Chemically reduced excess sludge production in the activated sludge process

Excess sludge production from wastewater biological treatment process is highly, and the disposal of excess sludge will be forbidden in a near future, thus increased attention has been turned to look into potential technology for sludge reduction. Recently, some novel sludge reduction techniques have been developed based on chemical oxidation and metabolic uncoupling. This paper attempts to review those chemical-assisted sludge reduction processes, including sludge alkaline-thermal treatment, activated sludge-ozonation process, chlorination-combined activated sludge process, sludge reduction by metabolic uncouplers and high dissolved oxygen activated sludge process. In these combined activated sludge processes, excess sludge production can be reduced up to 100% without significant effect on process efficiency and stability. This paper would be useful when one is looking for appropriate environmentally and economically acceptable solutions for reducing or minimizing excess sludge production from wastewater biological treatment process.     

实际污水与模拟污水活性污泥系统的特性差异

实验中经常采用人工配置的模拟生活污水,为了研究其与实际生活污水活性污泥系统的特性差异,采用2个序批式间歇反应器(SBR)进行平行实验(厌氧、好氧方式运行),系统地考察了在进水主要组分和运行参数相同的情况下,不同原水对活性污泥系统脱氮、除磷、比好氧速率、污泥絮体形态和出水水质等方面的影响。结果表明,模拟污水系统的硝化活性强于实际污水系统,两者的平均硝化速率分别为7.43 mg NH4+-N/(L.h)和5.55 mg NH4+-N/(L.h)。在前置厌氧段,模拟污水系统的释磷量比实际污水系统高出36.45%。两者在后续好氧阶段都能够充分吸磷。模拟污水系统的平均比好氧速率(SOUR)高达64.54 mg O2/(g MLSS.h),而实际污水系统的则只有32.81 mg O2/(g MLSS.h)。模拟污水系统的污泥絮体疏松,粒径小,形状不规则,沉降性差,沉后出水平均悬浮物浓度(SS)为20 mg/L;而实际污水系统的污泥絮体则密实、粒径大,沉降性好,沉后水十分清澈,SS几乎检测不出。     

生物铁法去除维生素B1生产废水中COD的试验研究

生物铁法是一种新型的强化活性污泥法,处理高浓度、难生物降解维生素B1生产废水具有很大的优势.当进水COD浓度维持在8000 mg/L时,COD的去除率可达94%以上,比普通活性污泥法高出9.7%.生物铁法污泥絮凝沉淀效果好,能保证系统有较高浓度的回流污泥,从而使曝气池的污泥浓度得到提高,COD的去除率也会相应地提高.     

生物铁法去除维生素B1生产废水中COD的试验研究

生物铁法是一种新型的强化活性污泥法，处理高浓度、难生物降解维生素B1生产废水具有很大的优势。当进水COD浓度维持在8000mg／L时，COD的去除率可达94％以上，比普通活性污泥法高出9．7％。生物铁法污泥絮凝沉淀效果好，能保证系统有较高浓度的回流污泥，从而使曝气池的污泥浓度得到提高，COD的去除率也会相应地提高。     

快速生物活性测定方法的仪器化

好氧活性污泥法在污水处理中应用广泛.保持污泥活性,是良好处理效果的前提,也是运行控制的主要目标.活性污泥的呼吸速率,或者氧利用速率(oxygen uptake rate,OUR),能够指示污泥的活性变化.本研究开发的快速生物活性测定仪(rapid biological activity tester,RBAT),能够快速测定污泥活性参数,满足工程设计与运行的迫切要求.     

水解酸化-厌氧-好氧法处理NF合成制药废水研究

研究了序批式水解酸化 厌氧 好氧生物处理工艺对NF合成制药废水的处理。由于NF制药废水中含有大量有毒有机化合物 ,在生物处理过程中这些有毒物质会抑制活性污泥的活性 ,因此需经过适当稀释原水以达到处理单元可接受的毒性范围。采用BODTrack快速测定了不同原水稀释条件下活性污泥呼吸曲线第一段斜率的变化 ,结果表明 ,当原水稀释 2 0倍以上后 ,对活性污泥的活性没有明显的抑制。通过批量实验 ,优化了工艺的运行条件 ,并进行了小试的连续运行。采用本工艺可以达到NF制药废水COD的稳定高效去除 ,结果显示 ,COD的去除率可达 76 %。     

Maximum nitrogen removal in the step-feed activated sludge process.

This paper presents a mathematical framework that can be used to determine the flow distributions for a step-feed activated sludge process that result in maximum nitrogen removal. The model indicates that nitrogen removal efficiency in a step-feed activated sludge process is highly dependent on the ultimate biochemical oxygen demand (BOD(L))-to-total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) ratio of the wastewater. For typical domestic wastewater, which has a relatively high BOD(L)-to-TKN ratio, the step-feed process will outperform the Modified Ludzack-Ettinger process for nitrogen removal, when the flow to each step is optimally distributed. Using plant-specific water quality data and operating conditions from a 1-year period, nitrogen removal performance for four step-feed activated sludge plants operated by the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County (California) was calculated using the developed model. The calculated nitrogen removal efficiencies match well with the actual plant performance data. These results validate the model as a useful tool for predicting nitrogen removal in a step-feed activated sludge process. Other analyses revealed that improvements in nitrogen removal at existing facilities are achievable by adjusting the split of primary effluent flow to each anoxic zone several times during the day. The timing of the adjustments and the optimal flow splits can be determined from data on diurnal fluctuations in BOD(L) and TKN concentrations. An example is provided to illustrate the application of such an operating strategy and the potential enhancement of nitrogen removal.     

中空纤维膜生物反应器处理造纸废水

膜生物反应器是将膜分离技术与生物处理工艺相结合而开发的新型系统,是近年来新发展起来的高效废水处理技术。本实验采用了中空纤维膜组件和活性污泥反应器组成的分置式膜生物反应器,研究其在造纸废水处理中的特性影响因素。     

The effect of wastewater cations on activated sludge characteristics: effects of aluminum and iron in floc.

Wastewater samples collected from seven wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) were characterized to assess the impacts of wastewater cations on the activated sludge process. The cations included in this study were sodium (Na+), potassium, ammonium, calcium, magnesium, aluminum (Al), and iron (Fe). Among the selected cations, Al and Fe were of most interest to this study because their role in bioflocculation has not been extensively studied and remains largely unknown. The data showed that WWTPs contained highly varying concentrations of Na+, Al, and Fe in the wastewater and that these cations were responsible for differences between WWTPs as to sludge dewatering rates and effluent quality. In general, a high influent Na+ concentration caused poor sludge dewatering and effluent characteristics. However, when sufficient Al and Fe were present in floc, the deleterious effects of Na+ were offset. The data associated with Al further revealed that waste activated sludge with low Al contained high concentrations of soluble and colloidal biopolymer (protein + polysaccharide), resulting in a high effluent chemical oxygen demand, high conditioning chemical requirements, and poor sludge dewatering properties. These results suggest that Al will improve activated sludge effluent quality by scavenging organic compounds from solution and binding them to floc.     

Simultaneous nitrification-denitrification and clarification in a pseudoliquified activated sludge system.

This paper describes results from a pilot study of a novel wastewater treatment technology, which incorporates nutrient removal and solids separation to a single step. The pseudoliquified activated sludge process pilot system was tested on grit removal effluent at flowrates of 29.4 to 54.7 m3/d, three different solid residence times (SRT) (15, 37, and 57 days), and over a temperature range of 12 to 28 degrees C. Despite wide fluctuations in the influent characteristics, the system performed reliably and consistently with respect to organics and total suspended solids (TSS) removals, achieving biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and TSS reductions of > 96% and approximately 90%, respectively, with BOD5 and TSS concentrations as low as 3 mg/L. Although the system achieved average effluent ammonia concentrations of 2.7 to 3.2 mg/L, nitrification efficiency appeared to be hampered at low temperatures (< 15 degrees C). The system achieved tertiary effluent quality with denitrification efficiencies of 90 and 91% total nitrogen removal efficiency at a total hydraulic retention time of 4.8 hours and an SRT of 12 to 17 days. With ferric chloride addition, effluent phosphorous concentrations of 0.5 to 0.8 mg/L were achieved. Furthermore, because of operation at high biomass concentrations and relatively long biological SRTs, sludge yields were over 50% below typical values for activated sludge plants. The process was modeled using activated sludge model No. 2, as a two-stage system comprised an aerobic activated sludge system followed by an anoxic system. Model predictions for soluble BOD, ammonia, nitrates, and orthophosphates agreed well with experimental data.     

Comparison of the occurrence of antibiotics in four full-scale wastewater treatment plants with varying designs and operations

The occurrence of ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, and trimethoprim antibiotics in four full-scale wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) that differ in design and operating conditions was determined. The WWTPs chosen utilized a variety of secondary removal processes, such as a two stage activated sludge process with a nitrification tank, extended aeration, rotating biological contactors, and pure oxygen activated sludge. Several of the WWTPs also employed an advanced treatment process, such as chlorination and UV radiation disinfection. The detected concentrations (microg/l) ranged from 0.20 to 1.4 for ciprofloxacin, 0.21 to 2.8 for sulfamethoxazole, 0.061 to 1.1 for tetracycline, and 0.21 to 7.9 for trimethoprim. The overall percent difference in the concentrations of the antibiotics in the effluent and influent of these antibiotics differed between plants and ranged from 33% to 97%. Based on these four full-scale WWTPs evaluated, the apparent removal of organic micropollutants in wastewater is dependent on a combination of biological and physico-chemical treatment processes and operating conditions of the treatment system.     

Investigation of OUR and NUR experiments for nitrogen and phosphorus removal with activated sludge: a lab-scale study

Activated sludge systems are widely used in wastewater treatment. Organic carbon removal and nutrient removal are important for stringent water discharge standards. Therefore, activated sludge systems are widely used to remove carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in new wastewater treatment systems or upgrades of existing systems. The determination of system compounds and kinetic parameters for modelling of these systems are important. For this purpose, respirometric measurements are used to reveal the electron consumption rate of biomass. In order to determine OUR (oxygen uptake rate) and NUR (nitrate uptake rate) parameters, a laboratory scale activated sludge system, including anaerobic, anoxic and aerobic zones, was developed. The performance of the system was continuously controlled from influent and effluent samples. OUR and NUR measurements indicated the kind of nitrogen-phosphorus removal systems required. Moreover, phosphorus uptake in the anoxic zone was investigated. It was found that phosphorus uptake in the anaerobic zone was related to substrate type consumed biologically. The OUR and NUR were found to be lower than in continuous activated sludge measurements. This may be because the mixed culture of the system affected the system performance, owing to competition between denitrification bacteria and poly-P bacteria.     

SBR法降解高浓油脂废水的活性污泥菌驯化及小型连续处理

根据高浓度油脂废水生物降解处理采用酵母一级处理-SBR法二级处理的连续净化工艺的要求,使用规模为20 L的SBR反应器对城市生活污水处理用的活性污泥进行强制性驯化,并以驯化的活性污泥菌直接应用于SBR法处理含油废水.实验发现该小型SBR法的工艺技术方案可行,系统抗冲击负荷能力强,整个系统运行比较稳定,对于含高浓度油脂的油脂精练加工厂实际排放污水处理效果良好,油脂和COD的去除率分别连续稳定在95%和90%以上,出水水质指标达到国家一级排放标准的要求.     

污泥转移SBR工艺处理低浓度生活污水

污泥转移SBR工艺是一种通过内部污泥回流实现污泥在不同SBR隔室间转移,从而增加污泥利用效率,提高系统除污效能的新工艺。以设计规模为240 m3/d、处理低浓度生活污水的工艺系统为对象,研究了新工艺在不同泥转移量(污泥回流比)下的除污性能,并与系统以传统SBR方式运行的情况进行了对比。结果表明,新工艺可以有效提高SBR反应器的容积利用率;采用30%的污泥回流比进行污泥转移,新工艺的处理能力比传统SBR工艺提高近1/2,除磷效率从46%提升至85%。出水各项水质指标均能达到国家排放标准的要求。     

Full-scale use of glycogen-accumulating organisms for excess biological carbon removal

The purpose of this study has been to verify the efficient full-scale applicability of glycogen-accumulating organisms (GAOs) for excess biological carbon removal, that is, for removing more carbon substrate than the amount of available nutrients would allow in the conventional activated sludge process of microbial growth. This aims to cost-effectively overcome the problem of viscous bulking occurring in a fully aerated system, with nutrient deficiency. Analytical data measured at the wastewater treatment plant of the Balatonboglár (BB) winery in Balatonboglár, Hungary, containing consecutive unaerated and aerated activated sludge basins, reflected a high performance with efficient carbon removal and good sludge settling, without dosing any external nutrient source to the severely nitrogen- and phosphorous-deficient influent. Supplementary laboratory-scale batch experiments and microbiological tests verified the abundance of GAOs in the activated sludge system and elucidated their role in efficient excess biological carbon removal.     

污水处理工程--两段式活性污泥工艺

我国中小城市的污水处理通常有如下特点(1 )工业废水所占比重较大,甚至超过50 %,致使要处理的城市污水的污染物浓度较高,污染物负荷变化较大 ;(2)城市财政状况比较紧张,可用于建设污水处理厂的资金有限.两段式活性污泥工艺是对传统活性污泥工艺的改进,在好氧处理之前采用一个缺氧或厌氧段,用于有机物的水解酸化或生物除磷.两段式工艺有以下优点处理效率高、工程投资和日常运行费用低,更适合我国国情.本文以两个工程项目为例,论述了两段式活性污泥工艺的工程设计与实际应用.山东省招远市污水处理厂于1999年7月投入运行,处理后排放水中的污染物指标低于设计值.蓬莱市污水处理厂工程即将竣工,设计处理能力20000m3 /d,工程总投资约1200万元,远远低于目前国内的平均水平.     

A practical method for quantification of phosphorus- and glycogen-accumulating organism populations in activated sludge systems.

Enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) from wastewater relies on the enrichment of activated sludge with phosphorus-accumulating organisms (PAOs). The presence and proliferation of glycogen-accumulating organisms (GAOs), which compete for substrate with PAOs, may be detrimental for EBPR systems, leading to deterioration and, in extreme cases, failure of the process. Therefore, from both process evaluation and modeling perspectives, the estimation of PAO and GAO populations in activated sludge systems is a relevant issue. A simple method for the quantification of PAO and GAO population fractions in activated sludge systems is presented in this paper. To develop such a method, the activity observed in anaerobic batch tests executed with different PAO/GAO ratios, by mixing highly enriched PAO and GAO cultures, was studied. Strong correlations between PAO/GAO population ratios and biomass activity were observed (R2 > 0.97). This served as a basis for the proposal of a simple and practical method to quantify the PAO and GAO populations in activated sludge systems, based on commonly measured and reliable analytical parameters (i.e., mixed liquor suspended solids, acetate, and orthophosphate) without requiring molecular techniques. This method relies on the estimation of the total active biomass population under anaerobic conditions (PAO plus GAO populations), by measuring the maximum acetate uptake rate in the presence of excess acetate. Later, the PAO and GAO populations present in the activated sludge system can be estimated, by taking into account the PAO/GAO ratio calculated on the basis of the anaerobic phosphorus release-to-acetate consumed ratio. The proposed method was evaluated using activated sludge from municipal wastewater treatment plants. The results from the quantification performed following the proposed method were compared with direct population estimations carried out with fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis (determining Candidatus Accumulibacter Phosphatis as PAO and Candidatus Competibacter Phosphatis as GAO). The method showed to be potentially suitable to estimate the PAO and GAO populations regarding the total PAO-GAO biomass. It could be used, not only to evaluate the performance of EBPR systems, but also in the calibration of potential activated sludge mathematical models, regarding the PAO-GAO coexistence.     

Fate of Terpene Compounds in Activated Sludge Wastewater Treatment Systems

ABSTRACT

Terpene-based cleaners are being widely used in industrial cleaning formulations because of their ability to replace suspected ozone-depleting chemicals such as 1,1,1-trichloroethane and 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC-113). Substitution of chlorinated solvents with ter-pene-based cleaners, however, is expected to result in increased discharges to wastewater from industrial operations. A pilot-scale study was conducted at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Test & Evaluation Facility in Cincinnati, OH, to quantify the fate of specific terpene compounds in the activated sludge wastewater treatment process. Biodegradation rates of terpenes were estimated from the difference between the influent terpene mass flow rates and the amounts volatilized to air, partitioned to waste sludge, and passed through the treatment process unchanged. Any chemical transformation of the terpene compounds studied was attributed to biodegradation.

Analytical methods were developed to determine ter-pene concentrations in aqueous and gaseous media. The fate of two common terpene compounds (d-limonene and terpinolene) were evaluated in three identical pilot-scale systems: (1) a system with a high target spike range (2–10 mg/L), (2) a system with a low target spike range (0.5–2 mg/L), and (3) a control system (no spike).

The study showed that the primary removal mechanism for the terpene compounds in the activated sludge process is biodegradation. Typically, greater than 90% of the mass of terpenes entering the aeration basin of the activated sludge process biodegrades to other compounds; volatilization from the reaction basin accounts for less than 10%, while loss to waste activated sludge and the secondary clarifier effluent accounts for less than 1%.     

Toward long solids retention time of activated sludge processes: benefits in energy saving, effluent quality, and stability

The activated sludge process is the most common method of secondary municipal wastewater treatment; solids retention time (SRT) is the key control parameter for this process. Typically, operating at long SRT is considered only for nitrification, but there are additional benefits of high SRT operation. This paper presents experimental and literature evidence to demonstrate three major additional benefits of long SRT operation: increased oxygen transfer efficiency; improved biomass particle size distribution, which results in more efficient clarification with fewer effluent particles and suspended solids; and enhanced removal of many emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and endocrine disrupting compounds. This paper presents experimental results from several treatment plants that showed increasing oxygen transfer efficiency and particle size with increasing SRT, and evidence documenting improved removal of emerging contaminants and biodegradable organic carbon. A long-term survey of three treatment plants concludes that operating at higher SRT is not as energy intensive as typically assumed.     

ECOSUNIDE工艺活性污泥中自养菌浓度的测定与分析

设计并利用在差压仪中密闭投加基质的实验方法,根据ASM模型中自养菌和硝化过程耗氧速率的关系,对比研究了ECOSUNIDE工艺和其他4个污水处理厂曝气池混合液中自养菌的浓度。研究表明,在不考虑自养菌增长和衰减情况下,ECOSUNIDE工艺混合液自养菌生物浓度为48.15 mg COD/L,该结果显著高于其他受试污水处理厂的混合液自养菌生物浓度(17.2～37.5 mg COD/L),表明ECOSUNIDE工艺在提高活性污泥中自养菌生物浓度上有较强的优势。设计的实验方法可以简便、有效地测定用于ASM模型中的自养菌浓度。