Aerobic thermophilic treatment of sewage sludge contaminated with 4-nonylphenol

4-Nonylphenol (4-NP) occurs in sewage sludge as a result of the breakdown of detergents which contains nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs). 4-NP is of environmental concern because of its toxicity to biological systems. The present paper reports results of aerobic treatment under thermophilic conditions of sewage sludge artificially contaminated with 4-NP. Experiments were carried out using three parallel laboratory-scale batch reactors operating with blank, 50 and 100 mg/l of 4-NP concentration. For the two studied concentrations up to 66% 4-NP reduction was achieved at a specific air flow rate of 16 l/(l.h) and a thermophilic temperature of 60 degrees C, within 10 days of operation. The presence of 4-NP has minor effect on the rate of sludge oxidation and the nitrogen and phosphorous content in the sludge.     

Di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate in sewage sludge and post-treated sludge: quantitative determination by HRGC-MS and mass spectral characterization

DEHP was quantified into sewage sludge, thermally dried sludge and compost samples from different areas of Catalonia (North East Spain) using high-resolution gas chromatography (HRGC) coupled to a mass spectrometry (MS). The aim of the work was to determine the evolution of this ubiquitous environmental contaminant along some post-treatment sludge processes, such as composting and thermally drying. DEHP concentration detected in some sludges are above the maximum limit suggested by the EC (100 ppm d.m.) for agricultural use. However, the composting and thermally drying reduce the amount of DEHP in sewage sludge to acceptable level for safe land application. The study was completed with the characterization and long-term observation of DEHP in sewage sludge, composted sludge and thermally dried sludge mixed with two types of soils. In all cases, the percentage of DEHP degraded was higher than 50% after 9 months of incubation.     

污泥与高浓度有机废物厌氧消化反应中的产气量

研究了高温／中温两相厌氧消化反应器系用以同时处理污泥与不同高浓度有机废物时产气及产甲烷的变化特性。结果表明，气体及甲烷主要是在第二段的中温消化反应器内产生。当中温消化反应器的有机负荷ＶＳ为１．６５￣３．１０ｋｇ／ｍ＾３ｄ时，稳态条件下的平均产气量为１．９５８￣４．０２０ｍ＾３／ｄ，气体中甲烷的平均组成为６５％￣７３％，甲烷的比产率为０．３９７￣０．５１１ｍ＾３／ｋｇＶＳ。     

高温好氧反硝化菌的分离鉴定及脱氮特性

从太原市某污水处理厂SBR活性污泥中分离纯化得到一株高温(50℃)好氧反硝化菌,命名为XF3。通过生理生化特性鉴定及16S rDNA序列分析,初步鉴定为波茨坦短芽孢杆菌。通过单因子实验考察碳源、C/N、pH及接种量对该菌株的生长情况与反硝化性能的影响。结果表明,菌株XF3最适碳源为琥珀酸钠,最佳C/N为12∶1,最佳pH为7,最适接种量10%(体积分数)。同时该菌株具有良好的异养硝化能力,48 h可以将73 mg/L氨氮几乎全部降解。     

Chromium species behaviour in the activated sludge process

The purpose of this research was to compare trivalent chromium (Cr(III)) and hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) removal by activated sludge and to investigate whether Cr(VI) reduction and/or Cr(III) oxidation occurs in a wastewater treatment system. Chromium removal by sludge harvested from sequencing batch reactors, determined by a series of batch experiments, generally followed a Freundlich isotherm model. Almost 90% of Cr(III) was adsorbed on the suspended solids while the rest was precipitated at pH 7.0. On the contrary, removal of Cr(VI) was minor and did not exceed 15% in all experiments under the same conditions. Increase of sludge age reduces Cr(III) removal, possibly because of Cr(III) sorption on slime polymers. Moreover, the decrease of suspended solids concentration and the acclimatization of biomass to Cr(VI) reduced the removal efficiency of Cr(III). Batch experiments showed that Cr(III) cannot be oxidized to Cr(VI) by activated sludge. On the contrary, Cr(VI) reduction is possible and is affected mainly by the initial concentration of organic substrate, which acts as electron donor for Cr(VI) reduction. Initial organic substrate concentration equal to or higher than 1000 mgl(-1) chemical oxygen demand permitted the nearly complete reduction of 5 mgl(-1) Cr(VI) in a 24-h batch experiment. Moreover, higher Cr(VI) reduction rates were obtained with higher Cr(VI) initial concentrations, expressed in mg Cr(VI) g(-1) VSS, while decrease of suspended solids concentration enhanced the specific Cr(VI) reduction rate.     

Biodegradation of phthalate esters during the mesophilic anaerobic digestion of sludge

Phthalic acid esters (PAE) are commonly found in the sludge generated in the wastewater treatment plants. Anaerobic digestion followed by land application is a common treatment and disposal practice of sludge. To date, many studies exist on the anaerobic biodegradation rates of PAE, especially of the easily biodegradable ones, whereas the higher molecular weight PAE have reported to be non-biodegradable under methanogenic conditions. Furthermore, there is no information on the effect of the PAE on the performance of the anaerobic digesters treating sludge. In this study, the anaerobic biodegradation of di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), di-ethyl phthalate (DEP) and di-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) was investigated and their relative rates of anaerobic degradation were calculated. Also, the biological removal of PAE during the anaerobic digestion of sludge in bench-scale digesters was investigated using DBP and DEHP as model compounds of one biodegradable and one recalcitrant PAE respectively. The degradation of all the PAE tested in this study (DEP, DBP and DEHP) is adequately described by first-order kinetics. Batch and continuous experiments showed that DEP and DBP present in sludge are rapidly degraded under mesophilic anaerobic conditions (a first-order kinetic constant of 8.04 x 10(-2) and 13.69 x 10(-2)-4.35 day(-1) respectively) while DEHP is degraded at a rate between one to two orders of magnitude lower (0.35 x 10(-2)-3.59 x 10(-2) day(-1)). It is of high significance that experiments with anaerobic sludge of different origin (US and Europe) showed that degradation of DEHP occurs under methanogenic conditions. Accumulation of high levels of DEHP (more than 60 mg/l) in the anaerobic digester has a negative effect on DBP and DEHP removal rates as well as on the biogas production.     

EGSB反应器运行中的床层流态行为及其控制

生物量流失是EGSB反应器在高负荷状态下稳定运行面临的主要问题。利用实验室EGSB反应器在中温条件下处理高浓度葡萄糖废水,研究EGSB反应器在高负荷状态下的床层流态行为及其受影响因素。结果表明,在该反应器结构形式下,当有机负荷达到23-26 kg COD/（m3·d）,水力上升流速在约3.0 m/h,气体上升流速在约1.3 m/h状态下运行时,床层易发生剧烈流化现象,并导致颗粒污泥的解体和流失。降低反应器回流比、减小反应器内水力上升流速,控制床层在悬浮状态时可以有效降低高负荷状态下生物量的流失,并取得了有机负荷46 kg COD/（m3·d）,COD去除率97%以上的处理效果。     

Kinetics of disaggregation of humic acid in water

The extent of disaggregation of humic acid particles in water was measured as a function of time, initial concentration, pH of the suspension and the temperature. In all experiments the amount of humic acid particles disaggregated was characterized by the corresponding fraction of the suspension, which was able to pass a 0.01 μm membrane filter.It was found that the amount disaggregated after 1000 hours was proportional to the initial concentration of the humic acid particles in the aqueous suspension and increased considerably with the temperature. Decreasing the pH of the suspension from about 6 to zero caused the extent of disaggregation also to decrease continuously.The kinetic measurements revealed that about 3% of the humic acid are disaggregated within 25 hours, 4% within 200 hours and 5% within 1500 hours at a pH around 4. The rates of disaggregation were found to be proportional to the initial concentration of the particles and increased considerably with the temperature.     

Change of PCBs and forms of heavy metals in sewage sludge during thermophilic anaerobic digestion

Determination of seven congeners of PCBs was carried out for sewage sludge before, during and after thermophilic digestion. The overall content of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Ni, Cd, Pb, Cr) in sludge before and after digestion was determined. Moreover the concentration of heavy metals in particular chemical fractions of the sludge was analyzed. After the thermophilic digestion total concentration of seven PCBs was reduced by 47%, which suggests that thermophilic digestion affects PCB reduction positively. On the 10th d of the process, concentration of lower chlorinated PCBs increased, whereas those of higher chlorinated PCBs decreased. The thermophilic digestion process showed no accumulation of the studied heavy metals in the mobile fractions (exchangeable and carbonate) of the stabilized sewage sludge, except for nickel. The highest increase in zinc, copper, cadmium, and chromium concentration was observed in the organic-sulfide fraction, whereas the highest increase in lead was found in the residual fraction of the sludge. In case of nickel both fractions of organic-sulfide and exchangeable-carbonate fractions were enriched.     

Comparative mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic digestion of palm oil mill effluent using upflow anaerobic sludge blanket

The effects of organic loading rate and operating temperature on the microbial diversity and performances of upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors treating palm oil mill effluent (POME) were investigated. The following two UASB reactors were run in parallel for comparison: (1) under a mesophilic condition (37 degrees C) and (2) under a mesophilic condition in transition to a thermophilic condition (57 degrees C). A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis showed that the microbial population profiles significantly changed with the organic loading rate (OLR) and the temperature transition from the mesophilic to the thermophilic condition. Significant biomass washout was observed for the mesophilic UASB when operating at a high organic loading rate (OLR) of 9.5 g chemical oxygen demand (COD)/L.d. In contrast, the thermophilic UASB can be operated at this OLR and at a temperature of 57 degrees C with satisfactory COD removal and biogas production. The PCR-based DGGE analysis suggested that the thermophilic temperature of 57 degrees C was suitable for a number of hydrolytic, acidogenic, and acetogenic bacteria.     

常温条件下2种厌氧折流板反应器处理淀粉废水的启动实验

为了研究厌氧折流板反应器在常温下的启动情况,在22.5～30.2℃条件下,对不加填料的5隔室厌氧折流板反应器和加填料的4隔室复合式厌氧折流板反应器同步进行了启动实验。实验用水为高浓度淀粉废水,两反应器采用相同的启动策略,即梯度增加进水COD浓度与降低水力停留时间相结合的方式。两反应器有效容积均为47.8 L,启动初始负荷为0.6 kg COD/(m3.d),逐渐增加到10 kg COD/(m3.d)。实验表明,经过6个阶段87 d的运行,反应器启动完成,并成功培养出颗粒污泥,两反应器对COD的去除率都能达到85%以上。在启动过程中两反应器对COD的去除效率相近。     

A screening method for preliminary assessment of risk to groundwater from land-applied chemicals

A simple mathematical model for initial screening is presented that can aid in evaluating the relative risk to groundwater from applying nonpolar synthetic organic chemicals to soil. The basic premise is that the magnitude of the quotient of the chemical concentration of the water entering the aquifer and the maximum allowable concentration (as established by EPA or Health Departments) represents the health risk of a chemical. The chemical concentration of the soil water is estimated based on conservative, simplifying assumptions and requires only readily available data such as: basic soil properties (organic matter and saturated hydraulic conductivity), organic chemical properties (octanol-water partition coefficient and degradation rate) and environmental factors (recharge rate and depth to groundwater).The methodology was applied to assess the relative risk of organic chemicals in municipal sewage sludge and pesticides applied to agricultural land. The results are realistic.     

Priority organic pollutant assessment of sludges for agricultural purposes

A comprehensive characterization of five of the seven priority organic pollutants listed in the draft of the "Working document on sludge" [EU, 2000. Working Document on Sludge 3rd Draft. Unpublished, 19 p] has been carried out during 2001-2003 in sludge samples from Catalonia (NE Spain). One hundred and thirty-nine samples belonging to 20 Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTPs), seven sludge treatment (thermal drying) and three composting sludge plants were taken in order to determine the concentration of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and -furans (PCDD/Fs), di-2-(ethyl-hexyl)-phthalate (DEHP), nonylphenol and nonylphenol ethoxylates with one or two ethoxy groups (NPE), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). PCDD/F concentrations were in general lower than the 100 ng I-TEQ/kg limit suggested in the above-mentioned document. In the same way, 98.5% for PCBs, 97% for PAH and 92.8% for DEHP of the samples presented concentrations lower than 0.8 mg/kg dm, 6 mg/kg dm and 100 mg/kg dm, respectively. In contrast, the vast majority of samples contained NPE concentrations much higher than 50mg/kg dm limit. The values ranged from 14.3 to 3150 mg/kg dm (median value=286.6 mg/kg) being composted sludge samples the less contaminated ones (17.9-363.4 mg/kg dm; median value=89.3 mg/kg). Special attention should be paid to the Catalan sludge NPE contamination owing to the high levels detected.     

好氧颗粒污泥的培养及处理味精废水

以厌氧颗粒污泥为接种污泥,在模拟废水条件下利用SBR 35 d成功培养出了具有同步硝化反硝化作用的好氧颗粒污泥,反应器对COD和NH4+-N去除率分别高于95%和99%。将该反应器用于处理味精废水,当COD、NH4+-N的容积负荷分别为2.4 kg/(m3.d)、0.24 kg/(m3.d)时,COD、NH4+-N和TN去除率分别高于90%、99%和85%。处理味精废水后的颗粒污泥粒径由之前的0.8～2.5 mm减小至0.6～1.8 mm,颗粒结构较之前更加密实。     

Performance of a full-scale biofilm system retrofitted with an upflow multilayer bioreactor as a preanoxic reactor for advanced wastewater treatment

To enhance nitrogen removal in an existing microbial contact oxidation (MCO) system with a treatment capacity of 900 m3/d, an upflow multilayer bioreactor (UMBR) was chosen as a preanoxic reactor for the removal of organic matter and nitrate. The removal performance of the retrofitted plant was evaluated during the startup phase at a low temperature in winter. The high removal (>80%) of organic matter and suspended solids in the UMBR provided stable nitrification conditions in the MCO system, as a result of the substantial reduction in organic matter and solids loaded onto the MCO system. This treatment system showed a stable nitrogen removal efficiency of 75.3%, even in the low temperature range 7 to 10 degrees C. Phosphorus was completely removed by chemical precipitation. Production rates of excess sludge, as a function of the loads of influent flowrate and biological oxygen demand (BOD), were 0.022 kg dry solid/m3 wastewater and 0.132 kg dry solid/kg BOD.     

臭氧处理剩余污泥的减量化实验研究

采用质子交换聚合物膜电解法（PEM）产生臭氧,单独对剩余污泥进行氧化破解实验,结果表明,随着臭氧化反应时间的增加,污泥微生物细胞裂解,胞内物质进入到污泥溶液中,污泥固体物质减少,使得TS和VTS均显著下降,处理40 min后,其去除率分别达到57.33%和72.76%;SCOD前30 min呈线性增长,通入臭氧60 min后,由处理前的3 501.24mg/L上升到6 298.32 mg/L,增长率达79.88%;SV30及滤饼含水率均呈下降趋势,表明剩余污泥的沉淀性能及脱水性能得到明显改善。实验结果表明,直接利用臭氧对剩余污泥进行处理,可获得良好的减量化效果。     

Biodegradation of phthalate esters in polluted soil by using organic amendment

This study investigated the biodegradation of the phthalate esters (PAEs) di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) and di-(2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in sludge and sludge-amended soil. DBP (100 mg kg(-1)) and DEHP (100 mg kg(-1)) were added to sewage sludge, which was subsequently added to soil. The results showed that sewage sludge can degrade PAEs and the addition of sewage sludge to soil enhanced PAE degradation. Sludge samples were separated into fractions with various particle size ranges, which spanned 0.1-0.45 μm to 500-2000 μm. The sludge fractions with smaller particle sizes demonstrated higher PAE degradation rates. However, when the different sludge fractions were added to soil, particle size had no significant effect on the rate of PAE degradation. The results from this study showed that microbial strains F4 (Rhodococcus sp.) and F8 (Microbacterium sp.) were constantly dominant in the mixtures of soil and sludge.     

Removal of DEHP in composting and aeration of sewage sludge

The potential of composting and aeration to remove bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) from municipal sewage sludge was studied with two dewatered sludges: raw sludge and anaerobically digested sludge. Composting removed 58% of the DEHP content of the raw sludge and 34% of that of the anaerobically digested sludge during 85 days stabilisation in compost bins. A similar removal for the anaerobically digested sludge was achieved in a rotary drum in 28 days. Less than 1% of DEHP was removed with the compost leachate. Although DEHP removal was greater from raw sludge compost than anaerobically digested sludge compost, the total and volatile solids removals were on the same level in the two composts. In the aeration of raw sludge at 20 degrees C the DEHP removals were 33-41% and 50-62% in 7 and 28 days, respectively. Both composting and aeration are concluded to have the potential to reduce the DEHP contents typically found in sewage sludges to levels acceptable for agricultural use.     

Investigation of Cr(VI) reduction in continuous-flow activated sludge systems

The aim of this research was to investigate hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), reduction by activated sludge and to evaluate the use of continuous-flow activated sludge systems for the treatment of Cr(VI)-containing wastewater. Three series of experiments were conducted using two parallel lab-scale activated sludge systems. During the first experiment, one system was used as a control, while the other received Cr(VI) concentrations equal to 0.5, 1, 3 and 5mg l(-1). For all concentrations added, approximately 40% of the added Cr(VI) was removed during the activated sludge process. Determination of chromium species in the dissolved and particulate phase revealed that the removed Cr(VI) was sorbed by the activated sludge flocs mainly as trivalent chromium, Cr(III), while the residual chromium in the dissolved phase was mainly detected as Cr(VI). Activated sludge ability to reduce Cr(VI) was independent of the acclimatization of biomass to Cr(VI) and it was not affected by the toxic effect of Cr(VI) on autotrophic and heterotrophic microorganisms. During the second experiment, both systems were operated under two different hydraulic residence time (theta equal to 20 and 28h) and three different initial organic substrate concentration (COD equal to 300, 150 and 0mg l(-1)). Cr(VI) reduction was favored by an increase of theta, while it was limited by influent COD concentration. Finally, at the last experiment the effect of anoxic and anaerobic reactors on Cr(VI) reduction was investigated. It was observed that the use of an anoxic zone or an anaerobic-anoxic zone ahead of the aerobic reactor favored Cr(VI) reduction, increasing mean percentage Cr(VI) reduction to almost 80%.     

Laboratory evaluation of thermophilic-anaerobic digestion to produce Class A biosolids. 1. Stabilization performance of a continuous-flow reactor at low residence time.

There is increasing interest in the United States in producing biosolids from municipal wastewater treatment that meet the criteria for Class A designation established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Class A biosolids are intended to be free of pathogens and also must meet requirements for reduction of the vector-attraction potential associated with untreated sludge. High-temperature processes are considered to produce Class A biosolids if the combination of operating temperature and treatment time exceeds minimum criteria, but this option is not applicable to mixed, continuous-flow reactors. Such reactors, or any combination of reactors that does not meet the holding time requirement at a specific temperature, must be demonstrated to inactivate pathogens to levels consistent with the Class A criteria. This study was designed to evaluate pathogen inactivation by thermophilic anaerobic digestion in a mixed, continuous-flow reactor followed by batch or plug-flow treatment. In this first of a two-part series, we describe the performance of a continuous-flow laboratory reactor with respect to physical and chemical operating parameters; microbial inactivation in the combined continuous-flow and batch treatment system is described in the second part. Sludges from three different sources were treated at 53 degrees C, while sludge from one of the sources was also treated at 55 and 51 degrees C. Relatively short hydraulic retention times (four to six days) were used to represent a conservative operating condition with respect to pathogen inactivation. Treatment of a fermented primary sludge led to an average volatile-solids (VS) destruction efficiency of 45%, while VS destruction for the other two sources was near or below 38%, the Class A criterion for vector attraction reduction. Consistent with other studies on thermophilic anaerobic digestion of sludges at short residence times, effluent concentrations of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) were relatively high. Also consistent with other studies, the most abundant VFA in the effluent was propionate. Gas production ranged from 0.3 to 0.5 m3/kg VS fed and from 0.8 to 1.3 m3/kg VS destroyed.