Enhanced sludge solubilization by microbubble ozonation

A microbubble ozonation process for enhancing sludge solubilization was proposed and its performance was evaluated in comparison to a conventional ozone bubble contactor. Microbubbles are defined as bubbles with diameters less than several tens of micrometers. Previous studies have demonstrated that microbubbles could accelerate the formation of hydroxyl radicals and hence improve the ozonation of dyestuff wastewater. The results of this study showed that microbubble ozonation was effective in increasing ozone utilization and improving sludge solubilization. For a contact time of 80 min, an ozone utilization efficiency of more than 99% was obtained using the microbubble system, while it gradually decreased from 94% to 72% for the bubble contactor. The rate of microbial inactivation was obviously faster in the microbubble system. At an ozone dose of 0.02 g O₃ g⁻¹ TSS, about 80% of microorganisms were inactivated in the microbubble system, compared with about 50% inactivation for the bubble contactor. Compared to the bubble contactor, more than two times of COD and total nitrogen, and eight times of total phosphorus content were released from the sludge into the supernatant by using the microbubble system at the same ozone dosage. The application of microbubble technology in ozonation processes may provide an effective and low cost approach for sludge reduction.     

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.     

Immersion frying for the thermal drying of sewage sludge: an economic assessment

This paper presents an economic study of a novel thermal fry-drying technology which transforms sewage sludge and recycled cooking oil (RCO) into a solid fuel. The process is shown to have significant potential advantage in terms of capital costs (by factors of several times) and comparable operating costs. Three potential variants of the process have been simulated and costed in terms of both capital and operating requirements for a commercial scale of operation. The differences are in the energy recovery systems, which include a simple condensation of the evaporated water and two different heat pump configurations. Simple condensation provides the simplest process, but the energy efficiency gain of an open heat pump offset this, making it economically somewhat more attractive. In terms of operating costs, current sludge dryers are dominated by maintenance and energy requirements, while for fry-drying these are comparatively small. Fry-drying running costs are dominated by provision of makeup waste oil. Cost reduction could focus on cheaper waste oil, e.g. from grease trap waste.     

Fate of cancerostatic platinum compounds in biological wastewater treatment of hospital effluents

The present work focuses on the fate of two cancerostatic platinum compounds (CPC), cisplatin and carboplatin, as well as of two inorganic platinum compounds, [PtCl₄]²⁻ and [PtCl₆]²⁻ in biological wastewater treatment. Laboratory experiments modelling adsorption of these compounds onto activated sludge showed promising specific adsorption coefficients K_D and K_OC and Freundlich adsorption isotherms. However, the adsorption properties of the investigated substances were differing significantly. Adsorption decreased following the order cisplatin > [PtCl₆]²⁻ > [PtCl₄]²⁻ > carboplatin. Log K_D-values were ranging from 2.5 to 4.3 , log K_OC from 3.0 to 4.7.

A pilot membrane bioreactor system (MBR) was installed in a hospital in Vienna and fed with wastewater from the oncologic in-patient treatment ward to investigate CPC-adsorption in a sewage treatment plant. During three monitoring periods Pt-concentrations were measured in the influent (3–250 μg l⁻¹ Pt) and the effluent (2–150 μg l⁻¹ Pt) of the treatment plant using ICP-MS. The monitoring periods (duration 30 d) revealed elimination efficiencies between 51% and 63% based on averaged weekly input–output budgets. The derived log K_D-values and log K_OC-values ranged from 2.4 to 4.8 and from 2.8 to 5.3, respectively. Species analysis using HPLC-ICP-MS proofed that mainly carboplatin was present as intact drug in the influent and – due to low log K_D – in the effluent of the MBR.     

污泥加热预处理对中温厌氧消化的影响

对污泥加热预处理给中温厌氧混合消化和污泥单独消化带来的影响进行了研究.研究结果表明,污泥加热预处理有利于提高混合消化对 COD 的去除率,尤其是 SCOD 的去除率由 77%增长到 93%,但不利于 TS 和 VS 的去除;而对污泥单独消化,预处理则不利于有机物的去除.采用加热预处理后的污泥进样,混合消化和污泥单独消化的甲烷产气量均有所提高.     

蚯蚓对城镇污泥堆肥过程中微型动物群落演替的影响

采用实验对比和除趋势对应分析（DCA）等方法,以城镇污泥中的微型动物为对象,研究蚯蚓对堆肥过程微型动物群落演替的影响.结果表明,蚯蚓仅影响微型动物群落数量,对演替进程无明显影响.堆肥过程微型动物群落演替可分为3个阶段：第1阶段（0~10 d）,固着类纤毛虫为优势类群阶段,该阶段微型动物变化多受限于环境的改变,蚯蚓影响较小;第2阶段（10~30 d）,固着类纤毛虫和轮虫向肉足虫和线虫为优势类群的过渡阶段,该阶段蚯蚓对线虫数量有一定的限制;第3阶段（30 d后）,肉足虫和线虫为优势类群阶段,该阶段蚯蚓对有壳肉足虫的增长产生了明显的抑制作用.群落多样性指数结果显示,蚯蚓在第1和第2阶段作用不明显,在第3阶段增加了微型动物的多样性和均匀度,减小了优势物种的优势程度.对固着类纤毛虫的同化作用是蚯蚓稳定堆肥环境、促进有机质降解的重要因素.     

不同低碳氮比废水中好氧颗粒污泥的长期运行稳定性

为了研究好氧颗粒污泥系统处理低碳氮比废水的长期运行稳定性,采用低碳氮比（C/N）条件下逐步增加碳氮负荷的进水方法,分别在反应器A和B中接种好氧颗粒污泥,考察其长期运行过程中的理化性质、处理性能及应对冲击负荷的稳定性.其中A反应器的碳氮比一直维持在2,而B则由4逐步降至2.结果表明,在4℃存储30d的好氧颗粒污泥,经过25d的培养,其活性基本恢复,A、B反应器化学需氧量（COD）和氨氮（NH₄⁺-N）的去除效率均达到90%以上.在其后的稳定阶段,B反应器COD和NH₄⁺-N去除率达到90%以上,实现了完全硝化;而A反应器COD去除率仅80%左右,虽然NH₄⁺-N去除率最终也达到90%以上,但仅实现短程硝化.在冲击负荷阶段,A和B反应器COD去除率仍维持在80%以上,但是NH₄⁺-N去除受到很大冲击.A反应器NH₄⁺-N去除效率恶化,B反应器仅实现了部分硝化.整个运行过程,好氧颗粒污泥的物理性质受到的影响不大,A和B反应器的污泥容积指数（SVI₃₀）分别维持在60 mL ·g^-1和75 mL ·g^-1左右,混合液悬浮固体（MLSS）在5g ·L^-1和3.7g ·L^-1左右.颗粒污泥微生物群落分析表明,B反应器相对于A反应器丰富度和多样性更高.同时B反应器具有更高丰度的Zoogloea属,在颗粒中能产生更多的胞外蛋白促使颗粒结构更稳定,保证系统的长期稳定运行.以上结果表明,与C/N为2的好氧颗粒污泥系统相比,C/N为4的系统脱碳硝化效果好,抗冲击负荷能力强,更有利于颗粒污泥的长期稳定运行.     

基于不同废污泥源的短程反硝化快速启动及稳定性

为探究不同废污泥源快速启动短程反硝化和实现稳定NO_2~--N积累的可行性,在3个完全相同的SBR反应器(S1、S2和S3)分别接种:实验室城市污水反硝化除磷系统排泥、城市污水厂剩余污泥及河涌底泥,比较其短程反硝化启动快慢和NO_2~--N积累特性,考察系统短程反硝化活性和NO_3~--N→NO_2~--N转化性能,并从微生物学角度分析反应器功能菌群特征.结果表明,在乙酸钠为唯一碳源、高碱度和适宜COD/NO_3~--N比进水条件下,3个SBR短程反硝化反应器在短时间内均能够成功启动,系统平均NO_3~--N→NO_2~--N转化率为S1 S2 S3(75. 92% 73. 36% 69. 90%).同时发现持续低温条件下S1和S2呈现不同程度的短程反硝化性能恶化趋势,但S3能够稳定维持良好NO_2~--N积累性能.微生物高通量测序表明,变形菌门和拟杆菌门居PD系统主导地位,3个短程反硝化反应器NO_2~--N积累关键功能菌属Thauera属丰度差异明显:S3 S1 S2(25. 09% 4. 71% 3. 60%),表明S3具备稳定高效的NO_2~--N积累性能,同时高丰度Thauera属可能是维持低温短程反硝化活性的重要原因.     

不同来源土样胶体对氯霉素吸附行为的影响

选取不同来源沉积物或土壤样品（沉积物A1和A2,天然土壤B1和B2,市售营养土B3）,采用切向超滤与多种纳米分析技术相结合的方法,分析了不同土样中胶体的理化特征及其对氯霉素（CAP）吸附行为的影响.荧光区域积分法结果显示,土样胶体的荧光组分以色氨酸类蛋白质、类富里酸和类腐殖酸为主,络氨酸类蛋白质和溶解性微生物代谢物质存在较少.吸附实验结果表明,B3胶体对CAP的吸附率最大（36.25%）,在胶体浓缩液和超滤液中的分配比例最高（1.91）,但其有机碳归一化结合系数最低（3.93）.与天然土壤相比,河湖沉积物胶体的吸附率较高,但其与CAP的结合能力却较低.冗余分析结果表明,胶体对CAP的吸附主要与其芳香度、有色溶解性有机质丰度、溶解性有机碳浓度及分子量有关;此外,胶体的腐殖化程度、芳环上羧基、羰基等官能团的比重及荧光物质中溶解性微生物代谢产物和类腐殖酸对CAP的吸附行为也具有较大影响.     

东南亚生物质燃烧输送影响我国西南气溶胶辐射特性研究

利用2013年地基CE-318太阳光度计观测数据,结合中分辨率成像光谱仪（MODIS）遥感产品和HYSPLIT后向轨迹分析,研究了一次东南亚生物质燃烧污染长距离输送至中国西南昆明站点过程（2013年4月5~8日）中,气溶胶光学特性和辐射特性的变化及其可能来源.结果表明,此次污染过程期间,我国西南地区生物质燃烧活动较少,而中南半岛地区生物质燃烧活动显著.4月5~7日,昆明站点气溶胶光学厚度（AOD）升高,消光波长指数（EAE）和吸收波长指数（AAE）均增大.此外,依据EAE和AAE分类方法,5~6日昆明站点以城市工业气溶胶为主,7~8日以生物质燃烧气溶胶为主,其细模态峰值半径（0.11μm）小于5~6日（0.15μm）,7日细模态粒子体积浓度峰值（约为0.16μm³/μm²）是5日的2倍.气溶胶直接辐射强迫（ARF）日变化结果表明4月7日气溶胶对地表的降温效应达到最大,对大气的加热作用最强.气溶胶直接辐射强迫效率值（ARFE）的变化表明生物质燃烧气溶胶对大气顶的降温作用减弱.MODIS遥感以及HYSPLIT模式后向轨迹表明,此次昆明站点生物质燃烧气溶胶主要来源于东南亚地区（主要是印度北部、印缅北部和不丹地区）.