The behaviors and fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a coking wastewater treatment plant

The occurrence, behaviors and fate of 18 PAHs were investigated in a coking wastewater treatment plant in Songshan coking plant, located in Shaoguan, Guangdong Province of China. It was found that the target compounds occurred widely in raw coking wastewater, treated effluent, sludge and gas samples. In raw coking wastewater, high molecular weight (MW) PAHs were the dominant compounds, while 3-6 ring PAHs predominated in the final effluent. The dominant compounds in gas samples were phenathrene, fluoranthene and pyrene, while they were fluoranthene, pyrene, chrysene and benzo[k]fluoranthene for sludge. The process achieved over 97% removal for all the PAHs, 47-92% of eliminations of these target compounds in liquid phase were achieved in biological stage. Different behaviors of PAHs were observed in the primary tank, anaerobic tank, aerobic tank, hydrolytic tank and coagulation tank units, while heavier and lower ones were mainly removed in anaerobic tank and aerobic tanks, respectively. Regarding the fate of PAHs, calculated fractions of mass losses for low MW PAHs due to transformation and adsorption to sludge accounted for 15-50% and 24-49%, respectively, while the rest was less than 1%. For high MW PAHs, the mass losses were mainly due to adsorption to sludge and separation with tar (contributing 56-76% and 22-39%, respectively), and the removal through transformation was less.     

Biodegradation of triclosan and formation of methyl-triclosan in activated sludge under aerobic conditions

Triclosan is an antimicrobial agent which is widely used in household and personal care products. Widespread use of this compound has led to the elevated concentrations of triclosan in wastewater, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and receiving waters. Removal of triclosan and formation of triclosan-methyl was investigated in activated sludge from a standard activated sludge WWTP equipped with enhanced biological phosphorus removal. The removal was found to occur mainly under aerobic conditions while under anoxic (nitrate reducing) and anaerobic conditions rather low removal rates were determined. In a laboratory-scale activated sludge reactor 75% of the triclosan was removed under aerobic conditions within 150 h, while no removal was observed under anaerobic or anoxic conditions. One percent of the triclosan was converted to triclosan-methyl under aerobic conditions, less under anoxic (nitrate reducing) and none under anaerobic conditions.     

Immobilized cell augmented activated sludge process for enhanced nitrogen removal from wastewater.

The immobilized cell augmented activated sludge (ICAAS) system combines a cell immobilization technique and an offline enricher-reactor for the bioaugmentation of the activated sludge system to improve treatment performances. In this study, enhanced nitrogen removal using ICAAS was investigated. Laboratory-scale, offline, batch enricher-reactors were used to maintain nitrification and denitrification activities of coimmobilized nitrifiers and denitrifiers used to augment a laboratory-scale completely mixed activated sludge system (CMAS) treating synthetic wastewater. Cellulose triacetate was the media used to entrap nitrifiers and denitrifiers at a 2:1 mass ratio. The ICAAS augmented with the coimmobilized cells between 5 and 20% by volume gained 24 +/- 5% higher nitrogen removal than a control CMAS, which provided nitrogen removal of 28 +/- 7%. The ICAAS scheme is a viable alternative for upgrading existing activated sludge systems to gain better nitrogen removal. .     

The removal of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the wastewater treatment process: experimental calculations and model predictions

The removal of PAHs during the wastewater treatment process was examined in an activated sludge mode conventional facility. Concentrations reported are taken from an earlier measuring campaign. Removals of PAHs ranged between 28 and 67% in the primary, <1-61% in the secondary stage, and 37-89% in the whole process. Significant positive relationships were observed for removal efficiencies and the log K(ow) of PAHs in the primary and the log K(H) of PAHs in the secondary stage. Experimental removals were compared to those obtained from the FATE model. In the primary stage, predicted removals were lower than those experimentally calculated while in the secondary stage were higher. Predicted removals were apportioned mainly to sorption with negligible contribution from volatilization and biodegradation. Remarkable consistency between experimental and modeled removal efficiencies (-20-+20%) was observed for almost all PAHs in the whole treatment process.     

Occurrence and fate of heavy metals in the wastewater treatment process

The occurrence and the fate of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Mn, Cu, Zn, Fe and Ni) during the wastewater treatment process were investigated in the wastewater treatment plant (WTP) of the city of Thessaloniki, northern Greece, operating in the activated sludge mode. For this purpose, wastewater and sludge samples were collected from six different points of the plant, namely, the influent (raw wastewater, RW), the effluent of the primary sedimentation tank (primary sedimentation effluent, PSE), the effluent of the secondary sedimentation tank (secondary sedimentation effluent, SSE), sludge from the primary sedimentation tank (primary sludge, PS), activated sludge from the recirculation stream (activated sludge, AS), and the digested/dewatered sludge (final sludge, FS).

The distribution of metals between the aqueous and the solid phase of wastewater was investigated. Good exponential correlation was found between the metal partition coefficient, logK_p, and the suspended solids concentration. The mass balance of heavy metals in the primary, secondary and the whole treatment process showed good closures for all metal species. The relative distribution of individual heavy metals in the treated effluent and the sludge streams indicated that Mn and Cu are primarily (>70%) accumulated in the sludge, while 47–63% of Cd, Cr, Pb, Fe, Ni and Zn remain in the treated effluent.     

水解酸化-厌氧-好氧法处理NF合成制药废水研究

研究了序批式水解酸化 厌氧 好氧生物处理工艺对NF合成制药废水的处理。由于NF制药废水中含有大量有毒有机化合物 ,在生物处理过程中这些有毒物质会抑制活性污泥的活性 ,因此需经过适当稀释原水以达到处理单元可接受的毒性范围。采用BODTrack快速测定了不同原水稀释条件下活性污泥呼吸曲线第一段斜率的变化 ,结果表明 ,当原水稀释 2 0倍以上后 ,对活性污泥的活性没有明显的抑制。通过批量实验 ,优化了工艺的运行条件 ,并进行了小试的连续运行。采用本工艺可以达到NF制药废水COD的稳定高效去除 ,结果显示 ,COD的去除率可达 76 %。     

纳米银和银离子对活性污泥系统污染物去除效率的影响

纳米银(silver nanoparticle,AgNPs)及所释放Ag+的毒性会对污水生物处理系统中的微生物造成影响,降低系统对污染物的去除效率。基于此,对表面包被聚乙烯吡咯烷酮的AgNPs在纯水和人工污水中的形貌、粒径分布、表面电位等进行了表征,以序批式反应器(sequencing batch reactor,SBR)模拟活性污泥污水处理系统,在进水中分别添加1 mg·L−1、10 mg·L−1 AgNPs和0.3 mg·L−1、3.0 mg·L−1 Ag+后,SBR连续运行50 d,考察了活性污泥系统污染物去除率的动态变化。结果表明：AgNPs在人工污水中易团聚,AgNPs浓度越高,团聚现象越明显;进水中添加10 mg·L−1 AgNPs可显著降低SBR对COD、${{\rm{NH}}_4^ + }$-N及${{\rm{PO}}_4^{3 - }}$的去除率,其抑制效应主要来自于AgNPs本身而不是其释放的Ag+;添加1 mg·L−1 AgNPs和0.3 mg·L−1、3.0 mg·L−1 Ag+对活性污泥系统去除COD有抑制效应,但COD去除率仍高于60%,可以满足城镇污水处理厂污染物排放一级A标准(GB 18918-2002);添加1 mg·L−1 AgNPs可显著抑制活性污泥系统对${{\rm{PO}}_4^{3 - }}$的去除;进水中分别添加1 mg·L−1、10 mg·L−1 AgNPs和0.3 mg·L−1、3.0 mg·L−1 Ag+对SBR出水中${{\rm{NO}}_2^ -} $-N和${{\rm{NO}}_3^ -} $-N去除率没有影响。鉴于目前进入城镇污水处理系统中AgNPs的浓度远低于1 mg·L−1,故AgNPs对活性污泥污水处理系统中污染物的去除没有显著抑制效应。     

Mass flows of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in central wastewater treatment plants of industrial zones in Thailand

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are fully fluorinated organic compounds, which have been used in many industrial processes and have been detected in wastewater and sludge from municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) around the world. This study focused on the occurrences of PFCs and PFCs mass flows in the industrial wastewater treatment plants, which reported to be the important sources of PFCs. Surveys were conducted in central wastewater treatment plant in two industrial zones in Thailand. Samples were collected from influent, aeration tank, secondary clarifier effluent, effluent and sludge. The major purpose of this field study was to identify PFCs occurrences and mass flow during industrial WWTP. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) coupled with HPLC-ESI-MS/MS were used for the analysis. Total 10 PFCs including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluoropropanoic acid (PFPA), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluoronanoic acid (PFNA), perfluordecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA), and perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA) were measured to identify their occurrences. PFCs were detected in both liquid and solid phase in most samples. The exceptionally high level of PFCs was detected in the treatment plant of IZ1 and IZ2 ranging between 662-847 ng L⁻¹ and 674-1383 ng L⁻¹, respectively, which greater than PFCs found in most domestic wastewater. Due to PFCs non-biodegradable property, both WWTPs were found ineffective in removing PFCs using activated sludge processes. Bio-accumulation in sludge could be the major removal mechanism of PFCs in the process. The increasing amount of PFCs after activated sludge processes were identified which could be due to the degradation of PFCs precursors. PFCs concentration found in the effluent were very high comparing to those in river water of the area. Industrial activity could be the one of major sources of PFCs contamination in the water environment.     

反硝化聚磷菌群的培养驯化

以污水处理厂二沉池的活性污泥为种泥,采用SBR反应器初步完成了反硝化聚磷菌(DPB)的培养与驯化.在第1阶段的30 d里,污泥进行了厌氧-好氧驯化,聚磷菌好氧吸磷最终可基本稳定在85%左右,然后转变驯化条件进行第2阶段的厌氧-缺氧驯化,60 d后磷的去除率稳定在70%左右.通过实验得出,硝酸盐的消耗量与磷的吸收量基本呈线性关系,认为系统基本完成了污泥的驯化.     

The concentrations and distribution of polycyclic musks in a typical cosmetic plant

Polycyclic musks [cashmeran (DPMI), celestolide (ADBI), phantolide (AHMI), traseolide (ATII), tonalide (AHTN) and galaxolide (HHCB)] in the air, wastewater, sludge samples of a typical cosmetic plant were analyzed. DPMI, ADBI, HHCB and AHTN were found in all samples, and ATII was not found in any sample. HHCB and AHTN were the major components in all samples. The polycyclic musk concentrations were very high in the air of the cosmetic plant, and polycyclic musks were mostly contained in the gas phase at the percentage of 86.35-97.70%. Average polycyclic musk concentrations in effluent were high, and ranged from 0.62 to 32.06 microgl-1. The removal efficiency during the active sludge wastewater treatment was also high, resulting from the adsorption of those compounds into the sludge. So the polycyclic musk concentrations were very high in the primary sludge and second sludge, and ranged from 1.78 to 92.45 mgkg-1 (dry), and from 2.87 to 65.67 mgkg-1 (dry), respectively. Results suggested that the sludge needed to be further treated to make polycyclic musks less influence to the environment.     

甜菜碱对肝素钠废水好氧处理的影响

肝素钠废水因含高钠盐而导致其生物处理效率受到较大程度的抑制,对于如何改善高盐下的生物处理效率已成为目前研究的热点。针对SBR工艺处理高盐肝素钠生产废水的好氧生物处理过程,以污泥对有机物、氨氮的去除效率为要点,探讨了甜菜碱对活性污泥性能的影响效果。实验结果表明,(1)当稳定的好氧处理系统受到高钠盐冲击时,投加甜菜碱,TOC的去除率能提高9%~22%,氨氮的去除率能提高9%~16%;(2)当甜菜碱添加浓度为1 mmol/L(即117 mg/L)时,系统污泥性能的改善效果最好,TOC的去除率提高了15.3%,氨氮的去除率提高了18.7%;(3)甜菜碱的一次性添加对活性污泥性能的影响存在一定的持续性,持续时间约为6 d。     

Co-treatment of acid mine drainage with municipal wastewater: performance evaluation

Co-treatment of acid mine drainage (AMD) with municipal wastewater (MWW) using the activated sludge process is a novel treatment technology offering potential savings over alternative systems in materials, proprietary chemicals and energy inputs. The impacts of AMD on laboratory-scale activated sludge units (plug-flow and sequencing batch reactors) treating synthetic MWW were investigated. Synthetic AMD containing Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn and SO₄ at a range of concentrations and pH values was formulated to simulate three possible co-treatment processes, i.e., (1) adding raw AMD to the activated sludge aeration tank, (2) pre-treating AMD prior to adding to the aeration tank by mixing with digested sludge and (3) pre-treating AMD by mixing with screened MWW. Continuous AMD loading to the activated sludge reactors during co-treatment did not cause a significant decrease in chemical oxygen demand (COD), 5-day biochemical oxygen demand, or total organic carbon removal; average COD removal rates ranged from 87–93 %. Enhanced phosphate removal was observed in reactors loaded with Fe- and Al-rich AMD, with final effluent TP concentrations <2 mg/L. Removal rates for dissolved Al, Cu, Fe and Pb were 52–84 %, 47–61 %, 74–86 % and 100 %, respectively, in both systems. Manganese and Zn removal were strongly linked to acidity; removal from net-acidic AMD was <10 % for both metals, whereas removal from circum-neutral AMD averaged 93–95 % for Mn and 58–90 % for Zn. Pre-mixing with screened MWW was the best process option in terms of AMD neutralization and metal removal. However, significant MWW alkalinity was consumed, suggesting an alkali supplement may be necessary.     

Hybrid process for heavy metal removal from wastewater sludge.

Bioleaching processes have been demonstrated to be effective technologies in removing heavy metals from wastewater sludge, but long hydraulic retention times are typically required to operate these bioprocesses. A hybrid process (coupling biological and chemical processes) has been explored in laboratory pilot-scale experiments for heavy metals (cadmium [Cd], copper [Cu], chromium [Cr], and zinc [Zn]) removal from three types of sludge (primary sludge, secondary activated sludge, and a mixture of primary and secondary sludge). The hybrid process consisted of producing a concentrate ferric ion solution followed by chemical treatment of sludges. Ferric iron solution was produced biologically via oxidation of ferrous iron by A. ferrooxidans in a continuous-flow stirred tank (5.2 L) reactor (CSTR). Wastewater sludge filtrate (WSF) containing nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) has been used as culture media to support the growth and activity of indigenous iron-oxidizing bacteria. Results showed that total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations of the culture media in excess of 235 mg/L were found to be inhibitory to bacterial growth. The oxidation rate increased as ferrous iron concentrations ranged from 10 to 40 g Fe2+/L. The percentage of ferrous iron (Fe2+) oxidized to ferric iron (Fe3+) increased as the hydraulic retention time (HRT) increased from 12 to 48 h. Successful and complete Fe2+ oxidation was recorded at a HRT of 48 h using 10 g Fe2+/L. Subsequently, ferric ion solution produced by A. ferrooxidans in sludge filtrate was used to solubilize heavy metals contained in wastewater sludge. The best solubilization was obtained with a mixture of primary and secondary sludge, demonstrating a removal efficiency of 63, 71, 49, and 80% for Cd, Cu, Cr, and Zn, respectively.     

活性污泥吸附联合发酵产酸资源化回收污水碳源

利用活性污泥源头吸附回收污水中的有机碳源,然后进行厌氧发酵产酸,可以改变污水碳源在传统工艺中的迁移与转化途径。研究结果表明,本工艺大大提高了有机碳源的利用率,降低了后续水解释碳成本。在30 min内,活性污泥对污水COD、氨氮和总磷的吸附去除率分别达到69%、57%和58.2%。热碱水解（t=90℃,pH=11）能够实现吸附碳源污泥（富碳污泥）中有机物的快速释放,水解污泥上清液中COD、溶解性蛋白质和溶解性多糖含量分别达到8 173.8、1 508.8和1 936.0 mg·L-1。将获得的有机物进行厌氧发酵产酸,挥发性有机酸总量达到6 025.4 mg·L-1,与普通活性污泥相比,提高了27.7%;但是有机酸的组成和发酵所需时间变化不大。本研究结果为污水处理厂节能降耗以及污泥资源化处理处置提供参考。     

污泥活性炭对次甲基蓝废水的吸附

立足于污泥的资源化,利用化学活化法制得的污泥基活性炭,处理次甲基蓝染料废水.考察了污泥活性炭的粒径以及染料废水的pH值对染料脱色效果以及活性炭的吸附量的影响,并对吸附过程进行等温吸附线和吸附动力学分析.结果表明,在本研究的范围内,污泥活性炭的粒径越小、染料废水的pH值越高,则污泥活性炭对染料废水的吸附效果越好.当粒径在200目以上时,去除率及吸附量分别为88.2％和136.7 mg/g;当pH值为11时,去除率和吸附量分别为90.4％和91.9 mg/g.污泥活性炭对次甲基蓝染料的吸附脱除符合Langmuir吸附等温线和Lagergren准二级动力学方程.     

Sample storage and extraction efficiencies in determination of polycyclic and nitro musks in sewage sludge

Analytical technology is continuously improving, developing better methods for isolating and concentrating trace compounds in environmental samples. Polycyclic and nitro musks (PNMs) are one group of emerging trace compounds detected in municipal wastewater. Differences in sample storage, preparation, and extraction methods for their measurement have led to variability in results. We analyzed 11 PNMs by GC/MS and compared the results of different storage times and extraction methods (supercritical fluid (SFE) or microwave-assisted (MAE)) for 202 samples of primary sludge, waste activated sludge (WAS), raw sludge, and aerobically/anaerobically digested biosolids collected from Canadian municipal wastewater treatment plants. Sixty-three air-dried samples were extracted by SFE, and 139 air-dried, centrifuged, or filtered samples were extracted by MAE. The mean surrogate recoveries were 89% (standard deviation (SD)=11%) for d(10)-anthracene by SFE and 88% (SD=14%) for d(10)-phenanthrene by MAE. Storage study results showed that PNM concentrations changed by a mean of 7% and 9% for primary sludge and WAS respectively after four weeks and decreased up to 25% after 13.5 months of storage in amber glass containers at -18 degrees C. Air-drying of sludge at room temperature caused losses of about 50% of PNM concentrations compared to centrifugation. The proportions of PNMs present in the liquid phase of sludge samples were less than 5% compared to proportions in the sludge solids. The most complete liquid-solid separation was achieved by filtration of frozen/thawed sludge samples, producing a liquid phase that contained less than 1% of the total musk content of the sample.     

SBR中2种污泥对不同盐度污水中脱氮性能的对比研究

在2个相同的SBR中分别驯化普通污泥和耐盐污泥,研究两者在0%、0.9%、1.2%、1.5%和1.8%（W/V）的盐度（NaCl）下对生活污水脱氮性能的差异。SBR运行经过厌氧、好氧、缺氧3个阶段,HRT分别为1、6和1 h。研究结果表明：在每一级盐度下,耐盐污泥的脱氮性能都好于普通污泥。随着盐度的增大,耐盐污泥中氨氮...     

Removal of silver nanoparticles in simulated wastewater treatment processes and its impact on COD and NH(4) reduction

The increasing utilization of silver nanoparticles in industrial and consumer products has raised concern to wastewater treatment utilities due to its antimicrobial activity. In this work, the removal of citrate stabilized silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) during the wastewater treatment processes and its impact on treatment performance were examined. During simulated primary clarification, over 90% of the Ag-NPs remained in the wastewater, indicating that the majority of silver nanoparticles in sewage would enter the subsequent treatment units. During sequencing batch reactor processes, silver nanoparticles were effectively removed in each cycle throughout the 15-d experimental duration. Continuous input of silver nanoparticles into the wastewater did not significantly alter chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal. NH(4) removal was reduced at the beginning of the SBR experiment but quickly recovered at the later stage of the experiment. This study demonstrated that in the near future it is unlikely that citrate-stabilized Ag-NPs released into sewage will cause significant adversary effects on the COD and NH(4) removal of activated sludge processes in municipal wastewater treatment plants.     

活性污泥包埋颗粒的制备及其氨氮处理性能

脱氮是污水治理的重要目标之一。在实际污水处理中,由于起主要脱氮作用的硝化菌生殖代谢速率慢,易受冲击,且易流失,以致活性污泥的脱氮能力在运行过程中易受影响,因此,利用微生物固定化技术将硝化菌截留在生化池中具有重要意义。经聚氧化丙烯三醇(polyoxypropylene triol, PPT)改性后的聚乙烯醇(polyvinyl alcohol, PVA)凝胶颗粒可以有效将活性污泥进行固定化并用于污水处理中。结果表明：改性后的凝胶球具有热稳定性好、孔隙分布均匀、比表面积较大、总孔容较大等优点,用改性聚乙烯醇凝胶颗粒包埋驯化后的活性污泥,经过活性恢复处理后,与初始污泥相比,氨氧化速率提升18.28%,呼吸速率降低2.01%,且由于形成较好的厌氧、缺氧、好氧环境,微生物种群多样性、物种丰富度及群落均匀性均升高,并有较好的氨氮去除性能,在低浓度废水治理中,氨氮去除率达到70%。上述研究中分析了改性凝胶颗粒的性能以及包埋活性污泥中微生物菌群和活性的变化,可为凝胶包埋活性污泥技术在氨氮废水治理的研究提供参考。     

Fe0还原、芬顿氧化及其耦合技术去除染料厂剩余污泥中的AOX

染料废水中含有大量难生物降解的卤代有机物合成中间体,合成卤代有机物在废水的生物处理过程中容易被吸附到剩余污泥中,如不能妥善处理会引起生态健康风险。研究了零价铁还原、芬顿氧化及其组合技术对染料企业剩余污泥中AOX（可吸附有机卤代物）的去除效果,优化了处理条件,解析了去除机理。结果表明,铁粉投加量为5 g·L-1,厌氧反应30 d时,零价铁还原对污泥中AOX降解率仅为24.7%;Fe2+投加量0.059 mol·L-1,H2O2投加量0.89 mol·L-1,芬顿氧化1.5 h时,污泥中AOX去除率提高至73.7%;投加2 g·L-1的铁粉,还原30 d后再进行芬顿反应,则污泥中AOX去除率可达到90.3%。GC-MS分析结果表明,污泥中的主要AOX物质为2,6-二氯-4-硝基苯胺,该物质经过零价铁还原与芬顿氧化组合工艺处理后,比直接芬顿氧化能得到更有效的去除。