Performances of mesophilic anaerobic digestion systems treating poultry mortalities

Abstract

A closed‐loop anaerobic digestion system consisting of a leachbed (LB) and an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) was tested as an alternative for the disposal of poultry mortalities. This paper compares the performances of three LB‐UASB treatment systems with different initial moisture contents in the LBs. Each LB was loaded with one chicken and 5, 10 or 18 liters of water. The LBs initially carried out the hydrolysis/acidification phase while the UASBs the methanogenesis phase. Due to repeated inoculation by the UASBs, the LBs with 10 and 18 liters of water started producing methane on day 5, while the one with 5 liters of water on day 19. However, methane production rates were low before day 40 for the LB with 10 liters of water and day 60 for the other LBs. Methane production gradually improved as the LBs continued to receive ungranulated sludge from the UASBs. The LBs eventually became balanced methane reactors. Continued balanced fermentation in the LBs resulted in leachates with very low substrate concentrations that could no longer support high‐rate methanogenesis in the UASBs. Consequently, methane production rates from the UASBs decreased quickly while that from the LBs reached peak levels. Cumulative methane production from each LB eventually exceeded that from its connecting UASB. After 118 days of digestion, 414, 437 and 470 liters of methane were produced from the three systems, respectively. Cumulative methane production from the LBs with 5 and 18 liters of water accounted for 63% of the total methane produced from their respective systems. The LB with 10 liters of water produced 75% of the total methane from that system. Methane yields ranged from 0.485 to 0.554 m³ (Kg TS) ¹. About 86% of the initial dry weight was biodegraded. All three systems performed very well with little operational problems. Overall, the system that started with 10 liters of water in the LB performed the best. Strategy for enhancing system performances and implementing farm applications are discussed.     

两级UASB与好氧组合工艺处理城市生活垃圾渗滤液的启动研究

采用两级UASB与好氧组合工艺处理早期城市生活垃圾渗滤液.系统出水按不同比例回流到一级UASB中进行反硝化,同时进行产甲烷反应,有机物在二级UASB中被进一步降解,好氧池完成剩余有机物的去除和氨氮的硝化.启动阶段通过对原渗滤液不同比例的稀释,分5次逐步提高进水浓度,启动结束时完成了对原渗滤液的高效处理.在进水COD浓度从3000 mg/L提高到15000 mg/L,氨氮浓度从250 mg/L提高到1400 mg/L时,最终COD去除率稳定在92%左右,氨氮去除率可达99%以上,一级UASB中反硝化率接近100%,回流比为300%时系统总氮去除率为70%～80%.     

渗滤液回灌频率对生物反应器填埋场的影响研究

通过模拟实验研究了渗滤液回灌周期为1、2、3和5 d的4个模拟垃圾柱的产甲烷过程和渗滤液水质的变化情况.在用NaOH调节回灌渗滤液pH值的前提下,回灌频率越高,模拟厌氧型生物反应器填埋垃圾柱先开始产甲烷,但当回灌周期低于3 d时,开始产甲烷的时间相差不多.从渗滤液水质看,回灌周期为3 d的垃圾柱渗滤液COD、VFA等有机污染物浓度下降最快.综合考虑启动时间、运行费用和填埋场的稳定进程,在厌氧型生物反应器填埋场中,实施3 d/次的渗滤液回灌频率最为合适.     

Treatment of landfill leachate by electrochemical oxidation and anaerobic process.

The removal performance of typical refractory organic compounds in landfill leachate was investigated during the electrochemical (EC) oxidation and anaerobic process combined treatment system in this paper. The results indicated that the treatment of landfill leachate by the combined system was highly effective. The toxicity of leachate was notably decreased after the electrochemical oxidation process and the biodegradability was improved. The concentration of the organic acid with low molecular weight in the leachate increased from 28% to 90% based on the biodegradability assays after the EC oxidation process. The anaerobic digestion could further remove the residual organic compounds. At a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 16 hours and an organic loading rate (OLR) of 8 kg COD/m3 d, the concentration of COD, SS, ALK, VA, N-TKN, N-NH4+ and P-PO4(3)- [corrected] in UASB effluent were 532, 12, 6744, 400, 540, 455 and 11.6 mg/L, respectively, with approximately 90% removal efficiency of COD. The organic compounds in the landfill leachate revealed different degradation characteristics in the combined system. p-chloroaniline, bisphenol A, 6-methyl-2-phenyl-quinoline, dimethylnaphthaline and N'-(2-methyl-4-chlorophenyl)-N-cyclohexyformamidine, classified into the first group in this paper, were completely removed by the EC oxidation and did not reappear in the effluent of the UASB reactor. Phenylacetic acid, 3-methyl-indole and N-cyclohexyl-acetamide, called the second group, were completely removed, but reappeared in the UASB reactor. 4-methyl-phenol, 3,4-dihydroisoquinoline, 2(3H)-benzothiazolone, exo-2-hydroxycineole and benzothiazole, the third group, were degraded little in the EC oxidation process, but extensively removed by the anaerobic process. Benzoic acid, benzenepropanoic acid and 2-cyano-3,5-dimethyl-1-hydroxypyrrole, the fourth group, concentration obviously increased in the EC process, but was completely removed in the UASB reactor. The content of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) markedly increased from 0.68% in the leachate to 16.18% in the effluent from the electrochemical oxidation process (EC(effl)). In addition, the degradation rate of organic compounds from the landfill leachate was different in the EC oxidation and anaerobic process.     

渗滤液回流对不同填埋结构甲烷变化规律的影响研究

建立了大型模拟填埋试验装置,研究了渗滤液回流对不同填埋结构甲烷变化规律的影响.每周对填埋气体中甲烷浓度进行监测.结果表明:厌氧填埋中回流操作使甲烷浓度峰值提前了147 d,峰值为59.6%(体积分数,下同);准好氧填埋中回流操作使甲烷浓度峰值提前259 d,峰值为44.7%.回流操作使甲烷产气高峰提前,增加产气量,加快填埋垃圾稳定,减轻渗滤液污染.厌氧填埋中进行回流操作有利于甲烷的回收利用;准好氧填埋结构可有效减少甲烷的排放,减小对环境的危害.稳定期的垃圾填埋体进行回流产生一定的甲烷,但浓度较低,最高仅26.0%,没有利用价值.     

Influence of ultrasonication on anaerobic bioconversion of sludge.

The influence of ultrasonication on hydrolysis, acidogenesis, and methanogenesis in anaerobic decomposition of sludge was investigated. The sonicated sludge exhibited prehydrolysis and preacidogenesis effects in the anaerobic decomposition process. First-order hydrolysis rates increased from 0.0384 day(-1) in the control digester to 0.0672 day(-1) in the digester fed, with sludge sonicated at 0.52 W/mL. The sonication appeared to be ineffective in relation to acidogenesis reaction rates, but it provided a better buffering capacity to diminish the adverse effect of acidification. Digesters fed with sonicated sludge demonstrated enhanced methanogenesis over the control unit. Determination by coenzyme F420 verified that sonication is able to promote the growth of methanogenic biomass and facilitate a positive methanogenic microbial development in suppressing the initial methanogenesis limitation. The results suggest that ultrasonication could enhance anaerobic decomposition of sludge, resulting in an accelerated bioconversion, improved organics degradation, improved biogas production, and increased methane content.     

苯酚的厌氧生物处理

采用不断增加苯酚浓度而降低葡萄糖浓度的方法可驯化厌氧污泥中的微生物,使厌氧污泥最终以苯酚为唯一碳源生长,可显著提高厌氧污泥降解苯酚的能力;对苯酚间歇厌氧降解过程进行了分析。苯酚浓度在0～1.680 mg/L范围内,其厌氧降解过程符合一级动力学。Aiba模型、Haldane模型和Teisser 模型均可很好地描述处于对数期时厌氧污泥的比生长速率与初始底物浓度之间的关系,其中以Teisser 模型模拟的效果最好。将驯化污泥接种于UASB中可实现对含酚废水处理的连续运行,最大的有机负荷达2 g COD/（L·d）,稳定运行时苯酚的去除率可维持在96%以上。     

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。     

UASB启动及不同HRT对老龄垃圾渗滤液处理效果的影响

在UASB反应器中接种好氧污泥培养厌氧颗粒污泥进行启动,研究不同HRT对老龄(13年)垃圾渗滤液对处理效果的影响情况。通过保持进水COD浓度不变、逐步缩短HRT从而提高容积负荷到40 g COD/(L.d)的方法,可以培育出直径为1～3 mm颗粒污泥,最终产气量稳定在100 L/d,甲烷含量在60%～70%之间,COD去除率保持在90%左右,污泥层最底部MLSS为81 g/L。逐步提高HRT依次为6、12、24、48和72 h考察其对处理效果的影响,当HRT为24 h时处理效果最好,COD去除率最高达到35%左右。     

Treatment of food industry waste by bench-scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket-anoxic-aerobic system.

An upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB)-anoxicaerobic system was used for treatment of tomato and bean processing wastewater. At various hydraulic retention times, ranging from 0.7 to 5 days, excellent removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solids (TSS), ammonia-nitrogen (NH4-N), and total Kjeldahl nitrogen was achieved with final effluent BOD/TSS/NH4N concentrations of less than 15/15/1 mg/L. Biogas yield in the UASB reactor varied from 0.33 to 0.44 m3/kgCODremoved. The kinetics of anaerobic treatment were investigated. The yield coefficient was 0.03 gVSS/gCOD; maximum specific growth rate was 0.24 day(-1); Monod half velocity constant was 135 mgCOD/L; and specific substrate utilization rate was 3.25 gCOD/gVSS x d. Nitrification and denitrification kinetics were studied in batch experiments, and the rates were comparable with those in the continuous flow system.     

Carbon/electron source dependence of polychlorinated biphenyl dechlorination pathways for anaerobic granules

The effect of acclimating anaerobic granules from commercial bioreactors with different carbon/electron sources on their ability to reductively dechlorinate a tri-(2,3,4-CB) and heptachlorobiphenyl (2,2',3,3',4,5,6-CB) was studied. The anaerobic granules were first grown in upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors fed with two different mixtures of carbon/electron sources, i.e., propionate/butyrate/methanol and formate/methanol. Differences in dechlorination patterns for 2,2',3,3',4,5,6-CB were observed in batch experiments inoculated with granules from these two sets of UASB reactors. Variation of the carbon/electron source, during the dechlorination process, had no effect on the dechlorination pathway, but the extents and rates of dechlorination were highest for ethanol and formate and lowest for pyruvate fed batches. Pre-acclimation of different anaerobic sludges to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) shortened the lag period, but did not influence the PCB dechlorination pathway. This is the first time that similar acclimation conditions for several anaerobic microbial communities prior to inoculation were reported to yield similar substrate specificities for the reductive dechlorination of specific PCB congeners. This research demonstrates a successful strategy for the development of biocatalysts to serve as the inoculum of partially decontaminated sites in order to provide microorganisms with specificities complementary to those of naturally occurring dechlorinators.     

回灌对垃圾填埋初期渗滤液化学需氧量的影响

通过模拟柱实验 ,研究了回灌对垃圾填埋场初期渗滤液 CODCr的影响。研究结果表明 ,模拟降雨雨水的渗入且无渗滤液回灌的参照柱 ,其渗滤液出水 CODCr最高 ,一般在 70 0 0 0 mg/L 左右 ;模拟渗滤液原液回灌 ,从第 4周起因脂肪酸的积累导致渗滤液的 p H低于 6,从而抑制了微生物的生化反应 ;模拟好氧生物处理后渗滤液的回灌 ,能加速垃圾层 CODCr的溶出和甲烷化阶段的建立 ,且此时渗滤液的 CODCr变化规律符合指数方程 ;当垃圾层建立甲烷化阶段后 ,回灌 CODCr在 2 0 0 0 0 m g/L 左右的渗滤液 ,仍可促使垃圾中有机物迅速转化为气态物     

Comparison of aerobic and anaerobic biotreatment of municipal solid waste

To increase the operating lifetime of landfills and to lower leachate treatment costs, an increasing number of municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills are being managed as either aerobic or anaerobic bioreactors. Landfill gas composition, respiration rates, and subsidence were measured for 400 days in 200-L tanks filled with fresh waste materials to compare the relative effectiveness of the two treatments. Tanks were prepared to provide the following conditions: (1) air injection and leachate recirculation (aerobic), (2) leachate recirculation (anaerobic), and (3) no treatment (anaerobic). Respiration tests on the aerobic wet tank showed a steady decrease in oxygen consumption rates from 1.3 mol/day at 20 days to 0.1 mol/day at 400 days. Aerobic wet tanks produced, on average, 6 mol of carbon dioxide (CO2)/kg of MSW as compared with anaerobic wet tanks, which produced 2.2 mol methane/kg of MSW and 2.0 mol CO2/kg methane. Over the test period, the aerobic tanks settled on average 35%, anaerobic tanks settled 21.7%, and the no-treatment tank settled 7.5%, equivalent to overall mass loss in the corresponding reactors. Aerobic tanks reduced stabilization time and produced negligible odor compared with anaerobic tanks, possibly because of the 2 orders of magnitude lower leachate ammonia levels in the aerobic tank. Both treatment regimes provide the opportunity for disposal and remediation of liquid waste.     

2种UASB的ANAMMOX与反硝化协同作用对比研究

采用2套UASB-ANAMMOX反应器处理垃圾渗滤液,其中反应器2具有生物膜,对反应器在有机环境下的ANAMMOX与反硝化协同作用进行对比研究。在稳定期,反应器1和反应器2对氨氮、亚硝氮、TIN、COD的平均去除率分别为95.7%、95.9%、77.3%、70.3%和97.4%、96.4%、87.2%、74.8%。反应器1对TIN和COD最大容积去除率为112.2和107.7 g/(m3.d),反应器2对TIN和COD最大容积去除率为120.5和119.9 g/(m3.d)。结果表明,过高的负荷会对反应器产生抑制作用,且当抑制产生后协同作用难以恢复到原来水平。在厌氧氨氧化与反硝化协同作用良好时,pH值和碱度均存在特征性变化。总体上,反应器2比反应器1具有更强的厌氧氨氧化与反硝化协同作用和抗负荷冲击能力。     

厌氧条件下序批操作与连续操作对基质利用的影响

研究了在厌氧条件下以葡萄糖为基质的序批操作与连续操作反应器中微生物利用基质的不同途径。结果表明,在连续操作中,反应器内的VFA及污泥中的糖原含量保持不变,葡萄糖被用于产生甲烷和微生物增殖,两者分别占进水COD的79.34%和20.62%。在序批操作中,当进水结束时,50.17%的葡萄糖被转化为糖原储存于细胞体内,反应器内的VFA、产生的甲烷及微生物增殖分别占进水COD的25.05%、11.56%和13.22%;当反应结束时,葡萄糖转化为甲烷和微生物细胞的部分分别占进水COD的78.13%和20.6%,积累的VFA及储存的糖原被微生物代谢。两种不同操作模式下葡萄糖的代谢途径不同,序批式反应器中由于糖原储存的存在,减缓了VFA的积累,为厌氧系统的高效、稳定运行提供了保证。     

Effect of limited aeration on the anaerobic treatment of evaporator condensate from a sulfite pulp mill

Serious inhibition was found in the regular up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor in treating the evaporator condensate from a sulfite pulp mill, which contained high strength sulfur compounds. After applying the direct limited aeration in the UASB, the inhibition was alleviated gradually and the activity of the microorganisms was recovered. The COD removal rate increased from 40% to 80% at the organic loading rate of 8kgCODm(-3)d(-1) and a hydraulic retention time of 12h. Limited aeration caused no oxygen inhibition to the anaerobic microorganisms but instigated sulfide oxidization and H(2)S removal, which was beneficial to the methanogens. The experiment confirmed the feasibility of applying limited aeration in the anaerobic reactor to alleviate the sulfide inhibition. It also proved that the anaerobic system was actually aerotolerant. SEM observation showed that the predominant microorganisms partly changed from rod-shaped methanogens to cocci after the UASB reactor was aerated.     

Comparison of Aerobic and Anaerobic Biotreatment of Municipal Solid Waste

Abstract

To increase the operating lifetime of landfills and to lower leachate treatment costs, an increasing number of municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills are being managed as either aerobic or anaerobic bioreactors. Landfill gas composition, respiration rates, and subsidence were measured for 400 days in 200-L tanks filled with fresh waste materials to compare the relative effectiveness of the two treatments. Tanks were prepared to provide the following conditions: (1) air injection and leachate recirculation (aerobic), (2) leachate recirculation (anaerobic), and (3) no treatment (anaerobic). Respiration tests on the aerobic wet tank showed a steady decrease in oxygen consumption rates from 1.3 mol/day at 20 days to 0.1 mol/day at 400 days. Aerobic wet tanks produced, on average, 6 mol of carbon dioxide (CO₂)/kg of MSW as compared with anaerobic wet tanks, which produced 2.2 mol methane/kg of MSW and 2.0 mol CO₂/kg methane. Over the test period, the aerobic tanks settled on average 35%, anaerobic tanks settled 21.7%, and the no-treatment tank settled 7.5%, equivalent to overall mass loss in the corresponding reactors. Aerobic tanks reduced stabilization time and produced negligible odor compared with anaerobic tanks, possibly because of the 2 orders of magnitude lower leachate ammonia levels in the aerobic tank. Both treatment regimes provide the opportunity for disposal and remediation of liquid waste.     

Microbial activity in a combined UASB-activated sludge reactor system

A combined upflow anaerobic sludge bed-activated sludge (UASB-AS) reactor system with consistently wasting of excess biomass was used to treat suspended-solids pre-settled piggery wastewater (COD=2000 mg l(-1), total Kjeldahl nitrogen TKN=400 mg l(-1), suspended solids=250-400 mg l(-1)). Thus, the activity of nitrogen-related microbial groups in each individual bioreactor was investigated. When the granules retention time (GRT) of 20-50 d in the UASB reactor, the solids retention time (SRT) of 10-25 d in the AS reactor and the recycle-to-influent ratio (Re) of 1 were maintained, the combined system removed 95-97% of chemical oxygen demand (COD), 100% of TKN and 54-55% of total nitrogen (TN). Denitrification and methanogenesis occurred in the UASB reactor so that both biochemical processes contributed to most of the COD removal and, complete nitrification (most of the TKN removal) occurred in the AS reactor. Compact granules with good settling abilities developed in the UASB reactor, and rapid rates of granulation of break-up granules in the UASB reactor were confirmed by experiments. The activity of nitrifiers and denitrifiers (an=0.68-0.87; adn=0.55-0.70) and the calculated specific nitrification and denitrification rates (qn=0.26-0.47 mg NH4+ -N mg VSS(-1)d(-1); qdn=0.046-0.076 mg NOx- -N mg VSS(-1)d(-1)) significantly increased with decreasing SRT and GRT, respectively. Accordingly, the combined UASB-AS reactor system should be regarded a promising alternative for the removal of organic carbon and nitrogen from piggery wastewater.     

Selenium oxyanion inhibition of hydrogenotrophic and acetoclastic methanogenesis

Inhibitory effects of selenite and selenate towards hydrogenotrophic and acetoclastic methanogenesis were evaluated in anaerobic toxicity assays. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) of both selenium oxyanions was below 6.1x10(-5)M in hydrogenotrophic assays, whereas acetoclastic methanogens were less inhibited: IC(50)=8.3x10(-5)M and 5.5x10(-4)M for selenite and selenate, respectively. Selenite completely inhibits methanogenesis from both substrates tested at concentrations 10(-3)M selenite, while only marginal methanogenic activities occur at equimolar concentrations of selenate. Selenite becomes irreversibly inhibitory upon a single exposure, whereas selenate inhibits methanogens upon repeated exposure. Consequently, methane recovery can be seriously hampered or even impossible during anaerobic treatment of highly selenium contaminated waste streams.