Combined anaerobic/aerobic digestion: effect of aerobic retention time on nitrogen and solids removal

A combined anaerobic/aerobic sludge digestion system was studied to determine the effect of aerobic solids retention time (SRT) on its solids and nitrogen removal efficiencies. After the anaerobic digester reached steady state, effluent from the anaerobic digester was fed to aerobic digesters that were operated at 2- to 5-day SRTs. The anaerobic system was fed with a mixture of primary and secondary sludge from a local municipal wastewater treatment plant. Both systems were fed once per a day. The aerobic reactor was continuously aerated with ambient air, maintaining dissolved oxygen level at 1.1 +/- 0.3 mg/L. At a 4-day or longer SRT, more than 11% additional volatile solids and 90% or greater ammonia were removed in the aerobic digester, while 32.8 mg-N/L or more nitrite/nitrate also was measured. Most total Kjeldahl nitrogen removal was via ammonia removal, while little organic nitrogen was removed in the aerobic digester.     

Occurrence and fate of alkylphenols and alkylphenol ethoxylates in sewage treatment plants and impact on receiving waters along the Ter River (Catalonia, NE Spain)

The partitioning of alkylphenols in the dissolved and particulate matter of influents, effluents, accumulation onto sludge and the impact of sewage treatment plant upon receiving waters was studied along the Ter River basin (Catalonia, NE Spain). A solid-phase extraction or pressurized liquid extraction followed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was developed and permitted to determine target compounds with high efficiency in waters, particulate material and sludge. Nonylphenol mono- and diethoxylate, nonylphenol and octylphenol partitioned preferably upon particulate matter and sludge, whereas long chain NPE(3-15)O prevailed in the dissolved phase and was released by effluents. Within the treatment process, a net accumulation of alkylphenols in sludge was found, producing up to 148g/t/month. The removal efficiency of alkylphenols was of 37-90% and depended on the treatment. Assessment on the fate of these contaminants within STPs is discussed in terms of flow rates, biological oxygen demand and tons of sludge produced.     

Comparative mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic digestion of palm oil mill effluent using upflow anaerobic sludge blanket

The effects of organic loading rate and operating temperature on the microbial diversity and performances of upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors treating palm oil mill effluent (POME) were investigated. The following two UASB reactors were run in parallel for comparison: (1) under a mesophilic condition (37 degrees C) and (2) under a mesophilic condition in transition to a thermophilic condition (57 degrees C). A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis showed that the microbial population profiles significantly changed with the organic loading rate (OLR) and the temperature transition from the mesophilic to the thermophilic condition. Significant biomass washout was observed for the mesophilic UASB when operating at a high organic loading rate (OLR) of 9.5 g chemical oxygen demand (COD)/L.d. In contrast, the thermophilic UASB can be operated at this OLR and at a temperature of 57 degrees C with satisfactory COD removal and biogas production. The PCR-based DGGE analysis suggested that the thermophilic temperature of 57 degrees C was suitable for a number of hydrolytic, acidogenic, and acetogenic bacteria.     

厌氧-立体循环一体化氧化沟除磷脱氮工艺中影响厌氧释磷的因素研究

本研究考察了厌氧-立体循环一体化氧化沟工艺(AN-IODVC)中厌氧释磷效果及诸影响因素.研究结果表明,AN-IODVC除磷脱氮系统中好氧污泥的VSS/MLSS值比厌氧污泥小,好氧污泥含磷量与厌氧污泥含磷量的差值和TP去除率、厌氧磷释放率及厌氧ORP呈良好的线性相关关系.厌氧磷释放的最佳条件为:污水COD/TP＞55,维持厌氧区ORP低于-400mV.     

Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification in an aerobic reactor with granular sludge originating from an upflow anaerobic sludge bed reactor.

Anaerobic granular sludge, obtained from an upflow anaerobic sludge bed reactor at a brewery waste treatment station, was cultured for 3 months under aeration conditions until the diameter of sludge was in the range 1.8 to 2.6 mm. The aerobic granular sludge gathered acquired the ability of catalyzing simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) and was applied in the study of the process of nitrogen removal in a bioreactor. The ratio between chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonium-nitrogen (NH4(+)-N) concentration in the influent was found to be an important factor influencing the process of SND. The final percentage removal of NH4(+)-N reached 100% under the optimal condition of 500 mg/L COD and 0.39 NH4(+)-N/COD. Intermediate products, such as nitrite-nitrogen and nitrate-nitrogen, were also analyzed to clarify the SND process with the aerobic granular sludge.     

壬基酚聚氧乙烯醚在印染废水处理工艺中的去除研究

为减少印染助剂壬基酚聚氧乙烯醚(nonylphenol ethoxylates,NPEO)及其降解产物壬基酚(nonylphenol,NP)随印染废水进入水体造成的不利环境影响,对2种常规印染废水处理净水工艺处理含NPEO的模拟印染废水效率开展了研究。研究发现,结合厌氧水解和曝气氧化的生物处理工艺能迅速地将废水中NPEO去除,去除率达到90%以上,但排水中残余一定含量的NP、短链NPEO和短链壬基酚聚氧乙烯醚酸酯(nonylphenol polyethoxycarboxylate,NPEC),在减少排水中NP、短链NPEO和短链NPEC浓度方面,接触氧化法比活性污泥法效果更好。排水中的NP和短链NPEO来自厌氧水解阶段长链NPEO的降解;减少排水中NP、短链NPEO需要减少厌氧水解阶段产生的短链NPEO。     

Laboratory-scale comparison of anaerobic-digestion alternatives.

Laboratory-scale digesters were used to perform side-by-side evaluations of alternative digestion systems including thermophilic-mesophilic-phased digestion (TPAD), acid/methane-phased digestion, mesophilic digestion, and the performance of the thermophilic stage of TPAD alone. Total detention times in the systems evaluated varied from 8 to 20 days. Temperatures in the mesophilic stage of TPAD were varied from 35 to 43.3 degrees C and temperatures in the thermophilic stage were varied from 55 to 58.9 degrees C. The purpose of the study was to evaluate volatile solids (VS) reduction and thickening properties of the different systems. Parameters evaluated included solids, volatile acids, gas production and quality, various chemical constituents of the sludge, and thickening properties using polymer and ferric chloride plus polymer. The TPAD systems were found capable of higher VS destruction at total detention times of 10 and 12.5 days compared to single-stage mesophilic or thermophilic digestion at 15 to 20 days. A laboratory-scale thickening test was performed to evaluate thickening properties. Based on obtaining 95% capture in the test, the polymer demand of mesophilic and acid-methane-phased digestion was the lowest. The TPAD system required approximately 180% of the dosage of the mesophilic sludge and thermophilic sludge required approximately 310% of the dosage. Temperatures of 40.5 and 43.3 degrees C in the mesophilic stage of TPAD were found to increase the polymer requirement and decrease the VS reduction of the TPAD system. Higher temperatures (above 56.1 degrees C) and lower detention times (less than 15 days) in the thermophilic digesters seemed to result in problems with degradation of volatile acids, particularly propionic acid.     

Overview of anaerobic treatment: thermophilic and propionate implications.

Difficulties in achieving low propionate concentrations in anaerobically treated effluents are frequently reported in the literature (Ahring, 1994; Kugelman and Guida, 1989; Rimkus et al., 1982), especially at thermophilic temperatures, with concentrations as high as 1000 to 9600 mg/L sometimes produced. This paper will detail the effect of several variables on the performance of both mesophilic and thermophilic regimes. Studies concerning the effect of the following four important factors on performance are included: reactor configuration, inorganic nutrient supplementation, substrate characteristics, and the unique role of microbial consortia proximity in enhancing performance. Reactor configuration modifications, essential nutrient additions, and the importance of close microbial proximity were all found to contribute to improvement in thermophilic anaerobic digestion in all the studies. It was found that, in substrates that shunt significant amounts of the electron donor through propionate, performance was critically related to reactor optimization, with propionate removal efficiency considerably improved using intact upflow anaerobic sludge blanket granules, less so in a homogenized granule slurry blanket, and noticeably reduced even more when the completely stirred reactor configuration of homogenized granules was used. The critical importance of extremely close microbial consortia proximity in maintaining hydrogen intermediates at very low levels to efficiently convert propionate to hydrogen and acetate was demonstrated. Compared to mesophilic digestion, thermophilic digestion manifested elevated levels of propionate, except in the nonmixed reactors, which had close microbial consortia proximity. The reactor configuration with the best results was the anaerobic digestion elutriated phased treatment (ADEPT) scheme, in which the raw sludge was elutriated of its fermenting volatile fatty acids, as they are generated in a short 5- to 8-day solids retention time (SRT) in one reactor and the elutriate then metabolized by passing up through a methanogenic granule or slurry blanket (with its close microbial consortia proximity) in a separate reactor with a 20- to 50-day SRT. Loading rates and performance of the ADEPT reactor configuration were superior to the standard continuously stirred tank reactor, and ADEPT thermophilic temperatures allowed higher organic loading rates without high propionate concentrations in the effluent.     

厌氧氨氧化菌接种污泥的选择培养过程研究

厌氧氨氧化菌的2种不同接种污泥培养实验表明,厌氧消化污泥和好氧硝化污泥均可成功启动厌氧氨氧化过程.接种厌氧消化污泥比好氧硝化污泥培养的厌氧氨氧化菌启动快,但后者去除效果较好.接种好氧硝化污泥的反应器的厌氧氨氧化速率随着氨氮基质进水浓度的增加呈线性增加.进水氨氮浓度为280 mg/L时的氨氮平均去除率达91%;而接种厌氧消化污泥的相应氨氮平均去除率仅为52%.厌氧氨氧化过程以接种好氧硝化污泥来启动为宜.     

Removal of organic compounds during treating printing and dyeing wastewater of different process units

Wastewater in Shaoxing wastewater treatment plant (SWWTP) is composed of more than 90% dyeing and printing wastewater with high pH and sulfate. Through a combination process of anaerobic acidogenic [hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 15h], aerobic (HRT of 20h) and flocculation-precipitation, the total COD removal efficiency was up to 91%. But COD removal efficiency in anaerobic acidogenic unit was only 4%. As a comparison, the COD removal efficiency was up to 35% in the pilot-scale upflow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) reactor (HRT of 15h). GC-MS analysis showed that the response abundance of these wastewater samples decreased with their removal of COD. A main component of the raw influent was long-chain n-alkanes. The final effluent of SWWTP had only four types of alkanes. After anaerobic unit at SWWTP, the mass percentage of total alkanes to total organic compounds was slightly decreased while its categories increased. But in the UASB, alkanes categories could be removed by 75%. Caffeine as a chemical marker could be detected only in the effluent of the aerobic process. Quantitative analysis was given. These results demonstrated that GC-MS analysis could provide an insight to the measurement of organic compounds removal.     

酸性媒介黄GG生物降解性能的试验研究

通过试验研究酸性媒介黄GG染料在厌氧、好氧条件下的生物降解机理、降解能力及共代谢降解效果。试验结果表明，厌氧菌能够通过葡萄糖共代谢作用很快降解酸性媒介黄GG；而好氧条件下经驯化活性污泥不能降解酸性媒介黄GG，经过较长时间驯化活性污泥能降解酸性媒介黄GG，但降解效果很差。葡萄糖浓度的升高对提高酸性媒介黄GG厌氧生物降解率有利，当葡萄糖浓度为2000mg／L时，40mg／L酸性媒介黄GC的12和60h厌氧生物降解率分别达到81．5％和93．5％。酸性媒介黄GG浓度对厌氧菌的生物降解能力也有影响。当葡萄糖浓度为2000mg／L，酸性媒介黄GG（浓度为20～100mg／L）的厌氧降解率最好，降解效率达到了94％，说明厌氧菌对酸性媒介黄GG的降解能力较好。     

Biodegradation of phthalate esters during the mesophilic anaerobic digestion of sludge

Phthalic acid esters (PAE) are commonly found in the sludge generated in the wastewater treatment plants. Anaerobic digestion followed by land application is a common treatment and disposal practice of sludge. To date, many studies exist on the anaerobic biodegradation rates of PAE, especially of the easily biodegradable ones, whereas the higher molecular weight PAE have reported to be non-biodegradable under methanogenic conditions. Furthermore, there is no information on the effect of the PAE on the performance of the anaerobic digesters treating sludge. In this study, the anaerobic biodegradation of di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), di-ethyl phthalate (DEP) and di-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) was investigated and their relative rates of anaerobic degradation were calculated. Also, the biological removal of PAE during the anaerobic digestion of sludge in bench-scale digesters was investigated using DBP and DEHP as model compounds of one biodegradable and one recalcitrant PAE respectively. The degradation of all the PAE tested in this study (DEP, DBP and DEHP) is adequately described by first-order kinetics. Batch and continuous experiments showed that DEP and DBP present in sludge are rapidly degraded under mesophilic anaerobic conditions (a first-order kinetic constant of 8.04 x 10(-2) and 13.69 x 10(-2)-4.35 day(-1) respectively) while DEHP is degraded at a rate between one to two orders of magnitude lower (0.35 x 10(-2)-3.59 x 10(-2) day(-1)). It is of high significance that experiments with anaerobic sludge of different origin (US and Europe) showed that degradation of DEHP occurs under methanogenic conditions. Accumulation of high levels of DEHP (more than 60 mg/l) in the anaerobic digester has a negative effect on DBP and DEHP removal rates as well as on the biogas production.     

Anaerobic degradation behavior of nonylphenol polyethoxylates in sludge

Anaerobic biodegradation behavior of nonylphenol polyethoxylates (NPEOs) was investigated. Results showed that terminal electron acceptors, organic matters, initial concentration, and temperature had great influence on the anaerobic biodegradation of NPEOs. Anaerobic biodegradation of NPEOs could be enhanced by adding sulfate or nitrate while this process could be inhibited by adding organic matters. The maximum removal rate increased 1.24 microM d(-1) for each ten micromoles increase in initial concentration. The decrease in temperature caused a sharp decrease in the removal efficiency of NPEOs. The temperature coefficient (PHI) for the anaerobic biodegradation of NPEOs was 0.01 degrees C(-1). Nonylphenol (NP), the typical intermediate of NPEOs, could inhibit the anaerobic biodegradation of NPEOs only at high concentration. However, these environmental factors had no effect on the anaerobic biodegradation pathway of NPEOs. The accumulation of NP and short-chain NPEOs during NPEO biodegradation led to a significant increase in the estrogenic activity during the biodegradation period.     

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.     

臭氧预处理—厌氧消化工艺促进剩余污泥减量化的研究

主要研究了臭氧氧化对剩余污泥的破解效果及污泥厌氧消化效率的影响.结果表明,随着臭氧投加量的增加,悬浮物(SS)、可挥发性悬浮物(VSS)逐步减少,而剩余污泥上清液中的溶解性COD(SCOD)、总有机碳(TOC)、蛋白质和多糖则明显增加.经臭氧预处理(臭氧投加量为0.050 g(以每克SS计))后,剩余污泥中温(35℃)厌氧消化效率明显提高,经65d稳定运行后,总挥发性固体(TVS)去除率为67.58％,与未经臭氧预处理的剩余污泥相比提高50.61％;甲烷平均产率为0.303 L(以每克TVS计),与未经臭氧预处理的剩余污泥相比提高54.59％.可见,臭氧预处理能有效促进污泥厌氧消化,从而达到污泥减量的目的.     

The partitioning of alkylphenolic surfactants and polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants in activated sludge batch tests

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers and nonylphenol polyethoxylates have been reported to be estrogenic and may enter the aquatic environment through the discharge of treated sewage effluent. Therefore, their fate during wastewater treatment processes is an important factor in determining their environmental impact. Batch tests with activated sludge from a Husmann apparatus were used to determine the effects of physico-chemical properties and sludge characteristics on the partitioning of polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants and nonylphenol polyethoxylate surfactants during biological wastewater treatment. Hydrophobic compounds, those with high logK(ow) values, were sorbed more rapidly and to a greater extent to the solid phase than more soluble compounds. For these hydrophobic compounds sorption may become an increasingly important removal mechanism as sludge age and therefore solids content increase. The initial rate of partitioning was greatest for the most hydrophobic compounds but all rates diminished with time as a result of progressive saturation of sorbent binding sites, a reduction of sorbate availability and as a consequence of the system reaching equilibrium. The sorption of polybrominated diphenyl ethers fit Freundlich adsorption isotherms demonstrating generally increasing adsorption capacity and efficiency with increasing hydrophobic nature. A correlation between increasing logK(ow) and increasing organic matter content was also observed for both polybrominated diphenyl ethers and nonylphenol polyethoxylates indicating the organic content of mixed liquor will also be influential in removing compounds during wastewater treatment.     

Performance evaluation of a 'sequential-batch' temperature-phased anaerobic digestion (TPAD) scheme for producing Class A biosolids.

Laboratory studies were conducted to evaluate the performance and operational stability of a Temperature-Phased Anaerobic Digestion (TPAD) system modified to operate in the sequential-batch mode. The system fed with a 40:60 mixture (dry weight) of primary sludge (PS) and waste activated sludge (WAS) at 5.5% solids showed stable performance with minimum variation in operational parameters such as biogas production, VFA to alkalinity ratio, pH, and foam accumulation at system retention times as short as 12 days. The maximum volatile solids removal (VSR) of 52.5% was achieved at a system retention time of 16 days. The system did not show any effects of "shock loading" at the retention times studied and outperformed a "conventional" mesophilic system operated at a longer retention time. The system was effective in reducing the densities of pathogenic indicator organisms in the biosolids to levels lower than those specified by U.S. EPA for Class A designation.     

Performance and stability of two-stage anaerobic digestion.

The stability, capacity, and solids destruction efficiency of single versus two-stage anaerobic digestion was studied in bench-scale reactors using combined waste activated and primary sludge. Laboratory staged mesophilic digesters showed an improved volatile solids and volatile suspended solids destruction efficiency over a single-stage system (at the same total solids retention time [SRT]) of approximately 3.2 and 5.8 percentage points, respectively. To quantify stability and capacity, a new digester monitoring method was introduced that measured the digester maximum acetate utilization capacity, V(max,ac), and was used to investigate the potential for digester instability at different transient loadings. The ratio of the V(max,ac) value to the estimated acetate production rate for a given digester loading was termed the acetate capacity number (ACN). Values greater than 1.0 indicate excess acetate utilization capacity. The first stage of the laboratory two-stage mesophilic system (10-day SRT for each stage) had an ACN number of 1.3 compared with a value of 1.8 for the single-stage 20-day SRT digester. Thus, while a staged mesophilic system can improve solids destruction efficiency, it demonstrates a lower capacity for metabolizing highly variable loads.     

Aerobic thermophilic treatment of sewage sludge contaminated with 4-nonylphenol

4-Nonylphenol (4-NP) occurs in sewage sludge as a result of the breakdown of detergents which contains nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs). 4-NP is of environmental concern because of its toxicity to biological systems. The present paper reports results of aerobic treatment under thermophilic conditions of sewage sludge artificially contaminated with 4-NP. Experiments were carried out using three parallel laboratory-scale batch reactors operating with blank, 50 and 100 mg/l of 4-NP concentration. For the two studied concentrations up to 66% 4-NP reduction was achieved at a specific air flow rate of 16 l/(l.h) and a thermophilic temperature of 60 degrees C, within 10 days of operation. The presence of 4-NP has minor effect on the rate of sludge oxidation and the nitrogen and phosphorous content in the sludge.