Effects of shear force on formation and properties of anoxic granular sludge in SBR

This paper reports the effects of shear force on anoxic granular sludge in sequencing batch reactors （SBR）. The study was carried out in two SBRs （SBR1 and SBR2） in which sodium acetate （200mg COD·L^-1） was used as the sole substrate and sodium nitrate （40 mgNO3-N·L^-1） was employed as the electron acceptor. The preliminary objective of this study was to cultivate anoxic granules in the SBR in order to investigate the effects of shear force on the formation of anoxic granular sludge and to compare the properties of anoxic sludge in the SBR. This study reports new results for the values of average velocity gradient, a measure of the applied shear force, which was varied in the two SBRs （3.79 s^-1 and 9.76 s^-1 for SBR1 and SBR2 respectively）. The important findings of this research highlight the dual effects of shear force on anoxic granules. A low shear force can produce large anoxic granules with high activity and poor settling ability, whereas higher shear forces produce smaller granules with better settling ability and lower activity. The results of this study show that the anoxic granulation is closely related to the strength of the shear force. For high shear force, this research demonstrated that： 1） granules with smaller diameters, high density and good settling ability were formed in the reactor, and 2） granular sludge formed faster than it did in the low shear force reactor （41days versus 76 days）. Once a steady-state has been achieved, the nitrate and COD removal rates were found to be 98% and 80%, respectively. For low shear force, such as was applied in SBR1, this research demonstrated that： 1） the activity of anoxic granular sludge in low shear force was higher than that in high shear force, 2） higher amount of soluble microbial products （SMPs） were produced, and 3） large pores were observed inside the larger granules,which are beneficial for nitrogen gas diffusion. Electron microscopic examination of the anoxic granules in both reactors showed that the morphology of the granules was ellipsoidal with a clear outline. Coccus and rod-shaped bacteria were wrapped by filamentous bacteria on the surface of granule.     

Practical consideration for design and optimization of the step feed process

Based on the anoxic/oxic (A/O) step feed process, a modified University of Cape Town (UCT) step feed process was developed by adding an anaerobic zone and adjusting sludge return pipeline. Performance evaluation of these two types of processes was investigated by optimizing operational parameters, such as the anaerobic/anoxic/oxic volumes, internal recycle ratios, and sludge retention times, for removal of chemical oxygen demanding (COD), nitrogen, and phosphorus. Results showed high removal efficiencies of COD of (85.0±1.7)%, ammonium of (99.7±0.2)%, total nitrogen (TN) of (85.5±1.7)%, phosphorus of (95.1±3.3)%, as well as excellent sludge settleability with average sludge volume index of (83.7±9.5) L·mg^-1 in the modified UCT process. Moreover, (61.5±6.0)% of influent COD was efficiently involved in denitrification or phosphorus release process. As much as 35.3% of TN was eliminated through simultaneous nitrification and denitrification process in aerobic zones. In addition, the presence of denitrifying phosphorus accumulating organisms (DNPAOs), accounting for approximately 39.2% of PAOs, was also greatly beneficial to the nitrogen and phosphorus removal. Consequently, the modified UCT step feed process was more attractive for the wastewater treatment plant, because it had extremely competitive advantages such as higher nutrient removal efficiencies, lower energy and dosages consumption, excellent settling sludge and operational assurance.     

2种BDPs固相反硝化的脱氮效果对比

利用批量和连续流填充床试验对比了2种BDPs(可生物降解聚合物)——PBS(聚丁二酸丁二醇酯)和PCL(聚ε-己内酯)的反硝化效果. 批量试验结果表明,在脱氮稳定阶段,B1(PCL)和B2(PBS)对TN的平均去除率和反硝化速率分别为97.4%、67.0%和7.5、1.8 mg/(L·h),B2均明显优于B1. 连续流试验中,在进水ρ(NO₃--N)为16.8～18.8 mg/L、HRT(水力停留时间)为4.0 h的条件下,L1(PCL填充床)的反硝化速率大于L2(PBS填充床). 但是随着HRT的减小,L1呈现出比L2更快的反硝化速率. L2和L1分别在HRT为2.0和1.5 h时获得最大反硝化速率,分别为7.7和9.3 mg/(L·h). ESEM(环境扫描电子显微镜)观察结果表明,生物膜剥离后,PCL和PBS颗粒表面均出现大量的坑洞,并且PCL颗粒表面坑洞的密集程度远大于PBS. 三维荧光光谱(3D-EEM)分析结果表明,L2和L1出水中的溶解性有机物主要为类色氨酸这类简单的蛋白质和SMP(溶解性微生物代谢产物),并且L1水中SMP的荧光峰强度明显高于L2.      

ABS树脂废水有机物反硝化潜势及降解特性

为优化ABS树脂废水的生物脱氮工艺,测定了废水的反硝化潜势,分析了废水反硝化阶段有机物的降解特性. 结果表明,ABS树脂废水的反硝化碳源充足,并且含有易降解有机物和慢速降解有机物等具有不同反硝化速率的有机物. 在废水ρ(SCOD)(SCOD为溶解性化学需氧量)为755.4~1 043.3 mg/L,ρ(TN)为86.1~111.1 mg/L的情况下,总反硝化潜势为95.4~144.6 mg/L (以NO₃--N计),其中易降解有机物的反硝化速率为3.4~4.6 mg/(g·h) (以NO₃--N计),反硝化潜势为33.2~49.7 mg/L;2类慢速降解有机物的反硝化速率分别为2.2~3.2和0.4~0.9 mg/(g·h),反硝化潜势之和为62.2~94.9 mg/L. 反硝化过程中,废水SCOD的去除率为48.9%~62.8%,ON(有机氮)去除率为81.5%~95.7%. 腈类物质得到明显降解,并生成大量NH₄+-N,是反硝化碳源的重要组成部分. 三维荧光光谱表明,废水中的芳香族有机物苯环结构在反硝化条件下未得到有效降解,但在好氧条件下得到快速降解.      

同步硝化反硝化过程中污染物的去除及温室气体的释放

采用缺氧-好氧SBR反应器,研究了同步硝化反硝化(SND)工艺污水生物脱氮过程中污染物去除效果和温室气体(N2O,CH4和CO2)的释放情况.结果表明,与顺序式硝化反硝化工艺(SQND)的总氮去除率63.78%相比,SND大大地提高了总氮的去除,去除率达90.39%.同时,SND过程刺激了温室气体的释放,其温室气体释放总量为SQND的4.5倍.SND反应器N2O每周期释放量为34.28 mg,且主要集中于曝气阶段.而SQND过程N2O释放量仅为6.89mg,为SND过程的1/5.SND过程和SQND过程,每周期CO2的释放量分别为493.52,320.28mg.两反应器中CH4的释放量都很低,接近于零.     

翻堆对强制通风静态垛混合堆肥过程及其理化性质的影响

为了了解翻堆对堆肥过程及理化性质的影响,开展了城市污泥、猪粪强制通风静态垛堆肥试验,试验共设4个处理,分别为升温期(3d)、高温期(10d)、降温期(20d)翻堆处理和不翻堆的对照处理.结果表明:翻堆处理能降低堆肥的挥发性固体含量,减轻其在堆体剖面的差异.升温期翻堆不利于堆体DOC含量的降低及腐熟度的提高.降温期翻堆会减小再次升温速率及其所达到的最高温度.升温期和降温期翻堆,虽然有利于堆体内湿度的均匀分布,但却会缩短高温持续时间、降低堆肥的减容率和脱水率.不同时期翻堆,堆肥的pH和EC有降低的趋势,但总体而言其影响并不是特别明显.在高温期翻堆的处理中高温期持续时间长达15d,堆体减容率高达29%,再次升温的升温速率和所达到的最高温度分别为4℃·d-1和60 5℃,且与其它处理相比,其堆肥的VS、DOC和湿度都较低,GI较大.由此试验表明,高温期翻堆的堆肥处理能提高强制通风静态垛堆肥的堆肥效率和质量.     

EGSB反应器中厌氧颗粒污泥的脱氮特性研究

以厌氧污泥为接种物,启动膨胀颗粒污泥床(EGSB)反应器,经过3个月的连续运行,反应器中出现了颗粒污泥,表现出持续去除氨氮的能力,并出现了厌氧氨氧化现象.为了验证EGSB反应器中厌氧氨氧化反应的存在,并探讨厌氧颗粒污泥的生物脱氮特性,从EGSB反应器中取出颗粒污泥,并与亚硝化反应器中的活性污泥进行了对比研究.结果表明,好氧污泥反应器对TN、氨氮和亚硝酸盐氮的去除率分别为45 5%、13 4%和99 9%;厌氧颗粒污泥反应器对TN、氨氮和亚硝酸盐氮的去除率分别为54 3%、21 7%和99 9%.厌氧颗粒污泥反应器中NH+4 N的去除速率比较稳定,约为3 17mg·L-1·h-1(以N计).上述结果充分表明,EGSB反应器中发生了厌氧氨氧化反应.     

不同碳源下的间歇曝气反硝化实验研究

本实验研究在序批式模式下高浓度硝酸盐的反硝化,比较用甲醇、醋酸钠和消化污泥上清液作碳源。实验发现,间歇曝气有助于提高反硝化污泥的沉降性能,而厌氧条件下,污泥的沉降性能差。污泥浓度4~5gVSS/L下,3种碳源都能有效地进行反硝化。最大硝酸盐去除率为0486gNO3N/gVSS·d。开始阶段,亚硝酸盐浓度增加,但用醋酸盐和硝化污泥上清液作碳源,其浓度最终下降为零。     

Control of sludge settleability and nitrogen removal under low dissolved oxygen condition

Low dissolved oxygen (DO) is an energy-saving condition in activated sludge process. To investigate the possible application of limited filamentous bulking (LFB) in sequencing batch reactor (SBR), two lab-scale SBRs were used to treat synthetic domestic wastewater and real municipal wastewater, respectively. The results showed that prolonging low DO aeration duration and setting pre-anoxic (anaerobic) phase were effective strategies to induce and inhibit filamentous sludge bulking, respectively. According to the sludge settleability, LFB could be maintained steadily by adjusting operation patterns. Filamentous bacteria content and sludge volume index (SVI) were likely correlated. SVI fluctuated dramatically within a few cycles when around 200 mL·g^-1, where altering operation pattern could change sludge settleability in spite of the unstable status of activated sludge system. Energy consumption by aeration reduced under low DO LFB condition, whereas the nitrification performance deteriorated. However, short-cut nitrification and simultaneous nitrification denitrification (SND) were prone to take place under such conditions. When the cycle time kept constant, the anoxic (anaerobic) to aerobic time ratio was determining factor to the SND efficiency. Similarity keeping aerobic time as constant, the variation trends of SND efficiency and specific SND rate were uniform. SBR is a promising reactor to apply the LFB process in practice.     

Characteristics of pollutants behavior in a stormwater constructed wetland during dry days

A stormwater wetland treating non-point source pollution (NPS) from a 64 ha agricultural watershed was monitored over a period of five months. The results indicated that pH and dissolved oxygen (DO) were increased in the wetland due to the algal growth. The highest total suspended solids (TSS) concentration was observed in the aeration pond due to the resuspension of solids, decreased in the wetland. The respective decreases in total nitrogen (TN) and total kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) were 15.9% and 28.7% on passing through the wetland. The nitrate and ammonia were increased by 45.4% and decreased by 79.9%, respectively. These variations provided strong evidence for the existence of nitrification. The total phosphorus (TP) and phosphate had respective reductions of 52.3% and 58.2% over the wetland. The total chemical oxygen demand (TCOD) and soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) were also decreased. Generally, the TN, TP and phosphate removal efficiencies were positive. These positive removal efficiencies were mainly due to microbial activities, uptake by plants, and chemical precipitation at high pH. Negative removal efficiencies can be caused by continuous rainfall activities, with short antecedent dry days (ADDs) and unstable hydraulic conditions, some other biogeochemical transformations and algal growth also being important parameters.