Dehydrogenases activity of activated sludge

A study of dehydrogenases activity of activated sludge, return activated sludge, and waste activated sludge from three sewage treatment plants was made. Dehydrogenases activity and protein content of the mixed liquor varied along the aeration basin. Chromium chloride and zinc sulfate were found to be inhibitory to dehydrogenases activity. Return activated sludge and waste activated sludge, in spite of higher content of volatile suspended solids, contained lower dehydrogenases activity. Return activated sludge when kept without aeration and addition of sewage, showed higher dehydrogenases activity; and on aeration, but without addition of sewage, it showed progressively lower dehydrogenases activity.     

A modified method for determination of dehydrogenases activity of activated sludge

Examination of the different methods employed to detect dehydrogenases activity of activated sludge by reduction of triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) indicated the non‐uniformity of the procedures. A modified method is, therefore, developed which consists of incubation of a dilute sonicated sample of mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) of activated sludge with TTC in the presence of sodium sulfite, phosphate buffer and cyanide. Triphenyl formazan (TF) formed is first dissolved in acetic acid and later extracted by toluene. Optical density (OD) of the color is measured at 485 nm. Dehydrogenases activity is calculated from the OD and expressed as specific activity per unit weight of protein. Modified method gave less relative dispersion compared to the values obtained on the same but unsonicated samples of MLSS.     

Performance of bioferric-submerged membrane bioreactor for dyeing wastewater treatment

Adding iron salt or iron hydroxide to sludgemixed liquor in an aeration tank of a conventional activated sludge processes (bioferric process) can simultaneously improve the sludge’s filterability and enhance the system’s treatment capacity. In view of this, Fe(OH)₃ was added to a submerged membrane bioreactor (SMBR) to enhance the removal efficiency and to mitigate membrane fouling. Bioferric process and SMBR were combined to create a novel process called Bioferric-SMBR. A side-by-side comparison study of Bioferric-SMBR and common SMBR dealing with dyeing wastewater was carried out. Bioferric-SMBR showed potential superiority, which could enhance removal efficiency, reduce membrane fouling and improve sludge characteristic. When volumetric loading rate was 25% higher than that of common SMBR, the removal efficiencies of Bioferric-SMBR on COD, dye, and NH₄ ⁺-N were 1.0%, 9.5%, and 5.2% higher than that of common SMBR, respectively. The trans-membrane pressure of Bioferric-SMBR was only 36% of that in common SMBR while its membrane flux was 25% higher than that of common SMBR. The stable running period in Bioferric-SMBR was 2.5 times of that in common SMBR when there was no surplus sludge discharged. The mixed liquor suspended solids concentration of Bioferric-SMBR was higher than that of common SMBR with more diversified kinds of microorganisms such as protozoans and metazoans. The mean particle diameter and specific oxygen uptake rate of Bioferric-SMBR were 3.10 and 1.23 times the common SMBR, respectively.     

A hybrid membrane process for simultaneous thickening and digestion of waste activated sludge

A hybrid membrane process for simultaneous sludge thickening and digestion (MSTD) was studied. During one cycle (15 d) of operation under a hydraulic retention time of 1 d, the concentration of mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) continuously increased from about 4 g·L⁻¹ to 34 g·L⁻¹, and the mixed liquor volatile suspended solids (MLVSS) increased from about 3 g·L⁻¹ to over 22 g·L⁻¹. About 42% of the MLVSS and 39% of the MLSS reduction were achieved. The thickening and digestion effects in the MSTD were further analyzed based on a mass balance analysis. Test results showed that biopolymers and cations of biomass were gradually released to the bulk solution during the process. It was also found that the capillary suction time, colloidal chemical oxygen demand, soluble microbial products, viscosity, and MLSS had significant positive correlations with the membrane fouling rate, whereas extracellular polymeric substances, polysaccharides, and proteins extracted from biomass had negative impacts on membrane fouling.     

活性污泥系统微型动物群落特征及其与水温、溶氧的关系

于2002年7月至2003年7月对保定市银定庄污水处理厂活性污泥混合液中的微型动物群落做了为期1a的研究.共采集了49个水样,发现纤毛虫89种,其中自由游泳型纤毛虫12种,匍匐型纤毛虫13种,附着型纤毛虫38种,肉食型纤毛虫26种;鉴定到变形虫23种,其中有壳肉足虫5种,裸肉足虫18种;大型鞭毛虫共记录有8种;记录到的后生动物有轮虫、线虫和腹毛虫.附着型纤毛虫的密度占纤毛虫总密度的42.7%,匍匐型纤毛虫的密度占纤毛虫总密度的31.7%,肉食型纤毛虫的密度占纤毛虫总密度的21.2%,自由游泳型纤毛虫的密度占纤毛虫总密度的4.4%.附着型纤毛虫和匍匐型纤毛虫密度合计占纤毛虫总密度的74.4%,为纤毛虫中的优势类群.相关分析表明,锐利楯纤虫与水温呈非常显著的负相关,因此可作为低水温的指示生物;集盖虫与DO呈非常显著的负相关,可作为低DO的指示生物.表2参20     

pH调节对活性污泥混合液膜过滤性的影响

探讨了用NaOH调节pH值对膜-生物反应器混合液膜过滤性能的影响,并通过分析污泥混合液性质的变化研究其作用机理.试验表明,适当调节pH到碱性,可以使膜过滤性能得到改善.投加碱液使污泥胞外多聚物(EPS)减少,污泥容积指数(SVI)降低,但上清液中总有机碳(TOC)浓度增加.混合液膜过滤性能的改善与污泥SVI的降低密切相关.在碱性条件下,从细胞表面脱落下来的EPS对絮体颗粒的絮凝性有一定促进作用,但效果有限.推测碱液处理使细胞表面的LB-EPS脱落,从而使细胞表面疏水性增加,有利于絮体颗粒之间的絮凝,从而有利于混合液膜过滤性的改善.     

The impact of ultrasonic treatment on activity of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria in activated sludge

Conditions for ultrasonic treatment to achieve partial nitritation are optimized. Ultrasound reduces metabolic activity and releases intracellular metabolites. Mechanical shearing is essential to inhibit nitrite oxidation. The ultrasonic treatment of sludge has been considered as an effective method to facilitate the partial nitritation of municipal sewage. This study aims to reveal the effects of ultrasound on ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB). The impact factors including ultrasonic irradiation time and intensity, sludge concentration, thermal effect and released free radicals were studied. The maximized difference between the changes in AOB and NOB activities were obtained with 10 g mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS)/L, using 0.9 kJ/mL ultrasonic energy density and 12 h interval time. The increased ultrasonic intensity destroyed the floc structure of activated sludge, increased the microbial death, and decreased the cellular ATP level. Further, the mechanism exploration indicated that the mechanical shearing could be a critical factor in achieving the nitritation with inhibitory effect on nitrite oxidation.     

Control of hydrogen sulphide in digestor gas using iron salts

Different dosages of ferrous chloride and ferric chloride were added to digestors separately, and the volumes of methane and hydrogen sulphide contained in the digestor gas (biogas) were monitored. It was noted that the effects of adding of 16, 18 and 32 kg ferrous chloride/ tonne volatile solids, and 16 and 18 kg ferric chloride/tonne volatile solids were similarly effective in controlling the hydrogen sulphide levels.

According to an average amount of undigested sludge (primary sludge mixed with surplus activated sludge) of 41 tonne volatile solids produced each day during the sewage treatment process in Shatin sewage treatment works, and the required dosage of 16 kg ferric chloride/ tonne volatile solids, the amount of iron salts required should be 656 kg/day or 3.3 mg/L for the actual application, based on an average sewage flow of 200,000 m³/day.     

臭氧污泥减量过程中混合液各参数的变化

实验用污泥的初始浓度(MLSS)分别限定为4g/L、7g/L和11g/L,用以探讨不同浓度下臭氧氧化过程中COD、N和P浓度的变化。结果表明:臭氧氧化过程中,MLSS和MLVSS基本呈线性下降;臭氧对污泥细胞的溶解可以引起混合液中COD、N和P浓度的升高,升高速率受污泥浓度和臭氧浓度影响较大;TKN和硝态氮是N的主要存在形式,TKN和TN随时间均呈先增加后趋缓的变化规律;臭氧对氨氮和亚硝酸盐氮有较强的氧化能力,二者浓度均呈先增大后减小的规律;而硝酸盐氮呈一直增加趋势;臭氧对COD的氧化也很明显,表现为COD的增加速率随氧化时间的增加而不断降低;总磷的浓度基本呈线性增加,单位质量污泥的总磷释放量差异不大;臭氧对MLSS的彻底减量会引起臭氧溶胞利用率的降低,因此应该合理控制臭氧化反应的时间。     

Verhalten von Nanosilber in Kläranlagen und dessen Einfluss auf die Nitrifikationsleistung in Belebtschlamm

Background, aim and scope The application of nanosilver is increasing. Knowledge on the fate and behavior of nanosilver in wastewater and wastewater treatment plants is scarce. Studies under real world conditions are completely lacking. We studied (1) the impact of nanosilver on the nitrification of sewage sludge, (2) quantified the mass flow of nanosilver in a pilot-plant, and (3) verified the mass balance in a full-scale municipal wastewater treatment plant where nanosilver is introduced to the municipal plant by an indirect discharger. Materials and Methods The addition of four different nanosilver additives on ammonia oxidation in activated sludge has been studied in batch-reactors at two concentrations (1, 100?mg/L Ag) with two exposure times (2?h, 6?days). The pilot-plant treating 70 population equivalents of domestic wastewater is operated with a 12?day sludge age. Nanosilver was applied to the activated sludge tank within two sludge ages. The silver concentrations were measured in sludge and effluent samples during dosing and the following two sludge ages. The adsorption and speciation of silver particles has been analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Influent, effluent and sludge were sampled on a full-scale plant (60?000 equivalent inhabitants) and analyzed for silver. Results Silver nitrate, metallic nanosilver, nano-scaled silver chloride and microcomposite silver did not show any effect on ammonia oxidation after the addition of 1?mg/L Ag to the activated sludge (corresponding to 250?mg Ag per kg solids). In contrast, 100?mg/L Ag inhibited the nitrification process by 100?% after the addition of silver nitrate and 20–30?% after addition of colloidal polymer-coated nanosilver. A complete mass balance of the pilot-plant, a steady-state system with known fluxes, demonstrates significant enrichment of silver in the sewage sludge (96?%) after the addition of silver chloride to the plant and small losses of silver into the secondary effluent (4?%). The mass fluxes are similar to metallic colloidal nanosilver investigated under the same conditions. The mass balance has been consistently confirmed by the full-scale study in a municipal wastewater treatment plant. The silver fluxes correspond to the fluxes of the suspended solids in sludge and effluent. Overall, it is estimated that from public wastewater treatment plants about 4–40?mg/a Ag per inhabitant equivalent are discharged annually to the receiving water. The analysis by SEM-EDX demonstrates adsorption and incorporation of nanosilver on biological flocs. This method yields first insight into complex building and transformation of silver associated with sulfide after adding metallic nanosilver and silver chloride to wastewater. Discussion Silver ions released from nanosilver react immediately with large amounts of chloride present in wastewater to form silver chloride. Silver ions may react with organic ligands or sulfide groups additionally. Consequently, even silver nitrate added with 1?mg/L Ag (250?mg Ag/kg TS) to activated sludge did not inhibit nitrification activity. Very high amounts of nanosilver, i.?e. 100?mg/L Ag, overburdened the system and equilibrium condition between silver ion release and ligands was not reached. The mass balance reflects the excellent attachment of nanosilver to activated sludge and biological flocs. Therefore, the main elimination process of nanosilver is attachment to the activated sludge. The elimination of nanosilver is high compared to organic and inorganic micro pollutants omnipresent in wastewater. Any further reduction of suspended solids in the effluent water will reduce the silver load. Conclusions Generally, in wastewater nanosilver occurs bonded to activated sludge flocs and therefore the elimination of nanosilver is efficient under operation conditions typical for wastewater treatment plants. The major fraction of nanosilver is removed from the system by the excess sludge withdrawal. Nonetheless, the efficiency may be further improved by a tertiary filtration step. All analyses of influent, effluent and sludge confirmed that silver exists as silver sulfide. Due to a negligible water solubility of this silver species, silver ions are not subsequently released. Recommendations and perspectives Nanosilver research should be driven to the identification of transformation processes in real environmental matrices and the influence of coatings on the adsorption behavior. There is no need for action to take special measures for nanosilver removal in the area of municipal wastewater treatment plants compared to ubiquitous hazardous organic pollutants may present in wastewater. Nevertheless, source control measures following the precautionary principle should be performed.     

膜生物反应器内泥水混合液可过滤性的研究

膜生物反应器是一种新兴的水处理技术,但目前膜造价较高,导致运行费用较高,因此,提高膜通量的各种技术措施具有重要的意义。文中引入静态泥水混合液过滤试验,通过对取自运转中ＭＢＲ的活性污泥混合液的过滤实验结果分析,着重阐述了影响活性污泥可过滤性的影响因素,并指出在维持ＭＢＲ的运行中,改善活性污泥性状是一个不可忽略的方面。     

Biological removal of selenate in saline wastewater by activated sludge under alternating anoxic/oxic conditions

Removal of selenate in saline wastewater by activated sludge was examined. Sequencing batch reactor was operated under alternating anoxic/oxic conditions. Above 97% removal of soluble selenium (Se) was achieved continuously. Major Se removal mechanism varied depending on the length of aeration period. Various Se-reducing bacteria likely contributed to coordinately to Se removal. Selenium (Se)-containing industrial wastewater is often coupled with notable salinity. However, limited studies have examined biological treatment of Se-containing wastewater under high salinity conditions. In this study, a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) inoculated with activated sludge was applied to treat selenate in synthetic saline wastewater (3% w/v NaCl) supplemented with lactate as the carbon source. Start-up of the SBR was performed with addition of 1–5 mM of selenate under oxygen-limiting conditions, which succeeded in removing more than 99% of the soluble Se. Then, the treatment of 1 mM Se with cycle duration of 3 days was carried out under alternating anoxic/oxic conditions by adding aeration period after oxygen-limiting period. Although the SBR maintained soluble Se removal of above 97%, considerable amount of solid Se remained in the effluent as suspended solids and total Se removal fluctuated between about 40 and 80%. Surprisingly, the mass balance calculation found a considerable decrease of Se accumulated in the SBR when the aeration period was prolonged to 7 h, indicating very efficient Se biovolatilization. Furthermore, microbial community analysis suggested that various Se-reducing bacteria coordinately contributed to the removal of Se in the SBR and main contributors varied depending on the operational conditions. This study will offer implications for practical biological treatment of selenium in saline wastewater.     

寒冷地区城市污水处理厂污泥膨胀及其控制

结合大庆乘风庄污水厂运行 5年来两次污泥膨胀的实例 ,对活性污泥系统发生污泥膨胀的主要原因进行了分析 ,提出在寒冷地区活性污泥系统中 ,除低氧、低负荷外 ,低温也是造成膨胀的原因之一。对此提出采用减小曝气池污泥浓度或单池连续运行以提高负荷和鼓风机进风口空气加热提高曝气池水温的方法 ,可使膨胀得到有效控制。     

Increasing the performance of anaerobic digestion: Pilot scale experimental study for thermal hydrolysis of mixed sludge

The performance of a pilot plant operation combining thermal hydrolysis (170°C, 30 min) and anaerobic digestion (AD) was studied, determining the main properties for samples of fresh mixed sludge, hydrolyzed sludge, and digested sludge, in order to quantify the thermal pretreatment performance (disintegration, solubilisation, and dewaterability) and its impact on the anaerobic digestion performance (biodegradability, volatile solids reduction, and digester rheology) and end product characteristics (dewaterability, sanitation, organic and nitrogen content). The disintegration achieved during the thermal treatment enhances the sludge centrifugation, allowing a 70% higher total solids concentration in the feed to anaerobic digestion. The digestion of this sludge generates 40% more biogas in half the time, due to the higher solids removal compared to a conventional digester. The waste generated can be dewatered by centrifugation to 7% dry solids without polymer addition, and is pathogen free.     

Transport of Sewage Sludge in a Mixed Water Column

Abstract

Sewage sludge from four publicly-owned treatment works was sampled and characterized in terms of parameters affecting transport at the 106-mile deep ocean disposal site as part of the US Environmental Protection Agency's site monitoring programme. Samples from treatment plants in Passaic Valley, Rahway, and Elizabeth, New Jersey and New York City were characterized in terms of dynamic size distribution, suspended solids and density. the transport characteristics of sludge particles were measured using a 2 metre computer-interfaced laboratory settling column. Experiments were conducted at constant salinity (35 ppt) while varying hydrodynamic mixing, sludge type and concentration using a modified factorial experimental design. Hydrodynamic power dissipation was varied so that the vertical dispersion and rms fluid shear rate ranged between 0-6 cm²S^?1 and 0-30s^?1 respectively. Results indicate that at least 80% of suspended sludge particles will eventually settle under mixed conditions. the average settling velocities ranged between 0.05-4.05 × 10^-3 cm ^s-1. Shear rates above 15 s^?1 inhibited sludge settling due to aggregate breakup and boundary effects, but at a lower shear rate, differential settling and fluid shear were the dominant transport mechanisms. Sludge dilution (1/500-1/5000) had a limited effect on the settling rate. Results from this study can be used to calibrate particle transport models to determine the fate of sludge disposed at an ocean disposal site.     

Transport of Sewage Sludge in a Mixed Water Column

Sewage sludge from four publicly-owned treatment works was sampled and characterized in terms of parameters affecting transport at the 106-mile deep ocean disposal site as part of the US Environmental Protection Agency's site monitoring programme. Samples from treatment plants in Passaic Valley, Rahway, and Elizabeth, New Jersey and New York City were characterized in terms of dynamic size distribution, suspended solids and density. the transport characteristics of sludge particles were measured using a 2 metre computer-interfaced laboratory settling column. Experiments were conducted at constant salinity (35 ppt) while varying hydrodynamic mixing, sludge type and concentration using a modified factorial experimental design. Hydrodynamic power dissipation was varied so that the vertical dispersion and rms fluid shear rate ranged between 0-6 cm²S^-1 and 0-30s^-1 respectively. Results indicate that at least 80% of suspended sludge particles will eventually settle under mixed conditions. the average settling velocities ranged between 0.05-4.05 × 10^-3 cm ^s-1. Shear rates above 15 s^-1 inhibited sludge settling due to aggregate breakup and boundary effects, but at a lower shear rate, differential settling and fluid shear were the dominant transport mechanisms. Sludge dilution (1/500-1/5000) had a limited effect on the settling rate. Results from this study can be used to calibrate particle transport models to determine the fate of sludge disposed at an ocean disposal site.     

The use of fly ash as conditioner for dewatering of biological sludges in drying beds

In this paper the conditioning of the secondary sludge by adding fly ash from thermal power plant of Ptolemaida (Greece) for dewatering in drying beds is examined.

The results of the experimental procedure that has been followed in a pilot unit are very encouraging and show that the addition of the fly ash in concentration of 6 % of the weight of the total suspended solids of the sludge in the entrance of the drying bed increases the filterability at the level of 95.4 % and the retention of the solids at the level of 110.5 %. Consequently the method employed allows the decrease of the area of the drying bed at the level of 100 % approximately.     

Enhanced dewatering characteristics of waste activated sludge with Fenton pretreatment: effectiveness and statistical optimization

In this work, the enhanced dewaterabing characteristics of waste activated sludge using Fenton pretreatment was investigated in terms of effectiveness and statistical optimization. Response surface method （RSM） and central composite design （CCD） were applied to evaluate and optimize the effectiveness of important operational parameters, i.e., H202 concentrations, Fe2＋ concentrations and initial pH values. A significant quadratic polynomial model was obtained （R2= 0.9189） with capillary suction time （CST） reduction efficiency as the response. Numerical optimization based on desirability function was carried out. The optimum values for H202, Fe2, and initial pH were found to be 178 mg-g-1 VSS （volatile suspended solids）, 211mg.gI VSS and 3.8, respectively, at which CST reduction efficiency of 98.25% could be achieved. This complied well with those predicted by the established polynomial model. The results indicate that Fenton pretreatment is an effective technique for advanced waste activated sludge dewatering. The enhancement of sludge dewaterability by Fenton＇s reagent lies in the migration of sludge bound water due to the disintegration of sludge flocs and microbial cells lysis.     

Effects of hydraulic retention time on nitrification activities and population dynamics of a conventional activated sludge system

The effects of hydraulic retention time (HRT) on the nitrification activities and population dynamics of a conventional activated sludge system fed with synthetic inorganic wastewater were investigated over a period of 260 days. When the HRT was gradually decreased from 30 to 5 h, the specific ammonium-oxidizing rates (SAOR) varied between 0.32 and 0.45 kg NH4+-N (kg mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS)·d)^-1, and the specific nitrate-forming rates (SNFR) increased from 0.11 to 0.50 kg NO3--N (kg MLSS·d)^-1, showing that the decrease in HRT led to a significant increase in the nitrite oxidation activity. According to fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis results, the proportion of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOBs) among the total bacteria decreased from 33% to 15% with the decrease in HRT, whereas the fraction of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOBs), particularly the fast-growing Nitrobacter sp., increased significantly (from 4% to 15% for NOBs and from 1.5% to 10.6% for Nitrobacter sp.) with the decrease in HRT, which was in accordance with the changes in SNFR. A short HRT favored the relative growth of NOBs, particularly the fast-growing Nitrobacter sp., in the conventional activated sludge system.     

不同pH值条件下悬浮载体SBR反应器处理污染河水的试验

研究了不同pH值条件下悬浮载体SBR反应器处理污染河水的脱氮性能和微生物活性。结果表明,初始pH为7.0时,悬浮载体SBR反应器处理污染河水的脱氮性能最好,NH4^＋-N和TN去除率分别为100%和36.6%。在初始pH 7.0时,悬浮相和附着相污泥亚硝化活性均达到最高,分别为6.81 mgNH4＋/（gMLVSS.h）和5.42 mgNH4^＋/（gMLVSS.h） 悬浮相污泥在pH 9.0时硝化性能最好,达到2.31 mgNO2^-/（gMLVSS.h）,而附着相污泥在pH 8.0时硝化性能达到最佳状态,为1.03 mgNO2^-/（gMLVSS.h） 在pH 8.0时,悬浮相和附着相污泥反硝化活性最强,分别到达13.98mg NO3^-/（gMLVSS.h）和12.72 mgNO3^-/（gMLVSS.h）。