Simultaneous carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous removal from municipal wastewater in a circulating fluidized bed bioreactor

In this study, the performance of the circulating fluidized bed bioreactor (CFBB) with anoxic and aerobic beds and employing lava rock as a carrier media for the simultaneous removal of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus from municipal wastewater at an empty bed contact time (EBCT) of 0.82 h was discussed. The CFBB was operated without and with bioparticles' recirculation between the anoxic and aerobic bed for 260 and 110 d respectively. Without particles' recirculation, the CFBB was able to achieve carbon (C), total nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) removal efficiencies of 94%, 80% and 65% respectively, whereas with bioparticles' recirculation, 91%, 78% and 85% removals of C, N and P were achieved. The CFBB was operated at long sludge retention time (SRT) of 45-50 d, and achieved a sludge yield of 0.12-0.135 g VSS g COD(-1). A dynamic stress study of the CFBB was carried out at varying feed flow rates and influent ammonia concentrations to determine response to shock loadings. The CFBB responded favourably in terms of TSS and COD removal to quadrupling of the feed flow rate. However, nitrification was more sensitive to hydraulic shock loadings than to doubling of influent nitrogen loading.     

A cascade of anoxic and oxic fluidized bed biofilm reactors for treatment of synthetic municipal wastewater

In this study, a cascade of anoxic and oxic fluidized bed biofilm reactors system was carried out to treat synthetic municipal wastewater. The parameters of the influent flow rates and C/N ratios were discussed. System performance was acceptable for chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia, and total nitrogen removal. A decrease of ammonia and total nitrogen removal efficiencies, however, was observed when the influent flow rates increased to 5.04 and 6.12 1 h(-1). Total nitrogen removal decreased at the influent C/N ratio of 3:1. The measured ratios of COD reduction in the anoxic column to nitrogen removal through nitrification-denitrification were 3.7, 3.5, 3.3, and 3.1 g COD/g(-1) N on average when the influent C/N ratios changed from 6:1 to 3:1. The observed sludge yield (Yobs) was 0.169 g VSS g COD(-1) because of perfect denitrification in the anoxic column and the relatively long solids retention time.     

Changes in anoxic denitrification rate resulting from prefermentation of a septic, phosphorus-limited wastewater.

A preliminary bench-scale study of parallel University of Cape Town (UCT) biological nutrient removal systems showed improvement in anoxic denitrification rates resulting from prefermentation of a septic (i.e., high volatile fatty acid [VFA] content), phosphorus-limited (i.e., total chemical oxygen demand/total phosphorus [TP] ratio < 40:1) wastewater. Net phosphorus removals due to enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) were only improved marginally by prefermentation in spite of significant increases in anaerobic phosphorus release, polyhydroxyalkanoate formation, and higher anoxic and aerobic uptakes. This probably was due to the high VFA/TP ratio in the raw influent relative to the VFA requirements for EBPR because enough VFAs were already present for phosphorus removal prior to prefermentation. An additional assessment of prefermentation using parallel UCT systems with step feed of 50% of the influent to the anoxic zone was completed. This second phase quantified the effect of prefermentation in a step-feed scenario, which prioritized prefermentation use to enhance denitrification rather than EBPR. While specific denitrification rates in the anoxic zone were significantly improved by prefermentation, high denitrification in the clarifiers and aerobic zones (simultaneous denitrification) made definitive conclusions concerning the potential improvements in total system nitrogen removal questionable. The prefermented system always showed superior values of the zone settling velocity and sludge volume index and the improvement became increasingly statistically significant when the prefermenter was performing well.     

Toward a high-rate enhanced biological phosphorus removal process in a membrane-assisted bioreactor.

A membrane enhanced biological phosphorus removal (MEBPR) process was studied to determine the impact of hydraulic retention time (HRT) and solids retention time (SRT) on the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrogen, and phosphorus from municipal wastewater. The MEBPR process was capable of delivering complete nitrification independent of the prevailing operating conditions, whereas a significant improvement in COD removal efficiency was observed at longer SRTs. In the absence of carbon-limiting conditions, the MEBPR process was able to achieve low phosphorus concentrations in the effluent at increasingly higher hydraulic loads, with the lowest HRT being 5 hours. The MEBPR process was also able to maintain optimal phosphorus removal when the SRT was increased from 12 to 20 days. However, at higher suspended solids concentrations, a substantial increase was observed in carbon utilization per unit mass of phosphorus removed from the influent. These results offer critical insights to the application of membrane technology for biological nutrient removal systems.     

COD浓度和进水流量比对一体化工艺脱氮除碳的影响

保持进水总流量不变,以一定流量比同时从缺氧区和厌氧区进水,探讨了不同进水流量比(R=Q_厌/Q_缺)和进水COD浓度对中心岛式一体化OCO工艺脱氮除碳的影响。研究结果表明,进水COD浓度和进水流量比Rs对COD的去除效果影响不大,出水COD浓度一直稳定在50 mg/L以下,去除率在92%以上;进水COD浓度和进水流量比Rs共同决定着系统TN的去除效果,进水COD浓度为100 mg/L、200 mg/L时,TN去除率随着进水流量比Rs的减小呈增加的趋势;当进水COD浓度为 300 mg/L时,TN去除率随着进水流量比Rs的减小呈先升高后降低的趋势,在进水流量比Rs为3∶1时TN去除率最高,达到87%。     

一体化A/O移动床生物膜反应器中DO、TN分布及脱氮效果研究

采用一体化A/O移动床生物膜法工艺,以模拟生活污水研究了该工艺的除碳脱氮效果,并对一体化移动床生物膜反应器的好氧区和缺氧区各纵向断面的COD、DO、NH₃-N、TN、NO^-₃-N和NO^-₂-N进行了检测,通过对缺氧区各断面的DO和TN浓度分布情况,分析了脱氮的产生过程。试验结果表明: 在水力停留时间HRT＝12 h,好氧区DO保持5 mg/L左右,COD进水浓度处于250～400 mg/L时,COD的去除率均在90%以上,且出水COD均在40 mg/L以下;TN进水浓度为20～50 mg/L时,NH₃-N去除率高于90%,其出水浓度可达到5 mg/L以下,脱氮效率也较高,TN去除率可达到65%～85%。COD和NH₃-N的浓度分布状况表明该一体化A/O移动床生物膜反应器的流态趋于全混式。     

Load maximization of a liquid-solid circulating fluidized bed bioreactor for nitrogen removal from synthetic municipal wastewater

A novel liquid-solid circulating fluidized bed bioreactor (LSCFB) configured with anoxic and aerobic columns and lava rock as the biofilm carrier was used to treat synthetic municipal wastewater. Four different empty bed contact times (EBCTs) of 0.82, 0.65, 0.55, and 0.44 h were examined to optimize nutrient removal capability of the system. The LSCFB demonstrated tertiary effluent quality organic and nitrogen removal efficiencies. Effluent characteristics of the LSCFB were soluble biological oxygen demand (SBOD)10 mg l(-1) and total nitrogen (TN)<10 mg l(-1) at organic loading rate (OLR) of 5.3 kg m(-3)d(-1) and nitrogen loading rate of 0.54 kg Nm(-3)d(-1). Remarkably low yields of 0.14, 0.17, 0.19, and 0.21 g VSS g(-1)COD were observed at OLR of 2.6, 3.2, 4.1 and 5.3 kg COD m(-3)d(-1), where increment of biomass growth and detachment rate were also experienced with increasing OLR. However the system demonstrated only 30% phosphorus removal, and mass balances along the anoxic and aerobic columns showed biological phosphorus removal in the system. Organic mass balance showed that approximately 40% of the influent COD was utilized in the anoxic column and the remaining COD was oxidized in the aerobic column. The system is very efficient in nitrification-denitrification, with more than 90% nitrification of ammonium and overall nitrogen removal in the LSCFB was 70+/-11% even at an EBCT of 0.44 h.     

Evaluation of membrane bioreactor process capabilities to meet stringent effluent nutrient discharge requirements.

A six-stage membrane bioreactor (MBR) pilot plant was operated to determine and demonstrate the capability of this process to produce a low-nutrient effluent, consistent with the nutrient reduction goals for the Chesapeake Bay. Biological nitrogen removal was accomplished using a multistage configuration with an initial anoxic zone (using the carbon in the influent wastewater), an aerobic zone (where nitrification occurred), a downstream anoxic zone (where methanol was added as a carbon source), and the aerated submerged membrane zone. The capability to reliably reduce effluent total nitrogen to less than 3 mg/L as nitrogen (N) was demonstrated. A combination of biological (using an initial anaerobic zone) and chemical (using alum) phosphorus removal was used to achieve effluent total phosphate concentrations reliably less than 0.1 mg/L as phosphorus (P) and as low as 0.03 mg/L as P. Alum addition also appeared to enhance the filtration characteristics of the MBR sludge and to reduce membrane fouling. Aeration of the submerged membranes results in thickened sludge with a high dissolved oxygen concentration (approaching saturation), which can be recycled to the main aeration zone rather than to an anoxic or anaerobic zone to optimize biological nutrient removal. Biological nutrient removal was characterized using the International Water Association Activated Sludge Model No. 2d. The stoichiometry of chemical phosphorus removal was also consistent with conventional theory and experience. The characteristics of the solids produced in the MBR were compared with those of a parallel full-scale conventional biological nitrogen removal process and were generally found to be similar. These results provide valuable insight to the design and operating characteristics of MBRs intended to produce effluents with very low nutrient concentrations.     

厌氧／缺氧SBR反硝化除磷效能的研究

采用厌氧 缺氧SBR反应器对以硝酸盐作为电子受体的反硝化除磷过程进行了研究。结果表明 ,反硝化聚磷菌完全可以在厌氧 缺氧交替运行条件下得到富集。稳定运行的厌氧 缺氧SBR反应器的反硝化除磷效率 >90 % ,出水磷浓度 <1mg L。进水COD浓度对反硝化除磷的效率影响很大 ,在COD浓度 <180mg L时 ,进水COD浓度越高 ,除磷效率也就越高。较高浓度的进水COD浓度将导致有剩余的COD进入缺氧段 ,对反硝化吸磷构成不利影响。污泥龄为 16d时 ,厌氧 缺氧SBR反应器取得稳定和理想的反硝化除磷效果。污泥龄减少到 8d ,由于反硝化聚磷菌的流失导致反硝化除磷效率的下降。当污泥龄恢复到 16d时 ,经过一段时间的运行 ,反硝化聚磷菌重新得到富集 ,除磷效率恢复到 90 %以上。     

(AO)_2SBR同步脱氮除磷的研究

以人工配水为研究对象,采用厌氧/好氧/缺氧/好氧交替运行的序批式反应器,研究了(AO)2SBR系统同步脱氮除磷的效果,并结合批式实验讨论了同步脱氮除磷的反应机理。研究结果表明,该系统以厌氧1.5 h、好氧1 h、缺氧3h、好氧0.5 h的方式运行,在DO=2.5 mg/L,SRT=15 d的条件下,具有良好的脱氮除磷效果,配水中的总氮、总磷、COD和总有机碳的去除率分别为96.26%、99.87%、90.46%和85.57%。批式实验表明,合成的内碳源越多,氨氮的硝化越充分,反硝化除磷越多。     

Biological nitrogen and carbon removal in a gravity flow biomass concentrator reactor for municipal sewage treatment

A novel membrane system, the Biomass Concentrator Reactor (BCR), was evaluated as an alternative technology for the treatment of municipal wastewater. Because the BCR is equipped with a membrane whose average poresize is 20 μm (18–28 μm), the reactor requires low-pressure differential to operate (gravity). The effectiveness of this system was evaluated for the removal of carbon and nitrogen using two identical BCRs, identified as conventional and hybrid, that were operated in parallel. The conventional reactor was operated under full aerobic conditions (i.e., organic carbon and ammonia oxidation), while the hybrid reactor incorporated an anoxic zone for nitrate reduction as well as an aerobic zone for organic carbon and ammonia oxidation. Both reactors were fed synthetic wastewater at a flow rate of 71 L d^?1, which resulted in a hydraulic retention time of 9 h. In the case of the hybrid reactor, the recycle flow from the aerobic zone to the anoxic zone was twice the feed flow rate. Reactor performance was evaluated under two solids retention times (6 and 15 d). Under these conditions, the BCRs achieved nearly 100% mixed liquor solids separation with a hydraulic head differential of less than 2.5 cm. The COD removal efficiency was over 90%. Essentially complete nitrification was achieved in both systems, and nitrogen removal in the hybrid reactor was close to the expected value (67%).     

Effects of reduced return activated sludge flows and volume on anaerobic zone performance for a septic wastewater biological phosphorus removal system.

Enhanced biological phosphorous removal (EBPR) performance was found to be adequate with reduced return-activated sludge (RAS) flows (50% of available RAS) to the anaerobic tank and smaller-than-typical anaerobic zone volume (1.08 hours hydraulic retention time [HRT]). Three identical parallel biological nutrient removal pilot plants were fed with strong, highly fermented (160 mg/L volatile fatty acids [VFAs]), domestic and industrial wastewater from a full-scale wastewater treatment facility. The pilot plants were operated at 100, 50, 40, and 25% RAS (percent of available RAS) flows to the anaerobic tank, with the remaining RAS to the anoxic tank. In addition, varying anaerobic HRT (1.08 and 1.5 hours) and increased hydraulic loading (35% increase) were examined. The study was divided into four phases, and the effect of these process variations on EBPR were studied by having one different variable between two identical systems. The most significant conclusion was that returning part of the RAS to the anaerobic zone did not decrease EBPR performance; instead, it changed the location of phosphorous release and uptake. Bringing less RAS to the anaerobic and more to the anoxic tank decreased anaerobic phosphorus release and increased anoxic phosphorus release (or decreased anoxic phosphorus uptake). Equally important is that, with VFA-rich influent wastewater, excessive anaerobic volume was shown to hurt overall phosphorus removal, even when it resulted in increased anaerobic phosphorus release.     

侧沟式膜泥法一体化OCO工艺中水力停留时间对脱氮除碳的影响

在传统OCO工艺基础上设计了一体化OCO工艺,在厌氧区放置填料,将二沉池和生物反应器合建,并就水力停留时间(HRT)对生物反应器脱氮除碳的影响进行研究。在进水COD为260～360 mg/L,好氧区DO为2 mg/L左右,缺氧区<0.5 mg/L,MLSS为4 500 mg/L左右时,分别研究了不同HRT下的脱氮除碳效果。研究结果表明：随着HRT的逐渐增大,出水COD值无明显波动,COD去除率达到90%以上,出水氨氮随着HRT的增大而降低;但仅当HRT为12 h左右时,氨氮和总氮均有良好的去除效果,去除率分别可达到93%和80%。     

Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification with anoxic phosphorus uptake in a membrane bioreactor system.

The performance of an innovative membrane bioreactor (MBR) process using anoxic phosphorus uptake with nitrification and denitrification for the treatment of municipal wastewater with respect to operational performance and effluent quality is addressed in this paper. The system was operated at steady-state conditions with a synthetic acetate-based wastewater at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 12 hours and on degritted municipal wastewater at a total system HRT of 6 hours. The MBR system was able to achieve 99% biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and ammonia-nitrogen (NH4(+)-N); 98% total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN); and 97% phosphorus removal, producing effluent BOD, COD, NH4+-N, TKN, nitrate-nitrogen, nitrite-nitrogen, and phosphate-phosphorus of <3, 14, 0.2, 0.26, 5.8, 0.21, and <0.01 mg/L, respectively, at the 6-hour HRT. The comparison of the synthetic and municipal wastewater run is presented in this paper. Steady-state mass balance on municipal wastewater was performed to reveal some key features of the modified MBR system.     

改进型A~2/O工艺处理城市生活污水的脱氮除磷效能研究

在分析传统A2/O工艺缺陷的基础上,提出了一种改进型A2/O工艺。为了防止回流污泥中的硝酸盐进入厌氧区,在传统A2/O工艺的厌氧区后面增加一个体积较小的缺氧选择池,回流污泥进入缺氧选择池,并进行反硝化消耗回流污泥中的硝酸盐;同时,在缺氧区通过反硝化除磷实现"一碳两用"。结果表明,改进型A2/O工艺有较好的脱氮除磷效果,在COD为298mg/L、TN为55mg/L左右、TP为7mg/L左右时,系统对COD、TN、TP的平均去除率分别为88.44%、77%、95%。     

UASB反应器处理生活污水的试验研究

采用UASB中试(100 m3/d)对生活污水处理进行了研究。试验结果表明,采用此系统处理生活污水,出水水质良好。COD的去除率在52%~83%,出水的COD值<100 mg/L以下,SS的去除率在95%左右,UASB处理生活污水的最佳停留时间为6 h。产气率在0.1 m3/d。不管停留时间在10 h、5 h,出水的氨氮、乙酸值比进水的高;钙、镁、总氮、总磷、硫酸根和硝酸根离子出水值比进水值低。     

Coagulation and precipitation as post-treatment of anaerobically treated primary municipal wastewater.

The main objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of coagulation as a post-treatment method of anaerobically treated primary municipal wastewater. Both mesophilic and ambient (20 degrees C) temperature conditions were investigated in a laboratory-scale upflow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) reactor. In addition, optimization of the coagulant, both in terms of type and dose, was performed. Finally, phosphorus removal by means of aluminum and iron coagulation and phosphorus and ammonia nitrogen removal by means of struvite precipitation were studied. Anaerobic treatment of primary effluent at low hydraulic retention times (less than 15 hours) resulted in mean chemical oxygen demand (COD) removals ranging from 50 to 70%, while, based on the filtered treated effluent, the mean removals increased to 65 to 80%. Alum coagulation of the UASB effluent gave suspended solids removals ranging from approximately 35 to 65%. Turbidity removal reached up to 80%. Remaining COD values after coagulation and settling were below 100 mg/L, while remaining total organic carbon (TOC) levels were below 50 mg/L. Filterable COD levels were generally below 60 mg/L, while filterable TOC levels were below 40 mg/L. All coagulants tested, including prepolymerized aluminum and iron coagulants, demonstrated similar efficiency compared with alum for the removal of suspended solids, COD, and TOC. Regarding struvite precipitation, optimal conditions for phosphorus and nitrogen removal were pH 10 and molar ratio of magnesium: ammonia-nitrogen: phosphate-phosphorus close to the stoichiometric ratio (1:1:1). During struvite precipitation, removal of suspended solids reached 40%, while turbidity removal reached values up to 80%. The removal of COD was approximately 30 to 35%; yet, when removal of organic matter was based on the treated filterable COD, the removal increased to approximately 65%. In addition, nitrogen was removed by approximately 70%, while phosphorus removal ranged between approximately 30 and 45% on the basis of the initial phosphorus concentration. Finally, size fractionation of the organic matter (COD) showed that the various treatment methods were capable of removing different fractions of the organic matter.     

笼状填料式厌氧折流反应器处理啤酒废水

以ABR反应器为基础,采用笼状填料,增加了缺氧与好氧段,设计了新型的ABR;以啤酒废水为处理对象,考察了新型反应器的启动过程,研究了新型反应器对废水COD的去除效果,分析了HRT、有机容积负荷对COD去除的影响,探讨了新型反应器处理过程中的pH变化及其原因,阐述了笼状填料截留和微生物的附着生长是出水SS较低的原因,出水氨氮浓度较低是增设的缺氧段和好氧段共同作用的结果。实验结果表明,其COD去除效率达96%,有机容积负荷约0.647～1.745 kg/(m3.d);当进水量为50 L/d时,其出水水质达到啤酒废水排放标准。     

Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification of municipal wastewater in aerobic membrane bioreactors.

Simultaneous nitrification-denitrification (SND) of municipal wastewater was investigated in a laboratory-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) operated at two different hydraulic retention times (HRTs), 0.5 and 1 day, dissolved oxygen 3.0 to 0.5 mg/L, and solids retention time (SRT) between 28 and 120 days. The organic loading rate (OLR) (0.11 to 0.64 kg chemical oxygen demand [COD]/m3/d) and influent soluble COD (SCOD)/ total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) ratio (5 to 19) were varied by the addition of glucose. The ammonia-nitrogen and TKN removals were over 97%, and total nitrogen removal was approximately 89% in the MBR. The maximum specific nitrification rates (98 mg N/d/g VSS) and specific denitrification rates (81 mg N/d/g VSS) occurred at an SCOD/TKN ratio of 9.1. The optimum conditions for maximum total nitrogen removal by SND in a single reactor MBR have been found to be low dissolved oxygen (< 0.6 mg/L) and high OLR (approximately 0.64 kg COD/m3/d) at an HRT of 0.5 day and SRT of approximately 85 days.     

Integrated physicochemical and biological treatment process for fluoride and phosphorus removal from fertilizer plant wastewater

The phosphate fertilizer industry produces highly hazardous and acidic wastewaters. This study was undertaken to develop an integrated approach for the treatment of wastewaters from the phosphate industry. Effluent samples were collected from a local phosphate fertilizer producer and were characterized by their high fluoride and phosphate content. First, the samples were pretreated by precipitation of phosphate and fluoride ions using hydrated lime. The resulting low- fluoride and phosphorus effluent was then treated with the enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) process to monitor the simultaneous removal of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Phosphorus removal included a two-stage anaerobic/aerobic system operating under continuous flow. Pretreated wastewater was added to the activated sludge and operated for 160 days in the reactor. The operating strategy included increasing the organic loading rate (OLR) from 0.3 to 1.2 g chemical oxygen demand (COD)/L.d. The stable and high removal rates of COD, NH4(+)-N, and PO4(3-)-P were then recorded. The mean concentrations of the influent were approximately 3600 mg COD/L, 60 mg N/L, and 14 mg P/L, which corresponded to removal efficiencies of approximately 98%, 86%, and 92%, respectively.