Potential use of solar energy for waste activated sludge treatment

The use of solar energy as a disintegration unit operation for waste activated sludge was tested in a pilot plant. The effect of the treatment process on chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), settling time and filtration index was investigated in single (solar) and sequential processes (solar & biological). Solar oxidation was found to be a good sludge disintegration technology. Available solar photons were utilised to degrade the soluble organic matter and release the cell liquids. The highest COD and TSS removal efficiencies were obtained by the month of June. Sequential process efficiencies were related to accumulate solar photons, aerobic treatment time and operational condition. Sequential process resulted in COD and TSS removal efficiency of 16% and 13%, respectively. Increasing aerobic treatment time and/or mixing the oxidised sludge with fresh sludge improved COD and TSS removal efficiencies to 23% and 27%, respectively. The use of sequential processes improves the settling tendency of sludge by bio-oxidation of the released portions and eliminates protein charge effect on sludge settling.     

Effect of ozone pre-treatment on sludge production of aerobic digestion processes

The effect of ozone in a chemical sludge disintegration process was evaluated. Sludge solution chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS) and settling were investigated in single and sequential processes. A significant influence of ozone dose on sludge disintegration was observed: ozone was utilised to degrade the soluble organic matter and to destroy cell surfaces and release the cell liquids. For a single ozonation step, we found an optimum ozone dose in the range of 0.008–0.013 g O₃/g TSS to give the best COD and TSS removal efficiency. Disintegrated sludge was treated in a sequential process consisting of consecutive ozonation and bio-aeration (i.e. O₃ + biological treatment). The tendency was dependent on accumulated ozone, treatment time and operational conditions. An accumulated ozone dose of 0.055 g O₃/g TSS in two separate ozonation processes followed by biological treatments led to COD and TSS removal efficiency of 53 and 46.6%, respectively. The removal efficiency was improved by increasing aerobic treatment time and/or by mixing ozonated sludge with non-ozonated sludge. The settling ability of sludge was found to be fast at very low specific ozone doses. An observed tendency was the effect of ozone on cell disintegration and protein liberation. The use of sequential processes improved the settling tendency of sludge.     

Dairy wastewater treatment using water treatment sludge as coagulant: a novel treatment approach

The dairy industry is among the most polluting industries as it produces large volume of wastewater that may adversely affect the environment if discharged untreated. Dairy wastewater is characterized by high COD, BOD and nutrient levels. In this study, water treatment sludge was used as a coagulant for the treatment of synthetic dairy wastewater in the pH range of 4–10. Turbidity, COD, BOD, TSS and TDS removals from the synthetic dairy wastewater were found to be around 93, 65, 67, 84 and 85%, respectively, at the optimum conditions. Water treatment sludge was found to perform even better than other conventional coagulants used for the same. Results showed that it has the potential to substitute the conventional coagulants partially or fully in the primary treatment of dairy wastewater. The utilization of water treatment sludge at dairy wastewater treatment plants would provide sustainable sludge management and cost-effective dairy wastewater treatment.     

Treatment of wastewater from an oil and soap factory via dissolved air flotation

Highly polluted wastewater from oil and soap factories has been treated via coagulation followed by dissolved air flotation. Ferric chloride and alum were used as coagulants at their optimal pH value and dosages. Factors affecting the efficiency of the dissolved air flotation process, such as detention time and air-solids ratio, have been investigated. The results obtained showed that this process proved to be very efficient in removing the organic contaminants. The oil removal value reached 99.1%. The COD, BOD, and turbidity removal achieved 94.5%, 96% and 99.3%, respectively.     

Effects of the simultaneous application of potassium and calcium on the soil-to-Chinese cabbage transfer of radiocesium and radiostrontium

Pot experiments were carried out in a greenhouse to investigate how effectively the transfer of radiocesium and radiostrontium from soil to Chinese cabbage could be reduced by applying K and Ca simultaneously to the soil. The sources of these elements were KCl and Ca(OH)(2) at agrochemical grades. Varying dosages of K and Ca were tested for an acid loamy soil treated with a mixed solution of (137)Cs and (85)Sr at two different times - 3 d before sowing and 32 d after sowing. For the pre-sowing deposition, the soil-to-plant transfer of (137)Cs decreased sharply with increasing dosages of K and Ca (K/Ca, g m(-2)) from 4.8/46 up to 22.4/215 but the (85)Sr transfer had the greatest reduction at a dosage of 12.8/123. At this dosage, an about 60% reduction occurred for each radionuclide. Plant growth was inhibited from the dosage of 22.4/215, above which all the plants died young. Both dosages of 4.8/46 and 12.8/123 tested following the growing-time deposition produced around 95% reductions for (137)Cs and 50% reductions for (85)Sr. In the second year after the 12.8/123 applications, the effects for (85)Sr were almost the same as in the first year, whereas those for (137)Cs were diminished slightly for the pre-sowing deposition and markedly for the growing-time deposition. Considerably (K) or slightly (Ca) higher doses than 12.8/123 would be allowable for the maximum TF reductions achievable without a growth inhibition.     

Compostability of lime-flocculated sewage sludge

Recent developments in wastewater treatment are resulting in the production of substantial amounts of chemically [Ca(OH)₂ and Al₂(SO₄)₃·H₂O] treated sludges in need of further treatment before disposal. Although a seemingly suitable method, an unfavorable pH and low volatile solids content constitute serious problems for composting. Hence, an investigation was made of the feasibility of window composting Ca(OH)₂ (lime) precipitated sludge (approximately 25% solids) when mixed with a bulking agent. Bulking agents tried were the paper fraction of municipal refuse and chipped tree and shrub trimmings. Both bulking agents were tried in their raw and in their composted states. Initial mixing was by way of a specially designed hammermill, and subsequent mixing was done manually. Compostability was measured by rate and extent of the temperature rise and fall and by destruction of volatile solids. According to the results, lime exerted no inhibitory influence on the composting process. However, the high ratio of biologically inert material to volatile solids resulted in a shortage of nutrients for the bacteria. Consequently, temperatures attained were neither sufficiently high nor of long enough duration to ensure the pathogen destruction required for public health safety.     

Inhibition of microbial activity of activated sludge by ammonia in leachate

Leachate samples were collected from the West New Territory Landfill (WENT), Hong Kong, and characterized in the laboratory. The analytical results confirmed that it has a typical nature of aged leachate with a low BOD₅/COD ratio of 0.22 and a high strength of ammonia-nitrogen around 5 g/L. A lab-scale study was conducted to investigate the inhibition of microbial activity of the activated sludge. In the first test, glucose-based synthetic wastewater was used in two parallel reactors. The experimental results demonstrated that COD removal declined from 95.1 to 79.1% and the dehydrogenase activity of the sludge decreased from 11.04 to 4.22 μg TF/mg mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS), when the ammonia-nitrogen concentration increased from 50 mg/L to 800 mg/L progressively. The remaining NH₃⁺-N residue in the treated wastewater increased from 0.58 mg/L to 649 mg/L extensively. In the second test, mixed wastewater samples containing glucose and raw leachate were fed into six parallel biological reactors and operated on batch mode. The experimental results showed COD removal decreased from 97.7 to 78.1% and the dehydrogenase activity decreased from 9.29 to 4.93 μg triphenyl formazon (TF)/mg MLSS, respectively, when the ammonia-nitrogen concentration increased within the same range. Microbial inhibition could also be substantiated by a decrease of specific oxygen uptake rate (SOUR) from 68 to 45 mg O₂/g MLSS. These results suggested leachate containing high-strength ammonia-nitrogen should be pretreated to an acceptable NH₄⁺-N level before it is fed into biological reactors.     

The relationship of climatic and hydrological parameters to surface water quality in the lower Mekong River

The relationship between climatic, hydrological and water quality parameters of the lower Mekong River flowing through four different countries (Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam) was studied. The Mekong River Commission (MRC) secondary data of climatic and hydrological parameters included precipitation, evaporation, average air temperatures, mean water level and discharge flow. Water quality parameters consisted of TSS, NO(3)(-), PO(4)(3-), DO, pH, conductivity, Ca, Mg, Na, K, alkalinity, Cl, SO(4)(2-), Fe, TP, Si and COD. Pearson's correlation was used to determine their relationship. The results reveal that the correlations of climatic, hydrological and water quality parameters in those four countries located along the lower Mekong River had the same trend. Precipitation had fair positive correlations with mean water level (ranging 0.375-0.661), discharge flow (ranging 0.526-0.659) and mean air temperature (ranging 0.515-0.621), however had weak negative correlation with evaporation (ranging 0.169-0.468). Concerning relationship with water quality, the results show that TSS, NO(3)(-), PO(4)(3-), TP and COD had weak to fair positive correlations with precipitation, mean water level, discharge flow. However, DO, pH, conductivity, Ca, Mg, Na, K, alkalinity, Cl, SO(4)(2-) and Si had fair to strong negative correlations with all hydrological parameters. Finally, TSS, alkalinity and conductivity were proposed as sensitive water quality parameters for monitoring impacts of changing climate in the lower Mekong River.     

Sulfide production during anaerobic lagoon treatment of tapioca wastewater

Laboratory-scale experiments on anaerobic lagoon treatment of tapioca wastewater were conducted under ambient, tropical conditions. The objectives of this study were to investigate factors that affect hydrogen sulfide production and to propose means to control the formation of hydrogen sulfide in lagoon effluents. The concentrations of sulfides were found to increase with increasing organic loading from 2.76 to 5.77 kg COD/m³.d, decreasing hydraulic retention time; and increasing pH from 3 to 7. The maximum total sulfide concentration of 18.8 mg/L occurred at the organic loading of 5.77 kg COD/ m³.d and neutral pH. the maximum H₂S concentration was calculated to be 13.3 mg/L which occurred in the laggoon operated at an organic loading of 5.77 kg COD/m³.d and a pH of 5. The control of odour problems due to the H₂S formation should be possible by raising pH of the lagoon water to be more than 8 or operating the lagoon at low organic loadings.     

杭州西湖水体光学状况及影响因子分析

2004年10月8日在杭州西湖6个不同湖区共布设10个采样点进行水下光场的测定,并采集水样分析悬浮物、叶绿素a、有色可溶性有机物（CDOM）浓度。结果表明,3类主要光衰减物质总悬浮物、叶绿素a和DOC的浓度分别为3.68~42.76 mg/L、4.64~85.95 μg/L、5.19~9.22 mg/L;CDOM在440 nm波长处吸收系数为0.30~1.46 m-1;PAR衰减系数在1.13~6.04 m-1间变化,均值为4.00±1.69 m-1;对应的真光层深度为0.76~4.08 m,均值为1.54±1.11 m;仅南湖和茅家埠两个湖区真光层深度大于水深,其他湖区由于水深远大于真光层深度,在现有的光照条件和水位下要恢复沉水植物困难较大。对PAR衰减系数、真光层深度、透明度等表观光学参数与主要水色因子进行相关分析发现,水体中浮游藻类和有机颗粒物对西湖水体光学性质影响最大。     

Parameters affecting biological phosphate removal from wastewaters

This paper reviews some of the key wastewater composition parameters, which influence the biological removal of phosphate from wastewaters, such as COD content, volatile fatty acid (VFA) content, cation concentration, phosphorus load, pH and food to microorganism ratio. The discussion also focuses on operational parameters affecting successful nutrient removal in wastewater treatment plants, such as temperature, sludge quality, sludge settlement, dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration, anaerobic P-release and secondary P-release. The aim of this review is to compile an updated document for researchers and operators of biological nutrient removal (BNR) systems. In addition, the article will provide a good foundation for readers with no prior knowledge of the process.     

Characterisation of NOM by adsorption parameters and effective diffusivities

Adsorption equilibria were studied with RO isolates for both activated carbon and activated alumina. Maximum carbon loadings on the order of 65 mg/g DOC were obtained, while the maximum loadings of activated alumina were about 30 mg/g DOC. In the latter case the slope of the isotherms was generally steeper, indicating weaker adsorbabilities of some of the NOM compounds on the metal oxide adsorbent. Since NOM must be regarded as a multi-component system with respect to adsorption, the data were evaluated by the adsorption analysis procedure. The results were used for a theoretical comparison of NOM adsorption based on the same initial concentration of all samples. The method of colloidal titration was applied to the RO isolates in the range pH = 3–8. Poly-DADMAC was used as a cationic polymer, and a streaming current instrument was used for end point detection. The results which are termed anionic colloidal charge (ACC) values increase with increasing pH for pH = 3–6 while they are about constant for pH = 6–8. At the samples' original pH, the specific ACC values found range from 5.2 to 7.6 meq/g DOC. Mass transfer coefficients for NOM adsorption on granular activated carbon were determined for both RO and EVAP isolates, respectively. The data were used to derive effective diffusivities for each sample. The results differ by a factor of about 2 with the Maridalsvann sample having the highest and the Humex sample having the lowest diffusivity. Furthermore, the results for the EVAP isolates are in 8 of 9 cases higher than for the RO samples. Based on a comparison with known macromolecules, average molecular weight values were estimated to be on the order of 700–4800 Dalton.     

Fate, behavior and effects of surfactants and their degradation products in the environment

Surfactants are widely used in household and industrial products. After use, surfactants as well as their products are mainly discharged into sewage treatment plants and then dispersed into the environment through effluent discharge into surface waters and sludge disposal on lands. Surfactants have different behavior and fate in the environment. Nonionic and cationic surfactants had much higher sorption on soil and sediment than anionic surfactants such as LAS. Most surfactants can be degraded by microbes in the environment although some surfactants such as LAS and DTDMAC as well as alkylphenols may be persistent under anaerobic conditions. LAS were found to degrade in sludge amended soils with a half-lives of 7 to 33 days. Most surfactants are not acutely toxic to organisms at environmental concentrations and aquatic chronic toxicity of surfactants occurred at concentrations usually greater than 0.1 mg/L. However, alkylphenols have shown to be capable of inducing the production of vitellogenin in male fish at a concentration as low as 5 microg/L. More toxicity data are needed to assess the effects on terrestrial organisms such as plants.     

Sorption of selenium anionic species on apatites and iron oxides from aqueous solutions

The sorption of selenite and selenate ions from aqueous solutions was investigated on hydroxyapatite, fluorapatite, goethite and hematite, in order to simulate the behavior of radioactive selenium in natural or artificial sorbing media. Correlation studies with acido-basic properties and solubility of the solids were also performed. The sorption is pH dependant, but these solids are very efficient for retaining selenite at pH values generally encountered in natural waters, with however higher K(d) values for oxides than apatites. Selenate ions are much less sorbed than selenite. Several methods such as electron microscopy and spectroscopic techniques were used to identify the sorption mechanisms. In the case of hydroxyapatite, sorption proceeds by substitution of phosphate groups in the lattice of the apatite crystal in the superficial layers of the solid. In the case of goethite and hematite, sorption can be interpreted and modeled by a surface complexation process, but there is a discrepancy between sorption site densities for selenite and for protons.     

Treatment of wastewater by natural systems

Experimental results from a pilot-scale constructed wetland (CW) treatment plant have been described. The study was conducted at two different systems: continuous and batch. In the continuous system, the treatment yields were monitored in different loading conditions in 1-year period. The pilot plant consists of two serially connected tanks settled up with fillers; Cyperus was used as treatment media and wastewater between the two tanks was recycled periodically. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) and suspended solid (SS) removal efficiencies were obtained as 90% and 95%, respectively. The effluent COD concentration at an average loading of 122 g COD/m2 day was satisfactory for the Turkish Water Pollution Control Regulation. This means that a 0.8 m2 of garden area per person is required. Other removal values for the same conditions were as follows: total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) was 77%, total nitrogen (TN) was 61%, and PO4(3-) -P was 39%. The batch experimental systems consist of 12 pairs of serially connected tanks, with each pair having a surface area of 1 m2. Each set was filled with sewage once a day, and the wastewater between the paired tanks was recycled periodically by the pump. Each pair of tanks was filled with materials such as gravel, peat, and perlite. Seven of them were vegetated with Phragmites, Cyperus, Rush, Iris, Lolium, Canna, and Paspalum, while the other five were not seeded. The best performances were obtained by Iris for COD (% 94), by Canna for ammonia nitrogen (% 98), and by Iris for total nitrogen (% 90) and phosphorus (% 55) removal.     

Removal of nutrients and heavy metals from anaerobic waste by aerobiological treatment

This study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of aerobic biological treatment in removal of nitrogen, phosphorous, and heavy metals from a unique anaerobic liquid waste, produced at a solid waste-to-methane anaerobic digestion facility. Laboratory scale continuous flow activated sludge reactors were employed in this study. The liquid waste has moderate BOD/COD ratio with BOD concentration of 1300 mg/L and high concentration of essential nutrients, making the liquid waste biologically treatable. Results showed that aerobic biological treatment can remove nitrogen and phosphorous on the order of 85%. Metal removal efficiencies vary widely for 11 metals studied in this investigation.     

The optimization of wastewater treatment via combined techniques: Part II: Combined biological—Dissolved air flotation

Optimum operating conditions for sewage treatment via combined biological-physico chemical treatment has been studied. The biological unit was a trickling filter. The non-settled biological effluent was subjected to coagulation followed by rapid solid-liquid separation via dissolved air flotation. The impact of organic load on the over-all efficiency of the system has been investigated using three different organic loads namely, 9.48, 20.0, and 27.85 g BOD₅m^?2d^?1. The coagulants used were ferric chloride and alum. Calcium oxide was used as a coagulant aid with ferric chloride. Factors affecting the efficiency of dissolved air flotation process such as detention time, air solids ratio, and position of coagulant's addition have been investigated. The results obtained showed that the use of biological, extended physico-chemical technique leads to the removal of organic as well as inorganic contaminants. Moreover, sludge with high solids content can be obtained.     

膨润土、煤渣在稳定底泥中对上覆水体及底泥pH Eh COD的影响

采用静态模拟试验,选取膨润土、煤渣为帽封材料,研究两者覆盖于河水底泥表层后各体系上覆水体及底泥的pH、氧化还原电位（Eh）、有机含量指标在60 d的变化情况。结果表明：底泥表层覆盖膨润土或煤渣后,上覆水体中的pH约为7.5,Eh在80~110 mV波动,均未造成持久严重的影响;同时由于它们的吸附性能使得上覆水体CODCr在反应周期里有所减少。膨润土存在体系,其底泥pH在反应周期里呈下降趋势,Eh呈上升趋势,底泥有机质去除率在25%左右。而煤渣帽封于底泥上,其底泥pH、Eh在反应周期里均呈上升趋势,底泥有机质去除率约为19%     

Lime stabilization and land disposal of cold region wastewater lagoon sludge

Effects of lime [Ca(OH)₂] stabilization upon the pathogenic population in accumulated solids associated with the operation of two aerated wastewater lagoons in Alaska and two facultative wastewater lagoons in northern Utah were evaluated. The subsequent drying, at a temperature of 12 °C, of the lime stabilized sludges on sand and soil beds was also investigated. The lime stabilization of the lagoon sludges was evaluated by dosing the sludges with lime and applying sludges to bench scale drying beds. Lime addition produced high fecal coliform reduction, and the limed sludges readily dewatered on both sand and soil beds.     

Influence of Operating Conditions on the Removal Cd Ions from Aqueous Media by Adsorption Using Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii

Chlamydomonas reinhardtii(C.reinhardtii)was used to study adsorption of cadmium(Cd)from aqueous media within various experimental conditions.Results showed that the adsorption process was very fast,with most of the adsorption occurring within30 min of contact time and the equilibrium state was reached in about 60 min.The adsorption ability of the algae increases with the increasing adsorptions sites on cells.Maximum adsorption was observed at the initial Cd concentration of 100 mg/L and pH 6.0.The adsorption was markedly inhibited in the presence of calcium and magnesium ions at 10 mM and the Cd removal efficiency was reduced by 16.54% and 14.99% respectively.This study would be a finding of note with regard to practical wastewater treatment.