. The pH and oxidation-reduction potential of the solution were continuously monitored to characterize the leaching conditions. Automatic titration was used to alter the solution pH to defined endpoints. The CMBR-FIA method offers the ability to immediately observe alterations to the leaching solution, and grants the freedom to study a number of parameters concurrently. The CMBR-FIA method is a rapid and reliable means to investigate leaching characteristics. This paper describes the method and demonstrates its use to monitor the leaching of lead from municipal solid waste combustor fly ash as a function of pH. Soluble lead concentrations are shown to increase quickly with decreasing pH.

A maximum of 50% of the total lead concentration was available in solution at pH 2. This value gradually decreased with time to over 35% of the total.     

Surface charge and adsorption from water onto quartz sand of humic acid

The surface charge of humic acid under different conditions of ionic strength, pH, and the presence of various cationic ions (Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Ba(2+), and Ca(2+)) was determined by a titration method using a cationic polyelectrolyte as titrant. Adsorption isotherms in batch experiments of the polymer from water onto quartz sand were determined at 20 degrees C, 40 degrees C, and 60 degrees C and under different conditions of ionic strength, pH, and the presence of various cationic ions (Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Ba(2+), and Ca(2+)). The data indicate significant decrease of humic acid surface charge by decreasing the pH value from 10.0 to 4.1. Similar decrease of humic acid surface charge was observed by increasing either the ionic strength or the affinity of the divalent cation toward the humic acid. At ambient temperature the adsorption of humic acid on the quartz sand seems to be controlled mainly by electrical interaction between the organic particle and the solid substrate. A correlation is found between the surface charge and the adsorbed amount of the polymer, the adsorbed amount increases when the surface charge of humic acid decreases. The increase of the adsorbed amount with the temperature suggests that adsorption process is endothermic.