Modelling anaerobic biofilm reactors--a review

Anaerobic treatment has become a technically as well as economically feasible option for treatment of liquid effluents after the development of reactors such as the upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor, expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactor, anaerobic biofilter and anaerobic fluidized bed reactor (AFBR). Considerable effort has gone into developing mathematical models for these reactors in order to optimize their design, design the process control systems used in their operation and enhance their operational efficiency. This article presents a critical review of the different mathematical models available for these reactors. The unified anaerobic digestion model (ADM1) and its application to anaerobic biofilm reactors are also outlined.     

Determination of granule size distribution in a UASB reactor

Granular sludge is the key factor for an efficient operation of an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor. In order to monitor the granularity of anaerobic sludge, the determination of the granule size distribution is of vital importance. For this reason, several techniques have been proposed; however, they are either tedious, imprecise or expensive and hardly applicable in full-scale treatment plants. There was then the need for a simple and low-cost technique. This technique involves the determination of the settling velocities of a sludge sample and of extrapolating the corresponding diameters using a mathematical algorithm. In the proposed algorithm, the granules density was calculated, the flow regime was examined and finally the granule size distribution was obtained. Two very important correlations were suggested by the experimental results. The granule density and diameter were strongly correlated with the VSS/TSS ratio.     

Relationships between anaerobic consortia and removal efficiencies in an UASB reactor degrading 2,4 dichlorophenol (DCP)

To gain more insight into the interactions between anaerobic bacteria and reactor performances (chemical oxygen demand-COD, 2,4 dichlorophenol-2,4 DCP removals, volatile fatty acid-VFA, and methane gas productions) and how they depended on operational conditions the microbial variations in the anaerobic granular sludge from an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor treating 2,4 DCP was studied. The study was composed of two parts. In the first part, the numbers of methanogens and acedogens in the anaerobic granular sludge were counted at different COD removal efficiencies. The relationships between the numbers of methanogens, the methane gas production and VFA production were investigated. The COD removal efficiencies increased to 74% from 30% while the number of total acedogens decreased to 10 from 30 cfu ml(-1). The number of total methanogens and acedogens varied between 11 x 10(3) and 10 x 10(9)MPN g(-1) and 10 and 30 cfu ml(-1) as the 2,4 DCP removal efficiencies were obtained between 60% and 99%, respectively. It was seen that, as the number of total acedogens decreased, the COD removal efficiencies increased. However, the number of total methanogens increased as the COD removal efficiencies increased. Correlations between the bacterial number and with the removal efficiencies obtained in different operational conditions were investigated. From the results presented in this paper a high correlation between the number of bacteria, COD removals, methane gas percentage, 2,4 DCP removals and VFA was observed. In the second part, methanogen bacteria in the anaerobic granular sludge were identified. Microbial observations and biochemical tests were applied to identify the anaerobic microorganisms from the anaerobic granular sludge. In the reactor treating 2,4 DCP, Methanobacterium bryantii, Methanobacterium formicicum, Methanobrevibacter smithii, Methanococcus voltae, Methanosarcina mazei, Methanosarcina acetivorans, Methanogenium bourgense and Methanospirillum hungatei were identified.     

Integrated management of radioactive strontium contamination in aqueous stream systems

A combination of biomass treatment, fluidized bed/membrane reactor, and a minimum-suspension fluidized bed reactor is proposed to remove strontium cations from aqueous solutions, such as those generated by nuclear reactors. After conducting a series of screening tests, three adsorbents were selected for their suitability and high adsorptive capacity. The proposed combination uses Chlorella vulgaris in a packed column, followed by the fluidized bed/membrane reactor with bentonite powder in suspension. The membrane is primarily used to retain bentonite powder in the reactor. However, the same can be designed to remove additional amount of contaminant from the aqueous stream. The final separation is carried out in a fluidized bed containing resins that are suspended with minimal airflow. In laboratory scale, a flow rate of 600 ml/h was achieved for 30 min during which period the inlet concentration of 100 mg/l was reduced to 2.5 mg/l at the outlet. Bio-encapsulation with thermophilic bacteria and subsequent separation is proposed at this point in order to reduce the concentration to an even lower level. The proposed separation scheme offers an acceptable solution to removing strontium while minimizing the generation of secondary waste.     

Metabolic pathway of anaerobic digestion and reaction rate limiting step of 2,4,5-TCP

A study of the effluent of an anaerobic fluidized bed reactor acclimated to 2,4,5-TCP was made in order to determine the metabolic pathway and reaction rate limiting step of 2,4,5-TCP. The wastewater with about 2500 mg L⁻¹ COD and 50 mg L⁻¹ 2,4,5-TCP was biodegraded by anaerobic digestion, and the intermediate analyzed by HPLC and GC/MS. The results showed the degradative metabolic pathway of 2,4,5-TCP, under anaerobic conditions, to be: 2,4,5-TCP→3,4-DCP→3-CP→phenol→benzoate. For the rate limiting step, the accumulated concentration of 3,4-DCP was higher than other intermediates for Anaerobic Toxicity Assay (ATA) and Biochemical Methane Potential (BMP) tests. From the anaerobic fluidized bed reactor, analyses showed the chloride at the ortho-position was removed very quickly after 2,4,5-TCP entered the reactor. As for the intermediate products, 43% of 3,4-DCP was not decomposed and of the 3-CP only 6.4% left. This shows that the rate limiting step of 2,4,5-TCP was the dechlorination of 3,4-DCP.     

Anaerobic-aerobic treatment of purified terephthalic acid (PTA) effluent; a techno-economic alternative to two-stage aerobic process

This paper addresses the treatment of purified terephthalic acid (PTA) effluent using anaerobic and aerobic processes. Laboratory studies were carried out on flow proportionate composite wastewater generated from the manufacturing of PTA. An activated sludge process (ASP-two stage and single stage) and an upflow anaerobic fixed film fixed bed reactor (AFFFBR) were used, individually and in combination. The performance of a full-scale ETP under existing operating conditions was also studied. Full scale ETP studies revealed that the treatment of PTA effluent using a two-stage ASP alone does not meet treated effluent quality within the prescribed Indian Standards. The biomass produced in the two stage ASP was very viscous and fluffy and the sludge volume index (SVI) was very high (200-450 ml/g). However, pretreatment of PTA effluent using an upflow AFFFBR ensured substantial reduction in BOD (63%) and COD (62%) with recovery of biogas at 1.8-1.96 l/l effluent treated at a volumetric loading rate (VLR) 4-5 kg COD/m(3) d. The methane content in the biogas varied between 55% and 60%. The pretreated effluent from the upflow AFFFBR was then treated through a single stage ASP. The biomass produced in the ASP after anaerobic treatment had very good settlability (SVI: 75-90 ml/g) as compared to the two stage ASP and the treated effluent quality with respect to BOD, COD and SS was within the prescribed Indian Standards. The alternative treatment process comprising an upflow AFFFBR and a single stage ASP ensured net power saving of 257 kW and in addition generated 442 kW of power through the AFFFBR.     

污泥接种量对好氧污泥颗粒化的影响研究

考察了污泥接种体积分别为25％、50％和75％的反应器有效容积情况下的污泥颗粒化特征。结果发现，25％体积的污泥接种量利于颗粒污泥的形成和成长，其颗粒化程度高、平均粒径大且粒径分布范围广，而50％和75％体积的污泥接种量只能形成少量细小的颗粒污泥。分析认为，悬浮分散污泥是颗粒化的一个较大障碍，较少的接种量能够提供较大的自由沉淀空间，使污泥能够实现重力分层，进而排除与颗粒污泥竞争底物的悬浮不沉降污泥，从而利于颗粒化。污泥颗粒化的直接影响因素不是沉淀时间而是自由沉淀空间。沉淀时间的缩短使自由沉淀空间增加，从而影响了污泥颗粒化进程。     

Estimation of Biogas Generation from a Uasb Reactor via Multiple Regression Model

In this study, regression analysis based an estimation model for biogas generated from an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor treating landfill leachate is developed using several leachate parameters, such as pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids, chemical oxygen demand, alkalinity, chloride, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, ammonia, total phosphorus. These landfill leachate parameters are monitorized over a period of 1000 days at 35 ± 1°C in the UASB reactor. In order to develop the best model giving highest estimation performance, eight model equations including different input parameter combinations are analyzed. Based on the results of regression analysis, the best coefficients of the model equation are determined. As a conclusion, the developed model in this study can give accurate biogas amount prediction for the USAB reactor-based leachate treatment system.     

一种厌氧颗粒污泥的微生物与化学组成研究初探

本文研究UASB反应器处理石灰法制浆的草浆蒸煮黑液,在较短时间内培养出首育良好沉淀性能和较高活性的厌氧颗粒污泥。并对其形态、结构和化学组份及不同生理类群的厌氧微生物特性等进行了观察和测试,结果表明厌氧颗粒污泥高活性的原因。为进一步探索厌氧颗粒污泥的形成机理提供了依据。     

Thermophilic adaptation of a mesophilic anaerobic sludge for food waste treatment

As opposed to mesophilic, thermophilic anaerobic digestion of food waste can increase the biogas output of reactors. To facilitate the transition of anaerobic digesters, this paper investigated the impact of adapting mesophilic sludge to thermophilic conditions. A 5L bench scale reactor was seeded with mesophilic granular sludge obtained from an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket digester. After 13 days of operation at 35 degrees C, the reactor temperature was instantaneously increased to 55 degrees C and operated at this temperature until day 21. The biomass was then fed food waste on days 21, 42 and 63, each time with an F/M (Food/Microorganism) ratio increasing from 0.12 to 4.43 gVS/gVSS. Sludge samples were collected on days 0, 21, 42 and 63 to conduct substrate activity tests, and reactor biogas production was monitored during the full experimental period. The sludge collected on day 21 demonstrated that the abrupt temperature change had no pasteurization effect, but rather lead to a biomass with a fermentative activity of 3.58 g Glucose/gVSS/d and a methanogenic activity of 0.47 and 0.26 g Substrate/gVSS/d, related respectively, to acetoclastic and hydrogenophilic microorganisms. At 55 degrees C, an ultimate gas production (Go) and a biodegradation potential (Bo) of 0.2-1.4 L(STP)/gVS(fed) and of 0.1-0.84 L(STP) CH(4)/gVS(fed) were obtained, respectively. For the treatment of food waste, a fully adapted inoculum was developed by eliminating the initial time-consuming acclimatization stage from mesophilic to thermophilic conditions. The feeding stage was initiated within 20 days, but to increase the population of thermophilic methanogenic microorganisms, a substrate supply program must be carefully observed.     

Piggery waste treatment by anaerobic digestion and nutrient removal by ionic exchange

Piggery wastes must be treated before their disposal. The high solids content and high chemical oxygen demand of piggery wastes indicated that anaerobic biological treatment could be successfully applied as primary treatment. For that reason, a comparison between upflow anaerobic sludge bed reactor (UASB) and anaerobic fixed bed reactor (AFBR) at a similar organic volumetric loading rate of 5 kg DQO/m³ day was carried out. 60% of the piggery waste COD was removed with the AFBR compared to 40% with the UASB, thus showing a better performance of the AFBR. After 1-h sedimentation secondary process, both anaerobic effluents were treated by ionic exchange with natural zeolite due to their high values of ammoniacal nitrogen (NH⁺₄ plus free NH₃). The high removal of nutrients reported (90%) shows zeolite to be a good choice as tertiary treatment.     

SE-SMR process performance in CFB reactors: Simulation of the CO2 adsorption/desorption processes with CaO based sorbents

A 3D numerical model for gas–solid flow was developed and used to study the sorption enhanced steam methane reforming (SE-SMR) and the sorbent regeneration processes with CaO based sorbent in fluidized bed reactors. The SE-SMR process (i.e., SMR and adsorption of CO₂) was carried out in a bubbling fluidized bed. The effects of pressure and steam-to-carbon ratio on the reactions are studied. High pressure and low steam-to-carbon ratio will decrease the conversion of methane. But the high pressure makes the adsorption of CO₂ faster. The methane conversion and heat utility are enhanced by CO₂ adsorption. The produced CO₂ in SMR process is adsorbed almost totally in a relative long period of time in the bubbling fluidized bed. It means that the adsorption rate of CO₂ is fast enough compared with the SMR rate. The process of sorbent regeneration was carried out in a riser. An unfeasible residence time is required to complete the regeneration process. Higher temperature makes the release of CO₂ faster, but the rate is severely restrained by the increased CO₂ concentration in gas phase. The temperature distribution is uniform over the whole reactor. Regeneration rate and capacity of sorbents are important factors in selecting the type of reactors for SE-SMR process.     

厌氧氨氧化工艺处理猪场废水沼液的试验研究

本文以实际猪场沼气废水为研究对象，以ASBR为反应器，接种厌氧消化污泥培养厌氧氨氧化细菌，厌氧氨氧化阶段成功启动后，研究了厌氧氨氧化脱氮最佳运行工艺。试验研究表明，厌氧氨氧化反应适宜的温度在35（±1）℃之间，适宜的pH在7．5—8．0之间，HRT选用24h。当达到最佳运行参数时，NH4＋-N的去除率达到87．6％，NO2- -N的去除率达到99．96％。     

Biological mine drainage treatment

Drainage from sulphur mines contains a high concentration of ferrous iron and it is strongly acidic. The mechanism of acid mine drainage formation was briefly explained. As a case study, successful measures taken at the abandoned Matsuo mine, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, for preventing the pollution in receiving rivers was presented in this paper. The measures consisted of the construction works against pollution sources and the construction of a drainage treatment plant in which Thiobacillus ferrooxidans oxidizes ferrous iron under a low pH condition, and produced ferric iron is removed by sedimentation. Then, a laboratory-scale fluidized bed reactor using anion exchange resin as attaching material for the bacteria was examined in order to improve the efficiency of biological oxidation of ferrous iron. More than 90% of oxidation had been maintained for 2 months at 1 h of HRT, which suggests that the size of the oxidation tank could be reduced.     

缺氧——好氧生和的膜反应器挂膜的试验研究

缺氧生物膜反应器采用好氧预挂膜与快速排泥挂膜方法,在挂膜期间加强污泥回流,缩短反应器的启动时间。两种反应器内均存在呈悬浮与附着形态的污泥。     

Influence of support material on the immobilization of biomass for the degradation of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate in anaerobic reactors

Two horizontal-flow anaerobic immobilized biomass reactors (HAIB) were used to study the degradation of the LAS surfactant: one filled with charcoal (HAIB1) and the other with a mixed bed of expanded clay and polyurethane foam (HAIB2). The reactors were fed with synthetic substrate supplemented with 14 mg l(-1)of LAS, kept at 30+/-2 degrees C and operated with a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 12h. The surfactant was quantified by HPLC. Spatial variation analyses were done to quantify organic matter and LAS consumption along the reactor length. The presence of the surfactant in the load did not affect the removal of organic matter (COD), which was close to 90% in both reactors for an influent COD of 550 mg l(-1). The results of a mass balance indicated that 28% of all LAS added to HAIB1 was removed by degradation. HAIB2 presented 27% degradation. Molecular biology techniques revealed microorganisms belonging the uncultured Holophaga sp., uncultured delta Proteobacterium, uncultured Verrucomicrobium sp., Bacteroides sp. and uncultured gamma Proteobacterium sp. The reactor with biomass immobilized on charcoal presented lower adsorption and a higher kinetic degradation coefficient. So, it was the most suitable support for LAS anaerobic treatment.     

The formation of aerobic granular sludge for the treatment of real landfill leachate using a granular sequencing batch reactor at a constant volume

Leachate generated in a landfill may not be treated by conventional biological treatment due to its nature and complexity. The process of forming aerobic granules in batch sequencing reactors having features such as; reducing the settling process time and saving energy consumption and high decomposition rate have been noticed by researchers. In the present study, the structure of sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) was evaluated for the formation of granules, which were subsequently utilized for the treatment of landfill leachate. The experiment was initiated by using the GSBR, containing 1200 ml with different apparatuses, to develop granular sludge, and synthetic wastewater was added to reinforcement. The selected parameters for the operational hydraulic retention time (HRT) of the wastewater (6-h cycles) included feeding, idle, aeration, settling, and discharge. Furthermore, the controlled conditions were the dissolved oxygen (DO) range of 2–2.2 mg/L, temperature range of 20–23℃, and pH of 7.5–8.3. The chemical oxygen demand (COD), mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS), and sludge volume index (SVI) daily were measured at the influent and effluent of GSBR reactor. The main properties of aerobic granular sludge were identified during the research procedures, and the remarkable settling and potent, high-density microbial structure of the granules were confirmed. The mean size of the formulated granules was estimated at 7.46 ± 1.8 mm, and the volume of the biomass also increased from approximately 1607 to 4137 mg/L through the granulation process. Moreover, 98% of the influent chemical oxygen demand (COD) could be removed by the formulated granular sludge, and the final-stage organic loading rate was estimated at 5.65 COD/m³/day. According to the results, GSBRs could be employed for the formulation of aerobic granular sludge for the treatment of landfill leachate.     

天然气净化清洁生产工艺的应用

针对天然气净化生产过程中的主要产污环节,重庆天然气净化总厂成功推广应用了PALL高效过滤器、胺液复活装置等先进设备及超级或改良克劳斯硫磺回收、升流式厌氧污泥床层反应器(UASB)等清洁生产工艺。通过加强生产全过程管理,实施污染源头控制,显著削减污染物的产生量,取得了较好的环境效益和经济效益。     

厌氧水解—高负荷生物滤池处理城镇污水的试验研究

厌氧水解－高负荷生物滤池是一种利用附着在塑料模块填料上的微生物系统对城镇污水中的污染物质进行降解处理的绿色环保技术。厌氧水解池和高负荷生物滤池采用的塑料模块填料具有高空隙率、高附着面积、高布水性能和抗堵塞的优异性能,并无须回流。当厌氧水解池水力停留时间为4小时,生物滤池水力负荷为30米^3/米^2。日,该系统处理城镇污水的CODCr去除率达80－86％,BOD5去除率达85％－95％。SS去除率达85－95％,处理后出水上述各项指标均可满足国家二级生物处理排放标准的要求。与广泛运用的活性法处理系统相比,该技术可节约基建投资20％以上,节约能耗50％以上,同时还具有流程简单、管理方便、耐冲击负荷、剩余污泥少等特点。     

内循环（1C）厌氧反应器在废水处理中的应用

介绍了内循环（IC）厌氧反应器的基本原理,分析了IC厌氧反应器的工艺特点,即IC厌氧反应器是新型高效厌氧生物反应器,扼述了IC厌氧反应器在废水处理中的应用进展及前景。