Adsorption of mercury by activated carbon prepared from dried sewage sludge in simulated flue gas

Conversion of sewage sludge to activated carbon is attractive as an alternative method to ocean dumping for the disposal of sewage sludge. Injection of activated carbon upstream of particulate matter control devices has been suggested as a method to remove elemental mercury from flue gas. Activated carbon was prepared using various activation temperatures and times and was tested for their mercury adsorption efficiency using lab-scale systems. To understand the effect of the physical property of the activated carbon, its mercury adsorption efficiency was investigated as a function of its Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area. Two simulated flue gas conditions, (1) without hydrogen chloride (HCl) and (2) with 20 ppm HCl, were used to investigate the effect of flue gas composition on the mercury adsorption capacity of activated carbon. Despite very low BET surface area of the prepared sewage sludge activated carbons, their mercury adsorption efficiencies were comparable under both simulated flue gas conditions to those of pinewood and coal activated carbons. After injecting HCl into the simulated flue gas, all sewage sludge activated carbons demonstrated high adsorption efficiencies, that is, more than 87%, regardless of their BET surface area.

Implications: We tested activated carbons prepared from dried sewage sludge to investigate the effect of their physical properties on their mercury adsorption efficiency. Using two simulated flue gas conditions, we conducted mercury speciation for the outlet gas. We found that the sewage sludge activated carbon had mercury adsorption efficiency comparable to pinewood and coal activated carbons, and the presence of HCl minimized the effect of physical property of the activated carbon on its mercury adsorption efficiency.     

微波法制备污泥活性炭研究

采用微波加热法,以污水厂剩余污泥为原料,磷酸为污泥活化剂制备污泥活性炭.微波功率、辐照时间和磷酸浓度对污泥活性炭吸附性能具有显著影响,在最佳工艺条件微波功率480 W、辐照时间315 s和磷酸浓度40%条件下制得的活性炭碘值301 mg/g,比表面积168 m2/g,污泥中重金属绝大部分被固化.与传统商品炭相比,污泥炭孔隙结构以中孔为主.利用该活性炭处理城市生活污水处理厂出水,COD去除率可达87%以上,污泥炭的吸附等温线用Langmuir等温吸附模型进行描述.     

污泥-秸秆活性炭制备过程热化学分析

以市政污泥和玉米秸秆为原料,氯化锌为活化剂制备活性炭,采用BET、TG/DTG和DTA等方法对其性能进行分析。结果表明,秸秆添加量（质量比）为30%时活性炭吸附效果最好,热解分为水分析出、挥发分析出和终态稳定3个阶段,热解过程为放热反应,热解1 kg干基原料（秸秆质量比为30%）得到热解气、热解液和残炭的能量分别为1 880.49 kJ、8 354.22 kJ、2 301.84 kJ,剩余能量为11 502.53 kJ。     

高铁酸钾预处理对活性污泥脱水性能的影响

通过投入不同剂量的高铁酸钾于剩余活性污泥中,研究其对污泥絮体性质和脱水性能的影响作用。污泥絮体性质的研究包括絮体粒径的变化以及污泥EPS含量的变化。脱水性能的研究包括过滤脱水性能(以CST表征)以及脱水程度(离心泥饼含固率)。实验结果表明,高铁酸钾的强氧化性可以破坏污泥絮体结构,提高污泥的机械脱水程度;但同时污泥EPS含量增加,对污泥过滤脱水性能有负面影响。高铁酸钾氧化分解生成的Fe(OH)3具有絮凝能力,可以使污泥颗粒重新絮凝;而其混凝作用可以破坏污泥细胞的稳定性,提高污泥的沉降性能。     

Low-cost adsorbent prepared from sewage sludge and corn stalk for the removal of COD in leachate

Sewage sludge (SS) with corn stalk (CS) was used to prepare SS-based activated carbon (SAC) by pyrolysis with ZnCl₂. The effects of mixing ratio on surface area and pore size distribution, elemental composition, surface chemistry, and morphology were investigated. The results demonstrated that the addition of CS into SS samples improved the surface area (from 92 to 902 m²/g) and the microporosity (from 1.2 to 4.1 %) of the adsorbents and, therefore, enhancing the adsorption performance. The removal of leachate chemical oxygen demand (COD) was also determined. It was found that the COD removal rate reached 85 % at pH 4 with the SAC (90 wt% CS) dosage of 2 % (g/mL) and an adsorption time of 40 min. The adsorption experimental data were fitted by both Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms. Long-chain alkanes and refractory organics were found in raw leachate, but could be removed by SAC largely.     

玉米秸秆活性炭的制备及其吸附动力学研究

以玉米秸秆为原材料,采用ZnCl2活化法制备玉米秸秆活性炭,吸附次甲基蓝染料废水,进行动力学分析。本实验用Langmuir和Freundlich模型对吸附等温线进行拟合,结果表明,玉米秸秆活性炭对次甲基蓝的吸附与Langmuir方程拟合良好,R2=0.9857。采用Lagergren准一级速率模型、Lagergren准二级速率模型、Bangham动力学方程和Elovich动力学方程分别对秸秆活性炭吸附次甲基蓝溶液进行吸附动力学拟合,通过分析得出吸附过程与Lagergren准二级速率模型拟合最好,R2=0.9979。秸秆活性炭对次甲基蓝的最大吸附量达到909.09 mg/g,具有很高的吸附能力。     

Optimising the preparation of activated carbon from digested sewage sludge and coconut husk.

Preparation of activated carbon from sewage sludge is a promising way to dispose of sewage sludge as well as to produce a low-cost adsorbent for pollutant removal. This research work aimed to optimise the condition for activated carbon preparation from anaerobically digested sewage sludge with the additive coconut husk. The sewage sludge sample was mixed with the additive coconut husk. The preparation condition variables investigated involved the concentration of the ZnCl2 solutions, heating temperature, dwell time and heating rate in pyrolysis and the mixing ratio of coconut husk to sewage sludge. Surface area, pore size distribution, aqueous phenol adsorption capacity and the production yield of the final products were determined and compared. Experimental results revealed that low concentrations of ZnCl2 solution tended to improve the microporosity of the final product. Heating temperature had a considerable impact on the surface area, pore size distribution and phenol adsorption capacity of the final products, whereas dwell time and heating rate performed comparatively insignificantly. The effect of increasing the mixing ratio of coconut husk to sewage sludge was principally to increase the microporosity of the final products. The activated carbon with the highest BET surface area was produced with the activation of 5 M ZnCl2 solution and, thereafter, pyrolysis at a heating temperature of 500 degrees C for 2 h with a heating rate of 10 degrees C/min. The mixing ratio of 1:4 in terms of coconut husk to sewage sludge based on their dried weights was found to be most cost effective.     

印染污泥制备活性炭对亚甲基蓝的吸附

以印染活性污泥为原料,氯化锌为活化剂制备污泥活性炭,并将其用于吸附水中的亚甲基蓝。通过扫描电镜和X射线粉末衍射仪对污泥活性炭进行表征分析,结果表明,污泥活性炭以中孔为主,该孔隙结构更适合于对大分子染料的吸附。详细研究了锯末添加量、初始pH、吸附温度及初始浓度对污泥活性炭吸附亚甲基蓝的影响。结果表明,1%锯末的添加有助于提高活性炭的吸附能力,而过量的锯末添加会影响活性炭的孔隙结构。活性炭对亚甲基蓝的吸附容量随pH的增加而减小,酸性条件较碱性条件更利于对亚甲基蓝的吸附去除。在5~45 ℃的范围内,亚甲基蓝吸附量随温度升高而增加,温度为45 ℃时达到最大吸附量。从热力学角度研究了污泥活性炭对亚甲基蓝溶液的吸附行为,热力学研究表明,污泥活性炭对亚甲基蓝的吸附符合Langmuir 等温吸附方程。研究结果可为印染污泥的资源化利用提供一定的技术支持。     

污泥活性炭对复合染料的脱色及其重金属浸出毒性

用自制的污泥活性炭处理亚甲基蓝与酸性品红组成的染料废水,研究了pH、吸附时间、温度等因素对复合组分染料废水脱色率的影响,测试分析了污泥活性炭在处理亚甲基蓝与酸性品红复合组分染料废水过程中的重金属浸出毒性。结果表明:与处理单一组分染料废水相比较,处理复合染料废水时pH的影响较为复杂,2种染料在污泥活性炭上存在竞争吸附,但是污泥活性炭对复合组分染料的脱色效果较好。污泥活性炭对复合染料的吸附过程符合Langmuir型吸附。在处理染料废水的过程中,污泥活性炭中的重金属镉、锌及铬会浸出,重金属镉、锌的浸出浓度符合国家标准,但铬的浸出浓度已接近国家标准上限。     

Removal of organic contaminants in bioretention medium amended with activated carbon from sewage sludge

Bioretention, also known as rain garden, allows stormwater to soak into the ground through a soil-based medium, leading to removal of particulate and dissolved pollutants and reduced peak flows. Although soil organic matter (SOM) is efficient at sorbing many pollutants, amending the bioretention medium with highly effective adsorbents has been proposed to optimize pollutant removal and extend bioretention lifetime. The aim of this research was to investigate whether soil amended with activated carbon produced from sewage sludge increases the efficiency to remove hydrophobic organic compounds frequently detected in stormwater, compared to non-amended soil. Three lab-scale columns (520 cm³) were packed with soil (bulk density 1.22 g/cm³); activated carbon (0.5% w/w) was added to two of the columns. During 28 days, synthetic stormwater—ultrapure water spiked with seven hydrophobic organic pollutants and dissolved organic matter in the form of humic acids—was passed through the column beds using upward flow (45 mm/h). Pollutant concentrations in effluent water (collected every 12 h) and polluted soils, as well as desorbed amounts of pollutants from soils were determined using GC-MS. Compared to SOM, the activated carbon exhibited a significantly higher adsorption capacity for tested pollutants. The amended soil was most efficient for removing moderately hydrophobic compounds (log K _ow 4.0–4.4): as little as 0.5% (w/w), carbon addition may extend bioretention medium lifetime by approximately 10–20 years before saturation of these pollutants occurs. The column tests also indicated that released SOM sorb onto activated carbon, which may lead to early saturation of sorption sites on the carbon surface. The desorption test revealed that the pollutants are generally strongly sorbed to the soil particles, indicating low bioavailability and limited biodegradation.

     

氢氧化铁用于污水污泥原位恶臭控制的研究

考察了添加不同剂量氢氧化铁对于污水污泥处置过程中的恶臭污染的控制效果。结果表明,在厌氧发酵32d时,添加0.05%、0.10%、0.25%(质量分数,下同)的氢氧化铁分别使污水污泥处理中硫化氢的平均去除率(与未添加氢氧化铁相比)达到81.3%、93.7%、97.5%;氢氧化铁的添加对污水污泥厌氧发酵中氨气的释放量没有明显影响。利用冷扩散连续萃取法考察了厌氧发酵过程中污水污泥中硫的形态分布,发现在氢氧化铁的作用下生成了硫化亚铁、二硫化亚铁、单质硫,从而降低了硫化氢的释放速率,有效控制了污水污泥厌氧发酵中的恶臭。氢氧化铁是一种可以用于污泥处理的高效除臭剂。     

Comparison on surface properties and desulfurization of MnO2 and pyrolusite blended activated carbon by steam activation

In this study, MnO₂ and pyrolusite were used as the catalysts to prepare modified activated carbon, that is, AC-Mn and AC-P, respectively, from coals by blending method and steam activation. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) results indicated that the AC-P had higher surface areas and micropore volumes than the AC-Mn with the same blending ratio. The relative contents of basic functional groups (i.e., C = O, π-π*) on AC-P were slightly lower than those on AC-Mn, while both contained the same main metal species, namely, MnO. The desulfurization results showed that with 3 wt% of blending ratio, AC-Mn3 and AC-P3 had higher sulfur capacities at 220 and 205 mg/g, respectively, which were much higher than for the blank one (149.6 mg/g). Moreover, the AC-P had relatively higher sulfur capacity than the AC-Mn with the same contents of Mn, which might be attributed to the existence of other metals in pyrolusite. After the desulfurization process, MnO were gradually transferred into MnSO₄, and the relative contents of basic functional groups decreased evidently for both AC-Mn3 and AC-P3. The results demonstrated that pyrolusite could be one good alternative to MnO₂ to prepare modified activated carbon for desulfurization.

Implications: MnO₂ and pyrolusite were used as the additives to prepare modified activated carbon from coals by a blending method and by steam activation, that is, AC-Mn and AC-P, respectively. The AC-P had higher surface areas and micropore volumes than the AC-Mn with the same blending ratio. The AC-Mn and AC-P had higher sulfur capacities than a blank one. Moreover, the AC-P had relatively higher sulfur capacity than the AC-Mn with the same contents of Mn. The results demonstrated that pyrolusite could be one good alternative to MnO₂ to prepare modified activated carbon for desulfurizatio.     

活性污泥法处理高钙废水中污泥特性的变化

通过单级SBR法处理模拟高钙废水,研究了活性污泥法处理高钙废水的过程中钙离子对COD,MLVSS,MLSS,SVI,污泥增长速率,污泥形态结构及生物相的影响,揭示活性污泥法处理高钙废水的过程中污泥量巨大的原因。采用逐步增加钙离子浓度的方法,检测到在污泥培养期([Ca2+]=0 mg/L),COD去除率为98.1%,MLVSS和MLSS稳定在4 900~5 500mg/L,污泥增长速率为67 mg/(L·d),SVI为55~60 mL/g;在驯化处理期([Ca2+]=120~2 400 mg/L),COD去除率降至87.37%,MLVSS降至2 500 mg/L,MLSS增加至19 300 mg/L,污泥增长速率为212.31 mg/(L·d),SVI降至25 mL/g;在冲击期([Ca2+]=4 000 mg/L),COD去除率降至69.23%,MLVSS降至1 600 mg/L,MLSS迅速增加至24 200 mg/L,污泥增长速率为816.67 mg/(L·d),SVI降至14 mL/g。经显微镜观察发现,污泥絮体由松散变得密实,生物相由钟虫等指示性微生物变为不适应环境的胞囊结构。结果表明,随Ca2+浓度的增加,COD去除率下降,MLSS迅速增加,MLVSS和SVI急剧缩小,说明活性污泥中的活性微生物逐渐减少,而无机物组分逐渐增多;钙离子的加入促使系统碳酸平衡向右移动,使离子状态的钙大部分转化为难降解的碳酸盐,并附着于污泥絮体上,污泥绒粒被压缩,使污泥颗粒密实度及MLSS迅速增加,导致污泥排放量巨大。     

盐度对活性污泥硝化功能的影响

利用批量试验研究了盐度对常规活性污泥(非耐盐污泥)硝化功能的影响;通过逐步提高试验水的NaCl浓度驯化活性污泥,考察了驯化污泥的硝化功能;并进一步研究了适应于某NaCl浓度的耐盐硝化菌在受到盐度冲击时,其硝化功能的变化.结果表明,常规活性污泥中的硝化菌对盐度较敏感,当试验水中的NaCl质量浓度达到10.0 g/L时,污泥比硝化速率降低86%;通过逐步提高试验水的NaCl浓度对活性污泥进行长期驯化,可以驯化出耐盐硝化菌,耐盐污泥的比硝化速率接近于常规活性污泥的比硝化速率;适应于某NaCl浓度的耐盐硝化菌在受到盐度冲击时,NaCl浓度突然增加会对其产生更强的抑制作用.     

Determination of microbial activity in activated sewage sludge by dimethyl sulphoxide reduction

A method was developed to determine the dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) reduction rate in activated sewage sludge at nearly natural conditions. Linearity of microbially produced dimethyl sulphide with incubation time and sample size was shown. Apart from a fast, sensitive and highly reproducible automatic analysis of dimethyl sulphide, simultaneous determination of mineralisation, respiration and phenol degradation rates was possible. The DMSO reduction rate of samples taken from a municipal sewage plant ranged between 2 and 3 μmol/(g dry matter · h), respiration and mineralisation rates between 30 and 80 μmol/(g · h). Added¹³C₆-phenol was completely degradated after 96 h of incubation. A half-life of 14 h was calculated assuming first order decay. Dose response curves were obtained by incubating samples for 2, 6, 25, and 96 hours after addition of pentachlorophenol. At an incubation time of 6 h, the EC₅₀ values ranged from 20 mg/L (DMSO reduction) to 30 mg/L (phenol degradation) up to 180 mg/L (respiration and mineralisation). Increasing the incubation time to 96 h resulted in a lower EC₅₀ of 9 mg/L for DMSO reduction, whereas it increased to 500 mg/L for respiration and mineralisation.     

Chemically reduced excess sludge production in the activated sludge process

Excess sludge production from wastewater biological treatment process is highly, and the disposal of excess sludge will be forbidden in a near future, thus increased attention has been turned to look into potential technology for sludge reduction. Recently, some novel sludge reduction techniques have been developed based on chemical oxidation and metabolic uncoupling. This paper attempts to review those chemical-assisted sludge reduction processes, including sludge alkaline-thermal treatment, activated sludge-ozonation process, chlorination-combined activated sludge process, sludge reduction by metabolic uncouplers and high dissolved oxygen activated sludge process. In these combined activated sludge processes, excess sludge production can be reduced up to 100% without significant effect on process efficiency and stability. This paper would be useful when one is looking for appropriate environmentally and economically acceptable solutions for reducing or minimizing excess sludge production from wastewater biological treatment process.     

Enhanced adsorptive removal of naphthalene intermediates from aqueous solution by introducing reed straw into sewage sludge-based activated carbon

The disposal of sewage sludge (SS) and reed straw (RS) has becoming a critical issue due to their rapid production. In this study, the SS-based activated carbon (SSC) was produced by introducing the RS as a component material. Properties including BET surface area, pore volume, surface chemical groups, and morphologies were characterized. The adsorption of 1-diazo-2-naphthol-4-sulfonic acid (1,2,4-Acid) and 2-Naphthol (2-Nap), which differs in their physicochemical properties, on as-prepared carbons were investigated. The overall adsorption was found to be jointly controlled by external mass transfer and intraparticle diffusion, and the optimal pH was found to be 5 due to their electrostatic attraction. Further study revealed that the SS- and RS-based carbons (SC and RSC, respectively) exhibited different adsorption behavior toward 1,2,4-Acid and 2-Nap. The calculated adsorption capacity from Langmuir–Freundlich model of SC and RSC for the two intermediates was 141.0, 84.6 mg g^-1 and 48.2, 110.2 mg g^-1, respectively, whereas their hybrid product (SSC) showed comparable capacity for 1,2,4-Acid (117.8 mg g^-1), as well as higher capacity for 2-Nap (157.5 mg g^-1). It was found that the presence of meso- or macropores facilitates the precipitation of mineral phases of inorganic substances during carbonization, attracting the molecules with polar functional groups, while the introduction of C-rich RS to SS enhances the adsorption of hydrophobic molecules.     

玉米秸秆添加比例对污泥堆肥中Cu和Zn形态的影响

采用BCR连续提取法研究了玉米秸秆添加比例对污泥堆肥中Cu和Zn形态的影响.结果表明:重金属不同形态分配比例的变化能够准确反映重金属形态之间的转化规律;堆肥处理重金属总量不会变化,只是不稳定形态之间相互转化,Cu和Zn被大幅"浓缩",玉米秸秆比例越大,"浓缩效应"越明显;玉米秸秆比例增加有助于酸溶态Cu向可氧化态转化,...     

循环式活性污泥工艺协同处理榨菜废水与城镇污水脱氮效果

利用CASS工艺协同处理高盐高氮榨菜有机废水和生活污水,针对协同处理碳源不足问题,提出以榨菜废水和甲醇作为碳源的两种碳源投加方案,对比分析了CASS工艺在运行周期为8 h、排水比为30%、回流比为100%、预处理后的榨菜废水掺入比为20%的条件下,分别以榨菜废水和甲醇补充碳源及不外加碳源3种情况的脱氮效果。实验结果表明,不外加碳源时,协同处理进水C/N小于3∶1,系统脱氮效果差,出水总氮不达标;以榨菜废水和甲醇为碳源提高C/N至4∶1～5∶1时,系统脱氮效果提高,出水总氮满足GB18918-2002一级B标排放标准;盐度的变化对微生物活性产生的抑制作用,当盐度升高0.1%±0.02%时,微生物系统恢复时间为10 d,而当盐度降低0.1%±0.02%时,微生物系统恢复时间为15 d。     

Co-cropping for phyto-separation of zinc and potassium from sewage sludge

The use of sewage sludge as a fertilizer and soil amendment has resulted in high concentrations of heavy metals in the soil limiting its use. The present study was carried out to find the possibility of phyto-separating toxic and beneficial elements from the sludge using suitable plants. Of the five plants tested the hyperaccumulator Sedum alfredii H achieved the greatest removal of Zn, while shoots of Alocasia marorrhiza accumulated high content of K. Co-cropping these two plants on the sludge verified the previous observations on A. marorrhiza and the shoots of this plant could accumulate more than 120 g K kg(-1) dry matter in the median growth stage. Zn hyperaccumulated in Sedum's shoots to an extent more than 10 g kg(-1) dry matter; K concentrated five to ten times in the Alocasia's shoots which could be used as a good organic-K-fertilizer. Hence, the two elements were simultaneously phytoseparated and could be recycled. Furthermore, cultivation of plants in the sludge resulted in significant decreases in total Zn but kept the favorable agronomic characteristics of the sludge material, such as pH, organic matter content, and NPK concentrations and ameliorated its biological stability. These results suggest that simultaneous phyto-separation of toxic and beneficial elements from sewage sludge are possible by co-cropping using specific plants without the input of any chemicals.