Effects of the support material addition on the hydrodynamic behavior of an anaerobic expanded granular sludge bed reactor

As a support material, zeolite can be used to promote the granulation process due to its high settable property and the ability to retain biomass on its surface. The present paper reports on the influence of zeolite addition on the hydrodynamic behavior of an expanded granular sludge bed reactor (EGSB). Different models were applied to fit the flow pattern and to compare EGSB hydrodynamic performance with and without the addition of zeolite. The experimental data fit the tanks in a series model for zeolite bed height of 5 cm and upflow velocity of 6 m/hr. Higher axial dispersion degree (D/uL) was obtained at lower heights of zeolite. The real hydraulic retention time (HRTr) was increased with both increased zeolite bed height and increased upflow velocity. The short-circuit results for 5 cm of zeolite bed and 6, 8 and 10 m/hr upflow velocity were 0.3, 0.24 and 0.19 respectively, demonstrating the feasibility of using zeolite for a proper hydrodynamic environment to operate the EGSB reactor. The presence of zeolite resulted in the higher percentage values of dead zones, ranging from 12% to 24%. Zeolite addition exerted a positive effect on the hydrodynamics pattern for this technology being advantageous for the anaerobic process because of its possible contribution to better biofilm agglomeration, granule formation and substrate-microorganism contact.     

High-solid anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge: achievements and perspectives

• High-solid anaerobic digestion (HS-AD) of sewage sludge (SS) is overviewed. • Factors affecting process stability and performance in HS-AD of SS are revealed. • HS effect and knowledge gaps of current research on the HS-AD of SS are identified. • Future efforts on addressing knowledge gaps and improving HS-AD of SS are proposed. High-solid anaerobic digestion (HS-AD) has been applied extensively during the last few decades for treating various organic wastes, such as agricultural wastes, organic fractions of municipal solid wastes, and kitchen wastes. However, the application of HS-AD to the processing of sewage sludge (SS) remains limited, which is largely attributable to its poor process stability and performance. Extensive research has been conducted to attempt to surmount these limitations. In this review, the main factors affecting process stability and performance in the HS-AD of SS are comprehensively reviewed, and the improved methods in current use, such as HS sludge pre-treatment and anaerobic co-digestion with other organic wastes, are summarised. Besides, this paper also discusses the characteristics of substance transformation in the HS-AD of SS with and without thermal pre-treatment. Research has shown that the HS effect is due to the presence of high concentrations of substances that may inhibit the function of anaerobic microorganisms, and that it also results in poor mass transfer, a low diffusion coefficient, and high viscosity. Finally, knowledge gaps in the current research on HS-AD of SS are identified. Based on these, it proposes that future efforts should be devoted to standardising the definition of HS sludge, revealing the law of migration and transformation of pollutants, describing the metabolic pathways by which specific substances are degraded, and establishing accurate mathematical models. Moreover, developing green sludge dewatering agents, obtaining high value-added products, and revealing effects of the above two on HS-AD of SS can also be considered in future.     

EGSB反应器处理米酒废水的启动方法研究

米酒厂废水由洗米、制曲用大豆蒸煮和酒蒸馏 3道工序中所排出的废水组成 ,是一种典型的高浓度有机废水。在采用EGSB反应器对其进行处理时 ,以处理啤酒废水的 UASB反应器中的颗粒污泥作为接种污泥可以实现快速启动。启动过程中 ,容积负荷的提高幅度以每次 2～ 3 kg COD/( m3· d)为宜 ,同时要保持出水的 p H维持在 8以上 ;为了防止酸化 ,应当适当地在进水中投加碱剂。采用 EGSB反应器在中温条件下处理该废水时 ,容积负荷可以达到 2 0 kg COD/( m3· d) ,COD去除率在 70 %以上。     

污泥颗粒化快速启动厌氧氨氧化反应器的探讨

厌氧氨氧化工艺处理成本低,被认为是有应用前景的废水脱氮技术.但是,厌氧氨氧化菌生长缓慢,厌氧氨氧化反应器启动困难.探讨了几种快速启动厌氧氨氧化反应器的方法,包括投加颗粒污泥、惰性载体、絮凝剂及多价阳离子等,并对其作用机理进行了分析.     

颜料,油墨废水物化,生化法综合治理技术

本文详细阐述了颜料油墨废水的物化,生化法综合治理技术在其在工程 的实际应用,针对该行业废水的特点,该技术可以有效去除水中的悬浮物,有机物,色度及有毒有害物质使出水达标排放。该工程于１９９８年正式投产运行,成为国内首例成功运转达标的颜料,油墨废水治理工程。     

Anammox: an option for ammonium removal in bioreactor landfills

Experiments carried out in bioreactor landfill simulators demonstrated that more than 40% of the total N was transferred into the liquid and gas phases during the incubation period of 380 days. Ammonium, an end product of protein degradation and important parameter to consider during landfill closure, tends to accumulate up to inhibitory levels in the leachate of landfills especially in landfills with leachate recirculation. Most efforts to remove ammonium from leachate have been focused on ex situ and partial in situ methods such as nitrification, denitrification and chemical precipitation. Besides minimal contributions from other N-removal processes, Anammox (Anaerobic Ammonium Oxidation) bacteria were found to be active within the simulators. Anammox is considered to be an important contributor to remove N from the solid matrix. However, it was unclear how the necessary nitrite for Anammox metabolism was produced. Moreover, little is known about the nature of residual nitrogen in the waste mass and possible mechanisms to remove it. Intrusion of small quantities of O₂ is not only beneficial for the degradation process of municipal solid waste (MSW) in bioreactor landfills but also significant for the development of the Anammox bacteria that contributed to the removal of ammonium. Volatilisation and Anammox activity were the main N removal mechanisms in these pilot-scale simulators. The results of these experiments bring new insights on the behaviour, evolution and fate of nitrogen from solid waste and present the first evidence of the existence of Anammox activity in bioreactor landfill simulators.     

Effect of thermal pretreatment on the physical and chemical properties of municipal biomass waste

The effects of thermal pretreatment on the physical and chemical properties of three typical municipal biomass wastes (MBWs), kitchen waste (KW), vegetable/fruit residue (VFR), and waste activated sludge (WAS) were investigated. The results show that thermal pretreatment at 175 °C/60 min significantly decreases viscosity, improves the MBW dewatering performance, as well as increases soluble chemical oxygen demand, soluble sugar, soluble protein, and especially organic compounds with molecular weights >10 kDa. For KW, VFR and WAS, 59.7%, 58.5% and 25.2% of the organic compounds can be separated in the liquid phase after thermal treatment. WAS achieves a 34.8% methane potential increase and a doubled methane production rate after thermal pretreatment. In contrast, KW and VFR show 7.9% and 11.7% methane decrease because of melanoidin production.     

Investigation of affecting parameters on treating high-strength compost leachate in a hybrid EGSB and fixed-bed reactor followed by electrocoagulation–flotation process

In this research, treatability of high-load compost leachate in a hybrid expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) and fixed-bed (FB) bioreactor followed by electrocoagulation–flotation (ECF) system was examined. The operational factors in EGSB–FB were influent chemical oxygen demand (COD), hydraulic retention time (HRT) and COD/nitrogen ratio (COD/N). And, their interactive effects on the efficiency of COD removal and biogas production rate (BPR) as responses were analyzed and correlated by response surface methodology (RSM). The optimum conditions of the hybrid EGSB–FB reactor were acquired at COD = 7800 mg/L, HRT = 35 h, COD/N = 70, in which COD removal efficiency was 83% and BPR 94 mL/h. The amount of confidence interval was 95%. COD (relevant coefficient = 9.8) and HRT (relevant coefficient = −24) were resulted respectively as the most effective parameters on COD removal and BPR. Yet, COD/N parameter imposed negative effect on COD removal and BPR in values less than about 100. The outcomes indicated that operated ECF as post-treatment in constant conditions (electrolysis time = 75 min, electrodes distance = 3 cm, voltage = 20 V) successfully satisfied discharge criteria in the most part of experimental domains.     

Anaerobic digestion of livestock and poultry manures spiked with tetracycline antibiotics

Abstract

We investigated the anaerobic degradation of tetracycline antibiotics (tetracycline [TC], oxytetracycline [OTC] and chlortetracycline [CTC]) in swine, cattle, and poultry manures. The manures were anaerobically digested inside polyvinyl chloride batch reactors for 64?days at room temperature. The degradation rate constants and half-lives of the parent tetracyclines were determined following first-order kinetics. For CTC the fastest degradation rate was observed in swine manure (k?=?0.016?±?0.001 d^?1; half-life = 42.8?days), while the slowest degradation rate was observed in poultry litter (k?=?0.0043?±?0.001 d^?1; half-life = 161?days). The half-lives of OTC ranged between 88.9 (cattle manure) and 99.0?days (poultry litter), while TC persisted the longest of the tetracycline antibiotics studied with half-lives ranging from 92.4?days (cattle manure) to 330?days (swine manure). In general, the tetracyclines were found to degrade faster in cattle manure, which had the lowest concentrations of organic matter and metals as compared to swine and poultry manures. Our results demonstrate that tetracycline antibiotics persist in the animal manure after anaerobic digestion, which can potentially lead to emergence and persistence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in the environment when anaerobic digestion byproducts are land applied for crop production.     

微氧曝气-一段式厌氧氨氧化-反硝化组合工艺处理餐厨沼液

针对餐厨沼液高氨氮、低C/N的特点,采用“微氧曝气-一段式厌氧氨氧化-BioClens反硝化”工艺,进行了餐厨沼液脱氮除碳的小试研究。经150 d的运行优化,系统稳定后该工艺的耗氧有机物 (以COD计) 、TN平均去除率分别达到81.3%和81.8%。微氧曝气单元为厌氧氨氧化单元消除餐厨沼液中有机物的影响并保留NH₄⁺-N,其耗氧有机物 (以COD计) 及NH₄⁺-N去除率分别为81.6%和13.7%,为厌氧氨氧化稳定运行提供保障。厌氧氨氧化单元是NH₄⁺-N的主要去除单元,稳定后运行后总氮去除负荷为0.480 kg·(m³·d)⁻¹;BioClens反硝化单元对前两段工艺中产生的NO₃⁻-N进行反硝化深度去除,在以乙酸钠为碳源,包埋固定化填料填充比为5%、C/N=3的情况下,其平均NO₃⁻-N去除率达90%。该工艺实现了对餐厨沼液经济高效处理,具有应用潜力。