Solubilization of municipal sewage waste activated sludge by novel lytic bacterial strains

Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) are an extracellular matrix found in sludge which plays a crucial role in flocculation by interacting with the organic solids. Therefore, to enhance pretreatment of sludge, EPS have to be removed. In this study, EPS were removed with a chemical extractant, NaOH, to enhance the bacterial pretreatment. A lysozyme secreting bacterial consortium was isolated from the waste activated sludge (WAS). The result of density gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis revealed that the isolated consortium consists of two strains. The two novel strains isolated were named as Jerish03 (NCBI accession number KC597266) and Jerish 04 (NCBI accession number KC597267) and they belong to the genus Bacillus. Pretreatment with these novel strains enhances the efficiency of the aerobic digestion of sludge. Sludge treated with the lysozyme secreting bacterial consortium produced 29 % and 28.5 % increase in suspended solids (SS) reduction and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal compared to the raw activated sludge (without pretreatment) during aerobic digestion. It is specified that these two novel strains had a high potential to enhance WAS degradation efficiency in aerobic digestion.     

Enhanced excess sludge hydrolysis and acidification in an activated sludge side-stream reactor process with single-stage sludge alkaline treatment: a pilot scale study

A pilot-scale side-stream reactor process with single-stage sludge alkaline treatment was employed to systematically investigate characteristics of excess sludge hydrolysis and acidification with alkaline treatment and evaluate feasibility of recovering a carbon source (C-source) from excess sludge to enhance nutrient removal at ambient temperature. The resulting C-source and volatile fatty acid specific yields reached 349.19 mg chemical oxygen demand (COD)/g volatile suspended solids (VSS) d⁻¹ and 121.3 mg COD/g VSS d⁻¹, respectively, the process had excellent C-source recovery potential. The propionic-to-acetic acid ratio of the recovered C-source was 3.0 times that in the influent, which beneficially enhanced biological phosphorus removal. Large populations and varieties of hydrolytic acid producing bacteria cooperated with alkaline treatment to accelerate sludge hydrolysis and acidification. Physicochemical characteristics indicated that recovered C-source was derived primarily from extracellular polymeric substances hydrolysis rather than from cells disruption during alkaline treatment. This study showed that excess sludge as carbon source was successfully recycled by alkaline treatment in the process.

     

Bioenergy production from diluted poultry manure and microbial consortium inside Anaerobic Sludge Bed Reactor at sub-mesophilic conditions

In this study, anaerobic treatability of diluted chicken manure (with an influent feed ratio of 1 kg of fresh chicken manure to 6 L of tap water) was investigated in a lab-scale anaerobic sludge bed (ASB) reactor inoculated with granular seed sludge. The ASB reactor was operated at ambient temperature (17–25°C) in order to avoid the need of external heating up to higher operating temperatures (e.g., up to 35°C for mesophilic digestion). Since heat requirement for raising the temperature of incoming feed for digestion is eliminated, energy recovery from anaerobic treatment of chicken manure could be realized with less operating costs. Average biogas production rates were calculated ca. 210 and 242 L per kg of organic matter removed from the ASB reactor at average hydraulic retention times (HRTs) of 13 and 8.6 days, respectively. Moreover, average chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal of ca. 89% was observed with suspended solids removal more than 97% from the effluent of the ASB reactor. Influent ammonia, on the other hand, did not indicate any free ammonia inhibition due to dilution of the raw manure while pH and alkalinity results showed stability during the study. Microbial quantification results indicated that as the number of bacterial community decreased, the amount of Archaea increased through the effective digestion volume of the ASB reactor. Moreover, the number of methanogens displayed an uptrend like archaeal community and a strong correlation (?0.645) was found between methanogenic community and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration especially acetate.     

Chemically coupled microwave and ultrasonic pre-hydrolysis of pulp and paper mill waste-activated sludge: effect on sludge solubilisation and anaerobic digestion

The effects of alkali-enhanced microwave (MW; 50–175 °C) and ultrasonic (US) (0.75 W/mL, 15–60 min) pretreatments, on solubilisation and subsequent anaerobic digestion efficiency of pulp and paper mill waste-activated sludge, were investigated. Improvements in total chemical oxygen demand and volatile suspended solids (VSS) solubilisation were limited to 33 and 39 % in MW pretreatment only (175 °C). It reached 78 and 66 % in combined MW–alkali pretreatment (pH 12?+?175 °C), respectively. Similarly, chemical oxygen demand and VSS solubilisation were 58 and 37 % in US pretreatment alone (60 min) and it improved by 66 and 49 % after US–alkali pretreatment (pH 12?+?60 min), respectively. The biogas yield for US 60 min–alkali (pH 12)-pretreated sludge was significantly improved by 47 and 20 % over the control and US 60 reactors, respectively. The biogas generation for MW (150 °C)–alkali (pH 12)-pretreated sludge was only 6.3 % higher than control; however, it was 8.3 % lower than the MW (150 °C) reactor, which was due to the inhibition of anaerobic activity under harsh thermal–alkali treatment condition.     

Coagulant recovery from water treatment plant sludge and reuse in post-treatment of UASB reactor effluent treating municipal wastewater

In the present study, feasibility of recovering the coagulant from water treatment plant sludge with sulphuric acid and reusing it in post-treatment of upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor effluent treating municipal wastewater were studied. The optimum conditions for coagulant recovery from water treatment plant sludge were investigated using response surface methodology (RSM). Sludge obtained from plants that use polyaluminium chloride (PACl) and alum coagulant was utilised for the study. Effect of three variables, pH, solid content and mixing time was studied using a Box–Behnken statistical experimental design. RSM model was developed based on the experimental aluminium recovery, and the response plots were developed. Results of the study showed significant effects of all the three variables and their interactions in the recovery process. The optimum aluminium recovery of 73.26 and 62.73 % from PACl sludge and alum sludge, respectively, was obtained at pH of 2.0, solid content of 0.5 % and mixing time of 30 min. The recovered coagulant solution had elevated concentrations of certain metals and chemical oxygen demand (COD) which raised concern about its reuse potential in water treatment. Hence, the coagulant recovered from PACl sludge was reused as coagulant for post-treatment of UASB reactor effluent treating municipal wastewater. The recovered coagulant gave 71 % COD, 80 % turbidity, 89 % phosphate, 77 % suspended solids and 99.5 % total coliform removal at 25 mg Al/L. Fresh PACl also gave similar performance but at higher dose of 40 mg Al/L. The results suggest that coagulant can be recovered from water treatment plant sludge and can be used to treat UASB reactor effluent treating municipal wastewater which can reduce the consumption of fresh coagulant in wastewater treatment.     

MFC-MBR耦合系统运行效果

膜生物反应器(MBR)是一种高效的污水处理工艺,而微生物燃料电池(MFC)能有效降解污泥中的胞外生物有机质(EBOM)并回收电能.将MFC与MBR联用,建立了一套能够有效抑制膜污染同时回收电能的新系统——MFC-MBR耦合系统,MBR的剩余污泥经MFC处理后回流.以传统MBR为对照,对耦合系统中污水处理效果、膜污染情况和污泥混合液的性质进行研究.研究表明,耦合系统的污水处理效果没有明显恶化,COD去除率为94％,NH4+-N的去除率为92％.耦合系统能够有效减缓膜污染的发生,清洗周期延长了28％.污泥混合液的MLVSS/MLSS稳定在80％ ～ 88％,系统内几乎没有无机颗粒积累.松散结合态胞外聚合物(LB-EPS)降低了48％,使污泥混合液性质得到改善.较低的污泥比阻(2.69×1012m/kg)和标准化毛细吸水时间(1.67 s·L/g MLSS),证明耦合系统污泥混合液脱水性能提高了.     

Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus limitation on the activated sludge biomass in a kraft mill biotreatment system.

Unlike wastewater, pulp and paper mill effluents are generally severely deficient in bioavailable nitrogen and phosphorus. The influence of nitrogen and phosphorus limitations on steady-state or typical pulp and paper mill activated sludge floc properties and performance was studied using a bioreactor-fed synthetic raw mill effluent and seeded with mill activated sludge. Limitation of either nitrogen or phosphorus decreased growth, five-day biochemical oxygen demand, and suspended solids removal. Nitrogen limitation greatly enhanced activated sludge floc poly-beta3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), but not carbohydrate or extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). In contrast, phosphorus limitation increased total floc carbohydrate and EPS, but not PHB. The flocs showed little ability to store either nitrogen or phosphorus. Nitrogen limitation, but not phosphorus limitation, produced much more negative net floc surface charge, increasing fines, while phosphorus limitation, but not nitrogen limitation, increased the floc bound water content and surface hydrophobicity and decreased fines.     

好氧颗粒污泥动态膜生物反应器工艺参数及运行性能

以一体式尼龙筛网动态膜生物反应器(DMBR)为研究体系,与好氧颗粒污泥相结合,形成新的好氧颗粒污泥动态膜生物反应器(AGDMBR),探讨了在新工艺条件下对COD、氨氮的去除,以及出水浊度的变化,与活性污泥动态膜生物反应器(DMBR)做比较,研究了进水流量、曝气量等工艺运行参数与膜污染之间的关系,并对系统中污泥的EPS进行分析。结论表明,AGDMBR系统对COD和NH4+-N的平均去除率分别为91%和95%,出水浊度为6 NTU,处理效果均优于DMBR系统;AGDMBR系统在运行过程中膜污染速度随进水流量的增大而加快;曝气量为125～150 L/h时,膜通量持续时间最长;AGDMBR系统比DMBR系统在膜污染的延缓上具有明显的优势。     

Effects of extracellular polymeric substances on aerobic granulation in sequencing batch reactors

The effects of extracellular polymeric substances on aerobic granulation in sequencing batch reactors were investigated by evaluating the content and compositions of extracellular polymeric substances, and the relationship between extracellular polymeric substances composition and surface properties of glucose-fed aerobic granules. The results showed that extracellular polymeric substances could affect surface properties of cells, such as surface charge and hydrophobicity, enhance polymeric interaction and promote aerobic granulation. Moreover, extracellular polymeric substances were produced mainly in the exponential phase, and served as carbon and energy source in starvation phase during granulation process, thus regulating the growth of bacteria in the interior and exterior of granules, and maintaining the integrality of granules.     

厌氧系统中碱处理对污泥减量的影响

碱解预处理污泥和原污泥按一定比例进行混合后,投入厌氧反应器中进行消化,研究其对污泥减量化的影响。结果表明,该处理既可以提高污泥减量率,又能改善污泥厌氧消化性能,提高污泥产气量。当碱处理污泥和原污泥混合比为1∶3时,在混合初期由于稀释作用和水解中和作用,溶液的pH能迅速恢复到中性。SS减少48%,较对照组提高了10%;SCOD减少约80%,较对照组提高20%,而空白对照组因未发生溶胞作用,各参数值均处于较低水平,降解率也维持在较低水平。     

Influence of the organic loading rate on the performance and the granular sludge characteristics of an EGSB reactor used for treating traditional Chinese medicine wastewater

The effects of the organic loading rate (OLR) on the performance and the granular sludge characteristics of an expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactor used for treating real traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) wastewater were investigated. Over 90 % of the COD removal by the EGSB reactor was observed at the OLRs of 4 to 13 kg COD/(m³ day). However, increasing the OLR to 20 kg COD/(m³ day) by reducing the hydraulic retention time (HRT 6 h) reduced the COD removal efficiency to 78 %. The volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration was 512.22 mg/L, resulting in an accumulation of VFAs, and propionic acid was the main acidification product, accounting for 66.51 % of the total VFAs. When the OLR increased from 10 to 20 kg COD/(m³ day), the average size of the granule sludge decreased from 469 to 258 μm. There was an obvious reduction in the concentration of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ in the granular sludge. The visible humic acid-like peak was identified in the three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectra of the soluble microbial products (SMPs). The fatty acid bond, amide II bond, amide III bond, and C–H bond bending were also observed in the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of the SMPs. Methanobacterium formicicum, Methanococcus, and Bacteria populations exhibited significant shifts, and these changes were accompanied by an increase in VFA production. The results indicated that a short HRT and high OLR in the EGSB reactor caused the accumulation of polysaccharides, protein, and VFAs, thereby inhibiting the activity of methanogenic bacteria and causing granular sludge corruption.     

蠕虫捕食对污泥性质的影响

利用一种新型静态序批式蠕虫生物反应器处理剩余污泥，另设一个未加蠕虫的反应器作为对照。通过对比分析2个反应器中污泥的比减量速率、沉降性能、脱水性能和比好氧速率来研究蠕虫捕食对污泥性质的影响。实验结果表明，蠕虫具有良好的污泥减量效果，蠕虫加入后可使污泥比减量速率增加（0．15±0．02）mg／（mg·d）。蠕虫作用后污泥沉降性能明显改善，污泥容积指数（SVI）降低28．9％，胞外聚合物（EPS）含量减少和污泥絮体结构变得更加密实规则是污泥沉降性能得到改善的重要原因。蠕虫捕食后污泥脱水性能变差，污泥标准化毛细吸水时间和比阻分别增大2．45倍和1．16倍，推测主要是由污泥絮体平均粒径减小造成的。另外，蠕虫的存在会降低污泥的微生物活性，异养细菌、氨氧化细菌和亚硝酸盐氧化细菌的比好氧速率分别降低7．09％、7．84％和8．29％。     

不同状态下的同一污泥胞外聚合物提取方法研究

以由厌氧污泥向好氧污泥转变前后2种不同状态下的污泥为研究对象,采用5种不同方法对污泥胞外聚合物(EPS)进行了提取实验。实验结果表明,NaOH法提取的EPS含量最高,但会导致胞内物质泄漏。CER和离心提取法较温和,但EPS产量不高。甲醛-NaOH和H2SO4法提取的EPS含量较高,且无大量细胞自溶发生,是有效的EPS提取方法。厌氧污泥转变为好氧污泥后蛋白质/多糖(PN/PS)比例有所增加,表明EPS各组分含量发生改变。红外分析表明厌氧污泥转变为好氧污泥前后EPS中主要组成成分没有发生改变,但各成分含量有所增加,特征明显的峰表明EPS中存在蛋白质、多聚糖。     

厌氧接触式反应器预处理高浓度丙烯酸废水

采用厌氧接触式反应器,对自配丙烯酸(AA)废水进行预处理.反应器经污泥驯化稳定运行后,在HRT为12h,进水丙烯酸浓度为1000～3 000 mg/L,丙烯酸容积负荷为2～6 kg AA/(m3·d),污泥负荷为0.67～2.00kg AA/(kg VSS·d)的条件下,丙烯酸去除率达95%以上,出水丙烯酸浓度低于16...     

活性污泥中温与高温絮凝特性

为了揭示中温与高温活性污泥的絮凝特性及其作用机制，本研究采用序批式反应器，分别在35℃及55℃条件下培养了中温与高温活性污泥，考查了2种活性污泥的相互作用能与胞外聚合物的特性。研究结果表明：高温污泥系统出水浊度为（145±22．9）NTU，是中温污泥系统的近50倍。中温污泥的相互作用能曲线存在明显的势垒（313．4×10^-20J），而高温污泥不存在明显势垒；高温污泥的松散型胞外聚合物与紧致型胞外聚合物的含量分别为中温污泥的12倍及3．5倍，且胞外聚合物中蛋白质、多糖、腐殖酸和DNA的含量均高于中温污泥的含量。这表明，尽管高温污泥相互作用能势垒低，但其胞外聚合物，尤其是松散型胞外聚合物含量过高，是高温污泥絮凝性能低的内在机制，而胞外聚合物组成特征不是中温和高温污泥絮凝性能差异的主要原因。     

Biofiltration vs conventional activated sludge plants: what about priority and emerging pollutants removal?

This paper compares the removal performances of two complete wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) for all priority substances listed in the Water Framework Directive and additional compounds of interest including flame retardants, surfactants, pesticides, and personal care products (PCPs) (n?=?104). First, primary treatments such as physicochemical lamellar settling (PCLS) and primary settling (PS) are compared. Similarly, biofiltration (BF) and conventional activated sludge (CAS) are then examined. Finally, the removal efficiency per unit of nitrogen removed of both WWTPs for micropollutants is discussed, as nitrogenous pollution treatment results in a special design of processes and operational conditions. For primary treatments, hydrophobic pollutants (log K _ow?>?4) are well removed (>70 %) for both systems despite high variations of removal. PCLS allows an obvious gain of about 20 % regarding pollutant removals, as a result of better suspended solids elimination and possible coagulant impact on soluble compounds. For biological treatments, variations of removal are much weaker, and the majority of pollutants are comparably removed within both systems. Hydrophobic and volatile compounds are well (>60 %) or very well removed (>80 %) by sorption and volatilization. Some readily biodegradable molecules are better removed by CAS, indicating a better biodegradation. A better sorption of pollutants on activated sludge could be also expected considering the differences of characteristics between a biofilm and flocs. Finally, comparison of global processes efficiency using removals of micropollutants load normalized to nitrogen shows that PCLS?+?BF is as efficient as PS?+?CAS despite a higher compactness and a shorter hydraulic retention time (HRT). Only some groups of pollutants seem better removed by PS?+?CAS like alkylphenols, flame retardants, or di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), thanks to better biodegradation and sorption resulting from HRT and biomass characteristics. For both processes, and out of the 68 molecules found in raw water, only half of them are still detected in the water discharged, most of the time close to their detection limit. However, some of them are detected at higher concentrations (>1 μg/L and/or lower than environmental quality standards), which is problematic as they represent a threat for aquatic environment.     

接种不同污泥源条件下厌氧氨氧化菌的特性

2组ASBR接种污泥源分别为好氧硝化污泥、好氧硝化污泥和厌氧氨氧化污泥按2：1比例}昆合的混合污泥。在相同条件下，经过驯化培养均实现了厌氧氨氧化的稳定运行。接种好氧硝化污泥的反应器的适应期为29d，经过105d的培养反应器成功启动；接种混合污泥的反应器的适应期为13d，经过49d反应器启动成功。从2组ASBR污泥中提取细菌总DNA，经过厌氧氨氧化菌特异引物Pla46rc／Amx820对污泥样品进行PCR扩增、克隆和测序等分析。实验结果表明，接种不同污泥源条件下的反应器中厌氧氨氧化菌的特性存在差异，接种污泥源为好氧硝化污泥的反应器中存在的厌氧氨氧化菌种为CandidatusKuenenia，而接种混合污泥的反应器中存在的厌氧氨氧化菌种为CandidatusAnammox—oglobus，与最初接种的混合污泥中的厌氧氨氧化菌相同。当接种污泥中存在厌氧氨氧化菌时，该菌株经过长时间的驯化可成为优势菌种，而当接种污泥中无厌氧氨氧化菌存在时，CandidatusKueneniasp．可以在反应器中占主导，具有更强的竞争优势。     

污泥中重金属的去除及回收试验

论述了利用离子交换技术循环使用柠檬酸去除污泥中重金属,并置换回收重金属的适宜工艺条件.经柠檬酸处理后,污泥中90%以上的重金属被去除;柠檬酸处理液中的重金属用离子交换法回收,考察了树脂种类、流速、操作方式等因素对离子交换、再生效果的影响;在适宜工艺条件下,重金属的交换率均为100%,而洗脱率均接近90%;柠檬酸及离子交换树脂循环使用,重金属也得到回收,降低了处理成本.     

Specific resistance to filtration of biomass from membrane bioreactor reactor and activated sludge: effects of exocellular polymeric substances and dispersed microorganisms.

This study investigates the effect of dispersed microorganisms and exocellular polymeric substances on biomass dewaterability. Specific resistance to filtration (SRF) was measured for biomass from a membrane bioreactor and a completely mixed activated sludge system. Both laboratory-scale reactors were fed with synthetic wastewater and operated at a high food-to-microorganism ratio (F/M) (1 to 11 kilograms chemical oxygen demand per kilogram mixed liquor volatile suspended solids per day [kgCOD/(kg MLVSS.d)]) and short solids retention times (0.25 to 5 d). The SRF values were affected by strong interactions of three parameters: (1) the mixed liquor suspended solids concentration, (2) the amount of dispersed microorganisms, and (3) the exocellular polymeric substances (EPS) concentration. At F/M smaller than 2 kg COD/(kg MLSS.d) and mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) concentration higher than 2000 mg/L, increasing amount of dispersed microorganisms in the biomass yielded higher SRF values. However, at high F/M (> 5 kg COD/kg MLSS.d) and low MLSS concentrations (< 600 mg/L), lower EPS concentrations resulted in slightly smaller SRF values, even though the amount of dispersed microorganisms in the biomass was much higher. Thus, at low MLSS concentrations, EPS concentrations rather than the amount of dispersed microorganisms tend to control SRF.