Evaluation of micro- and nano-carbon-based adsorbents for the removal of phenol from aqueous solutions

This work reports on the adsorption efficiency of two classes of adsorbents: nano-adsorbents including carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon nanofibers (CNFs); and micro-adsorbents including activated carbon (AC) and fly ash (FA). The materials were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, transmission electron microscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) specific surface area, zeta potential, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and UV spectroscopy. The adsorption experimental conditions such as pH of the solution, agitation speed, contact time, initial concentration of phenol, and adsorbent dosage were optimized for their influence on the phenol. The removal efficiency of the studied adsorbents has the following order: AC > CNTs > FA > CNFs. The capacity obtained from Langmuir isotherm was found to be 1.348, 1.098, 1.007, and 0.842 mg/g of AC, CNTs, FA, and CNFs, respectively, at 2 hours of contact time, pH 7, an adsorbent dosage of 50 mg, and a speed of 150 rpm. The higher adsorption of phenol on AC can be attributed to its high surface area and its dispersion in water. The optimum values of these variables for maximum removal of phenol were also determined. The experimental data were fitted well to Langmuir than Freundlich isotherm models.     

An executive review of sludge pretreatment by sonication

Ultrasonication (US), which creates hydro-mechanical shear forces in cavitation, is an advanced technology in sludge pretreatment. However, there are many factors affecting the efficacy of cavitation and ultrasonication disintegration of sludge as a consequence. The objective of this work is to present an extensive review of evaluation approaches of sludge US pretreatment efficiency. Besides, optimization methodologies of related parameters, the differences of optimum values and the similarities of affecting trends on cavitation and sludge pretreatment efficiency were specifically pointed out, including ambient conditions, ultrasonic properties, and sludge characteristics. The research is a prerequisite for optimization of sludge US pretreatment efficiency in lab-scale and practical application. There is not-yet a comprehensive method to evaluate the efficiency of sludge US pretreatment, but some main parameters commonly used for this purpose are degree of sludge disintegration, proteins, particle size reduction, etc. Regarding US parameters, power input P_US, intensity I_US, and frequency F_S seem to have significant effects. However, the magnitude of the effect of P_US and probe size in terms of I_US has not been clearly detailed. Investigating very low F_S seems interesting but has not yet been taken into consideration. In addition, static pressure effect has been marginally studied only and investigation on the effect of pH prior to US process has been restricted. Their effects therefore should be varied separately and simultaneously with other related parameters, i.e. process conditions, ultrasonic properties, and sludge characteristics, to optimize sludge US pretreatment process.     

Nitrogen removal from coal gasification wastewater by activated carbon technologies combined with short-cut nitrogen removal process

A system combining granular activated carbon and powdered activated carbon technologies along with shortcut biological nitrogen removal （GAC-PACT-SBNR） was developed to enhance total nitrogen （TN） removal for anaerobically treated coal gasification wastewater with less need for external carbon resources. The TN removal efficiency in SBNR was significantly improved by introducing the effluent from the GAC process into SBNR during the anoxic stage, with removal percentage increasing from 43.8%49.6% to 68.8%-75.8%. However, the TN removal rate decreased with the progressive deterioration of GAC adsorption. After adding activated sludge to the GAG compartment, the granular carbon had a longer service-life and the demand for external carbon resources became lower. Eventually, the TN removal rate in SBNR was almost constant at approx. 43.3%, as compared to approx. 20.0% before seeding with sludge. In addition, the production of some alkalinity during the denitrification resulted in a net savings in alkalinity requirements for the nitrification reaction and refractory chemical oxygen demand （COD） degradation by autotrophic bacteria in SBNR under oxic conditions. PACT showed excellent resilience to increasing organic loadings. The microbial community analysis revealed that the PACT had a greater variety of bacterial taxons and the dominant species associated with the three compartments were in good agreement with the removal of typical pollutants. The study demonstrated that pre-adsorption by the GAC-sludge process could be a technically and economically feasible method to enhance TN removal in coal gasification wastewater （CGW）.     

生物活性炭吸附石化废水有机污染物实验研究

生物活性炭吸附石化二级废水有机污染物实验主要包括生物活性炭挂膜实验和生物活性碳影响因素实验。在实验中考察了水力负荷和活性炭滤层厚度两因素对有机污染物吸附作用。结果表明:在45 d左右挂膜基本成功,最佳水力负荷为0.25~0.75m3/(m2·h),活性炭滤层最佳厚度为90cm。     

新旧微孔曝气器氧转移速率试验研究

以某污水处理厂运行4年多的旧盘式曝气器和同型号的新盘式曝气器为试验对象,对其氧转移速率进行了对比试验,结果表明新旧曝气盘氧转移速率均明显分为两个阶段,运行了4年的旧曝气盘微孔数量减少、微孔孔径增大、气泡数量减少、气泡尺寸增大,氧转移速率比新曝气盘降低了29.2%。因此,污水处理厂在日常运行管理中要做好曝气器的保养工作,及时清洗更换破损、堵塞的曝气器避免能耗浪费。     

好氧污泥颗粒化中胞外聚合物（EPS）的动态变化

在SBR中分别运行普通活性污泥和好氧颗粒污泥工艺,考察普通絮体污泥颗粒化过程中EPS的组分变化和分布情况.结果表明,通过减少沉淀时间可以获得质量高的颗粒污泥,污泥系统中的EPS可划分为紧密结合型、松散结合型和溶解性3种;普通污泥期、颗粒污泥初期和颗粒污泥稳定期的EPS含量均以紧密结合型EPS为主,颗粒污泥中总EPS和溶解性EPS含量均高于普通污泥,且颗粒形成初期溶解性EPS增长明显;颗粒污泥中紧密结合型EPS含量相对稳定,松散结合型EPS在不同污泥中含量很低,一个典型反应周期中蛋白质和多糖的变化趋势普遍是先降低后上升,普通污泥和颗粒污泥EPS中蛋白质含量均高于多糖,颗粒形成初期EPS中蛋白质含量有明显上升;普通絮体污泥中EPS和细菌分布均匀,颗粒污泥的表层聚集大量的细菌、内部主要成分是EPS.     

Effect of ozone on the performance of a hybrid ceramic membrane-biological activated carbon process

Two hybrid processes including ozonation-ceramic membrane-biological activated carbon （BAC） （Process A） and ceramic membrane-BAC （Process B） were compared to treat polluted raw water. The performance of hybrid processes was evaluated with the removal efficiencies of turbidity, ammonia and organic matter. The results indicated that more than 99% of particle count was removed by both hybrid processes and ozonation had no significant effect on its removal. BAC filtration greatly improved the removal of ammonia. Increasing the dissolved oxygen to 30.0 mg/L could lead to a removal of ammonia with concentrations as high as 7.80 mg/L and 8.69 mg/L for Processes A and B, respectively. The average removal efficiencies of total organic carbon and ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm （UV254, a parameter indicating organic matter with aromatic structure） were 49% and 52% for Process A, 51% and 48% for Process B, respectively. Some organic matter was oxidized by ozone and this resulted in reduced membrane fouling and increased membrane flux by 25%-30%. However, pre-ozonation altered the components of the raw water and affected the microorganisms in the BAC, which may impact the removals of organic matter and nitrite negatively.     

低强度超声波强化污水生物处理中超声辐照污泥比例的优化选择

通过超声波的SBR反应器与对照反应器处理人工配制生活污水的对比试验,研究了利用低强度超声波强化污水生物处理的另一个重要工艺参数———超声处理污泥比例(即超声处理污泥量占反应器内总污泥量的百分比).设置超声波反应器采用频率35kHz、声强0.3W/cm²超声波每隔8h取反应器中一定比例的活性污泥辐照10min后再返回反应器.结果表明,超声处理污泥比例为10%时,其COD和NH₃-N去除率可分别提高5%和0.5%左右,以好氧呼吸速率(Oxygen Uptake Rate,OUR)表示的污泥活性可提高12%以上.通过对污泥增长率的研究表明,当超声污泥比例为10%,超声波反应器内污泥的增长率比对照反应器降低了11%左右,减轻了后续污泥处理工序的负荷.随着超声处理污泥比例的增加,污泥体积指数SVI持续增大,但是超声污泥比例不超过10%对污泥沉降性能影响不大.因此,在超声强化污水生物处理工艺中,可采用强度0.3W/cm²超声波每隔8h取反应器中的10%的活性污泥辐照10min后再返回反应器,来提高反应器的生物处理效率.     

水力停留时间对活性污泥系统的硝化性能及其生物结构的影响

利用微生物呼吸醌指纹谱图结合传统分析方法研究了水力停留时间(HRT从30 h逐步缩短至5 h)对活性污泥硝化性能及种群结构的影响.结果表明,对于NH₄⁺-N浓度为500 mg·L^-1的废水,在HRT≥20 h时,氨氮去除率可达98%以上.若继续缩短HRT,污泥流失严重,尽管进水NH₄⁺-N浓度降低,出水NH₄⁺-N和NO₂     

膜生物反应器中膜过滤特征及膜污染机理的研究

以膜生物反应器处理市政污水,通过对活性污泥进行终端过滤来反映膜污染机理,实验表明,最初很短时间内膜污染受膜孔堵塞模型控制,之后受沉积层阻力模型控制,后一阶段是膜污染的主要控制阶段;膜的相对通量随过滤时间呈指数衰减趋势,压力越大,通量衰减越快;污泥沉积层存在压密过程,这一过程中的污泥比阻随压力增大而增大,并得到处理市政污水的污泥压密指数为0.807 8;阻力分布实验表明沉积层阻力占总阻力的90%以上,是膜过滤污染阻力的主要组成部分;活性污泥各组分对膜污染均有贡献,其中悬浮固体、胶体颗粒和溶质产生的阻力分别占87.98%、6.20%和5.82%;根据实验和计算结果,探讨了MBR处理市政污水过程中可能的膜污染机理.