Biohydrogen production in continuous-flow reactor using mixed microbial culture.

The goal of the proposed project was to develop an anaerobic fermentation process that converts negative-value organic wastes into hydrogen-rich gas in a continuous-flow reactor under different operating conditions, such as hydraulic retention time (HRT), heat treatment, pH, and substrates. A series of batch tests were also conducted in parallel to the continuous study to evaluate the hydrogen conversion efficiency of two different organic substrates, namely sucrose and starch. A heat shock (at 90 degrees C for 15 minutes) was applied to the sludge in an external heating chamber known as a sludge activation chamber, as a method to impose a selection pressure to eliminate non-spore-forming, hydrogen-consuming bacteria and to activate spore germination. The experimental results showed that the heat activation of biomass enhanced hydrogen production by selecting for hydrogen-producing, spore-forming bacteria. The batch feeding at a shorter HRT of 20 hours (or higher organic loading rate) favored hydrogen production, whereas, at a longer HRT of 30 hours, methane was detected in the gas phase. The major organic acids of hydrogen fermentation were acetate, butyrate, and propionate. Up to 23.1% of influent chemical oxygen demand was consumed in biomass synthesis. Batch tests showed that the hydrogen-production potential of starch was lower than sucrose, and better conversion efficiency from starch was obtained at a lower pH of 4.5. However, addition of sucrose to starch improved the overall hydrogen-production potential and hydrogen-production rate. This study showed that sustainable biohydrogen production from carbohydrate-rich substrates is possible through heat activation of settled sludge.     

Study on substrate metabolism process of saline waste sludge and its biological hydrogen production potential

With the increasing of high saline waste sludge production, the treatment and utilization of saline waste sludge attracted more and more attention. In this study, the biological hydrogen production from saline waste sludge after heating pretreatment was studied. The substrate metabolism process at different salinity condition was analyzed by the changes of soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD), carbohydrate and protein in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and dissolved organic matters (DOM). The excitation-emission matrix (EEM) with fluorescence regional integration (FRI) was also used to investigate the effect of salinity on EPS and DOM composition during hydrogen fermentation. The highest hydrogen yield of 23.6 mL H₂/g VSS and hydrogen content of 77.6% were obtained at 0.0% salinity condition. The salinity could influence the hydrogen production and substrate metabolism of waste sludge.

     

Performance change during long-term ozonation aimed at augmenting denitrification and decreasing waste activated sludge

Partial ozonation of return activated sludge for waste sludge minimization and soluble COD production was examined. Two nitrifying sequencing batch reactors, one control and one ozonated, were operated under alternating anoxic/aerobic conditions. During the first steady-state period of 95-136 d of ozonation, the amount of wasted solids decreased with the ozone dose up to 25%, generating soluble COD by cell lysis. However, during a subsequent period of 190-232 d of continuous ozonation, the effect of solids destruction and COD production decreased by 50%. The investigations of extracellular polymers content and floc shape analyses showed that, after prolonged daily ozone treatment, sludge floc structure becomes stronger, denser, and more ozone-resistant. The findings suggest that, for prolonged operation of partial sludge ozonation, an increase in ozone doses may be required to continuously maintain the expected solids destruction level. This in turn will increase the operational costs of the treatment.     

去除污泥中重金属铬的生物淋滤反应器设计与应用

用微生物方法去除污泥中重金属(生物淋滤法)是近年来发展的新技术,探索工程化的条件有重要的应用价值。设计了一套容积为1 m3的生物淋滤反应器,由生物淋滤池、搅拌器、曝气器和空气压缩机等构成。其中,搅拌叶轮由平叶桨和斜叶桨组合而成。利用制革污泥进行了半连续的生物淋滤试验,结果表明,在反应器中污泥与菌体和营养物质能充分混匀,经过2~5 d的处理,污泥pH持续下降到2.0以下,污泥中铬的溶出率达90%~99.5%。     

多菌群污水生物处理反应器中污泥分布的试验研究

在多菌群污水生物处理反应器处理城市污水的试验中,对反应器主反应区内水平中线及垂直中线上所布设取样点位的混合液悬浮固体(MLSS)、混合液挥发性悬浮固体(MLVSS)、污泥沉降比(SV30)及污泥容积指数(SVI)进行了检测分析。结果表明,MLSS与MLVSS分布趋势大致相同,在水平方向与垂直方向污泥浓度总体呈现大小交替型分布;SV30与SVI在水平方向总体呈现出周边大、中心小的非对称分布,而在垂直方向由上到下呈现出先增大后减小再增大的分布趋势。污泥浓度与污泥沉降性能的差异分布,对将反应器进水点分布在污泥浓度高值区域、污泥回流点布置在污泥浓度低值区域及出水点选定在污泥浓度较低且沉降性能较好区域有着重要的指导作用,为反应器的优化控制提供了理论依据。     

去除污泥中重金属铬的生物淋滤反应器设计与应用

用微生物方法去除污泥中重金属（生物淋滤法）是近年来发展的新技术，探索工程化的条件有重要的应用价值。设计了一套容积为1m^3的生物淋滤反应器，由生物淋滤池、搅拌器、曝气器和空气压缩机等构成。其中，搅拌叶轮由平叶桨和斜叶桨组合而成。利用制革污泥进行了半连续的生物淋滤试验，结果表明，在反应器中污泥与菌体和营养物质能充分混匀，经过2-5d的处理，污泥pH持续下降到2．0以下，污泥中铬的溶出率达90％-99．5％。     

Acclimation of anaerobic sludge degrading chlorophenols and the biodegradation kinetics during acclimation period

The acclimation of sludge from Hangzhou citrate factory and Hangzhou municipal wastewater treatment plant for degradation dechlorination of chlorophenols (CPs) compounds, and its biodegradation kinetics were studied in batch process with or without addition of sucrose. Three monochlorophenols (2-CP; 3-CP; 4-CP) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) were concurrently fed to different bioreactors. The parameters that were monitored included biogas production, biogas composition and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The results showed that acclimation with chlorophenol can increase the degradation activity of anaerobic sludge and degradation rate of chlorophenolic compounds, and reduce the lag time. Degradation dechlorination activity of the acclimated sludge strongly depended on sludge source, microorganism population and chlorophenol congener. 2-CP was more easily acclimated than 3-CP and 4-CP. Among the four tested compounds, 4-CP was the most difficult to be acclimated. The observed degradation rate with presence of sucrose was higher than that with absence of sucrose, suggesting that addition of the external carbon source can stimulate the formation of acclimated sludge which could effectively degrade chlorophenols. Kinetic equations of biodegradation of chlorophenols were also presented in this paper.     

Biological solids reduction using the Cannibal process.

A laboratory study of the Cannibal process was undertaken to determine if the Cannibal system would generate less sludge compared with a conventional activated sludge system. Side-by-side sequencing batch reactors were operated--one using the Cannibal configuration and the other as conventional activated sludge. It was found that the Cannibal process generated 60% less solids than the conventional activated sludge system, without any negative effect on the effluent quality or the settling characteristics of the activated sludge. The oxygen uptake rate for the centrate from the Cannibal bioreactor showed that readily biodegradable organic matter was released from the recycled biomass in the Cannibal bioreactor. It is proposed that the mechanism for reduced solids from the Cannibal system is that, in the Cannibal bioreactor, iron is reduced, releasing iron-bound organic material into solution. When the Cannibal biomass is recirculated back to the aeration basin, the released organic material is rapidly degraded.     

4-硝基酚的污泥减量化作用及对污泥性质的影响

为了有效减少活性污泥法中剩余污泥的产生,采用解偶联剂4-硝基酚对活性污泥工艺中的剩余污泥进行减量化研究。研究了4-硝基酚对污泥的增长速率、基质去除率以及污泥性质的影响。结果表明:4-硝基酚对污泥的减量化作用明显,在对微生物解偶联的过程中并不影响微生物对基质的利用能力;对出水中的氨氮影响甚小,总氮、总磷浓度有轻微的升高。4-硝基酚能够刺激污泥中微生物的活性,比耗氧速率增加,促进能量解偶联,从而降低污泥产率。4-硝基酚使污泥中微生物的群落结构发生了轻微的变化,但对污泥的松散程度和絮凝沉降性能影响甚小。     

初始pH值对提油后藻渣发酵制氢的影响

提油后藻渣的利用和处理对于微藻生物柴油产业的发展具有重要意义.采用批次实验研究了初始pH值(pH值范围为5～9)对提油后藻渣发酵产氢的影响.研究结果表明,提高初始pH值引起累积产氢量和氢气产量逐渐下降.初始pH值从5增加到6.5引起氢气产生速率逐渐增加,而初始pH值从6.5增加到9时,氢气产生速率则逐渐下降.在pH 5...     

Generation pattern of sulfur containing gases from anaerobically digested sludge cakes.

Eleven dewatered sludge cakes collected from anaerobic digesters at different treatment plants were evaluated for the amount, type, and pattern of odorous gas production. All but one of the sludge cakes were from mesophilic anaerobic digesters. One was from a thermophilic digester. The pattern and quantities of sulfur gases were found to be unique for each of the samples with regard to the products produced, magnitude, and subsequent decline. The main odor-causing chemicals were volatile sulfur compounds, which included hydrogen sulfide, methanethiol, and dimethyl sulfide. Volatile sulfur compound production peaked in 3 to 8 days and then declined. The decline was a result of conversion of organic sulfur compounds to sulfide. In one side-by-side test, a high-solids centrifuge cake generated more odorous compounds than the low-solids centrifuge cake. The data show that anaerobic digestion does not eliminate the odor potential of anaerobically digested dewatered cakes.     

利用微型动物削减剩余污泥量的研究

在污水的好氧生物处理过程中会产生大量的剩余污泥。污泥的浓缩、脱水、处理和处置需要花费大量的人力和物力 ,而且如果处置不当 ,很容易对环境造成二次污染。因此 ,最大限度减少剩余污泥的排放成为人们关注的问题。根据生态学的理论 ,加强微型动物对细菌的捕食作用 ,可使能量在从低营养级向高营养级传递过程中有一定的损失 ,同时污泥量得以减少。应用两段式生物反应器或者直接向曝气池中投加微型动物均可达到此目的。本文详细地介绍了这两种方法 ,讨论了各自的优点和不足 ,并指出了未来的发展方向     

膜-生物反应器中溶解性微生物产物的研究进展

本文就膜 -生物反应器中溶解性微生物产物的生成特性及其影响的研究进展进行了总结。在膜 -生物反应器中 ,膜的高效固液分离作用在提高系统容积负荷和出水水质的同时 ,也使生物反应器成为一个相对封闭的系统。以腐殖质、多糖、蛋白质等物质为主要成分的溶解性微生物产物是生物处理出水中溶解性TOC或COD的主要组成部分 ,主要产生于微生物的基质分解过程和内源呼吸过程 ,其高分子物质的含量较多且可生物降解性较差 ,因此 ,在膜 -生物反应器中会出现积累。溶解性微生物产物的过高积累不仅有可能降低膜过滤出水的水质稳定性 ,而且有可能影响污泥活性 ,并引起膜污染。进水浓度和污泥浓度是影响溶解性微生物产物产生量的重要因素。目前有关膜 -生物反应器中溶解性微生物产物的研究还很不完善 ,有很多问题需进一步研究     

堆肥法处理含油污泥研究进展

含油污泥是炼油厂和石油化工厂的日产固体废弃物 ,是当前石化行业所面临的污染问题。本文给出了近期国内外对含油污泥的处理方法 ,并对堆肥法处理含油污泥进行了综述。含油污泥的堆肥处理需提供氧气、菌种和营养 ,为保持油泥的疏松状态 ,还需加入填充剂。本文对高速生物反应器的结构、运行、调控进行了详细介绍 ,并从经济核算角度指出了其运营可行性     

Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from sludge biodrying instead of heat drying combined with mono-incineration in China

Sludge is an important source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, both in the form of direct process emissions and as a result of indirect carbon-derived energy consumption during processing. In this study, the carbon budgets of two sludge disposal processes at two well-known sludge disposal sites in China (for biodrying and heat-drying pretreatments, both followed by mono-incineration) were quantified and compared. Total GHG emissions from heat drying combined with mono-incineration was 0.1731 tCO₂e t^?1, while 0.0882 tCO₂e t^?1 was emitted from biodrying combined with mono-incineration. Based on these findings, a significant reduction (approximately 50%) in total GHG emissions was obtained by biodrying instead of heat drying prior to sludge incineration.

Implications: Sludge treatment results in direct and indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Moisture reduction followed by incineration is commonly used to dispose of sludge in China; however, few studies have compared the effects of different drying pretreatment options on GHG emissions during such processes. Therefore, in this study, the carbon budgets of sludge incineration were analyzed and compared following different pretreatment drying technologies (biodrying and heat drying). The results indicate that biodrying combined with incineration generated approximately half of the GHG emissions compared to heat drying followed by incineration. Accordingly, biodrying may represent a more environment-friendly sludge pretreatment prior to incineration.     

高氨氮对厌氧生物法处理城市垃圾渗沥液的影响

研究了高浓度氨氮对厌氧膜生物法处理城市垃圾渗沥液的影响。结果表明,COD去除率、沼气产量、沼气产率、辅酶F420和最大比产甲烷活性均随氨氮浓度的增加而减小;当氨氮浓度<3600mg/L时,不会对厌氧膜生物反应器的运行产生明显的影响;氨氮对厌氧污泥产甲烷活性的50%抑制浓度为4350mg/L;高浓度氨氮会造成系统VFA浓度增加;当氨氮浓度由4800mg/L降低到2000mg/L后,受重度抑制的厌氧微生物的活性可以在20d里恢复到未受抑制时的活性水平。     

高氨氮对厌氧生物法处理城市垃圾渗沥液的影响

研究了高浓度氨氮对厌氧膜生物法处理城市垃圾渗沥液的影响。结果表明，COD去除率、沼气产量、沼气产率、辅酶F420和最大比产甲烷活性均随氨氮浓度的增加而减小；当氨氮浓度〈3600mg/L时，不会对厌氧膜生物反应器的运行产生明显的影响；氨氮对厌氧污泥产甲烷活性的50％抑制浓度为4350mg／L；高浓度氨氮会造成系统VFA浓度增加；当氨氮浓度由4800mg／L降低到2000mg/L后，受重度抑制的厌氧微生物的活性可以在20d里恢复到未受抑制时的活性水平。     

Comparison of sludge characteristics and PCR-DGGE based microbial diversity of nanofiltration and microfiltration membrane bioreactors

The objective of this study was to compare the sludge characteristics and microbial community diversity between the submerged nanofiltration membrane bioreactor (NF MBR) and microfiltration membrane bioreactor (MF MBR) treating the same municipal wastewater. The influence of a higher concentration of organic matter and salt was investigated. The results of water qualities showed that the dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total phosphorus (T-P) and salt concentrations of the supernatant in the NF MBR were three, four and two times as high as those in the MF MBR, respectively. The specific oxygen uptake rate of the NF MBR (2.9+/-0.4 mg O(2)g(-1)MLSSh(-1)) was lower than that of the MF MBR (4.3+/-1.1 mg O(2)g(-1)MLSS h(-1)). Result of extractable extracellular polymeric substances showed that the NF MBR sludge had more protein and less polysaccharide compared to the MF MBR sludge, whereas specific amount of total organic carbon were the same in both MBRs. The median floc diameters of the NF MBR and the MF MBR were 72+/-12 microm and 59+/-12 microm, respectively, which could be attributable to the different polysaccharide concentrations between both MBR mixed liquor. A higher concentration of materials (DOC, T-P and salt) in the bioreactor, determined by the high rejection rate of the NF membrane, did not significantly affect the microbial diversity under similar operation conditions.     

Improved computational model (AQUIFAS) for activated sludge, integrated fixed-film activated sludge, and moving-bed biofilm reactor systems, Part I: Semi-empirical model development

Research was undertaken to develop a model for activated sludge, integrated fixed-film activated sludge (IFAS), and moving-bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) systems. The model can operate with up to 12 cells (reactors) in series, with biofilm media incorporated to one or more cells, except the anaerobic cells. The process configuration can be any combination of anaerobic, anoxic, aerobic, post-anoxic with or without supplemental carbon, and reaeration; it can also include any combination of step feed and recycles, including recycles for mixed liquor, return activated sludge, nitrates, and membrane bioreactors. This paper presents the structure of the model. The model embeds a biofilm model into a multicell activated sludge model. The biofilm flux rates for organics, nutrients, and biomass can be computed by two methods--a semi-empirical model of the biofilm that is relatively simpler, or a diffusional model that is computationally intensive. The values of the kinetic parameters for the model were measured using pilot-scale activated sludge, IFAS, and MBBR systems. For the semiempirical version, a series of Monod equations were developed for chemical oxygen demand, ammonium-nitrogen, and oxidized-nitrogen fluxes to the biofilm. Within the equations, a second Monod expression is used to simulate the effect of changes in biofilm thickness and fraction nitrifiers in the biofilm. The biofilm flux model is then linked to the activated sludge model. The diffusional model and the verification of the models are presented in subsequent papers (Sen and Randall, 2008a, 2008b). The model can be used to quantify the amount of media and surface area required to achieve nitrification, identify the best locations for the media, and optimize the dissolved oxygen levels and nitrate recycle rates. Some of the advanced features include the ability to apply different media types and fill fractions in cells; quantify nitrification, denitrification, and biomass production in the biofilm and mixed liquor suspended solids; and perform dynamic simulations.     

Biodegradation of nonylphenol in sewage sludge

We investigated the effects of various factors on the aerobic degradation of nonylphenol (NP) in sewage sludge. NP (5 mg/kg) degradation rate constants (k₁) calculated were 0.148 and 0.224 day⁻¹ for the batch experiment and the bioreactor experiment, respectively, and half-lives (t_1/2) were 4.7 and 3.1 days, respectively. The optimal pH value for NP degradation in sludge was 7.0 and the degradation rate was enhanced when the temperature was increased and when yeast extract (5 mg/l) and surfactants such as brij 30 or brij 35 (55 or 91 μM) were added. The addition of aluminum sulfate (200 mg/l) and hydrogen peroxide (1 mg/l) inhibited NP degradation within 28 days of incubation. Of the microorganism strains isolated from the sludge samples, we found that strain CT7 (identified as Bacillus sphaericus) manifested the best degrading ability.