Lab-scale study of an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) for dilute municipal wastewater treatment

Anaerobic bioreactors supplemented with membrane technology have become quite popular, owing to their favorable energy recovery characteristics. In this study, a lab-scale anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor (AnMBR) was assessed in experimental treatments of pre-settled dilute municipal wastewater obtained from a full-scaled wastewater treatment plant. The MBR system was operated in continuous flow mode for 440 days. To evaluate the performance of the AnMBR under various loading rates, the hydraulic retention time (HRT) was reduced in a stepwise manner (from 2 to 0.5 days). Afterward, the mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) were reduced from 7,000 to 3,000 mg/L in increments of 1,000 mg/L, resulting in a decrease in solids retention time (SRT) at a constant HRT of 1.0 day. The soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) concentration in the feed varied between 38 and 131 mg/L, whereas the average permeate SCOD ranged between 18 and 37 mg/L, reflecting excellent effluent quality. The AnMBR performance in terms of COD removal proved stable, despite variations in influent characteristics and HRT and SRT changes. The concentration of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) was reduced with decreases in HRT from 42 to 22 mg VS/mg of MLSS, thereby indicating that the increased biomass concentration biodegraded the EPS at lower HRTs. AnMBR is, therefore, demonstrably a feasible option for the treatment of dilute wastewater with separate stage nitrogen and phosphorus removal processes.     

粗甘油优化污泥脱水液培养小球藻过程的研究

污泥脱水液为污泥压缩过程产生的污水,因其含有N、P等营养物,可用于微藻的培养。但污泥脱水液碳氮比低,可利用碳源有限,影响微藻生长。本研究考察外加不同浓度(1 g/L,2 g/L,4 g/L,6 g/L)生物柴油副产物-粗甘油对污泥脱水液培养小球藻过程的影响。结果表明:1 g/L、2 g/L粗甘油浓度能促进小球藻生长,藻生物量为1.29 g/L、1.45 g/L;2 g/L粗甘油浓度下氨氮、总氮去除率达99.32%和97.52%。粗甘油被分解后易使培养体系pH降至7以下,使总磷去除率比对照组略低。外加1 g/L、2 g/L粗甘油组的COD去除量分别为553.00 mg/L和405.00 mg/L。藻细胞元素和傅里叶红外光谱分析表明补加粗甘油后藻细胞中C元素和H元素相对含量均明显增加,C元素含量约为对照组的1.5倍;2 g/L粗甘油组的蛋白质与脂类物质含量均高于对照组。MPBR半连续培养小球藻过程中,HRT为5 d时藻生物量维持在1.99~2.21 g/L,大约为批次生物量的1.50倍;氨氮、总氮、总磷、COD的去除率分别在96.26%~99.20%、92.44%~94.04%、53.63%~58.58%、59.44%~65.57%。     

Anaerobic fluidized bed whey treatment

Anaerobic treatment of moderate strength lactic casein why permeate [2000-7000 mg/L soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD)] is possible in fluidized bed reactors. Removal efficiencies up to 90% were obtained at organic removal rates of 7.7 kg SCOD M(-3) day(-1) and efficiencies of 70% were obtained at organic removal rates of 19.5 kg SCOD M(-3) day(-1), both at 35 degrees C. A removal rate of 3.0 kg SCOD M(-3) day(-1) at 50% removal efficiency was obtained at 15 degrees C. Nutrient requirements were much lower than for CSTR systems, and no supplemental nitrogen or phosphorus was required. Removal rates increased and removal efficiency decreased as the organic loading increased. Microorganism concentration increased with decreasing temperature, compensating for reduced reaction rates at lower temperatures.     

Zinc removal from model solution and wastewater by Arthrospira (Spirulina) Platensis biomass

The biosorption of zinc from model solution as well as wastewater by Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis biomass was studied. Adsorption capacity of the biosorbent was investigated as a function of contact time between adsorbent and zinc, the initial metals and sorbent concentration, pH value, and temperature. The ability of Arthrospira biomass for zinc biosorption exhibited a maximum at the pH range 4–8. Equilibrium data fitted well with the Langmuir model as well as the Freundlich model with maximum adsorption capacity of 7.1 mg/g. The pseudo second-order model was found to correlate well with the experimental data. Different thermodynamic parameters, ΔG°, ΔH° and ΔS° were evaluated and it has been found that the sorption was feasible, spontaneous, and endothermic in nature. The process of zinc removal from industrial effluent was studied at different time of sorbat–sorbent interaction and different sorbent dosage. Maximum zinc removal (83%) was obtained at sorbent concentration 60 g/L during 1-h experiment. The results indicate that Arthrospira platensis biomass could be effectively used for zinc removal from industrial effluents.     

A comparison of bacterial and fungal biomass in several cultivated soils

Bacterial and fungal biomass was estimated in incubated samples of three cultivated soils, the influence of glucose, ammonium nitrate and cattle slurry on its formation being studied. The microbial biomass was determined in stained microscopic preparations of soil suspension. Bacterial biomass in the control samples was from 0.17 to 0.66 mg dry wt per 1 g dry soil and independently of the applied supplements was on the average two times larger in muck soils than in sand. Fungal biomass in the control soils ranged from 0.013 to 0.161 mg dry wt per 1 g dry soil, no relationship being found between its size and the soil type. As a result, the ratio of the size of fungal to bacterial biomass was dependent on the soil type; in sand the fungal biomass corresponded to 1/3 of the bacterial biomass, and in muck soils--only to 1/7.     

Ozone treatment of process water from a dry-mill ethanol plant

Fuel ethanol production in corn dry milling plants is a rapidly expanding industrial sector. Whole stillage, the residue from the distillation of the fermented corn, is centrifuged and the concentrate, thin stillage, is found to have a chemical oxygen demand (COD) of approximately 75,000 mg/L. This thin stillage is partly recycled, but much of it needs to be evaporated to concentrate the solubles for addition to the animal feed coproduct from corn dry milling. This research is an exploration into lowering COD from thin stillage using ozonation as a simple single-step unit process to facilitate a larger reusable fraction. The ozonation would usually be a pretreatment before additional flocculation or biological treatment. Also, COD removal by ozonation with and without a catalyst has been studied. Three different application rates of ozone O(3,1)=7 mg/min, O(3,2)=21 mg/min, and O(3,3)=33 mg/min were used for 8h into samples of 2L each of three dilutions 20x, 30x and 40x. COD removal of 85% was observed with an ozone dosage of 4000 mg/L into a 40x-diluted sample. This would correspond to about 0.5 mg COD removed per mg ozone dosed. However, at lower dosages and smaller dilutions, more than 1mg COD removal was achieved per mg ozone dosed. Two different catalysts, Fe(II) and Fe(III), were used and the samples were ozonated for 4 h. Five different dosages of each of the two catalysts were used and better COD removal was observed compared to ozonation alone with all 5 dosages. COD removal rate was increased from 45% to 74% with Fe(III) and was increased to 77% with Fe(II). Up to 10mg/L COD was removed per mg O(3) dosed well below the maximum dosage. Both the catalysts resulted in almost the same improved COD removal rates when compared to ozonation alone.     

Integration of a Coagulation/Flocculation step in a biological sequencing batch reactor for COD and nitrogen removal of supernatant of anaerobically digested piggery wastewater

The supernatant from mesophilic anaerobic digestion of piggery wastewater is characterised by a high amount of COD (4.1 g COD L(-1)), ammonium (2.3g NH(4)(+)-NL(-1)) and suspended solids (2.5 g SS L(-1)). This effluent can be efficiently treated by means of a Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) strategy for biological COD, SS and nitrogen removal including a Coagulation/Flocculation step. Total COD and SS reduction yields higher than 66% and 74%, respectively, and a total nitrogen removal (via nitrite) of more than 98% were reached when working with HRT 2.7 days, SRT 12 days, temperature 32 degrees C, three aerobic/anoxic periods, without external control of pH and under limited aeration flow. The inhibition of nitrite oxidizing biomass was achieved by the working free ammonia concentration and the restricted air supply (dissolved oxygen concentration below 1 mg O(2)L(-1)). Since a part of the total COD was colloidal and/or refractory, a Coagulation/Flocculation step was implemented inside the SBR operating strategy to meet a suitable effluent quality to be discharged. Several Jar-Tests demonstrated that the optimal concentration of FeCl(3) was 800 mg L(-1). A respirometric assay showed that this coagulant dosage did not affect the biological activity of nitrifying/denitrifying biomass.     

Improving the bioremediation of phenolic wastewaters by Trametes versicolor

The successful bioremediation of a phenolic wastewater by Trametes versicolor was found to be dependent on a range of factors including: fungal growth, culture age and activity and enzyme (laccase) production. These aspects were enhanced by the optimisation of the growth medium used and time of addition of the pollutant to the fungal cultures. Different media containing 'high' (20 g/L), 'low' (2 g/L) and 'sufficient' (10 g/L) concentrations of carbon and nitrogen sources were investigated. The medium containing both glucose and peptone at 10 g/L resulted in the highest Growth Related Productivity (the product of specific yield and micro) of laccase (1.46 Units of laccase activity)/gram biomass/day and was used in all further experiments. The use of the guaiacol as an inducer further increased laccase activity 780% without inhibiting growth; similarly the phenolic effluent studied boosted activity almost 5 times. The timing of the addition of the phenolic effluent was found to have important consequences in its removal and at least 8 days of prior growth was required. Under these conditions, 0.125 g phenol/g biomass and 0.231 g o-cresol/g biomass were removed from solution per day.     

Modeling Pichia pastoris growth on methanol and optimizing the production of a recombinant protein, the heavy-chain fragment C of botulinum neurotoxin, serotype A

An unstructured growth model for the recombinant methylotrophic yeast P. pastoris Mut(+) expressing the heavy-chain fragment C of botulinum neurotoxin serotype A [BoNT/A(H(c))], was successfully established in quasi-steady state fed-batch fermentations with varying cell densities. The model describes the relationships between specific growth rate and methanol concentration, and the relationships between specific methanol and ammonium consumption rates and specific growth rate under methanol-limited growth conditions. The maximum specific growth rate (mu) determined from the model was 0.08 h(-1) at a methanol concentration of 3.65 g/L, while the actual maximum mu was 0.0709 h(-1). The maximum specific methanol consumption rate was 0.0682 g/g WCW/h. From the model, growth can be defined as either methanol-limited or methanol-inhibited and is delineated at a methanol concentration of 3.65 g/L. Under inhibited conditions, the observed biomass yield (Y(X/MeOH)) was lower and the maintenance coefficient (m(MeOH)) was higher than compared to limited methanol conditions. The Y(X/MeOH) decreased and m(MeOH) increased with increasing methanol concentration under methanol-inhibited conditions. BoNT/A(H(c)) content in cells (alpha) under inhibited growth was lower than that under limited growth, and decreased with increasing methanol concentration. A maximum alpha of 1.72 mg/g WCW was achieved at a mu of 0.0267 h(-1) and induction time of 12 h.     

Maximizing production of glutathione by amino acid modulation and high-cell-density fed-batch culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In this paper the high-cell-density fed-batch culture and optimal amino acid modulation were combined together to enhance glutathione production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae T65. Ethanol concentration in the broth was an important parameter for feedback control in fed-batch culture. Low ethanol concentration was propitious to both the cell growth and glutathione synthesis. The feedback control of a low ethanol concentration was an efficient way to realize high-cell-density culture and the biomass reached 140 g/L after 57 h fermentation. With optimal amino acid addition to elevate the glutathione content continually, the maximum glutathione yield achieved 2190 mg/L.     

Supplementation of waste tea fungal biomass as a dietary ingredient for broiler chicks

The waste tea fungal biomass produced during black tea fermentation was investigated as a dietary ingredient in poultry feeds. A small portion of fungal mat was used as starter culture for the next cycle while the major portion is discarded as waste. Hence a trial study was carried out to utilize the waste fungal biomass as a supplementary diet for broiler chicks. The fungal biomass contained 179.38 g of crude protein, 120 g crude fibre, 4.82 g phosphorus, 6.56 g of calcium and 8.92 MJ metabolizable energy per kilogram of biomass. The dried tea fungus showed phytase activity of 23 IU/mg protein. The supplementation of tea fungal inclusion (TFI) at 150 g/kg concentration in poultry feed increased the feed consumption, body weight, performance efficiency factor (PEF) and the carcass characters of test broilers significantly (P=0.01) over the control. The histopathological examination of liver showed no abnormalities and the mortality rate was zero.     

Oxygen uptake and citric acid production by Candida lipolytica Y 1095

The rates of oxygen uptake and oxygen transfer during cell growth and citric acid production by Candida lipolytica Y 1095 were determined. The maximum cell growth rate, 1.43 g cell/L . h, and volumetric oxygen uptake rate, 343 mg O(2)/L . h, occurred approximately 21 to 22 h after inoculation. At the time of maximum oxygen uptake, the biomass concentration was 1.3% w/v and the specific oxygen uptake rate was slightly greater than 26 mg O(2)/g cell . h. The specific oxygen uptake rate decreased to approximately 3 mg O(2)/g cell . h by the end of the growth phase.During citric acid production, as the concentration of dissolved oxygen was increased from 20% to 80% saturation, the specific oxygen uptake and specific citric acid productivity (mg citric acid/g cell . h) increased by 160% and 71%, respectively, at a biomass concentration of 3% w/v. At a biomass concentration of 5% w/v, the specific oxygen uptake and specific citric acid productivity increased by 230% and 82%, respectively, over the same range of dissolved oxygen concentrations.The effect of dissolved oxygen on citric acid yields and productivities was also determined. Citric acid yields appeared to be independent of dissolved oxygen concentration during the initial production phase; however, volumetric productivity (g citric acid/L . h) increased sharply with an increase in dissolved oxygen. During the second or subsequent production phase, citric acid yields increased by approximately 50%, but productivities decreased by roughly the same percentage due to a loss of cell viability under prolonged nitrogen-deficient conditions. (c) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Biotechnological production of lactic acid integrated with fishmeal wastewater treatment by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizopus oryzae</Emphasis>

Fishmeal wastewater, a seafood processing waste, was utilized for production of lactic acid and fungal biomass by Rhizopus oryzae AS 3.254 with the addition of sugars. The 30 g/l exogenous glucose in fishmeal wastewater was superior to starch in view of productivities of lactic acid and fungal biomass, and COD reduction. Fishmeal wastewater can be a replacement for peptone which was the most suitable nitrogen source for lactic acid production among the tested organic or inorganic nitrogen sources. Exogenous NaCl (12 g/l) completely inhibited the production of lactic acid and fungal growth. In the medium of COD 5,000 mg/l fishmeal wastewater with the addition of 30 g/l glucose, the maximum productivity of lactic acid was 0.723 g/l h corresponding to productivity of fungal biomass 0.0925 g/l h, COD reduction 84.9% and total nitrogen removal 50.3% at a fermentation time of 30 h.     

Biosorption of lead and copper from aqueous solutions by pre-treated crab and arca shell biomass

Sorption potential of pretreated crab and arca shell biomass for lead and copper from aqueous media was explored. The effects of pH, initial concentration, biosorbent dosage and contact time were studied in batch experiments. Effects of common ions like sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium on the sorption capacity of pretreated crab and arca biomasses were also studied. At equilibrium, the maximum uptake by crab shell biomass was 19.83+/-0.29 and 38.62+/-1.27 mg/g for lead and copper, respectively. In case of arca shell biomass the maximum uptake capacity was 18.33+/-0.44 mg/g and 17.64+/-0.31 mg/g for lead and copper, respectively. Combined effect of all the common ions up to 50 microg/ml concentration was negligible for both the metals using both biomasses. Sorption isotherms were studied to explain the removal mechanism of both elements by fitting isotherms data into Lagergren, Freundlich and Langmuir equations.     

Converting corn wet-milling effluent into high-value fungal biomass in a biofilm reactor

Rhizopus microsporus was grown in an attached growth system using corn wet-milling effluent as a growth medium. This strain was chosen due to its ability to effectively degrade organic matter in corn wet-milling effluent and for its properties to produce significant levels of protein, chitin and chitosan. Fungal growth and organic removal efficiency were examined under both aseptic and non-aseptic conditions with and without nutrient supplementation. Plastic composite support (PCS) tubes, composed of 50% (w/w) polypropylene (PP) and 50% (w/w) agricultural products were used as support media. Significantly higher organic removal measured as chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biomass yield were observed in the bioreactor with PCS tubes than in two control bioreactors; that is with PP tubes alone and suspended growth (without support media). This confirmed that the PCS support medium with agricultural components enhanced fungal growth and organic removal. The results showed that supplementation of nutrients (e.g., mineral salts) under aseptic conditions enhanced the COD removal from 50% to 55% and observed biomass yield from 0.11 to 0.16 g (dry-weight)/g COD(removed) (i.e., from 0.10 to 0.14 g volatile solids (VS)/g COD(removed) approximately). Non-aseptic operation without nutrient supplementation resulted in an observed biomass yield of 0.32 g volatile suspended solids (VSS)/g COD(removed) with no significant improvement in COD removal ( approximately 53%); whereas with nutrient supplementation, the observed biomass yield increased to 0.56 g VSS/g COD(removed) and COD removal improved to 85%. The fungal system was able to degrade the organic matter with concomitant production of high-value fungal biomass. This is the first study that examined the conversion of corn milling waste stream into high value fungal protein.     

Simultaneous nitrification and formaldehyde biodegradation in an activated sludge unit

The simultaneous removal of formaldehyde and ammonium in a lab-scale activated sludge unit was investigated. The unit was operated at a hydraulic retention time of 2.4 days with an ammonium concentration in the influent of 350 mg NH4+-N/L, maintaining the ammonium loading rate at 0.15 g NH4+-N/Ld during the operation time. However, the applied organic loading rate was increased stepwise by increasing the formaldehyde concentration from 26 up to 3168 mg/L, corresponding to 0.01-1.40 g COD/Ld. High formaldehyde removal efficiencies, around 99.5% (+/-0.38), were maintained at all the formaldehyde concentrations. Ammonium removal was also very high during the operation period, around 99.9% (+/-0.01). The ammonium concentration in the effluent was lower than 0.1 mg NH4+-N/L at all applied organic loading rates, indicating that there was no inhibition of nitrification by formaldehyde.     

水生植物修复铁污染水体的效果及作用机制

为解决铁离子污染导致水体发黄问题,采用水培试验,分析了水禾、粉绿狐尾藻、圆币草、黄花水龙、大薸和圆叶节节菜等6种水生植物对铁离子污染水体的修复能力,研究了铁离子浓度、pH和植物生物量对水禾修复效果的影响,并探讨了曝气对水禾除铁的强化作用。结果表明: 6种水生植物均不同程度地促进了水中二价铁和全铁的去除,不同植物对铁的去除效果差异显著;试验24 h,水禾和圆币草处理二价铁浓度分别由5.0 mg·L^-1降至0.23和0.26 mg·L^-1,满足《地表水环境质量标准》(GB 3838—2002)限值要求(二价铁浓度≤0.3 mg·L^-1),全铁浓度降至0.84和1.21 mg·L^-1,去除率达83.2%和75.8%。pH在5、6、7、8时,各pH处理组二价铁和全铁浓度无显著差异,二价铁和全铁去除率分别为95.4%～98.4%和92.2%～94.6%。二价铁初始浓度≤5.0 mg·L^-1时,二价铁和全铁去除率随二价铁浓度增加而增大;高浓度二价铁(10.0 mg·L^-1)对水禾生长有一定的抑制作用,试验期间全铁去除不稳定,试验结束时全铁去除率较对照仅提高7.0%,远低于其他浓度处理。生物量≥300 g时,处理24 h,二价铁浓度从5.0 mg·L^-1降至0.3 mg·L^-1以下,且各生物量处理去除效果差异不显著。间歇曝气和连续曝气均强化水禾对铁的去除,连续曝气更利于稳定去除全铁。     

Direct fermentation of potato starch in wastewater to lactic acid by<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizopus oryzae</Emphasis>

The fungal species ofRhizopus oryzae 2062 has the capacity to carry out a single stage fermentation process for lactic acid production from potato starch wastewater. Starch hydrolysis, reducing sugar accumulation, biomass formation, and lactic acid production were affected with variations in pH, temperature, and starch source and concentration. A growth condition with starch concentration approximately 20 g/L at pH 6.0 and 30°C was favourable for starch fermentation, resulting in a lactic acid yield of 78.3%–85.5% associated with 1.5–2.0 g/L fungal biomass produced in 36 h of fermentation.     

不同营养条件对金鱼藻净化作用及其生理生态的影响

以沉水植物金鱼藻（Ceratophyllum demersum）为研究对象,研究了较高营养条件（N:1030 mg/L,P:13 mg/L）对金鱼藻去除氮、磷能力的影响,金鱼藻的含磷量、生物量与净光合作用速率对营养负荷的响应。结果表明,金鱼藻-沉积物处理系统可有效去除氮、磷（去除率80%以上）,但去除效率随水中营养盐浓度的升高而下降。试验结束时各试验组金鱼藻总磷含量达7.0113.09 mg/g （平均9.03 mg/g）,显著高于对照组（2.853.17 mg/g,平均3.05 mg/g）,表明金鱼藻可以吸收水体中的磷。营养盐对金鱼藻生长有明显抑制,其抑制作用随营养盐浓度增高而加剧,除对照组外,各试验组金鱼藻均有叶片脱落,试验结束时金鱼藻生物量降至初始生物量的48.3%63.3%。在较高营养水体中,金鱼藻的净光合作用速率由试验开始时-0.0370.058 mg/（gh）显著上升至试验结束时0.180.44 mg/（gh）,而对照组变化不大,这表明在试验后期,随着水体营养盐浓度降低,金鱼藻开始进行恢复性生长,说明水体营养盐浓度对金鱼藻的净光合作用速率和生长速率有明显影响。金鱼藻尚不适宜作为滇池草海生态修复的先锋物种。