An innovative approach to minimize excess sludge production in sewage treatment using integrated bioreactors

The present investigation deals with an application of integrated sequential oxic and anoxic bioreactor(SOABR) and fluidized immobilized cell carbon oxidation(FICCO) reactor for the treatment of domestic wastewater with minimum sludge generation. The performance of integrated SOABR-FICCO system was evaluated on treating the domestic wastewater at hydraulic retention time(HRT) of 3 hr and 6 hr for 120 days at organic loading rate(OLR)of 191 ± 31 mg/(L·hr). The influent wastewater was characterized by chemical oxygen demand(COD) 573 ± 93 mg/L; biochemical oxygen demand(BOD5) 197 ± 35 mg/L and total suspended solids(TSS) 450 ± 136 mg/L. The integrated SOABR-FICCO reactors have established a significant removal of COD by 94% ± 1%, BOD5 by 95% ± 0.6% and TSS by 95% ± 4% with treated domestic wastewater characteristics COD 33 ± 5 mg/L; BOD59 ± 0.8 mg/L and TSS 17 ± 9 mg/L under continuous mode of operation for 120 days. The mass of dry sludge generated from SOABR-FICCO system was 22.9 g/m~3. The sludge volume index of sludge formed in the SOABR reactor was 32 mL/g and in FICCO reactor it was 46 mL/g. The sludge formed in SOABR and FICCO reactor was characterized by TGA, DSC and SEM analysis. Overall, the results demonstrated that the integrated SOABR-FICCO reactors substantially removed the pollution parameters from domestic wastewater with minimum sludge production.     

微波辐射预处理对污泥结构及脱水性能的影响

将微波辐射用于污水污泥预处理,考察了辐射130s内污泥沉降、过滤脱水性能的变化,并通过粒度分布及污泥胞外聚合物含量变化探讨了相关机理,分析了微波辐射对污泥结构的破坏过程.结果表明,适宜的微波辐射可明显改善污泥结构及脱水性,900W微波辐射50s,SV减少48%,真空抽滤含水率由原泥直接抽滤的85%降为71%.污泥结构破坏是改善污泥脱水性的重要因素,胞外糖含量介于15.8～16.5mg/gMLSS时,污泥脱水性最佳.核酸能较好地指示微波辐射下污泥细胞壁开始破裂的时间,过量的微波辐射因破坏污泥的细胞壁结构、导致胞内物质大量溢出、污泥黏度增加,脱水性恶化.     

高铁酸钾-微波耦合对印染污泥脱水性能的影响研究

分别采用微波、微波耦合高铁酸钾对印染污泥进行脱水预处理.结果表明,适宜的微波辐射可改善污泥脱水性能.2320、3240、4000 W·L-1对应的最适时间分别是140 s、100 s和80 s.在3240 W·L-1的微波下辐射100 s后,污泥的沉降速率(SV30)、污泥比阻(SRF)和粘度较原污泥分别减少4.00%、18.89%、35.05%.同时,高铁酸钾的加入能更好地提高污泥脱水性能,其最佳投加量为0.1767 g·g-1(以SS计,下同),对应的污泥SV30、毛细吸水时间(CST)、粘度相比原污泥分别降低了13.50%、51.18%、40.79%.泥饼含固率相比原污泥则增加14.58%.微波耦合高铁酸钾能有效破坏污泥絮体结构.随着高铁酸钾投量增加,上清液的蛋白质含量持续增加,多糖含量则先增加后减少.     

Enhancing sewage sludge dewaterability by bioleaching approach with comparison to other physical and chemical conditioning methods

The sewage sludge conditioning process is critical to improve the sludge dewaterability prior to mechanical dewatering. Traditionally, sludge is conditioned by physical or chemical approaches, mostly with the addition of inorganic or organic chemicals. Here we report that bioleaching, an efficient and economical microbial method for the removal of sludge-borne heavy metals, also plays a significant role in enhancing sludge dewaterability. The effects of bioleaching and physical or chemical approaches on sludge dewaterability were compared. The conditioning result of bioleaching by Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans and Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans on sludge dewatering was investigated and compared with the effects of hydrothermal (121℃ for 2 hr), microwave (1050 W for 50 sec), ultrasonic (250 W for 2 min), and chemical conditioning (24% ferric chloride and 68% calcium oxide; dry basis). The results show that the specific resistance to filtration (SRF) or capillary suction time (CST) of sludge is decreased by 93.1% or 74.1%, respectively, after fresh sludge is conditioned by bioleaching, which is similar to chemical conditioning treatment with ferric chloride and calcium oxide but much more effective than other conditioning approaches including hydrothermal, microwave, and ultrasonic conditioning. Furthermore, after sludge dewatering, bioleached sludge filtrate contains the lowest concentrations of chroma (18 times), COD (542 mg/L), total N (TN, 300 mg/L), NH₄⁺-N (208 mg/L), and total P (TP, 2 mg/L) while the hydrothermal process resulted in the highest concentration of chroma (660 times), COD (18,155 mg/L), TN (472 mg/L), NH₄⁺-N (381 mg/L), and TP (191 mg/L) among these selected conditioning methods. Moreover, unlike chemical conditioning, sludge bioleaching does not result in a significant reduction of organic matter, TN, and TP in the resulting dewatered sludge cake. Therefore, considering sludge dewaterability and the chemical properties of sludge filtrate and resulting dewatered sludge cakes, bioleaching has potential as an approach for improving sludge dewaterability and reducing the cost of subsequent reutilization or disposal of dewatered sludge.     

Effect of ultrasonic pretreatment on anaerobic digestion and its sludge dewaterability

To investigate the effect of ultrasonic pretreatment on anaerobic digestion and sludge dewaterability and further to probe into the influencing factors on sludge dewaterability, sludge flocs were stratified into four fractions: (1) slime; (2) loosely bound extracellular polymeric substances (LB-EPS); (3) tightly bound EPS (TB-EPS); and (4) EPS-free pellets. The results showed that ultrasonic pretreatment increased the anaerobic digestion efficiency by 7%–8%. Anaerobic digestion without ultrasonic pretreatment deteriorated the sludge dewaterability, with the capillary suction time (CST) increased from 1.42 to 47.3 (sec L)/g-TSS. The application of ultrasonic pretreatment firstly deteriorated the sludge dewaterability (normalized CST increased to 44.4 (sec L)/g-TSS), while subsequent anaerobic digestion offset this effect and ultimately decreased the normalized CST to 23.2 (sec L)/g-TSS. The dewaterability of unsonicated sludge correlated with protein (p = 0.003) and polysaccharide (p = 0.004) concentrations in the slime fraction, while that of sonicated sludge correlated with protein concentrations in the slime and LB-EPS fractions (p < 0.05). Fluorescent excitationemission matrix analysis showed that the fluorescence matters in the LB-EPS fraction significantly correlated with sludge dewaterability during anarobic digestion.     

Inhibitive effects of chlortetracycline on performance of the nitritation-anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) process and strategies for recovery

The short-and long-term effects of chlortetracycline(CTC) on the nitritation-anaerobic ammonium oxidation(anammox) process were evaluated. The half maximal inhibitory concentration of CTC in the batch tests of the nitritation-anammox process was 278.91 mg/L at an exposure time of 12 hr. The long-term effects of CTC on the process were examined in a continuous-flow nitritation-anammox reactor. Within 14 days, the nitrogen removal rate significantly decreased from 0.61 to 0.25 kg N/m~3/day with 60 mg/L CTC in the influent.The performance suppressed by CTC barely recovered, even after CTC was removed from the influent. Furthermore, the inhibition of CTC also reduced the relative abundance of ammonium oxidizing bacteria(AOB) and anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria(An AOB)in the reactor, resulting in both a decreased amount of and an imbalance between AOB and An AOB. When fresh anammox sludge was reseeded into the nitritation-anammox reactor,the nitrogen removal rate recovered to 0.09 ± 0.03 kg N/m~3/day.     

Insight into the distribution of metallic elements in membrane bioreactor: Influence of operational temperature and role of extracellular polymeric substances

The distribution of metallic elements in a submerged membrane bioreactor(MBR) was revealed at different temperatures using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry(ICP-OES), and the role of extracellular polymeric substances(EPS) was probed by integrating scanning electron microscopy(SEM) with confocal laser scanning microscopy(CLSM) over long-term operation. More metallic elements in the influent were captured by suspended sludge and built up in the fouling layer at lower temperature. The concentration of metallic elements in the effluent was 5.60 mg/L at 10°C operational temperature, far lower than that in the influent(51.35 mg/L). The total contents of metallic elements in suspended sludge and the membrane fouling layer increased to 40.20 and 52.19 mg/g at 10°C compared to 35.14 and 32.45 mg/g at 30°C, and were dominated by the organically bound fraction. The EPS contents in suspended sludge and membrane fouling layer sharply increased to 37.88 and 101.51 mg/g at 10°C, compared to 16.87 and 30.03 mg/g at 30°C. The increase in EPS content at lower temperature was responsible for the deposition of more metallic ions. The strong bridging between EPS and metallic elements at lower temperature enhanced the compactness of the fouling layer and further decreased membrane flux. This was helpful for understanding the mechanism of membrane fouling at different operational temperatures and the role of EPS, and also of significance for the design of cleaning strategies for fouled membranes after long-term operation.     

Enhancement of municipal sludge dewaterability by electrochemical pretreatment

Electrolysis is a promising technology to improve sludge dewaterability efficiently with negligible environmental impact. To intensify the electrolytic efficiency, the effect of electrolytes (NaCl, Na₂SO₄, NaNO₃, and NaClO₄) on electrolysis pretreatment of municipal sludge and its mechanisms was investigated using Ti/PbO₂ electrodes. The electrolytes, which enhanced the production of oxidative radicals, showed a significant synergetic effect in reducing the capillary suction time (CST) of sludge. NaCl was distinguished from the other electrolytes since it formed a large amount of active chlorine species, which oxidized the sludge cells to improve the sludge dewaterability. The surface morphologies as well as the soluble proteins and polysaccharides were analyzed to unravel the underlying mechanisms of sludge dewaterability. Additionally, an economic assessment showed that NaCl addition in the electrolysis pretreatment can be a suitable technique for enhancing municipal sludge dewaterability.     

市政污泥脱水性能实验研究与形态学分析

本研究将运用微波技术与离心脱水相结合的方法来达到促进污泥中结合水释放及改善脱水特性的目的.通过测定毛细吸水时间、黏度、含水率,采集污泥图像、提取形态学特征进行污泥脱水改性的效果分析及分形维数的分析.离心脱水实验结果表明,适当增加离心转速和温度时,污泥的含水率降低;正交实验结果表明微波功率1000W、微波温度50℃、离心转速2000r/min、离心时间15min的条件下含水率最低达到83.75%,且适当的微波预处理条件有利于污泥的脱水;微波预处理后污泥分形维数在2.4~2.8之间,污泥结构改变.对污泥脱水性能的表征参数与污泥含水率进行拟合,建立污泥脱水性能的模型,为预测和改善污泥脱水性能提供基础性研究.     

Investigation on mechanism of phosphate removal on carbonized sludge adsorbent

For the removal of phosphate (PO₄^3 -) from water, an adsorbent was prepared via carbonization of sewage sludge from a wastewater treatment plant: carbonized sludge adsorbent (CSA). The mechanism of phosphate removal was determined after studying the structure and chemical properties of the CSA and its influence on phosphate removal. The results demonstrate that phosphate adsorption by the CSA can be fitted with the pseudo second-order kinetics and Langmuir isotherm models, indicating that the adsorption is single molecular layer adsorption dominated by chemical reaction. The active sites binding phosphate on the surface are composed of mineral particles containing Si/Ca/Al/Fe. The mineral containing Ca, calcite, is the main factor responsible for phosphate removal. The phosphate removal mechanism is a complex process including crystallization via the interaction between Ca^2 + and PO₄^3 -; formation of precipitates of Ca^2 +, Al^3 +, and PO₄^3 -; and adsorption of PO₄^3 - on some recalcitrant oxides composed of Si/Al/Fe.     

Characterizing the antibiotic resistance genes in a river catchment: Influence of anthropogenic activities

Previous studies on environmental antibiotics resistance genes(ARGs) have focused on the pollution sources such as wastewater treatment plants, aquaculture and livestock farms,etc. Few of them had addressed this issue in a regional scale such as river catchment. Hence,the occurrence and abundances of 23 ARGs were investigated in surface water samples collected from 38 sites which located from the river source to estuary of the Beijiang River.Among them, 11 ARGs were frequently detected in this region and 5 ARGs(sul I, sul II, tet B,tet C, and tet W) were selected for their distribution pattern analysis. The abundances of the selected ARGs were higher in the upstream(8.70 × 10~6 copies/ng DNA) and downstream areas(3.17 × 10~6 copies/ng DNA) than those in the midstream areas(1.23 × 10~6 copies/ng DNA), which was positively correlated to the population density and number of pollution sources. Pollution sources of ARGs along the Beijiang River not only had a great impact on the abundances and diversity, but also on the distribution of specific ARGs in the water samples. Both sul I and sul II were likely originated from aquaculture farms and animal farms,tet W gene was possibly associated with the mining/metal melting industry and the electric waste disposal and tet C gene was commonly found in the area with multiple pollution sources.However, the abundance of tet B was not particularly related to anthropogenic impacts. These findings highlight the influence of pollution sources and density of population on the distribution and dissemination of ARGs at a regional scale.     

鼠李糖脂-热对污泥厌氧发酵中脱水性能的影响

为了探究鼠李糖脂以及低温热水解预处理污泥厌氧发酵过程对污泥脱水性能的改变,利用毛细吸水时间（CST）表征脱水性能指标,有机物溶出、粒径分布以及三维荧光光谱分析阐明脱水性能变化机制.研究发现在厌氧发酵之前,预处理后污泥脱水性能均会降低;厌氧发酵之后原污泥脱水性能降低,经过热水解的污泥脱水性能改善;粒径分布变化表明粒径减小是预处理污泥脱水性能变差的部分原因,发酵之后粒径增大对于污泥脱水性能改善不明显.溶解性有机物（SCOD）、溶解性碳水化合物（SC）以及溶解性蛋白质（SP）的溶出情况发现粒径的减小是由于预处理手段对污泥的有效破解.三维荧光平行因子分析（PARAFAC）表明,污泥预处理且厌氧发酵前后溶解性有机质（DOM）均包含类腐殖酸C1（386nm/462nm）和C3（342nm/438nm）、酪氨酸类蛋白C2（278nm/306nm）以及色氨酸类蛋白C4（290nm/358nm）.其中,类腐殖酸的增多是热水解污泥脱水性能变差的主要原因,厌氧发酵之后酪氨酸蛋白的积累是原污泥脱水性能变差的原因,类腐殖酸的分解是热水解污泥发酵后改善的原因.     

不同流态下微波辐射对污水污泥性质的影响研究

通过对不同流态下微波辐射对污水污泥性质的影响进行研究,考察了不同流态下微波辐射作用处理后污泥沉降性能、脱水性能的变化,以及微波辐射作用下流态对污泥挥发性悬浮固体(VSS)溶解率、上清液中COD和污泥微观形态的影响.结果表明,流态对污泥的沉降性能和脱水性能有一定影响,微波辐射功率越高,流态对污泥沉降性能和脱水性能的影响越显著.微波辐射功率较低时,雷诺数Re越大,污泥的沉降比(SV)、比阻和泥饼含水率越小;微波辐射功率较高时,Re为2300的临界流态下污泥的沉降性能和脱水性能最好.随着Re的增大,VSS溶解率和上清液中COD升高,微波辐射功率分别为300、500、700和900W时,Re为3000的紊流流态下上清液中COD分别达到1.1、2.1、3.6和6.7g·L-1.SEM观察结果表明,微波辐射及流态产生的协同剪切应时适宜时,有利于污泥颗粒的絮凝反应,高强度的微波辐射和紊流产生的较大剪切应力导致污泥絮体被打碎.     

微波辐射对污水处理厂动态流活性污泥性能的影响研究

通过微波辐射对污水处理厂动态流活性污泥性能进行实验研究,考察了微波辐射3min内污泥沉降性能、脱水性能的变化,探讨了微波辐射对污泥挥发性悬浮固体(VSS)溶解率、上清液中COD和污泥微观形态的影响.结果表明,低强度的微波辐射对活性污泥相关性质的影响不显著,没有从根本上改善活性污泥的结构.适宜的微波辐射能显著改善活性污泥的沉降性能和脱水性能,500、700和900W微波辐射的适宜辐射时间分别为180、150和60s,此时,活性污泥的比阻为0.3×109S2·g-1左右,较原活性污泥减小了88%,泥饼含水率由原活性污泥直接抽滤的85.2%降低到70.0%.VSS溶解率和上清液COD都随着辐射功率及辐射时间的增加而升高.适宜的微波辐射能促进污泥的团聚絮凝,过度的辐射会破坏活性污泥结构,使活性污泥颗粒细小化,混合液黏度增大,导致脱水性能变差.通过动态流动下微波辐射对活性污泥性能影响的研究,可为微波辐射在活性污泥处理的实际应用提供理论依据.     

Effect of air-exposed biocathode on the performance of a Thauera-dominated membraneless single-chamber microbial fuel cell (SCMFC)

To investigate the effect of air-exposed biocathode(AEB) on the performance of singlechamber microbial fuel cell(SCMFC), wastewater quality, bioelectrochemical characteristics and the electrode biofilms were researched. It was demonstrated that exposing the biocathode to air was beneficial to nitrogen removal and current generation. In Test 1 of 95%AEB, removal rates of ammonia, total nitrogen(TN) and chemical oxygen demand(COD)reached 99.34% ± 0.11%, 99.34% ± 0.10% and 90.79% ± 0.12%, respectively. The nitrogen removal loading rates were 36.38 g N/m~3/day. Meanwhile, current density and power density obtained at 0.7 A/m3 and 104 m W/m~3 respectively. Further experiments on opencircuit(Test 2) and carbon source(Test 3) indicated that this high performance could be attributed to simultaneous biological nitrification/denitrification and aerobic denitrification, as well as bioelectrochemical denitrification. Results of community analysis demonstrated that both microbial community structures on the surface of the cathode and in the liquid of the chamber were different. The percentage of Thauera, identified as denitrifying bacteria, maintained at a high level of over 50% in water, but decreased gradually in the AEB. Moreover, the genus Nitrosomonas, Alishewanella, Arcobacter and Rheinheimera were significantly enriched in the AEB, which might contribute to both enhancement of nitrogen removal and electricity generation.     

Microwave cladding: A new approach in surface engineering

Cladding is generally characterized by partial dilution of the substrate and hence formation of metallurgical bonding between the substrate and the deposits. Laser cladding is one of the most widely practiced surface engineering techniques. The present work mainly focuses on a novel development in surface engineering techniques in the form of microwave cladding. Clads of tungsten carbide (WC) based WC10Co2Ni powder on austenitic stainless steel were produced using microwave hybrid heating. Microwave clads were developed by exposing the preplaced, preheated powder for a duration of 120 s to microwave radiation at 2.45 GHz frequency and 900 W power in a home microwave system. Characterization of the clads was carried out in the form of microstructural and elemental composition studies. Investigations show crack-free interface revealing good metallurgical bond associated with partial dilution of the stainless steel substrate and full melting of WC particles. Typical X-ray diffraction results confirm presence of metallic carbides in the clad which is primarily responsible for significantly higher microhardness of the clad. Process mechanism has been discussed.     

采用Ti/PbO2阳极氧化进行污泥预处理的研究

提高市政污泥脱水性能是当前污泥预处理中的热点和难点.本文以毛细吸水时间(CST)作为衡量污泥预处理中脱水性能的指标,选用钛/二氧化铅网状极板为阴、阳电极,研究了电解电压、极板间距、电解质种类及电解质投加量等因素对电化学预处理市政污泥的影响.结果表明,电压对污泥脱水性能影响较大,在电压为20 V、极板间距为2 cm、电解质为0.6 g Na Cl的条件下,电化学处理市政污泥20 min效果最佳,污泥的CST下降率在90%以上.进一步探究表明,电解过程中污泥菌胶团结构首先被破坏,释放大量结合水,且菌胶团内的蛋白质和多聚糖释放到上清液中,二者浓度先升高;随后二者部分氧化分解,浓度降低,从而有效提高市政污泥脱水性能.     

Effects of tourmaline on nitrogen removal performance and biofilm structures in the sequencing batch biofilm reactor

The effects of tourmaline on nitrogen removal performance and biofilm structures were comparatively investigated in two identical laboratory-scale sequencing batch biofilm reactors(SBBRs)(denoted SBBR1 and SBBR2) at different nitrogen loading rates(NLRs) varying from(0.24 ± 0.01) to(1.26 ± 0.02) g N/(L·day). SBBR1 was operated in parallel with SBBR2, but SBBR1 was filled with polyurethane foam loaded tourmaline(TPU) carriers and another(SBBR2) filled with polyurethane foam(PU) carriers. Results obtained from this study showed that the excellent and stable performance of SBBR1 was obtained. Ammonia nitrogen removal and total nitrogen removal were higher in SBBR1 than that in SBBR2 with increase of NLR. At an NLR of(0.24 ± 0.01) g N/(L·day), the majority of the spherical and elliptical bacteria were surrounded by the extracellular polymeric substance(EPS) and bacillus or filamentous bacteria in two SBBRs biofilms. When NLR increased to(1.26 ± 0.02) g N/(L·day), the clusters were more obvious in the SBBR1 biofilm than that in the SBBR2 biofilm. Bacteria in SBBR1 were inclined to synthesis more EPS, and the formed EPS could protect the bacteria from free ammonia(FA) under extreme condition NLR(1.26 ± 0.02) g N/(L·day). The results of polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis showed that the microbial community similarity in SBBR2 decreased more obviously than that in SBBR1 with the increase of NLR, which the microbial community in SBBR1 was relatively stable.     

连续流2450MHz电磁波剩余污泥脱水与溶出效果研究

利用连续流2450MHz的电磁波污泥脱水装置,对2种不同的污泥进行均匀性试验,得到加载功率270W、加载时间200s、加载泥量150mL工况最优.该工况下,污泥离心含水率、沉降含水率、SV分别由原泥的90.46%、96.35%、88%下降到87.32%、95.55%、76%,比阻由2.37?109m/kg升高至1.22?1010m/kg ,在同等离心条件下,经过2450MHz电磁波处理的污泥体积比不经电磁波处理的体积减少了25%.加载后,TN、TP、SCOD的最大溶出倍数分别达到了17.69、9.50和40.11,EPS降低61.9%,与现有的微波加载实验结果对比发现,在原泥比阻值较低情况下,连续流状态下比阻值未降反增,但污泥胞内物质的溶出倍数明显更大,能有效降低EPS,改善污泥脱水性能,表明了2450MHz电磁波动态污泥脱水的效果更好.     

Enhanced chromium recovery from tanning wastewater

A large volume of tanning wastewater was generated with a Cr³⁺ concentration of 3000–6000 mg/L. The prevailing method for Cr³⁺ recycle is NaOH precipitation, which is severely limited by the poor sedimentation of the sludge formed. Therefore, bridging cations, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, and sonication were used to enhance the sedimentation of the precipitate. Microwave irradiation was employed to improve the re-dissolution of Cr-sludge for reuse. All alkalis effectively removed Cr³⁺ from the aqueous phase with a removal of higher than 99% and a recovery of ∼60%. The substitution of NaOH with CaO or MgO resulted in much less sludge and shorter sedimentation time. MgO also enhanced the purity and dewatering capability of the sludge. The best alkali was a mixture of CaO and MgO (4:1, by weight) to balance the cost and performance. COD and SS were removed in the process via sweeping by the precipitate with removal percentages of 47.6% and 86.3%, respectively. Two minutes sonication at 0.12 W/cm³ greatly accelerated the sludge sedimentation, cutting the settling time from 3 h to 1 h. Sonication did not alter the particle size or purity of the sludge. Microwave irradiation of 5 min increased the Cr recovery ratio from 60% to 80%.